The new skill's icon looked like fist coming out of a portal. This skill has consumed a tremendous amount of energy already. 'This should be a big one!'
He read the description.
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[Skill: Echoes of Past, level 1]
[Effect 1: Holding Bonded hair that can conduct demonic energy allows you to use the past abilities of the owner. Every ability use consumes Demonic Energy and a portion of the hair, causing it to permanently disintegrate. Passive abilities have no cost.]
[Note: Only one target's hair can be used at a time.]
[Note: Reduce the consumption by increasing the skill level.]
[Effect 2: Summon a giant Avatar of the owner of the hair by sacrificing 40% of their Bonded hair. The Avatar can use all the abilities of the owner, and if necessary, can burn all the remaining energy to unleash an Ultimate!]
[Cost: Depends on the target.]
[Note: Hair holds memories.]
[Info: Ultimate]
[A skill pushed beyond natural limits with reality bending effects.]
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'Amazing!'
'Is this the alternative version of Bayonetta's ability to summon Infernal demon's fists and leg stomps using her hair? I remember she could even summon a complete demon if necessary!'
'The System seems to have modified it to work with my situation. I can't manipulate my hair, and there's probably no infernal demons in this world.'
'So, Instead of fist attacks and stomps of demons, I can use the skills of the owner of the hair. Similarly, instead of summoning a demon, I can summon an Avatar of the owner of the hair!'
'Plus, passive abilities don't have a cost! Does this mean, I can have the body, reflexes, and senses of a Shinobi? I need to test this later.'
'As for whose hair to use', he looked at Kushina's hair in his mind space, 'is there any better choice here than Kushina's? She's a Kage level kunoichi at her peak, even reaching Super Kage level in special situations! Her basic body strength is probably better than most Jonin!'
Although excited by the possibilities, something worried him. The skill description mentioned "Bonded" hair as requirement.
He focussed on the term.
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[Info: Bonded Hair]
[Hair that has an emotional connection with the owner and is recognized by everyone, including the owner, as part of their being.]
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'This description is a bit worrying. What kind of hair is considered "Bonded Hair"? It seems to be based on recognition and emotional bond.'
'Let's break this down with an example. Imagine Mikoto, her hair is straight, jet black, parted down the middle with shorter locks framing her face with the remaining reaching her lower back. Everyone, including her, would recognize it as "her" hair. And, she probably has an emotional bond to it.'
To confirm, he sensed the cut hair he has been absorbing energy from all this time. His instincts were telling him, this hair cannot be used to trigger the skill.
'So, if I want to obtain Bonded hair from her, I can't cut it. I would need to take all her current hair, since it is what's acknowledged by her, and everyone around her.'
His instincts were telling him he's right about this.
'If I apply this to Kushina, her "Bonded Hair" would be, all of the hair she has on her head right now?... Damn.'
Originally, he wanted to cut only part of her hair in a specific way, creating an illusion that she lost it during battle to ward off any suspicion. But, the new skill description threw a wrench in his plan.
He considered his current situation. 'I can't ruin this chance. Right now, my skills haven't developed enough to be useful in every situation. But, if I or the Avatar can use Kushina's skills, that's no longer an issue!'
'Also, if there's a condition now saying it needs "Bonded" hair, I imagine there would be more skills in the future with that requirement. With all this, I can't follow the original plan to cut her hair randomly, that would mean, giving up on them as well!'
He steeled himself.
'Until now, I have been doing thing passively. But, with this, I take the initiatve!'
'As for Orochimaru noticing, I'll deal with it when the time comes.'
With that decided, he stood in front of the two graves of his parents, and placed the flowers down. He then closed his eyes as if to mourn, but in reality, he focussed on Kushina's hair.
He entered his mind space as an avatar, and stood in front of Kushina's fiery red hair pulsing with energy. He could still hear the echo, "Naruto… Minato…"
'The note said, hair holds memories. Is this what it meant?'
Shaking his head, he solemnly held her hair in his hands willed all the hair on her head to separate. In the real world, in Kushina's tomb, her hair came alive and completely separated from her head!
Lingering for a moment, the hair then tunneled through the earth and reached below him. He let it flow up through his wicker shoes, and into his oversized pants. The hair rapidly collected together and wrapped around his thighs forming a soft layer of hair.
'This way it would stay hidden, until I find a better way to keep it on me at all times. Let's leave now. I have been lost in my thoughts and stood here way too long without moving an inch.'
An amusing thought crossed his mind, 'If Orochimaru opens up Kushina's grave later, and sees her totally bald, would he get a stroke?'
Shaking his head, he started walking back.
'I should come back some other time. This place is a gold mine for Demonic Energy and hair. There's still plenty to collect.'
'It's a pity the kekkai genkai clans don't bury their deceased here. They have their own cemeteries. Otherwise, the hair of the women from these clans would increase my arsenal to another level! Byakugan, sharingan, shadow manipulation, mind control, so on! I'll have to find a chance later. Or wait until they become my salon's customers.'
'And next time, I should take note of the the women I collected hair from. Even if they won't miss it or anything, I still disturbed their eternal rest and took something they probably valued in life. I should return this favor as long as it does not conflict with my own situation. Maybe I can help their families somehow. It is going to be a massive project, so I can only do this step by step.'
Deep in thought, he left slowly left the cemetery.
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A/N: Renji finally has enough power, though, it is not permanent. After all, [Echoes of Past] consumes hair, there is only so much of Kushina's hair.