Through the Haze

I mastered the [Shadow Clone] on the ship Ao chartered for our departure from the Land of Fire. It was a shockingly simple technique for its classification as a Kinjutsu, but the resulting consequences well earned it the right to be.

Hiruzen had transcribed the Jutsu into a separate scroll and in it left the obvious warnings to never let it come into the hands of the inexperienced or immature. Maturity in the sense of chakra of course. The linchpin of the [Shadow Clone] technique wasn't so much about chakra control, affinity, talent or understanding of concepts, but was mostly concerned with chakra reserves.

I supposed it made sense that it would be. The energy needed to create a [Water Clone] was at least a quarter of that needed to create a [Shadow Clone] but the advantages it held over the former was evident. The [Water Clone] needed specific instructions, often inserted into the jutsu's formula as it was being cast. They had enough of my persona to improvise how they get the job done but usually, once the job is done there isn't much else use for them, fragile and unthinking as they were.

The [Shadow Clone] breaks through those limitations by costing four times as much chakra to create. Included in Hiruzen's warnings were the recommended estimate of chakra required to successfully cast the technique without launching yourself into a coma. A Jounin, or at least a shinobi that meets the qualifications of a Jounin, is capable of creating one Shadow Clone without losing combat effectiveness but it still isn't advised that they do so apparently.

An Elite Jounin would be able to conjure two without losing combat effectiveness, as Elite Jounin was the last rank I held before becoming Mizukage, I started by summoning two just to get a feel for the technique. The [Shadow Clone] technique is said to split the users chakra into equal halves between each clone but I quickly found that wasn't always the case. Like the [Water Clone], it took a percentage of chakra proportional to the users affinity with the main Chakra Nature. Having mastered Water Nature Chakra I could summon as many Water Clones as I wanted without feeling drained.

For [Shadow Clone] it's main chakra nature was Yang Release, a nature I was already practising with Isobu. Tobirama Senju was truly a genius, I could sense that the jutsu's Hand Seal formula involved machinations with the Yang Release a user unfamiliar with it wouldn't notice or even need to. He'd made the jutsu extremely convenient to use and thanks to the leg up from a stronger affinity with Yang Chakra as well as my larger than normal chakra reserves, I could create at least seven clones without feeling strange.

I took a deep breath as I continued to stare down at the village, the city lights poked through the hazy mist every so often and patches of sky were left uncovered, allowing the occasional glimpse of my subjects. My attention was far from anything that could be in sight as I could barely sense my surroundings with my mind fully immersed in days worth of memories.

Exhaling, I shut my dried eyes and fell back into my chair as veins in my temple throbbed with blood. I might have gone a bit extreme with the [Shadow Clone] technique the moment I figured it out, but it was worth it. I'd immediately dedicated two clones to studying Fuinjutsu, each assigned a different topic from the basics. I had another one practicing my arsenal of techniques just for the sake of it and from his memories it looks like he got creative with it. A fourth clone helped me train with Isobu's chakra as I attempted to get a hang of [Coral Release].

Earlier, against the Nine-Tails, Isobu taking control of my body was the only way I could execute the Coral techniques. I needed that to change. Though I could summon another two clones to help out with anything I wanted to put off, I didn't want to push myself to the limit just yet. A week had passed since Ao and I returned without Junichi and nothing about Kirigakure felt safe. The image of Konoha's destruction refused to leave me. No amount of training or strategy could erase the memory of the Nine-Tails' rampage. Could I truly protect Kirigakure from a fate like that? I clenched my fists, the weight of the Mizukage's hat heavier than ever.

The white haze that blanketed Kirigakure helped me dissociate into the flood of memories the clones supplied but more than anything, I stared out at it imagining a maddened Tailed Beast in its place, smoke, smog, and a malicious miasma of chakra drifting over a broken Hidden Mist.

"Never." I swore aloud, surprising myself with my voice. I hadn't spoken much of anything since Ao and I returned, it disturbed Uncle greatly to see me this way and over the week since my return he's pestered daily for answers, demanding to know what happened in Konoha.

I kept my mouth shut mostly for Konoha's benefit but there were other reasons. I knew my council, tolerant as I was of them I could predict their reactions to the truth of my travels. But a week was enough time in the dark, they had to learn of the enemy eventually.

A gentle, unnecessary knock came at the door and Junichi's successor walked in, a clipboard to her chest. She was chubby-faced, a Chuunin and born of the Karatachi clan. I imagine the plans Uncle had for her on my return, my year time limit was almost up.

"Yagura-sama, she's here now, Lady Junko Hoshigaki." Aimi announced, the light from the hallway spilled through the gap and into the office.

There was the second reason I kept my mouth shut. Junko Hoshigaki, the woman who sent Junichi to me. One of the few administrative actions I'd taken since returning was ordering her back from Koorijima and permanently shutting down her occupation of the island. If there was anyone that needed to learn the truth of what happened, it was her.

Nodding, I asked, "What of my other appointments?"

"I've sent your summons to the councillors, they will be here sooner than later, sir." she answered.

Again I nodded, taking a deep serene breath as I prepared to deliver the truth to Junko, "Let her in after thirty minutes."

"Yes sir."

She shut the door behind her and plunged my office back into dim illumination. I sat behind my desk, admiring the amber glow of the work lamp Uncle had used when working from my office during my absence. It was a great idea to have one for his aged eyes but I enjoyed it for its warm colour.

I spun around in my chair before getting up to stand by the windows and observe Kirigakure. "Change…how I want to change everything." I murmured, my mind playing out the upcoming council meeting.

Just about everything was in its place now. Midoriwara and Yureisen were ours to control and develop, the Nettou, Yuki and Kaguya clans bolstered our projected strengths and with the Tea Daimyo in our corner the money from missions would continue to flow even after the Water Daimyo abandons us entirely. There were miniscule concerns left for me to prepare for next but those would be handled swiftly after the council meeting.

There was only one thing that truly worried me now, "Utakata...will he come after you?"

The Six-Tailed Beast was the Bijuu I envisioned rampaging at the centre of the haze, spreading wanton destruction as it melted every and any structure in its path until it came up to me, revealing eyes fallen under the influence of a Mangekyo Sharingan.

I shook the vision away and continued piecing my clone memories of [Fuinjutsu] together. I couldn't become reliant on Harusame to control or seal Tailed Beast, not after what I've witnessed. 

The door knob pushed open as Junko walked in, greeted and began briefing me on her rather cushy occupation of Koorijima. As interesting as her actions were as Clan Head, the blatant embezzlement of resources wasn't why she was here tonight, "Junichi might not be alive."