Secret Base

Moved by Uchiha Nara's appreciation and comfort, Hiruko couldn't help but feel a sense of loyalty, as if he would gladly die for one who truly understood him.

"I've been in Konoha for over twenty years; I never expected to be branded an S-rank missing-nin. It's truly hard to leave. But you're right, Lord Nara. Once I possess greater strength, or once you become Hokage, I will still be able to return."

Hiruko only ever wanted to grow stronger and keep pace with the Sannin. He hadn't expected the Hokage to label him an S-rank missing-nin, and hearing the news left him feeling somewhat heartbroken.

"Haha, yes. As long as you have the strength, the rules can be changed. And to become Hokage, one requires immense power—all of which is exactly why I need your help."

Nara replied with a laugh. Hiruko could never have imagined that the reason he was labeled an S-rank missing-nin was specifically to appease Uchiha Nara and provide the Uchiha clan with a formal explanation.

It was a special upgrade in status. While Konoha jonin are elite, not everyone is granted S-rank treatment.

"You are a powerful ninja in your own right and have no need for my help. I am merely adding flowers to a brocade. I am more than happy to serve you, Hiruko."

"Good. Let's end our conversation here for today. You will need to stay in the prison for one more day; we will smuggle you out secretly tomorrow night."

"Understood!"

Uchiha Clan Grounds

Clan Affairs Hall

Clan Leader's Office

Nara was writing something at his desk.

Below him, four young ninjas stood tall and silent.

Uchiha Akabi, captain of Nara's guard. The guard consisted of four members: Captain Uchiha Akabi, and members Uchiha Seki, Uchiha Ruofeng, and Uchiha Hyaku.

Uchiha Akabi, 19, Three-Tomoe Sharingan, skilled in Fire and Lightning Release, and shurikenjutsu. He served as the captain of Nara's guard.

Uchiha Seki, 15, Two-Tomoe Sharingan, skilled in Fire and Earth Release, served as Nara's guard.

Uchiha Hyaku, 16, Two-Tomoe Sharingan, skilled in Fire and Water Release, served as Nara's guard.

Uchiha Ruofeng, 15, Three-Tomoe Sharingan, skilled in Fire, Wind, and Lightning Release, served as Nara's guard.

They were all elite youths of the Uchiha clan with formidable strength. In truth, Uchiha Seki and Uchiha Hyaku were qualified to be promoted to jonin, but Konoha refused, suppressing the number of jonin within the Uchiha clan.

Uchiha Ruofeng was an elite youth second only to Nara, Fugaku, and Yashiro. Within the Uchiha clan, fewer than ten people had mastered the Lightning Release: Chidori, and Akabi and Ruofeng were among them.

Because they served as Nara's guards, both were currently studying the Lightning Release: Chidori Current.

In terms of raw stats, an average jonin would be no match for them. However, due to the Uchiha clan's situation, they rarely left the village, so their actual combat effectiveness remained a matter of debate.

After all, a ninja is an assassin walking in the shadows, and there are countless means—schemes, tricks, poisons, and the like. Sometimes, having strong ninjutsu alone isn't enough.

"Akabi, tonight, take Hyaku and Seki to sneak into Hiruko's former secret base and install surveillance equipment. The forbidden techniques Hiruko is researching are very useful to me. You must monitor him closely."

"Understood!" (x3)

"Go. Prepare the equipment. Ruofeng, you go train; you don't need to stand guard today."

"Understood!" (x4)

Thick smoke billowed in the room, and the four vanished using the Body Flicker Technique.

Nara rubbed his chin, feeling quite impressed by the technology of the ninja world. While communication methods were backward, they possessed computers and surveillance equipment.

These Konoha jonin or officials with ulterior motives all liked to build secret bases outside the village, such as Shimura Danzo, Orochimaru, and Hiruko.

