Hey everyone! Didn't manage to dig out enough time to actually finish this sooner, but I just couldn't leave you hanging for New Year's and all ;) Generally December has been a busy month for me in the writing department. I do hope to gain more space and time in 2013, which would allow me to FINALLY get back to the usual pace of updating this fic, along with the other two. For now, I just hope you can coupe with updates going slow ^^'
Not much more to write here, so hope you'll enjoy the newest installment of LotL and find this chapter worth waiting for. The second part of Special Season Update begins:
Chapter #14: Prized Possession
Title Page: Shindo is doing his tree-climbing exercise with hands in his pockets as he walks up the trunk of a Christmas Tree
A sixteen year old boy spun on his foot as he swung the bamboo sword at the training dummy, making hay spray all over the square. In a flash he retreated the weapon and thrust it in the same spot he just hit, piercing through the mannequin as his master slowly walked towards him with hands hidden in the wide sleeves of his robe:
"Very good, Kanbase" the man nodded in approval, making the teen bow his head as well in respectful manner. "I can see you have been training hard these past, few years. I must say that it's hard to imagine a more worthy successor of Akuratsu..."
"You give me too much credit, Homare-sensei" the boy replied with his head still lowered. "I am but a humble swordsman. My skills are far from mastery yet" he added, lifting his blue eyes to gaze at the elderly instructor. The youth's hair was shaved, leaving his bald head to stick out a little, which his attire consisted of a traditional, white robe.
"A man perfects himself all his life, Kanbase" his master announced calmly, eying the boy with his purple eyes. "Never forget that" he said in an ordering tone, receiving a nod from the teen. "Of course there is still the manner of a duel, but I'm confident you shall emerge victorious. Akuratsu has belonged to a samurai for twelve generations now and I trust you will not break that circle..."
"I shall do my best, sensei" the swordsman-in-training promised as the two slowly left the square, heading towards the temple.
Walking up the stairs, Kanbase gazed up, marveling the structure; it didn't matter he saw it everyday these past, few years, it always surprised him: massive, ivory columns welcomed those that reached the top of the long stairways, propping the square, marble roof, decorated with scenes of great battles on the edges. Thick, white walls sported the drawings of big, red dragons, that circled around the windows and corners.
As the duo entered the wide hall, a familiar voice hit the teen, making him instantly smile: "Niisan, niisan, I did it!" a boy, no more then five years of age, announced as he ran over towards the two: "I just completed your training exercise!"
"Training exercise?" Homare repeated, rising his eyebrow as the boy jumped onto Kanbase's back. The young swordsman scratched the back of his head embarrassed as he gave his master an apologizing smile: "I'm sorry, sensei... I've been teaching Futai some kinjutsu" he explained.
"Oh?" the samurai smirked under his nose at the news, giving the child a quick gaze. "And what exercise was it that he managed to complete then?"
"Hitosashi no Nanahoshi!" the boy replied proudly, making the man's eyes widen in surprise: "The Seven Star Dance? At his age? But... it should take years to master..."
"I'm sure he's exaggerating, sensei" Kanbase proclaimed hurriedly, seeing his master's expression. "Besides, I had to simplify the stance a bit, since he had trouble with the first, two stages, so even if he is telling the truth, it's far less amazing then he makes it seem" he added, sending his siblings a suspicious stare as a cocky smile appeared on the youth's face. "Now, with your allowance, I'd like to take my leave" he asked, bowing towards Homare.
The man gave a nod of a greement, watching the duo disappear in the nearest door frame: "Regardless to its form, being able to even come close to mastering Hitosashi no Nanahoshi at this age... quite talented brats indeed" he thought to himself with a smile...
-Few days later-
"Homare-san" the messenger appeared, bowing quickly before the samurai and his young pupil. The warrior nodded his head, allowing the man to continue, which he did a moment later: "Delegation from Kiri has arrived" he announced, making the old swordsman turned to his praised pupil:
"Then the time of your, final challenge has come, Kanbase" he stated before turning to the messenger: "We shall greet them in a moment" he informed, giving a clear sign that the man was free to leave. The messenger bowed again and exited the temple as the two samurai slowly headed for the doors as well.
Entering the square, they saw a trio of shinobi standing in the middle, waiting patiently. The one in center was a hulking, bald man with cold, blue and exposed, muscular chest, decorated with countless scars. Slightly baggy, dark blue pants hid his legs, while a massive, triangular sword hung on his back. His forehead protector was used as a belt.
To his left stood an elder dwarf, who barely reached his bald companion's belt with his height. Having long, gray hair and dropping mustache, he stood, bended forward, covered in a light green robe. He wore his hitae-ate in its rightful place, while a thin katana, three times his height, was horizontally strapped to his back.
The final member of the group was a young boy, barely over sixteen, with spiky, black hair and red eyes. A gray mask covered his mouth, while a vest in the same color was thrown above a black shirt. The teen also sported fingerless gloves and pants ripped on the knees, carrying a saw-like sword with him.
"Aseri-dono, Kuyoutou-san" Homare greeted the two, older swordsmen with a bow, receiving a nod from each as well. His eyes traveled towards the boy beside them, his expression remaining indifferent as he scanned the teen that was unfamiliar to him. "I assume he is the challenger?"
