Chapter 103: Hashirama Senju: When Did Our Hokage Become So Weak?
Fortunately, the teacher did not know about any of that.
That was normal. He was Orochimaru, one of the Legendary Sannin, not the Toad Sage of Mount Myōboku who could peek into the future.
If the teacher somehow knew that Jiraiya had written that outrageous book, then he would have long since transcended ordinary ninjas and become something close to a Sage himself.
"Why did you bring back a consumable?" Orochimaru asked, watching Kenichi prepare tea. "If I remember correctly, that thing you developed does not seem to require consumables."
"Teacher, the project I am researching does not need them," Kenichi said honestly. "But I plan to use shadow clones to make several of them, so I can research something else on my own."
Thermobaric bombs were dangerous. Even if explosives were generally stable, they could still detonate if they met open flames. Kenichi preferred to keep the critical part under his own eyes.
At the same time, he could not ignore hybrid rice. If he neglected that, getting continued funding from Nagato would become a headache.
So his plan was simple.
He would use shadow clones to handle the hybrid crop research, while he focused on improving thermobaric bombs.
The clones would specialize in breeding and improving crops, which required the First Hokage's Wood Release. With Wood Release, plant growth could be accelerated, and the research time could be drastically shortened.
"Oh?" Orochimaru's eyes narrowed with interest. "So you want to resurrect the First Hokage with Impure World Reincarnation, then test whether he can accelerate crop growth?"
Good heavens.
Orochimaru had never even thought of using Edo Tensei like that. In his mind, the greatest value of Impure World Reincarnation was combat support, and crushing an opponent's spirit.
For example, if the Second Hokage were summoned during a fight with the Third Hokage, and then Sarutobi Biwako was summoned as well, that old man would definitely be very, very happy.
"Yes, teacher." Kenichi nodded seriously. "Actually, if it were not for the fact that so many of the resurrected predecessors keep wanting to return to the Pure Land, we might even be able to bring back scholars and have them join our research."
That was exactly what he believed.
Impure World Reincarnation could help in battle, sure, but in Kenichi's eyes, it could also help with research and countless other fields.
Think about it.
It was a tragedy when exceptionally talented people died young. If they could be brought back, they could keep using their gifts and perhaps contribute even more.
But during previous tests, Kenichi had discovered something strange.
None of the dead seemed willing to stay in the living world for long.
Unless there was a necessary reason, they all preferred to return to the Pure Land.
Kenichi truly did not understand what the Pure Land meant to those souls.
If the Pure Land was not likely the territory of the Sage of Six Paths, he would have wanted to go study it himself.
"Your idea is good," Orochimaru said, shaking his head, "but I am afraid not many would be willing."
He had already tested Edo Tensei with Kenichi before, and they had confirmed the same thing. The Pure Land had a powerful pull on souls.
Dan Kato was a perfect example.
Even though Dan cared about Tsunade, he still wanted his soul to rest peacefully. He did not want to linger in the human world for long.
"Still, we should be able to get help from the First Hokage," Kenichi said, rubbing his chin.
Hashirama's personality felt similar to Naruto's, maybe even more optimistic. Kenichi doubted Hashirama would refuse if it meant benefiting the ninja world.
That said, it was better to have the teacher present. Having backup mattered. If something unexpected happened, at least they would not lose everything.
Orochimaru had plenty of the First Hokage's tissue stored here.
Those First Hokage cells were like demons. Their reproductive ability was terrifying. Kenichi even felt they could be used to create White Zetsu.
In a way, the process of making White Zetsu also felt like genetic engineering.
It really did seem like the most advanced "technology" in the ninja world was tied to those aliens.
Kenichi slapped both hands against the ground.
A coffin rose from the soil.
The lid lifted.
And the First Hokage was resurrected through Impure World Reincarnation.
"Where is this?" Hashirama opened his eyes, confusion written across his face. He looked around, then saw Orochimaru and Kenichi.
Naturally, he did not recognize either of them. Hashirama had died too early.
"Lord Hokage!" Kenichi rushed forward, putting on a sorrowful expression. "Konoha needs your salvation! The village is in grave danger, and the people are desperate!"
Orochimaru glanced at his disciple with a strange look.
Kenichi's acting was certainly enthusiastic. Was he planning to debut as a star? The ninja world had movies, so naturally it had movie stars.
It also had television stars.
Still, in Orochimaru's eyes, Kenichi's performance was not exactly convincing.
"What happened to Konoha?" Hashirama's expression instantly turned serious at the mention of the village.
He still cared deeply about the place he had poured his heart into.
It was the village where his friendship with Madara had begun, and where his dream had taken shape.
Kenichi launched into a story that was half truth and half fabrication.
He painted Konoha as a village on the verge of extinction, with food so scarce people were barely surviving.
They had been forced to search for new ways to grow crops, and now they needed to see whether Hashirama could use Wood Release to accelerate crop growth and solve the food crisis.
To be honest, even Kenichi did not know if that explanation would work.
This was Hashirama Senju, after all.
A figure that mattered.
Hashirama listened with a serious face, but the longer he listened, the more confused he looked.
Then he raised his hand slightly, as if stopping Kenichi in the middle of his performance.
"I will say this clearly," Hashirama said, voice solemn.
Kenichi swallowed.
Could it be that Hashirama saw through him?
This was ridiculous. Who said Hashirama was an airhead and the easiest to fool?
"No, wait," Hashirama said, staring at Kenichi in disbelief, "you mean the Fourth Hokage of Konoha died because of the Nine Tails?"
Kenichi froze.
Good heavens.
So that was what he latched onto.
"Yes," Kenichi nodded. "The Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, did indeed die more than half a year ago."
Obito had been the main culprit behind Minato's death, but it was not wrong to say Minato died at the hands of the Nine Tails.
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