Hiruko's fists tightened in anger when he heard that Orochimaru was uninterested in his Chimera Technique, yet placed great importance on the forbidden jutsu of that despicable villain, Ryou.
Hiruko was also greedy for immortality, but at this stage, he still wanted to make a name for himself and sit at the same table as the Sannin; he didn't have Orochimaru's obsession with life itself.
"Orochimaru, didn't you say that Ryou kid blew himself up? Can you still find him?"
Orochimaru smiled wickedly. "Self-destruct? He fooled us all. He's not dead; he's alive and well."
Hiruko shook his head. "Impossible. The Sannin and Minato were all right there. What tricks could Ryou have possibly played?"
Orochimaru mocked Hiruko, "Hiruko, you're a Jonin after all, aren't you? How could you be ambushed by a Chunin like Ryou?"
Hiruko got defensive. "That's because—"
Strength is irrelevant when it comes to a backstab; the more certain of victory one is, the easier it is to fall into someone's trap.
A person's heart isn't a blank sheet of paper where everything is written plainly.
The only way to guard against such things is to trust no one, but Hiruko needed Ryou's technology and funding.
Hiruko needed Ryou, and Ryou needed him.
Hiruko's only mistake was not striking as quickly as Ryou did.
"Damn it, if I get another chance, I'll definitely kill him first."
Orochimaru let out a cold laugh. People like Hiruko fail because they fail; even with another chance, it would be the same.
"Alright, we're here!"
Orochimaru led Hiruko to Kannabi Bridge, the location where Ryou had supposedly blown himself up.
Orochimaru stood at the spot where Ryou had jumped off the cliff, stroking his chin as he analyzed the scene.
There were many suspicious points regarding Ryou's defection.
First, how did he escape from the Uchiha's strict surveillance?
Even if Ryou had cured his hereditary disease and regained his health at that time, the members of the Uchiha Police Force were at least Chunin, and there were at least three or four Jonin guarding him.
Second, how did he evade the pursuit of the Anbu and Root for three days and nights?
Not all Anbu members are necessarily Jonin, but they are certainly the elite of the Village.
Even as a Jonin, Ryou shouldn't have been able to escape for three days and nights.
Third, why did he run toward Kannabi Bridge in the Land of Grass? Fleeing north instead of south, did he think the sun in the north was brighter?
Or was he in collusion with Iwagakure or Kusagakure, intending to offer his forbidden jutsu to an enemy nation?
Orochimaru thought back to that moment of hesitation just as he was about to capture Ryou. He hadn't cared before, thinking it was just a lapse due to the fatigue of the chase.
But looking back now, it felt as if an invisible hand was manipulating Ryou's defection from the shadows.
"Who could it be?"
Orochimaru narrowed his eyes.
"Who? Orochimaru, what are you saying?"
Hiruko was puzzled.
Orochimaru shook his head. "If that's the case, there must be traces nearby. Hiruko, let's go down and search."
"Search for what?"
"Don't worry about what. Just follow me and look."
"Orochimaru, my strength isn't what it used to be. If something unexpected happens, I won't be of much use."
Orochimaru looked at Hiruko and asked, "And your point is?"
Hiruko smiled. "My Chimera Technique can devour Kekkei Genkai, but there are no powerful bloodlines around here. I want your white snake cells."
"Heh heh, my white snake cells... so that's what you're after. Fine, I'll give them to you."
Orochimaru agreed to Hiruko's request.
After all, Hiruko was already dead, a reanimated body. No matter how much he struggled, he was just a puppet.
With that, Orochimaru and Hiruko leapt off Kannabi Bridge, heading toward the canyon river below.
Before long, Jiraiya arrived at Kannabi Bridge, looking perplexed. "What is Orochimaru doing in the Land of Grass? Could it be he still hasn't given up on Ryou's forbidden jutsu?"
"Orochimaru, you're becoming more and more worrying."
...Konoha Hospital, Director's Office.
