Chapter 49

My current genetic limit for chakra was about High-Kage level, which wasn't bad.

It was better then what a majority of people in the Naruto-verse were working with.

That combined with my ridiculous chakra density put me in the upper Kage range in terms of chakra...

Though there was a chance that could somehow change and get better...

With the addition of the Shikotsumyaku my physical energy and chakra had changed so there could be some further positive changes.

I put it out of my mind, crossed my arms, and drummed my fingers on my opposite arms.

Orochimaru being slightly unhinged seemed to be working in my favor, he was getting fast and loose with his research notes but didn't seem to want to teach me anymore...

He wouldn't let me watch or participate in any of his experiments or research.

But if I wanted something I just had to ask and he would give it to me, before shooing me away.

So here I was sitting in front of a table full of scrolls

Which contained information about Spiritual energy and its interaction with chakra.

I was trying to get his research on the soul without explicitly asking for it...

So far it hasn't worked out, but maybe in the future, I'll get my hands on it...

I sighed...

Muscle stuff, then chakra expansion stuff, and then sensor DNA stuff...

I had things to occupy myself with for the next few months...

I'd also need to train my control up again...

If I went slow hopefully that wouldn't be much of a problem...

...

I watched our test subject as he fought an imaginary enemy with speed and strength that he didn't possess a week ago.

It wasn't as much of an improvement as I thought it would be, but it was an improvement...

I sighed and looked at Aomi, she had been the one driving this research.

I figured she wanted to enhance her reflexes and was making sure it was safe...

'Super Duy' was a bust...

But maybe 'Super Aomi' was possible...

"Aomi are you interested in undergoing the muscle enhancement?" I said while eyeing her.

She jumped slightly and turned to look at me with wide eyes.

"I'm going to be expanding my reserves and will lose some chakra control temporarily, so if you want to do it decide within the next week or you'll lose the opportunity temporarily."

Aomi was still wide-eyed and nodded slowly.

I hummed and started circling her, eyeing her as I did so.

A sword and Fire Ninjutsu were her main weapons, though she was also skilled in throwing weapons...

So...

Perhaps a boost to her speed and reflexes would do her good...

I watched Aomi tense as I exited her field of view while I circled.

I continued circling and came into her view, she relaxed ever so slightly but was still tense.

I stopped my circling and stood in front of her.

"You should learn Chakra Flow, it would up your damage a lot..."

I stared into her eyes and purple met brown.

"..." I tilted my head and stared at her...

Perhaps changing her hair and eye color could remove the curse of being cannon fodder.

But what coloring would make Aomi less killable looking...

I narrowed my eyes and Aomi flinched...

I sighed and started making my way towards my almost forgotten test subject.

He was now useless, so back to the prison, he went...

He might be used later...

...

I raised an eyebrow when I heard an explosion in the distance but ignored it and went back to my reading.

Bang*

My peaceful reading was interrupted by a panicked Aburame who now stood in the doorway after slamming my poor door...

"Shiro-sama, we're being attacked." His face was stoic but he was literary buzzing with nervousness.

I hummed and put a pen in the book to mark where I left off.

"Kumo?" I fought back a yawn.

The Aburame remained silent but nodded.

"Anyone notable?"

The Aburame again nodded but remained silent.

I sighed and activated my Byakugan increasing my range to it's maximum.

The camp was in turmoil, we were indeed being attacked...

Fights were happening all through the area that my Byakugan covered and I'd say there were very few who weren't fighting...

We might even be outnumbered...

To the north-east I saw Orochimaru launch some Wind Blades and try to stab A the future Raikage with his sword, Killer B was watching from a distance away, not interfering.

I sighed and started forming my Dermal Armor while I slowed my perception opting to forgo the increase in range.

I Shunshined around the Aburame and out the door, ready to raise some hell...

...

Battles were happening throughout the area, though they were concentrated around the north and north-west of the camp...

Without turning I aimed my palm behind me and impaled a ninja who thought he was being sneaky.

"Sigh..." I stared at three approaching ninjas who had forgone their opponents in favor of running to their death.

I wonder if I sigh too much...

