Mythical Night
Chapter XXI
In the Knight is a Champion
He wanted to hit something, or someone. He walked back and forth in the huge cave he found below his families old manor when he was younger. He remembered all of the bats flying out at him when he fell down a hole in the ground. He could hit himself for being a coward, terrified of some little rodents with wings, but as a scare tactic goes, there are few creatures to make irrational fear hit home.
However, that isn't really his concern; it's that snake and this seal. Though, pointedly it's also that bastard Kakashi. He's gotten most of his sight back, and other than swearing vengeance on the Green Arrow he was the one to see to that blasted hicky-seal even though he wanted a professional.
All Kakashi did was place another seal over it. It had been a council decision to let Kakashi do it. However, it hadn't taken much time for Sasuke to find a few old books on seals, and quite honestly, he was disappointed by Kakashi's seal, but he expected much more from Orochimaru.
It was quite easy to remove them both, but to realise that snake bastard had implanted a piece of his own soul inside him was gross beyond anything. Then there's the matter of Kakashi wanting to train him more. He had thought about being agreeable, so just to humour him he went along with it at first.
That's when he realized that all Kakashi wanted him to do is use his eyes to copy everything, but he has leant something from his 'fight' with Lee when Naru-chan tricked him into agreeing to no dojutsu. If he just copies everyone else's moves he'll have nothing of his own, and if he ever met Arrow in a fight will become just as useless as Kakashi had. He'll become weak, useless, and untalented. He's seen Sakura, a weak fan girl actually getting strong through hard work, and he doesn't want to be left behind, strewing in his own arrogance.
He also knows that this 'weak' fan girl has been getting strong enough to even wow him. If he doesn't train properly he won't be anything but a stain beneath his enemies' feet.
It had been nice training without Kakashi holding him back while the 'sensei' was in hospital. He hadn't realised how little Kakashi 'teaches' until the 'Cyclops' was gone.
So now Sasuke hides out underground to get some peace from the man. Kakashi keeps showing up and it's annoying the heck out of him, can't he get a clue that Sasuke doesn't like him. He's almost as bad as those fan girls, but at least that's gotten better since half of them have changed fandom's from his to Naruto's.
He looked to the huge silver coloured screen up against one wall, trying not to punch it. It hadn't been easy to get hold of it. Its large and oval shaped with a desk with some bulky metal letter and number keys underneath and a comfortable black leather chair. It hangs by huge brackets and has two smaller screens pointing to the leather chair in front of it either side.
It's a thing called a computer, and if he can, maybe he'll look into improving on it. He was never much of a genius ninja, and even now, compared to his brother, he's just above average, he can admit that to himself at least, but he had always been great at building things. The computer had been hidden in his compound, but the screens had to be acquired.
His family seems to have stolen lots of things that they never bothered to even figure out. However, using his genius how it had always meant to be used, he figured it out. The thick and bulky monitors he had to have built, even though the builders didn't know what they were building.
He had also had things called security cameras. They were in with the computer. It makes life easier as he watched the low definition bronzy coloured images in his house as Kakashi had broken in to find him. It made him furious that this bastard dare enter his home without permission.
Not only does he have to deal with the snake wanting him for some reason, but a lousy 'sensei' trying to force him to waste his time with him. He does have an exam to train for with that snake around and what seems to be the onset of an imminent invasion by Oto.
Sighing, he sat at his desk, pushing aside a few ancient books he had located on many things that someone, or many people invented centuries ago that are no longer used, and long forgotten. He hadn't thought about it before, but radios are barely made, which is why they're so expensive, so he figured he would start with engineering communications. It would make civilian and ninja life so much easier with a large communication network and him richer for it.
Maybe he'll become famous for something other than his blasted dojutsu. It would be nice to get some recognition that he deserves when he wants it. Though, he won't hold his breath or he'll run out of breath and die. Some people can be so fickle, but they're just morons that can't stand a change in the status quo.
He wondered why no one bothered to make more money by making them cheap, selling them cheap and selling millions around the Elemental Countries, and maybe even the world. Though, looking, he doesn't really know whether anybody has any brains any more. However, he has noticed that Naruto Uzumaki is making money. Then he had just noticed that lots of empty buildings in Greyland are being bought up.
A few months ago, Sasuke would have never suspected Naruto, but now, he's the only person in that district smart enough and wealthy enough. It made perfect sense as Sasuke has been buying out some of the empty warehouses in District 11, which is also known as Red Zone for the high levels of prostitution and pimping.
