"These eyes are called the Shuigan or Crimson Eye . . ."
"They grant me a wide field of view with an extremely long range, the ability to precisely track all motion, see through objects, detect chakra and lifeforce and predict movements and intentions" Benihime explained.
'She's omitting quite a few details and I don't think it is because she doesn't know about them . . . Then again, I definitely would not share everything about such a powerful kekkei genkai with anyone.' Shiki thought to himself.
But even the little Beni revealed was enough to shock the rest of the folk present.
The boy even noted that, while not surprised, Tomoe and Ema also seemed unaware of the true depths of that dojutsu's true abilities.
'Shuigan uh? A fitting name I suppose. Indeed to harvest a sample from her to add to my genetic map for my Kama imitation project, the Nirvana Seal: Transcendence.' Shiki internally planned.
He had been focusing on this project for the last few months, fuinjutsu, Yin Release, Yang Release, the skills he had been spending his time on were all crucial.
The boy wanted to get it done as soon as possible because Nirvana Seal: Transcendence was not an instantaneous power boost, it was a means of enhancing his evolutionary potential.
In other words, after completing and applying it, Shiki would still need time and external pressure through combat or even just training, in order to fully experience its effects.
An even simpler way of putting it was that the Nirvana Seal: Transcendence would not grant him any specific kekkei genkai but would instead grant the potential to develop any kekkei genkai possible.
It would also allow his stagnant physical stats to begin growing again.
Shiki knew he would start another growth spurt in his teens when his stats would naturally surge one last time.
Combined with the advanced sage abilities of the Ryumon clan, he felt reaching super kage level or SS rank in a couple of them was plenty possible.
But if Nirvana Seal: Transcendence could be completed before the growth spurt, when it finally comes, the surge in stats will be much, much greater.
Entranced with the possibilities, Shiki tuned out the conversation currently going on, merely recording it for future review.
His mind was now on the subject of his evolution.
Now that Beni's secret was out, the boy could only relax when she was right in front of him where he could be sure her Shuigan hax were not active.
'I've already hit the required fuinjutsu level. My skills in the discipline are very lopsided so I cannot call myself a sealing master but I've perfected the parts necessary for Nirvana Seal: Transcendence.' Shiki internally determined.
'I also need to gather as many genetic samples as I can. Hopefully I'll have what I need by the time the rest is in place.'
'A powerful energy source is also required. If it possesses innate restorative and mutative abilities, even better.'
When it came to this, the answer was apparent. Whether it was in his memories of the original series or the bloodline memories of the Ryumon, there was the legacy of a fallen ancient civilization which would perfectly fulfill his needs.
'From before chakra and the Otsutsuki's arrival on this planet, the Empire of Gelel's most coveted treasure, the Gelel Ore Vein has what I need.' Shiki thought.
The final requirement was a method to integrate the genetic code in the seal with his body. There was a fuinjutsu based foundation in the Blood Spiral Sealing Arts but it was not enough.
'The Chimera Jutsu . . . There is no better alternative is there?' Shiki pondered.
Created by a Konoha shinobi named Hiruko as shown in one of the films, it allows one to fuse multiple beings together into one with their combined abilities.
Its ultimate use was to grant a shinobi the physical prowess and kekkei genkai of their victims, being able to partially take in four on its one and, with a few external conditions met, a fifth could be absorbed along with the full integration of the previous ones.
This was also supposed to grant one a perfect form and immortality.
There was a major issue though.
Hiruko only developed a working version of the Chimera Jutsu after the Third Great Shinobi War and its fully complete version only showed up in Shippuden.
'But my investigation in Konoha using my Enlightened Mind's Eye has revealed he's already started on development and I don't need the full technique . . .' Shiki contemplated.
'The basic concept of the jutsu has nearly been completed by Hiruko, the actual development and trial and error are what will consume his time in the following years . . .
'But if I take his early developments, combine them with the foundation I have in the Blood Spiral Sealing Arts and master medical jutsu to a sufficiently high degree, I can fulfill this step on my own without needing to wait for the original Chimera Jutsu to be completed.'
'So my next step is to focus my practice towards Medical Jutsu and use the still very bare-bone foundations of the Chimera Jutsu to develop what I need.' Shiki concluded.
As luck would have it, the boy's reconnect raid of the Rinha clan's records of medical jutsu and data would significantly accelerate this process.
But just as Shiki was about to go off planning his far future, the present unfortunately demanded his presence and attention.
"What's the matter, Shiki?" Inori questioned and the boy realized everyone was looking at him.
"Just thinking . . ." He replied and utilized Kukyo to rapidly review the whole conversation that had entered his ears when he was not paying attention.
'So they already hashed out a plan and are just asking for my opinion.'
With the info reviewed, the boy immediately responded, no one even realized he had not been paying attention in the slightest.
Though Mei, Inori and Benihime showed suspicious expressions, Beni, the only one that could actually catch him lacking, needed her Shuigan active to do it, which was not, so Shiki was safe.
"I think the plan is solid. Make our way to Hoshigakure, leave the caravan there, quickly take out Kumo's observers and lightning strike their position in the Land of Valleys. It all seems good." The boy said.
"But how much should we share with Hoshi's village head? Allies or not, telling everything as it is seems rather dangerous to me." Shiki cautioned, smoothly dispelling the remaining few suspicions regarding his attention towards the matter at hand.
'Heh! You're a hundred years too early to catch me slacking!' He internally cheered while keeping his usual cold black face of seriousness.
"On that I agree. We can just leave the caravan there and say we will be hunting an enemy preemptively without giving any details, they should be courteous enough not to ask for them." Inori responded.
"Who will take care of the observers?" Fugaku questioned.
"Shinka and I will do it. Quick and quiet assassination is something we're both good at." Shiki replied.
{I agree.} Shinka signed in support.
"Alright then. Makoto, you'll keep an eye on the proceedings with your Byakugan just to make sure everything is going alright while Mei, Fugaku and myself will draw attention by visibly setting off from Hoshigakure, making the ambush easier." Inori commenced.
"Benihime-dono, Tomoe-dono and Ema-san, you'll be with my group." She added, to which the three agreed.
Sneaking and ambushing was never one of their strengths anyway.
However, it seemed there were still opinions left unsaid . . .
"I want to help as well!"
+++++
Hey, Author here!
To promote the novel I will be releasing BONUS CHAPTERS on SUNDAYS based on the previous week's power stone count.
100 Power Stones = 1 Bonus Chapter
500 Power Stones = 2 Bonus Chapters
1000 Power Stones = 3 Bonus Chapters
Every earned BONUS CHAPTER on Webnovel will also be posted on Scribble.
Just a reminder that you can read up to a FULL MONTH ahead of this site on pa-treon.
I'm trying to become a full time Author now and I'm not going to be starting any new novels just so I can make sure this one is properly completed.
Find those sweet advanced chapters on pa-treon.com/lusoba without the -