Naruto: Kurotsuchi Mayuri

Hiruko felt as if his entire body was being torn apart as the shadow merged with him. It was a soul-splitting kind of pain.

The pain he had once experienced from the Chimera Technique was nothing compared to this.

For a moment, he thought he would die from the agony.

Only when he endured it, and the pain finally started to fade like a retreating tide, did he feel like he was alive again.

"What... did you do?"

Hiruko's voice was harsh and raspy, like gravel grinding through his throat. Every word was torture. But after what he just went through, this pain felt like nothing.

"I repaired the flaw in your soul," Orochimaru said softly. "With my own soul. It will increase the success rate of your Chimera Technique."

"Don't be ridiculous! I don't need your help. I could complete the final version of the Chimera Technique on my own!"

Knowing Orochimaru, Hiruko would sooner believe he had some secret goal than believe he'd actually sacrifice a piece of his soul to fix someone else's.

This was the same man who would coldly abandon a wounded comrade if it served his plans.

Hiruko didn't believe their relationship was deep enough for Orochimaru to pay such a heavy price.

"Is that so? I dissected your body and read the memories of your subordinate. You've gotten smarter. You now teach your forbidden jutsu to others and use them as test subjects to perfect it."

"The Chimera Technique is a powerful forbidden art. For someone to create and refine it this far—you're definitely a genius."

"We're not so different, Hiruko."

"But if you want to perfect the Chimera Technique alone, it will take decades. I can help you."

Orochimaru responded flatly. He didn't tell Hiruko that he had even taken the time to dissect both that subordinate and Hiruko's body, gaining a deeper understanding.

"What's the price? I don't believe you brought me back just to help me," Hiruko said with a cold sneer.

The current Orochimaru was just like the old one, indifferent and dismissive toward those without talent. His silent mockery was more infuriating than any words could be.

Even he had a complicated relationship with Orochimaru.

On one hand, Orochimaru looked down on his ninja talent, but on the other hand, they shared a certain common ground when it came to understanding ninjutsu.

"Everything of yours," Orochimaru said, not caring about Hiruko's anger or sneer. He spoke the consequences calmly and coldly.

"Your ninjutsu, knowledge, experience, the Kekkei Genkai fused with the Chimera Technique—everything. One day, it will all be mine."

"You're not the only one who's created your own techniques over the years. Tsunade, Jiraiya, and even the new generation, each of us has made progress."

"I acknowledge your talent in ninjutsu research, but that's all."

Orochimaru saw the disdain on Hiruko's face, and calmly pointed out a fact.

The Chimera Technique was indeed a powerful forbidden jutsu. From its concept, the potential was extremely high.

It could even transform someone, break their limitations, and create an immortal body.

But now, Orochimaru no longer believed in the idea of immortality, except for the soul.

Especially when it came to immortality achieved through certain forbidden jutsu.

There were no jutsu in this world that couldn't be cracked.

This principle applied to forbidden jutsu as well.

Moreover, the Chimera Technique wasn't even perfected. Every time a Kekkei Genkai was fused, the future challenges and difficulties would only increase!

The price of forbidden jutsu wasn't something everyone could endure.

So, even if Hiruko claimed that the final version of the Chimera Technique could make him the god of the ninja world, in Orochimaru's eyes, it was still just a possibility.

But the path that Hiruko chose was bound to be full of thorns and difficulties.

Any mistake would bring irreversible and serious consequences for Hiruko.

At least now, his body and soul were already experiencing problems with integration.

"How are you going to take everything from me? Are you going to read my memories? If you could, I'd already be a fool or dead by now," Hiruko mocked.

"I have a better way," Orochimaru said with a slight smile on his face.

"You're the first person I've used this technique on.

Can't you feel it? Your soul has become more resilient and whole, and your understanding of techniques, your experience, or perhaps your inspiration, is rapidly increasing.

It's as if you have a teacher living inside your heart, knowing many ninja techniques, and helping you increase your talent and skills."

The mocking expression on Hiruko's face froze.

After the pain faded, he truly felt his body—or rather, his soul—was much lighter.

It no longer felt uncomfortable like it did when he had previously merged with the Kekkei Genkait using the Chimera Technique.

At the same time, his mind felt like it had been suddenly enlightened.

As he thought, guided by Orochimaru's reminders, his inspiration for ninjutsu, chakra, and Chimera Technique research grew by leaps and bounds.

The confusion he once had about techniques was mostly cleared, and with further thought, he even found ways to correct and improve the steps of the Chimera Technique that he had once thought perfect, simplifying them.

If Orochimaru hadn't pointed this out, he would have thought it was simply the result of his own accumulated experience.

But now, with Orochimaru's words, a deep sense of fear surged from within him.

It felt as though something was occupying his soul, or perhaps he had lost something.

"Senjutsu: Soul Division!" Orochimaru revealed the technique he had placed on Hiruko's soul.

"It allows me to turn a part of myself into something that nourishes the person I apply it to.

Whether it's battle experience, ninjutsu knowledge, research talent, or body modifications, everything I have can be given to others through soul division.

You can enjoy and use everything I've given you, but in the same way, everything you have will be inscribed without reservation into the fragment of the soul I've gifted you.

One day, it will return to me with everything you have."

Orochimaru looked down at Hiruko like a farmer gazing at a seed he had planted. He patiently fertilized, watered, and carefully dealt with pests, waiting for it to grow, reach maturity, and bear fruit.

That would be the time for him to harvest.

"If you want to escape this fate, evolve into the perfect form in the limited time you have. Perhaps then, you'll be able to struggle a little."

"I'm satisfied with this meeting! When you wake up, some of your memories will be lost due to the jutsu. Don't worry too much about it."

As Orochimaru stood up and left, about to disappear into the darkness, he turned his head and softly reminded.

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