One hour later.
Tsunade stood inside Orochimaru’s private research base.
She stood with her hands on her hips, looking around.
She pursed her lips, feeling somewhat underwhelmed.
“What is this?
Is that it?” In this modest-sized basement, various jars, bottles, and petri dishes were scattered about.
Most of the jars contained animals that hibernate.
Snakes, frogs, squirrels, and the like.
Some were still alive, curled up into balls.
Others had already been dissected.
In some of the petri dishes, there were animal organs that still retained vitality.
Hearts were still beating slightly, and intestines were still squirming.
This was Orochimaru’s main research focus recently.
[Biological Hibernation Characteristics] He wanted to study how these animals’ metabolisms nearly ceased during hibernation.
To explore the mysteries of extending life.
However, at this point, Orochimaru was still in the animal experimentation phase.
He hadn’t yet lost his mind to the point of using human bodies for experiments.
Tsunade knew this clearly.
Orochimaru’s change in mindset would only come after he took Nawaki as his apprentice.
And then watched with his own eyes as Nawaki died before him.
Only then would he gradually head down that extreme, inhumane path of scientific research.
As for now?
It was still too early for that!
Orochimaru looked at Tsunade, who wore an expression of disdain.
His face twitched slightly.
He had to admit, he had underestimated how thick-skinned Tsunade was.
The things in his laboratory, let alone for an ordinary girl…
Even some male Ninja would feel both physical and psychological discomfort upon seeing them.
Yet Tsunade was completely unfazed.
“She really isn’t a woman…” Orochimaru muttered under his breath.
Of course, he didn’t dare say that out loud.
Tsunade walked around the laboratory once, feeling a bit bored.
She walked up to Orochimaru, stared at his face for a long time, and suddenly revealed a playful smile.
“Hey, Orochimaru.” “Hmm?” “Are you only studying these ordinary things right now?” Tsunade pointed at the jars and bottles around them.
Orochimaru paused for a moment and nodded.
“That’s right.
Animal hibernation habits are highly valuable for research, so I am currently only studying these.” His voice was as flat as usual, devoid of any emotion.
Tsunade curled her lips, stared at Orochimaru, and continued to ask, “And what about the next step?” “The next step?” Orochimaru was taken aback by her question.
He opened his mouth, wanting to say something.
But he hesitated and ultimately didn’t speak.
Once animal experiments were completed, the next step…
Would definitely be humans!
This was the inevitable path for all biological research.
But such things could not be spoken of under any circumstances.
Once his true inner thoughts were leaked, and people knew he wanted to use human bodies for experiments…
The consequences would be very troublesome.
At best, his research would be banned.
At worst, he would be monitored as a dangerous individual.
Tsunade instantly saw through his thoughts.
She chuckled and leaned in close to Orochimaru.
Lowering her voice to a volume only the two of them could hear, she said, “Orochimaru, are you interested in my body?” “Huh?!” Orochimaru looked stunned, his golden vertical pupils widening slightly.
“W…what?” He suspected he had misheard.
Tsunade didn’t waste any time and stood directly in front of Orochimaru.
She puffed out her chest and said clearly, word for word, “I am asking if you are interested in the body of the Senju Clan and the Uzumaki Clan.” Orochimaru narrowed his eyes.
He looked Tsunade up and down carefully, a look of vigilance in his eyes.
He didn’t understand what Tsunade’s intention was in saying this.
Was it a test?
Or a trap?
Tsunade shrugged.
“Your research into the mysteries of life will ultimately have to be applied to human bodies.” “To prevent you from going astray in the future, conducting human experiments in secret, and eventually being wanted as a rogue Ninja…” “I am prepared to be your test subject and research subject.” She patted her chest, making a “thump-thump” sound.
“How about that?
Am I a loyal friend or what?” Orochimaru: “…” He was silent for a full ten seconds.
His golden vertical pupils stared fixedly at Tsunade, as if trying to see right through her.
“…Are you…
serious?” “Do I look like I’m joking?” Tsunade retorted.
Although she was still smiling, Orochimaru could clearly hear the seriousness in her tone.
Tsunade was not joking.
“Why?” Orochimaru frowned.
He had considered many possibilities.
Was Tsunade here to monitor him?
Was she sent by the teacher?
Or did she have some other purpose herself?