He lives in District 9, which is full of quite the bit of crime since it has some of the richest people, banks, and shop, plus lots of the large buildings next to the Konoha lake harbor are full of smuggling operations so to get hold of a place to park a ship to start shipping out he'll have to get rid of some punks, which is easy enough for 'him'.
The lake leads out into the River of Fire, (not actually on fire, just a fire themed name), which intern leads into the south west ocean. That's probably why they built the village there in the first place. It's protected by land, but has a means to get to the ocean without having to travel over land.
Sasuke took a deep breath as he shook off his business problems and thought back to his slithering fanged problem. He beat himself up over his loss at the hands of that serpent bastard. At least the first settlers seem to have had some brains between them.
He let the dark of the cave lull him into his thoughts, only lit by the poor quality screen of a poor quality machine and a few lamps hanging from the ceiling, (with a need to add more when he gets to it).
Mythical Night Mythical Night Mythical Night
He had never felt such killing intent before, even from that huge A-rank missing-nin back in Wave Country. He had thought this exam would be a good place to test his talents as, well him.
Then he turned up and Kiba and Akamaru went down in seconds, beaten to a pulp. They're lucky they're still alive. He quivered as he looked to Sakura. It kind of annoyed him that she was faring better under the onslaught of power than him, but then that crazy proctor lady is her new sensei.
"What's the matter, Sasuke-kun?" the man, thing, whatever asked, amused.
He was wearing someone else's skin, that was obvious now as Sasuke can see the bronze coloured serpentine scales in the tears and rips in the skin. It made him feel queasy with how little this thing cared about other human beings. He's just glad his eyes had been opened before he turned into a thing like it.
The man's eyes are dangerous yellow, slanted. His forked tongue kept hissing out between sharp and fanged teeth. "Don't you want to fight me?" he asked as he suddenly stretched, twisting towards him, fast, his body constricted around him like a snake.
"Don't you want power Sasuke-kun?" he asked, amused as he could feel Sasuke shaking in fear. "I can give you power," he whispered, his serpent tongue flicking out, tasting Sasuke's face.
"G-get off me you freak!" Sasuke suddenly demanded, freaked about this guy and now ignoring the killing intent started struggling.
The snake man laughed. "Now that's the spirit!" he said, talking with a hiss in his words. He was pushing Sasuke up against a tree, smiling at him with a grin too wide for any normal human, his face near touching the boys. "Yes, you'll come to me, Orochimaru for power, and maybe-…"
"Get away from him you sicko!" Sakura suddenly screamed out and he barely had a moment to duck though he didn't need to, it was just instinct.
Sakura's fist thumped into the tree, cracking it a little. She was held off the ground for a moment by her own momentum while he laughed sickeningly. Then Orochimaru kicked her flying back into a tree across the clearing where she dropped, holding her stomach, coughing and wheezing, face flushed and in pain, tears watering her eyes.
"Well that was simply pathetic-," he said before turning wide-eyed as the section of tree her fist hit exploded, shattering with such force, the giant thick truck split in two as if an axmen had been chopping at it.
The tree fell towards him and Sasuke, but he managed to get them away and Sakura, awed with what she did managed to roll the other way. They were separated by the fallen tree as it crashed down with a huge boom.
"Impressive," Orochimaru muttered to himself, not realizing he spoke, or that Sasuke can hear him. "Not as strong as Tsunade, but natural talent like that is quite interesting. I could have been seriously injured if she had hit me unprepared!"
He chuckled as he turned back to Sasuke as he continued struggling. "Well, where was I?" he asked, but didn't expect an answer, and ignored Sakura climbing up onto the tree, looking down. "OH, yes!" he laughed before sinking his fangs into Sasuke's neck.
Sasuke gasped as the snake wanting to be a vampire bit him and he felt something burn into his flesh before he was dropped. He felt like crap and it burnt like he imagines acid would.
He looked up to see Sakura standing on top of the fallen tree with Orochimaru moving towards her with intent. "L-leave her alone…-!" Sasuke whimpered out, his vision blurred as he tried to focus.
The snake in human skin just grinned and looked to the boy. "Just this once Sasuke-kun," he chuckled, amused as he burst open into hundreds of tiny snakes and they all slithered off in different directions.
"Sasuke…!" Sakura cried out in worry as he was drifting away. He felt her close. She touched his head, checking his temperature. "You've got a fever Sasuke. Fight it; you've got to fight it. I'll hide you and Kiba, don't worry, just fight it and I'll protect you!" the words were blurry and he doubted she could protect them, but he knew from her voice, she would try.
