"Huh?!"
Just as Hiruko's consciousness was about to fade, a stream of pure chakra suddenly flooded into his body. He snapped back to full alertness in an instant.
"You… you're a medical ninja too? Why are you saving me?"
Hiruko looked at Chiba in utter confusion. After all, the person who had just beaten him half to death was also Chiba.
Of course, it's for the reward and to recruit you.
Chiba grabbed Hiruko's hand and sighed. "Uncle… my relationship with all three Sannin is deep. How could I possibly stand by and watch you die?"
"Un… Uncle? You're calling me uncle?!"
Hiruko's head buzzed. He felt dizzy. That single word—uncle—struck straight at his heart.
Not only did his old comrades still remember him, but even their junior, their disciple, recognized him. Saw him as an elder worthy of standing beside the Legendary Three. This… this was…!
"Yes, you are Lord Jiraiya's comrade. That makes you my uncle, doesn't it?" Chiba smiled.
In the steady stream of 'uncle' from Chiba, Hiruko gradually lost himself.
He felt every pore on his body open. A sense of exhilarating relief flowed through his entire being.
"You… what's your name?"
Looking at Chiba, who was healing him, Hiruko asked earnestly.
Chiba had not only allowed him to reclaim his bonds but had given him a chance to start over. Most importantly… the kid was calling him uncle!
"Uncle, my name is Chiba."
"Chiba… Chiba. A fine name."
Under Chiba's puzzled gaze, Hiruko fumbled around his own body for a long time. He found nothing. His face flushed red with embarrassment.
"I… I don't have anything on me to give you. Should I… teach you the Chimera Technique?"
Hiruko felt like crying. This was so embarrassing! The kid had started calling him uncle, and he couldn't even produce a decent gift!
He, who had always treated wealth like dirt, was now suffering from a lack of it.
"Ah, Uncle, I didn't save you for a reward! I just didn't want my teachers to be sad!" Chiba declared righteously.
"Wha… what a good kid!"
Hiruko was so moved he was almost in tears. He had no idea that Chiba's inner monologue was as follows:
Holy shit. This version of Hiruko is the five-in-one upgraded edition. He swallowed four Kekkei Genkai users in one go. How insane is his potential now?
Plus, he took lethal damage. If I heal him, him rewarding me with a Kekkei Genkai isn't too much to ask, right?
The two of them went back and forth. One moment ago, they were fighting to the death. Now, they were chatting amiably, their rapport almost rivaling Naruto and Sasuke's love-hate dynamic.
"Chiba, you…"
"Have you two talked enough?!"
Just as Chiba and Hiruko were deepening their exchange, a crimson figure shot onto the summit of Mount Sumeru. A cold voice cut through their conversation.
It's Iwagakure's Five-Tails Jinchūriki, Han?!
Once Chiba clearly saw the other's figure, his expression shifted slightly. He quickly helped Hiruko to his feet.
Though netizens often joked about Han being one of the "Bathhouse Four," in the world of Naruto, Han was absolutely a top-tier existence.
Unlike that fraudulent Jinchūriki, B, from before, Han could completely control his tailed beast. He could enter tailed beast mode and release a Tailed Beast Bomb at his own will. The difference in their combat power was like heaven and earth.
Facing such an opponent, Chiba had zero confidence in victory.
"If you know what's good for you, get up now and come back to Iwagakure with me to face judgment."
Han adjusted the brim of his hat and pointed coldly at the two. "Confess the wicked plans of Konoha to the Tsuchikage in full detail. That way… you might still die with some dignity."
This was the Land of Earth's territory. Iwagakure was right behind him. He had no need for pleasantries with these two Konoha dogs.
Aside from Kage and other Jinchūriki, no one from Konoha was worth his attention.
This guy…!
Chiba stared at the imposing figure of Han—the Dancing Emperor—his own expression shifting between light and shadow.
The other's imperious attitude reminded him of that old bastard Ōnoki. These Iwa bastards and their condescending airs… they were all cut from the same cloth!
But anger was one thing. Han's confidence stemmed from sheer, overwhelming power.
Hiruko hadn't recovered his fighting strength yet. Relying on himself alone, Chiba wasn't sure he could win. The safest move was to fly away from here first and plan later.
