A/N: Hey guys, this has been in draft stage for a while now and I finally got it up onto the site. It's still rough so there might be a couple of tweaks here and there. Thought I'd get three chapters up at first and see how it's received, I've got a really good idea of where this story is going so review and let me know what you think. I welcome constructive criticism and if you have any suggestions I'm all ears.

Chapter 3: The Bandaged Man

The village had seen better times, the buildings crowded together desperately. Each home was war torn, tiles missing and gaping holes in the walls. The place was deserted, the wind whistled through the settlement undisturbed. The night had dropped suddenly robbing the light and a heavy downpour cascaded over everything, filling the potholed streets with dirty puddles. There was however a single speck of light glowing by the western gate of the village, a couple of lanterns that hung outside a bar. The bar squatted amongst the rubble of the street and seemed to shiver in the heavy rain and wind, it was one of the few buildings with four solid walls but it still looked ruinous and leaned heavily as if minutes away from collapsing.

A group of five dejected looking ninja huddled around a table on a creaky veranda outside it; chain smoking and throwing back shots of sake in silence, the game of cards they were playing seemed long forgotten. They seemed afraid to acknowledge each other.

Each had a distant look in their eyes, their dirt and smoke stained faces were streaked with tear marks. Their clothes were ragged as if they'd been subjected to a violent mauling , light grey ninja gear covered in mud and darker blood stains. The most recent bandit Nin raid on their village had taken its toll. Their fingers never strayed too far from their weapons and the creaking buildings made them scan the surrounding area in a paranoid fashion.


There had been hushed talks about a new alliance of rogue ninja prior to the raid, supposedly growing in the east, enough to allegedly form a hidden village. Most had disregarded it as scaremongering, but it all seemed to horribly realistic now. Now they were looking at the smouldering ruin of their home.

'Who could have marshalled all those bandits under one banner?' Thought the leader of the motley crew 'And why attack this village? Why weren't we ready?' The questions were never asked out loud because there was no one who could answer them. What did it matter anyway if they could answer them? Hindsight is a useless tool when you cannot apply anything you learn from it.

The rogue ninja raid was a couple of days ago, under the cover of darkness, there had been no warning. The village in question was not a large one but it had around thirty competent ninja guarding it. They'd been nowhere near enough. The raid was fast, polished and obviously well planned. The first target was the villages barracks, it had gone up in a ball of flames with burning timber and glass showering down amongst the villagers, in one fell swoop the bandit Nin had killed all off duty ninja and then with bloody efficiency moved on to the sentries. It had been a bloodbath. Friends, family, lovers… all had gone in a half hour burst of meticulous violence.

Flashback

Yoshimitsu flicked away the end of his cigarette casually. He was a tall man of about twenty five, a chuunin of the Kiharu clan and performing watch duty over the clans settlement. He pushed himself up from his relaxed leaning position, ran a hand through long brown hair and absently drew a kunai from his holster. Spinning it on a finger he rounded the tree he been resting against and eyed up his team.

"Breaks over" The statement was met by a series of groans, which he silenced with an imposing stare "We're on the clock till 3 boys. Need I remind you that the safety of the village is in our hands?" Met with more groans but they were at least on their feet now.

Yoshimitsu allowed a small smile to cross his face before turning, he made the signal to move out and soon they were all soaring through the air. Leaping from branch to branch and scanning the vegetation below for any traces of a threat. The village had enjoyed two years of relative peace, it being out of the way of most trade routes. That had been a tactical choice of course, money brought envy and envy led to raids. The Kiharu clan was small and couldn't handle a full scale assault.

They stopped on the western side of their home. The trees were tall here and commanded a respectable view of the village. A small wooden fence surrounded a collection of about 15 stone buildings and a smattering of wooden halls; the fence was small so it only kept the animals out and the small children in but due to the secrecy of the settlement that was all they needed. The largest of the timber structures was the Barracks, home to the Kiharu ninja; it lay of the far side of the settlement. The moon shone down bright white light, illuminating the roofs in a silver glow. The surrounding woodlands also bathed in the light, their leaves silvery in the glow.

It was peaceful, Yoshimitsu breathed in a lungful of clean air. The village was going from strength to strength, the genin were charged with carrying the products of the civilians labour to a village many miles away to bring in money. This was then taken by chuunin to an entirely different village in the opposite direction to obtain supplies the village couldn't produce. They were off the grid, no ninja settlements could find them and gangs of rogue ninja hadn't even heard of them. It was perfect.

One of his team landed on the branch next to him "Sweep complete Yoshi, no reports, no nothing…" Yoshimitsu smiled. He placed a hand on his friends shoulder.

