Seated behind his new desk in the Military Police headquarters, Tatsuya quietly examined the scrolls spread out before him. Inside his mind, his internal bio-chip rapidly processed the information contained within, logging the complex ninjutsu data into his internal database.
The recent mission undertaken by his clones, Kagutsuchi and Suijin operating under their Divine Court identities, had been quite fruitful. After eliminating Shinno and capturing Yomi, the spoils were substantial.
Tatsuya first examined the scroll detailing the Body Regeneration Secret Technique. He had coveted this forbidden medical jutsu for a long time. Possessing this technique would significantly boost his own, and his clones', survivability. The core ability of the Body Regeneration technique was astonishing: even if the user's body was torn to pieces, it could still regenerate and revive them. The drawback, however, was severe – it consumed a massive amount of the user's own life force with each activation.
Further analysis via the bio-chip revealed an intriguing synergy: the technique could be used in conjunction with the Fujinhoin to continuously reform and enhance the user's physical constitution over time. This combined effect offered a path to physical improvement that was a step beyond even the original Body Activation Technique he'd acquired previously. Tatsuya was overjoyed at this discovery. As time went on, improving his original body's base capabilities had become an extremely slow process. The potential offered by the Body Regeneration technique could significantly accelerate his development.
After thoroughly cataloging the Body Regeneration technique, Tatsuya moved on to the scrolls detailing the Body Biochemical Secret Technique and Shinno's specific application of the Eight Inner Gates. The Body Biochemical technique, he noted, had limited use for him at present, primarily because its activation required a substantial amount of Dark Chakra, like that of the Zero-Tails. Moreover, it appeared to be an extreme, amplified version of the Body Activation technique. While it could grant the user an 'ultimate body' capable of incredible feats, the cost was far too great – it rapidly drained the user's lifespan. Using it as a last resort to fuel the opening of the Eight Gates might be viable in a desperate situation, but the physical damage incurred would be irreversible. It was essentially a one-time-use, life-saving trump card.
Tatsuya planned to use his bio-chip to study the Body Biochemical technique thoroughly. If he could find a method to substitute raw life energy or sufficient regular chakra for the required Dark Chakra, then the combination of the Biochemical technique and the Eight Inner Gates could become an ultimate trump card for his permanent clones like Kagutsuchi and Suijin. He could scarcely imagine the terrifying level of power his clones could reach if they were able to open even the Gate of Death in that enhanced state.
Perhaps, Tatsuya mused, if that day truly came, I might not even need the Children of Destiny, Naruto and Sasuke. I could potentially just overwhelm the likes of 'Grandpa' Madara and Obito with sheer numbers of empowered clones.
The final scroll contained the secrets of Yomi's Dark Medical Ninjutsu. It shared the same origins as Shinno's techniques, with some overlapping principles, but differed significantly in its primary focus. While Shinno's Body Activation and Regeneration techniques focused on activating body cells for rapid injury recovery and chakra extraction, Yomi's Dark Medical Ninjutsu seemed geared towards inducing a state of cellular hibernation, allowing for effects like suspended animation ('fake death') or artificially prolonging life.
Tatsuya couldn't help but marvel again at the miraculous versatility of chakra – how merely changing the intensity and nature of its stimulation on the body's cells could produce such diametrically opposed, yet powerful, effects.
And so, Tatsuya spent his first official day as a Military Police Captain immersed in studying these newly acquired, potent ninjutsu within the confines of his office.
That evening, after having dinner with Sakawa and Teru, Tatsuya walked alone through the familiar streets of Konoha, heading towards home. As he walked, Tatsuya suddenly stopped. He glanced back over his shoulder, a curious, slightly amused expression crossing his face. Being followed?
After pausing in thought for a few seconds, Tatsuya flickered and vanished from the street.
Swish~
With continuous bursts of untraceable speed, Tatsuya soon appeared in a wooded area near the edge of the village. Landing silently in a small clearing, he called out calmly into the twilight shadows, "Come out."
As his voice faded, footsteps sounded from the darkened woods to Tatsuya's right. Tatsuya turned his head, and a familiar figure emerged into view.
