The False Apocalypse

Shinobi Saga

Chapter 36

Reish

Disclaimer: See chapter 1

---Osaka Port---

The afternoon was crowded like Nazomishi hadn't seen since Logan's world. There was barely room to move from building to building without fallowing the flow of the crowd. Regardless of the difficulty, after nearly five hours of searching he had discovered something very interesting. His assumption that there were multiple Agni Kai's recruiting was proved correct. Near the city square there were three separate but obscenely long lines leading to a series of booths. Each had separate titles but each were ornately decorated with weapons of war. This was definitely the place.

Deciding to play to the time aspect Nazomishi went off to inspect the one with the shortest line. Much to his dismay its line was still several hours long. That was, until he took notice of two separate lines. The first was long and seemingly endless. The second only had a few dozen people or so. Looking closer, he discovered it to be an information line. Clearly people would want to know the difference between the different tournaments before signing up for one. This was perfect.

It took nearly an hour to get through the information line but he knew it would be time well spent.

"Welcome to the Seks Villsvin Agni Kai (six boar…in Norwegian) what do you want to know about our tournament." A woman with the muscle tone of a gorilla asked bluntly and the voice of a 90 year old smoker. How he was sure it was a woman, he didn't know, somehow he knew it had to be. Nazomishi couldn't help but take notice of the large, double bladed axe hanging from her back. Good god her biceps were larger than his head! Apparently she hadn't taken a close enough look at him because her tone completely changed before he had a chance to ask a question.

"Oh great another dwarf, look kid I'm tired of entertaining brats. These fights are for Honor and there's no need for kids to join." To this Nazomishi simply sneered.

"You shouldn't underestimate an opponent based on their stature." Nazomishi replied sternly, using a shinobi technique to alter his voice, making it sound deeper and more mature. At this the woman immediately retracted her statement in shock. His voice made him see far older and more mature. She figured he was using some sort of illusion to hide his real age. From what she had heard, shinobi could do a great many things with their chakra, not the least of which was disguise their appearance.

"Forgive me sir; you look so young to be entering a competition like this." She carefully looked to his obviously missing arm making it painfully evident that he had lost it in a fight. He certainly had to be confident in his ability if he wanted to ender with such a handicap. Still, that was far from unheard of. Today alone there were five others who had registered with a similar lack of appendages.

"Enough pleasantries, I need information." Nazomishi changed the topic with a serious tone. The last thing he needed was to tip her off that his body was as young as she originally thought. She clearly didn't take to well to that sort of thing.

"Well, you're at the right place. What do you need to know?"

"What I need, is what separates this tournament from the other three? What makes it better?"

"The Seks Villsvin Agni Kai specializes in raw combat. Chakra is forbidden in all forms. That's why we don't have as many signing up as the other two. You shinobi cling too closely to your chakra… here…" Reaching for a stack of papers on her table she handed Nazomishi a brochure. "This should explain everything you need to know. Signups are open for two more weeks. Entry costs ten thousand Ryo and that covers your first five matches to get you on the score boards. After that it's ten thousand a match. If you lose you lose your fee. Winnings are based on who you beat, their skill ratings, and your odds of beating them." (I'm using Ryo as a yen-like system so that's more like $100)

"And the others?"

"Ah, they're all the same. Winnings might differ but the system is pretty standard. I think I heard one in town sets a head price but I don't know." She replied with an annoyed tone. She clearly didn't like giving out info about other tournaments.

"You've been helpful; I think that's all I need."

"Just remember if you sign up here, no chakra. The last thing we need is a bunch of stray fireballs killing the audience." The information woman added with a hardened eye. Nazomishi could only assume that had happened before and their clients weren't very pleased. It was a good point though. Such things did happen from time to time at the chuunin exams, or so he heard. It was especially possible when you were dealing with wind users. It made him wonder if any of the three had any precautions set up. The ones that permitted chakra either had to or had wavers ready for everyone in the stadium.

---Elsewhere in the Port---

Naruto and Hinata stopped at one of the many local coffee shops shortly after Nazomishi left. It was a quaint little shop though the noise in the streets took away from the normally calm atmosphere. As soon as they entered their senses were flooded with the tasty smells of exotic beans and sweet pastries. Hinata immediately became excited, silently clapping her hands together in sheer joy when she noticed the cinnamon buns behind the glass case.