"The village has never been stronger Chikao and tonight could not be any more beautiful" Chikao was his second in command, both were chuunin in the same class and led the team of genin using classic good cop bad cop routine.

Chikao raised an eyebrow "You gonna start writing poetry or something? Stop pansying about and give the order to continue the north perimeter. I'm missing my bed and the other guys are getting tired"

Yoshimitsu grinned wickedly and shoved him from the branch "Team! North perimeter!" then looked down at his childhood friend below. "Oh and Chikao seeing as your in such a rush to get home… Rear-guard" He laughed at the curses that turned the air beneath him blue and jumped onwards.

'It is a perfect night' He thought contentedly.

Irony reared its ugly head. The eastern side of the village exploded. They all froze as they watched a series of shadows leap over the wall of flames and start spreading havoc in their budding home. Yoshimitsu could only watch, his feet seemed stuck to the branch. Chikao landed next to him "Yoshi! Yoshi!" He shook him violently and looked a little relieved when the team leader turned to him "We can't do anything… They killed our men in that first explosion! We have to run!"

Yoshimitsu turned back to his home. His eyes were wide and tear filled and reflections of the flames flickered in them. What had become of this world? What merited such wanton violence and misery? Allowing his friend to tug him away from the destruction, the team fled into the dark forest.

*Flashback ends*

Yoshi's team sat the bar table. They had returned to find survivors but had only discovered they were the last alive; they had survived by being cowards. They had survived by sacrificing their friends and family. The guilt was insufferable.

Had it been worth it? Surviving only to find there was nothing left in this village, the population had been decimated. There was nothing worth guarding, just crumbling shacks and empty streets. The living civilians had fled for greener pastures, the ninja at the table too shell shocked to warn them of the dangers that lay beyond their walls.

Just the memories of how the village used to be, bustling with people and squawking children, all remembered in sunny sepia tones and idealistic scenarios.


The ninja pulled their coats tighter around their bodies as a harsh wind blew down the once bustling street, they would probably become bandits themselves. The times were desperate, no time to be weak or sentimental. The leader wondered absently if they'd end up with this alliance in the east. Ninjas weren't inspired by loyalty anymore; all people truly desired now days was surviving.

Chikao picked up the bottle of sake and topped up all their glasses wordlessly. They all picked up the shot glasses and raised them to their lips. He stiffened before he put the bottle down. "Yoshimitsu…"

The leader of the group threw the alcohol to the back of his throat, then placed his sake glass down and subtly pulled a kunai from his holster. Then following the line of his subordinate's sight down the road he spotted a solitary figure strolling through the shattered gate of the village, carefully avoiding the larger holes in the ground and making a bee line for them. The figure seemed perfectly at ease in the desolation and the wind carried a merry humming towards them.

The ninjas stood collectively and the rickety table wobbled spilling glasses to the floor and punctuating the sound of rainfall with the tinkle of broken glass. The lone man paused for a second, before continuing his confident stride towards them.

He was tall and slim, with an elegant posture that gave of the aura of aristocracy. The rain had blurred his features at first but as he came closer the ninja observed that his entire face was wrapped in bandages. No eye holes or anything, just solid band after band of stained white that wrapped down his neck before disappearing under his collar.

The effect was eerie, without any facial expressions to read the man became entirely unpredictable.

The bandaged man wore plain black shinobi gear, trousers taped around his ankles, and a long grey parka thrown over the top, the fur lining the hood was drenched and dripping. The clothes were travel worn but in otherwise fine condition. A large bulge was in the right hand pocket of the parka and the man's bandaged fingers never strayed too far from it.

The man stopped about ten feet from the bars veranda and cocked his head ever so slightly to the left. His presence commanded the attention of everyone there, and his body language suggested he was enjoying it. Though his facial features were hidden behind the mask of linen they could feel his gaze fall on each of them and then it stopped on the table.

"…sake" a rasping voice grated from below the bandages and sent a shiver down the ninja's spine. It conjured images of rattlesnakes or a blade being sharpened. It was hungry; there was a longing in it for more than the half empty bottle of booze on the table.

The leader swallowed hard and stepped out from the cover of the veranda, the heavy downpour instantly soaked him and lightning crackled through the darkening clouds. "Who are you and what do you want in this village?" He actually sounded braver than he felt. Everything about this man's appearance put him on edge but the stranger had to leave, it was his only priority. This bandaged freak was a portent of death. It was like seeing a shinigami.

The stranger suddenly flinched and turned his head quickly from left to right, almost like he was scanning the village for something. He'd gone from being perfectly in control to shock and even fear in a couple of seconds. It was only fleeting though; the icy calm demeanour returned and the bandages soaked and clung to his face, giving an outline of a nose. "I thought I made it quite clear what I want" the voice rasped again "this village doesn't have much else to offer".

