Chapter 25
Marr relished the walk to Karasu's house; he had been using his meikai hiko (underworld flight) too much recently. He had begun to feel its drain on him, he also noticed that it was particularly bright out today, hence he had to increase the level of chakra he put into his taiyo tate (sun shield), all of these factors led to him being more tired than usual, he also realized that he had been spending a lot of time in the village.
Marr mentally sighed; he would have never had to do any of this normally. It was all because of her, he just couldn't stand to be away from her. He could not even explain it to himself. It was just a strong want, almost a need for her, and her safety. Marr rounded the corner and walked the slight distance remaining, he entered Karasu's house no longer needing her permission to enter, for she had given it long ago. She saw him enter and she left the family huddle to walk up to him. They had been discussing her squadron assignment, and the people in it, along with its first class Chunin leader. However they all dropped that topic immediately when she noticed his Shadow Mark, Karasu reached up, and lightly ran her fingers along the mark amazed at how it felt like skin instead of ink. They all congratulated him and asked how it went. Speaking directly to Karasu he retold the events of the day. They were all shocked; Karasu's father asked "the Shogun really said that to you?"
Marr nodded, all of the family looked at him with a new respect, save Karasu, she had expected as much from her dark knight. Marr then mentioned that he had to go meet Lord Baragon as he was told to do. Karasu said, "wait, what about your squadron?" Marr looked confused at first then thought back. All of the new Jonin had received their assignments, yet; he had not received his. He replied "I don't know maybe its because Lord Baragon wants me to be one of his hand?" Karasu nodded "that must be it" she said. They all wished him good luck and Marr left. It was a long walk to Lord Baragons's mansion, yet Marr once again did not mind, it was bright but pleasant out still. He reached the mansion and knocked on its front door. A servant answered and said, "this way" Marr was led to the exact same room as last time. He sat down and Lord Baragon entered, and spoke "Marr congratulations apparently it was an event to see most people say they only saw you carrying the placards, and nothing else." Marr nodded in response.
Lord Baragon continued "Marr I have one final test and if you pass it I will have you trained as one of my hand, and in a short time I will send you on assassination missions. They are dangerous and harsh, plus Lord Katamaru, the leader of the priests, monks, and religion in the village has already publically said he wants you gone one way or another." Marr just nodded again. "Marr he says he hates the idea of you dark ones and will probably send you on missions to get you killed are you sure this is the path you want?" Marr cared little for his warnings and nodded once again. Lord Baragon looking overjoyed at his acceptance, said, "follow me"
Marr rose and followed him they walked into a square room that was lit by one light in the center of the ceiling, it was entirely made out of wood, and the wood looked thick. There was another presence in the room Marr looked, and saw a man in his mid to late twenties standing. He bowed his head when Lord Baragon entered and asked, "is this the one?" Lord Baragon nodded and turned to Marr and said "try you're hardest to defeat, Kenji here. But be cautious he has been a hand of mine for years." Marr nodded and Lord Baragon retreated out of the room. Kenji crouched into a defensive stance; Marr did the same yet Marr's was more aggressive. Kenji advanced slowly, as Kenji took his first step. Marr immediately activated his Jikangan, Kenji saw this and stopped immediately, he closed his eyes and when he opened them, Marr saw another Jikangan for the first time in his life. Marr was surprised. His own Jikangan was a pure gold iris he had thought, that was normal, Kenji's was gold as well but it was more of a bronze-ish hue.
Kenji then spoke "I may not have been able to do this at your age and my eyes, are not a s powerful as your eyes I can see but, I can beat you in a Jikangan fight." Marr doubted this, he increased the speed of his perception, and as an opening attack, dashed to Kenji's left, Kenji increased his perception as well and moving faster than Marr thought was possible intercepted Marr mid dash and kicked him hard in his side, with enough force to knock him clear across the room and slam against the far wall. Kenji appeared next to him before he could even fall the foot or so to the floor. He threw an uppercut at Marr's jaw making him fly sky high, Marr anticipating that Kenji would follow up on this again, increased his perception of speed even more, he was now close to 100%. He had never gone that high before, it was dangerous. This time he was able to see Kenji even if only for a moment, he noticed that Kenji was above him preparing for a powerful leg drop on Marr's stomach.
Marr turned mid air and caught Kenji's heel as it descended towards his stomach, he rotated his hands and threw Kenji down towards the floor, immediately following this action, Marr formed seven hand seals and said " Suiton oni hiryu" (Water Style, Demon Ice Dragon) Marr blew a freezing white mist out that took the form of what looked like a snake except with small arms on its side near its head with claws on its hands. The mist-like dragon froze to ice instantly, then, the ice dragon chased the falling body of Kenji intent on crushing him against the floor. Marr felt Kenji molding chakra, he could not see Kenji, for his ice dragon blocked his view, but he heard Kenji say "Katon arashi nobi" (Fire Style, Tempest Wildfire), Marr saw an angry orange color against the white of his dragon he heard the dragon melting and the water turning into steam.
Marr smiled to himself, he let himself fall to the floor, he formed another ice dragon and sent it rocketing at the still midair form of Kenji, forcing Kenji to melt it once again with his wildfire, using the distraction of his dragon, Marr quickly formed six hand seals and using the steam now collecting around the ceiling of the room. Said "Suiton, kori no ame" (Water Style Ice Rain), the steam froze into ice by Marr's chakra, then raced downwards in a hail of ice shards as sharp as glass, the room had enough steam to cover the entire space, Marr saw Kenji look up and see the ice shards rushing towards him, Marr knew Kenji would not have enough time to form a defense to cover the entire room, so Kenji intelligently formed hand seals and shot his wildfire in a ball directly above him. Which melted the ice shards currently threatening him.
Marr grinned to himself again, he formed three seals, and said "Kageton kurai sosa" (Shadow Style Dark Manipulation) the ice shards which had been falling straight down suddenly stopped falling and flipped to point at Kenji, except for the ice Kenji had melted all the ice shards were now pointing at him, he was literally surrounded by them, Marr rose both his arms and made a sweeping motion with both arms, that looked like he was throwing something in either hand in the hands opposite direction. The ice shards rushed at high speed towards Kenji. Kenji had no time to react, he was hit on all sides by the ice, and he fell to the floor with a thud. Marr observed him; he looked like a porcupine, his body was covered in the ice shards. Marr still crouched slowly retreated from his body, when all of the sudden he felt a metallic sharp feeling against his throat, it was a kunai.
Marr rose with the blade he looked again at the body of Kenji, it disappeared in a puff of smoke. He heard Kenji say to his left, "you pass." Then he felt the pressure against his neck recede, Marr turned and looked to the left at Kenji. Then, Marr turned around and saw another Kenji holding the kunai that had been pressed against his throat. He looked at the Kenji to his left with a confused look on his face. Kenji laughed and said, "never heard of a shadow clone before?" Marr nodded and understood, he had never been fighting Kenji he had been fighting one of his clones. Kenji then said, "you pass because of the ability you have, also you have a good combo style and you have a vast repertoire of Jutsu, and you have enough raw power, for this type of work. If you had been facing a regular Jonin you would have won.
Most people are gifted with skill and have to gain power; you were gifted with power and have to gain skill. A couple months training with me and we will fix that. Lord Baragon returned and said "I barely saw anything just a lot of ice and fire and then you standing behind him. Did he pass? Kenji nodded and said "yes and I will train him Lord." Lord Baragon nodded and then, turned to ask Marr how he felt, when Marr lost consciousness and fell to the floor.
Japanese Help (in order of appearance)
Katamaru = Soul/Wit
Kenji = Wise Second