"Hmph. You have no proof!" Hiruko shot back, his expression souring as he glared at Orochimaru.
Looking back, he realized he must have been possessed by a fit of madness when he did it. The flaws he'd left behind weren't massive—certainly enough to fool the average ninja—but they were glaring neon signs to a mind as sharp as Orochimaru's.
"Heh... relax. I have no intention of reporting you. After all, we've always had such an... excellent working relationship." Orochimaru gave a dismissive wave and vanished into the shadows of the corridor.
Left alone, Hiruko's face flickered between shades of annoyance and calculation.
The forbidden jutsu left behind by the Second Hokage were undeniably ingenious, but most were incomplete concepts—theoretical frameworks that required generations of refinement. Take the Reanimation Jutsu (Edo Tensei), for example. Orochimaru had spent decades tinkering with it, yet it was still riddled with bugs and loopholes. It wouldn't reach its terrifying maturity until the tail end of the Fourth Great Ninja War, perfected by Kabuto.
Instead of wasting time on those half-baked relics, Hiruko preferred to perfect his own creation: the Chimera Technique. By mastering cloning technology and siphoning the bloodline limits he desired, he would become an undying powerhouse of ultimate strength.
He even entertained thoughts of researching Space-Time Ninjutsu. If he could crack the code to other dimensions, he wouldn't be confined to this tiny corner of the multiverse. After all, there were plenty of "waifus" across the heavens that he'd love to meet. Staying cooped up in Konoha forever—even with immortality—wasn't his end goal.
As for the "flaws" in his past? Once he became the strongest, who would dare say a word against him? His value to the village was so immense that anyone smart enough to find the evidence would be smart enough to keep their mouth shut.
Hiruko straightened his clothes and stepped out of the sterile cleanroom. Swapping his lab coat for casual attire, he made his way toward his sprawling estate.
The moment he crossed the threshold, a maid hurried forward, expertly helping him change into a set of soft, silk robes. His domestic staff was a curated collection from various clans—Uchiha and Hyuga included. Though their bloodlines were diluted and most of the Hyuga were from the Branch House, they all shared one trait: exceptional beauty.
In the wake of the Third War, Hiruko's utility had become legendary. It wasn't that his individual combat power was world-shaking; it was his scientific genius. He had single-handedly bolstered Konoha's total war potential by thirty percent. Consequently, as a "Quasi-Kage" asset, he had spent most of the war under the direct protection of the Third Hokage's personal guard rather than on the front lines.
The clans, ever the opportunists, had seen which way the wind was blowing and began "investing" heavily in him. They hoped his research might eventually benefit their own bloodline limits.
But Hiruko was picky. If a woman didn't have a "name and face" from the original story, he could hardly be bothered. Taking a random nobody along on the path to immortality was just too much baggage.
Hiruko walked into his most spacious bedroom. In the center of the room sat a large, reinforced structure, its perimeter covered in complex sealing talismans.
"So? Are we ready to be a good girl today?"
"Go to hell! You damn Konoha lapdog! The moment I get out of here, I'm going to skin you alive!"
Hiruko ignored Pakura's venomous outburst. He stepped inside and reached out, gently cupping her chin. He couldn't help but marvel—how the harsh, desert sun of the Land of Wind had produced such flawlessly pale, supple skin was a mystery even to him.
Snap!
Pakura lunged, her teeth snapping shut on Hiruko's hand. If he hadn't reacted instantly by coating his skin in a layer of chakra, she would have torn a chunk of flesh right out of him.
"Sunagakure already threw you away like trash," Hiruko said, his voice calm despite the slight flare of annoyance. "Submitting to me is your best option. In Konoha, under my wing, no one will dare touch you."
He had no intention of using genjutsu to break her. To Hiruko, conquering a woman through mind control was no different than playing with a hollow doll. With his cloning tech, he could manufacture a thousand mindless beauties if he wanted to. He wanted the fire in her eyes—just... dimmed a little.
"Rot in hell!" Pakura hissed, closing her eyes and turning her face away.
"I seem to recall you had a student named Maki, didn't you?" Hiruko added provocatively.
"Don't you dare! If you touch her, I will never forgive you!" Pakura roared, her shackles rattling.
"Focus on your own survival first."
Hiruko gave her one last look before turning to leave. He had plenty of patience. Like taming a wild hawk, he would wear her down bit by bit.
He stepped out, closing the door behind him, and headed to a secondary bedroom.
Inside, a small, lithe figure was sitting cross-legged on the bed, deep in meditation. Sensing his presence, she jumped up, her face lighting up with genuine excitement.
"Lord Hiruko! You're back!"
Then, she fidgeted nervously, her voice dropping. "Lord Hiruko... about my parents..."
Hiruko walked over and patted the girl's head. "They're fine, Rin. I've sent specialized personnel to look after them in secret."
"It's a pity my strength is limited," he continued with a sigh. "The mastermind behind the plot against you is incredibly powerful. No one must ever find out that I saved you and kept you here."
Rin Nohara shook her head vigorously, her expression earnest. "Lord Hiruko, you've already sacrificed so much to save me. I just want to work hard and get stronger so I can actually be of use to you!"
"Good. I'm looking forward to seeing how much you grow."
Hiruko had "retrieved" Rin's body from the battlefield. It had been a close-run thing; she was on the verge of total biological collapse. Fortunately, his serums were potent, and Rin's own hidden potential was significant enough that he managed to snatch her back from the Reaper's grip.
After being surrounded by the Stone (Iwa) ninja, Rin had finally realized that Kakashi's feelings for her weren't romantic. Perhaps there had been a spark once, but after Obito's "death," it had vanished, replaced by a cold sense of duty. Kakashi had even spent his time trying to help Obito "deliver" his feelings rather than looking at her.
Thinking of this, Rin felt a pang of lingering sadness. But then she looked up at the handsome, gentle face of Hiruko. The "Hero Rescues the Beauty" trope might be cliché, but it worked for a reason.
As a transmigrator, Hiruko wasn't about to let Rin—the linchpin for that "filial son" Obito—slip through his fingers.
Besides... Rin was actually quite cute, wasn't she?
She'd be sweet and soft once she was ready. He could only imagine the look on Obito's face when he realized his precious Rin was right here... being "taken care of" by Hiruko.