"What exactly is this potion? Could it be extremely dangerous?" Tsubaki really felt that this thing was too dangerous.
"Dangerous? Of course, it's definitely poisonous to ordinary people. However, for ninja, as long as it's used in moderation, the risks aren't actually that great. It's generally quite safe if used properly."
After repeated persuasion from Mizuki, Tsubaki finally agreed to help out.
"Great! Thank you, Tsubaki," Mizuki said happily. With a reliable assistant now, everything felt much more manageable.
"Mizuki, do you think the village will be upset about these experiments?"
"They'll definitely be unhappy. After all, laboratories are never peaceful and cozy places—they often involve blood and discomfort. That's why I'm working in this remote underground base that no one ever visits. As long as the village doesn't find out, it's fine." Mizuki explained, "It's not like I'm doing anything evil; everything is entirely my own development. There's nothing wrong with it. Still, it's better to keep it private." The ninja profession is far darker than most people realize. Since Mizuki wasn't harming innocents or conducting cruel human experiments, what he was doing could even be considered much more civilized than whatever Danzo was up to in the village.
Next, Mizuki carefully explained several important notes and what Tsubaki needed to assist with. Then they reinforced and rearranged the underground base, setting traps and [Genjutsu] barriers to conceal its entrance before leaving together.
Returning to their small cabin in the back mountain, they stayed briefly, gathered their belongings, and prepared to head back to the village.
Along the way, Tsubaki hesitated several times, clearly eager to say something but holding back. Eventually, Mizuki couldn't help asking, "Is there something you want to say? We're almost home."
"Where exactly did those strange creatures come from? What were they really?"
"Heh, so you couldn't keep your curiosity in check after all," Mizuki smiled. "Only one came from my hair cultivation. The others were blood collected from other ninja during missions," he revealed without hiding anything.
"But... are those things alive? Is it really okay for us to do this?"
"They were originally just collections of blood. How could they possibly be alive? Their original owners are still alive and well—I'm merely recycling something others discarded."
"I see... then it's probably fine."
Although Mizuki comforted Tsubaki like this, only he knew the real truth.
Indeed, calling them alive or not barely mattered at all. They were nothing more than lumps of tissue with vitality—possessing neither consciousness, spirit, nor soul, let alone self-awareness. Without the potion and culture fluids, they'd die immediately. However, these creations won't remain this way forever, especially the earliest clone cultivated from his own hair cells. Soon, it would nearly complete formation, possessing all necessary organs and tissues. Eventually, it would develop a fully functional brain capable of thinking, learning, and growing. They couldn't stay submerged in nutrient mixtures forever. When that time came, could he still see them as disposable tools?
Messing with intelligent human lives is something I absolutely cannot accept.
This had long surpassed the realm of being a ninja. There are moral boundaries that every person must uphold; once they're crossed, all restraints vanish. In this world filled with conflict and violence rather than peace, only those with extremely strong wills can stick to their principles, preserving their true selves and avoiding descent into the abyss of corruption.
The importance of staying true to oneself and never forgetting one's original aspirations goes without saying. The real world constantly influences everyone. Our environment, relationships, morals, laws, perspectives on life and the world—all these shape the boundaries of our personalities. They act both as constraints and protections. Once someone breaks through that boundary, they lose direction. A will freed from all restraint can no longer resist the temptation of absolute freedom, gradually losing its former self and heading toward destruction. Take Itachi Uchiha as an example—his love for his younger brother has always been the last moral boundary preventing him from falling into darkness. Orochimaru, however, ruthlessly destroyed everything without mercy in his endless pursuit of knowledge.
As far as Mizuki is concerned, taking innocent lives is an important moral limit he refuses to cross. First, you must determine if it even counts as a human life, then decide if it's innocent based on your own sense of right and wrong.
Looking at those flesh chunks now, by his understanding, they were clearly not yet complete living beings—therefore, they couldn't even be considered humans in the first place. But what if, one day, they did fit his definition of humanity? Would he really be able to use them without hesitation and discard their lives so easily? Even if he was their creator, doing such a thing would still feel unforgivably evil to him.
So even though he could confidently reassure Tsubaki right now, he really needed to think carefully about how to use and handle these test subjects in the future.
"Tsubaki, you can also try using these green pills in the garden," Mizuki said. "They should help well with planting, layering, grafting, and other gardening techniques. They might greatly improve the efficiency and output of your nursery. And these silver pills can be used together with them. Follow the classification comparison method I taught you, recording the data and effects properly. Give them back to me after some time for review."
