Hashirama Cells

Their senior brother wouldn't have already been researching that forbidden jutsu, would he?

"I happened to be researching a forbidden jutsu left by the Second Hokage recently. That jutsu can allow your wife's soul to manifest physically and live in this world indefinitely."

There were many methods to enhance vitality that Orochimaru had at his disposal, but Sakumo's wife was just an ordinary person with a weak body, and most of them would be too much for her to bear.

The method Orochimaru proposed now was the simplest and most direct, but it challenged the common moral views of ordinary people.

Upon hearing this, Kizaru had already confirmed the name of the forbidden jutsu: "Edo Tensei!"

Sakumo would never accept such a method, Kizaru was certain in his heart.

However, Kizaru didn't stop Orochimaru from explaining further.

In Kizaru's view, whether it could be accepted or not should be left for Sakumo to decide.

"That's the Forbidden Jutsu of Resurrection, called Edo Tensei! It can summon the souls of deceased individuals back to this world in an immortal form," Orochimaru continued to explain.

"Revive the dead?"

This solution was a bit hard for Sakumo to accept; he just wanted his wife to live well.

"Is there a better way, Orochimaru?" Sakumo asked nervously, looking at Orochimaru.

Nodding, Orochimaru invited, "Follow me!"

With that, Orochimaru turned and walked towards the passage leading to the laboratory.

Exchanging a glance with Kizaru, Sakumo hurriedly followed.

Back in the laboratory, standing in front of the dissecting table, Orochimaru reached out and touched the wood clone left by Madara, his eyes gleaming strangely.

"Sakumo, you should have seen this wood clone before."

Sakumo, who had participated in the mission to support Kizaru, nodded as he looked at the wood clone.

"I found a large number of Hashirama cells in this wood clone, containing powerful vitality."

"Hashirama cells?" Sakumo asked, puzzled, looking at Orochimaru.

"They are cells from the body of the First Hokage, Senju Hashirama," Kizaru helped explain from Sakumo's side.

"The First Hokage's body has incredibly strong self-healing abilities, and the cells within his body contain extremely vigorous vitality.

Since the Second Hokage's time, the village has been researching the Hashirama cells left behind by the First Hokage," Orochimaru added.

Surprised, Sakumo encountered such classified information for the first time.

"If I'm not mistaken, the reason why Madara was able to live for so long is because he transplanted Hashirama cells," Orochimaru speculated as he looked at Sakumo and Kizaru.

Honestly, Sakumo, who had been given a lesson today, felt like he was in a completely different world compared to his previous self and Orochimaru's group.

Had the village's technology really advanced so much?

"And Sakumo, the main reason why your wife is in poor health is because of her weak vitality."

Upon hearing this, Sakumo understood. These Hashirama cells could help his wife.

"Are you suggesting transplanting these Hashirama cells into my wife?" Sakumo asked curiously.

"That is a fundamental solution to your wife's health problems," Orochimaru replied.

Hearing this, a sense of hope rose in Sakumo's heart. It was the first time he had seen a glimmer of hope.

"However, the technology is not yet mature enough to transplant them into your wife."

Just as the flame of hope was kindled, it was extinguished by a bucket of cold water. Sakumo's expression turned uncomfortable.

"How much longer until it's mature?" Anxiously, Sakumo asked, holding onto his last bit of hope.

"I don't know," Orochimaru replied regretfully, shaking his head.

The hope that had just arisen was completely shattered, and Sakumo's mood plummeted.

"The Hashirama cells contain vigorous vitality, which can strengthen a person's physique and even awaken Wood Release Bloodline Limit.

But the problem with transplantation lies here as well; the incredibly strong vitality of the Hashirama cells is not something an ordinary person can withstand."

Based on past test results, none of the test subjects who received Hashirama cells could withstand the vigorous vitality of those cells.

"Are there any other methods?" Sakumo's heart sank to the bottom upon hearing this, but he still didn't give up and asked.

Shaking his head, Orochimaru revealed the biggest difficulty.

"The biggest challenge in solving your wife's health issues is that she is not a ninja and cannot refine chakra."

After years of seeking medical help, Sakumo also understood that this was the most difficult point.

"Regarding the transplantation of Hashirama cells, I do have an idea." Kizaru, who was familiar with the plot, knew about the method to suppress Hashirama cells, but he wasn't sure if Sakumo's wife could endure it.

Looking at Kizaru together, Orochimaru's eyes were filled with curiosity, while Sakumo's eyes were filled with hope and anticipation.

"If Madara was able to transplant Hashirama cells and thereby prolong his life, even mastering the Wood Release kekkei genkai, does that mean that the Uchiha clan's bloodline can effectively suppress or integrate Hashirama cells?"

Upon hearing Kizaru's speculation, Orochimaru's eyes lit up instantly, inspiration striking him.

"If medical ninjutsu that can cure the body utilizes Yang Release chakra, then the First Hokage's vigorous vitality and self-healing abilities might also be due to the large amount of Yang Release chakra within him.

Similarly, the Sharingan of the Uchiha clan is the Eye of Insight, representing the spiritual Yin Release chakra.

And Madara's successful transplantation of Hashirama cells might be because of the fusion of Yang Release and Yin Release chakra." Kizaru continued to reveal some rough plot information he remembered.

