New Cooperation

Uchiha Nara smiled and said:

"Naturally, Hiruko-kun, our cooperation has certainly come to an end. It has been a pleasure working with you."

"I am grateful for your cultivation, Nara-kun. I have some thoughts regarding the selection of Kekkei Genkai for the Chimera Technique. I wonder if Lord Nara would be interested in hearing them?"

"Haha, naturally I am. Please, speak."

"Ninja Art: Puppet Curse!"

Hiruko struck suddenly. A red ring glowed on Nara's forehead, and his body became unable to move.

"You!" Nara exclaimed.

"Lord Nara, I believe the Sharingan of the Uchiha clan is truly a powerful Kekkei Genkai. I wonder if you would be willing to merge with me so we can flourish together?"

Hiruko wore a crazed expression. His three ninja students, One, Two, and Three, blocked Nara's escape routes respectively.

"Puppet Curse? What kind of ninja art is this? It's somewhat interesting."

Nara, who had seemed shocked just a moment ago, returned to calm. He even had the leisure to comment on Hiruko's technique.

Hiruko's originally crazed expression returned to normal, and he frowned. A ninja under control shouldn't be this unperturbed; could he have a backup plan?

"The four guards you arranged have all been sent away under the guise of searching for experimental materials. Lord Nara, you have no reinforcements left."

Hiruko explained the situation, hoping to see a look of panic on Nara's face.

"Lord Hiruko, why waste words with this ant? Let me devour him."

"Hehehehe, haha, is that so?"

Nara couldn't help but laugh heartily. The room seemed to light up with red lamps, and a crimson glow suddenly illuminated the dark environment.

Hiruko and his three subordinates noticed something was wrong and looked toward the light source.

In the dim basement, countless scarlet eyes lit up on the surrounding walls.

Hiruko knew what those were: the Uchiha clan's Kekkei Genkai, the Sharingan.

One of the ninjas released a lightning-style technique, illuminating the room. Countless Uchiha ninjas were standing on the walls. They were hanging upside down from the ceiling, standing vertically on the walls, or clinging to them.

Using chakra, they hung on the walls in various unscientific poses.

Uchiha Nara had never intended to let Hiruko leave; he was still considering how to deal with him.

Before coming here, Nara had issued orders to the entire Special Police Force. They had long been secretly lying in ambush on the walls.

Seventy Uchiha elites in total. Not to mention seventy, even if you took away a zero and left only seven, it would be more than enough to handle them.

Hiruko fell to his knees with a thud.

"Lord Nara, I was just making a suggestion, I didn't have any real intentions! Please, do not misunderstand!"

The three underlings were trembling so violently they couldn't even stand, collapsing onto the floor.

"My Lord, please spare us!"

"Hehehehe, hahahahaha..."

The Uchiha Nara who had been hit by the Puppet Curse let out a wild laugh, his entire body turning yellow and dissolving into a pile of mud.

The real Uchiha Nara walked out from a dark passage.

"Heh, Hiruko-kun, I know it was just a suggestion, and I find this proposal of yours quite interesting."

Uchiha Nara's smile remained.

"However, you are so fond of the Sharingan that it puts me, as the leader of the Uchiha clan, in a difficult position."

"I think, since you have such inappropriate thoughts about the Sharingan, you must also have a desire for Wood Release. I have received news that the Konoha Anbu is researching the First Hokage's Wood Release."

"Heh, they are desecrating the First Hokage's remains to study Wood Release, and they have already conducted multiple rounds of experiments. If I could obtain the First Hokage's cellular tissue, Hiruko-kun, are you confident you could create a Wood Release ninja?"

Uchiha Nara said slowly, tempting Hiruko.

When it came to human experimentation and cell fusion, this Hiruko was an absolute expert. The Chimera Technique had already overcome the problem of cell fusion; the focus of Wood Release cell experiments lay in their extreme corrosiveness. It required constant experimentation to obtain data and modulate the optimal ratio to create a Wood Release ninja. These were exactly the things Hiruko excelled at.

Hiruko, who had been trembling in fear and thinking he was surely dead, never expected Uchiha Nara to assign him another research task.

As he listened, Hiruko forgot his initial fear. He revealed the crazed expression peculiar to a scientist.

"I can, Lord Nara! I can absolutely create a Wood Release ninja! As long as you provide me with the First Hokage's cellular tissue and enough experimental materials, I will certainly complete your mission!"

Hiruko's inappropriate thoughts had long since been shattered. Having accepted his fate and committed himself to strengthening his own power, his Chimera Technique was already complete. However, regarding which five ninja arts to choose, Hiruko had seen too many powerful Kekkei Genkai during the Second Great Ninja War and already had his targets.

He had originally planned for the Sharingan—specifically this pair belonging to Nara—but now, Hiruko had completely abandoned such ignorant thoughts.

Nara took out two scrolls and two pens, tossing them precisely in front of Hiruko.

"Rewrite the Chimera Technique. You only have one chance."

Uchiha Nara's tone was low and elusive, making him impossible to read.

Fearing the unknown nature of Nara's attitude, Hiruko dared not delay. He picked up the paper and pen and began to transcribe the Chimera Technique from memory.

