For someone who is obsessed with scientific research, success is success, and side effects are side effects.
For normal people, turning gold back into stone means there is something wrong with your brain.
But for scientific research, this counts as a kind of success.
The reason Orochimaru dared to be so arrogant, overbearing, and dismissive of everyone was rooted in that extreme self-affirmation and overflowing confidence deep in his heart.
Back then, even the famous Orochimaru had once asserted that the experiments Hiruko was doing were absolutely impossible to succeed.
But what happened in the end? Reality proved that Hiruko used his actions to give Orochimaru a loud slap in the face.
That said, even though he had already obtained a staged result.
In the several times he went all out to use his abilities, his body still inevitably showed some faint flaws and defects.
"Ugh! AHHH! AHHH!", one extremely shrill, miserable, soul-wrenching scream after another echoed endlessly inside Mount Sumeru.
The sound was like it came straight from the deepest hell, chilling to the bone.
But strangely, even though these screams were coming from Hiruko, his voice actually carried full strength, nothing like the weak tone someone in great pain should have.
Right then, the face of Black Zetsu, who had been hiding in the dark observing, suddenly flashed with a "so it really is like this" expression.
Then without a moment of hesitation, his figure flickered and slipped into Mount Sumeru like a wraith.
Hiruko at this moment was lying on the ground, rolling around wildly, his body twisting into all sorts of strange shapes, as if being tormented by some invisible force that kept dragging him between life and death.
Not far from him on the test platform, several used syringes and a pile of colorful vials were placed.
Obviously, Hiruko had injected himself with these unknown drugs earlier, trying to achieve some kind of goal.
But unfortunately, things went against his wishes. From the current situation, these injections not only failed to produce any effect, but even pushed him into deeper pain.
Even though Black Zetsu suddenly emerged from the ground, Hiruko had no time to pay attention to this uninvited guest.
All his attention was focused on enduring the torrent-like waves of pain surging through his body.
Seeing this, Black Zetsu simply found a spot nearby with great interest, sat down, and quietly watched Hiruko struggle and howl on the ground.
Time passed, and after what seemed to be a full hour, Hiruko's intense pain finally began to gradually fade.
Right now, his whole body was dyed in a strange bright red, like he had just been thrown into boiling water. There was even faint steam rising from the surface of his skin.
Just by looking at him, it was clear his body was in a highly abnormal state.
What was shocking was that once the pain disappeared, he suddenly switched modes in an instant.
One moment earlier he was still on the brink of collapse, nearly mad with pain, but in the blink of an eye he somehow returned to complete calm.
As if everything he just went through had never happened.
"Why are you here?"
Hiruko looked at Black Zetsu with a face full of suspicion. That guy had clearly been standing there for a long time.
His heart sank, his expression turning dark at once.
His own humiliating state just now had been seen completely by Black Zetsu. If this guy held bad intentions and wanted to harm him....
Thinking of this, Hiruko's eyes grew even more alert, staring tightly at Black Zetsu.
But facing Hiruko's wary gaze, Black Zetsu only let out a hoarse, cold laugh, his tone filled with unhidden mockery, "Hehe... relax, I have no intention of harming you at all. Otherwise, you would probably already be dead right now."
Hearing this, Hiruko let out a small breath of relief, but still didn't dare lower his guard.
After all, this person was unfathomable, and no one could guarantee what he said was true.
But soon after, Hiruko forced himself to calm down and quickly adjusted his expression.
Because he knew very well that what Black Zetsu just said was indeed true.
So he steadied himself and asked, "How are things outside lately?"
At this, Black Zetsu's already deep voice grew even heavier, "I'm afraid your wish to take revenge on the Leaf is going to fall through."
"What do you mean?"
Hiruko's heart jumped at those words, and he asked urgently.
"The Fourth Hokage, Namikaze Minato, has been revived."
"What?"
Hiruko cried out, "Namikaze Minato?"
His voice rose without him meaning to, and in his mind flashed all the bits and pieces he had seen about Minato during his time in the Leaf.
Back then Minato was just some unknown little figure, but as time went on he kept making achievements and his strength kept rising.
Especially after he mastered that unbelievable Flying Thunder God technique, it was like giving wings to a tiger.
In the end, Minato shone brightly in the Ninja World War, and with his outstanding feats successfully rose to the seat of Fourth Hokage.
It was no exaggeration to say that Minato had completely relied on his own strength.
He had stepped over the corpses of countless ninja from Iwagakure and Kumogakure to reach the peak.
If he hadn't suddenly died by accident, the Leaf right now would probably be a very different sight.
And when it came to Minato's terrifying combat ability, Hiruko was naturally well aware.
So when he heard that Minato might actually be revived, Hiruko's first reaction was disbelief.
His eyes widened, full of suspicion, as he shouted, "Namikaze Minato has already been dead for so many years, how could he possibly be revived!? This is just too ridiculous!"
This kind of doubt was completely normal, since in his understanding, death meant the end, especially for someone like Minato who had been dead for many years.
But facing his doubts, Black Zetsu remained completely calm and replied coldly, "What benefit would I have in lying to you?"
Hiruko was left speechless. Thinking carefully, the other side indeed had no reason to trick him.
So he reined in some of his shock, though he still half-doubted as he asked again, "He really revived?"
As if he needed a second confirmation before he could accept it.
Seeing him like this, Black Zetsu nodded lightly, signaling that it was true.
At this, Hiruko's face instantly darkened. His brows furrowed and he thought to himself, 'If Minato is really revived, then the situation outside is probably going to change completely.'
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