64 Chapter 64

The trip to Wind Country was rather tedious.

Isami was weak and squishy and thus required rest every four hours.

It slowed our process slightly but that was fine, I wasn't eager to have sand in my sandals.

During our travels, Isami was briefed on the situation in Wind Country and given basic instruction on desert survival.

She seemed to have been absorbing the information but would still have to be watched near constantly so she didn't get stung by a scorpion or bit by a snake and meet her untimely end.

The older members of our little group could watch her for a while, or at least until I figured out my place in the camp.

I wasn't sure what role I would fill in the camp, they needed medics, toxicologists, and front liners last I heard.

I could probably do any one or two of the roles, they weren't hard.

Toxicologist was the only one I would have trouble with, but after a month I'd probably be competent enough to do it.

My lab was also dependant on my role in the camp.

If I was a combatant I likely wouldn't have as much time to study stuff and get into DNA shenanigans.

I guess I'll see how it goes...

Clones were always available to pick up the work I wasn't willing to spend time on in person.

...

I watched two guards inspect our papers with an impassive gaze.

Though my gaze might not have been as impassive as I thought it was.

They were sweating and shivering under my gaze while trying their best to fill out the required forms with their shaky hands.

"Hmm...?" I watched one of the guard's fumble and drop his pen at my hum.

Was my reputation bad...?

I smiled widely and took my completed papers from the nervous man's hands and made my way into the camp in search of the command center.

...

Every building in the camp was the same.

They were all stone 'blocks', that were brown and made of solidified sand and earth, only having one a door and a single window to break up the bland surface.

I could tell that they were made using Ninjutsu, sloppy Ninjutsu in some cases.

Now and then I'd see eyes peek out of the single small window on the buildings before returning to what they were doing.

"Where's the command center?" I hailed a passing ninja and asked.

He shrugged and pointed to the only different building in the entire camp.

"That's where ya wanna be."

I nodded. "Thanks."

"Anything for a hero." A hero I was not...

I raised an eyebrow but didn't respond.

Delusional or not, he was helpful.

No need to correct him.

...

I eyed the large building with a keen eye.

The place was in chaos, but it was controlled chaos.

Many different people were streaming in and out of the building, I saw teams heading in beside injured ninja, and saw people who had been healed and released as well as people heading out for whatever mission they received.

The building seemed to be both a hospital and a command center.

"Go take over a building." I shooed my entourage away and started towards the building while ignoring any protests.

I'd like to meet Tsunade by myself and get a feel for her.

...

After a little searching and some threats, I was finally led to Tsunade.

She didn't have the green cloak that I had in my memories, but she looked similar to what I remembered.

Blond and busty.

"Yo!" I gave her a cheery wave and she dragged her eyes from the paperwork to me.

Beaten and worn is how I'd describe her demeanor, she didn't look as confident as she did in my memories.

"Hello?" She blinked slowly.

I tilted my head and stared at her for a moment.

"Hyuga Shiro, reporting for duty!" I smiled sent her another wave though this one was less cheery.

She showed no recollection upon hearing my name and stared blankly at me.

My smile slowly faded, as she continued staring at me.

She didn't know who I was or didn't care.

It was slightly upsetting.

"I'm here for my assignment?" She remained silent and started shuffling paper around on her desk while ignoring me.

My respect for the woman dwindled, as she continued digging through the pile of paperwork.

"Ah, I thought the name sounded familiar." She unfolded a piece of paper and dragged her eyes across it, slowly reading it.

"Your team is going to be under the command of Nara Shikaku." She said without looking up from the paper.

"Sigh..." I sighed and left, not bothering to speak any further.

Tsunade was a disappointment, I had a high opinion of her and was let down upon meeting her.

She wasn't the woman she was when she become the Fifth Hokage.

She wouldn't be the person I remembered for a long time...

It wasn't something I had put a lot of thought into.

"Hmmm..." I hummed as I dodged a running Med-nin.

The Med-nin rushed into Tsunade's office and exited my sight.

I shrugged and made my way towards the mission desk.

I'd ask them where this Shikaku was.

And then I'd spend the rest of the day, applying Fuinjutsu air conditioning to whatever building my group had commandeered.

...

