"I still think you should consider my plan. I know better than anyone how much of a threat Madara is to Leaf. If we miss this chance, Leaf may never get another one."
"In the past, Leaf had my brother protecting it. Now... even if your body is injected with Hashirama cells, there is still an insurmountable gap between you and my brother when he was young and at his peak."
Tobirama was still muttering nonstop. As long as Haru nodded, he could immediately lay an inescapable net throughout Leaf and wait for Madara to step into it.
This was the best chance to take down Madara.
If they missed it, they might never get another one.
"Tobirama, that's enough!"
"Leaf absolutely cannot afford to suffer losses. We haven't reached the point where we need to burn our boats yet. I think you're just too anxious."
"I know Madara faking his death hurt you badly, but there's no need to sink this deeply into your past mistake."
Tobirama's obsession with Madara was now so heavy that even Haru felt like someone had cursed him.
There was no need to turn against Madara right now.
At the critical moment, it was just a matter of calling him foster father, sliding to his knees, joining the Eye of the Moon Plan, and then finding a way to make Madara work for him!
Of course, this kind of utterly rebellious idea was something Haru only dared to think about. There were far too many variables involved.
As for Madara's fake identity, Haru was willing to let him hide it for as long as he wanted.
If possible, before Haru obtained the strength to defeat Madara, he would never take the initiative to tear away that thin layer of paper.
"Let's talk about the Hashirama cells instead. This happened too suddenly. The possibility of my talks with Madara breaking down is very small, but I'm honestly panicking a little. I feel a bit empty inside."
"I need to make sure my strength is covered properly, so I don't end up dying from overconfidence like you did."
Haru changed the subject and brought up the Hashirama cells. This concerned his own life.
There could be absolutely no mistakes.
"Hmph. Follow me."
Seeing that he could not persuade Haru, Tobirama could only give up. With a dead man's expression, he led Haru to the innermost hidden laboratory and showed him the recent Hashirama cell solution, experimental data, and everything else.
"The Hashirama cell solution has already reached its final stage. Based on the various experimental data gathered from the Uchiha, I discovered that Hashirama cells are even more compatible with the Uchiha Clan than I imagined. No casualties have occurred."
"Every Uchiha injected with Hashirama cells experienced a major increase in chakra, vitality, and ocular power. Most of them can even use Wood Release, though the strength varies from person to person. But using Wood Release at the level of True Several Thousand Hands is very difficult. You could even say it's impossible."
"Perhaps this is the effect of what you called Asura's chakra. It already involves the level of life itself."
"Under various extreme tests, I optimized it several times, but the potential of Hashirama cells should not have been fully excavated yet."
Tobirama endlessly introduced all kinds of data and results.
"Very good! Then what's the risk if I inject Hashirama cells now?"
"Ninety-eight percent?"
Tobirama said uncertainly.
After all, not a single Uchiha had died so far. To completely determine the mortality rate, they would have to expand the sample size. Perhaps casualties would only occur if Uchiha clansmen with no chakra talent were injected.
"Then what are we waiting for? Inject me with the latest Hashirama cell solution!"
After hearing this, Haru looked delighted.
Ninety-eight percent.
Ninety-eight percent!
That success rate was basically as good as one hundred percent.
He had already been this cautious. It would be hard for him to fail even if he wanted to.
Haru lifted his sleeve and exposed his arm. Tobirama then carefully took out a tube of green solution from a cabinet.
Alcohol cotton for disinfection. A flick of the syringe. The needle pierced his arm. The solution was pushed in.
The entire process was completed in one smooth motion.
"It should take effect in five minutes."
After hearing that, Haru found a chair and sat down quietly to wait.
Suddenly, a strange feeling surged into his heart, as if his body had been missing a piece of a puzzle since birth, and now that piece had finally been filled in.
His body heated up, and a wave of hunger appeared.
Tobirama took out a special nutritional solution he had prepared in advance and had Haru drink it. The intense hunger gradually disappeared, and his body became warm and extremely comfortable.
This process lasted for a full hour.
At this moment, Haru felt as if his body was filled with boundless vitality. His chakra had surged, his ocular power had increased greatly, and his vision had become even clearer.
He was so strong now!
Haru clenched his fist and felt the power inside his body. For an instant, the sudden increase in strength made him feel like even Madara was nothing special.
