Launcher

"Well…" Fugaku heaved another heavy sigh and gave Malaria the sealing scroll meant to carry the Chemistry Kit. "Youngster, this is a specialised scroll used to seal fragile instruments. Whether you want to make healing medicine or not, you can come to the Uchiha clan for help with anything. We've got your back whenever you are in trouble."

Then, Fugaku patted Malaria's head like Danzo did, instead of his shoulder. Remembering how the little devil dodged him last time, Fugaku left the premisses with Inabi tagging along – leaving the Chemistry Kit behind.

Yamana pulled on Hikari and asked curiously, "Did Malaria have a particularly bad past in the Aburame clan before?" Hikari shook her head, "I don't know, but I do know the Aburame clan will be in major trouble." Her mind was still stuck on Malaria's fierce statement. Determination like that is rare to see.

Yamana nodded her head in approval. Everybody could foresee the future of a man who grasped such remarkable techniques in chemistry at the age of 6. More importantly, Malaria was too shameless and without the slightest shred of integrity. His enemies are bound to have a horrible time if he gets his hands on them.

"The Aburame clan has been too laid back in recent years. They barely take part in anything in regards to Konoha, preferring to stay in the village rearing their insects like nobodies business." Sakumo commented calmly. The Aburame tend to be in the scouting units, communicating with bugs and finding trails traditional tracking can't cover.

Danzo looked at Sakumo and Sarutobi Kazuma. He then asked, "Sakumo, why is little Kazuma tagging along with you?" He had seen Kazuma before as he visited the Sarutobi's clan compound. The brat wasn't very talented, but a decent candidate to turn into a Root Anbu.

"He is my student, Hokage-sama left him in my care since Monkey King Enma can't remain summoned indefinitely to guide him." Sakumo explained curtly. He knew where this conversation was going to go.

"Your disciple?" Danzo frowned, feeling surprised in his heart. He understood that anyone taught by Sakumo would become monstrous whether they like it or not. It was perplexing that he agreed to teach a mediocre child such as Sarutobi Kazuma.

Orochimaru came to Danzo and whispered in a low voice, "Danzo-sama, this boy is the result of Sakumo confronting Teacher about 'that' matter. The child is also practicing the Eight Inner Gates, rendering curse seals ineffective." Danzo's pupils constricted and looked at Sakumo thoughtfully.

Sakumo shook his head, "In truth, he's just my student and not a formal disciple. If our compatibility matches, we might take it another step and I'll teach him a few 'special' things. Also, you can rest assured that I will not reveal Malaria's identity."

Kazuma was shocked. He didn't know that Uncle Danzo and Teacher Sakumo were on bad terms before this. He felt rather awkward about it, as Danzo nodded his head. He trusted that Sakumo had the best intentions towards Konoha, even if their ideals were incompatible.

Besides, Malaria had done something Danzo thought to be impossible and befriended the Uchiha clan. Even if the brat's identity was exposed, it wouldn't be a big problem. He felt he didn't have to be too prudent when it comes to those old affairs.

After a brief conversation, Sakumo left with Kazuma in tow, who was reluctantly looking back at Hikari after every step. Why does he have to scout out Kirigakure? He could join Hikari and fight Iwagakure instead, side by side… With a few ambigious moments, hehehe…

"Father, what about my sword!" Malaria jumped anxiously. Was there nothing he could do to obtain that lightweight and extremely stylish sword? He had already started fantasising about the future, his reputation and title becoming; "The White Fanged Malaria!"

Danzo rubbed Malaria's head and comforted him stiffly. "Rest assured! When you compete with Kakashi in the future, you will have your father's top technique to counter him."

"My old man's best technique?" Malaria was slightly dazed. Didn't his father still hate him for some nonsensical rumours in the village? Did Danzo have a method to get his hands on the Aburame's Insect Techniques?

Danzo glanced at him and said, "Not the Aburame bastard's technique, but my best technique. It's called the Vacuum Blade, a peak A-class technique of the wind chakra element. Even without testing your chakra nature, I'm certain you'll have wind as one of your natures."

"But is there any point in teaching you this now? Improve yourself first, and don't aim too high all at once." Looking around at the scattering crowd, Danzo patted malaria on the head again, and disappeared in a flicker.

"Father, where are you going? I'm going to get bullied again at this rate!" Malaria shouted anxiously. Danzo was his greatest support. He couldn't afford to lose it before obtaining more benefits.

Suzuki Yamaha approached him and smiled, "Well, Danzo-sama asked me to tell you to be careful during our mission in the Land of Grass. If you act this shamelessly in enemy territory, there's nobody that can back you up."

As Yamaha was about to leave, Malaria dragged him back and asked, "Can you tell me who my actual biological father is? The misunderstandings are starting to turn ridiculous." Yamaha shook his head innocently and left, showing no intention of giving an answer to that riddle.

"Damn old people." Malaria's eyed widened in anger. In his memories, his former self only knew that Shimura Danzo was the Hokage's right hand man in control of a separate Anbu division, not once being in contact during his time with the Aburame clan.

