Chapter 29: Revelations Part 2
Ayako was no stranger to the dull scraping noise of a sword freeing itself from its scabbard, so out of instinct she flinched away from the sound when three blades were drawn simultaneously. It all happened in an instant; one moment the three had been sitting calmly, and in the next, Shoryu and Kazuya had both unsheathed their weapons.
But where Kazuya drew his to attack, Shoryu drew his in defence. After the boy's shocking reveal he already anticipated his friend's reaction.
A clash rang through the interrogation chamber as the samurai's edge stopped just short of Unit Three Zero Nine Six's face, with Shoryu's two katana just barely preventing the clone's execution. Kazuya pushed harder, causing sparks to fly from all three edges. He shot his commander a glare and Shoryu looked back, his expression unreadable.
"Move Shoryu," he ordered. He put more pressure on the blade, drawing it closer to the bare eyes of the clone negotiator, though throughout the whole exchange Unit Three Zero Nine Six never moved an inch.
"Stand down Kazuya!" barked Shoryu. "Just hear him out!"
"You said you wouldn't get in my way!"
"And I won't, but if I'm right then this guy isn't our enemy!" The commander's insistence was admirable, but Kazuya was beyond reason. He pushed down in an attempt to break the lock with all the power he had, safe in the knowledge that Shoryu's physical strength was inferior to his own. Sooner or later his arms would give out.
"You heard him! He just admitted to being an enemy!" said Kazuya.
"He admitted to being a clone! And a human must have made those!"
Kazuya said nothing as he continued to put pressure on his own blade, so much so that Shoryu's katana began to rattle with his unsteady arms.
"Please Kazuya," he begged. "Don't do this. What if he has that information you want? What if you're just about to kill the only chance you'll ever have to see your wife again?"
That did the trick. The samurai stopped in his tracks, eyes widening as he shrank back. He never sheathed his sword – he never said a word – he simply looked forward, silently contemplating how to act next. He'd sworn vengeance, but was this really the right way?
"Just give him a few minutes Kazuya," Shoryu asked, breathing heavily now, "That's all I want. Trust me on this one."
After a lingering gaze at the innocent looking clone Kazuya finally put away the vicious weapon of his ancestor. Ayako gave a sigh of relief as all three returned to their seats, still worried that the future Taisho might try something again once Shoryu's guard was down.
After raising a sword to his own best friend the young commander's mood was a foul one. He slumped in his seat and crossed his arms, fixing the clone with a look of contempt as the boy stared blankly back.
"This had better be worth it. Start talking," said the Chunin.
I came here today to give you vital information about your enemy, began the clone, his voice echoing around the minds of the ninja. After that, I will assist you wherever possible. You were right Shoryu; I know exactly where Fujiko Takashi and all the men stolen from you are being held. We can leave on the morrow if you'd like.
Shoryu's heart skipped a beat. That was too easy – this guy was giving them everything on a silver platter. But if he proved to be exactly what Shoryu thought he was, he supposed it made sense.
"You know where they are?" asked Kazuya, suddenly horrified that he'd almost killed the boy.
Yes.
An eerie silence fell over the trio, each suspecting some kind of obvious trap at the end of the clone's bold claim.
But I doubt that any of you trust me as things stand right now. I can't say I blame you, although as I said, I'm here to give you all the information you'll need. Perhaps when you understand things better you'll have a little more faith in me.
Shoryu smiled; here it was: everything he'd been searching for in the last four years was about to be made clear. Even with no guarantee that this was the truth, he believed it to be so. All his life Shoryu's luck had been abysmal, so perhaps this was the point where it all paid off.
The clone suddenly retrieved a yellow, aged piece of crispy parchment and unrolled it before his eyes. Before laying it on the table however, he used his forearm to shield the majority of its contents, in order to reveal it piece by piece. Only two names were visible at the top of the list, joined together by a thin line. Immediately Shoryu recognised it as a family tree.
In the beginning there was Hajime Senmatsu, started the clone as he pointed to the first name. He was a simple man, an experimenter working for the Land of Fire out of his home town – The Village Hidden in the Waterfall. He led a calm, quiet and normal life; he even settled down with his wife, Chikako Matsumi.
