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It was the massive influx of information from his transmigration that had reshaped his outlook on life, guiding him to where he was today.
Watching Tsunade and Nono playing around in the bedroom, a sense of profound serenity washed over Hiruko. Humans are truly social animals; they need mutual understanding, interdependence, and reliance on one another to survive. In Hiruko's eyes, everyone born into this world carries innate shackles, struggling just to live. If the shackles binding him to others didn't lead to a total derailment, then he was truly fortunate.
Simply put: don't be a "simp," find good people, and live a happy life.
Ever since he transmigrated, the first thing Hiruko did every morning was prepare for the future apocalypse and pursue immortality. The unspoken pressure was, frankly, agonizing. This wasn't a game in a fantasy world; he only had one life, and he and those close to him would genuinely have to face the crisis.
Rely on Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha? Given the butterfly effect he'd caused, Hiruko no longer trusted the original timeline. He could only use his memories to push events in a favorable direction for information superiority. Beyond that, he had no guarantees; most things would just have to take their course.
Hiruko had his own backup plans, such as the super-virus buried within his own body. His toxins, inherited from Singed, had become increasingly eldritch. Combining his previous life's knowledge of biological and biochemical toxins, Hiruko shuddered to think what would happen if his main body were ever destroyed. If the toxins erupted, the entire planet would likely be annihilated in an instant. If he died, the whole shinobi world was going down with him.
But there were people in this world he cherished. For them, he had to work hard to stay alive.
"What are you thinking about? You looked a bit lost just now," Tsunade asked curiously.
"Nothing. Are you two ready?" Hiruko snapped back to reality.
"Mmhmm. It's still early. What do you plan to do?" Tsunade asked.
"Let's go out for a walk. I feel like it's been a while since we all just wandered around together," Nono suggested with a gentle smile.
Since both Tsunade and Nono were now with him, Hiruko planned to take them for a stroll through Konoha. While the village was still essentially a feudal society, the power of female ninjas meant monogamy was the norm—unlike the Land of Fire Daimyos with their harems. However, the shinobi wouldn't be too opposed to Hiruko's situation. After all, his contribution to the village was immense; what were a few extra wives? If nobles could have concubines, why couldn't ninjas?!
"Hiruko, you don't like novels or TV, and lately you've stopped watching them entirely. Staying in the lab all day... I feel like it's affecting your mental state," Nono said softly.
"I'm bored of them!"
Having been through the information explosion of the modern era and witnessed countless masterpieces, how could he be interested in the low-tier tales and trashy cinema of the shinobi world? If not for the company of Tsunade and Nono, he wouldn't touch those things.
Hiruko shrugged. "Fine. Let's go hit the streets together."
Tsunade picked up an unknown book from the table, flipped through it while stuffing an orange into her mouth, and mumbled, "You bastard, how are you going to handle the wedding with me and Nono?"
"Uh, Lady Tsunade, I don't need..." Nono started weakly, but Tsunade cut her off.
"Ignore this jerk. Even for you, there must be a wedding." Tsunade shot Hiruko a resentful glare.
Hiruko could only scratch his head awkwardly; anything he said now would be the wrong move. He then took Tsunade and Nono by the arms and spent the entire day having fun in the village.
The villagers gossiped for a while, but there wasn't much backlash. While most ninjas were monogamous, it wasn't a law. Given Hiruko's "reputation," people figured having multiple wives was just par for the course. Moreover, seeing him bonded to the Senju Princess was something most were happy to see. Regular people might not know, but well-informed ninjas knew that scientists obsessed with research often grew cold and detached. If Hiruko had deep emotional bonds with Tsunade, Konoha's safety was effectively guaranteed.
While the trio was enjoying their day, Yugito, Mabui, and Samui were in their quarters. After finishing their meal, Yugito sat on the sofa, contemplating their next move.
Mabui washed her hands and looked at the leftovers. "I assume someone will come to clear this soon?"
Yugito was silent for a moment, then gestured for them to lean in. "We need a way to get revenge."
Mabui was shocked, and Samui frowned. "We're too weak, and the seals are still active. We can't do anything. This is the enemy's heartland—heavily guarded and full of experts. Hiruko is highly valued here; how could we possibly get revenge? Mabui and I are just Chunin; even without the seals, what could we achieve?"
Yugito narrowed her eyes. "If we can't use force, we use the soft approach. We find a way to earn that man's trust."
"What do you mean?" Mabui asked.
Yugito whispered, "I noticed he kept staring at Samui earlier. I think he's a lecher."
Samui immediately snapped back, "You two aren't exactly ugly. Why don't you go?"
Mabui instinctively shrunk back, clutching her clothes. Yugito continued, "Mabui and I aren't as... developed as you. That guy definitely likes them big."
Samui was speechless. "Even if we return to the Cloud, how do you explain giving the enemy our Jinchuriki secrets?"
Yugito paused. "You just need to get close to him, find a way to seduce him. I'll figure out the rest. Samui, you're beautiful; you could wrap him around your finger."
Samui hesitated. "He's a high-ranking official who reached the top at a young age. How could he be that easily swayed by lust?"
Seeing Samui's reluctance, Yugito grew angry, viewing it as a lack of loyalty. "Can't you sacrifice yourself for the village?!"
Under the psychological pressure of the last few days, even these best friends were starting to fracture. The calm surface of their dinner hid deep undercurrents of discord.
That night, Tsunade lay with her back to Hiruko, just like the night before.
