"Are you in Kumogakure yet?"
"We just walked through the gates now. Several engineers of mine have also tagged along, it's finally ti R-dono"
"It's been long overdue. Tetsuo...do you know if the village is properly ready for you?"
"Once we confirm Dodai-dono has forged a proper layout for us to work with, we'll begin the first test"
Still in his lab, Rei was quick to begin his "work" when he received a sudden call from Tetsuo Mori via Genjutsu Tsūshin1Illusion Technique Transmission
Changing into his "Developer R" disguise consisting of both dark pants and shirt, along with a hoodie-equipped black jacket. Completed by a silver polygon mask, Rei activated his projection-type Genjutsu, eager to have a talk with Mori Sp.'s President
"Good...haaah"
"Hm?" {I can't see behind that strange mask but...did he just sigh? Could I have upset him with this sudden call?}
"..."
"U-Um?"
"Yes? What's wrong?"
"I...I was going to ask you that, are you not happy? I'd think the completion of the Network project would be sothing to celebrate, considering the rewards we'll reap from it"
"Oh, you haven't done anything wrong. It's sothing else"
Rei was pleased with the news, the hard work he'd undergone in secret over the years was finally going to pay off. From Tetsuo's perspective, achieving this mysterious feat was apparently a ground-breaking achievent...but Rei thought otherwise
From his otherworldly 21st century mind, he believed progress was too slow. Thanks to the world's current level of technology, the project's completion is taking place years longer than Rei desired
While he surmised this might happen, irritation grew after recalling he was almost twelve. Naruto was close to starting his journey as a Ninja. "Part 1" was only a few years away from starting, and despite his recent growth, Rei was still unsatisfied
Not to ntion the recent new he received from F...
"Apologies Tetsuo, I'm just dealing with so new problems on my end"
{Ahh. I did call at a bad ti} "Is there anything I can do to help?"
"I'll contact you when the need arises"
"I look forward to speaking with you again. Ending the transmission"
CRACKLE!
"Sigh...this mask is so damn stuffy. It's amazing how Tobi put up with it for as long as he did"
To be prepared for this story's so-called "Climax", he required resources, intel, protection for the main cast, and able allies. The "Network" project was for the latter
♦♦♦
Kusagakure2Hidden Grass Village
"Wow. This is the famous, or rather, infamous Blood Prison. It's even creepier up close"
"I'd refrain from issuing such comnts around the guards Funsui-kun. To you as well, Ronri-kun, Toroi-san"
"Hm? You know sothing we don't?" (Funsui)
"Funsui, listen to Osoi-sensei" (Ronri)
"He's quite knowledgeable when it cos to foreign relations, how else could a Genin be assigned to this mission" (Toroi)
"AHEM!"
"!" (Toroi, Funsui, & Ronri)
"Referring to Hōzuki-jō3Demon Lantern Castleby that nickna is what Kusa-nin would call...a derogative" (Osoi)
Osoi gestured towards the prison, specifically, its massive structure. Pointing out the sheer amount effort required not only to build such a massive incarceration facility, but to maintain it
Unlike the Five Great Shinobi Nations, the smaller nations had far less to work with. In order to avoid being swallowed up by the bigger ones, they had prove their worth. Seeking specialized work, sothing they could do better than anyone else
Just like Yugakure's4Hidden Steam Villagehot springs and tourist attractions for the wealthy, or Shimogakure's5Hidden Frost Villagenavigation services through its ever-changing, treacherous, snowy paths...Kusagakure offered a prison system for every nation to use at its convenience
Which made it all the more strange to Osoi as he tried to ascertain why they'd not only cease their services to Kumogakure, but to the entire eastern side of the continent
"These people pride themselves on their work, just like everyone else. And we're trying to get on their good side" (Osoi)
"Which ans, watch what you say. We're on their turf, and definitely not welco. I'll handle most of the talks with the warden, only speak when you're spoken to. Got it?" (Toroi)
"Right" (Ronri)
"Alright! I get it!" (Funsui)
"Heh, good. Funsui, keep your senses sharp. Let know if you feel anything off" (Toroi)
{This whole place feels off...} (Funsui)
"Ronri, I want your eyes & ears everywhere, understand?" (Toroi)
"Already on it..." (Ronri)
"?!" (Osoi)
WEAVE!
{Ninpō: Tokage no 6Ninja Art: Lizard's Eye!} (Ronri)
Nurous small lizards erged from the pouch on Ronri's back before proceeding to infiltrate the prison
"Is that his-?" (Osoi)
"Ronri worked with J before , and they picked up the hobby of raising ssenger lizards, but he's taken it to another level. By connecting chakra within the optic nerves and eardrums, he shares the eyes and ears of his lizards" (Funsui)
"Lizards can't hear as well as humans, so the sound he gets isn't that great" (Toroi)
"Oh..." (Osoi)
"Fortunately, he can read lips. Which definitely cos in handy during battles at sea" (Funsui)
{Right. I almost forgot both Funsui and Ronri are the righthand n to Hikaru, Kumo's best ship captain} (Osoi)
"...We're good to go" (Ronri)
CREAK!
"Just in ti, they're opening the doors for us" (Funsui)
"Hm?" (Toroi)
Much to their surprise, the warden himself was waiting at the gate
"What the-? The warden is greeting us personally?" (Osoi)
"I thought we weren't welco?" (Funsui)
"..." (Ronri)
"Alright everyone, follow my lead" (Toroi)
♦♦♦
Rei's lab
"I need to move things along. Now, where were we?"
