(Unknown location)
"What is the current status report on the mission.?" An old voice asked from behind a seat.
"Itachi and his team of misfits have reacted as you expected them to my lord. Currently we know he has called a friend of his to help him. Said friend is travelling with the white dragon emperor and an unknown female and are expected to meet up with Itachi in a day." A kneeling man said blankly with no emotion on his face.
"I see, young Itachi is still inexperienced and being hunted by two clans isn't helping him. But both he and the siblings he is helping are inconsequential. The one we need is the friend who is coming. Send our best assassins to greet our guests and make sure they know to break the group up. Getting Seigfried alone will be smoother for our plans. Leave now." The old man said opening his eyes to reveal red eyes with 3 black spinning tomoes.
"Hai my lord." The kneeling man said before he stood up and disappeared into the shadows.
"You have already thwarted me once young Itachi but this time I am being serious let us see how you react when you learn that you unknowingly led your own friend right where I need him to be." The old man mused before he too disappeared into the shadows.
(With Issei, Seigfried and Ambriel)
"So remind me again why you are here?" Issei asked in a slightly irritated tone as he eyed Ambriel who was sitting next to him. Seigfried had taken the seat opposite to the duo. The trio were currently seated in a train cabin and were travelling to Seigfrieds friends village.
"What I had nothing fun to do so I tagged along. Are you telling me that my presence here isn't appreciated?" She asked as she gave a small pout.
"You know doing that is unfair." Issei grumbled at Ambriel knowing that she was teasing him and had put him in a tight spot.
"Doing what?" She asked innocently making Issei grumble and then give a tired sigh. He then stood up and said
"I'm off to the toilet I will be back soon." Issei said as he left the cabin. As he closed the door behind him Ambriel let out a chuckle before she smiled softly.
"You know if you like him just tell him that you do, he won't push you away or anything." Seigfried commented absentmindedly as he stared out the window.
"Oh two questions 1) how do you know that? and 2) what makes you think that I am interested in him much less like him?" Ambriel asked with a raised eyebrow.
"We were best friends till both of us were 10 and we have regained the same level of friendship after we met up again so I'd like to think that I know my bestfriend. And two its really bloody obvious to everyone but him. Both of you have started talking more, you have even moved into the lucifuge mansion, Aine and Rossweisse are your friends and you forced yourself into coming with us today. Does that explain my reasoning?" Seigfried finished with a raised eyebrow.
Ambriel gaped a bit at the second part of the explanation and looked away with a tiny blush. "Ok fine, I admit he is different than the others I have been courted by before and he also doesn't follow any of the stereotypes I have heard before. He Makes me curious." She said honestly.
"Heh just talk to him, he won't turn you away rather he will give both of you an honest chance." Seigfried said. However before their conversation could continue the door of the cabin slid open and Issei entered through it.
He had a frown etched on his face and a slight cut on his cheek that wasn't there when he first left. His eyes were hard and were seemingly glowing. Before he could speak Ambriel was in front of a hand going up to his cheek as she said "What happened, you are not hurt are you?"
Hearing her voice and concern made his eyes soften up a great deal and he nodded and said "I am fine, but the parameters of this mission just got a whole lot of messed up."
"What do you mean?" Seigfried asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Your friend itachi is currently being hunted by two different clans, The uchiha was already expected but I didnt expect the clan of 1000 skills to be involved as well. From what I have gathered the senju clan had two kids with unique abilities to save themselves they ran and Itachi helped them and became a fugitive being hunted by two clans." Issei said grimly.
"But we already knew that, it shouldn't be surprising." Seigfried said only to falter slightly when Issei glared at him.
"It would have been the case if it were just that. I just fought of 5 A rank assassins." He said in a biting tone.
"What?? How is that possible, they shouldn't know we are here." Ambriel said the alarm in her voice was clear.
"Thats exactly my point, the strongest warriors from both clans can easily fight at ultimate class level, me I can take on one of them at a time not a whole clan of them. Someone is either keeping an eye on us or your friend betrayed you and is luring you in for something." Issei said to Seigfried his voice hard and his eyes shining. The sight made Seigfried swallow a bit, anyone who knew Issei would know that he loathed betrayal more than anything and to learn that his second oldest friend could have possibly lead them into trap was betrayal. However he knew Itachi and was willing to talk to him before everything went shit.
Composing himself he took in a deep breath and said " Can you tell me what happened since you went to the bathroom. It couldn't have taken you more than 30 minutes there.?"
His jaw still tight Issei nodded and began describing what had happened 30 mins ago.
(Issei 30 mins ago)
Issei gave out a fond sigh as he left the cabin a small but geniune grin on his face. Ambriel was slowly making her way into his heart. The only people who had made it faster to it were Aine and Rossweisse the girls he had become most attached. Rossweisse still acted shy and that was what made her all the more adorable in his eyes.