"I knew it, they have cinnamon buns!" She declared excitedly but just loud enough for Naruto to hear her. In an instant she was at the glass case taking in the delectable aroma of the buns. Naruto stood confused at her sudden excitement. He had never really been one to eat a great deal of sweets. Granted he did enjoy a good dango every once in a while, though he often suffered the torment of Anko's religious dango dinning experiences when he did.

In a matter of moments Hinata had purchased a rather exotic looking bowl of soup in a bowl of bread along with a dozen cinnamon buns.

"Oh, sorry Tobi, I got so excited about the cinnamon buns I forgot you were here." Hinata apologized for forgetting that he needed to order too. She lowered her head in disappointment that she had forgotten Naruto of all people. She definitely would have to work on that.

"It's all right; I'm still trying to figure out what I want. Would you mind if I try one of those buns, they do smell goo…" Naruto trailed off when he noticed Hinata backing away while clutching her precious buns protectively, silently muttering 'mine.'

"…Ooo…kay…I'll just have to buy one myself then." Naruto eyed her strangely at the over protectiveness of her cinnamon buns. If she liked them that much he had to try at least one.

"I'm sorry but father never really let me eat sweets on a regular basis. It's… It's like if you were forbidden from eating ramen for two months. I can't help it…" Hinata tried explaining with a surprisingly good result.

"No ramen for two months… that's blasphemy! Blasphemy I tell you!" His stomach growled him to a stop moments later which brought another horrible revelation to his mind. "…I haven't had ramen but twice this month…" He looked back up to the menu and realized they didn't have any ramen either… Yes, he had to have been born under a cursed star. At least, that was the way he felt at the moment.

---Later That Day in Osaka---

Nazomishi was returning to the inn with a lot on his mind. After spending the better part of four hours and effectively skipping lunch he decided it was best to return and fill the others in on his findings. The information desks had been more than helpful and it had got him thinking.

"I fear our weapon of choice against the Others will be the lightsaber. Even the enhanced slashes and techniques of Naruto did little against the one he fought. Still I can't train them in the Force or even prepare them to use one. Even my ability with one would be hampered without the Force. The seven forms would be far too easy to recognize even if I taught them, even without the Force alongside their new styles. No, I have to teach them something new. I need to merge aspects from the forms with their own. They need to know more about the Force without gaining a connection to it. This is going to be far more difficult than I had ever imagined. Good thing I can only start them off with the basics. This will take time to put into place."

Nazomishi thought deeply as he made his way back to the inn with the hope that they had in fact brought him something. He certainly did not feel like heading back out to eat when he needed to start teaching them at least the principles of their fighting styles and the Force.

Nazomishi opened the door to their room to find Naruto lying on the bed with a scroll in front of his face. Apparently he had found a scroll shop in town and figured whatever it was would be useful. No, that didn't sound like Naruto. It was far more likely that Hinata drug him along into the scroll shop and spotted something which ended up striking his interest. Speaking of Hinata, she was sitting peacefully in a chair with a scroll in her lap and a cinnamon bun in her mouth.

'Yep, I missed something…" "Alright, where did you two find those scrolls and why is Naruto reading without complaining every two seconds." Nazomishi asked while double checking the silence seals on the walls.

Naruto looked up having not heard Nazomishi open the door. Apparently the sound seal's location kept the sound of the door outside of the room. "Oh, Nazo, wait, how did you get in so quietly?"

"I asked you first, the scroll?" Nazomishi nearly demanded as his tone grew more serious. This wasn't like Naruto and he needed to know what was up.

"Oh this? We found a scroll shop near the town center and decided to look for some scrolls on our new weapons. I had no idea a Bo Staff could be so strong. I always figured it was just another stick people kept in countries where swords were banned to civilians." This was certainly shocking… unexpected to say the least. Of all the people on this planet…Naruto was reading… without being pushed…No, Hinata had to be holding something over his head, she had to be. Maybe they found a ramen shop and she won't let him eat there until he reads something…No, she's too head over heels for that. Something's up here.

"Are you sure this is Naruto?" Nazomishi turned to ask Hinata in shocked confusion. She merely nodded her head with a grin. At this Nazo could only shake his head and sigh. "Alright whatever, at least tell me you got me something to eat?" Hinata Nodded and pointed to the dresser top in the room.

