Chapter 77:
Hiruzen's tone was filled with reprimand as he continued his lecture.
"If this kind of drug can alter the body's constitution, any side effects could be catastrophic for the experimental subjects."
He paused, looking Orochimaru in the eye as he listed the potential dangers. "It could cause anything from rapid aging and permanent disability to even death by complete cellular collapse. Don't you care about your own life, Orochimaru?"
There was genuine concern behind his words. Hiruzen was more than just angry he was worried. If Orochimaru recklessly damaged himself with these experiments, it would be a great loss not only to him but also to Konoha as a whole. Hiruzen had high hopes for Orochimaru; he was, after all, his most talented disciple.
"I understand, sensei," Orochimaru responded, his voice calm, though inwardly, he regretted revealing too much too soon. The matter of his chakra volume had slipped out unintentionally when they were with Tsunade earlier. He hadn't planned on discussing it until his research was further along.
However, now that the issue had been raised, he had no choice but to face the consequences. Despite his calm demeanor, Orochimaru knew he had to acknowledge Hiruzen's concerns.
"I'm confident in my research, and I don't foresee any problems arising."
Hiruzen, visibly upset, pressed further. "There 'shouldn't' be any problems? That's not good enough! If something does go wrong, it will be too late to undo the damage."
With a deep breath, Hiruzen calmed himself slightly. "Alright, you may go now. I'll think about this matter carefully. But remember this, Orochimaru never experiment on yourself again. Understood?"