They traveled through time at the same time, but the villainous scientist

Chapter 12 Beiliuhu

The next day, while the Third Hokage was overwhelmed with Jiraiya's situation...

A figure appeared at the door of the Hokage's office, looking tired but with unusually bright, even excited, eyes.

It was Jiraiya, who had been missing for a whole day...

"Yo! Old man! Tsunade! Orochimaru! I'm back!"

Jiraiya pushed open the door with a nonchalant air, his voice booming.

The three people in the office all looked over at the same time.

"Hey, what's gotten into you? You're all covered in dirt and grime."
Did you fall into some cesspool?

Tsunade looked Jiraiya up and down, then pinched her nose and asked.

"Hmph, I've gone to an extraordinary place!"

Jiraiya chuckled, ignoring Tsunade's words, and instead puffed out his chest, saying smugly.

"Oh?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi was a little curious. Had Jiraiya found a powerful summoning beast?
Orochimaru understood perfectly; if he wasn't mistaken, Jiraiya had gone to Mount Myōboku.

"Hehe, that place is called Mount Myoboku!"

A group of incredibly powerful toads live there! I even made a contract with them!

Jiraiya said mysteriously.

“Miaomu Mountain?!
You...you mean that legendary sacred site for summoning beasts, Mount Myōboku?!

Hiruzen Sarutobi suddenly stood up, his face filled with shock and disbelief.

As the Third Hokage, he had access to far more secrets than ordinary people, and naturally he had heard of the name of Mount Myōboku.

That's a place that only exists in legends. I never expected that I, a seemingly unreliable disciple, would have such an amazing opportunity!
"That's right! It's Mount Myōboku! The toad master there is a toad sage who has lived for countless years, he's incredibly powerful!"

Seeing the teacher's shocked expression, Jiraiya became even more smug.

Tsunade also dropped her joking expression and looked at Jiraiya in surprise.

Although she didn't know what Mount Myōboku was, judging from Sarutobi-sensei's expression, it must be some kind of powerful place.

Orochimaru was also somewhat excited. Mount Myōboku, the Toad Sage... Sure enough, the plot was developing according to the predetermined trajectory.

Wouldn't that provide us with material for studying immortal techniques?

……

Jiraiya's miraculous experience caused a slight ripple, but life quickly returned to its usual rhythm.

Tsunade gradually became immersed in the ocean of knowledge, experiencing both pain and joy.

Orochimaru, on the other hand, began another important task: raising funds.

Independent laboratories and advanced equipment—none of these come without money.

Although the dean provided supplier channels, he still had to solve the funding problem himself.

And so, the casinos around Konoha once again welcomed that legendary figure—"Shigeru Akagi".

With his advanced card-playing skills and psychological knowledge far beyond his time, Orochimaru, disguised as "Shigeru Akagi," was virtually invincible at the card table.

In just a few weeks, the nickname "Demon God Akagi Shigeru" spread throughout the casinos around Konoha.

Of course, he knew this wasn't the right approach, but what was more important now was to establish the laboratory as soon as possible and get the research on track.

One day, Orochimaru had just deposited the money he won at the casino into the bank and was walking back to his residence, pondering the question of where to locate his laboratory.

As he passed a secluded training ground, a commotion caught his attention.

"Hey! Hiruko! You piece of trash!"

"You can't even do the simplest clone technique properly, and you want to be a ninja?"

"I think you should just go home and drink your milk! Hahaha!"

Several teenagers surrounded a white-haired boy, mocking him wantonly.

The white-haired boy lowered his head, clenched his fists tightly, his body trembled slightly, his face was pale, and his lips were pressed together, but he did not say a word.

The white-haired child did indeed appear rather thin, a stark contrast to the other energetic children.

Hiruko...

Upon hearing this name, Orochimaru stopped in his tracks.

He looked at the white-haired boy surrounded in the middle, trying to recall the boy's identity.

Hiruko was a student who graduated from the Ninja Academy in the same year as him.

However, due to his physical condition, Hiruko had no talent in ninjutsu training and was considered by everyone, including his teacher, to be a hopeless individual.

But Orochimaru knew what kind of path this seemingly frail boy would take in the future.

Oni-Garra Technique!
A forbidden technique that combines multiple bloodline limits in an attempt to obtain perfect power!
Although he was a boss who was defeated by Naruto's Rasengan in the movie, his talent in biological modification and forbidden technique research is undeniable!
Moreover, it seems that this child's path to becoming the movie's boss is due to a physical setback that ultimately fostered a desire for power, leading him to embark on a path of self-transformation.

Although he went astray, he actually managed to achieve results in the end, if he could have been guided a little further...

Thinking of this, Orochimaru's eyes lit up.

The ninjas in Naruto are all about fighting and killing; such research-oriented talents are rare indeed.

He needs help, someone who can understand and assist his research.

And isn't this seemingly insignificant Beiliuhu the perfect candidate?

"What are you doing?"