"Thank god." Opening the bags on top of the dresser Nazomishi found himself staring down at no less than fifteen different kinds of pastry. His left eye twitched at the thought that his lunch and potentially dinner was going to be nothing but snacks. Shrugging it off and sitting down with one of the sweets he decided it was best to relay his findings. Hinata smirked behind her scroll that Nazomishi didn't notice her cinnamon buns she had hidden under the bed.

After taking a few moments take in a few pastries Nazomishi decided to relay the information he gathered for the day."There are three Agni Kai in town. Two of them permit chakra so they're attracting most of the competition. Apparently the big one decided to open things up and the others decided to follow the money. Of the three there is one I found particularly interesting. It's called the Kakujin Kakuyou Agni Kai. It more or less means many ways. This will actually be its first tournament but the guy in charge has been big in the industry for decades." A little covert spying after his run-in with the gorilla woman proved quite useful. He was able to listen into the a good number of other people's questions and answers. He was so glad he remembered his covert training from his own world. Back then it was the only thing that kept him from dying on several missions.

"Many ways, so they permit chakra?" Hinata asked, knowing he had mentioned the possibility earlier.

"Yea, apparently this one decided it would make for a good opening season to include other regions and their skills. The other two didn't feel like getting left out of a new market. It all seems pretty legit and the barrier they use to protect the audience intrigues me."

"I don't mean to sound like a downer guys but, isn't it kind of bad to fight in a tournament with chakra when we can't use any?" Naruto wondered. After spending the day with Hinata he had calmed down quite a bit with regards to their situation. It had actually got him thinking about their position a bit and this question was one of the first that popped into his mind since hearing about the tournament.

"It might be a bit of a gamble but it could be our best option. From what I read about their barrier it's designed to reduce chakra levels before it reaches the stands. According to the brochure they got a seal master to design some complicated seal array to protect the audience. I want to see it and run a few tests. If it's all it's cracked up to be we might have a place to train with some lower level techniques till Yoda can send me Jiraiya's seal array. If we're lucky, maybe some higher level ones but I want to check it first. It may be useless for that end. If nothing there is the possibility I could recover my arm. Worst case scenario we will have to train harder in taijutsu to overcome the handicap. "

"But won't that be a little suspicious?"

"About my arm, maybe, it depends on how good a cover story I can make." Nazomishi replied nonchalantly. "If nothing else I can make a basic prosthetic until I get it back. My wrappings should be good enough to hide what it really is. That should be enough to hinder most suspicion. It shouldn't take more than a week once we can use chakra again. All that aside, we register tomorrow and the ship should leave in roughly three to four weeks. Until then I plan on working you into the ground on the off chance we don't regain our chakra for the tournament."

"Why am I not surprised." Naruto mumbled. 'It's always into the ground with this guy.'

"But first, there's something I can't keep from you two any longer. I never had enough time to tell the Zate and I've been wondering how best to explain it to you. I actually learned a fair amount about the Others during my fight with Zansatsu. They call themselves…

---Late That Night in Bevelle---

Master Yoda had finished all his errands for the day and had spend the last fifteen minutes meditating with the Force. This was his habit every day that he had the time. Before he would go to sleep he would spend at least an hour meditating, being one with the Force.

"Open the door is." Yoda replied to the presence behind the door before it even had a chance to knock. Rei stepped into the room, having experienced Yoda's awareness far too many times to be startled by it any longer.

"I found the key Master Yoda. It was sealed in one of the first swords he gave me. How he ever managed it I don't know." Rei informed the wise old master. She had spent a good majority of her time since Nazomishi's death searching for the key to the scroll. It came as a great surprise to her that the key to open it was sealed within a blade she almost always had on her person or sealed close by. How he ever managed to put it there she would never know.

"To the council room gather the Zate. Open it immediately we will." With a nod she turned and left to do as Yoda asked. With a sigh the old master shook his head at the sadness he could feel in her. Nazomishi's death had hit her hard. Ever since Windu read that letter she had been more serious than a Mandalorian in a war room. He knew he had to find a way to bring her out of this. But how, now there was a question that even Yoda in all his years of wisdom had trouble answering? This was the reason the Jedi had banned attachment. For the moment he could only trust in her ability and resolve to continue his legacy. If only things didn't have to be this way.

