Chapter 16: Chasing Shadows: The Search for Sasuke Intensifies
[SYSTEM MESSAGE: NEW MISSION PARAMETERS. PREPARING FOR ENHANCED ABILITY UTILIZATION AND SASUKE-RELATED ANGST.]
Konoha felt both safer and more utterly maddening after the Tenchi Bridge. Safer, because Orochimaru was sufficiently enraged with me to be somewhat distracted. Maddening, because Sasuke was still out there, brooding, and Team 7 was still obsessed with him. Our current objective: track him down. Again. And this time, with Captain Yamato leading the charge, things were going to be by the book. Or, at least, Yamato's version of by the book, which I naturally intended to interpret as "more like guidelines than actual rules."
"Honestly, this whole 'find Sasuke' thing is like a bad dating reality show. He runs away, they chase him, he's moody, they still want him back. It's exhausting. And repetitive. But hey, it gives me plenty of opportunities to annoy the Uchiha and perfect my rubber-band man act. So, win-win, I guess. Except for Sasuke, obviously. He's just getting more angsty."
Our first lead, thanks to my 'hunch-jutsu' (a.k.a. stolen intel), pointed towards a series of old, abandoned hideouts rumored to be connected to Orochimaru. They were deep within the Land of Fire, in some truly unforgiving terrain. Perfect for testing my newly acquired Body Modification abilities without an audience. Mostly.
[ADAM IZUKU: INITIATING FIELD EXERCISES FOR BODY MODIFICATION. WARNING: MAY CAUSE DISCOMFORT TO ONLOOKERS.]
The terrain was a nightmare of jagged rocks, narrow crevices, and slippery inclines. Naruto, with his usual boundless energy, bounced off everything like a hyperactive pinball. Sakura carefully navigated, her medical training making her precise. Sai glided through, effortlessly graceful. And me? I decided this was the perfect time for some practical application of my elasticity.
"Alright, everyone, stick close!" Yamato called out, his voice firm as he surveyed a particularly treacherous rock face. "This path requires careful footwork. One wrong step and you could..."
"Or," I interrupted, grinning, "you could just do this!"
With a burst of chakra and a conscious effort, I focused on my limbs. Instead of painfully contorting, my arms and legs elongated, stretching like taffy. I leaped from one rock to another, my extended limbs reaching across surprisingly wide gaps, almost effortlessly. I still looked a bit like a lanky, pale spider monkey, but it was surprisingly effective. And way faster than careful footwork.
[YAMATO LIKE METER: 45% (MIX OF SURPRISE AND PRUDENCE)]
Yamato blinked. His mouth, usually a thin line, actually parted slightly. "Adam… how did you…?"
"Body Modification, Captain!" I chirped, landing neatly on a high ledge, my arms snapping back to normal. "Perfect for annoying terrain and reaching the top shelf! Multi-purpose, really! Though the snapping back can be a bit jarring." I winced slightly.
Naruto gaped. "Woah, Adam! You're like a rubber band man! Can you stretch really, really far? Like, across the whole country?!"
"Working on it, Naruto!" I replied. "Right now, I can mostly just annoy people at close range. But I have dreams, my friend. Dreams of reaching for the moon. Or maybe just that last slice of pizza."
Sai, who had silently observed my impromptu demonstration, actually showed a hint of… a smirk? No, not quite. More like a subtle upward curve of his lips. He jotted something down in his notebook.
[SAI LIKE METER: 50% (INCREASINGLY AMUSED BY ADAM'S ANTICS)]
My next target for practical application was my Snake Jutsu. While my summoned snakes were still annoyingly small, I realized they had a distinct advantage: they were small. And surprisingly good at scouting.
"Alright team," Yamato stated, pointing to a dark, narrow cave entrance. "This could be a hideout. Naruto, be ready. Sakura, prepare for anything. Sai, visual confirmation."
"Or," I offered, holding up one of my tiny, bewildered cobras, "we could send Bartholomew in! He's tiny, discreet, and he has excellent hearing! Plus, he's surprisingly good at navigating small spaces. Unless there's a crumb of food, then he's completely useless."
Naruto's eyes widened. "You have a pet snake, Adam?!"
"He's not a pet, Naruto," I sighed. "He's a loyal, if somewhat unreliable, shinobi companion. Go on, Bartholomew! Be free! And tell me if you see any dark, brooding Uchiha types!"
I sent Bartholomew slithering into the cave. A minute later, a faint hiss echoed from within. I closed my eyes, focusing, and felt a vague impression: empty rooms, old dust, and a very faint, lingering scent of snakes. Orochimaru's mark.
[YAMATO LIKE METER: 55% (RECOGNIZING ADAM'S UNCONVENTIONAL UTILITY)]
"It's clear," I announced. "Empty. Just some old snake scales and a distinct lack of brooding teenagers. Orochimaru's been here, but he's moved on. Probably got tired of the mold."
Yamato stared at me, then at the cave, then back at me. "You… used a summoned snake for reconnaissance? Without a sensory jutsu?"
"Well, kind of," I said, shrugging. "I can just sort of… feel what they're feeling. Mostly hunger, to be honest. But sometimes, also 'empty cave with faint lingering smell of creepy snake guy.' It's a work in progress."
He actually let out a short, surprised chuckle. A genuine one. "That is… highly unconventional. But effective."
"Yes! See? Utility! I'm not just a walking punchline; I'm a walking, stretching, snake-summoning, incredibly useful punchline! My value is slowly, but surely, being recognized. Next, they'll be asking me to lead the ANBU. Or at least, make the tea."
As we continued our pursuit, following faint traces of chakra, Sasuke's presence became more palpable. A colder air, a subtle shift in the wildlife, a feeling of being watched. He was close. And that meant it was time to subtly increase his 'Hate' meter.
I noticed Sai observing Sasuke's occasional, subtle chakra flares. He still hadn't quite grasped the concept of rivalry or emotional connection.
"Hey, Sai," I said, nudging him. "See Naruto and Sasuke? That's what you call a 'rivalry.' It's like a really intense, passive-aggressive dance-off, but with more yelling and occasional attempts at murder. It's all about emotional resonance."
[SAI LIKE METER: 60% (INTELLECTUALLY ENGAGED WITH THE CONCEPT OF EMOTION)]
Sai tilted his head. "So, their hatred for each other makes them stronger?"
"Precisely!" I nodded enthusiastically. "Or, at least, more dramatic. It's a fine line. Now, what do you think would really set Sasuke off? Beyond, you know, existing? Maybe a good, old-fashioned, deeply insulting haiku about his hair?"
Sai, to my surprise, actually looked thoughtful. "His hair does appear to be… asymmetrical. Perhaps a haiku about a bird's nest?"
"Brilliant, Sai-kun! Brilliant!" I clapped him on the back. "You're learning! This emotional growth journey is going to be epic!"
Sasuke, wherever he was, was probably already twitching. And that was just the beginning.