Due to the various situations unfolding within the Uchiha clan, Orochimaru had temporarily shelved his plans to defect from Konoha.
After all, with such excellent research conditions currently at his disposal, it was better to stay and openly conduct a deep dive into these mysterious Bloodline Limits.
"As they are now, no one in the Uchiha clan possesses the strength to withstand the power of the First Hokage's cells," Orochimaru said coldly. "I've heard that in the hidden corners of history, there are ancient texts detailing the Mangekyo Sharingan. The most prominent example, of course, is the legendary Uchiha Madara, who stood as an equal to Hashirama Senju."
He paused, his eyes narrowing. "In my view, if one wishes to completely overcome the terrifying, devouring nature of the First's cells, the Uchiha test subject must at least possess the potential to awaken the Mangekyo. Otherwise, they are no different from any other common experimental failure."
At this point in time, Orochimaru's experimentation had not yet reached a level of total recklessness. More importantly, the Uchiha clan's influence was deeply entrenched and complicated—a real thorn in the side. No one knew exactly how many pairs of Mangekyo Sharingan might be hidden within that clan, so opportunities to study the dōjutsu were rare.
"So, is that why you went looking for Shisui?"
The corners of Orochimaru's mouth curled into a meaningful, lingering smile. "Hehe... Shisui's potential is limitless. He might actually have a chance to grow into someone capable of awakening the Mangekyo."
"The Uchiha have always been a paranoid and obsessive lot. If they found out we were researching their Bloodline Limit, there's no telling what kind of madness they'd be driven to!"
Hiruko was currently focused on perfecting his own technique. At this critical juncture, he saw no reason to provoke the Uchiha.
"Are you worried I'll resort to forceful methods? You should know that Danzo has already been collecting the corpses of Uchiha members who died during the war."
Orochimaru let out a soft hiss. "Relax. While I'm not entirely sure what Sensei is plotting, my goal is simply to bring more people onto my side. As long as they see tangible benefits, everything becomes negotiable. The Uchiha have always been obsessed with power, and their clan's wealth is second to none in Konoha. If I can offer them a path to greater strength, making a deal with them will be child's play."
"So, you plan to use 'Assisting the Uchiha in correctly awakening their eyes' as your bargaining chip?"
"Hehe... Hiruko, it seems you understand the human heart even better than I do! That excuse is absolutely perfect." An excited glint flashed through Orochimaru's eyes.
In truth, it wasn't just the Uchiha. It was far easier to squeeze benefits out of the various clans with Bloodline Limits than it was to pry anything out of Danzo's iron grip. For a ninja, the pursuit of power was practically an instinct. If he could provide the results they craved, they would gladly pay any price.
Just then, a maid serving Hiruko approached, carrying a specialized device on a tray.
Orochimaru couldn't help but show a trace of pity before rising to take his leave. 'Can someone so addicted to the pleasures of the flesh truly find a way to achieve immortality?' he mused.
Still, considering the man had been quite helpful, Orochimaru decided that if he did eventually discover the secret to eternal life, he might share the opportunity with him. After all, the path to immortality was a lonely one; having a fellow traveler wouldn't be so bad.
Once Orochimaru left, Hiruko dropped the gentle smile he wore for others. He took the specialized item from the maid's hands.
Soon, from within Hiruko's largest bedroom, the continuous clashing of iron chains echoed out.
Nohara Rin leaned against the wall, hearing it all too clearly. Her face flushed a deep crimson, and she pressed her hands against her chest, her heart racing as her mind wandered into chaotic thoughts.
The traumatic shadows of childhood—the memory of his parents wailing in agony before his eyes—had long ago dragged the "ordinary" Hiruko of his past life into a bottomless dark abyss. Combined with the immense pressure of his scientific research, he could only find release by venting his frustrations on Pakura, time and again.
During these outbursts, the chilling chakra that often swirled around Hiruko served as proof of his twisted inner state.
However, none of those in the know had any hard evidence. To the outside world, Hiruko was an outstanding medical ninja with a heart of gold—a reliable and kind senior. The prosthetic limbs he developed had allowed countless shinobi to find new work, and some high-performance models even allowed maimed veterans to return to the battlefield.
Furthermore, Hiruko only laid hands on ninjas from outside villages. No one in Konoha wanted to offend such a "good man" who had helped so many of their own. Besides, even if there were rumors, they were dismissed as trivial matters; it would be wrong to condemn a senior who possessed such a burning Will of Fire over a few personal quirks.
"Are you certain Orochimaru plans to visit me?" Uchiha Fugaku looked at Shisui, his expression wavering with uncertainty.
Shisui nodded firmly. "Lord Orochimaru said it to me personally."
Inside, Shisui felt a surge of quiet joy. He felt as though he was finally becoming a bridge between the village leadership and the Uchiha clan, a role that brought him great satisfaction.
Unable to suppress his internal excitement, Fugaku pressed, "Did he mention why?"
Although the Uchiha had already made contact with the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, the young Hokage's power was currently limited. If they could establish a solid connection with Orochimaru, the benefits to the clan would be enormous.
"Lord Orochimaru didn't say explicitly," Shisui replied, offering his own guess. "But I suspect it has something to do with the newly established Research and Development Department."
Fugaku nodded thoughtfully.
The R&D Department was a joint venture between Orochimaru and Hiruko. Because of Hiruko's exceptional performance during the Third Great Ninja War, Minato had personally approved the project. Lately, the department had drawn a lot of eyes; every clan head in the village was watching it closely.
Compared to the previous administration, the clan heads were more interested in the political weight behind this new office. The R&D Department wasn't just Orochimaru and Hiruko's private playground; the newly inaugurated Fourth Hokage was its direct overseer. This meant the department had the authority to mobilize, recruit, and train its own specialized ninja and personnel.
To date, only a handful of people in Konoha held that kind of autonomous power.
Orochimaru was indeed a slippery, difficult character to befriend, but Hiruko seemed much more approachable.
"The only thing is..."
Thinking of Hiruko's... unique hobbies, Fugaku felt a headache coming on. How on earth was he supposed to win over a man like that?