Meeting

(Shiori's PoV)

A month has passed since the Uchiha Clan was massacred. Sasuke has not started coming back to the academy yet, and there isn't really any news of Izumi as well, aside from the fact that she also survived.

Well, atleast someone can now be Sasuke's punching bag.

Today, Hiruzen called me to his office for some reason.

"Yo, old man."

"Ah Shiori-chan. How are you? And Naruto? I wasn't able to visit because I was busy."

"We are good. Naruto's training is going well, though I do have to teach him the important stuff with lots of examples. The mission to collect samples of all spices from Land of Spices helped me in making various dishes. Here's the next mission to procure these spices. The quantity for each one is written. And here's the money for the C-rank mission, including the money for the spices."

I managed to find spices that I think make Garam Masala(Hot Masala), but it hasn't gotten the right taste yet. I will need to experiment more on it. The current food that I have to eat is a bit bland.

"Hmm, this mission will be done in... a week at most."

"Thanks. Why did you call me?"

"Take a look at this."

Hiruzen handed me a scroll. In it, there were plenty of characters drawn, which suspiciously looked a bit like, Indus Valley writing? It also had some mantras in Sanskrit, with letters that I haven't 'invented' yet.

And below the information was a seal, that I think is of Nue.

From what I know, if Burrito is canon, that Nue was somewhat related to Kaguya. There wasn't really any information on how.

Does this mean that the Otsutsuki's main language is Sanskrit, or this symbol language that nobody knows about?

Thinking about it, it is possible. Chakra is a Hindu concept, which travelled to China and Japan via Buddhism, which is pretty much a branch of Hinduism. Yet, the chakra of Naruto and Hinduism are pretty different in how they work. It may be possible that the chakra in Otsutsukis work differently?

And that's why this language?

"Do you recognise what is written? There are some letters similar to what you are inventing."

"Hey! Does this mean that you peek in my home!? That's invasion of privacy!"

"I apologise for that. Anyway, do you know what it says?"

"Somewhat. I will only tell you if you give me a seal that can even block Byakugan though."

"Here."

He has prepared it beforehand? Was he expecting it? And moreover, why did he hand over something so important to me so easily? What if an enemy country discover it?

Well... Not that I am complaining...

"I think that I know this द, प, ल, न, ७... I think I know about 80% letters of this language. But... I don't think I know what they mean. And I don't know what these symbols mean.

But I think I can tell that the seal in the bottom has something special about it. I don't know what."

The mantras talks about properties, binding, corruption of souls and void. Hmm... This does sound like Nue. Void can be absorption of chakra.

"Can I research on this? I feel like this is related to me since it has the language I am creating."

"That language that appears in your dreams, right?"

"*Cough*, I am inventing it!"

Hiruzen smiled at me knowingly, as if he caught my lie, and said, "Follow me."

He took me to his residence, and then, inside an underground basement. And there, I saw it. A baby Nue in a nutrition tank.

"Is this a pet for me!? Why is it inside that tube though?"

"It is an artificial creature that is in the middle of research to be brought to life."

"Eh? So it isn't alive?"

"No."

"So why do I feel some sort of connection to it...?"

There is no such connection.

Hiruzen probably wants to see my reaction, to see if I am like Orochimaru.

But what reaction should I have?

If it was an alive creature being experimented upon, I should have shown disgust and being uncomfortable.

But if it isn't alive to begin with, what reaction should I have? Show interest in bringing it to life? Does that make me similar to Orochimaru? But if I don't show interest, it may be even more weirder.

The right answer is neither options, it is bullshit no jutsu.

"I feel like... I am its... mother? That's weird."

I went close to it, and gently put my hand on the nutrition tank, looking at it lovingly, as if it is my pet.

Hmm, this will make sure that Hiruzen gives this to me.

After I stared at it in wonder, I looked back at him.

"I want this! It's cute, I will make him my pet and take care of it. Please!?"

"But it doesn't have a soul."

Soul... how is it created?

Well, if Orochimaru is also to make clones, Amado is able to make cyborgs, and this very Nue will be alive in around 25 or so years if Boruto is canon, I don't see the problem in keeping it and give it a try.

"Alright. Then I am making you incharge of this. Though, I won't give you any money for it."

Hiruzen doesn't want to spend money on this research huh... well...

"Alright. But it is mine."

"Yes yes. Just don't tell anyone about this."

"Not even Naruto?"

"... Just make sure he doesn't tell anyone about this."

"He wouldn't."

"Alright. I will trust you on that. I have more tasks for you."

"...I am listening."

"Karin have been found. She will reach here by tomorrow. She will be given an apartment in your building. Take care of her."

"Really!? Then it goes without saying. I will take care of her."

"And Sasuke-"

I raised my eyebrow at that. Don't tell me-

"I will give him an apartment in your-"

"Not a chance."

"-building. Be friends-"

"No."

"-with him-"

"Do you really want us to risk our lives? What if Itachi came to finish the unfinished business? What if assassins after the Uchiha came after us too?"

"... Alright. Just be friends-"

"I will think about it."

Being friends with Sasuke is a life-threatening risk. Just because he wants to be alone, he tries to kill his 'friend'.

Enemies are better than this type of friend.

Why did I save Izumi? Because Naruto doesn't need to be his 'friend' he has to kill to be alone. Let Izumi take the place.

But outright refusing doesn't seem to be too good. And I will need to interact with the Uchihas to takeover their property. So we need to be acquaintance atleast.

Hiruzen sighed, and gestured me to follow him.

"You can come here on weekends. All the research until now is stored in scrolls in this secret place. The shopkeepers will be guarding this place, so they will let you enter the place.

If you don't understand anything, come to me."

"Yeah old man."

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