Chapter 7 The accident.
At the morning, the girls are now training with the upper level Toji. Well, Hiyori is sparring with Naruto to be exact. Naruto now dodging rapid strike from Hiyori. Naruto then said "Hiyori. Are you sure you don't want to have other fighting alongside you?"
"No I need to do this by myself." Said Hiyori. Naruto then chop her on the head and said
"That a minus point for you there. Fighting Adarama need teamwork. If you fought someone at the Elite Guard or even Yukari level alone then you'll get kill."
Hiyori starts to speed up and hit him but Naruto just dodge and said "This is another thing too. You have to keep a close eye on your opponent, analyze them and find their weak point." Naruto goes behind her and push her with his palm.
"That's enough." Said the instructor as they stop. She then said "You're all decent enough on your own, but together, you're hopeless."
"If you command the team timidly, it'll not function. You can see through things, so have confidence in yourself." Said an instructor as she helps Mai up
"Okay…" Said Mai
"Now what should we do? Do you wanna go another round?" Asked the instructor
"No I had enough." Said Kaoru
"One more please." Said Sayaka
"Saaya, you're so full of motivation." Said Ellen
"How about you Hiyori? You want another try?" Asked Naruto looking at Hiyori
"Yes. Another tries please." Said Hiyori as she prepares herself
"Um I want to as well Nii-san." Said Kanami as she goes to him.
"Okay then. Remember your two, teamwork." Said Naruto as they continue
Then it starts to get dark. Naruto then said "All right. I guess today training over you two." Naruto looks at the two now panting. Naruto looks at Kanami and said "Kanami you're good but not fast enough." He looks at Hiyori and said "While Hiyori has the speed but not the technique like Kanami. Maybe you two should tries to exchange pointer at each other."
"Okay Nii-san." "I understand." Said the two.
"Good dismiss." Said Naruto as he goes back. Kaoru lying down to the wooden hallway and said
"I'm beat. I need water."
"That's the S Equipment Ellen-chan and Kaoru-chan were wearing before, right?" Asked Kanami as she looking at them. She continues "That kind of equipment didn't exist during my mom time, right?"
"If it did…" Said Hiyori
"You think your mother might not passed away?" Asked Richard as he appears
"Friedman." Said Hiyori
"Though they can use 'Utsushi' and 'Jin'I', Toji are still just girls. The number of Toji saved by this technology will increase. That's not the only benefit of the netherworld technology. The world as we know it'll change completely as development progresses. Just like my native country, there're many people who think they want this technology, even if they have to enter another person's property. But why did Yukari Origami bring about this technology?" Said Richard
"I can think of two possibilities." Said Naruto as he drank a bottle of water as he appears. He continues "Either Yukari sub-consciousness want to give us a fighting chance or the Adarama want us to use this so we can gather the Noro faster for it."
"Naruto is right. The opponent we're facing now isn't just an ordinary Adarama. She maybe more like a god." Said Richard
Hiyori nodded at that. When she looking at Naruto, she then remembers the letter she read yesterday. Most of the content said that she didn't want her to live the life to avenged her but rather living her life like a normal girl. She couldn't help but blushed at the certain word in the letter.
"I entrust your safety to Naruto. So try your best to win him over Hiyori-chan~."
Naruto noticed her face and said "Did the weather get to you Hiyori? Here you can drink it." Naruto hands her his water bottle. The girls besides Sayaka saw that blushed as Hiyori said
"Um no thank Naruto. I… I'm okay."
"Okay then I'll take it." Said Kaoru as she took the bottle.
"Hey Kaoru~ No fair." Said Ellen as she tried to took it
"Hey I'm thirsty." Said Kaoru as she keeps it away from Ellen.
"If you that thirsty, I could get another bottle if you like." Said Naruto
"I think that will beat the point Naruto." Said Richard making Naruto looks at him confuse.
At the roadway, Sana loading the tube that contain the Noro from Yomi. Sana said "All right, I guess I have to bring it to the Academy then."
