The Chimera Technique

Deep inside a huge cave on Konoha's Back Mountain.

Strange Cursed Marks had been carved into the ground at its far end, with something resembling a cross placed in the center.

"Hiruko, everything's ready. Time to call him over!"

Gato spoke with open excitement.

Eternal life. The thing everyone dreamed of was almost his.

"All right!"

Hiruko formed a strange hand sign.

In the distance, Uchiha Yoru felt a tug, as though something somewhere was calling to him.

But Hiruko wasn't capable of controlling his mind.

Still, Yoru pretended to be entranced and slowly walked toward it.

"Yoru, are you out getting something to eat too?"

Kurotsuchi, who was browsing the night market, spotted Uchiha Yoru and waved to him.

To her surprise, he ran straight past.

Something about his behavior struck Kurotsuchi as wrong, and she hurried after him.

She followed him into a forest. No matter how many times she called out, Uchiha Yoru never answered.

What on earth is going on?

Kurotsuchi didn't know what to do.

Yoru had been friendly to her, and if she went back for help now, she might lose him. She decided to keep following and see what happened.

When Yoru entered a cave, Kurotsuchi slipped in after him.

"See? He's here, Lord Gato!" Hiruko said "respectfully."

Gato stepped onto the Cursed Marks, unable to hide his excitement. Uchiha Yoru staggered toward him, one step away from entering the circle.

Then Yoru's foot stopped in midair.

Step in! Come on, step in!

Hiruko could barely contain his excitement.

Instead, Yoru swayed and fell flat on his back.

"What happened, Hiruko?"

"There may be a problem with the Puppet Curse. I'll bring him over!"

Hiruko walked toward Yoru, intending to drag him in.

Several Kunai whistled through the air at him. Hiruko retreated, and a dark figure darted out and snatched Yoru away.

What are those two trying to do to Uchiha Yoru?

Kurotsuchi fled with Yoru in her arms.

Yoru, who was only pretending to be unconscious, thought, So the Leg Kage really is all about her legs. There's nothing up top at all. No wonder I can breathe so easily!

"So fast!"

A figure blocked her path. It was the short man.

Hiruko caught up soon after.

With enemies ahead and behind, Kurotsuchi was in a bind.

If she put Yoru down, he might get caught in the fighting. If she kept holding him, she couldn't fight properly.

"Hiruko, let me handle this one! You just watch!" Gato was itching to try his hand.

"Earth Release: Earth Prison Dome!"

Earth rose around Uchiha Yoru, forming a round cage that sealed him inside.

Gato smiled faintly at the sight and said nothing.

Once he dealt with the person in front of him, capturing Yoru would be easy.

"Earth Release: Fist Rock Technique!"

Rock coated Kurotsuchi's fist as she drove a punch at Gato.

Gato met it with his own fist. The collision sent Kurotsuchi flying, her hand tingling.

It felt as if she had struck something even harder than herself.

Just as Kurotsuchi suspected, Gato's arm gleamed like metal.

"Steel Release Kekkei Genkai! Then I'll fight from a distance!"

Kurotsuchi reacted at once.

"Earth Stone Spikes!"

Sharp, stalagmite-like rocks burst from the ground beneath Gato. But in a blink, Kurotsuchi lost sight of him.

Then the world seemed to shift. A fist slammed into her and knocked her away.

How is this guy so fast?

"Swift Release makes me as fast as the wind!"

"Water Release: Water Trumpet Technique!"

Kurotsuchi leaped into the air and blasted a powerful, trumpet-shaped stream of water from her mouth.

But Gato merely raised an arm, and the torrent was absorbed.

Then he sent the same torrent straight back, knocking Kurotsuchi away.

What's going on? How can one person have so many Kekkei Genkai?

The water swept Kurotsuchi away. She forced herself to her feet despite the pain.

I have to get out of here! I'll find the old man and come back for Uchiha Yoru!

"Storm Release: Thunder Cloud Inner Wave!"

The clouds above seemed to answer Gato's call, sending pointed bolts down at Kurotsuchi.

"Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall!"

An earthen wall rose to buy Kurotsuchi time to escape, but the little wall was no match for Storm Release.

It crumbled almost immediately. A bolt sliced her arm, but she still managed to escape Gato's sight.

"Hahahaha!"

Gato paid her escape no mind. He reveled in his newfound power and laughed wildly.

Once tonight was over, he would be an immortal God. Ninjas like her would fall with a wave of his hand.

One punch blasted a huge hole in the earth prison Kurotsuchi had made. Uchiha Yoru, however, was nowhere to be seen.

"What happened? How did he escape? Use your Puppet Curse and call him back!"

Gato roared at Hiruko.

Hiruko closed his eyes and searched carefully before saying, "I can't sense the Puppet Curse anymore!"

"What do we do now?"

"Don't worry, Lord Gato. I have a plan B!"

Another figure staggered toward Hiruko and Gato, just as Uchiha Yoru had.

It was Uchiha Ruo, whom they had met earlier that day.

"You've done well, Hiruko!"

Gato's manner changed completely as he spoke warmly to him.

"Once I become God, you'll be my divine envoy. You'll answer only to me and stand above everyone else!"

"Thank you, Lord Gato!" Hiruko cried, showing no sign that Gato's sudden change in attitude meant anything to him.

"Let's go!"

Uchiha Ruo. So Hiruko had a backup plan after all!

After all, there were far more Uchiha clan members alive now than in the original story.

I'll see if I get a chance to save him, Uchiha Yoru thought.

Yoru still had a chance of dealing with Gato, but the mysterious Hiruko beside him was harder to read.

Hiruko clearly wasn't the sort to serve under someone else. Why would he take orders from a man like Gato?

He had to be plotting something bigger. Yoru refused to believe Hiruko would stand by and let Gato complete the ritual and gain an immortal body.

According to the original story, the Chimera Technique could grant immortality once its user gathered five Kekkei Genkai. Whether that was true remained to be seen.

Uchiha Yoru concealed his presence and moved closer to take a look.

He had started playing dumb too early, and Kurotsuchi had noticed something was wrong. Explaining it to her would have been awkward, so he had gone along with the situation and led her here. He'd even hoped to grow a little closer to her!

He hadn't expected Gato to be so ruthless that he'd drive her off.

"Gato, you owe me my Leg Kage!"