Greetings my loyal readers and followers. Sorry for the delay of updates. Other priorities have been getting in my way. Thank you for your patience. I am proud to present the next chapter in the legends of the land of fire!
Previously, with the others currently preoccupied with the chunin selection exams, this had allowed a certain boy genius to roam about as he pleased. While he was sharing stories of the past with Asuma and Kurenai, one of the hokage's aides had arrived informing him that he was requested to report to the hokage's mansion immediately. Once there, he found that he was to be given a B-rank mission. Apparently, a group of unidentified machines were running rampant in the neighboring village of shuchiru. The hokage has sent some of the best ninja he had on hand whom were not occupied with the exams. Unfortunately, the steel that comprised the monstrous machines was too thick for the ninja's jutsu to break through. And even if they did manage to bring down one or two of the machines, the ninja were taken out by the same group who's been giving him and the others grief. As the hokage pulled out a piece of parchment with an elaborate drawing of the pirates' symbol on it, he knew what was coming next. Dexter's mission was to travel to shuchiru village with two others, find the leading cause of the machines, and strike them down. He didn't hesitate once in accepting the mission. Later on, he had met up with a traveler by the name of Jack, and kakashi hatake, leader of team seven. The three had arrived anout asn hour later and immediately began to dispose of the pirates' mechs without much trouble at all.
After driving them off, the three had met with the village chief and his daughter whom had seem to enjoy pestering Dexter. During his investigation of the discarded and destroyed robot parts, Dexter was confronted by a mech that was different than the spider types he had encountered earlier. A mech named the Black Knight piloted by a anthropomorphic rat girl named Penelope. Like Dexter, she was an inventor who had shown a lot of promise. Can Dexter defeat this mech and add it to the junk pile with the rest, or will it be he who gets sent to the scrap heap instead? The story continues today in….
Chapter 13:Dexter VS. The Black Knight
The screen zooms in once again on the pirates' base hidden behind the waterfall in the final valley. The base seemed like it was going under the final steps of completion of it's structure. Even though it was built rather hastily to get an early foothold in the ninja world, business has been a bit shaky, but manageable all the same. Yet, there was still the matter of the blacklisted heroes that was requested by their leader for some unknown reason.
Rose had arrived into the laboratory to find that Demona and Sonya was watching the events transpiring in shuchiru on a flat-screen. They seemed to be engrossed in the program waiting for the part where the goody-goody gets crushed. But, just as they were enjoying themselves.
"Hey! What do you two think you're doing?" Rose asked cutting their attention away from the TV.
"Oh, hey thorn. Sonya said cheerfully. Pull up a chair. It's about to-.
"Aren't you two supposed to be working? She asked quickly cutting her off.
"Aren't you?" Demona asked.
"You two are supposed to be on lookout for any ninja who might find this place out. Not wasting your time in front of the t.v. screen! Rose stated.
Oh please, not one of those masked clowns have even gotten close to its location. Let alone find it. What makes you think that anyone will find this place?"Demona asked while still watching the television.
"I don't think I need to remind you, but this base was built on the borderline of two hidden villages. And fairly large ones at that. It wouldn't surprise me if someone had- hey wait, is that..Dexter?" Rose asked suddenly directing her attention to the t.v. as well.
"Yep. The four-eyed brat as well as two others came to the village and started busting up mechs like it was nobody's business. Demona said with a snarl. Those parts aren't exactly easy to come by. But not to worry. We have just the thing to deal with this nerd.
"And that would be what-?" Rose replied.
"Just look at the screen." Sonya said motioning towards Penelope and her black knight mech.
"Well, I guess I can watch for a few minutes.." Rose said as she had found herself watching the program with full attention as well.
Meanwhile, the boy genius was locked in a stare-down with the machine standing in front of him.
The mech Dexter confronted had two legs instead of six. It was designed as a warrior type battle mech and it was covered in black and gold hence the name it was given. It had metal adaptions that looked like armor. On its back was a metallic sheath holding a sword that was designed to cut through almost any type of matter.
