Naruto: My Clones Can Evolve

Returning to the Land of Earth required quite a journey.

First, they needed to sail from the Land of Water to the Land of Waves and then travel overland to the mainland.

Flying on Genzuki's giant clay bird the entire way was unrealistic.

Not only would it draw too much attention, but it also consumed a lot of chakra.

The docks were bustling with people.

"I heard the Fourth Mizukage has stepped down and is recruiting new talent!"

"Really? Maybe a wandering ninja like me could make a living in Kirigakure."

Hearing this, Genzuki raised an eyebrow. He hadn't expected the news to spread so quickly.

"Looks like Mei Terumi is quite efficient," Genzuki said with a grin.

During Yagura's reign, many talented ninjas had left the village due to his oppressive rule while under genjutsu. Mei Terumi's open recruitment was a smart move.

"Why would the Akatsuki control my mind instead of simply destroying Kirigakure?" Yagura asked, his expression darkening.

"They're just using Kirigakure to create chaos," Genzuki replied. "The Akatsuki profits from war, and the rogue ninjas from Kirigakure have caused plenty of that over the years."

Yagura frowned, finally understanding.

Genzuki wasn't worried about the Akatsuki's plan to resurrect the Ten-Tails. With Yagura—the Three-Tails Jinchūriki—by his side, taking him would be nearly impossible without the full force of the Akatsuki.

"Let's board the ship," Genzuki said as he and Yagura paid five silver coins to the boatman for passage to the Land of Waves.

Once they reached the Land of Waves, they could transfer to another boat to return to the mainland. Although they had rushed to the Land of Water, the return trip had to follow the same route.

"Sir, would you like to buy some candles for the trip? It gets very cold during early morning sailing," a young girl asked as she sold candles at the dock.

The girl was about eleven or twelve, with light blond hair and a cute, innocent face.

"How much for one?" Genzuki asked, smiling.

"Five coins each," the girl replied.

"Here. I only have a silver tael left," Genzuki said, handing her the silver coin. "No need to give me change—I know you won't have enough."

The girl blinked in surprise before handing him the entire basket of candles.

"Thank you, big brother! I've sold everything for the day!"

Genzuki hesitated for a moment before asking, "What's your name?"

"Chino," she answered.

"Chino?" Genzuki's face darkened as he tried to recall where he had heard that name before.

He was sure this character existed in the original story, but he couldn't quite remember her background.

Suddenly, a sinister change swept across the dock.

A blood-red mist rose around them—far more oppressive than the Hidden Mist Technique. This was Blood Mist Technique, and it severely restricted visibility.

Half the people at the dock disappeared in an instant—either fleeing or meeting a grisly fate, marked by sudden screams followed by silence.

Whoosh!

Genzuki frowned. Had the Akatsuki found him already? Did Sasori betray him?

His first suspect was Kisame Hoshigaki, who was capable of using the Blood Mist Technique.

Without even activating the Byakugan, Genzuki sensed dozens of chakra sources around him, each with significant strength.

Despite the danger, Chino remained calm, her face tightening in a slight frown.

"Big brother, be careful… You should leave quickly," she said softly.

Then her pupils turned pitch black, surrounded by blood-red sclera. Her chakra flared, catching Genzuki off guard.

After finishing her warning, Chino vanished into the mist without looking back.

"It's her!"

Genzuki suddenly remembered who Chino was—a survivor of the Chinoike Clan.

The Chinoike Clan possessed a powerful dōjutsu known as the Ketsuryūgan, which allowed them to manipulate blood and perform genjutsu on par with the Sharingan.

Chino was the last known survivor of this bloodline.

"Sir, we should leave! Do you have a death wish?" the boatman stammered, trembling in fear.

"Shut up," Genzuki snapped, giving the man a cold glance that silenced him immediately.

"These people must be after her," Genzuki thought. "Yagura, stay here and guard the ship. I'll handle this."

Yagura nodded, and Genzuki's figure vanished into the blood mist.

"I'm leaving! These men must be Kato's thugs. They'll kill anyone without a second thought!" the boatman cried.

Yagura calmly released a protective barrier of tailed beast chakra around the boat.

"No one will get through," he said with confidence.

Meanwhile, in the depths of the blood mist, Genzuki activated his Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan.

The blood mist couldn't hinder his vision at all.

He instantly locked onto the dozens of enemy chakra signatures around him. Not wasting time, Genzuki drew his Flying Thunder God Kunai.

"Flying Thunder God Technique!"

A bright flash darted through the mist, accompanied by shrieks and splashes of blood.

Within seconds, all the enemies in his field of vision lay lifeless on the ground.

But Chino was nowhere to be found.

"Yagura, clear the mist," Genzuki ordered.

Yagura quickly formed hand seals and took a deep breath.

"Wind Style: Typhoon Gale!"

A powerful gust swept through the area, dispersing the blood mist and restoring clarity to the dock.

Once the mist cleared, Genzuki saw Chino in the grasp of an enemy.

The enemy wore a scratched Kirigakure headband—a rogue ninja.

"Another rogue from Kirigakure…" Yagura muttered, closing his eyes with a sigh.

The remaining enemy had survived by blending in with the corpses, escaping Genzuki's initial strike.

"Don't come any closer, or I'll kill the girl!" the rogue ninja barked, pressing a kunai to Chino's neck and drawing a thin line of blood.

"Drop that strange kunai and deactivate your Sharingan! You only get one chance!"

Seeing the little girl in danger, Genzuki clicked his tongue in frustration.

To be safe, he deactivated his Sharingan and tossed the Flying Thunder God Kunai to the ground.

"Good… It seems you're after her eyes, just like me!" the rogue ninja sneered.

Chino's eyes filled with tears, but the deep red glow of her Ketsuryūgan remained visible.

"Don't lump me in with filth like you," Genzuki said coldly. "Aren't you working for that scumbag Gato?"

"So what if I am? Gato put a bounty of a million ryo on this girl's eyes. Why wouldn't I take it?"

It was clear the rogue ninja had found a way to suppress Chino's Ketsuryūgan. He was well-prepared.

Genzuki's eyes narrowed, his smirk turning sinister.

"You even target children? How pathetic."

"If you're this unworthy of living… then don't live."