Hiruko's Defection, Research

A puff of white smoke rose from the scroll, and a tall, thin figure slowly emerged from within. It was Minamoto Takuya, who had just been at Hiruko's Experiment Base.

He had long since placed quite a few Summoning Technique scrolls in both his home and his Experiment Base. Whenever he needed one, he only had to notify the crows to activate the scroll.

As for why he had not let the crows carry the scrolls earlier, it was naturally because carrying one would make it obvious that they were summoned beasts, directly exposing them.

Besides, the scroll was nearly as large as the one Jiraiya carried. A crow would have had difficulty carrying it as well.

Minamoto Takuya had wanted to go directly to his Experiment Base, but Konoha was constantly covered by a Barrier. Though it seemed rather useless, he did know the passwords for entering and leaving.

The problem was that using the Summoning Technique to enter or leave would be equivalent to breaking in without identity verification. It would be troublesome if he were mistaken for a spy.

Therefore, even when traveling to his Experiment Base via the Summoning Technique, he would not use it within Konoha's Barrier.

As for Hiruko's Experiment Base? Naturally, it was within Konoha's Barrier~

After being summoned back, Minamoto Takuya undid the Sealing Technique. Looking at the pile of scrolls recording the research process of the Chimera Technique before him, the corners of his mouth slowly curled upward.

In the end, he could not help covering his forehead with one hand and bursting into laughter.

"Hehe... Hahahaha!"

"Finally... I've finally reached this point! The Chimera Technique!!"

Fortunately, there were few residents around Minamoto Takuya's home. Otherwise, they would probably have been startled awake by his laughter and shouting.

When the laughter stopped, Minamoto Takuya stared at the scrolls with bloodshot eyes.

Though it was already late, there was no way he could sleep in his current state of mind. He might as well... dig right in!

Meanwhile, at Hiruko's Experiment Base, Hiruko entered with excitement still written across his face.

In the past, he had experimented again and again, yet he had still been unable to see a path that would allow him to surpass the Sannin.

Now, not only had he gained inspiration from Kakashi Hatake's Sharingan on how to surpass the Sannin, he had also successfully placed a Puppet Technique on him. All that remained was to quietly wait for an opportunity...

At that thought, an irrepressible smile appeared on Hiruko's face once more.

As for the slight increase in humidity within the Experiment Base, he naturally paid it no mind. He did not even check whether his experimental records had been tampered with.

After Hiruko suppressed his excitement, he began considering his future plans. Kakashi's Sharingan was not urgent for now; a mere Two-Tomoe Sharingan was not enough.

The Sharingan could only truly display its power once it reached Three Tomoe.

Then, the next step was to seek out other Kekkei Genkai.

Hiruko frowned as he considered the Kekkei Genkai he could obtain. Aside from the Sharingan, the village also had the Byakugan...

Just as Hiruko was thinking, the attack on Kakashi Hatake was discovered.

Kakashi Hatake was currently Konoha's Hero. To be attacked while recovering from his injuries was already beyond what the Hokage could tolerate.

Thus, three people Hiruko knew very well were dispatched, and they were now following the trail he had left behind toward this Experiment Base.

However, none of this had anything to do with Minamoto Takuya anymore.

It was still that run-down house.

Ever since Minamoto Takuya had returned here after obtaining the Chimera Technique, there had been no movement for several days, as though no one remained inside.

Yet within sat a person as motionless as stone, remaining in the same spot for a very long time.

Minamoto Takuya had been sitting there without moving for a long time, clutching the experimental records for the Chimera Technique. Stubble had grown across his face, and the whites of his eyes were filled with bloodshot veins that spoke of exhaustion.

Yet even so, it was clear that his physical fatigue had not affected his mental excitement.

His eyes remained bright as he continuously studied the Chimera Technique.

During this time, he had also used the Clairvoyance Technique to observe Hiruko's Experiment Base. As expected, Hiruko had not discovered him.

Moreover, before long, Minamoto Takuya saw the figures of the Sannin. He could guess that the matter involving Kakashi Hatake had likely been discovered.

During that period, he forced himself to stop researching and had the crows observe the Sannin's movements from as far away as possible. Only after confirming that their target was solely Hiruko did he breathe a sigh of relief.

He had truly been worried that the Sannin might discover his traces. Though he had contingencies for escape, that would have severely affected his subsequent plans.

However, he had also confirmed that Hiruko had already prepared to leave Konoha the moment he acted against Kakashi Hatake, or perhaps he had long ago prepared a means of escape.

Perhaps the reason Hiruko had been able to escape Konoha from the hands of the Sannin was not because they had gone easy on him?

But regardless of the truth, none of it had anything to do with him now that he had obtained the Chimera Technique!

After confirming this, Minamoto Takuya had the crows stop watching that place and instead move freely through Konoha to feed. He, meanwhile, devoted all of his attention to the Chimera Technique.

And so, several more days passed.

Minamoto Takuya looked at the final experimental record and the blank pages after it. He slowly closed his eyes, then opened them again, revealing both excitement and regret.

He was excited because the Chimera Technique could now truly be used, albeit barely.

He was regretful because the Chimera Technique ultimately had its limits.

Although, according to Hiruko in the Original Work, fusing five Kekkei Genkai would allow one to attain an Immortal Body.

Minamoto Takuya had ninety-nine percent disbelief in that claim.

At present, only Kaguya Otsutsuki possessed an Immortal Body, which was why she could only be sealed rather than killed.

Hiruko wanted to achieve an Immortal Body by relying on five Kekkei Genkai?

That was far too childish! Even Kekkei Mōra could not accomplish such a thing!

Furthermore, Hiruko in the Original Work had never truly achieved the fusion of five Kekkei Genkai. It had existed only in his imagination, so the so-called Immortal Body was naturally even less believable.

Minamoto Takuya knew that many powerful figures would appear later. Even Obito Uchiha and Madara Uchiha, who possessed Six Paths Bodies, could not achieve Immortal Bodies, much less an ordinary Chimera Technique.

However, none of that was a problem.

First, Minamoto Takuya would not waste so many slots on ordinary Kekkei Genkai like Hiruko had in the Original Work. With his Heavenly Eye, even relying on the Chimera Technique alone would make him vastly stronger than Hiruko.

Second, a faint smile curled across Minamoto Takuya's lips. He had not failed to consider what to do after obtaining the Chimera Technique.

He stood up and stretched, listening to the crackling sounds from the Bones in his body, as though they were protesting his abuse.

He had not slept for several days and naturally wanted to rest, but his stomach was empty as well. Before closing his eyes, he needed to at least fill his belly.

At last, Minamoto Takuya pushed open the door, which had shown no movement for days.

Eager to rest sooner, he could no longer be bothered with anything else. He directly gathered chakra beneath his feet and formed a few hand seals.

"Body Flicker Technique!"

Minamoto Takuya's figure vanished from before the door.

But before long, he returned home. This time, he ignored everything and threw himself onto the bed, falling into a deep sleep.

As for washing up and such, he would do that after he had rested!

He was utterly exhausted!