Following behind Kyoichi, Hiruko was completely blank. He wanted to escape, but just the memory of Kyoichi's terrifying strength snuffed out every ounce of confidence he had once placed in the Chimera Technique.
One punch?
Maybe Kanda Kyoichi was exaggerating a bit—but the Ice Release, the Wood Release, and the force behind that one strike were all plain as day before him.
Looking back…
Half the island had collapsed. His so-called base was a joke in comparison.
And that half-destroyed white body... what the hell was that thing?
Why was it beneath his temporary hideout?
"What the hell is going on?!"
Hiroku was thoroughly confused. He'd only gone out to capture a ninja with a Kekkei Genkai to test Chimera Technique on...
How did he end up getting caught himself?
Kyoichi never intended to keep him alive.
This guy wasn't like Orochimaru. Orochimaru chased what he wanted, and whether he played by the rules depended on whether doing so helped him achieve that goal.
But this one...
Kyoichi couldn't tell where Hiroku's ambition would stop.
Yesterday he was jealous of the Sannin and researching Chimera.
Tomorrow… who knows? Maybe he'd start experimenting with Edo Tensei or even more forbidden techniques just to get stronger.
And on top of that…
It was already evident that Madara and Black Zetsu were growing more and more restless, pulling strings from the shadows in pursuit of "resurrection." Who knew if they'd eventually bust him out of a lab?
A guy like this… couldn't be left alive.
Kyoichi was crystal clear about that.
Hiroku, realizing that going to Konoha meant certain death, began regaining his senses and quickly said, "Those sacrifices were worth it—my experiments succeeded. I can give you Chimera Technique…"
"As long as you absorb five Kekkei Genkai, you'll achieve true immortality! Aren't you even a little tempted?"
He was getting worked up.
Immortality—that was something he'd gradually discovered through his Chimera Technique research. The core experiments were a success; only the final execution remained. And now? He ran into a monster like Kyoichi.
It was maddening.
Kyoichi paused and thought.
Hiroku hurried to add, "You have the Senju bloodline, but not even Hashirama Senju attained immortality. If you could live forever, wouldn't you protect Konoha even better?"
"…Sorry, zoned out for a second. I did hear you, though. I think there's one thing you got wrong."
Kyoichi dispersed his clone.
He had already sensed that Mukai and the others were nearby. The ANBU support team had arrived, though it seemed they weren't needed anymore…
He kept it short and looked Hiroku in the eye.
"Immortality… honestly, it sounds boring when you really think about it. Living alone from now until some far-off future—your memories, emotions, everything would erode with time. After a few hundred years, would I even still be me?"
"Would I still be me? I… never thought about that."
Kyoichi's question was too philosophical.
Living for hundreds of years?
Hiroku had only ever dreamed of surpassing the Sannin and achieving his desires. Immortality had merely been a side discovery during his research.
"It's funny you actually believed my bullshit. I don't even believe half the crap I say. I mean, if you can live longer, sure, live longer. But your immortality theory makes no sense."
Kyoichi chuckled as Hiroku's face darkened.
Absorb five Kekkei Genkai and become immortal?
What kind of logic was that?
Some weird mutation that causes an evolutionary leap? If Orochimaru heard that, he'd probably die laughing in his lab. If immortality were that easy, he would've nailed it already.
If it's really possible, then Chimera Technique—which is basically a patchwork technique—is still far from true fusion. It's like having Earth and Water doesn't automatically grant you Wood Release.
You need something deeper than just "having it."
True fusion of five natures? That's no easier than mastering Yin-Yang Release.
If you're going to put in that much effort, why not just study Yin-Yang Release directly?
So…
Kyoichi didn't think much of Chimera Technique.
It was twisted. In the anime, Hiroku had already deviated far from humanity. And many Kekkei Genkai techniques can actually be learned.
Like Magnet Release.
Or even more terrifying, Kekkei Tōta—Dust Release.
Ōnoki wasn't born with Dust Release.
Nope—he learned it.
So why torment yourself, turning into something inhuman, creating internal chaos... for what?
Leave him alive? For what?
Hiroku said nothing. He was quiet but thoughtful.
He knew he and Kyoichi were not the same kind of person. But Kyoichi's reasoning... made sense. It made him doubt.
Could five fused Kekkei Genkai really lead to immortality?
Probably not.
Dragged along like a dead man, he finally said, "You think Chimera Technique is worthless only because you're a genius. You don't understand the pain of being average."
"I don't like Chimera Technique. But if you understood, you'd know I've changed Konoha's ninja academy system—so more civilian-born shinobi can access jutsu and knowledge."