If he ever was under surveillance by the Root during his early childhood is a mystery, as he used to be a real clobber head without any sense of being spied on. Watching everyone leave, Orochimaru wiped the sweat off his forehead, feeling that accepting the mission to command this battlefront was a huge mistake. At least, no public fighting happened between the bigshots.

"All of you, get the hell out of here!" After Danzo and Fugaku left the premisses, Kagura drove all the spectators away from her wagon. She wasn't in the mood to sell any wares after this debacle.

Malaria stood several meters away from the wagon innocently. He hadn't had the chance to buy any equipment yet. All his adulations and praise turned out to be for nothing. Orochimaru hesitated if he should call off the reconnaissance mission to Kusagakure for Malaria, but in the end left it as is.

That brat is still his student, even if he goes around looking for gains from anyone everywhere. He needs to get toughened up and learn how to feel shame, and being inside enemy territory should awaken those natural tendencies to act low-key.

Yamana circled Malaria, inspecting him and mumbled, "Why does such a scoundrel without an iota of human decency have such a powerful background? I don't get it at all." Malaria's face darkened. Was she complimenting him, or was it mockery?

At this moment, Orochimaru finally stepped forward with a handheld Kunai Launcher in his hands. With this contraption, instead of making throwing motions you just pull the lever like a crossbow to fire a loaded kunai with the power a Chunin would use to throw one.

Once you opened fire with proper aim, any mid-Chunin and below would most certainly get pierced. "Ohh, I've seen one of those in the history books about Land of Sky!" Yamana exclaimed as she saw the device Orochimaru presented.

"Malaria-kun, since your mission is about to begin and I have to leave your safety with Suzuki Yamaha, bring this with you – it will be most useful when you scout with the Winged Mechanical Device you received at the Akimichi wedding." Orochimaru said, handing Malaria the launcher.

Enthused, Malaria pointed at himself and asked, "Is this really for me?" Orochimaru nodded and showed him how to reload the mechanism, and where the trigger released the Kunai. Since this brat was covered by so many big-shots, buttering up their relationships a little more couldn't hurt.

'One day, if my Teacher bars the path I must follow for immortality in the future, this little guy could become an useful tool.' Orochimaru thought to himself. After saying thanks, Malaria picked out the scroll holding his Flying Device, unsealing it, and preparing to give it a try.

He never got the chance to use it before, scared he would run out of chakra and fall to his death. The moment he strapped himself in, Malaria started pushing his chakra into the core on his back. Malaria didn't know how difficult it was to control the Flying Device until he started floating.

"Malaria, if it's beyond your control to keep it running, you should slowly stop feeding it chakra and softly descend." Orochimaru advised.

Almost crashing into a wagon just by tilting his centre of gravity a little, Malaria descended to the ground while panting furiously. This thing was a major chakra consumer! Not entirely satisfied with barely lifting off the ground, he felt that he must redouble his chakra moulding practice.

"Malaria, once you have enough chakra to soar through the sky, the Kunai Launcher will become one of your most trusted weapons. I recommend that you practice aiming with it in advance, until you have enough chakra to properly fly." Orochimaru commented on the side.

Malaria nodded his head. If he just zoomed around in the sky without any ability to retaliate against ground targets, he would feel too useless. Just a fireball, water jet… any technique with range at all could squash his mosquitoes after all.

"You are a natural-born perceptive ninja with immense spiritual power. Practice your chakra moulding diligently and you will rise through the ranks quicker than anyone else." Orochimaru patted Malaria on the head, leaving a few instructions before returning to the command center in the encampment.

Yamana jabbed Malaria on his side and said shyly, "Scoundrel, no, Brother Malaria, can I try out your Winged Device?" Malaria squinted at Yamana. He was a scoundrel when he wasn't needed, and Brother Malaria when she wanted something from him. What an interesting girl!

"You can take your time. Remember to return it to me intact when we meet up in the mud hut later." Malaria gestured 'go ahead' and left her to strap herself to the wings. He had to go back and take closer look at the Kunai Launcher, not to mention practice his chakra.

"Thank you, scoundrel, no, Brother Malaria!" Yamana happily started working the straps with a smile. At times like this she felt that Malaria was not too bad after all.

--

After he returned to the hut, Malaria eagerly played with the Kunai launcher and thinking if he could possibly improve the sling mechanism with the wire he got from Sakumo. If it was possible, he would never have to return to resupply, staying in the air while pulling his already shot ammunition back to be used again.

Trying to add the spool as a hanger-on to the Kunai Launcher, a messenger came to the hut and briefed Malaria that his mission was expected to begin tomorrow morning. As it stands, he won't even be able to finish the wire mechanism in time, nor mould any extra chakra.

'Forget it. I'd better sleep first.' Seeing that the sky was already turning dark, Malaria went to bed. He needed to have a good rest for the endless walking, and to have the energy to stay alert for several hours at a time in enemy territory.

While Malaria was sleeping, Yamana was wreacking havoc everywhere with the Flying Device. She was in the sky, between the tents, gliding around the logistics caravans while whistling a happy tune. Soon, the news that Yamana was crashing tents and breaking wagons all over the encampment spread out.

Not long after, it reached the ears of the Yamanaka clan.