Naruto: I'm really not an evil scientist!

Orochimaru's snake-like eyes narrowed slightly, revealing a meaningful smile: "You and Danzo are ultimately not on the same side. Those children... are they more than just bargaining chips to you?"

His voice suddenly lowered, taking on a seductive rhythm: "At the Root, you're nothing more than a knife in his hand, but here—"

Orochimaru tapped the scroll lightly with his long fingers: "You just need to use your best medical ninjutsu to cultivate some useful talents."

Nonou raised her eyes, her gaze sharp: "It's that simple?"

“Of course…” Orochimaru slowly uttered two words, then suddenly changed the subject, “as long as you do me a small favor.”

A dangerous smile appeared on his pale face: "You should be very familiar with the Root's collection, right?"

The air froze instantly.

Nonou's pupils contracted sharply, then quickly regained their composure: "You mean...?"

"Hashirama cells, forbidden scrolls, Danzo's shady research..." Orochimaru's tongue brushed across the corner of his mouth.

"Tell me everything you know."

Nonou frowned slightly: "Is this the Hokage's intention?"

"Heh..." Orochimaru let out a soft laugh.

"From now on, all of these will be under the jurisdiction of the Research Department!"

"I'm just worried..."

Orochimaru's voice suddenly turned icy: "Our dear Lord Danzo is unlikely to hand over everything so readily."

He took a step forward, shadows looming over Nonou: "And my patience has always been limited."

The next day, the air in the Hokage's office seemed to freeze.

The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, rubbed his temples, his gaze shifting between the furious Danzo and the indifferent Orochimaru.

The two figures, one standing and the other still, one burning with anger and the other cold as ice, made the already gloomy room even more oppressive.

"Hiruzen!" Danzo slammed his cane down, his knuckles turning white from the force. "Are you really going to let Orochimaru hollow out Root?!"

Orochimaru didn't even lift his eyelids, his voice calm to the point of being indifferent: "They're just useless research materials; it's a waste to keep them at Root."

He completely ignored Danzo's gaze that seemed to pierce him, and even a faint hint of mockery appeared on the corner of his mouth.

"Orochimaru!" A stern rebuke came from outside the door.

Koharu and Homura entered side by side, their steps steady and powerful.

Mitokado Homura stood beside Danzo, his voice low but firm: "Hiruzen, Danzo's negligence deserves punishment, but the foundation of Root cannot be shaken—Konoha still needs it."

Orochimaru chuckled, his voice hoarse and dangerous: "Don't worry, I only took two people and some scraps with me. The strength of Root... is completely unharmed."

Xiaochun ignored his explanation and looked directly at the third generation: "The village has just started to improve and cannot afford the drain of a new department—talent, funds, long-term investment, each one is a burden."

"We need to think about the long term," Mitokado Yan added at the opportune moment.

Hiruzen's gaze swept over everyone—Danzo's gloom, Orochimaru's indifference, the solemnity of the two advisors—before finally landing on Minato Namikaze, who was always smiling.

He sighed inwardly.

They were all doing it for Konoha, yet each had their own agenda.

Orochimaru was obsessed with research, but at least he never betrayed anyone.

Perhaps... having him cooperate with Hiruko and then allocating some of the Root forces could stabilize the situation?

“Those experimental subjects can’t be exposed to the light of day,” Mitokado Yan said in a low voice.

"Once the new department is established, the secrets will be out of reach."

Koharu Tsurugi then added, "Human experimentation ultimately violates human ethics."

Hiruzen Sarutobi couldn't help but frown.

Danzo's lips curled up almost imperceptibly.

He knew Hiruzen all too well—and these two old friends knew even better how to hit his weak spot.

Orochimaru said in a sinister tone, "Heh, are you sure?"

Chapter 11: Putting the facts aside!

After hearing Koharu Utatane's words, the Third Generation indeed showed a hesitant expression.

When Orochimaru saw this, he couldn't help but frown, secretly lamenting that his teacher was far from having the bold and heroic spirit of his youth.

Sure enough, time left indelible marks on him, gradually eroding his former vigor.

At this moment, Hiruzen Sarutobi felt increasingly powerless. Fortunately, the new Hokage had arrived, and he could assist him for a while.

In my youth, I had a decisive and resolute style of doing things, but now I have gradually lost my edge and toughness.

In the profession of ninja, having experienced countless wars, the survival rate of missions is already low. The fact that he has lived to this age already makes him a long-lived person.

If you count them up, it seems that only Onoki from Iwagakure is older than him.

At this moment, all he wants is for the village to develop steadily and without any major disturbances.

Koharu's words undoubtedly threw another stone into his already wavering heart.

"Shouldn't we be setting things right then and there?" Seeing that his teacher was wavering, Orochimaru's eyes flashed with disappointment, and he spoke up.

"It is precisely because of the cold-bloodedness and lack of discipline at the root that a series of tragedies have occurred."

