Chapter 105: Doubts About Orochimaru's Research!
The sky was dark, the road was slippery, and everyone went back to their own homes. After agreeing on a time and place to meet tomorrow, the team dispersed on the spot.
Nara Keisuke summoned a [Shadow Creature], sat on its back, and rode it slowly towards Kikyo Castle outside Konoha Village.
Midway.
Keisuke began to examine the effects of the [Smoke Clone Technique] he had just acquired. "A D-rank clone technique?"
In the ninja world, the two most widely circulated types of clone jutsu were the most basic, non-solid [Clone Technique] and the solid [Shadow Clone] developed by Senju Tobirama. Besides these two, there were also a large number of other types of clones, of all shapes and sizes.
Setting aside the special clone jutsu mastered by other ninja, the clone abilities that Keisuke himself had mastered, besides the basic Clone and Shadow Clone, included three others: the [Ink Clone] developed from the [Super Beast Scroll]; and the [Shadow Imitation Human Technique] and [Shadow Doppelganger Technique] developed from the [Shadow Secret Techniques].
"I didn't expect to have another type of clone jutsu now." Keisuke gazed at the effects of the D-rank technique [Smoke Clone Technique] on his panel. "And it's even a special clone jutsu developed based on a Kekkei Genkai ability!"
It wasn't that he hadn't gotten a technique that fell within the scope of a Kekkei Genkai from a [Shinobi Secret Scroll] before. But as everyone knew, Kekkei Genkai had a very strong exclusivity for ordinary ninja. If it were just an elemental-release-type Kekkei Genkai, Keisuke might have been able to figure out its specific usage method through his own learning and research abilities, for example, the previous [Scorch Release: Extremely Steaming Murder]. But for a constitution-type Kekkei Genkai ability, he had no—
"Well, not necessarily. For example, the [Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm]..."
Keisuke reviewed the contents of the [Smoke Clone Technique] scroll. "The Iburi clan's Smoke Release is like a constitution-type ability, but also like an elemental-release-type ability. It's simply like a Kekkei Genkai version of the Hozuki clan. According to general elemental-release-type Kekkei Genkai, they are all produced by the fusion of two different chakra natures. Then this 'Smoke' nature, which two chakra natures is it developed from? In terms of its specific effects, it doesn't seem to be related to the lightning and fire chakra natures. So it's... two of wind, water, and earth?"
Keisuke hadn't originally held much hope for a D-rank [Shinobi Secret Scroll], but he hadn't expected it to produce a Kekkei Genkai ability, which was a pleasant little surprise. A pity. He himself was not a ninja of the Iburi clan and didn't know their means of controlling "Smoke Release." And he couldn't just forcibly abduct an Iburi clan research subject back, like he did with Pakura. The research on the [Smoke Clone Technique] could only be put on hold for the time being.
Keisuke's thoughts focused on another matter. Sarutobi Hiruzen knew about the connection between Orochimaru and the Iburi clan, and also knew about Orochimaru's plan to research their Kekkei Genkai. The Third Hokage's initial intention was probably relatively simple. If Orochimaru's research succeeded, it would add another Kekkei Genkai to Konoha's foundation; if it failed, Konoha would basically not have to pay any price.
However... "Sarutobi Hiruzen still doesn't have a clear and profound enough understanding of his disciple."
Although Orochimaru was still one of Konoha's Sannin and not the S-rank rogue ninja of the future, in Keisuke's eyes, whether Orochimaru was Uncle Snake, Auntie Snake, or Mother Snake... it didn't matter. That guy was a thorough research fanatic!
"For Iburi Yukimi to take her brother to see Orochimaru is simply a little lamb delivering itself to the mouth of the big gray wolf, practically begging to be eaten..."
In this D-rank mission, which was originally meant for practice, Keisuke had found quite a few suspicious points. For example, from where did Orochimaru learn of the Iburi clan's existence; who was the middleman that connected Orochimaru and the Iburi clan; to what extent had Orochimaru's research on the Iburi clan reached; what was Orochimaru's ultimate goal in researching the Iburi clan...
"The Iburi clan, Kekkei Genkai, Tenzō... Root, Yamato, Wood Release?"
A flurry of thoughts flooded Keisuke's mind. Even after returning to the Kikyo Orphanage, he still couldn't reach a definite conclusion. After all, the idea that "Orochimaru is using the Iburi clan's Smoke Release to deepen his research into Wood Release" was just too far-fetched...
Kikyo Orphanage.
Master Nara, who had been busy for a day, sat down at the dining table, waiting for the big sister to feed him a soft meal.
"Keisuke, for you." Yakushi Nono'o handed a black doll made of mud to him.
"What's this?" Keisuke pinched the part of this unknown creature that could probably be called a "neck" with his right thumb and index finger and shook it lightly.
"It's a gift from Kabuto." Nono'o held back her laughter and said with a straight face, "According to Kabuto, this is a doll he made in your image."
"You're saying this is me?" Keisuke's mouth twitched. He forcefully shook the humanoid doll in his hand, which, to be honest, looked more like the "No-Face" from another world. "I'm telling you, this isn't me! Sister Nono'o, are you sure Kabuto got a pair of glasses with the right prescription today?"
