After a lively BBQ session, Hiruko followed Tsunade back to her home. However, any hopes he had of "getting lucky" were dashed when Tsunade unceremoniously kicked him out. Having spent the last few nights with Pakura, the scent lingering on him was far too obvious for a master-level Medical Ninja like her to ignore.
Night: Hiruko's Laboratory.
Inside a pressurized tank, Kurama Chiaki let out a low groan as he regained consciousness. His head throbbed with a violent ache, every nerve ending in his body screaming as if pushed to its absolute breaking point. For a moment, he genuinely believed he was about to perish from sheer exhaustion and agony.
But then he realized his body was submerged in a warm, energy-rich fluid. It felt like a gentle stream, tirelessly repairing his physical and mental fatigue, nourishing his soul. He struggled to open his eyes, finding himself encased in a transparent, cylindrical nutrient pod.
Hiruko, who had been busy nearby, sensed the stirrings of Chiaki's awakening and walked over.
"You're awake?" Hiruko asked, watching the boy's eyelids flutter.
Chiaki recognized the scientist and scanned the room with effort, searching for a familiar face.
"There were some... complications during the procedure. Your sister and the rest of the Kurama clan left a few days ago," Hiruko explained patiently.
"Did I fail?" Chiaki's face fell, filled with a hollow sense of loss. "As long as my sister is okay..."
Hiruko shook his head and smirked. "No, quite the opposite. You succeeded."
Chiaki's eyes widened in shock.
"Your mind and body couldn't originally handle the strain of the Kekkei Genkai awakening. I used sealing jutsu to forcibly lock down your physical form, then stimulated your cells to overdraw their potential. This allowed your spirit to expand and trigger the Kurama clan's bloodline," Hiruko detailed. "However, this is a temporary fix. Without a way to permanently strengthen your body, your immense spiritual power will eventually tear your physical vessel apart."
Seeing the look of panic in Chiaki's eyes, Hiruko continued, "But you're lucky. You survived the initial surge. I've injected you with a new experimental serum. The side effects are significant, but it restores physical stamina at an incredible rate."
He gestured to the fluid in the pod. "The dosage of these nutrients has been perfectly calibrated to neutralize the volatility of your awakened Kekkei Genkai, creating a balance within you. For now, you can only survive inside this liquid. Leaving will require multiple rounds of fine-tuning."
"You'll stay here for the time being. Don't even think about using chakra or fighting. You'll need daily check-ups. Once your bloodline stabilizes, you can use the Kurama power like a normal shinobi."
As the life-giving energy surged into him, Chiaki felt as though he had returned to the womb—warm, safe, and heavy with sleep. His consciousness drifted back into a deep, restorative slumber.
Hiruko watched him, then pressed a button on the console to extract a fresh tissue sample. Having such a rare specimen was a goldmine; the awakened Kurama cells were leagues beyond the baseline data he had previously recorded. It was time for a major update to his biological database.
Recently, Hiruko had been formulating a specific type of "medicine," intending to make a killing off the wealthy elite. However, knowing this particular venture might tarnish his reputation as a "serious" scientist, he was already looking for a scapegoat to take the public fall.
Based on his research into cellular regeneration and stamina recovery, he developed three products. Two were general health supplements with various restorative properties. The third, however, was a mysterious "Little Blue Pill" designed to restore "manly vigor."
In the shinobi world, while there were many secret techniques, research into this specific area of pharmacology was virtually non-existent. Hiruko knew he could use these blue pills to harvest massive amounts of gold from the nobles of the Five Great Nations.
Unlike the harsh secret medicines of the Akimichi or the toxic enhancers Orochimaru would later give Sasuke, Hiruko designed these to be harmless—even nourishing—to the average human body.
The profit margins were astronomical. It took him only three days to finalize the formulas. The production cost for one 10-gram blue pill was less than the price of a bowl of ramen. Yet, Hiruko planned to sell the health supplements at a 50-fold markup, and the "vigor" pills at a 200-fold markup.
While the high-end versions targeted the rich, he also created a "civilian version" with one-tenth the potency and cost, ensuring he captured the entire market.
Tsunade, who had been staying close to Hiruko lately, knew exactly what he was up to. Watching him build factories to churn out these supplements, she realized this was far more lucrative than any gambling den.
Stepping out of a casino with a face full of "bad luck," Tsunade wandered the streets of Konoha. It was getting late, and she considered finding a tavern to drink her fill before heading back to Hiruko's place to crash.
As she passed a dessert shop, she found herself walking inside as if possessed. Perhaps she had been influenced by Hiruko's notorious sweet tooth.
"Boss, give me five skewers of Three-Color Dango."
Tsunade found an empty table and slumped into a chair. "I'm so tired..." she muttered.
"Hiruko..." she whispered his name, her eyes flickering with uncertainty. She seemed to be hesitating over a very specific decision.
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