Though Hikuro was still young and lacked experience, his technical skill was undeniable.
The higher‑ups watched him more closely than ever, convinced it was only a matter of time before he fully unlocked the First Hokage’s Wood Release and adapted it for general use.
Many dreamed of claiming that power for themselves—none more eagerly than Danzō, who watched Hikuro stroll casually to the dessert shop with a child instead of devoting every waking hour to his work.
If he could, Danzō would have locked him away and forced him to research day and night.
Now the young heir of the Uchiha was growing close to Konoha’s most precious asset.
The major clans all knew of Life‑Formula One and feared what Fugaku might attempt.
The Uchiha were already seen as volatile; if they gained command of Wood Release, the consequences would be unthinkable.
Hikuro took another bite of his soft mousse cake.
“The Uchiha?
I know only a handful of them—hardly enough for an objective assessment.
And I never confuse the nature of a clan with the nature of its individuals.
That is why I cannot give you a simple answer.”
In his past life, he had always despised sweeping prejudice.
Good and evil exist everywhere; no group is entirely one or the other.
Beyond genetics, character is shaped above all by circumstance.
In this world, cruelty was alarmingly common—even he, a stranger to it all, had slowly been shaped by its darkness.
“You are right,” Minato said thoughtfully.
“A clan is not defined by one person alone.”
He thought of his student Obito, the prodigy Shisui, and his close friend Fugaku—three very different Uchiha, yet bound by a shared kindness.
“Then, Lord Hikuro,” Minato ventured gently, “what do you make of Itachi?
His tone was warm and open, unlike the rigid suspicion of the older generation.
As Hokage, he saw a path forward: given time, he could bring order and prosperity to Konoha.
Where Danzō sought to wall the Uchiha off or suppress them, Minato aimed to draw them in, to weave them into the village’s heart rather than force them into isolation.
He knew that exclusion only bred resentment.
The Uchiha were strong—far better to make them partners than adversaries.
He hoped that through Itachi, Hikuro might serve as a bridge between the clan and the village leadership.
Hikuro already stood close to the Hokage faction, and his medical and technological work had benefited countless ordinary shinobi.
He was also one of Konoha’s most gifted medical masters, though he shunned the spotlight and preferred his laboratory to politics.
Had he sought power, he would long since have been counted among the village’s true rulers.
“A student?” Hikuro shook his head.
“Not at present—I have no such inclination.”
“Itachi Uchiha is undeniably brilliant—mature beyond his years, quick‑witted, and possesses top‑tier combat talent.
But that does not mean he will excel in research.
He is still young, and his potential is yet to be fully shaped; only time will tell.”
Minato nodded in understanding.
Hikuro stood on equal footing with the Third Hokage and clearly followed his own principles—he would never take on a student lightly, and that in itself was a test.
“If I may ask, Lord Hikuro—how far has your research into Wood Release progressed?”
Minato personally recoiled at the idea of implanting Hashirama’s cells into living humans, knowing it would require sacrificing countless subjects.
Yet this was a matter of the highest priority, watched closely by the elders and even retired Hokage.
As the new leader, he still needed the older generation’s support, so he had no choice but to inquire.
Hikuro glanced at him and spoke slowly.
The challenge lies in recreating the overwhelming power of the First Hokage.”
“Wood Release owes its might to Hashirama himself.
In ordinary hands, it is nowhere near as formidable as you imagine—certainly not enough to subdue tailed beasts or end wars with a single blow.”
He gave a soft chuckle.
“If you wish to see it for yourself, I can demonstrate right now.”
With a light stamp of his foot, the laboratory floor cracked open.
A thick, vine‑like limb shot upward and coiled tightly around Minato’s leg.
He pulled hard, yet the vine snapped apart instantly.
Hikuro smiled faintly.
“There.
That is Wood Release.
But for shinobi of our caliber?
It is far too fragile to be of any real use.”
Minato froze, eyes widening in shock.
Wood Release… the ultimate power of the Senju clan!
Even he could not help but be awed.
More troubling still—what did Hikuro intend to do with it?
And what should he do?
“Monday to Friday – Update 3 Chapters a Day”
“Saturday and Sunday – Off”