Chapter 227: Yakushi Kabuto: Hiruko, Long Time No See
The Land of Whirlpools and the Uzumaki Clan had been the most steadfast allies of the Land of Fire and Konoha since ancient times.
This friendship was established from the beginning of the "one country, one village" era.
Even the jōnin uniforms of Konoha were printed with the Uzumaki Clan's crest, representing the unfading friendship and alliance between Konoha and the Uzumaki.
Furthermore, when the Uzumaki Clan was in peril, they could rely on the power of Konoha for protection.
Therefore, in Tsunade's view, since they were still alive after losing their country, they should have come to Konoha for refuge.
But…
"Why would members of the Uzumaki Clan be hostile towards Konoha?"
This was something Tsunade could not understand.
Tsunade's words seemed to trigger some unpleasant memories for little Karin.
She lowered her head and said, "The so-called alliance you speak of was torn apart by your own hands long ago."
"Clearly, a distress signal was sent at that time, but they only took one person away."
Even a child as young as Uzumaki Karin knew what had happened back then and understood even more deeply the tragedy of being weak.
The alliance treaty between the Uzumaki Clan and Konoha had long since been submerged in the river of history, appearing pale and powerless in the face of the truth of their clan's and country's destruction.
"How is that possible? Wasn't it an accident?"
Tsunade frowned, then as if suddenly thinking of something, her expression changed slightly. She looked gravely at Menma. "Could it be that this guy has bewitched and deceived you?"
"Konoha has always been grateful to the Uzumaki Clan."
The sealing techniques for the Jinchūriki were brought over from the Uzumaki Clan.
Most of Konoha's sealing jutsu were also taught by the Uzumaki Clan.
Grandma Mito, like her grandfather, had doted on her since she was a child, and the "Strength of a Hundred Seal" was also completed under Grandma Mito's guidance.
"The facts are just as they are."
"The Land of Whirlpools, where our Uzumaki Clan resided, was a neighboring country to the Land of Fire. Compared to other countries and ninja villages, the Land of Fire and Konoha were the closest to the Land of Whirlpools."
Little Karin said resentfully, "But, we held out for several days, and the distress signal sent to Konoha was like a stone sinking into the sea."
"The Uzumaki Clan was annihilated right under Konoha's nose, and a large number of sealing jutsu documents were plundered by outsiders."
Most of the existing sealing jutsu in Konoha, including the sealing ninjutsu for the Tailed Beasts, all came from the Uzumaki Clan.
Only Uzumaki Kushina alone was taken in by Konoha to become the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki.
The remaining Uzumaki clansmen no longer trusted Konoha. They could only bear the hatred of their lost country and annihilated clan, living a precarious life under assumed names, constantly wandering and fleeing throughout the ninja world.
This was a painful point that every Uzumaki clansman could not erase.
And they were naturally very clear about the role Konoha played in it.
For Karin, who grew up in the Land of Grass, that was all pain she had personally experienced.
"The Land of Whirlpools was destroyed, and everyone from the Uzumaki Clan wandered the ninja world for over a decade, hiding in the dark corners like rats..." After a pause, Karin let out a long breath. "It was Teacher who saved us from our suffering, not the so-called Konoha and its allies."
Menma stroked little Karin's head and lamented, "The once glorious Uzumaki Clan, which formed a country on its own, has now fallen to the point where they need me to provide for them. How tragic and ironic."
"I wonder what kind of complicated expressions the deceased Uzumaki ancestors or the First Hokage would show if they knew. I'd really like to see that."
If the head of the Uzumaki Clan knew that his clan had suffered annihilation while its ally, Konoha, offered no assistance, one wonders if he would climb out of his grave and curse Sarutobi Hiruzen to his face.
"It doesn't matter anymore. The Land of Whirlpools has long since vanished in the war."
Little Karin shook her head. "Anyway, our country is gone. Now we just have our worthless lives. What else is there to lose?"
Fortunately, after the storm comes the rainbow. She had come to terms with many things and was no longer as naive as before.
The world was just like this.
"This…"
Tsunade's mind was in a mess.
Although the two spoke in a plain, narrative tone, it sounded even more ironic to her ears.
Perhaps it was as the two said; the Uzumaki Clan had already requested aid from Konoha.
The Land of Whirlpools was a neighboring country to the Land of Fire. Even if the Uzumaki Clan was invaded by enemies, as a neighbor, Konoha would have had ample time to support them after receiving the news.
