Haruto thanked Hiruzen's clone for the instructions today and started making his way home after learning the speedy release fireball jutsu. The trick was simple, he simply had to overlap the two tenketsu created so that they shared the same position within the jutsu, living within one another, this led to a more stable configuration and a faster speedy release.
'Hiruzen said the scrolls were alright… but I have to take them at a gap of six months to reduce any possible side effects and get used to the changes before making more.'
'I have three scrolls, two to increase my physical energy and one for my spiritual energy. So that's about one and a half year… which means I'll be done with this by summer the year after next.'
'Since I currently lack physical energy I'll go with increasing my physical energy first before touching the spiritual energy scroll.'
On his way back home, Haruto scouted out the location of the various medical stores all around Konoha, paying special attention to the ones run by the Nara clan.
There was only one thought as he looked at the prices of the ingredients required for his medicinal baths.
'Expensive!'
'Damn expensive!'
He turned around for the day since he didn't have any money on him, before settling in for the night to train under Edward and falling asleep soon after.
Waking up the next morning, Haruto made his way to the R&D department only to notice a commotion on his way towards it.
Several civilians were standing outside the Hokage building protesting.
"Give us our jobs back!"
"Machines cannot replace the human touch!!"
Haruto walked through the crowd protesting and happened to grab a handmade flyer that someone was handing out only to freeze on the spot as he read it.
"The Hokage doesn't care about your jobs!"
"Machines will replace you like they have replaced us!"
"This is not the Will of Fire we were taught about!"
"Protect the Graph makers now or feel the pain later when you are replaced too!!"
Those words on the flyer brought him to realise why exactly this protest was being held.
"I did this?" Haruto muttered under his breath. "I caused it all?"
"Please support our cause young man!" A man in his late twenties grabbed Haruto by his shoulders and shook him lightly before giving a pat on his back and continuing chanting with the rest of the protestors.
Haruto looked around, there were about twenty people there, which meant he'd kicked the stomachs of nearly two dozen people if not more with his lazy 'invention'.
Haruto walked the rest of the way to his R&D office in a daze.
He settled down in his chair with a heavy cloud over his head as his thoughts constantly battered him with guilt and suppression.
'Is this really the right thing to do?' Haruto thought as he looked at the model that was training in front of him.
'How many more jobs will this take?'
Sigh.
'Such is the nature of progress.' Edward spoke in Haruto's mind when he noticed exactly why Haruto was feeling so down.
Haruto nodded too.
He understood that progress created holes in people's lives, but he didn't want to be the reason why little Timmy didn't get a present on his birthday because his parents were fired from the village department.
'And this is only the beginning… once the software spreads to the various clans of the village it'll cause them trouble too…'
'Sure the clans will have various ways to employ these people… but it'll take time for them too…'
Sigh.
Haruto didn't read much of Kakashi's fire release training journal that day. He kept debating if he should axe the program and let people keep their jobs or ignore them entirely and charge ahead regardless of the consequences.
"Troubled Haruto-kun?" Hiruko suddenly interrupted Haruto's thoughts looking down at him with a gentle smile.
Haruto looked at Hiruko with surprise before simply nodding lightly.
"It seems you've seen the protests…" Hiruko continued and Haruto nodded again silently.
Hiruko sighed audibly before speaking in a calm and gentle tone, "There is no clear answer to your trouble Haruto-kun. But I can offer you temporary relief."
"Oh? How?" Haruto asked, slightly surprised.
Hiruko looked at Haruto and extended his hand, "Why don't you join me on my research for a short while. I'm sure distracting yourself from these thoughts will show you a new way sooner rather than later."
Haruto thought back to the bloody mess he'd seen in Hiruko's office earlier and shuddered involuntarily. But then when his eyes fell on the computer screen where the model was still training he paused, considering the offer, even if it came from someone like Hiruko.
'You should take it Haruto, it could help you trap him better.' Edward said softly.
But Haruto had other concerns.
'Why would he come to me to offer me this?'
'His office is all the way up on the second floor, from where he never leaves… why did he leave specifically to come to me?'
'Is he really worried about me?'
Haruto looked back up at Hiruko and studied him silently. His gaze seemed almost genuine and his demeanour seemed well polished, yet Haruto couldn't put out the picture of blood splattered across his face from the first time he'd met him in his office.
'There's something wrong about this… yet I can't put my finger on it…'
'Is he trying to use me for something?'
'Did he change his mind and wants to absorb me using the Chimera Technique?'
'...no that can't be the case… otherwise he would've already tried to go after Pakura while he had the chance to in the third great shinobi war…'
Haruto frowned internally but externally he put on a soft smile.
"Thank you Hiruko-san… if it's not too much trouble for you, I'll accept the position as your research assistant. I hope to learn a lot from you. I shall be in your care then."
"No worries Haruto-kun… I'll make sure it's a time you never forget."
***
"Inu… is it done?"
"Yes, Hokage-sama, the task has been completed. Hiruko-san has been informed that after one week he'll be responsible for an Uchiha clan member who has been framed with the horrific crime of killing his best friend, a shinobi of the village, and eating him up after cutting him into pieces during a mission."
Hiruzen took a whiff from his pipe before exhaling and nodding, "Good… good… how did he take the information?"
"Hiruko-san looked surprised at first, but he soon accepted with an eager zeal in his gaze. But he requested that the Uchiha be brought to him alive."
"It seems little Haruto's information was not wrong… keep Hiruko monitored at all times… don't let him out of the village and keep an eye out to see if he has any contact with the ROOT at all times."
"Yes Hokage-sama."
Hiruzen stayed silent for a while before issuing Kakashi a new order.
"Inu… you will be responsible for Tenzo from today. Train him well and show him the light of the will of fire."
Kakashi's eyes widened.
"Me? Hokage-sama? But…"
"You've been through something similar Inu…" Hiruzen said softly, "I believe you understand Tenzo the best. And so it is your duty to show him the light in this world of darkness he has lived in for so long."
Kakashi stayed silent for a few seconds before nodding, "Yes, Hokage-sama. I will do my best."
"Good."
***