The Hyuga weren't cool with giving me their blood.
I even got a letter penned to me from Hiashi Hyuga telling me to keep my greedy little hands to myself.
I was slightly annoyed, but it was mainly because Hiashi had become the Hyuga Clan Head.
I hadn't been invited to whatever celebration they had.
What a piss-off.
I was probably the strongest Hyuga and they didn't even have the decency to pretend that they liked me.
There was also the fact that not being invited was likely a statement of some kind.
Sadly, I was better versed in murder than I was in politics and I had no clue what kind of statement they had made.
Mom and I were both anti-social, so I never had to attend any events so I never bothered to learn any social niceties beyond the basics nor the subtle art of political talk.
"Sigh..." And there was a chance that they had no motives and I was overthinking things.
But that was unlikely.
It was far more likely that I was being snubbed on purpose and that it was a statement.
I decided to put the ordeal out of my mind, the Hyuga were usually cunts and I had tried to be nice about getting their blood.
I'd just have to be a little rougher...
I drummed my fingers on the desk...
While I'm here I should write a note for Orochimaru.
It would be a good idea to try and oust Kumo from Frost...
"..." I placed a blank paper in front of myself.
Though Orochimaru might be averse to the idea, seeing as he and Minato had no luck last time.
I guess I'll see...
...
Trying to mutate the Hyuga chakra density gene had produced little results.
Which wasn't a surprise.
It was some good practice though.
I'd keep at it and see if it went anywhere.
But I wouldn't get my hopes up.
Perhaps I would get more interesting results if I used Mutation Inducement on a whole person and not just a small section of DNA...
It was an avenue worth exploring at least...
I'd get around to asking Orochimaru if he used the technique, hopefully, he had something to teach me.
...
I figured out that mutations to the Hyuga chakra density gene only seemed to provide a slight increase to chakra density at most.
So, I spent a lot of time collecting different mutations for the gene.
Any gene that showed an increase in chakra density was collected and used in the making of an overwrite seal.
From there I started mutating the genes and again, each time I filtered out those that showed no increase.
After filtering the genes that hadn't experienced an increase in chakra density, I simply repeated the process of making an overwrite seal and continuing to mutate them.
Most of the time it bore no results, but now and then there would be a minuscule increase in chakra density.
So, I would slowly advance the gene by way of artificial Darwinism.
I was eager to use my new method on other genes to see what I could do.
But sadly, doing one gene already ate up a lot of my time and it was currently unfeasible to do more than one gene at a time.
I had neither the required amount of test subjects nor the space to keep them.
Keeping prisoners alive and sedated was expensive.
So, it was not a priority.
Thus, most would end up dead under Orochimaru.
Both to save money and because Orochimaru didn't seem inclined to keep them fed and watered.
"Sigh..." I ran a hand through my hair.
There was also the fact that I needed people with Type-A or Type-AB blood for the experiment...
Which limited those that I could choose from...
...
As mid-April drifted in, it brought with it the realization that the year was almost half-way done.
Meaning that the next six or so months would be the end of the war.
Which was a bummer, as I found myself liking the war more then I disliked it.
No war meant there would be a lack of test-subjects...
"Sigh..." The lack of test subjects was more troublesome than the lack of fighting...
And how would I occupy myself went I couldn't go and slaughter a platoon of Kumo-nin whenever I felt the urge...
Different DNA would also become harder to collect...
Not that I had collected much to begin with...
I made a mental note to collect as much interesting DNA as I could...
I had no idea where to start...
I made a second mental note below the pervious mental-note, I had to figure out who's DNA I needed to get.
I nodded to myself, satisfied with my mental-notes that I'd likely forget.
At least it made me feel better...
...
I took a deep breath and coated myself in a layer of lightning chakra that I had been building up in my chest.
The blue cloak of lightning chakra stimulated my nervous system and further increased my speed and reaction time.
So, the Lighting Chakra Cloak was finally functional...
Now that my hair was no-longer being burnt off my body, it was a spikey mess.
I now looked like I was going Super Saiyan, and what an apt name that could have been.
If I was six years younger, I would have named it Super Saiyan Mode.
Sadly, my inner Weeb slowly died due to fading memories and a lack of Anime and Manga.
So, it was now called Lighting Cloak, as Lighting Chakra Cloak was one word too long for me.
"Sigh..." Aomi had been a large help during the process.
Well...
She wasn't an actual help...
She provided moral support and convinced me not to give up on it.
It wasn't much but it earned her some points in my book.
Not enough for me to like her, but it was enough to stop me from plotting her 'accidental' death.
So, I completed the lightning Cloak and Aomi avoided meeting the Death God.
It had been a productive week.
"Hmmmm..." I hummed and started increasing the amount of chakra coating me.
I poured a good bit of my reserves into the cloak and felt my skin start to burn.