Shoryu and the others listened intently; this did not seem like the beginning for such a bloody affair.
In time, Hajime even sired two sons with his wife. Unit Three Zero Nine Six moved down his forearm a few inches, revealing two more names. The first was Shoren Senmatsu, and the second was Masaru. For a while things continued as normal: Hajime continued with his work whilst Chikako spent her time at home raising their two sons.
Hajime's work was nothing sinister or world-changing you understand, but that didn't stop the Land of Earth from getting involved. There was a border dispute – perhaps fifty years ago – where the Land of Earth claimed that the Village Hidden in the Waterfall was under their jurisdiction, as it neighboured them more closely. Seeing the potential of Hajime's research they claimed it as their own, and naturally the Land of Fire retaliated.
It was a small skirmish with little immediate consequence to it, but nevertheless Hajime and Chikako were killed in the crossfire. The clone gave a sigh as he continued his story, pointing at the two names further down the list. Clearly this was the part he didn't enjoy telling.
But their sons Shoren and Masaru, barely teenagers at the time, survived the battle. After that accident they became obsessed with preventing anything of the sort from happening again.
They became infatuated with the idea of a supposed 'united ninja world' – the kind we had two hundred years ago. To this end they used their own knowledge to twist their father's legacy, knowing they'd need extreme and unnatural power to make such a utopia possible.
In time, Masaru created the Jikogan, an all-powerful dojutsu that allows the user to perceive and control time at a different rate to other people.
Kazuya's eyes lit up suddenly. This must've been his grandfather – the man at the start of the samurai's signature dojutsu: Masaru Senmatsu. He listened closely as the boy went on.
Shoren on the other hand created the Alpha Gene, a more dangerous yet more flexible genotype than the kind his brother made.
"Alpha Gene. . ." Shoryu muttered; he'd turned the name over so many times in his mind – it was the only term that didn't fit, eluding them for so long now. "What is that?"
Unit Three Zero Nine Six reclined in his chair slightly and cracked the joints of his knuckles before answering. The Alpha Gene, he indulged them, is Shoren's masterpiece, just as the Jikogan is Masaru's. You see, Shoren was interested in how the Alpha creatures of the great Island Turtle became what they are – what made them so much bigger, more powerful and more dominant than the rest of their species. As such, he named it after them.
Shoryu nodded, following the story.
At birth, the Alpha Gene attaches itself to a single aspect of combat, and then automatically bolsters it to the absolute pinnacle of what that aspect can achieve. For Shoren for example, the Alpha Gene attached itself to the Clone Jutsu.
"So that's how you were born – all the clones we've been fighting. He's the one making them, right?" Shoryu asked.
Yes, confessed the boy, looking down as he made a glum face. But like most techniques of this magnitude, Shoren's Clone Jutsu had an important flaw to it. . . His Jutsu was so powerful that it could create life itself – his subjects are totally independent of him. We each look different, we fight different, we think for ourselves and we are free of his chakra; even if he dies, we will remain.
This caused complications. When his Alpha Gene attached itself to his Clone Jutsu, Shoren was certain that he had found an army with which he and Masaru could fulfil their goal. Since we are free-thinking however, this did not run smoothly. During the first week or so following our birth, we clones are compliant and docile, but shortly after we began to question ourselves and the motives of our master. We had no obligation to fight for this strange man who wanted the whole world.
Sensing the trepidation of his clones, Shoren acted pre-emptively, sealing them away for future use. He searched for an alternative – a method with which to control us. Since the Alpha Gene and the Jikogan were both tailored to the DNA of the brothers, these traits were passed on to their offspring.
The clone moved his hand a little, displaying two sets of crossed-out question marks running parallel to the Senmatsu brothers. They found themselves wives and pretended to settle down for a time, though as soon as they bore children, the pair turned and killed their spouses.
"That's vile," muttered Shoryu, suddenly sickened.
Quite. The clone unit moved his hand again. Leading down from the question mark and Masaru, two more names appeared. He pointed and said, Masaru had two children, as I'm sure you're aware. Madoka, who I believe you've recently met, and Michio – Kazuya's father. Both inherited the Jikogan.
