Chimera Technique (Combined Chapter)

Mist Shinobi Reef Islands, with sea breezes and crashing waves. Passing through the jungle, one comes upon a cluster of massive, towering reefs. As if sensing some kind of peculiar threat, Hiruko's figure sped away at incredible speed, already leaving the vicinity of Kirigakure.

"Hiruko ..."

"It's been such a long time..."

His figure suddenly appeared on the reef, and Kato Osamu's voice, like a thunderclap, suddenly appeared in Hiruko's mind.

"It really was you..."

As if it were expected, Hiruko's eyes showed no surprise, but rather a hint of gloom.

"It seems you've not only sensed it, but have even gained a basic understanding of it..."

"Is it your ability to leave your mark on other people's mental world and use it to 'monitor' and 'control' them?"

Hiruko's gaze was very gloomy. If it weren't for his special talent in Ninjutsu research and the breakthroughs he had made in his latest Ninjutsu research, he would never have realized that there was such an 'anchor point' in his mental world...

"It's probably not as terrifying as you describe; it's just that there's an extra pair of eyes..."

A hint of a smile appeared in Kato Osamu's eyes, and there seemed to be a different flavor in her gaze as she looked at Hiruko.

Hiruko softly, offering no rebuttal. He roughly understood that this being in the spiritual world showed no signs of activity most of the time. Even now, with Kato Osamu right in front of him, he couldn't detect any movement whatsoever.

"You're quite famous now, aren't you? You've changed a lot since you were in Root..."

Perhaps still somewhat wary, Hiruko hesitated for a moment, but did not choose to act immediately; after all, there was a ticking time bomb in his mind.

He originally planned to leave this place immediately and deal with this problem in his mental world first, but he didn't expect that his hostility would be detected so quickly, even though it was only a momentary leak.

"When I first met you, you were just a child. I never imagined you'd become such a 'big shot' in the Shinobi World..."

A complex mix of emotions flickered in Hiruko's eyes—perhaps bewilderment, perhaps resentment, perhaps unwillingness.

'Just like them back then...' he thought to himself, but he couldn't bring himself to say those words.

They may have been friends in the past, but now they are ashamed to mention it—they are now high above others, while they themselves have accomplished nothing.

As if sensing something, Kato Osamu's face showed a smile, and his expression gradually changed.

"Don't you want to see the difference between you and them now?"

"Them..."

Hiruko's gaze froze, staring intently at Kato Osamu. He seemed to realize that Kato Osamu's presence in his mental world might have stolen his thoughts, but at this moment, he seemed no longer to care about such things.

Just mentioning them brought back memories that seemed to violently attack his soul, as if they were dead. All the effort he had put in over the years seemed to have an urge to be released at this moment.

Hiruko's gaze sharpened as he stared intently at Kato Osamu: "You shouldn't have brought them up..."

"Even though you're a 'big shot' now, and the final version of 'it' isn't finished yet, you'll regret your decision..."

"I will show you the greatest Ninjutsu in the Shinobi World — the Chimera Technique!"

Ice Release: Wolf Fang Blizzard!

"Go to hell!"

Countless enormous ice spikes, gleaming with a chilling light, hurtled towards Kato Osamu. Kato Osamu's eyes flashed, and after a moment's thought, his hands moved swiftly, Hand Seals.

"Water Release · Water Formation Wall!"

With his current Ninjutsu skills, Kato Osamu unleashed a water wall nearly as thick as his arm span, which instantly expanded around him. Although it blocked all the Ice Kato Osamu, the water was completely frozen into ice blocks by the Ice Fangs.

"The power of Ice Release: Kekkei Genkai?"

"It seems you've gained quite a bit in Mist Shinobi..." A glint flashed in Kato Osamu's eyes as he understood some of the general information, a strange expression on his face.

"Ice Release: Frozen Earth!" Hiruko slightly, but still smiled. Endless layers of ice rapidly emerged from the earth, and even the waves on the beach suddenly transformed into an exquisite ice sculpture.

"The Chimera Technique was meticulously crafted by me. Once I gather all five Kekkei Genkai, no one in this world will be able to rival me..."

"Letting you see it in advance is a 'gift' to repay you..."

"It seems my trip was indeed worthwhile..." Kato Osamu leaped toward the reef, even though it was covered by a thick layer of ice. On this ice, his every move was under the control of his opponent. His eyes narrowed slightly, but a faint smile appeared on his lips.

