After Haruki bid farewell to Orochimaru, he didn't leave the research building.
Instead, he headed towards the lower laboratories.
Originally, the place where Orochimaru was located was the last floor. But to accommodate Shimon Hiruko and forty ninja from the Hyuga clan (the Hyuga family in the ninja - world context), a nearly airtight underground hall was specially opened up.
Mainly to prevent Shimon Hiruko from escaping.
As for the ninja from the Hyuga Clan's Branch Family, he used his eloquence to reason with them and appeal to their emotions. They then believed that he and Hyuga Kazushi had joined hands, using Tanzo Shimura's hand to make efforts to overthrow the system of the Hyuga Elders and the [Cage Bird jutsu].
Most importantly, they saw the changes in the Hyuga clan now.
Otherwise, facing someone who imprisoned them, no matter how much "Verbal Persuasion (a special way of persuasion in this ninja - world context)" was used, they couldn't have been convinced.
Unless it was Stockholm Syndrome (a psychological phenomenon where hostages develop positive feelings towards their captors).
"Hyuga Satsu."
Haruki knocked on the door. Among the forty Hyuga branch family members, Hyuga Satsu had the highest prestige and was also the person in charge appointed by him.
"Lord Haruki?"
Hyuga Satsu was about thirty years old and didn't smile often. But when he saw Haruki, his expression still changed.
Because he remembered that Haruki had said that the next time they met would be when they were freed.
"Have a seat."
Haruki pointed to the wooden chair. After thinking for a while, he said, "You should know that Shimon Hiruko was originally Tanzo Shimura's man."
Hyuga Satsu nodded.
"I've discussed with your Hyuga clan leader. It's time for you to return to the world and also give Tanzo Shimura a surprise."
Haruki lowered his voice and told him what to do in his ear.
Hyuga Satsu's eyes widened. This was simply making the Hyuga clan completely break with Tanzo Shimura.
"Don't worry. The Hyuga clan leader has already agreed. Since he has such courage, how can you shrink back?"
Haruki patted him on the shoulder and encouraged him.
Hyuga Satsu immediately felt a rush of blood.
Yeah.
Their Hyuga clan had been silent for too long. Since the clan leader dared to stand up against Tanzo Shimura, how could he act like this and be worthy of the clan leader?
"Lord Haruki, please rest assured!" Hyuga Satsu slapped his chest and said, "Leave this matter to me. I will definitely complete it. Otherwise, I'll come to see you with my head in my hands!"
"If you don't have your head, what's the use of saying you'll come to see me?" Haruki joked.
"Heh heh."
Hyuga Satsu smiled sheepishly. Then he seemed to remember something and took out a small notebook. "I've recorded all of Shimon Hiruko's malicious actions."
Haruki casually flipped through a few pages. Tut, this guy was really dishonest. He had added something to the Chimera Technique.
"Well done." He put away the small notebook. "Go and do as I said."
"Yes!" Hyuga Satsu replied excitedly.
As long as he finished this task, he could go home.
He had long been yearning for the new Hyuga clan, without the restrictions of the [Cage Bird jutsu]. He seemed to have found a new goal in life.
Have a few more kids with his wife. Maybe he could even become the clan leader in the future and bring glory to his family.
After finishing the matter, Haruki left the research institute.
"Tsunade, I'm back!"
Haruki changed his shoes, shut the door, and headed towards the study.
Tsunade was sitting at the desk writing something.
The sunlight fell on her body, and her golden hair sparkled as if with special effects.
Haruki walked behind her and leaned over to take a look.
It turned out to be an engagement invitation.
Well, Tsunade really had nice handwriting.
As for his own, well, it was as messy as if written by a ghost. To put it in a more diplomatic way, he was a modern master of cursive script.
"Actually, we could ask Tomomi Koki and the others for help."
Haruki said, squeezing Tsunade's shoulders.
"How could I let others handle my own engagement ceremony?"
Tsunade gave him a glare and said, "And stop massaging. Write the invitations properly for me."
"Okay."
Haruki leaned over and quickly kissed her, then picked up the exquisite invitation contentedly and started writing carefully, stroke by stroke.