I dogged a sword to the face and aimed my palm at the fastest ninja and impaled him with a Bone Spear, I then aimed my palms at the two remaining ninjas and impaled them with Bone Spears as well.

I waved some Konoha-nin who wanted to help away and took a second to look over the area.

I saw three more ninjas notice me and break off from their fights and head towards me.

I raised an eyebrow at this squatted slightly and grabbed a handle that had burst from my knee and pulled.

My flesh sealed up and I was left holding a long thin Bone Sword.

I sighed and coated it in lightning while giving it a taunting wave at my approaching enemies.

One of the ninjas wasn't amused and tossed a handful of Lightning Coated Shuriken at me.

I side-stepped them and held a hand out allowing one to hit my palm.

Clack*

The shuriken cut my skin but bounced off my armor with a satisfying clack.

I gave a pleased nod and Shunshined to the ninja who had thrown them.

I swung my sword and my opponent raised a Kunai to block it.

My sword cut through the Kunai and then through the surprised ninja who had a look of disbelief on his face even as his torso and head separated never to meet again.

I tilted my head and avoided a Kunai that had been thrown at my face by someone a little ways away.

Ah... I forgot my bone mask...

A smooth featureless mask formed over my face and I nodded.

Good to go...

I Shunshined and cut one of my other pursuers in half and Shunshined again and cut the third in half as well.

I stopped ran a hand over my clothes while waiting for another attack.

My clothes were whole and undamaged and no-one seemed to want to run at me and die.

Maybe I won't have to buy more clothes after this battle...

I smiled under my mask and Shunshined into a group of ninja.

I held my sword out and spun killing two and wounding three others while missing one entirely.

I ignored the survivor and Shunshined towards some more ninja who were too occupied with their fight to notice me.

I cut him in half and Shunshined towards another ninja...

I cut him in half as well and continued with another Shunshin.

This was working surprisingly well...

I was startled as A become coated in lightning chakra and his chakra rose to monstrous levels causing me to focus on him.

Someone took advantage of my surprise and I was washed a little ways away by an enormous water dragon that slammed into my back.

I pushed myself up and stared at the one who launched the dragon.

Someone had run him through with a sword and he was staring at the sword exiting his stomach.

I nodded at my fellow Konoha-nin who peeked over the shoulder of the man he stabbed.

He sent me a nod back.

I used some Chakra Strings to grab my sword and stood up.

I think it's time I make my way to Orochimaru.

A thin Bone spike burst from my heel and killed a ninja who was approaching me from underground.

Annoying...

...

I made my way towards Orochimaru while chopping Kumo-nin in half and shooting anyone who tried to launch Ninjutsu at me with senbon.

I smacked a Kunai out of the air and pointed my sword at the one who threw it.

A thin branch of bone burst from the sword and impaled the ninja.

I gave the sword a little shake and the bone growing from it broke and fell off.

I pointed a finger at a ninja who was about to kill an Inuzuka and pelted him with a few senbon.

I hummed as I approached the no man's land that had been created around Orochimaru and A.

I stood a ways away and watched the battle for a moment, Killer B was still politely watching A's battle and had not interfered.

I decided I'd be polite as well so I Shunshined a distance away from Orochimaru and gave a bow in B's direction.

B stared at me for a moment before looking back to the fight.

I raised an eyebrow under my mask, I thought we would get down to it...

"Bone-o, this is between A and O, so you and B, are a no-go!" B rhymed without looking away from the fight.

My mask receded and I deactivated my Byakugan and watched B nod to himself and pull out a little green notebook and start scribbling something down...

I shook my head and focused back on Orochimaru's battle.

Judging by the charred dead snakes scattered around the area, snakes were a no-go and that's why Orochimaru was relentlessly slashing at A with a wind covered sword.

I saw a few shallow cuts on A so it was seemingly working out...

Though Orochimaru didn't seem to be winning he was doing alright...

My train of thought was interrupted when a stray Wind Blade struck the ground near me.

There was a slight lull in the fight and I met Orochimaru's eyes.

He looked at me and then at B before returning his eyes to me.

