His power was too immense—it was as if the First Hokage had been reincarnated!!!
"Lord Hiruko's divine might is peerless! Single-handedly, with such nonchalant grace, he severed the arm of the invincible Fourth Raikage!" a young ninja shouted, his face flushed crimson as he pumped his fist into the air.
"Exactly! That wasn't a battle; it was a one-sided slaughter!"
"He played with the enemy Kages like they were children!" another added, eyes sparkling with pure adoration.
"He is the stabilizing pillar of our Leaf! With him here, what is there to fear?"
The legends of Hiruko's deeds began to spread through the ranks like wildfire, with many claiming they saw the shadow of Hashirama Senju in his wake.
The war drew to a swift conclusion. Konoha currently lacked the resources to swallow the entire Shinobi world whole, but with a few more decades of development, they would be more than capable. Representatives from the Stone and Cloud arrived to negotiate terms. Thus, the short-lived Fourth Shinobi World War neared its end.
While many remained resentful, they no longer had the opportunity to resist. This war, brief but decisive, was destined to be the subject of tea-house gossip for generations. For the Five Kages, the first hurdle of the now-normalized Five Kage system would be their collective summit.
Hiruko, however, had zero interest in politics.
By utilizing his absolute mastery over the Kurama clan's bloodline, he had already peered into the deepest secrets of the Hidden Cloud's Nintaijutsu. Through complete hypnosis of the Raikage before his retreat, Hiruko had secured secret techniques and medicinal formulas for body refinement. It was certain that in the near future, his physical strength would experience a qualitative leap. To him, the Fourth Raikage's severed arm wasn't a trophy—it was high-grade research material.
In the Uchiha district of Konoha.
Knock, knock, knock!
Mikoto Uchiha opened the door to find Kushina Uzumaki standing there, her brow furrowed in a portrait of worry.
"Itachi isn't home today; he went to the training grounds to practice alone. It's just me, come in," Mikoto invited warmly. As they sat in the living room, Mikoto poured her a cup of tea. "You look troubled. Is there bad news from the front?"
Kushina sighed. "This morning, rumors were flying through the village. They say we won a great victory and that Lord Hiruko captured the Two-Tails host, Yugito Nii."
The news had grown wings. As the wounded returned, the joy of victory had already turned the village into a hive of excitement.
"We won, aren't you happy?" Mikoto asked with a smile.
Kushina nodded slowly, her eyes fixed on the ripples in her tea. She remembered Minato's haunted expression before he left. "In his letters, Minato said the A-B Brothers were incredibly difficult to deal with. I kept thinking... if their Jinchuriki went all out, it would cause so much trouble. And here I am, stuck in the village, unable to help at all..."
"Don't think like that," Mikoto comforted her. "Minato worries because the Nine-Tails is... special. Just suppressing it is a full-time job."
Kushina's expression turned bitter. "I've tried so many ways. Minato helped me, too. But I can't control it. I don't have Mito-sama's ability to draw out the chakra at will. I can use a bit, but it's not enough to change a war, and the risk is too high."
Minato always insisted she stay in the rear. If the Nine-Tails ever broke free on a battlefield, the first people to suffer would be the Leaf's own ninja. Who could even seal it then?
Three nights later, Hiruko returned to the village.
He stood alone in his courtyard, gazing at the stars. Suddenly, Rin Nohara approached him. "Lord Hiruko, still awake?"
"You aren't sleeping either," Hiruko replied, turning slightly. "My mind is a bit restless. How is the Medical Department? I heard there were many casualties."
Rin smiled softly. "Compared to those fighting on the front lines, this is nothing. I'm only able to help as a medical ninja because of your endorsement."
After the war reignited, Rin had begged Hiruko to let her work at the Konoha Hospital. Using his technology, Hiruko had provided her with a synthetic cell mask to alter her appearance. To the hospital staff, she was simply one of Hiruko's trusted aides.
"Logistics is never easy," Hiruko noted.
They sat by a small fire Hiruko ignited with a snap of his fingers. Rin watched the flames for a long time before whispering, "I heard about what you did."
"Oh?"
"I was so shocked," Rin said, her eyes wide with wonder. "I didn't know you were that strong. To suppress three Tailed Beasts alone... and to fly through the sky."
Hiruko's lips curled into a mischievous smirk. "Many people are curious about the flying. Do you want to try?"
"Eh?" Rin blinked, caught between excitement and nerves.
Hiruko stood up and brushed the dust from his robes. "Ready to take off?"
"But... how do I prepare?"
"Hahaha!" Hiruko laughed heartily. Before she could react, he swept her up in his arms and shot toward the heavens like a bolt of light.
He didn't ascend slowly; he pierced the clouds. Rin felt the roar of the wind, and when she opened her eyes, they were hundreds of meters above the village.
"KYAAA!!!"
The sudden weightlessness made her face flush bright red. "Lord Hiruko! You scared the life out of me! What if someone sees us?!" she shouted, though inwardly, her heart was racing with a thrill she had never known.
Hiruko loosened his grip. Rin panicked for a second, flailing her arms before realizing she wasn't falling—she was floating. They were soaring, untethered from the world below.
"How does it feel?" Hiruko asked.
"It's... it's amazing, Lord Hiruko!" Rin looked down at the tiny lights of the village, then back at him with pure adoration.
Suddenly, her body began to move uncontrollably. Hiruko's fingers acted like a conductor's baton, manipulating the air currents around her. With a flick of his wrist, he sent her spinning in a graceful circle.
He began to indulge a bit of a mean streak, using his precise chakra control to create a "roller coaster" effect—sudden drops and sharp rotations.
"Eeeek! No! Stop it, Lord Hiruko!!!"
Her screams were high and frantic, but Hiruko had already used a chakra barrier to silence the sound from reaching the village below. Rin was mortified, her face burning with embarrassment. Even though she was wearing safety shorts under her gear, the sheer lack of control was frustrating.
She puffed out her cheeks as they descended. "Lord Hiruko! How could you be so mean!"
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