Naruto: Starting as the Third Hokage with Tears in His Eyes

Chapter 174 Hiruko's Longing

Konoha Village.

In stark contrast to the bustling village center, somewhere downstream of the Namka River, a high wall and a densely packed barrier shimmering with light completely isolate an area from the outside world.

This is Konoha's most mysterious department, the exclusive research facility of Team Zero, led by Orochimaru.

This is an S-class restricted area.

This is the core of Konoha Village's journey into a new era.

Several machines, with blueprints provided by Hiruzen Sarutobi and manufactured under the leadership of Orochimaru, stand quietly on different experimental tables, surrounded by various metal parts and complex circuits.

There are no windows here, only rows of lights on the ceiling emitting a steady white glow, illuminating the entire space as bright as day.

Orochimaru had just returned from the Hokage Building. Without even changing out of the clothes that still carried the tense atmosphere of the conference room, he walked straight into the core area of ​​the laboratory.

A young man, also dressed in a white lab coat but with a somewhat gloomy and insecure demeanor, sat at a table piled high with blueprints, holding a steaming cup of tea, lost in thought.

He is Biljukhu.

Orochimaru's classmate from his time at the Ninja Academy, and also someone he could call a friend in this laboratory.

Orochimaru highly valued Hiruko's dedication to research and his meticulous experimental skills, so he later applied to the Hokage to appoint him as the vice-leader of Team Zero.

Hearing footsteps, Hiruko snapped out of his daze, pushed up his glasses, and looked at Orochimaru.

"You're back?"

His voice was somewhat low and tinged with fatigue.

"Um."

Orochimaru sat down opposite him, poured himself a cup of tea, and all he wanted to do now was hydrate after the tense atmosphere of the meeting.

"I'm going on a long trip to the Land of Thunder."

Orochimaru's words were very casual, as if he were simply saying, "I'm going to have a meal."

Hiruko's hand, holding the teacup, paused in mid-air for a moment.

His gaze swept over Orochimaru's golden vertical pupils, which were burning with flames.

"To the Land of Thunder?"

"At this crucial juncture? What's the mission? Do you need any help?"

Hiruko's brows furrowed slightly.

"Hehehe..."

Orochimaru's lips curled into a mysterious smile, and his golden vertical pupils gleamed with a light of excitement.

"That was... a very interesting topic assigned by the teacher."

Seeing Orochimaru's expression, Hiruko instantly understood.

A topic that Orochimaru describes as interesting must be extraordinary.

"Stop laughing, so do you need any help?"

Hiruko put down his teacup and leaned forward slightly.

As Orochimaru's friend and the vice-leader of Team Zero, he knew very well that the challenges Orochimaru mentioned were often accompanied by extremely high risks.

"Hehehe..."

Orochimaru let out his signature, slightly hoarse laugh.

"No need."

He shook his head, his gaze sweeping over the operating equipment in the laboratory.

"All the research projects have reached a critical stage, and we two leaders can't both run away. During my absence, I'll be entrusting everything here to you."

Upon hearing this, Beiruhu's face showed a hint of disappointment.

He leaned back in his chair, picked up his teacup again, and muttered to himself.

"Sigh, you're right."

"But I also want to go out for some fresh air."

However, it was just a complaint.

Hiruko knew very well that every study here was crucial for Class Zero and for the future of Konoha.

He paused for a moment, as if he had suddenly remembered something, and a strange light flashed in his eyes.

"Oh, right, Orochimaru."

"Um?"

"If you have time..."

Hiruko put down his teacup and said in a casual tone.

"Could you help me collect the corpses of a few ninjas with bloodline limits?"

"Ideally... complete."

He has no bloodline limit, and his ninjutsu talent is mediocre, far inferior to Orochimaru.

Therefore, I am eager to make up for my shortcomings through research...

Orochimaru stopped moving.

He glanced sideways at Hiruko and saw in her eyes a desire for exploring the unknown that was exactly the same as his own.

"no problem."

Orochimaru smiled, a smile that appeared somewhat sinister under the flickering laboratory lights.

"If I come across any suitable materials, I'll bring them back for you."

Thanks.

A hint of gratitude appeared on Hiruko's face.

Orochimaru waved his hand, said no more, and turned to walk into his personal office located at the deepest part of the laboratory.

"Why..."

Hiruko watched his departing figure, picked up her teacup, gently blew on the steam, and a complex expression flashed in her eyes.

Orochimaru's office was sparsely decorated.

There were only rows of bookshelves reaching the ceiling and a huge laboratory table.

He closed the door and took the scroll from his pocket.

The map of the Land of Lightning that his teacher had given him.