Bab 77: Finally Acquired
Kurenai's disappointment seemed to weigh heavily upon her as she entered Tsunade's office, her steps measured and her posture rigid.
The mission had left her feeling disheartened, and she knew she couldn't even report the truth. Nonetheless, she pressed on, determined to fulfill her duty… this time, no longer for the village.
Tsunade glanced up from her paperwork as Kurenai approached and reported the details of the mission, her gaze filled with understanding. The experienced Hokage nodded in agreement to Kurenai's statement, acknowledging that perhaps an extension in supervision was necessary.
However, when Kurenai lingered in the office, Tsunade's curiosity was piqued.
"What's wrong, Kurenai?" Tsunade asked, her voice laced with concern. "You seem troubled."
Kurenai hesitated for a moment, collecting her thoughts before finally revealing her true intention. "Tsunade-sama, I would like to apply for a technique from the Scroll of Seals," she confessed, her voice tinged with determination.
Tsunade's surprise was evident as she furrowed her brow. "The Scroll of Seals? I don't recall it containing any suitable genjutsu techniques. What technique are you interested in?"
Kurenai met Tsunade's gaze unwaveringly, her eyes filled with conviction. "I wish to apply for the Flying Thunder God technique."
Tsunade's shock was undeniable. The legendary technique, passed down by the Second Hokage and served as the signature technique of the Fourth Hokage, was an S-rank jutsu with immense power. It wasn't truly a forbidden jutsu, but nevertheless a protected one.
"Why?" Tsunade inquired, her voice laced with caution.
Kurenai took a deep breath, preparing herself for Tsunade's reaction. "I seek to use the technique as leverage to negotiate a suitable genjutsu technique from the Aburame clan," she explained earnestly.
Tsunade's expression turned stern, and she reprimanded Kurenai. "S-rank techniques are not meant to be used as bargaining tools, Kurenai. They hold significant power and are to be protected."
Kurenai lowered her gaze, understanding Tsunade's admonishment. However, she refused to back down. "Hokage-sama, my student Shino is a member of the Aburame clan. He desires the Flying Thunder God technique, and his clan has already applied for it. But their request was blocked by... an unknown party. I wish to see if this blockage still holds for jonins like us."
Tsunade's countenance grew solemn as she contemplated the situation. She was well aware that Kurenai's desire to exchange techniques was merely a pretext. This was a test, one coming from the clans or maybe from the jonins themselves. And she couldn't chill their hearts.
"Treat it is my personal bet on that young man." With a heavy sigh, Tsunade finally relented, gesturing for Shizune to approach.
"Shizune, bring her to get a copy of the Flying Thunder God technique." Tsunade commanded, her voice tinged with resignation, "Kurenai, I understand you know what to do with the copy after memorizing it."
Kurenai nodded and bowed respectfully, "Thank you for your care and consideration, Tsunade-sama."
Shizune nodded in understanding and motioned for Kurenai to follow her. The two women left Tsunade's office, leaving the Fifth Hokage alone amidst her stacks of paperwork. Tsunade rubbed her temples, weariness etched upon her face as she muttered to herself.
"Damn those old fogeys. Why must these troubles always find their way to me?" Tsunade complained, her voice filled with frustration
The bureaucracy and the never-ending stream of problems seemed to always plagued her desk. It seemed as though the weight of the their problems always fell upon her shoulders.
"At least I'm almost done for the night…" Her eyes then fell upon a new stack of documents, her eyes widening with a mix of shock and discontent, "When did Shizune sneak that in?!"
Under the cloak of night, Kurenai bid Shizune farewell, departing from the Hokage building, walking silently with the forbidden secrets of the Flying Thunder God technique stored safely within the depths of the system's database.
Despite the mission's completion, an unsettling shadow danced upon Kurenai's countenance, betraying a hidden depth of turmoil that lingered beneath the surface of her stoic facade. Her face, normally adorned with a calm facade, was now a canvas of conflicting emotions.
Imperceptibly, her hands clenched the bandages that wrapped her body, acting as a physical manifestation of her inner turmoil. A hint of worry lingered within her eyes, a silent whisper of concern for what lay ahead.
From the depths of the Hokage building, a figure emerged, shrouded in a cloud of smoke. It was none other than Asuma, who had been patiently waiting for Kurenai. He took one look at her troubled countenance and immediately sensed that something was amiss.
"What's wrong, Kurenai?" Asuma asked, his voice laced with concern. He stepped closer, the glow of his cigarette illuminating his features.
Kurenai met his gaze, a hint of sadness flickering in her eyes. She averted her gaze, her hand crossing over to hold the other, as if seeking comfort within herself. "Oh, it's nothing, Asuma," she replied softly, her voice tinged with resignation.
Asuma's piercing eyes remained fixed on her, a silent insistence for the truth. "Doesn't look like 'nothing' to me," he remarked, his voice steady yet filled with empathy.
Taking a deep breath, Kurenai closed her eyes briefly, gathering her composure. She then summoned her best smile, the one she always wore to mask her inner turmoil.
Meeting Asuma's gaze with her striking red eyes, she spoke, her voice a delicate melody. "I'm just exhausted from the mission, that's all. There was... an accident, and now I might have to focus solely on teaching my three students. It's going to be quite demanding, and I won't have time for other things..."