But if it was that old man…
Realizing this, Tsunade couldn't help but clench her fists.
After a moment, she let out a long breath, suppressing the gloom in her heart.
She looked at Menma again, her expression serious. "...So, what is your purpose and conspiracy in specifically saving the survivors of the Uzumaki Clan?"
"Or should I say, are you yourself a member of the Uzumaki Clan, seeking revenge on Konoha out of hatred?"
Regarding the matter of the Uzumaki Clan, it was indeed Konoha's fault, so she didn't argue.
She would go back and ask the old man to clarify the truth about the destruction of the Land of Whirlpools.
But from the brief exchange just now, this man before her was extremely dangerous. Even she could be killed directly by him.
Fighting this guy, Ame-no-Minakanushi, one had to be on twelve-tenths alert and could not relax for a single moment.
Moreover, since the other party had saved the Uzumaki Clan but remained hidden in the shadows, Tsunade didn't believe he had no ulterior motives.
"The people of the Uzumaki Clan left with me because it was their own choice. I never forced them to join."
Menma said in a calm tone, "Besides, you're overestimating yourself and Konoha. In the face of the grand tide of events, so-called hatred is as insignificant as a speck of dust."
"If one day I decide to destroy Konoha, it will only prove that the era dominated by the Five Great Nations is over, and the new era cannot allow a stubborn force led by Konoha to continue to exist."
"In other words…"
After a pause, Menma raised his eyes slightly. "Killing you has nothing to do with you."
Hearing this, Tsunade's pupils trembled slightly.
She opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but found that she couldn't refute it, nor could she utter any harsh words.
This guy, Ame-no-Minakanushi, hasn't taken them seriously from the very beginning!
Attacking Konoha? Hating Konoha?
No, it's simply because Konoha is standing in his way.
Like sweeping dust off the floor, he would sweep them, this dross, into the trash can.
For a moment, the scene fell into an eerie silence.
"Instead of getting entangled in such boring and childish questions, you should pray that you don't meet me on the battlefield. You won't be so lucky next time."
With that, Menma stopped paying attention to Tsunade and looked up at Katsuyu. "Katsuyu, could you show me around Shikkotsu Forest and answer some of my questions?"
Menma held a great curiosity for the thousand-year-old sage region.
Perhaps it could provide him with some inspiration and experience for establishing a "Fourth Sage Region" in the future.
"Certainly, please follow me."
Katsuyu agreed without hesitation. A human-sized slug split from its huge body and began to lead the way for Menma.
"Good luck to you, Princess Tsunade."
After saying this meaningfully, Menma took little Karin and followed Katsuyu's clone, leaving.
Watching his departing back, Tsunade was silent for a long time before finally taking a deep breath, her face gradually regaining its composure.
Immediately, she also looked up at the giant Katsuyu.
"Katsuyu, I'll have to trouble you to help me find the scroll that Grandpa left here back then."
"Kabuto-san, is that guy named Hiruko here?"
"Mm, if my intelligence is not mistaken."
At the foot of a huge mountain range, Hidan, carrying his Triple-Bladed Scythe, and Yakushi Kabuto looked up at the mountaintop.
It was shrouded in a layer of black, dense fog, which didn't look like a place suitable for human habitation.
But according to the information Kabuto had obtained from Orochimaru, the S-rank rogue ninja named Hiruko was here.
"I've never heard of that guy's name."
Hidan scratched his head. "Can he really become our comrade?"
"It's not good to underestimate people, Hidan-san."
Kabuto smiled. "Hiruko was a contemporary of Orochimaru. However, his talent and aptitude were the most mediocre among his peers, so he could only develop a forbidden jutsu that could plunder the Kekkei Genkai of others, attempting to increase his own power."
"It's just that he was later accidentally discovered by the Third Hokage, and so he fled Konoha."
Hidan's eyebrows shot up, his tone surprised. "A forbidden jutsu that plunders the Kekkei Genkai of others?"
"Ah, perhaps it was because he was unwilling to be mediocre that he wanted to rely on a forbidden jutsu to change his destiny."
Kabuto said casually, "I think his forbidden jutsu has great potential for development. His forbidden jutsu should have achieved some success by now."
In a sense, Orochimaru and Hiruko were the same kind of people.
But compared to the mediocre Hiruko, who was often overlooked, Orochimaru had extremely high talent in ninjutsu.
Later, Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru were chosen by the Third Hokage to become his direct disciples.
And Hiruko, a close friend of Orochimaru and the others during their academy days, eventually drifted apart from them.
