I faintly heard explosions behind us, though we made it successfully to the border with no trouble.
"Pack up, we're leaving."
This is where bringing along 36 Chunin became a hindrance.
They hadn't been useful meat-shields but they were useful anchors.
"Move it!"
I yelled at one Chunin who was taking his time.
I was stopped from further berating the man by a rush of memories.
The clones were doing a good job and one had even managed to invade their version of a Kage Tower.
He had taken a look around for anything potentially useful but found nothing.
He instead decided to blow himself up and take out the tower.
I sighed...
The Self Detonation Technique...
I haven't made much use of it...
"Alright let's go! Leave those who aren't ready!"
These idiots knew what was happening, we weren't going camping...
Morons...
...
We made our way into Hot Springs and took a long winding path back to base.
I was bombarded with memories a little after leaving the border, the clones had taken inspiration from the one who blew up and started suicide bombing anyone who gave them trouble.
Though they assassinated as many important-looking people as they could.
It likely led to a good loss in Shimogakure's military might.
"Are we missing anyone?"
I hoped not, but it was possible as we were scrambling at the border.
"No Sir!"
I looked at the one who yelled, she was one of the Jonin who had followed me to Shimogakure.
"Good, let's keep up the pace."
Not that the pace was great, having a bunch of Chunin slowed us down.
...
"Shiro, I just wanted a distraction."
I shrugged and stayed quiet, I wasn't sure what Orochimaru was so angry about.
"Why did you invade Shimogakure?"
I didn't know twenty Clones was considered an invasion...
"It was only twenty Clones, no one even set foot in Shimogakure."
Orochimaru didn't look satisfied.
"You destroyed their west wall, demolished their tower, and killed a huge amount of their Jonin and one of their few S-Ranked ninjas."
I only killed a hundred people at most...
And the guy who launched giant icicles wasn't that strong...
"Shimogakure's Jonin need to learn sensing, and icicle guy died in a clone suicide bombing..." They were just too easy to assassinate and icicle guy only took out two of the clones before succumbing to a suicide bombing...
Orochimaru just stared at me.
"The traps you left in your wake demolished a good part of their forces."
I nodded.
"I made my seals rather well."
Orochimaru took a deep breath and rubbed his temple.
"You've overshadowed my battle."
Oops...
"That wasn't my intention."
Orochimaru sent me a tired look.
"I can tell."
I sent him my best sympathetic smile.
"Why don't you claim credit, call it your idea."
He snorted.
"The Jonin have already spread tales of your mission around the camp."
Hmmm... I decided to change the topic.
"How were things on your end?"
Orochimaru's face suddenly twisted with rage and he was practically a waterfall of chakra, even I who couldn't sense worth shit could feel the chakra leaking from him.
"The camp was much bigger than we thought, we had to retreat after an encounter with two of Kumo's S-Ranked ninja."
Shame...
"They sending out the S-Ranks already?"
Orochimaru nodded.
"They've got enough to throw them around."
Annoying...
"So, what's the plan?"
Orochimaru was back to his usual bored look, any trace of anger had vanished from his face.
"We've stirred the pot, now Kumo and Shimogakure should be hesitant to attack us."
I wasn't getting it.
"So?"
Orochimaru rolled his eyes.
"So, the hard part is done, now they're going to be afraid to commit to any large battle's for a while."
Orochimaru cackled.
"Kekeke, meaning we have some time to gather test subjects."
I ignored his weird cackling.
"Cool."
He snorted.
"Yes 'cool'."
I struggled not to roll my eyes.
Orochimaru was such an old man sometimes...
...
Over the next many Kumo-nin were captured and brought into the camp, Orochimaru spent his time using Earth Release to build himself an underground lab and I spent some time sealing the chakra of any prisoners we obtained.
It was awfully boring, which was why I delegated the task to my clones after a few hours of doing it myself.
I was now happily indexing my DNA and trying to identify any interesting genes for future study.
It was slow going, it was an endeavor that would likely take months.
But I was hoping to speed that up with liberal use of Shadow Clones.
...
"Shiro, go get me another test subject."
Orochimaru was going through people faster then we could capture them.
"There's no more."
He was doing some messy DNA manipulation most of which went horribly.
"Well get more!"
Orochimaru was trying to give his test subjects some sort of bloodline, but so far it hadn't worked a single time.
"Alright..."
Following Orochimaru around was becoming annoying, but I was learning more then I could learn myself.
So, it was well worth it.
"Quit dawdling and go!"
That's one I haven't heard yet...
"Yes sensei!"
I put down my brush and sealed the ink up, I was going through paper a bit too fast.
But I needed a lot of Fuinjutsu to analyze my DNA.
Sigh...
...
"Shiro."
I blew a breath out of my mouth.
"What?"
I turned and looked at a mildly afraid looking Chunin.