"I'm very sure." Nono'o nodded and chuckled lightly. "A pair of silver-rimmed rectangular glasses that are largely identical in style to your sunglasses. The price was 2234 ryo."
"Forget it. What adult would get serious with a child?" Considering Kabuto's sentiment, Keisuke still didn't throw away the mud doll in his hand, but instead placed it on the room's windowsill. "Oh right, Sister Nono'o, have you done the thing I asked you to do before?"
"I've already used the [Super Beast Scroll] to relay your matter to Mr. Oyakata En." Nono'o and Keisuke were squeezed together by the sink, each washing the other's hands. "Mr. En said that the next time he comes to Konoha, he will discuss it with you face to face."
"That's good. But I hope his next visit to Konoha will be sooner rather than later." Keisuke gently wrapped his arm around her waist and buried his head to replenish his mana. "Sister Nono'o, I really want to do just four things with you every day: three meals a day."
In the following few days, Nara Keisuke and his squad took on many trivial D-rank missions to increase their tactical coordination. Although these missions were not difficult and were very fragmented, fortunately, they were not tasks like "babysitting," "capturing a pet," or "planting potatoes."
Every D-rank mission Keisuke's squad received basically corresponded to the specialty of a certain member of the team. For example, in the previous [Find the Child] mission, it was Hyūga Retsu's Byakugan that played a very important role in long-range observation.
Through these few days of low-level missions, Keisuke had also obtained several D-rank [Shinobi Secret Scrolls]. It was just a pity that, perhaps because these missions no longer involved special Kekkei Genkai families like the Iburi clan, the contents of the scrolls he opened were very unsatisfactory.
D-rank Taijutsu [Konoha Hurricane], a spinning high kick;
D-rank Taijutsu [Konoha Gale], a spinning low kick.
Keisuke didn't know why a "spinning kick" could be divided into two types and still be classified as a D-rank taijutsu... But at least these two techniques were not the lowest value rewards. One time, he even got five hundred ryo in cash from a D-rank scroll. Five hundred ryo, in cash... Keisuke seriously suspected that he was currently in a period of bad luck, but he had no proof.
And later, he did get a D-rank technique of decent quality.
[D-rank Technique: Body Freeze Technique / Kanashibari no Jutsu]
[Technique Description: A low-level genjutsu that binds the body with an invisible force.]
[Technique Effect: By expending one's own Yin Release chakra, it's as if the opponent's body is being restrained by invisible steel cables, restricting their ability to move. The binding strength varies depending on the caster and the amount of chakra invested.]
[Technique Evaluation: Huh? Stand still!]
In terms of specific effects, the [Body Freeze Technique] was not much different from his family's inherited [Shadow Paralysis Jutsu]. But the latter required "shadow" as a medium to activate, while the former only required a "glare" to use. Therefore, Keisuke was relatively satisfied with this D-rank genjutsu.
This day, a rather large merchant caravan slowly approached Konoha.
After the caravan's owner met with various business partners and trading counterparts, he took some free time to meet with his true target for this trip in a secret tea room in the village.
"It seems your caravan business has developed at an astonishing speed during this time," Keisuke said, propping up his chin and lazily looking at the caravan boss who was pushing the door open. "Oyakata En."
"If it weren't for the Nara clan's support and guarantee, it would have taken me at least three more years to develop the caravan to its current scale." Oyakata En walked into the tea room with a smile and sat down opposite Keisuke. "Nara-kun, it hasn't been easy... This is the first time we've met since that day, isn't it?"
"Indeed it is." Keisuke sized him up. "I thought you would ask about Chino's situation first."
"I am not Chino's father right now." Oyakata En adjusted his glasses, the light reflecting off the lenses hiding his eyes. "Her father right now is you, Nara-kun."
This topic hit Keisuke's silence switch. He had no idea how to respond to this sentence from Chino's biological father. "I really can't understand your thinking..." Keisuke let out a breath and decided to skip the topic. "Let's get down to business! I need you to help me build a small-scale underground research base in Kikyo Castle."
"A research base?" Oyakata En raised his eyelids and sized up the young man sitting opposite him, a strange look flashing in his eyes. "What you want to research shouldn't be the Ketsuryūgan, right?"
"If you have collected any relevant intelligence on me, you would know that I have recently joined a team." Keisuke responded very calmly. "The most talented Chunin of the Uchiha clan's current generation is in my team. As for the gap between the Sharingan and the Ketsuryūgan... I don't think I need to say much, do I?"
A sentence that Nara Shikano had said back then suddenly flashed through Oyakata En's mind. "You in Konoha... have better options?"
"In any case, believe it or not, I have no interest in the Chinoike clan's Ketsuryūgan." Keisuke knocked on the table. "The reason I'm commissioning you is only because you are the most professional real estate merchant I know, and you have sufficient means and reputation to help me build a research base in Kikyo Castle."
"Alright, I'll take this commission," Oyakata En nodded in response. "But I have one question... for this kind of thing, why don't you ask Clan Head Nara Shikano?"
"Because..." Keisuke sighed. "The sight of the Nara clan working hard is too eye-catching."
(End of Chapter)
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