Chapter 108: The Quest for Hiruko – The First Step Toward Uruk

The sun rose over the horizon, casting a soft glow on the vast plains as Yuta and Gilgamesh stood at the edge of a cliff, surveying the land before them. The beginnings of Uruk were still just a vision in Gilgamesh's mind, but both knew that the first steps to building this kingdom required gathering talented individuals.

Gilgamesh turned to Yuta, his eyes gleaming with the same unshakable confidence that had never wavered since their journey began. "We shall start with Hiruko."

Yuta raised an eyebrow, looking at the King of Heroes with a bit of skepticism. "Hiruko, huh? I guess that makes sense. He's definitely one of the easier ones to capture, and he doesn't need a lot of training before he can be put to use. Still, he's kind of... well, obsessed with power. You sure you want to start with him?"

Gilgamesh chuckled. "Hmph. Obsessed? He shall find that true power rests in loyalty to a king. His ambitions are nothing in the face of my rule."

Yuta rubbed the back of his head, a wry grin crossing his face. "Right, right. I forgot—you're the 'bend everyone to your will' type. Still, Hiruko's got his quirks. The guy's always jealous of others, always scheming to surpass people stronger than him. You'll have to keep an eye on him."

Gilgamesh waved his hand dismissively, as if Yuta's concerns were mere trivialities. "He is but a pawn. A useful one, no doubt, but a pawn nonetheless. Once he serves me, his jealousy will be of no concern."

Yuta shrugged. "Alright then, if you're that confident. Let's get this show on the road."

With their plan in motion, Yuta and Gilgamesh set off toward the Hidden Leaf Village, where Hiruko had been lurking in the shadows, hiding from the eyes of the village while conducting his own forbidden experiments.

The Mission Begins: Entering the Leaf Village

Traveling to the Hidden Leaf Village wasn't exactly a walk in the park. Even though Yuta had some connections with the Ninja World, the Leaf Village had strict surveillance on outsiders, especially people like Hiruko who had been known to dabble in forbidden jutsu. Fortunately, Yuta had a few tricks up his sleeve.

As they approached the gates, Yuta turned to Gilgamesh. "Alright, I'm going to put a little Genjutsu on us to slip past the guards. Should be easy enough. Just play along."

Gilgamesh shot Yuta a deadpan look. "A king does not 'play along,' Yuta."

Yuta rolled his eyes. "Look, unless you want to waltz in there and announce yourself to the whole village, we're doing this my way. Besides, you'll still be kingly. Just... invisibly kingly."

Gilgamesh sighed, clearly not thrilled by the idea but willing to tolerate Yuta's methods for now. "Very well. Do what you must."

With a simple hand sign, Yuta cast a low-level Genjutsu over both of them, effectively cloaking their presence as they strolled past the guards and into the village without so much as a second glance. Once they were safely inside, Yuta dispelled the technique and turned to Gilgamesh.

"See? Easy peasy."

Gilgamesh huffed, clearly unimpressed. "Hmph. A king should not need to hide himself."

Yuta smirked. "Sure, but if you walked in all golden and glowing, we'd have half the village trying to figure out what god descended from the heavens. Not exactly subtle."

Gilgamesh shot him a glare but said nothing more. For now, the mission was to find Hiruko, and the quicker they did that, the quicker they could get out of the village.

The Hunt for Hiruko

Hiruko wasn't exactly easy to track down. He was known for being a recluse, hiding away in the dark corners of the village to conduct his experiments in peace. But Yuta, being well-versed in the underground dealings of the Ninja World, had a pretty good idea of where to find him.

After wandering through the back alleys of the village for a while, Yuta finally led Gilgamesh to an old, abandoned building near the outskirts. The air around it was thick with the scent of decay, and the windows were all boarded up, save for one faint light flickering from inside.

"This is it," Yuta said, glancing up at the decrepit structure. "Hiruko's hiding in there."

Gilgamesh stepped forward, his eyes narrowing as he examined the building. "This is where such a man hides? Pathetic."

"Hey, geniuses don't always live in palaces," Yuta replied with a grin. "But once you get him on your side, I'm sure he'll upgrade to something a little fancier."

Gilgamesh ignored Yuta's quip and marched toward the entrance, pushing the old door open with little effort. Inside, the room was dimly lit, with various strange contraptions and bubbling liquids scattered across dusty tables. The atmosphere reeked of secrecy and ambition.

And there, in the center of the room, was Hiruko.

