I gave my lab one last look before turning and starting towards Konoha.
Orochimaru gave me a goodbye present and ruffled my hair while laughing creepily.
After checking myself for seals I took a quick look through the books.
All of them were about Fuinjutsu and DNA modification.
The books on DNA modification were nearly useless as most of the information was about DNA modification involving animals.
I wasn't interested in mashing human and animal DNA together, but perhaps it would be useful in the future.
Most of the books about Fuinjutsu were barrier oriented and not immediately useful, but apricated none the less.
"Sigh..." I felt a bit guilty about not having presents to give.
I made a hand-sign and a Shadow clone appeared.
"Here." I handed him a scroll and ignored Aomi's questioning look.
The Uchiha body wasn't useful currently and keeping it around increased the chances that I'd get caught.
Orochimaru could make better use of it and could take the fall should it be discovered.
"Let's stop by Hot Springs, I haven't had any greasy food in a long while..."
Aomi nodded.
I had some Uchiha cells hidden away...
I could make more if the need arises.
...
We arrived at Konoha, with minimal trouble.
Konoha was the same as I remembered it, the looks of fear and awe were annoying but not new.
"Make sure to pack for Suna, I'll come to get you when we're leaving." I gave Aomi a nod and started towards the house.
I needed to get my stuff unpacked, the lab properly equipped, and my notes hidden.
I'd also need to hunt for Gai, Kushina, and Mikoto while I was here...
Friendships needed effort to maintain, and I hadn't been putting much effort into them lately.
It was better late than never.
...
"How was your time off?" I eyed a hickey that had been poorly covered by makeup.
Mom shrugged with a tight-lipped smile.
"I had fun."
I could see that...
I eyed the open window, and boot print left on the dusty window sill.
It seems I interrupted something...
"Hmmm..."
I'll come back later...
"I'm going to go see Kushina, I just stopped by to let you know I was around."
The small size of the boot print was worrying, but I didn't want to have that conversation.
I didn't see any small footprints...
I nodded to myself and made my way out of the house.
I'd make sure she knew when I was going to be around, and hopefully, she'd return the favor in the future.
And maybe I could avoid some awkwardness in the future.
...
"Shirooo, you're not cute and little anymore!" I smirked.
Puberty was an awful hellish experience, but now I was too old to be smothered without it being weird.
"I've shed my cuteness and become handsome." Kushina was more likable when she didn't pick you up and shake you.
"Aww, Shiro." Kushina pinched my cheeks.
I would have frowned if my face wasn't being manhandled.
"Let me go please..." Kushina pouted and obliged.
I ignored the slowly receding pain and yawned.
Yawn*
"Sorry, it's been a long trip." I held back a second yawn. "Anything new in Konoha?"
I let my eyes wander and they were drawn to a wall covered in pictures containing the current Team Minato and a few pictures featuring myself and Kakashi.
"No, nothing new. It's been SOOO boring!" She flailed her limbs.
"Hmmm" I nodded absently.
Seeing my picture on their wall warmed my heart.
I felt myself tear up slightly and blinked my eyes before looking away.
"How about little Itachi? How's he been?" I released a heavy breath from my nose.
I was getting oddly emotional.
"The little cutie's goona turn five soon! I can't believe he's already five!" Kushina bounced on her toes.
I smiled. "I'll have to go see him." Kushina nodded excitedly.
"We can both go! Mikoto has probably been lonely, she'll appreciate the company!"
Kushina continued talking about our upcoming trip and I let myself go into autopilot.
I needed a shower and some sleep...
...
Gai was nowhere to be found.
Which sucked as I was looking forward to catching up.
Team Minato wasn't here either, so I couldn't torture anyone with exercise...
Mom was off doing her own thing, and I had already bothered Kushina and Mikoto yesterday.
So, I guess I was going to go through those deposit boxes I stole at Shimogakure.
It's one way to kill some time I guess...?
...
Knock* Knock* Knock*
I opened the door and blinked at Isami who had somehow gotten past the gate without being electrocuted.
"Hi." I blinked at her.
She blinked back.
"What brings you here?" I blinked again.
She shuffled nervously.
"Just came by to say hello." I eyed her wondering if mom had keyed her into the barriers.
I was pretty sure she didn't like me all that much, so she probably wanted something.
"Come inside, I'll show you what murder and assassination can buy you." I stepped aside and waved her in.
She stepped inside and kicked her sandals off while I made my way to the kitchen to make some tea.
...
The tea had been served, and I got back to what I had been doing while Isami sipped on her tea.
I'd been looking at apartment buildings, and narrowed it down to the final three I wanted to buy.
I could probably get two of them if I got a large loan, or I could get one and fix it up without any loans.
One renovated apartment building or two shitty apartment buildings with some debt attached.
I also had to consider that If I continued acquiring assets it'd be hard to leave Konoha should it be necessary.
"So..." Isami licked her lips nervously and stopped speaking.
I raised an eyebrow. "So?"
"Ummm..." I kept my eyebrow raised. "Can I continue learning under you, if not, can I work for you?"
"Hmmm..." Isami slumped at my hum.
It didn't matter if she was around, even if she wasn't useful now and wouldn't be useful for a while.
She was a time sink.
But a time sink was what I needed.
"Yes." A smile covered her face.
I was going to have a lot of free time soon, it's best I occupy that time too try to keep myself sane.
"I'll figure out something for you to do..." Even if she wasn't useful now, she could be in the future.
Boredom was my enemy and maybe I could defeat it by adopting strays.
