Chapter – 58: Grave robbing

Konoha.

[Rei POV]

'So, the Kiri operation concluded, ha?' I murmur, 'Let's see, from this trip, I got all twenty-one active and inactive genes for the Kaguya clan which was my main motive for being there. Then I got all active and inactive genes for Ice Release and Boil Release, but I am still lacking three active ones for Lava Release.'

'Other than Kekkei Genkai, I have also acquired some samples from the Hōzuki Clan and the Hoshigaki Clan which were a plus.'

'Also, I acquired Fugaku's blood sample and got three active genes from the Uchiha bloodline.'

'Finally, I got a chance to make a deal with Orochimaru!'

'Although not perfect, on the whole, I would say this trip was a grand success!'

"However, even though Orochimaru exaggerated, he is still partly right, I am a total noob when it comes to fighting! Even with all that practice and Tsunade's experiences, I couldn't even react when he attacked… Although I am setting unrealistic expectation out of myself because the opponent was a Sannin, still I can't deny that I am terrible at it," I think out loud, "First of all, it isn't my nature to look for someone to fight just to gain experience, and since in Konoha, the academy students rarely fight actual shinobi, my fighting experience is lesser than even a fresh Genin who has done some missions!"

"I can continue to practice Ninjutsu all I want inside the Origin space, but if I can't even cast them in a fight then what's the use… If it continues like this, even if I have an army of clones, they will be massacred before I can do anything… No, this has to change!"

"Also, I can't always think of the clones as disposable bodies. If I do that, I will never be able to fight like I have my life on the line; because it's not! that mentality needs to change too… only then will I be able to see true improvement… once the cloning this time is completed, let me send out one or two clones out of Konoha to gain experience…"

'I guess I have to thank Orochimaru for showing my shortcomings…'

…

A few days later.

'The barbaric method that Madara used to inject Hashirama cells into himself actually worked for me,' I smile. When I started experimenting with the injection of my active genes into the clone, the first thing I tried is the one that Madara used to obtain Rinnegan; grafting my tissue onto the clone.

At first, I wasn't sure if it would work and even if it worked, it might leave behind some troubles for later. But it seems I was worried for nothing. The clone body, because it was made from my cells, easily accepted my active genes with a rejection rate as low as 0.001%.

It took almost a month for the effects to be noticed, so by the end of the first month, the clone I created with one active gene now has two.

Also, a month ago, I brought a Nutrition chamber from the Underworld market and I have to confess, I am terrible at Haggling. I also checked Tsunade's skill in the field but she is worse than me! Therefore, I paid a huge price to get it.

I had the thoughts of scamming them like putting them in Genjutsu and all, but the people from the Underworld market were smarter; they had considered everything. The way they deal with it is simple; I had to pay the money upfront and after the money is verified by multiple people, I will get the goods.

Finally, after paying a massive sum of Twenty Million Ryo, I was able to get a brand new Nutrition chamber along with top-quality nutrition fluid.

Now, of all the plans I made for my academy days, only two are pending. The first one is achieving Mangekyo, and the other one is robbing Senju graves.

Awakening Mangekyo is a long-term process, but I have found the way so it's just a matter of time before I get one.

'A.I chip, display my stats…'

[Name: Uchiha Rei (Tokubetsu Jonin). Strength: 66, Agility: 64, Vitality: 71, Sprit: 67, Chakra: 999, Status: Soul injury (slight).]

[Bloodline: Uchiha (Three tomoe), Active genes: 14(limit), Bloodline activation: 51.85%]

[Soul injury: caused by splitting soul when creating Shadow-I Parasite. Estimated days for recovery: 309 days. Note: growth in chakra is reducing the time required to completely heal the injury.]

[Affinities: Fire 85%, Wind 75%, Lightning 69%, Earth 14%, Water 5%]

'Mmm, the activation of genes is getting slower and slower, even if it doesn't slow down and stays three months per gene, I will need close to twenty-four years to activate all Kaguya genes!'

'That won't do at all… because, if everything goes according to canon, I only have about twenty-two or twenty-three years before the Fourth Shinobi War begins…'

'I need to find a way to speed up the process, will casting multiple seals help?' I ponder.

…

For the last few days, I have already scouted the locations of Senju graves. According to Tsunade's memories, the Senju being one of the founders of Konoha, almost all of them were Konoha shinobi and like everyone else, after their passing, they are also buried in the Konoha cemetery. It will be a risky endeavor if I want to raid them.

However, there is an alternative. Before Konoha's creation, the Senju were a powerful clan and were arch enemies with the Uchiha. So, burying the ancestors of these clans together would have been a bad move as it would remind many people of painful memories from the past; like someone from Uchiha might have killed some Senju's brother or father, the same is true for the Uchiha too. hence both clans decided that when they move to Konoha, they would create separate hidden burial grounds for their ancestors within their own compounds. That is my target as the Senju compound is currently deserted.

There is one more option, which is to wait until I meet with Orochimaru and get it from him, but I highly doubt he will have samples from some of the weaker ones with inactive genes. Also, I actually don't want to depend on him too much; my plan for him is to use him and ditch him when done… he might have similar plans about me too, but who cares…

From my shallow scouting, I found a bunch of extremely powerful Uzumaki seals placed around the place. So, I have to be careful as even Tsunade didn't know how to undo them.

Around midnight that day, I arrive at the Senju compound stealthily.

'I hope there are some weaker ones buried here, that way just a couple and I would have all the inactive genes I need…'