Kazuya didn't even blink at the sight of his father's name. A giant red 'X' was crossed through it, indicating he was dead. Even so, this was nothing he didn't already know. Shoryu's lineage on the other hand, was a little harder to swallow.
The clone moved his arm across, showing the names born of the clone master. Shoren on the other hand had three children. The first was Shoichi, and the second were non-identical twins – a boy and a girl named Teijo and Yasu.
Shoryu lifted his hand to his head; it seemed petty now, but he wanted to be the one to break the news. Kazuya scratched his head in confusion as he heard Ayako gasp.
"Wait, Shoichi? Isn't that-"
"My dad, yeah," Shoryu told her. He turned to the clone. "Thanks for spilling the beans there buddy."
"You knew about this?" Kazuya leapt to his feet, bewildered by the discovery. He didn't know what to feel – how should he react to that news? Should he be happy? He could certainly think of worse people to have as a family member; half of them had already been listed.
"Relax, I only found out yesterday. I was going to tell you as soon as we got a minute," said Shoryu. He threw up his hands in a dramatic shrug. "But I guess it's out in the open now, so what does it matter?"
Ayako was caught between looking at each of them in turn, frantically comparing the two under a different light now that she knew the truth. She put two fingers to her chin and gave a thoughtful hum. "Yeah. . . You do kinda look a little like each other. . . From a certain angle."
"You don't have to do that," muttered Kazuya.
Shoryu nodded. "Yeah, I was always the good looking one."
I apologise, the clone began again. I assumed the two of you already knew.
"I was joking, it's fine. Carry on," said Shoryu; it seemed Unit Three Zero Nine Six didn't have much of a sense of humour, though he followed the boy's instruction and continued his story.
Shoren passed the Alpha Gene to his children too. Shoichi's went into his Summoning Jutsu, as you may already know.
Shoryu paused – he didn't know that, but once he thought about it everything made perfect sense. His mother once told him that Shoichi's Summoning technique and his affinity for befriending creatures was beyond anything she'd seen before. It stood to reason then, that it could be the work of some advanced gene.
Yasu's Alpha Gene attached itself to the Water Style, but it was Teijo's that piqued his father's interest. His Alpha Gene was connected to Genjutsu, and with it, Shoren had a way to control the legions of clones he summoned. Teijo needs only a single touch to take over someone's mind completely – he enslaved my race at his father's command. I believe you refer to him as the 'Puppeteer'.
The wheels slowly turned in Shoryu's head. "Great, so my grandfather makes the clones and my uncle controls them. Some family eh?"
If it helps, you may take solace in the knowledge that your fathers rejected Shoren and Masaru's ideology, revealed the clone. As soon as they were old enough, Shoichi and Michio fled to lead separate lives, in contact with only each other. They kept you two – and your mothers – a secret, lest Shoren bestow you with a curse mark.
"Curse mark?" Shoryu had to ask.
It's one of his specialities. I believe you've seen them before. The boy pointed to a familiar violet crest on the back of the page – the same kind plastered on Shoichi's jacket that Shoryu had seen as a tattoo already. Only as it transpired, the symbol wasn't a tattoo at all. Shoren and Masaru ordered that all their grandchildren be marked with these – they are harmless really, only trackers, activated when a child comes of age so that Shoren can track them wherever they are.
Once they become old enough, Shoren and Masaru planned that anyone with a Jikogan or an Alpha Gene could become a general in their army of clones – someone powerful to lead their battalions. The defiance of Shoichi and Michio was the reason they were killed. I don't know the specifics; this was before I was born, but I believe Teijo, the Puppeteer, was sent to deal with them personally.
"He killed his own brother and cousin? Just like that?" Shoryu asked. He couldn't imagine anyone being capable of such a despicable act.
"Trust me, if you met him for yourself you wouldn't be so surprised," said Ayako, having talked directly with Teijo. She'd never forget how mercilessly the Puppeteer had abused the body of the poor young woman he possessed. "No offense Shoryu, but your uncle is one evil bastard."
"None taken."
Unit Three Zero Nine Six traced his finger over the family tree, finally revealing the final line of rising ninja. Most of the names Shoryu recognised – he'd met nearly all of them at some point during his career as a ninja.
