Completion: Immortal Breathing

The Breathing Style that Sarutobi Hiruzen had just practiced was naturally the one created by Tsugikuni Yoriichi, who had simulated the fluctuations of the Perfect Being based on its unique characteristics.

Its most direct effect was not the extension of his lifespan, but rather bringing his own body closer to the state of a Perfect Being.

Under the incredible talent of Tsugikuni Yoriichi, it is truly possible for me to imitate the life fluctuations of another creature.

Or perhaps, a biological magnetic field.

Sarutobi Hiruzen certainly knew that in the Heavens and Myriad Worlds, there existed extremely high-level superior beings.

For instance, creatures like dragons; even the places they stayed would be shrouded in their magnetic fields, thereby altering the environment of that region and the genetic structure of the surrounding organisms.

It caused them to lean toward the nature of a dragon.

Even more extreme are those heretical evil gods; merely by being gazed upon or seen, one would be influenced by their life magnetic field...

...and transformed into their thrall.

Sarutobi Hiruzen felt the changes within his body.

And I, through this Breathing Style, am actively aligning myself with the properties of the Perfect Being.

The physical sensation is completely different...

If Sarutobi Hiruzen's body had previously been like an old, oiled machine—usable, but inevitably hindered by a sense of friction—then after completing one cycle of the Breathing Style, his body felt like a brand-new piece of modern machinery.

Not only was the friction of bodily aging gone, but the efficiency and operational patterns of his body had been completely overhauled.

Every cell possesses a more exuberant vitality.

Refining Chakra has become smoother and more abundant...

My physical fitness has also recovered to nearly its peak period...

My reaction speed and five senses have all clearly improved by a grade.

Sarutobi Hiruzen assessed the changes brought to him by this new Breathing Style.

Unlike the temporary boosts in physical fitness gained by squeezing energy out of his cells, Sarutobi Hiruzen clearly perceived that this improvement was comfortable and natural, as if his body had always been this way.

This was an elevation of the very essence of life!

Immediately afterward, Sarutobi Hiruzen swallowed a few Military Ration Pills specially made by the Hokage.

My digestive capacity is also on a completely different level than before.

Food leaves almost no residue in the body; this energy absorption rate completely transcends the scope of humanity.

Sarutobi Hiruzen felt a trace of excitement.

Therefore, at least in terms of physical life hierarchy, the Perfect Being is far superior to humans.

It is even far superior to the humans of the Ninja World.

Of course, this change was not constant; as time passed, the effects the Breathing Style had just bestowed upon Sarutobi Hiruzen slowly weakened until they vanished.

Sarutobi Hiruzen returned to the state of an old man over fifty, whose bodily functions were on the decline.

However, Sarutobi Hiruzen felt not a hint of discouragement, because the effect of the Breathing Style was not meant to be temporary; it was meant to permanently evolve the body in a certain direction.

For example, the swordsmen of the Demon Slayer Corps were like this; after long-term use of a Breathing Style, they would form the Demon Slayer Mark and attain the Transparent World.

Of course, the drain on life force would also greatly increase, causing the marked swordsmen of the Demon Slayer Corps to rarely live past the age of twenty-five.

There will still be a small portion of the Breathing Style's effects remaining.

Although he had stopped the operation of the Breathing Style, Sarutobi Hiruzen could still clearly feel the changes in his body.

Compared to the brand-new version of the modern machine he felt while practicing, it was a far cry, but it could at least be considered an old machine that had been refilled with fresh oil.

So, when I practice to the level of Total Concentration Constant...

...maintaining this Breathing Style even during sleep...

Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded, quite satisfied with the gains from this traversal.

I should be able to stabilize that abundant and vigorous physical state...

And when I take it a step further, reaching the level of the 'Demon Slayer Mark'...

...I should be able to completely stabilize the body pattern of the Perfect Being...

...completing the evolution of the body and becoming an almost entirely new species.

Sarutobi Hiruzen pondered.

Being able to complete the evolution of the body and the replenishment of life force...

...is completely different from the functions of previous Breathing Styles.

Then, let's call it the Immortal Breathing.

An Immortal was undoubtedly a highly advanced form of life.

It was also the realm that Sarutobi Hiruzen aspired to reach.

The Perfect Being of the Demon Slayer World was naturally out of reach, but that did not mean Sarutobi Hiruzen could not achieve it in the future.

"It is just that Immortal Breathing, compared to other Breathing Styles,"

"Its operational method and the rhythm of its breathing are dozens of times more complex..."

Naturally, Immortal Breathing was not perfect either.

"After all, the operational magnetic field of a higher-level organism, compared to a single element like wind, fire, lightning, or anything else,"

"Is on an entirely different level of complexity."

Sarutobi Hiruzen noticed that during the few days spent developing Immortal Breathing, the expression of Tsugikuni Yoriichi had become somewhat haggard.

"Fortunately, the original Third Hokage's talent for learning was also top-tier..."

"But it still took me a week just to learn the basics, and reaching Total Concentration Constant will be an even longer process."

"Therefore, it is impossible for Immortal Breathing to be popularized."

Sarutobi Hiruzen was not just a lone traveler who had transmigrated; he also held the position of leader of Konoha, so he naturally needed to consider issues regarding the development of his faction.

"Compared to those Breathing Styles that also push the body to its limits, a Breathing Style that nourishes the body's capabilities is undoubtedly more effective for ninjas."

"However, it is not without a solution."

"It seems you have already mastered the Breathing Style, Lord Sarutobi."

Upon meeting, Tsugikuni Yoriichi 'saw' the changes in Sarutobi Hiruzen's body and immediately offered his congratulations.

"That was truly swift."

"Even for me, such a complex Breathing Style is difficult to master..."

Tsugikuni Yoriichi expressed his shock at Sarutobi Hiruzen's learning ability.

That Breathing Style, which mimicked the physiological operations of a higher-level organism, was on an entirely different tier of complexity compared to ordinary Breathing Styles.

Although this set of Breathing Styles had high universality and could theoretically be learned by any human, According to what Tsugikuni Yoriichi knew, not a single swordsman in the Demon Slayer Corps could master this technique.

Even if they did learn it, their achievements would be limited, and it would be fundamentally difficult for them to enter the realm of Total Concentration Constant.

Because the more difficult and complex a Breathing Style is, the easier it is to be interrupted by external factors, and the requirement for Total Concentration Constant is to maintain the operation of the Breathing Style at all times.

It was precisely because of the learning difficulty of this Breathing Style that Tsugikuni Yoriichi had passed it on without any burden.

Because if some people were to become Perfect Beings through this Breathing Style, it would undoubtedly be another disaster for humanity.

"Yoriichi..."

"You have no other flaws..."

"Except that sometimes you are too humble..."

Sarutobi Hiruzen patted Tsugikuni Yoriichi on the shoulder, the corner of his mouth twitching involuntarily.

Tsugikuni Yoriichi had invented this Immortal Breathing in five days, while Sarutobi Hiruzen had taken seven days to learn it.

The gap between them was self-evident.

And every time Tsugikuni Yoriichi touched upon the topic of talent, it left one speechless.

Gentlemen! Come and bury me with your follow-up reads!