We were a year into the war and things seemed to be going fine.
At least for me.
For Konoha things could be better, we were getting slowly but surely pushed from grass by Iwa, while Kiri had taken up residence in Noodles and were prodding at our border.
The only place that we seemed to be doing well was Frost.
As far as I knew the small villages were also participating in the war in various ways, but I had been paying little attention to them.
Suna and Konoha weren't doing a whole lot of fighting only having the occasional skirmish with Konoha in River Country, Suna was mainly fighting with Iwa in Claw Country.
All in all, things were going alright.
...
I sat around pondering DNA and all its mysteries.
According to Orochimaru the main issue with trying to gain a bloodline was how malleable the body was.
He said that children were the only ones who were still malleable enough to accept such a massive change to their DNA.
That made me remember the woman with the mysterious healing bloodline.
I'm pretty sure she was able to accept the cells of many different people and integrate them into herself.
Though I could be wrong...
I could barely remember what happened there...
But could her bloodline make my body more malleable...?
I still had some of her cells...
Perhaps it's worth looking into...
Maybe the fault in her healing would be worth it...?
...
Four clones and I idly floated around in the hot springs.
It wasn't something I had known about until I heard someone talking about it when I passed them.
Part of the Naka River was diverted to the area to make hot springs.
It was Konoha's tourist attraction and generated some income for the village.
I had wanted to clones to go train some Lightning techniques while I drifted around in the hot springs, but the clones were non-cooperative and decided that they would be taking a dip as well.
I guess I'll have more...
...memories of relaxing in the hot springs...
...
I'd been in Konoha for two weeks now.
I was halfway through my vacation...
I didn't have much of a direction at the moment.
Just some vague thoughts...
Sigh...
After going to the old house and taking my notebooks from the floorboards I was left no less confused about which direction I should take.
...
Stem Cell Vampire
I was done with this, I was theoretically immortal so long as I replaced my cells regularly.
Super cool bone weapons.
This worked but not in the way I wanted it to, as I had the Shikotsumyaku it was now pointless.
Super cool bone weapons part II
Again, the Shikotsumyaku made this pointless.
Biological absorption.
I was somewhat done with this, I had applied my modified Overwrite seal onto some bone senbon but I still had to make normal cells into stem cells by myself.
So it was still not useable in combat.
Human chakra batteries.
I had given up on this a long time ago, I just didn't have the required skill in Fuinjutsu to make such a thing.
Dead pool immortality.
Something else I had somewhat given up on, though I still had plans to try and figure out ways to use that telomere regenerating enzyme.
The brain and intelligence.
Something I'd completely given up on, no matter how many brains I scanned I never got closer to figuring out how to increase intelligence.
Tailed beast immortality.
Something I no-longer put any thought into.
The sealing work required to make this work would be unbelievable.
Flexibility.
Useless...
Remove fingerprints.
Useless...
Ōtsutsuki limb/flesh graft.
This was something I still thought about a lot, now that I could manipulate DNA I likely wouldn't need to graft any limbs or flesh onto myself.
I still wasn't sure how it would work out though...
Perhaps I could figure out what made the Ōtsutsuki 's chakra different...
I figured it had something to do with both their DNA and the strength of their soul.
Generations of Ōtsutsuki eating Fruits from God trees probably changed them at a metaphysical level...
So even if I had their DNA would it even matter?
I sighed...
I also wanted to look into the Byakugan and the Hyuga more but it didn't seem that pressing at the moment.
I'll focus on the Shikotsumyaku.
I still haven't used it to its full potential...
...
I stood in the center of the third training ground.
Behind me danced long thing bone tail.
With a thought, it shot forward and impaled a tree.
It wasn't too bad...
Three more tails sprouted from my lower back and impaled the tree one by one.
Though they were more tentacle then tail...
I shrugged.
Meh...
My tails started receding and bone arms started to grow from my shoulders.
The only problem with making bone appendages was that I needed to use chakra to move them.
It wasn't too big of a deal, but the technique could easily be disrupted by the Gentle Fist.
I clenched my two new bone hands.
This was also another meh...
Human appendages were predictable...
The arms started receding.
The only other interesting find was the temporary lightening of my body.
I could decrease the bone density or make them hollow and speed myself up some.
Though the increase in speed came with a decrease of the bones durability so the technique likely wouldn't see much use...
I could also change my bone structure and make myself double jointed...
It would make my attacks more unpredictable but I was uninterested for the most part...
Sigh...
The only limitation to my generation of bone was that it had to come from existing bone.
It was a stupidly powerful ability...
It made me wonder why it didn't see more use in canon...
I had also thought some more about the Susanoo...
Could I make a big ol bone Susanoo?
I did have a limit on my range still...
Something to try later when I have more chakra control range.
I'd like to have some bullshit techniques as well...
Not that I didn't already have some...
But one could never have enough...
...
After a grueling Fuinjutsu session with Kushina, I was again in the third training ground.
And I was again trying more stuff with the Shikotsumyaku.
I held my arm out and a giant sword slowly grew to cover my arm and hand, the tip of the sword left my six-foot control range and I could no longer manipulate it.
The sword covered my hand and forearm, it was heavy and could only chop at people.
I started retracting the bone.
Perhaps longer and thinner was the way to go...?
I let the bone recede so I could start again on the sword.
Bone came from my hand and slowly became a long thin blade.
This time I can move my wrist and flick the sword around.
That's better...
Though I was still undecided on whether or not this would be better than just creating a separate bone sword that was not attached to my body...
I sighed and the bone started to recede into my body.
What to do... What to do...
I held my right hand out and started creating long thin blades on each of my fingers.
Who was the guy who used these?
I swiped the air with my finger knives.
They didn't seem useful...
I could just make claws...
They were about the same thing anyway...
I sighed and ran my non-bladed hand through my hair.
I wanted nothing more than to create a forest of bone blades...
But that likely wouldn't be possible for a while...
...
Sage Mode...
