Chapter 305: Tsunade’s Disbelief
“I am indeed using children with half Senju bloodline for experiments,” Orochimaru said.
“Tsunade, don’t be so shocked.
You just need to know that I didn’t start from scratch. When I took over the laboratory, there was already quite a bit of research data accumulated in the laboratory.
My data came from the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju.
During the Second Hokage’s reign, the village began attempting to replicate Wood Style due to the pressure from the First Great Ninja War.
Tobirama Senju used the corpses of sacrificed Senju Clan ninjas for experiments, but progress was very slow and they could never enter the most important transplant stage.
Later, Tobirama Senju recruited volunteers, some people from your Senju Clan who voluntarily became test subjects for Wood Release Research.
It’s truly miraculous…
Hashirama Senju’s cells, after decades, are still alive and still active.
I really don’t know to what extent your grandfather’s life force was when he was alive…”
Tsunade was just about to get angry, but upon hearing that the Wood Release Research was started by her second grandfather Lord Tobirama, she was momentarily unable to believe it.
She then immediately spotted the blind spot:
“Second Grandfather Tobirama’s research was a long time ago, I don’t know if it’s true or false.
But you’re not using corpses or volunteers, you’re grabbing living children!
How can you say these words so righteously and do these things?”
Orochimaru said: “Tsunade, I’m telling you directly without hiding anything, in the hope that you can grow up a bit and not act like a child who never grows up.
No matter how much you oppose it, the village must master Wood Style.
You’ve surely heard the rumors about the Hidden Cloud Village’s perfect jinchuriki. Without Wood Style, what does Konoha use to fight tailed beasts?
The legendary Uchiha Mangekyo Sharingan? Konoha will absolutely not allow a second pair of Mangekyo to appear.
Any Mangekyo Uchiha must die. The village will not allow a second Uchiha Madara to appear.
Or pile up the lives of ordinary ninjas? Or bet on the old lives of a few high-ranking officials in Konoha?
Can you deal with tailed beasts, or can I deal with tailed beasts?
I admit my methods are cruel, but my purpose is undoubtedly correct—it’s for Konoha.”
Tsunade realized she simply couldn’t convince Orochimaru, whose logic formed a complete system.
“However…” Orochimaru’s eyes shifted:
“Since you spoke up, I can try to persuade Danzo to stop grabbing children with Senju bloodline.
As for whether Danzo listens or not, I can’t guarantee that.”
The next morning, Tsunade blocked Hiruzen Sarutobi at the entrance on the first floor of the Hokage Building.
Seeing it was Tsunade, Hiruzen Sarutobi said: “Are you here to ask about Jiraiya? Jiraiya said he’s going for hardship cultivation to improve his strength. I don’t know when he’ll return either.”
Tsunade said: “Third Hokage, I’m not here to ask about Jiraiya. Whether he leaves or not has nothing to do with me.
I’m here to ask you—do you know that Root abducted children from Konoha Village, and they all have Senju Clan bloodline?”
Hiruzen Sarutobi was stunned. They were still downstairs in the Hokage Building, surrounded by assistants and strategists who had come to work early.
Hiruzen Sarutobi said: “Let’s go upstairs to talk. It’s not convenient here.”
Tsunade followed Hiruzen Sarutobi upstairs, her eyes filled with repulsion as she stared at him.
Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Tsunade’s gaze and felt somewhat sad.
Why had all three of his disciples grown into such people?
Couldn’t they be like how he was with his Second Hokage teacher?
Right up until the Second Hokage teacher’s death, he had always respected him greatly.
Hiruzen Sarutobi said: “Where did you hear this rumor?”
“That doesn’t concern you. I have my own intelligence channels.”
Hearing Tsunade’s hostile tone, Hiruzen Sarutobi thought to himself that after Root suffered successive blows, its capabilities had declined so severely.
Abducting 10 children had been discovered by Tsunade.
Heinosuke Sarutobi… Did the Sarutobi Clan really have such a traitor ninja?
Heinosuke Sarutobi had accurately struck at the soft underbelly of several high-ranking officials in Konoha.
After Danzo suffered blows, the high-ranking officials’ operations in the darkness had all been affected.
Hiruzen Sarutobi said: “Tsunade, you’re overthinking it. Children go missing in Konoha every year; they might have been abducted by spies from other villages.
Anbu cleanses dozens of spies every year, yet other villages keep sending new ones one after another.
The five great ninja villages all do this.
For example, the Hidden Cloud Village loves researching bloodline limits from other villages.
I received intelligence that the Hidden Cloud Village abducted a child from the Hidden Sand Village and actually researched out Magnet Release using that child.
From now on, Magnet Release is no longer exclusive to the Hidden Sand Village; the Hidden Cloud Village has it too.
Children with Senju bloodline going missing pains me, just like any other children missing.
Rest assured, Tsunade. I will definitely investigate strictly, assign more personnel, and give you a satisfactory answer.”
Tsunade stared at Hiruzen Sarutobi, her eyes full of absurdity and disbelief.
“Third Hokage, when did you become so hypocritical?”
Hiruzen Sarutobi’s expression changed. He had already been plenty patient with Tsunade. Her attitude made Hiruzen Sarutobi angry.
But Tsunade showed no fear of Hiruzen Sarutobi at all, saying:
“Orochimaru admitted it personally last night—he is indeed using children with Senju bloodline for experiments.
Orochimaru is evil, but his evil is open and aboveboard; he doesn’t make disgusting excuses for his wickedness.
He has his own logic. Though I hate him, I know that as long as those children are rescued, Orochimaru won’t do anything.
But you, Third Hokage—why are you being so hypocritical at a time like this?”
“Tsunade!” After shouting her name, Hiruzen Sarutobi said with utmost seriousness and determination:
“Orochimaru is conducting a critical experiment. He keeps saying the test subjects are of poor quality and don’t meet the experiment’s requirements.
Danzo and I had no choice but to lie to him, saying the new test subjects we gave him all had special bloodlines.
He believed it was true, but in reality, the test subjects are the same as before—they’re all grabbed from other villages!
Orochimaru has gone mad from doing experiments—has your brain gone wrong too?”
Tsunade looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi in disbelief, not understanding why he would quibble so much right in front of her.
Tsunade’s gaze suddenly changed.
For Wood Style, for strength—these people had gone mad.
But Hiruzen Sarutobi’s gaze was resolute; he firmly believed he was right.
Mito’s Sealing Technique had spread throughout the ninja world. In the next ninja war, Konoha’s enemies might very well be tailed beasts.
Before the ninja war, they must obtain strength sufficient to fight tailed beasts.
Even if it was the Senju Clan, even if it was Tsunade—they could not become obstacles to the village.
He would make the village continue to prosper, not be destroyed by some tailed beast!
Seeing Tsunade turn and leave with a strange look in her eyes, Hiruzen Sarutobi breathed a sigh of relief.
He called his assistant and said to the assistant: “Please summon Danzo Advisor and Lynx Squad Leader.”
Root was too weak now.
If it really didn’t work, have Lynx lead people into Root.
He just didn’t know if Danzo would be willing to give up an Anbu squad—he couldn’t have it both ways, could he?
Lynx arrived first, and Danzo entered the Hokage’s Office shortly after.
Hiruzen Sarutobi said: “Danzo, Tsunade already knows that Root grabbed some children with Senju bloodline.
You need to strengthen your defenses. Don’t let Tsunade assault Root a second time.”
