22 Two Faces and a Broken Heart

Getting support from his closest people in this world and the Hokage made Shiki even more excited about his future plans. As such he started determining which abilities and equipment to use as himself and as the Reaper to avoid anyone associating the two with each other. And what he could use as both without suspicion.

'Hmm, the sharingan is quite damning considering that no two people have the same mangekyo let's decide later.'

'Non kekkei genkai nature transformations don't really matter since anyone can learn them but jutsu that are to unique must be restricted to one identity. Since I'll be giving most kekkei genkai to the Reaper I'll keep all jutsu I invent of the five basic nature transformations for myself.'

'Stolen hiden jutsu will be reserved for the Reaper since I want to keep my name clean.

'I'll decide on who gets my original tailed beast later but keep the Tailed Beast Scroll to be used by the Reaper since my original self will be pro-tailed beast rights, I can't be walking around with they're stolen chakra.'

'As for my original, so long as its chakra is fused with a another source as a final ingredient, the other tailed beast won't be able to tell it's theirs. As for what I'll be using as that final ingredient I've yet to determine it.'

'I'll keep the Adamantine Sealing Chains for myself and the Shikotsumyaku I'm planning to get from Kimimaro and Jugo's kekkei genkai will go to the to the Reaper.'

"Wait!" Shiki suddenly shouted out loud from sudden inspiration.

'If I take Shisui's eye from Danzo, I can use it as the Reaper while using my own sharingan as myself! There are two ways to do this. If i manage to cook up some seal magic that I've been trying to make unsuccessfully for while it's fine but if not, I can just remove the eyes of a soul clone and replace it with Shisui's!'

Having been satisfied by his consideration on the matter of abilities, Shiki decided to move onto gear.

'Alright, here's what I'm gonna do I'll have a soul clone to go on boring missions and remain in Konoha to train my physique since I have been putting more effort in technique, it has started to fall behind.'

'So I'll make three sets of equipment: one for training, one to act as myself and one to act as Reaper.'

After purchasing some supplies, Shiki got onto the design.

'I can upgrade these later, especially after I get my hands of the knowledge of the Takumi Village and combine it with my seals so no need to consider the far future. The Reaper's Mask obviously goes to the Reaper so no head gear required a black flak jacket with pauldrons, neck guard and two equipment pouches, black forearm guards, black pants and boots over a metal mesh bodysuit. Finally a black hooded mantle and a custom scroll holder in the small of my back for the Tailed Beast Scroll.'

'The gear will be reinforced by seals to be resistant to physical attacks while the mantle will have concealment seals added to it as well. The forearm guards will have hardening seals that respond to chakra to reinforce it on the outer forearm while the inner forearm will have storage seals. It's simple but effective.'

'As for my gear a dark purple, sleeveless kimono with light purple lining, arm guards that cover up until most of the upper arm and pants all with the same color scheme as the kimono as well as standard black shinobi sandals, two equipment pouches. Also a belt with a holster for my fan.'

(Author: Basically, the outfit from the cover.)

'The applied seals will be similar to those of the shinigami with the exception of those placed on the mantle.'

'Finally for my training gear, an ugly full bodysuit, Guy style covered head to toe with seals that will enable me to restrict my movement, increase the gravity affecting me, disturb or seal my own chakra, etc.'

'On another note entirely, I got to have a soul clone spy on "that" person and see if I can copy their jutsu. It would make a frightening combo with my seals.'

(Author: Any guesses who?)

'In fact since I'm giving quite a bit of power to the Reaper since his role will be marginally more dangerous, I will focus most of my specially made equipment on myself, since I'm planning to give the Shikotsumyaku and Jugo's ability to the Reaper because they require stripping.'

The next day, a soul clone with the identity of the Reaper officially joined the Anbu and despite his protests, he was forced to wear the standard Anbu gear but at least they let him use his own mask.

Shiki also told his friends about his early graduation earning admiration from the girls and jealousy from the guys much to his liking. As he was looking for Kurenai to tell her the news as well, he found her sitting in a park looking kind of down.

"Oh sad beauty! What ails your kind heart? Share it with me so I may help you carry your burdens!" Poetically professed Shiki drawing a chuckle from the sad Kurenai.

"Haha. It's nothing don't worry about it!" She answered.

"Don't be like that Kurenai-nee! If you don't tell me about it, I'll feel bad about sharing my good news!"

"Oh? What good news?" Kurenai inquired.

