The Ins and Outs

As he spoke, a trace of grave killing intent actually surfaced in the tone of Tsugikuni Yoriichi.

He could clearly perceive that the creature before him possessed the characteristics of a demon, yet it lacked the weaknesses of one.

Tsugikuni Yoriichi knew all too well how terrifying a demon that had no weaknesses and could roam during the day would be.

Seeing Tsugikuni Yoriichi's reaction, Sarutobi Hiruzen was not worried that he would draw his blade to strike him down, but instead explained the ins and outs of the situation.

"Yoriichi, do you know how Kibutsuji Muzan became a demon?"

Tsugikuni Yoriichi did not speak; he was waiting for Sarutobi Hiruzen's explanation. If Sarutobi Hiruzen harbored any intentions of harming humanity or was guilty of heinous crimes, he would not hesitate to draw his blade and show Sarutobi Hiruzen exactly what a stunning 1,500 strikes per second felt like.

"The Ubuyashiki patriarch once said that Kibutsuji Muzan originated from their family, but he didn't provide any details,"

"Or perhaps he didn't know for sure himself..."

"Kibutsuji Muzan was born into the Ubuyashiki family during the Heian period. Although he was born into privilege, he did not possess a healthy body."

"A certain painful illness plagued him, and all the doctors believed he would not live to reach adulthood."

"But Muzan still managed to live to the age of twenty."

Sarutobi Hiruzen recounted the origins of Kibutsuji Muzan and what he had been doing.

"Later, a doctor created a formula intended to treat Kibutsuji Muzan."

"But Kibutsuji Muzan, still in agony after drinking the medicine, felt that the doctor had deceived him,"

"So he killed the doctor."

"However, after some time had passed,"

"Kibutsuji Muzan discovered that the doctor had not deceived him."

"His body had recovered, the illness had vanished entirely, and he was far stronger than before, even possessing various extraordinary abilities..."

"But he also gained a weakness: the sun..."

Sarutobi Hiruzen continued to speak, while Tsugikuni Yoriichi listened quietly.

"Later, he discovered that the medicinal decoction he had consumed was not actually the complete formula..."

"It was missing one ingredient: the Blue Spider Lily..."

"Kibutsuji Muzan then concluded that the Blue Spider Lily was the key to overcoming the sun..."

"But the doctor was dead, so no one knew where the Blue Spider Lily was anymore..."

"Kibutsuji Muzan searched for hundreds of years, right up until today,"

"Aside from eating humans, he has actually been searching for one thing: the Blue Spider Lily."

Tsugikuni Yoriichi finished listening to the story and felt a sense of realization.

"So this creature before me is likely a demon combined with the Blue Spider Lily,"

"A product that has overcome sunlight..."

Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded.

"That's right. Perfect 1 is the Perfect Being that Kibutsuji Muzan has spent hundreds of years trying to become,"

"Immortal, and without fear of the sun..."

"However, Yoriichi, you don't need to be nervous."

"Once a demon overcomes the sun, it also loses the ability to spread its kind,"

"And the craving for human flesh also becomes something that can be overcome..."

"It can survive by eating ordinary human food..."

Sarutobi Hiruzen's words dispelled Tsugikuni Yoriichi's concerns.

The weight that had been pressing on Tsugikuni Yoriichi's heart was lifted.

If demons lost their infectious nature, then no matter how strong or evil they were, they would only be a tiny minority; compared to humanity, they would be a drop in the ocean and not worth worrying about.

"Even so, we cannot let Kibutsuji Muzan obtain the Blue Spider Lily."

"We must eliminate him as soon as possible."

Tsugikuni Yoriichi did not lower his guard.

If a malicious, inhumane creature like Kibutsuji Muzan were to become a perfect demon, he would inevitably bring disaster upon humanity.

And with a tacit understanding, Tsugikuni Yoriichi did not mention the existence of the Blue Spider Lily again, nor did he ask for its specific location.

The less people who knew the specific intelligence regarding such things, the better; even someone as powerful as him could have moments where he let his guard down.

"Then, Lord Sarutobi, why not choose to become this kind of perfect demon?"

Tsugikuni Yoriichi asked again, full of doubt.

"If one wants to live longer, becoming a demon without weaknesses should be the best choice,"

Sarutobi Hiruzen shook his head and said, half-truthfully.

"Although I wish to live longer..."

"I am unwilling to abandon my identity as a human."

"If I could live a long life in the light of day,"

"that would naturally be for the best."

Tsugikuni Yoriichi felt quite admirable upon hearing this; with a mind as strong as his, he could naturally perceive the inherent flaws of humanity.

That Lord Sarutobi before him could refuse such a tempting choice was undoubtedly a sign of noble character.

"Then, Lord Sarutobi,"

"what exactly is your purpose in bringing me here?"

Tsugikuni Yoriichi believed it still had to do with the Breathing Style.

Sarutobi Hiruzen spoke slowly, "Tell me..."

"Does a Perfect Being like this..."

"have its own unique fluctuations?"

Inside the spacious room, Sarutobi Hiruzen, dressed in a tight ninja suit, wore a serious expression with his eyes half-closed.

His entire body rose and fell in a strange rhythm, and the air between his nose and mouth turned into white mist, slowly drifting around his body before gathering again.

At this moment, the frequency of Sarutobi Hiruzen's breathing became extremely long and slow, containing highly complex patterns.

The pauses, fluctuations, and continuous rhythms between each inhalation and exhalation were incredibly long and intricate.

Yet, Sarutobi Hiruzen executed them with extreme precision, fully unleashing the potential of the Breathing Style.

"Hoo."

Sarutobi Hiruzen finally exhaled, the condensed white smoke appearing almost solid, refusing to dissipate for several seconds.

"I have finally completed one cycle..."

"A brand new Breathing Style, adapted for me."

After Sarutobi Hiruzen brought Tsugikuni Yoriichi to see Perfect Being No. 1, he had proposed creating a Breathing Style tailored to himself, based on the biological fluctuations of the Perfect Being.

The prototype of the Breathing Style that Tsugikuni Yoriichi had originally created and given to Sarutobi Hiruzen already had the basic effect of extending life; it wasn't difficult to understand.

It simply converted the Breathing Style's original ability to vent physical strength and vitality into one that preserved and nurtured vitality.

This could greatly reduce the loss of life force, though it naturally sacrificed the explosive power of the original Breathing Style.

Sarutobi Hiruzen understood this, but as a transmigrator, he was more greedy and flexible.

He did not want to learn this Breathing Style only to act like a turtle, relying on reducing his daily physical consumption to slow down the loss of his lifespan.

In essence, that wasn't extending his life, but merely delaying the depletion of it.

That kind of Breathing Style, which achieved longevity through hiding and surviving, might solve the lifespan issue for a short time in Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes.

But as time went on, or if he engaged in continuous high-intensity combat, the flaws would still be exposed.

"Cultivating nature without cultivating life is the first sickness of cultivation..."

Sarutobi Hiruzen smiled.

"I have no desire to practice that Turtle Breathing."

Indeed, this Breathing Style with limited life-extending effects was jokingly referred to by Sarutobi Hiruzen as Turtle Breathing.

"For an ordinary person, perhaps learning it could extend their lifespan to over a hundred years."

"But for a ninja like me, who has already over-exhausted my body, it is basically useless."

"And now..."

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