It has been ten days since the Chunin Exams concluded.
Among all the candidates, Duy, the oldest in age, emerged as the top scorer in the Chunin Exams.
As a result, Duy was promoted to Chunin by Hiruzen in a natural progression.
Hiruzen had already intended to promote Duy due to his hidden gem of a potential, but winning the Chunin Exams provided the perfect excuse.
The only regret Hiruzen had was that Duy's personality and style were not suitable for the Anbu. He couldn't recruit him into the Anbu even after observing him for a few days, a decision echoed by Danzo, who was known for his ruthlessness.
Apart from Duy, two other Genin from Konoha were also promoted to Chunin after the Chunin Exams: Minato and Aburame Shibi.
Minatobecame the youngest Chunin in the village's history, breaking records. Kizaru was promoted directly from genin to jounin, holding the record as the youngest jonin.
After the Chunin Exams, the Genin participants returned to their normal lives.
The temporary elite Genin squad formed under Minato's leadership disbanded as Minato had to continue his training under Jiraiya.
Nawaki returned to Orochimaru's research institute to continue his training under his mentor.
Only Duy was specially assigned to a complementary Chunin squad by Hiruzen to continue his growth through missions.
With the village's future secured, Hiruzen and Danzo shifted their focus to diplomatic politics between the villages.
On the second day after the Chunin Exams, the Third Raikage A, the Third Tsuchikage Ohnoki, and the Elder of the Sunagakure, Ebizo, led their respective teams out of Konoha.
Although there were no concrete agreements reached during their time in Konoha, the interactions hinted at some trends.
The meetings between the Third Raikage and the Third Tsuchikage were particularly frequent. They even left Konoha together, causing Ebizo to reluctantly express the Sunagakure's sincere desire for an alliance with Konoha.
Hiruzen, who already had plans for the Sunagakure, was naturally pleased.
Hiruzen didn't press Ebizo for a final decision but promised that if the Sunagakure encountered any insurmountable difficulties, they could seek assistance from Konoha.
As a cunning fox, Hiruzen knew that pressuring too much or showing too much enthusiasm could lead the other party to take extreme actions.
As usual, Kizaru paid little attention to village-level diplomatic politics.
In Kizaru's view, as long as Konoha followed the path he envisioned, the other four nations among the Five Great Countries posed no threat to the village.
The Land of Fire, Wind, Earth, Lightning, and Water were nothing more than dry bones in a tomb.
For Kizaru, the only matters worthy of attention in the village right now were the Ninja Academy he was in charge of and related reform efforts.
Despite his dislike for trouble and his lazy personality, Kizaru took his responsibilities seriously.
While he might find ways to complete his work in a more relaxed and less troublesome manner, he would not shirk his duties outright.
After all, in his position, Kizaru plotted his politics.
Another matter Kizaru cared about was the Hashirama Cell transplantation technology being researched by Orochimaru.
Regarding this, Kizaru had no other thoughts except for the fact that this technology could earn big money, lots of it.
The investment capacity of the Shimura clan was just like that of the Sarutobi clan, top-notch.
As long as this technology could be successfully developed and commercialized, Kizaru would reap both fame and fortune.
Kizaru provided the research direction for the entire project, proposed the commercial development, and even decided on the profit distribution.
Kizaru drew a big pie for the entire village, reaping numerous friendships and potential benefits.
But as long as this pie wasn't truly baked one day, the friendships and benefits Kizaru harvested would be hollow.
Fortunately, Orochimaru did not disappoint Kizaru. In just over a month, significant progress was made in the research.
After confirming that the weakened version of the Hashirama Cells was harmless to a living Uchiha and could enhance the power of the Sharingan, the Uchiha clan increased the number of volunteers.
This time, there was no need for the clan chief and elders to persuade them. Those Uchiha shinobi who pursued power volunteered one after another to contribute to their family and the village.
With ample research funding and materials, Orochimaru's development progress was very pleasing.
In two months, Orochimaru successfully transplanted the weakened version of the Hashirama Cells into ordinary Uchiha civilians who were not shinobi, without any adverse reactions.
Following that, Orochimaru spent another month successfully transplanting the further improved version of the weakened Hashirama Cells into a civilian shinobi of non-Uchiha lineage.
This civilian shinobi was just an ordinary Chunin who volunteered for the cell transplantation experiment in order to earn achievements and obtain high-level ninjutsu for his children.
Luckily, this transplantation experiment was deemed successful, with no significant adverse reactions, just a three-day coma.
After waking up three days later, the Chunin, after half a month of observation, confirmed that his physical qualities, cellular activity, and chakra levels had all improved significantly.
According to Orochimaru, this civilian Chunin, who had already exhausted his potential and found it difficult to progress further, now had hope of becoming a Jonin.
The success of this transplantation experiment greatly boosted the confidence of the higher-ups.
Hiruzen, accompanied by Kizaru, personally visited the Konoha Research Institute to offer warm encouragement to Orochimaru and other research shinobi, and provide substantial rewards.
In addition to encouraging Orochimaru and his research shinobi, Hiruzen Sarutobi also personally visited and consoled the civilian Chunin who voluntarily participated in the transplantation experiment.
Furthermore, Hiruzen Sarutobi and Kizaru, in addition to the mission rewards, each privately bestowed a B-rank ninjutsu to the civilian Chunin.
Hiruzen Sarutobi gave a B-rank Fire Release ninjutsu, while Kizaru provided a B-rank Wind Release ninjutsu.
The actions of Hiruzen Sarutobi and Kizaru, this master-disciple duo, naturally moved the civilian Chunin to tears of gratitude, swearing allegiance unto death.
Inspired by the encouragement from the Hokage, the shinobi at the research institute were invigorated! Under Orochimaru's leadership, they worked overtime every day, almost living in the research institute.
In this highly motivated atmosphere, research progress greatly accelerated.
A week after Hiruzen Sarutobi's visit to the research institute, the weakened version of the Hashirama Cells was successfully transplanted into a civilian without any ninja lineage.
With this, the civilian development of the Hashirama Cells could be considered a success.
When this good news spread, the happiest person was not the Konoha leadership or the invested Uchiha clan, but rather Sakumo.
Sakumo would never forget that the initial reason for the development of this project was Kizaru's effort to save his wife's life.
On the day he received news of the successful experiment, Sakumo personally visited the Uchiha clan.
Inside Kizaru's residence, Sakumo did not bring any gifts or say too many words of gratitude.
He simply made a serious commitment to Kizaru, promising that as long as it did not betray the village, he, Sakumo, was willing to do anything for Kizaru to repay this kindness!
This was the promise of a man, a strong one!
Kizaru did not refuse, but rather accepted Sakumo's promise graciously.
Kizaru knew that politely refusing at this time would be an insult to Sakumo.
After accepting Sakumo's promise, Kizaru smiled and helped him up, saying, "We are sworn brothers, and your wife and child are like mine. I cannot stand idly by and watch your wife pass away from illness."
Kizaru's words deeply moved Sakumo, who immediately decided to ask Kizaru to be the godfather of his unborn child.
Kizaru naturally smiled and agreed.