The smell of burnt flesh and the arrival of Aomi who had appeared in a Shunshin distracted me.
I ignored the smell and Aomi, then continued feeding chakra into the cloak.
I felt a little too much of my skin flake off and found my current limit.
I brought some of the chakra into myself and reabsorbed it.
"Aomi hit me with a Jutsu." Aomi stared at me in surprise.
As I didn't have all day, I motioned her to get on with it.
And get on with it she did.
She made a string of hand-signs and released a stream of fire from her mouth.
Woosh*
I let the fire wash over me and felt both my worries and skin melt away.
Well...
Just my worries.
My skin was unscathed.
Now I had another good close-range technique.
"Alright, you can stop cooking me now." My world was no-longer covered in fire and I was feeling pretty good.
Now I wouldn't be so reliant on the Shikotsumyaku.
Unless I wanted to keep this as a hidden move...
"Sigh..." It could be decided later.
I turned my attention to Aomi.
"What'd you need?" Aomi started writing in her notebook.
I let the cloak fade and started trimming my nails with a chakra scalpel when it became clear Aomi wouldn't be done anytime soon.
"..."
Tap* Tap* Tap*
I turned my attention away from my nails and back to Aomi who looked pretty annoyed.
"What?"
Tap* Tap* Tap*
Aomi tapped on her book and held it out so I could see it.
'Orochimaru-Sama wants to see you. He has an old friend with him and is in a better mood than usual.'
I nodded.
"What's this friend's name?" Orochimaru being in a good mood was rare.
Aomi scribbled something down quickly.
'His name's Hiruko, he has white hair and pink eyes.'
I nodded.
It wasn't someone I was familiar with, nor was he a ninja of any renown as far as I knew.
"Alrighty let's go see them." I motioned for Aomi to follow and started towards Orochimaru's lab.
...
Hiruko and Orochimaru were two creepy peas in a pod.
Both were old, took excellent care of their hair, and gave off creepy vibes.
They were perfect for each other.
I stood off to the side with Aomi as they had elected to ignore me even though they knew I was there...
I drifted off into thought while they chatted between themselves.
After a good amount of thought, I decided that I wanted to learn Sage Mode...
But I also didn't want any distinctive animal characteristics...
So, I'd have to go the way of Hashirama.
If I couldn't figure it out, I'd have to use Fuinjutsu...
And if that didn't work out, then I would have to learn it from one of the summon clans...
That was post-war stuff though...
I also needed to pursue DNA and possibly soul related stuff while I had an abundance of test subjects...
So, there was lots to do before I even got into Sage Mode...
But Sage Mode was still something to look into in the meantime...
...
"...And this is Hyuga Shiro, I've been teaching him for the past year and a half." I dragged myself from the mental swamp that was my mind and bowed in Orochimaru's direction while remaining silent.
I was annoyed and my strained smile must have shown it because Orochimaru smiled in amusement.
"This is Hiruko, he's the creator of the Amalgamation and Genetic Mimicry techniques." Orochimaru smiled when I gave Hiruko a nod of acknowledgment.
Amalgamation and Genetic Mimicry weren't something I had any interest in, upon looking into them it was clear that they were made for bloodline theft.
So Hiruko was probably someone I should stay away from.
"I'm familiar with your work, you must have an impressive grasp of Fuinjutsu to make such masterpieces." I gave my best attempt at a friendly smile but was met with silence.
Hiruko just stared at me with what I could only call boredom and my smile became strained.
"Indeed." Hiruko's voice was as dull as his expression.
My smile fell.
"Any new projects...?" Hiruko nodded but remained silent.
I forced the smile back onto my face ignoring Orochimaru who seemed to be entertained by our exchange.
"Well it's good talking to you Hiruko, but I think it's time I take my leave." I saw Orochimaru's smile widen. "See ya Sensei." I sent Orochimaru a nod and beat a hasty retreat.
Orochimaru was being creepy and Hiruko seemed even less socially inclined then I was.
I didn't have it in me to carry a conversation.
With that thought I sped up, eager to escape.
...
Isami developed denser bones and had an increase in muscle mass.
"Denser bones and more muscles to move those bones..." I rolled my eyes.
So, nothing major or unexpected.
I just confirmed that chakra changed the physical body.
Which was something I already knew...
"Alright, get Aomi to draw some blood, and you are free to go." Possibly forever...
I was going to inject or Overwrite some others as well, mostly to confirm my findings...
So, Isami wasn't needed unless I wanted to mold her into a minion...
"Oh, yea..." Isami turned and raised an eyebrow. "Don't forget to apply for leave, so you can go see your family."
What's left of it anyway...
"Thank you, Shiro-Sama." Aomi gave me a shallow bow and left.
Now I got to sit by myself and stew in thought for a while.
What fun...
...
Orochimaru's foray into the mysteries of sleep was complete.
Sadly, I likely wasn't going to benefit from it...
