I do not own Naruto
If only I could type as fast as I write
Chapter 10
There were many reasons people hired missing nin. Some clients couldn't contact the legitimate ninja because they too were on the shady side of the law. Others used nuke-nin because they knew the hidden villages would refuse their requests. Then there were those who intended to work against the village shinobi. The last major group simply didn't want the hidden villages prying into their business.
Most missing ninja were highly independent, but that didn't mean they were isolated. Their elite community kept in touch through the flow of information. It came in many forms. Not all of it was vital; ninja were notorious gossips. Then there was the important news, like the movement of hunters. They also spread word of available jobs to each other. This was the current issue.
Hiraku turned his attention from the scroll in front of him to his companion. "What do you think?" he asked.
The former grass nin was not exactly jumping for joy as he read. What the demon vessel could read of the other's expression assured him he had made the right choice in proposing a partnership.
Akira crumpled the paper, eyes hard as he looked up. "I don't prey on innocent children," he hissed. "No matter who their parents are." He was surprised when the Kazama offered him a look of approval. The brunette had the feeling he had just passed some sort of test.
"I completely agree," Hiraku assured him. "This does bring up another opportunity however."
"Oh?"
"The child needs protection. Why don't we offer it?"
Akira took a moment to consider the younger man's proposal. "It has potential," he admitted. "But," light green eyes flicked to the nearby trees as he drew his weapons. "That will have to wait."
The two missing nin slipped into defensive stances as a hunter emerged from the woods. He was from hidden grass; it didn't take a genius to determine his purpose. Hiraku knew the shinobi wasn't alone. He could sense the presence of at least three others.
The presence of the grass nin was not Akira's only problem. He wasn't quite sure how his partner would react to the situation.
"Akira Dokuzo," the hunter stated in an emotionless voice. "You are guilty of treason. The punishment is death."
The brunette need not have worried. As he prepared to defend himself Hiraku sneered. "Treason in this case being a refusal to die for the actions of another. Not to mention fighting back when his village betrayed him. The jinchurikki understood this better than anyone.
The hunter's gaze transferred to Hiraku. "Grass has no quarrel with you. Walk away," he advised.
Violet eyes glittered. "Aah, but that is a problem." Pearly white fangs flashed as the demon vessel flexed his claws. "Dokuzo is my partner," he informed him. "That makes his problems mine."
"So be it," he grass nin spat.
A hail of kunai was flung from the surrounding foliage. Akira raised his daggers to deflect them. He needn't have bothered. They did not make it that far.
The shapeshifter's hands flashed through the seals of a defensive air technique. "Autumn gale no jutsu," he intoned. A powerful gust of wind ripped around him, sending the enemy weapons hopelessly off course.
The two nuke-nin moved back to back as the other four hunters showed themselves. Hiraku didn't waste any time in calling his own weapon. "Summoning no jutsu: Akaikaze," he whispered. A curved blade appeared in his right hand, released from its tattoo.
Hiraku's scimitar clashed against a hunter's katana as he guarded his partner's back. A swift kick to his opponent's ribs gained the young shinobi a little breathing room.
Meanwhile another of the hunters had taken one of Akira's daggers through the shoulder. The wound itself wasn't that bad, but the ninja had already begun to stagger from the poison. He was already dead; he just didn't know it.
Violet orbs meet green and with a look of perfect accord the pair switched from defense to offense. The heir of the fallen Dokuzo clan slipped his blades into his clothing as he prepared a genjutsu. Hands flashed through the seals with blinding speed, "Dragon fear no jutsu."
Behind their masks two of the hunters froze, petrified by the mirage that had appeared before them. Hiraku shot forward, Akaikaze neatly beheading one of the enemy ninja.
The second hunter snapped out of it just in time. He spun away from the scimitar, escaping with nothing but a shallow gash across his chest. The ninja didn't get far. The grass beneath his feet seemingly came to life, the illusion holding him immobile. Another dagger quickly ended his existence.
The hunter Akira had poisoned was already down. That made the fight two on two.
A rumble from below warned Hiraku of the enemy's next move. A handful of rock spikes exploded from the ground, piercing the log the shapeshifter had replaced himself with.
Akira dodged a mouthful of mud, meant to pin him down. The shinobi's breath had quickened, the result of pulling off two high level techniques in quick succession. Unfortunately, he almost missed the throwing stars that followed it. Blood dripped down his arm where one of the projectiles had clipped him.
The two remaining hunters immediately charged their target, determined to take him down. They didn't make it to their goal.
Hiraku dropped in front of his partner, barring the grass nins way. The enemy was a mere ten feet away when the shapeshifter called upon the ability that gave Akaikaze its name.
"Crimson Blades!" the nuke-nin's scimitar took on an eerie red glow as he swung. Crescents of energy cut through the air, hitting the hunters head on.
The two grass nin collapsed in a broken heap. Pools of red liquid formed around them as the life drained from their veins. The battle was over.
ftaftaftaftafta
Akira stared as the younger man examined his wound without any trace of discomfort. Wordlessly Hiraku held out a bandage.
The brunette had been a missing nin for seven years, since he was sixteen. In all that time he had never had a partner. It wasn't because he preferred to work alone. He was Akira Dokuzo, and everyone knew what that meant.
His family didn't have a blood limit per say, but they were all born with certain attributes. The training undergone by all members of the clan was designed to bring their abilities to their full potential. The Dokuzo clan specialized in poisons, as well as other drugs.
Babies were exposed to their first foreign substances while still in the wound. By the time Akira was twelve, he was immune to all but the most deadly of brews. His blood was, quite literally, toxic.
The Dokuzo clan had been shunned, even in their own village. Akira hadn't had any friends as a child. All the kids had shied away from his touch. The adults were no different. They were scared. Even the brunette's jounin sensei had to steel himself before doing something as simple as ruffling his student's hair.
Things didn't change as he got older. No ninja outside his family was willing to get to close. He was left with two choices, get stronger or die. Akira didn't understand why the Kazama was different.
The genjutsu expert accepted the offered cloth. "You've made an enemy today," his voice was probing. "It is not to late to back out.
Hiraku just shrugged as he turned to walk away. "I wouldn't know what to do with myself if someone didn't want me dead. It has," he continued whimsically, "been the one constant in my life." The shapeshifter looked back over his shoulder. "You coming?"
Akira smiled. Yes, Hiraku Kazama was a puzzle. But, it looked like he would have plenty of time to figure him out.
The brunette joined him and the two partners walked away from the battlefield, together.
FtAFtAFtAFtAFtA
Another chapter completed
Hope the fight scene was o-kay
I have overcome my writers block and have the rest of the story outlined
I'll try to update ASAP
Below are some definitions if you're interested
Definitions:
shinobi-ninja
genjutsu-illusion technique
bjuu-tailed demons
ninjutsu-physical with chakra
Hiraku-to begin
taijutsu-hand to hand combat
-kun-person referred to as friend
Kyuubi-nine-tailed demon fox
jinchurikki-power of human sacrifice
Akira-anchor
Akaikaze-red wind
Doku-poison
jutsu-ninja technique
tell me if I missed something