"What did you see, Tomie?" Tobirama couldn't help asking.
Could his beloved disciple have trained in some kind of forbidden technique?
Tobirama suddenly grew worried. Hiruzen couldn't have been under so much pressure that he'd taken a dangerous shortcut and gotten himself lost down the narrow path of forbidden techniques...
Konohagakure couldn't afford to lose him!
"You wouldn't understand even if I told you. Young people need to keep their feet firmly on the ground."
Tomie glanced at Tobirama and said meaningfully, "Some people always believe they're among Konohagakure's finest, but compared to a truly powerful shinobi..."
Tomie shook her head with a sigh.
"You mustn't lose yourself in the glory of your bloodline, waste your time, and then start panicking once you realize there's no road left ahead."
Tobirama's expression darkened.
Kid, you weren't even born yet when I was cutting down Uchiha!
How are you already lecturing me as though you're my senior?!
The problem was that, judging solely by their ages in this lifetime, Tomie really was older than him.
{Tomie is right, Seisui. Although you possess the bloodlines of both the Senju and Uchiha, meaning you were born standing at the finish line that many shinobi will never reach, you must not become arrogant because of it.}
Izuna picked up the subject from within him.
{Many powerful shinobi in the ninja world lack the bloodlines of either the Senju or Uchiha, yet have still achieved extraordinary things through their own abilities.}
{Some may even possess the potential to threaten shinobi like my brother and Hashirama.}
{Take your maternal grandfather, Senju Tobirama. His combat system has little connection to his Senju bloodline. Both his terrifying sensory abilities and his various forbidden techniques were developed through training and hard work.}
{Had he merely indulged in the chakra granted by his Senju constitution, Senju Tobirama would never have been worthy of becoming my opponent. My greatest regret is that I failed to develop my abilities outside the Sharingan system in a more balanced manner...}
Izuna spoke with heartfelt earnestness.
Tobirama found the speech both gratifying and almost impossible to endure.
The gratifying part was learning that Izuna had apparently been won over by his combat system and all the sweat he'd poured into it.
The unbearable part was that, after so many years, he felt as though he'd returned to the Warring States Period and was once again being subjected to his father Butsuma's signature style of comparative parenting...
'What would a child like you know? Go train!'
'Just look at how much better that other child is!'
Standing nearby, Hiruko watched the scene with an expression of pure enjoyment. He took a deeply intoxicated breath, as though savoring the sweetness produced by everyone's reactions.
Back when Sarutobi Hiruzen had fought Hanzō, Hiruko had only heard Tsunade and Orochimaru recount the battle after returning, and deeply regretted not having witnessed it himself...
Then, when Hiruzen fought Jiraiya, the cunning Orochimaru had switched duty shifts with Hiruko in advance, once again preventing Hiruzen's number-one fan from personally witnessing the Hokage in action...
Hiruko had nearly exploded with rage!
So today, when Hiruzen came to conduct an inspection, Hiruko immediately darted forward and stuck closely behind Hokage-sama, remaining half a step back as he introduced the Research Division's development throughout the entire tour...
In a sense, Hiruko could be considered one of Sarutobi Hiruzen's most devoted fans. Whenever he saw someone shocked by the Hokage, he couldn't help feeling a sincere urge to laugh.
Hokage-sama was his one true oshi...
Everything Hiruko witnessed today had left him completely satisfied!
The Mangekyō Sharingan was certainly powerful, but this was Konohagakure...
And Konohagakure had Hokage-sama!
"Go ahead and tell me. It's all right..." Hiruzen asked with considerable curiosity.
He also wanted to know just how far Tomie's Mangekyō dōjutsu could go.
At Isshin's urging, Tomie had not concealed her Mangekyō abilities and had instead reported them to the village.
Even so, Hiruzen was very interested in personally observing such an absurd detection ability and intuition bordering on precognition. He also couldn't help marveling at the strength of the Uchiha clan.
No wonder Tobirama-sensei had been so wary of the Uchiha...
With a single awakening, they could leap across a gap that others might not bridge even after twenty years of painstaking effort. Who wouldn't be stunned by that?
Tomie hesitated briefly before recounting Kuebiko's analysis and Kotoshironushi's warning.
Hiruzen listened with a somewhat peculiar expression.
He had played games when he was younger, and the description gave him the distinct impression of a status panel and an incoming-attack warning...
The Uchiha truly had extraordinary imaginations!