Just a man marked for death!
Stay low-key. Stay low-key.
The explosive increase in strength had made him a little inflated. Madara was still not someone he could measure yet.
Haru felt his ocular power.
Right now, he should be able to instantly activate the fourth stage of Susanoo and fight at high intensity for a while.
Most importantly, he would not go blind.
His Mangekyo Sharingan had been far too fragile before. Unless absolutely necessary, he had not dared use it at all.
Back then, he had used Tsukuyomi only once to show off in front of the daimyo. Afterward, Haru could feel his eyesight decline slightly. He truly regretted it.
As for a technique like Susanoo, Haru had not dared test it at all. The consumption was too fierce.
His experience piloting the giant came entirely from the one-day trial card granted by the system. Before injecting Hashirama cells, if he had activated Susanoo to the third stage and fought at high intensity a few times, he probably would have gone blind directly.
Sasuke's Mangekyo Sharingan had only been used at the initial Susanoo stage while he spammed ocular techniques, and it had been directly ruined in less than half a month.
The Mangekyo Sharingan was powerful, but fragile!
Now, however, things were different. Haru could sense the difference in his current body. Hashirama cells could slowly restore his eyesight. As long as he did not squeeze his ocular power too violently all at once, there would be no problem.
Now he could even use his ocular techniques a few times a day for minor battles.
This was truly remarkable progress.
"How does it feel?"
"Very good. I feel extremely strong right now!"
Tobirama used instruments to test various data from Haru's body.
Another experimental sample had been added!
"What about Wood Release? Did you awaken it?"
Haru circulated his chakra, and a small tree appeared out of thin air on the ground, then quickly began to grow. Haru stopped outputting chakra, and the small tree's growth abruptly halted.
"As expected, you awakened Wood Release. I just don't know how powerful it is. The training room in the laboratory is too small. When you go back, remember to test it and come back to tell me how strong it is. I need to record it."
There was a hint of jealousy in Tobirama's eyes.
What a lucky Uchiha. His brother's power had been stolen just like that!
According to Tobirama's calculations, if Hashirama cells were injected into members of the Senju Clan, the Wood Release they awakened would be even stronger. If a talented Senju clansman learned Sage Mode, they might even be able to briefly use a technique like True Several Thousand Hands at full power.
Although they could probably only fight like that for a very short time. Whether they could even last one minute was hard to say.
After all, the chakra consumed by a technique like True Several Thousand Hands was unimaginably vast. Only a monster like his brother could fight with it for a long time.
"I know."
Haru nodded and agreed to Tobirama's request. He also coveted the power of Wood Release.
Unfortunately, he could not reach the First's level.
"If there's nothing else, I'll leave first. Keep working. I won't disturb you."
After Haru got what he wanted from Tobirama, he planned to pat his butt and leave without the slightest attachment.
"Wait. Haru, I also have something important to discuss with you."
Haru stopped and looked at Tobirama, not knowing what Tobirama wanted to talk about.
"Since the Hashirama cells have more or less been fully researched, and even a batch of Uchiha clansmen have already been injected with Hashirama cells, greatly increasing their strength and even awakening Wood Release, then now that the Uchiha Clan has taken the first bite of meat, shouldn't the Senju Clan at least get a few mouthfuls too?"
Tobirama's tone was heavy, even somewhat displeased.
He had always been deeply bothered by the Uchiha Clan stealing his brother's power. It was just that Tobirama had always placed the bigger picture first and had not argued too much with Haru over it.
Back then, the Senju Clan had lost quite a few clansmen researching Hashirama cells. Now that a mature Hashirama cell solution existed, the Senju Clan naturally had to enjoy its benefits too.
"Let's discuss it later. Later, later. Hahaha."
Haru tried to run away as if his feet had been greased.
It was not that he did not want to inject the Senju Clan with Hashirama cells. It was that he could not find a good excuse.
Where had the Hashirama cell solution come from? There was no way to explain it.
He had secretly dug up Tobirama and Hashirama's graves, then used the forbidden Impure World Reincarnation to keep Tobirama tied up in the underground laboratory as a laborer.
The Third Hokage defiled the soul of the Second Hokage, the remains of the First Hokage, and used prisoners from enemy villages to conduct forbidden human experiments.