Warm sunlight filtered through the window frame. Tsunade sat with furrowed brows, pen in hand, reviewing the financial records of Konoha Hospital.
A long time had passed since Tsunade's last visit to the Hokage Office.
She couldn't simply tell the Third Hokage that she wanted to be the next Hokage and expect him to step down; the Hokage was an elected position.
Tsunade had first become the Director of Konoha Hospital, which the Third Hokage was more than happy about; given Tsunade's abilities, it was impossible to leave her idle.
Currently, the fighting on Kirigakure front was not intense, and Minato alone was sufficient. She was better suited at Konoha Hospital.
After taking office at Konoha Hospital, Tsunade actively implemented reforms, lowering the prices of many specialized Ninja medicines and personally treating several incurable terminal illnesses, which further enhanced her reputation among the Ninja community.
However, there were scattered rumors in the Village claiming that Tsunade had also participated in the development of Ryou's techniques, and that Ryou's evil arts were researched based on Tsunade's own Ninjutsu data.
Therefore... Tsunade was in on it too!
Regarding these obviously slanderous rumors, most Ninjas chose to ignore them entirely. The Senju Clan, however, dealt out 'six strikes per second,' harshly punishing a group of petty people who were spreading the rumors.
Shizune knocked and entered, saying to Tsunade, "Lady Tsunade, are you really not going to do anything about the rumors in the Village? Some villagers have already started gossiping."
Tsunade didn't even look up as she spoke. "Why bother? A clear conscience needs no excuse."
In the matter of Ryou, Tsunade wasn't entirely spotless. Knowing about it but not reporting it—especially regarding high-level Ninjutsu data that would certainly concern the Village higher-ups—was enough to cause suspicion.
Regardless... Tsunade was a suspect in the Ryou affair!
But Tsunade felt the rumors weren't that simple. Her active role at Konoha Hospital signaled to certain people that she intended to enter the inner circle and take that seat.
Years ago, White Fang had a Hokage sleeve half-sewn onto his clothes and was considered a candidate, yet he chose to commit seppuku amidst the Village's gossip and rumors.
This was political character assassination.
Some people did not want Tsunade to be elected as the Fourth Hokage.
Tsunade's advantage was too great.
If she so much as whispered the word, she would have near-universal support in the Village. Perhaps the moment she stepped onto the bridge, the Senju Clan would drape the Hokage robe over her shoulders.
"On the day of deployment, Tsunade shall be named Hokage."
Forget elections; they'd stage a coup and oust that old man Sarutobi directly.
In the eyes of the Senju Clan, that old monkey, the Third Hokage, was just a temporary regent. Now that their lord was strong, the Sarutobi Clan should return the government to its rightful ruler.
Shizune held her breath, looking quite indignant. Lady Tsunade was truly too kind-hearted; if she had Lady Tsunade's monstrous strength, she would go out and crush everyone speaking ill of her.
Tsunade suddenly dropped her pen and looked at the report on her desk with a cold laugh. "I've finally caught this big tiger of Konoha Hospital!"
"Shizune, go and call the Vice Director here!"
"Yes!"
After taking office, Tsunade discovered a massive financial deficit at Konoha Hospital. She had been investigating for some time and finally found the person behind it.
The Vice Director of Konoha Hospital, Nagayama Minoru.
Previously, Tsunade had wondered why no one investigated Ryou for selling fake medicine at Konoha Hospital for so long. It turned out it wasn't that no one checked, but that Konoha Hospital had even deeper darkness.
The hospital's higher-ups didn't want to expose the hospital's dirty laundry because of the Ryou affair.
Tsunade looked at Nagayama Minoru's files. He didn't come from a Ninja Clan, nor was he a high-ranking Ninja; he was just an ordinary civilian.
He was simply a steady worker who was loved by many colleagues. How could such a person embezzle so much money? What did he do with all that cash?
Shizune's anxious voice came through: "This is bad! Lady Tsunade, the Vice Director has committed suicide."
"What—"
Tsunade's pupils shrank, and she immediately rushed out of her office.