"Hello, boy genius." Penelope spoke through the robot's voice. The mech had made her voice sound deeper than it usually did.
"Hmm, finally got tired of the spider design did you? Dexter asked. Oh well, makes no difference to me. I'll send this one to the scrap heap like all the other-. Dexter began as he had proceeded to perform a transmutation, but before he could get the chance, the black knight had run up to him and sucker punched him in the gut sending him flying back a few paces. He had struggled a bit to get up as he had held the spot he was hit.
"I know what your alchemy can do. But do you think I'd just stand by and let you destroy my mech without fighting back?" The black knight asked.
"Ugh…clever aren't you? Dexter asked forcing a grin. But, let see how you fair when I even the playing field!" Dexter said as he had pushed a button on the left strap of his backpack once again activating the dodge ball mech.
"A portable mech? Impressive.." The black knight complemented.
"Believe me when I say that you have yet to see anything Dexter said as he pressed a button on the right arm of the mech.
As a compartment had opened up on the mech's back, Dexter had pulled out a wrench made of material similar to the black knight's sword and pointed it at her.
En garde!" He said confidently. The black knight only responded by pulling out her sword from its sheath and gave it one practice swing. After a few moments of tense silence, the two mech pilots charged at each other with the weapons ready to strike. In a loud clang that reverberated throughout the entire village, the two weapons had clashed. They immediately tried to get the upper hand over the other. But it had seemed like it was a stalemate right now. Seeking to end things fast, Dexter had released one hand from the wrench and had tried to punch the knight in the gut. She dodged the punch, but this allowed Dexter to attack with his wrench. As the weapon had hit the head of the warrior-type mech, she felt her brain rattle about from the loud ring that sounded in the machine. She felt a bit disoriented after that strike, but she quickly shook it off and then had activated rocket jets installed in the back of the mech. Using the boost from the rockets, she had quickly charged after Dexter swinging down her sword effectively leaving a cut mark on his wrench.
Dexter had tried to retaliate by swinging his wrench seconds after the black knight had struck, but she had gave herself a boost into the air using the same rockets avoiding his attack. The black knight mech was now airborne.
'Hey, that's no fair! I've haven't had time to install Ariel capabilities into mine!" Dexter protested.
"Eh, you win some, you lose some. In this case you!" The black knight retorted as she had came down with her sword raised ready to slice the boy genius again. Dexter had dodged the sword swing by jumping back a few meters.
"If that's how it's going to be, then try this!" Dexter said as he held out his left palm firing a succession of heated dodge ball projectiles. But they were rendered useless as the black knight had raised an energy bubble to block off the incoming attack. Seeing as a long-range attack wouldn't work, it was time for another close encounter. As Dexter prepared to attack once again, the cylinder like devices on the arms had pooped up revealing a container containing a light blue colored power source. After five seconds, Dexter had charged again, but this time he was faster than he was earlier and had knocked back the black knight with a hard swing from his wrench. Dexter decided to not give the knight any ground as he had begun attacking relentlessly showing no signs of letting up. Penelope was becoming tired constantly staying in the defensive. So, when Dexter had readied for another strike, she had clenched her robotic fist as It had charged with electricity and had socked Dexter square across the face causing some sparks to disperse before knocking him away with a left hook. Dexter was slightly dizzy after the strike, but had shaken it off as she had charged for another attack. Dexter attempted to block with his wrench, but instead of aiming for a fatal blow, she had sliced off one of the hands on Dexter's suit forcing him to hold on to the wrench one-handed.
"Gah! My mech! Dexter shouted as he watched the socket where his robotic hand used to be give off electrical discharges. When the black knight attacked again, Dexter had forced the wrench up into the air for another strike. Unfortunately, it proved useless as she had slashed off half of the other functioning arm. Without anything to hold on to it, Dexter's wrench had fell to the ground with a loud CLANG! With no defenses left, the black knight had grabbed Dexter's face and had activated the booster's in its back flying high into the air with Dexter in tow. When she was high enough, she had stopped and had raised Dexter into the air before tossing him downward sending him hurdling towards the earth below.
