After inhaling the chakra of a being whose essence was modeled after himself, Suguru was filled with a vague warmth in his chest.
Like kindling, finally set aflame to warm the fireplace once more.
Perhaps the analogy of home cooking was indeed apt. Consuming the Human Clones before him filled him with joy as if he had partaken of his mother's cooking.
His original mother's cooking.
The one not from this world.
"..."
A moment where melancholic memories cascaded down, simultaneously clouded yet clear, consumed Suguru's mind. The separation from the past yet the definition of his future created an incongruence like no other.
Suguru felt it.
To be an otherworlder was an experience, surreal and terrifyingly beautiful at the same time.
Yet for some reason he could not.
'Understanding my own existence is paradoxical.'
On one hand, it felt necessary — and on the other hand, it seemed like something he was never supposed to touch.
Or perhaps... something he simply could not reach, no matter what.
It was likely a matter of impossibility.
"Hah," Suguru huffed, "...In the end, these thoughts themselves are unnecessary by nature. Something as distant as my transmigration should not be touched unless its effects persist beyond comfort."
He would cross the bridge when he got there.
Thus, Suguru shook his head and anchored his attention back to the present. Looking at the wilting Human Clones, ready to return to their origins, Suguru gestured to a few of his Shadow Clones with his eyes.
"On it," One said, with his Shinrakugan glowing crimson.
The other clones nodded and moved in sync. They each chose an empty Human Clone and placed them back onto the white slab of artificial flesh.
Seeing this, Suguru nodded to himself, while the rest of the clones continued to observe and take notes.
They watched as the husks, completely drained of chakra, were gradually reabsorbed by the white slab. It was like looking at some kind of living quicksand, squirming and devouring, yet incapable of its own rational thought
When the Human Clone husks were fully reassimilated, Suguru canceled his jutsu. The clones which were busy working all around him vanished into thin air to return the chakra expended to make them.
...As well as all the knowledge that they had absorbed and even began utilizing.
"Indeed... this Artificial Clone Material can be reused and recycled a few times before the cells wither and die. To prevent any wastage of organic material, I can regrow new cells and inject them every week."
This would create a cycle very similar to farming. The Human Clone Husks simply served as both the seeds and the fertilizer, absorbing chakra to form themselves anew each time. In essence, the white slab was a fully grown tree, bearing fruit at regular intervals with the influx of energy and nutrients.
"...Indeed," Suguru took note of a few of his clones' theories. "I still need to feed it with normal biological material."
The most effective of which, might just be his own blood, though he e would still have to test it out.
"It's like watering my plants with more than just sweat and tears."
Blood...
Suguru wondered why that had to be the resource. Was it related to the way blood seemed to be used? He didn't know for sure.
'I'll have to figure it out slowly.'
However, the first step to success had already been reached. All that was left was to continue. His chakra reserves had grown well from a mere snack. So, it was only natural for it to grow further as he expanded his farm.
***
Suguru walked the precarious paths of Kumogakure, admiring the vast blue skies. While he walked, he pondered. The state of the world and its players were not too big of a mystery to someone familiar with the future.
'The Chuunin Exam Arc would've started in a month, had the original timeline been followed.' Suguru narrowed his eyes.
'However, Naruto, Jiraiya, and Itachi had fled to Mount Myoboku for a while and were labeled as rogue. Now that Danzo is dead, however, they might've returned. Hiruzen should've rescinded the bounty on their heads.'
Suguru smacked his lips upon realizing that an important event might happen in the coming days.
'With Danzo gone, I wonder how Hiruzen has been managing Konohagakure. Furthermore, Orochimaru should still be in the Akatsuki, right? Has Otogakure been born already? Or...'
Will Otogakure no longer exist?
It was likely that Orochimaru was currently treading a very different path from before. Due to Suguru's influence, both directly and indirectly, Orochimaru had grown to become a complete mystery.
'Damn enigma,' Suguru cursed in amusement. 'I should pay the Akatsuki a small visit somehow...'
Unfortunately, it didn't seem like they would be active any time soon.
'Originally, they would've started their Biju hunting in two years.' Suguru's eyes flashed as a plan to gather information sprouted in his mind.
Furthermore, a poisonous suspicion soon sprouted in his heart. Now that he thought about it, he forgot something... crucial.
'Why did Danzo attack the jinchuriki of the Nibi?'
Suguru felt goosebumps sprout on his skin. Why hadn't he thought about it before? Was he too absorbed in the absorption of Hashirama Senju and Uchiha Shin's cells and DNA?
A foul premonition, which had previously been floating up in the distant clouds, suddenly came crashing down.
'Wait a minute... Wasn't there a researcher, still loyal to Root despite Danzo's death, who successfully created Nue in the far future?'
That foul premonition merged with his suspicions. Soon, a small smile appeared on Suguru's face.
'...Interesting.'
He soon fell into deep thought with the mountain peaks that littered Kumogakure inspiring him. Recalling the nature of Danzo's death, the intentions depicted by his plans to capture Yugito Nii, as well as the actions Danzo had taken to antagonize Hiruzen despite the latter's subservience.
Furthermore, there was Danzo's seemingly uncaring attitude towards the Kyuubi's disappearance from the Negative Chakra Formation. When Suguru had spied on Konoha, he had spotted a weird mass of flesh and a beating heart.
Now that he was cultivating a Human Clone Chakra Farm, he was rather knowledgeable on the characteristics of Hashirama's cells.
The thought of creating a monster like Nue didn't seem as farfetched as he had once thought. With enough time, he felt he could do the same.
Hence...
'...If only I had been able to read through Danzo's memories.'
Suguru knew that Hiruzen's leadership this time wouldn't be peaceful.
'Even if it is, there's likely a multitude of schemes hiding beneath the surface.'
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