"Okay," Tsubaki happily accepted the pills. "With these, I can grow more flowers to sell for money. Maybe even cultivate some new varieties that people will love." She was very enthusiastic when it came to things she liked.
"Just make sure to stay safe and don't lose them. These items are not only valuable but also dangerous—if they fall into the wrong hands, it could lead to disaster."
"I know. I'll keep them safe," Tsubaki promised seriously.
"Huh? Isn't that Mizuki?" A lazy voice suddenly called out from behind the two conversing figures. "So your body's all healed up already? Your survival skills are pretty impressive—you managed to live through looking like a ghost."
"Kakashi?" Mizuki was equally surprised. What a coincidence.
"Mizuki-sensei, you look so pale again—are you doing bad stuff and got beaten up once more?" No need to ask; that loud tone could only belong to Naruto Uzumaki.
Beside him, Sakura Haruno greeted politely, while Sasuke simply gave a nod without much interest.
"Sakura, such a polite young lady you've become," Mizuki remarked. "And Sasuke seems to have improved quite a bit too."
Mizuki returned the greeting with a smile. "I heard you completed an extremely difficult mission. That's impressive, Kakashi." Turning to Naruto Uzumaki, he added, "Don't ignore me! I was impressive too! I defeated an incredibly powerful enemy!"
"Ah, Naruto-kun, you're here too," Mizuki apologized with a sheepish expression. "Sorry about that—you're just so short I didn't notice you earlier."
"You bastard! You totally did that on purpose! Just wait until I teach you a lesson!" Naruto Uzumaki shouted as he stepped forward.
"Enough, Naruto," Kakashi quickly intervened. "Mizuki-sensei sustained serious injuries during a mission recently. He can't fight right now."
"Is that true?" Naruto Uzumaki looked unconvinced. "Out of all people, would this creep actually get hurt during a mission?"
"The moral training for new genin these days is clearly lacking. These fresh graduates have no respect at all for their seniors who've served Konoha faithfully. It seems the Third Hokage will have quite a challenge figuring out how to instill proper respect into these fresh ninja academy graduates. Maybe they should return to the Ninja Academy for additional moral training."
"Return to the Ninja Academy?" Naruto Uzumaki blurted out in shock. "Surely you're kidding? The Third wouldn't be that unreasonable, would he?"
Ignoring Naruto Uzumaki completely, Mizuki continued walking and spoke to Kakashi. "Why did you return so late? Shouldn't you have finished much earlier without interruptions?"
"We spent some extra time dealing with other matters in the Land of Waves. Actually, it proved to be a good opportunity. Post-battle training exercises were quite beneficial for these young genin."
"It really is troublesome being a squad leader, especially when dealing with problematic teenagers."
"I don't mind," Kakashi replied casually. "It seems you've recovered well. Gekko and Aoba are alright too, I assume?"
"Yes, they've been fine for a while now. They're both very busy—unlike me who has time to wander around like this."
"Busy? That makes sense, considering the hour."
"You actually returned at exactly the right time. There won't be much preparation time left." Mizuki motioned backward slightly. "Are you going to participate?"
The three genin looked confused, but Kakashi understood immediately.
"Yeah, might as well give it a try. There could be some pleasant surprises."
As they talked, the group had unconsciously walked into the village.
"I'll be off then. See you later." Kakashi and the others hurried away to report their mission.
"See you," Mizuki replied. "My body's still recovering from illness, and today's been exhausting. I should head home early to rest."
Tsubaki hadn't recognized Kakashi Hatake.
"Hatake Kakashi, an elite jonin of Konoha. Extremely famous and skilled." Mizuki didn't elaborate further. "With his abilities, he may become the next Hokage."
"So powerful?" Tsubaki couldn't help but express surprise. "I never expected such an unremarkable-looking gloomy guy could be this strong."
"Unremarkable?" Mizuki sighed inwardly. Kakashi's mask really ruined his charm. What a shame—such a handsome face, completely hidden away.
"Anyway, let's go back early. You won't need to take tomorrow off. I'm not in need of constant care anymore."
Tsubaki agreed. "Alright then. Take care."
Back at Mizuki's place, with some rare free time to spare, the two of them worked together to make a hearty meal—rewarding themselves after a long day's work.
Mizuki, full from the meal, unusually stayed by Tsubaki's side to help wash the dishes.
"Tsubaki, I know I left everything in your hands, but just asking," Mizuki suddenly remembered something and turned to his fiancée beside him, "Have you decided who to hire as the shop assistant for the flower shop yet?"
"Huh?" Tsubaki looked completely clueless about the whole thing, her expression genuinely innocent.
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