Byakuya's chakra reserves were now worlds apart from what they had been before, inspiring the sort of amazement that came from thinking, "After three days apart, you must look at someone with new eyes."
First, his chakra reserves had increased a little. Then he'd received a timed mission to increase them further, and most recently, his boost in stamina had come as an even bigger surprise, pushing his chakra reserves forward by another great leap.
"The body's basic attributes aren't isolated from one another. When one improves, it often strengthens the others, too."
"It feels great to make steady progress. The feeling of growing stronger is wonderful."
"But right now, I've got the stats without any real combat experience. If I face a ninja with a similar level of strength but far more battle-hardened, I'll be the one to lose and die."
"I'll have to be extremely careful on this Root Division mission. There are countless wily old schemers in the Shinobi World. I should use Shadow Clones to test the waters."
He used Storm Release chakra to soothe his muscles. Mixed with water-nature chakra, its Lightning Release chakra was no longer so overbearing, and instead gave him just the right kind of "massage."
Truthfully, Byakuya really wanted Kumogakure's Lightning Release Chakra Mode—or, as it was also called, Lightning God Armor. Unfortunately, it was a secret technique passed down through generations, and there was practically no chance of getting his hands on it.
He popped a Military Ration Pill into his mouth, rested until his stamina was fully restored, then leaped down from the branch and continued on his way.
The Military Ration Pills he carried didn't restore chakra. They were simply food made from carrots, buckwheat flour, wheat flour, honey, and other ingredients to replenish stamina.
After leaving the village, Byakuya had considered whether he should defect right away, but quickly stamped out the thought.
For the foreseeable future, Konoha would be his shelter. Hiroya might have double-crossed him, but compared with facing the brutal world outside, where it was kill or be killed, the Root Division still followed at least a few rules.
When he reached the Ninja Tool Research Branch, which had been attacked by rogue ninja, he didn't show himself. Instead, he observed from hiding.
It was a three-story building backed against a fan-shaped cliff. Its exterior was plain and offered no clues. A precipice lay in front of it, with a swift river below. Two large tree trunks laid side by side spanned the banks, serving as a bridge.
Byakuya formed Hand Seals.
"Shadow Clone Technique!"
He sent a Shadow Clone into the research facility to gather information, while he stayed outside and watched for any signs of movement.
The clone circled around, keeping its distance from the original, then approached the cliff from another direction. It crossed the tree trunks serving as a bridge and reached the research facility.
The two iron doors stood open, and the stench of blood lingered in the air.
The clone approached the doors cautiously, on high alert. After sensing no ambush, it crept inside.
The first thing it saw was six researchers sprawled behind the door, apparently trying to escape. They were all dead. Their killer had been exceptionally cruel, as if toying with prey: slashing them until they were covered in wounds, letting them try to flee, then striking them down just as they were about to make it outside, extinguishing all hope of survival.
The large pool of blood on the floor had dried and congealed, turning blackish brown.
The clone drew its Ninja Sword and carefully searched for anything useful.
It found no signs of anything unusual. The killer had moved swiftly and cleanly, and there hadn't even been a fierce struggle.
It found the underground workshop where ninja tools were forged.
The door was closed.
The moment it pushed the door open, more than a dozen Kunai and shuriken flew toward it.
"Ha, Konoha's ninja finally showed up. Take his corpse, and then we're out of here!"
"Time to get paid!"
The clone swung its Ninja Sword. Its swordsmanship had improved a little, and it was accurate enough to knock every Kunai and shuriken out of the air.
There were no lights in the basement, leaving it pitch-black. The candles in the sconces along the walls of the corridor leading down were nearly extinguished.
The enemy was in the dark, and it was in the light.
The clone was a sitting target, with no idea how many enemies were inside.
It immediately retreated, grabbed a candle from a sconce behind it, and tossed it into the basement.
The light revealed part of the room.
Two men's vicious expressions flashed into view. The candle went out, and more than a dozen shuriken flew at it.
The clone deliberately took a hit, clutched its injured leg, and slid down the corridor wall to the floor.
"Can't go on? Looks like the intel was right. Konoha's strong ninja have all been sent to the front lines. The rear is wide open."
"Go up and slit his throat. Huh, what's that mask?"
"Shuten-doji, the legendary demon king."
The two men walked out of the dark basement with their swords in hand and approached the clone.
They raised their swords.
As they swung them down, the clone opened its mouth and spat out bright blue lightning like a wave of water. It flowed like a stream under its control, piercing their bodies in an instant.
"Storm Release: Torrential Lightning Flash."
It had been developed from Water Release: Water Wave. The key was to replace the water-nature chakra in the mouth with Storm Release chakra. It was quite powerful, with a sudden burst of force and a small area of effect. Its main strength was piercing damage, with a paralyzing effect on top.
That was the advantage of a Kekkei Genkai rooted in one's bloodline: it was easy to use.
The two men looked startled, but their bodies abruptly vanished in the stream-like flash of lightning.
Shadow Clones!
After Byakuya's Shadow Clone finished using its jutsu, more shuriken, Kunai, and Ninja Swords flew out of the basement, striking its vitals.
"Heh, that jutsu was impressive."
"Some clueless brat. Evil Konoha must have run out of capable ninja."
The clone raised its head with effort. In the dim candlelight, it memorized their faces, then disappeared.
"That was a Shadow Clone too?!"
"Damn it! Damn it! Konoha ninja are all devious and cunning!"
Hidden outside, Byakuya watched the images transmitted by his Shadow Clone and stared at the research facility backed against the cliff.
He couldn't tell how strong the two men hiding in the basement were, but the good news was that their words suggested they were getting anxious.
Putting himself in their shoes, they had ventured deep into enemy territory and sabotaged an enemy Ninja Tool Research Branch. They hadn't left right away, but had instead dared to lie in ambush inside. If they stayed much longer, they were bound to die. They must be desperate to get out of there.
Byakuya recalled what the two men had said, especially, "Take his corpse, and then we're out of here!" and the excited, "Time to get paid!" He couldn't help wondering if they were bounty hunters from the Bounty Exchange. Had another hidden village posted a bounty and hired them to cause trouble in Konoha's rear and assassinate Konoha ninja?
If so, then the clone's probing had actually turned things around: the enemy was in the open, and he was in hiding.
From the perspective of the two men inside the research facility, Konoha ninja had discovered them using a Shadow Clone. If they kept waiting in ambush, they'd soon be surrounded by other Konoha ninja who came after receiving the news.
The best choice was to escape immediately, by any means necessary, before they came into sight of Konoha's ninja.
"Shadow Clone Technique."
Without waiting for his chakra to fully recover, Byakuya sent a clone to the cliff behind the research facility to block that route.
The original hid in a leafy tree on this side of the precipice.
But when the clone arrived, two men burst through a window in the research facility and fled toward the cliff, sprinting along the steep face.
Byakuya's Shadow Clone threw two Kunai. One of the men seemed unable to dodge in time and was struck in the back.
"Are you okay? I'll carry you."
"Don't worry about me! Run, or neither of us will make it out alive!"
"No! We're partners. I'm not leaving you behind!"
He helped the injured man to a flat patch on the cliff, bent down and hoisted him onto his back, then ran wildly on. Byakuya's Shadow Clone pursued close behind.
Watching this touching scene, the original spat out two words: "Pathetic acting."
About six minutes later, two more men came out of the research facility. Instead of taking the cliff, they made straight for the bridge made of tree trunks.
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