"Have you been promoted yet?" The Hokage should have gotten around to it by now.
Isami shook her head. "No, not yet."
"Hmmm..." I'll have to go cause a fuss before I leave then.
Promoting ninja was decided by others but the ceremony was held by the Hokage.
Mainly to foster feelings of gratitude between ninja and the Kage.
Being 'awarded' a promotion was an important part of Ninja-hood.
I'd like Isami to experience it.
"Alright, go spend time with your mom, I'll come to collect you tomorrow morning." Super Isami might be a go.
I was going to let her go as it seemed she didn't like me.
Catch and release...
Snort* Isami raised an eyebrow but I waved her off.
If she wanted to hang around that was fine too.
I'd figure out what to do with her...
"Cya!" I nodded and sent her a wave but didn't respond as she let herself out.
I might have to remake the team.
Dragging mom and Duy along was probably going to get them killed.
I'll drop Aomi into Team Irregular and maybe create a new team with Isami.
I nodded to myself.
I'd see if things worked out first.
Isami wasn't all that strong anyways...
I'd have to improve her base strength before I made the team.
...
I was humming a quiet tune while Aomi wrote on her notepad.
We were having a question and answer session about Medical Ninjutsu and chakra.
It was time-consuming but I didn't have anything to do and needed a distraction of some sort.
'How do genetics determine your future?' I vaguely remembered saying that to her...
But it wasn't about Medical Ninjutsu, and I wasn't sure it was worth getting into.
I stopped humming and the dining room had descended into silence.
"It's a bit difficult to explain." Mainly because I was bad at explaining things.
I wasn't sure how to explain it concisely.
"Your genes aren't your destiny or future but they do manifest and determine how far you can go." Nature... "Genetics determines your maximum talent for any particular area."
"But in the end, it depends on how you nurture them." And nurture... "Even if one had the genetics that enabled them to have Kage-level reserves they might never reach that level if they don't spend time nurturing their talents and expanding their reserves."
Genetics played a big role in development, but if those genetic traits weren't nurtured...
"Did I answer your question or did I just ramble at you?"
I thought of it as assigning stat points.
You have a maximum of what you could achieve, but it depended on how and if you used it.
If you had a nine in strength but never used any melee weapons then you were wasting your high strength.
I sadly didn't know how to understandably translate that in a way Aomi would understand. What made sense to me was foreign to most people.
'You rambled, but I kind of got it.' Aomi slid her notebook over to me.
"Hmmm..." I hummed and nodded.
"You are born with potential, a maximum of what you can achieve, but what you achieve depends on how your talents are nurtured." I summed it up before continuing.
"However, there are some traits where that doesn't hold true."
Aomi nodded and started writing in her notebook.
'Chakra density?' She slid her book over and I nodded before continuing.
"You have a base chakra density determined by your genetics, and then you have the addition of spiritual energy and physical energy."
"The stronger your body, the more physical energy you can produce at a given time." For Physical Energy you had what you started with genetically plus what you achieved with training.
"Spiritual energy can also increase your chakra density, but it's not something I really want to get into." Spiritual energy was tricky, it came from consciousness and was increased by study, meditation, and experience.
It all boiled down to experience though.
The more you experienced the more spiritual energy you could produce.
"Anyway, chakra density isn't limited by genetics and can be increased throughout your life." Despite what Orochimary said Chakra Density wasn't truly limited by genetics.
Someone without naturally dense chakra could train and meditate until their chakra was as dense as mine.
But as they were already behind, they likely wouldn't be able to catch up as my chakra would have increased with training and mediation as well.
If one was trying to catch up to someone born with dense chakra I'd advise against it.
Their time would be better spent elsewhere.
"Was that helpful?" Translating what I know into digestible information wasn't my strong suit.
Kakashi was the only person I've met who has the same problem translating information that I do.
Yes.' Aomi nodded and circled the word. 'What about Yin and Yang Chakra?'
"What about it?" I raised an eyebrow as she continued writing.
'How do you make Yang Chakra?' I shrugged.
The awakening of the Shikotsumyaku caused my chakra to lean more towards Yang, it wasn't something I did with conscious thought, it was natural to me.
"Yin and Yang Chakra are just different mixes of Spiritual and Physical Energy, it's still made of both Spiritual and Physical it just depends on the mixture of each." I shrugged again as that was as much as I could explain it.
"I'm not that knowledgeable about either of them, so you might want to find some books about it if you're interested." The Akimichi, Nara, and Yamanaka were the villages foremost authorities on Yin and Yang release.
So, it was possible to find something if she perused through the archives.
Having lots of information from lots of different clans was probably why Konoha was so innovative in terms of Jutsu.
Iwa was the only other village that was innovative, which was probably because of their clans as well.
"One last question, I've got to visit some people before we leave." The clones would do that.
I'd hide in my bed and think about things to do while in Wind Country.
"Should I continue studying medicines? They don't seem useful." I blinked as that was said aloud and it caught me off guard.
"I didn't spend a lot of time on different medicines, Medical Ninjutsu can do most of the stuff medicine can." The basics were all I learned, anything esoteric was left on the wayside.
"I'd say not to worry about it, it's only useful for people with small reserves." Which was most Med-nin, they were on average a useless bunch.
"If your good at the Mystical Palm you probably will never need knowledge on medicine." Other people can waste their time on pills and ointments.
I wasn't going to waste my time concocting medical salves, I'd rather buy them.
"It might be useful in the future but I've never used anything I've learned about medicine." Stupid nutrition pills were the only example that came to mind.
I've dismissed medicine and nothing I've seen has changed my mind.