"All right. Be careful." Said Akane as she bid her goodbye
At Yukari Origami, her closed eye open and said "I found you. Akane."
The next day came by, now is Naruto vs the 6 of them. Naruto just dodge rapidly as they continue to strike him. Naruto then suddenly sense Kanami sword close to him and bring his finger up to hold it. Hiyori charge at him then let go of the sword and flip behind Hiyori making her crash to Kanami. Naruto dashes to Mai but then Sayaka speed up to meet him but Naruto just go behind Mai and push her at the Sayaka path making them crash. Ellen then engaging him in Ken and Taijutsu while Kaoru takes that chance to strike him but Naruto then do a Juujutsu throw Ellen to Kaoru. Naruto then said "Well I guess you're starting to work together, but you have to pay attention to your teammate as well."
"This boss level…" Said Kaoru exhaust frustrated
"He's as strong as ever huh?" Said Ellen laughing tiredly
"Even with all 6 of us…" Said Mai start to stand up with Sayaka
"He's like a war veteran." Said Hiyori as she also stands up
"But we still can't make him draw his sword." Said Kanami whining
"If you want me to draw, then you all have to try harder." Said Naruto smiling
"Don't worry. Your coordination still has some weak spot and your teamwork still a little lacking, but you've gotten pretty good." Said the blue hair instructor
"Huh? Is she actually praising us?" Asked Kanami
"She most certainly is." Said Ellen
"Praise from Takako is rare." Said Kaoru
"Yay~" Said Kanami
"Don't get cocky. You still haven't managed to get Naruto draw his sword yet." Said Takato
"Yes~ ma'am." Said Kanami as she sheaths her sword.
"Ah, bath time." Said Kaoru. Naruto then notice Mai face and said
"Mai come with me for a moment." Mai was confused at that but nodded.
After they go to a pond nearby Naruto said "So what with the face?"
"I… Kanami truly is strong right Naruto-san?" Asked Mai
"What brought this up?" Asked Naruto
"Well… After so many things happened, Kanami-chan still able to fight through. But me…" Said Mai
"Haiz… You can't find a reason for you to fight right?" Asked Naruto. Mai nodded at that. Naruto then said "Well Mai, do you treasure Kanami?"
"Y-yes." Said Mai looking at him
"Then what do you think will happen when Kanami go to the battle?" Asked Naruto
"It… It'll be dangerous." Said Mai
"Then do you want to protect her from that?" Asked Naruto
"Yes… Yes I want to protect her." Said Mai
"There you go… Kanami fight to help Hiyori and for her mother, your reason is to protect Kanami? Isn't that good enough?" Asked Naruto smiling.
Mai looks shock at that as she looks down and said "But… Kanami is strong. I… I don't think I can…"
"Each Toji had a different kind of strength. Kanami Kenjutsu is her strong point. You also have one too Mai. You just need to find it." Said Naruto poking at her forehead.
"But…" "Mai, Kanami maybe strong but she still lacks many things. Isn't that why you're by her side, to help her?" Said Naruto. Mai looks down as she starts thinking. Naruto then said "No one is perfect Mai. That why we need people who are close to us to help us that, to fix our weakness."
"MAI-CHAN. Let's go." Call out Kanami
"Think about it Mai. Now go, your friend calling." Said Naruto gesturing her to Kanami. Mai stands up and said
"Naruto-san… Thank you." Mai bows to him and go to Kanami. Naruto stands up and said "Now then, it's time for me to do my business." As he remembers about what he learns from Sana yesterday.
(Flash back)
"Yume Tsubakuro hospital record? Why do you want to know that?" Asked Sana
"I want to know just what kind of disease she had. Before after fighting me, there's some reason why she was clutching her chest." Said Naruto
"Let me guess? You want to save her? You and your heroic personality." Said Sana sighed
"Could you show me please?" Asked Naruto
"In a minute…" Said Sana as she searching for it in the computer. After a few minutes, she said "Ah there is it."