BURBLE! BURBLE!
I spent a lot of money on these vats, fortunately Tetsuo procured them for a bundle. He gave tons of them, in various sizes, ranging from a chair to the height of a small house
But the price of the vats don't compare to what their containing now. The bubbling, liquified nutrients and mutagens I'm using to grow these specins cost a f**king fortune!
I even snuck into a black market I discovered a while back, just to get it at a cheaper price, and I still blew through most of my money!
[They've grown quite a bit since I last saw them]
"Glad my investnts are actually worth a damn"
Hmm...the growth rates between each one started at various levels...but it looks I've successfully managed to map their genos. Experintation will be all the easier now
[That big one over there looks ready to go]
"It will be, once I've verified it's under my control, I'll make the contract"
Thanks to information from Notitia, I figured out how Orochimaru and Kabuto got their "Pets" to act obedient. Well, with the exception of that giant snake Manda
"Moving on..."
[Yes. The Kaguya Clan's destruction. The result is...well...it's about when you first ca here, not just Summoning Island]
"Enlighten "
[As once explained, "Ripples" are distortions in this world created by an "Outsider" like you. Echoing throughout Space-ti as the predetermined course you're familiar with gets off track. But the one I picked up on the Island...it's not connected to this event]
"It has to be, you said I created one a year ago"
[And that you did, but we've yet to feel its effects. This one related to the Kaguya Clan...it's likely the result of one, or many created so ti ago. There are too many to count]
Too many to count?! How many Ripples have I caused?! And why the hell haven't you inford of this sooner?!
[I know what you're thinking, and even if you were told, there was nothing either of us could do about it. Think back to the ti you ca here, your arrival in this world. What was the first thing you did?]
"I...I was in the hospital. My dad-err...Keido, just died on the table. I also t Mabui and Dodai for the first ti"
[Yes, but that's not else...]
"Wait. Are you hinting at my talk with the 3rd Raikage?"
[Exactly. You, a variable within this "System", conversed with a powerful and influential figure]
That's...!
[You really think things wouldn't change?]
"SIGH!"
No...no I knew. I just naïvely hoped it wouldn't be the case. I was creating Ripples even back then...
[Every step you take, every word you say, every action...distorts this world. Even with the lingering influence of its creator at work, the author...trying to keep things on course is an impossibility. Because of you, this world is now similar, not the sa as the one you knew]
"No matter how hard I try, even if I isolated myself on so faraway land, things would still change? You told this at the beginning of my journey, but at the ti I-"
[Didn't trust anything I had to say]
Do I look like Naruto to you? Of course I wouldn't trust anything a stranger like you had to say. Shit, I still don't
[You believed it was possible to keep things as they are if you played your cards right. Sorry, but that will never be the case no matter what you do]
"..."
Case. In. F**king. Point...
[...The good news is most ripples you make cause only minor discrepancies, incapable of forming major effects. But so random action you took in the past has caused sothing, or soone to go off course...in a major way]
That's what I figured, and we won't know until it's right in front of us. For the sake of the Climax, all I can do is work to ensure Sasuke Uchiha, Naruto, and the rest of his allies stay alive and strong
For them to win, Kumogakure must be thriving by the ti all Five Great Shinobi Nations rally together for the upcoming Fourth Shinobi World War against Madara and Akatsuki
"Alright, I've heard enough. No matter what cos, I'll just have to deal with it. However, strengthening my resources, influence, and intel wouldn't hurt in preparation for future events"
[I wouldn't tell you not to, becoming a Chunin in the upcoming exams will give you far more authority, aning more leeway. Do your best to ensure your team is selected to participate]
"Will do, is there anything else?"
[...You know what we really need to discuss]
"..."
Goddamnit. Again with this?
"We've had this discussion already..."
[You've been stagnate since, but it cAN't gO oN. And now that Isshiki's powers are starting to manifest-]
"I still don't have them yet"
[...Really? No signs of his unique power, Sukunahikona7Small Man of Renownor Daikokuten8Great Black Heaven?]
"Did you not hear ? I said no. Just my physical strength and Genjutsu have abnormally grown, as you surmised would happen over a year ago"
[...]
Shit. Notitia's starting to grow suspicious. Honestly, it's surprising it hasn't happened sooner. I've been real lucky considering this thing still isn't aware of Kisshōten's9Auspicious Heavenstrue nature
All it knows is that I possess an "unknown power" of In'yōton10Yin-Yang/Shadow & Light Stylerelation
"In the first place, I'm not so ready to get rid of the rest of him now that I've received, albeit a declining version of Lava Style"
[Stop procrastinating. You know that was only a freak accident. Your unknown power acted to save your life, it was never permanent. Especially now that they've been activated. Face reality Raymond]
"Tsk!"
[Besides, we've already co up with another solution to get it back at a later ti. "Part 1" is right around the corner, if you haven't stabilized by then you'll...!]
"I know. I know damn it! Shut up already..."
[...Why the real hesitation? What's actually bothering you?]
It's not sothing I can choose so easily, dumbass
"..."
["Rei" or Isshiki...your body's internal struggle is nearing it's end]
"SCOFFS!"
[You can no longer delay. Whether you want it or not, your body's final evolution is coming]
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