I used Mangekyo Sharingan, and even though it felt intensely draining, I was able to find the puppet curse, and after analysing it, it was simple to remove it.
As soon as I was done, I left the mindscape and collapsed.
I deactivated Mangekyo, and realised that I have nearly exhausted my chakra.
If I used Kamui, I might have died of chakra exhaustion.
I weakly sighed, and rested.
I really need to increase my chakra reserves. If learning Yin seal wasn't so impossible that not even Shizune was able to learn it, I would have not even considered trying to complete the Nue project and have it absorb the chakra from Dragon Veins.
I will need to learn Medical Ninjutsu for it. And who knows, I might find Kabuto to help me with this?
No. He is probably spying in another country. Or maybe he is under Orochimaru already.
I can't have anything that will indicate that I have a connection with Orochimaru.
They handed me over the Nue Project to probably see my nature, to see if a genius like me might defect too.
Well... for now, I can only continue training.
----------------------
The next day, I woke up, and I was still feeling exhausted. My chakra hasn't recovered much huh?
If Kamui wasn't so important, I would have removed the Sharingan. If I remove it, either Danzo will get it, or Obito with reclaim it, and become even more powerful.
Anyway, I guess I will be only studying today.
I slowly got up from the bed, and freshened up.
Let's see... I don't have anything in the fridge huh?
I guess I should do some shopping.
I took out the White Fang short sword, and went to the market.
White Fang is made of very high quality chakra metal. But because of that, it is more fragile than normal blades.
It is good, but not as good as Kusanagi swords, which not only have high chakra conductivity, but also are incredibly durable and can cut through even the adamantium staff of Hiruzen.
I went to the blacksmith, NineNine, and gave him the sword.
NineNine is the father of TenTen. Who could have known?
"Can it be fixed?"
Using this sword will be draining. But it's not like I can't practice with it and use it once I have sufficient chakra.
NineNine looked at it with intensity, and nodded.
"It will take a million. I just need to weld it together with some extra chakra metal."
Well... so White Fang isn't legendary huh? I thought that I would have to go to Land of Iron to get it repaired.
"Do I need to pay in advance? How long will it take?"
"It will be done in a month. And you don't have to pay anything in advance."
"Alright."
Taking the receipt, I left to get some food supplies.
Thankfully, Guy is on a mission today. Otherwise, the sparring score would have become equal by him winning today.
Our current score is 47-46, with me winning 47 times.
"Oh. Good morning Shikaku-sama. I didn't expect you to be here so early in the morning."
I saw Shikaku yawning and getting vegetables.
"Sigh... Yoshino kicked me out of the house to get these... Thankfully Shikamaru is too lazy to cry, so he doesn't bother me."
I deadpanned. Shikamaru is probably a year old at most. And he is too lazy to cry?
"How about I help you?"
I said, saying that I want to talk to him with my eyes.
He understood, and handed me the list.
It seems that the Nara head family eats even less than me.
I picked up the supplies, and followed Shikaku to his house.
"Sorry to disturb you, Yoshino-san."
I greeted Shikaku's wife, and the baby in her arms, looked at me for a moment, and decided that sleeping is more interesting.
He really is Shikamaru.
We went to Shikaku's study, and sat down.
"Mind if we play Shogi?"
"Sure."
He brought the board, and we started playing.
"Kakashi, in the world of Shinobi, what do you think the King represents?"
Will of Fire huh...
It is a great ideology. That has been messed up. Instead of nurturing and protecting the children, wars send children into battlefield, while the older generation, Hokage and his teammates, sit in their cozy office and relax.
Kumo is perhaps more representative of Will of Fire.
"Shikaku-sama, I have come to ask you to take care of the King. The next generation."
Shikaku frowned.
"Sounds like a drag."
"Please adopt Naruto."
Shikaku froze.
"Hey hey hey! This is a very serious issue!"
He started panicking.
"I apologise. But I can't ask anyone but you. It has been six months since Minato-sensei passed away, and Hokage-sama has made no move to adopt Naruto. Neither has Jiraiya-sama returned to the village.
Mikoto-san won't be allowed to adopt him, so I can only come to you."
"Hey Kakashi, there are many clans! Like-"
"They will be either prejudiced towards him, or try to take advantage of him. The home of Jonin commander is much safer than orphanage."
Shikaku sighed, and rubbed his temples.
"He will be too conspicuous-"
"Didn't you also hear the rumours in the market? Of a demon kid?"
"..."
"Naruto's identity as the jinchuriki is already exposed. And once someone sees his face, any half-smart person will know his identity.
As the guardian of Naruto, I request you to take care of him, atleast until he becomes a Genin."
Maybe with Naruto being with Shikamaru, he will even become smart?
Shikaku sighed, muttered troublesome, and sighed again.
"Alright, if Hokage-sama agrees, I will adopt him."
"Thank you."
Now, it's time to go to Hiruzen.