"What exactly is this potion? Is it really that dangerous?" Tsubaki frowned, eyeing the glowing liquid with unease.
"Of course it's dangerous," Mizuki said plainly. "To ordinary civilians, it's deadly poison. But for shinobi, if used in small amounts and with proper chakra control, the risks are manageable. The key is moderation."
After repeated explanations, Tsubaki reluctantly agreed to help him.
"That's great, Tsubaki. Thanks," Mizuki said, visibly relieved. "Having someone reliable around makes this so much easier."
"But… won't the village be upset about this kind of experimentation?" she asked.
"Definitely," Mizuki admitted without hesitation. "Konoha doesn't exactly encourage off-the-record experiments—especially not ones involving flesh and chakra reactions. That's why I work underground, away from prying eyes. So long as it's discreet and doesn't harm innocents, I don't see the problem."
He shrugged, adding wryly, "It's not like I'm doing anything worse than what Danzo's Root did in plain sight."
Mizuki laid out the experimental procedure, gave her a list of materials to prepare, and helped reinforce the traps and genjutsu around the lab's entrance before they both left.
Back at the cabin in the forested backhills, they took a short break before heading back to the village.
Along the way, Tsubaki hesitated several times before finally speaking up.
"Where did those… creatures come from? What are they?"
Mizuki chuckled lightly. "Couldn't resist asking, huh? One was cultivated from my own hair. The rest? They're remnants—blood and tissue left behind by other shinobi on missions. I collected and repurposed them. Nothing was taken without consent, at least not directly."
"But… are they alive? Is it really okay to create things like that?" Tsubaki asked, her voice uncertain.
"Alive?" Mizuki scoffed softly. "They're just raw biological matter. No minds, no chakra signature, no soul. They're not sentient. Without the culture fluid, they'd fall apart immediately."
But deep down, he couldn't lie to himself.
The clones weren't just lumps of meat anymore. Especially the earliest ones, made from his own cells—they were developing rapidly. Organs had formed, neural pathways were beginning to light up. Soon, they'd grow fully functional brains.
And then what?
Can I still justify using them as tools once they can think? Learn? Mizuki thought grimly.
He knew the line. When something could dream or make a choice, it wasn't just an experiment—it was a life. And playing with life like that… wasn't that the same path Orochimaru had taken?
"In this world, having a bottom line is more important than any jutsu," Mizuki thought. "Once you cross it, there's no going back."
Uchiha Itachi had slaughtered his entire clan but spared his little brother. That one act—his line—kept him from becoming a complete monster. Orochimaru, by contrast, had none. His obsession with knowledge had consumed everything else.
"Here," Mizuki said, snapping out of his thoughts. He handed Tsubaki two vials. "The green one's good for breeding, grafting, and boosting seedling growth. The silver one works best in combination with it. Use the comparative method I showed you, log everything, and report back in a week."
"Got it!" Tsubaki accepted the bottles eagerly. "If this works, we might even cultivate a popular new hybrid. Maybe I'll sell it and buy that flower shop I've been eyeing!"
"Just keep it secure," Mizuki warned. "If this falls into the wrong hands, it won't just be flowers blooming—it'll be chaos."
Suddenly, a lazy drawl interrupted them.
"Yo, Mizuki. Didn't think I'd see you up and about. You've got more lives than a Ninken."
They turned to see Kakashi Hatake standing nearby.
"Kakashi?" Mizuki blinked. "Now that's a coincidence."
"Whoa, what happened to your face?" Naruto Uzumaki grinned, stepping out beside him. "Did you get beat up again for doing something shady?"
Sakura greeted them politely. Sasuke just gave a small nod.
"Sakura, always so polite. And Sasuke—still brooding but getting stronger, I hear." Mizuki smiled. "Congrats on finishing that S-ranked mission. Well done, Kakashi."
"Hey! Don't ignore me!" Naruto yelled. "I took down a super strong guy too!"
"Oh, Naruto, I'm sorry," Mizuki replied with exaggerated innocence. "You're just so short—I didn't see you."
"You jerk! You totally did that on purpose!" Naruto lunged forward, fists clenched.
"Easy, Naruto," Kakashi said quickly. "Mizuki just got out of the hospital. Take it down a notch."
"Wait, really?" Naruto paused. "This guy went on a mission and actually got hurt for the village? You serious?"
"Kids these days..." Mizuki sighed. "No respect for veterans. The Third Hokage's got his work cut out for him."
As they walked into the village gates together, Kakashi asked, "So, what's next for you?"
"Well, now that you're back, things are moving again," Mizuki said. "There's not much time left. You in?"
Kakashi nodded. "Better to try. Might learn something new."
After parting ways with Team 7, Mizuki and Tsubaki headed home.
"Who was that jōnin?" Tsubaki asked once they were alone.
"Hatake Kakashi," Mizuki answered. "Former ANBU, Copy Ninja. Probably Hokage material if he ever wanted the job."
"Wow… he doesn't look that impressive."
Mizuki smirked. "Blame the mask. He hides a handsome face under all that gloom."
They finally arrived home. It was rare for them to have a peaceful evening, so they cooked a big dinner to reward themselves.
As they cleaned up, Mizuki suddenly remembered something.
"By the way, did the flower shop ever hire that new clerk you were going to help with?"
"Huh?" Tsubaki blinked. "Oh… I totally forgot."
Mizuki sighed dramatically. "And here I thought I was marrying a strong, capable kunoichi. Turns out I've been living with a scatterbrained girl the whole time."