"It's up to you." She probably shouldn't waste her time, but having someone knowledgeable might come in handy one day.
"Alright, go see your family, we leave tomorrow." I waved Aomi off and started towards my room.
I was eager to spend the rest of the day in my bed.
...
Isami and I stood at the gate waiting for the mature members of our little group.
As annoying as it was to wait for people, I'd be more annoyed if I had to hunt them down.
So, I got to wait...
I eyed Isami who had changed her outfit before she had worn the standard Konoha green Genin jacket with a blue shirt and pants underneath the jacket.
Now she sported a red top with black pants and had wrappings on her fists and legs.
It was more distinct than her cannon fodder look.
And I quite liked it.
"Nice outfit, looks cute." More people might target her now that she didn't look like cannon fodder.
That was the law of anime universes.
"Thanks, it took a long time to find something I liked." I nodded and we lapsed into silence.
Sadly, the silence brought thoughts with it.
Does complementing her count as grooming an eleven-year-old?
I blinked at the thought.
It might count...
Though it wasn't deliberate...
I blinked again and side-eyed Isami.
Complements were dangerous...
I nodded to myself earning a look from Isami.
No romancing until their eighteen, no manipulating girls into developing crushes, and no lewding loli's.
I added that to my short mental list of rules.
It was right below no experimenting on anyone under twelve.
Which I forgot about until now...
I broke that one...
Perhaps the rules need to be written down...
I'll have a plaque made...
...
Mom was the last of the group to arrive trailing after Aomi at a sedate pace.
She brought food so that was fine.
"Here." She pulled a vial of blood out of her pocket and lazily tossed it at me.
I caught it and cradled it like one would cradle a baby.
"My precious..." I hissed and skillfully ignored mom's look of disapproval.
Asking Kushina for her blood was a long shot and not something I expected to work.
She was the closest source of Uzumaki blood and I wouldn't lose anything if I asked.
"I didn't expect to get this..." I had left the vial with her in hopes that she would think about it, I didn't expect anything to come of it.
"Did she want anything for it?" I told her that for the blood I'd do her a favor should she ever need it.
If she asked for something now it would be a load off my shoulders.
Mom shrugged. "No, she just said that she'd hold you to your word."
I nodded and ignored the probing look mom sent me.
"You sharing?" I pointed to the yakitori.
"No." Her reply was immediate.
I blinked and pointed over her shoulder.
She turned and looked, but turned back when she saw nothing.
Sadly, she was now bereft of grilled chicken.
I licked my fingers obnoxiously while dodging a series of thrown kunai.
"Where'd you get that, it was good!" She stopped throwing stuff and rolled her eyes.
"I'll be back..." She disappeared in Shunshin, but not before throwing me a mean look.
I rolled my eyes and looked over at Duy who had ignored my lack of youth.
He was running through an exercise and had seemingly tuned out the world around him.
"Hmm..." I dragged my eyes from Duy and started pondering on presents Kushina might want.
Sadly, she wasn't as easy to please as Orochimaru.
She probably wouldn't like an Uchiha corpse...
Mom arrived and handed out yakitori while pointedly ignoring me.
I rolled my eyes and started walking.
There were things to ponder, and minions to bother.
Hopefully, that was enough to keep me entertained during our trip.
The trip to Wind Country was rather tedious.
Isami was weak and squishy and thus required rest every four hours.
It slowed our process slightly but that was fine, I wasn't eager to have sand in my sandals.
During our travels, Isami was briefed on the situation in Wind Country and given basic instruction on desert survival.
She seemed to have been absorbing the information but would still have to be watched near constantly so she didn't get stung by a scorpion or bit by a snake and meet her untimely end.
The older members of our little group could watch her for a while, or at least until I figured out my place in the camp.
I wasn't sure what role I would fill in the camp, they needed medics, toxicologists, and front liners last I heard.
I could probably do any one or two of the roles, they weren't hard.
Toxicologist was the only one I would have trouble with, but after a month I'd probably be competent enough to do it.
My lab was also dependant on my role in the camp.
If I was a combatant I likely wouldn't have as much time to study stuff and get into DNA shenanigans.
I guess I'll see how it goes...
Clones were always available to pick up the work I wasn't willing to spend time on in person.
...
I watched two guards inspect our papers with an impassive gaze.
Though my gaze might not have been as impassive as I thought it was.
They were sweating and shivering under my gaze while trying their best to fill out the required forms with their shaky hands.
"Hmm...?" I watched one of the guard's fumble and drop his pen at my hum.
Was my reputation bad...?
I smiled widely and took my completed papers from the nervous man's hands and made my way into the camp in search of the command center.
...
Every building in the camp was the same.
They were all stone 'blocks', that were brown and made of solidified sand and earth, only having one a door and a single window to break up the bland surface.
I could tell that they were made using Ninjutsu, sloppy Ninjutsu in some cases.
Now and then I'd see eyes peek out of the single small window on the buildings before returning to what they were doing.
"Where's the command center?" I hailed a passing ninja and asked.
He shrugged and pointed to the only different building in the entire camp.
"That's where ya wanna be."
I nodded. "Thanks."
"Anything for a hero." A hero I was not...
I raised an eyebrow but didn't respond.
Delusional or not, he was helpful.
No need to correct him.
...
I eyed the large building with a keen eye.
The place was in chaos, but it was controlled chaos.
Many different people were streaming in and out of the building, I saw teams heading in beside injured ninja, and saw people who had been healed and released as well as people heading out for whatever mission they received.
