Asking Nicely – Part II
February 8th, 11:07 AM, Hokage Tower, Secure Debriefing Room for A-Rank and Above Missions
"Well Shuuichi-kun, I suppose I should have gotten used to this by now, but everything you said checks out." Orochimaru said in a tone that seemed pleasantly surprised, but Shuuichi detected concealed bitterness.
"I'm just relieved not to be sent to the Konoha Strict Correctional Facility due to being dangerously insane for holding certain opinions about bijuu." Shuuichi deadpanned.
"I don't understand how a clan could come to believe that the bijuu were benevolent, especially one that claims such long memories." Yamanaka Inochi said, still wary of the Konoha Seal Master despite having confirmed Shuuichi's mind wasn't under foreign influence.
"Hey, there were times I nearly went on a bloody rampage against the people who were trying to capture me dead or alive, and that was only over a few months of being hunted like a beast. I doubt anyone here would feel like being benevolent if they spent decades being pursued with the intent to either destroy you or use you as a power source to inflict indiscriminate harm on others." Shuuichi huffed, annoyed at how the others were looking at him with more warily than they had in months. "And now you see why I insisted Uchiha-san leave. Bad enough that most of you are thinking I'm some kind of cultist for thinking the bijuu just want to be left to their own affairs. Well, most of them, anyway. From what I've heard of the Ichibi, that tanuki isn't right in the head. I suppose you could blame the difference in our opinions on our different thought processes. I've been taught to trust but verify, while ninja have to operate on the philosophy of guilty until proven innocent."
"Yes, and I suppose your ability to sense even expertly suppressed Killing Intent does permit you to be more trusting. But we digress. To summarize for those Inoichi-kun didn't bring along into Shuuichi-kun's mind, over a period of a few months, the Kyuubi no Youko eventually taught you how to recognize the chakra signature of the individual to whom you guided Sarutobi-sensei's impromptu pursuit force. While it was incredibly inappropriate of you not to report engaging in conversation with the Kyuubi no Youko, I think we all can agree that punishing Shuuichi-kun for something that led to inflicting a grievous and likely fatal injury on the individual responsible for the beast's attack seventeen months ago would be highly counterproductive." Orochimaru drawled, receiving agreements from the rest of the ninja in the room. The Snake Sannin gained a hungry look in his eyes. "Well then, the only question remaining is how you managed to create such a powerful attack with no chakra. The discovery has made those who went along with your clone understandably uneasy, my former sensei included."
Minamino Shuuichi's tutor's costume vanished and was replaced by his combat uniform. Shuuichi's face all but contorted into an expression that possessed no hint of sympathy. "Let me be perfectly clear here, Godaime-sama. I'm supposed to kill anyone who witnesses me using that technique. If killing them is impossible, I'm supposed to seal their memories of witnessing the technique. If I can't do that, I'm supposed to make a seal that will kill them if they attempt one of the Minamino Sacred Techniques. I feel sick for ignoring these directives already. I've said it before and I'll say it again. You. Are. Incapable. Of. Learning. Minamino. Sacred. Techniques. You're no worse off not knowing, and there I only see catastrophic loss of life if you do. Orochimaru-sama, I can tell that you aren't going to let this go. Would you allow me to show you what happened when the Minamino Sacred Techniques are misused? Mind you, it wasn't a Minamino who misused them, but that's kinda the point."
"If you would be so kind, Shuuichi-kun." Orochimaru said, his tone practically salivating with the thirst for new techniques.
"Very well." Shuuichi formed, to the surprise of many in the room, the seal associated with the Yamanaka mind techniques. Noticing the accusatory glare from Inoichi, Shuuichi stared back in annoyance. "Don't look at me like that, I didn't steal any of your clan's techniques. This seal is just the optimal hand positioning for using techniques relating to the mind, especially memories." Shuuichi turned to the others. "Okay, whoever doesn't want to experience carnage greater than any of the Shinobi World Wars from the perspective of a sensor who could sense the suffering of others, place a layer of chakra in front of you when I announce the technique." Shuuichi frowned when none of the ninja took the necessary precaution. They thought that they were hardened enough by the death and destruction they witnessed, and forgot to take into account that Shuuichi was wearing a Truth Seal. "I did warn you. Makioku: Oroshii Unmei." A flash of red energy came from his hands, washing the world away to reveal a scene from long ago in a country that no longer existed.
(Translation: Makioku: Oroshii Unmei = Mystical Memory: End of the World [literally Demonic Memory: Terrible Fate])
-Shiin Sen'i no Jutsu!-
A three-headed, six-armed giant composed of chakra wielding several dark-coloured spheres stared up at a hundred thirty-kilogram man, suspended in the air as if he weighed nothing, a meter wide sphere of pure energy held in two hands.
"Now watch, Asura, as your life becomes insignificant as I reveal to you the inferiority of the heretical energy you call chakra, and your beliefs!" The man fighting the son of the Rikudou Sennin suddenly whirled around and sent a blast of energy at an ancient but bustling city built in a valley a few miles away.
