Konoha: Tsunade, I am the Hokage

"Don't just make promises without showing any real results. However, your puppet is quite well made; it's impressive that you could produce something of this quality in such a short time..."

Orochimaru looked at the incredibly agile puppet snake beside him.

This puppet snake isn't particularly sophisticated in terms of craftsmanship, but the fact that Jingyan completed its creation in such a short time since his return is quite remarkable.

not to mention.

This thing is actually usable!

Jingyan asked, "Can special flesh and blood be used for supply?"

"Let's build the armor first. According to your idea, flesh and blood are the core and battery, and armor is the circuitry and network. If these two can be combined to achieve the effect you described, then the assembly of the puppet can be realized."

Orochimaru said.

Jingyan nodded.

"Yes, that's my idea too. Combining mechanics and puppetry to create a new type of puppet. As for other ideas, I'll integrate and refine them myself..."

"I've found a really good child for you."

Kyohiko reiterated.

Orochimaru raised an eyebrow, looking at Kyohiko with some surprise and a hint of suspicion in his eyes.

"Really?"

After eating too many pancakes, one gradually stops believing in them.

Orochimaru is in this state right now.

This thing only takes in but doesn't give out; it's treating itself like a laborer.

He even felt that if he raised a child someday, Jingyan might just run away with him the next second.

Kyohiko said, "Yakushi Kabuto was a child adopted by Nono-senpai. He has a very high talent in medical ninjutsu and is also very interested in research. He is quite talented."

"Yakushi Kabuto..."

Orochimaru recalled for a moment, and a piece of information gradually emerged in his mind.

He squinted.

"The child found near Mount Kikyo?"

"right."

Jingyan nodded.

Orochimaru pondered for a moment, then said, "Aren't you afraid he's a descendant of Sunagakure?"

"What's there to be afraid of? Sooner or later, Sunagakure will be ours!"

Jingyan answered calmly.

Orochimaru chuckled softly and said, "Let me train you?"

"He is indeed a genius. I am currently planning to team up with Shisui. If you are interested, after he has been familiar with the hospital for a while, I will have him assist you with some research work."

Kyohiko replied.

Orochimaru pondered for a moment, then asked, "They've already gone to the hospital?"

From this perspective...

He is indeed a genius.

Kabuto is only six or seven years old, yet he has already been able to intern at Konoha Hospital, which shows that his foundation and knowledge are already very solid.

"He followed Nono-senpai since he was a child and started reading medical books very early on."

Jingyan nodded.

Kabuto Yakushi's current path is quite different from his original one.

He didn't receive any training from the Root organization at all; he received more education from Nono, Asami, and the orphanage. After entering the Konoha Ninja Academy at the age of five, his grades improved rapidly.

Besides Shisui, the second genius of Konoha Ninja Academy is Kabuto Yakushi.

Orochimaru finally showed a sliver of interest.

He licked his lips.

"It's not good for you to take all the good talents by yourself. Besides, you have to consider the interests of many other parties. Jingyan-kun, please leave this child to me!"

Orochimaru's eyes gleamed with excitement.

……

Konoha Hospital.

"Kabuto, help them treat their wounds; they must have been injured during training..."

"yes!"

Kabuto walked over meticulously, formed hand seals, and performed the technique, quickly completing the treatment of the injury.

There were five people in total, and he quickly finished dealing with them one by one.

"Silent, you've already started teaching students? Not bad!"

"No, Kabuto is just interning here. Everyone is very busy, and I'm the only one who has some free time, so I'm showing him around and teaching him some basic combat skills."

Shizune answered with a smile.

"Haha, we'll be going now."

"Take care."

Silently nods.

After seeing the person off, she looked down at Yakushi Kabuto.

Seeing his bored expression, I couldn't help but laugh and say, "That's how it is working in a hospital. Most of the time, we treat basic injuries or conduct medical experiments on animals."

"Medical experiment?"

The pharmacist's face immediately lit up with excitement. "Can I participate?"

"I'm afraid not for now!"

Silently chuckled.

experiment……

Sorry, I'm not even eligible to participate!

Just as Shizune was about to answer, a cold male voice came from outside the door.

"You want to conduct an experiment?"

"Yes."

The pharmacist answered.

Shizune's face stiffened.

This is……

Lord Orochimaru?

She immediately stood up, about to greet him, when the other person had already stepped inside, smiled, and said, "Jingyin, I'd like to speak with him alone for a couple of minutes, is that alright?"

"Of course, please go ahead."

Silently nods.

Orochimaru looked at Kabuto Yakushi, his eyes filled with excitement.