The building seemed to be both a hospital and a command center.
"Go take over a building." I shooed my entourage away and started towards the building while ignoring any protests.
I'd like to meet Tsunade by myself and get a feel for her.
...
After a little searching and some threats, I was finally led to Tsunade.
She didn't have the green cloak that I had in my memories, but she looked similar to what I remembered.
Blond and busty.
"Yo!" I gave her a cheery wave and she dragged her eyes from the paperwork to me.
Beaten and worn is how I'd describe her demeanor, she didn't look as confident as she did in my memories.
"Hello?" She blinked slowly.
I tilted my head and stared at her for a moment.
"Hyuga Shiro, reporting for duty!" I smiled sent her another wave though this one was less cheery.
She showed no recollection upon hearing my name and stared blankly at me.
My smile slowly faded, as she continued staring at me.
She didn't know who I was or didn't care.
It was slightly upsetting.
"I'm here for my assignment?" She remained silent and started shuffling paper around on her desk while ignoring me.
My respect for the woman dwindled, as she continued digging through the pile of paperwork.
"Ah, I thought the name sounded familiar." She unfolded a piece of paper and dragged her eyes across it, slowly reading it.
"Your team is going to be under the command of Nara Shikaku." She said without looking up from the paper.
"Sigh..." I sighed and left, not bothering to speak any further.
Tsunade was a disappointment, I had a high opinion of her and was let down upon meeting her.
She wasn't the woman she was when she become the Fifth Hokage.
She wouldn't be the person I remembered for a long time...
It wasn't something I had put a lot of thought into.
"Hmmm..." I hummed as I dodged a running Med-nin.
The Med-nin rushed into Tsunade's office and exited my sight.
I shrugged and made my way towards the mission desk.
I'd ask them where this Shikaku was.
And then I'd spend the rest of the day, applying Fuinjutsu air conditioning to whatever building my group had commandeered.
...
It was only after laying my eyes on Nara Shikaku that I remembered he was a clan head.
I gave him a light bow while eyeing the hair of the Yamanaka clan head, the top and sides of his hair were short but the back of his hair was in a waist-long ponytail.
It was the weirdest hairstyle I've laid my eyes upon.
"Hello, new friends!" I gave them a lazy wave as all my cheer had been sapped from me after my interaction with Tsunade.
The Nara hadn't moved but the Yamanaka gave me a Minato like smile, which instantly gave me weird vibes.
"Put that smile away, your going to blind me." That smile was too sugary for someone who has mind-raped people his entire life.
His smile faded but hadn't left his face.
I turned my head and eyed Gai's Sensei who had been eating quietly in the corner.
I had taken an interest in the Akimichi as they were the only ones, I knew of that used Yang Release similarly to the Shikotsumyaku.
I sent him a nod and received one in reply.
The Akimichi techniques were interesting because they were almost completely Yang in terms of chakra, it reminded me of my chakra.
The difference being that the Akimichi molded their chakra into Yang Chakra while mine was in a perpetual state of Yang.
"Any interest in talking about your clan Hidens? I don't want to learn them, I'm more interested in how you mold chakra..." The Akimichi clan head didn't take more than a second to shake his head in a firm no.
"Shame..." I shrugged.
I probably shouldn't have asked right off the bat, but the answer probably wouldn't change even if we knew each other better.
The room descended into silence, I was thinking and the clan heads were studying me, both discreetly and not.
"Not going to ask to learn my clans Hidens?" The Yamanaka spoke in a teasing tone, with a slight undercurrent of something I couldn't name.
"Hmmm..." I hummed in amusement.
"I'm not interested in rape, but thanks." I sent him a smile that wasn't friendly in the slightest.
He looked offended.
"It's not even comparable to rape." I narrowed my eyes at him, wondering if he was kidding.
The Nara tensed when my smile widened.
"Whatever makes you sleep at night." I didn't have the moral high-ground though.
Words coming from someone who experimented on people probably weren't worth much, morally speaking.
"Hmmm..." I hummed and reined my chakra in, as I only just realized that it was the reason for Shikaku's distress.
The good ol chakra reserves were expanding and my control was slipping.
Perhaps once you got to a certain strength, your chakra naturally pushed you to your genetic limit.
It was an interesting theory.
But that's all it was.
A theory.
"Anyway, why aren't you interested in the position of Hokage?" I directed this question to the Nara, who was also a Hokage candidate, although a reluctant one.
This was Social-Fu I learned from Kushina, you drag people into your pace and keep them on their feet. Usually, they're too surprised to continue with whatever they've concocted in their heads.
"Troublesome..." His face was bland.
I wasn't sure if I was troublesome or if the Hokage position was troublesome.
"Ah, so you enjoy your free time then..." And a Nara-Kage would upset Konoha's current balance.
I nodded and bulldozed whatever else he could have said.
"SO, what's my new job? Paperwork? Murder? Healing? Sealing? Scouting? Sabotage?" I held up my fingers as I listed each.
I waggled my six fingers and Shikaku motioned me to stop with a grimace.
"You and your team are going to be a front-line combat squad, you're doing what you did in Frost." I raised an eyebrow at that.
My 'squad' wasn't part of the mayhem I caused.
"Alright, just murder then." I nodded and did my best to smother my smile when the Yamanaka grimaced.
"Oh yea, I've picked up a stray, she's not officially part of the team but she's mine. Will that be a problem?" I sent them a smile that promised violence.
Shikaku shook his head. "No trouble." His voice was even but I could hear an undercurrent of annoyance.
I nodded happily. "Many thanks, friend!"
