While the Chuunin Exams continued forward, Hiruzen sat in his office, contemplating on his circumstances.
Ever since Danzo's death, he had been deceiving everyone. That fight had taken a lot out of him.
He changed his views after killing an old friend.
His moral bottom line gradually crumbled.
His eyes no longer saw light, blinded by the same jutsu that turned one of his hands to dust.
"Sigh,"
Unfortunately, Hiruzen couldn't afford to show weakness in front of those who believed in him.
Even more for those who feared him.
So, he had to deceive everyone. Hiding behind a façade of lies and illusions.
Even Suguru, the ever-perceptive child who could see so much, hadn't been able to glean his abnormality. In fact, it was as if the boy had subconsciously ignored it.
"…What an incredible jutsu this is," Hiruzen was torn between awe and lamentation.
All of this was done with the help of Uchiha Itachi.
The Eternal Mangekyou Sharingan, born from Tsukuyomi and Kotoamatsukami, had given birth to a very potent pair of eyes. Itachi's diligence gave birth to varying and powerful applications of the two Dojutsu.
The subtlety from the Kotoamatsukami and potency from the Tsukuyomi created a Mephistophelian balance when mixed correctly.
Like the true whisper of a temptress, Itachi had created a Genjutsu that altered the perception of anyone whose senses held Hiruzen in their regard.
This jutsu was thus given the name Ame-no-Uzume.
A Genjutsu of pure deception.
"—Sigh."
Hiruzen gazed out the window, falling deeper into his reveries.
How was he going to return to his former strength?
Hashirama's cells remained the most obvious solution. The First Hokage's regenerative abilities could both restore his sight and regrow his missing hand.
After all, many had sought this power throughout history. Orochimaru had experimented with it for decades. Danzo had implanted the cells into his arm alongside stolen Sharingan.
It was, in a way, a very foolproof avenue.
"Hmm,"
Hiruzen's thoughts inadvertently turned to Naruto's old heart, now preserved in a seal-marked container in the village's most secure vault.
The heart continued to beat long after its removal, pulsing with the Kyuubi's chakra. The fox's regenerative properties might prove to be a powerful alternative.
However, there were psychological dangers. The undeniable chance that the Kyuubi's influence might seep into his mind made him wary.
Luckily, more options still presented themselves.
His fingers traced the outline of a scroll on his desk — detailed notes on Fugaku's Mangekyou Sharingan, which he had confiscated from Danzo's research.
These eyes could compensate for his blindness, perhaps even enhance his perceptive abilities beyond what he once possessed.
The allure of having the Mangekyou Sharingan tempted him.
Ultimately, however, Hiruzen pushed the scroll away.
"Perhaps not,"
Using the Uchiha Clan's stolen Kekkei Genkai would only perpetuate the cycle of exploitation that had brought them to the brink of rebellion once before.
It was then.
—Tak. Tak. Tak.
A knock interrupted his contemplation.
"…Enter."
The door opened to reveal a figure shrouded in a white coat and mask. Flawless and pristine.
"The analysis is complete, Lord Third." The figure's voice was void of emotion.
Hiruzen nodded. The first option was still the most effective solution. Thus, the Anbu's research team had been working on culturing Hashirama's Cells as Orochimaru and Danzo had done in the past.
"What are the results?" A hint of expectation found its way into Hiruzen's tone.
"…Difficult to say," The researcher shook his head, "The probability of you losing control of the cells hasn't gone down. Lord First's cells have been having too many adverse reactions with your own cells, Lord Third."
"…Show me."
Hiruzen stood up and suddenly frowned.
"Wait. Before that, have you received Hiryu Suguru's help?"
"…Who is that, Lord Third?" The researcher paused.
"I told him to report to the Anbu…" Hiruzen squinted, seemingly speaking to himself. "Did he forget?"
"…"
Hearing Hiruzen's mutters, the researcher could only stay silent. Was this Hiryu Suguru someone special?