Michio Senmatsu bred into the Takashi clan, giving life to you, Kazuya, said the clone. He waited for the samurai to give a nod before going on. Madoka married into the Oyama clan – the Lava Style users, and from her Suzume was born.
Shoryu got a bitter taste in his mouth as he remembered the wretched girl they'd fought at the Chunin Exams. He hadn't seen her since, though he doubted they could count on her help in this fight.
She was given a curse mark too, although I doubt she resisted – Madoka raised her to follow in the footsteps of her family. She now fights with them. There was a pause as the clone moved his finger over to those born of the on the other side. Yasu married into the Honami clan, and she bore two children. The first was Kamiko Honami, whose Alpha Gene attached itself to Taijutsu, and the second was Tomeo Honami; his gene went to Sensory abilities.
Well at least here was confirmation. Kamiko Honami was indeed related to Shoryu when she'd been alive – his first cousin. It was a shame really. Ayako strung together a few hand signs and after shading red, drew a broad stroke through her name. It still bothered her that she'd been forced to kill someone with so much potential.
Kamiko is dead then? said the clone.
"Mm." Ayako nodded. "She had one of those curse marks too. If I remember rightly, the Puppeteer said she resisted them, so he took control of her. He was inside her body; I had no choice but to kill her."
Such bravery she must've had. . . The clone was silent, pensive for a moment in admiration. We shouldn't let it go to waste. Unfortunately I wish I could say the same for her brother, but Tomeo has already turned to their side. He is young, but he serves the Senmatsu now.
Unit Three Zero Nine Six moved his finger along; only two names remained, the first of which hardly surprised Shoryu. He was the only other man alive he'd seen with that same curse mark: Kiyoshi Uchiha.
Teijo could not understand why his relatives had settled down in the first place – he didn't need marriage to pass on his legacy. Instead the Puppeteer used his powers for something unspeakable: he kidnapped young Etsuyo Uchiha and used his Genjutsu to submit her to his will, leaving her nine months later with no memory and a baby boy.
Shoryu remembered this story well. Four years had passed since Kiyoshi told him, but he'd never forgotten how horrified his young mind had been in the knowledge human beings were capable of such atrocities. It seemed Ayako wasn't lying after all; Teijo Senmatsu was without a doubt as repulsive as men got. He didn't care that the Puppeteer was his father's brother – every fibre of Shoryu wanted to kill him.
Kiyoshi's Alpha Gene went to his Sharingan. I tried to give this information to him, but it seems he's on the run as we speak. His curse mark activated some time ago, and he has been chased ever since, hunted by the clones and the remaining family members who command them.
It was faint in his memory, but Shoryu also recalled Kiyoshi telling him about his Sharingan. Once it awoke, it awoke at full strength – an Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan with no training or transplant required. He supposed this was the Alpha Gene taking effect, bolstering that one aspect of combat to the pinnacle of its potential.
Finally the clone moved over to the final name, the offspring of Shoichi Senmatsu and Yuuko Aizawa: Shoryu himself. Since the beginning he'd absorbed all the information like an eager sponge, but as the final piece fell into place, one more question eluded him.
"Hang on," he said. Everyone else descended from Shoren's line had it: Clones, Summoning, Genjutsu, Water Style, Sharingan, Taijutsu, Sensory Abilities – everyone except him had their power amplified by Shoren's creation. Shoryu's query was an obvious one. "Where's my Alpha Gene?"
The clone fixed him a stare, confused. I was hoping you could tell me.
Shoryu looked to his comrades, who each shrugged in turn. Nothing stood out. As far as he was aware, he hadn't been born with any special abilities. He sat there with a blank look.
What do you specialise in? asked the boy.
Shoryu thought about it again. "I guess I'm a fair shot with a shuriken. . ." he mused.
Could you clip the wings from a beetle from three hundred yards?
He gave a laugh. "Hell no."
Then it's not your Alpha Gene.
"So I just don't have one?"
Maybe. Like I said before, the Alpha Gene is far more dangerous than the Jikogan. Masaru's dojutsu activates at maturity, but the Alpha Gene is designed to be a failsafe – a kind of last resort. It only activates when the user is in mortal peril.
Shoryu scratched his head. "Well I've been there plenty of times before," he reasoned.
You have to be on the verge of death itself.