Sage mode increases all your base 'stats' and also heightens your senses which allows you to better use your newly acquired strength.
Sitting still and not moving a single muscle apparently opens up a person's body to natural energy.
Natural energy needs to be perfectly balanced with spiritual and physical energy to achieve Sage Mode.
Too little natural energy and one won't be able to enter Sage Mode.
Too much and one turns to stone.
When one learns from the snakes at their stupid cave, they gain snake-like traits and the ability to manipulate their surroundings.
When one learns from the toads, they gain toad-like traits and the ability to use the toad's special Taijutsu.
Harashima also had his own uninfluenced Sage Mode, there were no apparent animal traits or special abilities. Meaning that Harashima perhaps taught himself...
Kabuto was able to enter a permanent Sage Mode with Jugo's DNA/Cells?
Six Paths Sage Mode makes one immune to any chakra attacks without Senjutsu chakra.
All in all, I knew a fair amount about Sage Mode.
Well, I did at the time I wrote this...
Now it was mostly forgotten, flipping through my notes had refreshed my memory a little but I figured there was probably more to it then what I had written.
Something to think on...
Should I bother with Sage Mode?
Naruto learned it in like a week...
But he was the reincarnation of a quarter space god...
And so was Hashirama...
Jiraiya never mastered Sage Mode...
Maybe when you were part space god you got an affinity for natural energy...?
But then again Kabuto learned it...
So, it wasn't impossible for non-space gods...
But then again Kabuto was barely human when he learned Sage Mode...
Neither Minato nor Jiraiya could use Sage Mode...
The only normal base humans couldn't use Sage Mode...
That didn't bode well for me.
...
As long as no one could overcome my absurdly strong defense and amazing speed I was pretty much unstoppable.
Unless I ran out of chakra.
Or someone sealed me.
Or used an unbreakable Sharingan Genjutsu on me.
Or used an unstoppable Sharingan fire on me.
Or hit me with a perfect Susanoo.
So, all in all, I was pretty confident I had a chance with everyone but Sharingan users.
Or Rinnegan users.
Or Tenseigan users.
Or even Sage Mode users.
Or the Third or Fourth Raikages...
Or any of the Hokages...
Or most of the Jinchuriki...
Or the Space Gods...
Was I still weak?
Kinda...
But which direction do I go in now?
...
I sighed as I sent the last of my chakra into my seal.
My reserves were growing with the onset of puberty.
Puberty had hit me hard and fast.
I was now overly emotional and had frequent voice cracks.
My arms, legs, hands, and feet seemed to have gone through a growth spurt and left the rest of my body behind.
Overall, it was quite the experience.
I had forgotten about this part of my previous life...
...
Mystery woman's DNA was unusual...
There wasn't much that was different about the genes corresponding to her physical body...
But a lot was going on with the genes that were responsible for a person's chakra composition.
They were different but not foreign like the genes from the Ōtsutsuki were.
A human mutation that had nothing to do with the Ōtsutsuki...?
It was quite interesting...
But it also meant that I likely wouldn't be able to make use of the bloodline myself...
Both my Kaguya and Hyuga bloodlines had a lot to do with my chakra composition.
So, I probably shouldn't be messing with those genes...
At least not until I'm more knowledgeable...
Splicing out a dominant gene was different then splicing a whole bunch of genes together and trying to give yourself a bloodline.
I yawned...
Its probably getting late...
That's the issue with having no windows.
It was hard to tell the time.
...
I sent five of my clones off to find out about some basic Genjutsu.
It was the only thing stopping me from becoming a full Jonin.
Or so I thought.
Guy had become a Jonin with only his Taijutsu.
So, I should be able to become a Jonin without Genjutsu...
If not, I'd have to find a way to use some Genjutsu.
Though Genjutsu was a huge annoyance.
I didn't have the required control range to make it useful.
The only way I could use Genjutsu was when someone was standing within six feet of me.
Genjutsu seemed useless without a Sharingan anyways...
...
My fights with the many Kumo-nin provided some insight into Lightning Chakra.
Mainly if one vibrated it you could use it to cut things.
It was surprisingly not in any of the books I had been reading.
Nor had I thought about it.
Though it felt obvious in hindsight.
So here I was hand covered in lightning trying to vibrate the lightning chakra as much as I could.
The skin on my hand peeled and smoldered.
With a thought, I released my hold on the chakra and let it disperse.
I licked my dry lips.
That wasn't a problem that I've had in a long time.
I sighed and watched the skin on my hand regrow.
Whatever...
I held my hand out with my palm flat and facing the sky.
I slowly created a small Heavens Palm.
I tried to vibrate the chakra as much as possible and threw my little lightning ball at the ground.
It pierced the ground and expanded into a ball of lightning leaving behind a slightly smoking crater.
That was a lot more powerful...
I shifted slightly.
That was much better than it had been...
To think I had given up on Heavens Palm...
...
Chakra Flow...
Chakra Flow is the flowing of chakra through an object as well as any technique that increases the potency of a weapon by flowing chakra through it.
I use it on my Bone Claws and I used to use it on my Bone Senbon.
Future Asuma used Wind Chakra flow on his knives to increase his cutting power.
And the Third and future Forth Raikage use it on their bodies, along with some sort of Shunshin variant.
Or at least that was my thought...
From my brief look at A, I guessed that he was using Chakra Flow...
Though how he was able to use it without destroying his body was beyond me.
I knew that if one ran Chakra Flow, through their hand it was near crippling.
But why were the two Kage able to do it without damage...?
And make a cloak out of it no less...
It was a mystery...
I've run Lightning chakra through my body before and it never had any positive effects on me...
Did they have an amazing affinity for Lightning Release or something?
Or where their bodies just strong enough to handle running a massive amount of Lightning Chakra through and over it?
I sighed and rolled over.
I loved pre-sleep thoughts...
...
Genjutsu was all about using chakra to tamper with the mind.
The goal of a Genjutsu was to trick all five senses of a target and make them perceive an event that is not happening.
