Helping Gin adapt to her body could be temporarily handled by Aka.
So Ryuji wasn't in a hurry to make the auxiliary mechanical puppets and instead returned to his room to sleep.
He had slept less than two hours last night, plus the long journey to Konoha. He was utterly exhausted.
He felt if he didn't sleep soon, he'd die of exhaustion.
…
The night passed uneventfully.
When Ryuji woke up, it was already the next morning.
Aka seemed either psychic or had been waiting outside. The moment he awoke, she entered carrying hot water and washing supplies.
"Master, please refresh yourself."
Aka placed the washbasin on the tatami floor nearby and handed over a toothbrush already applied with toothpaste.
"Yes."
Ryuji had just woken up and was still groggy.
He took the toothbrush and cup, sitting on the bed to brush his teeth while Aka held the basin to catch the rinse water.
After rinsing, she personally wrung out the hot towel and wiped his face clean.
Instantly, he felt refreshed.
"Having you by my side is truly wonderful!" Ryuji couldn't help but exclaim.
"Master flatters me. Serving you is my duty," Aka smiled gently. "Master, please dress yourself. I'll fetch your breakfast."
"You go ahead. I can manage this myself."
"Yes."
Aka nodded, carrying the basin and washing tools as she left the room.
Ryuji sighed with emotion.
Professional maid skills, considerate and gentle service.
Living such a comfortable life, he really could imagine it lasting a lifetime.
However, that was just a thought.
A place of comfort is a hero's tomb.
Indulging in comfort in this world of constant warfare would only lead to tragedy.
Ryuji took a deep breath, got out of bed, and dressed. Just as he finished, Aka entered the room carrying breakfast.
Because the weather was turning colder, this morning's breakfast wasn't items like sausages or bread but steaming hot eight-treasure nutritious porridge and meat buns.
Ryuji alternated bites of bun and sips of porridge, savoring the combination.
"Ryuji-sama, Orochimaru has come to visit."
Just after finishing the meal, a guard's voice came from outside the door.
"Take him to the reception room."
"Yes."
Footsteps receded outside the door.
Ryuji looked at Aka. "I'll meet Orochimaru first. Please tidy up the room."
"Master, please go ahead. I'll take care of everything."
"Yes."
Ryuji nodded and left the bedroom.
…
Reception Room.
The two sat facing each other across a low table, sizing each other up.
After a moment, Orochimaru spoke, "Ryuji-kun, half a year has passed. How have you been?"
"???"
Ryuji was confused.
'If memory served, last time we almost fought.'
'What was with this greeting like old friends meeting?'
'Could he have any shame?'
However, one shouldn't hit a smiling guest. Since Orochimaru came with goodwill, Ryuji couldn't exactly wear a stern face.
After a moment's thought, Ryuji smiled. "...Fine, just fine. Orochimaru, I heard you came looking for me yesterday. What's the matter?"
"Ryuji-kun remains as direct as ever!"
Orochimaru said meaningfully.
Last time, he was responsible for receiving the Sunagakure's delegation and giving them a show of force.
But Ryuji didn't consider the consequences at all, directly releasing killing intent to confront him on the street, giving him a deep impression of someone ready to fight at the slightest provocation.
At the time, many Konoha's higher-ups, including himself, thought Ryuji was reckless. But after learning about his subsequent deeds, they revised that view.
He wasn't reckless but confident, seeing through the intimidation tactic and knowing they wouldn't actually act, hence his boldness.
However,
Although they revised the view of him being reckless, his decisive purge of Sunagakure's former higher-ups amidst internal and external troubles still left behind an impression of decisiveness and directness.
"Just state your business directly!"
Ryuji's tone carried a hint of impatience.
He disliked dealing with people who were long-winded.
If he were the one seeking a favor, he'd suppress his impatience. But now it was Orochimaru seeking him, not the other way around.
Speak or don't, it's up to you.
That was his current mindset.
Perhaps sensing Ryuji's mood, Orochimaru stopped beating around the bush, stating his purpose directly. "I've come regarding cooperation."
"Cooperation?" Ryuji blinked, confirming he heard correctly before smiling. "What aspect do you want to cooperate on?"
Cooperation requires both parties to be in similar situations.
But what capital did Orochimaru have?
In terms of status and influence, although he was one of Konoha's legendary Sannin, he was currently just Danzo's subordinate.
In terms of scientific knowledge, research achievements...
Although he was a rare scientist in the Shinobi World, even by the original work's conclusion, he hadn't achieved results surpassing Ryuji's current ones. Ryuji didn't know what capital Orochimaru had for cooperation.
Ryuji's dismissiveness wasn't hidden; it was obvious at a glance.