He walked forward and led the pharmacist into the courtyard outside the house.

Do you know who I am?

"I don't know who you are, but you should be the one who spoke earlier."

The pharmacist answered cleverly.

Orochimaru smiled.

"good."

He turned his head and looked at Yakushi Kabuto.

"You're a little over six years old. Normal children your age are still learning the basics of Konoha. Why do you want to enter the lab?"

Why do you think that?

Kabuto paused, a look of confusion on his face. "What else is there to ask? I want to research medical ninjutsu, I want to understand more secrets, I want to learn more things that aren't in books!"

Orochimaru paused for a moment, then chuckled softly before bursting into laughter twice.

"What's wrong?"

Kabuto Yakushi was observant and knew that Orochimaru's smile was not anger, but rather a kind of joy and happiness.

He was puzzled.

but……

I have a vague feeling that something good is about to happen to me.

Orochimaru chuckled softly, "Nothing much, just thinking about a friend. So, what are your dreams?"

"ideal?"

Kabuto thought for a moment, then gently shook his head.

He suddenly stopped.

"My dream is to become a medical ninja like the Hokage?"

"This isn't your wish; it's an expectation imposed on you by others. Think about it carefully."

Orochimaru suppressed his excitement.

He felt...

The boy in front of him is similar to him!

They share similar aspirations and talents.

Kabuto was silent for a few seconds before replying, "For me, that kind of thing is too far removed from reality. I just want to protect everyone and take care of everyone in the orphanage..."

"Maybe this is my wish."

Yakushi Kabuto told the truth.

Orochimaru nodded slightly, then smiled.

"If you want to protect everyone, having strong medical skills is not enough. Sometimes, your medical ninjutsu cannot help you protect everyone."

Kabuto looked at Orochimaru with a hint of wariness in his eyes, but he quickly relaxed and a respectful expression appeared on his face.

"You're right, but I'm not capable enough to do more than research medical ninjutsu and make a limited contribution."

His attempt to conceal his true intentions was all too obvious to Orochimaru.

however.

At this moment, Orochimaru's admiration grew even stronger.

This child is intelligent, talented, and possesses strong self-control and resourcefulness.

These are the qualities most needed during the research process!

but.

He fell silent for a moment.

Then, Orochimaru looked into the distance.

"When your loved ones, friends, or children fall in front of you, you will feel extremely helpless and desperate. Many people have experienced this, including me."

Orochimaru's expression darkened slightly as he spoke, and then he sighed softly.

"In this life, whether protecting those who are important to us or ourselves, we are all fighting against death. Therefore, my goal is to transcend death and become immortal!"

After he finished speaking, his figure dissolved into the earth.

"Think about it carefully. Also, I'll leave you with a question: On the battlefield, how should a medical ninja protect themselves? I'll ask you next time."

"yes!"

Kabuto Yakushi maintained his bowing posture.

After waiting for quite a while, he straightened up and adjusted his glasses.

this……

He quickly tried to figure out who the other person was.

Judging from Shizune's attitude, the other party is definitely not an ordinary person, and since they rarely appear in the village or Konoha Hospital, their strength and status must be very high.

Piecing together various pieces of information, a title quickly flashed through his mind.

The Three Ninjas.

The current Hokage is Tsunade, one of the Legendary Sannin, while Jiraiya seems to be traveling abroad, so only one person meets the above criteria.

Orochimaru!

He took a deep breath, his heart initially filled with excitement, but he quickly calmed down.

This person is indeed of high status, and his abilities and wisdom are extraordinary. He is one of the top figures in Konoha. Judging from the other party's intentions, he seems to be grooming me.

However, he is currently unsure what Orochimaru wants him to do.

"ideal."

"How can a medical ninja protect themselves?"

Full of doubts, the pharmacist slowly returned to the quiet room.

Silent is treating the wounded.

Kabuto, preoccupied with his own thoughts, didn't participate but instead pondered the task Orochimaru had left behind.

After waiting for a while, Jingyin had finished treating several wounded people and came right in front of him, but he didn't notice her.

Shizune frowned and asked in a low voice, "What did Orochimaru-sama want you to do?"

"Huh? Oh, it's nothing, just letting me think about how medical ninjas should protect themselves on the battlefield."

The pharmacist answered.

Shizune sat down and, with a smile, explained the principles of a medical ninja.

Kabuto was certainly aware of these principles and regulations, but he didn't believe that was the answer Orochimaru wanted to hear.

He thought for a moment and said, "Senior Shizune, I'd like to read some books next door. If there's a mission, I'll come over immediately."