Yakushi Kabuto.
Looking at the emerging Kabuto, Tatsuya's expression remained neutral, betraying none of the detailed knowledge he possessed about the young man's true affiliations and history. "Did Orochimaru send you?" Tatsuya asked evenly.
"Lord Tatsuya, greetings." Kabuto stopped a respectful distance away, adjusting the frame of his glasses on the bridge of his nose. "I am Yakushi Kabuto, currently serving in Root," he said smoothly, offering a polite bow before meeting Tatsuya's gaze calmly. As he looked at Tatsuya, however, Kabuto's eyes glinted with intense scrutiny, a barely concealed curiosity.
As a spy of considerable skill, Kabuto had been paying close attention to Akimichi Tatsuya – Konoha's rapidly rising star – for quite some time now. Yet, despite his efforts, he had managed to gather very little concrete, useful information about the man. He harbored an intense curiosity about how Tatsuya had managed to transform from an unremarkable Academy dead last into one of the acknowledged powerhouses of the ninja world in such a remarkably short period.
"'Kabuto of Root'?" Tatsuya raised an eyebrow, a sharp glint appearing in his own eyes. "Looks like Orochimaru and that old geezer Danzo are mixed up together again."
"Lord Tatsuya, please don't misunderstand," Kabuto replied calmly, meeting Tatsuya's sharp gaze without flinching. "I have always been Lord Orochimaru's operative embedded within Root. Danzo remains unaware of my true allegiance."
"Heh," Tatsuya scoffed noncommittally, clearly not believing a word. He suspected Orochimaru and Danzo, those two masters of self-interest, had likely re-established contact privately; opposing the Third Hokage would certainly align their current objectives. "Alright, spit it out. Why did you seek me out?"
"Lord Tatsuya," Kabuto began, his voice respectful, "Lord Orochimaru wishes to propose a cooperation with you."
"Oh?" Tatsuya feigned surprise. "What sort of cooperation could we possibly have?"
"Lord Orochimaru hopes," Kabuto continued carefully, "to obtain the complete version of that technique from you, Lord Tatsuya."
Tatsuya glanced sideways at Kabuto, his tone flat. "The complete version of that technique? I already gave it to him, didn't I?"
Kabuto chuckled softly, a knowing look in his eyes. "Lord Tatsuya, whether the version you provided was truly complete... I believe you know the answer in your heart. I imagine your astonishingly rapid increase in strength over these past years is primarily due to that technique's effects, wouldn't you agree?"
The moment Kabuto's subtly probing words ended, Tatsuya's eyes turned ice-cold. In the next instant, he vanished.
Swish!
With a sound like tearing air, Tatsuya reappeared directly in front of Kabuto, moving faster than the medic-nin could visually track. Kabuto's expression changed drastically, his eyes widening in shock, but before he could even begin to react, Tatsuya's right hand was already gently pressed against his throat.
Tatsuya stared directly into Kabuto's wide eyes, speaking each word with chilling precision. "If Orochimaru himself were here saying those words, perhaps it would be acceptable. You, however," Tatsuya's voice dropped, radiating an almost palpable killing intent, "are not qualified."
Feeling the forest-cold killing intent washing over him, Kabuto's carefully maintained composure finally shattered. He stood frozen, Tatsuya's fingers pressing lightly but undeniably against the vital point on his neck. "This matter..." Kabuto managed, his voice strained, "I have... overstepped my bounds. Please, Lord Tatsuya, do not take offense." He had no choice but to yield. That instantaneous movement... Kabuto knew with chilling certainty he would have been utterly unable to dodge it. The difference in their power, their speed, was simply too vast.
Tatsuya stared at Kabuto for another long moment, then let out a cold snort and released his grip. Turning his back contemptuously, he tossed out a final sentence, "If he wants to make a deal, tell him to come himself."
And then, Tatsuya vanished from the clearing.
Alone in the quiet woods, Kabuto reached up and lightly touched his throat, his face cold and hard.
So this, he thought grimly, is the strength of Konoha's current Number One... Utterly domineering!
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