It was only after laying my eyes on Nara Shikaku that I remembered he was a clan head.

I gave him a light bow while eyeing the hair of the Yamanaka clan head, the top and sides of his hair were short but the back of his hair was in a waist-long ponytail.

It was the weirdest hairstyle I've laid my eyes upon.

"Hello, new friends!" I gave them a lazy wave as all my cheer had been sapped from me after my interaction with Tsunade.

The Nara hadn't moved but the Yamanaka gave me a Minato like smile, which instantly gave me weird vibes.

"Put that smile away, your going to blind me." That smile was too sugary for someone who has mind-raped people his entire life.

His smile faded but hadn't left his face.

I turned my head and eyed Gai's Sensei who had been eating quietly in the corner.

I had taken an interest in the Akimichi as they were the only ones, I knew of that used Yang Release similarly to the Shikotsumyaku.

I sent him a nod and received one in reply.

The Akimichi techniques were interesting because they were almost completely Yang in terms of chakra, it reminded me of my chakra.

The difference being that the Akimichi molded their chakra into Yang Chakra while mine was in a perpetual state of Yang.

"Any interest in talking about your clan Hidens? I don't want to learn them, I'm more interested in how you mold chakra..." The Akimichi clan head didn't take more than a second to shake his head in a firm no.

"Shame..." I shrugged.

I probably shouldn't have asked right off the bat, but the answer probably wouldn't change even if we knew each other better.

The room descended into silence, I was thinking and the clan heads were studying me, both discreetly and not.

"Not going to ask to learn my clans Hidens?" The Yamanaka spoke in a teasing tone, with a slight undercurrent of something I couldn't name.

"Hmmm..." I hummed in amusement.

"I'm not interested in rape, but thanks." I sent him a smile that wasn't friendly in the slightest.

He looked offended.

"It's not even comparable to rape." I narrowed my eyes at him, wondering if he was kidding.

The Nara tensed when my smile widened.

"Whatever makes you sleep at night." I didn't have the moral high-ground though.

Words coming from someone who experimented on people probably weren't worth much, morally speaking.

"Hmmm..." I hummed and reined my chakra in, as I only just realized that it was the reason for Shikaku's distress.

The good ol chakra reserves were expanding and my control was slipping.

Perhaps once you got to a certain strength, your chakra naturally pushed you to your genetic limit.

It was an interesting theory.

But that's all it was.

A theory.

"Anyway, why aren't you interested in the position of Hokage?" I directed this question to the Nara, who was also a Hokage candidate, although a reluctant one.

This was Social-Fu I learned from Kushina, you drag people into your pace and keep them on their feet. Usually, they're too surprised to continue with whatever they've concocted in their heads.

"Troublesome..." His face was bland.

I wasn't sure if I was troublesome or if the Hokage position was troublesome.

"Ah, so you enjoy your free time then..." And a Nara-Kage would upset Konoha's current balance.

I nodded and bulldozed whatever else he could have said.

"SO, what's my new job? Paperwork? Murder? Healing? Sealing? Scouting? Sabotage?" I held up my fingers as I listed each.

I waggled my six fingers and Shikaku motioned me to stop with a grimace.

"You and your team are going to be a front-line combat squad, you're doing what you did in Frost." I raised an eyebrow at that.

My 'squad' wasn't part of the mayhem I caused.

"Alright, just murder then." I nodded and did my best to smother my smile when the Yamanaka grimaced.

"Oh yea, I've picked up a stray, she's not officially part of the team but she's mine. Will that be a problem?" I sent them a smile that promised violence.

Shikaku shook his head. "No trouble." His voice was even but I could hear an undercurrent of annoyance.

I nodded happily. "Many thanks, friend!"

"It's been a long trip and I'm eager to shower, I hope you don't mind if I leave?" I smiled sweetly.

Shikaku nodded and shooed me out with his hand.

I obliged and took off with a smile on my face.

Hopefully, Gai was lurking somewhere.

...

My clones slowly covered the building in seals while I used a Tiny Rasengan to carve my self-imposed rules into a section of stone that I had threatened someone into making.

First and foremost was Don't stand in doorways.

A key rule that I learned early on in life.

Second, No experiments on those under twelve.

I'd already broken that one with Isami.

