"Envious, aren't you?" Hidan grinned.
"Envious my ass, brat! What the hell is going on here?!" Sarutobi slammed his hand on the desk, pipe nearly falling from his mouth.
He could already smell something connected to the Uchiha massacre.
"You mean my eyes… or the clan?" Hidan asked, feigning confusion.
"I need to know both!" The Third snapped, his voice rough with anger.
"Alright, alright. No need to blow a vein," Hidan raised his hands. For all his cheek, he wasn't about to push too far...the old man had saved his life once.
"I got pulled into a… mysterious assassination mission," Hidan began, spinning the tale as he had rehearsed.
There was no hesitation, no detail skipped. He laid it out the same way he had told Itachi.
Sarutobi exhaled slowly, his face collapsing into weary lines. The news was like a weight dropped on his shoulders. All his efforts to keep Uchiha and the village balanced… shattered.
"Don't act so crushed, old man," Hidan muttered.
"The Uchiha were heading for this end anyway. And with Danzō pulling strings? This outcome was carved in stone."
"Poor Itachi…" Sarutobi whispered, pain flickering in his eyes. "Just a boy, yet burdened with this… and branded a traitor."
"He did it for Sasuke. For what was left of his clan. I believe he'll bear it, and he'll grow strong." Hidan's tone was firm.
Sarutobi blinked at him, surprised. This brat had slaughtered without hesitation, yet spoke with such conviction about Itachi?
"You… you're sharp for your age," the old Hokage muttered. "And ruthless. Wiping out the Uchiha and still standing here grinning. It's terrifying, honestly."
Hidan rubbed the back of his neck with a sheepish laugh. "Guess it's not the best compliment."
Sarutobi leaned back, sighing. "What's done is done. The past can't be fixed. But someone like you… maybe you can survive this ugly world."
"I'll do more than that," Hidan smirked, then straightened when he saw the old man's eyes harden.
"I only ask one thing," Sarutobi said, voice steady. "If the time comes, protect Konoha. This village was built on the backs of too many sacrifices. Don't let it be destroyed."
For once, Hidan's expression grew serious. "As long as I'm alive… Konoha will stand."
The Third's eyes softened, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Good. That's what I wanted to hear."
Hidan couldn't help but chuckle. The old man carried a strange warmth, like a fire that refused to go out.
"Now then," Sarutobi said suddenly, rapping his pipe on Hidan's head, "explain these eyes of yours."
"…Ow." Hidan rubbed his skull. He really likes smacking me, huh.
"I don't know all the details," Hidan said casually.
"Maybe something weird in my bloodline. I drank Uchiha blood during my ritual… then suddenly, boom, these eyes." He kept the system to himself. That secret never left his lips.
Sarutobi's eyes narrowed. "And your space-time jutsu? That came from them too?"
"Exactly. All of it," Hidan nodded without hesitation.
The Hokage sucked in a breath. The Mangekyō was rare enough among true Uchiha. For someone like Hidan to stumble into such power it was absurd.
"This must stay hidden," Sarutobi said firmly. "If word spreads, every kekkei genkai clan will turn on you."
Hidan frowned. "So what, I stop using them? Kakashi walks around with his Sharingan fine."
"This isn't the same!" Sarutobi snapped. "Your case is far more dangerous. Even one slip could bring disaster."
"Alright, alright, I get it. So what do you suggest?" Hidan asked, hands raised.
Sarutobi's eyes gleamed with cunning. "From today, you're a survivor of the Uchiha. Nobody knew your history clearly anyway."
"I'll say I sent you on a secret mission for the village. That will explain everything."
Hidan froze. "…You're sly, old man."
The Hokage smirked. "From now on, you're Uchiha Hidan."
"…That name's ugly," Hidan muttered.
As Sarutobi spoke, the faint ripple of Kotoamatsukami faded from Hidan's Mangekyō.
The command was buried deep, subtle as a whisper.
Not full control. Never that. He couldn't bring himself to chain the old man like a puppet...not after Sarutobi had once saved his life.
But he had left one restriction: the Hokage could never betray him. Never raise a hand against him. Never reveal his secrets.
And Sarutobi would never realize. He truly believed his faith in Hidan came from his own heart... not to mention the old man really was kind to him.
Hidan smiled faintly. This way, I'm safe. And he'll never know.
--------------------------------------
Support me at patreon.com/Arthorain and read upto 50 Advanced Chapters and R-18 Content!
--------------------------------------
Update schedule: 7 chapters/week
Every 100 power stones = 1 Extra Chapter
By voting with [power stones], you can easily get double the number of chapters.