"Your mom's here."
Great...
"Send her in."
I sighed and started gathering my supplies, DNA analysis was going well, I had identified a few different genes that weren't present in normal people but that was it.
I still had no clue what they did...
I was broken from my thoughts by a pair of arms circling my torso and a chin on my shoulder.
"Hello, mom."
She was silent for a moment and I started sealing my stuff away again.
"You disappeared on me."
I left a note...
"I left a note, and you were on some sort of mission."
I felt her shake her head.
"You should have waited."
I blew a breath from my nose.
"I will next time."
She released me and I turned around to see her, she didn't look any different but it felt like ages since I've seen her.
"Did you bring Duy?"
She nodded.
"Yes, he was quite eager to display his youthful improvements."
I chuckled a little.
Though I didn't think Duy knew what he was getting into.
"A few weeks here will probably kill that enthusiasm."
I had seen hundreds of people die since I got here.
And it had only been two months...
"Bring Might Duy in!"
I directed my yell vaguely at the tent flap.
I now had a few minions to do things for me, it was one of my new favorite things.
I don't think I could go without minions again.
"Shiro congratulations on becoming an S-Ranked ninja."
Mom's words almost caused me to drop the arm full of scrolls I was holding.
"Since when?"
I hadn't known I was considered an S-Ranked ninja.
"Shimo and Kumo put out bounty's labeling you an S-Ranked ninja."
What?
"Do you have the bounty book on you?"
I wanted to see it.
Mom shook her head, with a small smile on her face.
"Bring me the bounty book!"
I sent another yell at the tent flap.
Looking at the tent flap annoyed me... I want a building of some kind...
Duy jumped into the tent with a youthful flourish and opened his mouth wide preparing for some youthful shouting.
"So, how's Gai? He got my letters?"
I stopped Duy from preforming whatever youthful shout he was going to do with my question.
His mouth snapped shut with a click, and he spun on his heel before giving me a nice guy pose.
"Gai told me to offer my most sincere thanks for the letters you sent him!"
I nodded at him.
"So Gai's doing well?"
I heard my mom snort from behind me.
"Gai is participating in the Chunin-exams and has been training most Youthfully!"
I shook my head.
"Neat."
It seems puberty was doing Gai well if he's already participating in the Chunin exams.
A Chunin entered the tent in a near run.
"Here's a bingo book sir!"
I took it from him and waved him off.
"Thanks."
Always thank your minions...
I flipped through the book for a moment before finding the Konoha section.
I flipped through the book some more noting that the book was in alphabetical order.
I went through the O's looking for Orochimaru's entry out of curiosity.
I took a glance at it and continued.
I reached the S's and after a few flips, I found my name.
There were three pictures of me from different angles.
And a few small entries at the bottom containing my bounty and estimated strength.
It mentioned my frequent use of a lightning sword and Shunshin but lacked anything about the Rasengan...
It noted me as a Hyuga but stated that they didn't know what branch I was from.
"Neat... but where did they get these pictures?"
The book had my elemental affinity as well...
"No idea."
I sent a slight frown at my mom.
"These are from when I went shopping."
Meaning someone took them in Konoha and got them either to Kumo or Shimo.
Spies sucked...
"Whatever..."
My bounty paled in comparison to Orochimaru's...
Though I guess that's not too surprising...
I snapped the book shut and turned my gaze to Duy.
"I heard you've improved?"
Duy nodded and fist-pumped.
"Yes, I have been youthfully training my Taijutsu and Sumiko has called it passable!"
I looked at mom and she nodded at me.
I sent Duy a thumbs up.
"So, what brought you two here?"
Hopefully, the clans were sending people out to the fronts, we were getting demolished in Grass as far as I knew...
"They needed some sensors here so I was sent."
I raised an eyebrow at mom, that was news to me.
"You're a sensor?"
Mom crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow at me.
"Haven't I told you?"No, you haven't...
"Nope." I popped the "P" and stared her semi accusatorily.
Mom shrugged and looked unaffected by my stare.
I sighed...
"Go get your tents set up."
Hopefully, we could get some buildings setup, I might need to order some people to do so with Earth Release.
Mom departed with a wave and Duy trailed after her.
I threw my head back and stared at the roof of the tent.
Now I needed to watch over my mother...
The thought of her being out here made me anxious...
Though I suppose it was ideal that she was around, at least then I had a chance to make sure she was alright.
Thankfully she wasn't in Grass, as far as I knew Iwa had been stomping all over us there.
Sigh...
I better go see Orochimaru, he usually wants something to eat around now...
Feeding Orochimaru was my least favorite part of being his assistant...
...
"I heard your mother arrived."
I wasn't sure I wanted Orochimaru to talk about my mom while he was standing over a corpse.
"Yes, she arrived this morning with a batch of sensors."