The time for meditation was over. Yoda left to their council room, hoping Nazomishi had left something useful in it. He wouldn't have mentioned it if it had anything that could compromise their plan but he had be absent minded sense the Zansatsu incident.

By a little after eleven the most important members of the Zate had been gathered into their moderate sized, ovular council room. Once everyone was seated Rei unfurled a large scroll and pulled another smaller one from inside her coat. With the large scroll spread out along the ground she opened the other scroll, placing it crosswise over the large scroll. With a series of hand seals the scrolls began to glow until it was too bright to look at. Everyone covered their eyes with their arms shielding them from the blinding light until it died down. As the light began to fade the Zate began to notice a large machine where the scrolls once laid.

The machine was like a large holoprojector with a series of large tubes jutting out the sides and entering around the bottom. In the center of the machine there sat a single large holocron. It sat there motionless for several moments as a thin veil of smoke rolled off its durasteel framework. Then with a several flickers of bluish white light the gatekeeper of the holocron appeared.

The Zate who were familiar with holocron technology looked on with satisfaction that they had one piece of Nazomishi's life left for them while those unfamiliar with it looked on in shock when they saw who the gatekeeper looked like. It were as if Nazomishi himself were alive and well, appearing to them through one of the handheld holoprojectors they had seen from time to time around older members of the Zate.

The gatekeeper looked around the room and then searched its most recent entries to gain a full understanding of the situation. "I see..." It replied to no particular question as it looked around at the faces surrounding it. It knew that its purpose and that it was not to be opened unless Nazomishi were dead.

Windu was about to speak but Rei beat him to it. "Nazo, what did you mean about a way to bring you back. Is there really a way to bring you back without sacrificing anyone?" Even though the holocron was merely a collection of Nazomishi's past memories it sympathized with her plight fully. With a somber nod it replied.

"Rei, there is a fine but significant line between attachment and obsession. Nazomishi wouldn't want to see you this way. Trust your fellow Zate to find a way. Trust that whatever he said is true and live your life freely until the right time presents itself. I don't believe he would lie to you. If nothing else I believe he meant it as a source of comfort to you, that there is still hope. Remember even using the First Hokage's Edo Tensei would not truly revive him. It would only create a temporary vessel for his consciousness. Anyone revived by that technique is merely a zombie and other similar techniques will be little better. It would be better to simply place my holocron knowledge into a droid. Your best option is to simply wait, and hope."

"But…" Rei replied, somewhat disheartened by the response. Who knew if that world would be their next, or the one after that, or even a hundred down the road? Who knew if they would ever see such a world?

"Rei, this isn't the time." Master Windu told her while placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. "You said this holocron would hold everything we needed to go on. How much of his memory did he implant in you?" Windu questioned with all the seriousness the situation demanded.

"Since he was incapable of directly recording his exact experiences from before your world he did his best to recall those events. Several techniques from Konoha's library did prove quite useful. I hold most if not all of Nazomishi's memories including his knowledge of history, techniques, forging techniques, fighting styles, training types, and potential future world knowledge. I am also capable of reasoning as he would to some degree, based on knowledge I contain. "

"Then your last memory is the execution?" Windu replied, trying to affirm a near certainty but hoping to clear up something that had been bothering him since then.

"No… it would seem my link to Nazomishi was cut sometime after the struggle with Zansatsu. I have few memories after that struggle." The gatekeeper replied, trying to leave nothing out.

"What do you mean? Did he seal you away?" Anakin spoke up clearly confused by it. It sounded like he didn't know how it happened. If something sinister had been overlooked, it could be potentially harmful to the order. He could only hope Zansatsu hadn't broken the link when he was in control.

"No, I was linked to him by seal. Something must have happened to have altered it. Perhaps damage in the battle or some alteration to the seal afterwords." The Nazomishi Gatekeeper of the holocron replied to the surprised Windu. It was then that Rei spoke up in a somewhat embarrassed tone.

"I think that seal may have been one of the ones we removed when we were trying to stabilize his seal array. We had to cut a lot of them to stabilize the cursed seal and its overseal." Rei lowered her head slightly. They had removed a huge number of seals from Nazomishi's body during the procedure. If it weren't for some of the transfer techniques they used, a good number of his weapons and scrolls would have been destroyed in the process. A number of them were. They were lucky he sealed it into a scroll and not strait into his skin like so many of his weapons were.

