Chapter 17

"Edo Tensei. A jutsu capable of summoning the dead and forcing them to fight for the user. With a sacrifice and materials at hand, the possibilities of its application are limitless, as is the colossal headache if this knowledge falls into enemy hands. After reading a sufficiently lengthy description, which included quite a large number of seals applied to the vessel of the sacrifice, the clone literally memorized the text.

Transforming its right hand into a dark blade, it carefully cleaned the dense paper, scraping off the top layer along with the ink without a trace. After a few minutes, an empty space adorned the middle of the scroll, with a small pile of paper shavings on the floor. Memorizing a couple more jutsu that caught its attention, the clone carefully transcribed the first intricate technique it came across onto the empty space from the bottom row of the forbidden cabinet nearby, rolled up the entire scroll, and returned it to its original position.

The trash on the floor was then rolled into a small ball and swallowed, while the chakra construct began to meticulously delve into the contents of the cabinet. Considering its contents labeling, there could have been more than one copy of destroyed techniques on the shelves. It took about an hour of thorough inspection, but the efforts paid off—small, tattered scrolls without titles contained earlier and modified versions of Edo Tensei with numerous annotations.

Judging by the initials left, they were the handiwork of the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama. The findings met the same fate as the trash a little earlier, and the clone nodded in satisfaction before retreating to the darkest corner of the room, slowly sinking into the shadow, taking its loot with it. The disappearance, like the infiltration, went completely unnoticed by both the guards and sensory seals designed to detect sources of ordinary chakra. The appearance of a shadow in the alley opposite the Hokage Tower, as well as its subsequent disappearance a couple of seconds later, went unnoticed by anyone.

Feeling the presence of familiar chakra nearby, I opened my eyes and glanced at the clone that had risen from the floor a couple of steps away. It seemed the little adventure went without a hitch. The clone dispersed at my command, and I absorbed memories and the scrolls that had fallen to the floor along with the paper trash. Hmm, if I had known it would be so easy, I would have infiltrated the Hokage's library long ago.

Especially considering the minor check on penetration in my own shop and home. This was how I discovered a small flaw in standard barriers that allowed me to use such a loophole. Given that my clones are almost undetectable by sensors that didn't create them, the risk factor was minimized. There were only some doubts about the protection on the scrolls themselves, but here, too, it turned out to be empty.

Of course, considering the capabilities of ordinary thieves, even shinobi ones, Mito's creation is ultra-reliable, but Inton and Yōton have never been ordinary. However, it plays into my hands. Now I just have to hope that Orych hasn't already rummaged through his teacher's caches.

Smirking, I picked up the scrolls and carefully reviewed them. I destroyed the earlier version and sealed the later one with a fuin on my left hand. Such knowledge is better kept in mind or on the body to prevent what happened before. Besides, if anyone accidentally sees it, they'll start asking uncomfortable questions, even if that someone turns out to be Saya.

It's better to err on the side of caution. Gathering all the resulting paper trash, I burned it in a specially designated bowl, after which I took out two clean scrolls and transferred onto them another piece of loot from the same resource, which could come in handy much later. Task "X" for the near future is completed, and the two small bonuses only added to the enjoyment!

***

"How could you miss so badly, Danzo?" Hiruzen Sarutobi shook his head sadly, surveying the surroundings.

Once the second-largest camp in Tsuchigakure's territory, it was now almost completely destroyed. Smoking ruins, piles of stone and earth used in techniques, still remained uncleared. The nature around was almost completely destroyed by fierce battles between shinobi, and in the place of what was once a green forest, there was now only churned earth with round craters from explosions, traces of already-cooled lava, and even several huge pits with perfectly smooth walls, as if cut out by a giant scalpel.

The latter clearly was the work of the kekkei tota of the Third Tsuchikage, Ōnoki. Considering the most massive attack on Tsuchigakure in the last six months, it was hard to expect a different outcome, but Shimura's scouts should have detected enemy forces several hours before the attack itself, rather than jumping at the alarm from sensory seals that were recently supplied from Konoha, albeit in quite small quantities.

I've got more interesting stuff on patreon (up to 70 chapter)

patreon.com/Chill76