Chapter 124: Hiruko
Hiruko.
A name that had long faded from memory for most.
Once a contemporary and close companion to the Sannin, he was ultimately overshadowed by their immense talent.
Frustrated by his own mediocrity, Hiruko turned to forbidden research, delving into the secrets of body fusion jutsu and conducting unethical human experiments.
When Sarutobi Hiruzen discovered his activities, he dispatched the Sannin—Orochimaru, Tsunade, and Jiraiya—to stop him.
In truth, Sarutobi's intention wasn't entirely punitive. By sending his former friends, he held out hope that Hiruko might see reason and turn away from his dark path.
But that hope was misplaced. Hiruko felt no remorse. Instead, he refined his fusion technique—"Kimeru" (Chimera)—and took full advantage of the chaos of the Shinobi World Wars, amassing countless subjects for his experiments.
Now, Hiruko had reached a crucial juncture. With four Kekkei Genkai already integrated into his body, he sought a fifth. And once he obtained it, all he had to do was wait for the moment of the solar eclipse.
When that moment came, Hiruko believed, he would ascend to immortality.
---
Deep within the forest, a small, wiry figure clad in a high-collared coat darted through the undergrowth.
Clutched tightly in his hand was a bloodied eye—a Sharingan.
Yes, the strongest of all Kekkei Genkai!
Once I integrate this Sharingan and complete the ritual at the eclipse, nothing will stop me!
I will be the perfect shinobi, the master of this world!
The great nations, Uchiha Kagami, even Senju Hashirama himself… they will all be beneath me!
Orochimaru, Tsunade, Jiraiya—every last one of them—I will surpass them all!
I am the true genius!
---
Within the modern era of the ninja world, the Sharingan had become synonymous with unparalleled power.
The rise of Uchiha Kagami had solidified its status as the pinnacle of Kekkei Genkai, and Hiruko's own aspirations drove him to pursue it above all else.
He had attempted to strike at Uchiha patrols before, lurking near the borders of the Land of Fire.
But each time, his plans were thwarted. The Uchiha patrollers were always strong, well-trained, and never alone. Most carried Byakugan-equipped allies as backup, which made ambushes nearly impossible.
And the Sharingan wasn't easy to steal—patrols were known to destroy the eyes rather than allow them to fall into enemy hands.
Even more bafflingly, some of the Uchiha patrols Hiruko encountered seemed to possess a strange jutsu.
No matter how carefully he planned, even if he killed them… they would inexplicably revive.
The ensuing battles decimated Hiruko's forces and left him near death, gaining him nothing but ruined, useless eyes.
The experience only deepened his obsession with obtaining the perfect Sharingan.
---
And now, the grand tournament provided him a golden opportunity.
Masquerading as a child, Hiruko had managed to get close to a young Uchiha patroller.
With a swift, unexpected strike, he stole a Sharingan and fled—relying on his Swift Release to leave the scene in an instant.
If only there were Sharingan listed among the tournament's prizes, Hiruko thought wistfully, I would have gladly entered myself. I would show them all the power of my Chimera technique!
---
As he sped through the dense woods, Hiruko glanced back.
The vast forest stretched behind him, and his pursuers were nowhere in sight.
A smug grin spread across his face.
They'll never catch me!
My Swift Release is unmatched!
---
Elsewhere, Jiraiya stood among the remains of grotesque, fused beasts.
The bloody scene was a grim reminder of Hiruko's twisted experiments.
Jiraiya squinted at the distant horizon.
"That chakra… it feels familiar somehow."
Before he could give chase, two figures appeared at his side.
"Jiraiya-sensei!"
"Jiraiya-sama!"
The air around them shimmered as Minato and Shisui teleported in, their expressions grave.
"Minato, Shisui!" Jiraiya's voice carried a note of urgency.
"He fled east. Quickly, you need to go after him!"
Minato shook his head.
"Kagami knows," he said, his voice heavy.
"He's going after Hiruko personally."
Jiraiya's eyes widened.
"Then this… is going to blow up big time," he muttered, glancing at the horizon again.
"Let's just hope Kagami doesn't go too far. We're still in the Land of Fire, after all."
---
A sudden, chilling sensation prompted all three to look skyward.
A luminous crescent—a perfect arc of light—hovered in the heavens.
Its cold, silver glow exuded both beauty and dread as it silently descended toward the horizon.
Suspended upon the crescent blade, barely distinguishable from the grandiose energy surrounding it, was a single figure.
In comparison to the massive, radiant arc, this figure seemed minuscule—almost insignificant.
But his sheer presence, his undeniable aura, pierced into the hearts of all who saw him.
Across the land, shinobi from all villages and factions turned their gaze skyward.
In the gathering dusk, the crescent gleamed, its radiance defying description.
Even those standing miles away felt the piercing sharpness of its glow.
---
"What… what is that?"
"That's… that's the power of a god! That must be Uchiha Kagami!"
"I have to get that power! I have to acquire that technique!"
"Who did he target? Why would he unleash that attack?"
"I heard it's because someone stole a Sharingan…"
"Who would be that insane?"
"Seriously, what kind of idiot would do that? Have they been living under a rock?"
"Look around you! That massive scar in the earth! The damage in the Land of Lightning!"
"Oh, my bad… you're from Kumo? Sorry, I mean this is Konoha!"
"Hey, why are you glaring at me? You wanna fight?"
"Sure, go ahead and hit me! I'll just lie down and wait for Kagami to deal with you!"
Amidst the gathering crowd, the lower-ranking shinobi watched in awe, while the most powerful and experienced bided their time.
A few troublemakers tried to provoke fights, only to face swift punishment.
Konoha's response was clear and decisive: a dedicated space where dissenters met their end.
In mere hours, hundreds had been dealt with, leaving the ground stained black with dried blood.
---
Back in the woods, Hiruko's movement ground to a halt.
He stared skyward, eyes wide with terror, as the massive crescent descended.
The black-and-red lightning streaking through the crescent seemed alive—wild, rabid, and unrelenting.
For the first time, Hiruko's Swift Release offered no escape.
A primal instinct rooted in the depths of his brain took over.
Freeze.
Stay still.
Don't move.
This response—known in many animals as "freezing" when confronted with a predator—had taken hold.
Faced with such overwhelming power, Hiruko's body and mind betrayed him.
Steel Release? It won't hold.
Swift Release? No escape.
Dark Release? Futile.
Standing still might mean quick death, without pain.
His brain determined it was the best choice.
---
The ear-splitting crack of sonic booms shattered the silence, rupturing Hiruko's eardrums.
And then, just as the crescent blade came within a meter of him, it disintegrated into countless glittering fragments.
They floated down like falling stars, scattered by an unseen hand.
---
"Hiruko…"
The voice came from above.
Hovering in the air, Uchiha Kagami gazed down at him, his voice devoid of emotion.
"You should be pleased," Kagami said coldly.
"Someone like you deserves a death much worse than this."
Hiruko's entire body trembled.
In that moment, he realized he had made a grave error.
He would regret not having the courage to leap into the crescent blade.
If he had, at least his end would have been swift.
Instead…
A single black rod pierced his cheek, forcing him into a humiliating posture.
He was dragged back toward Konoha like a lifeless fish on a string.
---
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