In his previous life, Hiruko had utterly despised that "filial son" Obito. Minato and Kushina had treated him like family, yet look how he repaid his teacher! Hiruko was determined to give him a taste of true misery.
Besides, Rin Nohara was adorable and played a pivotal role in the original story. Hiruko planned to nurture their relationship carefully until she was completely his.
"I'll need you to help look after Pakura today," Hiruko said.
"I... I can do that! I'll keep an eye on her!" Rin's face instantly flushed red to the tips of her ears.
She knew exactly how Hiruko "treated" Pakura. Every day, he used those humiliating methods and positions to break the Scorch Style user's pride. Just thinking about those embarrassing scenes made Rin's heart race, as if it were about to leap out of her throat.
Moreover, since Pakura remained restrained, Rin was the one who had to assist her with basic hygiene. Those brief moments were the only "rest" the stubborn kunoichi got from Hiruko's relentless psychological warfare.
Hiruko gave Rin's head a gentle pat before lounging comfortably on the bed. Soon, the small figure climbed up and began massaging him with her soft, warm hands. Under her skillful touch, Hiruko quickly drifted into a peaceful slumber.
After a while, his brow furrowed, seemingly troubled by a dream. Rin noticed and gently soothed him until his breathing evened out, only then stopping her movements.
Having secured the experimental data he craved, Orochimaru didn't disturb Hiruko's cozy domestic life for a while. He needed time to digest and organize the wealth of information Hiruko had provided.
Danzo, however, paid several visits. He was impatient for more breakthroughs—specifically, a technique to safely apply the traits of Hashirama's cells to a human body. While Danzo looked down on the "diluted" physical enhancement serums, he knew that if Hiruko kept producing results, the day he could wield the true Wood Style wasn't far off.
Hiruko, of course, promised the world while casually fleecing Danzo for massive amounts of research funding.
As for the Third Hokage, he was currently occupied with the handover of power. Transitioning the Hokage seat was a monumental task; he was busy guiding Minato through the bureaucracy, revealing high-level secrets inaccessible to ordinary ninja, and ensuring a stable transfer of authority. Balancing the power between the clans and the civilians was not something that could be settled overnight.
In the days that followed, Hiruko fell into a comfortable routine. He completed his official duties by day, and by evening, he returned home to enjoy the meticulous care of his "maid," Rin. In his spare time, he continued the "education" of the defiant Pakura.
Sand Ninja were notoriously tough—hard bones that would rather snap than bend. But Hiruko wasn't in a hurry. He had all the time in the world to wear her down.
Deep down, the shadows of his childhood still haunted him, fueling a lingering fear of the outside world. As a transmigrator, he knew that his temporary Kage-level strength was nothing to brag about. Once the "Late-Game" power creep hit and Six Paths-level monsters started appearing everywhere, he'd be in trouble. He had to pick up the pace.
In the dim subterranean reaches of Konoha, an old man leaning on a cane sat hidden beneath flickering candlelight. He narrowed his one good eye and looked at the subordinate kneeling before him. "You say Orochimaru went to see Hiruzen?"
"Yes. We monitored Orochimaru entering the Third's residence. They spoke for a long time before he departed." The ninja kept his head low, speaking with absolute deference.
"I see." The old man nodded. As his subordinate withdrew, his gaze flickered with unreadable intent.
Shortly after, the office door of the Hokage was shoved open.
Danzo stepped inside, his sharp, murky eye scanning the room. The Third was at his desk, and nearby, the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, was silently processing paperwork.
Danzo's gaze met Hiruzen's, then fixed there.
"What brings you here?" Hiruzen asked, taking a puff from his pipe.
"Why have you been suppressing Root lately?"
After a long silence, Hiruzen rubbed his temples, looking weary. "Do you have any idea what Orochimaru has been up to?"
"And what exactly has he done?" Danzo stood before the desk, sparing a brief, disdainful glance at the silent Minato. "Whatever he intends to do, my conscience is clear."
"Tell me, Danzo... why do you think our Teacher chose me to be Hokage instead of you?" Hiruzen suddenly asked an entirely unrelated question.
"Only because you were faster to volunteer for the diversion!" The normally stoic Danzo snapped, his temper flaring instantly.
"No," Hiruzen replied, his gaze steady and unforgiving. "It is because Teacher knew you only understand how to fight for profit, but not how to compromise. You have small cleverness but no sense of the bigger picture. You are short-sighted and lack long-term vision. If you became Hokage, you would be a disaster for the village."
Minato watched the scene unfold from the sidelines. Hiruzen was dismantling Danzo's pride word by word, completely ignoring the fact that Danzo was losing face in front of the new Fourth Hokage.
Danzo slammed his cane into the floor. "Lies!" His knuckles turned white, his old friend's words cutting deep.
"Look at what you've done! How dare you move against our own people? First Sakumo, then you targeted Hiruko. Who's next? Me?" Hiruzen roared back.
Danzo's attempt to move against Hiruko in the past hadn't been a quiet affair—Hiruko's toxins had ended up killing over thirty of Danzo's agents. Although Hiruko had "reconciled" with Danzo for the sake of resources, Hiruzen was bringing it up now to suppress Root and clear the path for Minato.
Furthermore, Hiruzen felt Hiruko's strength growing too fast under Danzo's patronage, becoming something he could no longer easily control.
Danzo stared intensely at Hiruzen's furious face, then suddenly fell silent.
"From now on, the security of the village is the responsibility of the Hokage's ANBU. Your Root will only handle matters outside the borders."
"Danzo! I'm warning you!"