"How can the progress of your solitary experiments compare to that of an entire team? If you become Hokage, you could assemble a full research division," the Third Hokage continued.
"At that time, personnel and resources will be no issue. Whatever you wish to research, you can achieve it swiftly."
Orochimaru was clearly tempted, but after a moment of thought, he gave up on the idea, shaking his head. "You make a good point, old man, but I see you buried in work in the Hokage's Office all day."
"If I become Hokage, what time will I have left for my experiments?"
This was exactly the response the Third had hoped for. He quickly replied, "That's simple. I will handle the administrative duties for you at first."
"You can focus on your experiments without interruption, unless a matter of great importance requires your consultation. When you feel ready to take full control, I will hand things over to you."
Hearing this, Orochimaru seemed to find the terms acceptable. "Very well then, old man. I won't involve myself in the vote. You handle it as you see fit."
Seeing Orochimaru agree, the Third Hokage breathed a sigh of relief.
"How do you plan to deal with the Uchiha clan?" Orochimaru asked. Since the Third was so insistent on him becoming Hokage, he must believe Orochimaru possessed some capability to counter the Uchiha's financial strategy.
The Third Hokage responded with a question of his own. "Your cloning technology, how effective is it for limbs?"
Orochimaru gave a faint smirk. "Cloning limbs is a trivial matter, old man, but there is still a possibility of failure. The expense of accelerating organ growth is not something an ordinary ninja can bear."
A weight lifted from the Third's heart, and he smiled. "It's still far less than the cost of training an elite ninja, isn't it?"
"It would also be nice if you could find me more human test subjects," Orochimaru added, his tongue flicking out to lick his lips.
"Every year, many Konoha ninja are forced to retire due to debilitating injuries," the Third said. "If your cloning technology can be improved, it could add a great deal of fighting power back to the village."
"Have you thought this through, old man? Once this cloning technology is revealed, other villages will surely covet it." After all, a technique that could regenerate lost limbs could single-handedly save countless crippled ninja. Every hidden village had a significant number of ninja maimed on missions each year.
The Third was pleased that Orochimaru was still considering the village's welfare. He nodded in satisfaction. "For now, this is our only option. As long as the technological barrier is high enough, other villages won't be able to do more than look on with envy."
Orochimaru nodded in understanding. "Fine. You make the arrangements. I've been busy cloning Fugaku's and Itachi's eyes recently."
...
Within the village of Konoha, every clan representative who had been called out by Kawasaki at the meeting made their way to the Uchiha compound that very day. Without exception, each one received a handsome payment.
No one had expected Kawasaki to be so direct. Cold, hard cash, distributed on the spot. Box after box of bills passed from Uchiha hands, earning them a silent thumbs-up from the representatives of the various clans.
This was how the Uchiha did things, they thought. Solving real problems. It was far more impressive than those who only shouted empty slogans. If an Uchiha clan like this were to run for Hokage, everyone would support them.
An undercurrent of tension flowed through the village. Everyone was waiting to see how the Third Hokage would respond. After all, he had never entertained the thought of an Uchiha succeeding him.
But no one expected his move would be to nominate Orochimaru.
...
Today, a new notice was posted on Konoha's public bulletin boards. In short, it announced that Orochimaru had made a major breakthrough in his research and could now treat physical disabilities through cloning technology. Ninja who had been forced to retire from active duty due to crippling injuries now had a chance to have their limbs regrown and become whole again.
The moment the news broke, all of Konoha was in an uproar. As one of the five great ninja villages, Konoha had seen countless ninja retire due to injuries sustained over years of war. In this world, most ninja were not involved in production. They had to complete numerous missions to support their families, and missions always came with risks. Once a ninja was disabled, their career was essentially over. They were forced to live as commoners, and the hardships they faced were immense.
One could only imagine how much Orochimaru's prestige soared after the Hokage released this news.
Although the current cost of cloning was prohibitively high, the announcement stated that as the technology matured, the fees would gradually decrease. In a few years, even ordinary citizens might be able to afford it.
People immediately wanted to seek out Orochimaru to inquire about the details. However, the Third was well aware of his former student's temperament. Orochimaru's new laboratory was established deep underground, its location known to only a select few, ensuring he would not be disturbed.
Thus, everyone in need went to the Third Hokage instead.
For an ordinary person, the cost of limb restoration was unbearable. But for the major ninja clans, as long as they could pay the price, it was not impossible to have Orochimaru perform the procedure for them. The great clans were more adept at producing exceptional ninja, but even among them, injuries were inevitable. More than a few of their best elites had been forced into retirement. Every one of those elites they could bring back was a massive boost to their clan's strength.
Many clan leaders began to calculate what they could offer the Third Hokage in exchange at the next Konoha council meeting to secure Orochimaru's services for their people.
While many commoners focused only on the news about Orochimaru, some noticed the message below it: Uchiha Fugaku and Uchiha Itachi had suffered eye injuries. The Third had already requested Orochimaru to perform cloning treatments for them.
"Is this a sign that the Uchiha and the Third Hokage are reconciling?"
"I don't know. Isn't Lady Tsunade with the Uchiha? Why can't she heal Fugaku's and Itachi's eyes?"
"Does this mean Lord Orochimaru is stronger than Lady Tsunade?"
"That's impossible."
"Perhaps they just have different areas of expertise."
"Lady Tsunade's medical ninjutsu is definitely superior, but Lord Orochimaru's ability to clone body parts is nothing to scoff at."
"True, I heard he even healed Kakashi's eye..."
...
Inside Orochimaru's laboratory.
Itachi lay quietly. The fusion of his eyes was no small matter, and Orochimaru was not taking any chances. He insisted that Itachi remain on bed rest.
The excruciating pain from the initial nerve connection surgery had gradually subsided over the past few days. However, his eyes still ached intermittently. After each wave of pain, his ocular power would strengthen slightly. Itachi meticulously recorded every change.
Shisui was responsible for Itachi's daily care, keeping him company and chatting to relieve his boredom. Orochimaru would visit once a day to remove the bandages, change the dressing, observe the progress of the eye fusion, and take notes.
The two eyes in Itachi's sockets had now linked together, their shape resembling an inverted figure eight. The fusion process was slower than anticipated, but this was not necessarily a bad thing for Itachi. A longer fusion time meant a longer period for his ocular power to grow.
Fugaku, having lost his eyes, felt no discomfort. After all, he had been blind before. Still, outsiders who saw his empty, sunken sockets couldn't help but feel a sense of dread.
Ever since the Third Hokage pushed Orochimaru into the spotlight, members of various ninja clans had frequently appeared, bringing their disabled clansmen to seek him out. These people all had arrangements and exchanges of interest with the Third Hokage.
As everyone knew, biotechnology required a large number of test subjects. And these people, delivered right to his door, became Orochimaru's new guinea pigs.