This is done by altering how chakra floes to the brain or the cerebral nervous system.
Yin Release was heavily involved in Genjutsu, though I didn't understand it myself.
I figured it had something to do with creating vivid illusions, I doubted that altering chakra flow to the brain alone could cause someone to see something that was not there.
But I wasn't going for anything overly complicated...
I was just going to use the standard annoying Genjutsu.
Genjutsu like that were obviously fake and their only goal was to cause as much mental trauma as possible.
Demonic Illusion: Hell Viewing Technique and the Tsukuyomi were the first ones like this that came to mind.
Both of those I wouldn't be able to use...
I sighed...
The book said that one in seven people were born with a Yin affinity and only they could use complicated Genjutsu...
Whatever...
...
I only had a week until I had to leave Konoha and make my way back to Frost.
I'd sadly not made any progress on the Chidori.
I wasn't even sure which direction to go in with the Chidori...
I remember it being created from Kakashi's failed attempt to add Nature Release to the Rasengan.
Did Minato even invent the Rasengan...?
I wasn't sure.
I wasn't showing it off that often...
So, it was possible things were still on track and Minato would create the Rasengan...
Though who knew at this point.
Canon was dead...
Duy, mom, and I slowly made our way back to frost.
None of us were in a hurry, delaying our return by a day was acceptable and wouldn't raise any eyebrows.
"How was your break Duy?"
I hadn't seen Duy much, he got promoted to Chunin with my recommendation and had been training furiously ever since.
"It was most Youthful! I trained Guy in the ways of a youthful Gentleman and spent much of my days' training youthfully in preparation for my return to Frost!"
Even with years of decoding Guy speak, I wasn't sure what the ways of a youthful gentleman entailed...
"Sounds Youthful!"
I gave Duy a thumbs up, and mom rolled her eyes at both of us.
"What were you up to?"
I looked around for a moment trying to find out who mom's question was directed to, I realized it was me after Duy stared at me for a moment.
"I practiced with my new Kekkei Genkai and made some improvements to Heavens Palm."
I eyed mom for a moment, I guess I might as well ask her too...
"What did you do during your break Sumiko?"
Duy however beat me to it.
"I've been trying to make a new Taijutsu technique..."
I raised an eyebrow at her.
"And...?"
Mom smiled.
"And... it's a secret..."
I sent her a bland stare.
"Alright..."
I was glad she wasn't wasting time on Ninjutsu...
I sighed and looked forward.
We were almost at Hot Springs...
...
I arrived at the camp and sent a clone off to Orochimaru for instructions.
The camp seemingly hadn't changed.
The only major difference was the presence of some clan members dotted throughout the camp.
It was slightly worrying...
Either there was a large battle that went unfavorably or two-hundred or so people went on break and needed to be replaced...
The latter was sadly less likely...
...
"Long time no see."
I gave an annoyed-looking Orochimaru a nod.
"Shiro."
Orochimaru nodded back and continued studying a map he was leaning over.
"So... I see a lot of new faces, what happened when I was away...?"
Orochimaru took a deep breath before replying.
"The Third Raikage happened."
I hummed feeling thankful for my timely break.
"It's unusual for a Kage to leave his village."
It truly was, the Kages took no missions and weren't supposed to leave their villages.
"Indeed..."
Orochimaru didn't look up from the map.
"He came, decimated our forces for a while before becoming bored and leaving..."
I hummed again, it sounded about right...
In canon, the Third Raikage was known for facing ten-thousand Shinobi alone.
Though I forgot what nation they came from.
"Has anything changed that I need to know about?"
Orochimaru shook his head.
"Nothing that comes to mind..."
I just nodded and started heading towards the exit.
"Alright, thanks Sensei."
I eyed him from over my shoulder as I left, his demeanor was slightly different...
I put it out of my mind for the moment.
I needed to see if my minions survived...
...
Sadly, only one of my minions survived.
It was a female Jonin named Osada Aomi, she had accompanied me on my second mission in Frost.
Sadly, she wasn't even one of my top three favorite minions.
I eyed her missing arm for a moment before looking at her sleeping face.
I grabbed the clipboard at the end of her bed and gave it a quick look.
She's in a coma.
Due to a traumatic head injury...
It said she had been this way for a week.
I sighed.
I placed my hand on her head and hit her with the Diagnostic Jutsu.
Slight swelling...
My hand was covered in a green glow and I proceeded to leave a good amount of healing chakra in her brain.
There wasn't much more I could do for her...
"Let me know If she awakens..."
I turned and stared at a medic-nin who had been shadowing me.
"...If I don't hear about it immediately..."
I tilted my head slightly and smiled at him.
He froze and stood unmoving.
"...Someone will have to die."
I eyed him for a moment longer before leaving.
It's a shame I didn't know more about the brain...
...
I was standing with Orochimaru while he stared at the map and planned.
Kumo had moved their camp to the Frost/Cloud border and Shimo had moved all their ninja to the area surrounding their village.
After I left, Minato and Orochimaru fought with A and B twice more before the current Raikage came and fucked shit up on the only day Minato wasn't there.
From what I've gathered the Raikage wanted revenge for the massacring of his troops and the killing of two of Kumo's S-Ranked ninja.
He beat Orochimaru savagely before killing a good amount of the army and leaving.
I smiled wearily.
Orochimaru would be staring at the map for a long while until he figured out what he wanted to do.
He did this before every battle that he planned often staring at the map until late into the night.
I rubbed my eyes and started to leave.
With my return, Minato was back in grass and was watching over the shit storm there.
It pissed me off slightly that I hadn't been promoted to Jonin even though I was killing S-Ranked ninja and massacring armies.
I couldn't understand why I wasn't promoted yet.
I put it out of my mind, a promotion wouldn't make me stronger anyways...
...
I eyed an Uchiha as he proceeded to systematically demolish an Inuzuka and his dog.
The Inuzuka was causing problems and this was the result.
I watched the dog fly out of the makeshift ring and collide with a spectator.
I hummed...