If that kind of thing spread, Haru would lose sleep.
"Don't leave. We're going to make this clear today. Why does the Uchiha Clan get to eat meat while the Senju Clan doesn't even get soup? If you don't explain it clearly, I'll go on strike!"
Seeing that Haru wanted to run, Tobirama directly threatened him with a strike.
"Tobirama, I have my hardships. This experiment cannot see the light of day at all. There's no way to explain the source of the Hashirama cell solution. The secret of this laboratory absolutely cannot be exposed."
"I still need to continue being the Third Hokage."
Haru frowned and explained his concerns.
The Senju Clan was not stupid. Back then, a small number of the Senju Clan's higher-ups knew about the Hashirama cell experiments. As long as Haru took out the Hashirama cell solution, they would definitely know what he had done.
He had stolen the First's remains.
There was simply no way to explain this. Desecrating a body was already very immoral, and the body he had desecrated belonged to Leaf's First Hokage.
That made it even more impossible to explain!
Haru was not stupid enough to hand his own dark material over to the Senju Clan. Maintaining the current situation was already good enough.
Even the Uchiha clansmen who participated in the experiment had not been spared. Haru had placed the Tongue Eradication Seal on every single one of them.
As for the clansmen who had mastered Wood Release, Haru had given them an absolute order. They were not allowed to use it under any circumstances. Even if they were at death's door, they were still not allowed to use it.
If even the slightest rumor spread through the ninja world, Haru would find out who did it and silence them.
"Uh..."
Tobirama fell silent. This was indeed a problem.
Back then, even he had treated Hashirama cell research as a forbidden experiment. Aside from a small number of the Senju Clan's higher-ups and the volunteers who had died, no one in all of Leaf knew about this matter.
The Second Hokage desecrated the First Hokage's body and used his remains for experiments.
If this kind of scandal spread, it would indeed be terrifying.
"Then we can't keep hiding it forever!"
"The Uchiha Clan can't take all the benefits. I'm extremely angry about this. You must give me an explanation!"
Tobirama began to act unreasonably.
Damn it. He was already dead, and he was no longer the one in power now, so why should he care so much? If the matter were exposed, perhaps Leaf's higher-ups would learn of his existence. Wouldn't he then be able to escape Haru's clutches?
"At least not now. We need to wait a while. We have to think of a perfect plan. Madara is still in Leaf. If this kind of scandal gets out, even I will have a headache!"
"Madara is still watching Leaf like a tiger eyeing its prey. Leaf absolutely cannot fall into internal chaos right now!"
"Tobirama, you don't want Leaf to be destroyed by Madara because of internal strife, do you?"
Haru brought up Madara's threat.
He had to admit, it was really useful!
After hearing Haru's warning, Tobirama immediately settled down.
It was definitely not a good idea to have Haru caught in a scandal right now, or even trigger internal strife within Leaf.
There was no choice. He could only endure for now.
This was all for Leaf.
"Hmph. I'll remember this matter for now. Once Madara's matter is resolved, the Senju Clan must also enjoy the benefits of the Hashirama cell solution."
"Fine, fine, fine. I'll do my best."
Haru rubbed his temples as he answered perfunctorily.
Finding an excuse to bring out the Hashirama cell solution really was not easy.
Whatever. He would run first. Delay it first!
"Hmph. That innately evil Uchiha brat."
Tobirama watched Haru leave and muttered endlessly in the laboratory before continuing his busy scientific research.
After Haru left the underground laboratory, it was already noon.
Since it was still early, Haru planned to eat lunch and then head to Mount Myoboku in the afternoon.
He had already injected Hashirama cells and obtained an incomplete version of the Sage Body.
Haru could clearly feel that his affinity for natural energy had significantly improved.
His Sage Mode training this afternoon would definitely make a major breakthrough.
Although he could not reach the level of the First, where he could clap his hands and instantly enter Sage Mode, he should still have a chance to reach Naruto's level of Sage Mode.
Using shadow clones to gather natural energy, then instantly bringing that natural energy back to the main body to enter Sage Mode immediately was a high-end operation that ordinary Sage Mode practitioners could not accomplish.
For example, even if Jiraiya trained for his entire life, he would never reach that level.
The prince's talent could be ranked at the very top of the ninja world.
(End of Chapter)
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