"What did it say?" Asked Naruto
"Hmm… This is quite a harsh punishment for her. It seems that she was attack by some kind of disease when she was young. This disease is in her blood and we have no idea what this at all is." Said Sana
"Did her parent or even one of the doctor even tried to find a cure for her?" Asked Naruto
"Haiz… The doctor tried many things but they can't seem to find the cause. Her parent on the other hand…" Said Sana
"What? What about her parent?" Asked Naruto holding the tea cup.
"It seems that when they learn about it, they immediately abandon her to her death." Said Sana as she starting to see vein popping on Naruto head
"So… immediately she no longer useful for them, they abandon her just like that…!?" Said Naruto as he crushes the cup with his bare hand
"Haiz… I just bought that brat. But still, like I said, her disease is a complete mystery. The doctor can't cure her if they know nothing about it. And it was then, Yukari Origami approached her and give her the serum. But it only extended her time only. The disease is still killing her slowly from the inside." Said Sana. Naruto just silence at that then Sana continues "So what are you going to do? Knowing you, you won't sit still for this impossible task."
Naruto just stand up at the door and said "There's nothing impossible for me at all. You and them might give up but I won't. I'll rewrite her fate with my own hand." Naruto then go outside and close the door.
(End flash back)
Naruto shakes his head at that then he opens the gate to the Netherworld and go inside it.
Meanwhile, the girls are now done bathing then Kanami said "It's nosy outside"
"Of course it's. After all, today is the festival." Said Ellen
"Festival?" Asked Kanami
"This village has one twice a year, apparently." Said Kaoru
Kanami surprise at that then turn to Mai and said "Did you hear that Mai-chan? Practice is over and everything, so let's go check it out later."
"Okay, sure." Said Mai
"A festival! This is so exciting!" Said Kanami. She then turns to the clothes basket and said "Eh? My uniform is gone."
"So is mine." Said Mai
"Don't tell me…" Said Hiyori as they look at Nene who was sleeping there. Nene just shaking it head rapidly at that. Ellen then said grinning
"Then… is it Naruto?"
"He isn't the one. Naruto told us that he had something to do so he gone for today." Said Takako as she and the other instructor walk in. She then continues "Your uniforms have been sent to the cleaners. They'll be ready later tonight. In the meantime, here." Takako and the instructor give them the Yukata.
"Wow! Yukata! So refined." Said Ellen
"Did he tell you where did he go?" Asked Kanami
"Saa… When we asked miss Sana, she just said to leave him be." Said Takao
"Now… Professor Friedman prepared these for you." Said the instructor.
"He said you should wear these and go enjoy the festival." Said Takako
"That's my grandpa for you! He's so understanding." Said Ellen
As the girls change, Nene had been covered with the basket. Kanami then said "Wow, it's the perfect size."
"How did that old man figure that out?" Asked Kaori annoyed
"That's my grandpa for you." Said Ellen
"Hiyori-chan you should change too." Said Kanami
"This isn't the time for such frivolity." Said Hiyori
"It's a festival! If we can't celebrate today, then when will we ever get to? C'mon, put it on." Said Kanami as she got closer to Hiyori.
After she changed, Kanami said "It's look good on you Hiyori-chan."
Hiyori starts to walk to the exit as she turns back to the confuse group and said "Aren't we going to the festival?"
"… Yeah! Let's go." Said Kanami
The festival is like the normal one in the city. They quite enjoy it then evening came. Kaoru then said "Ellen, it's about time."
"You're right." Said Ellen. As they got to the entrance of a Toori gate, Ellen said "There's something we want you all to see."
"What's that?" Asked Hiyori
"My grandpa wishes to invite you to the main event for today's festival." Said Ellen as they walk up the stair.
"Main event?" Asked Kanami. She then she a bonfire and said ""It's so beautiful."
"I found you, Hiyori-chan and Kanami-chan." Said Rui as she walking toward them.
