Haruki visited the Research Institute of the Ninja Academy once again.
Looking at the green, transparent cylinders around him, he couldn't understand how Orochimaru could stay cooped up here for so long and hardly ever went out.
Maybe it was because he was a liberal arts student in his past life. It's like people who love savory food can never understand those with a sweet tooth.
"Orochimaru, I heard that you met with Tanzo?"
Haruki didn't beat around the bush and directly stated his purpose for coming.
He knew Orochimaru well. He wasn't a hypocritical person; his personality was quite straightforward.
For example, in the original story, he didn't play any fancy tricks with Sasuke Uchiha. He directly showed great interest and lured him with power.
If it were him, he'd definitely paint a big picture first and then slowly groom Sasuke Uchiha.
"Yes."
Orochimaru answered without even looking up. He was standing in front of the experiment table, wearing white gloves with bloodstains on them.
"I want to know what he talked to you about."
Haruki sized up the bloody scene which was so gruesome that it seemed to need blurring and asked.
"Nothing much. He asked me to help him research the cells of Hashirama Senju and cultivate children with the Wood Release Kekkei Genkai."
Orochimaru didn't hide anything and told the truth. "But I refused him."
"Why?"
Haruki looked at his calm face in surprise. He thought Orochimaru would agree, after all, something similar had happened in the original story.
"He's the God of the Shinobi World. You should be very interested in Hashirama Senju's cells."
"The God of the Shinobi World can't help me achieve immortality." Orochimaru said indifferently. "Besides, I don't like Tanzo Shimura."
Haruki gave him a strange look.
Orochimaru hadn't come into contact with Hashirama Senju's cells. So, he didn't know that apart from Wood Release, the cells had various other effects.
They were almost like a cure - all.
They would actually be helpful for his immortality jutsu.
As for the latter reason, Haruki ignored it. He'd never seen Orochimaru show affection for anyone.
However, it was quite puzzling that Hashirama Senju's cells were so powerful, reaching the legendary state of being able to regenerate from a drop of blood, yet he died suddenly.
"Any more questions?" Orochimaru urged him to leave when he saw Haruki was silent. "If not, don't get in my way."
Haruki couldn't help but smile.
Come on! I was your teacher for a while. This impatient attitude makes me look like an extortionist.
"I want you to do me a favor."
Orochimaru immediately looked up, and his snake-like vertical pupils exuded a cold aura.
It seemed like a snake's head was about to come out of him to bite someone the next second.
Haruki ignored it and said, "I want you to help Tanzo Shimura research Wood Release."
"I don't understand."
Orochimaru frowned slightly. "You're not a part of Root. Why are you helping Tanzo Shimura? Or do you want to control the root of the Hokage?"
"I'm not interested."
Haruki thought for a moment and said, "Or rather, it's more important for me if Root doesn't exist."
"Do you want to get rid of Root?"
Orochimaru pondered. Indeed, Root had too much power. If Haruki wanted Tsunade to become the Hokage, it would be more beneficial for Root to disappear.
"Right. Pretend to help him and get evidence of him violating Konoha's rules by conducting experiments on his own people."
Haruki didn't care at all about stating his plan right in front of him.
It almost felt like a fantasy.
Because what he was talking about was actually what Orochimaru had done in the original story.
Given that Orochimaru, one of the Sannin, was forced to defect, what would Hiruzen Sarutobi do if his good buddy Tanzo Shimura pulled the same stunt?
Haruki recalled that Hiruzen Sarutobi had even pardoned Tanzo Shimura's assassination attempt.
One had to say, the relationship between these two was quite complicated.
They used each other, yet they also shared common goals and had a special connection.
"Why should I help you?" Orochimaru shook his head and said, "We're square."
"Square?"
A smile appeared on Haruki's face. "How are we square? Although you helped me break the Cage Bird jutsu, which I'll take as repayment for the biological knowledge I taught you, you're using my money right now."
As a Jonin, Orochimaru actually had quite a bit of money, but it still wasn't enough.
In any world, scientific research is a money - guzzling business.
In the original story, Orochimaru established the Otogakure Village not only to have his own territory but also for the sake of making money.
After hearing Haruki's words, Orochimaru fell silent.
This guy in front of him had indeed provided him with a stable and favorable external environment, solving all problems other than the experiment itself.
"I can help you, but..." Orochimaru frowned. "You have to agree to a condition."
"Oh? What condition? As long as I can fulfill it, I surely will." Haruki waved his hand and said. Anyway, he had already spent so much money, and he didn't care about a few more requests.
"You." Orochimaru said calmly.
"??? " Haruki took a startled step back. "What did you say? I didn't catch that just now."
"Wood Release experiments were conducted in the early days of Konoha. I've read the relevant records, and all of them failed because Hashirama Senju's cells were too domineering."
Orochimaru explained calmly. "Injecting the genes of Hashirama Senju into a human body would cause a very strong rejection reaction, but you're different. You might be able to neutralize it."
"Don't beat around the bush. You'll make people misunderstand."
Haruki couldn't help but complain.
Orochimaru knew that Haruki could use Wood Release.
After all, it was impossible to get him to cooperate obediently just with Verbal Persuasion. It had to be through force.
"Misunderstand what?" Orochimaru glanced at him, not quite understanding what he meant.
"Nothing." Haruki shook his head. "Since you want to conduct research, as long as you don't get anyone killed, I'll cooperate with you."
He was still quite confident in his Medical Ninjutsu.
"It's fine. If you kick the bucket, I'll just bring you back with Impure World Reincarnation." Orochimaru said casually.
"Ha?" Haruki was momentarily stunned, then frowned. "How did you get the Impure World Reincarnation?"
"I swiped it." Orochimaru said indifferently.
"This kind of jutsu violates the natural order. Don't use it." Haruki thought for a while and said.
"I'm surprised to hear such words from your mouth." Orochimaru looked at him in surprise.
Haruki didn't reply. He just didn't want to see all kinds of weirdos resurrected.
But it wasn't a big deal anyway.
"I swiped the Impure World Reincarnation not for research but to learn all sorts of Kinjutsu in Konoha."
"Orochimaru rarely offered an explanation."
"Tanzo Shimura's been doing research on prisoners in Konoha's max - security prison. Once you get in touch with him, try to make him go even further off the deep end."
Haruki thought for a moment and added, "Get as many cells of Hashirama Senju as possible. They'll be very useful to us."
He figured there might be a few pairs of Mangekyo Sharingan among his future disciples and grand - disciples.
Hashirama Senju's cells can stop 'em from going blind too early.
Plus, maybe they'll let Tsunade learn Wood Release.
But it's super risky. It all boils down to what Orochimaru comes up with in the end.
Course, this is just the first step against Tanzo Shimura.
Haruki's got plenty of fun stuff lined up for him.
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