Hidden Leaf Village: Night.
"Lord Hokage," Genma greeted the leader as he entered.
"Come in, both of you." Hiruzen greeted them softly.
The new two man team entered the Hokage's office and softly closed the door behind them. Daichi stood with a scroll in hand and faced the Hokage for the second time that day.
The old leader looked up from the reports in front of him and rested the smoking pipe near the inkstone on the table. His eyes quickly went to Daichi and noted the boy's relaxed expression. 'He seems to be in a much better mood than he was in the morning.'
Just as the Hokage was observing Daichi, the Genin was also noting down the old leader's body-language. 'He's extremely tired. But his chakra is still steady.'
"Well," Hiruzen began, leaning back slightly in his chair, "I take it your recent efforts have borne fruit?"
"They have," Daichi said, stepping forward. "Tsunade-sensei is stable for now."
Hiruzen's eyes softened for a breath, then refocused. "Explain."
Daichi quickly began to give the rundown of his progress to the man. "Adaptive Cellular Endocrine Synchronizer, or A.C.E.S for short. It's the new serum I created and it's working exactly as intended. The foreign-cell integration rate has dropped by sixty-eight percent since infusion. Organ stress markers are down across the board. Chakra-phase variance is trending toward baseline. In short, her cellular decay has been neutralized, and the foreign metamorphosis has been slowed significantly. The key addition to the serum was the chakra-harmonic enzyme I derived and purified from the Hachiyose beetle."
Genma rolled the senbon at the corner of his mouth. "He means the bug juice works."
Hiruzen huffed once, half a smile. "Yes, I gathered. Very clever. And you're confident this stabilizer will hold?"
"Yes. I'm certain. It will mitigate the current crisis and keep her stable."
Hiruzen's gaze narrowed slightly. "How long does she have?"
"A little over a week," Daichi replied. "Possibly eight to ten days if everything continues going in our favor."
The Third Hokage remained silent for a few moments, processing the words. He glanced toward Genma, who simply nodded in confirmation.
"Excellent work, Daichi." The Hokage's voice held genuine warmth for the boy. 'Perhaps letting him do things his way might be the right choice after all.' Hiruzen sighed and looked at the Genin. "So… What comes next?" There was a note of caution in his voice.
"This is a stopgap measure. It won't cure her." Daichi met the old man's gaze. "And we need a cure. The underlying instability in her blood is still there. I want to remove the mutagenic effect at its root and heal her from the inside out."
Hiruzen folded his hands. "You want to cure her completely."
"Yes," Daichi confirmed.
The old man was silent for a beat, then he gave a slow nod. "Before we move forward with your plan, I have to remind you of something."
He opened a drawer and pulled out a small dossier. "Years ago, we conducted extensive research and simulations with the First Hokage's blood. The results weren't favorable to say the least. Most of the subjects died from having wooden thorns sprout from their bodies and the few that were able to survive to the next stage…"
Hiruzen paused for a moment and let out a deep breath before continuing. "In their cases… deformations began. We observed aberrant morphogenesis. Extra processes. Bone growth in places it shouldn't. Secondary muscle clusters forming. Organ remodeling." He paused. "There is a high possibility of deformities forming on her body as the graft tries to complete its work."
"I read those reports," Daichi said. "And I don't intend to let it happen. I'm aiming for full functional normalization with no negative side effects. It's risky but I believe it's possible."
Hiruzen's brows tipped. "You're saying 'no scar tissue, no surprises' on a woman whose cells are currently trying to turn her into a tree. The odds of that aren't high."
Daichi didn't blink or hesitate to give his answer. "I believe I can do it, sir!"
The Hokage locked eyes with the boy. "Daichi, are you absolutely confident you can solve this problem?"
"I am," Daichi replied without hesitation. "That's the reason I stabilized her system first. I can find the solution to this problem. But I need some time."
Hiruzen asked with a formal tone. "And what about the other solution? The one I asked you about before."
