14 The Power Earned Through Suffering

"How in the hell am I going to explain this!?" Shiki thought while still admiring his new appearance.

'Oooh nooo! What am I ever going to do!?' Women will never be able to get enough of me!' Narcissistically thought Shiki with mock distress.

After snapping out of his self adoration, the eight year old looked for the mask he had discarded in the hurry to check his appearance. Not seeing the mask anywhere he nearly started panicking buthe soon realized that by focusing on the mask's existence he could feel it, it had fused into his soul.

Realizing the special circumstances Shiki sat down and tried to meditate on the mask which was the symbol of his newly signed contract with the Shinigami.

A few moments later, the full benefits of this contract became clear. First of all the mask could serve as a container for souls and could even collect the souls of those that died within a range similar to that of the Soul Harvesting Pot in its ritual circle. Should he die and not save himself using Soul Substitution, Shiki's body will be erased from existence and his soul will be trapped in the mask. While others can also use the mask it will only allow them to summon a fragment of the Shinigami.

The mask in the Uzumaki Clan's Noh Mask Hall was probably the one made by his ancestor, the only other Uzumaki that safely manage to bind a contract with the Shinigami.

In regards to the last bit, Shiki merely thought all he had to do was not die. The mask, which he styled based on one of his previous life's favourite fictional character Jack of Blades, could grant an overall boost to all his abilities that could be further enhanced albeit temporarily by sacrificing Pure Souls but since the boost was based on his own abilities the stronger he got the greater the boost would be.

He could also create Soul Clones by consuming a Pure Soul, a Yin Soul, a Yang Soul, a Fire Soul, a Wind Soul, a Lightning Soul, an Earth Soul and a Water Soul. These clones would in fact be like extra bodies with the same abilities, chakra reserves and able to function completely independant while relaying important information back to him. He could even link his senses with them!

Another ability Shiki received was the Wraith Creation Jutsu he could use refined souls to create ghostly familiars with different abilities based on which type of soul was used.

His final and most powerful ability was the Reaper Possession Jutsu. It would make the fragment of the Shinigami within his mask to possess him granting him its powers and abilities. Pure souls will be rapidly consumed to maintain this state and if they run out the user's lifespan will be taken instead. The first transformation seems to induce some sort of terrible suffering upon the user and possession will cease immediately. It looks like a preliminary possession is necessary to acclimatize the user to the Reaper's power.

'I seem to remember activating my sharingan during the melding. Let's try to willingly do it now!'

With this, while staring at the puddle Shiki focused on his eyes.

'Sharingan'

Staring back at him was a Three-Tomoe Sharingan filled with indescribable power, whether this was the result of the fusing of all his Uchiha Yin Souls, or merely a common characteristic of these eyes, Shiki didn't know but for now . . .

"Three Tomoe!" The boy exclaimed.

'Well I have no idea why it's already fully matured but I'm not complaining! Now then while these eyes are super cool indeed, I'll need to train to adjust to the increased perception. As for showing this to other people . . . Since nobody knows who my parents actually are, including including myself, I'll just say my mother was probably an Uchiha and be done with it. After all, since I have these eyes it'd be a shame not to show them off!'

'Maybe I'll go and prod the emo using them just to see how he reacts hehehehe.' Thought Shiki evilly.

Leaving his plans to annoy others aside and dreading the explanations he would have to give to everyone, Shiki decide to do some more tasks before returning home. He took out the fan that tsunade had finally ordered for him. It was huge especially considering his size even though he was tall for his age, he was still just eight, it was made out of special metal with chakra metal engravings bearing a swirl motif, likely an homage to his clan. Shiki loved the design and thanked Tsunade profusely, his sincerity even making her slightly embarrassed.

Despite its perfection there was still one improvement to be made, Shiki used the Soul Binding Jutsu to bind a Wind Soul to his fan drastically increasing its power, efficiency and allowing him to control it from a distance.

As a last addition he placed a seal that was the nightmare of every man, the Shrinkage Seal, to give the fan the ability to become smaller and return to its original size according to his will.

Having taken care of the fan, Shiki then made his first soul clone. After consuming the required souls, a copy of himself appeared before him. But there was a difference, it was naked.

"I see, despite making a real flesh and blood copy of myself, it doesn't reproduce my equipment."

"I see, despite making a real flesh and blood copy of myself, it doesn't reproduce my equipment."

Said the two Shikis in perfect synchronization.

After making another two clones, Shiki gave the three sets of spare clothes and ninja tools he kept in his storage scrolls. Although these soul clones were perfect reproductions, they could shift their appearance without using jutsu so it was undetectable and didn't require food or water.

After that, the real Shiki went home, one of the clones stayed in the hideout, he would be using the fuinjutsu skills learned from the legacy to make several useful tools for the coming years, another clone would spend all of his time training using the shadow clone method. As for the last one, he changed his appearance and undertook a special task out of the village.

Information could be transmitted between clones and the original in real time and any skill learned by one would be automatically acquired by all the others making this jutsu a very convenient one indeed! He would still have to do physical training himself though, obviously.

As he walked home, Shiki considered the part of him that is lacking.

'The only thing I'm really lacking right now is experience. Although I was able to beat Kurenai-nee once, that was because she greatly underestimated me and she was only promoted to jounin recently. In terms of raw power, I am far beath an elite jounin still, there are probably no shinobi beneath jounin in Konoha that can beat me.'

Approaching the Senju compound Shiki considered what he would share with Tsunade and Shizune in the morning.

'I guess I'll reveal a little bit but won't give any specifics after all, some of the things I've done are not exactly the kind of things I should be talking to others about . . .'

After a good night's sleep Shiki faced the master and disciple in the morning.

"Good morning Tsuna-nee, Shizu-nee!" Greeted Shiki as if there was nothing wrong with the picture.

"Who the hell are you!?"

"Who are you!?"

Said the kunoichi in tandem.

"It's me, Shiki I know it's a pretty big change but I can explain! Sort of."

After a couple more exchanges of dialogue and some invasive probing the master and disciple realized the boy standing in front of them was indeed Uzumaki Shiki.

"Explain! Now!" Demanded Tsunade.

"Well first I should start with my memory . . ."

"You've recover your lost memories!?" Asked both kunoichi with surprise and even well hidden some fear that their new family might change.

"No, No, No!" Immediately responded Shiki alleviating their hidden concerns.

"As I've said before I have no memories but I have knowledge. What I wasn't entirely honest was on how much knowledge I actually have." Continued Shiki as both women just waited and listened.

"In truth, I have all the Uzumaki clan's knowledge and jutsu sealed in my mind. I've been practicing these jutsu in secret, sometimes at night. My new appearance is the result of one of those jutsu."

Tsunade and Shizune were utterly dumbfounded. The legacy of the Uzumaki the knowledge inside Shiki's mind was enough to start several wars making them fear terribly for his safe as he had grown so close to their hearts these past few years.

"I understand. Both your current situation and why you hid that fact. You don't need to feel guilty." Affirmed Tsunade.

"That's right Shiki! We're here for you! To help with whatever you may face."

"Thank you Tsuna-nee, Shizu-nee, for everything!" Said Shiki with honesty that surprised even himself, as his worries over their reactions faded from his heart.