He was hunched over a table, working meticulously on some kind of grotesque experiment—something that looked like a fusion of various body parts. His face was partially hidden by the hood of his cloak, but his eyes gleamed with a dark intensity.

Without turning around, Hiruko spoke, his voice low and rasping. "I knew someone would come. You've been watching me for a while, haven't you?"

Yuta glanced at Gilgamesh, who smirked. "He's sharp."

"I don't have time for pleasantries," Hiruko continued, finally turning to face them. His gaze flickered over Gilgamesh for a brief moment before settling on Yuta. "What do you want?"

Yuta took a step forward, keeping his tone casual. "We're here to offer you a deal, Hiruko. You've been lying low for a while now, right? Stuck in the shadows, doing your little experiments. But what if I told you there's an opportunity to step out of the darkness and make a real impact?"

Hiruko narrowed his eyes. "An impact? What are you talking about?"

Yuta motioned to Gilgamesh, who took a step forward, his regal presence undeniable. "This here is Gilgamesh, King of Heroes. He's building a kingdom—Uruk—and he's looking for talented individuals to help him make it a reality. You're a genius, Hiruko, no doubt about that. But with Gilgamesh's resources and influence, you could take your experiments to the next level. No more hiding. No more restrictions."

Hiruko's eyes flickered with interest, but suspicion lingered in his gaze. "A kingdom? What makes you think I'd want to serve under someone else?"

Gilgamesh smirked, his golden eyes gleaming. "Serve? Hmph. Do not mistake my offer for servitude, Hiruko. You will have the freedom to pursue your ambitions, unrestricted by the petty laws of this village. Under my rule, you will be able to harness your full potential."

Hiruko tilted his head, intrigued but cautious. "And what's in it for you? Why would you give me such freedom?"

Gilgamesh's smirk widened. "Because a kingdom is only as strong as the minds that build it. Your genius will be of use to me, and in return, you shall rise to heights you've never imagined."

Yuta watched the exchange with a mixture of amusement and admiration. Gilgamesh was smooth—he knew exactly how to play to Hiruko's desires.

For a long moment, Hiruko said nothing, weighing his options. Finally, he spoke, his voice quieter but filled with determination. "If what you say is true... then I accept."

Yuta grinned. "Welcome to the team, Hiruko."

---

Once Hiruko agreed to join Gilgamesh's cause, the atmosphere in the room shifted. The tension that had been lingering earlier seemed to dissipate as Hiruko straightened up, his eyes gleaming with a newfound sense of purpose.

"So, what exactly do you need me to do?" Hiruko asked, his tone more business-like now.

Gilgamesh crossed his arms, his gaze unwavering. "Your knowledge of jutsu, biology, and research will be invaluable to the formation of Uruk. You will be in charge of establishing a research institution—one that will focus on advancing our kingdom's scientific and technological capabilities. You are free to pursue your own experiments, but you will do so in service of the kingdom."

Hiruko nodded slowly, his mind already racing with ideas. "A research institution... I can make that work. I'll need resources—materials, assistants, equipment."

"You'll have everything you need," Gilgamesh replied, his voice firm. "But remember, Hiruko. Betray me, and you will face consequences far beyond anything you've ever imagined."

Hiruko chuckled darkly. "I'm not foolish enough to cross someone like you, King of Heroes. Besides, as long as I get what I want, there's no reason for betrayal."

Yuta watched the exchange with a smirk. "Looks like we're off to a good start. With Hiruko on board, we're one step closer to building Uruk."

Gilgamesh nodded, satisfied with the outcome. "Indeed. And soon, the others will follow."

---

As the trio left the abandoned building, Yuta couldn't help but chuckle to himself.

Gilgamesh raised an eyebrow. "What amuses you, Yuta?"

Yuta grinned, glancing at the King of Heroes. "You know, you're pretty confident about this whole 'building a kingdom' thing. I mean, you managed to recruit Hiruko, sure. But what if one of these guys you're after decides they're not interested?"

Gilgamesh scoffed, his expression one of supreme confidence. "Not interested? Hmph. They will all submit to me. There is no other option."

Yuta shook his head, a playful smirk on his lips. "Right, right. King of Heroes and all that. Just don't be surprised if one of these 'geniuses' tries to pull a fast one on you."

Gilgamesh's eyes gleamed. "Let them try. It will only serve to amuse me before I crush them."

Yuta laughed, clapping Gilgamesh on the back. "Man, you're impossible."

The night was still young, and as they walked away from the village, the future of Uruk seemed brighter than ever.