"NO!" the giant bellowed in a distinctly non-giant voice that reminded Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzou of Senjuu Hashirama as he launched his Truth-Seeking Balls to try and intercept the attack. The Konoha ninja observers were astonished by the level of speed of spheres, but that was because they hadn't been able to track the other combatant's attack. But they would have had to be unconscious to miss the result. There was a massive flare of light as the Qi-user's attack hit in the smack in the center of the ancient metropolis spanning a few dozen square kilometers.
The impact was deafening even from the distance. The flash of light was blinding. The mushroom cloud that rose from the blast reached to the clouds. The smell of cremated flesh and other substances reached the nostrils of the Konoha ninja who were sharing the memory. The formerly prosperous city was little more than a crater of ash. But the worst feeling was easily the sense of hundreds of thousands of lives suddenly cried out in terror and were suddenly silenced. The memory cut out just as an enraged Asura engaged the mass murder in close combat.
-Shiin Sen'i no Jutsu!-
Everyone in the room except Orochimaru was visibly disturbed by the memory Shuuichi had shared with them. "The amount of lives lost in that attack... was greater than the combined population of any two of the Five Great Hidden Villages. All it took was one man with the Minamino clan techniques, though this memory was before the Minamino clan had a monopoly on the techniques. They aren't something you place in the hands of someone with a job description that includes murder." Shuuichi purposefully neglected to mention that the figure had been given increased power by a creature similar to the fiend Mōryō whose soul was sealed in the Land of Demons, but the point remained that the level of destruction would have been an order of magnitude less if chakra had been used.
"I confess Minamino-san, I thought your claims about how disastrous your clan techniques in the wrong hands were just an exaggeration of your ancestors you took at face value, but consider me convinced that no-one should possess such power." A pale Yamanaka Inoichi commented.
'That totally backfired as far as Orochimaru is concerned. He wasn't even phased by the hundreds of thousands of souls that cried out in terror and then were silenced.' Shuuichi thought grimly as he sensed the lust for power rolling off the Snake Sannin. "I appreciate that, Yamanaka-sama. Unfortunately, your boss apparently doesn't share the same sentiment."
Shimura Danzou, Sarutobi Hiruzen, Nara Shikaku, Aburame Shikuro, Yamanaka Inochi, and an ill-looking Umino Ikkaku turned to face Orochimaru inquisitively. The Godaime Hokage casually folded his arms. "Come now, surely I'm not the only one who sees that Konoha would have the power to eliminate any threat if we had a few squads with even a tenth of the power Shuuichi-kun showed us. And if nothing else, it would be remiss of me as Hokage to allow such power be wielded exclusively by one who is only superficially loyal to Konoha. There are scores of scrolls requesting Shuuichi-kun to participate in a mission where he goes into explicit detail how he views our profession as anathema."
"The fact that refusing to participate in acts of theft, kidnapping, and murder is reason to question my loyalty to Konoha is ample justification to why it is my duty to ensure that the Minamino training methods and techniques are never learned by outsiders." Minamino Shuuichi retorted scathingly. "Orochimaru-sama, you seem unconvinced when I say that you will never be able to perform the Minamino Sacred Techniques despite having told you this while bound by my Truth Seals on several occasions. Answer me this: can you open and close your tenketsu at will?"
(Translation: Tenketsu = Chakra Points)
Orochimaru scoffed and glared at the Konoha Seal Master. "Of course not, even my former teammate Tsunade doesn't have that kind of chakra control. Even those who are clinically dead can still produce enough chakra that an S-Rank Sensor can detect. That's what made Mū the Nidaime Tsuchikage so deadly, and his ability to use certain jutsu while in this condition makes it obvious he didn't close all his tenketsu."
Minamino Shuuichi positioned his left forearm so that Orochimaru could clearly see the Truth Seal. "And that is why I say with ontological certitude that you will never learn the Minamino Sacred Techniques. But don't feel so down, the Minamino Sacred Techniques aren't anything more than chakra flow and shape manipulation." he said with an 'I told you so' smile on his face before removing the Truth Seal.
Orochimaru unconsciously bombarded Shuuichi with Killing Intent as he was forced to acknowledge that he couldn't learn Shuuichi's "jutsu" even with the Fushi Tensei he was close to perfecting. Shuuichi had made it clear that anyone had the potential to learn it.
(Translation: Fushi Tensei = Living Corpse Reincarnation)
"And you intend to teach Uzumaki Naruto how to do something as dangerous as purposely closing all his tenketsu?" Sarutobi Hiruzen frowned.
Shuuichi placed the Truth Seal back on. "It's actually not as dangerous as it must sound to someone who's managed to make channeling chakra instinctive. The only side-effect is Naruto-chan becomes a little less hyper, which was a lifesaver when I smuggled him a cupcake for his birthday." Shuuichi shuddered.
"You've made the jinchuuriki close all his tenkutsu already?" Shimura Danzou asked sternly.