"It's been a long trip and I'm eager to shower, I hope you don't mind if I leave?" I smiled sweetly.
Shikaku nodded and shooed me out with his hand.
I obliged and took off with a smile on my face.
Hopefully, Gai was lurking somewhere.
...
My clones slowly covered the building in seals while I used a Tiny Rasengan to carve my self-imposed rules into a section of stone that I had threatened someone into making.
First and foremost was Don't stand in doorways.
A key rule that I learned early on in life.
Second, No experiments on those under twelve.
I'd already broken that one with Isami.
Third, Don't let experiments live if they don't belong to Konoha.
Another rule that wasn't followed in the past.
And last but not least.
Forth, No lewding anyone under eighteen.
Onee-san's were free game...
"Sigh..." It was obvious that puberty was hitting me hard.
The Onee-san's in the camp weren't safe...
...
After removing myself from my delusions I started pacing around the building while looking at the seals.
Everything seemed to be in order.
I waved the clones away and they set off to put air conditioning in other buildings so they could earn a quick buck.
Now I just needed some blood from everyone who planned on staying here and things would be good to go...
"Hmmm..." I eyed the empty building.
I'd need some walls put up, and maybe I could acquire a second building for a lab.
I hadn't wanted to make one but It was probably worth the effort.
I needed something to do with my time...
...
News of the Third Raikage's death reached my ears a week after I arrived in the camp.
I felt sad, this meant that the war would probably continue slowing down.
Cannon fodder can be endlessly created and shipped to the front lines.
It's the death of S-Ranks and slowly dying economy from lack of trade that will bring an end to the war.
"Sign..." Even after being trapped by Orochimaru the Raikage wasn't the slightest bit more cautious.
"I need to find a hobby..." I wasn't sure what I'd do with myself when I had no one to fight.
I hated missions but liked fighting, to fight I'd have to go on missions...
A conundrum.
.Aomi, can you train Isami? Start her on nature transformations, preferably water." Aomi nodded and started towards the door.
"Hmmm..." I hummed and stared at her back as she left.
The Hokage had seemingly lost interest and Aomi hadn't received any letters as of late.
So, I was going to continue training her.
Eventually, she would get into genetics and take some of the more mundane projects off my plate while I focused on the Space God descendants.
Or so went the new plan.
She wasn't likely to be my Kabuto, her loyalty to Konoha prevented that.
But she was still going to be my student.
Aomi left my sight and I let my thoughts bounce around for a few moments longer before deciding to find some test subjects.
I was going to figure out what Kushina's blood/chakra would do to normal folk...
And then I'd make another tumor...
Isami was also compatible with Kushina's blood...
Super Isami was still a go...
"Sigh..." I reigned my thoughts in and headed for the door.
Jinjuriki blood might bring me some surprises...
...
I let my eyes wander while Inoichi blabbered on during what he had called the 'weekly briefing'.
Tsunade was here, as were the Clan head trio.
I eyed the assorted Jonin surrounding the table but saw no one notable.
"Shiro, you and your team are heading to Claw." I nodded and accepted the scroll from Inoichi.
Claw's Daimyō had requested my services when he heard I was nearby.
I broke the seal on the scroll and started reading it, not caring who saw the contents of the scroll.
"Yeah, this is not happening." I tossed the scroll to Inoichi who caught it with a grimace.
I was supposed to be the Daimyō's guard for a few months.
The Daimyō was a notorious kid fucker and I wasn't interested in spending time with him. That and I was in the process of an experiment, I couldn't leave now.
"Refusing could be considered treason." I eyed Shikaku who spoke.
It wasn't considered treason, as it wasn't ordered by the Hokage.
"I'd rather not have to kill the Daimyō." That pedophile would need to die.
I wasn't interested in protecting that scum while denying his 'advances'.
"If I have to spend time with him, he's going to die." And my time in Konoha would come to an end.
The other Daimyō's would order my death, they couldn't allow the killing of a Daimyō to go unpunished.
"This is an order from you, not an order from the Hokage." I spoke and eyed Shikaku while wondering why he was trying to start something.
Tsunade leaned forward and looked vaguely interested while Shikaku was stoic.
"Are you trying to start a fight?" I tilted my head and stared at him.
I sadly couldn't do the smart person 'be one-hundred steps ahead' thing. Shikaku had some sort of goal with this conversation, whether it be to paint me in a bad light in front of the Jonin, make Tsunade dislike me, or something else.
"No need to be so hostile, Shiro-Kun." I kept my gaze on Shikaku while ignoring Inoichi who had spoken.
He didn't look nervous, but I could see the shadows in the room shift and become slightly darker.
"You're trying to start something, why not run to Suna if you're so eager to die?" I smiled and noticed Inoichi flinch, my eyes shifted towards him momentarily.
Tsunade had put a hand on his wrist and stopped him from making Hand-seals.
"We shouldn't be fighting among ourselves." Tsunade spoke slowly and confidently.
I nodded to her, thankful I had avoided a mind-rape.
"Why are you trying to send a child to a known pedophile?" Tsunade stared at Shikaku.
Shikaku frowned.
"We need the money." Shikaku had a touch of a smile on his face.
I smirked and reeled in my chakra.
"Your head would earn us some money." Tsunade sent me a tight-lipped smile silently telling me to stop with her eyes.
Shikaku had accomplished whatever he had set out to accomplish and I was annoyed.
"I'm not, taking missions." I blew a breath out of my nose. "I think I'll just head back to Konoha." I took great joy in seeing Shikaku's eyes fill with panic.
