Chapter 80:
Hiruzen nodded slightly, recalling the events that led up to this moment.
A year ago, the recovery potion developed by Orochimaru had shown a peculiar limitation—though it was remarkably effective, it could only be used twice within a year. After the second use, any subsequent dose would see drastically diminished effects. This wasn't exactly a "drawback," but it was certainly a limitation. Hiruzen had hoped that Orochimaru would eventually overcome it, but at the time, Orochimaru mentioned he was working on something new and more powerful. With other pressing matters at hand, Hiruzen had refrained from pushing for immediate results. Instead, he tasked a ninja named Dan with testing it, but the effects remained unchanged.
Recently, with all the chaos surrounding Tsunade's parents' deaths, the issue had been delayed. But now that things had somewhat settled, they had finally come to address the matter. Orochimaru's explanation today confirmed that there was no immediate solution. Nevertheless, the current results were still impressive—being able to use the potion twice within a year was already an incredible achievement. Hiruzen had simply hoped for more.
"Teacher, if there's nothing else…," Orochimaru said, ready to leave.
"Ah, there is one more thing," Hiruzen interrupted. "The volunteer for the next drug test has been selected."
Orochimaru raised an eyebrow slightly but said nothing. He knew what this meant. The village had chosen someone willing to put their life on the line for science, for the sake of Konoha's advancement. It wasn't uncommon; ninja were trained from a young age to serve their village, and many were willing to become test subjects if it meant Konoha would grow stronger. Their loyalty and willingness to sacrifice were both admirable and unsettling.
"Come in," Hiruzen called.
The door opened, and an ANBU operative stepped inside. Orochimaru's eyes widened in mild surprise—he recognized this person. It was someone he had worked with before, though not closely.
"You're the volunteer this time?" Orochimaru asked.