I got the message...

'Negative' I made a single hand sign.

Orochimaru looked angry but before he could respond A darted towards him with his fist cocked back.

Orochimaru dodged and sent me an annoyed look before jumping back into the fight.

I sighed and created a clone with a hand-sigh.

I couldn't leave as I had to stall B if he decided to interfere, but I could send a clone out to do some killing...

Though the clone would lack the Shikotsumyaku hopefully it would do alright...

The clone waved at me and pointed to my sword.

"Gimme!"

I snorted and handed it over.

The clone grasped the sword and looked at it for a moment.

The sword was slowly absorbed by the clone and I was left wearing a surprised expression under my mask.

"Ummm..." I stared at the clone wondering how the hell he had thought to do that.

He just shrugged at me and I saw bone start to emerge from its skin.

I stared at the clone as it was slowly engulfed in bone.

Eventually, the clone was completely covered in a spikey Bone Armor and he gave me a cheeky wave before he left in a slow Shunshin that kicked up a trail of dust.

I watched him leave for a moment before I dragged my eyes back to the fight.

If the clone had stayed a little longer, I would have made him stay here...

Perhaps that's why he left so quickly...?

The sound of A roaring while he sped towards Orochimaru pulled me from my idle thoughts.

I stared blankly while A caught Orochimaru in the chest with a Lariat crushing Orochimaru's ribs in the process.

Wasn't Macho Man Randy Savage the one who made the Lariat popular...?

I'd seen a couple of pro wrestling moves thrown around so far...

Perhaps A's fighting style was based on pro wrestling...

Macho Man A...

Snort*

I haven't seen any other Kumo-nin use wrestling moves...

Perhaps the Raikage fights like this as well...

Both my eyebrows rose when Orochimaru stood and was seemingly unaffected by his collapsed ribcage.

Orochimaru jumped away from A and looked to be rather annoyed by his crushed ribs.

Orochimaru made a hand-seal and mud started to flow from the ground before becoming person-shaped and eventually taking on the appearance of Orochimaru.

The clone ran at A and was unsurprisingly defeated with a chop to the neck.

It turned into mud, reformed, and then launched Wind Blades at A.

Orochimaru had used this time to heal his chest and was now back in fighting shape.

I was slightly surprised he didn't just shed his skin but I figured he had some sort of plan.

Orochimaru ran through a string of hand-seals and traped A in a Twister of invisible Wind Blades.

A was dodging most of the Wind Blades but was still getting hit by some occasionally.

Orochimaru started running through another string of hand-seals and inhaled before spewing a huge wave of fire onto the Twister.

The Twister caught fire, A burst through it a moment later, and landed beside B looking slightly singed and covered in small cuts.

Orochimaru jumped back and landed beside me his clothing was torn and his reserves were about half what they were but he was otherwise looking unaffected.

A had numerous small cuts covering his body and his reserves were about half of what they were, though he still had more chakra then Orochimaru had at the moment.

Overall it seemed Orochimaru came out ahead but A might be able to outlast him if they continued.

Orochimaru and A stared at each other for a long moment before jumping back into the fight, A still covered in lightning chakra and Orochimaru with his sword covered in Wind Chakra.

"There ya go! A go beat O and save the day yo! Fool Ya Fool!"

"Sigh..." I saw B do a little dance when A jumped into battle.

What a weird duo...

Macho Man A and Killer B the rapper.

...

Orochimaru had stopped using big moves a while ago to conserve chakra and was now just slashing at A with his wind coated sword.

A was slowly but surely accumulating cuts and losing chakra while using his Lightning Cloak.

A had battered and nearly killed Orochimaru a few times but Orochimaru had Shed his skin and popped out of his mouth regenerating the damage both to himself and his clothes.

Orochimaru's new but slimy clothes had thrown me off but not as much as the dancing Killer B was doing every time A scored a hit.

I ran a hand through my hair, activated my Byakugan, and covered my face with the bone mask.

I might need to interfere depending on what happens...

A sped behind Orochimaru and chopped him on the back of the neck.

"Lateral Bolt Of Pain!" I cracked a smile.

