Chapter 61: The Target

At the Konoha Ninja Academy, after Hiruzen Sarutobi and Tsunade concluded their private conversation, each followed the escorting Hokage aides to their respective places.

As the current Third Hokage of Konoha Village, Hiruzen Sarutobi represented the leadership and delivered a keynote speech centered on the Will of Fire at the opening ceremony for the new class of ninja students this year. The contents of his important address need not be repeated in detail—most villagers and ninja present were already intimately familiar with the themes the Third Hokage would emphasize.

For the students who had yet to graduate, especially the newly enrolled recruits, many found their hearts burning with passion as they listened. The young ninja from ordinary civilian families responded with particular enthusiasm; some, caught up in the excitement, even leapt to their feet to cheer. This, in turn, spurred others of similarly lively temperament, and soon enough, the calls and shouts drew stern rebukes from their homeroom ninja instructors.

In recent years, the world of shinobi had enjoyed a rare period of peace. As the strongest of the Five Great Nations, the Land of Fire’s Konoha Village still experienced occasional minor skirmishes with ninja from other countries along its borders, but the overall military climate remained stable and peaceful. There were no wounds from war to heal, and the Land of Fire, blessed with the best natural resources, allowed anyone who worked diligently to live well.

Naturally, the happiness of ordinary civilians had grown, especially for those living in the thriving heart of Konoha itself. To protect the nation’s peace, ensure the people’s safety, and shield them from the ravages of war—these were only possible thanks to the Hokage’s tireless efforts. It was little wonder that the people loved and supported such a leader.

The entire village, like the jubilant young ninja at the ceremony, radiated a flourishing vitality in this thirty-fifth year of Konoha. Yet who could say how much longer this peace would endure, with enemies of the Land of Fire and Konoha, and those hidden hands lurking in the shadows of the shinobi world?

Should another great war break out, how many of the ninja present at this ceremony—how many of these young students and even ordinary civilians—would survive to see the next year’s opening ceremony? Who could say how many familiar faces would remain?

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After the ceremony at the Ninja Academy, Tsunade accompanied her mentor Hiruzen Sarutobi back to the Hokage’s residence.

At lunch, Tsunade shared a work meal with him. During the meal, she once more charmed and cajoled her teacher, and in the end, she succeeded in obtaining a ninjutsu scroll. Just as she’d requested, the scroll contained the B-rank Shadow Clone Jutsu and the A-rank forbidden Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu. Even more valuable, it included Hiruzen’s personal insights and guidance—known throughout the shinobi world as “The Professor”—regarding the study and application of these techniques.

Naturally, Hiruzen did not spare his lectures, but giving Tsunade such a scroll already bent the village’s rules for her sake—a testament to his affection. Tsunade, for her part, was well aware of this, and having received her gift, listened to Hiruzen’s admonitions with unusual patience and good cheer, refraining from her usual retorts.

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Let us leave teacher and student for now, and turn our gaze once more to the Spring Base in Konoha’s underground, to the two old classmates: Mikaze Kato and Orochimaru.

In Orochimaru’s office, they discussed in private the details of how Mikaze Kato would be involved in the Hashirama cell transplantation experiments. Orochimaru, meticulous as ever, questioned Mikaze closely about the specifics of the Spiritualization Technique he used on the “patients.” (Orochimaru, unaware that the protagonist had mastered the Spirit Cultivation Technique, assumed it to be the Kato clan’s Spiritualization Technique.)

His reasoning was sound—he wished to understand precisely how Mikaze’s secret technique affected the transplantation process, so as to refine his experimental designs. Whether Orochimaru harbored ulterior motives to steal the technique, Mikaze was well aware. For now, it seemed mere curiosity; Orochimaru was always fascinated by powerful or mysterious jutsu. At this stage, the odds of him moving against Mikaze in secret were slim.

After their discussion, Mikaze did not linger in Orochimaru’s office, nor did he return to his own. Instead, he began a thorough, overt survey of the Spring Base’s interior. Unlike his secret investigations using a spiritual clone, this was a straightforward reconnaissance.

Over the next few days, Mikaze devoted himself both to participating in the experiments and to an exhaustive study of the base and its new assignments. This included poring over the dry and tedious archives in the records room, as well as combining the findings of his soul clone with those of his physical self.

Mikaze’s clearance in the Spring Base was high; aside from a few restricted areas such as Danzo Shimura’s office, he could come and go freely, though some places did have stricter access controls.

He had already visited the surgical laboratory the day before, yet that was only one of several labs within the base, each with its own function. Orochimaru himself did not participate in every experiment; his role was to devise detailed protocols and set the research direction and goals, engaging in intellectual rather than physical labor.

Orochimaru had chosen to personally attend the previous day’s surgery for good reason. The experiment was crucial, testing the effects of the third catalyst—a newly developed drug—and the “patient” was handpicked by Orochimaru himself.

Though the surgical labs were important, Mikaze spent less time there, instead focusing his energies on the cell cultivation rooms. These, too, were divided according to the different purposes of the Hashirama cells being grown.

The most important room, of course, was the one storing samples of the original Senju Hashirama tissue. It was also the most heavily guarded location in the entire base—even more so than the “patient” quarters, and rivaling the security of Danzo’s office.

That was Mikaze’s true target...

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