Daichi understood what he meant immediately. The question hung in the air for a moment before he answered.
"No," he said plainly. "I can't reverse what's already been done. Her DNA has already adapted to the foreign cells. Too many anchors have been grafted. Trying to remove it would do more damage than good."
The Third Hokage sighed. "I was hoping that now you've had some time to fully examine her, you'd be able to do the impossible. But I suppose that was asking too much…" He looked at the boy and gave a small nod. "I understand. I just needed to be sure."
Hiruzen nodded once, accepting the finality. "So we proceed under the original assumption that reversal is impossible and harmonization is the objective."
"Yes." The Genin nodded.
Hiruzen was silent for a few moments. He clasped his hands and leaned back and closed his eyes as if he was in a deep thought. A short while later he looked at Daichi with a stoic expression. "Daichi, I want you to think carefully before you answer this… Hypothetically…"
Hearing those words, Daichi's eyes immediately narrowed.
The Hokage continued. "If we let the mutation run its current course while we provide Tsunade with all the help she can get in staying alive, what are the chances her body completes the transformation and she wakes up? Now keep in mind that in this scenario she might have her body disfigured."
Both Daichi and Genma were taken aback by that question.
The Genin looked at the man in silence. After a short while he spoke. "Before I answer that, I want to ask you a question."
"Go ahead." Hiruzen nodded.
"Hypothetically, if the odds of her waking up in that scenario are high, is it an option you're planning on considering?" Daichi asked while he kept a stony expression.
The Hokage was silent as he contemplated the answer. Soon he shook his head and replied. "No. Even if that is possible, I won't ask you to do it. What I want is for her to wake up completely healthy… You know what, forget I even asked that."
Daichi keenly observed the micro expressions on the man's face and the pupil dilations and sighed in relief. 'He's telling the truth. Thank god.'
Meanwhile Hiruzen closed his eyes and the memory of the little girl he taught came to mind. 'This is my fault. You're fighting for your life down there because I let my feelings get in the way and let him escape. You've already lost so much. If you wake up bearing the scars of what he did… Knowing that he violated your body and used it for his experiments… I don't even know what you would…'
Hiruzen shook his head and tried not to think about too many depressing scenarios. 'No. I shouldn't go there. She's a strong willed woman.'
Daichi was silent as he watched the Kage have an internal turmoil. Several tense moments later, he saw Hiruzen open his eyes and look at him with resolute eyes.
"Daichi! I don't care how you do it. I don't care what you have to do. Heal her to the best of your abilities. I want her to wake up without even the slightest disfiguration or traces of wounds on her body. Anything less than that outcome is unacceptable. Since you're confident you can find the solution, I'll leave it to you." Hiruzen saw that his words brought a smile to the boy's face.
"Yes sir. That's the plan."
"If you need anything else from me, just ask."
"Well, there is something else I could use," he said, reaching into his pouch and removing a tightly sealed scroll. "While reading the Nara clan's medical encyclopedia, I came across a reference to a unique mushroom."
Hiruzen raised an eyebrow. "A mushroom?"
The Genin nodded. "Yes. It's called the Mycochorus Resonatus. It's extremely rare and noted to produce a gel that reacts to chakra in a very unique way. According to the records, the fungus doesn't grow in normal terrain. It's believed to originate in a faraway land not governed by humans."
"And you believe this place is…?"
Daichi gave a slow nod. "Mount Myōboku. The Land of Toads. The encyclopedia didn't say so explicitly, but the descriptions match. Flora that grows on chakra-rich soil, in symbiosis with toad excretions. And more importantly… it's a type of sentient fungal network."
Genma blinked. "A thinking mushroom?"
"Not quite," Daichi replied. "But its response to chakra makes it suitable for regulating chaotic energy patterns. If I can extract a few grams of its gel and study it, I might be able to formulate a prototype that balances Tsunade's internal chakra turbulence. But it's just a theory for now. I don't know if that mushroom really grows in the Land of Toads or if it even exists now or even functions the way I think. The Nara who studied the mushroom lived even before the creation of the villages…"
Hiruzen leaned back, eyes thoughtful. "You believe this gel could act as your missing bridge."