I don't need to be here...
Things are well in hand...
The Inuzuka collapsed and struggled to get up.
I hummed again and started towards my lab.
I needed to look further into my DNA...
But first I needed to make my lab Hyuga proof...
...
A week later my lab was Hyuga proofed and I was ready to look into my DNA some more...
"Shiro your girlfriend is awake."
I turned and saw an unexpected face.
"Keiji you look twice as ugly as I remember."
I eyed Keiji's new scar, it looked like someone slit his throat.
Something we now had in common...
"Fuck you!"
That's the Kenji I remember...
"So, what brings you to Frost?"
I made my way out of the lab and into Frost's cool air while Kenji followed.
"I got some bitch pregnant, and after a fight with her brother I was told to come here."
I eyed him for a moment wondering if he was serious.
"Is this a wanted pregnancy?"
Kenji gave me a so-so gesture.
"Eh, it was unexpected but we'll do right by the kid."
I hummed.
"What's the brother's problem?"
Kenji shrugged.
"Sometimes you're the villain in another person's tale."
I eyed Kenji, that was unexpectedly profound...
"So kid, I heard you're a big shot now."
I nodded and accepted the topic change.
"Yep, though they won't promote me to Jonin."
Kenji laughed.
"Hahaha... Cunts."
I snorted.
"Yep."
I entered the medical building that my minion was located in.
"So, I heard my friend was awake?"
Kenji nodded.
"Yep, good job threatening that asshole, she's been getting the best possible treatment since."
I hummed.
"Good, I'd hate to have to keep killing until I found someone competent."
Kenji laughed loudly scaring a passing trainee.
"Ha! I'll let them know!"
We approached my minion's room and Kenji opened the door before I could knock.
Alrighty...
My minion was still in bed so I proceed to her bedside and looked at her.
She looked dead in the eyes, and slightly gaunt.
She wasn't a happy camper.
"Kenji can you go get me one of the prisoners?"
Kenji nodded.
"Yea what for?"
I motioned to her arm.
"I'm going to replace the arm."
Kenji raised an eyebrow.
"What if I'm refused entrance?"
I hummed, Kenji hadn't been swearing as much as he usually did...
"Use my name and threaten the guards with death if they still refuse..."
Kenji nodded.
"What kind of prisoner do you need?" He smirked
I unsealed my Fuinjutsu supplies and shooed him away with my hand.
"Any will do."
Kenji nodded and went on his way.
I eyed my minion who was still unresponsive.
I shrugged, sat down cross-legged, and started on a DNA Overwrite seal.
I only needed to rewrite the stem cells so I only needed part of the seal and a few stem cells.
Easy peasy.
...
"Here's your prisoner..."
I nodded and stood up.
"Good, put Aomi to sleep and I'll show you a new trick."
Kenji nodded and dropped his cargo.
I heard the guys head hit the ground and winced slightly.
Alrighty...
I walked over and sliced an arm off at the shoulder with my chakra scalpels.
I healed his wound over so he wouldn't bleed out and brought the arm over to the little corner that I had taken over.
"Alright..."
I held the severed arm with two hands and started filling it with my chakra expelling the chakra already in the arm.
"Ok, watch this, it's pretty neat."
The arm slowly turned into a dark red slurry and started to drip into a pan I had prepared beforehand.
"That's some gross looking shit."
I rolled my eyes the rest of the arm fell through my fingers only leaving bone in my hand.
I tossed the bones behind me and stuck my finger into the slurry, I started scanning it for cancerous cells.
"You gonna drink that or something?"
I ignored Kenji and pulled my finger out of the slurry, surrounding my finger was a bunch of cancerous cells.
I flicked my slurry covered finger in Kenji's direction.
I ignored Kenji's curses and brought the pan of red slurry over to the seal and placed it in the center.
"Make yourself useful and inject the seal with your chakra."
I went over to the prisoner and blocked the tenketsu on his neck, I didn't want him causing problems.
...
"So why turn the arm into sludge?"
Kenji gave the pan a swirl before handing it to me
"It makes the seal less-expensive chakra wise."
I stuck my finger into the sludge and stirred it while using the Diagnostic Jutsu.
It was cancer-free...
"Alright, now I'll fill the slurry with chakra..."
My hand glowed green and I filled the stem cells with a good amount of healing chakra.
"And now the hard part begins, I'm going to regrow the arm, feel free to ask questions as I go."
I set the pan on the bed and started un rapping her elbow stump.
"Why did you have to use more arm then she lost?"
I shrugged.
"So, the seal has something to use to change the cells, making something from nothing is expensive chakra wise, so the seal uses parts from the other cells to make the changes."
I looked at the stump, it was clean-cut and could have probably been reattached easily if they had the arm.
"Alrighty... The hardest and most time-consuming part of this whole thing is making new bones..."
I trailed off as manipulated a tentacle of sludge and pressed it to the stump.
"So, I'll do most of the bones later..."
Kenji was biting his thumb as he watched me.
"No hand-seals?"
I shook my head.
"Not yet, it's more expensive this way but I prefer to know what I'm doing rather than trusting in the hand-seals to do the work."
Cells weren't hard to manipulate anyways...
"What did you even need me for?" Kenji sent me a slightly hostile look.
I hummed and tapped my chin with a finger.
"I needed someone to power the seal..."
Kenji grunted.
"Ya, I figured."
I rolled my eyes and focused back onto my task.
...
"Wow..."
I nodded.
Bones seemed to be easier to do then I remembered...
Perhaps a happy side effect of the Shikotsumyaku...?
"Alright, I've got stuff to do, let me know how she's doing when she wakes."
Kenji send me a nod.
I turned and made my way out of the room.
"Don't forget to get rid of the prisoner..."
The whole ordeal was surprisingly less annoying and time-consuming then I thought it would be.
Perhaps my 'Yang affinity' at work...?
My chakra was feeling 'warmer' both to myself and others who were sensors.