Shuuichi scratched the back of his head sheepishly. "I guess that secret's out. Yep, figured I'd give the kid a bit of a headstart in learning to use the Minamino Sacred Techniques. The fact that the Research and Development Department don't come rushing in is testament enough that the process isn't unsafe for someone who hasn't gone through conventional chakra training."
"Yes, very well, Shuuichi-kun. I think you've provided satisfactory answers concerning your actions today. You may leave." said Orochimaru in a detached tone. His mind was elsewhere. Even though he had accepted that learning the Minamino Sacred Techniques would take decades, but he had been confident that by transferring bodies using his nearly perfected Fushi Tensei would allow him to take a fresh start on learning new techniques. He had spent a few months improving the technique to give him more than three years in each host body almost solely in anticipation of learning them. Now that he knew his efforts were in vain, what was left for him in Konoha? While being the Hokage had indeed given him access to a wealth of resources for his research, he could only apply those resources to experiments that Konoha as a whole could benefit from. The amount of time he could personally spend on less... reputable experiments was less than he had when he was the Director of the Research and Development under Namikaze Minato's short reign as the Yondaime Hokage. When he had taken the hat as the Godaime Hokage, Orochimaru had assumed that he would be able to perform all manner of experiments on the jinchuuriki of the Kyuubi no Youko. Even though his sensei and super-pervert of a teammate would protest, there was little they could do to stop the Hokage in his quest for knowledge. The vast majority of Konoha's citizens, ninja and civilian alike, would hardly make a fuss about the being who housed a living natural disaster having a miserable childhood, especially when they benefited from the studies. There soon wouldn't be much left he could accomplish within Konoha. Thus Orochimaru began to plan his exit strategy. It would have to be well coordinated, considering he planned on bringing along a score of useful individuals and all his research materials. He couldn't exactly force two S-Rank missing ninja to give up their techniques that combined would grant him immortality on his own.
June 16th, 9:29 PM, Roof of the 2nd Tallest Building in Konoha
Minamino Shuuichi's ANBU guards were nervous. From the moment they started their shift seven hours and twenty-nine minutes ago, the emissary of the Kyuubi no Youko had been counting down ominously, ignoring all questions from the rookie ANBU as to what he was counting down to. Despite having officially joined the ranks of Konoha exactly one year ago, Shuuichi remained largely an unknown to those who hadn't interacted with him on multiple occasions. Orochimaru and the Ninja Council had decided that it would be best to keep from drawing attention to the fact that Konoha had acquired another S-Rank ninja that was also a Seal Master. Shuuichi had requested a "rematch" between himself and Uchiha Fugaku where he took a dive and allowed himself to be beaten black and blue. It was humiliating, but his attempt at letting Fugaku heal the wound to his pride had done wonders. Having deluded himself into thinking that he had reasserted his superiority over the upstart, the Uchiha clan leader had largely abandoned his crusade to make Shuuichi's life as difficult as he could. Well, that and the fact that Shuuichi went on a spending binge one day on behalf of the Hyuuga clan using his additional 33% discount made Uchiha clan businesses lose a net twenty million ryou after the Uchiha clan had placed him under house arrest for three weeks finally spurred other members of the Uchiha clan to pressure Fugaku to leave the Shuuichi alone. But the stiff-necked chief of the Konoha Military Police wouldn't have cared if he hadn't been in such a good mood from his perceived victory.
Those who weren't among the few hundred who had witnessed Shuuichi's Trial by Combat dismissed Minamino's previous trouncing of the Uchiha clan head as a fluke, which lowered public estimation of his true skill level. The fact that a clone of Minamino Shuuichi had managed to send Uchiha Madara packing didn't spread beyond the pursuit team and those present for Shuuichi's explanation. But even the rookie ANBU pair knew that Shuuichi wasn't someone to be taken lightly. "Ten." Shuuichi started running through a long string of hand seals.
"Minamino-san, what are you doing?" asked an ANBU with a white mask with a short bird-like beak and eye holes, and a red flame marking starting from the top left side of the mask going just a little bit over and past the left eye hole. He kept his long silver hair tied in the back with a bunch of strands going up and hanging over the left side if his head and mask.
"Nine."
"Minamino-san, please stop making hand seals." nervously requested a kunoichi with cat-like purple-coloured arrow-like markings on her white ANBU mask. She had long blonde hair that she tied up in four different strands held in place by six yellow needles.
"Eight."
Towa, the ANBU with the bird mask channeled chakra into the red ankh-shaped tattoo, which spread in a manner similar to the first stage of the Cursed Seal of Heaven. Three sharp claws made of red chakra came from both of his hands.
-Shiin Sen'i no Jutsu!-
In a different universe, a man with mutton chop sideburns, a lot of body hair, and adamantium bones scrunched his nose and growled. "I smell copyright infringement."
-Shiin Sen'i no Jutsu!-
"Seven."
Komachi, the ANBU with the cat mask, pulled senbon from her pouches.
"Six."
"Minamino-san, stop forming a jutsu or we will be forced to stop you." Towa said as he prepared to strike.
"Five!"
"Soushuujin!" Komachi called out the name for the C-Rank jutsu, suspending scores of senbon in the air briefly before they shot out towards the emissary of the Kyuubi no Youko.
