Hearing the voice, Shimon Hiruko was startled.
"Who are you?"
The opponent had appeared behind him without him noticing at all.
If they had attacked just now, he would already be a corpse.
"You don't recognize me?"
"Why don't you take a closer look."
After hearing Mirai Uchiha's words, Shimon Hiruko stared at her for a moment.
His eyes suddenly widened as he stammered, "You... You're Mirai Uchiha?!"
Mirai Uchiha smiled and nodded. "You got it."
Shimon felt his heart sink.
If Mirai Uchiha had targeted him, today probably wouldn't end well for him.
Damn it!
He'd been this close to success.
"You seem pretty unhappy about this?" Mirai asked.
"Of course I'm unhappy!" Shimon hissed through gritted teeth. "I was this close to becoming the strongest ninja in the world..."
Mirai couldn't help but chuckle, then said coolly, "Then go ahead. I'd love to see where your confidence comes from."
"You'll find out soon enough."
A spark of joy flickered in Shimon's heart.
He hadn't expected his mind games to actually work.
Mirai Uchiha was willing to let him complete his ritual.
Seeing that Shimon still hadn't moved after a while, Mirai asked with some confusion, "What? Aren't you going to start yet?"
Although reluctant to reveal details about the Chimera Technique, Shimon could only explain to prevent Mirai from losing patience, "The ritual needs to be performed under specific conditions. It's not time yet."
Mirai yawned before giving his evaluation, "Boring and complicated."
Hearing his painstakingly researched technique so casually dismissed, Shimon couldn't help clenching his fists tightly.
Once his technique was completed, he'd show this person his true power.
After a brief wait, the sun was finally devoured by darkness.
Violent gusts of wind swept across the land as Shimon immediately formed hand seals, activating [Chimera Technique].
Countless tentacles shot out, instantly engulfing the four people bound to the stone pillars.
A bloodcurdling scream rang out as the Chimera Technique completed, granting Shimon the power he'd longed for.
"Great! The Chimera Technique was successful!"
Overcome with excitement, Shimon laughed loudly as he felt the surging power within his body.
After all this effort, he had finally succeeded.
No one could stand against him now!
"Finished playing god, are we?"
Mirai Uchiha's voice brought Shimon Hiruko back to his senses. He glared at Mirai with ill intent and coldly said, "That's right. Right now, I'll make you pay for your arrogance."
With those words still hanging in the air, Shimon Hiruko confidently charged toward Mirai Uchiha.
[Storm Release] — he possessed it, capable of unleashing lightning strikes rivaling the destructive power of Heavenly Lightning.
[Lightning Release] — regarding speed, he wielded it, allowing him to accelerate to speeds beyond the limits of human perception.
[Steel Release] — as for defense, he could metallize his body so completely that not even Explosive Tags could penetrate his defenses.
[Yin Release] — additionally, he could employ it, absorbing an opponent's ninjutsu and reflecting it directly back.
At this moment, he had no weaknesses whatsoever.
In one-on-one combat, absolutely no one could defeat him!
Hiruko's daydream lasted only a few short seconds.
Just as he approached Mirai, a sudden immense pressure descended upon him.
Crash!
Under this crushing force, Hiruko's body slammed violently into the ground.
He felt as though an invisible mountain weighing ten thousand jin pressed down on him, immobilizing him completely no matter how hard he struggled.
"What kind of power is this?!" he exclaimed in disbelief.
He attempted to activate Yin Release but found it utterly ineffective.
Looking at Mirai, who remained standing motionless, Hiruko's mind churned with shockwaves of disbelief.
Had he just been defeated before even managing to do anything?!
"You did craft an impressive technique," Mirai said, gazing down at him indifferently. "But your understanding was simply too narrow. Shimon, would you like to return to Konoha with me?"
Upon hearing this, Hiruko asked in surprise, "You won't kill me?"
"Hahahaha..." Mirai couldn't help but burst into laughter. "Killing you hardly requires my personal presence."
"Once you return with me, you'll before long see just how insignificant your present strength really is."
Realizing there was hope for survival, Hiruko quickly begged for mercy, "Lord Mirai Uchiha, I'm willing to return with you."
"Good."
Mirai immediately activated [otsutsuki Teleportation], conjuring a spatial portal. "Let's go."
With that, his figure vanished from sight.
The moment Mirai vanished, the crushing force upon Hiruko instantly lifted.
Staring at the pitch-black portal before him, he hurriedly stepped through.
In the blink of an eye, he already stood within a dense forest.
"[Space–Time Ninjutsu]..."
"Could this actually be Konoha?"
Hiruko found himself shocked yet again.
The site where he performed the Chimera Technique lay an unfathomable distance from Konoha. Never had he imagined that a single step could span such an impossible range.
Compared to the power Mirai Uchiha casually displayed, Shimon Hiruko's earlier smugness over completing the Chimera Technique had completely vanished.
After walking a few steps behind Mirai Uchiha, Shimon Hiruko arrived at a massive lab complex.
Looking at the dazzling array of experimental devices and precious experimental materials inside, Shimon Hiruko's eyes nearly popped out.
Wasn't this the very kind of environment he had always dreamed of?
After walking for a while, Shimon Hiruko spotted a familiar figure.
"Orochimaru!!"
Seeing Orochimaru, Shimon Hiruko's breathing grew heavy.
It was precisely this man who, back then, kept feeding him ideas like "geniuses and civilians don't belong in the same world," leading him to become the monster he was now.
He had developed the Chimera Technique just to prove himself to Orochimaru and others—that he was no less than them!
"Shimon Hiruko, long time no see."
Compared to Shimon Hiruko's intense reaction, Orochimaru appeared indifferent. He simply gave a brief greeting before shifting his gaze toward Mirai Uchiha.
"Mirai, will Shimon Hiruko be under my supervision from now on?"
Mirai nodded. "Exactly. He's been away from the ninja world for far too long—you should bring him up to speed on recent events."
Orochimaru smiled, flicking his tongue out slightly. "Leave it to me—we're practically old friends already. I'll make sure to take good care of him."
Hearing their conversation, Shimon Hiruko—who refused to be ignored—quickly spoke up: "Master Future, I can hand over the Chimera Technique right now."
Mirai waved his hand dismissively. "You can discuss such matters with Orochimaru. The only reason I'm not killing you is that I have use for your research skills."
"Do well from now on. Don't disappoint me."
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