Though hopefully, it wouldn't cause me problems, Fuinjutsu had some connections to Yin Release as did Genjutsu and my Lightning Constructs.
It was just that my chakra needed to lean more towards spiritual energy than physical energy when I formed constructs...
Yin gave form to things that didn't already have it...
Hopefully, a Yang affinity didn't affect my ability to use lightning constructs.
Something to test in any case.
...
Lightning constructs were doing ok.
I slashed the air with my tiny Lightning Knife.
I studied it for a moment before releasing my hold on the chakra and letting it disperse.
I might as well do one more experiment while I was here...
A blade of bone grew on the edge of my hand.
I coated it in Lightning chakra and chopped at the air.
Hmmm...
I didn't have anything I could chop at in my lab...
I let the chakra disperse and withdrew the bone.
I'm not sure if it'll work out, but I guess I'll see soon.
Orochimaru seemed to be planning some sort of attack.
I'll have plenty of time to test out some ideas I had.
...
Orochimaru continued to stare at the map and I the ever-dutiful assistant stood and stared at the map as well.
Well... a clone was...
I was checking in on my minion who had gained an arm but was still very traumatized.
A severe case of Mutism, whether it is Neurogenic or Psychogenic remains to be seen.
Meaning she has brain damage or is extremely traumatized and can no longer speak...
I eyed her as she ate some hospital soup.
"Are you feeling better?"
She nodded at me and continued to slowly eat her soup.
"Are you interested in continuing your career or are you done with the ninja life?"
She eyed me for a second, shrugged, and went back to eating her soup.
I leaned against the wall, it sucked that I would have to get new minions...
My train of thought was interrupted when Kenji walked in and stared at me.
"What?"
Kenji eyed Aomi for a moment before looking back at me.
"Will you teach me the arm thing?"
I shrugged.
"Are you any good at Fuinjutsu?"
Kenji shook his head.
"I've never had the patience to learn that shit."
I sent Kenji a half-smile.
"Fuinjutsu is kinda the most important part of the whole thing..."
Aomi seemed to be interested in the conversation, as was Kenji.
"If you had a Yang affinity or the person you were healing had great vitality you probably could still use the technique."
The Yang affinity was a complete guess on my part, but if someone was an Uzumaki or Senju you could probably remake a limb without too much trouble or adverse effects.
"Yang... affinity...?" A quiet almost whispered question stopped the conversation.
Aomi herself seemed surprised she spoke and had covered her mouth in shock.
I watched her try to speak some more before she eventually gave up with silent tears streaming down her face.
I sighed...
"Yang is said to breathe life into soulless form, what does that have to do with the arm thingy?"
Kenji ignored the atmosphere with a roll of his eyes and asked his question.
"If you have a Yang affinity or your chakra leans more toward Yang, then Medical-Jutsu has better effects."
It was a half-formed theory...
I only thought so because the Senju were said to be great at Medical-Ninjutsu and leaned toward Yang on the chakra spectrum...
At least according to the book, I browsed through during a trip through the archives...
That and my own Medical-Ninjutsu had gotten noticeably better.
"Anyways, I'll see you two in a bit."
I started making my way out of the makeshift hospital, I wasn't in the mood to discuss half-baked theories about Yin or Yang.
I didn't know anything substantial about Yin or Yang, most of what I knew were vague guesses.
I shouldn't be spreading my vague and likely wrong theories...
So, I opted for a tactical retreat.
...
The 'sensor gene' was a series of genes most of which were recessive.
There were many variations of these genes, each variation providing different benefits.
Some combinations could give someone crazy sensing range but almost dull chakra sense when it came to people within six feet of them.
Minato was one such person.
Some combinations could give someone average or medium range but an amazing sense for detail.
Mom was one such person, according to her anyway.
Or some combinations could give someone Karin like chakra senses.
If that was even the right name...
I've forgotten a lot nowadays...
I scratched my nose and ignored the thought.
"Sigh..."
To get the best result for the sensor genes would require a lot of study of different DNA.
I wonder if Orochimaru had done any research on the sensing genes...?
It would save me a lot of time if he did...
He did have a lot of stuff about DNA and personality traits...
And loads more about DNA and body structure...
And even more about DNA and chakra...
So hopefully the whole Sensor DNA thing will go well.
If not, I'll have to do the research myself...
Which wasn't a bad thing.
It was just super time consuming without doing messy experiments...
And messy experiments were something I wanted to keep to a minimum.
...
...
Interlude.
"Shiro are those cigarettes in your pocket!?"
Shiro shrugged.
"No, it's a conversation starter."
Sumiko didn't look amused.
"It's what?"
Shiro shrugged again looking annoyed with his mother.
"If a pretty girl asks for a cigarette, I can give her some and use it to start a conversation..." Shiro trailed off as Sumiko's frown deepened.
"Thus, they are not cigarettes, they are conversation starters..." Shiro continued only to trail off at Sumiko's glare.
"Get rid of them." His mother spoke with a growl making me flinch instinctively.
Sumiko saw me flinch and looked apologetic.
"Sorry sweety, don't be nervous, I don't mean any harm." She approached me while she spoke making me flinch again and back away from her.
'It's fine, I'm still a little jumpy is all.' I held my notepad up and sent her a serene smile trying to show her I was ok.
I heard a snort behind me and saw Shiro giving his mother a disapproving look.
"Stop scaring my minion, that's my job." He continued with his disapproving look even as his mother gave a disapproving look of her own.
"Stop calling her your minion, she's a person use her name." Sumiko turned and started leaving.
Shiro made faces at her back as she went and only stopped when the door shut.
"Sigh..." Shiro sighed, picked his cigarettes out of the garbage, and pocketed them.
"Welp! Let's go, I've got experiments to do and children to orphan." With a dark chuckle, Shiro stepped through a curtain and into his lab.
I followed behind as a sedate pace, not feeling all that eager to begin my minion-hood.
I brushed the curtain aside and met eyes with a woman strapped to a table.
I stopped where I stood and gaged from what I was seeing.