Yoshimitsu scowled and lifted the kunai in his hand "just who are you?" The blade quivered once but steadied quickly. Exhaling slowly he levelled the knife with the bandages on the man's neck. He tensed the muscles in his legs. There was a creak behind him which told him support was close to hand.

The bandaged man shrugged, if he had noticed the preparations he showed no sign of it. "My reputation doesn't precede me here? I must say that is refreshing" the pressure in the air built "not as refreshing as a glass of sake though. So get outta my way" The final words had a bite to them, a venom.

The strain seemed to be reaching breaking point, it was too much for Yoshimitsu. Before him stood an unknown factor, he'd seen his village wiped out by a platoon of ninja and this lone man scared him more. He quickly lowered his trembling kunai before his fear became apparent.

The stranger slid past him, up the step and came to a stop at the rickety table. He picked up the bottle of sake and looked around at the ninja once, before lifting the bottle and tilting his head back. The movement whilst not aggressive was fast and graceful, it was over nearly as soon as it began and left Yoshimitsu staring at the empty space the stranger had once occupied.

The rest stared at him mutely as he poured the sake directly through the bandages and gulped down the remainder of the bottle. He didn't seem human. The bandages didn't appear to hinder his movement or senses. They were like a second skin.

A harsh sigh of satisfaction escaped from the bandaged man and he firmly placed the bottle back on the table with a clink. He started tracing the outline of the bottle with a long finger from his left hand. The ninja all noticed his right picking at the hem of his parka pocket.

"So it looks like you have a bandit problem in this village" The stranger observed as if it had only just occurred to him "that's an area I happen to specialised in" There was a sinister aura emanating from him and the silent ninja tensed unconsciously. The Bandaged man let out a guttural chuckle, seemingly finding their anxiety amusing.

Yoshimitsu regained his nerve and turned from where the strangers menacing aura had frozen him, the rain still hurled down around him. "We had a bandit problem. You're too late." His voice was bitter, the memories of raid clear and painful in his head. "So we have no need for a mercenary, you better move on…" He finished nervously, fearing that he had not handled the situation well.

The Bandaged man's menace only intensified and the air took on the smell of freshly spilled blood, the team leader unconsciously checked his chakra system for genjutsu but it came back clean. 'How is he doing this to us?'

"How am I supposed to pay for my sake, if you have no work for me?" the hoarse voice spoke again, breaking the leader from his reverie, The Bandaged man shifted his right foot half an inch. The other ninja stood quickly and placed hands on their respective weapons! The temperature had dropped and the air, the entire atmosphere, filled with a dense malice. This man was dangerous! A murderer! All their instincts told them to run but they dared not turn their back on him.

The bandaged man ran his left hand over the mess of tobacco and spilled sake that covered the table top, before planting it in a clear space and leaning heavily on the surface. His other hand had vanished into his pocket and the ninja knew that it was curled around a weapon. Once again the bandaged head seemed to scan the surrounding village as if it could see the desolation.

"You guys are gonna make a dishonest man out of me…" the voice rasped again. "You see I have my pride; you have kindly let me drink your sake. How can I repay this kindness?" The voice was ramping up, building with the tension and the ninja didn't like where it seemed to be going. "I don't have the money to pay for such a fine, luxurious refreshment and now you tell me I cannot provide a service? My honour…"

The hand on the table started to slowly curl into a fist. The bandaged fingers gouged four distinct trails into the table.

The leader's eyes widened 'All this over sake? This guy's insane'! He thought and he stepped into the cover of the veranda hands spread placating "don't worry about that, we don't need anything." He was pleading "Just let us be, you can stay in the village if you want just…" he tailed off.

He knew and he knew his team did as well, this stranger; this 'man' could kill them without breaking a sweat. Even if the numbers were in his teams favour he still didn't want a fight to break out. Not with this bandaged freak. It was the blank face. No sign of emotion, it dehumanised this man. The blank bandages made him seem capable anything.

The stranger's shoulders sagged "how kind of you." The menace in the tone had vanished and been replaced with a monotonous boredom. The veranda suddenly seemed airy as the claustrophobic weight lifted and the lanterns brightened again. The lead ninja breathed a silent sigh of relief, the situation seemed defused.

The stranger was quite obviously psychotic though and the sooner the team got out of there the better.

He signalled his men with a wave of his hand and the started to gather there scant possessions quickly. It didn't take long and without another word they began trudging through the rain towards the eastern side of the village, fighting the urge to run in case a swift movement triggered another mercurial mood change in this stranger. The team dared not look back at the ominous figure that still leant against the table, shoulders hunched and the right hand still thrust into the parka pocket.