What to do… give up just like that?
Chiba hesitated.
The reward and his new "uncle" were almost in his grasp. He didn't want to leave Hiruko here and let all those impending benefits vanish into thin air.
But if he tried to take Hiruko and run now, he'd probably have two entire villages chasing him down soon.
Either abandon the reward, leave Hiruko, and maybe clear my name… or… go all in!
Chiba was locked in an internal struggle.
Hiruko, standing beside him, said nothing. He just watched Chiba silently. Results proved everything. That was this scientist's creed.
Right now, it seemed Chiba was considering abandoning him… A deep disappointment settled in Hiruko's heart, just as he was ready to embrace bonds again.
Fortune favors the bold. The timid starve. Let's fucking do this!
But then, a fierce light flashed in Chiba's eyes. If he could just silence all the witnesses here… then every problem would be solved!
So what if he was the Five-Tails Jinchūriki?
No one was going to stop him from claiming the reward that was rightfully his!
If Han dared to get in his way… he'd take a big bite out of the man. Just like he'd done with the Eight-Tails Jinchūriki.
With that thought, Chiba looked at Hiruko, gritting his teeth. "Uncle… what do we do when someone tries to bully us?"
Hiruko's mouth split into a grin. Then it spread wider. And wider. Until it nearly reached his ears.
To have a nephew who would stand firmly by his side even in the face of a life-and-death crisis… Hiruko would use his very life to protect this boy for Jiraiya and the others!
Hiruko bared his sharp teeth, smiling sinisterly. "Then we…"
"EAT! HIM! TOGETHER!"
Whoosh!
As the words fell, the two of them turned their heads in unison toward Han. That eerie, utterly indifferent look in their eyes sent a chill down the spine of the battle-hardened veteran.
Killing someone and eating someone were completely different concepts.
Countless people had died by Han's hand. But eating them? The mere thought made Han's hair stand on end.
Yet, the strange tone and look from these two actually made Han feel… they really would "eat" him!
"You two ungrateful brats! Stop playing your little games!"
Han roared. Dense steam began pouring relentlessly from the openings in his armor.
All fear stemmed from insufficient firepower. Han intended to use his pride—his monstrous strength—to crush these two theatric fools in one go!
Han's power is no joke. To take him down, I need to find a way to restore Hiruko's combat ability.
Han was still building momentum, observing them, ready to strike at any moment. Seeing this, Chiba whispered to Hiruko beside him.
"Uncle… can you swallow a severed tailed beast tail? One without a host?"
Conventional medical ninjutsu couldn't heal Hiruko in such a short time. They needed an unorthodox method. The unorthodox method Chiba thought of was the four Eight-Tails tails still inside him.
"Y-yes! Chakra without a will… I can swallow as much as you've got!" Hiruko's eyes lit up. He answered with absolute confidence.
Chakra without offensive intent, without independent consciousness… his Chimera Technique could devour it with zero pressure. It was just a matter of digestion speed.
If Chiba provided enough chakra, he could return to peak condition quickly. No—it was more accurate to say his power had no upper limit!
Right now, Hiruko's body still had deficiencies. If he could use tailed beast tails as temporary replacements… perhaps his strength would approach perfection!
"Good, Uncle. When you see the chance, use the Chimera Technique to devour. I'll hold him off first."
Hearing Hiruko's affirmative reply, joy surged in Chiba's heart.
Once Hiruko recovered his fighting strength… with the two of them joining forces, they might just be able to clash with a fully transformed Han!
If Hiruko performed well enough… maybe, just maybe, Chiba would soon become a real Jinchūriki himself!
Whoosh!
Right then, Han—who had been observing them closely—finally moved.
"Boil Release: Jet Kick!"
Han pushed the chakra in his body to its boiling point in one breath. His armor emitted a sound like a roaring train.
Propelled by the dense steam, Han shot forward like a cybernetic monster. He appeared instantly before the two and launched a flying kick aimed directly at the visibly injured Hiruko.
(Author's Note: A 'Perfect Jinchūriki' refers to mutual understanding between human and beast. Full mastery of tailed beast power just requires an agreement with the beast. In 'The Tale of Minato,' Han could already do it.)
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