Ryujin Kenichi sympathized with the Uchiha clan's plight, but he wouldn't choose to help them. In fact, he even entertained the idea of exploiting their situation for personal gain, as experiments were expensive, and funds for his own research were hard to come by.
Despite being just a Genin, Ryujin was well aware of the limitations placed on him by his rank. Earning a living wasn't the issue, but setting up a laboratory was another matter entirely. A Genin had few options when it came to making money—especially when such significant expenses awaited him.
Yesterday, Ryujin had received a mission to establish his own laboratory, but completing it wouldn't be easy. His teacher, Orochimaru, had a laboratory because of his power and influence. It also helped that Root, an organization with its own dark agenda, provided financial backing behind the scenes.
"Making money… I didn't expect that I would still have to make money even after coming to this world," Ryujin muttered to himself. He rubbed his forehead in frustration as he tried to think of a viable plan.
Ryujin had calculated that the money he had saved up might be enough to build the framework for a lab, but it would never cover the necessary equipment. A lab without equipment was nothing more than an empty room. He wouldn't be able to complete his mission with a mere shell of a laboratory.
"Well, the big events in Konoha Village that could potentially make money seem to be limited to the Nine-Tails attack and my teacher's defection, right?" Ryujin mused. He was growing more distressed as he thought about it.
The best way to make money would be to directly take it from others. Originally, the Uchiha clan's extermination would have been the best opportunity, but that would have to wait a long time. As for Orochimaru's defection, his biggest chance would be inheriting his teacher's laboratory, but that would come at a significant risk. Even if he could avoid the purge that would follow, without enough strength, Ryujin would end up as just another pawn of Danzo, a fate he wouldn't tolerate.
No, he needed to be careful.
While pondering these problems, Ryujin found himself outside a ramen shop. It wasn't Ichiraku Ramen, but another small shop he liked. The ramen was just as good, and the price was more affordable.
Ryujin had planned to have a quick meal before heading back to refine his chakra and practice the ninjutsu his teacher had taught him. However, as he was about to sit down, he noticed someone familiar.
"Senior Ryujin!" A cheerful voice called out. Ryujin turned to see a young girl running toward him with excitement. He recognized her immediately.
It was Anko Mitarashi, his fellow student under Orochimaru, though she was much younger than him. Ryujin sighed inwardly, regretting that he had allowed Anko to call him "Senior" back then. At the time, he had just wanted to tease her, but she had taken it seriously.
"Anko? What brings you here?" Ryujin asked with a smile, though a bit of hesitation remained in his voice.
Anko, still bubbling with energy, grinned up at him. "I just finished a Genin mission, Senior! I'm going to become a Chunin soon!" she said excitedly, standing proudly.
Ryujin couldn't help but feel a pang of frustration. Anko had talent, unlike him. He had struggled for so long just to keep up as a ninja. But that was the past now.
"That's great. You'll make a fine Chunin," Ryujin said, trying to mask his feelings. He ordered a bowl of tonkotsu ramen and, seeing Anko's eager face, also added a bowl of mochi balls with red bean soup for her.
"Yay! Thank you, Senior!" Anko cheered, clearly delighted. Ryujin couldn't help but shake his head in amusement. Anko, for all her strengths, was a little too fond of sweets.
Meanwhile, in the Hokage Building, things were not as peaceful.
"Hiruzen, you're old. It's time to step down," Danzo Shimura said coldly, his words as sharp as ever. His eyes were fixed on Hiruzen Sarutobi, who looked tired but steady.
Konoha had been victorious in the Third Shinobi World War, but the cost had been enormous. The village needed change, and Danzo believed that Hiruzen's resignation would be the first step in stabilizing things.
"I will step down. It's time to prepare for the election of the Fourth Hokage," Hiruzen replied with a sigh, puffing on his pipe. He glanced at Danzo, noting the excitement in his old friend's eyes. Danzo's ambitions were finally surfacing after all these years.
"I think Orochimaru would make an excellent choice," Danzo suggested, his voice tinged with a hint of smugness.
"Orochimaru?" Hiruzen echoed, raising an eyebrow. "He might not be a bad choice…" he said thoughtfully, though his expression remained calm.
As the teacher of the Sannin, Hiruzen Sarutobi had a deep understanding of his disciples, particularly Orochimaru. While Orochimaru had once been an exceptional student, over time, he had become increasingly biased and dangerous. Such a person, Hiruzen thought, could never become Hokage. If Orochimaru were to ascend to that position, it would undoubtedly bring Konoha Village into greater peril.
Hiruzen knew he had to act quickly and support a more suitable candidate, someone who had performed well in the recent wars. But there was more troubling news. Orochimaru had been growing closer to Danzo recently. Though the activities of Root were often kept in check by Danzo, the Anbu were not without their own influence. If Orochimaru's ties with Danzo continued to grow stronger, it could have catastrophic consequences for the village.
"Speaking of which," Hiruzen muttered to himself, "according to Anbu intelligence, Orochimaru's disciple, Ryujin Kenichi, has been leaving his home frequently."
Hiruzen pondered the implications of this. Ryujin Kenichi, though a promising young ninja, had been under Orochimaru's shadow for some time now. Despite Orochimaru and his disciple's efforts to remain discreet, their movements were not entirely undetectable. The Anbu, with their keen observation, had likely noticed Kenichi's activities by now.
Unbeknownst to Ryujin Kenichi, the Third Hokage had already begun keeping a close eye on him. At that very moment, Kenichi had returned home after a long day. He knew he couldn't go to the laboratory alone. Orochimaru had warned him that if he ventured there without supervision, it would be far too easy for Anbu to notice his presence.
"It's too dangerous for you to go alone, Kenichi," Orochimaru had told him once, his voice eerily calm, but his eyes gleamed with a cold, calculating intensity. Kenichi had no doubt that his teacher was speaking the truth. He could never go to the laboratory by himself.
So, Kenichi did his best to keep up the pretense of ignorance about the laboratory's existence, as Orochimaru had instructed. He had no choice but to obey.
"I really want to visit the lab..." Kenichi mumbled as he lay on his bed, frustrated. He had an idea he wanted to test—a dangerous idea that could potentially lead to the creation of a forbidden technique. The prospect of unlocking this new power excited him, but alas, he could not go to the laboratory alone.
But then, an idea struck him. Though he couldn't go to the laboratory, there was another place he could visit: the hospital. The hospital, Kenichi knew, was a place where certain "patients" might be more easily found. He might not be able to do everything he wanted in the lab, but perhaps there was another way to further his research.