Chapter 65
- Inoyama-san, what could it be, why suddenly the Yamanaka clan's sensory techniques weren't working in this cave? - Shikaku asked, beginning to boil again at such a 'lucky' coincidence.
As soon as they arrived at the location, Inoyama started scanning everything with the Yamanaka clan's techniques, but after a few minutes he was surprised to notice that it was impossible.
- I don't know, Shikaku-san. Somehow my scanning techniques don't work in this place. Well, they're working, but only up until last night. And the earlier information seems to have been erased... I've only seen this kind of thing at the site of a biju battle, or more specifically, a nine-tailed man's attack on Konoha. After his poisonous chakra, it was impossible to scan anything either....
- I see... Okay, from what we've got, it's a neatly raked rubble pile. Some of the boulders have the mark of a very thick rope rubbing against the rocks. So Kasumi was rescued. But who could it be? Who has that kind of ability to cover all the tracks? And who among them would want an unremarkable kunoichi of the Nara clan? - Pondered Shikaku. He was quite clever, so he noticed a lot of non-obvious details that even Kenshin hadn't thought to destroy.
Kenshin knew that such an important figure would definitely be searched for, so he carefully took care to cover his tracks. For the entire immediate area, he set up a jamming formation. And even their shoes left no traces. All the prints and various threads from their clothes, were carefully removed. But even so, he didn't think of the small frayed and rough rope marks on the large boulders that the head of the Nara clan had immediately spotted.
Shikaku glanced at one of his subordinates and ordered, "Get some men and have them search the entire area within a ten kilometre radius for traces. All news must be reported to me personally.
- Aye! - Said Jonin, and went at once to execute the order.
- Inoyama-san, thank you for your help. I won't forget it. - Shikaku said, unable to pull on even a semblance of a smile.
- It's nothing, Shikaku-san, our brother clans must help each other to survive the cycle of intrigue, and even grow stronger. - Inoyama said with a smile.
After Shikaku exchanged pleasantries with Inoyama, the two of them were already near the forest. Shikaku folded a few seals and disappeared into the shadows in front of the astonished Inoyama.
This was the first time Inoyama had seen the use of this technique, but he had heard of it. One of the strongest techniques in the Nara clan's arsenal. The so-called 'shadow walking technique', which had monstrous variation. The user could merge seamlessly with any shadow, and travel in the shadows, unnoticed by everyone around them. Most attack, defence and sensory techniques had no effect on the shadow, so theoretically, it was even possible to survive the terrifying 'Tailed Bomb' in this way. This technique mostly ensured that even the Kage would have a hard time destroying the best of the Nara Clan's best shinobi.
According to the information available to Inoyama, there were only two shinobi in the Nara clan at the moment who could use this technique. One was the current head of the Nara clan, and the other was a great elder. Father Shikaku, aka "Shadow Dragon", these two were the pillars of the clan, providing it with a solid foundation, and protecting it from any adversity.
Sighing to himself, Inoyama jumped onto the tree and raced towards Konoha, mentally berating the cunning Shikaku, who had probably already travelled 150-200 kilometres and would be sitting in his office in ten minutes. And the less fortunate member of the Yamanaka clan would have to run at least another hour to his home village. If it weren't for the many restrictions, Inoyama could get there in 15-20 minutes, but strong shinobi were forbidden to move at such high speeds. At the very least for reasons of their own safety. A relatively 'low' speed of 300-350 kilometres per hour could be adapted to the soil and trees.
An experienced shinobi had no problem dissipating the momentum of such speed, and preventing the trees from bursting and the ground beneath his feet from collapsing and cracking. But the 500 kilometres per hour speed available to all more or less strong Jonin required tremendous control, and most shinobi, even at the Elite level, could not move that fast without consequences. Trees torn apart into splinters would get into the fragile eyes and damage them a little, and feet would get stuck knee-deep in the loose earth, so for their own safety, no one travelled at such great speeds.
****
After Kasumi had finished her coffee, Kenshin decided not to push her, and tried to cheer her up a bit by first giving her a tour of his house. Kenshin's eyes widened at the sight of Kasumi's face as she took a tour of her home, and she was visibly cheered up, as she loved learning new things, especially when those new things seemed to come from another world.
Just as he was showing the curious girl the heated pool, Kenshin suddenly felt an alarm and the smile instantly disappeared from his lips.
- Kasumi, stay here for a while. You can put your swimming costume on in that room over there and swim a little. Only if you want to, of course. - Kenshin said kindly, and took a quick step towards the relatively secret room that was accessed from the gymnasium.
Kasumi mentally scolded the bastard for his shamelessness, and promised herself never to let him see her in a swimming costume. But nevertheless, she walked to the edge of the pool and bent down to touch the water, surprised to find it really warm.
Even the Nara clan could not afford such a structure. There were strong metals in this world, and methods of smelting pipes, but the constant heating of the water in the basin would have consumed vast quantities of firewood or coal, and the already expensive Fuin were an unaffordable luxury to heat such huge pools of water with.
While the girl was immersed in her thoughts, Kenshin quickly 'connected' to the main nodes of the formation, and began to examine the information he had received.
"Hmm, the search has even reached here... Good thing I thought to thoroughly cover up our vital signs. Even so, if the Jonins come here, they're bound to find something. I didn't think Kasumi was that important to Shikaku..." - Kenshin pondered as he watched the Genin walking around carelessly. Apparently these Genin didn't give a damn about the assignment, and this place didn't raise any suspicions, so it was quickly ignored.