As Dexter made his decent, he opened his left eye to see that the black knight was giving chase. The knight's fist had reared back before punching Dexter in the stomach making him spit up blood. Seconds later, the crashed into the ground creating a medium-sized crater. As the dust cleared, it revealed the black knight was standing over the crater with Dexter lying in the center barely conscious. He found that his mechs limbs were no longer functioning properly. He tried to move, but it was no use. The Black knight had stepped into the crater and hoisted him up by the collar making it a bit hard to breath.
"Hmm, I don't see what all the fuss was about. It was almost too easy to take you down." The black knight said while strangling Dexter. In any case, I guess it doesn't matter so long as I get my reward. But the victory was cut short when Dexter had grew a smirk across his face.
"Don't be too sure of yourself." Dexter smirked as he had raised his hands over his head and had clapped them together signaling a transmutation coming on.
"Crud!" She shouted as she had attempted to slash Dexter with her sword. But just as she was bringing it around for the kill, Dexter had halted it with his right hand seconds before he transmuted the sword to nothing but scrap metal. As she looked in shock, Dexter had used his other free hand to transmute the black knight's arm. But this was seemed different than a normal transmutation as the alchemy did not turn the arm into something else, but instead tore it to pieces that would be nearly beyond repair. The black knight stumbled back as she was now without a weapon and an arm.
"AAAGH! You little twerp! Do you know how long this took me to build?!" She shouted in anger.
"Give me a break. I'm sure you can repair it. Provided you find all the pieces to it that is." Dexter said with a short chuckle before doubling over in pain. He was still having trouble with the damage he had endured earlier on.
"Whatever. I'll only need one arm to deal with you. The black knight retorted. But before I do, answer me this."
"Huh? What is it?" Dexter asked slightly confused. Not really the perfect time to be asking questions in the middle of a fight.
"First off, I must admit that you caught me off guard with that dodge ball mech. I didn't think there was any way to make fighting machines like that portable.
"It was just an idea that came to me one day. Nothing special. Dexter replied. Well, not anymore I guess. He said turning to the ruined mech still lying motionless in the crater. Why?"
"It has come to my attention that genius like ours goes unrecognized often.
"What are you getting at?" Dexter asked.
"You remind me of someone I used to know. She began. He was a genius like you. But his talents were wasted on the simple things such as stealing money and jewels." Penelope growled as certain memories started coming back to her.
But she had dismissed those memories and focused on the situation at hand.
"However, you alone were able to make a space ship that could rip through dimensions and yet your still…
"A kid?" Dexter finished as the blonde rat had nodded inside the mech, but of course dexter couldn't see it at the time.
"Now I know why you have an allias such as boy genius. I have to say I admired what you've accomplish thus far." She stated causing dexter to be a bit taken back.
He never thought that an enemy that was on the same intellectual playing field would be admiring him, especially since she destroyed his mech in a matter of seconds.
"Really now? I wouldn't expect anyone of the pirates would be admiring me. Especially someone like you. ngh…" Dexter said as he clutched the wound that the Mysterious knight inflected on him.
"Your someone who actually uses his genius for something bigger. But you probably don't get too much respect from your team mates did you?" The knight asked as dexter only became a bit more confused.
"Well, I do admit that my team mates do become a bit… unbearabile at times, my friends have never stifled my genius. They helped me rescue my sister from those pirates's control." Dexter explained as a thought went of in the girl's mind.
"So you were the ones responsible for Agent Dee Deestruction's surprise defection right?"
"Her name is deeDee. But enough about that. why are you asking these questions?" Dexter asked now a bit aggravated when the mech had stepped on a touchy field.