The technical requirements for the Chimera Technique were extremely high and involved many complex classifications. Hiruko dared not be negligent and wrote with the utmost seriousness.

From start to finish, Hiruko spent nearly two hours writing, which showed just how complex the Chimera Technique truly was.

"Lord Naraku, it is finished!" Hiruko said respectfully.

A servant nearby picked up two scrolls and walked toward Naraku with trembling steps.

Upon reaching Naraku, he could no longer withstand the pressure; he collapsed to his knees, offering the scrolls with both hands.

Naraku took the scrolls and flipped through them briefly. There were subtle discrepancies compared to the version Hiruko had submitted earlier.

In such complex ninjutsu, even the slightest variation could lead to dire consequences. It was clear this fellow was not being honest.

Naraku's expression hardened, and he barked sternly:

"Special Police Force, stand down! Mission complete! Return to Konohagakure!"

"Yes!" X70

The ninjas hanging on the walls vanished into puffs of smoke one after another.

These Special Police Force ninjas lived in the stability of Konohagakure, so they had plenty of leisure time and spent most of it training. Naraku had specifically brought them here to let these frogs in the well witness his power.

Hiruko and his companions felt a slight weight lift from their hearts, their tension easing.

Being stared at by seventy pairs of glowing red eyes had been incredibly stressful. After such an ordeal, none of them dared to act out again.

"Hiruko, I shall consider your mission complete."

Naraku was not entirely indifferent to Hiruko's act of defiance. He had originally held a certain level of respect for Hiruko, viewing their relationship as mutually beneficial, but he had not expected this brat to harbor inappropriate thoughts toward him.

It was simply a death wish.

"Hiruko, since you are confident in completing the research on Wood Release ninjutsu, let us restart our trade. The terms for this deal are the same as the Chimera Technique research: I provide protection, experimental subjects, and materials, while you conduct the research, and we share the results."

Sharing the results was a necessity, as the data existed only in Hiruko's mind. Naraku's only concern was whether Hiruko would be willing to share it with him.

"Yes! I shall follow Lord Naraku's lead in all things."

"Our first collaboration has ended, and I have already ordered the Uchiha guards to withdraw. I have always valued win-win cooperation; whether you stay or leave is entirely up to you."

"The second collaboration, involving the Wood Release experiment, concerns the desecration of the First Hokage, which is a grave matter. If you are willing to stay and conduct the experiments, we shall begin; there is no need to force yourself."

Naraku's expression was dark and inscrutable, as if he were a man of great integrity.

"I am willing to participate and keep the secret. Please rest assured."

"Good. This is the agreement. If you have no objections, sign and seal it. As before, one copy for each of us, and I shall keep mine in safekeeping."

It was a habit of Naraku's to draw up a contract and have it sealed whenever both parties reached a verbal agreement.

Usually, it was the leaders of the Land of Fire or Konohagakure who preferred this formal approach when issuing missions or conducting business.

That Naraku would sign such an agreement with a nobody like Hiruko was, for Hiruko, a sign of great respect.

Hiruko took the paper and pen, scanned the document at a glance, and signed and sealed it.

"Since this is a partnership, we should aim for mutual success. Defining the content and methods of our cooperation is essential. Now that you have signed this agreement, Hiruko-kun, we are partners once again."

"Lord Naraku, you are too kind. I am merely your humble subordinate; there is no need for such formalities."

"Heh, the guards at this base have been withdrawn. I have no certainty that I can obtain the cells of the First Hokage, so the start date for this experiment is not fixed. If you are willing to wait, then wait; if not, feel free to travel. Your Chimera Technique research is complete, so it is time you went out to improve your strength."

Naraku thought it over and decided to let Hiruko off the hook. The First Hokage's cells were indeed not easy to acquire, and keeping Hiruko under house arrest served no purpose.

Talent cannot be caged; if one must cage them, it is better to kill them. If he kept him locked up for years to research Wood Release, the man wasn't stupid—he would know he'd never leave, so how could he possibly cooperate in earnest?

To utilize someone, you must give them hope. Thus, Naraku decided to go with the flow and let him go.

"I await your orders at any time."

Seeing that Naraku was truly prepared to release him, Hiruko couldn't help but admire his magnanimity. Hiruko felt that if he were in Naraku's position, he would likely have chosen to silence him permanently.

Naraku slowly formed hand seals.

Hiruko and his servants grew tense once more.

"Summoning Technique!"

"Meow."

Naraku summoned a black cat. To call it a cat was not entirely accurate; it was as large as a fox, its face bore many similarities to a fox, and it was wearing a small red vest.

"Hachiro, please sign a contract with him. You shall serve as the bridge for our communication."

Seeing that Naraku was genuinely letting him go, Hiruko felt a pang of guilt for his own despicable behavior.

"Lord Naraku, please give me another sheet of paper and a pen. There are still some details regarding the Chimera Technique that need to be rewritten."

"Heh, you really are something."

Naraku was surprised. Even when surrounded by heavy forces and gripped by panic, the man still dared to commit fraud. He truly lived up to his reputation as a practitioner of forbidden experiments.

Naraku took out paper and a pen and tossed them to Hiruko.