Holy Temptation!

Minato Namikaze sincerely believed that Hiruko's vision was wonderful. He secretly thought that if it could truly be realized, the ninja world might actually enter an era of genuine peace.

From that moment on, Minato Namikaze kept that vision firmly in his heart.

He also thought that once he became Hokage, he would surely bring the beautiful world described in those documents to life.

After seeing Hiruko's vision, Minato Namikaze knew that building such a vast system in the ninja world would absolutely consume an astronomical amount of money.

Moreover, on the battlefield, Minato Namikaze had personally experienced the convenience and power of the various scientific ninja tools and prosthetic technologies invented by Hiruko.

As long as a ninja was still alive, they could be fitted with prosthetic equipment and return to the battlefield, raising Konoha's combat strength by thirty percent out of thin air.

Hiruko nodded with a smile. "Of course it can be realized."

It had to be said that Minato Namikaze truly loved genuine peace.

According to the vision Hiruko had originally proposed, it really could bring the ninja world into true peace, where no country lacked resources.

Of course, maintaining peace also required a truly decisive powerhouse, someone on the level of Hashirama or Madara Uchiha.

Only by truly possessing nuclear weapons would those vested interests lay down their slaughter.

After all, when a few lowly ninja died in ordinary times, the daimyo of the great nations did not give a damn. That was why ninja wars never ended.

Because of his childhood experiences, Hiruko genuinely wanted to be half a good person and use science to change this deformed world.

He wanted to strengthen transportation links across the entire world and make peace and prosperity the main theme of the ninja world.

Hiruko's initial idea had been very good.

He simply had not expected that the very first step would be rejected by countless Konoha elders.

This world was far too twisted. The decay and incompetence of the older generation had strangled the plan before it could even be introduced.

Neither Danzo nor Hiruzen Sarutobi possessed even the slightest trace of scientific research ability.

"Back then, I was still young. Because these proposals were described too beautifully, they were all dismissed as a child's wild fantasy," Hiruko said calmly.

At the time, Hiruko had also considered developing products to raise funds, but it was wartime, and no one paid any attention to his proposals.

Later, Hiruko could only give up, thinking that it would not be too late to bring it up again once he truly had the power to sweep across the ninja world.

"The Third Great Ninja War has already ended. Even if conflicts remain between the great nations, they are only localized frictions between countries. Konoha will also welcome a brief peace.

"I think it is time to bring out your proposal again. I hope you can preside over this plan and help me create a better world."

Minato Namikaze revealed a bright, clean smile, then extended his right hand. His smile was highly contagious.

Although Hiruko had already experienced all sorts of setbacks in his previous life, he was not particularly moved by such a smile.

But for the poor people like himself, he was willing to try helping Minato Namikaze realize this dream.

At night, inside Hiruko's residence.

The night was deep. Moonlight streamed through the gaps in the curtains, casting mottled silver light across Hiruko's room.

A faint scent of medicinal herbs filled the air, mixed with a barely perceptible fragrance, like the beginning of some secret ritual.

Nonō stood at the doorway. She was not wearing Root's cold uniform, but had changed into a black nun's habit.

The fabric was soft, yet unexpectedly fitted to her figure, outlining faint, indistinct curves.

Her collar was slightly open, revealing a slender stretch of collarbone that gleamed delicately in the dim light.

Her golden hair hung loose, the ends faintly curled, as though caressed by the night breeze—or as though she had just endured a silent struggle.

Hiruko sat on the sofa, his gaze slowly sweeping over her.

His eyes roamed like a snake, from her smooth ankles to her slender legs, then to the waist wrapped in black fabric—

It was clearly the most devout attire, yet at this moment it carried an unusual, holy temptation.

As expected of a character who had stepped out of a two-dimensional world.

After seeing Nonō with his own eyes, Hiruko nodded in satisfaction.

He was extremely pleased with the maid that old Danzo had sent him!

"Lord Hiruko," she spoke softly, her voice gentle yet hiding a trace of tension as she knelt on the floor.

He did not respond immediately, only slowly rising to his feet.

His leather shoes struck the floor with dull footsteps.

Only when Hiruko stood before her, close enough to smell the faint lavender fragrance on her body.

His fingers rose, his knuckles slender, gently lifting her chin.

Her skin was slightly cool.

Hiruko forced her to raise her head and meet his eyes—within those eyes were fear and despair.

But deep within them, there was also a stubborn flame.

"Don't look at me with that expression."

He chuckled softly, his thumb brushing across her lower lip.

Feeling her faint tremble, he said, "I... really like that resolute, holy quality of yours."

"That little Kabuto has quite good potential! I like him very much!"

Nonō's breathing became slightly hurried, her eyelashes trembling softly, like a butterfly struggling just before its wings broke.

"Kabuto... that child..." Her voice was nearly forced out through clenched teeth, carrying a trace of pleading.

Hiruko's smile deepened. He leaned down beside her ear, warm breath brushing her earlobe. "What? Worried that he'll become one of my test subjects?"

A tear silently slid down.

Unutterable guilt surged through Nonō's heart. Her fingertips unconsciously clenched the corner of her clothes, wrinkling the fabric into a ball in her palm.

She lowered her head, her long eyelashes casting shadows beneath her eyes as though trying to conceal the wavering within them.

In the end, she slowly knelt on the floor, her voice so soft it was almost a sigh.

"Lord Hiruko... please spare Kabuto. No matter what task it is, I can do it."

She did not want to be a spy anymore. She did not want Kabuto to be treated as a test subject, much less let him bear all of this in her place.

That child had already given too much for the orphanage, yet she, the director, had never truly been able to protect them...

Hiruko silently watched her, his gaze lingering on her faintly trembling shoulders for a moment before he suddenly gave a low laugh.

"I'm not some villain."

Before his words had even faded, he reached out and gripped her wrist. His strength was neither too light nor too heavy, but enough to keep her from breaking free.

With a slight tug, he pulled her whole body to her feet.

Nonō staggered, nearly crashing into his chest. The tip of her nose caught the faint herbal scent on him, making her hold her breath for an instant.

"Remember!!!" His thumb gently rubbed across her chin, forcing her to raise her head and look him in the eye.