"What kind of stupid gene is this? Ugh," the boy cursed to himself and racked his brain. He'd looked down the fall of a blade and seen the trajectory of shuriken barrelling towards him, but every time he'd been saved by Kazuya, Ayako or someone else. Did that count? "So I'd have to put myself in a situation where if the gene doesn't activate, I die? Yeah, I'm not taking that risk."
That may be the case. I really don't know how it works, said the clone. I know that Shoren did this to his own children to force your father's to awaken. But it is peculiar – with all the time you've been at war it should've activated by now. I know you didn't inherit your clan's Kekkei Genkai; perhaps you didn't inherit this either.
"That's what I thought." Shoryu exhaled, looking weary for just a brief moment until a wide smile beamed across his face. "Ah well," he said. "I guess it just skipped me. But I got this far without the Raikyogan – I don't need this 'Alpha Gene'. I'm strong enough already, and I'll get stronger if I want to fight the rest of them."
In that moment Ayako couldn't help but admire the young man. He'd been denied his inheritance twice now; he had every right to be pissed off at the world for giving him the short end of the stick, but over the years Shoryu Aizawa had gathered enough determination to put it all behind him. He was confident in himself now, more so than ever.
Ayako suddenly felt that they could overcome the odds; if they worked together they could rescue those they'd lost, beat every last Senmatsu and end this war once and for all.
That thought drove another question to Ayako's mind. "You said before that Shoren and Masaru wanted a united world. . ." she started. "Why start this conflict then? Why go to the trouble of taking over Kira Asakura and instigating the Fifth Shinobi World War?"
I believe they see it as a means to an ends, said the clone. In the aftermath of this war there will be little resistance left: the armies of the five nations will be dwindled, and most Kage will be dead. Only then will they reveal themselves. They hope to unite the world in one great conquest, using us clones as the enforcers for their new world.
Shoryu huffed; for a moment he thought there might be some genuine moral reasoning behind the war. Being related to evil was bad enough, but evil and moronic? The thought damaged his ego. "They're deluded. That's a dictatorship, no doubt about it," he judged.
I agree.
"So where do we find them? If Shoren and Masaru are at the head of this then we'll take them out first – then this whole thing will come to an end."
Unit Three Zero Nine Six then showed a glum look. He hung his head and stared down at the table, fidgeting nervously with his fingers. I'm afraid that's not possible, he said.
"And why not?" snapped Kazuya.
They reside on an island out at sea, an island that they mechanised. One week it could be at the borders of the Land of Lightning, the next it could pull up south of the Whirlpool. In addition to that, Masaru has manipulated it using some technique of his Jikogan. Even if you're standing in front of it, the island can only be seen from a certain angle, which he changes daily.
Unless you have the proper coordinates you'll never find the island. And even if you did, I'm afraid you would be no match for them. They are both more powerful than any of the five current Kage.
Shoryu bit off a curse, yet in the end it seemed all hope was not lost.
There is a way, however, said the clone. Your grandfathers remain safe on the island, but most of their children and grandchildren stay in the five nations, leading the clone armies. If we can find Teijo and defeat him, then his Genjutsu would cease to exist. The clones would be useless to Shoren, and you could petition for peace with the other nations.
"Then as soon as we rescue Fujiko and the others, that should be our priority," said Shoryu.
Of course.
"There is one thing I'm curious about." The commander leaned forward, narrowing his eyes in interest at the strange boy sat before him. "I'm still confused about you. I'm going out on a limb here, but I think I might be right in assuming you managed to free yourself from my uncle's Genjutsu, meaning your mind is your own."
Unit Three Zero Nine Six smiled warmly, almost blushing at the comment. That is correct. Three years ago – not long after I came into this world – we were involved in a skirmish with the Village Hidden in the Mist. I fell from the high cliffs to the rocky shores below the island's cape. When I awoke, I was severely injured, but for the first time in my life I had control over my own body.
The clone boy then turned his head, motioning to a great scar parting his fair hair at the base of his skull. Over twenty large stitches hatched across the red arc of exposed flesh; he was lucky to survive such an injury. Shoryu cringed as he wondered how painful the boy's surgery was.
Enough pain can break any Genjutsu, he went on. Since they were ignorant of my identity, I was nursed back to health by some kind elders of the village.
