The village walls were now in sight, finally.
It had taken around half an hour riding the divine dogs, still being affected by Aelira's natural chakra.
It sure was convenient, well, atleast for me.
As for Shikamaru....
"You alright over there Shika?" I looked back at Shikamaru on the white wolf.
Shikamaru had a sick look on his face, "Just... Get this over with."
Well he was fairing well for someone who had puked five times on the way here.
How did he even puke so many times?
And finally, after a few seconds, we were there, infront of the gate, open.
I hopped off the black wolf and patted it's head and looked at Shikamaru.
Shikamaru quickly jumped off the white wolf and muttered, "I am.... never... doing this again..... Oh no- it's coming out again!"
.....
And he puked for the sixth time.
"Thank goodness!" A familiar voice called out from the gates.
I turned my face towards it and there he was, Shikaku, standing infront of me.
He looked at me and then at Shikamaru and placed his palm against his shin and sighed, closing his eyes, "Finally, you troublesome kids are here."
I smiled and looked at Shikamaru once again, "Yeah, but it looks like Shika isn't doing well."
Shikaku groaned at the Shikamaru who was down on his knees clutching his stomach as if it had just betrayed, "Shikamaru, get up. You are embarrassing me and the clan."
Shikamaru shot a glare at me, "I hate you..."
I looked down at Shikamaru, smirking, "Aw, couldn't handle some bumps, poor little Shika?"
Even the white wolf was staring at Shikamaru.
Judging him.
"Argh, why is this damn wolf looking at me like that!" Shikamaru asked glaring at the white wolf.
Shikaku sighed and turned around towards the village, walking slowly, "Let's go, we have things to attend to."
Shikamaru groaned and stood up, "If I die, I'll haunt you."
I smirked, "Well, atleast you'll be actively doing something then."
"You'll live, now shut up." Shikaku groaned out.
Shikamaru groaned and stayed silent and followed Shikaku.
"You two.... have really done good work this time." Shikaku said, a hint of pride in his voice, "But it only means more work for me. Troublesome." He sighed.
"Ever since Kakashi came back with that girl, alot of decisions which will have to be made have been thrown onto me and Lord Hokage." He said, "We are going to the Hokage tower, you'll give your full report on everything to Lord Third himself, this matter is far bigger than you might've thought."
Me and Shikamaru nodded silently, just following Shikaku as we walked towards the Hokage Tower.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
At the Hokage tower.
When we arrived, we directly walked towards the Hokage's office without anyone stopping use.
As soon as we entered the office, Lord Third's stare immediately fixed us.
There he was, Kakashi, standing against a wall, eye-smiling at us.
And the cause of the chaos, Aelira, was seated infront of Lord Third, her hands still cuffed.
Aelira turned around and looked at us, and slight relief fell over her, "You two are here." She said.
Hiruzen looked at us and smiled, "Excellent, you are here young shinobi. Kai, Shikamaru, come here." He said, his voice gentle.
Me and Shikamaru nodded and we talked towards Hiruzen and stood in front of him, beside Aelira.
"Now, i need you two to tell me everything that happened, truthfully." He said and focused his gaze onto me, "Especially you, Young Kai."
I gulped and nodded, and started telling him everything that happened.
From when we first encountered Aelira, to how she killed the rogue shinobi, to how I managed to use and survive her natural chakra, and all the way till now.
Everyone in the room listened intently, one woman, sitting on a table behind Hiruzen, writing everything down on a scroll.
I noticed something, the usual guards were absent and the seals that suppressed the voices felt like they had been replaced recently.
It's as I thought, her existence was being kept a secret.
As I finished talking, Hiruzen spoke up.
"So... Kai. When her natural chakra entered your coil, did you anything, that, say, could've helped your body to balance the flow of chakra?" He asked.
"No." I shook head my head, "Infact, it felt more like my body was absorbing it rather it invading it."
"Astounding....." Shikaku muttered.
"That's crazy...." Kakashi said from the left.
"That's.... Unheard of." Hiruzen said, looking at me, "Not only do you possess that unique bloodline which could be the ones that the Naras used during the warring states period, but now also the ability to endure and use natural chakra?.... Could it also be a ability of that bloodline of yours? Or related to it in anyway?"
No pointing in hiding about the patterns in chakra thing from him, infact, telling him everything was the best move, gaining help from the Hokage was probably the thing that'd helped me the most.
Because, afterall, these ten shadows are only powerful right now because I am still a child and everyone I have faced has been weak.
I am sorry, but there's only so much Mahoraga can do, even if he can adapt to all phenomenon, I have to stay alive first.
In a world where most characters can wipe out islands and continents in a single attack, some who can even destroy the moon, the Ten Shadows aren't enough.
"Actually..." I said, looking at Aelira, "Using her extreme chakra sensory skills enhanced by her natural chakra, Aelira told me that my summons aren't just summons, they are extensions of myself, extensions of certain chakra patterns that exist within my own chakra flow."
Hiruzen looked at me, deep in thought.
"Hmm. That explains your lack of handsigns when manifesting, and your control over them as well." Kakashi said, letting out a small hum.
Hiruzen leaned back slightly.
"…Aelira."
She looked up at me.
"…You said you sensed this yourself?"
Aelira nodded without hesitation.
"Yes. His chakra… is not normal. It doesn't behave like others. It flows in… structured forms. Patterns. Almost like…" she paused, searching for the right word.
"…Blueprints."
That made the room go even quieter.
"Kai, go on." Hiruzen said.
I nodded, "She said that the abilities of my summons are also reflected onto me to some extent, like the enhanced hearing and smelling, so I am thinking..." I looked down.
I had to lie a little, telling them I might have something that can adapt to everything may make them see me as crazy, or even worse, a asset as valuable as the nine-tails Jinchuriki.
"I think one of my summons that I haven't yet tamed has some ability related to natural chakra, and it's ability was being reflected onto me because my body was struggling with natural chakra, sort of like adrenaline being released in dangerous scenarios." I said.
"That's reaching quite far isn't it? But it's plausible." Kakashi said, leaning his chin onto his hand, in a thinking pose.
"It is, but it's also highly possible." Hiruzen said, humming to himself.
"Children, you are to tell of this to no one, understood? Not anyone, no one except the people in this room and your mother, Yoshino, understood?" Hiruzen said in a firm voice.
Me and Shikamaru both nodded obediently.
"I have summoned Jiraiya to come to the village right away, due to you two being able to use natural energy and this information about that individual, he will inspect you as soon as he arrives. Since he is the only shinobi loyal to Konoha who can use natural chakra." Hiruzen said.
And then he looked at Aelira, "As for you, young lady, I will immediately start looking for records of Ranta Senju and the Velkyn within the preserved Senju records, you are to remain within the place of habitance given to you and are to not interact with any person other than the ones in this room without mine or Shikaku's permission."
Aelira nodded.
"As for where you'll live." Hiruzen looked at Shikaku, "I think your home is suitable, since three out of the four members already know about her, and the Nara clan compounds are highly secured as well."
Shikamaru's eyes widened, "Wha-" he looked at Aelira, but stopped himself from protesting against the Hokage.
Shikaku scratched the back of his head and looked at Aelira, "Troublesome. But fine."