But regardless of which one it was, it wasn’t worth having Tsunade, the princess of Konoha and granddaughter of the First Hokage, accompany him in doing these things that clearly violated Konoha’s principles!
Tsunade glanced at Orochimaru, flashed her white teeth, and chuckled.
Then she cleared her throat and suddenly struck a strange pose.
Right hand on her hip.
Left hand raised high, pointing at the ceiling.
Left foot stepped forward.
Body leaning slightly forward.
Orochimaru: “???” Before he could react, he heard Tsunade say in a dramatic, rhythmic tone, “Since you have asked with such sincerity!” “I will show you mercy and tell you!” “To prevent Konoha from being destroyed!” “To protect the peace of Konoha!” “To carry out the evil of love and truth!” “The cute and charming princess of Konoha—” “I, Lady Tsunade!” “Am the flash of gold traversing the Ninja World!” “White hole!
A white tomorrow awaits us!” “That’s right!
Meow~” Orochimaru: “…” He froze in place, his eyes filled with bewilderment and confusion.
He looked Tsunade over carefully, from head to toe.
As if he were meeting this person for the first time.
Although he didn’t understand at all why she had suddenly turned into this.
But this eccentric and neurotic behavior…
He actually…
quite liked it.
Before Orochimaru could answer.
Tsunade stepped forward directly.
“Slap!” She slapped Orochimaru’s shoulder heavily.
“When I become Hokage in the future, I will fully support your research.” “If you need money, I’ll give you money; if you need people, I’ll give you people; if you need a venue, I’ll give you a venue!” “How about that?
Are you moved?” Orochimaru’s pupils constricted.
“Hokage?” “So, this is your ultimate goal?” Orochimaru finally understood.
He understood why Tsunade had said so much and beaten around the bush for so long.
What her ultimate goal really was.
It was to get him to support her in becoming Hokage.
Using “supporting research” as a bargaining chip to exchange for his political support.
Orochimaru smiled.
Hokage?
He had no interest.
What he wanted was nothing more than experiments.
To explore the mysteries of life, to solve the puzzle of eternal life.
He didn’t care about the position of Hokage.
But if someone could provide full support on his path of research, He would definitely support them.
Especially since that person was Tsunade!
Orochimaru looked at Tsunade and slowly pulled a stiff smile.
“Fine, it’s a deal.” Tsunade’s eyes lit up, and she immediately extended her hand, hovering it in mid-air.
“High five to seal the pact!” Orochimaru hesitated for a moment, then slowly extended his hand.
“Slap!” The crisp sound of the high five echoed in the silent underground laboratory.
The agreement between Orochimaru and Tsunade, unknown to anyone else, was quietly reached.
Tsunade withdrew her hand and grinned.
“Pleasure doing business with you~” Orochimaru nodded without speaking.
But there was a glimmer in his eyes that hadn’t been there before.
At this moment, Tsunade suddenly changed the subject.
“But before that, you have to do me a favor first.” “What favor?” “Help me study the constitution of the Senju and Uzumaki.” Tsunade patted her chest.
“I want to know if there’s a way to take my constitution…
to the next level.” “For example, atavism?” Orochimaru’s eyes lit up slightly.
Atavism?
Atavism for the Senju Clan, wouldn’t that be…
The constitution of the First Hokage, Senju Hashirama?
“Interesting.” Orochimaru licked his lips, a flash of excitement in his eyes.
“Very…
interesting.” “Then it’s settled!” Tsunade clapped her hands.
“You help me study my constitution, and I’ll help you secure research resources.” “Once you achieve results and I become Hokage, it’s a win-win for both of us!” Orochimaru nodded heavily.
Today, he suddenly had a feeling of truly standing in the sunlight.
Seeing that he agreed, Tsunade didn’t waste any more words.
She directly pulled over an examination bed, lay down on it, and patted the head of the bed.
Come on~ “Come on, my dear teammate, let’s get started!” “Now?” Tsunade looked like it was a matter of course.
“Of course!
I already told Grandma I wouldn’t be coming home tonight; you didn’t think I was joking, did you?” Orochimaru nodded slightly, not being coy.
He grabbed a few surgical tools from the side and walked toward Tsunade.
Two people.
One revealing the fanaticism of scientific research.
The other revealing the excitement of being researched.
No matter how you looked at it…
neither of them seemed like normal people.