80 Chapter – 80: Upgrading the Parasite

[Rei POV]

The Byakugan is a bit different than the Sharingan or even the Shikotsumyaku as the Hyuga clan members don't need to activate any of their Otsutsuki genes in order to awaken it, instead they seem to be able to use it from birth. I have thought about it for a long time and the only possible explanation that I could come up with is that it could be because this is the ability that every Otsutsuki is born with and all others like the Sharingan or the Shikotsumyaku should be gotten from ingesting Chakra fruits!

One more difference between the Byakugan and the others is that other than increasing its range and the power of insight, no other significant change occurs to the Byakugan by activating more genes, unlike how the Sharingan evolves into multiple tomoes and then later into mangekyo; that is unless all of the genes are activated, in which case it becomes a power so great that it skips the level of EMS and can directly go head to head against the Rinnegan, by becoming the Tenseigan!

Talking about genes, I have already collected all the active and inactive genes of both the Kaguya and the Senju clans, and once I get Madara's cells, I will be completing the Uchiha as well. Therefore, the only clan left for me to focus on is Hyuga. Even regarding the Hyuga clan, I have collected all the inactive ones as seen from the clone I created with them, however, I only have fifteen out of the thirty-three active Otsutsuki genes from them.

'Mmm… I should start focusing on them and quickly too…' I think looking towards the two close with Hyuga genes in them as without active genes the progress of these clones will have to be halted.

'Now the main question is, which genes should I start to activate in them?'

This question is really important because, I am not sure if it can even happen, but let's assume that if I decide to activate the Senju genes first then what if, because of it, I cannot activate the Uchiha ones later? As I said I am not sure, hence the dilemma.

After pondering the question for a while and still not able to come up with an answer, I decide to activate one from each clan, that is, since I have four clones, I will activate the genes of one clan in each of them to start with. So, in the Uchiha-Senju clone, I decide on the Uchiha, in the Senju-Hyuga clone, the Senju, in the Hyuga-Kaguya clone, the Hyuga, and finally, in the Uchiha-Kaguya clone, I choose the Kaguya.

This way, even if I fail to activate the second clan's genes later, I will still be left with at least a clone for each clan.

'Let's do it like that…' I think and with that, I start controlling the clone and stat testing the abilities of the Byakugan.

…

A few days later.

I am standing in front of the Nutrition tanks again. The clone this time is not like my previous ones which I want to keep alive as long as possible… no, this one is being built to die… die at the proper moment that is…

'I am taking so much effort into this…' I think.

Usually, if I want to infiltrate or pose as someone else, I would have tried the transformation jutsu that I have perfected or even the physical surgery that I did with my previous clones. However, doing similar stuff might prove to be a massive mistake this time as no one knows the hidden powers of the Rinnegan… no the more correct sentence is, I don't know its abilities; at least, not yet. Hence the reason for going through this round of cloning.

'Another couple of months and this clone should be ready… '

'A.I chip, show the progress of developing the new version of the Parasite…'

[Beep! Shadow-II: simulation progress 77.45%, estimated time: 16days 13hours]

'Close to half a month left…'

This time, the task I assigned to the A.I chip is a bit special. Currently, the abilities of the parasite include hiding by attaching itself to the soul of the target and thereby read their memories, control them for a short period of time, etc.

Initially, I wanted to target Kabuto and he still is a target, but I have changed my priorities as Kabuto is only a two-year-old child for now and I will have many opportunities later when he comes to the Konoha orphanage.

For now, I want to try something different; something that, if everything goes according to my plan, I will hit a jackpot much bigger than even the one I scored when I got all of Tsunade's memories!

The plan is to develop a parasite that could attach itself to a host like the others of its kind, but the only difference will be is that it will be able to transfer itself onto another soul should someone else try to take over the current host's body!

From this, the target for this parasite should be obvious, Mitarashi Anko! More specifically, Orochimaru, once he injects a part of his soul into Anko with his Cursed Seal of Heaven.

When I started, I wasn't entirely sure if it could work as my physical presence is required when injecting someone with a parasite. Hence, I thought I would need to be there when it transfers itself onto a new soul too, but I am glad I was wrong.

It seems that my presence is required only because I need to split a tiny piece of my soul. If it is already split and the parasite is inside the target's body, there is no need for me to be there anymore! With this, I have found a direction to research where I can inject someone with a parasite using just my clones!

Anyway, according to the A.I chip, it is possible to develop a new type of parasite that could, in theory, transfer itself and attach itself to the other soul which is inside the same body as the host and the best part is, even if it is only a small part of the soul, it's memories are kept completely intact as that is how he will be able to come back to life from just a small piece! Therefore, it will have all of Orochimaru's memories and experiences…