章節 110: IQ Nerfed?
Kurenai, having slowly dressed herself, a captivating event that failed to distract the ever-focused Shino this time, approached the duo and positioned herself behind them.
Her intense red eyes scanned the holographic interfaces that Shino had carefully selected, emanating a sense of self-assuredness as she spoke with a hint of gloating in her calm voice. "Retribution," she uttered, relishing the weight of the word.
Shino's gaze briefly shifted to Kurenai, taking in her presence, before he responded in a resigned tone, "We're in the same boat now. Plus, if we're gone, he probably won't fare well either when the time comes." The helplessness in his voice conveyed the weight of their predicament, the realization that they were entangled in a web of intertwined destinies.
Kurenai, biting her lips in contemplation, fell into a momentary silence. Her crimson eyes continued to scan the holographic displays, her mind delving into deep thought.
Although she hadn't fully comprehended the extent of the danger they faced, she knew that the depths of this world surpassed her expectations.
When she discovered that her own world was merely a fragment of a grander narrative, where legendary powerhouses such as the Sage of Six Paths existed, the fact had left her grappling with a profound sense of awe and uncertainty.
She was in disbelief at first, but as she sifted through the database and absorbed information, including glimpses of the past and future, like prophecies of an almighty being, the truth became clear to her, dispelling any doubts that lingered.
While a fleeting thought of disclosing these newfound truths to Konoha, the village she had always been loyal to, crossed her mind, it quickly dissipated as if suppressed by an unknown will… or perhaps it was her own will that had changed. It was a helpless reminder that her allegiance in this tumultuous realm now lay elsewhere.
So, she could only devote herself to assist him, trusting in his promise, because she knew, without his command, she can't even save the one in her obsessions.
Yet, she could also feel this obsession gradually fade, slowly being replaced by a new one. Perhaps the moment of his redemption will be the end of their fate. Perhaps, it may be even earlier.
As Kurenai delved deeper into her thoughts, Karina's focus remained unwavering as she meticulously sifted through the vast database. With every passing moment, she unearthed more incongruities based on the existing data chosen by Shino, all pointing to Shino's peculiar actions, seemingly carried out under the influence of an IQ nerf.
One particular maneuver stood out as utterly foolish: the fabrication of a ridiculous life story for their close Tobey, employed to deceive Pain. It may have succeeded in the moment, but the lingering question hung heavy in the air - what dangers lurked on the horizon?
There was a risk of Itachi's Tsukuyomi affecting his main body through his clone, a perilous vulnerability that should have set off alarm bells from the very beginning, especially when Itachi used genjutsu on Tobey for the first time. Yet, he disregarded the warning signs, allowing his clone to join their ranks.
In Shino's mind, there may have been perceived benefits to this risky tactic, but in the present, it posed a greater risk than reward.
Another example of his flawed decision-making surfaced when contemplating the installation of his chakra networks. Starting from the bottom, subtly manipulating the slums and gradually amassing power, would have gone unnoticed, allowing his power to quickly snowball until it was too late for anyone to intervene.
Yet, he opted for the brazen control of nobles, fully aware that such actions would undoubtedly attract the attention of Konoha. And still, he considered himself clever. The truth, he was a fool.
Then, his recent choice to detonate the biosphere also bore a critical flaw.
Shino's ninja trap training should have ingrained the knowledge of optimal timing. Either detonate the biosphere before it was discovered, eliminating any evidence, or wait until investigators had entered the trap for maximum destructive effectiveness, just like he did for Zetsu.
However, he opted to detonate it while Temari was outside, ensuring she would only be injured rather than killed. It was a puzzling move, allowing her to return and report the matter, establishing grudges and grievances between the two parties. Was this not merely drawing unnecessary aggro? What level of intelligence compelled him to make such a foolish decision?
Furthermore, Shino's selection to bring Kurenai back to their base raised eyebrows.
The original plan dictated that she remain as Team 8's instructor, a move that would grant Shino significant freedom in his missions and aid in the concealment of his secrets. Additionally, it would have allowed Kurenai to act as a cupid, fostering a connection between Shino and Hinata, subtly strengthening their bonds.
Even according to Shino's original plan, Kurenai's demise was to occur only after her usefulness had been drained, ensuring a silent departure devoid of drama and the prying eyes of geniuses like Shikamaru.
Yet, that plan was discarded, replaced by a sudden and ill-conceived idea.
He seemed to suffer a lapse in judgment, his sudden brain fart causing him to disregard the dire consequences that would follow his decision to end Kurenai's life prematurely.
