Chapter – 62: Hachimon

[Rei POV]

The very first thing I did after testing out my mangekyo is, go to the black market again and buy three more nutrition tanks. With my spirit currently, I can control five clones simultaneously. Since my graduation from the academy is getting closer and closer, I will need one clone to be made from my old cells and the other four, I need them to have my mangekyo. However, grafting my tissues to activate more genes in the already created clones will take much longer than just cloning again. So, I didn't mind paying a huge price again this one time to get myself a head start.

Two months later.

The new round of cloning completed just yesterday. I didn't hurry to control five clones simultaneously as that would still need a lot of practice to do. Instead, I decided to use the Eye of Truth to analyze the defects in my Soul Descent Technique and perfect it.

As the Yamanaka Jutsu which my technique was based off on is a hidden technique, I couldn't analyze it with just my Sharingan, so I was thinking of getting similar techniques to optimize it even further. However, after awakening my mangekyo abilities, it's not necessary anymore; just the Eye of Truth is enough.

I activate my mangekyo in a clone and have it watch me as I perform the Soul Descent Technique. As soon as it sees me displaying the technique, a huge amount of information starts to pour into me from the clone.

'With this amount of information, it will be a piece of cake for the A.I chip to simulate a better version of it,' I smile, 'A.I. Chip! Establish a new mission! begin simulating an improved version of the Soul Descent Technique!'

[Mission establishing! Gathering information, beginning simulation….]

[Information sources: … Soul Descent Technique, Yamanaka Hidden Jutsu…. Simulation time: 43h 57m 38s!]

'Good,' I think. With that out of the way, There are a couple of concerns left for me to address before the Third Ninja War officially starts and all hell breaks loose.

Firstly, the clone I created from my old cells is super weak; like only has the strength of a Genin, and I cannot change anything about it as I want people to see me grow in power. The problem is, I cannot let it die in this war too or I will lose my identity as a Konoha ninja. Even if create a new clone and try to get it back into Konoha, it will be a lot harder to explain how I survived; especially if all my teammates were to die too. To solve this, I will need to have one of my stronger clones become the secret guardian by clearing up any dangers that might come in my missions. Also, it will be good if I can get the latest information from other villages; that would help me a lot in planning stuff ahead of time.

Second, although I have found my way to EMS, with how my search for the active genes is going, I believe it will be extremely hard to finish collecting them or will take a long time if I have to wait for Itachi, Shisui, and Sasuke to awaken them. Since I don't want to waste time waiting, I have decided to look for Madara's blood sample. I do have a couple of ideas on how to move forward. But first, I have to take a look at the Valley of the End, although it's been decades, if I can find even a single bloodstain that survived the years, it will be worth it. I hardly think I will find anything, but it's worth checking out. Also, Orochimaru might have some, again that too is just expectation without any guarantees. Finally, if none of these work, I have another plan; a plan so risky that I hope it never comes down to it.

'I already have finished almost everything I wanted to in Kiri, so no need to go there again for now. So, this time, I can go to Iwa and Kumo to try my luck.'

'It's decided then, I will have one clone go to the Valley of the End, one to Iwa, and one to Kumo,' I think, 'Also, from tomorrow, I should start sending an actual clone to the academy instead of a blood clone.'

That leaves me and the clone I intend to use as a guardian angel. I will focus on my research while I can have the remaining clone go out to gain experience.

'Maybe becoming a mercenary is not a bad choice,' I smile.

…

Another couple of months pass. As expected, the clone I sent to the Valley of the End returned empty-handed; forget bloodstains, there was not a single sign left there that could prove such a big battle even happened. Like in the anime, they have even constructed the statues of Hashirama and Madara there. Without any leads, the clone returned a few days ago.

'Since it's almost time for the war, Might Duy should have perfected Hachimon Tonko by this point, right?' I smile, 'It's time to get my hands on it!'

The power of Hachimon Tonko is something everyone can agree on. Although it will kill the user after opening all eight gates, Guy was able to fight Ten-tails Jinchuuriki Madara with it. I could have tried to get it earlier, but I didn't have time to waste on perfecting it myself as I was busy with bloodline experiments and I wanted to get the original one, not one that is made up by me. Also, since I knew Duy would soon do it, I didn't bother and chose to wait.

For myself, I am not that interested in the temporary power it can give, but rather in its research value. If I can find a way to somehow keep them open all the time without any side effects, or at least find a way to not die after using it, it will be a great addition to my prowess. Even if not, I can use it with my clones!

'Also, Mikoto is pregnant!' I think. The last time I saw her was like a week ago and she was four months into the pregnancy, 'So the canon begins, ha?'