"Hiruko, come with me."
As Uchiha Mirai walked away, Orochimaru turned and led Hiruko deeper into the experimental base.
Along the way, they passed a dazzling array of experimental equipment. Hiruko couldn't stop himself from drooling a little at the sight.
Compared to the crude tools and terrible conditions he used to work with…
This place was nothing short of paradise.
"Never thought I'd set foot in Konoha again after all these years," Hiruko said, unable to hold back a sigh of emotion.
Back in their Academy days, he'd been close with Jiraiya, Orochimaru, and Tsunade. But after graduation, the three of them were taken in as students by Hiruzen Sarutobi. The gap between them began to widen, and the bond they once had gradually faded.
Faced with such a huge disparity, he eventually chose to defect from Konoha.
He'd thought he'd never have a chance to return.
But now… here he was.
Eventually, the two reached a dormitory room. Orochimaru stopped and said,
"Hiruko, you'll be staying here from now on. I'll assign tasks to you when needed."
"If there's anything you don't understand, feel free to ask me anytime."
Seeing that Orochimaru was about to leave, Hiruko couldn't help but ask, "When do you want the information on the Chimera Technique?"
Orochimaru paused, then answered calmly, "Whenever you're ready to hand it over."
Hiruko scowled at that.
"Orochimaru, I'm not the same person I used to be. I've grown a lot stronger over the years—my power is no longer beneath yours."
"If you keep seeing me through your outdated lens, you're going to regret it."
What a sensitive ego...
But Orochimaru couldn't deny—he was intrigued.
What exactly was this Chimera Technique that Hiruko held in such high regard?
"Alright, Hiruko. Why don't you start by explaining what this Chimera Technique of yours actually is?"
Hiruko raised his head proudly. "The Chimera Technique is a technique that allows you to absorb the kekkei genkai of others and make them your own."
"With this jutsu, even the most average ninja can gain tremendous power."
"Take me, for example. I now possess four kekkei genkai: Swift Release, Steel Release, Dark Release, and Storm Release."
"Here's the documentation on the Chimera Technique. Have a look."
He waited expectantly for the look of shock to appear on Orochimaru's face.
He could already picture the expression—the genius who once looked down on him, now completely outdone. What a satisfying thought.
It was thoughts like these that had kept him going all these years through hardship.
But to his surprise, after Orochimaru finished reading, there was no awe. No amazement.
Only… disappointment.
"So this is the Chimera Technique…"
"Hey! What's that supposed to mean?!" Hiruko snapped, not liking Orochimaru's indifferent tone.
Orochimaru tucked the documents away and gave a soft chuckle.
"Hiruko, your so-called Chimera Technique requires a complex ritual, and the process involves devouring another person's body…"
"If I'm not mistaken, this kind of crude method is highly susceptible to spiritual backlash from the people you absorb, isn't it?"
He wasn't speaking from theory alone. Orochimaru had once developed a similar technique—Living Corpse Reincarnation—a method that allowed him to take over another's body to gain their abilities.
He was all too familiar with the concept.
While it offered great power in the short term, over time it inevitably led to backlash. The soul would become fragmented, unstable.
He had long since lost interest in that kind of thing.
Seeing Orochimaru so dismissive, Hiruko couldn't hold it in.
"Even if the Chimera Technique has some flaws, you can't deny it's still a powerful forbidden technique."
Orochimaru's brow furrowed slightly. Hiruko was still stuck in his own little world.
If he didn't crush this delusion now, he might cause trouble down the line.
His smile faded. His voice turned cold.
"Hiruko, I'll be blunt—your Chimera Technique feels like a relic from a bygone era."
"These days, we can use genetic engineering to grant kekkei genkai without any side effects."
"Not only that, but scientific ninja tools can now store and utilize kekkei genkai abilities. Even ordinary people without chakra can use them."
"These methods don't require sacrificing the life of someone born with a kekkei genkai."
"The treasure you cherish so much? In this lab, it's already been thrown on the scrap heap."
Orochimaru's words hit like a hammer. Hiruko stood frozen in place, stunned.
He had spent years perfecting this technique, believing it was his magnum opus. Yet here he was, hearing it dismissed as obsolete...
His mouth went dry. "Orochimaru… is what you're saying true?"
Orochimaru snorted softly.
"You'll be working here too. None of this is classified. You're welcome to look up the research for yourself."
The tone, the confidence—Hiruko could tell he wasn't lying.
His knees almost gave out. His expression turned hollow.
"You win, Orochimaru."
"Compared to you, I really am far behind…"
Years of perseverance and effort—all crumbling in a single conversation. Hiruko felt like he'd just watched his life's purpose dissolve into nothing.
For the first time, he felt a real urge to just give up.
Orochimaru, seeing how crushed he looked, softened slightly.
"You're still missing the point. None of this was my doing."
"I used to be like you, chasing strength by taking over other people's bodies."
"That technique I mentioned—Living Corpse Reincarnation—wasn't much different from your Chimera Technique."
"It wasn't until I met Mirai-kun that I realized how narrow my vision truly was."
"You could say that most of the research in this facility is just putting Mirai-kun's ideas into practice."
"I'm no genius. Mirai-kun is."
Hiruko looked at him as if seeing him for the first time.
The cold, arrogant Orochimaru he remembered—was now speaking with genuine admiration?
He couldn't help but ask, "Lord Mirai... he's a researcher too?"
"'Researcher' doesn't begin to describe him," Orochimaru said with a smile, turning to leave. "Mirai-kun is like someone born with all knowledge—he has unique insights into nearly every field."
"It's getting late. That's enough chatting for today."
"Stick around long enough, and you'll see for yourself just how terrifying he is."
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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