Start From Naruto: Shino the Dominator

Oh? Where was he again? The exposition was a bit long, and even Shino almost lost himself...

Perhaps if this was a story, the author would have been infected by the Shino-interruption disease, cutting off the chapter and starting a new one because-

Well, it's not a story. Therefore, that can't be the case. So, as he was saying...

Shino wasn't sure if there were methods to cultivate spiritual energy in the ninja world, but he knew the elusive art of spiritual energy cultivation, if it existed at all, should lay veiled in secrecy, guarded by the untouchable echelons of the world's top combatants.

Well, it was definitely not something they could easily get their hands on unless he stirs up a hornet's nest.

After converting into a zerg lifeform, Shino was essentially immortal. So, there was no need to take risky gambles when unnecessary.

But, swift and secure growth must still happen.

Thanks to time's labyrinth holding no dominion over him, Shino originally could be a salted fish, opting to distribute his growth through the eternal time he potentially possessed.

However, a looming urgency pierced through the fabric of Shino's consciousness.

Beckoning him to hasten his growth was the specter of destiny - the inevitable deadline of the Infinite Tsukuyomi, a disastrous world event where the long-dormant progenitor of chakra would step onto the stage!

At that time, he wouldn't be able to escape from the genjutsu no matter which corner of the planet he hid in!

While the notion of surrendering to the confines of the dream and relying on the fated intervention of Naruto for salvation was tempting, Shino knew deep down that complacency held no solace, for the sands of fate are shaped not solely by the hands of others, but by the resolute steps one takes on their own treacherous journey.

Who knows if his abnormality would arouse the attention of the lady boss, causing her to divert her attention from Sasuke and Naruto to focus on dealing with him.

Or maybe his transmigration would cause a butterfly effect, resulting in Naruto and Sasuke's failure?

Shino wasn't going to bet his future on this uncertainty. So, he can't stand still in place because time waits for no one.

Thus, he was back to square one. He needed to growth his spiritual power.

"Hey, why can't this be the Bleach world? If I get my hands on a zanpakuto to support spiritual power growth… Or maybe learn Haki and eat the soul soul fruit in One Piece… Or perhaps grow soul power with spirit rings in Douluo Dalu… Eh? Could these arbitrary words be my future hinting to me?"

Taking in the distracted Shino's musing, Karina puffed her mouth in response, her reproachful gaze smoldering Shino, silently questioning his attentiveness amidst her wonderful, wonderful exposition.

This intense reminder from Karina grounded Shino back in reality.

Ah, it was better to not dream too much. Those worlds were definitely out of reach for a long time to come. Instead, let's focus on the present.

As for his current situation...

Though he already had some risky methods he could try, but for now, slow and steady wins the race, right?

Maybe in the unknown journey that lay ahead, he'll be able to get his hands on some special eyes that could be switched as easy as light bulbs, a possibility that offered the hope for a decent expansion of his spiritual abilities.

Yeah, who knows what would happen.

Setting aside his hopeful thoughts, Shino centered his attention upon Karina, no longer puffing her mouth because the once-flared embers of her indignation was already submerged within the depths of her being.

Now, she was ready to resume her explanation that she had begun before his info dumping.

[Second, the amount of biomass we can harvest is limited. We have stealthily hunted creatures and delivered them back in batches with our clone on our new concealed flying unit, but this amount is still limited because we prevented wanton hunting to avoid attracting too much attention.]

Here, Karina's tacit agreement for more info dumping wove a delicate web of resonance with Shino's chosen actions, eliciting a profound undercurrent of gratification that surged through his being, akin to a melody harmonizing with his soul!

Yet, amidst this fleeting euphoria, Karina's subsequent revelation had a touch of apprehension, adding a layer of spice to their shared journey.

[However, it seems the decline in the number of creatures everywhere has not gone unnoticed. Ninja villages have already launched investigations to uncover the cause. Even the Hidden Rock village, where we avoided deploying zergs, had begun investigations. Fortunately, Shino, we had proceeded with caution.]

Ah, the tendrils of fate unraveled in unpredictable patterns, whispering of unforeseen challenges that awaited its embrace.

But Shino's confidence was unshaken by the news. So, his response manifested as a single, resolute thrust to get his point across.

"This is inevitable. Sooner or later the zergs will have to surface in the eyes of the world. We just need to win as much time for development as possible before we get on their watch list. Once we are strong enough, we will not have to worry as much about being discovered... This reminds me, Karina, how far is our biomass supply from the requirement for our next Six Path clone?"