"But didn't you say my grandfather has been doing this for decades?" questioned Shoryu. "Surely you can't be the first one to break free? Another clone would've notified us by now."
The clone shook his head. You're right, I imagine plenty of other clones are free – they'll live normal lives among you, tired of the war.
"Then why haven't they contacted us?"
You may recall, but I mentioned before that Shoren is particularly gifted in the area of curse marks. He cannot control us directly, but he may seal our lips so that we never betray him. When we are made, he places a curse seal upon our tongues, preventing us from opposing him or telling anyone of his work, regardless of how we do it.
Other clones haven't contacted you because they didn't care enough to make a sacrifice. For the first time in the entire conversation,Unit Three Zero Nine Six opened his mouth, revealing what was underneath. I cared enough.
In place of the boy's tongue was nothing but a stump – a jagged flipper still scarred where he'd sawed it off with what appeared to be a kunai knife. Shoryu tried not to wince at the grotesque injury, as inside he felt nothing but respect. If this boy was telling the truth then he had more courage than any ninja Shoryu had ever encountered. He was no exception; if their places were traded, Shoryu doubted he could sacrifice his own tongue for the greater cause. He'd probably retire somewhere nice and tropical.
Finally the boy closed his mouth, speaking again with nothing but his mind. I knew that if I tried to communicate using sign language or writing then I'd be killed before I could explain myself. So, for the next three years I trained to speak using this jutsu – one that converses my thoughts. I first tried to locate Kiyoshi Uchiha, but when that failed I agreed to speak to you two. And so, here we are.
"Hmm," Shoryu put a hand to his chin and pondered, taking in all the information. No one talked for some time, as the clone had given them more than they could've hoped for. At the very least, now they had a chance to strike back; no more being at the mercy of an enemy they knew nothing about. "So this place you mentioned – where Fujiko and the others are being held. Is it far?"
The boy shook his head. It's a research facility in the Land of Sound. I don't know what happens there, but I know exactly where it is. It should take a week for a small group of us to get there.
Shoryu nodded. They could just force the location out of him and go alone, but something about this kid conveyed trust – like he was prepared to do anything to get back at his former captors. The commander got to his feet and turned, prompting his allies to do the same. "Then we'll set off tomorrow," he said. "You don't mind if I pass this information along to those outside do you?"
Again the clone gave a shake. No, be my guest. I'd have to explain myself twenty times over if you didn't.
"Then I'll see you at dawn. In the meantime I'll make sure you aren't mistreated."
Thank you.
With their conversation at an end Shoryu gave two loud raps on the steel door containing them. Reizo opened up and ushered them back inside, sparing a glace to the blank-faced clone sat staring at the table.
Right away Shoryu got to work relaying all the information given to him by Unit Three Zero Nine Six; everything from his and Kazuya's lineage, to the slavery of the clone race, right up to Shoren and Masaru's intentions for the ninja world.
As this happened the Raikage gave Kazuya and Ayako permission to leave as the other ninja listened on in interest. The Hokage in particular seemed enthralled by the tale, never realising his prized Uchiha had such a dark past behind him. The two Kage nodded every now and again as events previously a mystery to them became clear. Even Saito looked intrigued by the Senmatsu family, as did every ninja in the room.
The suspicions began when Shoryu recalled the story of how the clone escaped the clutches of Teijo's Genjutsu. Ninja shuffled uncomfortably and whispered to one another, until eventually the Zawa clan leader decided to speak up – yet another chance to embarrass Shoryu.
"That's quite a grand tale," remarked Saito. "What shocks me more is that you believed his every word."
Shoryu bit his lip at the first retort that came to mind. He thought of another, but when he opened his mouth to speak Hatori the sensory ninja cut him off.
"He wasn't lying about being a clone; that much I know for sure. What's more, his chakra patterns indicate sincerity, and his actions are not those of someone trying to play us. What does he stand to gain by being here? To deceive us? It seems like too much of a complicated story for him to think up on his own, and he doesn't exactly have our trust as it is. He knows we'd be wary."
"Exactly," said Shoryu. "He's not clear of suspicion, but it seems more likely that he's telling the truth. Even if he is leading us into a trap, we'll still learn where one of their strongholds is."
