"Hiruko, that bastard, is a real piece of work. Or is this just the worldline correcting itself?"
Listening to Hiruzen Sarutobi's frantic rant, Chiba couldn't help but marvel.
In less than half a month, Hiruko had already ambushed several Leaf ANBU squads and abducted two ANBU with Kekkei Genkai.
Not only that, the bastard had also impersonated the Leaf to attack Kekkei Genkai users from Iwagakure and Sunagakure.
A true master of time management.
"That scoundrel claimed he was acting on my direct orders! He unilaterally declared war on Iwagakure and Sunagakure, plunging the Leaf into an unprecedented crisis!" Hiruzen's face was grim. "Because of him, every major village is eyeing us like prey. Iwa and Suna have even sent elite squads into the Land of Fire under the pretext of searching for their missing ninja."
"This is Hiruko's revenge on the Leaf! The situation could escalate into the worst-case scenario at any moment… the Third Great Shinobi War!"
The words made Chiba blink.
Wait. If you think about it that way… does that mean I was the one who sparked the Third Great Shinobi War?
"The mastermind behind the scenes was… me?!"
It wasn't entirely impossible. Given the already tense relations between Suna, Iwa, and the Leaf, all it would take was a single spark.
"Even the Daimyo was alarmed! He personally came to hold me accountable not long ago!" Hiruzen looked at Chiba, his expression deathly serious. "Chiba. You must eliminate Hiruko. You must give the shinobi world an answer on the Leaf's behalf."
"Useless old man. If you hadn't let Hiruko escape back then, would we be in this mess? Now I have to clean up after you."
Chiba kept the thought to himself, adopting an equally grave expression. "Understood, Lord Third."
Truth be told, Chiba rather liked going on missions. Pillage, murder, arson… ahem. Saving lives and healing the wounded was priceless. It was all about love and justice.
After leaving the Hokage's office, Chiba ignored Nawaki and the others' confused looks and hunted down a calendar. Flipping through it, he finally understood Hiruko's haste.
Who knew where Hiruko got his intel, but he apparently believed that to fully devour the power of five Kekkei Genkai, he needed to gather three elements: Heaven, Earth, and Man.
Man was obvious. 'Heaven' referred to the 'Golden Ring Eclipse'—the procedure had to be performed on the day of an annular solar eclipse.
In less than a week, a 'Golden Ring Eclipse' would occur. If he missed this chance, who knew when the next one would be?
"Right. And 'Earth'… the mountain's name also has 'gold' in it…"
Chiba rubbed his temples, a headache brewing. He had Nonō fetch him a map.
Sigh. If I'd known I was going to transmigrate, why did I bother memorizing all that useless trivia? Wouldn't binge-watching Naruto have been a better use of my time?
Once out of the Leaf Village, Chiba led his squad toward the border between the Land of Earth and the Land of Grass, planning to decide their next move from there.
After studying the map, he'd recalled the specific 'Earth' location: the Golden Wheel Mountain Range. The shared 'gold' character had stuck in his memory.
"In the original plot, Hiruko managed to screw over all Five Great Nations. He probably ran out of time this go-around, so he's just picking on the nearby Iwa and Suna, huh?"
Chiba speculated privately. After all, the Land of Water and Land of Lightning were in completely different directions from the Golden Wheel Mountains.
Honestly, he suspected Orochimaru. He suspected the Snake Sannin hadn't just let Hiruko escape, but had also helped improve the Chimera Technique, speeding up the white-haired weirdo's progress.
"Whatever. As long as I can squeeze some benefits out of this trip," Chiba thought to himself.
"According to the ANBU reports, this Hiruko can convert ninjutsu into chakra, absorbing any techniques we throw at him!" Nawaki scratched his head, looking troubled beside him. "If we can't use ninjutsu, how are we supposed to fight him?"
Chiba glanced at Nawaki but said nothing. A battle of this level was far too dangerous for Nawaki and the others. One misstep meant death.
He planned to send them away once they arrived, then deal with Hiruko himself using Wind Style: Rasenshuriken.
No matter the boss, no matter their flashy abilities, the Crown Prince's ultimate move specialized in crushing all defiance, slapping down any and all pretension.
Golden Wheel Mountain Range, Mount Sumeru.
A thick, misty haze blanketed everything. A slender, graceful figure emerged from the swirling clouds, her beautiful eyes scanning the towering peak before her.
She was a young woman of about seventeen or eighteen. Delicate features, an excellent figure. The skin she exposed was smooth and taut, without an ounce of excess fat, her muscle definition practically perfect.
"This should be the place," she murmured to herself.
Her name was Pakura. A kunoichi from Sunagakure, wielder of the Kekkei Genkai: Scorch Style. Logically, she shouldn't have come here to deliver herself to the enemy's doorstep.
But the Suna ninja who had been taken… was her closest friend. So, defying the Suna council's orders, she had pursued her friend's trail here alone.
Pakura knew her actions were reckless. But every moment delayed was another moment her friend was in danger. She couldn't just stand by and do nothing.
