Kabuto looked over the small staging area with satisfaction. Orochitama's insights into the "atomic structure", as she called it, had been doing great work for multiple projects, but Ayasugi had received some manner of inspiration from the information and made several large leaps in metallurgy and chemistry that in turn led to several knock-on effects with other scientists. Transparency and the sharing of knowledge had continued to show dividends beyond what he had ever expected. Most of the remaining scientists from the days of Sound had either whole heartedly embraced the new academic culture that seemed to provide a new treasure every week; there were those that had still grumbled at their lack of access to human test subjects, but the ones that couldn't help themselves had managed to cross the line and been permanently handled.

Kabuto often wondered just how far ahead Orochitama had predicted the rapidly changing culture of the scientists. He couldn't decide if it was just what they would have grown into in a more healthy environment, or if it had been a masterful example of manipulation. Hell, he had several times brought her their latest work that he was certain was groundbreaking the world over and that it was beyond what most minds would think was possible, only for Orochitama to already have a name for the invention on sight. He was certain that she hadn't come up with the name on the spot, but instead would respond as though it had been something she was already intimately aware of.

Part of him suspected she could divine the future, but he wasn't willing to commit to it. It sounded ridiculous but far too often that seemed to be the only explanation for the woman's behaviors.

"How goes the development, Kabuto? Are we going to meet deadlines?"

He suppressed a jump of surprise and refrained from rolling his eyes in irritation. She'd managed to spot a flash of irritation from him when sneaking up on him once and seemed to now take great pleasure in spooking him at each of their meetings.

She was teasing him. An odd development considering she'd also dropped the "kun" suffix from his name that she had previously said with a teasing tone. There was some acknowledgement of a change in their dynamic. She was removing herself from the position of a superior to him. She was less and less speaking to him as a maternal or authority figure and had been trying to instead speak to him as a peer.

An odd decision after she'd earned his undying loyalty.

"Orochitama-sama." He greeted. "We have managed to find several ways to increase the signal strength as well as how to make the system more physically durable. Ayasugi in particular seems to have found a gold alloy that shows great promise in all our electronic efforts going forward. However, as we continue it has become more and more clear that fabrication is going to be a major issue for a lot of your plans. To increase the scale of production to what you want we would have to make large factories of workers that will undoubtedly be destroyed by rival villages."

She walked up next to him to gaze out at all the workers. Dozens of projectors and audio outputs were in various stages of construction with dozens more already assembled at the back.

"Yeah, an issue I'm consistently running into of late." She grumbled. "Still, so long as we can get at least two hundred of them and place them in the right places, that should be sufficient. I had Tatewaki send out runners with news of the Kage Summit meant to take place in two weeks. I imagine Stone or Lightning will probably give some bluster and try to have it pushed back a week."

"That should be enough time to get all the displays you want if we begin with taking completed ones out to the farther villages and wait til the last minute to deploy the ones that will be close to home." Kabuto said after doing some mental math.

"Good. Make sure they know how to bring it all home safely as well. I have plans for the equipment afterwards." The woman chirped happily.

"Plans you already cleared with the Council?" Kabuto inquied.

"Of course! I went through all the trouble of making one, I'm not just going to turn around and ignore it." She rolled her eyes at the suggestion.

Kabuto gave a hum of agreement, but didn't comment further. The Council of Hidden Tunnel seemed a bizarre decision to him, but one that cemented Orochitama's identity as definitively not Orochimaru. The Snake Mistress had enough raw power to make the two other village leaders bend to her will and just satisfied them with positions that came with paper crowns. Instead, she elevated them and put them in positions of power and influence where they could expressly act as limiters to herself. Checks and balances she called it, but he supposed it made sense in a long term. He personally would have just had the new rules set to come into effect posthumously. Regardless, Orochimaru would never have allowed others so much power and influence and it was but one more confirmation that Orochitama was not the same individual.

