ALL NOVEL Chapter 83: Building Bonds
Tanzaku Town.
The streets were teeming with locals and tourists alike, their footsteps blending harmoniously with the vibrant sounds of commerce and gambling. The air was filled with the aromas of delicious street food, enticing passersby with tantalizing scents.
On this sunny day, Shino found himself strolling through the lively town, his heart buoyant with anticipation. Well, who wouldn't be excited to have money to spend?
Accompanying him on this special outing was naturally Karina.
Needless to say, it wasn't their main bodies that graced the world. Instead, it was their newly crafted clones, under the pseudonyms of Kano and Shina.
With the upgraded clones' new ability to use the transformation jutsu, their disguises were indistinguishable from normal humans. So, they no longer feared the scrutiny of ninjas!
Now, they could walk the world unhindered, using a false identity to cloak their tracks!
So, Shino naturally had to put this freedom to good use, and his excursion with Karina was one of the top priorities on his list.
Though Karina and his bonds had grown deep over all the flowing conversations they had, Shino believed fleshly pleasures shouldn't be the only ties he should use to keep this witty and charming woman bound to him. Thus...
On the busy streets, Shino and Karina walked side by side, peaceful smiles dancing on their lips, their fingers intertwining like two puzzle pieces destined to fit together.
The touch sent a comforting warmth coursing through their veins, grounding them in the present moment.
Just this was already enough to make his squeamish companion so overjoyed and excited that she didn't sleep all night, but Shino had naturally prepared a few more surprises for their little date.
Soon, Shino led her to a quaint little shop, its shelves showcasing various trinkets and treasures. With a gleam in his eyes, he presented Karina with a delicate necklace, its pendant an intricate ladybug made of precious imperial red jade.
"It reminded me of you," Shino confessed, his demeanor composed but the hint of doting betrayed his affection. "Just like the ladybug, you possess a fiery grace that captivates me. It is my luck to have you by my side, and I am happy to protect you, my queen."
Karina's face flushed with delight as she accepted the gift, her fingers brushing over the smooth surface of the pendant. "Thank you, Shi- Kano-sama. It's beautiful, and the sentiment behind it means the world to me."
Their journey continued, their steps leading them to a spot of historical significance - the Tanzaku Castle... or at least what was left of it after Orochimaru's fight with Tsunade and Jiraiya.
They stood at a distance, gazing at the construction workers toiling diligently to restore the ruins of the castle to its former glory.
Shino's voice broke the tranquil silence. "Disaster may strike at any given moment, but with every brick that is laid, we witness the resilience of this town and its people, similarly reflected in the indomitable spirit of the life born in this world, ninjas, humans, and other creatures alike."
Karina's gaze followed Shino's, her thoughts mirroring his own. "Rebuilding something that was lost, restoring its former splendor - it's a symbol of hope and the ability to rise above even the most devastating circumstances. But it is also this that hinders the path of destruction…"
Yes, our path of destruction. The couple shared a moment of silent understanding before continuing their journey.
It was a small date, yet they both still took the chance to handle some important matters.
They visited large shops, booking or collecting the resources they needed for their research and base fortifications.
In the markets, whenever they stumbled upon anything that interested them, they would simply open their wallets.
They stumbled upon rare books, scrolls, and historical analects that can bolster their database, containing knowledge that would enhance their strategies.
Their scouting also led them to merchants who specialized in rare species of insects and creatures. Needless to say, they acquired a few specimens to expand their gene pool.
They also skillfully wove inquiries into their conversation with the seller, unraveling the threads regarding the hunting grounds or sources for the exotic creatures.
As the sun began its descent, casting a golden hue over the town, Shino and Karina had made their final purchases for the day, bringing their bonus funds back to square one.
Money - easy come, easy go.
After wisely spending their funds, it was time to bid farewell to Tanzaku Town.
When making their way out, they coincidentally noticed a familiar figure wandering the streets. It was Tobey, the first Six Paths clone they deployed, in his civilian attire.
Shino and Karina's eyes met, a knowing smile tugging at their lips.
As fate would have it, their route intersected with that of their clone.
Yet, something was amiss. Tobey walked past them without a flicker of recognition, his attention seemingly elsewhere.
Karina's gaze followed Tobey's retreating figure, a playful smile hanging on her lips.
"Did you see that, Shino-sama?" Karina's voice directly rung in Shino's mind.
Shino nodded, his analytical mind already piecing together the puzzle. Similarly, he responded through the profound connection that bound them together.
"It's as if he deliberately avoided noticing us... Well, it's not a mere coincidence. You're utilizing your authority to control the clone and alter his perceptions, aren't you, Karina?"
"Correct, Shino-sama!" A veil of feigned astonishment draped across Karina's face, a mischievous smile hinting at the game she was playing.
What was happening?
Well, they finally could go on an outing. Naturally, they don't want to be disturbed, even by their own minions.
As the AI module had its core in the system, Karina can upgrade and replace the clone's personality completely at any given moment.
Naturally, Karina can also manipulate the clone's perception, even keeping them unnoticed in plain sight to avoid any accidental encounters. This helps to avoid drawing the attention of their hidden observers.
After all, the clone's AI is still rigid and may not act normally when it recognizes its creators… or landlords in this one's case.
They didn't want to ruin their plans over some small details.
So, the two parties went their own way, showing no signs that they were more than just passerby.
Crossing Tanzaku Town's delineated borders, Shino and Karina continued to discuss strategies and scenarios, their minds alight with excitement.
In the light, they had the Six Paths Clone to earn funds, while doubling as a mercenary to gain the attention of that mastermind, in preparation for their following plans. If it becomes necessary to step into the world, they have bug clones, now with combat capabilities not too different from real lower-end ninjas.
Alas, the bug clones were only deemed to be pseudo-immortal. In the face of powerful combatants, the bug clones were susceptible to obliteration by ninjutsu or taijutsu, and seals may work wonders.
However, the bug clones could be considered to be immortal because their base could spawn the clones without end at designated locations as long as their reservoir of bugs was sufficient. It was like the respawn points in a game, where fallen players would seamlessly reemerge into the fray.
Not only that, they could also respawn the clone on the battlefield through the bugs sealed in the storage scrolls – akin to the mystical revival within games.
The world of espionage and covert missions suddenly seemed all the more intriguing.
"At this rate, if I could get my hands on souls to stuff into the clones, maybe I'll have a player army one day? Hold up, I'm a zerg dominator, why are my methods getting more and more crooked, gearing towards a game master? Eh… no one says I couldn't be both, right? As for other abilities..."