"No reason. Though I will say that not the other members of your team seems the least bit interesting, you seem to be a different story. Perhaps I've chosen the wrong side." Penlope spoke to herself while dexter was still trying to hear what she was saying.
"Excuse me? I couldn't quite hear you.." Dexter said as the girl in the mech had regained focus on the battle at hand.
"Oh well, even if you are a genius, I have a mission to complete." She spoke as she raised her sword.
"Crud, I better… GAH!" Dexter winced as he was still in pain from the wounds that the knight inflicted. Taking direct attacks from a mech wasn't good on the genius's body. he wasn't able to move his legs.
"Dang.. I better do something fast!" dexter had quickly used alchemy to summon up a wall of rock and clay. But it wasn't enough to block the black knights sword. It cut straight through the wall and inflicted a large slash wound across the boy genius's chest.
He was knocked into a nearby pile of crates and was now laying there with his glasses slightly broken.
As he struggled to pick himself up the black knight had landed in front of him as the sun reflected of the mechanical armor.
"It's been fun boy genius, but I can't let you interfere with the plans of the amazons!" she declared as she raised the sword and prepaired to bring it down for a final attack.
"Dang it…. Am I actually going to die here?... well, if I am, then at least…. I'll be slain by another genius. Guess the queen beats the king in this one." Dexter sighed as he awaited for the sword to be brought down.
But for some reason the mech couldn't bring the sword down on the young prodigy. It seemed as though she was struggling to finish the job.
"What…what's going on? Why won't my arm move? I should have enough power… but…why can't i…" as the female tech geek hesitated to bring down the sword, it proved to be a fatal mistake as jack and kakashi had finally arrived to the battle scene.
"Wind style: BLADE OF STORMS!" The samurai shouted as he completely cut the mech's blade in two with just one attack.
"What the heck! my sword! I'm gonna!" She shouted before kakashi had soon arrived next.
"LIGHTING BLADE!" Kakashi shouted as he had cut through the robot's remaining arm now leaving the enemy completely disarmed now.
"What the heck? What is it today with everyone smashing my machines?" She complained as she looked at her disarmed mech.
"Someone like you should becareful with machines, they can break easily if there not built sturdy enough." The samurai chuckled.
"Who are you to give lectures about machines?! Tch, forget this, I have no choice but to retrat for now." The girl in the mech had activated the knights remaining rockets and had fled the scene.
"Don't think that this is over boy genius, I'll be back when you don't have ninja protecting you!" she spoke as she had retreated and was soon out of sight.
"Oh no… Dexter." Kakashi had noticed the boy genius lying in the pile of crates heavily wounded but still moving.
"Dexter, are you ok?" Jack asked as dexter was finally able to stand on his feet again.
"Yes yes, I've sustained quite an amount of damage… but nothing a little first aid won't do…"*cough* *cough*
Dexter was obviously in a great deal of pain after the close encounter with the knight.
The genius hadn't had an enemy that could match his genius except mandark. Now that the pirates had a genius on there side, this would only mean that the hero's mission was going to be that much harder.
"Dexter, you shouldn't try to move, you've taken a lot of damage from that fight." Kakashi suggested, but dexter only shook his head in disagreement.
"No, really I'm fine. Besides, I can't really rest now, there's someone out there who can match my intellect. This will only make our misson here harder. I need to start formulating a plan too.. Gah!" Another arrow of pain coursed through dexter as he was now on one knee again.
"You see, your not fine. If you try to move to much now that injury is only going to get worse. You need rest." Jack added as dexter could only sigh.
"I suppose your right. We should probably be getting back to the…
"DEXTER! YOU BEAT THE SCARY MACHINE GUY!" Nabuna cheered as she again latched on to the boy genius's back causing him pain, but not that much.
"Agh.. Dang it nabuna this is no time for a piggy back ride!" Dexter growled as the samurai and the ninja had began chuckling at the young boy.