"Rui-san?!" Said Kanami
"How are you two doing?" Asked Rui
"What about you? Were you all right after everything that happened?" Asked Kanami worried
"Of course, she wasn't." Said Kaoru
"Ruippe was apparently arrested, as a suspect in the assault on Yukari Origami." Said Ellen
Kanami turns to Rui worried as Hiyori looks guilty and Kanami said "So then that was because we intruded on you…"
"Don't worry about it. President Hashima pulled some strings, and I was released immediately." Said Rui
"So that's what happened." Said Kanami
"You're Mai-chan right? And Sayaka-chan, it's been a while." Said Rui looking at the both of them.
"Do you know her too, Sayaka-chan?" Asked Mai turning to Sayaka
"I attacked her home." Said Sayaka
"Huh?!" Said Mai in shock
"Now, let's go then, shall we? You've been invited, right? All of you, by FineMan." Said Rui
They then go to the event as they watch it. Takako and the instructor from before Satomi are in the performance as well. The priest then bows to the shintai and Kanami said "That's a shintai? I wonder what's in it?"
"It's noro." Said Richard appears beside Kanami.
"There's still noro that the Origami family hasn't collected?" Asked Hiyori
"Surprised? There aren't as many as there used to be, but there are still shrine in this country that worship noro like this." Said Rui
"Worship?" Asked Kanami
"Yes, they worship it politely and respectfully. Do you know how noro was created to begin with, Kanami-kun?" Asked Richard
"Um…"
"While refining the tamahagane steel used to forge okatana, noro is separated out as an impurity." Said Mai
"You're very good, Mai-kun. Noro that is separated from tamahagane steel, which has the power to become an okatana, has almost the same divinity as the okatana itself. Even with the technology we have today, we can't erase it." Said Richard
"But we were told that if it's left alone, it's turn into an Adarama, and that's why the Origami family manages it." Said Kanami
"And that's incorrect." Said Richard
"Huh?" Kanami raising her voice making the audience look at her. Richard then said
"Let's try continuing this somewhere else." Said Richard as they move to another location. "Noro was once worshipped in shrines like this all over the country. We start managing the collection of it as we do now around the end of the Meiji period. The government at the time wanted to reduce the number of shrines primarily for economic reasons, and so they were consolidated together. And as the result, the noro was turned into what we called Adarama. In order to prevent that, the Origami family at the time strictly managed the amount of noro. However, as the signs of an oncoming war intensified, voices calling for military use of noro increased and the restrictions were removed." Explained Richard
"For military use?" Asked Hiyori
"The sought to amplify the divinity of the noro… In short, its power to interfere with the netherworld that, until then, had only been expressly permitted for you Toji to use in battle. After the war, the collection of noro was accelerated as the United State Army joined the study. Officially, they said that it was safer to gather the dangerous noro in one place and manage it that way rather than dispersing it and they began gathering noro all across Japan. But there were unforeseen consequences. The more noro gather together, the more it acquired intelligence." Said Richard
"Then that mean if you gather lots of noro, you can create an intelligent Adarama?" Asked Kanami
"To put it simply, that is what happens. Currently, the Origami family has stockpiled a vast amount of noro, more than has ever been in one place before." Said Richard
"That why you believe Princess Tagitsu is god-like…" Said Hiyori
"That's not the only problem… If that massive amount of noro is stimulated by something and becomes an Adarama- no, a great Adarama, there's no way we could control it." Said Rui
"Then the Great Disaster will be repeated again." Said Richard
"What do you mean?" Asked Hiyori
"That disaster is an accident that happened as a result of trying to transport a fully-loaded tanker of noro to the United States. Noro is the victim of that, so the only thing we could do to atone it that to enshrine it and let it rest peacefully." Said Richard
"So all the thing we did?" Asked Mai
"No. Toji purified the Noro that became an Adarama. That save people's live. But…" Said Rui
"The first Toji is a miko. So you have to take a proper duties of the shrine maiden, rather than just defeating Adarama." Said Richard
Done. Please PM or Review
