To some extent, Minato's Flying Thunder God Technique was a natural counter to Obito's single Mangekyō. However, if Obito had possessed both eyes, even Minato might have been left without options.
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Obito held absolute confidence in his infiltration skills. In his mind, if he claimed to be the second-best prowler in the shinobi world, few would dare claim the first. Like a ghost, he slipped into Konoha alongside Black and White Zetsu, swiftly splitting up to begin their intelligence gathering.
Time flowed like a white stallion passing a crack in a wall.
On this day, Kakashi suddenly arrived at Hiruko's Research Division. His expression was detached, his voice devoid of emotion. "Lord Hiruko, an official notice has arrived. Lady Chiyo has expressed her intent to visit Konoha."
"Lady Chiyo is coming to Konoha?" Hiruko gave Kakashi a curious look.
The relationships between the Five Great Hidden Villages were a tangled mess of blood feuds and shifting alliances, usually backed by their respective Daimyōs. Typically, grievances were settled openly on the battlefield. If a figure as legendary as Chiyo was being dispatched, it meant the Sand was coming with sincere—and likely desperate—intent.
Chiyo's status was unique. She was a venerable senior of the shinobi world, holding immense weight among the Jonin of the Hidden Sand. Though she lived in semi-retirement and avoided the daily grind of village administration, her influence remained peerless.
Currently, the border between the Land of Wind and the Land of Fire was stable. Her visit almost certainly signaled a desire for a formal alliance. Beyond a matter concerning the very fate of both villages, it was hard to imagine what else could draw the old matriarch out of seclusion.
Peace without war might sound soft to some, but in the current climate, it was a stroke of genius. The Land of Wind's finances were in shambles; budget cuts and slashed military spending were already a reality. A visionary leader had to adapt.
By sending Chiyo, the Sand wasn't just performing a formality. Gaining Konoha's trust and securing deep cooperation wouldn't happen overnight, and this early contact was a mandatory first step.
"Perhaps we can seize this opportunity to gain a reliable ally. For Konoha, this is a win, isn't it?" Hiruko said slowly, glancing at Kakashi.
Kakashi nodded slightly in agreement.
As night fell and the first lights of the village flickered on, Hiruko dragged his slightly weary body back to his spacious, luxuriously appointed bedroom. He walked over to Pakura, his gaze lingering shamelessly on her form. He raised a hand and gave her a sharp, stinging slap.
Pakura, exhausted from the day's "interrogations," didn't react at first, having drifted into a state of unconsciousness. Every day, Hiruko devised increasingly twisted and physically demanding positions to break her. Even with a will of iron, the relentless, daily grind was wearing her down, forcing her into frequent bouts of collapse.
Hiruko walked to the washbasin, turned on the tap, and scrubbed his hands with icy water, letting the cold numb the heat and excitement of his cruelty. After a moment, he shook off the droplets and stepped back to Pakura's side.
Slap! Slap!
Two crisp, loud strikes landed, leaving vivid red marks on her skin.
"You bastard!" Pakura jolted awake from her stupor. A sharp, searing pain tore through her, as if her very soul were being shredded. Gritting her teeth, she used every ounce of strength to lift her head, glaring at Hiruko with eyes full of pure, unadulterated hatred.
Hiruko remained indifferent to her venomous stare. He sat cross-legged on the floor, his eyes roaming over her proud figure. A meaningful smirk played on his lips. "Someone from the Hidden Sand is coming. Do you want to go see them?"
"What do they have to do with me!" The village's betrayal had left Pakura's heart in tatters. Her gaze was cold as she spat the words at him.
"Heh, maybe we can arrange an exchange. Bring your disciple, Maki, over as an 'exchange student,'" Hiruko taunted with a cold sneer. "I remember that student of yours was quite the little beauty herself!"
"Get out! Get the hell out!" Pakura's eyes went wide with rage, her voice trembling. The thought of her innocent, kind-hearted disciple being treated as a sacrifice by the village again was more than she could bear.
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"Heh, adjust your attitude. When the time comes, I'll take you to see your 'dear' fellow villagers," Hiruko said nonchalantly.
He rose slowly and walked out of Pakura's room. "Ah, well. I suppose I have been acting a bit too wickedly lately," Hiruko muttered to himself.
He suppressed the icy, abnormal chakra within his body and replaced it with a warm, gentle smile as he stepped out into the streets. Along the way, he greeted various Konoha shinobi with a friendly nod. To most, Hiruko was a hero—a steadfast heir to the Will of Fire and a kind-hearted gentleman. Many of the village's kunoichi dreamed of marrying such a handsome and tender man.
They had no inkling of the man he was behind closed doors. Only those who had truly witnessed his methods knew that his inner darkness rivaled even Orochimaru's.
Of course, Hiruko's habit of "detaining" foreign kunoichi wasn't a complete secret. The proud Princess of Konoha, Tsunade, naturally refused to tolerate such behavior, and the relationship between her and Hiruko had devolved into a frigid stalemate.
Chiyo would soon arrive for negotiations. Simultaneously, a secret meeting between the Hidden Stone and the Hidden Cloud had begun. Separately, these events seemed minor, but together, they suggested the curtains were rising on a Fourth Ninja War.
Ever since realizing he had traveled to this world, Hiruko knew his every action would create a butterfly effect. He just hadn't expected the storm to brew so quickly. Under his influence, Konoha was in a far better state than in the original timeline.
However, even the wisest strategist makes mistakes. Hiruko could never have guessed...
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