Thinking of this, Orochimaru slowly walked over and interrupted the children's laughter.

The children were startled by the sudden sound. When they turned around, they saw a cold-looking, black-haired boy with sharp, golden snake eyes that frightened them.

"It's...it's Orochimaru!"

One of the children recognized Orochimaru and stammered.

Orochimaru was a celebrity at the Ninja Academy; his reputation as a genius was known to everyone.

"N-nothing..." The other child quickly waved his hand and tried to slip away with his companion.

Orochimaru ignored the few kids who fled in panic, and his gaze fell on Hiruko, who was still keeping his head down.

Ok?
Hiruko raised his head sharply, looking at Orochimaru with some resentment.

The person in front of him was different from him. He graduated from the Ninja Academy with the highest score in the entire school and became a disciple of the Third Hokage.

They are the same age, but they are different...

Thinking of this, Hiruko clenched his fists.

"Heh~ Are you unwilling to remain so weak?"

Orochimaru smiled upon seeing this, walked up to Hiruko, squatted down, looked into his gray eyes that were darting away because of his inferiority complex, and slowly spoke.

"..."

Upon hearing this, Hiruko's expression turned quite ugly.

Of course he was unwilling, but his unwillingness was useless!
Due to his innate condition, his chakra reserves and physical abilities are inferior to others!

He's like a disabled person trying to run—it's pure wishful thinking!

"Are you here to laugh at me, Orochimaru?!"

You probably don't even know who I am, do you?

Hiruko took a deep breath and asked Orochimaru.

"No, I know you, Hiruko."

Orochimaru shook his head and replied.

Hiruko was shocked and stared at Orochimaru in disbelief.

He... he actually knew me?
how can that be possible?
At school, Orochimaru was known for his aloofness. No one had ever seen him talk to anyone else, and he always went home alone after school.

How could someone like that know his name? Did he hear it from those guys earlier?

"In every theory exam, the person behind me in line was you, right?"

Orochimaru's voice was calm, yet it struck Hiruko's heart like a thunderbolt.

Theoretical exam...

A layer of mist instantly welled up in Hiruko's eyes.

Yes, he's bad at ninjutsu and taijutsu; the only thing he can be proud of is his theoretical knowledge.

Because of his poor health, he had plenty of time to read, and he read almost every book he could find in the library.

But what's the use of that? In the end, a ninja's worth is determined by their strength.

No matter how good his theoretical grades are, it doesn't change the fact that he's at the bottom of the class.

He always thought that no one would notice him, a good-for-nothing who was good at nothing but theory.

did not expect……

Orochimaru actually... remembered him.

What I remember is his only area of ​​expertise...

A warm feeling he had never experienced before surged into his heart, and Hiruko's nose tingled, almost bringing tears to his eyes.

"It's...it's me..."

Hiruko sniffed hard, her little face contorted with emotion.

"Forehead……"

Orochimaru was taken aback. Why was the child crying?
He even planned to say that he was impressed with Hiruko's learning abilities and was prepared to teach him biology.
"Ahem~ The strength of a ninja is not just limited to ninjutsu and taijutsu."

Wisdom and knowledge are also important components of power.

Orochimaru looked at Hiruko's eyes, which had regained some of their sparkle, and continued speaking.

Knowledge... and wisdom...?

Hiruko stared blankly at Orochimaru, as if he were seeing this person for the first time.

Orochimaru, who clearly possesses the same ninjutsu power as everyone else, is now affirming the role of knowledge and wisdom.

This is the first time!
This is the first time anyone has ever said something like that to him!

It's not about mocking his weak physique or lamenting his lack of talent, but about affirming his knowledge and his hard work!
Moreover, the person who said this was none other than the genius Orochimaru!
Hiruko's heart pounded, his cheeks flushed slightly with excitement, and tears welled up in his eyes again.

"Forehead……"

Orochimaru's eye twitched at Hiruko's reaction.

He didn't quite understand. He just wanted to invite the other person to join his research group. Why was he so excited?

"Ahem, anyway, Hiruko, would you... be willing to study medical ninjutsu with me?"

Orochimaru coughed lightly, and although he didn't quite understand the other party's reaction, he still extended an invitation.

"Research...medical ninjutsu?"

Hiruko was taken aback; Orochimaru had actually invited him to research medical ninjutsu together.

"That's right. Medical ninjutsu doesn't require a huge amount of chakra, and a deep understanding of human anatomy, pharmacology, and pathology can be a huge advantage."

With your learning ability, you definitely have a lot of potential in this area…

Orochimaru nodded and continued.

"I...I do!"

But before Orochimaru could finish speaking, Hiruko interrupted him, her eyes flashing with unprecedented determination.

He never imagined that someone like him could be needed or have high hopes placed on him.

"Forehead……"

Looking at the boy in front of him, whose body was trembling slightly with excitement, Orochimaru scratched his head.

He should have secured his first research assistant by now, right?
(End of this chapter)