Chapter 32

Eight months passed in a blur I had occupied myself with training, small experiments, and some Fuinjutsu.

Mom and I started taking more missions around Kiri at my request, I was looking for Kaguya clansmen and maybe if I was lucky, I'd find Jugo's clan as well.

Though I considered the former more likely than the latter...

I'd had no success so far but I had high hopes, even though the Shikotsumyaku was uncommon in the Kaguya having a body without the bloodline would still be helpful.

The only thing of note was my birthday and that was a small celebration only including Gai, mom, and Kushina, who mom had invited.

...

I held my palm out and observed my Lightning Rasengan.

I'd say it was complete or almost complete, I had run out of ways to improve it so this might be its final form.

I half-heartedly tossed the Rasengan and watched as it impacted a tree.

The lightning sphere expanded to four times its size and then dispersed in multiple streams of lightning striking the surroundings.

The Rasengan didn't pierce like I thought it would, it instead turns into a big sphere of lightning and explodes shooting lightning into the surroundings.

I had sadly learned It the painful way...

I had figured the Lightning Rasengan would just be a swirling Chidori but I'd take what I could get...

I admired the charred and smoking tree.

This was more interesting anyways...

I guess this will be called Lightning Release: Heavens Palm.

...

I then moved onto my next project.

I eyed my lightning chakra drill, it reminded me of the Chidori though it didn't make too much noise and it didn't have any cutting power, the lightning chakra drill was only for piercing...

The lightning chakra drill worked as intended, it's piercing power had improved and I'd soon be piercing the hearts of my enemies. Though it didn't boost my speed as Kakashi's Chidori seemed to

Hopefully, I didn't have to pull a Kakashi and kill my friends with it...

Though I guess time would tell...

Sigh...

I still needed a name for this technique...

I drilled the technique into the earth and released my control over the electricity and watched it disperse into the ground.

Lightning Release: Lightning Drill.

Yep, that's it.

...

The final Ninjutsu I worked on was the Lightning Construct.

It was by far the one I spent the most time on.

I was close to getting it right, I could make simple shapes like a staff or a simple sword but I couldn't make the construct solid.

Whenever I hit something the construct would disperse, I had tried adding more chakra or making the lightning denser but it didn't seem to work.

I had a few more ideas but hadn't had the time to try them, even with clones a lot of my time was spent murdering rodents in the name of self-improvement.

...

I made some progress in Fuinjutsu, though I couldn't maintain my 'intent' when writing I was still making steady progress.

I was confident in making and editing existing seals, though I still wouldn't be making anything of my own creation anytime soon.

The more I knew about Fuinjutsu the less confident I was in making my own seals.

It was beautiful and complicated.

I was trying to mix some French and English into my seals with no success, I was pretty sure my lack of success wasn't due to any fault of my writing or use of words.

I believe it has something to do with the structure.

Though I wasn't sure and I didn't want anyone to ask why I knew two never before seen languages, so I didn't consult Kushina or Minato about it.

So, it was up to trial and error...

If it didn't work out it wasn't a big deal, there was already an established system of sealing and I could just focus on it if English or French didn't pan out.

...

"How are you doing Shiro."

I looked away from the rabbit I was working on.

Minato was standing in the doorway watching me.

I blinked and stared blankly at him, he had already seen me experimenting so it was pointless to cover anything up.

And it would probably make me look suspicious, so I turned around and stabilized the rabbit I was working on before speaking.

"Good thanks for asking, what brought you here?"

Why was my 'lab' being invaded and why didn't any of the traps go off?

"Kushina and I wanted to check up on you and Sumiko."

Meaning Kushina forced him to come over cause she wanted to see us.

"Hmmm..."

I just hummed at him and looked at my rabbit, he was whole and hale having just received a new leg.

I had made a breakthrough and could now turn other cells into stem cells. There was a problem with this though, a lot of the cells that turned into stem cells become cancerous.

I'd say about 30% of the cells became cancerous.

Which currently wasn't a problem as I was looking to study cancer, but it would be a problem if I needed to make myself a new arm.

"What are you working on?"

Now that was a difficult question, I wasn't sure of how truthful I should be...