Orochimaru's clone dispersed and the real Orochimaru popped out of the ground behind A and tried to behead him but was unsuccessful as A shrugged off the blow after and sped away.

A touched the back of his neck and stared at Orochimaru who stared back.

A spoke to Orochimaru but I couldn't hear what was being said from where I was.

A suddenly slammed his hand into the ground and through the earth to grasp something.

He pulled Orochimaru up through the ground by his hair and threw him into the air.

A appeared above Orochimaru with a Shunshin and with a yelled "Guillotine Drop!" he kicked him into the ground.

Orochimaru impacted the ground forming a crater in the earth and kicking up a strong wind from the impact.

A landed and was attacked by Orochimaru's clone who disappeared in a burst of smoke with a single chop from A.

Orochimaru stood up shakily from the crater eyes wide in what I'd assume was disbelief as A grabbed him from behind and lifted him over his head.

"Liger Bomb!"

Orochimaru was promptly throttled into the ground making the crater deeper and kicking up another mini wind storm.

I was left staring in both shock and excitement as A dropped Orochimaru and jumped away from the crater.

Orochimaru shed his skin again and jumped over to where I was standing for what would likely be the last time as his chakra was low.

"So, what's the plan?" I gave Orochimaru a nod and acted as if I didn't just see him get thrashed.

Orochimaru stood still and stared out into the dust at where the Raikage was standing.

"I've poisoned him so now we just need to wait until he retreats..."

I hummed, I wondered if killing him was the better option.

"Not going to kill him?"

Orochimaru laughed humorlessly.

"Ha! And anger the Raikage and Jinjuriki of the Eight Trails, I think not!"

The dust cleared and we were now visible to the duo standing across from us.

A was talking to B but I couldn't hear what was being said from where I was standing.

A didn't look to be affected by the poison he was still cloaked in lightning and he was standing proud beside B.

"They should be about to retreat, the poison should now be affecting him..." Orochimaru spoke with a hissed whisper.

B took something from his pouch and pointed it at the sky.

A pop was heard and the Duo turned and started running back the way the came.

I deactivated my Byakugan, withdrew my mask, and looked at Orochimaru.

He looked bored like he hadn't just fought someone who had Tailed Beast levels of chakra.

Suddenly he smiled. "Kekeke... I got some of his blood, so this fight wasn't a total waste..."

I blinked at him and smiled.

"Nice!" I gave him a thumbs up.

Orochimaru nodded.

"Nice indeed..." He sadly didn't give me a thumbs up.

He stood there basking in his small victory for a moment longer before he turned and started towards the camp.

I followed behind him while wondering what my clone had gotten up to...

...

...

Interlude.

I deflected a sword and used the momentum from the strike to spin and decapitate someone approaching from behind.

'Stay calm, stay calm.'

I ended my spin with a slash towards an approaching nin.

'Stay calm, stay calm.'

Sadly, I had overextended and someone nearly severed my leg from my body.

I pelted him with shuriken and jumped away with my good leg.

'Stay calm, stay calm.'

I was one of the few standing between the hospital and a squad of enemy shinobi.

'I might not make it.'

I heard a warcry and spun just in time to stop a large sword from bisecting me.

'That's fine, I'm fine.'

A fellow Konoha-nin ran the man through with a sword giving me time to engage with someone who was trying to return the favor and run him through.

'It's fine, I'm fine.'

Then as fast as the battle started it ended.

A monstrosity covered in spikes rammed into the ninja I was fighting and disappeared as if it wasn't even there.

I heard screaming and turned to see the monstrosity had collected five more bodies in its brief travels, one of which was alive and screaming.

A spike exploded from the screamer's head ending his painful existence.

I watched numbly as the spikes crumbled like dry dirt and the bodies fell off the monstrosity.

"Yo!" With a wave and a muffled greeting/goodbye, the monster regrew its spikes and disappeared into thin air.

Me and the man whom I had been fighting with seconds ago stared at each other in disbelief.

'What just happened?'

"What just happened?"

Had I been able to speak I would have mirrored his words.

What just happened?

...