Konoha Notes

Chapter 453 Rash Adversity
The sea breeze in March still carried the sharpness of late winter, stirring up fine, salt-like water vapor as it swept across the dock.

As the ship rocked as it approached the shore, the sound of the mooring lines tightening was particularly clear in the morning mist.

The time it took for the return journey was enough for Tobirama Senju to gain a fairly comprehensive understanding of this era.

So when he encountered the Raikage who came to greet him and immediately said something annoying, he didn't engage in a confrontation.

"The trouble Konoha has caused just won't end."

The Raikage's voice was harsher than the sea breeze.

"You'd better be aware of the potential problems that may arise later, Xiu Si."

"The impact of our ancestors, who should have been resting in peace, is not as simple as just adding a few immortal combatants."

Xiu Si stepped off the gangway, his boots leaving shallow marks on the damp planks. He didn't respond to the accusation, but instead gazed at the cluster of greyish-white buildings built against the hillside behind the dock.

"There should be further requests for contact from the Land of Snow."

"Would it be alright if we left the Cloud Village to handle it for now, Raikage?"

Ai did not continue to dwell on the previous topic, but instead nodded slightly to Tobirama Senju and Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Then he readily agreed, "Okay."

He turned and gestured for everyone to follow.

The Cloud Hidden's support team began to guide personnel off the ship in an orderly manner, inventory supplies, and arrange transfers. Ai continued as they walked, "This front line needs more regular combat power reserves. The defense plan will need to be adjusted later."

"Regarding the budget for joint defense," Shuji's voice came from the side and behind, "the first batch of funds has been collected. The specific allocation ratio can be finalized in a meeting in the next few days."

The conversation ended there. There were no further probing questions, no unnecessary arguments.

Ai's arrangements were excellent. The other personnel from the Joint Affairs Bureau were not in a hurry to return; they would stay in Cloud Village for a period of time to rest and make further deployments.

The four people who need to return to Konoha as soon as possible are Shuji, Shisui, the Third Hokage, and Tobirama Senju.

However, they were also given a temporary rest area.

"The so-called pooled funds," Tobirama suddenly spoke up on the way to the rest area, "were they not originally intended for military defense?"

Xiu Si walked half a step to his side and nodded slightly upon hearing this.

“That’s not true at all.” He admitted frankly. “It was originally a special fund to solve the employment problem of small ninja villages and wandering ninjas. After all, those who expect the world to descend into chaos are mostly people who have lost their foothold.”

"However, the situation changed after the school construction plan was initiated."

"The requirements for ninja instructors who are for ordinary people are not high. Almost any ninja, as long as their character is not bad, can be competent."

"This absorbed a significant portion of the idle ninjas and gave many ninjas a relatively long-term outlook for the future."

"The plan to build ninja academies for external use is itself highly dependent on the Joint Affairs Bureau and the continued existence of the five major ninja villages. Therefore, in the short term, temporarily shifting funds to the military will not cause structural problems."

"In the short term," Tobirama repeated.

“Yes,” Xiu Si nodded, “Under the current circumstances, it is understandable to temporarily adjust the allocation of funds, but if it cannot be adjusted in time, it will create new problems.”

"The allocation of funds can develop inertia. The cost of changing course will increase exponentially over time."

"Therefore, this kind of call will end within the corresponding time period."

Tobirama walked silently for a while.

"With your level of thinking, this reminder is probably unnecessary," the Second Hokage finally said, his gaze falling on the outline of the misty mountains ahead. "You are one of the few ninjas I have ever seen who can extend their plans to such a long-term future."
-
The laboratory lights were always kept in that constant pale light.

Whether it's the blazing midday sun or the starry night sky outside the window, the lights here remain unchanged.

Kabuto took off his glasses and rubbed his temples with his fingertips. Hours of continuous high-precision observation had made his eyes a little sore, but he didn't rest for long. He had now gathered eight of the nine tailed beast chakras.

The Two-Tails' chakra was obtained through a trade with the Hidden Cloud Village. Shuji went to negotiate, and the process went exceptionally smoothly, rendering some of his original plans unnecessary.

Now, only the three tails are missing.

During this period, Kabuto searched through almost every record that might be related to the Three-Tails.