The establishment of the research department is solely for the purpose of establishing rules and reducing unnecessary sacrifices in the village; only in this way can similar tragedies be prevented from recurring.

Danzo suddenly looked at Orochimaru, who had spoken, and snorted coldly: "I admit that the Root is ruthless."

But compared to Orochimaru, you are far more ruthless!

You were the mastermind behind the Wood Release experiment, and you were also the mastermind behind all the research.

Even if I made mistakes, does that mean you, Orochimaru, are some kind of good person?

Putting aside the facts, Orochimaru should bear absolute responsibility for this!

How could Orochimaru, a ruthless person who treats experimental subjects, say such a thing?

Are you still the Orochimaru I know?

Mitokado Homura couldn't help but frown, pondering Orochimaru's changes in his heart.

“Mitomon-senpai, the reason all of this happened is Danzo, who is right beside you.”

When he attacked Hiruko, did he ever care about ordinary ninjas, or even me?

"Hiruko was my subordinate back then!" Orochimaru replied coldly.

"If I remember correctly, the Ino-Shika-Cho trio really supported Hiruzen-sensei back then, helping him stabilize the village's alliance. Be content, or else I'll invite Akimichi Torifu-senpai over to judge this matter."

Orochimaru coldly cut off what Mitokado Homura was about to say.

After being reprimanded by Orochimaru, Mitokado Homura felt a bit uncomfortable. He glared at Danzo and cursed him inwardly for being too ruthless and leaving such a big hidden danger.

Danzo's face grew increasingly grim. He hadn't expected that what he had previously considered a trivial matter would cause so many changes.

After all, the fact that Hiruko was assassinated is already confirmed, and a large number of Root ninjas died back then.

"That's settled then. I've already agreed to Orochimaru and Hiruko's requests regarding personnel transfers and the creation of the technology development department."

The third generation leader finally made up his mind, almost displaying his usual decisiveness, and swiftly stopped everyone's discussion, making a decision.

The Fourth Hokage has not yet fully taken control of the situation, and the Third Hokage has made the final decision, leaving the two advisors speechless.

Minato Namikaze, standing to the side, fully supported the decision and naturally had no objections.

However, the third generation leader still gave them a way out, offering some consolation: "The village's economy is really unable to support the creation of a new department. Some initial funds can be allocated, and the subsequent expenses will be raised by the Technology Development Department itself."

The third generation added.

"Hmph!" Danzo snorted coldly, unable to get what he wanted, and turned to leave the Hokage's office, which had made him feel so embarrassed, leaning on his cane.

At the same time, his desire for the Hokage position burned like a raging fire: "I must get the Hokage position!"

Seeing Danzo leave, Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu exchanged a sigh and fell silent.

Meanwhile, Orochimaru and Shisui were talking about the Uchiha clan.

"Lord Orochimaru, do you wish to visit our clan leader?" Shisui was somewhat caught off guard.

After all, Orochimaru belonged to the Third Hokage's lineage and had never had a good impression of the Uchiha clan.

Of the three generations of the Uchiha clan, only the newly appointed Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, had a slightly better impression of the Uchiha clan.

Zhi Shui took a deep breath and nodded in agreement: "The clan leader will be very happy to see you."

He knew he was just a messenger at the moment, but that didn't stop him from saying those words based on his understanding of the clan leader.

The clan leader has been suppressed by the higher-ups for a long time. If he has the opportunity to integrate into the higher-ups, he will definitely do everything he can.

Orochimaru nodded and said, "Tomorrow, I'll go tomorrow night."

After explaining the situation, he left in a hurry.

The research department is currently in dire need of rebuilding and is essentially an empty shell, with countless tasks awaiting his attention.

As for Hiruko, that guy secretly slipped away at some unknown time, and his whereabouts are a mystery. Orochimaru couldn't find him for a while.

Orochimaru has decided to select an advisor from the Nara clan to be in charge of his daily life.

That night, Orochimaru came to visit at Hiruko's villa.

"Hiruko, your suggestion last time was very interesting. Although Wood Release is a bloodline limit composed of water and earth chakra attributes, its vigorous life force is like that of Yang Release."

Perhaps the Wood Release Kekkei Genkai that the First Hokage initially created was a fusion of the Water, Earth, and Yang attributes.

Therefore, the key to curbing the phagocytic and expansive nature of primary cells lies in finding another force that can counteract and balance them.

According to your idea, if it is possible to counteract and weaken it to a level that ordinary ninjas can withstand, then it can naturally be made into a strengthening potion.

Perhaps Wood Release could be used by all ninjas!

Orochimaru became more and more excited as he spoke, rattling off his words like a machine gun, his eyes gleaming with a fiery light.

"I have investigated Konoha, so all the data related to Wood Release and the historical records of the Senju clan are available."

I believe that this power is most suited to the bloodline limit of the Uchiha clan.