"The fusion of Yin and Yang..." Orochimaru's eyes became brighter and more spirited as he pondered Kizaru's words seriously.

"What an interesting conjecture! Very impressive!" Orochimaru sincerely praised Kizaru.

After praising Kizaru, Orochimaru turned to Sakumo again and said hopefully, "If Kizaru's conjecture is correct, then there is hope for success in the transplantation of Hashirama cells."

"What can I do?" Sakumo's mood rose and fell like a roller coaster upon hearing that there was hope for the successful transplantation of Hashirama cells.

"Have the Uchiha clan participate in the experiment," Orochimaru said eagerly.

With a wry smile, Sakumo understood the difficulty involved.

Dealing with the village's top brass, especially the Hokage lineage, was extremely difficult. The proud Uchiha clan was unlikely to agree to participate in the experiment.

"Is there a great risk for the Uchiha clan to participate in the experiment?" Although he wanted to cure his wife, Sakumo didn't want to sacrifice others' lives.

"I cannot give you an answer. I can only say that none of the shinobi who previously participated in the Hashirama cell transplantation experiments survived," Orochimaru stated the cruel truth.

Shaken, Sakumo fell silent.

"Let's forget about such experiments!" Shaking his head, Sakumo, who valued his companions, spoke with some difficulty.

"Sakumo, you may have misunderstood something." Looking at Sakumo, who already knew how cruel such experiments were, Kizaru explained, "These experiments have been going on in the village for a long time. Even if your wife weren't sick, the experiments would continue. Especially now that there's a potential direction for success."

"But... the Uchiha clan..." Sakumo stopped halfway through his sentence.

As a high-ranking member of the ANBU, Sakumo naturally understood the village's means.

"The experiments don't necessarily need living subjects from the Uchiha clan. Having Uchiha cells and Sharingan is enough." Orochimaru licked his lips excitedly.

"The village won't allow Uchiha shinobi to participate in live experiments." As a disciple of the Senju clan and the Hokage, Kizaru knew all too well about the conflict between the village and the Uchiha.

Due to the Uchiha clan's strength and madness, the village had been closely monitoring them since the Second Hokage's time.

In contrast, the Uchiha clan, which had jointly founded Konoha with the Senju clan, had never given up their desire for the Hokage position.

The conflict between the village's top brass and the Uchiha clan was not only a continuation of the Second Hokage's policies but also a struggle of interests between two factions.

Moreover, as the only independent ninja clan in the village with its own fully formed ninja force, the Uchiha clan was a source of great concern for the Hokage faction.

For rulers, the most dreaded thing is not having subordinates with rebellious intentions, but having rebellious power.

The strongest force in the ninja world, which gave birth to formidable individuals like Madara, has always shouted slogans about claiming the position of Hokage.

This kind of Uchiha clan, besides accepting super-strong individuals like Hashirama as Hokage, would be dreaded and suppressed if anyone else from their clan became the Hokage.

To be honest, Kizaru had a very low opinion of the future rebellion process of the Uchiha clan!

"Which family's uprising for power is accompanied by meetings and slogans every day?"

"Why don't you write another diary?"

"Dogs only bite when they're not called. Dogs that bark loudly every day only get beaten!"

However, despite his disdain, Kizaru didn't have any inherent discrimination against the Uchiha clan.

In Kizaru's view, the extremely proud and arrogant Uchiha clan were simply a group of outstanding tools.

If Kizaru, with absolute strength, became Hokage in the future, not only would he not suppress the Uchiha clan, but he would also make good use of them.

"I'll take care of convincing the Uchiha clan." Kizaru, who had already figured out how to persuade the Uchiha clan, spoke up.

Sakumo, grateful to the point of being moved, looked at Kizaru with eyes that were almost taking his form.

It could be said that from today onwards, even if Kizaru arranged for a mission that would lead to Sakumo's death, Sakumo would definitely accept it without hesitation in order to repay his debt.

"Or let Elder Danzo handle it! Kizaru." In Orochimaru's view, threatening the Uchiha was something Danzo was specialized in.

Not wanting his own uncle, who was a troublemaker, to get involved, Orochimaru, who took the initiative to take on this difficult task, joked with a smirk, "That would be too scary!"

"Hehehe!" Understanding what Orochimaru was joking about, Danzo chuckled along.

"Scary? Then why laugh?"

Sakumo, feeling out of place once again, couldn't help but feel puzzled.

"Well, I look forward to your good news, Kizaru!" Excited to try out the research ideas Kizaru provided, Orochimaru said eagerly.

"Oh-ho-ho! Uchiha and the like are actually quite easy to tame." With a confident yet somewhat lecherous smile, Kizaru replied.

This answer wasn't just bragging on Kizaru's part; in his view, taming the Uchiha clan was really quite simple.

Just two things were needed!

One, the ability to fight, to make the Uchiha clan acknowledge your strength, just like Hashirama did back in the day.

Two, to give them hope. The Uchiha clan's biggest grievance stemmed from Madara's betrayal of the village, combined with their resentment towards the Senju clan, and their naturally proud and unlikeable personalities.

They had been invisibly marginalized by the village, unable to participate in the village's power games.

Therefore, in Kizaru's view, as long as you give them a channel to participate in village management and compete for the position of Hokage, combined with the first point, it would be easy to subdue the Uchiha.