"That would truly be treason." Shikaku smoothed his expression back into his usual stoic look trying to hide his panic.
My smirk widened.
I wouldn't get more than a slap on the wrist, I was too important to throw away. I might get branded as unstable or unpredictable if I wasn't already, but currently, I was needed in the war and was safe for now.
"I'll head over to Grass then, me being here is bad for your health." I held back a chuckle.
Shikaku was looking more panicked, it seems that me leaving wasn't what he wanted.
"Well, see you never, I'll pack my stuff." I stood and gave Tsunade a friendly smile. "Thanks for saving the Yamanaka Clan Head." Had he gotten into my mind, he'd have died.
Tsunade nodded with a weary smile.
"Is there any way you would be willing to stay?" Shikaku spoke up stopping my dramatic exit.
Now I could make demands or I could throw them through a loop, and as fun as trolling them sounded, it probably wasn't the best idea.
"Talk to me about Yang Release." I directed my demands to Chōza who was the only one who didn't seem interested in attacking me. "And bring Gai when you come." I hadn't been able to find him.
He nodded quietly while looking quite laid back.
"Swing by my lab when you're not busy, we'll chat." I nodded to him and he nodded back. "I'll also only take my orders from Tsunade." I sent her a nod and turned and left before I could be stopped again.
I wasn't sure what Shikaku was up to, but it seems we're on bad terms now.
Sending a twelve-year-old to a pedophile was an odd move and I have no clue what he gained from it.
Was he testing me and my willingness to follow orders?
Or was he testing my loyalty to Konoha?
Another conundrum...
I rolled my eyes and started towards the Hospital.
I'd leave Tsunade some alcohol as thanks...
She definitely earned some points in my books.
Interlude.
'Hyuga Shiro was blunt, unsociable, but oddly cheerful. He cares about his family and few close acquaintances but cared little for those not within his circle.
Though Shiro shows some traits associated with sociopathy, he doesn't have enough to be considered a sociopath.
He was bold but not mean. He doesn't respect societal norms but also doesn't lie and deceive. He makes long term plans but shows aggressive behavior.
Shiro seems to feel some guilt and remorse and follows up on personal and professional responsibilities. But he doesn't seem to consider his safety.
Shiro doesn't manipulate or intimidate, at least not often. He doesn't steal, is not addicted to any substances, doesn't needlessly destroy things.
He holds strong opinions but can be reasoned with and doesn't seem to have a strong sense of superiority.
Shiro can be described as 'cold' but does show investment in the lives of others. He has a tendency to nurture those who catch his interest and had done so a few times the most notable being Osada Aomi who he has elevated to Elite-Jonin strength.'
"Troublesome..." I shook my head and slid my report away. I wish I had refused when I was told to test him. I made an enemy, an enemy who could easily kill me if they desired.
Shiro was unpredictable and that made me nervous.
Not nervous enough to take preventive measures, but still nervous. After all, we're at war and accidents can happen.
My team could get 'surrounded' and 'captured'. We might disappear. It was an unsettling thought, one I was hesitant to share.
If we bothered him further, he might lash out.
"Troublesome..." I repeated.
I regretted being as direct as I was, I should have taken a more subtle approach. Prodding him as I had was a mistake, subtle observation was a better option.
Sadly, I didn't see it at the time.
I leaned forward and rested my head on my desk.
This was troublesome.
Kushina's blood didn't give any amazing improvements.
It did exactly what the others did, with only a notable increase in stamina.
It wasn't exactly exciting.
But I could probably use her Chakra to learn Wind and Water Release should I ever have the urge.
I shrugged and threw Aomi's notes on my desk.
The blood injections seemed to be a shortcut to Low-Chunin and learning nature transformation.
It was something that would probably see a lot of use from myself in the future.
I was shit at nature transformations after all...
My saving grace was the continued expansion of my 'range'. The more chakra I had the less restricted my range was.
It was nice that I was finally able to make tea with chakra strings without moving from my spot at the table.
A true thing of beauty that was.
...
"Hmmm..." I hummed and ignored Tsunade who was blabbering while scanning someone I had given Kushina's blood to.
People who got blood transfusions had a change in their chakra and that was able to be sensed by competent sensors.
My little experiment was shut down while Tsunade examined my 'victims'.
The blood had left their systems and Tsunade couldn't figure out what I had done, so I wasn't overly bothered by the whole thing.
I wasn't going to be able to do it again though...
"How many times could you do this?" I raised an eyebrow at the question as it was not what I expected.
I could do it as much as I wanted. But I didn't want to do it often.
"Not very often, it takes too much time and chakra for such a minuscule increase in power." I shrugged. "And It only benefits those under Chunin-level." Making Chunin should be left to the academy.
I wasn't interested in wasting my time by pumping them out. I was just trying to see if there were any side effects.
"Don't do this anymore, it stresses the body and chakra system." I nodded, of course, it did, people weren't meant to grow that fast in body or chakra.
"Ok." It didn't matter too much, I was done anyway.
I couldn't see any more avenues to explore this. Learning nature transformations was all it was good for.
"You're getting sent to the front to relieve the personal there." I nodded distractedly as I was watching my 'victim' leave the room after Tsunade finished her exam.
"Am I just guarding or can I go chase them a little?" We had troops deeper in the desert stopping Suna from advancing towards our camp.
They were regularly traded for fresh troops and it seemed that it was our turn.
"Do what you wish, you'll be the authority out there." Meaning there was no Ino, Shika, Cho out and about...