"Yes" the bald one, Kuyoutou, replied in a somewhat disrespectful manner as he kept his arms crossed, looking above the samurai. "This is Shuraba Kyoushi; Mist representative for the Duel..."
"Hold on a minute!" Enkou interrupted the story, snapping Homare back to the present as their group traveled through the forest. Their destination hung in the distance, majestically standing on the cliff of the mountain, awaiting their arrival as the quintet neared its gates. "Kyoushi as in the guy who attacked us?" he asked, receiving a smack on the head from Shindo:
"Well – duh!" he responded in a bored manner. "We did ask to hear about his connection to Homare-san, it should be obvious he'd drift in eventually..."
"Yes" Naruto nodded at his student's comment, keeping hands in his pockets as he walked besides the samurai. "What I don't get is why were they there? As I remember, Fang Country was never allied with Land of Water... frankly, your relations has be hostile for quite some time now..."
"True" Homare agreed, gazing out front. "In a way, the reason for it is what happened later. What you need to know is that Akuratsu is an ancient blade, one of great value. Legend has it that in the time of warring states, there was a group of swordsmen who wielded several katana of that magnitude... that group, supposedly, became what was known as samurai, but some joined the newly formed villages, becoming the first Seven Shinobi Swordsmen..."
"What the hell?" the young Uchiha snapped, rising his voice. "You were all high-and-might about samurai not using dirty tricks like chakra, but in the end you're a descendant of a ninja!" he pointed out, showing off the tiniest bit of satisfaction.
"That's not exactly accurate" Rokku joined the conversation, making all males look over their shoulder as the kunoichi closed their procession. "The warring states period had many mercenaries that lacked in usage of chakra. When shinobi villages were formed, they remained with their clans that began the alliance, becoming members as well. Many, famous ninja families grew from people who gave birth to the samurai institution – Gekkou and Damashi from Konoha are just few examples of such..."
"Quite right" Homare nodded, approving of her knowledge. "Anyway, over the years most swords got broken and Akuratsu is the only blade that remains from that period. But, since it's near impossible to determine whether it rightfully belongs to the samurai or shinobi, the institution of The Duel was formed; once in every generation, the samurai choose a prodigy who will battle the representative of the Seven Swordsmen for the right to wield the blade. Ten years ago, that honor was granted to Kanbase... and Kyoushi..." he announced, lowering his head as the memories struck hard as lighting, making him recall the past mistakes...
-That time, isolated cavern-
Kyoushi gazed at the entrance to the cave just as a familiar figure in a gray jacket appeared in the opening. The ANBU reached for his, oval mask, keeping his body wrapped in a chain as his blood-red eyes settled on the two, missing-nins that patiently awaited his arrival. The cyclopean swordsman send him a glare, visibly annoyed by the recent ordeal, but dared not to comment.
"I believe I've managed to lead the pursuers away, but eventually they'll be back" the man announced in a monotone, showing no trace of emotion on his face. "Assumingly this bought you three-four days tops. I suggest you use that time to get some distance between yourselves and them... I know Sayuri – she will not give up that easily..."
"Yes, well, I'm not going anywhere" Kyoushi responded, crossing his arms, while his eye narrowed.
"You're still on that?" the ANBU rather stated then ask, letting out a sigh. "You do realize that geezer is gonna be surrounded by a legion of samurai now. There is no way the two of you could even reach him, skipping the fact that Leaf jounin is definitely still gonna be there as well..."
"You're wrong" the masked swordsman replied with determination. "The Ritual of Passage is a sacred ceremony... only the selected few will be allowed to even be near the altar at the time. I should know" he proclaimed, sliding his fingers down the scar on his eye. "I can still get what is rightfully mine..."
"I'll never understand why you're so hung up on that sword" the chain wielder proclaimed, putting his mask back on. "You are carrying one of the Mist's Seven blades... it's a much more powerful weapon then that, rusty knife..."
To this Kyoushi didn't respond, merely sending him another glare. Sensing tension, Kougan stepped between the two, bowing towards the their ANBU ally: "Thank you for your assistance, Chuugi-san... I believe we can take it from here."
"Yeah... maybe" the man gave an unsure nod as he headed back to the exit. "But remember my words, Kyoushi – this obsession of yours is what will get you killed... you and the brat" he stated before disappearing.
The teen gave his master a concerned look as well, carefully choosing his next words: "So... what shall we do now, Kyoushi-sensei?" he asked somewhat shyly, but the man didn't even bother to gaze at him as he replied, staring into space: "We prepare for upcoming battle... next time, I'll go all out and kill that old fart along with the blond..."
-a dark premonition!-
And so this chapter's done, along with the first part of Homare's story. Hope you enjoyed it and yes, if one of the Mist Swordsmen (aside from Kyoushi) seemed familiar to you, then I compliment you on your memory – he should ;) For now I'll be keeping that "hush-hush", but generally all mist-nins introduced in this arc will, one way or the other, effect the story... so you might wanna keep an eye on them ;)
I do hope that you enjoyed the chapter and since we're nearing that, magical time of the year (and since I won't be updating LotL before 2013) I'd like to wish you all MERRY CHRISTMAS and A HAPPY NEW YEAR! See you all in 2013 ;)