(Translation: Soushuujin = Manipulated Attack Blades)
"Four!" Shuuichi crowed, still making hand seals as he used a wave of chakra to knock the senbon out of the air and out of Komachi's control.
"Three!" Shuuichi kicked away Towa's arm, stopping the attempt to sever the tendons that would stop him from continuing to form hand seals.
"Two!" The emissary of the Kyuubi no Youko ducked another barrage of needles.
"One!" Shuuichi grinned as he watched the two young ANBU go through an afterimage of him. He was impressed with the rookies, that combo would have incapacitated him had he let it hit without a reinforcement technique, and he wouldn't have had time to use one. Shuuichi sprang into the air stories above the highest man-made structures in the area as he finished with the handsigns. "Fuuinjutsu: Shukugakai!" he yelled while simultaneously using the Shousetsu no Jutsu.
(Translation: Fuuinjutsu: Shukugakai = Sealing Technique: Celebration)
(Translation: Shousetsu no Jutsu = Amplification Jutsu/ Detailed Explanation Jutsu)
The high altitude he reached allowed his amplified voice reach all of the thousands of storage seals he and his clones had secretly set up for months. All over Konoha, streamers, string, confetti, sparklers, and fireworks were forcibly ejected from their storage seals. Shuuichi floated back down to the roof, amused at the dumbstruck expressions he knew to be hidden behind the two ANBU's masks. "What did you think I was going to do, set off a bunch of explosives? Signal an invasion force? Set loose a horde of giant bunnies?"
"Minamino-san, if all you were going to do is set off party favors, why didn't you tell us sooner? We could have seriously injured you." Komachi inquired, flabbergasted by the antics of the agent of the Kyuubi no Youko.
"Didn't you read my profile? Messing with people's heads is one of the few pleasures I allow myself to indulge in. It wouldn't have been half as fun if you weren't trying to stop me." Shuuichi said with a mischievous fox-like grin.
The two ANBU sweatdropped. They had indeed read Minamino Shuuichi's A-Rank security profile cover to cover, but nowhere did the dossier mention the lengths Shuuichi would go for a laugh.
"Anyways, the year of mandatory probation where I've been under non-stop surveillance is finally up. I waited an extra thirteen hours just to be safe, but it's high time for me to get a little privacy. See you around Towa-san, Komachi-san." Shuuichi waved amiably, leaving behind an afterimage as he left with Qi-enhanced speed.
"Should, shouldn't we go after him?" Towa inquired, letting his chakra claws recede and deactivate his ankh seal.
Komachi sighed and shrugged. "I doubt we could catch Minamino-san moving at that speed. His probation was due to end today, and I don't think he's going to do anything more dangerous than a few practical jokes. Besides, we didn't even touch him except when he diverted your strike with his legs."
"Hard to believe his taijutsu was only low chuunin a year ago." Towa remarked, and frowned thoughtfully as he mentally recalled the report on the jounin's abilities. "Especially considering his speed outside of combat was elite jounin at the same time."
-Shiin Sen'i no Jutsu!-
9:33 PM, Training Ground 44
Shuuichi rubbed his hands together in excitement. So many things he could do now that he didn't have to worry about his ANBU babysitters reporting suspicious activities or details on techniques he could not let fall into the clutches of Konoha ninja. No, that wasn't exactly accurate. He knew that someone would attempt to spy on him. But now he was allowed to deal with espionage attempts as he saw fit. Speaking of which...
"Is there some reason you're standing on the lowest branch of the tree eight meters South-Southwest of me, Anko-chan?" an amused Shuuichi asked to apparently no-one.
Mitarashi Anko reclaimed some chakra from the Perception Filter fuuinjutsu tag and dropped a stealth genjutsu. She still sleeveless fishnet mesh shirt, dark shorts, fishnet armbands reaching to her elbows, and knee-length boots, but she had traded the chuunin vest for an overcoat since he had last saw her. "Damn, how do you do that? I managed to sneak up on Kakashi-kun with this combo, and you don't even look in my direction once to find me."
Shuuichi turned over to face the young chuunin kunoichi and gave her a fox-like grin. "That is a secret," he said, tapping Anko on the nose. His Negative Emotion Sensing ability was suspected but never officially confirmed, and after the incident with the man thought to be Uchiha Madara it wouldn't help to reveal that he possessed an ability Konoha knew to be connected to the Kyuubi no Youko .
Orochimaru's former pupil pouted and gave the emissary of the Kyuubi no Youko the infamous puppy dog eyes. "Aww, don't you trust me, Shuuichi-onichan?"
Shuuichi raised an eyebrow. "Onichan?"
Mitarashi Anko dropped the puppy dog eyes as she asked herself the same question. "Well, why not? You really helped me out a year ago when Orochimaru-sensei," the kunoichi used the honorific scathingly. "Left me high and dry without chakra in a training ground where everything is poisonous, big-assed, or more commonly both. Before he met up with me, Kakashi-kun used Kanashibari no Jutsu on a trio of the jumbo tigers that would've made kitty chow out of me."