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He hadn't thought Sakura would be able to protect them, but she really did find her courage, and he had caught a glimpse of her inner strength that day. However, he has other things to be doing, like training, so left his chair and went back to his assault course.
It was set up with walls, nets, rolling dummies, and some gear works with arms to attack him with kunai and shuriken launchers to dodge or block. Then that's just level one of eleven, with only the first five up and working at the moment.
Sasuke took one last look at Kakashi in his house and pushed that from his mind for now. So he switched over the screen to monitor Kakashi's actions for him with a black shaped shadow bat up over the screen to warn him of a need to intercept his intruder. He'll have to get some seals set up to keep him, and anyone else out in the future.
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Speedy actually laughed as she dodged this so-called ninja as he tried to cut her with his sword. She had to wonder how all of these pathetically weak ninja graduated an academy. Though, she goes to 'the' academy herself so knows that they're not all that good at teaching. Not to mention the corruption they uncovered with those fake teachers trying to help capture Moegi-chan.
It's just lucky that that Supergirl turned up and saved them. She wondered how many more people are going to dress up in costumes and fight crime. The village is larger than even she realised. In fact, after going on a recon with Huntress around District 11 she realised that this 'village' is actually a city.
She shrugged that off, obviously it started out as just a Hidden Village, but over time more people moved in and built and then it grew into a town and then the city it is today.
Speedy had asked Arrow whether they're destroying too many of Konoha's military, even if they are corrupt. He had found that amusing and said in Konoha alone there are around fifty thousand ninja of the 'village' population of over three million civilians and growing by the day.
It had really awed her to know there was that many people in the 'village'. Then he went on to say that in Fire Country Konoha also controlled 394 ninja 'villages' all of which are really large towns or small cities. In total Fire Country has an estimated million to one and a half million ninja solders at its command, and even more samurai under the direct command of the Emperor of Fire.
She could barely believe those numbers coming from her clan, closed off from the real world. She hadn't even known that there are other ninja academies in the village, and she supposedly goes to the best. If her academy is the best in the city she would hate to see the worse.
Dodging, she blocked the sword with her bow, knocking the ninja back. It had just gone dark, so she has plenty of time to learn tonight as Arrow was on the other roof, near beating on several ninja, near toying with them.
She cocked her bow, and the ninja was screaming as he was trapped in a crimson coloured electro-net arrow. He fell down out cold when she started as something went boom behind her.
Turning fast, her eyes widened behind her glasses to see a shadowed figure in black standing from where he landed on a ninja sneaking up on her. He wore a black cowl over the top half of his head, covering his hair and around his dark eyes with pointed ears up the sides.
His cowl went down, like a hood attached to a long black cape over his shoulders to his ankles. He's wearing strong and bulky looking body armour and thick gauntlets over his forearms with semi-clawed gloves, and strong boots. The gauntlets looked to have launchers and screens with compartments.
Then he has a yellow belt around his waist with many different pockets with a black bat monolith in the centre, and that same symbol on his chest. His gauntlets have spiked spines on the side and he took out a ninja with ease with his right one as he tried to jump him from behind.
"Batman," she muttered in awe before turning as she remembered where she is and locked and fired an arrow, capturing two men in one. She turned back to see the Batman had already gone. "Hmm… that's Green Arrows annoying trick," she muttered wondering when she'll learn to do that.
Sneaking that away that must be the most convenient trick if they need to creep away from their secret identities to go save the day. She looked around at the large buildings in District 5. She hadn't seen buildings this high before today, and wouldn't have came out this far before if they weren't hunting.
She had been surprised that she hadn't even been out of District 1 and 2 before, except for when she was in Greyland, otherwise called District 3. They had followed a gang of losers here after Arrow had dropped a tracker on one and let him escape.
They had been ambushed soon after getting to this building. However, looking all of the men were down and Arrow joined her on her roof. He had said this is a corporation district, which is why the need for such large buildings. It's just a shame that most of these corporations deal in crime.
Arrow was looking at his wrist gauntlet and frowned as she followed him around a corner where a ninja hung, beaten and bloodied by his ankles, dead. The Green Arrow pulled off the tiny tracer stuck to his back and groaned.
"I don't think they expected anyone to get away from you!" the cool husky voice said moments after Arrow aimed at the dark shadowy figure standing on the box on top of the roof with door leading inside. He was crouched, his cape shadowing him further.
Arrow's shadowed face smirked. "Yeah, well if I start letting the odd one go and not hunting them, they'll let their guard down!" he replied, his voice just as husky and mysterious.