"Don't feel too bad, she can't feel a thing..." Shiro placed a bin under me and gave me a reassuring back rub while directing my line of sight away from the woman.
I pushed him away and pointed at the woman.
"Why..." I tried to speak more but the words wouldn't come out...
I looked into Shiro's eyes trying to show him what I was feeling.
"Believe it or not this is a good deed..." Shiro brushed my hair away and stared into my eyes. "I try to use the women first because what awaits them in the prisons is worse..."
Shiro looked away. "Sigh..."
"I experiment on them first so they don't spend hours in the prisons getting raped repeatedly over and over again every time someone has the urge..." Shiro pointed to the woman and my eyes were drawn to her again.
"Orochimaru doesn't care what happens to the prisoners and lets anyone have free reign as long as they're left alive..." Shiro grabbed me by the shoulder and started leading me out of the room.
I turned my eyes away from the woman with mixed emotions.
I wasn't sure how I was feeling.
"The reality is that what I'm doing is awful and irredeemable." I sensed a but there and I was right. "But, should they stay in prison they will die anyway and suffer for as long as they are needed."
Shiro started towards a cupboard.
"I don't enjoy what I do but human experimentation gets faster results and saves the prisoners from arguably more suffering." Shiro grabbed a cup from the cupboard and started filling it with water from his canteen.
Shiro handed me the glass.
"Though I save the women from suffering, the same can't be said about the men, but they were going to die regardless, though..." Shiro trailed off for a moment. "...with their deaths, Konoha advances..."
Shiro trailed off again and looked at me deeply.
"I understand if you don't want to work with me, but as I said before, being my minion is a good opportunity to learn more and strengthen yourself while staying away from the direct fighting." Shiro held the stare for a moment more before looking away.
Things were silent and for the first time in my life, I thought I might need a cigarette.
"It might help you if you find a reason to justify the experiments..." Shiro spoke and stared at the ceiling blankly.
And I stared at him.
"I justify it by telling myself that their death brings advancement and that their deaths weren't pointless..." Shiro hummed and tapped his chin.
"By sacrificing the wicked, a better world is created."
"It's my favorite quote..." Shiro shrugged. "Its suit's the situation somewhat..."
By sacrificing the wicked, a better world is created...
Every death brought advancement to Konoha weather it be Jutsu advancement or knowledge.
Every death would help Konoha advance and stand above other nations.
Every death brought with its knowledge that would strengthen future generations, ensuring they were more knowledgeable than their parents.
Every death wasn't meaningless...
"Every death brings advancement..." I mumbled.
Shiro sent me a smile.
"That's the spirit." Shiro lost his smile and turned to me. "But in the end, justify it all you want but what you're doing will still be irredeemable..."
Shiro stood up and started towards the exit. "Take a break and if you still want to work with me, come see me in a few days."
"Well..." Shiro paused at the door. "Sorry for rambling, I hope it helped..."
Shiro trailed off as he left the room and I was left alone with my thoughts...
I should have known Shiro's offer was too good to be true...
But did I have any other choice?
I buried my face in my hands.
By sacrificing the wicked, a better world is created...
Every sacrifice brings advancement...
But would it be worth it...?
I didn't want to be weak...
I wanted to know more...
See more...
And be able to do more...
I didn't ever want to be helpless...
And perhaps I won't be as helpless if I accept Shiro's offer...
I sighed and my body slumped.
I didn't know what to do...
I eyed Orochimaru, he was wearing his usual attire and his hair was ungroomed.
He hadn't stopped staring at the map since I had arrived.
Though he seemingly didn't have a plan even after all the staring he had been doing.
I sighed and started making my way out of the building.
Orochimaru got annoyed when I stood around and sighed at him, so it was better I just make my way out and find something to occupy myself with.
Though I had an idea of what to do at the moment.
"Before I go, can I get your notes on reflex enhancement...?"
Orochimaru shot me an annoyed look.
A snake slithered out of his sleeve and regurgitated a scroll.
Orochimaru flung it at me and it landed in my hand with a wet slap.
I stared at it for a moment...
That was extremely disgusting.
"Thanks, Sensei!"
I gave Orochimaru a cheery wave and left the building.
...
Orochimaru's reflex enhancement seemingly had nothing to do with the nerves and instead to be all about the muscles...
I took my time browsing the scroll and enjoying his elegant handwriting.
'Type 1 or slow twitch.
Its mainly used for running, it is slow to contract, smaller in size and produces less force.
However, it also allows you to exert yourself for longer periods.
The muscle fiber is red, because of the higher oxygen content.'
So Red was slow muscle...
'Type 2a or superfast twitch.
These are anaerobic and rely on ATP and glycogen, this allows for more explosive force and speed, but also fatigues much more quickly.
This muscle fiber is also known as white muscle.'
White is fast muscle...
'Type 2b or moderate fast-twitch.
These are intermediary muscles, they are useful for shorter durations of more intensive exercise such as lifting weights or running. They are less energy-efficient than type 1 fiber but more fatigue-resistant than Type 2.
This is also known as pink muscle.'
Pink Muscle is in In-between...
I hummed...
There were some notes throughout the scroll.
You can't change your whole body to pink muscle because you need red muscle to stand up straight without collapsing...
I snickered at the image of Orochimaru trying to remain stoic while he stumbled around like a baby deer.
I brought my eyes to the notes again.
Your abs held you upright all day and thus were made of mostly red muscle...
Fine motor control was done by Red muscle so you should be wary of extensive changes to your hands...
You needed a mix of all three muscle types to function effectively...
But there were different mixes optimal for different fighting styles...
I hummed and drummed my fingers along my desk.
Orochimaru went on to talk about different muscle fibers that our ancestors had that have become redundant DNA and that awakening these tremendously improve your reaction-time, strength, and stamina...
I browsed the scroll a little more before rolling it up and setting it at the corner of my desk.
I interlaced my fingers together.
This was quite the gift Orochimaru gave me...