(Translation: Kanashibari no Jutsu = Temporary Paralysis Technique)
"Tenacious creatures, those tigers. Junkuma-chan has had to deal with them on more than one occasion." Shuuichi commented. "But I doubt you call just anyone who saved your life onichan, and indirectly at that."
"That was just the first day. You remember those Kidaichuu Seichou Fuuin Version 5.8 seals you gave me?" Mitarashi Anko asked with a spark of mischief in her eyes.
(Translation: Kidaichuu Seichou Fuuin = Giant Parasitic Insect Growth Seal)
Shuuichi frowned thoughtfully as he attempted to recall the exact details of that particular seal. The Version Five series was designed for farmers who couldn't afford to have ninja come out to their farms. The growth factor was limited to a tenfold increase in mass, approximately a hundredth of the kidaichuu's potential growth. The appeal was that even a civilian farmer would be able to use the seal a dozen or so times each day. Version 5.8 was the last before he moved onto the ultimately less successful Version Six series. "I remember now. But I thought that you would've found later versions more useful."
Mitarashi Anko smiled like the cat who ate the canary. "I did too, but I found the smaller size increase perfect for this jutsu." The chuunin kunoichi formed the seals for Snake, Tiger, and Dragon. "Sen'ei Daijashu!"
(Translation: Sen'ei Daijashu = Hidden Shadow Giant Snake Hands)
At first Shuuichi wasn't sure what Anko had done that merited adding an extra hand seal to Sen'ei Jashu when three jet black snakes appeared out of the sleeves of Anko's overcoat and lunged towards him. He received his answer when the snakes began to grow to grow until they were as thick as an oak tree. Shuuichi switched places with a log sized-branch before a snake would have swallowed him whole.
"Ahahahahaha! How do you like me now? Normally I'd barely be able to summon a snake that big, but with your seal I can get a three of them with barely any more chakra than a normal Sen'ei Jashu!" Anko cackled as she directed her snake summons to pursue Shuuichi.
"Minamino Sacred Technique..." Shuuichi murmured, barely loud enough for Anko to hear. Shadows hid his expression as another colossal serpent beared down on him. At the last second Shuuichi delivered a palm strike with inhuman force to the snake's nose. The creature was sent flying back until it crashed into one of the trees, promptly returning to the Summon Realm in a puff of smoke. "Palm Thrust."
Anko facefaulted. "You can't give such a badass technique such a lameass name! It's just not right." When Anko returned to her feet, was aghast to see Minamino Shuuichi glaring at her disapprovingly.
"Yet again a ninja takes a tool meant for peace and turns it into a weapon for causing suffering." Shuuichi spat venomously. Seeing the shocked and hurt look on Anko's face, his expression softened. "I shouldn't blame you, I honestly expected something like this happening sooner or later." The emissary of the Kyuubi no Youko sighed and placed a hand on one of Anko's shoulders. "I know that you've been raised not to hesitate when taking a life, let alone in inflicting non-lethal harm when it furthers your mission. But if you really think of me as your onichan, please don't use the things I give you to hurt someone who doesn't thoroughly deserve it." Shuuichi couldn't help the vulpine grin that came to his face. "And for the record, any ninja who starts a fight with you thoroughly deserves it."
Anko returned the mischievous grin as she dispelled the two other snakes and saluted. "Will do, Shuuichi-onichan. But in all seriousness, what did you think of my jutsu?"
Shuuichi removed his hand from the kunoichi's shoulder and gave her an amused look. "Rather effective for the chakra cost, and quite a surprise for someone familiar with the parent jutsu. However, you do lose some of the utility of Sen'ei Jashu because the snakes become too large to form a coordinated attack on a single target. It's barely any different than a Summoning Jutsu now. You might perhaps consider using it to summon smaller snakes before applying the Chou Baika Fuuin Version 5.8. I've never had a Summoning Contract, but I'd think that the chakra cost is largely constant for the mass of the creatures you summon. Although I do imagine that you would have to concentrate harder."
(Translation: Chou Baika Fuuin = Super Multi-Size Jutsu)
Anko's eyes slowly widened as new possibilities came into her head, and her grin turned into a bright smile. In a spontaneous act of excitement, Anko gave Shuuichi a tight hug. "Thanks onichan! I'm going to get to work on it right away!" The kunoichi dashed away, cackling as she went by.
"I think I just created a monster." Shuuichi realized with a fox-like grin. "Well, why stop with just one? I think it's finally time for me to get started working on a chakra generator. Junkuma-chan proves that Onmyouton: Seibutsu Gen-So Tenkan no Jutsu can create quite the chakra factory. I think the physeter macrocephalus should be migrating near the waters of the Elemental Continent for a while. Shouldn't be too hard to find a boat that gets me near there, could it?"