"That would account for that, yes." The Gatekeeper acknowledged before raising a question of his own. "Did he tell you what happened with Zansatsu?"

"No, he wasn't conscious enough before the execution to say much aside from the telepathic conversation with Master Yoda." Windu replied to the Gatekeeper before turning to Yoda questioningly. In response the old master only shook his head apparent confusion.

"I see, then I'm afraid I have some reassuring yet, unsettling news before I can begin my primary directive. It is what Nazomishi would have said had he been capable. During the battle with Zansatsu there was much said between the merciless beatings he suffered within his mind. They call themselves the Reish. You have some understanding of how they are formed but what you don't know is that they are surprisingly common."

"Provided that information Inoichi Yamanaka did." Yoda replied to prevent a potentially long explanation about something they already knew.

"Then you may wish to know their goal." That statement received quite a few shocked blinks. Their goal, as in the reason they were trying to free Zansatsu? This was too good to be true.

"You are sure Zansatsu wasn't simply leading you on? From what I saw of him, he's far too manipulative to let that kind of information slide." Inoichi replied questioningly. Despite the short amount of time he had entered Nazomishi's mind after the war, he had seen enough of the creature to have made a rather defining characterization of it. That monster was the farthest thing from human he had ever conceived. It was like seeing the Kyuubi in human form.

"Positive, they are a race without an origin. They have no sense of home or belonging. According to Zansatsu only another Reish could understand. They want to create, no, re-forge existence in their own image, to turn all the world's sentients into Reish."

"Did he mention how?" Nilus Sarn questioned, intrigued by the concept. Being the scientist he was he thought it would prove invaluable. If they were lucky they could undermine the Reish's movements maybe even find a way to destroy them more easily than with raw strength.

"No, but Nazomishi did suspect that Katarn's death had something to do with it. He was very concerned when he heard. After the war he couldn't help but put two and two together." The gatekeeper replied, knowing Nazomishi's thoughts and feelings about the matter.

"Well founded his suspicions are. The Force his soul did not join, I sense." Yoda replied contemplatively.

"You think they found some way of removing Katarn's soul?" Anakin asked, somewhat disturbed by the thought. It reminded him of the explanation of Pein's abilities, the path that could remove a person's soul with only a touch.

"Perhaps, but impossible to say it is. Know you why possible this is?" Yoda inquired of the Gatekeeper.

"I'm afraid such an answer is not in my memory. However, Kyle was a Jedi and had a connection to the Force. There's not much one would need a soul for, much less the soul of a Force user. Unless they needed such a soul, why not simply take a peasant. It would be far easier. If they just needed someone strong then why weren't any of the hundreds of powerful Shinobi in the village targeted. The odds simply don't stack up. "

"I sense he's correct here, but what could these Reish do with such a soul?" Windu questioned, he could feel that the Force was the key to the matter. Shatter points were his specialty after all. The soul of a Force user had to be the pivotal point to the matter.

"Perhaps without Zansatsu, among them no Force user is." Yoda added, insightful as always.

"Among the darker things Darth Sidious researched was a way to implant Force sensitivity into non Force sensitive's. It's what lead him to the Scepter of Ragnos. I would hate to think what would happen if these Reish found something similar." Anakin added. Despite his old master's mistrust and secrecy he was still privy to a great deal of information and research.

"That is a disturbingly likely possibility." Windu replied while crossing his fingers contemplatively. "Unfortunately we can't assume anything. It would be best if we operate under the assumption they have a Force user and wish to make more."

"If they have any Force users then why can't you sense them? You said it echoes through the universe, that you can sense each other and your emotions through the Force. Doesn't the fact that you can't prove they don't have any?" Jiraiya commented on the things he had been told over the past few months around the members of the Zate.

"Perhaps, but if a powerful dark side user they have, shroud themselves from Force sensitive's they can. The worst case it is and assume it we must Master Jiraiya." Yoda elaborated on a truth that wasn't entirely black and white. With a slow but agreeable nod Jiraiya agreed seeing the logic in it. It was going to be a long night. They still had so much to learn from the Holocron and yet… they still hadn't begun the strategy session for the next day's meeting with the leaders of the Elemental Nations.