It was a grievous error, one born out of succumbing to the impulses of the wrong part of his body rather than contemplating the potential fallout.
Shino's frustration spilled out in a mutter, his words heavy with exasperation. "Ugg... No wonder the absolute rulers of zerg are depicted as female. They would definitely not have this problem. Absolute control in the hands of men really causes a lot of problems, especially for men who like to think with their lower bodies because they tend to have lowered IQ, and this loophole was exploited by the existence targeting me in an unknown manner."
His weariness was palpable as he rested his head on Karina's shoulder, seeking solace in her presence. The weight of his mistakes threatened to suffocate him, revealing the vulnerabilities and flaws in his plans.
Karina, ever understanding and compassionate, gently stroked Shino's head, offering him comfort. "My dear, everyone makes mistakes," she reassured him, her voice soothing and tender. "We aren't perfect. But the important thing is that we have recognized our mistakes. We still have time to rectify them, to save ourselves."
Her touch and her words provided a balm for Shino's troubled mind, allowing the remaining haze in his mind to dissipate.
As the haze lifted from his mind, Shino's eyes were opened to a multitude of problems, including his own treatment of those closest to him, the ones who would share an eternity by his side.
Shino lifted his head from Karina's shoulder, his gaze meeting hers with renewed determination. He let out a sigh, embracing Karina tightly as he spoke in a soft, remorseful voice. "Sorry, Karina, for making you unhappy due to my recent decisions without considering your emotions."
Karina's gentle petting motions halted, and for a moment, she seemed lost in a daze before comprehending Shino's words. Her body trembled slightly, a mix of emotions coursing through her.
She wrapped her hands around Shino's neck, burying her face against his chest, her voice laced with a hint of anger. "You've already done it, as if an apology can change anything. You good-for-nothing..."
She paused, her grip tightening before relenting. "But I… forgive you, my dearest…"
Looking up, Karina's gaze ascended, her eyes tracing a path upward, drawn to the presence of her silent sister. "And I think someone else deserves an apology as much as I do."
Shino sighed, turning his attention towards his teacher, feeling a pang of regret for the way he had treated her. "Sorry, Kurenai-sensei, for the way I've treated you."
Kurenai's red eyes flickered slightly, but her calm demeanor remained unchanged as she responded. "Let's not dwell on the past. As long as you fulfill your promise in the future."
Shino nodded, a small smile tugging at his lips as he declared with determination, "Of course. If I can't even keep a simple promise to those closest to me, how can I be worthy of becoming a dominator?"
Kurenai nodded, her gaze sweeping over the holographic displays. "You can prove your credibility to me in the future. But for now, you should focus on solving our problem."
With a wry smile, Shino pushed aside his frustrations, his mind working tirelessly as he honed in on the problems that needed to be addressed.
After a moment of contemplation, he sighed and steeled his resolve. "It seems my first task is to distance myself from Hinata. Perhaps she was the reason we were targeted. The female protagonist, how could she be easy to win? Despite all my knowledge from the counterattack novels I've read, Neji's fate was a clear indication, yet I still plunged headfirst into this pit like an idiot."
Kurenai's red eyes flickered with a mix of relief for someone else and a touch of worry as she observed Shino, knowing that her fate was now intertwined with his, as was Asuma's.
Unperturbed by Kurenai's glance, Shino directed his gaze towards the vast mind map he had pulled up. The false sense of security had lulled him into a complacency, making him believe he would be invincible as long as he remained hidden.
But this was the real world, a world with powers beyond mortal comprehension, where anything could happen.
He had thought himself clever, manipulating the fates of others, but now he realized that his own fate might also be unknowingly subjected to the control of others. The irony was not lost on him.
With a renewed sense of purpose, Shino set about modifying his plans.
He commanded with a calm face, but his voice betrayed a sense of urgency, "Kurenai sensei, I'll leave the genjutsu research to you. Develop genjutsu to confuse and defend against our enemies, incorporating it into our bugs, and if possible, develop the usage your new innate ability gained from the Jofuku flowers, extending its dissemination through bugs or other methods..."
"Karina, temporarily halt the research and redirect our computational power towards establishing protocols that will awaken me if my actions or commands deviate from the established plans for unknown reasons..."
"Also, implement methods to delay the investigations of the ninja, buying us more time. I'll plan additional escape routes and decoys to evade detection of our main base, and you will optimize them. Though we already have plans in place and the chances of this main base being discovered are slim, we need more contingencies. Who knows if there will be any more coincidences in our fateful life..."
Shino knew such a twist of fate would definitely befall them in the future. He can only hope that it won't be soon.
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