"Hoshino. Wait for me. I will bring you back to the village safely!"
Pumping herself up, she began her ascent. High above, unnoticed, a summoned creature's shadow silently glided past.
Meanwhile, at the summit of Mount Sumeru.
A silver-haired boy wrapped entirely in bandages opened his eyes—the child-like form of Hiruko. He turned his head toward a ninja in Sunagakure attire standing beside him.
"Hoshino. Go. Bring your friend to me. She will become one with us," Hiruko commanded.
His original fifth target hadn't been Pakura. But time was tight. Since she'd delivered herself to his doorstep, he would graciously accept.
Once he absorbed Pakura's Scorch Style, the Five Elements cycle within him would be complete. The perfect, immortal shinobi would be born!
"No problem. Leave it to me."
'Hoshino' smirked, a dark, twisted expression. Activating the power of Swift Style, her figure vanished like a ghost, speeding down the mountain.
She had been completely assimilated by Hiruko, molded into his shape. In a sense, she was Hiruko. Betrayal was an impossibility.
Hiruko formed hand seals, recalling the other three who were out hunting Kekkei Genkai users. He remained, waiting silently.
"Who would have thought that a mediocrity like me… was once friends with the Legendary Sannin…"
With success just one step away, his heart had grown strangely calm. The images of those three figures flashed through his mind once more.
To stand by their side. To overcome his own weaknesses. He had researched day and night, striving to complete the Synthesis Fusion Technique—the Chimera Technique.
"Once I make these Kekkei Genkai powers my own… I will become as strong as you. I will catch up. You won't leave me behind!"
At that moment, Hoshino returned, carrying the unconscious, ambushed Pakura, interrupting Hiruko's reminiscence.
"Well then. Let us begin."
Hiruko had prepared all the necessary seals. He only needed the moon to obscure the sun, for the calamitous light of the Golden Ring Eclipse to shine upon the earth, and he would obtain the power to dominate all!
"The sky… it's getting dark?"
The light was fading fast. Nawaki looked up curiously. "Hey, look! It's an eclipse!"
Hearing this, Chiba glanced skyward. A portion of the sun was already swallowed by the moon. His expression sharpened.
Time's almost up. Can't let Hiruko succeed in devouring those Kekkei Genkai. Who knows what level he'd reach?
After their journey, the silhouette of the Golden Wheel Mountains was clear ahead.
Chiba raised a hand, signaling the squad to stop. He pointed forward. "It's mountainous terrain ahead. Steep. To save time, I'll search alone from here. I have the ability to fly."
"Tch. Sounds noble. You just want to ditch us," Nawaki turned his face away, muttering under his breath.
"The mission comes first, Nawaki. Don't be childish." Nonō soothed him for a moment before turning decisively to Chiba. She wrapped her arms around him, whispering in his ear. "Be careful, Chiba. We'll see you soon."
"…Alright."
Chiba hesitated for a second, then raised his arms to return the hug, giving her back two gentle pats.
They parted ways. Chiba activated the Dance of the Shikigami, transforming into a streak of white light that shot toward the mountains.
SCREEE!
Just then, a massive white eagle, easily seven or eight meters across, burst from the clouds. It let out a piercing shriek, spreading its wings and firing a barrage of kunai-sharp feathers at Chiba.
Swish!
Chiba twisted mid-air, dodging the feathers. But in the next instant, they began to glow red.
BOOM!
Fire engulfed Chiba's form. At the critical moment, he dissolved into a shower of paper, using the invincibility frames to avoid the damage before coalescing back together.
"You came to me! Hahahaha!"
Instead of alarm, Chiba laughed in delight. He'd been worried about finding the place in time. The appearance of Hiruko's summon was a perfect beacon, pointing the way.
Mount Sumeru Summit.
Hiruko's gaze snapped toward Chiba's direction, a flicker of surprise in his eyes.
"Hmm? Another Kekkei Genkai bearer? And a Leaf ANBU?!"
But a glance at the now fully darkened sky steadied him. A smile of absolute confidence spread across his face.
"A pity. You're one step too late. The calamitous light already bathes the earth… Chimera Technique!"
Hiruko's hands flew through seals. His small frame began to swell and distort.
Fleshy buds erupted from his body, merging into an indescribable, shapeless mass. It resembled tentacles. Or eyes. Its color shifted between ashen gray and purplish-black, grotesque and kaleidoscopic. It seemed to have a life of its own, bubbles occasionally popping on its surface.
"Now… nothing can stop my ascent to perfection!"
Hiruko's voice had become distorted, layered, as if hundreds of men, women, and children of different ages were speaking at once.
He controlled the nameless flesh, extending it toward the five figures beside him. What vaguely resembled a face on the mass wore an expression of manic joy and triumph.
"No. You're getting ahead of yourself."
But at that moment, a figure descended from the heavens like a wrathful god, ruthlessly shattering Hiruko's fantasy.
"I don't care what you turn into. Just watch me charge right at you." Chiba looked down at the monstrosity below, his voice cold as he delivered the verdict.
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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