"Is Ice Release already this powerful?" With a tentative thought in mind, he quickly began Hand Seals.

"Fire Release: Dragon Fire Technique!"

A fiery dragon rose from the ground, its red light illuminating the entire sky, heading straight for Hiruko. Kato Osamu stood quietly in place, seemingly observing something.

"Dark Release - Absorption Hole!"

Faced with the fire dragon's attack, Hiruko simply raised his hand, and the enormous dragon fire was completely absorbed like flowing water.

"Useless, hahaha... Is this all the famous Blue Asura has to offer?"

"Dark Release - Evil Self-Destruction Battle!"

Hiruko softly, and the fire dragon that had been absorbed reappeared, but this time it was looking towards Kato Osamu.

Kato Osamu dodged the fire dragon with a flash of movement, smiled slightly, and Hiruko. He continued to use different Ninjutsu, but they were all absorbed by Hiruko and returned to him to attack him. Five Elements Release were used without exception.

"Can Dark Release absorb other people's Ninjutsu and release it again?"

"No matter what Ninjutsu you know, it's useless. I'll return your techniques to you!"

Hiruko's eyes held a hint of exhilaration. This was the first time he had truly used the Chimera Technique against an enemy. Seeing Kato Osamu's seemingly exhausted state, he felt an overwhelming sense of excitement.

"Have you already fused four different Kekkei Genkai?"

"Next... is Steel Release..."

Suddenly, a jet-black longsword appeared in Kato Osamu's hand, and he rushed towards Hiruko with lightning speed. Hiruko probably did not expect Kato Osamu to be so fast. A hint of surprise flashed in his eyes, but he did not care.

"Steel Release: Steel Transformation!"

"Hahaha... Taijutsu, swordsmanship, Kunai, Shuriken, none of it is useful. Nothing can break through the Steel Release's defense!"

"The strongest defensive Kekkei Genkai in the Shinobi World — Steel Release!"

With Hiruko's body instantly grew larger. Kato Osamu looked at Hiruko with a hint of amusement, then, wielding his Soul Blade, Hiruko down at Hiruko, whose body was covered in an extremely hard, steel-like material.

There were no sword techniques or moves involved, and the Soul Blade didn't even have much Chakra aura.

Hiruko and gave a soft snort. Although he was somewhat disdainful, he didn't dare to be too arrogant, thinking that Kato Osamu was no longer the boy he had first met. He shifted his body slightly and Hand Seals again.

"Storm Release: Thunder Dragon!"

Two enormous blue-green Thunder Dragon suddenly appeared in Hiruko's hands. Unlike ordinary Lightning Release Ninjutsu, Storm Release is a combination of lightning and water. The Thunder Dragon almost had a physical body and became more agile and unpredictable.

One Thunder Dragon, like a guardian spirit, circled around Hiruko, its head held high, seemingly waiting to strike at any moment. The other Thunder Dragon moved with incredible speed, appearing only as a streak of blue firefly flashing across the sky.

The mystery of the Chimera Technique lies in its ability to devour the Kekkei Genkai of others and fuse them into one's own, with a maximum of five Kekkei Genkai.

Hiruko stayed in Mist Shinobi for many years. He not only made a deal with the Fourth Mizukage, Karatachi Yagura, but also secretly collected special bloodstains. Now he has fused four types. If he were not facing Kato Osamu, his Steel Release and Storm Release alone would already make him a strong person.

"That's really impressive..."

Kato Osamu, wielding a jet-black Soul Blade, flashed to the side of the Thunder Dragon with incredible speed. With a mere flick of his Soul Blade, the massive Thunder Dragon was easily cleaved apart as if it were mud. Before Hiruko from his disbelief, Kato Osamu's figure had already reached his face.

"How is that possible!"

"Bite!"

Without warning, a soft metallic sound rang out, Hiruko a huge gap was torn open in Hiruko's body, which he claimed was the most solid Steel Release in the Shinobi World. His steel body writhed, seemingly trying to heal the wound, but it was as if some special force was imprisoning this possibility. Chakra Hiruko activate the chakra within his body, but to no avail.

"Why! Why did the Steel Release fail...?"

For a moment, Hiruko stunned. Then, a series of rapid, dense knocking sounds, like a torrential downpour, echoed amidst the roar of the waves. Hiruko's body seemed to have suffered a severe blow, becoming riddled with holes. He could no longer maintain his Steel Release. As his body returned to normal, Hiruko suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood.