Though so clearly not being Orochimaru was hardly a deficit for the woman anymore. She had made Konoha look the king of fools, deposed the Kage of another nation, had a very public fight with Jiraiya of the Sannin while the man was on his home field, and made two other ninja villages come to heel to form a new one that was a match to any other ninja village. Plus, she paid better and treated them better. Minus a few extremists, if the original Orochimaru ever did somehow show up again his orders would be ignored. After all, Orochitama's feats surpassed his.

"Speaking of people being given jobs. I have one for you." Orochitama said, making Kabuto straighten up.

"Oh?" He asked, the woman's voice remained serious, but not somber, so it likely meant nothing terrible. Orochitama tended to deliver terrible news like she was talking about the weather or with a sadness that seemed to rock her soul.

"Hidden Tunnel has consolidated all of their researches into one organization." She began.

Kabuto nodded. A few had already joined up and begun helping them on their projects. Many of the newbies were emotionally distant, but Kabuto found it refreshing to be dealing with people that he didn't have to explain why it was bad to kill people with your experiments. Hopfully the common knowledge would rub off on the lunatics they already had.

"Well, someone needs to be in charge of the Science Division. I can't think of a better person to run it." Orochitama offered.

Kabuto blinked. "Me?"

"You. You're familiar with the troublemakers and you know the kind of moral code that I'd like things to stick with. You're smart enough that you'll understand anything brought to you." The woman listed off and Kabuto found he couldn't disagree with her assessment. Then, she placed a hand on his shoulder, eyes with weighty emotions gazed into his own as she ended with, "and most of all, I trust you."

He understood at once. She was disseminating her powerbase, but it was in appearance only. She had the loyalty and influence to retain control, but since the letter of the law stated one person couldn't single handedly control all aspects of the new village no one else could usurp the control of everything even if they killed her. Even should something happen to Orochitama, her vision and methods would remain in control of the village so long as she picked enough of the people in charge. Influence powerful enough that it was control in all but name. Brilliant.

"You honor me." Kabuto said, and he found he meant it. Trust was something rare among traitors like them and it would be a shame to waste. Though there was one concern. "And what of Ayasugi? He'll throw a fit if he's not elevated as well."

Orochitama rolled her eyes. Ayasugi was a competent scientist, but a pain to deal with. A theme with many of the people that had made up Sound. "I've green lit him for an expensive project he's always wanted. Something about using ninjutsu to change the properties of metals."

Then, the woman paused and a dangerous glint entered her eyes and her voice gained a quality of levity that made the hairs on the back of Kabuto's neck stand on end. Her chakra became almost oppressive in weight as she gave an order.

"Kabuto. If he starts talking about harnessing the power of the atom, stop him and contact me immediately. Do not bring it up as a possibility and write it nowhere."

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Kabuto could only nod. He had only felt her be this serious about stopping a line of research after someone had managed to make a fast acting and debilitating strand of the common cold when experimenting with medicines. When he asked why, she laid out the uncontrollable nature of life as soon it left the test tube and how it would only end poorly for everyone.

Kabuto had agreed. If this was something that weighty...well, he'd make sure it never came to pass.

"Yes ma'am."

"Great!" She said, the weight on his shoulders gone all at once as the woman clapped her hands together and smiled at him as though she hadn't just implied he should kill his college if he started researching a particular line of science. Ayasugi was, after all, not the kind of man easily stopped in his research.

"Anything else you wish of me?" Kabuto asked.

"No. Just keep me informed." She said with a waive of her hand. "Well, that and to make sure to visit and tell me how you're doing. I'd hate for every interaction to be about work."

"Of course." He said with no intent of ever speaking with her about anything outside of science and work. When they got outside those topics she tended to ask about...feelings and similar uncomfortable things. Still, with the new village and new positions he wouldn't see the woman as often. He found himself sad at the prospect. He supposed they had become, well not friends, but something close to it.

"Tell your mom I said 'hi!' and to spoil the kids more." She said as with a smile and wave, hair thrown over her shoulder as she left with a "Bye bye."