Third, Don't let experiments live if they don't belong to Konoha.

Another rule that wasn't followed in the past.

And last but not least.

Forth, No lewding anyone under eighteen.

Onee-san's were free game...

"Sigh..." It was obvious that puberty was hitting me hard.

The Onee-san's in the camp weren't safe...

...

After removing myself from my delusions I started pacing around the building while looking at the seals.

Everything seemed to be in order.

I waved the clones away and they set off to put air conditioning in other buildings so they could earn a quick buck.

Now I just needed some blood from everyone who planned on staying here and things would be good to go...

"Hmmm..." I eyed the empty building.

I'd need some walls put up, and maybe I could acquire a second building for a lab.

I hadn't wanted to make one but It was probably worth the effort.

I needed something to do with my time...

...

News of the Third Raikage's death reached my ears a week after I arrived in the camp.

I felt sad, this meant that the war would probably continue slowing down.

Cannon fodder can be endlessly created and shipped to the front lines.

It's the death of S-Ranks and slowly dying economy from lack of trade that will bring an end to the war.

"Sign..." Even after being trapped by Orochimaru the Raikage wasn't the slightest bit more cautious.

"I need to find a hobby..." I wasn't sure what I'd do with myself when I had no one to fight.

I hated missions but liked fighting, to fight I'd have to go on missions...

A conundrum.

"Aomi, can you train Isami? Start her on nature transformations, preferably water." Aomi nodded and started towards the door.

"Hmmm..." I hummed and stared at her back as she left.

The Hokage had seemingly lost interest and Aomi hadn't received any letters as of late.

So, I was going to continue training her.

Eventually, she would get into genetics and take some of the more mundane projects off my plate while I focused on the Space God descendants.

Or so went the new plan.

She wasn't likely to be my Kabuto, her loyalty to Konoha prevented that.

But she was still going to be my student.

Aomi left my sight and I let my thoughts bounce around for a few moments longer before deciding to find some test subjects.

I was going to figure out what Kushina's blood/chakra would do to normal folk...

And then I'd make another tumor...

Isami was also compatible with Kushina's blood...

Super Isami was still a go...

"Sigh..." I reigned my thoughts in and headed for the door.

Jinjuriki blood might bring me some surprises...

...

I let my eyes wander while Inoichi blabbered on during what he had called the 'weekly briefing'.

Tsunade was here, as were the Clan head trio.

I eyed the assorted Jonin surrounding the table but saw no one notable.

"Shiro, you and your team are heading to Claw." I nodded and accepted the scroll from Inoichi.

Claw's Daimyō had requested my services when he heard I was nearby.

I broke the seal on the scroll and started reading it, not caring who saw the contents of the scroll.

"Yeah, this is not happening." I tossed the scroll to Inoichi who caught it with a grimace.

I was supposed to be the Daimyō's guard for a few months.

The Daimyō was a notorious kid fucker and I wasn't interested in spending time with him. That and I was in the process of an experiment, I couldn't leave now.

"Refusing could be considered treason." I eyed Shikaku who spoke.

It wasn't considered treason, as it wasn't ordered by the Hokage.

"I'd rather not have to kill the Daimyō." That pedophile would need to die.

I wasn't interested in protecting that scum while denying his 'advances'.

"If I have to spend time with him, he's going to die." And my time in Konoha would come to an end.

The other Daimyō's would order my death, they couldn't allow the killing of a Daimyō to go unpunished.

"This is an order from you, not an order from the Hokage." I spoke and eyed Shikaku while wondering why he was trying to start something.

Tsunade leaned forward and looked vaguely interested while Shikaku was stoic.

"Are you trying to start a fight?" I tilted my head and stared at him.

I sadly couldn't do the smart person 'be one-hundred steps ahead' thing. Shikaku had some sort of goal with this conversation, whether it be to paint me in a bad light in front of the Jonin, make Tsunade dislike me, or something else.

"No need to be so hostile, Shiro-Kun." I kept my gaze on Shikaku while ignoring Inoichi who had spoken.

He didn't look nervous, but I could see the shadows in the room shift and become slightly darker.

"You're trying to start something, why not run to Suna if you're so eager to die?" I smiled and noticed Inoichi flinch, my eyes shifted towards him momentarily.

