Chapter 35: [Return]
As the clone brought both his palms together, the luminescent blue flame and arcs of red lightning soon began to intertwine.
As the two began to merge, the original blue flame took on a deeper shade with a fleeting purple hue that tinged its edges.
However, this didn't last long.
*Boom*
The clone was soon enveloped in a huge explosion.
Sasuke watched as the thunderous explosion decimated all surrounding vegetation along with his clone, as wisps of smoke curling around in the air were all that was left in its wake.
"Another failure...
But at least there is still some improvement."
He muttered as his eyes darted around, trying to comprehend the aftermath of the explosion.
After he had performed his Nature Transformation practice for fire and lightning attributes, he had arrived at some sort of bottleneck.
To circumvent this bottleneck, Sasuke thought it might be possible for him to try and create a Kekkei Genkai despite understanding that it might be a difficult task.
If he succeeds with this, his overall combat power may experience great growth.
Currently, Sasuke is already very strong within the Kage level. His only drawback is his lack of combat experience against other ninjas, but he knows that is only a temporary issue.
But regarding his plans and this strange Otsutsuki influence that seems to be present in the world, Sasuke understandably desires to be much stronger than he already is.
Nevertheless, creating a Kekkei Genkai is no easy task and Sasuke would like to have some sort of reference by seeing the flow of chakra when another person is using a Kekkei Genkai.
This was why he was so happy he now possessed Wood style, as it could help him with researching his own Kekkei Genkai.
'At least there is some sign of initial merging now unlike before when it blew up as soon as the two came close to each other.'
Sasuke was briefly lost in his thoughts as he once again attempted to use Wood style. This time instead of simply seeing its effects, he wanted to see how far he could push it.
It didn't take long for thick wooden tendrils to shoot out of the ground around him whilst this was going on, Sasuke activated his Mangekyou and stared closely at the tendrils.
Though the Sharingan wasn't as good as the Byakugan at seeing chakra flow, it still allowed Sasuke to see the chakra within these Wood-style creations.
As he watched the tendrils with his Mangekyou, he began to vaguely understand what was required for him to make his Kekkei Genkai.
'Ratio...
The ratio of earth and water attribute chakra is consistent throughout the entire wooden tendril.
This unique ratio also allows for the two attributes to gently merge to form a new type of chakra.
I need to find the correct chakra ratio between fire and lightning attribute chakra in order to generate this new chakra.'
He then summoned 100 shadow clones and ordered 1/3 to practise Wood style whilst another 1/3 would attempt to create the new Kekkei Genkai and the final 1/3 would practise the Susanoo.
After some time had passed, Sasuke realised that it was already early morning and began to head back to camp.
'I didn't even realise that so much time had passed.'
Before he had absorbed the White Zetsu clones, his chakra would not have been able to summon so many shadow clones and would also not have lasted so long.
Only now did Sasuke understand he might be able to learn a few more things in his spare time, as with his shadow clones the time required to learn techniques is drastically reduced.
'I mean the clans in Konoha do have some rather interesting Jutsu...'
As he arrived back at camp he happened upon a rather interesting scene.
A wolf and a child were in the midst of an 'intense' stare-off, which was then interrupted by Sasuke's presence.
"It's you...?" Karin's eyes locked onto Sasuke, her voice filled with trepidation as she continued speaking.
"Why did you kidnap me? Why did I fall asleep so suddenly? What do you want from me?"
"Hey, kidnap is a rather strong word to be used here. If anything what I did was more about saving you from your village. Also, if it isn't obvious already, you possess something I want. Which is why you're here now."
Sasuke's words caused Karin's head to droop down slowly.
'I knew it...
I'm here just here to heal people again...'
As he looked at Karin, he noticed that she might have misunderstood what he meant.
"If you weren't already aware,
I need you for really only two things.
Firstly, I need you to learn Fuinjutsu and better practise your sensory abilities.
In the future, I'll be able to get my hands on some techniques that traditionally only a Uzumaki can perform.
I will need you to practise them so I can use them as a reference to try and learn the techniques myself.
Your perception will also prove rather useful for my plans.