"Can."

Jingyin knew that the other person wanted to think quietly.

She did not refuse.

The pharmacist walked over to the next room and sat down, a multitude of factors swirling in his mind.

Regulations, principles...

This is just the basics.

If you are not strong enough, you must first master the ability to analyze the situation, and then minimize your presence as much as possible to make yourself inconspicuous.

A conspicuous medical ninja often dies quickly on the battlefield.

Therefore, in terms of ability, we must make up for it through other means...

He took out a pen and notebook and quickly began to write.

Outside the window, a small snake quietly slipped in through a crack and hid on top of the cabinet, observing his every move from above.

……

"How is it?"

"very nice!"

Orochimaru's lips curled up slightly.

Jingyan was speechless.

"I mean, my puppet parts."

"Um?"

Orochimaru's gaze returned to what was in front of him, and then he looked at the enormous arm in front of him, paused slightly, and a look of amazement appeared in his eyes.

This is a wooden arm.

but.

Its entire material comes from trees formed from intercolumnar cells.

Resilient and strong.

even.

It has vitality!

This thing is rather superfluous for Kyohiko; he could probably destroy it with just a few punches. But for an ordinary ninja…

Its destructive power is terrifying!

Especially on the battlefield.

This is the significance of large summoning beasts, and the giant arm created by Kyohiko was made for such occasions.

It's a war machine!

The only flaw, the only regret, is—

"What methods do you plan to use to suppress its activity and power?"

Once this puppet is successfully manufactured and transplanted into cells and flesh, it is very likely that it will regain the expansion characteristics of the hagiography cells.

Jingyan's lips curled up slightly.

"I don't intend to suppress its active power. As long as it reaches a balance, it can work in conjunction with Wood Release."

"Yamato?"

It definitely wasn't Kyohiko himself.

"Yes, Yamato's physical condition is very special, but his own chakra is too weak to unleash the power of Wood Release itself."

Kyohiko replied, "In that case, let's create a humanoid reserve puppet for him to amplify his Wood Release ninjutsu abilities. By using the power of Wood Release, we can control it to a certain extent."

Orochimaru pondered for a while, then nodded slightly.

"If that's the case, only Yamato can use this one."

"certainly."

A few seconds later, Jingyan returned, this time with another person by his side.

Yamato.

He was bewildered, but looking around, he saw Kyohiko, Orochimaru, and the wooden arm in front of him...

Yamato's gaze gradually focused.

"Kyohiko-sama."

"Do you know chakra threads?"

Jingyan demonstrated how to use it.

Yamato shook his head blankly.

"It's alright, then you can use Wood Release ninjutsu to connect it, and then control it by inputting chakra into the wood you create, imagining it as your arm..."

Jingyan explained the usage.

The arms are hollow, allowing Yamato's hand to fit inside.

Yamato did as he was told.

Then, he tried to raise his hand.

Not moving at all!

"You need to use Wood Release to control it."

"yes!"

Yamato pondered for a while, and after several minutes, the arm, which was several times larger than a person, began to move.

A hint of surprise flashed in Orochimaru's eyes.

Is it really possible to do that?

This is wood formed from Hashirama's cells; each piece is incredibly heavy. He and Kyohiko could easily lift it, but Yamato…

How old is he?

Orochimaru looked ahead and then quickly cast a spell, and a rock appeared in front of him.

"Smash it."

Yamato nodded slightly.

then--

boom!

A punch landed.

The rocks in front were instantly smashed to pieces!

"How's your chakra consumption?"

"It doesn't feel like I've used up much energy!"

Yamato himself was quite surprised.

He couldn't possibly perform an attack of that level on his own, but with this wooden hand, he could do it easily, and it didn't consume much chakra.

Amazing!

"Let's try Wood Release again."

"Use it?"

"Yes, use the other hand to form a hand seal, and then use the right hand to perform the spell."

"yes!"

Yamato responded, then formed a hand seal with one hand while extending the other—

Wood Release: Great Forest Technique!

The wooden arm instantly transformed into several enormous vines, which surged forward like giant snakes, their momentum terrifying and utterly frightening.

"Kyohiko-kun, your talent is truly astonishing!"

Orochimaru's eyes burned with even greater excitement.

Wood Release...

It truly is a miraculous power!

but.

"Take it off, otherwise you won't be able to take it off later."

Jingyan reminded him.

Yamato paused for a moment, then immediately released his Wood Release, freeing his hand from inside.

That's when he realized...

The wood he created was actually corroded and assimilated by the "puppet's exoskeleton"! (End of Chapter)