Imprisoned in a Dog Cage

"Hmph, what evidence do you have?" Hiruko glared at Orochimaru with a grim expression. He really must have been out of his mind back then.

The flaw he had left behind was not particularly obvious. It could fool ordinary people, but it could never fool someone as clever as Orochimaru.

"Hehe, don't worry. I won't report you. After all, we've always had quite a good relationship!" Orochimaru waved his hand and immediately left.

Hiruko was left alone, his expression constantly shifting.

Although the forbidden techniques left behind by the Second Hokage were exquisite and unusual, most of them were still incomplete, some even remaining only at the conceptual stage.

Many required further study and refinement by later generations.

Take the Impure World Reincarnation, for example. Orochimaru had spent decades researching and improving it, yet still failed to make it flawless. Various loopholes often appeared during testing.

It was only near the end of the Fourth Shinobi World War that the technique gradually became complete and mature.

Kabuto, who inherited Orochimaru's will, carried it forward completely, finally unleashing the technique's full power.

Rather than wasting time on those incomplete forbidden techniques, Hiruko might as well focus on perfecting the Ghost Bud Technique he had developed himself.

He could research a few more cloning techniques, obtain all the bloodline limits he desired, and become a true powerhouse with ultimate strength and eternal life.

He could also carefully study spatial ninjutsu. Perhaps he might even cross dimensions into other worlds.

After all, there were countless girls he liked throughout the myriad worlds.

Being trapped in this tiny Konoha was not his pursuit, even if he could live forever.

As for the loophole he had left behind, as long as he became the strongest, who would dare say a word against him?

Besides, he had enough value that even someone who truly discovered the flaw would not easily report him.

Hiruko straightened his clothes and walked out of the sterile room. After changing into casual clothes, he soon headed toward his mansion.

The moment he entered, the maids came up to greet him and skillfully helped him change into a soft set of pajamas.

The attendants serving at his side came from all the major clans, including the Uchiha Clan and the Hyuga Clan.

Though their bloodlines might not have been particularly pure, and the Hyuga Clan members were merely from branch families with unremarkable strength, they all had one thing in common: exceptional beauty.

This was because the role Hiruko had displayed during the Third Shinobi World War had been far too astonishing.

It was not because his personal strength was overwhelmingly powerful, but because his research abilities had brought tremendous benefits to countless shinobi, forcibly raising Konoha's war potential by thirty percent.

For that very reason, despite possessing near-Kage-level strength, he had barely fought personally during the Third Shinobi World War. Instead, he had remained under the Third Hokage's close protection.

Those clans had always been quick to follow the wind. Seeing how formidable Hiruko was, they began investing heavily in him.

After all, with his research ability, he was highly likely to develop technologies that would benefit clans with bloodline limits.

But Hiruko was not interested in just any woman.

If she was not a famous great beauty with a name in the original story, he could not be bothered with her. He found it troublesome even to bring such women along in pursuit of immortality.

Hiruko entered his largest bedroom. A huge cage in the room was particularly eye-catching, with sealing runes covering all sides.

"So? Will you be good and obedient?"

"Get lost! You damned Konoha shinobi! Once I get out, I'll skin you alive sooner or later!"

Ignoring Pakura's furious curses, Hiruko walked straight in and gently stroked her cheek.

He sighed inwardly. To think that such harsh conditions in the Land of Wind could raise skin so fair—it truly was extraordinary.

"Crack!" Pakura suddenly clamped her teeth down hard on Hiruko's hand.

If Hiruko had not promptly covered his body with a layer of chakra, that bite might have torn off a piece of flesh.

"Didn't the Hidden Sand Village already abandon you? Wouldn't it be better to submit to me? At least here in Konoha, with me around, no one will dare harm you!"

Though Hiruko was somewhat angered, he ultimately had no intention of using genjutsu against her.

He had always disdained using genjutsu to conquer women. To him, that was no different from facing an inflatable doll.

With his cloning technology, he could casually clone as many women of any kind as he wanted.

"Get lost!"

After saying that, Pakura closed her eyes and ignored Hiruko.

"I remember you have a disciple named Maki, don't you?" Hiruko deliberately said.

"Get away from me! If you dare touch her, I'll never forgive you!" Pakura shouted furiously.

"You should worry about yourself first!"

Hiruko glanced at Pakura, who was half-kneeling, said nothing more, and turned to leave.

He had plenty of patience and time. Like training a hawk, he could slowly wear her down.

Hiruko opened the door and returned to another bedroom of his.

There, a small figure sat cross-legged on the bed, training without pause.

Sensing Hiruko's return, the figure immediately sprang to her feet excitedly.

"Lord Hiruko, you're back!"

Then she asked somewhat bashfully, "Lord Hiruko, my parents..."

Hiruko walked over, patted the girl's head, and said, "Your parents are fine. I've already sent people to take special care of them."

"Unfortunately, my strength is limited. The mastermind targeting you is far too powerful, and the fact that I secretly saved you must never become known to anyone else."

Rin Nohara shook her head, her face full of determination. "Lord Hiruko has already paid far too high a price to save me. Right now, I only want to work hard and grow stronger so I can help Lord Hiruko!"

"Good. I look forward to seeing you grow."

Hiruko had seized Rin Nohara's body on the battlefield. The situation had been critical then, and Rin Nohara had nearly died on the spot.

Fortunately, his medicine was remarkably effective, and Rin Nohara herself possessed considerable potential. Only then had he wrested her life back from the hands of death.

When Rin Nohara had been surrounded by Iwa shinobi, she had already understood that Kakashi did not love her as a woman.

Perhaps there had once been the faintest trace of affection, but after Obito's "death," it had vanished without a trace.

Even when facing danger, Kakashi had helped Obito convey his so-called feelings.

Thinking of this, Rin Nohara could not help sighing inwardly.

Then she looked toward the handsome and gentle Hiruko. No matter how old-fashioned the trope of a hero saving a beauty might be, there would always be girls who fell for it.

As a transmigrator, Hiruko naturally would not let go of Rin Nohara, someone incomparably important to that filial son Obito.

Besides, Rin Nohara... wasn't she rather cute?

She would surely be sweet and soft, especially if he did it right in front of that filial son Obito...