Body Modification Serum

With no talent for chakra, he conducted his own research. With no power, he acquired it through technology. Armed with his cheat, Hiruko quickly saw his strength explode until he brushed against the ceiling of this world.

But to keep growing stronger, he needed far too many things.

[Name: Hiruko]

[Template: Alchemist Singed 47%]

[New World: None]

[Research Projects: Weakened Version of the Sage Body (Implemented)

Life One, Life Two, Life Three

Body Modification Technique

Prosthetic Modification Technique

Tissue Cell Cloning Project

Poison Techniques]

Hiruko's current strength had already crossed the threshold of quasi-Kage. For short periods, he could even unleash Kage-level power. Singed's Q skill allowed him to mix the various deadly poisons he had developed and release them in an outbreak.

This included many infamous poisons from his previous life—cyanides, dioxins, sarin gas, VX nerve agent—mixed with all kinds of poisons unique to the shinobi world, creating a nearly unsolvable lethal toxin.

Hiruko had killed countless people with this move and earned himself the title King of Ten Thousand Poisons. To protect the environment, he had to extract the toxins every time he used them, or he would leave behind a dead zone.

Having been reborn, Hiruko had no desire whatsoever for the position of Hokage. All he sought was immortality and the pleasures of the world.

To put those old foxes at ease, Hiruko deliberately revealed his preference for beautiful women.

That way, they would willingly open their wallets and support his experimental research.

As for the League of Legends Singed template, Hiruko admitted that he could not be as insane as Singed was in League of Legends.

As a result, although his progress was steady, it was relatively slow. After all, he was not a true madman and still had his own bottom line.

However, he had discovered something.

Continuously increasing his strength or personally developing technological achievements could both raise the fusion rate of his Singed template.

Hiruko casually handed Danzo a bottle of Life One and said softly, "The cost has been compressed to the limit. Even if we use toxicity to suppress the side effects, ordinary people still cannot be directly transformed into shinobi.

"But it can instantly give a genin the strength of a chunin. The price is a loss of ten years of lifespan."

A glint of greed flashed through Danzo's eyes as he hurriedly asked, "How much does it cost?"

"About 10,000 ryo per bottle. If mass-produced, the cost should drop to around 5,000 or 6,000 ryo." Hiruko answered truthfully.

"Good! Excellent work! As expected of you!" Danzo praised him lavishly, then could not help gritting his teeth as he brought up Orochimaru.

"That bastard has been scamming me for funding all this time, yet the results he produces are pitifully few. Not one of them can compare to yours!"

In Danzo's eyes, Hiruko was honest and reliable. He was willing to expose his own weaknesses and had no interest in becoming Hokage.

As an old hand who had been by Danzo's side for years, Hiruko had naturally earned his trust.

Of course, if Hiruko had lacked strength, he would have needed to wear a dog collar like the Tongue Curse Root Technique. But with strength, there was no need.

Danzo held the crystal-clear body-enhancement serum, Life One, in his hand, his face brimming with irrepressible delight.

But just as that delight was about to overflow—

Whoosh!

A black figure suddenly appeared before them like a ghost.

The shadow directly blocked Hiruko and Danzo's path, speaking solemnly. "Lord Hiruko, Lord Danzo, Lord Hokage has ordered that you go see him immediately."

The ANBU member kneeling on one knee showed Hiruko the utmost respect.

He knew that it was the weapons, prosthetic limbs, and cybernetic bodies developed by this man that had allowed warriors who lost their limbs in war to stand again, regain their ability to work, and provide for their families.

They had also enabled Konoha to secure victory more easily in the Third Shinobi World War.

Although this man had never personally stepped onto the battlefield, he had silently supported Konoha's peace from the shadows just like them. He was a hero worthy of everyone's respect.

Seeing this, Danzo stormed off in anger, deeply dissatisfied with the Third Hokage's attempt to steal his prize.

He was probably going over there to pull the whole "you'll regret this when I become Hokage" routine.

Hiruko merely glanced at the ANBU member on the ground, frowned slightly, then said slowly, "I understand."

He quietly grumbled to himself, wondering what that old Third Hokage wanted by calling him over at this time.

Compared to Danzo, who was foolish, rich, and easy to fool, Hiruko found Hiruzen Sarutobi far more troublesome. That old fox was always trying to make him work for free by feeding him empty promises.

As a scientist devoted to technological research, Hiruko naturally hoped that the funds in his hands would keep flowing steadily to support his experiments.

But Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, was famously stingy. He was always intercepting the funds Danzo provided to Hiruko and claiming the results for himself.

Lord Danzo, on the other hand, was narrow-minded, extreme, arrogant, prone to wild fantasies, and incredibly crude in his methods. He even frequently discarded people once they had outlived their usefulness.

If Hiruko had not possessed absolute strength, Danzo would probably have forced the Tongue Curse Root Technique on him long ago. But Lord Danzo truly was willing to spend money.

The Shimura Clan had really drawn the short straw. They gained little from following him, while their clan shinobi and funds were all sacrificed to Root.

Still, Danzo could basically satisfy all of Hiruko's demands.

Hiruko could always swindle enough funding, test subjects, secret techniques, and research materials from him.

In fact, most of the sealing technique and cursed seal knowledge Hiruko currently possessed had been provided by Danzo as payment.

Old Sarutobi was completely different.

He appeared kind and approachable, treated others with gentleness and courtesy, had a fairly far-sighted vision, and was a decent man who never discarded people once they had served their purpose.

But he had one habit that gave Hiruko a terrible headache—he loved getting things for free.

It reminded Hiruko of his experience in a certain laboratory in his previous life.

Back then, his boss was always talking to him about ideals and ambitions, yet never mentioned his salary.

In the end, he earned only five or six thousand a month and worked himself to death in the laboratory.

Old Sarutobi was the same. He often brainwashed Hiruko, preaching the Will of Fire and urging him to make glorious sacrifices for Konoha.

But whenever it came time to discuss actual compensation, he would not pay a single ryo, offering only verbal commendation.

The village's planned funding was always calculated down to the last detail, miserly and loaded with restrictions.

Perhaps those Konoha shinobi who had been born and raised under the influence of the Will of Fire could accept that.

But Hiruko had died of overwork in a laboratory in his previous life. How could he possibly accept that nonsense so easily?

After the two of them left, in a dark secret chamber one thousand meters beneath the underground base—

A massive glass tank stood in the center of the room, filled with murky green liquid. Bubbles slowly rose through it, making faint gurgling sounds.

A red-haired woman desperately opened her eyes and glanced at the little boy inside the tank before falling under the genjutsu once more, the sorrow in her eyes lingering for a long time.