In the year 37 of Konoha, on September 12th.
North of the Rain Country, at Stone Ridge Mountain.
The earth lay shrouded in darkness; from a certain moment, sunlight began to visibly wane, and the sky took on a gentle, yet slightly dimmed hue.
Looking up, one could see the outline of the sun blurred through layers of thin, gray clouds, as the image of the moon gradually shifted, becoming a shadow that engulfed the sun. The entire sky started to exhibit subtle changes.
Today marked a solar eclipse—more specifically, a golden ring solar eclipse—a special day.
But for one individual, this celestial event represented not merely an astronomical phenomenon, but a turning point in his life, the first step towards immortality.
At the highest point of the mountain, there was a flat stone platform, providing the best vantage point.
From a distance, viewed as a whole, the stone platform looked remarkably out of place, having been flattened by some incredible force, suggesting it was artificially constructed.
The cold wind howled, and the damp, chilly air swept past, making the height unbearable.
"Is everything ready?"
"Just watch, Master."
Hiruko rubbed his hands together, gazing excitedly at the formation in the center of the stone platform.
Kamihane stood at the foot of the steps, casually observing the platform above with an intrigued expression while Uchiha Nian and Orochimaru flanked him.
Today marked an important day for his adopted disciple, and as his mentor, Kamihane certainly couldn't miss it.
Besides, the "Gaiyaro Technique," a forbidden technique that seizes one's genes and bloodline limits, was unprecedented; even Kamihane found it extraordinarily interesting.
If Hiruko could truly achieve results akin to those of his original timeline, it would validate Kamihane's guidance and cultivation efforts from all those years ago.
Kamihane smiled softly and sat back.
Seeing this, Nian quickly clasped his hands together, and several wooden vines erupted from the stone platform, intertwining in mid-air to form an antique-style chair for Kamihane to sit on.
As time passed, the golden ring solar eclipse quietly began.
The sky grew tumultuous, as if an invisible hand had smeared ink across the heavens, repainting everything; the sun's brilliance became muted, now veiled under a thin golden shroud.
Through the increasingly minute gaps, it emitted a warm and sacred light.
"Almost there… just a little more…"
Hiruko's hands trembled slightly; despite rehearsing the process in his mind countless times, he couldn't shake the nervousness when this moment finally arrived.
At the summit of the platform, intricate black seals formed a web-like array, and at the center of the array, a wooden pillar stood with a faintly conscious ninja from Iwagakure—Hunter—suspended from it.
Hiruko took a deep breath of the cold mountain air to calm his excited nerves, focusing all his attention.
As the moon's silhouette nearly covered the sun, only a thin ring of golden light remained, resembling a golden ring suspended in the sky, casting a mysterious hue over the entire landscape.
Hiruko silently counted the seconds in his heart as he ascended step by step, positioning himself at the center of the array.
The golden light washed over Kamihane and the others, spilling toward the earth, and the distant mountains glowed faintly with a golden hue; the outlines of the trees were distinct against the golden light, as if immersed in a dream.
This ring of light, fluctuating between the realms of reality and illusion, hung in the air and soon filled Hiruko's vision.
"Now!"
Hiruko intertwined his fingers, skillfully performing the complex hand seals and looking up at the golden solar ring, allowing himself to bask fully in its golden glow.
"Fuse! Gaiyaro Technique!"
The atmosphere appeared to silence for a brief moment, then a shadow spread from Hiruko's body, slowly engulfing Hunter, who was hanging from the wooden pillar.
Bathed in sunlight, this normally ink-like substance shimmered with myriad colors, enveloping both Hiruko and Hunter in a giant, colorful egg.
Though the process seemed slow, it all occurred in mere seconds.
Down below, Orochimaru, who had been observing quietly, suddenly furrowed his brow.
"Nian, don't you think this version of Hiruko's Gaiyaro technique feels different from the previous one?"
"Really?" Nian concentrated, examining closely, then shook his head. "I can't see much difference; it's probably the influence of the celestial event."
Orochimaru remained silent, mentally noting the phenomenon.
Soon, the giant egg began to shrink inch by inch, ultimately stabilizing into a distinctly clear human form, while the sky's golden ring gradually closed, with each change accompanying a subtle transformation of the world's colors—from bright daylight to deep twilight, then back to the usual brightness.
When the moon's silhouette completely shifted from the sun, the fusion ceremony concluded, revealing a brand new Hiruko before everyone.
He had a refined face, with flowing white hair, and although he resembled his former self, his stature was slightly smaller, as if he had aged backward a few years.
He touched his forehead, where a prominent red dot remained—a mark he had purposely made to resemble Kamihane's Yin seal.
At the same time, it was also a way for him to measure his identity; after all, the Gaiyaro technique involved a sequence of fusion followed by devouring. If the mark he cared most about disappeared, it would signify failure in the fusion… he would no longer be himself.
Fortunately, he had succeeded in this first trial of devour!
"Master!"
Hiruko immediately looked to Kamihane, his eyes brimming with excitement.
Kamihane smiled faintly, standing from the vine chair, he slowly clapped his hands.
As he began, Nian was the first to join in, and Orochimaru hesitated at first but couldn't resist clapping as he caught sight of Hiruko's eager expression.
He recalled his colleague and brother tirelessly immersed in research day and night, and finally allowed a hint of a smile to emerge, clapping his hands vigorously as well.
Hiruko was deeply moved, his eyes turning red as moisture welled up; he was on the verge of tears.
"I finally… took this step!"
…
A moment later, Hiruko finally calmed down from his excitement and began to experiment with his newfound powers.
Under the watchful eyes of Kamihane and the others, he gently closed his eyes, feeling the chakra surging within him, but then he suddenly froze.
"How is it? Do you possess the Explosive Release chakra now?" Orochimaru asked first.
"Not… not Explosive Release…" Hiruko murmured.
"Let's be clear, I better not have grabbed the wrong person," Orochimaru said decisively, trying to distance himself.
"It's not your fault; it should be as I mentioned before. During the fusion process, the yang release chakra in my body interfered, causing alterations in the explosive bloodline limit."
Hiruko gave a bitter smile, raising his hand to form seals, drawing forth this unfamiliar chakra within him, slowly gathering it in his palm.
Suddenly, his entire hand turned entirely black, smooth to the touch, glistening with a discernible metallic sheen under the sunlight.
"Steel Release?" Kamihane blurted out, a look of understanding crossing his gaze.
"Steel Release?" Hiruko repeated the term, murmuring:
"This is good! Since it's a name given by Master, I'll go with this from now on."
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