"What should we do next?"
Shima looked at the cracked ice beneath Jiraiya's feet and asked about his next move.
"We've already seen his speed and weight. The only thing left is strength."
Hearing Jiraiya, the two Sages instantly understood his intention.
He wanted to test the enemy's power himself.
After receiving the silent approval of the two Sages, Jiraiya narrowed his eyes at Boro, activated the Body Flicker Technique, and appeared right in front of him.
Seeing Jiraiya's incoming fist, Boro instinctively threw his own punch to block.
Their fists collided, and Boro's body was sent flying like an enormous leather ball.
Jiraiya didn't get off easy either—Boro's massive size still put him at a disadvantage, and the bones in his right hand showed signs of cracking.
"Mm… in terms of strength, he's only a bit stronger than before. Most of the pressure comes from his size."
Flexing his right hand, Jiraiya continued analyzing the enemy, but Boro, who had been knocked away, had no intention of resting and rushed at Jiraiya again.
Jiraiya dodged quickly and noticed fresh blood dripping from Boro's struck fist.
"His regeneration is gone."
This discovery was undoubtedly good news for Jiraiya.
On the other side, the Konoha shinobi ordered by Jiraiya to stay away from the battlefield also noticed Boro's abnormal state.
Although Jiraiya had told them to stay alert and not rush in to assist, some of the jōnin couldn't hold back and wanted to help lighten Jiraiya's burden.
They looked at Uchiha Itachi.
As the disciple of the Fifth Hokage, with Jiraiya absent, Uchiha Itachi was their highest commander.
"As long as you ensure your own safety, go."
Itachi understood their intention. After receiving medical treatment, his injuries were stabilized, and he nodded, signaling them to assist.
He himself followed behind the unit, looking for an opening to strike.
Jiraiya exchanged blows with Boro using taijutsu for a while, but Boro's massive body truly caused him trouble.
Just as he accidentally exposed a flaw and was about to be hit by Boro, the Konoha shinobi arriving for support immediately released Fire Release ninjutsu.
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
The fireball struck Boro's body. Though it caused little actual damage, it did draw away his attention.
Taking the chance, Jiraiya jumped onto Boro's arm and released a Rasengan toward his joint.
"You damn pest!"
Distracted by the flames, Boro suddenly felt intense pain and turned to see his arm severed.
Letting out a furious yet powerless roar, Boro swung his remaining arm to grab Jiraiya.
"Water Release: Water Severing Wave."
"Wind Release: Gale Slash."
"Wind Release: Wind Cutter Technique."
At this moment, the disadvantage of Boro's massive size became obvious.
The Konoha shinobi rushing to assist didn't even need to aim—any ninjutsu they launched hit Boro with perfect accuracy.
With everyone's support, Jiraiya prepared his final strike.
"Sage Art: Super Big Ball Rasengan."
...
A year had passed since the outbreak of the Fourth Great Ninja War.
Because the war had erupted, Hiruko returned to Konoha, bringing with him several precious Kekkei Genkai samples.
According to Hiruko himself, he claimed these samples were picked up while wandering around Kirigakure.
Since Konoha still needed to provide military support, the Fourth Mizukage tacitly allowed Hiruko's shameless behavior and had no intention of settling accounts afterward.
However, compared to the various samples, Hiruko was more interested in the child being held in Orochimaru's arms.
The child's pale blue hair and ghostly white skin made Hiruko realize the boy carried Ōtsutsuki traits.
"Orochimaru-sama, have you already used Ōtsutsuki cells in human experimentation?"
Hiruko asked in disbelief.
"Hehe… they're allowed to use them to make artificial humans, but I can't create new life myself?"
Placing Mitsuki into a cultivation tank, Orochimaru chuckled and countered.
"No, I was only curious… how far your research on Ōtsutsuki cells has progressed…"
Hiruko waved his hands repeatedly. Although Danzō intended to raise him to compete with Orochimaru, Hiruko didn't dare make any sudden moves on the surface.
Orochimaru had too many secrets. Someone at Hiruko's level could never restrain him.
Even together with Shigaraki Tanuki, it was impossible.
"Don't be so tense. I've already reached the point where I can create artificial humans using Ōtsutsuki cells, but doing so is rather wasteful."
Orochimaru shook his head, signaling Hiruko to relax.
Seeing Hiruko calm down, Orochimaru pushed open a hidden door within the laboratory.
Seeing Orochimaru motion for him to follow, Hiruko swallowed nervously and trailed behind with caution.
Behind the hidden door was a dark corridor, lit only by the emerald-green lamps hanging overhead.
With the green light illuminating the path, Hiruko saw the cultivation tanks lining both sides of the corridor.
Inside them were all sorts of incomplete embryos.
Judging from the fact that Orochimaru didn't stop walking, Hiruko understood that these defective products were not what he wanted to show him.
"The man who created the artificial humans is… interesting."
Walking deeper into the corridor, Orochimaru suddenly spoke.
Hiruko remained silent, waiting for more.
"Not only did he avoid encrypting the Ōtsutsuki cells, he even deliberately guided me through the chakra pathways to discover certain things. I suspect he has ulterior motives."
Orochimaru recalled what he discovered when dissecting the artificial human for the first time.
These cells were denser than those Takeshi had brought from the moon—yet correspondingly, far harder to control than the lunar samples.
Orochimaru spent a long time stabilizing the concentration of the cells, eventually using them to create Mitsuki.
But his true masterpiece—the one proving his mastery over Ōtsutsuki cells—was not Mitsuki, but what he was about to show Hiruko.
"This is…"
Inside a spacious chamber, Hiruko finally saw what Orochimaru had brought him to see.
Reanimated bodies of Senju Hashirama, Senju Tobirama, and Uchiha Madara.
Most striking of all was Uchiha Madara—who, the last time he was summoned, had been an old man—now appearing in his youthful form.
"This is Uchiha Madara with the Rinnegan. So, upon seeing this creation… what are you thinking now?"
Used to summon the three…