And would this catch the wrong type of attention?

"I'm working on a new Medical Ninjutsu."

Minato Hummed and started petting the rabbit, I had a feeling he was running a discreet Diagnostic Jutsu on it but couldn't tell for sure.

Minato continued petting the rabbit for a moment before he spoke.

"What are you trying to do?"

I was silent for a moment, I was mentally debating how much I could share, a few words in the right ear could get me a lab.

But the reverse was also true, a few words in the right ear might also stop me from getting a lab, so I had to word this correctly.

"I'm trying to regrow lost limbs."

Minato hummed and ran his hand along the rabbit's front left leg.

"It seems you were successful."

I shook my head with a small smile on my lips, he could tell there was something different about the leg but he couldn't tell what was going on at the cellular level.

"No, I sadly was not."

I walked over to a bookshelf on the wall and grabbed a cabbage from the shelf.

"You may not be able to tell but the leg is full of cancer."

I brought the cabbage over to the cage and started breaking leaves off of it.

"It may look alright now but over time the cancer will grow and possibly spread around the body."

I made my way over the Emergency Rations cage and left the remainder of the cabbage with him.

Done with my task I turned my eyes to Minato, he was staring at the rabbit while it ate its cabbage seemingly lost in thought.

What I didn't say was that the more chakra one had the less cancer seemed to form, chakra seemed to keep cells cancer-free. Which was good for me, the technique might not even need to be improved, cancer could be removed anyway though Minato might not have realized it.

"The other problem I had was the techniques chakra cost."

Minato blinked and focused on me.

"I had to use a good part of the chakra in my seal just for the leg of a rabbit."

That wasn't true at all, but I didn't want people to think it was easy making limbs.

Well, that and the jutsu would get more efficient with proficiency and added hand-seals. Currently, it was seal-less but if I offloaded some of the easy work using some hand-seals I could probably improve both the speed and cost of the technique further.

"So only those with the Strength Of A Hundred Seal can use your technique?"

I nodded.

"The Third might be able to pull it off as well."

Minato shook his head.

"Do you have a name for it?"

No, I didn't, did I need a name for it?

I shook my head and raised an eyebrow afterwards.

Minato folded his arms and leaned against a table.

"The Jutsu should be considered a Kinjutsu."

I raised an eyebrow at Minato again.

Techniques were called a Kinjutsu when they got banned from being taught or used.

Though I had no idea who banned them...

"How so."

I wasn't sure of his game, was he trying to stop me from developing the technique, using it, or just teaching it?

"Jutsu that cause harm to the user are generally considered a Kinjutsu."

I nodded, I knew that and didn't need to be told.

"I guess it would be considered a Kinjutsu, I won't be teaching anyone I guess."

Though the technique would see more use from myself.

"Alright let's go see how Kushina and mom are doing."

I wondered why mom had allowed Minato around my lab.

"Sure" Minato nodded.

Though I guess I'd trust her, she probably had her reasons.

...

Mom and Kushina were standing outside and chatting.

"Hi, Shiro!"

I was engulfed in a hug as soon as Kushina noticed me.

"Hi."

I could see my mother's amused look out of the corner of my eye.

"So, what brought you guy's here?"

Why was my home being invaded?

"Me and Minato are going to spar and we wanted to invite you to watch!"

I sent a look over to Minato, did he want to show off or something?

My eyes left Minato and I looked up at Kushina, was it her who wanted to show off?

I sent a look to my mother asking for permission, I got a nod from her.

"Sure."

There was no harm in watching, I had needed a break anyway.

"That's great!"

Kushina took off in a sprint leaving me no time to say goodbye to my mother.

...

We arrived at training ground seven, Kakashi had been waiting at the training ground and sent me a look of disgust when he saw me being held by Kushina.

I didn't expect to see him here...

I did my best nice guy pose in his direction in an effort to annoy him.

Though my pose was probably lackluster as I was still being restrained.

"Can you let me down?"

I was squeezed for a few more seconds before I was released.

I landed and sent Kakashi a much better nice guy pose.

Though he was chatting with Minato so he probably didn't see it.

Alrighty...

Seeing that my pose was ignored I turned to Kushina.

