Chapter 24 - Mission: To Hidden Grass Village

Time passed in a blink as a month came and went since Kagami went to Minato to ask for permission on implementing his nanobots. Since then, he collected a massive amount of data as many young shinobi who wish to continue working came forward. Many who had scarring or damaged limbs that could be fixed quickly decided to undergo the nanobots testing.

Hence, Minato was singing praises as the shinobi force that was low due to just coming out of a war improved. Since it improved by over fifteen percent in just a month. While Kagami happily gathered data from everyone with his nanobots.

Now as he shifted through the data as he pulled out interesting genes or slightly unique chakra. He gained a much wider data pool to use in his research and to his happiness. He managed to get Kushina DNA and Chakra. Which he happily put under a lot of protection and only he, Kushina, Mira and Minato know about it.

'I got Senju and Uzumaki DNA and the best part is Kushina isn't pregnant yet so her hormones aren't fluctuating that much.' Kagami was giddy at this thought.

The reason he was happy about this is because he could begin preparations to put his plan into action. Since his goal was to copy the Uzumaki and Senju immense chakra, strong life force and recovery abilities.

"Kagami, we got a mission."

While in his thoughts of how to go about it, Mira walked in. So breaking away as he thought of using a serum like a super soldier. Kagami spun on his spinning stool like a child which isn't saying much as he is a child and no matter how old a man is, he is a child at heart.

"What mission do we have?" He asked as the stool continued spinning more than he wanted.

"We are investigating Grass Village. Recently their movements have increased as well our total mission request dropped by a small margin. It is believed the two are related so the Hokage wants us to investigate and find the cause." Mira answered. "Now stop spinning and let go."

--

After grabbing his gear and saying goodbye to his grandfather, Kagami and Mira headed towards the Grass Village. Which ended in a very relaxing trip as they didn't run into much besides a merchant who broke a wheel. So being the kind hearted soul he is, Kagami fixed up the wheel and captured the merchant who turned out to be a bandit.

So after clearing the bandit group and turning them in. Kagami and Mira safely arrived at the Grass Village which instantly filled them with doubts. Shinobi were racing about and promoting cheaper mission task commissions compared to the major villages.

"Do you feel it odd here, too?" Mira asked in a whisper.

"Mmm, I will explore how this is possible while you investigate the civilians. Either they obtained a wonder drug that can rapidly heal injuries or something else is going on." Kagami frowned.

"Sort of like your nanobots." Mira asked.

"I doubt it. It is not like I want to brag but even given ten to twenty years and no village will come close to replicating them." Kagami said with a bit of pride. "No, it is most likely like the rumored Hero Water of the Hidden Waterfall Village."

"Life for strength or in this case healing." Mira began to frown.

"If not theirs, who or what ever is treating them." Kagami nodded.

"Such a terrible village." Mira grumbled.

"Yeah, but every village has darkness and ugliness." Kagami sighed. "Let's just get this mission over with. I got an idea, and would like to begin working on the prototype."

"Ok. If you run into trouble just cause a bunch of havoc and I come running." Mira said as they split.

'Why would I want to cause havoc?' Kagami mentally thought.

However, he soon began to theorize how and the most efficient way as well which jutsu would work best. He even thought of an idea of using wood release to unleash a Wooden Frosty. Sort of a joke, instead of being made of snow, he was instead made of wood.

--

Quickly and silently moving through the streets until he discovered a returning injured Grass shinobi. Kagami trailed the shinobi without the party ever noticing him as he led him towards a more secluded and slightly well guarded place. There, he watched as the man entered a hut and saw a slightly tired woman with red hair greet him. Her eyes were slightly tired as another man grinned as he silently passed the man.

'Red hair? Is she a Uzumaki clan member or does she just have red hair?' Kagami thought as he continued to watch.

After the man stepped inside, he peeked through the window to watch as the woman slightly undressed her arms as the man took it roughly and bit down. Blood leaked as the woman slightly winced at the force but Kagami's eyes narrowed and the woman's eyes drooped.

'So she is an Uzumaki clan member.' Kagami sighed mentally as he silently snuck in and put a kunai into the back of the healing shinobi skull.

The woman looked at him in surprise and noticed the headband on his arm. Then she became emotionless as she looked at him.

"Let me see your arm." Kagami said as she just stared at him.

"What are you doing here, Konoha shinobi." She said after a few minutes.

"Investigating the Grass Village, I didn't expect to find a Uzumaki clan member though." Kagami shrugged. "Especially a clan member who doesn't care about her own life."

Upon getting a closer look at the woman, Kagami could see the life in her was lower than it should be for her age. She didn't look that old, maybe around Kushina age give or take a couple years. However, her eyes had dark circles and slight wrinkles as her red hair was slightly paler than it should.

Then a vague memory surfaced in his mind and Kagami had a hunch who this woman was. This woman is most likely Karin's mother. Making him look around and found a photo of a man holding her arms as they looked like a married couple. The man also appeared to have red hair but as he looked around some more. It doesn't look like anyone lives here besides this woman.

"Where is your Husband?" Kagami asked.

"Dead." She stated. "Killed three weeks ago on a mission of escorting a caravan."

Kagami frowned, but didn't comment further. After asking a few more questions, Kagami discovered that the village said Konoha was responsible for his death. However, Kagami had a strong suspicion this wasn't the case or it might be Root doing. Only, if it is Root then there should be any evidence or suspicions.

Finally as time was nearing for him to leave, Kagami asked a question. "Do you want to stay here and die from exhaustion leaving your child behind or come to Konoha? There are a few Uzumaki clansmen there, but not many."

"Why should I go to the village that is suspected of killing my husband." She asked plainly.

"If you're fine with your child sharing a similar fate to you, then by all means stay. In Konoha at least the bright side won't try to use or cause your death for small profits." Kagami said, attempting to guilt her into following him.

Did Kagami feel slightly bad about trying such a thing? He indeed did feel slightly bad about it, but what could he do? While he might shinobi and reaped lives, Kagami at heart was a kind person who would help others if he could. Which might be a naive view in this world, but he is who he is.

Finally after a few minutes, she placed her hand on her stomach. "Very well, for this child I will lay down my suspicions. When do we leave?" The woman said.

"In a few hours, pack up and my teammate and I will take you away." Kagami said, receiving a nod.