Saito curled his lip to a snarl at being bested again by a youngster. He couldn't say what he wanted with the two Kage in the room, so he shrank into the shadows against the wall, biding his time for when another time for criticism came.
Now that he had enough information, the Hokage decided to act. Hiromasa Hyuga took centre stage, his tall physique and cold eyes allowing him to capture the attention of everyone present. He removed his hat, the movement causing his robe to sway as he played his hand.
"Do what you will, but a squadron of my men will join that clone boy tomorrow. I want to get to the bottom of this. If we happen across any of your men, I'll see them returned to you safely," he promised.
"Sir." Shoryu hopped forward, giving a slight bow to his old sensei. "I'd like permission to go with them as well."
"And if I said no?" Reizo asked, arching an eyebrow. It seemed he knew that Shoryu planned to disobey him, but that didn't stop the young commander from telling the truth.
"Kazuya is going regardless, and he's not going without me," confessed Shoryu, meeting the Kage's eyes.
The Raikage gave a sigh and palmed his head; after knowing the boy for so long he couldn't possibly refuse such a request. Reizo turned to the Hyuga, his eyes flashing with zeal. "You think I'd leave all this up to the Land of Fire? Not on your life Hiromasa. I'll send a team to accompany yours."
The Hokage smiled.
"But it seems most of my elite ninja are out at war. . ." Reizo pretended to consider for a moment, before his shout snapped the boy to attention. "Shoryu! You've submitted your candidacy to become a Jonin right?"
Shoryu paused; was the Raikage really saying what he thought? "Yes sir," he replied. "But I didn't think-"
"-Good, then as of now you're promoted."
Shoryu couldn't believe his ears. Me? A Jonin? The thought echoed around his mind a dozen times over. That Reizo trusted him this much was a testament to everything he'd achieved up until now. The missions would be harder, he'd become tougher, and of course, he'd be much better paid. Already Shoryu began to plan what he'd spend all his money on.
Saito opened his mouth in protest, but his son cut him off. "Shoryu, I'll assign you five officers along with thirty Genin and Chunin that you can pick up from the divisions along the way. You'll represent your country and keep this mission covert, and if you succeed then I'll let you keep that rank."
The newly-named Jonin nodded vigorously. "I won't let you down, but if I may-" Shoryu paused, not wanting to push his luck. When Reizo appeared curious he continued. "I already have five other specialists in mind that I trust, and as for infantrymen, I know of a certain flock of samurai who are eager to join our cause. Our divisions are scarce on men already."
Reizo chuckled to himself and nodded. "Do as you will, I'm trusting your initiative on this one Shoryu. Use today to make your preparations – I'll send you a briefing before nightfall, and make sure you get some sleep for tomorrow."
Shoryu agreed, smiling, and turned to leave. He didn't need any more prompts; the Kage had business to attend to and so did he. Armed with nothing but information, the Jonin suddenly couldn't help but feel they stood more of a chance now than ever before. An urge swept over him to get out there and fight – to prove himself against the odds his wretched families had stacked against him.
Commanding a smaller unit would be different to ordering a large division, but with a slight change in tactics Shoryu felt he could make it work. Whatever the case, he didn't doubt that this mission would be one to remember, for better or for worse.
.
Author's Notes: Well there you have it. It only took twenty nine chapters, but finally we know what the hell is going on. This chapter answered a LOT of the big questions – in fact I think the only major mystery left is how Shoryu and Kazuya's fathers died.
So yes, it seems that Shoryu's grandfather is actually the one creating these clones, and that his jutsu is so powerful that he can actually create life, using Shoryu's uncle Teijo to control it. We've also tied together Kiyoshi Uchiha, Kamiko Honami and all the others, although I'm aware that it might have gotten a little confusing back there.
For that reason I decided to draw up and post the Senmatsu family tree on my page. It's not supposed to be the exact one that our clone friend had, just something I made in Paint. I'd recommend giving it a look. Hopefully it does a good job of explaining who is who and which members have Alpha Genes and Jikogans.
And of course, Shoryu got promoted. It was a long time coming really. For us it might only be six chapters since his last one, but for him it's been four years, most of which he spent commanding a legion of ninja. Until next time guys!