After a careful weighing of interests, the proposal was finally accepted.
Striking while the iron was hot, Hiruko followed up by announcing a non-aggression pact: the Five Great Ninja Villages were forbidden from waging war against one another for the next ten years. Thus, under Hiruko's dominance, the first summit—a meeting destined to be etched into the annals of shinobi history—drew to a close.
Standing in the center of the hall, Hiruko scanned the crowd. He spoke slowly, his voice laced with a detached calm. "Why is this world always plagued by so much disaster?"
"People suffer in agony, killing one another despite having no connection. What is the point of such conduct?"
"Perhaps one day, our children will no longer be born in the shadow of hatred, will no longer grow up nurtured by it, and will no longer be driven to their deaths by its command."
"I truly hope that one day, when we meet again, we can exchange a friendly greeting instead of hurling explosive tags with a cold faces."
"I sincerely hope that long list of the fallen can buy us some measure of change."
However, faced with Hiruko's impassioned speech, the crowd remained stoic. In their eyes, this wretched shinobi world was already beyond saving. But Hiruko thought differently; he firmly believed that by wielding the power of capital, he could utterly transform this twisted world.
With that, the first Shinobi Summit officially concluded.
A few days later, aside from the diplomats staying behind to handle follow-up affairs and Ohnoki, the representatives of the other three villages began their journeys home.
It was worth noting that the relationship between the Sand and the Leaf had become exceptionally harmonious. Upon their departure, Hiruko warmly invited Rasa, the Fourth Kazekage, and Lady Chiyo to his home for a family dinner.
Previously, due to Maki's self-sacrifice and Hiruko's own concern about driving the Scorch Release user to suicide, Pakura was now allowed to move freely during the day. Of course, this was under the condition that she constantly wore the dog collar Hiruko had prepared for her.
Thinking of the pain her disciple silently endured for her sake, and that fragile smile Maki wore to hide her suffering, Pakura had finally resolved herself to wear the collar.
Facing the Fourth Kazekage who had once stabbed her in the back, Pakura felt a complex swirl of emotions, yet she remained silent. Things had reached this point; words were useless.
During the meal, Pakura sat quietly to one side, listening to the others converse. Meanwhile, Hiruko was engaged in a heated discussion with Rasa and Chiyo regarding the future direction of their village.
Though Hiruko was technically the youngest among them, his reputation for being a master of management and a genius at making money had spread throughout the world following the baptism of war. In this conflict, while other villages were eating coarse bread and military ration pills on the front lines, the Konoha shinobi were busy feasting on ice-cold cola, ice cream, and chocolate—looking utterly leisurely as they waited for the enemy to tire.
Because of this, everyone realized that Hiruko possessed an extraordinary talent for commerce. Given the chance, who wouldn't want to ride his coattails to fortune?
Hiruko answered Rasa and Chiyo's questions seriously. When the talk turned to the Sand's dire straits—the lack of oases and the urgent need to resist encroaching sands—Hiruko held nothing back, offering a set of effective solutions.
"I understand your thoughts, and I know the Sand is willing to endure and work to change, but the national conditions of the Land of Wind are what they are. It can't be overturned overnight."
"However, now that you've identified the problem, starting the change today is never too late."
"If you want to change, starting tomorrow isn't too late either. But this is not a task for a day and a night; it will likely take years," Hiruko said sincerely.
"Can it be faster? It would be best to see results in a year or two," Chiyo asked earnestly.
"What? Results in a year or two? If you can produce results within fifty years, you should thank the heavens and the earth!" Hiruko replied flatly.
This was a pit he was digging for the Sand. Without improving the desert environment, things would never get better. But if they did commit to it, the fifty-year timeline would drain the Sand Village dry.
Rasa and Chiyo fell into a deep silence. In this rapidly changing world, a ninja who could predict the situation five years out was considered a peerless genius. Hiruko's opening bid was a fifty-year plan—a time span that far exceeded the life cycle of an average ninja.
In Hiruko's view, the ultimate achievement of "man over nature" was the transformation of the natural world itself. The Land of Fire and Konoha were already blessed with abundant resources and beautiful scenery, leaving little to "fix." After much thought, only the Sand Village stood in dire need of transformation. If their harsh, sand-blasted environment wasn't resolved or mitigated, how could they even speak of development?
Rasa and Chiyo looked grim and said no more. Hiruko understood their reservations and didn't push. For a moment, the atmosphere grew heavy and oppressive. After dinner, the two quickly took their leave, and Hiruko did not try to detain them. The Sand's predicament wasn't something he could resolve quickly on his own.
Even as strong as the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, who could summon a lush forest with a wave of his hand—if he used that in the desert, it might not work. In the desert, the wind rages, water is scarce, and without a constant infusion of chakra, those trees would soon wither and die. In Hiruko's vision, the only way to truly change the Sand was through afforestation. Generation after generation of people struggling and persevering over a vast span of time to gradually turn the desert into a vibrant oasis.
The next day, Itachi Uchiha's mother, Mikoto, arrived with Itachi in tow. After settling Itachi in, she took the infant Sasuke to Minato's house to play with Naruto.
Watching Mikoto's curvaceous figure disappear into the distance, Hiruko suddenly turned to Itachi.
"Itachi, do you think the shinobi world will see peace soon?"
Itachi paused, reflecting for a moment before replying, "In my opinion, I'm afraid not."
"And why is that?"
Itachi's gaze was calm as he spoke slowly. "I believe the constant strife in this world is driven by interest. As long as people's greed remains unsatisfied, war will follow. Peace is but a fleeting dream."
