Hiruzen Sarutobi had absolute faith in Hiruko's talent.
If Hiruko said the child had potential, then in all likelihood, it was true. Hiruko was not a man given to empty hyperbole. If he claimed Minato's child possessed the possibility of recreating the First Hokage's power, there had to be a scientific basis for it.
Whether or not this child truly became the next Hashirama, or even if he only inherited a fraction of that strength, one thing was certain: this unborn infant was the future of Konoha. Sooner or later, he would grow into a towering tree supporting the village.
As for Hiruko's mention of Tsunade, the Third didn't give it much thought. Tsunade's current mental state was fragile; even with world-class martial prowess, she couldn't exert much of it. Being able to manifest even thirty percent of her full power would be considered a success right now, so he set that aside.
"Hiruko, you and Tsunade are Konoha's strongest medical ninjas, and your insights into the nature of life are unparalleled."
Hiruzen paused, his tone turning solemn. "I want both of you to personally oversee Kushina's delivery."
"Once Tsunade is in a better state, tell her that for the next month, she must remain on standby. No reckless behavior."
His voice carried the weight of unquestionable authority. Though technically semi-retired, Minato had been in office for less than a year; the Fourth had not yet become the village's ultimate arbiter of power. However, with two medical legends overseeing the birth, Minato would certainly have no objections. The young Hokage likely felt awkward asking such a heavy favor from his seniors directly, hindered by his own modesty and lower seniority.
"No problem. I'll be there," Hiruko replied flatly, glancing at Hiruzen.
He had always been fascinated by the Nine-Tails, and Jiraiya had previously asked him to look after Kushina. Between professional interest and personal ties, he had no reason to refuse and felt no emotional resistance to the task.
Of course, Hiruko's loathing for Obito had been festering for a long time. The chance to give that man a harsh lesson was a welcome prospect. However, Hiruko was realistic; killing Obito with his current arsenal was nearly impossible. Even poison was unlikely to do the job; Obito's resilience was high, and with the power of the Divine Tree at his back, purifying toxins wouldn't be difficult.
The probability of a total kill on Obito was effectively zero.
After a few more minutes of amiable small talk, Hiruzen Sarutobi slowly shuffled toward the exit. He held his pipe behind his back, looking every bit the twilight-years elder walking toward the end of his journey.
Watching him go, Hiruko shook his head, swearing to himself that he would never allow himself to become so frail and decayed.
In the dead of night, deep within Konoha's most secure underground chamber, a group of elders sat together. They were in a hermetically sealed room, gathered around a small table. Outside, dozens of elite guards in animal masks stood watch, surrounded by layers of intricate sealing barriers.
Mitokado Homura took a sip of tea and looked seriously at Hiruzen. "What is Hiruko's mental state? Is there a chance he turns out like Orochimaru?"
His voice betrayed deep concern. Orochimaru was becoming increasingly cold, his emotional ties to the village thinning to the point where human life seemed to mean nothing to him. Though Hiruko's recent requests had pulled Orochimaru back into a semblance of "productive" work, the core issue of his lost empathy remained. A defection was always a possibility—especially since the elders had collectively schemed against him once.
This was the elders' greatest fear. If Orochimaru and Hiruko defected simultaneously, it would be a crippling blow to the village.
Hiruko was currently Konoha's man of the hour. His talent didn't just bring in funding; his reforms—developing prosthetics and enhancement serums—had massively bolstered Konoha's military strength. Even while staying low-profile in his lab, he was a figure of global significance.
The Cloud Village had even sent spies, promising to provide Hiruko with the beauties of the entire Land of Lightning to sustain him if he would defect.
Hiruko, of course, would never agree. He intended to one day crush the Cloud Village to avenge the past. But the more important he became, the more the high command worried. Orochimaru was the warning sign—a Kage-level power who hovered outside the village's circle of trust.
They remained incredibly wary of the "tech-otaku" Hiruko. The greater his contribution, the more devastating his potential betrayal.
Hiruzen shook his head and smiled. "Hiruko is a good lad. He and Orochimaru are close, but he won't walk the same dark path."
"Besides, he is quite fond of Tsunade. The two of them will become the foundation of Konoha!"
The four elders nodded seriously. The mention of Orochimaru—the student who was once Hiruzen's greatest pride—brought a pang of sorrow to the Old Man's heart. He wondered if his own methods had pushed Orochimaru toward that cold, inhuman path.
Still, Homura's point was valid. Monitoring Hiruko was a collective decision of the high command. Put simply: they didn't fully trust him. Had it not been for Hiruko saving the village alongside Minato during a past crisis, or the fact that his serums had gained him the loyalty of several smaller clans, they would be even more restrictive.
Minato's firm support for Hiruko was also a major factor. Minato was young, but he was the Hokage, and his wishes had to be respected.
Hiruko's "Life Three" Wood Style serum was no ordinary tonic; it was a catalyst for a legendary Bloodline Limit. It didn't just give young Jonin a high probability of awakening Wood Style...
It also...
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