"There's no why... because there are still many things in this world that you don't understand..."

"Only by maintaining a sense of awe can one become a true strong person..."

Kato Osamu slowly sheathed his long sword. He had roughly understood the strength of the Chimera Technique. It was indeed a very powerful technique for ordinary ninjas, especially if paired with suitable blood.

However, it still falls within the realm of traditional Ninjutsu, unable to master the power of Yin–Yang Release, and ultimately cannot pose any threat to him.

From boundless excitement to utter despair, it all seemed to happen in the blink of an eye...

Although it was an unfinished technique, it already had some basic form, and Hiruko had always placed high hopes on it. However, it Hiruko...

"Is the gap between me and these geniuses really that big?"

Perhaps nothing has ever made his heart sink so deeply as at this moment. The Chimera Technique, which has fused four Kekkei Genkai, cannot even defeat the disciple of one of his former companions, someone he had personally witnessed and who had once seemed as insignificant as an ant...

Even if the Chimera Technique is complete...

To what extent exactly can it be achieved?

Hiruko's eyes seemed to have lost some of their luster. He leaned quietly against the reef, his clothes soaked with the remaining seawater, stained with blood and mud, looking utterly wretched. His life seemed to have always been one of wretchedness, and his only hope had just been completely shattered.

"Hiruko ..."

"I must say, among Ninjutsu I've ever seen, while its power isn't the strongest, the essence it contains is arguably second to none in the Shinobi World..."

Kato Osamu paused, seemingly waiting for Hiruko's reaction, but he remained listless, leaning against the rock as if he had lost his soul.

With a light laugh, Kato Osamu continued, "As you know, I became a ninja through unconventional channels in Konoha. Even though I became Orochimaru's disciple, I'm still just an ant lurking in the shadows. Perhaps I have some special talents, but compared to other geniuses, I don't seem to amount to much..."

"Right now you think of me as a big shot, just like the 'big shot' you want to be..."

"But all I can tell you is how I feel. These changes mean nothing to me in my life, and I've never even realized it before..."

"Perhaps you think my most remarkable moment was assassinating the Fourth Mizukage, Karatachi Yagura, proving my talent, or demonstrating my strength to those who once looked down on me..."

"I can only tell you... neither of those are true..."

Whether he liked it or not, Kato Osamu's voice reached his ears. Perhaps Kato Osamu had Hiruko head, for Hiruko couldn't help but frown...

"The happiest day for me was when I finally left Konoha. I no longer had to bear the pressure I didn't want to bear, no longer had to struggle for my own survival, and could do whatever I wanted based on my own preferences..."

"Hiruko ..."

"You've always been thinking about how to prove yourself to your former comrades, now the Konoha Sannin, to prove that you're worthy of being their comrade..."

"Having worked with you to develop the Flying Thunder God Cursed Seal to counter Minato Namikaze, I roughly understand your talent..."

"I need your talent now..."

Hiruko's eyes narrowed slightly as he slowly raised his head to look at Kato Osamu. Kato Osamu met Hiruko's gaze directly, a smile playing on her lips.

"Did you know? You're a research genius..."

Perhaps everyone will be touched by a certain sentence at some point. Although life experiences may be slightly different, this almost identical feeling is now happening to Hiruko.

He moved his lips as if he wanted to say something, but no words came out for a long time. However, his gaze seemed to never leave Kato Osamu's face. Perhaps this was the first person to tell him, "You are a genius."

After a long pause, he suddenly spoke, "Who is the number one Shinobi World...?"

"Of course... it's me..."

With a hint of a smile in her eyes, Kato Osamu extended her hand to Hiruko. Looking at the not-so-broad hand, Hiruko hesitated for only a second before slowly raising her arm and firmly grasping it...

You'd better tell the truth...

"I am unworthy, having studied under Orochimaru..."

Hiruko's breath Hiruko took a deep look at Kato Osamu. Perhaps, in his eyes, that face was gradually becoming Orochimaru's. Those memories that had once caused him deep resentment and pain kept lingering before his eyes.

"Hiruko!"

Prove your talent to me!

A strange light seemed to shine in Kato Osamu's eyes once again. The sea breeze blew through his hair with the waves, and a bright moon shone behind him.

Perhaps it was the cold, or perhaps it was some particular emotion, but at that moment, every pore on Hiruko's body seemed to tremble, as if electrified.

"I will! I will! I will definitely prove that I am no worse than you!"

Even the slightest bit! Even the slightest bit...