"I'll tell you once you share your worries with me." Said Shiki with a teasing tone.

Seeing that Shiki wasn't budging despite his casual tone, Kurenai cracked first.

"Fine, just some love troubles."

"Kurenai-nee! Seeing someone behind my back!? You're breaking my poor heart!"

'This kid!' Thought Kurenai, electing to ignore it.

"I was kinda seeing a guy, we didn't really started dating yet but it was going pretty well between us . . ."

"Not sure I want to hear this but keep going."

"Like I said things were going well but yesterday he came to my house . . ."

"To your house!? And then?"

Tears were starting to form in the corner of Kurenai's eyes.

"He saw the flowers you gave me and thought I was seeing someone else!" She finally said and Shiki thought.

'As expected of myself! Driving away the competition even when I'm not trying! Still, i feel slightly bad . . . Or not.'

"So?" Kurenai asked.

"So?" Shiki made a puzzled face.

"What do you think?" The kunoichi asked.

'Kurenai-nee, even though I don't really act like a kid, asking relationship advice from a ten year old isn't the best judgement call . . . Guess I'll still give her some "honest" advice!'

"Way I see it . . ." Shiki started.

"Way you see it?"

"Any relationship, whether it is between friends, comrades or lovers is founded on trust. A relationship without trust is doomed to break apart! So in my humble opinion . . ."

"In your opinion?"

"If he doesn't trust you, he doesn't deserve you!" Shiki finished.

"If he doesn't trust me . . . He doesn't deserve me . . ." Kurenai mulled over Shiki's words.

'It was honest advice! Really! Some of my personal desires might have somewhat affected what I said but it was good advice nonetheless!' Thought Shiki to himself attempting to convince himself that no indecent desires of his own interfered with his words.

"Thank you!" Said Kurenai suddenly, bringing Shiki out of his thoughts.

"You're welcome!" He answered automatically without even thinking.

'Stealing someone's girl isn't something I like doing too much so I must thank Asuma for fucking up his relationship with Kurenai-nee all by himself!'

"So? Now that my part is done, what were the good news about yourself you wanted to share?"

"Good news? Ah, that's right! I graduated early! I'm officially a genin!"

"Really!? Congratulations Shiki! Though I guess considering your skill, it doesn't come as much of a surprise." Kurenai responded to Shiki's announcement.

"Ha! You flatter me to much, Kurenai-nee!"

After a somewhat long conversation the Kurenai and Shiki said their goodbyes and went their separate ways.

'I guess I'll have to upgrade my standard, boring Anbu uniform.' Thought Shiki as he walked through the streets.

'I'll just store the Reaper uniform I made, who knows? I might actually have a use for it later! Even if I don't i like collecting stuff so who cares!' Carelessly considered Shiki.

'Moving on to more important matters I should do everything I possibly can to increase my power before the canon events take place. I've already researched various archives and it's a very definite possibility that events and places from movies and fillers might appear so I better get ready for anything!'

'Let's set some goals to accomplish by the time the rookies graduate. I've already did this for wind nature but let's be ambitious and try to create a signature jutsu for each of the remaining basic chakra natures.'

'More stuff to do . . . Master the rasengan, 'cause why not!'

'Figure out the Flying Raijin!'

'Learn one handed seals! I can already do jutsu with minimal or no hand seals without compromising their power but the more hand seals I do the less chakra is used. If I can do them with one hand, they will be considerably easier to use in combat.'

'Convince the old man to let me teach Naruto to use the Nine Tails' chakra revealing his status as a jinchuriki to the kid, or do it behind the old man's back!'

'Push Sasuke until he feels enough inadequacy and disappointment in himself to awake his second tomoe.'

'Have to check how much chakra the Tailed Beast scroll has accumulated too. Although I'm not sure I can handle tailed beast chakra without loosing control, even through the scroll, so I have to test that too.'

'Enhancing my physical condition! Even if I have a natural advantage with my Uzumaki constitution but without proper intensive training, I still might not be able to safely pull of the more physically demanding stuff.'

'Acquire ninja dog! Always wanted a pet and since I have the Inuzuka techniques too but since they're stolen . . . guess the Reaper will have a dog then!'

'Learning Dan's Spirit Transformation Jutsu.'

'Finally adapt Orochimaru's jutsu for my own use, particularly his Living Corpse Reincarnation!'

Ending his thoughts, Shiki said to himself.

"Man now that I think about it, I really have a lot of shit to do! Oh well, best get to work then!"