Orochimaru wasn't in a sharing mood lately...
"Aomi, drop these on Orochimaru's desk and get two more prisoners afterward." Aomi took the folder I presented to her, nodded, and wandered off to do my bidding like the good little minion she was.
Orochimaru was now awake for about twenty hours a day and was using the extra time in a way he most certainly enjoyed.
Meaning experimentation and lots of death.
Which wasn't bad, now we were running low on prisoners and Orochimaru was more likely to attack Kumo.
He would need more test subjects soon...
"Sigh..."
I still needed to do a few tests using A's genes before we ran out of prisoners...
Hopefully, I could get that off my plate before we ran out of them...
...
During a mission, I stumbled upon the corpse of one of our scouts and got a pleasant surprise.
The brown-haired corpse was wearing the signature Uchiha clothing.
I placed my hands on the side of his head and fed my chakra into his eyes.
His eyes changed to a menacing red.
Nice a Sharingan!
Now, what do I do with it...
I honestly didn't care for it, but I doubted I would have another opportunity to get a hold of an Uchiha corpse.
"Aomi go kill that idiot hiding in the trees." I pointed at the blond-haired dark-skinned man who was badly hidden behind a tree.
Aomi nodded and darted towards the tree I pointed at with her sword drawn.
I nodded to myself and dug through my kunai pouch looking for an empty refrigeration seal.
Sadly, I didn't have one...
I sighed and grabbed a normal storage scroll.
Now I'd have to cut this mission short...
I sealed the body up and turned my eyes towards Aomi who slowly but surely overpowering her opponent with superior speed and superb use of her flaming sword.
Her opponent's sword was starting to look worn, the heat from Aomi's blade seemed to have a great effect.
I nodded to myself.
Coating things in chakra was always a good idea.
I quietly chuckled at the thought.
Ting*
Aomi swung and smacked her opponent's sword out of his hand and decapitated him with her following swing.
"Well done." I looked towards the new corpse. "Less chakra on the sword though, I don't have a fire affinity." Aomi nodded and I nodded back.
We probably should have kept this guy alive, he might have had information or could have been used as a test subject.
But there's no use crying over spilled blood...
"Don't decapitate the next one, we have Yamanaka that can be put to use." I pointed towards another tree and Aomi sped off to capture the sneakier ninja.
Poor girl probably thought she wasn't detected...
"Keep the limbs on that one!" I shouted in Aomi's direction and made my way over to the body she left behind.
Maybe something could be done with it...
...
Using the power of money, I got seven test subjects from amongst the camp goers.
Now I could inject them with some blood...
I'd give three of them my blood and another three of them A's blood.
And the remaining one would get both.
From there I'd see what else I could do.
I might make their own body produce A's blood or I might just give them a flesh graft of some kind.
I still wanted to figure out how one mixed chakra after all...
...
"Ummm... Sensei?" Orochimaru was moody but I was bored and had questions.
Orochimaru stared at the ceiling in annoyance.
"Yes, Shiro...?" His tone was dry, I could tell I was pushing my luck.
But I've been stuck and needed some tips.
"I've been trying to make a custom sealing script, my Fuinjutsu-teacher said it was all about intent." I paused as that got a rather big reaction from Orochimaru.
"But I've had no luck with creating custom symbols..." Orochimaru nodded like it was obvious.
He opened his mouth to speak but stopped halfway.
He appeared to think for a moment before he started speaking.
"Using 'intent' is not necessarily wrong but it's not how I would describe it." Orochimaru took a really deep breath.
He looked very annoyed, so I started planning my exit even as he continued to speak.
"You're assigning meaning or purpose to a symbol." He took another deep breath and appeared to calm slightly. "I wouldn't call it intent but it's close."
"The more specific the meaning or purpose of the symbol, the better the results." Orochimaru side-eyed me. "You then string the symbols together and make instructions for the seal using them."
"But sealing is different for everyone, baring the Uzumaki. How I understand and use Fuinjutsu will be different from how you understand Fuinjutsu."
"My teammate described it as the written language of hand-seals and my Sensei describes it as using a string of matrices to manipulate the world around you." Orochimaru paused for a moment before continuing.
"I'd describe it as making a contract with reality." He paused. "You make a contract and hide as many letters or symbols as you can within the shapes and script of the contract, so you can trick reality into doing your bidding."
I nodded in understanding.
Orochimaru's sealing looked to be mostly comprised of shapes, I now knew that there was more hidden in the shapes and script then what appeared on the surface.
"Thank you." I sent Orochimaru a deep bow.
Orochimaru nodded.
"Here's a book on Touch Sealing, don't use it unless you are vividly familiar with the seal your using." A snake slithered out of Orochimaru's sleeve and regurgitated the book onto the desk.
"Thank you, Sensei." I took the slightly slimy book from the desk and bowed again before taking my leave.
I had thinking to do...
...