Chimera Technique Achieved

Nara wanted to recruit Hatake Sakumo, as Sakumo was destined to be smeared by rumors from the Hokage's faction, a move intended to strike at the White Fang's prestige.

Coupled with the underhanded instigation of Shimura Danzo, the White Fang was driven to such humiliation that he committed ritual suicide.

For a ninja to die by the samurai's method of seppuku was, it must be said, a cruel irony.

At the same time, this incident signaled that someone had become so greedy for power that they were willing to suppress even the most renowned of ninjas.

It was a landmark event, and one that caused many ninjas to lose faith in the village.

Among those disillusioned ninjas, Tsunade was certainly included. Perhaps it was precisely because of issues regarding power and funding, compounded by the heartbreak of the White Fang incident, that she eventually departed from Konoha.

With her hemophobia, even her exquisite medical ninjutsu was rendered useless; perhaps this was the reason the Third Hokage granted her such a long leave.

If it were anyone from the Uchiha clan wandering outside for so long without cause, they would undoubtedly be branded an S-rank missing-nin without a second thought.

Whenever Nara thought of Hatake Kakashi's reputation as a genius, he naturally associated it with the White Fang of Konoha.

At this time, the White Fang of Konoha was still a prestigious jonin of the village, the legendary White Fang.

Foreign nations even had regulations stating that if one encountered the White Fang during a mission, they could abandon it without penalty—a testament to the sheer magnitude of his fame.

Nara walked back to the secretary's office and said to Fugaku, "Fugaku, draft a letter recruiting Hatake Sakumo to work for the Police Force. Let's see if Lord White Fang will agree."

"Ah, this?"

Uchiha Fugaku was stunned, finding this task from Nara rather baffling, as the Police Force was the Uchiha stronghold.

The dignified White Fang of Konoha would never come to work at the Uchiha headquarters; there was no way he would agree to such a recruitment letter.

"It's fine. Just write it as I asked; it's about expressing an attitude. In the letter, state that Konoha Village has too many criminals and that arrests are fraught with difficulty. Say that I admire the White Fang's reputation and invite him to join our Criminal Investigation Division to assist us in apprehending those criminals. Use plenty of honorifics and expressions of admiration, and describe the capture missions as particularly difficult. Just write it like that, understand?"

"Hai..."

Although Uchiha Fugaku found Nara's approach strange, he obediently accepted the order and began drafting the letter.

"Good. You are in charge of this. I mentioned at yesterday's clan meeting that I need to make a trip to the Land of Rain. I won't be telling anyone when I leave, so I leave the work of the Police Force to you."

"Hai."

At an underground base outside Konoha Village.

Shimura Danzo and Orochimaru walked side by side through the facility.

"Orochimaru, I hope you can show results with these sixty children."

Shimura Danzo spoke coldly to Orochimaru beside him. In recent years, whenever it felt like the Wood Release experiments were nearing a breakthrough or a critical moment, the results were always just trivial data that did little to help master the Wood Release.

"Lord Danzo, rest assured. The Wood Release experiments have reached a critical juncture; I will not let you down."

Orochimaru's expression was somewhat manic—the madness of a scientist.

Regarding these cruel human experiments, the once-kind Orochimaru had become addicted to them, finding them immensely enjoyable.

"I have already explored the mystery of the First Hokage's Wood Release." There was an urgency and longing in Orochimaru's eyes.

Shimura Danzo glanced at Orochimaru coldly. The Wood Release experiments had been going on for over a decade, costing significant funds and personnel, and involving countless heinous acts.

While there had been many small breakthroughs, there had not been a single major achievement.

This time, the dosage and drug neutralization designed by Orochimaru were, in his own words, the key to unlocking the mystery of the Wood Release and the great power of the First Hokage.

As for the specifics, it would all depend on the experimental results.

Shimura Danzo had essentially lost heart regarding the Wood Release experiments. The wealth plundered by the Root organization had all been poured into these forbidden experiments, only to vanish like a meat bun thrown at a dog—never to return.

Might as well be researching the Uchiha's Sharingan...

The thought flashed through Shimura Danzo's mind. The research into the Uchiha's Sharingan did not involve Orochimaru; Shimura Danzo had a separate research team for that.

He had plundered many Sharingan from the Land of Rain over the past two years, but only one was an accidentally acquired Three-Tomoe Sharingan; the others were merely one or two-tomoe eyes from chunin or genin.

He could barely initiate research and experiments on the Sharingan, though he possessed extensive knowledge of its forbidden techniques.

At an underground base outside Konoha Village.

A man was bound to a pillar.

A woman performed a ninjutsu.

"Chimera Technique!"

Many fluids seeped from the woman's body, appearing to have a consciousness of their own as they quickly enveloped the man tied to the wooden frame.

The man let out a painful scream. After the fluid enveloped him, it writhed for a moment before taking on a human shape, transforming back into the appearance of the woman who had cast the jutsu.

"Hahaha, excellent, excellent. Two, do you feel any discomfort?"

Uchiha Nara and Hiruko walked over slowly, Hiruko clapping with excitement.

The woman who performed the jutsu was Hiruko's maid; she had no name, only a codename: Two.

The woman named Two licked her lips, appearing to enjoy the sensation immensely.

"None at all, Lord Hiruko. This feeling is wonderful. I have mastered a new attribute."

Much like in martial arts novels where big shots often have their underlings test out new techniques and secret manuals, the same logic applied here.

Although the development of the Chimera Technique had been fraught with setbacks, overall progress was rapid, with key breakthroughs achieved quickly thanks to the help of experimental subjects, funding, and medical equipment.

Neither Hiruko nor Naraku practiced the perfected Chimera Technique themselves, choosing instead to have Hiruko's ninja students train in it.

As civilian ninjas who only knew the Three Body Technique, they were naturally overjoyed at the prospect of such a mysterious and powerful ninjutsu, and they all eagerly chose to cultivate it.

The three ninja students encountered no issues during their training; they ate well, drank well, and slept well.

Whatever attributes the devoured ninjas possessed, they inherited those same attributes.

After more than three years of experimentation, those practicing the Chimera Technique appeared to have no problems, and it was clear that their chakra reserves had increased significantly, with their strength growing in ways visible to the naked eye.

It could be called a win-win situation. They gained a forbidden technique, while Naraku and Hiruko gained the data needed to adjust and perfect it.

"The Chimera Technique is truly miraculous. Hiruko, you are a genuine genius; the so-called Sannin cannot even compare to you."

Naraku praised him without reservation.

Biological fusion—even in the ninja world, the very idea seemed impossible.

Yet Hiruko had turned the impossible into reality, actually succeeding and creating this powerful ninjutsu.

"Everything relies on your funding and cultivation, Lord Naraku. You have already seen the experiments of the Chimera Technique, and you have already obtained the scrolls, the concepts, and the training methods. Has our transaction come to an end?"

Hiruko licked his lips as he spoke.