"It might," Daichi said. "Or it might be completely useless for our current situation. But nonetheless, if it exists, then I would like to study it. As soon as possible."
"So that's why you wish to speak with Jiraiya."
Daichi nodded his head.
The Hokage slowly exhaled and extended his hand. Daichi gave him the scroll.
As he unrolled it, Hiruzen studied the contents—a hand-drawn sketch of the mushroom, several biological descriptors, and excerpts from the medical text outlining its properties and potential. "So this is the item you want retrieved, huh?"
"If possible. I know Master Jiraiya is out tracking Orochimaru's old hideouts in our bordering nations. But if he has a chance to return to Mount Myōboku…"
"I'll tell him," Hiruzen said, rolling the scroll back up and placing it on his desk. "I'll have the message relayed to him immediately. If that mushroom exists there, Jiraiya will find it and bring it back."
Daichi bowed deeply. "Thank you, Lord Hokage. Oh! And you'll need this." Daichi said as he took a special scroll and gave it to the Hokage. "It's a special triple insulated containment scroll tube. The mushroom, if it exists, will degrade when taken out of their environment and exposed to ambient chakra in transit. So it needs to be kept in a neutral field."
"Hence the containment scroll. You came prepared." Hiruzen nodded in appreciation.
"Yes. Also…" Daichi produced another large scroll and held it forward.
"The Nara clan's medical tome." Hiruzen immediately recognized it. "You studied it so quickly?" He looked at the boy in wonder.
"Yes. I have everything I need from it… I've resealed it properly. Please return it to them, and… let them know it was instrumental. Their research helped me tremendously."
Hiruzen accepted the scroll with both hands and nodded. "I'll see to it personally."
Daichi stepped back. "Also, the Aburame clan. Their Hachiyose beetle was a key component in creating my serum. Please extend my gratitude to them as well."
The Hokage smiled. "I'll make sure they're both informed."
Genma folded his arms and glanced at Daichi. "So, now that the mushroom hunt's been ordered… What's next for you?"
"I go back to the lab," Daichi replied simply. "I'm not done yet."
Hiruzen folded his hands. "Daichi, if it were any other time I'd tell you to take it easy. You've been working nonstop since morning. But considering the stakes involved… How far are you going to push yourself?"
"As far as I have to," Daichi said simply. "But I'll be careful. I won't gamble with her life."
Genma chewed his senbon. "You ever gamble at all?"
"Only with myself." The Genin replied with a smirk.
Hiruzen exhaled, the faintest ghost of amusement in his eyes. "Kakashi tells me you prefer to prepare until luck becomes unnecessary."
"Sensei's biased, but then again, he isn't wrong."
A brief silence fell before Hiruzen broke it. "Daichi. This path—harmonization rather than reversal. It means Tsunade will wake up… different."
"I know." Daichi's voice softened. "But she'll wake… And she'll be stronger than ever. I believe that."
"I pray you're right." Hiruzen slowly smiled and leaned back. "You've grown into a fine shinobi, Daichi. A fine healer. Perhaps the best this village has ever seen. I know Tsunade is proud of you... We all are."
Daichi bowed slightly at the compliment. "Thank you, Lord Hokage."
Hiruzen gave a thoughtful nod. "Well, I'll update you as soon as I hear from Jiraiya. Dismissed."
Daichi and Genma bowed. As they turned and left the room, the young Genin couldn't help but feel the weight on his shoulders lighten—if only a little.
The door closed behind them, and the Hokage leaned back in his chair.
"A medical genius who will undoubtedly surpass Tsunade…" Hiruzen murmured softly. Suddenly a bold idea came to his mind.
'And perhaps… The future sixth Hokage… He's an excellent candidate.'
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Author's Note:
I hope you guys like the chapter.