Furthermore, Hiruzen Sarutobi was, after all, the former Hokage and Tsunade's teacher. Hiruko didn't intentionally keep him outside, simply stepping aside to let him in.
As Hiruzen walked into the house, he was greeted by the pungent scent of alcohol. He scanned the room, noting the messy living room and the floor stained with spilled sake, and a peculiar smile touched his lips.
From what he knew, Hiruko was a highly disciplined man—almost obsessive about cleanliness. The younger man had always avoided tobacco and alcohol, believing such substances were detrimental to the brain's logic and cognitive functions.
The fact that the house was in such disarray pointed to only one possibility: Tsunade had been here.
"Was Tsunade here?" Hiruzen asked. Though framed as a question, his tone was certain.
"Yes, she arrived just a while ago, quite drunk. She was talking nonsense and thrashing around; cleaning up after her is a bit of a headache," Hiruko replied matter-of-factly, as if he were a detached observer.
Hiruko treated Hiruzen with a measure of diligence. To him, Hiruzen was an important figure—a non-threatening "mascot" whose presence was necessary to keep Danzō in check. Without the Third acting as a buffer, Hiruko knew Danzō would likely waste his time with petty schemes.
Just then, a distinct snoring sound drifted from the other room.
Hiruzen nodded knowingly and pulled out his pipe. Acting as if he were in his own home, he lit it and remarked, "That snoring... it's Tsunade, isn't it?"
"She's in my bedroom," Hiruko answered casually.
There was no reason to hide the fact that Tsunade was staying over. While Hiruko was obsessed with the scientific laws of the universe, he was still a healthy, normal man—not a man like Orochimaru, who had seemingly severed all emotional ties to bury himself in research. Hiruko's affection for the women in his life was second to none; they were his "waifus" from his past life, and he had no intention of letting anyone else have them.
Seeing Hiruko's relaxed demeanor, Hiruzen let out a hearty chuckle. "So, when do you two plan on getting married?"
"You should hurry up and have children. You're both not getting any younger. Playing around with women from other villages is one thing, but you should settle down with one of our own!" Hiruzen took a deep puff of his pipe and exhaled a swirling cloud of smoke, his tone teasing yet pointed.
"Huh?"
Hiruko stared at him, his mind filled with question marks.
The Old Man's words felt completely out of left field. I'm not the one with the problem here; I think you are, Hiruko thought. The Third was acting like an overbearing relative, trying to set him up with Tsunade.
Regarding Tsunade, Hiruko actually held a great deal of affection for her, though he wasn't particularly fond of her fiery temper. However, he couldn't deny he was captivated by her... "assets." Even in the world of anime, such a figure was a rare masterpiece.
Hiruko went to the coffee machine and poured a cup of hot coffee for the Old Man and one for himself. Taking a slow sip, he said, "Whether I want to marry her is one thing, but it depends on Tsunade's feelings. Not to mention the attitude of the Senju elders. The death of Nawaki... it hit her incredibly hard."
Hiruzen took another puff, his expression turning somber. "The battlefield is heartless. Ambushes are an unfortunate reality."
Hiruko scrutinized Hiruzen's face and eyes, looking for a flicker of guilt or hidden intent, but found nothing. Did I overthink it? he wondered. He shook his head, deciding to drop the matter. Whatever happened between Tsunade and the village leadership was their business; as a scientist, it didn't strictly concern him. The fact that she was still in Konoha suggested things hadn't reached a breaking point—likely, Danzō was the one pulling the strings in the shadows.
"Haha, speaking of Tsunade, I believe she's quite fond of you," Hiruzen said cheerfully. "Back when you were children, she always thought you and Orochimaru were the most handsome. She couldn't resist a gentle, good-looking face."
As a child, Tsunade had been oblivious to Hiruko's darker side, drawn entirely to his refined appearance.
"She has a temper and she's strong, but in terms of beauty and figure... she's truly something else! Far better than that woman Danzō sent you!" Hiruzen gave him a "guy-to-guy" look, his eyes crinkling into a mischievous, almost improper expression.
Hiruko looked at the Old Man's lecherous face with total speechlessness. He suspected the Third might be up to some strange scheme behind the scenes.
Hiruzen walked over and patted Hiruko on the shoulder, his voice turning earnest. "Hiruko, you and Tsunade aren't kids anymore."
"You are both elite ninja, experts in physical maintenance and anti-aging. But that doesn't mean your bodies can resist the erosion of time forever. Since graduating from the Academy, you've lived your lives like a game. But at your age, it's time to stop the play-acting and look toward the future."
The Old Man continued his nagging, unaware that his words had struck a deep chord.
Hiruko's chest tightened. He's right. I'm not young anymore.
To a transmigrator who had seen the vastness of the multiverse, his current grasp on immortality was still fragmentary. If he were to commit to his current flawed methods, he might lose the chance to ever reach the pinnacle of the heavens. Having been reborn in this world, he had sworn to become the ultimate lifeform. He wanted to live forever, survive any slaughter, and eventually find a way back home.
After all, he wasn't the typical "lonely orphan" protagonist.
Hiruko remembered a story: when Orochimaru was young, he had found a white snake skin at his parents' grave. Hiruzen had comforted the grieving boy, saying, "The white snake is a symbol of fortune and rebirth. Perhaps your parents have been reborn somewhere else."
That simple act of kindness had planted a seed in Orochimaru's mind. If a snake can shed its skin and be reborn, can a human? The Sannin's entire quest for life's meaning had arguably begun with that one sentence.
Now, Hiruzen was reminding Hiruko that time was slipping away. Hiruko realized he was already in his thirties, and his goal of becoming the ultimate lifeform was still a distant horizon. Compared to the powerhouses of the multiverse, he was still far too weak. After all...
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