As Hiruko lay down and reached out for her, Tsunade spoke: "Hiruko."
He pulled her into his arms, meeting no resistance. He held her tighter, inhaling the scent of her hair, feeling a sense of total contentment.
Tsunade hesitated. "Do you still like me?"
"Of course I do," Hiruko replied without a second's delay.
She was silent for a while. "Then how are you going to handle the Nono situation? You like too many people."
"Isn't this just fine?" Hiruko mused.
Tsunade suddenly rolled over, staring him dead in the eye. Faced with her gaze, Hiruko's eyes flickered away nervously. Tsunade suddenly calmed down. "I really underestimated you."
Then, she bit his arm—hard.
Hiruko's arm trembled from the force. Tsunade was Kage-level; her bite nearly tore a chunk out of him. In the dark, she let go and watched him suffer in silence. "Does it hurt?"
"How could it not? It hurts like hell," Hiruko whined.
Then she gave him a vicious pinch. Faced with her mood swings, Hiruko's emotions were a mess. He pulled her close and kissed her.
After the "battle," Tsunade whispered, "What do you think?"
Hiruko sighed. "What can I say?"
"Bastard!"
"Ah, I can't take it anymore!"
Seeing Hiruko's antics, Tsunade let out a hearty, triumphant laugh. Her behavior today wasn't just about Nono. She knew he had women outside the village, but she hadn't expected him to "take in" little Rin Nohara as well—or rather, to hide her from the village. Hiruko had explained the situation with Rin, claiming there was a mastermind behind the scenes, but the age gap was still an entire generation.
What is he trying to do? The greedy bastard!
The more she thought about it, the angrier she got, leading to another bite on his neck. Hiruko could only shrug. He had already "conquered" Rin, and the love in her eyes was impossible to hide.
In the evening, a messenger from the Uchiha arrived with an invitation for dinner the following day.
This was Fugaku's move. The Uchiha were only this cautious when it came to the restructuring of the village's power. Under the Second Hokage, they had been pushed to the outskirts. In the original timeline, after the Nine-Tails attack, they were marginalized even further. Fugaku wanted more for his clan, knowing that where their land was located determined their closeness to power.
While the Uchiha had bet big on Minato, Hiruko was Minato's most trusted advisor. His word could maximize their gains.
The next day, Hiruko arrived and was greeted by the elegant Mikoto. She shared a similar aura to Nono, though while Nono was gentle, Mikoto carried the confidence of a mother and a matriarch.
"Lord Hiruko, you've arrived," Mikoto greeted him warmly.
"Lady Mikoto, forgive the intrusion," Hiruko replied, his eyes tracing her silhouette. Someone else's wife really does have a different kind of charm.
During the meal, Hiruko asked Fugaku about the clan's future plans. He intended to build a high-tech new city and needed the Great Clans as the engine for the transformation.
"Clan Head Fugaku, do you have a preference for the Uchiha's new location?"
The question caught Fugaku off guard. He didn't dare be too greedy. Hiruko simply pointed to a spot on the map. "I have my eye on this area. I trust you can plan it well."
Hiruko smiled. "I promised you that if the Uchiha served the village faithfully, I would ensure you were well-treated."
Fugaku bowed. "You honor us, Lord Hiruko. It is only our duty."
Hiruko was effectively speaking as the village's representative. Minato handled administration, but every major decision went through Hiruko. His influence was absolute. He designated a core district for the Uchiha—not a massive one, but one that put them back in the center of Leaf life, facilitating interaction with other clans.
"Regarding the Police Force, I have a detailed plan for that as well," Hiruko added.
Fugaku didn't mind the restructuring of the Police Force. He wanted the Uchiha back in the center of power, even if it meant sacrificing some old privileges. The village was founded by Senju and Uchiha; it was time an Uchiha sat in the Hokage's seat. Fugaku knew his own time might have passed, but his son Itachi was now Hiruko's disciple. With Itachi's talent, the chance was real.
Hiruko spotted the well-behaved Itachi nearby. "Itachi, how is school?"
"It's good. My classmates are very enthusiastic," the boy replied innocently. (Enthusiastic girls, that is; the boys were naturally hostile to a handsome genius.)
Hiruko leaned down. "What do you want to do in the future?"
"I want to help my father and make the Uchiha stronger," Itachi said. Fugaku smiled with pride, and Mikoto muffled a giggle. Hiruko looked at the boy and hoped his own future children would be as sensible. Without the original tragedies, Itachi wouldn't become the extremist of the future.
"Tsunade and I are getting married soon," Hiruko announced. "Once the village stabilizes, we'll hold the ceremony."
Fugaku and Mikoto were stunned. Hiruko looked incredibly young, but they knew his actual age made the match perfectly reasonable.
"We will certainly be there to congratulate you," Fugaku said.
"Lady Tsunade is a great beauty," Mikoto added with a smile. "She will be a very happy bride."
After some more talk, Hiruko took his leave.
He headed to the basement of Orochimaru's research facility. He stood before a massive glass vat, looking at a White Zetsu floating in nutrient fluid. This specimen had developed human-like features—aside from the pale skin, it was nearly indistinguishable from a normal human.
"Heh... I really should thank you, Hiruko!"
🌟 The story is already written… waiting to be unleashed. Claim early access on Patreon: [email protected]/c/wildsparkstudios
🔓 You hold the keys to bonus chapters:💬 10 reviews ignite 1 bonus chapter🔷 100 Power Stones summon another
🔥 Your power determines how fast the tale unfolds.