Two months drifted by.
In the depths of a massive underground laboratory, sounds of astonishment echoed through the space.
"Lord Danzo, this is incredible... a creation worthy of the gods!"
"This... this is the perfection I've been seeking."
Using the black matter produced by Yin-Yang Release, a flawless body had been crafted. Even the normally conflicting forces of Wood Release and Uchiha bloodline powers merged harmoniously under its influence.
The consciousness-imbued black substance they obtained this time likely originated from a fragment of Black Zetsu's body—a part that Kaguya separated from herself using Yin-Yang Release before she was sealed away.
It was a separation much like how the Sage of Six Paths split the Ten-Tails into the nine tailed beasts.
Danzo had erased Black Zetsu's will from it and infused his own soul's essence into the black matter, creating the ultimate material for cultivating clones. Even the White Zetsu cells harvested from Training Ground 3 paled in comparison.
Using the black matter as a vessel, the two types of cells fused almost instantly, as if they had always belonged together.
Shinraku was consumed with ecstasy as he gazed at the five enormous containers before him. Inside each, embryos floated in a nutrient solution, their pulses strong and steady, like miniature hearts.
"How much longer?" Pakura asked impatiently from behind Danzo.
Her tone was cold, with no attempt to hide the murderous intent underlying her words. Shinraku snapped out of his daze, beads of sweat forming on his brow.
"Even at the fastest pace, it'll take at least two years... and there's no guarantee all the embryos will survive."
"So you're saying it's possible none of them will live?" Pakura's icy voice sent a chill through Shinraku's heart.
"Once they mature, they will be flawless... absolutely one of a kind."
"Enough," Danzo interjected, his voice steady from his wheelchair.
Shinraku cautiously approached Danzo, speaking with great care.
"Lord Danzo, perhaps you should transfer your consciousness to a temporary vessel and give these embryos time to grow. Once they've matured, you can transfer again."
To Shinraku, rushing the embryos' growth and risking their perfection was unthinkable. Besides, the black matter had been completely depleted. Reproducing these perfect embryos was now impossible—at least for the foreseeable future.
"I have two years... that's enough time." Danzo refused without hesitation.
He had delayed transferring his consciousness for so long not just because he wanted the perfect body, but because something in his soul trembled at the thought. Now that his soul had grown stronger, the sense of unease had only intensified.
It was as if his very essence warned him of the dangers along this path—a different path from Orochimaru's, yet just as fraught with peril.
At the same time, the recent system reward of [Spatial Awareness] made Danzo even more convinced that strengthening his soul was crucial for survival. His fighting style would never be as swift or fluid as Minato Namikaze's.
Meanwhile, under Hiruzen's new leadership, the atmosphere in Konohagakure had shifted subtly.
Though Hiruzen had returned to the Hokage's office, the village itself had changed dramatically in the past four years.
Policies, budget allocations, clan appointments, civilian accommodations, job distributions...
Much of it bewildered Hiruzen.
For instance, Konoha's treasury now held over 23 billion ryo. Shirakawa Town alone brought in a stable monthly income of 2 billion ryo.
The village had implemented numerous supportive programs:
Enrollment support for villagers' children
Scholarships for geniuses
Compensation for the bereaved and war orphans
Fire Country legal reforms
And even more policies were in the planning stages:
Fire Country land-use planning
The highest-level laws of Fire Country
Restrictions on noble privileges within Fire Country
Konoha's population had surged to 230,000—a staggering number considering that even small nations surrounding Fire Country had populations of only 20,000 to 30,000.
The number of jōnin had doubled since Hiruzen's resignation. The Academy's enrollment had increased more than fivefold.
For the first time, Hiruzen questioned the validity of his own political philosophy.
"No... everything I did was to ensure Konoha's stability."
"Taking an oppositional stance toward Fire Country will only bring disaster... like the recent tailed beast rampage."
Hiruzen's gaze hardened.
He began distributing vast sums of money, winning over many of the smaller clans.
He provided relief to injured shinobi and the families of the fallen from the Nine-Tails incident. He gave speeches about the Will of Fire at the Ninja Academy. He helped villagers rebuild homes destroyed by the tailed beasts—free of charge.
Everywhere in Konoha, the sight of the Third Hokage working tirelessly became a common sight once again.
The title of the "Compassionate Hokage" began to circulate.
However, alongside it, rumors spread that the Uchiha clan had controlled the tailed beasts. After all, many shinobi had seen Sharingan in the beasts' eyes during the attack.
Despite the Uchiha clan keeping a low profile, they once again found themselves under scrutiny. The rumors spiraled out of control.
A week later, Hiruzen stepped forward personally to quell the rumors and vouch for the Uchiha clan.
At the same time, Uchiha Shisui and other Uchiha members holding positions in various departments were dismissed and reassigned to the Konoha Military Police Force. Their roles were filled by members of the Hyūga, Nara, Aburame, and other clans.
This move won Hiruzen yet another wave of support.
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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