"Well, seems like the boy genius has made a new friend." Jack chuckled as he watched dexter trying to remove the girl off his back.
"I had no idea you were into the younger types dexter." Kakashi laughed.
"believe me this wasn't planned. She tagged along with me and now I can't get rid of her!" Dexter complained as he continued trying to shake her off. but it was like the girl had glue on her hands as she refused to release her grip of the genius's coat.
(sigh) "Let's just get back to the estate so I can rest, I don't have the energy to be a rodeo right now." Dexter sighed as he had got up on his feet and reluctantly began carrying the girl on his back. it was then the little girl noticed the large cut mark on the boy's jacket
"Dexter…where did you get that large cut? Were you running with a giant pair of sciccors?" The girl asked as dexter only held his head down in annoyance.
"sure, I was running with a giant pair of scissors while I was fighting the robot." Dexter said sarcastically as they continued up the road. As Dexter had went ahead with nabuna still on his back, kakashi and jack had fell behind for a small chat.
"Do you really think it's safe for a boy at such a young age to be on such a dangerous journey?" Jack asked concerned.
"Well, those pirates attempted to take their family's away from them. And it seems like their intent on doing whatever it takes to stop them. I don't think talking them out of it is an option either, some of the other jonin already tried, but there still going for it." Kakashi had chuckled as he went on ahead.
"Having the will to fight at such a young age..perhaps if I had such spirit at such a time, perhaps things would have turned out differently." Jake spoke recalling an old memory. But he had dismissed the thought and had resumed following the three back to the estate.
-a few hours later after some rest and some food, the three were now prepared to leave the village.
Dexter's coat couldn't be repaired until he got back to the hidden leaf so the hole in his jacket was still there. There were bandages around the large cut mark on his chest and he had a few supplies given by the villagers.
"I see, so you're already leaving back for the hidden leaf? Asked Yamatao.
"I'm afraid so. Dexter began. I imagine that the pirates have robots rampaging across the land, so the sooner we find their base, the sooner we can stop those robots in their tracks. And I'm more than certain they'll Be coming back here. So, when that happens, I'd like you to use this. Dexter said as he had handed a remote-control like device to the village chief.
"Huh? What is this?" He asked as he had eyed the device curiously.
"That is a remote control to my hand-made Electro Magnetic Pulse device. Or, E.M.P. For short. This should render all the machinery within a ten-foot mile radius useless. I don't think you'll have to worry about the pirates for a while.
"But, we'll check up on you and your people regularly until we can find a way to permanently dispose of this pirate problem.
"Thank you, Leaf Ninja. Me and my people are in your debt." Yamatao thanked them as he had bowed.
"Wait…they're leaving?" Nabuna asked with a disappointed expression on her face.
"I'm sorry Nabuna, but these ninja have to return to their village. They're needed back home. Yamatao told his daughter.
"But…but I don't want them to leave! She said as he cheeks puffed up. Can't we go to the hidden leaf with them too?" She asked as she had latched on to Dexter's side.
"Guh…hey! That spot is still sore!" Dexter said as he tried to pry her off.
"Maybe when it's safe enough to leave the village, we'll go and visit them. But right now, you'll have to say good-bye. But nabuna had shook her head defiantly refusing to do so. Dexter had let out a sigh before smiling down at the little girl.
"Look, how about this? Before I leave to get rid of the pirates, I promise to come back and visit you, okay? Dexter asked.
"Really? Then make it a pinkie promise!" She said as she had held out her pinkie.
"Fine….Dexter side as he had wrapped his left pinkie around hers completing the pinkie promise." With that, the three began to leave after waving a final good-bye to the villagers. Even though Dexter was bandaged up, he was still mobile enough to move through the trees along with the samurai and leaf shinobi.
"Hmm, I wonder how the others are doing in the chunin exams?" Dexter wondered.
"By this point in time, they should have already made it to the sudden death round." Said Kakashi,
"Sudden Death round?" Dexter asked.