(Translation: Onmyouton: Seibutsu Gen-So Tenkan no Jutsu = Yin-Yang Release: Biological Transmutation Technique)
-Shiin Sen'i no Jutsu!-
June 17th, 6:31 AM, Konoha Mission Assignment Desk
"I must have misheard heard you. You mean to tell me that you, the record holder for Most Missions Rejected Over One Year, are here to request being put on a mission." A jounin who was supervising the Mission Assignments while recovering from an injury said slowly. "And for your first real mission, you want to be put on a boat so that you can... do what? Whale watching?"
Minamino Shuuichi shook his head. "Of course not, don't be silly. I'm going to find one, use one of my seals to make it grow even bigger, then turn it into a living chakra generator." Shuuichi signed at the disbelieving stare he continued to receive. "You've never read my files, have you." It was more of a statement than a question.
"Is there a reason I should have? I was under the impression you use a jutsu to summon your mail and mission requests."
"Fair point, but the point was I come up with ideas that others find crazy at first glance. I don't think the same way ninja do. My orthodoxy is unorthodox. Thinking inside the box is thinking outside the box for me. I only get away with rejecting so many missions because I explain how different my background is from other ninja, and after reading them 90% of those who learn of my philosophy withdraw the request. However, I produce results, and usually really good ones." Shuuichi said, enjoying the uneasiness on the convalescing jounin's face. "But I digress, any seafaring missions on the docket?"
The jounin looked paged through the sheets on his clipboard until he came to the table that listed missions by travel route. "Well you're in luck. Apparently there's a shipment of various cargo scheduled to go from a port to the east all the way to Degarashi Port in Tea Country. It's only a C-Rank, not something that we usually waste a jounin who doesn't have a genin team on."
Shuuichi waved the comment away. "I just want a valid excuse to be outside Konoha."
"Still, even if you are a jounin, seeing that this is your first actual mission outside the village, you're supposed to have at least three other members along with you."
Shuuichi nodded in understanding. "Okay, put me down for the mission, I'll round up some volunteers if none come up. Do you have a copy of a list of genin who might be available?"
The jounin grunted, now reassured that while Minamino Shuuichi was undoubtedly insane (it was rare for a ninja to not be), he wasn't the blow someone up kind of insane. The recovering ninja handed a sheet of paper containing a list of what genin might be available at certain times. Combining this with his A-Rank security clearance allowed him to pick out three genin he felt might be interested in the mission.
-Shiin Sen'i no Jutsu!-
7:22 AM
His first stop was at a modest single family household that had a rather impressive amount of traps to get around, as you would expect from pair of jounin that worked in the Sensor and Barrier Division. He knocked on the door and bent backwards at an 80 degree angle to dodge the shuriken reflexively shot at him. "Come now, Umino-san. Does an attacker knock?"
Umino Ikkaku, a middle-aged jounin with brown hair tied back into a ponytail, dark eyes and a thin moustache scowled as he stepped out of the shadows of the door to the front porch. "Not many people are able to sneak past the barrier my wife put up. And most have the courtesy to at least let first level of the barrier pick them up and wait to be approached."
Shuuichi showed genuine shame at the reproach, and bowed in apology. "Sorry, Umino-san. Force of habit and survival instincts. I guess this ruins any possibility of being able to recruit your son for a C-Class mission?"
"I should probably say yes it does, but you've got me curious why you'd seek out Iruka-kun for a mission." the jounin said, removing his hand from a weapon pouch. "Why don't you come inside and try to convince me why I ought to let my son go out on a C-Class mission lead by a stranger."
Shuuichi graciously followed Ikkaku into the living room, admiring the various seafaring decorations around the house. Harpoons, fish, and coral, the small Umino clan truly were deserving of their name. Only Kohari and Ikkaku's advancing age and distinctive service allowed them to spend so much time in Konoha proper instead of on the high seas. "To be perfectly honest, I get the impression that your son might be more qualified to lead the mission than me." When Ikkaku raised his eyebrow asking him to elaborate, Shuuichi continued. "I wanted a legitimate excuse to get up close and personal with a specimen of physeter macrocephalus, and a mission to escort a small fleet of merchant ships from the east port city to Degarashi Port in Tea Country should provide me with the opportunity. Am I right that Iruka-kun has accompanied you and Kohari-san on such missions before?"
Ikkaku smirked in parental pride. "At least three weeks every year since he was six. The last trip before he graduated the Academy, he took out three pirates before they could even board the ship."
Shuuichi nodded appreciatively. "Now I definitely know your son would be a boon to have on this excursion. So, what would I need to do in order to secure Iruka-kun for my team? I hope that you'll believe me when I say I'll make certain any of those who I take under my protection come to no harm."
"After seeing what your clone did to the Masked Man? I wouldn't be any less worried for Iruka-kun's safety than if he was with on a mission with his jounin sensei. My concern is why the first mission you take after the end of your ANBU probation is to go looking for sperm whales."
"I want to turn one into a living chakra generator using virtually the same process I did that turned a bear from Training Ground 44 into Junkuma-chan, who's already a chakra generator of lesser quality." Shuuichi explained casually.
