As Hiruko and Orochimaru reached the Senju estate, they were met by Chigiri, who was bowing as they approached.
Hiruko, stopping a few meters in front of Yuri, asked, "Hey Chigiri, can you make some food and bring it to my room for me and Orochimaru, please?"
"Of course, Young Master, give me five minutes," Chigiri said in her usual cold, slightly robotic voice as she disappeared.
"Okay, let's go, Orochimaru," Hiruko said, leading him through the estate to his room.
Along the way, they passed a smiling Mito and a frowning Yuri, which made Hiruko slightly confused, but he didn't pay too much attention to it.
Entering his room, Orochimaru was slightly caught off guard by the sheer size of it; his tiny little house paled in comparison.
In her little container, Hakuja watched Orochimaru with disgust.
'If it isn't my kidnapper, I should've known you were trouble the moment I smelled those snakes on you. If not for you leading me to our inheritor and due to the pact, I'd have killed you.' Hakuja thought venomously as she turned, looking at Hiruko.
'Just a few more days, my inheritor; your body seems to be adapting to our mark quite well.' Hakuja said as she glanced over Hiruko's body. Her voice switched from venomous to earnest and sweet.
Orochimaru, on the other hand, Seeing Hiruko plopping on his bed, Orochimaru took out a gift from a bag he'd been carrying.
"Here, Hiruko," Orochimaru said, his voice hoarse and holding a hint of anxiety as he held out a small black notebook.
Hiruko, looking at the book in confusion, still took it gracefully and said thank you. However, Orochimaru, seeing this confusion, explained further.
"The first thing in Lord Tobirama's books about Jutsu is that no matter how stupid or small an idea for a Jutsu is, always write it down. Though I admit you could've probably brought a better one, I still—" Orochimaru said, starting to realize he might've given a dumb gift as he began to start rambling.
Hiruko, seeing this, cut him off. "Relax, Orochimaru. I love it; it's an amazing gift. Thank you." Hiruko said, smiling, which sent a small flutter through Orochimaru's heart.
Orochimaru, blushing slightly, decided to quickly change the subject and pulled out the book on Jutsu.
But Hiruko's next words made him lose his train of thought: "Why are you still just standing there? Sit down." Hiruko said, patting the bed.
Orochimaru, hearing this, went into overload, his mind going a million miles per hour. "Wh-what?" he asked.
"Come sit down so we can both see the book?" Hiruko said, confused by Orochimaru's confusion.
"Oh—okay." Orochimaru said, plopping down on the bed and opening the book to the first page. Hiruko, unable to see the book, scooted closer and pushed his long white hair behind his ear.
Orochimaru, seeing this, felt a nosebleed coming on before he started to mentally berate himself: 'No, I'm nothing like that monkey getting a nosebleed. How perverted. Absolutely not.' Orochimaru thought
"Hmm, so Jutsu is the mobilization of chakra fueled by imagination to get a certain effect, but what does imagination have to do with it?" Hiruko asked, turning to Orochimaru.
"Oh, imagination is an integral part of the process. It's like a puzzle; Chakra is the color, handseals are the tabs and sockets that let us connect pieces together, and imagination creates the photo that's on the pieces. Orochimaru said in a scholarly tone,
"Hmm, so what about natures and affinities?" Hiruko asked, what role did they play in jutsu?
"They affect the type of photo that comes up. For example, clones—by changing the hand seals and using a specific chakra nature, you can then create a whole new type of clone. Due to the water nature, a regular clone can become a water clone, and the same with the other elements; it's just about making sure all the other parts of the puzzle fit." Orochimaru said, trying to give the best analogy possible.
Soon a knock at the door sounded, and Hiruko stood up to check it; however, contrary to who he thought it was going to be, instead he saw Mito smiling, holding a platter of food.
"Mom, where's Chigiri?" Hiruko asked, confused.
"Oh, don't worry about her; properly introduce me to your friend," Mito said, waltzing into Hiruko's room before he could say anything. Placing the food on the table, she continued walking to a dazed Orochimaru, who was hoping this wasn't because of his 'stalking.'
Hiruko, catching up to Mito, who stopped in front of the bed where Orochimaru sat, decided to introduce them. "Mom, this is Orochimaru, my teammate and friend, and Orochimaru, this is my mom, Mito," Hiruko said.
Orochimaru, hearing this, lightly bowed his head. "Good afternoon, Lady Mito. It's my pleasure," Orochimaru said in his usual hoarse voice, showing respect.
Mito, seeing this, frowned slightly. "Don't call me that. Call me… Grandma likes Tsuna," Mito said. She almost said to call her mom, but after reading his file, she decided against it.
'Though in the future we will, that's another story.' Mito thought internally, her thoughts going several years into the future, where hopefully both would be together; she'd try again then.
Orochimaru, hearing Mito's request, glanced at Hiruko behind her, who was desperately nodding his head. 'Just do it; she won't let it go if you don't,' his eyes conveyed.
Orochimaru, picking up on the message, said, "Okay, Grandma Mito." Almost emotionlessly, to him, calling her "grandma" wasn't that big of a deal and didn't take much adjusting.
Mito Hearing this, she was noticeably happier as she turned to leave, arriving at the door, she said, "Bye, have fun, guys," before leaving the boys alone again.
The boys, now alone again, went back to reading, and so they did for another few hours, during which Hiruko received his clone's memories along with a headache.
He didn't receive much, just some memories practicing with both abilities and better practice using his Observation Haki.
After a couple of hours, Orochimaru left, citing he had some small experiments he had to get to, though not before awkwardly saying he enjoyed today. Both also planned to do some more reading tomorrow after their mission.
After Orochimaru, Hiruko waited for his Chakra to replenish itself before making two more clones and sending them to gain more proficiency with his strength increase and to train Observation Haki more.
And just like that, two days later, Hiruko, Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Orochimaru all stood beside a clone of Hiruzen, ready to take off on their mission.