Naruto: Kurotsuchi Mayuri

Back in his room, Kagetsu glanced at the big green worm lying in the flower pot on the windowsill. He gently poked it with his finger, and the worm lazily flipped over, exposing its belly. 

It squirmed a bit, as if stretching, then went still again.

This worm was a bonus that came when Kagetsu's talent was upgraded from white to blue. Along with it, he gained some basic knowledge of the Shinigami techniques.

Of course, this Shinigami technique wasn't directly useful in this world. It wasn't like he could just start casting Shinigami techniques here and create a system completely different from the existing ninjutsu techniques.

However, that didn't mean the knowledge was useless. It could at least serve as a reference, and after some adjustments, some of these concepts could be integrated into the ninjutsu system.

The Shadow Coffin he had created was an example of this. It was a variation of the Black Coffin technique (a high level Kido) from the world of Bleach.

If it weren't for the fact that the Nara clan specializes in using Yin Release to control shadows and has extensive knowledge and skills related to Yin Release, along with the full support of Nara Shikakichi, his father in this world, his ideas would have remained just dreams.

As for the worm, which seemed like nothing more than a regular bug, when Kagetsu touched it, information about it popped into his mind:

[Name: Unknown Larva 

Quality: White (+) 

Traits: Average, but it's strong, highly adaptable, and has excellent potential for transformation. 

Skills: Crawling, eating, spinning silk 

Evaluation: Its growth potential depends on the care and resources provided by its breeder. 

Note: Currently, it's a useless bug with zero combat abilities.]

The information panel made it clear that this bug was pretty much worthless in combat. Even compared to the Inuzuka clan's ninja dogs, or even an ordinary bird, this bug was far less dangerous.

Despite this, after days of consideration, Kagetsu finally decided on a way to nurture this unknown larva in its early stages. 

If he thought of it as a piece of hardware that could be upgraded based on the resources invested in it, then his job was to figure out the best combination of components and write an operating system and functional software for it.

As a reference, the Ashisogi Jizō is a part of Zanpakutō's biological system. While it may not have overwhelming power, it is sufficient to trap others and protect yourself.

First, Kagetsu sought help from the Akimichi clan to build a foundation. In his view, the Yang Release Secret Technique of the Akimichi clan could solve the problem of the larvae's future size.

Of course, this was just the initial stage of cultivation. To grow and cultivate the larvae to the ideal state, there were still numerous significant issues to resolve—issues that one person alone couldn't handle in a short time.

As for whether the Akimichi clan would assist in this cultivation, Kagetsu had no doubts. His personal request might be denied, but a request made by the Nara clan would likely be accepted, given the strong bond among the Ino-Shika-Cho trio. The Akimichi clan was unlikely to refuse.

After all, what the Nara clan was asking for was simply help in cultivating a special larva using the same method the Akimichi clan used to train their members. 

As for the Yang Release Secret Technique, after centuries of cooperation, the three clans were well-acquainted with each other's secret techniques.

Unlike bloodline limits, secret technique is typically a ninjutsu developed by a clan, tailored to their unique bloodline or physique and chakra attributes as well as Chakra Pathway System, refined through extensive experimentation, and significant resource investment. 

Without these conditions, even if you managed to steal all of the clan's secret jutsu, it would be challenging to use them effectively. Even if you possessed the right attributes to barely use them, the results might not compare to using a different technique.

Nara clan's Shadow Imitation Technique, the Yamanaka clan's Mind Body Switch Technique, and the Akimichi clan's Multi-Size Technique were all gently taught from a young age through a methodical approach. 

Compared to the widely known ninjutsu, these secret techniques and resource allocations were the core heritage of a clan.

Konoha Ninja Academy.

On the podium, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, was speaking while holding his pipe.

Nara Kagetsu sat lazily in his seat, his somewhat vacant eyes scanning the surroundings. Among the crowd, he recognized many familiar outfits and faces.

The Uchiha and Hyuga clans were present, as expected. A silver-haired, masked figure sat in the front row, while a child in a green leotard with thick eyebrows was doing push-ups in the aisle next to him, moving so fast that he almost left an afterimage.

In a corner, a lonely child wearing sunglasses and a wide robe sat quietly, seemingly ignored by everyone around him.

Almost all the children from the different clans were in the class. When Nara Kagetsu looked at them, he couldn't help but feel a strong desire rising within him—a desire fueled by his talents inherited from the Kurotsuchi Mayuri. 

These classmates, with their unique bloodline limit and special abilities, looked like perfect research subjects to him. He imagined drawing their blood or even dissecting them to study them in detail.

But he quickly shook his head to clear those thoughts. If he actually did something like that, it would cause a huge uproar. He was just a kid with no strength to back up such actions, not even close to being considered a traitor.

"...As long as the leaves continue to fall, the fire will burn, and the shadow of the fire will shine upon the village, bringing forth new leaves..."

With those words, the Hokage's speech finally came to an end.

Unlike some of the students who were energized by the speech, Kagetsu remained lazy and uninterested, while others like the ever-calm Aburame student showed no reaction at all. Their attitudes made them stand out a bit from the rest.

But it wasn't a big deal. Unlike other people who might be eager to fit in, like the Uchihas or the Hyugas, Kagetsu, as a member of the Nara clan, didn't feel any need to force himself to fit in or be liked.

The Ino-Shika-Cho trio, along with the Sarutobi clan, had always been natural allies. 

Even if the Third Hokage noticed Kagetsu's lack of motivation, he would only smile and brush it off, knowing that the Nara clan was known for their laid-back nature. 

Just as the Akimichi were known for their love of food, the Aburame for their stoicism, and the Uchiha and Hyuga for their pride, these traits were well understood by everyone.

*******

Support me on my ko-fi account and read upto 15 early chapters,

https://ko-fi.com/pirateking24/tiers