The closed-off policy of Kirigakure makes external intelligence extremely scarce, and the fact that the Three-Tails has not yet been revived since the Fourth Mizukage's death makes the possibility of directly obtaining chakra samples almost zero.

If we could gather all nine types of chakra before the Three-Tails revives...

This would allow for fusion experiments to be conducted on the mother plant in advance, simulating the state of nine types of chakra being mixed together, and attempting to access the bloodline limit.

But without this crucial link, all progress had to come to a standstill. This feeling of being stuck at the last step made Dou feel a rare sense of frustration.

It wasn't anxiety about the experiment itself, but rather a sense of urgency about the passage of time.

He knew perfectly well what role what he was building would play in some future war. Every day of delay could come at a price in the future.

Judging by the time, today should be the day for Hyuga Neji's regular physical examination.

Six or seven months have passed, and even with Shuuji away from the village, several trainees, including Neji, are already able to conduct basic Sage Mode training on their own. Although no one has yet been able to truly enter Sage Mode, the pace of progress has exceeded initial expectations.

"My physical data has improved since last time."

As Dou flipped through the notes, he spoke in a gentle voice, as if he were having a casual chat.

"Cell activity and meridian carrying capacity have both steadily increased."

He put down the clipboard and walked over to Neji. The boy sat quietly in the examination chair.

“It’s a pity,” Kabuto said. “The cursed mark of the Caged Bird does indeed limit your eye power to some extent.”

"If you can remove it, your potential should be able to be released more completely."

Neji's expression remained unchanged.

"Senior Dou told me not to think about these things," the boy said.

Kabuto walked to the equipment table and began to organize the examination instruments. Tweezers, blood collection tubes, monitoring talismans... his movements were methodical, and everything was placed in its most suitable position.

“Being trapped by the differences between the branch family and the main family will hinder the training of Sage Mode,” Kabuto said to Neji with his back to him, his voice still gentle. “Gloom and resentment will not help the training of Sage Mode in any way.”

"Moreover, being openly hated is not good for your situation."

He turned around and looked at Neji again.

"Now, you should understand the benefits of letting go of those things, right?"

"The main family's unreserved investment and training, the liberation of self-awareness... none of these came from Hyuga Hiashi's sense of guilt."

"It's because the current Konoha and the current Hyuga need every capable person to stand in their rightful place."

Neji remained silent for a long time. A faint hum emanated from the instruments in the examination room. It was the low sound of the temperature and humidity control system, exceptionally clear in the silence.

"Did Kabuto-senpai say all this because it was Shuji-sama's idea?" the boy finally spoke.

"No," Kabuto said with a smile, "it's just that I personally feel sorry about it."

He walked back to the table and picked up the notepad.

"Among the Hyuga clan, there are probably quite a few people like Neji who have outstanding potential in eye power."

"But because the family feared external threats, they locked away many possibilities with a cursed seal."

“However, things are different now.” Kabuto raised his eyes, his glasses reflecting a cold white light. “In Konoha now, the Hyuga clan no longer needs to worry about their members having their eyes taken away at will. Such a tradition has probably become an obstacle for the Hyuga clan.”

Neji's finger twitched slightly. It was so subtle that it was almost imperceptible, but Kabuto noticed it.

"Of course, this is just my personal feeling," Kabuto said, his tone as relaxed as if he were talking about the weather. "Please don't take it too seriously. After all, Neji-kun has finally moved on from the past, so he should just enjoy life now."

He signed his name on the record board.

"The inspection is complete. Please come again at the same time next week."

Neji stood up, bowed, and then turned to leave.

The gentle warmth on his face slowly faded. He took off his glasses, took a flannel cloth from his white coat pocket, and gently wiped the lenses.

If leukemia cell transplantation technology matures...

Those ninjas who are born with special talents, especially those from families with special eye techniques, will receive a boost far exceeding that of ordinary people.

The Sharingan and Byakugan, these physical attributes that are related to the Otsutsuki clan, once their foundations are replenished by generations of dilution, will reach unpredictable heights.

In the short term, this may result in some combat strength, but in the long run, this uneven increase will completely disrupt the relative balance that the village has maintained for decades.