Although it wasn't very good - looking, it was quite neat.
Tsunade realized what had happened and lowered her head, couldn't help letting out a little laugh.
After writing for a while, Haruki noticed something was wrong.
Because there were simply too many.
Their status and connections in Konoha determined that their engagement ceremony couldn't be a low - key affair but would become a grand event in the village.
All the well - known ninjas would come.
Even though they were only writing invitations for the more important guests, there were still quite a lot.
It was not until night that Haruki finally managed to finish writing.
He rubbed his sore fingers. At that moment, he recalled the feeling of finishing more than a dozen test papers in one go during his senior year of high school in his previous life.
"Let's see if there's anyone we missed?"
Tsunade stretched and picked up the invitations, comparing them with the list.
"There's still one missing," Haruki suddenly smiled, "Jiraiya."
"Huh?" Tsunade looked at him blankly.
"What are you 'huh' - ing about?"
Haruki reached out and pinched her cheek, feeling the soft touch, and said, "Is it because he hasn't been back for so long that you're almost forgetting about him?"
"Stop laughing!" Tsunade swatted at his hand, "Hurry up and write!"
"I'll inform him," Haruki shrugged and said with a smile, "I hope he won't be too happy."
Well, happy enough to want to kill him.
Jiraiya, because he believed in the Toad Sage's prophecy, was willing to devote his entire life and even his own life to searching for and training the so - called Child of the Prophecy.
He had given up many things for this, including his feelings for Tsunade.
Since he learned of the prophecy, he hardly ever mentioned anything about affection.
You know, he was the bold guy who could say 'I'll give you the love letter later' the first time he met Tsunade.
Haruki silently wrote the invitation for the engagement ceremony.
Jiraiya, I swear on a man's sense of dignity that you'll definitely live a long life.
Oh...!
"Done."
Haruki blew on the invitation, "Ah, finally finished. Do you want to have a midnight snack?"
"We haven't even had dinner yet. How did we jump to a midnight snack?" Tsunade stood up and complained.
"It's too late now. It's already midnight - snack time."
Haruki put down the invitation, thought for a moment, and suggested, "Let's have milk and bread. I heard that drinking milk before bed is good for your skin."
He opened the fridge, took out the milk and bread, and went to the kitchen to warm them up.
"By the way, I have something to tell you."
Haruki watched as she picked up the glass and took a sip of milk, with a white milk ring remaining at the corner of her mouth. He wiped it off for her.
"It was Shinji Hira who told me this afternoon. He discovered that Tanzo Shimura is conducting human experiments on Wood Release using the cells of your grandfather, Hashirama Senju."
Tsunade was stunned for a moment, and then her face turned grim.
"Wasn't this experiment stopped by the Teacher?"
"Is the temptation of Wood Release something that the Hokage can stop?"
Haruki ruffled her hair and whispered, "Once Tanzo Shimura gets Wood Release, he'll have a trump card to turn the tables. He won't give it up, and to him, sacrificing a few people doesn't matter."
"Damn him!" Tsunade gritted her teeth.
"It would be acceptable if they were death - row inmates or enemy ninjas, but he's forcing his own people to participate in the experiment. It's really unacceptable."
Haruki squinted his eyes. To avoid suspicion, Orochimaru has never used the villagers for experiments in this life. Even if there were some, no one lost their lives. At least, he has set a bottom - line.
But Tanzo Shimura doesn't care about such things.
After all, there is too much blood on his and Root's hands.
"I'm going to report him to the Hokage."
"You..."
Tsunade immediately showed concern. She knew well about Tanzo Shimura's methods and status.
"Don't worry."
Haruki told her his plan.
The methods were not exactly honorable, but as a ninja, Tsunade could accept them, especially when it came to dealing with Tanzo Shimura.
Haruki hugged Tsunade's soft body. He was gradually revealing things to her because he believed that lovers should be honest with each other.
<><><><><><><><>
~ 80+ Advanced Chapters Available on Patreon!
p-atreon.com/Tansnovel
(Just remove the hyphen to access Patreon normally.)
~ Every 50 Powerstones = 4 Bonus Chapters on the weekend!