"That's ideal." I smiled. "Do I have any mission while I'm out there or am I just holding the line?"
Tsunade shook her head.
"Just holding the line and repelling attacks, do as you wish." I smiled as I realized that my stay in Wind Country might not be too bad.
"Well I'll go pack my stuff, it's been fun." I sent her a wave and ignored her muffled snort.
First impressions aside we got along well.
I couldn't wait until she was Hokage...
...
I leaned against the building we had taken over and waited for my little group to finish their preparations while I basked in the heat.
I'd bought a wide-brimmed straw hat from a shop in River Country and it had become my item of choice in blocking the sun's harsh rays.
I looked silly wearing it, but it kept the sun out of my eyes so it was going to stay for the foreseeable future.
"Can you put some seals in whatever building we end up in?" Isami had her own wide-brimmed hat, though she had also bought a reddish-yellow cloak that was supposed to blend in with the sand.
I nodded to her question, as I planned on placing seals on any buildings we occupied at the front.
"You'll only be there for a week." I had plans to stay a bit longer, as I didn't want to miss out on the last few battles of the war.
I felt like I should get my fill while I could, experiments could be done during my free time after the war.
"It's a week too long." I rolled my eyes at her.
Battlefields are where you gain strength, she should be trying to stay for as long as she could handle it.
"Luckily we're not running missions this time, so you'll have plenty of time to rest." And train.
I couldn't have weak minions after all...
...
The 'front' as it was called wasn't far away, it was only a ten-minute run.
The 'front' was a small camp similar in structure the main camp with all its buildings being identical buildings that were quickly thrown up with Ninjutsu.
I wasn't sure why I needed to be stationed here, as I could arrive in a minute from the camp should I go at top speed.
It was a minor annoyance, but nothing more than that.
"Where's the command center?" I eyed the ninja who had approached me to look over the scroll I held out.
Brown hair and brown eyes with Konoha's standard Jonin uniform, his only notable feature was the signature fangs of the Inuzuka on his face and the Nin-kin trailing after him.
Total cannon fodder.
"This way Hyuga-Sama." I nodded and followed after the man.
I was feeling slightly sad, the cannon fodder in front of me was twice my size and twice my age. And yet I would be the one to see Kaguya's 'resurrection'.
I'd outlive almost everyone I met.
It was a sobering thought.
I was very hard to kill and potentially immortal.
Though the latter was still up for debate.
De-aging my DNA had seemingly worked but hadn't stunted my growth. So, I wasn't very optimistic about it working.
"This is it." I nodded at his words and studied the building briefly.
It was the same as the others, probably so it wouldn't be targeted.
"Thanks." I made a hand-sign and fourteen clones appeared around me
I turned towards the now surprised Inuzuka. "Can you bring my clones and team to their residence?"
"Certainly." He smiled and nodded.
I watched him lead seven of my clones plus friends and family away with a smile on my face.
He was perhaps the first Inuzuka I've liked.
I only work for hugs!" I eyed the clone who had just volunteered for death.
Silly clones were the bane of my existence.
"Hugs for the Hug God!" His existence was ended with a smack to the back.
I sent a nod to the clone who smacked him and received an eye roll in reply.
Alrighty...
The clones were going to work on the seals while I pondered ways to continue mutating different genes...
It was the most straight forward path of advancement I currently had...
And the most likely to provide results...
...
"Hmmm..." I hummed and looked over the small amount of paperwork I had to do.
I just needed to note our supplies, the number of troops lost, the number of enemies captured, and other boring things.
It was considerably less then what I had to deal with at Frost.
But that was probably because Orochimaru left most of the Paperwork to me...
I scowled at the thought.
Paperwork was the enemy of progress...
"Hmmm..." I hummed and nodded while ignoring the screams outside.
I blinked and stood up when I realized I was no-longer in Frost and it wasn't test-subjects that were screaming.
I activated my Byakugan and made my way outside.
We were being overrun...
My Dermal Armor formed, and I broke out into a run towards the nearest enemy.
This one thought he was clever and was using a puppet while hiding underground.
A quick Chakra Enhanced Stomp injured the puppeteer and a second silenced his muffled screams.
The sand wasn't as easy to stomp on...
I drank in the chaos around me and smiled a real smile.
I don't think I could ever go back to being normal after experiencing battle.
It was already too late for me.
I aimed my palms at the nearest enemy ninja and fired Bone Spears through them, I followed it up with two more spears that shredded another's throat and pierced the fourth sticking him to a wall.
"Hmmm..." I hummed and slowed my perception finally remembering that it was part of my whole fighting style.
The most important part...
An explosion brought me back to reality and I turned my focus to an old woman who was causing trouble with her puppets.
Perhaps she would be my main problem.
An almost blinding amount of chakra quickly changed my mind.
A frail middle-aged man waved his hand and buried many of our structures in sand revealing his identity as Suna's Jinchūriki
Fuck...
I charged up a Heaven's Palm, Shunshined behind him and slammed It into his back as hard as I could.
The sand surrounding him came to his defense but it wasn't enough as my attack sheered through it and continued through his arm.
I jumped away as the Jinchūriki became surrounded by sand.
My attack had taken an arm but it also continued into the camp and pierced a few buildings before expanding and destroying the final building.
"Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die!" I ignored the Jinchūriki's muffled 'Die's' and created a clone before charging up a second Heaven's Palm.
My clone Shunshined towards the old woman while I dove towards the sand sphere.
Hands made of sand attempted to grasp my ankles while sand tendrils wiped towards me.
I dodged the first few sand hands and whips but was caught by a tendril of sand that wrapped around my ankle.
