Ordinary Shadow Clones or elemental clones collapse the moment they take even light damage—the imbalance causes them to disperse.
But what if a clone were constructed entirely out of slime?
Inside the room, Kaito created a Slime Clone.
Its defining trait was simple:
even after taking fatal damage, its body wouldn't lose balance and disappear.
It was similar to a Wood Clone, but with a crucial difference.
Wood clones didn't vanish instantly, yet once injured, their remaining duration dropped sharply.
A Slime Clone did not suffer from this flaw.
Even if half its body was destroyed, as long as enough energy remained, it could regenerate and continue acting.
The sole drawback—
It couldn't return memories like a Shadow Clone.
No elemental clone could replicate that function.
"Main body," the Slime Clone—dressed identically to the Surgeon—asked calmly.
"What's the mission?"
"Use the Op-Op Fruit to examine the condition of the four of them," Kaito replied coldly.
"Then leave using Heavenly Transfer."
After a brief pause, he added sharply:
"Remember. No matter how big a scene you cause, you must 'leave' using Heavenly Transfer in the end."
"Understood," the Slime Clone sneered.
"So disappear like that, right?"
It tilted its head with disdain.
"You're far too cautious. We're already invincible—why keep playing along with these people?"
Kaito lifted his gaze.
The Slime Clone stiffened, instinctively stepping back.
"…Got it."
"Tch."
Shuu—
The Slime Clone vanished.
Kaito leaned back against the bed, calmly switching to the clone's vision—
another special trait borrowed from the Rinnegan's linked sight.
Nightfall — Konoha
Naruto was arranged to stay at Minato's house.
Sakura had wanted to find her parents, but Jiraiya later explained that Haruno Kizashi and Haruno Mebuki hadn't gotten together yet in this timeline.
Left with no choice, Sakura stayed at an inn with Yamato and Sai, while Jiraiya personally guarded them, wary of Danzo's attention.
Minato and Kaori weren't living together yet either—their homes were still some distance apart.
It was during the walk toward Minato's house that the ANBU guarding Kaori were attacked.
"Who's there?!"
Two ANBU instantly collapsed under genjutsu.
Standing opposite them were Root operatives—
Uzumaki Kushina, and a young man with the codename Red Cat.
Red Cat gripped his blade, glaring at the figure bathed in moonlight.
"Who are you?! Attacking ANBU inside Konoha—are you insane?!"
The Slime Clone sighed softly.
Behind the mask, its eyes lifted slightly.
"The Surgeon."
"You may also call me… Omni."
"Illusion Art · Falling Sakura Void."
"—What?! It's you!!"
With just a single glance, Red Cat's hair stood on end.
No hand seals. No warning.
The world instantly changed.
He lost all footing—
suspended high above the void.
Pink sakura fragments tore past his body, grinding against his skin like blades.
"Aaaahhhh—!!!"
Pain shattered his focus.
Before he could break the technique—
BOOM.
He smashed into the ground.
Even with medical treatment, he wouldn't be fully functional for a month.
In reality, Kushina only saw Red Cat fall from the tree within seconds.
"Jōnin… no. Kage-level?" she muttered.
"Never heard of my title?" the Slime Clone chuckled.
"Omnipotent God. Loulan's All-Powerful Minister."
"…Never heard of it," Kushina replied honestly.
She'd been chained to guarding the Nine-Tails vessel day and night—
outside information barely reached her.
The clone paused.
Kushina seized the moment.
"Adamantine Sealing Chains!"
Four spatial points opened—
Silver chakra chains shot forth.
They had killed Cloud jōnin before, without giving them time to react.
Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!
The Slime Clone raised one hand.
Countless chakra threads formed instantly, blocking every chain.
"Too weak."
It leaned closer.
"Don't you want to leave?"
"Leave this village soaked in darkness?"
Kaito, watching remotely, frowned.
What the hell are you doing?
The Slime Clone continued anyway.
"Go somewhere else. Live the life you want."
"Even if that means… destroying Konoha."
Kushina froze.
Then—
Click.
She removed her mask.
Her expression twisted into something dark.
"If you can help me… I'll do anything."
"Excellent."
The Slime Clone smiled.
"But first—
let me send you away."
"I've got company."
It reached out.
A slime-like film wrapped around Kushina.
"Heavenly Transfer!"
Blue light exploded.
Just before disappearing, Kushina glimpsed a white-haired figure landing nearby.
"Be careful… it's White Fang."
Shuu—
The technique completed.
Kaito exhaled.
"…Bold."
But—
"Another member for White Cross, then."
"As expected, wasting talent is Konoha's specialty."
His gaze shifted.
"Now then… White Fang."
White Fang vs Omni
Hatake Sakumo landed atop a tree.
Moments earlier, a red-haired Root operative had vanished—
likely via space-time ninjutsu.
"You're the former Konoha surgeon," Sakumo said coldly.
"Now Loulan's All-Powerful Minister."
"Yes," the clone replied lazily.
"She joined Root. I pitied her."
"That was Konoha's affair."
Sakumo drew White Fang.
Lightning surged.
He struck—
Too fast to track.
Kaito's clone substituted.
Then came shuriken—
then a chained lightning slash.
Water clone dispersed.
"…You're the first to evade my continuous blade," Sakumo said grimly.
"Not bad," the clone clapped.
"Most people say they only see a flash of lightning."
"Where did you take Cat Nine?"
"Nine-Tails vessel candidate?"
"To a place that suits her."
"Future day—
you'll meet again."
"You're declaring war."
"War? No."
The clone wagged a finger.
"We love peace."
"But revenge?"
"That's up to the members."
Sakumo attacked again—
The clone's fist met his blade.
BOOM.
Sakumo was blasted into a tree.
Reinforcements were approaching.
The clone withdrew.
Minato's House
The Slime Clone arrived instantly.
Jiraiya's eyes narrowed.
"You dare come here?!"
"Just checking Naruto's condition."
"You know about them?!"
"Of course. I let you leave Loulan on purpose."
"ROOM."
Blue light enveloped the house.
Minato tried to activate Flying Thunder God—
—and failed.
"What?!"
"Naruto," Minato said grimly,
"My teleport was interrupted."
Impossible.
Even Kurama was stunned.
The clone casually swapped Naruto with a stone—
then grabbed him midair.
After examination—
"…Confirmed. Not Kaito."
"Withdraw."
Naruto's chakra flared—
A red claw swept out—
Swap.
A flowerpot shattered instead.
"Rasengan—!"
Elsewhere
ANBU surveillance confirmed Kaito was asleep.
No abnormalities.
"Proceed."
The village began mobilizing.
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