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It doesn't matter if he can't do it himself; his disciples can help him push it forward.

The experiments related to Hashirama cells were handed over to Tsunade, while the remaining cell experiments were assigned to Hiruko and Orochimaru.

All three were participants in the research and development of cloning technology, and their abilities are not too different.

He then ordered the group to keep their findings secret from each other, like a disassembled assembly line, with each person responsible for their specific part. No one knew what the final product would be when these experimental results were integrated.

Under the filter, Shen Er's righteous and awe-inspiring speech convinced Tsunade, who was completely unaware of the taboo issues that might be involved.

She agreed, but then hesitated, asking, "But...where can we find Grandpa's cells?"

We can't exactly open the coffin and retrieve the body, can we?

The Senju clan's territory only contains Wood Release relics, not a physical sample of Hashirama.

Shen Er smiled faintly upon hearing this and slowly explained, "When the Gospel Hospital was first established, it introduced welfare benefits for public servants and arranged physical examinations for all active ninjas in Konoha, including blood tests, tissue sampling, and biological specimen preservation."

"Hashirama also participated in the physical examination back then, and his sample is still preserved in the archive on the second basement floor of the hospital."

He did indeed possess samples of Hashirama's flesh and blood in private, but those were reserved for his own use.

The samples given to Tsunade must be of legitimate origin and processed in accordance with regulations. He had foreseen this situation as early as the establishment of the Gospel Hospital in Konoha in the sixth year and made arrangements in advance.

These words sounded strange to Tsunade.

Isn't this too much of a coincidence? Could it be that as early as the sixth year of Konoha, the strategist had already planned to use his grandfather's cells to cultivate clones?

The thought had barely crossed her mind when Tsunade rejected it.

How could anyone possibly predict things decades from now? My idea is absurd.

Before Tsunade could speak, Shen Er preemptively rebuked her, "Tsunade, you are now the vice president of Gospel Hospital. You should pay more attention to hospital affairs. You should review past files and meeting minutes more often."

"The Gospel Hospital of the future is yours."

Tsunade's attention was indeed diverted, and she felt a warm and comforting feeling.

The advisor had been paving the way for her all along.

First, he became the deputy director of the Root Research Institute, then the deputy director of the Evangelion Hospital, then the director, and then... the Hokage's assistant, a Konoha elder, until he becomes the Hokage.

To this day, she still remembers the napkin theory that Shen Er mentioned during the baby's first birthday celebration.

The favoritism emboldened her, and she said coquettishly, "Isn't the Gospel under the management of Senior Ya Shi now? I was busy developing the Hundred Healings Technique before, so I didn't pay much attention to it. I will pay attention in the future."

“Ya-Shi will be stepping down soon,” Shen-er said. “He submitted his application earlier. His granddaughter, Nonou, will be starting school soon, and he has decided to give up his job as dean to focus on raising her at home.”

“After he leaves, you will take over the gospel work.”

"Well, I see!"

Tsunade readily agreed.

It took her fifteen years to rise from a resident in the Evangelical Fellowship to the position of Dean.

"So much time has passed," she remarked, then turned to Shen Er, "Master, would you like to see the experimental samples of the clones?"

"can."

Shen Er followed in her footsteps to the laboratory.

He wanted to see for himself just how far cloning technology had progressed.

Arriving at Tsunade's private laboratory.

Dozens of biochemical culture chambers were neatly arranged on both sides of the room. The chambers were filled with a light green nutrient solution, and a large number of clones were quietly immersed in it.

On both sides were numerous biochemical chambers, with clones inside immersed in green nutrient solution.

Most of the clones are still in the embryonic stage; only the individuals in two pods have taken shape, resembling him as a teenager. These are the results of cultivation based on the blood samples he provided, which Tsunade used as raw materials.

“Currently, cloning technology has been proven feasible, but it is not yet mature enough. Only two out of every hundred embryos can develop to the current stage,” Tsunade explained from the side. “Through rapid induction, embryos can be cultivated into adolescent forms in just one month.”

"After another month of nurturing, it can grow into its adult form, but there is still a risk of failure in this process."

In other words, it takes at least two months to cultivate a usable adult body.

This speed is not slow, and it meets Shen'er's expectations.

Through the glass of the large bio-engineered chamber, Shen Er gazed at the two clones inside, who bore a striking resemblance to himself in his youth. A ripple stirred within his usually calm heart. He composed himself slightly, then placed his hand against the glass of the chamber and closed his eyes to sense his surroundings.

The art of spiritualization.

He did not invade the clone's body, but only conducted superficial perception.

Moments later, it was discovered that these clones had no souls; they were merely two living shells. Current technology can only create physical bodies, not souls. Special beings like Mitsuki, possessing souls, may require decades of further technological advancement.

Clones lack souls and therefore spiritual energy. While their physical energy is plentiful, the absence of spiritual energy—a crucial element—makes it impossible to refine chakra.

Because chakra cannot be refined, the bloodline limit will not manifest. It requires the infusion of corresponding spiritual energy to activate it.

Only with both soul and body can one be considered a true ninja.

Like cloning bloodline ninjas, the operation of mass-producing bloodline ninjas is impossible. Even if you use Earth Grudge Fear to devour these hearts, you still can't gain life force or bloodline.

But it doesn't matter; all that's needed is to synthesize the body of the Otsutsuki.

