When they reached Nami Lucifer was beyond disgusted with what he saw. The amount of half starved to death children, the burned down remains of business and hung corpses made his blood boil. Unconsciously his KI, incredibly potent for his age due to his training, was leaking out making it hard to breathe for the people around him. A hard grip on either side of him told him of Sakura and Satsukis trouble breathing forcing him to reign in his KI for their sake but could not stop the trembling rage. "I saved this village from assholes like Kagetoshi from doing this shit last year... I kill one tyrant for a weaselly bastard to take his place.. I will not make that mistake again." His voice had an incredibly dark edge as Tazuna led them toward his home.
"Father! You're safe!" Tsunami latched onto Tazuna and hugged him tightly. She had feared the worst knowing the risk they ran lying about a missions dangers but with next to no money that they could barely afford a C-rank it was their only choice. Spotting the team of ninjas she was surprised by there only being one man. That was until her eyes landed on Lucifer making her eyes widen immensely. Scrambling to let go of her dad she bowed deeply at the waist. "Lucifer-sama, its an honor to be in your presence once more."
"Enough of that Tsunami" Lucifer said waving off the gesture and honorable greeting. "I told everyone when I was here last not to do that shit. I was doing my job then and I am doing my job now. Gato will pay for this and Nami will get back on its feet just like after Kagetoshi." He ignored Kushina and Kakashis questioning glare. "I have to remind you like I did your dad as I will the rest of the village, you aren't contractually allowed to tell them anything about the specifics of what I did under any circumstances. I like you Tsunami since you're a humble conversationalist and I like Nami, its a quaint place when shit lords aren't trying to kill it, so I really rather not have the internal clauses for breach of COS to affect Nami negatively."
Tsunami grimaced remembering just what the young man had done and nodded her head. "I wasn't planning on it. That was bloody business all of Nami would rather forget" she said as she glanced to the side. The whole matter with Kagetoshi was a bitter pill in the mouth of all of Nami that was best left forgotten by their choice.
Kushina huffed and gave Lucifer an impassive glare. The kid was a pain in the ass at every turn. His full skills were classified by the Daimyo. His missions were classified by the Daimyo. Even saying names wouldn't get them anywhere. "Get situated upstairs. We have to scout out the town for threats and figure out a schedule to protect Tazuna while he finishes his bridge" she said crossing her arms under her chest.
"The only who needs situating is Natsumi-san. Sakura, Lucifer-kun and I travel with our supplies in sealing scrolls or sealing tattoos on our bodies" Satsuki said leaning her back against the wall. Sakura joined her and yawned slightly though only Satsuki and Lucifer would recognize it as a small signal.
Kakashi scowled under his mask watching the trio boredly wait for Natsumi to sort out her pack upstairs. Lucifer had stepped up the girls own already progressive training that if they were a little older and more experienced he would safely pin them as all chunin at least. 'Just who are you really Lucifer Morningstar?' he asked with a mental glare. The kid possessed too much skill even for an apprentice to overtake the role of the Daimyos head of security and too much power to be a genin.
Kushina noticed the look on Kakashis face and pulled him aside. "You're thinking the same thing about him I am right" she said without any preamble. Lucifer set off too many red flags and alarms in her mind but he hadn't done anything to prove him a spy or any kind of saboteur. Of course that raised its own red flag despite her husband, the most renowned seal master in the Elemental Nations second only to the level 9 Seal Master in the Capital, telling her and every other jounin ninja suspicious of the genin everything he showed from the Daimyo was legit. The kid was too smart. He was far too fast. He was too strong for even seasoned chunins required to take the jounin exams based off how easily he fought Zabuza. Most importantly possessed too much chakra for his age. "Something is up with him. Remember how you said you saw a ghost talking to him when we left Konoha? I have too and its not pleasant" she said scowling as she kept her voice low.
Kakashi glanced at Kushina and raised an eyebrow. "What kind of ghost?" he asked cautiously.
"A ghost of every sin we committed in fear and blind stupidity" Kushina said with a look that was far too grim. "A ghost that says he knows much more than what he lets on."
Kakashi tensed and grimaced. "My thoughts exactly. We need to keep a closer eye on him" he said as Natsumi came downstairs.
"Tazuna-san do you still possess the village blueprint I used to lay out my systematic dismemberment of that scum den last year?" Lucifer asked as he cracked his neck. He saw Tazuna nod and disappeared for a moment before returning with an architects tube. Taking it from the man he opened it drawing out two sheets. Laying them down one on top of the other he began to cross out marked buildings at seemingly random. "Gather round."