The bandaged man waited until they had left the village by the eastern gate before releasing a shuddering sigh. Too close, it's getting harder to control. He pulled his other hand out of his coat pocket and coolly observed the shaking appendage before lowering it onto the table. I nearly killed them, for no reason… I still could… The darker half of psyche mused.

It was at this point he appropriately noticed amongst the mess on the table that one of the ninja had forgotten a kunai; it was standing point first in table just behind the sake bottle. He reached over and ran his index finger over the ring on the handle…

His hand clenched suddenly around the knife, yanking it from the table. Wrestling with his bloodthirsty urges but finding he was spinning away from the table, parka flaring dramatically, and taking a single measured step towards the retreating ninja…

With great effort The Bandaged Man dropped to his knees, releasing the abandoned weapon into the grit and rain water before clutching at his bandaged face…

"What are you waiting for?"

The Bandaged Man cast around looking for the voice, he'd heard it earlier when he'd been asking for sake. Moulding his chakra into the gusts around him he used the winds to search for the source of the voice. It was a clever bit of wind style he was particularly proud of as he wasn't naturally a sensor type.

Nothing. He started to panic but a wave of calm washed over him suddenly, the mystery of the disembodied voice had started to bore him. There was a slight nagging in the back of his mind though; it seemed to be trying to highlight the importance of the voice. The Bandaged Man just waved it away "Ssshhh Ssh" he said aloud his scratching voice softened a bit becoming sing-song and childish.

His left hand came up and stroked his chin thoughtfully. He tugged a little at the linen around his mouth and got to his feet again. What was all this worry about? Oh yes! He was bored. He walked out the village absently. He was humming merrily again.


A few hours and miles away from the village Yoshimitsu allowed a small sigh of relief out. He'd doubted the maniac would let them leave so easily. The freak had seemed indecisive, conflicted even. His intense bloodlust had been palpable but something had seemed to temper it in the final exchange.

Yoshimitsu turned to his haggard looking team, they hadn't slept since that patrol and it was evident in their eyes. They needed to get out of this rain and get some sleep, then Yoshimitsu would think of a plan. He would come up with something and they would be alright.

"Come on guys, let's find some shelter and then we'll set up camp" They had come to a wide open field, it's earth had been previously baked by the sun and now the rain ran down the slight slope of the terrain forming a thin layer of greasy mud that settled on top of the rock solid earth. It made for treacherous footing and they had all had their fair share of falls. Through the heavy rain a forest loomed up in front of them, it looked welcoming and dry in comparison and they picked up the pace as much as their tired limbs would let them.

Yoshimitsu turned to face the forest again and trudged towards it hopefully. A short shriek broke the patter of rainfall.

Yoshimitsu span and saw one of his team had slipped again. "Come on Rei, don't be so melodramatic"

Blood mixed with mud and Yoshimitsu now saw the kunai in Rei's kidney. He quickly drew a kunai of his own and signalled for the team to form a defensive perimeter. Before they could gather a razor sharp blast of wind sped across the field causing them to scatter.

Rolling through the mud Yoshimitsu, locked his gaze onto were the attack had come from. In his peripheral he saw Chikao do the same and they both sprang towards it, they crisscrossed evasively before Chikao leapt to attack from above and Yoshimitsu straightened into a full frontal assault…

There was no one there. The two friends locked eyes briefly, the worry was clear. Dashing back towards their genin team, they were relieved to see the other two standing in their defensive positions still.

Suddenly the one on the left had his feet dragged out from under him by a Kusarigama, instead of just tugging him down though it sliced cleanly through the shin bone. He fell screaming in agony. Blood mixed with the mud again.

'Where the fuck did that come from!?' Yoshimitsu panicked, the other genin made to run to them but the Kusarigama came out of nowhere again and cleanly bisected him from shoulder to waist. The top half of him slid slowly off the lower half and both feel heavily into the muck.

Yoshimitsu and Chikao were frozen in horror. They tried to comprehend the scene but it all seemed like some sick joke. Their village, their families and now their team? A maniacal chuckle originated from behind them. "heh heh heh, oopss"

They turned slowly but the evil in that laughter had already told them who it was.

The Bandaged Man stood in the rain, the Kusarigama chain held slackly in his right hand, the scythe part lying inattentively in the mud. He had a bandaged hand on his stomach and was bent double with wicked laughter.

Yoshimitsu lifted his kunai at the monster. "Why!?" he screamed into the downpour.

The murderer snapped upright, his laughter fading in an instant. The chain was slowly whipped into action until it was spinning in lazy circles. The wind chakra edge of the scythe sliced through the air, it thrummed melodically

"Why not?"