As for the Rinnegan, Tenseigan, Sharingan, and Byakugan, these external objects can all be artificially synthesized using external forces.

Without the art of spiritualization, the greatest use of these clones would probably be as a living organ bank, allowing the "organ donation volunteer form," a product of a special period, to disappear from the historical stage.

Only when Shen activates the Spirit Transformation Technique, implanting his soul into these bodies, can he activate the body's energy and extract the corresponding chakra to transform into combat weapons.

Furthermore, since clones are all made using Shen cells as a base, there will be no "soul rejection" when manipulating them using spiritual techniques, just like using one's own body.

This is a good thing...

In this way, no one will realize Shen'er's true purpose.

A body without a soul will naturally not raise any ethical issues, nor will it lead to anything like escaping from the clone island.

If Orochimaru or Hiruko were faced with this problem, it would be fine; I even believe they would continue to push forward with extreme indifference.

But Tsunade couldn't do that.

As for the morality of harvesting organs from clones, that's not even a consideration. Even Tsunade, the most soft-hearted of the three, is a true ninja who doesn't blink an eye when killing, so she naturally wouldn't hesitate to kill these soulless bodies.

Shen Er affirmed, "Well done, continue in this direction."

Tsunade sighed, "Cultivating these clones is just too expensive."

"It costs 500,000 taels just to make one embryo."

"If the embryo dies midway, the cost is saved. But once it is successfully cultivated to the adolescent stage, the expenses for nutrient solution, body maintenance and other expenses add up to five million taels a month. It takes two months to fully cultivate it to adulthood, which totals ten million taels."

"If we were to cultivate specially made clones according to your idea, not counting the research investment, the production cost alone would be several times that of ordinary clones. A conservative estimate would be over fifty million taels."

Even though I was mentally prepared, I still couldn't help but feel a pang of pain when I heard about this exorbitant expense.

This only covers the cost of materials, not including labor costs, yet the expenditure is already extremely staggering.

Kaguya Otsutsuki created White Zetsu using ancient humans and sealed them within the Gedo Mazo. If one could extract the White Zetsu from within, or find the remaining White Zetsu in the ninja world and extract their cells, the cultivation cost could be halved by utilizing the properties of White Zetsu cells.

Unfortunately, over the years, the White Zetsu cells left behind in the ninja world have never been found.

This is just one of Hashirama's clones; there are seven more similar clones to be created, and the total cost could easily reach a billion.

Fortunately, this number only made Shen Er feel the pinch, not that he couldn't afford it.

Six years ago, Konoha simply couldn't afford it; even with the reparations from the four great ninja villages, it wouldn't have been enough. Now, Konoha is thriving, and it also has the entire Land of Fire to leech off of it.

He acted as a strategist and expert, advising the daimyo Nawaki to increase taxes on the commoners and nobles of the Land of Fire.

He's all menacing and menacing, all his personal gains are handed over, 95 out of 100 I get, you know my methods, don't waste the remaining 5, pay 4.8 dollars in taxes tomorrow, and don't touch the remaining 2 mao, I might need it later...

If we grit our teeth and endure the hardships of the Fire Country people, we can still come up with this money.

When necessary, the entire Hidden Leaf Village can become the Daimyo's most loyal tax collection agency, resorting to extortion and levies to obtain the money needed by the great Hokage.

In the ninja world, you really can't do research without money.

No wonder that in the original timeline, the first thing Orochimaru did after escaping Konoha was to establish the Sound Village; he still needed someone to help him raise money. The same goes for the Akatsuki; so many elite Jonin and above rogue ninja gathered together to raise money, all to help Nagato acquire the high-tech equipment for Pain's Six Paths...

“You don’t need to worry about the money; the village will handle it. I will also use the money I’ve saved over the years for research funding,” Shen Er said earnestly. “I only have one request: make sure the specially made clones are done well and produce the best possible results.”

He spoke as if it were the most obvious thing in the world, but Tsunade heard it in a completely different way.

She only felt that this was because the advisor had invested a huge sum of money in developing cloning technology in order to completely eliminate the hidden danger of Konoha ninjas dying from organ damage in battle.

Such a thought is truly selfless and noble.

"Yes!"

Tsunade solemnly agreed, then changed the subject and comforted him, "Master, you don't need to worry too much about money. I'm quite wealthy too. The inheritance my grandfather left me, plus most of the profits from the Senju family's businesses over the years, adds up to about forty to fifty million taels."

"And Maki has been going to casinos with me over the past few years, and has saved up nearly ten million taels."

“This money can all be invested in research institutes.”

"How could the advisor use your money..."

He even patted Tsunade's head, leaving room for maneuver.

Mito will find out as soon as Tsunade spends money. If Mito finds out that he used Tsunade's dowry money to research Hashirama Senju's cells, it's hard to say whether he will turn against her.

Even if he eventually becomes a sage, Tsunade may not be able to let go of this matter.

Let's act like human beings for once.

"You should take Maki out to play a moderate number of times, otherwise..."

“Your sister Chiri really won’t be polite to you.”

...

Zen temple clan land.

After finishing her daily training, Maki carried a delicate food box containing snacks to the meditation room to enjoy with her cousin.

Two knocks sounded on the door.

"Narukyu-nee".

"...Come in, Maki."

Maki pushed the door open and walked inside.

Zenin Nakime sat upright in the center of the room, looking exceptionally relaxed, as if she had been relieved of a heavy burden.