(Akio POV)[Reading]
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From: Nezumi Ichi
Occupation:•The First Anbu Squad Leader of the White Ops Division and an Anbu Torturer in the T&I Subdivision of the Grey Ops Division
* Jonin Arbitrator
* Director of the Research Department
Proposal: Requesting gaining access to the Flying Raijin technique from the Scrolls of Seals, with the primary goal of studying it to increase means of survival and secondary goal of simplifying the technique to a level where any shinobi capable of performing S-rank could deploy it effectively.
Estimated Timeframe for Completion: 4-5 years
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From:Sandaime Hokage
Permission Status: Declined
Reason: It would eliminate a significant portion of transport-related missions, risking the livelihoods of many civilians who rely on such tasks for income. Additionally, limiting mission availability would lead to heightened hostility among shinobi. Beyond this, the risk of this technique falling into the wrong hands—either those who have betrayed the Will of Fire or those from foreign villages—poses a serious threat, as they could weaponize it against us, rendering out any advantages it might have provided.
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From: Nezumi Ichi
Occupation:•The First Anbu Squad Leader of the White Ops Division and an Anbu Torturer in the T&I Subdivision of the Grey Ops Division
* Jonin Arbitrator
* Director of the Research Department
Proposal: Requesting permission to obtain chakra from the Nine-Tails, with the purpose of creating a serum that could allow individuals limited access to its powers without needing to become its Jinchuriki, becoming pseudo-Jinchuriki similar to…traitors of Kumogakure.
Estimated Timeframe for Completion: 1-3 years
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From: Sandaime Hokage
Permission Status:Declined
Reason: Handing out such potent power carries risks, particularly as it may lead to uncontrollable impulses on individuals during critical missions that would eventually expose our research. This visibility could inspire other villages to adopt similar methods, undermining our advantage while significantly enhancing their own forces that proved disadvantages considering Mito-sama is still unable to utilize the power of the Nine-tail to assist us. The endeavor is also dangerous, as extracting the Nine-Tails’ chakra may have a chance to weaken the seal.
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From: Nezumi Ichi
Occupation:•The First Anbu Squad Leader of the White Ops Division and an Anbu Torturer in the T&I Subdivision of the Grey Ops Division
* Jonin Arbitrator
* Director of the Research Department
Proposal: Requesting permission to travel to the capital of the Land of Fire to closely observe the marketplace dynamics and prevent any unusual changes that may hinder Konoha growth and establish influence over rogue shinobi connected to bounty stations to increase manpower without significant resource expenditure.
Estimated Timeframe for Completion: 1 month
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From: Sandaime Hokage
Permission Status: Declined
Reason: Given the current state of war, any movements by our forces in the capital would draw unwanted scrutiny from the nobility, sparking criticism and likely inciting resentment. They may perceive our actions as an attempt to manipulate the market, potentially leading to increased hostility and political tension.
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From: Nezumi Ichi
Occupation: •The First Anbu Squad Leader of the White Ops Division and an Anbu Torturer in the T&I Subdivision of the Grey Ops Division
* Jonin Arbitrator
* Director of the Research Department
Proposal: Requesting authorization to sterilize the remaining members of the clan and seeking approval for the distribution of the shadow clan possession jutsu as a selectable reward for Jonin-ranked shinobi.
Estimated Timeframe for Completion: 1 hour.
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From: Sandaime Hokage
Permission: Declined
Reason: Do I really have to write it down for the 55th time?
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From: Nezumi Ichi
Occupation: •The First Anbu Squad Leader of the White Ops Division and an Anbu Torturer in the T&I Subdivision of the Grey Ops Division
* Jonin Arbitrator
* Director of the Research Department
Proposal: Requesting an opportunity to undergo training under Mito-sama to refine skills in .
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
Estimated Timeframe for Completion: between 6 months and 1 year.
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From: Sandaime Hokage
Permission: Declined
Reason: Mito-sama has chosen to conserve her strength for maintaining the containment of the Nine-Tails.
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From: Nezumi Ichi
Occupation: •The First Anbu Squad Leader of the White Ops Division and an Anbu Torturer in the T&I Subdivision of the Grey Ops Division
* Jonin Arbitrator
* Director of the Research Department
Proposal: Seeking permission to travel to Uzushiogakure to study their unique physical attributes and assess potential candidates suitable to become the next Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.
Estimated Timeframe for Completion:
1 month.
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From: Sandaime Hokage
Permission: Declined
Reason: First, we cannot afford to strain our alliance with Uzushiogakure, our sole ally. Second, the decision to choose suitable potential candidates rests solely with Mito-sama—so leave it to her discretion.
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“What are you looking for so long?” Kayho asked, holding a scroll containing the captive she had bested, a hint of impatience on her face. Her job was done, and she had no interest in hanging around.
“Excuses,” I muttered, sighing in frustration as I unrolled each scroll, setting them side by side. With a small flick of my shadow, I shredded them into pieces, then ignited the remaining scraps, containing the smoldering ashes within my shadow.
It wasn’t the first time he’d dismissed them, so by now, I’d gotten used to it.
As she handed over her scroll, Kayho began recounting her encounter with a captive designated Subject #246 from Kumo. She described his strengths, weaknesses, and the techniques he’d used, highlighting his quick adaptation to the curse mark. She noted the distinctive black hue of his lightning—a sure sign that he’d succeeded in wielding Senjutsu to amplify his lightning jutsu.