"Fair idea," he answered, amused smirk on his lips. "I heard the ruckus while out searching for some tree hugging eco-terrorist blowing up some labs. So I thought I would warn you, Kakashi is gunning for your head."
Green Arrow shrugged. "And who might I ask isn't?"
"Good point," he answered. "Well, have things to do."
"Us too, let's go Speedy," he replied turning and leading the confused girl to the edge of the high roof. She turned back as she selected one of her newer arrows and Batman was gone.
"Do you know him?" she asked, curious.
He just shrugged, amused. "Nope, first time I'm met him before, and truthfully I just thought the crime syndicates were getting paranoid about the shadows."
Speedy couldn't help but grin as she and Arrow crated zip lines to a lower area, and using modifications on their bows, zipped down, fast.
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Tsunade Senju sighed as she did some fiddling with some of her work at home as she was getting bored. The Hokage had offered her plenty else to do but apart from the odd job to get some pocket money it's all really boring hospital stuff. She knows that if she starts working in the hospital that word will get out and she'll have rich snobs from all over Konoha and further trying to force her to diagnose things as simple as a common cold.
She hates rich snobs as much as the next girl, and she only has rent and food to pay, since her utilities are included in the rent. So she doesn't have to take on any tiring missions as of yet, maybe if they need anything above their means now.
Though, she figured it couldn't hurt to rest up for a little, and perhaps go and take a walk, grab a bite to eat and possible stop a mugging or two. She remembered that a little coffee and sandwich bar opened up, not too far from here with Uzumaki's swirling symbol on it so she figured he owns it.
She likes a guy with a bit of business sense. If he plans to retire some day (and not die) it is sensible to invest in something, and placing the bar at the edge of Greyland, so close to the hospital between where patients and staff pass is genius, almost as much so as closing late and opening early.
Naruto already has a good thing going with this apartment building. As far as she's aware it's almost full of tenants. She had originally wondered what kind of super mission he could have gone on to afford the renovations, then seeing how many D-ranks he did impressed her. She had already leant that the Hokage had just signed the building over to him when he was younger.
It's starting to become quite the nice neighborhood, and she couldn't help but notice the large children's play park, half built on the buildings grounds for children to play. It's just a shame about the douche bags that keep trespassing trying to capture the buildings resident prisoner, or kill her.
Though, snake-faces men haven't been around for a couple days, probably preparing the invasion so can't afford to waste anymore men getting offed for being so weak.
Shrugging she got up from her desk, hid all of her notes and took a deep claiming breath. Since getting so young and healthy again she's had to be careful of her strength as it comes so easily now. So some deep breaths and healthy meditation helps out quite a bit.
The Hokage doesn't seem to be preparing for battle, she noticed. She knows her old sensei can't be that foolish. Then she does know there are some power games going on behind the scenes, and they could cause thousands if not more to die.
Though, she's certain that Green Arrow (if he's as good as she believes) is preparing, and then there is a whole host of other 'supers' as the media puts it out there scaring the crap out of the Konohan traitors, so hopefully they'll stay out of it.
Shaking those thoughts off she couldn't help but smile as she thought of how much the Civilian Council hates her and the other heroes kicking ass and making them both a little poorer and have to be more cunning with no 'out in the open' deals. It makes Konoha seem seedier, but at least it keeps civilians further out of danger.
Then there is also, most of the Ninja Council to contend with (minus most of the clans). They don't like the fact that portions of their numbers keep getting beat up or killed by heroes. She especially liked that they were terrified of crossing Supergirl encase they go flying to the hospital, literally.
They seemed more accepting of death by Arrow or this Batman guy she's heard about, and apparently this bat one doesn't mess around while Arrow teaches his apprentice how to use them as target practice. It's a good way to teach, so she approves.
Tsunade heard that the Hokage asked them why they would fear any of these 'heroes' if they're honest, law abiding, loyal ninja. They had nothing to say about that at all.
Then there's the Civilian Police Department, the KPD, (Konoha Police Department), civilian department. She hadn't realised that they were so corrupt. It was probably only the Uchiha (ninja cops) that kept them in line, but now they're gone. The city is certainly filthier than she had ever known it to be, and with so many corrupt it will take people in costumes taking the law into their own hands to clean up the streets, free from persecution from the 'law'.
She found the whole thing amusing and disturbing as even the village leader can't seem to do anything. Then Moegi's grandmother is targeted because she had offered herself up to the next elections for Commissioner of Police. Obviously someone out there's worried that she'll get elected and they won't be able to buy her so they're trying to kidnap her granddaughter, the only family she has left.