"Sasuke, retrieve Sakura Haruno if you will. It would seem we have matters to discuss with her." Windu ordered realizing they needed to clear up a few things with a Reish, and who better to ask that someone with an active Reish that had made contact with the others.

"Why, what does she have to do with this?" Sasuke asked, concerned for his recently found love interest. He had grown to trust the Zate but with how they were talking about matters it seemed a little too serious to be just a casual meeting.

"Her alternate personality happens to be one of these Reish and has heard one of them telepathically. We need to it if for nothing else than to determine it's true loyalties. You have no idea how influential these can be if they have a goal." With a few moments of contemplation Sasuke nodded in wary acceptance. He would simply have to trust their decision and that no harm would come to her. After all, Kenshin had one himself, right? Still the new information was quite troubleing.

--- Eight Miles North East of Bevelle---

Thick forests covered the mountainous terrain easily hiding anything someone wouldn't want found. Logan, Hiko, and Kimimaro hacked their way through the ridiculous amount of brush they encountered on the way.

"Seriously, what moron would put a base this deep into this kind of forest." Logan commented in annoyance as he slashed away a series of vines. Seriously, he could have sworn this place were on the equator with how dense the vegetation was.

"It wasn't always like this. Up until about three years ago this forest looked about the same as Bevelle. Orochimaru's experiments aren't entirely limited to human mutations you …" A sudden movement alerted the trio to a huge plant raising its head up about to prey upon the Zate. With an abrupt twitch it lunged at Logan, mouth wide and ready to take everything in one massive bite. With quick reflexes Kimimaro threw his arm towards the creature pinning it to a tree with a series of bone spears.

"Another one of his 'experiments'?" Logan growled at no one in particular.

"I'm afraid so. We've been safe until now because of our familiarity with this forest. I can only assume it attacked because it sensed you weren't a regular." Kimimaro replied knowing the plants rarely if ever attacked Orochimaru's 'loyalists.'

"He's bastardized more human beings than I wish to count. Many have retained their humanity but far more have lost their soles, leaving only mindless shells. That is why we who understand are to help those who can still be helped. This plant was the result of him sealing one of those failed experiments into a plant to see what would happen. There are hundreds, we'll need to clear out before were done here." Hiko replied as he looked at the still twitching form of the large plant. "Come, were getting close."

It took another five minutes but soon Kimimaro told them to stop. Walking ahead by a few feet and cutting away a large mesh of vines it became clear that there was a huge drop. "This is it." He announced as the other two looked over the edge of the huge chasm. Out of nowhere there was this huge pit, nearly a mile wide and well over 800 feet down. Every inch of the stone area was covered in vines and lush vegetation. Still it clearly crawled with the dangerous experiments Orochimaru regularly checked upon.

"Alright, just give me a minute and Ill have us a rope all the way down." Kimimaro said as he grabbed the back of his neck and began pulling out his spine. Much to the shock of Logan he soon began tying it to a nearby tree and started pulling it longer and longer. "I'll repel down and you can fallow… af…ter…" The bone user trailed off as Hiko vanished with a powerful Force jump. The two still on top of the ravine could only stare in surprise as the Vice-Captain flew through the air and all the way down, using the Force for a safe landing at the bottom.

"Well, sorry bub but it looks like we have our own ways down." Logan commented offhandedly before drawing his claws and jumping off the edge. As he flew down stone wall he used his claws to control his descent.

"…I…guess that leaves me then." Kimimaro replied to himself before taking his own controlled jump off the cliff face. If the day so far was any indication, they were going to have an interesting time cleaning out these bases.

As they dove off the cliff none of them took notice of the freshly raising smoke far off in the distance. A nearby base of Orochimaru's had been attacked and the unspeakable horrors of the slaughter that took place there was something that none of them had seen since the Human Slaughter of 2016, back in Logan's world.

---Back in Osaka Port---

"So you see why we can't mess around. If my suspicions are right that Reish you fought could end up even more powerful than before." Nazomishi finished up his explanation and assumptions he was operating under.

"Then what are we doing sitting in here! We only have a month to get ready for this tournament, let's get training! Naruto belted. Sweets and Naruto certainly did not mix. How they were only starting to take effect now was beyond comprehension.

