Chapter 203: The Original Ideal, the Undying God!

The Third Shinobi World War, which erupted earlier than in the original timeline, seemed to be dragging on even longer. However, none of that mattered much to Kakuzu. He had far more important matters to attend to.

...

Land of Dragons, Laboratory.

Ni, Heisei Rokuno, and Hiruko—these three were Kakuzu's original core team, and now, they had all gathered once more.

"Lord Kakuzu, the dilution ratio of the Hashirama Cells in your body is only tenfold. If you attempt another fusion, the risk will be significantly higher."

Listening to Hiruko's report, Kakuzu simply waved his hand dismissively. These minor details were unnecessary—on the path to godhood, Hashirama Cells were indispensable. He had already made up his mind.

"Just tell me the results of your experiment."

"Understood." Hiruko took a deep breath. "Lord Kakuzu, with the next stage of fusion, the Hashirama Cells within you will reach the same level as those in Senju Hashirama himself. A complete version of Hashirama Cells… To be frank, they behave more like a lethal poison. They will swiftly invade your entire body, flooding every vein. Usually, the process takes less than a minute, and many who have attempted it have died from cellular overload within that brief window."

"So, if I survive the first minute, there's a chance I'll fully integrate with them?" Ni couldn't help but ask.

Hiruko shook his head. "No. That's only the beginning. Just because the external body shows no immediate rejection doesn't mean the process is safe—it only means the internal suffering will be even greater. Hashirama Cells contain immense energy. Once inside you, they will boil and expand, making you feel as if your entire body is submerged in scalding water. Your blood pressure will spike dramatically, and your body temperature will soar to levels high enough to cook an egg."

"That's absurd. With a temperature that high, even the strongest shinobi wouldn't survive. You can train your body to be as tough as steel, but there's no way to condition your internal organs." Heisei Rokuno voiced his skepticism.

Hiruko didn't argue, instead, he nodded in agreement. "Shinobi are still human. From a physiological standpoint, you're absolutely correct. Normally, I'd have no counterargument. But… don't forget, these are Hashirama Cells we're talking about."

At this, Hiruko turned his gaze toward Kakuzu. "Lord Kakuzu, when I was a child, I heard my elders speak of the Warring States period. I never had the chance to witness that era firsthand, and perhaps that is the greatest regret of my life."

Kakuzu chuckled lightly but remained silent, his mind drifting back to the past.

Susanoo… The Great Buddha…

Concepts beyond the comprehension of ordinary people—phenomena that defied common sense.

"How long does this process take?"

"It varies from person to person, but based on the data, roughly a day."

Kakuzu nodded, then asked another key question. "If I endure that time frame, does that mean the fusion is a success?"

Hiruko hesitated for a moment before replying, "In theory, yes. However, I must warn you—reality is often far less forgiving than our calculations."

Kakuzu fell silent for a brief moment before glancing at Ni and Heisei Rokuno. A smirk formed on his lips.

"Let's begin. If I fail, so be it."

Long ago, he had integrated Hashirama Cells into his Earth Grudge Fear technique, granting his stitched-together body a semblance of true life. That had been his first step in escaping the fate dictated by the original timeline. He had taken that step with unwavering conviction.

This time was no different.

...

Hiruko took up the syringe and injected the final dose of Hashirama Cells into Kakuzu's body.

The instant the cells entered him, Kakuzu slowly closed his eyes. This wasn't his first encounter with Hashirama Cells, but compared to the tenfold-diluted version in his body, these pure, undiluted cells were in a completely different league.

When faced with the true Hashirama Cells, the diluted version he had been using seemed insignificant—like a mere droplet in the vast ocean.

The cells spread through his body at an astonishing speed, launching a full-scale invasion.

Inside Kakuzu's body, his six hearts were now racing past 200 beats per minute.

One minute passed.

Two minutes passed…

Kakuzu slowly shut his eyes, the storm within his body growing distant. He could barely feel it anymore. Instead, faint images began to surface in his mind—two familiar faces.

"Father… Mother…"

Even after decades, Kakuzu had never forgotten his family from his past life.

"Am I… dying?"

For most, seeing their parents at a time like this meant one thing: the final journey.

Yet his vision did not stop there.

He saw himself as a child—frail, sickly, and weak. He should have been a bright, lively boy at that age, yet one day, without warning, he collapsed to the ground. From that moment on, he was plagued by illness.

He had never known the joys of a carefree childhood. Instead, his days were filled with the sight of his parents' anxious, exhausted faces as they watched over him.

His presence did not bring happiness to his family, only endless suffering and hardship. His parents had spent all their savings, sought out every doctor they could find, and exhausted every possible remedy… yet he remained weak and bedridden.

Watching this unfold, Kakuzu felt a deep sense of guilt. Perhaps he should never have been born. Perhaps his existence had only ever been a burden to his parents.

In one's twenties, life is at its most vibrant and promising. And for Kakuzu, it was during this time that he finally glimpsed the dawn of his own fate. As his illness worsened with each passing day, a faint, relieved smile formed at the corners of his lips. The relentless pain had become unbearable, a cruel reminder that he did not truly belong to this world.

Then, on one fateful day, he finally summoned the courage to reach out with his withered hand and pull the needle from his vein. It was time to bid farewell to this world in peace.

Scenes from his past flashed before his eyes, as if he were offering his final tribute to this world of shinobi. But in that fleeting moment, Kakuzu found himself in a different space—face to face with another version of himself. The figure wore a blue-and-white hospital gown and raised a hand in greeting, a smile appearing on his long-unseen face.

"Friend, you look healthy… So, what kind of world have you arrived in? And more importantly, what are you preparing to live for?"

"What am I preparing to live for?" Kakuzu furrowed his brows. That was a question he had pondered when he first arrived in this world. But now, after twenty, maybe even thirty years, the answer had grown hazy. He gripped his own hair, forcing himself to recall the purpose he once had when he was reborn.

One day passed. Then another. Then another… Kakuzu had no idea how long he spent lost in thought. Meanwhile, in the outside world, the woman who had been watching over him, Ni, had collapsed beside his cold body, sobbing uncontrollably.

Then, in an instant, everything became clear. He finally remembered his original purpose.

In his past life, he had been tormented by illness, wasting away in mediocrity. Perhaps it had been fate's cruel joke. But now that he had been given a second chance, he would forge a different path.

No sickness. No pain. The world was vast, and he had yet to see it all.

In this life, his goal was clear.

I, Kakuzu, am the Undying God!

Not even the world itself shall stand in the way of my path to immortality!

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Pls Drop some Power Stones

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