Asuma's features softened as he comprehended the weight of her words. He chuckled softly, the sound reverberating in the stillness of the night. "Well, then I can afford to wait," he said, his voice filled with reassurance. "No matter how long it takes, I'll wait for you, Kurenai."
As Asuma turned to depart, his casual demeanor masking the depth of his affection, Kurenai stood there, watching his receding figure. Her eyes held a mixture of longing and sorrow, reflecting the unspoken desires within her heart.
She yearned for the solace and understanding that only Asuma could provide, but circumstances seemed to conspire against their union.
She couldn't help but wonder if they were destined to walk separate paths, forever tethered by her new obligations. The prospect of a future where their time together would be limited weighed heavily on her fragile heart.
Lost in her thoughts, Kurenai's hand slowly reached out as if to grasp the fading image of Asuma, symbolizing her longing to hold onto what seemed increasingly elusive. But she knew she had responsibilities to fulfill, sacrifices to make for the sake of the hive, and his survival.
With a bittersweet smile etched upon her lips, she whispered into the night, "I'm sorry, Asuma. Perhaps in another life when our paths converge once more, and the burden of your fate no longer separates us…"
And so, Kurenai turned around, a lone figure amidst the shadows, her heart brimming with a firm will, her destiny now bound to her new master.
For him, she would carry on, with unwavering determination, the weight of her unspoken desires hidden beneath her serene facade.
Within the dimly lit confines of Shino's hidden base, a holographic screen flickered to life, displaying the heart-wrenching drama unfolding before them. Kurenai and Asuma's story played out, their struggles and desires captivating the attention of those watching.
Karina, ever mischievous, couldn't help but taunt Shino, her voice laced with amusement. "So, Shino, does this plot arouse you?" she teased, a playful glint in her eyes.
Shino responded with a gentle rap on Karina's forehead, a playful reprimand. "Even if it does, now is not the time," he replied, his tone light. "Kurenai still holds value to us as a chess piece inserted in the village. Let's give her the space she needs, drain the value from her past contributions to the village. For now, we must focus our energy on deciphering the newly acquired Flying Thunder God technique. It will play an important role in keeping us safe."
Securing the coveted technique was far from a walk in the park.
Shino had embarked on countless covert attempts, each one thwarted before a single bug could even stealthily approach the sacred scroll's room, leaving him to question the audacious tale of Naruto's theft, a puzzling feat achieved under the watchful gaze of the Anbu and the legendary Hiruzen Sarutobi himself.
Naruto's success was bogus, clearly defying the expected results based on his infiltration skills, raising suspicions of the forces at play. Was it the protagonist's luck? Or was the scroll handed to him on purpose?
Either way, Shino had none of these benefits. With the extra interference from the bad old man, Shino's hopes flickered like dying embers, almost believing it would be a hopeless case unless he arrange a full-blown assault.
Nevertheless, Kurenai's invaluable contribution remained a beacon of hope, and the currently approachable nature of Tsunade, still in the midst of gaining the trust of the esteemed jonins, offered a glimmer of opportunity within the midst of obstacles.
Shino sighed, a mixture of frustration and anticipation. "After going in so many circles, we finally obtained it."
Karina nodded, her attention shifting to the progress of the deciphering process. She reported on the dedicated computational efforts invested in understanding and utilizing the technique.
"We've invested most of our available computation power into the deciphering the technique, but it will take some time, Shino," she admitted, her voice tinged with a note of patience. "But we are committed to unlocking its secrets and it won't be long."
Shino's curiosity piqued, and he voiced his concerns. "What if we lack the necessary talent for spatial manipulation?" he pondered, his brow furrowing.
Karina giggled, a mischievous glimmer in her eyes. "Oh, Shino, we both have Uzumaki blood, which is already an advantage. And even if we may not possess the talent individually, but our gene pool harbors the potential," she replied, her voice filled with confidence. "Never underestimate the power of the zergs."
Their gazes locked, a shared understanding passing between them. Shino's conviction grew, fueled by the knowledge that their collective strength lay within the very essence of their beings.
Shino shifted the conversation, inquiring about the progress of their expansion plans. "And what of the capital? Has our new outpost been established?" he asked, his voice tinged with anticipation.
Karina's response held a note of triumph. "A noble has silently fallen under our control," she revealed, her voice filled with satisfaction. "The Shin gang has gone incognito, and we are currently constructing an intelligence outpost beneath the noble's mansion. It should be completed within a month, and will be used as the Shin gang's new hideout."
An air of excitement tinged the atmosphere as the possibilities unfolded. Karina then posed a question, contemplating the allocation of resources. "Should we invest a substantial amount of biomass into the new outpost? It would allow us to construct our unlocked zerg structure," she proposed.
Shino's eyes gleamed with anticipation, his resolve unwavering. "Yes," he said resolutely. "With it, it will be the true beginning of our expansion and strength. The zerg's true potential will soon be realized."
In that moment, as their eyes locked in mutual understanding, the weight of their aspirations and the power at their disposal became palpable.
The zerg's journey had only just begun.
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone