Scientific Research Cooperation

The faint light filtering through two small holes into the cell, along with the stench of the bed frame—Hiruko looked at the incoming glimmer and used his fingernail to carve a stroke into the wall.

A vertical line and a T-shape; it had been seven days.

"Hiruko, come out!"

The cell door, which had not been opened for a long time, was pushed aside by a ninja wearing a Konoha flak jacket with the Military Police Force emblem embroidered on his arm, who shouted with an indifferent and condescending air.

"Understood."

Hiruko responded softly, a spark of light returning to his eyes as he followed the prison guard out.

Uchiha Nara had ordered that Hiruko be treated well, so the prison had arranged a private cell for him. At the same time, this cell was more isolated and lonely.

Following the prison guard, Hiruko glanced at the other cells. Each one was much the same: in the cramped space, seven or eight ragged prisoners huddled in the corners.

Looking at these tattered wretches, Hiruko felt no sense of shared misfortune; instead, his eyes lit up.

If I could experiment with the Chimera Technique here, that would be truly wonderful.

Hiruko thought to himself, his eyes flickering as he carefully observed his surroundings.

Konoha Prison

Warden's Office

Uchiha Nara sat in the original warden's chair, legs spread wide in a commanding posture.

The prison director, Warden Uchiha Riki, sat below him with a fawning, flattering smile on his face.

"Lord Clan Head, I have already sent men to retrieve the prisoner; he will be brought here shortly."

Nara did not reply, rubbing his chin with a dark expression, which made it impossible for Warden Uchiha Riki to fathom his thoughts.

"Lord Clan Head, as you instructed, I have given that ninja preferential treatment. I arranged a private room for him and provided him with the standard rations of our Military Police Force members. Haha, I imagine he must be grateful for your kindness."

Seeing that Nara still did not respond, Uchiha Riki couldn't help but steal a cautious glance at him.

"Mm, not bad." Nara nodded.

Seeing Nara respond, Uchiha Riki breathed a slight sigh of relief. It was essentially certain that the next captain of the Military Police Force would be none other than Nara.

At the same time, as the leader of the Uchiha clan, he controlled all aspects of the lives of the many Uchiha ninjas.

It was rare for Uchiha Nara to grace them with his presence, so Uchiha Riki pulled out all the stops to please him, though Nara's frequent lack of expression and volatile temperament made Uchiha Riki tread carefully.

"Bang, bang." A knock came at the office door.

"Come in." Uchiha Riki regained his composure and said coldly toward the door. As warden, he still had to maintain some dignity in front of his subordinates.

The office door opened, and a Military Police prison guard entered with a white-haired man in tow.

"Lord Warden, the prisoner has been brought," the prison guard reported to Uchiha Riki.

"Mm, I see. You may leave," Uchiha Riki said expressionlessly.

"Understood!"

After arriving in the warden's office, Hiruko quietly sized up Warden Uchiha Riki and the mysterious figure sitting in the chair with his back to him at the desk.

Uchiha Nara's chair swiveled around to face Hiruko. He smiled slightly:

"Konoha Jonin, Hiruko, it has been a week. How have you been?"

Hiruko saw that things did not seem to be going as he had expected—that he would be interrogated, charged, and then executed.

Seeing this obvious person in power acting so politely toward him, many thoughts flashed through Hiruko's mind.

"Lord Nara is asking you a question! Are you deaf!?"

After the prison guard left, Warden Uchiha Riki changed his expression to that of a sycophant. Seeing Hiruko hesitate to answer, he slammed his hand on the desk and shouted loudly.

"Riki-kun, you go out first. I want to have a proper chat with this Jonin," Nara said calmly.

"Understood! Lord Nara, if you need anything, just call out. I will be standing guard outside for you!" Uchiha Riki's fierce scolding transformed into a submissive expression in a second as he replied and rose to leave.

As he passed by Hiruko, he didn't forget to snap:

"I'm warning you, behave yourself! Lord Nara is the leader of our Uchiha clan. If you have any improper thoughts, Konoha Prison will make you regret being born in Konoha!"

Hiruko's eyes flickered, turning a deaf ear to the scolding. Uchiha Riki didn't wait for a reply, heading out to stand guard once he finished his warning.

"Heh heh, it seems Hiruko-kun is a bit resistant to prison life."

Seeing that Hiruko remained silent, lost in his own thoughts, Nara couldn't help but ask softly.

"When are you going to let me go?"

Hiruko had participated in the Ninja War and bled on the battlefield; despite being imprisoned, he still retained the poise of a Konoha Jonin.

"Let you go? Heh heh, Hiruko-kun, you jest. You researched forbidden techniques and even used your Konoha brethren for human experimentation. Your crimes are truly heinous."

Hiruko's brow furrowed. The laboratory that the ninjas had discovered back then still contained many materials he hadn't had time to destroy.

Seeing Hiruko's eyes flicker, Nara's mouth curled up slightly as he continued:

"By law, you should be executed immediately, but..."

Naraku said nothing more, picking up his teacup and taking a light sip.

"Lord Naraku, but what?"

The warden's warning had made Hiruko aware of the identity of the man before him: the head of the Uchiha clan, the most prestigious family in Konoha, a figure to whom even the Hokage had to show a measure of respect.

"However, I have seen your laboratory. It seems to be the development of a ninjutsu related to fusion or amalgamation. I am quite interested in your forbidden experiments, and I would hate to see such talent go to waste."

Naraku spoke slowly, lifting his cup to take another sip of tea.

Hiruko's eyes lit up; he had not expected that his wild ideas and crude ninjutsu experiments would actually be appreciated by someone.

"But, the fact that you dared to capture low and mid-level ninja from our Uchiha clan for your experiments—I must say, you are truly audacious."

Having said this, Naraku set down his cup and stared at Hiruko, his expression unreadable.

Although Naraku's demeanor carried a hint of threat and pressure, Hiruko already understood that his life was safe for the moment.

This Lord Naraku was interested in and impressed by his ninjutsu; as long as he himself had value, and his forbidden arts had value, he could explain the Chimera Technique clearly. Perhaps he could even win over this Lord Naraku and gain his support!

"Lord Naraku, the development and research of ninjutsu inevitably involve bloodshed. The concept behind the Chimera Technique is a fusion ninjutsu—an ultimate art that uses one's own body as the host to devour and merge with other life forms."

"Just imagine, if our frail human bodies possessed muscles and blood vessels as strong as a tiger's, or wings like a bird's, wouldn't we be able to soar through the skies? If we could integrate the traits of various miraculous creatures into ourselves through the Chimera Technique, wouldn't we be on the verge of becoming invincible in the ninja world?"

Hiruko could not help but grow fanatical when speaking of the Chimera Technique.

At this stage, Hiruko's development of the Chimera Technique was primarily focused on concepts of amalgamation and fusion, aimed at improving his own aptitude and strengthening his physique and chakra.

He had not yet conceived the idea of merging Kekkei Genkai or stealing secret techniques.