135. The Hard-To-Find Madara

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The joint Chūnin exam was not a whim, but an idea that had been in place for two years. At that time, Konoha had already entered the fast lane of development, but after development, it always needed an opportunity to show off to the outside world.

Konoha's strength is now deeply rooted in people's hearts, but others don't know how strong it is. Through this joint Chūnin exam, it just happens to meet this point, which can be regarded as killing two birds with one stone.

Sarutobi Hiruzen is very supportive of this matter. In fact, he had a similar idea during his tenure, but because of the situation after the First Ninja World War and the results of the Second Ninja World War, he was unable to realize this idea.

As a result, the meeting became a heated discussion, and the originally solemn and tense atmosphere disappeared instantly.

Finally, Ishigami Hara said: "Everyone present, you need to tell your juniors to study hard after you go back. One month is enough for the little guys in Konoha to be one step ahead of the kids outside. If they can't get a good grade by then, it will be a bit unreasonable."

Everyone listened to it naturally, and even many people began to enjoy it. If their juniors can get an excellent name in this matter, it will undoubtedly be an excellent opportunity to show off.

After the meeting, some trivial matters were discussed. Ishigami Hara was already familiar with this, so he arranged it properly without spending much energy.

The whole meeting lasted less than an hour and ended. After Ishigami Hara sent Sarutobi Hiruzen away, he did not go back to the office directly, but went to the research institute alone.

Konoha Village, the area close to the Forest of Death, is already the outermost part of the village. Even if the village has been expanded several times, it has not been involved here, so everything here seems quite primitive.

Ishigami Hara came here and walked less than a hundred meters into the forest, and saw a low building, a bit like a temple, but it was a single building, surrounded by many Anbu guards.

Seeing Ishigami Hara coming, an Anbu ninja immediately appeared.

"Where is Orochimaru?"

The Anbu ninja knelt on one knee and said in a deep voice: "Lord Orochimaru is downstairs."

"Well, continue your work, you are not needed here."

"Yes, Hokage-sama!"

This was not the first time Ishigami Hara came here.

He even contributed to the design of the underground laboratory.

He soon entered the building and went underground through a passage to the laboratory.

There is not only one underground laboratory, but a complex of underground buildings.

It occupies a large area and has strict defense. 

"Hey, how come you have time to come here today?"

Perhaps it has been a long time since he went out and saw the sun.

Compared with the past, Orochimaru's face looks paler, but his mental state is very good.

He has a little bit of the gloomy feeling in the original plot, but it gives people an inexplicable sense of security.

"Come to inform you," Ishigami Hara said.

"What is it that requires you, the Hokage, to come here in person?"

Orochimaru brought Ishigami Hara to a lounge, sat down and began to pour tea, looking very human.

Orochimaru now did not follow the old path of the original plot, his temperament has not deviated. He has an obsession with immortality, but it is not so absolute, it is more of an interested research mentality, so it seems normal.

He also has normal people's joys, sorrows, anger, and happiness, which will show on his face, but as a powerful ninja, he rarely shows it to outsiders, but to Ishigami Hara, there is nothing to hide.

"It is estimated that Tsunade and I will get married soon."

Puff!

The tea that Orochimaru had just put into his mouth sprayed out directly, and then he looked at Ishigami Hara with a shocked expression.

"Don't look at me like that, this matter... well, it's quite complicated, anyway, I just took a little loss to beat her up."

Ishigami Hara said, feeling somewhat uncomfortable. Logically, this was his personal matter, but Orochimaru was Tsunade's teammate, so he should have been informed.

"Are you serious?"

Orochimaru still found it incredible.

Ishigami Hara nodded.

"How did you two get involved? She is almost 20 years older than you, and you just came of age, right?" Orochimaru asked again with a strange look on his face.

Ishigami Hara glanced at him and chuckled: "Very good, I will tell her that, and say that you said it."

"Uh, spare me."

Orochimaru shook his head, and then his face became strange again, and asked: "Where is Jiraiya? Hasn't he come back yet?"

Ishigami Hara didn't know what he meant, and didn't say much, just said: "I will inform him. I guess he should be able to come back within a month, after all, the joint Chūnin exam is about to begin."

"Joint Chūnin exam?"

Orochimaru was puzzled.

"Yeah."

Ishigami Hara explained, and Orochimaru understood.

"I see, that guy has been in the Rain Country for so long, it's time to come back."

"Yes, he accepted three disciples there, and let him bring them back this time."

"Really? I'm looking forward to it."

Ishigami Hara changed the subject and asked: "How is your experiment?"

Orochimaru shook his head: "Not very ideal, and I can't find a breakthrough opportunity for the time being."

"What step is it stuck at?"

"The body cannot be 100% chakraized, especially the brain part. There is no breakthrough for the time being."

Orochimaru said, looking at Ishigami Hara and asked: "If you have time, come and help."

Orochimaru admired Ishigami Hara's scientific research ability. Many difficult problems could often be solved in a short time by Ishigami Hara, which Orochimaru himself believes he can't do.

Although he claims to be talented and has strong research ability, there is still a big gap between him and Ishigami Hara. Sometimes Orochimaru envied Ishigami Hara's special scientific research intuition, and he drooled with envy.

"Wait for a while. For the time being, I still have some things to do."

Ishigami Hara said, "By the way, how are the studies on those special creatures I gave you last time going?"

"White Zetsu?"

"Yes."

Orochimaru said, "Some results have been achieved. The extraction of Wood Release cells has been completed, but the cultivation cannot be completed. It feels like something is missing."

"Is that so? I'll go and take a look first."

"Do you need me to take you there?"

"No need."

Ishigami Hara shook his head and left the lounge without talking to Orochimaru. He turned left and right and soon came to a special closed space deeper in the laboratory.

It was a little gloomy here, but the space was not small, with only a few lonely oil lamps on the wall emitting light.

There were several coffins on one side of the wall. Ishigami Hara stepped forward and opened them. Inside was the recognizable body of White Zetsu.

Even though there was no breath of the living, White Zetsu's body was still alive, to be precise, in a special state of being alive.

Looking at White Zetsu, Ishigami Hara frowned slightly and said to himself: "Are you completely hidden, Madara? It's really hard to find you."