His progress in controlling the curse mark was quick; he managed to achieve transformation this early without mindlessly attacking her for a while, especially considering he was just a C-rank shinobi.
Granted, a small fragment of Gelel stone embedded in his back, giving him just enough power to fend off the curse mark’s maddening effects, but the same condition applies to most captives and they don't have the same pace unless they are from Kumogakure.
‘I suppose his body was somewhat compatible with natural energies, like anyone who practices lightning-based nin-taijutsu…’
At this point, it all but confirmed a trend I’d been seeing over the past year among Kumo’s captives who practiced lightning-based nin-taijutsu.
The added mental and pain stimulation from the lightning, paired with their physical conditioning, seemed to help them recover their sanity faster and adapt more easily to the curse mark’s physical changes as it progressed.
Too bad it wouldn’t work for most shinobi in Konoha. Few here would bother training in lightning chakra, as their affinities leaned heavily toward fire, earth, or water, making lightning training less appealing. Even if they were willing to put in the effort, it wouldn’t yield the same results as it did with the Kumo captives.
Even within clans like the Hatake, where lightning affinity was more common, wind or earth chakra tended to dominate, leaving lightning in the minority.
But oh well—it wasn’t all that important. They could still train with it, and even then, they’d notice a slight improvement in adapting to the curse mark.
"May I ask if you don’t mind?" she asked, a question clearly brewing behind her words.
"Proceed," I replied, disinterested, shifting my focus back to the balance sheet in front of me. I was seconds from diving into the numbers when she cut in again, her eyes narrowing as she studied me, scrutinizing something I hadn’t thought twice about.
“Did you get a bit taller?”
….
“Indeed, I am still growing,” I said without much concern, while her eyes only narrowed further, suspicion starting to form. I simply remain focused on the balance sheet, acting as though her comment had no relevance.
‘Obviously, that’s because I switched into a slightly taller body. Not that I’d be admitting it anytime soon though,’ I thought.
The new body still required some time to mold into my usual appearance, the one everyone recognized.
Had to be masked, clad in the same, with bandages underneath, wrapping each limb to keep the details blurred 24/7, making sure no one noticed changes in appearance regardless of whether I switch bodies or not.
Hence why it was so aggravating, though, how sharply she caught onto such a trivial detail, something I hadn't even considered until she brought it up.
Eventually, her gaze softened, losing its edge of suspicion as she stood in silence, replaced with impatience to get out from the facility. Meanwhile, I went on reading, undisturbed.
After she finally left the facility to check on her son, as if I couldn’t be trusted to uphold our agreement without her supervision, I went back to studying the new balance sheet approved by the Konoha council. It detailed plans for the Wood Release experiment, set to commence in the facility in just a few weeks.
‘The funding for my own experiments remains steady; however, there’s a noticeable reduction in the number of captives being allocated…’
Of course, I didn't expected to endlessly milk their wealth for development and production for a serum that was perfected six months ago which distribution is being delay under the guise of “further testing for safety,” and selling an inferior version to them after few days, knowing I can offer the perfected version later at a substantial mark-up while I continue taking their wealth.
The real setback, however, isn’t in funding but in the decreased chance to find high-quality bodies to switch into.
A steady flow of suitable shinobi sent for the experiment which I utilize for my own purposes would now be dwindling, which is inconvenient, to say the least; any regular A-rank shinobi’s body just won’t cut it if I aim to make significant gains in my work.
Sure, there are other paths to power, though most of my proposals are shot down by that sanctimonious hypocrite. So, for now, my hands are tied to this narrow path of advancement other than continuing training.
‘Unless he gets desperate enough to send me to the front lines, granting me a direct opportunity to claim resources myself without supervision, I’ll have to bide my time,’ I mused.
Not that I am running out of time or would fall victim to that red-eyed ghost, the filial son of the moron, or the possessed monk, just there is a lingering discomfort at the back of my mind, knowing they exist.
In the meantime, I suppose I should divert my attention to developing more ninjutsu. Perhaps I’ll create something useful, not over-the-top like Wind Release: Rasenshuriken which very few can use properly.
Though I don’t expect anything monumental, at best creating C rank jutsu, these jutsu can always be sold for quick cash either to Hokage council or to clans. I’ve done it enough times that my reserves could last through several rainy months.
Then there’s the matter of schedule—I’ll need Kazuma to inform select individuals like Kahyo to keep themselves hidden on a certain period of time, only engaging to fight the captives once a week when I give permission, as even the slightest visibility could catch the eye of the Blamekage or his men as they would be presence for the in the facility for the wood release experiment.
It’s been a long and tiresome process to find and bring them under my influence; losing that control now to them would be unacceptable.
With a resigned sigh, I went back to reviewing each scientist’s hypothesis for counteracting the curse mark’s mental erosion without relying on Gelel stones, a valuable resource that are hoarded by the Hokage council or else not everyone can survive from changes made by serum in order to use senjutsu.
Despite the supposed unity they preached in stages or in meetings, they give out only to those who exhibit or they believe will have absolute loyalty to them, regardless of mediocrity.
Not that I mind.
I’ve amassed a reasonable stockpile for my own purposes before trading the rest in exchange for promotion, funds, and chance to get a jutsu from the Scroll of Seals under their supervision early on in my career.
Still, it wouldn't hurt to further democratize the serum for the rest of Konoha's shinobi. Maybe I’ll get an anomalous result I least expected, one that might give me a direction I haven’t considered.