Shaking her head she finally got to her door and exited her apartment, closing and locking it behind her she was almost knocked over by Anko as she had a large grin on her lips with Tenten behind her carrying twin swords covered in blood looking as if everything was fine.
"Hello, Tsunade-sama-chan!" Tenten said with a wide smile. "We just cut down a few intruders, but I think they've started to get the idea now. It's just lucky we don't have to keep writing up reports for these losers."
Tsunade quivered at the mere idea. "I hate paperwork too," she replied smiling. "I was just out to that Walkabout snack bar that Naruto-kun opened; you two want to come get a coffee and something to eat?"
"Sure," Anko said nodding while Tenten's swords poofed away while she nodded in agreement. "I was at the opening last week, and they sell some dynamite dango!"
"Great, come on then, I could use a snack," she replied leading the way. "So, have either of you too seen the blonde today?"
"Umm… Naruto's been helping Sakura," Anko said shrugging. "I can't teach her while still officially her proctor, so I asked him to help out. I don't have a clue what he does after dark," she said gesturing Tenten as they descended the stairs. "If you want to know what he gets up to, ask Ten-chan, Ino-chan or Hinata-chan, they know him best."
Tenten shrugged helplessly as they looked to her for answers. "He doesn't tell us everything. He's probably off out, up to no good or something."
"Way to keep tabs on him," Tsunade said jokingly while she blushed and they exited the building heading for the snack bar. "He's an odd one, that's for sure, but have you heard about Sasuke Uchiha having Kakashi arrested for breaking into his house and stalking him?"
"He didn't?" Anko asked trying to keep from laughing.
Tsunade nodded, snickering. "Yep, he did. He called in ANBU and told them that he wants Kakashi kept away from him. He doesn't want the guy to hold him back anymore by making him rely on his dojutsu. So he got an injunction to keep him away from himself and surprisingly his female teammate too. He apparently could care less about his other teammate."
"Wow," Tenten said in awe. "Someone's finally woken up from tantrum land!"
Tsunade shrugged, amused. "The Council tried to get him to see reason. He laughed at them and flipped them the bird before walking out. Sensei was having difficulty telling me he was laughing so hard."
Anko and Tenten couldn't stop giggling and Tsunade just tossed the would-be mugger into a huge bin, which caused the laughter to grow.
"You have to wonder why they don't just give it a rest!" Tenten said as the man's foot was sticking out.
"Human nature," Anko said, smirking. "They've gotten their way for so long they just don't know any better."
They all continued giggling as they headed for the sandwich bar.
To Be Continued…
He knew his newfound crew were terrified of him, and that just made his smile all the wider. Not all of them are officially trained ninja but he should send their previous boss, or bosses gifts as thanks for getting them some training even if they're nothing compared to the Bat.
"It'll be fun getting the Bats, don't you think boys!?" he asked from his new base, an old and disused carnival that ran out of money and just abandoned everything, and no one thought to do anything about it.
They could only quiver as his eyes held them captive, daring them to disagree, but they had already learnt their lesson about not disobeying him. "Soon… we'll give everyone a lovely smile to match mine," he said, his red lipped smile near stretching from ear to ear, his eyes shining merriment, dangerous merriment.
"You can just call me, Uncle J!" he hissed out as he moved from the shadows to allow them a better look, all of the men and women in attendance, ninja to some degree and wearing white face paint with red noses and lips with the joker playing carp printed on their headbands.
This Joker's face is painted white with large red lips and short green hair, black marked around his eyes. He wore an old fashioned styled tuxedo in purple pinstripe with a yellow waist jacket underneath with a green bowtie and shiny purple shoes with a fresh white flower in a buttonhole of his jacket pocket, and finally the joker card headband around his neck.
"The Bats won't know what hit him!" the 'man' giggling hysterically while his new gang grimaced and wished they hadn't gone out tonight.
The lights flashed on brightening the carnival grounds with fairground music and sinister clown giggling in the background with the sounds of arcade machines and fairground rides. The room they're in done like a haunted house with fake ghosts and zombies, even lit it was creepy.
"I think… maybe… maybe we should have a little fun first… during the prelims of the exams. In two days. It'll be a hoot, and the Batman is sure to turn up!" he said grinning widely until he saw a shaking hand up, which cause his grin to drop.
"W-what if A-Arrow turns up too, or Supergirl?" the ninja asked shakily.
The Joker just gave him a look and with one gesture another ninja took his head, which fell with his body. "I'm certain that The Batman will be our only problem, so any more questions?" he asked and they all quickly shook their heads, terrified.