Although the internal organs of Hoshigakure's ninjas all showed some abnormalities, there were exceptions.
The Third Hoshikage sitting in the seat of honor possessed remarkably vigorous vitality. From his appearance alone, he looked no more than sixty, while his life force was closer to that of a middle-aged man in his forties or fifties.
However, according to Root intelligence, this old Third Hoshikage below was already at least eighty years old.
"Benign mutation?" Sarutobi Toru narrowed his eyes slightly as the thought flashed through his mind.
It was no wonder Sarutobi Toru thought so. The symptoms appearing on these ninjas really did resemble genetic mutations caused by radiation.
Part of the Third Hoshikage's physical structure was indeed different from that of an ordinary ninja. Though the changes were minute, they could not escape Sarutobi Toru's divine senses.
Sarutobi Toru then looked toward the central building of Hoshigakure. There, he sensed a streak of pink light emitting strange ripples. It was clearly the meteorite known as the "Star."
Why overthink it? I'll grab a few of them as experimental subjects, capture this benignly mutated Third Hoshikage, then take the meteorite. That'll settle everything. Sarutobi Toru stopped dwelling on it and leaped directly off the Flying Nimbus.
Looking at the ninjas fighting below the arena, the Third Hoshikage wore no smile.
"Alas, even Summer Star and Firefly Star, the two with the greatest talent, cannot endure the Star's irradiation. If this continues, will there ever truly be a day when the Mysterious Peacock Method is perfected?"
"Unfortunately, Hoshigakure is far too small. We have no real means of research. In the end, I am merely a lucky man whose body happens to be compatible with the Star's radiation."
"If not for my example, the Second Hoshikage should have forbidden the cultivation of