(T/N: Incredibly grateful for 700 Power Stones.)
"What a shame—no Senjutsu inheritance."
Yamanaka Shinno clicked his tongue in disappointment, then casually dispelled the Mind-Body Clone Technique that had been controlling Hozuki Fuzuki.
From Fuzuki's memories, Shinno had confirmed that while the Clam Clan wasn't as vast as Mount Myoboku or Ryuchi Cave, it still outnumbered most summoning beast clans. Some of its members even had abilities that could rival the dazzling techniques of the toads from Mount Myoboku.
There were clams that could release special mirage-inducing mist to enhance genjutsu, clams with absurdly strong defenses that could serve as living shields, clams capable of generating highly corrosive acid that could dissolve almost anything, and clams proficient in Water Release techniques…
Their only real downside? They couldn't talk. More complex communication had to be done through the illusions created by their mist.
And the biggest flaw of all—they had no Senjutsu inheritance.
"Y-You just wait... wait for my clan's... revenge...! We will hunt you down... to the end...!"
Hozuki Fuzuki curled up in a corner, his body wracked with pain. The agony that struck his very soul caused involuntary spasms and shudders, his voice barely squeezing out through clenched teeth, hoarse and grating.
"The Hozuki Clan, huh? Heh—your Kirigakure isn't exactly stable right now."
Shinno waved a hand dismissively, utterly unconcerned.
Kirigakure was currently a mess.
With the big boss Uchiha Madara pulling the strings from behind the scenes, the effects of the Blood Mist Policy were still spreading like wildfire. The militant faction had gone completely unhinged, while the conservatives lived in constant fear.
The Hozuki Clan, a powerful family that had yet to declare their stance, found themselves caught in the village's internal storm. They had no time to worry about anything else.
Once the Third Shinobi War broke out, even if they learned that Shinno had inherited Hozuki Gengetsu's legacy, they'd be too preoccupied with the war to do anything about it.
And after the war? With power shifts and even harsher Blood Mist policies in place, Kirigakure would begin systematically targeting Bloodline Limit clans.
The Hozuki Clan would be wiped out even earlier than the Uchiha!
Hunt him down? With what forces?
Who would even come? Suigetsu, the last remnant of the clan, who would first be kidnapped by Orochimaru for experiments and then kept as a pet fish?
Give the kid a break, seriously.
"You... you will... regret this..."
Splash—
As soon as the words left his mouth, Fuzuki's entire body collapsed like a deflated balloon, dissolving into a puddle of water that scattered across the floor.
His chakra rapidly dispersed into the surroundings.
In mere seconds, he was completely lifeless.
Clearly, he had used the Hydrification Technique to completely break down his own life force, committing suicide.
"I'm not Sarutobi Hiruzen—what do I have to regret?"
Shinno crossed his arms, showing no intention of stopping Fuzuki's suicide.
From the very start, the man's fate had been sealed.
In the shinobi world, no clan ever wanted their members to be captured by an enemy.
It wasn't just about protecting village secrets—family techniques, bloodline abilities, and the clan's very foundation were all at risk.
With tensions already sky-high, raiding the Summoning Island could still be framed as an operation to dismantle an inhumane and clandestine research facility in the Land of the Sea.
Kirigakure didn't have much of a moral high ground here. Even if they were angry, they'd have to swallow their resentment.
But if Shinno had taken a Hozuki clan member alive?
If the Kirigakure leadership caught wind of it, the militant faction would immediately rally the Hozuki Clan to retaliate against Konoha.
No one—except maybe Danzo—wanted to deal with that mess.
[Ram - Sheep - Monkey - Boar - Horse - Tiger.]
Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!
Shinno formed hand seals and unleashed a Fire Release technique, though his mastery was still rough.
The heat instantly evaporated the remaining water, ensuring Hozuki Fuzuki's complete erasure—no body, no evidence.
Only then did Shinno turn and leave the laboratory.
...
In the vast research facility, the previously imprisoned researchers were now nervously dismantling and packing up equipment.
Three of Namikaze Minato's shadow clones stood guard—two at the facility's exits and one supervising the researchers in the hallway.
"It's done?" one of Minato's clones asked as Shinno emerged.
"Didn't get to ask anything. He offed himself."
Shinno deliberately emphasized the last part.
"Got it."
Minato's clone nodded in understanding.
He had been a shinobi long enough to know the implications.
It wasn't that he was naive—he simply chose to see the best in his comrades.
"Did all the summoned creatures get sent back? Where's your main body?"
"Yeah, uh... well..."
"Why are you stammering? Did you sneak off for a little private time?"
"Huh?! No! Shinno, quit messing with me! I was just helping her organize some files, seriously!"
[...]
[System Notification: Significant alteration to the fate of a major character detected. Timeline deviation confirmed. Rewards granted: 1x Trait Duplication, 1x Trait Removal, 1x Blue Trait Upgrade, 1x Trait Downgrade, 1x Trait Transfer.]
A sudden system alert rang in Shinno's mind.
Another Trait Duplication reward? And even some rare abilities he'd never seen before?
No doubt about it—Namikaze Minato was the undisputed golden child of this era!
These rewards were ridiculously generous!
But as Shinno looked at Minato's earnest, straight-faced expression, a chill ran down his spine.
Honest men telling lies... now that's truly terrifying!
凸(艹皿艹 )!
That sincere look almost had him fooled into believing Minato had just been organizing files with Uzumaki Honoka!
Organizing files... organizing files?!
If the system wasn't a secret, Shinno would've thrown that notification right in Minato's face and asked him—
Who the hell organizes files so hard that the entire timeline gets altered?!
If nothing happened in there, Shinno would write his name backwards!
"Minato, maybe don't be so confident in your words. You wouldn't want your main body to be put on the spot later."
Shinno patted the clone's shoulder, looking deeply concerned.
"Sigh... Shinno, what will it take for you to believe me?"
Minato's shadow clone looked genuinely aggrieved.
Did he not know himself better than anyone?
"If your main body appears in front of me within three seconds, I'll believe you."
"Alright!"
Poof—
The shadow clone left a Flying Thunder God seal on the wall before vanishing in a puff of smoke.
When a shadow clone is dispelled, its memories transfer back to the original.
If nothing had actually happened...
With Minato's personality, he'd appear instantly.
But unfortunately—
A full minute passed, and no one showed up.
"Why do I feel jealous all of a sudden?"
Shinno stared at the untouched Flying Thunder God seal, his expression shifting through several emotions.
"Screw this! I'm heading back to Konoha tonight!"
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