"So why are we watching you spar?"

Kushina ruffled my hair.

"Kakashi is going to take his Jonin exam soon and Minato wants to show him how a par of elite Jonin fight!"

I blinked and looked at Kakashi, he was probably being a cocky little shit and needed to be shown that he wasn't top shit yet.

"Cool." Was all that I said.

I didn't know Kakashi had become a Jonin at such a young age, though that meant that he stagnated for around ten years.

I wondered if I would stagnate in the same way Kakashi did in canon.

...

After some time Kushina and Minato stood in front of each other, me and Kakashi were seated in a tree at the edge of the clearing.

I watched out of the corner of my eye as they started the spar with an exchange of Taijutsu, Kakashi looked surprised though I couldn't tell what surprised him.

I turned my attention back to Kushina and Minato, they continued to engage for a few minutes until Kushina jumped back and Minato followed suit.

I watched Kushina start to weave some hand-signs and Minato pulled a handful of familiar Kunai from his pouch.

I raised an eyebrow, it seems Minato learned the Flying Thunder God...

Minato threw his Kunai at Kushina as she finished her hand-seals, Kushina waved a hand and a wall of wind blew Minato's Kunai away.

Minato Charged with Kunai in each hand, Kushina jumped backwards and started weaving more Hand-signs.

Kushina created a water whip and sent it forward towards Minato.

Minato threw his Kunai and disappeared in a yellow flash reappearing past the whip.

I sighed and looked at Kakashi, he didn't seem surprised at Minato's use of the Jutsu so I assumed Minato had been using it for a while.

I looked back to see Kushina launch a couple of dozen wind blades at Minato while he flashed around the field.

Kushina was a Ninjutsu cannon and Minato was fast and slippery, it was interesting watching Kushina and Minato fight.

It also made me realize that I hadn't yet fought anyone at their level, though I was technically a Jonin I was upsettingly weak compared to these two.

I ran my fingers through my hair, Minato was so much faster than me it was upsetting.

Even with my improved nervous system, Chikaku no kyōka, and near-constant use of Shunshin I wouldn't be able to match him in speed.

All my effort to improve my speed...

I watched Minato dodge a huge wave of water that Kushina spat from her mouth.

I thought watching this fight would be entertaining, but all it did was cause me anxiety.

I wasn't good enough, though I could kill a bunch of cannon fodder I was still nothing compared to the stronger ninjas.

All it would take was one encounter and my life would be forfeit.

My mother as well, she wasn't strong enough...

She was canon fodder and she would probably die like cannon fodder.

I had been stronger than her for a while now...

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath at the painful realization, she had a close call recently as well.

I don't know why I didn't think about this then...

Not only did I need to get stronger my mother did as well.

Boom*

A few chunks of earth flew past the tree Kakashi and I were in.

I focused back onto the fight, I still had time I didn't need to worry right away.

...

"Thanks for allowing me to watch you fight."

I sent a bow to Kushina and Minato both who looked no worse for wear. I had expected them to sweat or at least breathe heavily but I guess not.

Kushina sent me a brilliant smile while Minato sent a silent nod.

"Anytime Shiro!"

I returned her smile with as much enthusiasm as I could muster.

"Sorry but I've got to go."

I had thinking to do...

"Aww... I wanted to go eat some ramen together."

Kushina pouted and mentioned free food, free food was my weakness...

"Sorry, but I have things to do."

I disappeared in a Shunshin before Kushina had any more time to change my mind.

...

I sat on my bed lost in thought.

I had to get stronger...

Taijutsu and Medical Ninjutsu were my main focuses, Medical Ninjutsu was steadily improving and my Taijutsu would improve as I got naturally stronger.

Though sadly that would have to wait until puberty, I was pretty much at my physical limit...

My mother on the other hand...

What could I do for her? Or what could she do for herself?

And how would I get her to get her ass in gear?

My realization of my mother's weakness added a whole new dimension to my anxiety...

Most of the ways I could strengthen her involved Medical Ninjutsu and telling her my secrete techniques...

Both of which I wasn't very comfortable with.

I flopped over onto the bed and rolled myself into a hotdog with my blanket.

What to do... What to do...