Hearing Shino change of topic, Karina also changed her tactic, steering her face upwards to earnestly give a lesson of the subtleties of her mother tongue while her eyes scanned the vast expanse as if calculating the intricate length and height dimensions of the biomass storage...

Shortly after, she responded in a voice interwoven with a hint of slurred articulation due to being occupied with practicing a new language, "Mmm. Shino, based on Karina's estimation, this upcoming harvest should be suc-fficient for suc-cess."

"Good." Enjoying the moment of unguarded contentment, Shino honestly conveyed all his thoughts, "When we meet the quota, temporarily let the zergs stay dormant. This will let the ecosystem recover, free up some computation power for other matters, and lower the vigilance of the investigating villages, resulting in them lowering the priorities of their investigations, perhaps even giving up."

[Shino, what if they don't give up?]

"Well, I believe nosy ones deserves a good rest after working so hard to solve their case."

Shino dismissively set the cruel fate for others, his eyes firmly shuttered to ward off the burgeoning warmth that threatened to weaken his resolve. He didn't want to end up in the clutches of empathy any longer.

Karina's head bobbed in a rhythm, signifying her understanding of Shino's profound meaning.

[Understood, Shino. Karina will notify you of any changes when required. After all, not everyone deserves the rest. There are many who still have roles to play in your plans.]

Shino nodded before he ushered in another shift in focus, veering towards another matter. "What about the harvest from the cemeteries?"

[There wasn't much biomass to be harvested. Most of those buried had become bare bones, with many graves being empty, their owner's body lost in the wars or for other reasons. The ordinary corpses of civilians and ninjas buried in the public cemeteries also did not have too much worth to be lugged back for research because important corpses are kept in well-guarded and hidden locations - ones our zergs' burrowing ability can't penetrate.]

Hearing this, Shino's expression was shadowed with some disappointment, but there wasn't too much shock.

This was as he expected. After all, if the zerg's burrowing ability could succeed, the Hidden Rock village, known for its ruthless tactics, would have long robbed the corpses of every village.

"Well, even if the harvest is lacking, mosquito meat is still food," Shino nonchalantly shrugged, his actions showing no remorse.

Karina's head bobbed in a profound rhythm, each nod descending to the depths, bordering on the precipice of her own limits. Obviously, she was showing her agreement in her own special way.

Heck, she even added deliberate pauses every time she dipped her head, clearly wanting to emphasize the gravity of her unwavering support!

[Um, um! Every harvest is delicious, even if it is a drop! Don't worry Shino. Karina has harvested what could be harvest without disturbing the surface of the graves itself. As for the funeral objects…]

"We can never have enough money. Find a time to sell them on the different black markets with our clone."

Yeah, morals? What's that?

Shino's mind was already conjuring vivid images of counting stacks of illegal money. He almost could hear the ethereal symphony of whispered disapproval emanating from the depths of readers' imaginations from beyond the fourth wall.

Oh, but his life wasn't a story. So, how could there be an audience?

Moreover, Shino believed tomb raiders were also a respectable profession.

After all, those hailed as strong players embodied the essence of professional tomb raiders, each with an audacious mindset that dared to seize and loot all that lay within reach.

So, there wasn't anything wrong with his willingness to use any means to achieve his goals.

Plus, despite his morally dubious methods, Karina's head bobbed with an almost feverish velocity, obviously conveying her resolute agreement with the unfolding path that lay ahead.

Shino was bad, but she, Karina, liked a big bad Shino…

[Affirmative, Shino- Umph-]

Oh yes... It was about time Karina's meticulous report came to a close.

Meeting her fiery gaze and feeling her professional service, Shino could feel his player spirit staying strong as ever!

The depths of Shino's eyes swelled with an intensity that spoke volumes, foretelling the grave consequences that Karina's post-report assignment bore upon him.

Shino's discerning gaze immediately honed in on the simulated tomb, a mirage veiled within the beautiful expanse of holographic projections.

Not holding back, he anchored the source which cradled the tomb against the very fabric of the wall.

Ah, the entrance to the tomb was wide open, beckoning the tomb raider to raid it!

So, Shino resolved himself and embarked on the perilous journey, putting his tomb raiding skills to the test, his every move showcasing his mastery in the art of plundering and digging into ancient secrets!

"Ha… Ha… Ha..."

Karina's laughter permeated the air, a captivating melody that belied the undercurrents of their shared endeavors.

Yet, in the midst of the chaotic raid, she still fulfilled her duty and gave him a reminder, "Ha- Ha- Shino, it's almost time- ha- d-don't forget to send your clone on the mission today- Ha- Ha…"

Shino's raiding game paused, his expression betraying a mixture of perplexity and curiosity, "Mission? What mission?"