Umino Ikkaku frowned. "If your notes are to be believed, the jutsu of yours gives chakra to the resulting creation in a similar way to the Akimichi Calorie Control technique. If you were to transform a creature as large as a sperm whale, it would have chakra reserves only comparable to a bijuu. Every half-decent sensor in the Elemental Nations would pick up on the creation. You're good Minamino-san, but I don't think even you could protect my son from the forces that come to investigate."
"My surname may be Minamino, but Uzumaki blood flows strongly in me. If I couldn't concoct something to keep a chakra signature contained within the area of a few kilometers in the months I've prepared for this mission, I wouldn't be worthy of calling myself an Uzumaki. Unless there are valuable Sensor ninja posted out in Konoha and Tea Country waters, no will be able to pinpoint the location. You'd know better than I if this is the case." Shuuichi replied with a shrug. "But I will completely understand if you don't want your son going along when there is admittedly still a chance that my project could end up drawing the attention of every Hidden Village's Sensor Division. And I'm sure not even an offer to teach jutsu that keeps the user from running out of oxygen indefinitely and a seal that not only protects someone from the crushing pressure of the ocean's depths, but converts that force into chakra would be worth the risk."
"That sounds awesome!" a preteen male voice cried out, attracting the attention of Shuuichi and Ikkaku. An eleven year old with brown hair in a ponytail, dark eyes and a scar that runs across the bridge of his nose dressed in a dark shirt over mesh armor, black shinobi cargo pants, and durable shinobi sandals came down the stairs. His Konoha hatai-ate was worn like his belt.
"Iruka-kun, what have your kaasan and I told you about eavesdropping?" Ikkaku said with a half-scolding tone.
"Don't do it if you know there's a chance you'll get caught." Iruka droned, bowing his head. "But I only heard the last sentence, honest."
"Well, if there's nothing else, I'll take my leave. If there's one thing I respect, it's the desire to protect those close to you." Shuuichi said, giving a bow to the veteran jounin.
"Otou-san, what does he mean? Was he asking for me on a mission?" Iruka asked before the emissary of the Kyuubi no Youko could take more than a few steps towards the door.
"While Minamino-san did indeed come here to ask for you to accompany him on a C-Rank mission, he agrees with me that the side-task he intends to perform while on the mission is potentially far too dangerous to have a genin on the team." Umino Ikkaku said, much to his son's visible disappointment.
"But Otou-saaaan." Umino Iruka whined.
"Don't be too hard on your father, Iruka-kun. I have to admit that I didn't even take the time to think what could happen if I didn't manage to contain the chakra discharge for my little project. I had been planning on taking this mission alone, but apparently a first mission outside Konoha mandates a full team." Shuuichi said in defense of the older Konoha jounin. "The danger could easily elevated to something far beyond what I could handle while having to protect the others in my team."
"A shinobi must be prepared to face death at any moment, otou-san. If you and kaa-san were so worried about my safety, then why did you let me join Konoha in the first place?" Iruka argued with impressive logic for a twelve year old.
"When Kohari-chan and I allowed you to join the Academy, we thought our son was smarter than to go on a mission where the jounin in charge admits he couldn't protect you in the likely event said jounin's actions draw the attention of enemy ninja." Iruka's father remarked sternly.
"But otou-san, Minamino-senpai is offering a jutsu that could allow us to breathe indefinitely and dive deeper than ever before. Isn't that something our clan has been dreaming of for generations? To reach the very bottom of the sea?" Iruka wheedled.
Umino Ikkaku sighed. It was true, the Umino clan had ought ways to explore the sea for generations. The clan had zealously kept records of sunken ships for generations in hopes that they would one day be able to recover the goods. The thought of acquiring the means to go after the lost fortunes had almost overrode his parental instincts. Refusing to let his son go on this mission and receive the means to explore the seas like never before would be stepping on Iruka's dreams. And if Ikkaku was honest with himself, it was less likely that Shuuichi's little project would result in Iruka being hurt than on another C-Rank mission. Shuuichi's clone had killed (sic.) the man responsible for the attack of the Kyuubi no Youko. His son would be safer under Minamino's protection than if he was there personally. Umino Ikkaku turned to his uninvited guest. "You promise me that my son makes it back home safe and sound?"
"I'll do everything I can short of not abandoning the reason why I'm going on the mission in the first place. But if something goes wrong, I'll pull out all the stops to make sure everyone under my protection comes back to their family safely." Minamino Shuuichi vowed solemnly.
"You'd better. If something happens our son, Kohari-chan and I will never forgive you." Ikkaku said with gravity.
"I would not deserve forgiveness if I did. Well, I'll be back when I have the other members of the team."
-Shiin Sen'i no Jutsu!-
9:10 AM, Konoha Mission Desk
Shuuichi's right eye twitched. "Are you serious? Doesn't this count as misappropriation of village resources? Two jounin, a chuunin, and a genin that has more experience on this type of mission than probably the other three combined."
"If you plan on bringing back a military-grade chakra generator Minamino-san, then it seems only appropriate to make sure that there is proper security to ensure it is transported back to Konoha so it can be put to use." Uchiha Kimie smirked.