Presumably off to give foreboding warnings to some other ninja. He just had to calmly manage the production of-

"Hibiki-san!" He said, jamming the intercom button, "If I have to tell you again that now is not the time to try improving the design I will personally insure your doctor finds a colonoscopy important for your health and that it must be done immediately and frequently."

XXXXXXX

I got to my next meeting later than the other participants. This was entirely on purpose and I could not find it in myself to feel guilty over it. Saito, the elder of Hidden Waterfall, would be there anyways doing paperwork because it was his own office and I'd found Inada Rena, leader of Hidden Grass, pushing off work to subordinates often enough that I hardly minded having her wait for me to show up fashionably late.

"Saito! Rena! Good news!" I said as I swept into the room, all smiles as I settled in to the uncomfortable chairs before Saito's desk. The man had insisted that due to the nature of their work, nothing should be comfortable. A sentiment I appreciated, but disagreed with so always did my level best to practically lounge in the chairs in his office. "Konoha has agreed to terms. Anko's Cursed Seal removal went off without a hitch, and Kabuto has accepted his promotion."

"You're supposed to knock first." Saito grumbled lightly but brightened up at the news. The man doubtlessly knew as soon as I had returned and notified a runner, but the reminder seemed to brighten his face. He was an old man, but not on the same scale as Hiruzen, being only in his sixties and having a touch of pepper in with his salt hair, though you had to look for it. He also did not have a weight in the world like many old shinobi. He was not an especially powerful shinobi. In fact, I'd bet Kakashi would be a fair match for him in a fight, nor was he particular handsome, having a bit of a dumpy face. However, the man knew every one of his subordinates by name and kept up on their lives. He worked harder and likely had done even more work than I had to get the Village of Hidden Tunnel on its feet; he'd certainly done more paperwork. "Then at this rate it is unlikely that Hidden Tunnel's first years will be met with war."

"Thank god. This has been hard enough as it is." Rena complained from her spot in the next chair. Rena was, in many ways, like looking in a funhouse mirror for me. She had long black raven tresses with pale skin, plump lips, and too sharp teeth that were often spread in a suggestive grin. That was, however, where our similarities ended. Her eyes were a sickly purple and her lips always painted a ruby red. Her hair always gave the impression she had recently rolled out of bed while still looking good, meaning the woman spent countless hours perfecting it. Her chest was also very modest in proportions so she usually made efforts to instead emphasize her shapely and sizeable thighs. Rena seemed to have gained some level of respect for Saito when I wasn't looking though, because she maintained a prim and proper posture in her seat, even as one hand melodramatically pressed to side of her face. "This whole process of getting everyone to their rightful place has just been an absolute nightmare of-"

"You had your subordinates do all of the work and you spent three hours rubberstamping the final product." I interrupted, unimpressed.

I possibly shouldn't have been needling a close ally so soon, but Rena wouldn't do anything about it. She was too busy being scared I'd rip her throat out with my teeth at the slightest provocation. That or too busy being aroused about how scared she was that I might rip her throat out with my teeth at the slightest provocation. Rena was the debaucherous sort, which I could respect, and even be willing to pursue such a thing where it not for two things. The first is the importance of keeping romance out of the workplace and the second was that I had done some digging and all of the woman's past romantic relationship ended with fire and poison; that was not a metaphor.

"I still made sure my portion got done." Rena defended herself.

"Yes. You did still make sure it was done. Thank you." I allowed with an incline of my head. "I hope you keep up the good work as Department Head of Wetworks."

"Of course. I will make sure there is nothing but the highest quality coming from my department." She answered too quickly.

Saito and I had long discussed where to put the troublesome leader of Hidden Grass in the new village of Hidden Tunnel before we landed on an answer. Department Head had the wage and influence that would appease the former Village Head while not letting her eccentricities get in the way. It was decided that, while she might not do the all the work herself, she'd be good at making sure others did their work right so she didn't get in trouble. With them having worked out the existence of an Ethic Department, she'd make sure that nothing would happen to impede her money source. She also had the skills and stomach to see to it that certain threats were eliminated. A job that Saito and I had no desire to do, but would be needed in a Hidden Village. Though I still had intentions of changing that.

