Chapter 337: Small Blade, Big Lesson
Haneda reached into his pouch and eventually pulled out a small folding knife, the kind typically used to slice fruit.
Using Dawn Blade against Hiruko felt excessive. Hiruko's Steel Release would be effortlessly countered by Dawn Blade's unparalleled sharpness—too risky for an accidental fatal blow.
Hiruko's face turned dark when he saw Haneda wielding a mere four-inch knife.
To him, Haneda radiated the brilliance of a once-in-a-generation genius, reminiscent of the legendary Sannin. Yet, the way Haneda approached him was utterly humiliating.
Even Orochimaru, the most arrogant among the Sannin, had never treated him with such condescension.
"Uchiha Haneda, do you think so little of me? Do you believe that just because you are the strongest genius in the shinobi world, you can look down on all others?" Hiruko shouted, teetering on the edge of madness.
"I'm just afraid of accidentally killing you," Haneda replied sincerely.
A lie might sting, but the truth cuts deeper.
Hiruko felt his heart ache at Haneda's words. The truth stabbed more painfully than any blade, driving him to the brink of insanity.
Hiruko knew what Haneda wanted—his life's greatest work, the Chimera Technique.
If Haneda planned to take his jutsu without killing him, then Hiruko realized this could be both an insult and an opportunity.
Smirking coldly, Hiruko thought to himself, He doesn't plan to kill me? Then I can exploit this to my advantage.
Without further words, Hiruko began weaving hand signs.
"Storm Release—Gale Style Laser Circus!"
Storm Release, a combination of Lightning and Water Release, offered the speed of lightning and the flexibility of water.
Several streams of electrified water surged forward, targeting Haneda with incredible speed and precision. To ensure Haneda couldn't evade, Hiruko spread the attack wide to corner him.
Yet, with a single, casual slash of his small blade, Haneda split the incoming streams cleanly. The crackling currents veered off, carving deep grooves into the tunnel walls.
Hiruko's eyes briefly widened in astonishment.
Without missing a beat, Haneda dashed forward, his speed resembling a bolt of lightning. Alarmed, Hiruko activated Swift Release to flee.
In the narrow tunnel, Haneda's speed exceeded Hiruko's by a significant margin. Within seconds, Haneda closed the gap, coming within two meters of Hiruko.
The sharp chirping sound of Chidori rang out. Electricity coated the small knife in Haneda's hand, which now glowed like a lightning blade. The blade's tip was aimed at Hiruko's leg.
But Hiruko smirked and turned, positioning his heart in line with Haneda's strike. Simultaneously, his right hand shot forward, glowing with Dark Release symbols designed to absorb chakra and ninjutsu.
I'll bet on this, Hiruko thought. He won't dare kill me. If I can absorb his attack, I'll take his chakra too!
But Haneda didn't stop. The Chidori-imbued blade surged forward without hesitation.
Startled, Hiruko clenched the knife with his glowing hand and activated Dark Release—Absorption Seal.
In an instant, the lightning coating on the knife was sucked away, leaving the blade harmless.
However, Haneda was far from done. In one fluid motion, he unleashed a devastating kick that sent Hiruko flying into the tunnel wall.
BOOM!
The impact caused debris to scatter everywhere. Hiruko's body was embedded into the wall, his frame visibly battered. If not for his Steel Release, he'd already be incapacitated, if not dead.
Haneda hadn't held back in the slightest.
Coughing blood, Hiruko stared at Haneda in disbelief.
"Aren't you afraid of killing me by accident?"
"I'm betting on your survival instincts. And even if you die, I have ways to extract the Chimera Technique," Haneda replied coldly.
With Orochimaru at his disposal, techniques like Edo Tensei combined with Kotoamatsukami could ensure the extraction of any information, even posthumously.
Of course, Haneda preferred a living Hiruko for efficiency's sake.
"Why are you so obsessed with being a genius?" Haneda asked out of genuine curiosity.
Hiruko chuckled bitterly.
"Once, I was just a nobody—no different from Jiraiya when he was called a failure. But unlike him, I was abandoned. He became a true genius, while I became nothing."
"Back then, I was close friends with Konoha's Sannin. But over time, they left me behind, so far that I couldn't even see their shadows anymore."
"Why? Tsunade had the Senju bloodline. Orochimaru had his brilliant mind. Jiraiya had his talent for Sage Mode. And me? I had nothing!"
"So I created the Chimera Technique to compensate for my lack of a bloodline. I sought immortality to make up for my limited intelligence. I gathered Kekkei Genkai to surpass my lack of natural talent!"
Hiruko paused, recalling the past. He pictured Orochimaru's face.
For years in Konoha, Hiruko had sought Orochimaru's guidance countless times in his quest to master the art of ninjutsu.
"Orochimaru once said something that I'll never forget: 'Human life is too fleeting, while knowledge is infinite. Using a brief lifetime to pursue endless knowledge is meaningless.'
"The Chimera Technique solves that perfectly. Once I obtain the final piece, I'll become a true genius!"
Haneda couldn't fully empathize. His approach was far simpler—if he needed a bloodline, he'd implant Hashirama Cells; for wisdom, he could always rely on Orochimaru; and for talent, he'd use Shadow Clones to train endlessly.
Haneda sighed.
"Your ambition is admirable, but I'm the Hokage, and you're a traitor to Konoha."
Extending his hand, Haneda conjured a column of lightning aimed at Hiruko.
Recovering some chakra during their brief exchange, Hiruko countered by activating his Dark Release seal to absorb the attack.
"Dark Release can absorb chakra, including any ninjutsu!" Hiruko boasted, but his confidence quickly faltered.
He sensed something unusual about the chakra he was absorbing. Panicked, he ceased the technique and fled toward the tunnel exit. His body began showing serpent-like features, a desperate adaptation to survive.
Hiruko suspected it was similar to Jiraiya's Sage Chakra—absorbing it might petrify him.
Once outside, Hiruko summoned a massive chimera-like beast, a grotesque fusion of a dog, bird, and two-headed snake. Without hesitation, he merged with the creature.
The enormous size of the chimera helped dilute the disruptive energy, stabilizing Hiruko's condition.
Breathing a sigh of relief, Hiruko suddenly sensed danger and attempted to dodge.
But Haneda had already marked him with a Flying Thunder God seal during their earlier clash.
In an instant, Haneda reappeared behind him, plunging the small knife into the chimera's chest. The blade pierced through to the other side, leaving Hiruko stunned.
The two-headed snake displayed its regenerative abilities, making Hiruko unfazed by the injury.
In retaliation, Hiruko detonated every feather on the chimera's body, unleashing a massive explosion that forced Haneda to activate his Susanoo for protection.
As the dust settled, Hiruko raised his right hand, summoning a storm.
Above, dark clouds gathered and swirled. Lightning crackled as Hiruko prepared his ultimate Storm Release attack, resembling Haneda's legendary Kirin technique.
"This ends here! To think I've managed to prepare the conditions for this attack, even against the likes of you!"
"You're the God of Shinobi, the strongest of all ninjas. Your bloodline, intellect, and talent are unparalleled."
"But if I defeat you, then I—Hiruko—will be the strongest genius in the shinobi world!"