A commoner without a clan.
Rin's background was as ordinary as it got. Without a legacy of secret techniques, climbing the ladder of strength was an uphill battle. She remembered the past with a bitter clarity—if she hadn't been so weak, Obito wouldn't have died right before her eyes.
She wouldn't have been captured, turned into the Three-Tails Jinchuriki, and rigged as a living tailed-beast bomb to self-destruct in the heart of Konoha. She craved power—not for glory, but for survival.
Hiruko listened, his expression softening into a gentle curiosity. "You want to become stronger? As a medical ninja, why the sudden urge for combat power?"
Rin looked him in the eye, her resolve unshakable. "Because even a medical ninja must have the strength to protect themselves. Otherwise, I'm just a liability to my teammates. I want to be strong enough to stand on my own—and to be of actual use to you, Lord Hiruko."
Hiruko nodded, approving of her logic. "A fair point. I can help you. In fact, I have a method that is quite suited for a ninja of your caliber."
A flicker of hesitation crossed Rin's face. "What kind of method is it, Lord Hiruko?"
She knew Hiruko specialized in rapid advancement, but she also knew such paths usually came with terrifying risks. Some turned people into literal monsters. As a young girl, she still held onto the simple desire to keep her human appearance.
"Sage Mode is usually reserved for the pinnacle of the elite," Hiruko explained. "But I've modified it into a specialized Cursed Seal. When activated, it will significantly boost your stats, though it's heavily draining on your stamina. It's a brand-new breakthrough of mine—a 'life-or-death' trump card for emergencies."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over her. "Most other shortcuts I have involve cell mutation or shortening your lifespan. They aren't fit for a little beauty like you."
Rin's face turned bright red at the casual compliment.
"So, stay away from the experimental stuff for now. Give me time to stabilize the serums. For everything else, you'll have to rely on daily training and step-by-step progress. Think it over and give me your answer later."
With a wave of his hand, Hiruko retreated to his bedroom and fell into a deep, efficient sleep. As a scientist, he knew the value of high-quality rest. Rin bowed deeply to his closed door, her heart full of gratitude, before returning to her own room to study.
As for Pakura... Hiruko refused to believe he couldn't break her stubbornness.
Time flowed like a white steed passing a crack in a wall; soon, it was September.
In Konoha, Hiruko had become a household name as the Chief of the Research Division. Having delegated the more tedious administrative tasks, he had begun to pull back from the daily grind to focus on his personal interests. Life had become balanced—productive yet calm.
However, Pakura seemed to have developed a "special constitution" of her own, constantly finding ways to butt heads with him. Hiruko was equally stubborn. He had sworn to himself that he wouldn't stop until this woman was thoroughly subdued. As a transmigrator, he refused to lose a battle of wills to a "local."
Lately, he had been subtly adding sensitivity-enhancing agents to her meals. The two lived in a state of constant friction, though sometimes Hiruko felt Pakura was actually provoking him on purpose.
At four in the afternoon, with a slight chill in the air, Hiruko walked out of the Research Division. He greeted the numerous shinobi and villagers who hailed him before returning to his estate.
Upon entering, he was greeted by the overwhelming scent of sake. A blonde woman was sprawled across his living room sofa, one hand clutching a bottle and the other waving aimlessly in the air. She was half-drunk, her eyes squinted into crescents, her face flushed a deep, beautiful rose. She was muttering slurred insults about "scumbags."
Hiruko frowned at the sight of Tsunade. He wasn't a fan of drunken women, but after all these years, he had grown somewhat used to her antics.
He skillfully confiscated the bottle from her grip, brought over a basin of warm water, and gently wiped her face. He then scooped her up—she continued to mumble nonsense—and carried her to the guest bedroom, tucking her in. Looking at her flushed, radiant face, Hiruko felt a sudden impulse and pinched her cheek.
Tsunade abruptly rolled over, kicking the blanket halfway across the room.
"Scumbag!"
She swung a blind punch that nearly sent Hiruko flying into the fireplace. He looked at her with a mix of annoyance and resignation. He detested alcohol; it ruined logic and clouded the mind. Suppressing the urge to snap at her, he tucked her in again and headed to the kitchen.
He decided to prepare a hangover-recovery meal. He owed her, after all; Tsunade had been the one to vouch for him during the darkest times.
Ding-ling-ling!
The doorbell rang, startling him. Rin couldn't answer the door during the day, and Pakura was a prisoner. Aside from himself, there was only the drunken Tsunade. He put down his kitchen knife and went to open the door, wondering who would visit at this hour. Usually, only the women sent by the Great Clans for cleaning services entered his home—a practical part of their business arrangements.
Hiruko wiped his hands and pushed the door open, only to be met by a very familiar, wrinkled face.
"Uh... Old Man Third? What are you doing here?" Hiruko asked flatly. He offered no warm welcome, nor did he move to let the man in.
Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Hiruko's pale, handsome features—so similar to Orochimaru's—and felt a brief moment of daze. He quickly recovered, offering a kindly, approachable smile, looking for all the world like a harmless neighborhood grandfather.
Hiruko disliked the Third's late-stage indecisiveness, but he bore the man no true ill will. After all, it was the Third's backing that had given him his current opportunity...
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