"I also saw to it that the letters to the major villages were dispatched, the runners were advised to be indiscrete. I imagine the three of us will be attending the Six Kage Summit within three weeks." I said with a victorious smile. Part of me had never expected to get this far after all.

Rena gave a nod of acknowledgement but outwardly didn't react much. Saito however swallowed heavily and gripped his desk so tightly the wood groaned, before he let a shaky breath and loosed his grip, a steely gaze entered his eyes. "Do you need anything else to be prepared before then? Any more support that needs to be redirected towards the SUC?"

"None at this time. That might change depending on interest and attendance from the other villages, but that's a guessing game right now." I answered before slapping my head forgetfully and correcting myself. "I do need to take care of the little matter of sealing the Sanbi into Kakashi. I'm scheduled to take care of that in a couple days though."

"Good. After you do that, Rena and I were talking and it's been decided that we have another job for you." Saito stated hesitantly, testing my reaction.

I blinked. The two did have the authority to do such a thing, but I hadn't expected them to exercise it so quickly. Though I had also been throwing my own weight around quite a bit trying to get everything together in a timely manner. There were a few times they had received a large stack of paperwork all at once because I had seized an opportunity at a moments notice after all. Which was impressive, because we had only been one entity for roughly two weeks at this point.

"And what are your orders?" I asked cautiously.

"Akatsuki. You've mentioned them, that they are the largest threat to this village." Saito began and I sat up in recognition of the seriousness of the topic. "I- I mean they are targeting the tailed beasts. We have one. You have mentioned knowing how to help a jinchuriki master their beast. I want you to protect and train ours. Fu will be your responsibility."

Responsibility? Troublingly vague.

"I'm happy to train her, just have her come back and-"

"We were thinking she would stay with you on a constant basis. Teach her what you are willing to teach her, but make sure you are also always nearby in case Akatsuki comes to call." Saito interrupted.

Ah. I hadn't met Fu yet myself but, it was a fair concern.

"Very well then. I will accept responsibility for Fu after the Summit." I agreed, knowing in my heart, it would be a task of weight far greater than I was expecting. Children always were.

"Then we need one thing to be ready." Saito said as he reached into his desk and pulled out three headbands and a hat. The head bands bore the new symbol of the village, but their shine was brighter and the material of cloth more fine. These were not headbands meant for a ninja that was on a mission, this was meant for someone that was sitting in an office. It had been my request to make them this way. It was a statement to those that would look underneath the underneath. It was a declaration that we three had the intention, the hope, to never set foot on a battlefield again.

Then, he pulled out the hat. The angular styled hat that all the Kage nations wear, though this one was a white and purple. I hadn't been specifically trying to stamp my iconic color on there, but I didn't exactly have many options that weren't unclaimed and were distinctly different enough. On the front, the kanji 軸, or Koko was emblazoned. It meant Shaft, though not in the sense of mine haft, but more the shaft of a cart or pulley. Our new nation was one meant to be one of trade and industry. Our village, for all the jokes I made of it, was also more than mere innuendo. 坑道, Koudou, or the word for Tunnel could, rarely, also be read as to mean gallery. Those names, and the items that symbolized them, were reverently placed on Saito's desk.

"No one has respected a new one of those in over a hundred years." Rena noted.

I walked foward and gently picked the hat up, looking it over. It hadn't been the first time I'd touched a Kage's hat of office and this one felt bizzarly the same. Light in the hands while my soul cried out that it was heavy. I smirk played on my lips I held it out towards Saito. "Have you put it on?"

The man rapidly shook his head. "No no."

I gave a rich laugh.

"Ara ara. Such a straight man. Wanting to wait until the coronation, Kokokage-sama."