As expected of the Eye that Reflects the Heart...
"A very powerful ability..."
Hiruzen pondered for a moment.
"For a shinobi, intelligence is a second life. It can also be used to predict the direction scientific research should take..."
Should Konohagakure ever come under attack by a powerful enemy, Tomie's ability could instantly eliminate the information gap and grant the village an enormous intelligence advantage.
For example, against that unidentified powerhouse who was highly suspected of being Madara...
Although, aside from Hiruzen himself, more and more Konoha shinobi were beginning to believe it had actually been Tobirama...
Tomie obediently listened to the Hokage's guidance.
"However, I also know a little about the shortcomings of the Mangekyō's ocular power. Every use causes irreversible damage, so you must exercise caution."
Hiruzen shifted the subject. "Tomie, your ability can help the village envision a brighter future, but your personal development is also part of the village's development..."
"You must treasure your ocular power. Orochimaru told me that derivative research into Hashirama-sama's cells revealed that Yin-nature chakra, such as that of the Sharingan, suppresses their activity."
"But we have now discovered that this is actually a derivative phenomenon caused by mutual complementation. Hashirama-sama's cells may also be capable of replenishing the Sharingan's ocular power."
"You have contributed greatly to Konohagakure. Both I, as Hokage, and everyone else in the village will remember that. I hope the village's achievements will one day be able to repay you..."
"A day will come when the problem afflicting the ocular power of the Uchiha's Mangekyō can be properly resolved."
Hiruzen spoke in a solemn tone.
Over the past two months, reports about Tomie from Orochimaru and Hiruko had poured in like sheets of paper, repeatedly demonstrating to him just how astonishing the Mangekyō was.
After marveling at the Mangekyō's almost unrestricted capabilities, however, Hiruzen had become even more concerned about how Tomie used it.
Or perhaps this was simply the Uchiha clan's distinctive habit of going all in...
Whether it was Tomie or even the normally cautious Isshin, the moment power became involved, they both liked to throw every trump card in their hands onto the table at once...
As though their Mangekyō ocular power would expire if they didn't use it immediately.
Even Fugaku, who had yet to awaken the Mangekyō, showed a similar tendency whenever gaining power was involved.
Hiruzen had heard that, despite two failed surgeries, Fugaku had shown no intention whatsoever of backing down...
He was simply going to keep at it!
The story had made Hiruzen laugh. He truly had no idea what to do with this bunch of red-eyed lunatics.
That was also why he had come today: to warn Tomie that the Mangekyō needed to be developed sustainably...
Rather than burning brightly for a moment and then fading away.
"I understand, Hokage-sama!" Tomie was briefly startled before warmth filled her heart.
Was this what it felt like to be cared for by an elder?
Tomie had never experienced this kind of familial affection in her life.
Her grandfather and grandmother had only ever spoken of revenge. Far from telling her to conserve her Mangekyō ocular power, they would probably have worried that they weren't placing enough pressure on her...
"Sensei, I am actively advancing this project. I expect us to achieve results within three years, and an initial practical application of Hashirama-sama's cells should be feasible."
"As you know, Hashirama-sama's cells are far too aggressive. Although we have now found a way to suppress them, we still need to conduct as many trials as possible to ensure safety and stability."
"With Mito-sama's approval, we have already obtained Yamato's cells to serve as a reference. We are now using the method selected by Tomie to rigorously finalize the detailed procedures..."
Hiruzen nodded and patted Orochimaru on the shoulder.
"Good! I have always felt at ease leaving the Research Division in your hands. You must follow the established regulations strictly when it comes to the schedule. Do not loosen your standards in the slightest merely to produce results. I can continue holding things together for the village for some time yet..."
Hiruzen did not imitate Hanzō by saying, 'Don't rush, but make sure you're fast...'
Amegakure's basic processing work could be pushed harder through sheer determination, increasing production capacity to a certain extent.
But the Konoha Research Division handled cutting-edge, highly sophisticated projects. Orochimaru, Hiruko, and the others were already doing their utmost. Placing additional pressure on them would only prove counterproductive.
Orochimaru smiled knowingly. He had expected his teacher to say exactly that...
"Tomie, your situation is rather unusual."
Orochimaru pondered before continuing.
"In truth, First-sama's cells are not the only ones that may benefit the Sharingan. Yang-nature chakra and corresponding cells may all have an effect, including those of the Uzumaki, whose bloodline closely resembles that of the Senju..."
