“Never raise a hand against the children of this village again!”
“Furthermore, as punishment for your recent actions, your funding and authority to select personnel will be restricted accordingly.”
The Third Hokage looked at Danzō, who had finally calmed down, and laid out his decision plainly.
“You will regret this, Hiruzen!” Danzō snarled, his fists clenched tight.
Even if Hiruzen had shouted at him and humiliated him further in front of Minato, it would have been easier to bear than this punishment.
He had given everything to Konoha—even draining his own Shimura clan dry of its people and resources.
To have his power cut back so ruthlessly was something he simply could not accept.
“Enough, Danzō.
I am still the Hokage,” Hiruzen said, his voice low but carrying unshakable authority.
Danzō let out a cold snort, then wrenched open the office door with a gust of wind and stormed out.
Only then did Orochimaru and Hikuro step slowly out from behind the folding screen.
“Orochimaru, Hikuro—you two have no objections to this arrangement, I trust?”
Hiruzen asked, rubbing his forehead wearily once more as he watched Danzō leave.
“I have no objections, Lord Hokage,” Hikuro replied casually with a smile.
Danzō was still useful to him; he needed the old man alive for the time being.
Yet he also had no desire to be cast out of Konoha, so moving his work into the public eye was a necessary step.
To truly reshape this cruel world of shinobi, he would need enough authority to spread his influence outward from Konoha across the entire ninja realm.
“The funds reallocated from Root will be placed under your management.
Danzō will no longer have any say over the Ino-Shika-Chō clans, and you may consult with each other to select suitable personnel,” Hiruzen promised, keeping his word.
He was eager to win over Hikuro, whose research had already proven capable of raising the village’s overall strength.
Orochimaru narrowed his long, snake-like eyes and met his teacher’s gaze.
“This is not quite what you promised me last night.”
He licked his lips, sounding dissatisfied.
He had never been satisfied with the funding provided, and felt this new allocation was still far too little.
Hiruzen took a deep drag from his pipe and sighed.
The village’s finances have improved, yes—but we are still recovering from the Third Great Ninja War.
We cannot afford to spend recklessly.
Even as Hokage, I cannot simply decree a new department; I must bring the matter before the council and clans for approval.”
“Tsunade’s Medical Corps did not appear overnight either—it took years of negotiation and compromise before it was finally established,” he added, shaking his head.
“Yet history has proven that creating the Medical Corps was the right choice, and her proposal was correct,” Orochimaru retorted sharply.
“Frankly, your delays achieve nothing and benefit no one.”
Hiruzen tapped his pipe lightly against the table.
“At least give me—and the rest of the leadership—proof that this new department is worth the investment.
The Research & Development Division, as you described it, would require far more gold and personnel than the Medical Corps.
I fail to see what practical benefit it brings to the village when Hikuro alone is already capable of carrying out research.”
“Lord Third Hokage,” Hikuro immediately spoke up in response, “while I can indeed conduct research alone, without skilled partners to work alongside me, progress will be painfully slow.
If we master enough advanced technology and scientific methods, we could gain such an overwhelming advantage over other nations that it would be like striking them from a higher dimension.
That is the true value of this department.”
“I understand that much,” Hiruzen nodded, “but the clans and elders will only agree if they can see tangible returns.”
The Third Hokage felt rather exasperated—both his former student and Hikuro were talented, but the village’s treasury was in a sorry state.
The Medical Corps had only been running for a few years, and the investment had not yet been recovered.
To suddenly take on another project that would devour funds was a heavy burden.
Only those who run the household truly understand how fast money disappears, he thought.
“Even so, Lord Hokage, this is not what we agreed upon,” Orochimaru pressed, his eyes narrowing into thin slits.
Hiruzen glanced over at Minato Namikaze and asked with a smile, “What do you think?”
“I believe the Research & Development Division is absolutely necessary,” Minato answered earnestly.
“The contributions made by Lord Hikuro during the last war speak for themselves.”
Hikuro smiled back at him.
Being younger, Minato was naturally far more open to embracing new techniques and innovations.
“Very well,” Hiruzen said, striking a compromise.
“I authorize you both to establish this division, and you may recruit staff as you see fit.
I will also provide a portion of initial funding.
Do you accept these terms?”
After a moment of consideration, he laid out the middle ground.
The three men exchanged glances, then nodded and smiled in agreement.
After all, the art of politics was nothing more than compromise.
Three days later.
Konoha Orphanage
Its director, Nono Yakushi, watched with a hint of nervousness as Orochimaru arrived for a visit.
Not long before, Danzō had informed her that she would soon be transferred to serve Hikuro—officially as an attendant, but in truth also to act as a spy keeping watch over him.
She had spent the past few days settling the orphanage’s affairs, half-fearing that Hikuro might refuse to let her continue her work here once she was under his roof.
In the ninja world, a woman’s status was never high; many gave up their shinobi identities after marriage to focus on raising families.
For now, she was busy making sure the children here would be cared for even after she left.
As someone highly skilled in gathering intelligence, she knew better than anyone how dangerous and unpredictable the pale-skinned man standing before her truly was.
“Lord Orochimaru, please forgive the humble surroundings—we have little to offer you,” Nono said, her face lighting up with a gentle, welcoming smile as she handed him a cup of plain water.
She carried herself with such warmth and kindness that others naturally felt drawn to her and trusted her easily.
This was exactly why she was Danzō’s most valuable operative—known throughout the ninja world as the Traveling Shrine Maiden.
Orochimaru nodded.
“I understand.
I have come today to invite you to join the Research & Development Division being set up by Hikuro.”
Nono blinked in confusion.
“A new division?
When was this established?
What exactly are you planning, Lord Orochimaru?”
Her tone remained polite, but her eyes grew sharp with suspicion.
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