Naruto: Starting as the Third Hokage with Tears in His Eyes

"...Your idea is bold, but it lacks clinical data to support it."

Tsunade gradually calmed down and began to examine Orochimaru's theories from a doctor's perspective. "For example, you mentioned using Lightning Release chakra to stimulate the heart for revival, which is theoretically feasible. However, the intensity of the current, the duration of the stimulation, and how to precisely target the heart without damaging other organs are all issues."

"These problems can all be solved through experiments."

Orochimaru immediately said, "We can start with animals, like pigs. Pigs' organ structures are most similar to humans. We can establish a control group, gradually adjust the output power and duration of Lightning Release, and record the data from each experiment..."

"Experiments? You make it sound so easy!" Tsunade interrupted him. "Do you know how much it costs to set up a standard biological laboratory? All that sophisticated equipment, sterile environment, and a huge number of test subjects... It's simply beyond our means."

"The teacher will take care of the money," Orochimaru said with unusual certainty. "As for the experimental subjects... didn't the war just end?"

Tsunade felt a chill run down her spine; she sensed a dangerous undertone in Orochimaru's words.

"Orochimaru, I'm warning you, you are not allowed to use people for experiments!"

"Of course I know."

Orochimaru licked his lips, a sly glint in his golden snake eyes. "I mean, those enemy corpses captured on the battlefield. Since they're going to be cremated anyway, why not put them to good use and make a final contribution to the medical field?"

Tsunade: "..."

She found that she couldn't refute it.

Looking at Orochimaru's pale face, which was slightly flushed with excitement, Tsunade felt for the first time that although this guy's thoughts were dangerous, he wasn't so bad after all.

At least, they share a common pursuit in the exploration of medicine.

"Okay, even if you're right."

Tsunade rubbed her throbbing temples. "Talking without doing is useless. We can't just stay here and talk on paper forever. We need to find a place to turn these theories into reality."

Orochimaru's lips curled up slightly, revealing an extremely rare and genuine smile.

"Our teacher said that the newly built Konoha Hospital will have a dedicated research department that we can use."

"And the budget... is more than enough."

Tsunade's eyes lit up instantly.

She seemed to see a brand new, great era of medicine about to begin in their hands.

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With the arrival of war reparations, the Hokage's office held another small high-level meeting.

When Koharu Utatane and En Mito walked out of the office in a daze, the impassioned declaration of Shimura Danzo was still echoing in their minds.

"Yan, was I hallucinating just now?"

Koharu, rubbing her forehead, felt her worldview being severely shaken. "Danzo... he's really going to get involved in construction?"

"I think... we might be hallucinating."

Mitokado Homura pushed up his glasses, his eyes behind the lenses filled with confusion. "What he just said, that village's shield, that hero's destiny... why does it sound so familiar?"

Familiar? Of course they're familiar! Aren't these the slogans Hiruzen usually uses to appease the people in various public occasions? They always thought that these were just some nice words Hiruzen, as Hokage, said to create a friendly image.

But today, these words came from the mouth of Shimura Danzo, the most ruthless man in all of Konoha, and they had a completely different flavor.

Especially when Danzo described a future where everyone had work and dignity with an almost fanatical gaze, Koharu and Homura even had the illusion that the person standing there was not Shimura Danzo, but the young First Hokage.

"What exactly did Hiruzen do to Danzo?" Koharu couldn't help but ask the question that was on everyone's mind.

Mitokado Homura remained silent for a long time before speaking in an extremely complex tone: "Perhaps, we have never truly understood Hiruzen. Nor... we have ever understood Danzo."

After the meeting, Danzo did not leave first, as he usually did.

Instead, he stayed until the very end and took the initiative to ask the clerk in the Hokage's office for the most detailed map of Konoha Village, which included all the streets, buildings, and underground pipe networks.

The clerk ninja looked at the advisor elder, who was known for his coldness, and saw that he actually gave him a kind smile.

He hurriedly retrieved a huge map scroll, almost as tall as a person, from the archives and respectfully handed it to Danzo.

Danzo was overjoyed to receive the map.

He didn't go home, but went straight back to his advisor's office in the Hokage Building.

Then, he locked himself inside.

They stayed there for the entire night.