A flash of admiration crossed Hiruko's eyes. He thought to himself: As expected, the shaping of a child's worldview must start early.
Itachi was becoming more and more to his liking. As a successor to his will, he would certainly be sufficient. Though Itachi hadn't shown extraordinary talent in scientific research, as a disciple, he was already outstanding. He was meticulous and logical; even when faced with complex scientific problems, he responded with a rational mind.
Of course, Hiruko knew that reality was often cruel and followed neither reason nor logic. He never assumed he was always right, but his words to Itachi were his genuine thoughts. So-called "objectivity" was merely relative; humans are subjective creatures, and their thoughts are inevitably colored by their own perceptions.
Just like the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, who spent his days talking about the "evil Uchiha," claiming it was all for Konoha while constantly trying to sever the bond between his brother Hashirama and Madara. Who can say what the true intentions behind those words were? It was simply using that rhetoric to protect the interests of the Leaf.
Then again, Tobirama was a truly exceptional ninja. Wedged between two legendary figures like Hashirama and Madara—both of whom were obsessed with their younger brothers—he managed to hold his own and frequently developed secret techniques that became powerful assets. Even Madara hated him to his core. You have to be someone significant for a man as arrogant as Uchiha Madara to treat you like a personal acupuncture patient with those black receivers. To Madara, ordinary opponents were just dust; those he bothered to remember were those who held a vital place in his heart.
"Itachi!" Hiruko suddenly called out.
Itachi seemed to snap out of it, looking up with a hint of confusion in his eyes. He noticed Hiruko's tone was different than usual. He wondered: Am I finally becoming official?
During the nearly year-long observation period, Hiruko had been subtly guiding Itachi. Under his influence, Itachi was growing into someone with a similar philosophy and style. Having reached this point, Hiruko finally decided to officially take him as a disciple.
"Are you willing to become my disciple?" Hiruko looked at Itachi with a gentle gaze.
"I am willing, Lord Hiruko... no, Master! I look forward to your guidance."
Though young, Itachi was very polite. He knelt respectfully before Hiruko and offered a cup of tea with both hands, looking perfectly obedient.
Hiruko nodded with satisfaction. "Good. From this day forward, you are my first official disciple in this world." He accepted the cup with a gratified expression and drank it all, sealing the bond between master and student.
Although the Naruto world had a tradition of students killing their masters, Hiruko wasn't afraid of Itachi. If push came to shove, he could always collect the debt from Itachi's mother or girlfriend.
Hiruko was not one for ceremony; he found elaborate rites to be superficial and bothersome. A cup of tea was enough. Now that Itachi was officially his disciple, he had to teach him according to his talent, imparting skills that fit his own "school."
As a proper "Research Ninja," Hiruko began to think about what to teach Itachi. His ultimate trump cards, like the Chimera Technique, were out of the question for now—the risk was too high. Perhaps in the future, he could install a Wood Release Kekkei Genkai for him. As for the genjutsu developed from the Kurama clan's Kekkei Genkai, Itachi couldn't use it due to his bloodline limitations.
After much thought, Hiruko decided to teach Itachi a unique form of genjutsu. It was similar to the Kurama clan's system but modified to be highly compatible with the Uchiha Sharingan. However, this genjutsu required extremely high proficiency in Fuinjutsu (Sealing Arts), as the power of the illusion had to be woven into seals to reach its maximum potential.
Itachi hurried home carrying a thick stack of scrolls. Hiruko had already taught him some foundational knowledge. In Hiruko's view, a genius like Itachi should have strong self-study skills; he couldn't be there to guide him every second.
Upon returning home, Itachi informed his parents of the news. Fugaku Uchiha showed a satisfied expression and nodded—he clearly approved of Itachi studying under Hiruko. Mikoto, however, looked complicated, a hint of worry flashing in her eyes.
Meanwhile, Hiruko sat alone in his lab, his eyes glued to a computer screen displaying data on the Hyuga clan.
The Tenseigan synthesis formula!
He constantly combed through his memories of the anime from his previous life, trying to find inspiration. Using his superior cloning technology, he had already created numerous Hyuga clones. He had extracted DNA from core figures like Hiashi, Hinata, Hizashi, and Neji. Through repeated adjustment and optimization, he had cultivated many backup bodies that resembled himself.
However, no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't activate the Tenseigan.
Collecting cells from Konoha ninjas was not difficult for Hiruko. He could obtain samples legally through routine physical examinations at the hospital, or use his developed mechanical bee swarms to silently extract small amounts. These mechanical bees were tiny and stealthy; almost no one noticed them.
This wasn't Hiruko's first attempt to clone the standard Byakugan in an effort to synthesize the "Giant Tenseigan"—the super war weapon and energy source created by Hamura Otsutsuki's lineage on the moon. Yet every attempt ended in failure; the synthesis was always missing that final, crucial element.
He suspected he lacked the correct synthesis method. Having hit a wall, he frowned in thought.
Do I really need to get the secret synthesis technique from Toneri Otsutsuki?
Although Hiruko had found the secret cave leading to the moon years ago, he didn't have the confidence to invade it. In terms of raw power, he wasn't yet at the level where he could run rampant on Otsutsuki territory. Even against someone like Nagato and his Rinnegan, Hiruko felt he could win given enough intelligence. But Toneri was a different story.
Toneri, residing on the moon, was a hurdle Hiruko had no guarantee of clearing. The moon was likely filled with Otsutsuki defense systems and traps. And while Toneri might seem a bit naive, the secret techniques he possessed could directly summon the devastating power of the Giant Tenseigan. Without the protection of "protagonist armor," Hiruko couldn't think of a foolproof way to defeat him.
Unless...
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