At this instant.
Everyone present could sense a completely different kind of Chakra pulsing within Hiruko.
It was like the throbbing of a heart.
With every minute and every second.
This Chakra continued to grow stronger.
Although Hiruko appeared no different from before, aside from having grown a new arm.
It had filled in the cracks across his shoulder and chest.
But...
In the end, something had changed.
"That's a powerful Chakra reaction."
Pain's swaying phantom spoke calmly.
There seemed to be a hint of praise in his tone.
As if this version of Hiruko now qualified to make him take things a little more seriously.
There was no doubt about it.
After completing the Fusion Ritual, Hiruko's strength had risen to an entirely new level.
Even among Kage, the gap between individuals could be enormous.
For example, no one would think that Hashirama Senju's combat power was equal to that of the future Tsuchikage, Kurotsuchi.
Beneath the vast sky.
Hiruko's shoulders and body began to tremble.
He was laughing.
"Heh heh heh... hehe... hahaha, hahahahaha!!! At last—"
Hiruko spread his palms and stared at his body.
"I can feel it... I have become an immortal, eternal life-form!"
"..."
Nearby, although Orochimaru was still smiling after hearing those words, his smile had already turned somewhat feral.
After all.
Immortality was also the direction of his own research.
The next moment.
Hiruko turned his head.
He reined in his expression.
But without a doubt, the look he gave Hyuga Sho had become crazed and filled with killing intent.
"You actually intended to destroy my Fusion Ritual and stop me from becoming a perfect life-form... Jurozaemon Biwa, no... just who are you, exactly...?"
Hiruko had never personally seen Hyuga Sho release Storm Release: Energy Wave Cannon.
So for the moment, he still