Chapter 271: Human Experimentation—How Can We Do It with Too Few People?
"I understand your determination. However, this matter is of grave importance. I need to consult Lord Kazuma before providing an answer."
Mizuki considered carefully before responding to Itachi.
"Besides transplanting First Hokage's Wood Release cells, does anyone have other methods?"
Mizuki surveyed the room. Seeing Nara Shikasuke and others keeping their heads lowered without speaking, he rose and dismissed them.
"Then today's meeting ends here. I'll report to Lord Kazuma first before informing everyone of the results."
"You all come from clans with long traditions—search through your family's classified records to see if any methods exist for resisting powerful enemies. Even ones with significant side effects are acceptable."
"We'll discuss them collectively at the next meeting."
Everyone rose, bowed, and departed. Mizuki saw them out before heading directly toward the hospital.
Konoha's medical standards remained quite high. Despite Kazuma's severe injuries, after several days he could already move around, though strenuous activity remained inadvisable.
Mizuki inquired about Kazuma's condition before reporting Itachi's application in detail.
Kazuma's brow immediately furrowed.
"That Itachi—usually performs adequately, but at critical moments his true nature emerges. Completely untrustworthy!" Kazuma spoke furiously.
"Enhancing his strength would be pure waste. Look at Uchiha Madara and Uchiha Yasushi—though they both can use Wood Release, during combat they didn't deploy it. Instead they used that exaggerated Perfect Susanoo."
"Rather than bothering with cell transplantation, we'd be better off understanding why those two can manifest Perfect Form while Itachi cannot."
Mizuki listened carefully to Kazuma's venting before responding apologetically:
"Though I understand that even if Itachi becomes stronger, he still couldn't match Uchiha Yasushi, we truly can't find any other methods right now!"
"Why not let them try?"
"Moreover..." Hesitation appeared on Mizuki's face.
"Moreover what? Speak directly."
"My meaning is—if we can't compensate for the strength gap through quality, perhaps we can compensate through quantity."
"After all, Wood Release is First Hokage's jutsu. Even if inferior to Perfect Susanoo, it shouldn't differ too greatly, right?"
"So if one Wood Release ninja can't match an Uchiha, what about three or five? Ten or eight?"
"You mean mass transplant Hashirama cells among village shinobi?" Kazuma became thoughtful.
"Exactly." Mizuki's eyes lit up, speaking with fervor.
"Actually, Konoha Village possesses too many good things. But villagers would rather seal them away than use them."
"What a waste!"
"Just like Edo Tensei—if not for Lord Kazuma widely distributing this technique, how would we know it's so powerful and useful?"
"I believe First Hokage's cells are similar. The village fears failure and death, so never researched them deeply."
"The ultimate result? Three Uchiha rogue ninja all use Wood Release. Yet our Konoha Village—not a single person can use it."
"This is wrong!"
"Since we're liberating our thinking and pursuing bold progress, we might as well take bigger steps. Let's popularize Wood Release throughout the village."
"Think about it—if everyone in the village possessed Wood Release, even if individual strength remained poor, wouldn't the combined power achieve qualitative change?"
"Mm, you make sense." Kazuma nodded with fascination before quickly furrowing his brow again.
"But you just said First Hokage cell transplantation is extremely dangerous. Will village shinobi willingly accept it?"
"Please rest assured on that point." Mizuki patted his chest confidently.
"I won't force anyone to participate in experiments."
"This represents necessary sacrifice for the village's sake. Surely the village contains those who firmly believe in the Will of Fire and will volunteer for experiments to protect the village."
"Leave everything to me—I'll persuade the clans to support this transplant plan."
"Conveniently, Lord Kazuma's body still needs several days' recuperation. I'll assume responsibility for this plan."
"If the transplant plan truly fails and causes massive casualties, Lord Kazuma need only dismiss me and place all blame on my shoulders."
"All plans were my reckless actions—completely unrelated to Lord Kazuma."
"Oh, Mizuki—you're truly a loyal shinobi!" Kazuma exclaimed, growing even more satisfied with Mizuki.
After obtaining Kazuma's tacit approval, Mizuki respectfully withdrew from the room.
Meanwhile, Kazuma began calculating whether to extend his recuperation period, giving Mizuki more opportunities to perform.
The next day, Mizuki assembled everyone for another meeting.
"Fellow jonin, due to Lord Kazuma's recuperation, I'll assume full responsibility for First Hokage's cell transplant plan."
"In principle, I support this transplant plan."
"However, considering we currently lack relevant data on Wood Release cell transplantation, rashly using a powerful shinobi like Itachi for direct transplantation would be inappropriate."
"So I propose the village's Medical Department take the lead, with village medical ninja as primary operators and medical ninja Lord Kazuma brought from the capital as assistants, conducting large-scale human experimentation to gather more data."
"Once the technology matures, we'll transplant into Itachi and other jonin."
"Orochimaru accomplished this. No reason our massive shinobi village cannot."
Upon hearing "human experimentation," everyone immediately erupted.
"Lord Mizuki, human experimentation is extremely inhumane! Even throughout the shinobi world, it's forbidden. How can we conduct such things within the village?"
"Moreover, from your words, you want to conduct this on a large scale—that will attract even more criticism."
Mizuki raised his hand, interrupting the discussion to explain:
"The term 'human experimentation' is naturally our internal designation."
"Externally, this plan can be called the 'Senju Clan Rebirth Plan' or 'Wood Release Sacred Body Hero Trial' or something similar."
"We won't deceive anyone or abduct any test subjects. We'll openly recruit volunteers from village shinobi."
"Any shinobi wanting to obtain powerful strength and ascend to heaven in a single step can participate in this Wood Release trial."
"All shinobi passing the trial can become Wood Release ninja like the 'God of Shinobi' Senju Hashirama."
"But once they fail to pass the trial, death follows."
"We must truthfully explain this experiment's danger and this trial's importance to the village to all village shinobi, letting them choose whether to participate."
"Those willing to dedicate themselves to the village, willing to become stronger to protect the village and protect their families—they can all participate in this trial."