Secondly, you are needed to help me find something.
Though you don't need to worry about that last one for now."
Hearing Sasuke, Karin's eyes began to shine a bit with joy and shock as she queried him.
"S- So you aren't going to be biting me?"
Her words were filled with unease and disbelief, she didn't think she had any ability other than healing people with her chakra.
"No. That ability of yours isn't particularly useful for the current me, so you needn't worry about that."
Even if Sasuke hadn't recently absorbed those Zetsu clones, he didn't think he would rely on Karin's ability.
'However, I'm not saying she wasn't my backup plan in case I was ever seriously injured and didn't find those Zetsu clones.'
Well. Sasuke never did say he was a good person...
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The group of two children and a wolf found themselves on the road back to Konoha a day later.
Karin who at Sasuke's instructions had worn a brown wig, sat atop Luna's back- much to the disgruntlement of the wolf.
"So you're a Uchiha?"
She asked Sasuke who was walking beside her- his face now free from his mask.
Yep.
Sasuke revealed his identity to Karin.
Normally, this wouldn't be something he should be doing but he understood that he couldn't exactly hide that from Karin.
Not only is she most likely going to be following him to Uzushiogakure in his future investigations over there.
But she will also be an invaluable asset to him considering her abilities and will thus need to know about his true identity to help him in the future.
"Yes..."
Sasuke replied, rather tired from the constant questions that barraged him from the young girl. Once she understood she wasn't going to keep being bitten and was safe for now, she began to show her more child-like side.
"I thought the Uchiha were all demons...?"
Sasuke's eyes twitched at her remarks and wanted to deny them but soon he realised something.
Itachi, Obito, Madara
'Nevermind. Can't say she is entirely wrong with good conscience.'
Sasuke remembered that most of the issues that plagued the ninja world may or may not have been influenced by Obito and Madara.
And then there was Itachi who thought it would be the smart thing to genocide his clan. Though Sasuke understands to an extent where his thoughts came from, he doesn't truly believe there weren't any other methods to avoid the Uchiha rebellion.
I mean, Sasuke could think of a rather simple plan.
Assassinate Danzo
He also might be oversimplifying the problem.
But it's not like killing Danzo is a bad thing exactly...
'Now I think about it, I should probably plan his death...
However, I can't exactly be like the original Sasuke and end up as a fugitive.
With my current strength being a missing-nin isn't exactly dangerous but it most certainly wouldn't be very comfortable.
Who am I to frame for Danzo's death...?'
Whilst he was caught up in his whirlwind of thoughts, he realised he should probably answer Karin regarding the Uchiha.
"Well, I won't say that there aren't some 'less than good' Uchiha. But there are also several good Uchiha."
As time soon passed, the trio found themselves nearing Konoha when Sasuke turned around to Karin and spoke.
"Once in Konoha, you'll be living in my house. If anyone asks just say that you were an orphan who I found outside of Konoha.
For now, you'll simply help me clean and maintain the house.
Your lessons in Fuinjutsu will start later."
"That's fine...
But what about you're family?
Will they not say anything?"
Karin asked with confusion in her tone as she seemed to realise that Sasuke hadn't mentioned much about his family or clan.
As she was mainly kept isolated within Kusagakure, she didn't understand too much about the world outside the village. Thus, she was completely unaware of the Uchiha Massacre that happened a few years ago.
"They're gone..."
It didn't take long for Sasuke to briefly tell Karin about what had happened before.
However, much to Sasuke's surprise, Karin's eyes glistened with tears as she listened to his brief recounting of what had happened.
'And to think I was suffering before.
For one to have everything but end up with nothing...'
She was even more shocked by how he managed to recover from that and become so strong.
'If he could go through that and still remain so strong, there's no reason I can't either.
And his chakra...
Why is it so warm yet so cold?'
Sasuke's chakra was an enigma to Karin, for the most part, it was kind and gentle.
Then there were parts of it filled with paranoia, frustration and...
Confusion?
Karin shook her head as she looked at Sasuke beside her in a new light with a new goal forming in her mind.
'You saved me from my hell.
I'll save you from yours...'
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