A researcher like him shouldn't be considering these things. Data, results, and feasibility are what he should be focusing on.

But the people he works for will inevitably have to deal with these real-world problems stemming from the data.

Given this foresight, it is my responsibility as a subordinate to prepare contingency plans in advance.

If the power of the Thousand Hands is released, is it possible that the abilities monopolized by specific bloodlines could also be unlocked?
Therefore, he wanted the cooperation of the Uchiha clan, and he wanted Itachi Uchiha's cooperation.

As for whether there were other things mixed in—such as the person rumored to be most valued by Shuji becoming an unwitting benchmark for him to compare himself to—Kabuto himself was not too willing to delve into it.

Perhaps Itachi is dealing with important matters concerning organizational structure and the balance of power. But what he is doing is the core work that truly concerns the future and Shuji-sama's ultimate vision.

Dou was certain of this.

He put his glasses back on, walked to the window, and it was already completely dark.

There's nothing else on the schedule. Well then, it's time to go back to the orphanage.

With that thought in mind, Dou began to pack up. She took off her white coat and hung it up, tidied the lab bench, and put the record board back in its designated place.

Just as he was about to leave, a sound came from outside the laboratory building.

The bell rang.

Kabuto stopped what he was doing, went to open the door, and saw an ANBU member standing outside.

"Kabuto Yakushi, Lord Shuji has returned to the village. He and the Second Generation are coming to the laboratory."

Dou nodded. Returning to the village at this time was a little earlier than expected, but still within a reasonable range.

"Is the Fifth Generation also coming?" he asked casually, while quickly reviewing the necessary documents in his mind.

"It's Nidaime-sama."

Yakushi Kabuto's mind raced through the names of the current village kage: Fifth Hokage Tsunade, Fourth Raikage A, Third Tsuchikage Onoki, Fifth Mizukage Mei Terumi, and Fifth Kazekage Chiyo.

Where did this second-generation leader come from?

Including those who have retired, there are only three generations of Konoha.

"Which village's second-generation leader?" Kabuto asked.

"It is the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju."

Five minutes later, Kabuto actually met the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju.

When that figure appeared in the laboratory lobby, Kabuto almost immediately realized the situation—the forbidden technique, Impure World Reincarnation.

Accompanying Shuji and Tobirama Senju was Shisui Uchiha.

“Shisui used the Kaleidoscope Eye Technique once.” Shuji’s voice brought Kabuto back to reality. “Take him to get his eyes checked.”

Kabuto quickly withdrew his gaze from Tobirama and bowed, replying, "Yes."

But before leaving with Shisui, Shuji asked again:

"I'll take the second-generation leader to check on the situation down here. Have there been any problems lately?"

"The mother plant is in stable condition, and all experiments are proceeding according to plan," Kabuto replied quickly, but his gaze involuntarily drifted towards Tobirama Senju.

The Second Hokage surveyed the foyer. His red pupils slowly swept over everything around him—the modern building materials, the flashing electronic monitoring screens on the walls, the display boards with safety regulations, and even the design of the ventilation openings in the ceiling.

"That's good," Xiu Si said. "Take Shisui to get checked first. Come find us on the third basement level after you're done."

"Yes."

Kabuto bowed again, then turned to Shisui: "Please come with me, Shisui-kun."

Kabuto led Shisui towards the examination room. The corridor lights cast long shadows on the two of them, swaying slightly with their steps. His heartbeat was steady, and his breathing was even, but his mind was already racing.

If the Second Hokage really returns in this form, will these current experiments be re-evaluated?

Furthermore, what was Lord Shuji's intention in bringing him here? Was it merely for demonstration? Or was it to involve this predecessor, who created many forbidden techniques of Konoha, in future experiments?

After Kabuto Yakushi left with Shisui, Tobirama Senju and Shuji went to the underground laboratory together.

Tobirama Senju stood before the enormous observation window, gazing at the slowly writhing pale substance behind it.

“White Zetsu’s cellular tissue,” Shuuji said, standing beside him. “Or rather, it’s a derivative of the Divine Tree.”

Looking at the experimental data, Tobirama Senju commented, "This is truly remarkable."

"However, it's a bit dangerous to be too hasty."

(End of this chapter)