Chapter 274: Tailing

Chapter 274: Chapter 274: Tailing

Unlike Hiruko, who stood in the center of the platform looking increasingly frustrated after repeatedly wanting to speak but stopping himself—

Hyuga Kagami now wore a look of realization.

At last, he understood why Hiruko, who had only absorbed Uchiha Hiiragi’s ocular power, could possess ocular power approaching the level of the Mangekyō Sharingan.

Because Kagami’s own "Kekkei Mōra Project" had been designed on the foundation of Hiruko’s "Chimera Technique," he had conducted an extremely thorough analysis of the technique.

In Kagami’s view, if everything could be carried out under absolutely perfect conditions, the Chimera Technique truly possessed the ability to turn something ordinary into something extraordinary.

Hiruko’s Kekkei Genkai fusion ritual, however, was clearly far from perfect.

Among the five Kekkei Genkai Hiruko had absorbed, Storm Release represented Lightning-nature chakra, Steel Release represented Earth-nature chakra, Swift Release represented Wind-nature chakra, Dark Release represented Water-nature chakra, while the Sharingan’s dōjutsu Kekkei Genkai represented Fire-nature chakra.

Without a doubt, limited by his own understanding, when Hiruko designed the ritual, he had only taken into account the five most common chakra natures—

Lightning, Earth, Wind, Water, and Fire.

He had completely overlooked the two most crucial chakra natures:

Yin and Yang.

An oversight at such a fundamental level was the most fatal kind.

No matter how far Hiruko developed the Chimera Technique, there was no way for him to compensate for the disastrous consequences caused by this fundamental flaw.

Under normal circumstances, even if Hiruko ultimately managed to survive the Kekkei Genkai fusion ritual, the five Kekkei Genkai he fused with would not have improved in the slightest. At best, they would only barely reach the level of the Kekkei Genkai ninja he had absorbed.

As for reaching the level of Kekkei Mōra, that would be nothing more than a pipe dream.

But whether it was fate or simply Hiruko’s extraordinary luck—

Among the five Kekkei Genkai ninja he had chosen, Uchiha Hiiragi not only possessed Fire-nature chakra as a member of the Uchiha clan, but also possessed the Yin-nature chakra unique to dōjutsu Kekkei Genkai users.

Meanwhile, the Swift Release ninja with Uzumaki blood not only possessed Wind-nature chakra, but also a small amount of Yang-nature chakra representing the Sage Body.

Thus, to a certain extent, the seven chakra natures of Yin, Yang, and the Five Elements had all been accounted for.

Although the strengths of these seven chakra natures varied greatly, making it impossible to achieve a perfect balance, at the very least, none of them were missing.

As a result, after surviving the Kekkei Genkai fusion ritual, Hiruko not only perfectly inherited all five Kekkei Genkai he had fused with, but each of those Kekkei Genkai had also been enhanced to varying degrees.

That was precisely why his three-tomoe Sharingan possessed ocular power comparable to the Mangekyō Sharingan.

Kagami sighed inwardly.

"So does this count as a failure... or a success?"

From Hyuga Kagami’s perspective, Hiruko’s Kekkei Genkai fusion ritual was undoubtedly a failure.

After all, despite surviving the ritual through sheer luck, Hiruko had still failed to even touch the realm of Kekkei Mōra.

But looking at it another way, Hiruko had been limited by his own understanding from the very beginning. He had never intended to reach Kekkei Mōra in the first place.

His goal had simply been to absorb the five Kekkei Genkai he desired.

So, from Hiruko’s own perspective—

This ritual was undoubtedly a success.

Casting one last, deep look at Hiruko, Kagami followed Shinichi and slowly left the mountaintop.

After their brief clash just now, Kagami understood that Hiruko had already become extraordinarily powerful.

Once Hiruko fully adapted to the five Kekkei Genkai he had absorbed and accumulated more combat experience, there probably wouldn’t be many people in the entire shinobi world capable of defeating him one-on-one.

The members of Akatsuki rarely gathered together like this, so once Hiruko’s ritual was over, everyone went their separate ways.

Before leaving, however, the Akatsuki members all gave Kagami and Orochimaru a careful once-over. Even Pain, the leader of Akatsuki, was no exception.

Clearly, Kagami and Orochimaru’s performance in the battle just now had caught their attention.

As Orochimaru left with Shinno, he cast one final glance at Kagami.

The intense desire in his eyes to possess Kagami for himself was practically undisguised.

With a grim expression, Shinichi warned, "Be careful of that woman. She seems to have set her sights on you!"

Kagami nodded at first, then said, "Lord Kagami needs Hiruko’s Chimera Technique. You’d better find a way to get your hands on it."

Shinichi frowned. "But I don’t have any kind of relationship with Hiruko!"

Kagami smiled.

"You don’t need to approach Hiruko directly. Just go through Shinno."

Even before joining Akatsuki, Shinno had traveled throughout the shinobi world stealing secret ninjutsu wherever he could.

Now that he had become Hiruko’s partner, there was no way he hadn’t already gotten his hands on Hiruko’s Chimera Technique.

Orochimaru had once confidently assured Kagami that he could obtain the Chimera Technique as well. Most likely, he had been planning to make his move through Shinno from the very beginning.

Shinichi curled his lips. "I don’t have any relationship with that Shinno guy either!"

"It’s just a transaction. What does friendship have to do with it?" After a brief pause, Kagami continued, "Just make your request directly to Shinno and see what he wants in return. If you can meet his demands, do your best to satisfy them. If you can’t, inform Lord Kagami. He’ll figure something out!"

Recalling what he had just witnessed, Shinichi asked somewhat uncertainly, "Can Hiruko’s Chimera Technique really devour other people’s Kekkei Genkai?"

Kagami seriously considered the question for a moment before answering, "Personally, I think this method of fusion is bound to leave behind some kind of hidden flaw. As for exactly what that flaw might be, I can’t say for certain right now. You’re a member of Akatsuki, so keep a closer eye on him whenever you get the chance. You might discover something unexpected."

Shinichi stared at Kagami with a strange expression.

"En, why do I feel like the way you talk is exactly the same as Kagami? Don’t tell me you’re deliberately imitating him? You’re a girl—why are you copying the way he talks?!"

Kagami’s face immediately darkened.

"I can’t be bothered with you. I’m leaving!"

With that, Kagami’s figure flickered as he immediately used the Body Flicker Technique and disappeared.

Shinichi shouted after him, "Hey! Don’t you need me to escort you part of the way? If you suddenly drop dead somewhere along the road for no reason, don’t blame me!"

Kagami cursed inwardly, "You dare curse me? Hmph! Even if you die, I still won’t be dead!"

Without stopping, Kagami sped onward, quickly passing through the Land of Earth and the Land of Grass before entering the Land of Fire.

Even after entering the Land of Fire, however, Kagami did not lower his guard.

He could sense that someone had been faintly trailing him the entire way.

Upon reaching a forest, Kagami finally stopped.

"Come out!"

At that moment, Orochimaru emerged from behind a large tree.

Licking his lips, he said, "My, my... What unexpectedly sharp senses you have."