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It didn''t take long for the Anbu to arrive.
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They examined the bodies of the three Kumo Shinobi. Shin couldn''t see their expressions behind their masks.
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"What happened here?"
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One of the Anbu questioned them. The others continued to inspect the bodies.
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"We were attacked by Kumo Shinobi. We killed them in self-defense. Oh, and they said their accomplices were going after Akiko and Kai."
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Shin reported.
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"What?! You, take them to the Hokage''s office. The rest of you, with me!"
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The Anbu squad leader immediately left with three other Anbu. Akiko was under the Sandaime Hokage''s protection; she couldn''t be harmed.
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He didn''t have time to verify Shin''s claims. If something happened to Akiko, it would be too late.
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"You three, follow me to the Hokage''s office. You need to report this to the Sandaime Hokage."
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The remaining Anbu said to Shin and his team.
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Shin shrugged and followed the Anbu, Kushina and Mikoto trailing behind him. Nawaki also tagged along, not wanting to be left alone with the corpses.
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Shin''s use of Ice Release had been exposed, but he didn''t care. If he had wanted to keep it a secret, he wouldn''t have used it against the Kumo Shinobi.
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Ice Release wasn''t his trump card, not yet anyway.
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They arrived at the Hokage''s office, and the Anbu agent reported the incident to Hiruzen.
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Hiruzen immediately dispatched several Anbu squads to retrieve Akiko.
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He then turned his attention to Shin and the others.
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"Shin, Nawaki, Kushina, Mikoto, are you all alright?" Hiruzen asked with concern.
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"Thank you for your concern, Sandaime-sama. We''re not injured."
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Shin looked at Hiruzen, knowing the Hokage was about to get down to business.
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As expected, Hiruzen asked, "Shin, those ice Jutsu you used earlier... What was that?"
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"It''s my Kekkei Genkai," Shin replied truthfully.This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
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Hiruzen was taken aback. Wasn''t the Uzumaki Clan''s Kekkei Genkai the Sage Body? Had Shin developed a new Kekkei Genkai?
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Besides Kekkei Genkai like the Sage Body, Sharingan, and Byakugan, it was possible to develop new elemental Kekkei Genkai.
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By combining two different Chakra Natures, one could create a new type of Jutsu. This was a Kekkei Genkai.
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Ice Release was a combination of Wind and Water Release.
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The Mizunashi Clan of Kirigakure also possessed Ice Release. And once a Kekkei Genkai was successfully developed, it could be passed down to future generations.
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(OC Clan of Ice Release!)
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"You developed it yourself?" Hiruzen asked.
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"Yeah, I stumbled upon it by accident," Shin said casually.
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Hiruzen''s lips twitched. This wasn''t just genius; it was monstrous. He had never heard of anyone developing a Kekkei Genkai at the age of ten.
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He didn''t know that Shin had copied the Ice Release. He assumed Shin had developed it himself.
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He didn''t ask how Shin had done it. In the Shinobi world, it was taboo to pry into someone''s Kekkei Genkai or Jutsu.
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Besides, developing a Kekkei Genkai often involved luck. Some stumbled upon it accidentally, while others spent their entire lives researching without success.
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It mainly depended on the ratio of the two Chakra Natures being combined. Even those who had successfully developed a Kekkei Genkai couldn''t explain the exact process. They often experimented until they suddenly succeeded.
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So, luck was a factor.
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Even if Hiruzen asked, Shin couldn''t answer. He hadn''t developed the Ice Release himself.
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"Ahem, Shin, are you married?"
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Hiruzen suddenly asked.
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Shin stared at him, bewildered.
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"I have a niece around your age. I could introduce you."
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The temperature in the room plummeted. Kushina glared at Hiruzen, her body radiating killing intent.
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Mikoto''s smile vanished, replaced by a frown.
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Nawaki shivered. Why were Kushina and Mikoto so scary?
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Shin''s eye twitched. He knew what Hiruzen was thinking.
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Kekkei Genkai could be passed down. That was Hiruzen''s motive.
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"No, thank you," Shin refused politely.
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Kushina and Mikoto were glaring at him. He had to prioritize his safety.
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Besides, he didn''t know if Hiruzen''s niece was even pretty. If she was, he might consider it. But considering the Sarutobi Clan''s... unique looks, he decided against it. He preferred humans.
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Hiruzen was embarrassed, but thankfully, several Anbu entered the room, saving him from further awkwardness.
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"Hokage-sama, we brought Uzumaki Akiko."
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They had also brought Minato and Kai, all three of them injured.
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Seeing Akiko safe and sound, Hiruzen sighed in relief. She was already being groomed as the Jinchūriki. If something happened to her, finding a replacement would be troublesome.
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"Are you sure those Shinobi were from Kumo?"
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Hiruzen asked the Anbu.
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"Judging from the Jutsu they used, it''s highly likely."
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The Anbu couldn''t be completely sure. It was possible that Shinobi from another village were impersonating Kumo. They would need to investigate further.
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Hiruzen nodded and asked about Minato and the others'' injuries. He was mainly concerned about Akiko, though. She was too important.
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After a brief questioning, Hiruzen dismissed them.
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As they left the Hokage Tower, Shin sensed two Anbu following them. Or rather, following Akiko.
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He didn''t care, as long as they weren''t following him.