However, even the highly talented Orochimaru gradually realized the insurmountable gap between ninja with Kekkei Genkai and those without.
So after he defected from Konoha, he actually formed a cooperative relationship with the "dead-last" Hiruko, whom he had once looked down upon.
This was also why Kabuto was able to obtain information about Hiruko.
However, Orochimaru's evaluation of Hiruko was never high, and he didn't care much for the so-called "Chimera Technique."
Perhaps in Orochimaru's mind, Hiruko would always be a step below him, a small figure left far behind.
But Kabuto knew very well in his heart that Orochimaru had underestimated Hiruko's talent.
Hiruko might not have had the talent to be a ninja, but he was definitely a scientific research genius no less than Orochimaru.
Like Orochimaru, he just lacked a broader perspective.
"A forbidden jutsu that plunders Kekkei Genkai, that does sound impressive."
Hidan licked his lips and asked with some excitement, "Kabuto-san, do you want his forbidden jutsu? I can help you snatch it!"
Kabuto came back to his senses and shook his head lightly. "That jutsu is probably just a semi-finished product. Its fusion is simply too crude."
"It might be able to achieve the goal of plundering Kekkei Genkai, but it's just an accumulation of the number of Kekkei Genkai."
Master of one, master of all; master of none, master of nothing.
Even a ninja with one Kekkei Genkai might not be able to develop it to its full potential in a lifetime.
If one encountered an unusually powerful enemy, having ten Kekkei Genkai would be of no use.
"What's more, the human body and will also have limits. I can't think of how to solve this problem."
After a pause, Kabuto chuckled lightly. "But, with Senior Kakuzu's body and will, he might be able to withstand that burden."
It was undeniable that the "Chimera Technique" created by Hiruko was indeed a genius concept.
The most magical thing about the "Chimera Technique" was that it could fuse Kekkei Genkai.
But the body's rejection response was not that simple.
The fusion process of the "Chimera Technique" was too overbearing, often causing the user's body to bear an extraordinary burden.
If the body was not modified, in theory, no human body could withstand the burden of the "Chimera Technique."
But, Kakuzu wasn't exactly human right now…
Kabuto was very curious about what changes would be caused by the combination of "Earth Grudge Fear" and the "Chimera Technique."
"In that case," Hidan took the scythe off his shoulder, a grin spreading across his face, "I can do whatever I want, right? As long as I don't kill him."
But just as he spoke…
BOOM!!
A huge fireball came flying from a distance, radiating an incredibly terrifying heat.
It smashed directly into Hidan, making him let out a painful scream.
"Argh! Bastard! You dare sneak attack me! I'll kill you and offer you to Lord Jashin!"
A large part of Hidan's body was eroded by the Scorch Release, making a sizzling sound like roasting meat.
"Oh? Is this Scorch Release? It seems Hiruko's forbidden jutsu research was a success!"
Kabuto blinked, but had no intention of making a move.
He knew the name of this ninjutsu.
—Scorch Release: Extremely Steaming Murder.
This was a jutsu that directly evaporated moisture. If an ordinary person were hit, they would undoubtedly die, probably turning into a dried corpse.
But Hidan was clearly no ordinary ninja.
Under the "blessing of Lord Jashin," he was just howling in pain there, his body only showing signs of dehydration.
Just then, the faint sound of footsteps came from a distance.
Kabuto turned his head in the direction of the sound and looked into the distance.
A white-haired youth wearing a white high-collared long coat, his face wrapped in white bandages, was slowly walking down the mountain path.
"Long time no see, Lord Hiruko."
Looking at the pair of red eyes that exuded a cold light, Kabuto pushed up his glasses and said with a familiar smile, "First, let me congratulate you on the successful development of your Chimera Technique."
Hiruko was a contemporary of Orochimaru; both were around forty years old.
But the Hiruko standing before him now looked like a teenager.
Then, there was only one reason that could explain it.
—The side effect of the "Chimera Technique."
However, with such a body, it would probably be even more difficult to withstand the pressure of the forbidden jutsu.
"You are… the kid who was with Orochimaru?"
Hiruko frowned, his tone full of wariness. "Where is Orochimaru? Why are you alone, and with a noisy fool who speaks nonsense?"
"You bastard! I…"
Kabuto stretched out his arm, stopping the furious Hidan.
He then looked at Hiruko and said in a gentle tone, "Lord Orochimaru… has already been killed."
(End of Chapter)
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