Orochimaru hummed.
"It took them long enough to get here, I requested them weeks ago..."
He trailed off and started making an incision on the corpse's chest.
"It can't be helped, Iwa is destroying us and they need all the people they can get over there."
Grass was a meat grinder, ninja were constantly sent in and it made little difference, we were constantly losing ground.
Grass was half occupied by Iwa as far as I knew...
"Those incompetents..."
Orochimaru shook his head, he was wrist deep into the corpse and it was weirding me out.
I decided it was time to bail, I wasn't interested in chatting while Orochimaru was doing a dissection.
"Sigh... I'm leaving your food on your desk, I'm going to order someone to build some buildings, I've grown sick of the tents."
Orochimaru shoed me away with a blood-stained hand.
"Do so."
Alrighty.
"Yes, Sensei."
I turned and started towards the stairs.
Things had been slow lately, after my 'attack' on Shimogakure there hadn't been more than the occasional skirmish.
Things had been boring, though I guess boring was ok.
I had made a lot of progress in the analysis of my DNA after all...
...
Boom*
I was woken by the sound of a nearby explosion.
My eyes snapped open and I came face to face with a masked ninja.
We made eye contact and I only realized he had a kunai to my throat after he slit it.
I hit him with a sloppy strike to the chest and my other hand flew up to my throat to cover it.
My strike had done as intended and damaged some of his organs.
I heard him release a painful gasp, he backed away and started hacking.
It seems I hit a lung...
Boom*
I heard another explosion but paid it no mind.
My hand glowed green and I started using the Mystical Palm hoping to heal my throat a little faster.
I got off my cot and stumbled towards the man.
He was bent over and still hacking so he didn't offer much resistance when I tapped him on the top of his head ending his life.
I gave my throat a scan and saw it was good enough.
I took a deep breath.
I instantly felt better, though my heart was still beating out of my chest.
I wiped my bloody palm on my underwear and made my way towards the opening of the tent.
I breached the opening and saw some smoke coming from the direction of Orochimaru's lab, it was likely where the explosions came from.
Only now did the shouting and the smell of blood start to register in my mind.
A single hand-sign and three clones appeared in a burst of smoke.
One set off to make sure my mom was alright, the other tow set off to clear the camp and I went back into my tent to get dressed.
What a shitshow...
...
I was fully dressed and making my way towards Orochimaru's lab.
My chest was sticky with partially dried blood and I was in a foul mood.
The shouting had died down for the most part, things seemed to have calmed down some.
Meaning we weren't being invaded or raided.
Just some assassins then...
I yawned.
I probably should have my Byakugan active...
I activated my Byakugan and quickly scanned the camp, things seemed alright for the most part.
Orochimaru's lab had collapsed but there was no sign of him inside, it seems he was alright.
Mom was wandering around with her own Byakugan active, I waved in her direction and she sent one back.
She was alright...
Duy was youthfully pitching a tent while regaling those who were helping him with tales of youth.
So, Duy was good...
The clones were doing well.
One was hefting a body and slowly making its way towards Orochimaru, while the other two were nowhere to be seen.
They might be chasing some runaways...
Sigh...
I changed my direction and started towards Orochimaru.
...
I arrived near Orochimaru and deactivated my Byakugan, Orochimaru was a sorry sight, he was covered in a layer of dust and his robes were stained in blood.
And he looked to be barely holding himself back from snarling.
"Beautiful night we're having."
Orochimaru snorted and his face seemed less twisted then it was a moment ago.
"The Fuinjutsu protecting my lab was sabotaged."
I hummed, my protections were sabotaged as well.
"What I had protecting my tent didn't trigger as well..."
I had a large seal covering the floor of the tent, it almost looked like I was preparing some sort of ritual.
It should've screeched the moment foreign chakra entered the seal's area, but that didn't happen...
"Spies?"
Orochimaru nodded with clenched teeth.
"Spies..." He hissed the word, I saw a passing Jonin shiver when he said it.
My clone arrived with his cargo breaking the atmosphere, the ninja was heavily concealed and had no obvious markings that connected him to any of the villages.
"Want this brought to the interrogation guys?" My clone shrugged and moved the body for emphasis.
Orochimaru shook his head before I had even finished the sentence.
"I'll take care of this one... personally..."
Orochimaru hissed again and the clone raised an eyebrow at me.
I shrugged at it, this was new to me too...
Orochimaru had the ninja over his shoulder and turned to leave.
"I'll get your lab set-up."
Orochimaru nodded but didn't stop walking and soon left in a Shunshin.
That was a cool exit...
"Go, find some Earth Release users."
My clone nodded and Shunshined away.
Delegation for the win...
Sigh...
I flickered my Byakugan but saw no sign of my other clones.
Hmm...
I wonder what they were up to...
...