* * *
—Tap, tap, tap, tap.
Hiruzen followed the researcher through an underground facility, his steps echoing through the eerie halls.
The Anbu's labs snaked beneath Konoha like a hidden circulatory system, making it difficult for any intruder to navigate whilst spreading to cover the entire village to allow for swift combative dispatch.
—Tap, tap, tap, tap.
Just like this, they passed through three security checkpoints, each requiring blood samples and chakra verification. Hiruzen went through the motions, allowing the guards to have a drop of his blood and kneading his chakra whenever necessary.
—Creak.
After several minutes of rigorous verification, the final door opened to reveal a vast chamber bathed in the ominous light blue glow of cultivation tanks.
"Our primary cultivation chamber," the researcher gestured to the rows of glass cylinders, illuminated by special lights. "We've isolated seventeen distinct strains of Hashirama's cells."
Hiruzen approached the nearest tank. Inside, small, unassuming blobs of white flesh were suspended in a hazy blue liquid.
"This particular strain shows the most promise for tissue regeneration without the mental contamination effects."
"What's the rejection rate with my cells?" Hiruzen asked.
"A staggering eighty-seven percent in our tests. The cells attempt to overwrite the tissue we give it, instead of integrating obediently."
Hiruzen nodded. His expression was calm, as if unbothered by the still-high rejection rate of his body and the First Hokage's cells.
Nonetheless, the researcher sighed, feeling Hiruzen's bubbling disappointment. The researcheer then led Hiruzen to another section of the lab where a single container sat isolated from the others. Inside, Naruto's heart continued its rhythmic beating, suspended in a nutrient-filled solution and continuously supplied with chakra.
"So it's still alive," Hiruzen murmured, hearing the familiar rhythm. "After all this time..."
"Indeed. The Kyuubi's chakra had created a self-sustaining system. We've documented cellular regeneration occurring at the microscopic level. The heart repairs itself faster than our instruments can detect damage."
Hiruzen's fingers hovered over the glass. "What of the psychological imprints you mentioned?"
"Still present, but growing increasingly dormant. The chakra carries emotional signatures from the Kyuubi. Primarily rage and a profound sense of isolation, which we observe whenever implanted into our test subjects."
The researcher shivered when he recalled an event from a week or two ago. At that time, they had almost been annihilated by a miniature Nine-Tails appearing in their lab.
"…" Hiruzen fell silent.
They then moved to the third section, where scrolls and specimens from Root's disbanded research division lay categorized on examination tables.
"Danzo was more thorough than we anticipated," The researcher said upon noticing Hiruzen's 'gaze.' "His notes on Sharingan integration with non-Uchiha hosts are particularly valuable."
An imperceptible sigh left the Hokage's lips. Had he not been blind, he would've been studying these himself.
Perhaps he could've made use of such research already.
'Maybe soon…' Hiruzen shook his head and moved his attention elsewhere.
His senses moved towards something even more unnatural than Naruto's still-beating heart.
A chill coursed through Hiruzen's spine.
At the center of the room lay a pulsating mass of flesh and chakra pathways. It was a living, breathing blob of organic matter, charged with false life. It was a disgusting yet useful piece of… equipment.
"Root's so-called chakra generator continues to function at optimal capacity," The researcher's timely explanation arrived..
"We've determined that it was created using a combination of Hashirama's cells and an unknown chakra catalyst."
Hiruzen circled the grotesque creation. "Can it be replicated?"
"Not without some kind of significant risk. The lingering chakra patterns suggest it was designed specifically for Konoha's unique situation at that time, right after the Kyuubi's kidnapping."
Hiruzen nodded, his mind drifting in and out of thought.
"Well done so far. Continue your work," he finally said. "But wait for Suguru. Let him have a look at these things."
The researcher hesitated. "But, Lord Third… how long will we have to wait—"
"Not long, don't worry." Hiruzen cut him off, "Tell the Anbu to have him send a Shadow Clone if he's too busy."
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