"My sentiments exactly, I did a lot of thinking today and I've come up with an adequate training schedule for us. I suggest we enjoy tonight because starting tomorrow we have a lot of work to day."

"Yosha, time to get back to some real training." Naruto said with an excided smirk while rubbing his hands together. Hinata on the other hand had to quirk an eyebrow at the excited behavior. She knew he loved training, but this much?

"So what awesome things do you have planned for us? Some awesome technique that can turn my flimsy pole into a massive sledge hammer to crush my enemies, some way to extending it like a spear through anything?" Hinata had to admit, those would be handy techniques to have. If someone could pull something like that out of nowhere it would certainly catch someone by surprise.

"Not remotely. We will get up at six and start off with some morning exercises. A few laps around the forest on our hands should suffice for starters. We need to build our upper body strength for your new fighting styles and that's one of the best ways I know of, there's a reason Gai's team does that so often. We will move on to others as necessary. Exercises will end at seven and we will spend the next hour learning how to properly wield and throw our new daggers. From then till nine we're going to work on hand to hand combat. From nine to one we will learn and practice the basic forms of you new styles. We will eat till one-thirty and meditate till two-thirty. At that time we will focus on counteracting a variety of combat styles by recognizing them and exploiting their weakness. With a few years of experience this will grant you the ability to utilize the technique known as the Shingan. We will do this until five-thirty. Then we will train specific techniques within your new styles until Seven-thirty and have dinner till eight. From then till ten we will study various combat tactics and where your new techniques will be useful in combat, as well as their strengths and weaknesses. Lastly from then till midnight we will study history of and pertaining to the Zate and significant events in your own world. This will include lessons in diplomacy which you will need as members of the Zate so pay careful attention."

As Nazomishi went on and one Naurto's grin got wider and wider as Hinata's shocked expression did the same. Naruto was going to love this until after dinner. Hinata on the other hand was wondering how she was going to keep from collapsing after the morning exercises. She had seen Neji come home repeatedly exhausted after Gai's 'brutally insane' training sessions as he had called them repeatedly.

'Is this what he did for that month?' Hinata wondered, knowing full well he wouldn't have stood a chance against that Reish before the exams. The thought soon passed through her head, 'How strong will I be by the tournament?' That thought had her excited.

---Orochimaru's Base – A Short Distance From Logan's Location---

Torment stood tall with his foot through the bloody crushed throat of a prisoner that escaped during his rampage. Closing his eyes and opening his mind he telepathically contacted Lord Torture.

"Do you have good news Torment?"

"He's not here and the labs were empty." Torment stated bluntly before opening his eyes. He heard something nearby break a limb. Darting from place to place a smirk grew on his face as he noticed several more playing running around. He was so easily distracted. Oh how he wished he could savor the snapping of their bones, the wringing of every neck… But his mission would not allow it.

"Pay attention, I could care less about those pathetic experiments of his. What I need is Orochimaru and his documentation on the Edo Tensei and other revival techniques. Get moving."

"Yes si-Lord"

"Lord Torture" Another voice entered the telepathic link. It was Famine.

"Your report yesterday was most disturbing. I pray for your sake your news is good. Torture replied sternly.

"After I left this Bevelle, I found the base you ordered. The labs were empty but I did discover that it wasn't Orochimaru. The Akatsuki Nagato had one of his bodies summoning away the labs. If I can track him down I should locate everything we need. If nothing else he could work to our advantages. "

"Good, good, I will alert Torment that his search is now limited to that of Orochimaru himself. I'll leave the search for Nagato and the documents to you."

"Yes my Lord."

Author's Notes: Now that I think about it this chapter really fits better with the previous chapter but whatever. I had intended on showing the meeting this chapter but this feels like a good place to end it. It would have been out a little sooner but finals got in the way and I've spend a great deal of time finishing up my lightsaber design. The links are in my profile. I call it Avalon and I'm so satisfied with it that I'm submitting it to a sabermaker to make twins for my Halloween costume. As I found out last year when I ordered a Jedi costume (the leather belt boots and covertech clip) it's good to order stuff like that way early because some sites have huge backlogs of orders and can't even get to your order for a month or two. Well, when you order it from a place that primarily makes the lightsabers anyway. Oh well, the quality is worth it!