Chapter 93
Kenshin rested for most of the 198th day, spending several hours tweaking the exosuit. From time to time he had new ideas on how to optimise energy storage and distribution, and in the evening, while he was lounging in the pool with three beauties, he suddenly came up with an idea on how to distribute the energy storage across several units, as well as at least double the capacity of the battery.
He instantly jumped out of the pool, and under the shocked looks of the girls, ran to his office, so as not to miss the inspiration.
- Kasumi, girl, it's good of you to come. Look at this brilliant idea! - Kenshin said proudly, and unfolded the exosuit.
- Um, did you add some extra energy storage? - Kasumi asked with a smile.
- Not only that. All the power distribution nodes are linked to all the batteries. Now I don't have to worry that if one battery is damaged, the suit will be useless. Now I have three! - He said with a laugh, and kissed the girl lightly on the lips.
Kasumi was aware of his ability to superimpose formations, and often helped with advice. Kenshin had planned to teach her the skill, but decided to wait until after the baby was born. He knew that even passing on the basics using telepathy would take at least a few days.
- Still, this suit is very weak. You have some speed in it, but even so, any peak Genin of the Nara clan could catch up to you and destroy you..." Kasumi said with a sigh. She didn't want anything to happen to Kenshin more than anything else in the world, and she wasn't comfortable with the fact that he wasn't going to stay at home all his life, but wanted to take part even in combat sorties.
- I'm still weak. With my knowledge and increasing physical strength, I think I can increase my speed to Chunin's level. And if I can find psionics and incorporate them into the suit..." Kenshin stretched out dreamily, thinking of the incredible possibilities.
- In serious combat, Chunin is nothing more than a fish on a chopping board! Besides, how will you overcome the natural limitations of your physical body? How will you cope with the tremendous stresses of high impact collisions?! Shinobi have chakra to absorb all that, and you'll have no choice but to be a ball that can withstand the impact, but immediately flies into the sky! - Kasumi said in a frustrated tone.
Kenshin seriously considered her words. Extinguishing inertia from strong blows was one of the first questions he asked the very intelligent girl. It was pointless to ask Natsumi and even Aya, for the former had no idea what she was talking about, and the latter had no idea what she was talking about. Kasumi, on the other hand, understood the simplest laws of physics on an intuitive level, and was able to give at least some intelligible answer.
When exchanging blows between strong shinobi, several parameters came into play. The first was physical defence. The skin, flesh, and bones had to be very strong to withstand the oncoming blow. If the blow was incredibly strong, the defender's arms would be broken or torn off when blocked, and the blow might well tear his chest open.
The second was chakra. Kasumi used the official terms of chakra distinction, but for Kenshin the term 'chakra quality' was much more convenient. A shinobi with stronger and more powerful chakra was much more easily able to let momentum flow through him, and disperse it in all directions without allowing himself to be thrown off or staggered.
The third and fourth were control and the amount of chakra. Control allowed the most powerful pulses to pass through much more easily, and damped a huge portion of the damage, preventing it from even harming flesh. The amount of chakra played a lesser role in this, only lightening the load on the shinobi's body slightly. This parameter went to a whole other level of effectiveness when dealing with someone with a chakra volume approaching a biju. According to Kasumi, it was possible to break fists on the faces of such shinobi, leaving only small bruises on the enemy's face.
- I'll think of something..." Kenshin muttered tiredly, rubbing his temples. His knowledge of formations wasn't enough to create an exosuit that could withstand the most powerful blows without harming the user, and instantly dispel the impulses of two objects colliding.
- Okay, I'm sorry for ruining the mood..." Kasumi replied with a sigh, and wrapped her arms around him, kissing him on the lips. She didn't want to be rude to him, but she was annoyed that Kenshin couldn't let go of the idea of going on combat missions.
*****
Kenshin spent the next few days tweaking his suit and spending two hours a day analysing the Nara Clan's fighting style under twenty times focus. Thanks to his perfect memory, he clearly remembered every move, and every note from Kasumi. All he had to do was structure that information, and make it easy to pass on to his sons.