But Orochimaru seemed to have anticipated this. He wasn't angry but instead chuckled lightly. "Don't underestimate me. I have something that will catch your interest."
"Oh?"
This piqued Ryuji's curiosity, and he eagerly asked, "What is it?"
"Hashirama's cells."
Orochimaru's lips curled slightly upwards as he spoke unhurriedly, seemingly confident his bargaining chip would definitely interest the other party, leading to cooperation.
However, Ryuji was greatly disappointed.
Hashirama's cells were indeed rare treasures... no, calling them the number one treasure in the Shinobi World wouldn't be an exaggeration.
If one could successfully harness Hashirama's cells, they could offset the side effects of the Mangekyo Sharingan, greatly enhance cellular vitality, vastly increase Chakra, grant Wood Release, boost the power of ordinary Ninjutsu, significantly strengthen White Zetsu's power, extend lifespan, possibly shorten Kotoamatsukami's cooldown, possibly reduce the conditions for using Izanagi...
And these were just the known effects.
With further research, cells possessing these functions could undoubtedly achieve many other difficult feats.
But a hundred reasons aside, Ryuji had already thoroughly researched Hashirama's cells.
Although he never possessed Hashirama's cells, through studying Yamato's cells, he had grasped the essence of their power.
Hashirama's body was simply extremely vital; there was nothing inherently special about it.
What was truly special was the power of the God Tree.
As long as one had a body capable of withstanding the God Tree's power and received that power, their cells could become like Hashirama's.
The Yomatsuya he created possessed a Sage Body and was further enhanced with Hashirama's Chakra. Although his upper limit might not reach Hashirama's level, he would definitely achieve the level of Yamato enhanced by being enveloped by Guruguru.
Once matured, using the Wood Human Technique, fighting five Kage alone would be no problem.
If he could obtain the God Tree's power later for another enhancement, reaching or even surpassing Hashirama wasn't impossible.
In other words, it was the God Tree's power that was strong, not Hashirama's cells.
Although Hashirama's cells contained the God Tree's power, that power couldn't be cultivated and strengthened like cell division.
The more the cells divided, the more dispersed and weaker the God Tree's power within became.
Now that Hashirama was dead, the active cells he left behind were probably long used up. What remained were likely products of countless divisions and reproductions.
How much God Tree power could such Hashirama's cells still contain?
Ryuji estimated it definitely wouldn't exceed Yamato's level.
Under Danzo's direction, Orochimaru continued private research on Hashirama's cells... and now, about five years remained until the Third Shinobi World War's end. Timing-wise, even if the experiments weren't over now, they were likely in progress.
And Yamato, as a survivor of these experiments, the strength of the God Tree power within him represented the strength within the Hashirama's cells currently in Konoha's possession.
Even if there was a difference, it wouldn't be large.
Meaning,
The Hashirama's cells Konoha currently possessed had effects similar to Yamato's cells, not even matching the enhanced Yomatsuya.
What would Ryuji need them for?
If they had the original samples, maybe.
But Orochimaru didn't know this.
Seeing Ryuji's look of great disappointment upon hearing his proposed bargaining chip, he thought Ryuji didn't understand Hashirama's cells' power and quickly explained, "Ryuji-kun, don't underestimate Hashirama's cells. As the former God of Shinobi, the First Hokage-sama's power exceeded everyone's imagination. Even though he is dead, the remnants of his body are extraordinary."
"For researchers like us, they are priceless treasures."
"Perhaps so, but I'm not interested."
Given their opposing stances, Ryuji couldn't explain these things to Orochimaru, nor did he want to bother, directly expressing disinterest.
But Orochimaru thought Ryuji was deliberately lowering the price to gain an advantageous position in negotiations for more benefits, so he kept bargaining around Hashirama's cells.
He repeatedly boasted about how amazing Hashirama's cells were but deliberately avoided mentioning the prerequisites.
Annoyed, Ryuji asked directly, "If Hashirama's cells are so amazing, why haven't you Konoha folks produced anything significant with them?"
"..."
Orochimaru opened his mouth but had no words.
Although he wanted to say Konoha had already produced a successful case gaining the First Hokage-sama's power, how could he reveal such classified information to someone from another village? So he obediently closed his mouth.
His mind raced. After a moment's thought, he continued, "The questions Ryuji-kun asks are village secrets. Naturally, I cannot show them to you. But Hashirama's cells are definitely a worthwhile bargaining chip."
"Alright, alright, first tell me what you want to cooperate on!"
Seeing Ryuji's impatient expression, Orochimaru's lips curled slightly.
'Still pretending?'
'First devaluing my bargaining chip to nothing, then making me raise the price when I state my terms? Such an old trick, do you think it works?'
'Though young and capable, you still lack experience!'
"I hope to research an immortality technique together with Ryuji-kun."