Kyoichi said calmly, "As for Kekkei Genkai, my Wood Release and Ice Release were both learned, not inherited. Plenty of people in Konoha are learning. But you? You want to claim power with a single forbidden jutsu and think that makes you right?"
"Say what you want."
Hiroku didn't argue anymore.
At that moment, Mukai and his squad arrived.
"Kyoichi-sama—what happened just now?"
"I sensed something off while tracking. Turns out I found something unexpected. I'll explain later. This guy is Hiroku, a rogue ninja wanted by Konoha. Restrain him and prepare to take him back for public trial."
"Hiroku?!" Mukai was stunned.
His name ranked high on ANBU's most-wanted list. Everyone knew he'd once escaped from the pursuit of the Sannin.
But…
He looked surprisingly young.
"Kyoichi-sama, this level of missing-nin… please escort him yourself. If anything happens, we wouldn't be able to atone even by dying."
Mukai quickly shook his head.
His team included Aburame and Yamanaka from Root, and a rookie with no real experience. If anything went wrong, he doubted they could restrain him.
Of course…
He couldn't say all that out loud.
Hiroku overheard that others would escort him and instantly got ideas.
But soon…
A clone separated from Kyoichi's body.
Wood Clone.
"So that's Wood Release…"
"Don't worry. My clone will go with you. You escort him back to Konoha. As for the Kirigakure ninja, I'll take him."
"Understood!"
Mukai's face grew serious.
The Kirigakure ninja's situation was indeed more critical.
He had crossed the sea into the Land of Fire—likely bringing valuable intel. Though out of danger now, he hadn't regained consciousness…
Taking him back for care was the top priority.
Kyoichi nodded slightly and used Flying Thunder God to vanish.
His Wood Clone still held plenty of Sage Chakra. Unless Uchiha Madara showed up in person—with his "oxygen tank"—he doubted anyone in Konoha could match his clone.
Even Ōnoki.
With Sage Mode, even Dust Release couldn't easily hit him. Its biggest flaw was speed.
Kyoichi returned to Konoha with Chūkichi.
The long-range journey had drained his chakra, but thankfully, Tsunade was already waiting at ANBU HQ.
"How is he?"
"We captured him, but Hiroku appeared, killed a squad, and took him. If we'd been any later, he'd be gone."
"Leave it to me."
Tsunade grew serious at the mention of Hiroku. Assuming Kyoichi had just come out of a battle, she urged him to rest.
Kyoichi handed the man over, ate a ration pill, and pulled out a scroll.
"What's that?"
Tsunade paused.
Could it be…
"Chimera?"
"No. I found this while tracking Hiroku. Something was hiding underground with very strange life signs. I tried to capture it, but it self-destructed. Still, I was stronger."
It was only half a body—but disturbingly, it was still highly active.
Tsunade examined it and was instantly reminded of Hashirama cells.
She looked up in shock.
"This physique and chakra… no, it's not the same, but it's very similar. It feels like something artificially cultivated."
"Yeah. That's what I thought too."
"Kyoichi, I'll handle Chūkichi. You go deal with this thing."
"Mm."
Kyoichi and Tsunade shared an unspoken understanding.
Chūkichi was important, yes—but figuring out the origin of this cell was the real priority. For that, Orochimaru was the expert.
Kyoichi recharged a bit, gathered chakra, and went to the research lab.
There, Orochimaru wasn't sunbathing—he was dissecting a snake.
"How's it going?"
"Mm… not much progress, but a few findings. Hm? You've been coming to me a lot lately. Don't tell me you've got another project? I don't have the time."
Orochimaru frowned.
"This one's important. You'll definitely be interested."
Kyoichi said, and carefully unsealed the scroll.
He pulled out the White Zetsu tissue.
Orochimaru was initially unimpressed—but once he sensed it, he instantly teleported over.
"This… this treasure—how could you just toss it around?! Kyoichi-kun, you're far too unprofessional as a researcher!"
Orochimaru was practically in pain.
He quickly pulled out a culture flask, preserved the still-active cells, and began flipping them over with fascination.
"If I'm not wrong, this originated from Hashirama cells, but the structure is… odd. An unbelievable organism… Kyoichi-kun, tell me exactly what happened!"
Forget Sage Techniques!
Everything else could wait.
These cells had slightly lower activity than Hashirama's but might still be transplantable. They could be a miracle cure for aging!
Orochimaru was ecstatic.
"See? Told you you'd be interested."
Kyoichi smiled.
But as for telling the full story…
There wasn't much to tell—because the moment he landed a punch, the thing tried to self-destruct, and all he managed to grab was half the body.
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