As for Danzo's Root organization, its secret bases were not limited to Konoha; they were spread across the Five Great Nations. Supported by a constant stream of funding from the Hokage and managed efficiently by Danzo, his intelligence network—including his spies—was extensive. If there was the slightest disturbance in the ninja world, Danzo knew almost immediately.

Furthermore, regarding forbidden technique experiments, Danzo continued his Wood Release experiments in secret, despite them being officially halted. It could be said that within Konohagakure, aside from the Hokage, Shimura Danzo answered to no one and did as he pleased.

After the ninja forces returned, Orochimaru had vanished. There were rumors that the Third Hokage had arranged for Orochimaru to join Root as Danzo's deputy. Sarutobi Hiruzen's intentions were self-evident.

To Sarutobi Hiruzen, the Uchiha clan needed to be suppressed, and Root wasn't exactly a group of saints either. Sending Orochimaru there clearly carried the implication of grooming a successor.

However, Sarutobi Hiruzen hadn't expected that Danzo, who often suffered setbacks in front of him, was just as capable of brainwashing others in private.

Orochimaru, who felt that human life was too fleeting, was captivated by Danzo's various dark experiments. As for the succession or surveillance, he had long since thrown those thoughts to the back of his mind.

Konoha Hospital

Director's Office

"Knock, knock."

Princess Tsunade, who had returned to the village after the Second Great Ninja War, was now twenty-five or twenty-six. She possessed a magnificent figure, yet still retained the innocence of a young girl, wearing a mesh undershirt beneath a white T-shirt.

At this moment, she was curled up on her desk, her eyes filled with terror. She had accidentally drawn blood while experimenting with medical ninjutsu, and the stains were on her hands.

Her entire being seemed to have suddenly crashed. It was hard to imagine that the dignified Princess Tsunade, one of the legendary Sannin of Konoha, would suffer from hemophobia.

Medical ninjutsu did not emerge without reason; it required extensive practice and experimentation.

Especially as the leading figure of Konoha's medical field—and even the progenitor of the ninja world's medical corps—Tsunade needed to constantly experiment and develop new medical techniques.

"Strange, I remember Lady Tsunade coming to the hospital this morning..."

The medical ninja knocking on the door, seeing no response from Director Tsunade, muttered to himself and turned to leave.

The ninja had intended to report on the procurement of medical equipment. The Uchiha clan had made a massive purchase of medical supplies, and the amount was so large that he had come to report it. Instead, he was met with a closed door.

Konoha Hospital, the headquarters of the Medical Corps, houses the Medical Emergency Squad, which is composed entirely of ninja. It is a vital department within the hospital, operating under the jurisdiction of Medical Corps Captain Tsunade.

The Konoha Medical Corps encompasses various units, including Konoha Hospital, the Medical Emergency Squad, the Corpse Disposal Squad, and the Beast Taming and Care Squad, with Tsunade serving concurrently as the director of Konoha Hospital.

Because she manages Konoha Hospital and is dedicated to saving lives and healing the wounded, Tsunade holds the greatest prestige among the Sannin. Countless ninja who have been treated by her are her staunch supporters.

However, despite her immense reputation within Konoha, Lady Tsunade is now limited to training roles. She is no longer capable of handling practical operations or experimental work.

The Third Hokage is already aware of this, yet, preoccupied with political affairs, he has yet to realize the severity of the situation.

Uchiha Yashiro received orders from Naraku and brought several clansmen to Konoha Hospital to procure medical equipment. He did not expect the process to be so smooth; the ninja who claimed they needed to consult their superiors quickly accepted the payment and sold the equipment.

Many ninja in Konoha involved in experimental ninjutsu or the cultivation of summoning beasts and other biological experiments often purchase such equipment, though it is supposed to be registered and recorded.

The oversight is not very strict; medical equipment from Konoha Hospital is even sold to other great nations, serving as one of Konoha's important sources of income.

The medical ninja, skilled in the use of medical ninjutsu, would never imagine that these purchasers are using such equipment to conduct cruel experiments.