41 Clan, Snake and Family

Tsunade nodded, "Preparations on my side are nearly complete. You got all the genetic markers you wanted to use."

Apotheosis's earlier versions used pure chakra to evolve it, but that always resulted in failure. Apothesis is like evolution equivalent to a hundred thousand years being carried out in just moments. But there were no external pressures to guide it, leading to mutations. Genetic markers will counter this problem, using chakra characteristics from markers to guide the chakra evolution to a path similar to chakra in markers.

"No, I am missing just two. One of them could be that severed hand I gave you."

"Speaking of that, reports on tests you asked to perform on it came in." Tsunade handed over a folder.

Reading it, a smirt came over Itsuki's face. He was right, Kakuzu's 'Earth Grude Fear' was made of parts of the World tree. He always had a suspicion, Takigakure is the only known location where a remnant of the world tree, one of its roots lies. 'Earth Grudge Fear', which was originally a forbidden jutsu of Taki, which replaced body's inwards with threads, it made sense threads wore made from roots of the world tree.

'Looks like I will not have to make a trip to Takigakure after all.'

"So, just one left. Can you get it in a month?" Itsuki nodded but he himself was not sure he wanted to. The last genetic marker was to enhance his Kurama Bloodline limit, the blood and chakra of someone with complete bloodline and for that, he will have to go to Kurama Clan.

He had a lot of memories there, of his mother and of those carefree days. He did not want to stain those memories with the blood of those who he grew up with, however brief that was. He has no idea what stance the Kurama clan has against him, they banished him but did not do anything beyond that. There is hope in his heart, that maybe, just maybe, his family is not out there to get him. He did not want to confront them and get proven wrong.

"Then do it, sealing array will take me a month to prepare," Tsunade said

"Ok, I will get other markers ready in that time", Itsuki said, hiding his inner turmoil. Whatever he did, he has at least a month to confront his demons.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

Root base tunnels, Danzo's chamber

Danzo read a book with the red cover, and seals covering every part of its cover excerpt the name Apotheosis. Although Itsuki never told Tsunade, his notes were covered in seals but he was right to assume they would not stop Danzo. After all, Itsuki was Seal Master specializing in curse seals and not security seals, at least not yet.

Even after reading it multiple times, Danzo could not make out anything that was in it. It is written in code, yes but it was nothing he could not decode. No, he was reading it perfectly fine, he could even understand what was written but he could barely make any sense of it. It was like trying to understand forbidden S-rank Fuinjutsu while having no idea what chakra was, jutsu is just that advanced.

In front of Danzo sat the most wanted fugitive of Konoha, the Snake Sanin Orochimaru. He had also read the jutsu moments before but was still having a hard time wrapping his head around it, "It is genuine, that much I can tell. It would skyrocket the strength of anyone who could successfully complete it. But.."

"But it is near impossible to complete." Danzo completed, "And being genuine does not mean it will work perfectly. We have no proper idea "

Orochimaru nodded, he was burning with envy. It was a perfect technique, and a very very advanced one. He could see some parts that had been touched by Tsunade but that was because those parts were all that made sense to him. He, Orochimaru spent all his life on scientific pursuits, to understand chakra and to achieve immortality but a child not even in his teens just came out of nowhere and achieved far more than he could probably achieve in his immortal life.

Orochimaru licked his lips, 'Itsuki is going to be a fine addition to his collection.'

Danzo watched this and smelled an opportunity, "Shiakaku assigned him to guard the former Heiress of Hyuga clan and I will have a difficult time to change that order."

Orochimaru smiled, it was not a pretty smile, "My spies inside will not be enough to subdue Itsuki, especially if he had undergone Apotheosis. Get him out of the village and I will give you the complete jutsu after I get it out from him."

Danzo did not nod or deny, just kept looking at the book, futilely trying to discern its secrets.

__________________________________________________________________________________________

"Hey Shikaku, be a man and take responsibility. War can start any day now and we do not know whether you will even see him again. Man up and meet him."

The gruff voice of Choji's father woke Shikamaru up earlier than usual. Grumbling under his breath, he tried to go back to sleep but his hyperactive brain zeroed in on the conversation.

"Just leave it alone. It has been thirteen years! thirteen and I did not meet him a single time." His father's irritated voice begged no argument. Too bad, his friends were not going to give up that easily.

"How can we leave it alone? Just look at you, the great Shikaku Nara acting so pathetic! Fearing to face a single child." Inoichi's harsh voice berated Shikaku. Shikamaru noted every one of them seemed drunk, perhaps that's why they have not found him eavesdropping.

"That child could probably kill ten times in blink of an eye."

"Doesn't change the fact that you are still a coward. Just tell him your reasons, and hope he accepts, for Kami's sake."

"But that is not easy, just..." Inoichi cut him right off, "Just do it!"

Shikaku sighed, pulling out an empty scroll from the bookshelf and brought out writing supplies, "Fine, I will do it."

"Now get out.", Shikaku commanded. Inoichi wanted to say something but Choza held him back and shook his head. Shikamaru watched as both of them leave, still hidden, and turned his focus back to his father.

His father took out a writing brush and started writing into the scroll. Seeing that he was not paying attention, Shikamaru tried to slip away silently, crawling back into his futon when his father called him.

"I will be taking you to Academy today, Shikamaru. Go get ready.", He said without even looking up from the scroll, his voice no longer slurred.

Shikamaru stilled, before scurrying off to the bathroom. Behind him, he did not see his father breaking down, sobbing in silence.