Experiment and the Curtain Rises

Time flew by. On a desolate, uninhabited plain.

No one would have imagined that an Experiment Base was hidden here. At this moment, it was already filled with all kinds of corpses.

There were ordinary animal carcasses, as well as the corpses of Summoned Beasts possessing chakra.

Minamoto Takuya stood there, holding a large stack of experimental data.

He had first conducted fusion experiments between animals, then switched to Summoned Beasts. Only after the experiments were fully complete did he use higher-grade materials.

At first, however, he had only fused Summoned Beasts with higher-grade materials. After all, this was a remote wilderness. There were plenty of wild animals, but acquiring living high-grade materials was somewhat troublesome.

"The experimental data... has a problem." Minamoto Takuya muttered as he looked over the records in his hand.

It was not that the fusion had failed. Rather, the fused body's changes were somewhat wrong.

Although the fused subject had successfully gained the physique of a Summoned Beast, as time passed, it also underwent subtle changes. There were even signs of collapse, though the process was not fast.

Minamoto Takuya tapped his head as he thought through everything from the Original Work, finally uttering three words.

"Heaven, earth, man."

Hiruko had prepared for so long. He had not merely found corpses with Kekkei Genkai; he had also prepared the most suitable location for fusion, along with the celestial phenomenon of an Annular Solar Eclipse. Only then had he been ready for the final fusion.

Perhaps it required making use of a type of Natural Energy produced when the celestial phenomenon changed.

But... those were conditions Hiruko needed in order to fuse five Kekkei Genkai. The first four Kekkei Genkai did not require such harsh conditions.

"Then this must be the Chimera Technique's inherent flaw." Minamoto Takuya sighed.

He thought of how Hiruko, who had once possessed a fairly tall build, had turned into a somewhat feminine, scrawny youth after using the Chimera Technique.

And how, after failing to fuse with Kakashi Hatake at the end, he had become neither human nor monster.

Minamoto Takuya had actually long guessed that there would be flaws. It was nearly impossible for this kind of ninjutsu to be perfect.

Even if Hiruko had truly prepared the conditions of heaven, earth, and man, and perfectly fused five Kekkei Genkai, he could only reduce the technique's flaws, not eliminate them.

Since it had flaws, should he simply give up on this ninjutsu?

Minamoto Takuya curled his lips. How could he?!

If he did not use this ninjutsu, then the flaws he currently possessed would be even greater!

He had already considered whether this ninjutsu might have flaws. Now, it had merely been proven. Though he found it regrettable, he would never give up on the only ninjutsu capable of changing his future path!

There was no other way!

Sage Art? Not to mention that he had wanted to learn Sage Art before but had never even gotten started, he also did not dare to enter it lightly.

Even in the later stages, Sage Art's power was not particularly high. Unless the God Tree expelled all the Natural Energy in this world, Sage Art would have room to develop to a level not inferior to chakra ninjutsu.

And that was clearly impossible.

A Ten-Tails Jinchuriki? What a joke.

With his current pathetic physique, even placing an ordinary Tailed Beast inside him would leave him with a slim chance of survival, much less the Ten-Tails. That would be certain death!

Therefore, even if the Chimera Technique had towering flaws, he would still use it!

Minamoto Takuya looked at the experimental records and drew a deep breath. Next came the final experiment.

Without wasting any time, he completed all the necessary preparations and began his research.

As for the struggles of the experimental materials, such as the Summoned Beasts, they were useless. Even someone at the Jonin level could not break free from these restraints. Only beings with exceptionally powerful physiques had any chance of breaking them.

Although he was merely a Special Jonin, he had a deep understanding of ninjutsu and was familiar with the power of techniques at every level. Everything in this laboratory was the result of his painstaking construction. Accidents were unlikely to occur.

Then, Minamoto Takuya formed hand seals with both hands beside the subject. They were even more complicated than the original Chimera Technique's seals, because he was not using it on himself and needed to make some modifications.

Soon, the hand seals were complete.

"Ninja Art—Chimera Technique!"

Minamoto Takuya watched the changes in the experiment before him indifferently. He had seen such changes many times already.

At last, the fusion was complete. Minamoto Takuya looked at the various experimental instruments on the operating table beside him. It was time to begin the verification.

A devilish smile appeared on Minamoto Takuya's face.

He did not feel any psychological burden. No one who made it onto his operating table was innocent.

Even so, Minamoto Takuya felt that if this world truly had judgments of good and evil, heaven and hell, then he would surely go to hell after death—and not to one of its lower levels.

But those were matters for after death. Even if his sins reached the heavens, so what? As long as he was strong enough, who could judge him?

Not long after, Minamoto Takuya finished his records.

There was no need to rush yet. Even if one successful experiment proceeded exactly as predicted, it was not reliable enough. Naturally, he needed to conduct several more experiments.

After several more experiments, every process was exceptionally perfect. They all matched his pre-experiment predictions almost flawlessly, and not a single accident occurred.

Only then did Minamoto Takuya let out a breath of relief. Yet he did not immediately begin fusing the Uzumaki Clan bloodline. Instead, he washed up and began to rest.

After so many days and so many meticulous experiments, he still felt mentally fine, but that was only an illusion born of excitement.

He needed to bring himself to perfect condition before taking this step, one crucial to his life!

While Minamoto Takuya rested.

Elsewhere, in a dark cave, Obito Uchiha, whom Konoha had already confirmed dead, could finally move freely. He was now able to control the other half of his body at will.

And before him, Madara Uchiha, the former ruler of the Shinobi World who had aged to the very limit, naturally knew of his condition as well.

Then it was time for the next stage of the plan to begin.

Listening to the clamor of the boy wanting to return to Konoha and find his companions, the corner of Madara's mouth curved into a faint smile.

That was it. The purer the heart, the greater the reaction when hope shattered. Only then would he be more likely to awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan and become an excellent pawn.

Hearing him mention that little girl, Madara naturally knew who she was through Black Zetsu, and knew how important she was to Obito Uchiha.

The Mist Shinobi should make their move as well!