Tsunade had put a hand on his wrist and stopped him from making Hand-seals.

"We shouldn't be fighting among ourselves." Tsunade spoke slowly and confidently.

I nodded to her, thankful I had avoided a mind-rape.

"Why are you trying to send a child to a known pedophile?" Tsunade stared at Shikaku.

Shikaku frowned.

"We need the money." Shikaku had a touch of a smile on his face.

I smirked and reeled in my chakra.

"Your head would earn us some money." Tsunade sent me a tight-lipped smile silently telling me to stop with her eyes.

Shikaku had accomplished whatever he had set out to accomplish and I was annoyed.

"I'm not, taking missions." I blew a breath out of my nose. "I think I'll just head back to Konoha." I took great joy in seeing Shikaku's eyes fill with panic.

"That would truly be treason." Shikaku smoothed his expression back into his usual stoic look trying to hide his panic.

My smirk widened.

I wouldn't get more than a slap on the wrist, I was too important to throw away. I might get branded as unstable or unpredictable if I wasn't already, but currently, I was needed in the war and was safe for now.

"I'll head over to Grass then, me being here is bad for your health." I held back a chuckle.

Shikaku was looking more panicked, it seems that me leaving wasn't what he wanted.

"Well, see you never, I'll pack my stuff." I stood and gave Tsunade a friendly smile. "Thanks for saving the Yamanaka Clan Head." Had he gotten into my mind, he'd have died.

Tsunade nodded with a weary smile.

"Is there any way you would be willing to stay?" Shikaku spoke up stopping my dramatic exit.

Now I could make demands or I could throw them through a loop, and as fun as trolling them sounded, it probably wasn't the best idea.

"Talk to me about Yang Release." I directed my demands to Chōza who was the only one who didn't seem interested in attacking me. "And bring Gai when you come." I hadn't been able to find him.

He nodded quietly while looking quite laid back.

"Swing by my lab when you're not busy, we'll chat." I nodded to him and he nodded back. "I'll also only take my orders from Tsunade." I sent her a nod and turned and left before I could be stopped again.

I wasn't sure what Shikaku was up to, but it seems we're on bad terms now.

Sending a twelve-year-old to a pedophile was an odd move and I have no clue what he gained from it.

Was he testing me and my willingness to follow orders?

Or was he testing my loyalty to Konoha?

Another conundrum...

I rolled my eyes and started towards the Hospital.

I'd leave Tsunade some alcohol as thanks...

She definitely earned some points in my books.

...

...

...

Interlude.

'Hyuga Shiro was blunt, unsociable, but oddly cheerful. He cares about his family and few close acquaintances but cared little for those not within his circle.

Though Shiro shows some traits associated with sociopathy, he doesn't have enough to be considered a sociopath.

He was bold but not mean. He doesn't respect societal norms but also doesn't lie and deceive. He makes long term plans but shows aggressive behavior.

Shiro seems to feel some guilt and remorse and follows up on personal and professional responsibilities. But he doesn't seem to consider his safety.

Shiro doesn't manipulate or intimidate, at least not often. He doesn't steal, is not addicted to any substances, doesn't needlessly destroy things.

He holds strong opinions but can be reasoned with and doesn't seem to have a strong sense of superiority.

Shiro can be described as 'cold' but does show investment in the lives of others. He has a tendency to nurture those who catch his interest and had done so a few times the most notable being Osada Aomi who he has elevated to Elite-Jonin strength.'

"Troublesome..." I shook my head and slid my report away. I wish I had refused when I was told to test him. I made an enemy, an enemy who could easily kill me if they desired.

Shiro was unpredictable and that made me nervous.

Not nervous enough to take preventive measures, but still nervous. After all, we're at war and accidents can happen.

My team could get 'surrounded' and 'captured'. We might disappear. It was an unsettling thought, one I was hesitant to share.

If we bothered him further, he might lash out.

"Troublesome..." I repeated.

I regretted being as direct as I was, I should have taken a more subtle approach. Prodding him as I had was a mistake, subtle observation was a better option.

Sadly, I didn't see it at the time.

I leaned forward and rested my head on my desk.

This was troublesome.

...