"This shouldn't be. What exactly is the principle?"
Inside the pre-prepared laboratory, Konoha's researchers in brand-new protective suits crowded around the experiment table, voices filled with confusion.
The two leaders were the world's top two Medical-Nin. One excelled in life sciences, her specialty being Yang Release healing. The other was her disciple, skilled in biology, with signature techniques in Yang Release transformation!
On the dissection table, a man with gray, slicked-back hair lay completely naked, covered in sealing technique inscriptions.
Even though his head was separated from his torso, he remained full of life, cursing and shouting.
"Six minutes and six seconds, regeneration begins!"
Sakura pressed a stopwatch, turning Hidan's thigh around for the other researchers to see.
"The wound you caused earlier didn't regenerate. Was it because of that technique of yours?"
Tsunade also pressed her stopwatch, lifting the arm Sakura had previously dissected. The muscle texture beneath the skin was clearly visible.
"Mhm. My Haki can obstruct Chakra Flow. So, for now, we can confirm that the entity called Jashin regenerates his body through Chakra." Sakura waved, calling over a researcher to have the results of the first ten rounds of dissection and some of her personal speculations fully recorded.
"Setting aside this immortal body, this guy is practically no different from an ordinary person."
Watching Sakura deftly pick up a scalpel, cut along the abdominal muscles, skillfully set up retractors, and smoothly open the chest cavity, Tsunade showed an expectant and satisfied look in her eyes.
"In that case, couldn't we use him directly for future drug development and testing of certain techniques?"
Sakura's gaze was cold and focused. In no time, she completed a full open-chest examination of the other's organs.
Simultaneously, a hospital doctor brought over Hidan's physical examination report, distributed it to the many researchers, then suited up in protective gear and entered.
"That's true. Come to think of it, we've accumulated quite a few research topics, always struggling to find test subjects."
The director of the Konoha Research Institute raised a hand, pushing up his glasses.
"Now that you mention it... that makes sense."
Tsunade nodded approvingly, momentarily excited by the hunt. She gestured, "Perfect, I have an idea. Let's try it now. Look here..."
Yang Release Chakra was injected into Hidan's body without restraint, causing his organs to begin mutating and deforming.
Sakura shook her head, pointing at the head and stating the key point, "Tsunade-nee, for Yang Release transformation, you first have to handle the neural signals in the brain."
"There's such a theory?" The observing Konoha Research Institute's director showed an expression of sudden enlightenment. "Then why not simply remove the brain and replace it with technique-based control?"
Tsunade pondered for a moment, half-agreeing, "Indeed, that's simpler. But Chakra Refinement requires mental energy. Complete removal isn't conducive to the expansion of subsequent modifications..."
"Right, right! And also... no, no, it should be done this way..."
"Hmm? That's a good method. Copy it for me and Tsunade-nee later!"
"Sure, sure."
"Wait, that technique isn't one I taught. Do you have another teacher outside?"
"Hehe! I met an elder skilled in pharmacology. This technique needs to be used with special drugs. I'll write a thesis for you later."
"That's more like it. Send it directly to my office. And you should start learning the Yin Seal soon, too!"
"You two, I research gene editing. When you start the project, can you include me?"
On the dissection table, the three talked over each other, moving from modifying Hidan to their respective research directions.
The topics jumped so far afield that the recording personnel couldn't keep up with their train of thought.
Finally, it took the combined efforts of several researchers to separate the three and get them back to their respective work.
After briefly processing Hidan, preserving him as a valuable material for the Konoha Research Institute, Sakura and Tsunade's task was considered complete. The rest could be left to the institute.
After leaving the underground lab, the two returned to the Hokage Building together, meeting the Ino-Shika-Cho trio who had been waiting in the office for a long time.
"Hokage-sama!"
Seeing Tsunade push the door open, Ino quickly pulled Shikamaru and Choji up to greet Tsunade.
Sakura, in front of them, sprawled carelessly on a nearby sofa, enjoying the brilliant afternoon sun.
"You did very well this time. Good work."
Tsunade, sitting down at her desk, nodded at the group, waving for them to sit.
"Actually, we didn't do much. It was mainly..."
Shikamaru scratched his head somewhat embarrassedly, explaining to Tsunade.
"Eh~ Shikamaru, don't be polite with them!"
"Dealing with two S-Rank Missing-Nin this time means the commission is super generous~"
The pink-haired girl, who had taken over the entire long sofa, flipped over, raised her hand, and waved it, wriggling like a worm.
The crisp sound of a pen being snapped echoed, and the entire office fell silent.
In the quiet, the sound of someone irritably flipping through documents arose.
The person sitting at the Hokage's desk raised her eyes, casting an impatient glance.
Instantly, the waving little hand froze, then weakly retracted.
"Alright, you three can go back and rest for now. Sakura, stay!"
Having received Tsunade's permission, Ino, Shikamaru, and Choji, as if pardoned, fled the office at high speed.
The office became spacious. Tsunade tossed the document in her hand towards Sakura.
"Look at this!"
Hearing Tsunade's voice, serious yet tinged with helplessness, Sakura picked up the intelligence report bearing the Anbu's special seal.
"What the hell? Two-Tails, Seven-Tails captured???"
The girl's astonished exclamation echoed in the office. Tsunade sighed, covering her head with her hand.
Since the One-Tail was taken from Sunagakure, the Konoha-Sunagakure alliance had actually issued warnings to other villages and shared intel on the Akatsuki.
And yet, even with prior preparations and intelligence, they let the Tailed Beasts get captured without putting up any resistance?
- Calling them an amateur operation would be giving them too much credit.
"The Akatsuki is becoming increasingly dangerous. I will propose they convene a Five Kage Summit."
Tsunade, deep in thought, tapped the table. "But these are just supplementary intel. The real thing I want you to see is later."
'Later?'
Sakura subconsciously rubbed the intelligence in her hand. Turning the page, she saw the words Call for Aid - Asuma, and others.
"Cough!"
The girl coughed lightly, pretending nothing happened. "Well, you know, I have things at home. My mother made food. I should head back, Tsunade-nee~"
With that, she immediately stood up, turning to leave.
She had just finished the mission to hunt down the Immortal Duo. She finally returned to the village, and the sofa cushions haven't even warmed up, and now she has to go on another mission?
Absolutely not! Even if she starves to death, dies right here, jumps from outside, she absolutely will not...
"Don't try to fool me! Your parents aren't home."
Tsunade was utterly calm, taking a sip of the now-cooled tea on her desk. "Moreover, Asuma's call for aid is related to the sealed-off capital of the Land of Fire. Your esteemed parents are currently trapped there, along with Asuma."
Sakura's hand, reaching for the doorknob, froze mid-air. Her breathing hitched for a moment, her vision darkening.
'Damn it!'
After a long while, Sakura, having caught her breath, mechanically walked back to the desk.
"Now that you mention it..." Sakura took Tsunade's hand, revealing a bright smile.
"Let's talk about the mission, Tsunade-nee!"