Though he called it a reflex enhancement it was more of a muscle enhancement...
Didn't he know I used a different method from his own...?
I feel like I mentioned it...
Perhaps he forgot...?
He has been stressed lately...
I sighed and decided not to think too deeply into it.
At least I have a new direction for a little while...
Sensing and muscle composition...
...
"How have you been feeling lately?"
I side-eyed mom and continued with my seal work, I wasn't sure I wanted this exchange.
"What do you mean?"
I arced an eyebrow and withdrew my brush from the paper.
"You seem down lately."
I raised an eyebrow and stayed silent.
"...If you want to talk about anything... I'm always available..."
I relaxed my eyebrow and smiled.
"Thanks mom, that means a lot."
She sent me a brilliant smile.
"Anytime Shiro."
Mom stood up and started towards the door.
I grimaced slightly.
I apricate the concern.
But that was a weird moment...
...
Duy was well out of Genin-hood and was doing alright.
He was average Taijutsu-wise but had amazing strength, speed, and stamina.
When I had taken him from the Genin corps I had hoped to take him up to Jonin level with extensive body modifications.
But that seemed like it wouldn't happen...
I had hoped that maybe Duy would see the horrors of war and decide that he desperately needed strength but so far, no such thing has happened.
All in all, the whole Duy thing seemed like a bust.
But I guess Duy earning more money and dropping the title of Eternal Genin could be considered a win of some sort...
I sighed, leaned back, and crossed my arms.
Fuck...
My plan to make a 'Super Duy' was not panning out...
Perhaps I used all my luck when awakening the Shikotsumyaku.
The bloodline with the longest name...
I sunk further into my seat.
I think it's time I start on the muscles...
I couldn't go full-body pink muscle, but perhaps I'd max it out...
My stamina was crazy anyway...
Perhaps messing with my muscles would change that though...
I'll just have to find the golden ratio then...
Sigh...
I stared at the ceiling and smiled.
I still haven't finished with stem cells or DNA...
So, there was still more to explore...
...
My minion was out of the field hospital and opted to stay in Frost.
Which was good as I need someone to boss around...
"Aomi, we're doing some body-enhancements."
She nodded silently.
"Alrighty... Get some prisoners, three should do..."
She nodded hesitantly and started making her way to the door.
I decided that I'll teach her as I go...
Maybe she could be my Kabuto...
Or my Sasuke...
I wasn't stealing any bodies or being overly evil so there shouldn't be any betrayal...
Hopefully...
Trust but verify as they say...
I'll keep an eye on her I suppose...
...
Test subject four was doing alright...
He was currently under a Genjutsu and fighting an imaginary enemy in another room under the watchful eye of my minion.
The first three were half failures.
Too much white muscle and one had explosive strength and power but little to no stamina...
Too much red muscle and one had little to no explosive strength or power...
To much pink muscle and one's muscles collapsed after extensive exercise...
So, all I'd done was confirm Orochimaru's notes...
I sighed...
I had hoped that some sort of chakra shenanigans would let me convert the body's muscle completely into pink muscle.
But it seemed that it wouldn't happen...
No major loss...
It only meant that more testing was needed...
I'd find the optimal muscle composition eventually...
...
I stared at Orochimaru and he stared at me.
"Yes, Sensei?"
Orochimaru continued staring.
"How would one attack Kumo..." His voice was dull and flat. "...Without earning the ire of the Raikage...?"
I wasn't sure...
He apparently fought ten-thousand people for some days before dying in canon...
How would one kill the old monster...?
"Fuinjutsu?" I intentionally spoke aloud throwing my thoughts into the air.
Orochimaru hummed and stared over my shoulder vacantly.
"A-hem..." I cleared my throat.
I sent Orochimaru a wink.
"The Raikage can't be mad about an attack if he's dead."
I sent him two more winks.
"And one wouldn't need to attack Kumo if they were without a Kage."
I sent him another wink.
"...Perhaps the Raikage could be restrained..." Orochimaru nodded looking proud of 'his' plan.
I shook my head.
"Perhaps the Raikage can be sealed and starved to death."
I sent two more winks at Orochimaru.
Orochimaru nodded finally seeming to get it.
"Excellent idea, kekeke..." Orochimaru threw his head back and laughed.
I eyed the creep for a moment wondering if giving Orochimaru ideas was the wrong move...
"Leave! I have planning to do..." Orochimaru waved me away.
I stood there staring at him for a moment before eventually shrugging and leaving.
Whatever...
Orochimaru could be a creepy old man by himself...
...
Things had been boring as of late, with Shimo and Kumo taking a bit of a break we weren't harassed as often as we once were.
And even though we were still attacked now and then it didn't matter much.
We had a few Hyuga and Uchiha watching the perimeter so most surprise attacks weren't surprises...
I narrowed my eyes at a passing ninja.
Blond hair and brown skin...
He didn't belong...
I pointed at his knees with my index and middle fingers.
Senbon launched from my fingertips.
I ignored the jumpy ninja around me and pointed at the now immobile ninja who was struggling to stand.
"Interrogation for him..."
The man's fate was sealed by my words, he was subdued and dragged off and I was left staring at the spot he occupied in thought...
Hopefully, he was a spy and not someone with ancestry from Kumo...
I put it out of my mind for a moment.
It was weird to have people jump to obey my command...
It was probably weird for them as well...
I dragged my eyes from the spot the ninja occupied and looked at the sky.
It was almost November so it was getting a tad cold and it was snowing as of late...
It was also almost my birthday...
Something I had nearly forgotten about.
I stared at the sky for a moment longer before continuing on my way.
I briefly wondered if I was getting a little jumpy and overreacting...
I normally don't attack people for looking suspicious...
Or in this case, people who look Kumo-y...
I sighed.
Whatever...
I stood and stared at my mom as she chatted with Aomi while braiding her hair.
When I say chatted with, I mean chattered at...
I looked over at Duy who was doing one-legged squats in the corner and Kenji who watched while drinking what I assume was some sort of alcohol.