"Sorry Shuuichi-onichan, Orochimaru-sensei himself ordered me to keep an eye on your activities and make sure you deliver the chakra generator." Mitarashi Anko apologized.
"I guess this was a case where honesty wasn't the best policy. I've gotten too used to my honest answers solving most of my issues that I sometimes forget just what a bunch dubious backstabbing pricks ninja usually are. Won't even let their allies become more powerful if they can avoid it." Shuuichi sighed, rubbing his head, turning to Umino Iruka. "I'm sorry Iruka-kun, but if the only reason for requesting this mission is going to be stolen from me, I'm going to have to pull out. I'll teach you the oxygen retaining jutsu anyway as an apology for getting your hopes up, but I didn't if I'm not making a fuuinjutsu for myself, I'm not being paid to make one, I don't want to butter someone up, and I'm not particularly close friends with a person, I'm not going to make a complex seal."
"You're backing out on a mission you requested, Minamino-san? You do know how poorly it will reflect upon you for declining a mission when your planned side-activities were discovered," the jounin behind the mission assignment desk scowled.
Shuuichi again sighed. He did know that the vast majority of Konoha would view such an action as admission of planning something he would refuse if he wasn't the primary beneficiary. "You have a point. Fine, I'll go on the freaking C-Rank mission. But nowhere on that mission does it mention having anything whatsoever to do with chakra generators. That was a side project, so protocol demands it be treated as such. And I'm not giving up the chakra generator I intended for anything short of a hundred million ryou, twenty million of which to be paid in advance."
Those within earshot looked at Minamino Shuuichi incredulously. "A hundred million ryou?! That's insane!" the recovering jounin spluttered.
"Completely unreasonable. Konoha hasn't paid that much to a single ninja for a mission before. You asked for a fraction of that for your unapproved modifications to the Aburame clan kikaichuu." Uchiha Kimie huffed, tossing her head to the side allowing her shoulder length silky raven black hair to swish. "You don't have the right to name your price for a mission."
"When you're the only one who can complete the mission and rejecting the mission does nothing to harm Konoha, I most certainly can. I see now that it was stupid of me to seek to acquire the chakra generator in the first place. It's not like I really needed it, though it would have allowed me to make seals insanely fast." Shuuichi returned to rubbing his temples. "So, what now? Does the Konoha Council need to be assembled and debate until they decline to dump a hundred million ryou on me? Should I set up a clone that will walk the Council through the reasons why I'm not going to budge for anything short of a hundred million ryou?"
"Fugaku-sama was right, you really are a rogue element." Uchiha Kimie remarked, sounding slightly disappointed.
Shuuichi rolled his eyes. "The only difference between me and an Academy student who drops out because they don't want to murder people is that I have skills surpassing most jounin. I'll defend Konoha if the need arises, but I reserve the right to decide when something I can do is too dangerous to hand over to professional killers. Are the monks at the Fire Temple rouge elements?"
Uchiha Kimie frowned with inner conflict. When Minamino Shuuichi phrased it that way, he certainly didn't seem like a threat to Konoha. But he was also openly admitting that he would refuse to make Konoha as strong as it could be, even if it was an order. It wasn't as if he was being ordered to turn over secret jutsu, Kimie couldn't criticize anyone for refusing to do that. But to refuse to use a jutsu altogether seemed like treason. And to further her sense of inner conflict, she found Shuuichi's rebellion rather intriguing. It was so hard to find a ninja that had the appeal of a 'bad boy' any more than the scores of other trained killers. That wasn't to say there weren't shinobi that stood out from the others as less scrupulous, they just made horrible boyfriends. Shuuichi had the rebellious streak so many women over the ages were drawn by, but if the young jounin was to be believed, his defiance of the chain of command was on the grounds that he was opposed to causing harm to others. A nice guy with the factor that lead girls to pursue relationships with the type of man their parents warned him against? Add in the fact that Shuuichi beat three of the strongest members of her clan without losing a drop of blood (Kimie knew the rematch was a farce), was it any wonder Uchiha Kimie was torn between hurting him and getting intimate with him? A drop of blood trickled down her nose when the kunoichi thought of a way that would satisfy both urges.
Shuuichi shuddered as his Negative Emotion Sensing picked up on Kimie's naughty thoughts. This mission was going to be a royal pain in the ass, he could tell already. But even knowing that, Shuuichi was hardly prepared for the disaster the mission would prove.
(Sen'ei Daijashu Eight Trigrams Jutsu Breakdown: Wind-Mountain-Wind | Hexagram Breakdown: #18 Arresting Decay [Interpreted as 'To poison' and 'Branches'], #53 Gradual Progress [Interpreted as 'growth'])
Author's Notes: Sorry for not uploading any chapters in the last month, I was running an experiment to see if anyone cared enough about the story to either write a review or even just PM me. I didn't get any, but GinHanelle submitting a review was able to pry me away from planning out making a video game out an original fantasy story I had been trying to write and Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 (kinda wishing I'd gotten on it sooner, the Expert Mission with Omega Shenron is REALLY tough with all the other team members being AI). Anyways, here's the next instalment.