Chapter 30: A Leader Must Know a Little of Everything
Konoha. A modest civilian residence.
This was the home of Hiruko, an elite Jonin of the Leaf. Like his life, the house was... average. Solidly middle-of-the-pack.
He had grown up in the same class as Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru. They had been a foursome of friends once, but as their paths diverged, the gap between them had become a canyon. It wasn't that the Sannin looked down on him, but Hiruko couldn't stand to look at their backs. Even when they invited him out, he felt like a background character in someone else's legend.
Why bother being the pity-friend? he often thought.
He was a Jonin—a rank one in a thousand ninjas could only dream of. By all rights, he should have been satisfied. But every time he saw the awe and reverence in the villagers' eyes when the Sannin walked by, he felt a poisonous restlessness.
He buried that bitterness in research. He drowned his insecurity in the sea of science, using data to numb his soul. Because of this, he still maintained a thin thread of communication with Orochimaru, the only one who respected his brain.
Knock. Knock.
Hiruko frowned, closing his research journal. He had been deep into a breakthrough regarding cellular fusion during his day off, and he hated being interrupted.
Annoying, he thought.
He opened the door to find Orochimaru standing there with a thin, knowing smirk. Hiruko's lip twitched.
"What brings the 'Great Sannin' to my humble door? Shouldn't you be busy saving the world?"
Hiruko told himself he was focused on his work and content with his lot, but in reality, he followed village politics like a hawk. He was a high-intensity lurker on every "trending" topic in the Jonin circles. He knew all about the rumors of the new Konoha High Commission.
In Hiruko's mind, Orochimaru was a locked-in pick for a seat. He might even be the next Hokage. This visit, he assumed, was just a victory lap to show off.
"I'm not the one looking for you," Orochimaru said, his eyes scanning Hiruko's modest living room. "The Hokage is."
Hiruko froze.
"I was discussing the village's scientific assets with Sensei. I mentioned your theories. He found them... intriguing."
"He wants to see you. Perhaps it has something to do with a seat on the Commission?"
Orochimaru waved a hand dismissively. "The word is out. Do with it what you will."
Hiruko's heart hammered against his ribs.
The rumors about the elite "Commission" were true? And Orochimaru already knew the inner details? Hiruko felt a pang of jealousy, but it was quickly swallowed by a surge of adrenaline.
Wait. Does this mean... I have a shot?
He looked at Orochimaru's playful gaze and forced his face into a mask of cold indifference. "I see. Thank you."
The moment the door clicked shut and Orochimaru's footsteps faded, Hiruko scrambled. He tore off his loungewear and put on his cleanest, crispest Jonin flak jacket. He scrubbed his face, trimmed his hair, and checked himself in the mirror five times.
"Is this it? My big break?"
Suddenly, he felt a wave of doubt. Does the Hokage even understand science?
The Third had been making bold moves lately, sure. But as a leader, he was buried in administration. Would he have the mental bandwidth to grasp high-level bio-engineering? Hiruko's work was in cellular fusion—a niche, difficult field.
He probably just wants a brief summary because Orochimaru brought it up, Hiruko told himself, trying to lower his expectations. But as he walked toward the Hokage Office, his hands wouldn't stop shaking.
Meanwhile, hidden around the corner, Orochimaru watched the stiff-backed, nervous Hiruko march toward the office. He let out a dark, amused chuckle.
Pretending not to care, yet you're dressed like it's a wedding. Interesting.
I wonder if he can survive an interview with Sensei, Orochimaru mused. If Hiruko made the Commission, Orochimaru would have a natural ally—a fellow scientist in the high-level decision-making tier. Plus, helping an old childhood friend wasn't a bad way to spend an afternoon.
I suppose I'm changing too, Orochimaru thought with a faint smile. For a man who believed "Change is Progress," he didn't mind the shift in his own nature.
The Hokage Office.
Arata sat with Tobirama's research notes, reading with a fascination that bordered on obsession.
Now that he knew exactly what was inside that "Black Tank" in the secret vault, every scrawled line in these journals felt like a chapter of a forbidden epic.
No wonder people love 'Secret Histories,' Arata mused. The drama between the Second Hokage and the Uchiha is better than any pulp novel.
But the notes were more than just drama. They were a masterclass in experimental methodology.
As a leader, Arata didn't need to become a lab-coat-wearing scientist overnight. That required years of practical experience. However, he did need to understand the First Principles.
If a leader is scientifically illiterate, he becomes a puppet to his own researchers. He'd end up like Danzo—constantly being fleeced for "research funds" for projects that haven't even finished the blueprint stage.
Even though Arata viewed Orochimaru as a son, "trust" was not a substitute for "oversight." A leader's ignorance is a demon that invites his subordinates to sin.
A cautious knock sounded at the door. After receiving permission, Hiruko took a deep breath and stepped inside. "Lord Hokage!"
"Ah, Hiruko. You're here. Take a seat."
Arata closed the journal and set it aside with practiced ease. "Orochimaru tells me you've been doing some groundbreaking work in cellular biology."
He picked up a teapot and poured a cup of hot tea, sliding it toward the guest.
Hiruko scrambled to his feet. "I... I can do that, Lord Hiruzen! Thank you!"
As he gripped the warm ceramic cup, Hiruko felt a heat in his chest that had nothing to do with the tea. The God of Shinobi... just poured tea for me? A nobody?
Hiruzen watched the reaction and smirked inwardly. Orochimaru had briefed him on Hiruko's personality: Hungry for recognition. Burdened by a plateaued career.
A man like this was the perfect candidate for the High Commission. He would be fiercely loyal to the man who finally gave him a "Win."
But talent was the prerequisite. Arata wouldn't put a hack in his inner circle just because he was "nice."
"I've been studying cellular fusion myself," Hiruzen said, gesturing to his notes. "Give me the pitch. What's your angle?"
Hiruko took a breath and began to explain his theories. He tried to keep his language simple, assuming the Hokage wouldn't understand the jargon of "Gene-Splicing" and "Chakra-Pathway Integration." He didn't want to sound condescending, but "Science vs. Administration" was a wide gap.
However, as he spoke, Hiruzen's eyes didn't glaze over. They sharpened.
Arata realized that Hiruko's theories on Bloodline Integration were exactly what was missing from Tobirama's Izuna-clone. Hiruko had a theory for "Neural-Bridge Conductivity"—a way to fix the very Tenketsu defects Arata had seen in the tank.
~~~~~
[Author's Note: Regarding Hiruko]
Just a quick clarification for the readers regarding Hiruko:
He is not an Original Character (OC). For those who might have forgotten, Hiruko is a canon character from the Naruto Shippuden movie, The Will of Fire. His signature ability is the Chimera Technique, a forbidden jutsu that allows the user to fuse their body with other ninjas to steal their Kekkei Genkai (Bloodline Limits).
In the original series timeline, Hiruko defects from Konoha during the Third Shinobi World War after witnessing Kakashi successfully adapt Obito's Sharingan—a moment that proved to him that biological modification was possible.
Since our story takes place years before the Third War, the Hiruko we see here is still a loyal Leaf Jonin. He hasn't become a villain yet, and the Chimera Technique doesn't exist. Currently, he is simply a brilliant, though overlooked, scientist who specializes in the foundational theory of Cellular Fusion.
As you can see, Hiruzen intends to use Hiruko's "mad science" to solve the stability issues in his own secret biological project!