Kakashi looked at the overlaid village blueprints and raised his eyebrow at the marked buildings crossed out. "And this is?" he asked.
"The village layout from the architectural standpoint. I used these blueprints last year when I did a mission or two here. Thats not important though. Every building symbol with an 'X' has been destroyed in some fashion from my observations on the way here. If we want to get any information we would best start here and I suggest sending me or Kakashi to do it" Lucifer said tapping a large building at the center of town. "It used to be a bar but by all accounts of my observations its been turned into a whore house. I saw thugs no doubt employed Gato going in strapped with swords lured in by provocatively dressed women. If Kakashi or I can abduct and interrogate a few thugs we can get a clearer view of just how many thugs Gato employs and potentially where hes based out of. Not saying anything against Sakura, Satsuki or I loathe to say even you Kushina-san since you three can defend yourselves but you let your daughter near there and shes a goner. They'll sniff her out a mile away. Plus if its a guy entering its business as usual. Turn it around and one of you three enters its supect and probable they will try to force you into the same situation, they won't win but they'll try to nonetheless."
Kushina bristled internally at Lucifers words but didn't deny his reasoning. "Kakashi should go in. Hes older so it won't be as fishy as you going in instead" she said.
Sakura and Satsuki scowled at Lucifer feeling a jealous twinge. Even if it was mission related the idea of another hussy touching their Lucifer-kun pissed them off. "I hate to say we agree with her Lucifer-kun but shes right. A hopeless pervert like Kakashi is the type they'd expect to frequent a brothel. If you went in they'd keep an eye on you like a hawk. Kakashi won't raise an eyebrow considering. Plus his experience makes exfil of abducted targets faster and cleaner leaving them none the wiser til its too late. No offense" Satsuki said.
Lucifer scowled. "None taken, they are valid points. Tell us you have a non-identifiable bandana or headband to hide your eye. I don't have to tell you'd jeapordize the mission intel if you walk in with your village headband" he said looking to Kakashi.
Kakashi looked around with a narrow gaze. So he was a pervert. So he read Icha Icha religiously with nary a fuck given about public perception. That DID NOT make him the type of pervert to go to a brothel for a cheap fuck. "I refuse."
"Ok then, lets prep our blonde hopeless case and hope they don't mak-"
"Kakashi you're doing it or so help me I swear I will force Jiraiya to NEVER write that smut you worship ever again" Kushina growled dangerously as her hair floated behind her seperated into nine tail like sections. Seeing the silver haired jounin nod nervously and bolt she forced herself to calm down. "You're an insufferable manipulative ass Lucifer."
"Its a skill every ninja should have honed to a fine edge. Now we wait" Lucifer said unsealing a shogi board from a seal on his wrist once he took a seat. Sakura took a seat opposite him and claimed the white pieces for herself. For the next two hours he and Sakura played an even match matching lost piece for lost piece and promotion for promotion. "Sorry to say Sakura-san but this" he moved his knight "is checkmate."
Sakura narrowly observed the board trying to find a move to save her king but found none. "It seems so Lucifer-kun, I concede another loss to the master" she said rolling her eyes sarcastically but smirked a little. She liked the challenge since Lucifer presented since he was unpredictable unlike Satsuki. "And how many times do Satsu-chan and I have to tell you don't have to be so formal with us? We are friends aren't we?" she asked giving him the misty eyed puppy dog look that most men couldn't resist.
Lucifer groaned internally and reached a hand across the board. "We are but being so familiar is...strange to me considering all my friends at the capital were formal like I am and calling a girl friend an affectionate term meant more than just being friends. I wouldn't want to mislead either of you to think something untrue and end up hurting you two" he said gently wiping the misty edge of Sakuras eyes. He was kicking himself mentally but that was for self loathing later on and for once he was glad to be alone in a room of women, women not including Kushina and Natsumi. "Not when you two mean the world to me already."
Satsuki smiled softly and draped her arms around Lucifers neck. "What if we said the same about you?" she asked quietly as she nuzzled the top of his head. One of her eyes met Sakuras giving her a look to which she received in return a nod. "If this is about not wanting to lead either of us on and end up breaking one of our hearts by choosing one over the other Lucifer-kun..."
"We don't mind sharing" Sakura said leaning across the board between them and kissed him softly for a moment.