Hiruko's abilities were actually quite good. Otherwise, he could never have been absorbed into Akatsuki as a core member. His four Kekkei Genkai—Swift Release, Steel Release, Dark Release, and Storm Release—were each impressive on their own. Combined, they definitely produced an effect where one plus one was greater than two.
A mission to "stall for time" probably meant nothing to him.
But someone who treated "Ninjutsu means nothing to me" as a catchphrase was certainly very confident. It was just that such confidence could easily turn into arrogance.
Considering Hiruko's previously mediocre talent, his behavior was probably like that of a nouveau riche who wished he could hang his BMW keys from his nose and cover himself in gold.
The evolution from inferiority to excessive pride.
In reality, it probably would not have been much of a problem. At most, people would secretly mock him as a nouveau riche. He could still rinse his mouth with shark fin soup and happily play around with young models, after all. The money in his bank account was real enough.
But this was the ninja world, a world where lives were fought for.
You would not avoid death just because you wanted to become the perfect ninja. You were still far from your ideal, and others would not wait until you became immortal before trying to stab you.
They would not bow their heads in surrender just because you fought four opponents and injured three of them. If you wanted to destroy someone else's resolve, do not use ordinary ninjutsu. Use Talk no Jutsu.
Hiruko was dead.
From now on, he could only live on in the corners of a handful of people's memories.
A ninja who had wanted to become immortal.
Once Hiruko died, the thing in the sky did not immediately