"Fundamentally, this is a special form of complementation between Yin- and Yang-nature chakra."
"You absorbed a large quantity of Uzumaki Shio's blood, which contained her chakra and vitality. That may be what distinguishes you from the ordinary Mangekyō Uchiha described in the historical records."
Tomie's expression changed dramatically.
She had believed that by using her Mangekyō Sharingan, she had made so many contributions to Konohagakure...
She had established the research project for Seisui involving the transformation of the Box of Ultimate Bliss and the Zero-Tails, and had also found a direction for Shio to control tailed-beast chakra through Fūinjutsu...
The score was almost even!
How had she somehow ended up owing Shio in the end?
"What's with that expression? Isn't this a good thing?"
Orochimaru looked at Tomie strangely. "Aren't you and Shio very close? I always see the two of you training and conducting research together..."
The way Shio and Tomie interacted reminded Orochimaru of himself and Jiraiya.
Although the details differed, the overall impression was almost exactly the same—the only difference was their gender.
As for Seisui, who occasionally joined their discussions, Orochimaru considered him the equivalent of Tsunade on Team Hiruzen. The depth of his bond with them was still a level below theirs.
Combined with Seisui's abysmal emotional intelligence, Orochimaru's verdict was that sooner or later, he would be told to go find somewhere else to be useless...
Still, Orochimaru doubted Seisui would care, since the two of them were very much alike.
Research shinobi of the Tobirama School had never been particularly interested in romance. Everyone had far too much work to do...
Seisui was even more withdrawn than Orochimaru.
It was almost as though he could converse with himself. He would often suddenly freeze in place, only to emerge with some new idea...
After work, he simply went home and talked with his younger brothers. He had little interest in socializing outside the family.
Even if he wanted children, given the speed at which Konoha's technology was advancing, it might eventually be possible for him to make one himself...
Perhaps not merely one or two. He might even create six or seven, entirely according to his own wishes.
"I suppose we're fairly close..." Tomie replied with a carefully controlled expression. "That woman just talks too much sometimes..."
"No one asked you that..."
Orochimaru chuckled. "In any case, if used properly, your ocular power could also help Uzumaki Shio develop her Kekkei Genkai."
"If the two of you can obtain data on how ocular power and Kekkei Genkai complement each other, it will also assist our research into First-sama's cells. This is a new assignment from the Research Division."
"I've already spoken to Shio. She said she has no objections. Now it depends on you."
Tomie's expression darkened upon hearing that. "She really said that?"
Orochimaru nodded lightly.
"Honestly, that woman... Fine, I have no objections either. I understand..." Tomie replied with a sigh.
Hiruzen struggled to keep a straight face.
It seemed another link had formed in Konoha's vast chain of bonds.
Even he, the Hokage, was powerless to do anything about it. Perhaps this, too, was a manifestation of the Will of Fire...
"Hokage-sama, may I join Root?" After hesitating for a moment, Tomie finally made her request.
In the current Konohagakure, Root had become an organization everyone aspired to join...
In the eyes of the village's shinobi, they themselves could all be considered warriors who upheld the Will of Fire, but the members of Root were heroes who had rendered exceptional service to the village and deserved everyone's respect...
"Hmm..." Hiruzen considered it briefly before nodding. "Of course. Your addition to Root will further enrich everything it represents!"
"Thank you, Hokage-sama!" Tomie said sincerely.
Hiruzen chuckled.
Root was attracting more and more unusual talents these days. It was practically turning into a grand gathering of monsters...
The very thought made Hiruzen want to laugh.
Tomie's dōjutsu sent the Research Division's progress soaring through the heavens. On the ground, Uzumaki Shio researched tailed-beast chakra. In the distance, Hizashi watched over everything, while Might Duy stood in the middle, shedding tears as he proclaimed the power of youth.
The scene was further decorated by the Aburame clan's nanoscopic venomous insects, the art-loving Ida, the Iburi clan's smoke, and the combined techniques of the Ino–Shika–Chō...
But none of that had anything to do with the Hokage. He could leave Danzō and Tobirama-sensei to worry about it!
Hiruzen only needed to appear occasionally and bring everyone together...
'Still, Tomie's analysis of me indirectly confirms that the inscriptions on the Sage of Six Paths' stone tablet were true...'
'The invisible Kekkei Genkai threads I developed are probably the unanalyzable chakra aggregates she mentioned...'
Hiruzen smiled and waved farewell to everyone.
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