Strongest Shinobi

After leaving team 8 behind, Izana ran through the many hills and mountains. By the time he could discern where the village was, the sun was already starting to sink. He had taken half a day to get here and he didn't have a lot of time to get back on time. He had about a day and a half to get what he needed and return to Kakashi.

Izana silently infiltrated the village and rented a room in an inn. He used a alias and kept his true appearance hidden under a transformation. Once inside his room, Izana summoned Yoru.

"Did he receive the message?"

Izana questioned.

"Yes, Izana-sama. He is awaiting your arrival. The guards have been notified and asked to keep their distance from the room as well.

Izana nodded.

"I will get there in an hour or two. For now I need to be in perfect condition in case something goes wrong."

"Yes, Izana-sama."

Yoru nodded and disappeared in a puff of smoke.

Izana lowered himself near the window to have a clear view on the outside. In the distance he could see the building in which the kage of the Village of Sound was supposed to be.

Closing his eyes, Izana relaxed his body and closed his eyes. The kage should already know he was here, so there shouldn't be too many obstacles in wait for him. Still, in the time he would be resting, he wouldn't lower his guard. He could be backstabbed if he lowered it after all.

***

After resting for about two hours, Izana once again overlooked if everything he had on hand was ready. All his weapons were maintained to their peak condition, while he also had a decent amount of medical supplies. Not that he would really need them with his Mangekyo, but it didn't hurt just to be sure for the unknown.

Izana left the inn unnoticed as he ran over the rooftops, the village already having become silent as most of the inhabitants had gone to sleep. Not long after, Izana arrived at the Kage building. There weren't any guards as the door was left open.

'It seems he was true to his word...'

Izana thought as he followed the directions Yoru had left him with. It was a surprise though to see who was waiting for him at the office door.

"Izana-sama, it is good to see you are well. We had been worried when we heard about the massacre."

A youth with ash-grey hair which was kept in a ponytail. On his nose were a pair of glases which clearly showed his onyx eyes.

"Who are you?" Izana said, as he was sure the letter said none were to be there.

"I am Kabuto, Yakushi Kabuto. I was asked to lead you further inside."

Kabuto said, a harmless smile on his face. Even though he made himself appear harmless, Izana could still sense the blood he had stained his hands with. 'He has killed a lot.'

"Fine."

Izana replied as Kabuto led him further inside. Though he had thought they would converse in the office, Kabuto walked to a normal looking wall and made a few quick handsigns, followed by pouring his chakra into the wall. Soon after, a passage way was revealed which had been hidden after a multilayered sealing jutsu.

'As careful and meticulous as always.'

Izana followed Kabuto inside as the passage closed after them.

The path was dark, but Izana could still see clearly in front of him. He had activated his Sharingan, which radiated crimson in the darkness. Not seeing a lot due to the ridiculous amount of winding roads and forks, Izana made a mental note to remember the path they took in case of the worst scenario happening.

After what was about an hour walk, Izana could see a pale light at the end. Once there, Izana marveled at the many equipment that were placed all around him. In multiple small containers were differently colored liquids, as well as a pair of Byakugan. A faint smell of blood was in the air, though it was a bit stale so it was relatively old.

"Orochimaru-sama. Izana-kun has arrived."

Kabuto said as he notified Orochimaru, after which he left through one of the passage ways.

Arriving with a few research papers in his hands, Orochimaru greeted Izana with his snake-like smile.

"Izana-Kun, it has been a while."

Orochimaru said as he put the papers away and beckoned Izana to follow him.

"How has the research been going? You mentioned you had a break through and that it shouldn't take that long. Define long, Orochimaru."

Izana said as he observed the experiments Orochimaru was currently working on. Like what he had heard from the reports before, it seems like it was true Orochimaru was experimenting on humans. In a corner, chained to a table, was a young teenager who had more than a few sealing papers across his body, all with different formula's. On his neck was a cursed mark.

"It seems you are getting along with your personal research as well..."

Izana muttered, a bit appaled by it.

"There will be no advancements without a few failures."

Orochimaru replied, though there was a bit of mirth in his voice.

He stopped in front of two liquid containers, each holding the child version of Kushina and Minato.

"I've done what you've requested. It was a lot harder than I would've once thought. I had to take sample's of their stem cells, making sure there were perfect chakra pathways, assuring there were discrepancies and also making it so that the growth of the body is not jeopardized due to the artificial process of it all. It has shown though that I have other options to make use of... It was a interesting process to say the least. Besides, I still need to make sure that the sould will attach to the body without any problems."

Orochimaru explained, skipping over all the more in-depth knowledge of it all.

"Now then, Izana-kun. What about your part of the bargain?"

Orochimaru questioned, a sneer on his face.

"I remember. Don't you worry. Though I do want to see you try using your weird Jutsu of it, I've after all been ensured that cloning won't work."

Izana mentioned, a bit of warning in his voice.

"Don't stress over the details. I only want to analyse the differences."

Orochimaru said, though Izana could see there were parts he refrained from saying.

"Fine. Hand me a container."

Orochimaru smiled again as he handed a rather large glass container.

"Greedy, aren't you."

Izana grimaced as he placed the container on the table. From his pouch he grabbed a kunai.

[You're sure he can't clone my DNA, right? Nor you.]

Izana asked, to make sure of it.

[Positive. The only thing he could do with it is analyse my own chakra. Cloning a Tailed beast is not possible. We have not material body after all. And since we are fused together, our DNA has been scrambled together, changing by the minute with every passage of time. Once it leaves the body, it will break apart within the day.]

Ryuujin said, reminding Izana once again how mysterious their body had become.

[The that is good to know.]

Izana activated his Mangekyo.

"Sharingan Mangekyo: Mugen no Saisei."

As soon as it activated, Izana slashed the kunai across his wrist as blood poured out in massive quantities. Even though it continued to flow, Izana didn't feel anemic at all. He did have to repeatedly slash his wrist open as it continued to heal, but once the container was filled, Orochimaru was beaming with delight.

"I do want to mention you only have a day to analyze it. It will break down after that."

The smile on Orochimaru's face faded a bit at that. It was way too little time to truly analyse it that thoroughly.

"Do give me a notice when the bodies are fully grown."

Izana said as he left the underground laboratory with ease, not once ebing stopped or attacked by enemy nin at all. Once above ground and out of the kage's office, Izana rushed of to meet up with Kakashi again, wondering what he would report about.