When using the Edo Tensei, the Summoning Technique prefix is often added.
This isn't just because calling the coffins is an act of summoning itself. The fundamental principle behind the Edo Tensei is to summon a soul from the Pure Land into the real world, manifesting it in the corresponding sacrificial body.
To achieve this, a piece of the deceased's DNA is required.
This establishes a contract, enabling the summon.
Instant kills followed by an immediate Edo Tensei are rare.
The only instance in the original timeline happened when the Masked Man killed the captured Aburame Torune on the spot to force Yakushi Kabuto to demonstrate the jutsu, using Torune's comrade, Yamanaka Fū, as the sacrificial offering.
Still, Aburame Torune had it easy.
He was captured during the battle at the bridge, where Danzo sealed half the structure.
Initially, Torune and Fū worked together to fight the Masked Man.
These two Root members possessed decent combat intelligence, managing to discern the basic nature of Kamui.
It was unfortunate that Danzo, that pompous fool, spent so long unwrapping his arm bandages to show off his Sharingan collection.
By the time he finished, the two Root members had already been sucked into the Kamui Dimension and subdued with Genjutsu before reinforcements could arrive.
Being under Genjutsu control was a blessing, at least they wouldn't be as bewildered as Hiruko was now.
He was "revived" the exact second he died.
As the saying goes, "Why sleep long in life when you'll have eternal rest in death?"
For everyone, death is like a long dream.
Only when summoned back to life through the Edo Tensei and "awakened" can one realize that dream.
Hiruko, having been directly reincarnated, felt like he'd just fallen asleep for a minute when the alarm clock blared, jolting him awake.
Such a rapid awakening can leave you questioning whether you even slept at all.
Death is the same.
For a moment, Hiruko couldn't grasp whether he was dead or alive.
It wasn't until he looked down and saw his own ruined corpse lying in the dirt that his vision went black.
"Orochimaru, what have you done to me?!"
Hiruko glared at Orochimaru.
At first, he didn't feel any physical restrictions on his body, but the moment he tried to channel his Chakra, the problem became apparent.
Coupled with the sight of his own corpse, he confirmed Orochimaru had resurrected him using the Edo Tensei and was controlling his movements.
"I'm giving you a chance to join our team," Orochimaru hissed.
"Even though your Chimera Technique hasn't progressed in decades, even though you lack any scientific rigor, even though you abandoned learning and improvement out of jealousy and self-loathing..."
Orochimaru droned on with "even though" for a long time before concluding, "But I believe that having died once, you should have changed."
Hiruko fell silent.
Truth be told... Although the time since his resurrection was short, the deathbed visions he experienced felt like an eternity.
As he lay dying, he seemed to see his former comrades: the Sannin and a young Hiruzen.
In other words, Hiruko's death was equivalent to Orochimaru's "death" in the original story, and his mindset mirrored Orochimaru's after being revived by Sasuke.
Orochimaru, having witnessed Kabuto become the perfect version of himself he imagined, yet still fail, learned to wait for the wind to rise.
Hiruko, on the verge of death, seized the opportunity Orochimaru offered and achieved the Five Bloodline Limits.
When his Chimera Technique failed, his composure shattered, and his mentality imploded.
But once he calmed down, he saw through it all.
How could he not?
Though Hiruko shared the flaws Orochimaru pointed out, he was incapable of self-deception. Failure was failure.
Perhaps his downfall was sealed the moment he wagered everything on the Chimera Technique. Just as Orochimaru said, he was a gambler.
Decades passed, yet he hadn't learned a single new jutsu, relying solely on his flawed chimera research.
Why? Because of his deep-seated inferiority complex!
To learn and improve meant admitting he wasn't perfect.
In the end, his pursuit of power and immortality led him to emulate Orochimaru, his gambler's mindset mirrored Tsunade's, and his lifelong failure echoed Jiraiya's.
He lived his entire life in the shadow of the Sannin.
Wasn't that enough?
Now Orochimaru was offering him a chance to stand on equal footing.
Even aside from that, didn't he want to see how Orochimaru collected these Bloodline Limits?
Didn't he want to know what Orochimaru was pursuing now?
"Alright..." Hiruko agreed.
"Good. You know what's good for you."
"Mm-hmm."
Tobirama and Hashirama stepped forward, each patting the zombie Hiruko on the shoulder.
A wise man adapts to the times.
He failed to make a single correct decision in life, but at least he managed one in death.
Hiruko wasn't a remarkable talent. Orochimaru's overall assessment of him was essentially a "loser version of Yakushi Kabuto"—based on Makoto's story of the future Kabuto.
But even a loser version of Kabuto was more useful than the majority of shinobi in the world.
It wasn't the pursuit of power or the quest for knowledge that was dangerous—it was the pursuit of bonds, love, and peace.
"So, what exactly is the Chimera Technique's effect? Judging by his collapse after merging with just five bloodline limits, it seems useless," Uchiha Hikari asked Makoto, her curiosity peaked.
If the Chimera Technique could only merge flesh but offered no guarantee of success or protection against cellular rejection, what was the point?
Orochimaru could just inject himself with a syringe—wouldn't the result be the same?
"Actually, besides Bloodline Limits, it can also merge with Summoning Beasts. His three subordinates over there are examples of this," Makoto said, gesturing toward the three bound figures in the cave—two men and one woman.
It was clear the earlier assessment of Hiruko was spot-on.
After decades of development, he collected four Bloodline Limits and amassed a tiny three-subordinate force.
If he possessed even one more Bloodline Limit, even if he couldn't use it himself, he could have shared it with his subordinates.
Then they wouldn't have needed to merge with Summoning Beasts.
What effects does fusing with Summoning Beasts grant?
Those who fuse with snakes can unleash multiple serpentine attacks from their arms.
Those who merge with lions can breathe fire.
Those who merge with eagles can launch feathers.
They aren't even real friends.
Why not just learn the Hidden Shadow Snake Hand, Great Fireball Technique, or Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique directly?
Risking your body eroding and collapsing just to merge with a glorified pet zoo?
For what?
And this "merging with Summoning Beasts"—isn't that the exact same premise as the relationship between Tailed Beasts and Jinchūriki?
That's what Makoto was thinking.
But when Uchiha Hikari heard "merge with Summoning Beasts," her mind flashed to the twisted, furry-fetish characters in the Limited Tsukuyomi World.
Her expression stiffened, her hand clenched in the air, summoning a glowing Susanoo blade into her grip.