It tightened but had no effect, a quick application of lightning chakra on my legs and I was free of the tendril.
More tendrils and hands came at me with impressive speed.
I ignored both and Shunshined above the sphere.
"Ugh!" With a grunt, I smashed my attack into the sphere and Shunshined away.
The attack drilled through the sphere and expanded inside it, the Jinchūriki sadly wasn't harmed.
He had drilled himself into the ground and was now hiding while building up his chakra.
I took a deep breath, unlocked my seal, and created a clone who in turn created more clones.
The clones ran off into the chaos poking people as they went and shutting down organs, blocking tenketsu, and killing as they went.
I took a moment to wrench a bone sword from my knee while the sand started building above the Jinchūriki.
He rose from the ground, half-covered in sand and blue markings, his eyes and teeth on his injured side were no longer human-looking.
I eyed the tail behind him while wondering if killing him would cause the One-Tails to escape.
"You've made me angry!" I ignored his weird demonic voice and instead focused on the sand that continued to creep onto him expanding his form.
He launched a large clawed hand at me with both rage and glee.
"Sorry." I coated my sword in as much lighting chakra as I could muster and vibrated it as much as I could.
I Shunshined right to him and cut deep into his torso.
The sand resisted but was ultimately cut in half along with his body.
"I'll enjoy killing you!" I rolled my eyes as he became more bestial and his two half's reconnected using sand.
Because of-course cutting him in half wasn't enough...
He opened his mouth and started launching sand balls at me like a machine gun.
I Shunshined around him a few times while giving myself time to put more Lighting chakra into the sword.
I deprived him of his tail with swing, and a clone scoped it up with surprising quickness.
The One-Tails and I stared at the clone in surprise.
"I'll kill you!" The clone stuck it's tongue out and Shunshined away from the danger leaving me with an angry tailed beast.
More sand gathered and I started to panic a bit as I didn't want to fight a fully transformed One-tails.
I made a one-handed hand-seal and created a construct on my sword, further lengthening it.
I dodged a dusty wind launched from the creature's mouth and Shunshined behind it for what I hoped would be the last time.
I Enhanced my muscles as much as I could and swung.
Swoosh*
My sword cut through the sand, toward the human hidden within.
The chakra in the sand shifted and lashed out in the form of whips as my sword continued towards the Jinjuriki's head.
My sword split the head at the same time I was hit with the whips.
Poof*
I was embedded within the sand in a poof of dust.
I watched the sand bubble and writhe for a moment before simmering down as the chakra within slowly dispersed.
I laid there for a moment feeling slightly numb as I hadn't planned on killing a Jinchūriki today...
I ignored a clone who scooped up the body with glee and turned my focus to the now retreating Suna-army, they had come in full force only lacking their Kage and Sasori who I had been looking forward to fighting.
My clones had ganged up on the old woman and were chasing her down while a woman with a bloodline of some sort defended her, the old woman was missing an arm and probably wasn't going to be happy with me in the future.
I knew she was in canon but couldn't remember her name.
My clones and the women left my range, and all that was left was the slower Suna-nin or those that surrendered.
"Sigh..." Another page in my tale.
I deactivated my Byakugan and realized that I had forgotten my mask...
"Shiro?" I turned my eyes to Shikaku who was standing on the edge of the pit I was in and was staring at me.
A rush of memories hit me as my clones had been taken out by an awfully convenient sandstorm that covered the fleeing ninja.
"Give me a minute, I'm going to lay here for a bit." I waved Shikaku away and stared at the sky enjoying the cloudless view.
More and more memories hit me as the clones that didn't enter the sandstorm dispersed after giving up.
I held back a sigh as I realized that the Clan Head trio had done me a solid and held back bloodline woman while I killed the Jinchūriki.
Aomi had deprived the old woman of an arm with the help of mom, in defense of Duy who had been poisoned and was being rushed back to the main camp.
I closed the seal and got started on sending some of the excess chakra back into it.
I'd have to catch up with Duy so I could save him if things went south...
With that in mind, I Shunshined towards the main camp.
...
Duy thankfully wasn't in bad shape, however, I was reminded of the Poison and Disease Resistance I had forgotten about.
It was probably time to make everyone poison resistant...
I'd get some blood from around the camp and have some clones work on it...
With the addition of Poison Resistance from Suna, I'd say it'd be pretty good.
But...
If I was already doing an Overwrite why stop there?
Surely bigger reserves and denser chakra would be apricated would they not?
I nodded to myself.
A few sneaky changes wouldn't hurt...
Anger was temporary, power was forever after all...
...
A briefing was held and time was wasted.
With the death of their Jinchūriki, it was likely Suna would drop out of the war.
They were fighting us and Iwa currently and their Jinchūriki was the only thing stopping Iwa from stomping on them. With their lack of Jinchūriki and Iwa's surplus of them, it seemed obvious that they would quit when they were ahead.
Or so Shikaku said...
I thought that it probably wouldn't be the case.
The battles between Kumo and Iwa had become more frequent and thus Iwa was committing more of their resources towards Kumo as well as Konoha.
Kumo was only fighting with one village while Iwa was fighting on three fronts.
Us and Suna were fighting on two fronts
So, Suna still had a chance even without their Jinchūriki as no-one could commit a lot of resources to destroy them.
I figured they knew that and would stay in the war.
Suna hadn't lost much yet, and could still afford to lose more.
The same held for most of the other nations, only their lack of income and failing economies would cause them to pull away from the war.
It was a fun state of affairs...