When did my lab become the hang-out spot...?
I shook my head.
"What do I need to do to become Jonin?"
I directed my question vaguely into the room, I didn't care who answered just that someone answered.
"You need Jonin-level skill in almost everything and a recommendation."
It was Kenji who answered.
I hummed and stayed silent.
That was something I didn't know or didn't remember...
But who did I need to recommend me and why haven't I been recommended...?
"Kenji join me in fanning the flames of Youth!"
I shook my head and focused on Duy who was weirding out Kenji.
Duy was staring into Kenji's eyes while doing squats...
I was feeling weirded-out even though I wasn't the subject of Duy's attention...
I turned away from whatever was happening over there.
I didn't need that in my life...
...
My body leaned more towards red muscle fiber...
I hummed and ran the diagnostic jutsu down my arm.
Biceps were mainly pink and white though...
I ran my hand down my side and to my leg.
Abs are mainly red while the leg muscles are a mix of the three with red being dominant.
According to his notes, Orochimaru had changed his muscles to mainly white and pink for an explosive speed increase...
Though he probably had garbage stamina, unless he figured out some way to overcome that with chakra...
I guess I should lean more towards pink and red...?
I was a Taijutsu focused fighter, I needed stamina after-all...
"What do you think Aomi?"
Aomi of course remained silent but was pointing at my blond-haired test-subject strapped to the table.
"More tests then...?"
She nodded firmly and held five fingers up.
"Five more...?"
I was already comfortable with doing it to myself...
I wasn't sure I needed to waste more life on this endeavor.
"I guess it doesn't hurt to do more tests..."
Though Orochimaru might get annoyed at our rapid use of prisoners...
But perhaps that wouldn't be an issue, he has been busy as of late.
And we needed to do some stuff with DNA again...
So perhaps five more was ideal...
"How's your chakra control coming?"
I raised an eyebrow at my only minion.
She made a so-so gesture and looked slightly sad.
"No worries, it'll probably only take three or so more months."
I turned away from her and walked towards test-subject number seven.
"Alrighty don't dispose of this one, I have some more experiments to do afterward..."
And by experiments, I meant horrible invasive DNA manipulation...
Horrible but efficient...
...
Orochimaru paced around the room and gestured wildly while telling me his plan to take down the Third Raikage.
I eyed Orochimaru briefly but turned away when his eyes met mine.
He seemed a bit crazed and almost manic, I briefly wondered if he was taking some kind of stimulant...
Naruto-verse meth maybe?
"...So, you'll attack their camp and occupy them while I take out the Raikage!" He finished the sentence by throwing his arms up and smiling creepily.
"Sounds good Sensei." I nodded.
Orochimaru's smile stretched further.
I turned my back to him and cringed.
He had been acting unhinged lately, whether this was because he was experimenting with the cursed seal or he was just getting comfortable in my presence I didn't know.
"When do you want me to attack?"
I've been learning under him for nearly a year and only recently has he begun acting like this...
"Kekeke... A week from now is when we'll begin, you will take the army and attack their camp while I take out the Raikage!" Orochimaru finished his words with a creepy smile.
I pressed my lips together, something was wrong with him, he's never repeated words like that or been this smiley.
"Alright, I have some preparations to make." I nodded at him and turned toward the door.
Orochimaru went from old and creepy, to old, creepy and unhinged in a few months...
Whatever he did cause him to fall and fall fast...
I figured I'd have five more years with him but if whatever this was progressed further...
"Sigh..."
I doubt this was canon, so I must have somehow changed something...
There's no way he could get away with being like this for a few years...
I made my way out of Orochimaru's lab and made my way up the stairs.
Jiraiya was here a few days ago talking to Orochimaru, perhaps he noticed as well...
There was a good chance he did...
...
Orochimaru being creepy and potentially mentally damaged aside things seemed to be going well.
Our temporary respite was over and fighting was at an all-time high but we were winning most of the tiny engagements that we got into with Kumo.
Constant fights weren't ideal but it was acceptable if we were wining our engagements.
Or at least I thought so.
"So, what's the Raikage done this time...?"
Orochimaru was reading some sort of report with a picture of the Raikage's face in the top right corner.
He's attacked Iwa and caused a big fuss." Orochimaru's voice was dull and without inflection.
Orochimaru had just eaten and was in a good mood, hence the lack of evil laughter and creepy smiles.
He seemed less unstable when he was full and not excited or stressed.
Orochimaru handed me the report and I gave it a quick skim, it was pretty much Kumo had a problem with Iwa, the Raikage went out and it became less of a problem...
"So, Iwa is mad and told us to stay out of the way while they kill the Raikage?"
I stared at the page in disbelief, Iwa claimed they were sending their best to annihilate the Raikage.
They further claimed that the fight was between Kumo and Iwa and that any interference would lead to 'total war'.
"Arrogant..." Orochimaru hissed the word.
That was indeed the best way to describe Iwa...
But this was a problem, Iwa was after the Raikage...
And the Raikage vs ten-thousand ninja thing could possibly happen.
But shouldn't the Raikage Vs ten-thousand ninja be an epic battle at the end of the war...
We were only a year into the war...
Orochimaru sighed and leaned back into his chair, I sighed a moment later feeling his pain.
I thought Orochimaru was going to kill the Raikage...
"Three days before we launch our attack and this happens..." I set the report in front of Orochimaru and went and took a seat in the corner of the room.
Iwa was fighting everyone they bordered with and even some they didn't share borders with.
And they were winning for the most part...
Though they were heavily using their Jinjuriki, so perhaps that was why...
As far as I knew most of the other villages used their Jinjuriki as little as possible, Iwa and Kumo were the exceptions as far as I knew...
I glanced at Orochimaru who was silent and seemed lost in thought.
He doesn't seem affected for the most part.
I released a heavy breath, at least there wouldn't be another bloodbath for a while...
Perhaps it was time to expand my reserves...
I had wanted to wait a little longer...
But perhaps now was the ideal time...
...