'The final stage of the Chunin Exams. All the teams will have been disbanded by now." Said Kakashi as his gaze narrowed.
"So, that means they'll have to take on each other to make it to the end. Said Dexter with a hint of concern. Well then, it's sure to be rather interesting.
-Meanwhile, back at the Pirates' base, the tv had mysteriously lost reception with suchiru. The transmission was cut just as Penelope was about to deal the final blow to Dexter, and they've been trying to fix it ever since.
"Come on! Haven't you gotten it fixed yet?! Demona snarled getting impatient.
"We're sorry, but we can't seem to get through to any of the surveillance devices set up around the village. Someone must be tampering with them.
"And…that someone is Dexter." Penelope said as she had entered the room in her busted up Black Knight mech.
"What the hell?! What happened?! Demona shouted.
I almost had the little dork, but then a white haired ninja and a samurai had got in my way." Penelope continued as she had jumped out of her mech wiping her brow after being locked in that stuffy suit.
"A white haired ninja and a samurai? What's next? A sword-wielding Demon with dog ears?" Demona asked.
'Don't tempt fate demona. Said Rose. A lot of people gets screwed that way.
'So, now what do we do now? Asked Mina. It will take some time before we can get some more of those battle mechs. I still can't believe three lone people had destroyed all of those at one time. Suddenly, a blaring alarm silence had went off while constantly repeating 'Intruder Alert.'
"Intruders? How?Asked a surprised Mina. Quick, find them and detain them before they-.
"I'm going to go ahead and stop you right there. Said a sinister voice. They turned to see two unfamiliar people had entered the base. Both were males. And somehow, they managed to strike fear into their hearts just by looking at them. After what they've seen the leader of the pirates do, no one else but her was able to make them shake with anxiety. The two were wearing black coats with red clouds imprinted on the sides. The one to the left had the facial features of a shark and had spike blue hair. He had razor sharp teeth and had carried a huge bandaged up sword.
The other seem to be human…But, human was hardly the word to use in his case. He had long raven hair that was tied back by his head band which had the symbol of the leaf village. Except unlike the ususal headband, it had a cut mark across the leaf. His skin was a bit pale and he had seemed to possess the uchiha's Kekkei Genkai, The Sharingan. But unlike sasuke, there were three comma like marks circled around his pupils.
'Who….who the hell are you barging in here like this?" Asked Demona acting unphased.
"We could ask you ladies the same thing. Replied the shark-faced ninja. You lot are walking straight into our territory. We've been sent by our boss to ensure you mind your own business.
"What are you talking about? Asked Rose. Whoever you are, we haven't done anything to interfear with your plans.
'I beg to differ. He replied. If I recall correctly, you came into contact with a certain blond ninja about three days ago.
"Wait, your talking about Naruto aren't you?" Rose asked.
"Heh, bingo! He said with a shark-toothed grin.
'We cannot allow you to take the nine-tails for your own use. The second ninja began. I'm afraid we need it for a more important purpose. Know this, the akutsuki has need for the jinchuriki as well. Should you interfere, I can ensure you that it will be the last thing you do.
"Sounds like you're threatening us. Just what do you need the nine-tails for anyway?" She asked.
" Best that you don't give in to your little curiosities. Wouldn't want to end up losing something important, now would we?" The shark-faced ninja asked.
'And what if we don't wanna back off? What if we decide to get the nine-tails before you even after warning us?" Asked Demona. But, this had only caused the Shark faced ninja to begin to chuckle with glee.
"I was hoping you would ask that." The ninja said as he had dashed at Demona getting ready to strike with his weapon.
Hmm, A ninja with shark-like features and a ninja with red and black eyes. And both of them are claiming to be from a group called the 'akatsuki'. Can anyone guess who they are? While the pirates deal with their new visitors, the next part of the chunin exams begins! Next time on the BSSC….
Chapter 14: Final Stage! Begin the ninja elimination!"