On the evening of the 201st day, he finally impregnated his two eager wives again. Kasumi was very jealous of her friends, and promised to squeeze all the juices out of Kenshin after the birth.
Kenshin spent the entire 203rd day on pins and needles. Kasumi was very nervous, and wouldn't let him get far away from her. She was preparing to give birth to her first child, and she was very tense.
Aya and Natsumi tried to calm her down, but Kasumi refused to use logic and common sense that day, completely at the mercy of her fears and prejudices.
Kenshin decided it was a waste of time to sit around and wait for the weather to clear, so he went to his office to continue structuring the Nara Clan's fighting style.
"KENSHIN!"
Kenshin, who was sitting in the lotus posture, flinched and opened his eyes. He was in complete shock, and immediately rushed to the first floor. So far, neither of the girls had been able to initiate telepathic communication, but Kasumi, who had arranged a powerful empathic pulse, had succeeded.
- WHOOOF, KENSHIN! JESUS, WHAT'S GOING ON! - Kasumi exclaimed, feeling extremely panicked.
- Shh, your water just broke, it's okay. - Natsumi said, stroking her head.
Kenshin instantly jumped up to the third wife, and taking her hand, began to empathically radiate complete calmness.
- It's okay, girl. Nothing bad's gonna happen. Now, just do what we talked about. Relax, and just breathe. - He whispered to her in as soothing a voice as possible.
Kasumi calmed down a little, and breathed heavily, gradually bringing her breathing back to normal. Kenshin's words had a hypnotic effect on her, making her almost completely relax and surrender to her natural instincts to procreate.
Ten minutes later, quite unexpectedly for Kasumi herself, the room was filled with the loud crying of a newborn baby.
- Shh, don't cry. - Kenshin whispered, looking into the baby's completely black, unblinking eyes, and handed him to his mother.
- It's okay, honey. You did it. Look what a beautiful baby you gave me! - Kenshin said with a smile as he handed the baby over and kissed Kasumi on the forehead.
- Aaah, God, he's so beautiful..." she whispered, unable to hold back her tears of joy. All her sadness vanished in an instant when the baby found his mother's breast and silently began to eat.
Kenshin couldn't wait to see the characteristics of his baby boy.
Name: Fifteenth
Age: 0.1 days
Talent Level: 36
At the sight of his youngest son's performance, Kenshin couldn't hold back a pleased smile. Kasumi saw the pleased look on his face, and inwardly sighed with relief. She realised that the first thing Kenshin would look at was the talent level, and she waited breathlessly for the verdict.
- Ha ha ha! What a great kid! Kasumi, you're real gold! Talent level thirty-six! - Kenshin exclaimed, delighting everyone present.
The baby was not frightened by his father's loud shouts, on the contrary. He liked that voice, and he began to eat with more fervour.
- That's right, little Fifteen, eat, eat. Grow big and strong. We'll show your great-uncle who is a genius at shadow manipulation! - Kenshin said with a laugh, being in the best of spirits. Fifteen had exceeded his wildest expectations, and was far more talented than any of his older brothers.
Hearing Kenshin's praise, Kasumi was incredibly pleased, and gently stroked the baby's back, not wanting to interrupt the feeding for a kiss.
- Thirty-six... That's the level of a sturdy Jonin! - Aya said in surprise, unable to believe that her friend had given birth to such a genius. Jonin were considered the elite of the shinobi world, and held all the top positions. They had no trouble deciding the fate of small Shinto villages and killing anyone who displeased them with a wave of their hand. Konoha's Jonin who destroyed a small village could only be reprimanded and fined, and rarely anything serious, so Aya had been afraid of them since childhood.
- Says the girl who gives birth to children with sharingan... - Natsumi replied with a smile, and everyone laughed quietly.
- Okay, Kasumi, you need to rest. Girls, we have to go. - Kenshin said, and kissed his wife and child and headed out.