Aine the girl who had captured his heart with the speed and force of a nuclear bomb needed no explanation. Ambriel was gaining speed and he knew if she continued on as she he would make the first move and ask Azazel himself. In his musings he did not notice 5 shadows converging on him ready to attack.
One of the shadows bought out a portable knife , and aimed said knife at Issei targeting the area in between his eyes. As soon as Issei left the bathroom the shadow threw the knife with startling accuracy. Issei however felt the projectile coming towards him long before it got close to him and immediately channelled a bit of his magic causing a small spec of Ice to appear in the knifes path.
The knife however was thrown with not only power but also a certain spin. The moment it hit the small ice shield it deflected towards Issei and cut his cheek making him bleed a little. Issei then tensed his muscles and cracked his shoulders and said "Well since you have already given up your presence you might as well come out."
He boredly called out making the five shadows curse before they stepped out without sound. Spotting the clan symbols on their outfits Issei raised his eyebrow and said " The senju and uchiha kuh? How did you know we were coming? I doubt you'd have spies so far deep to know about us at this distance."
"Lets just say our leaders know more than everyone assumes them to know. And you currently are a thorn to their plans we will have to kill you, nothing personal." The lead assassin said as the 5 withdrew their blades and pointed them at Issei.
Looking at the blades Issei said "We are going to fight then eh? Good thing, there was always something Id always wanted to try out. Durandal:- Gear 5 twin destruction daggers."
He finished while pushing both his hands outwards. In the palm of both hands blue and gold coloured daggers appeared. The daggers were sharp and glinted as the light fell on them. This was the latest form of durandal that Issei had unlocked it condensed its power even more bringing forth more devastation with several times more speed in movement.
"Now then lets dance." Issei said as a barrier went up and he charged at the five assassins. As soon as he charged the lead assassins eyes widened before he signalled for the others to intercept the attack while he himself decided to once again meld in the shadows. Something that Issei had said interested him beyond measure. He needed to observe more before he went back to give his report.
The fight was a fast pace one and despite the advantage given to the assassins by the sharingan and stronger bodies Issei had little to no trouble keeping up with the 4. Going as far to out manoeuvre the uchiha clan assassins with pure last moment reactions and instincts all the while physically overpowering the senju assassins.
The thing that put the final nail in the coffin was the grin that had come on to his lips. Despite it being a battle of death the boy had look of enjoyment plastered on his face. There was only one man who had such a look when he was in a fight that he enjoyed. That was the strongest a member of his clan had ever reached, the great Madara Uchiha.
Getting the confirmation that he wanted the lead assassin melted away to a shadow outside of the train before he quickly stood up and ran towards the clan headquarters to report his finding.
Back with Issei he decided to stop messing around and finally end the fight even if he was enjoying it immensely. Coating one dagger with the power of destruction he bought it out and slashed it downwards sending a small arc of destruction towards the assassins who were slightly shocked by the change of attack and it caused them to get hit since they did not have much place to manoeuvre. The senju clan assassins went down first as they were hit by the arc.
The uchiha assassins both jumped only for one to get the stabbed by a thrown dagger version of durandal. The second assassin was grabbed by issei before he was judo thrown on the floor landing with both his hands under his body. Issei guickly placed both the daggers against the assassins throat in a reverse grip.
"Now than," Issei said in a casual voice as if he were discussing the weather. " Who told you that we were coming, its not possible that you would know for no reason." He finished as he lightly pressed the daggers foreward signalling the wordless threat in the face of him not answering.
The assassin sneered at Issei in distate before he contemplated his next course of action. He was a dead man either way, either he would die right now at the hands of the young dragon emperor, he would be killed the moment he returned to the clan as an example for those who fail to get their assigned targets.
So he decided to take the loss here but it wouldn't be a clean one. He would ensure that the group travelling would be vary of the ones they were meeting. A bit of discord in the group after all went a very long way.
"If you really want to know it was Itachi Uchiha who informed us of your position. That is all you will get out of me, so kill me." The assassin said with a spat.
"Gladly." Issei said before he beheaded the assassin infront of him. Before he stood up his face set into a blank visage. With everything done and him not finding the persence of the last assassin he nodded to himself before cancelling the barrier and then walking back towards his cabin mates not at all noticing that the cut on his cheek was lightly bleeding. He however did decide to withhold the last piece of information given to him by the assassin. It wouldn't do for him to disrupt the team chemistry before the crux of the mission even happened.
Not to mention he did not want to hurt Seigfried with the news that one of his most trusted friends had been the one to leak his location and set him up to potentially die. With his mind made up he entered the cabin, his face void of any emotion.
(Back in the present)
"And that is what happened." Issei said as he crossed his arms and leant back on to his seat.
"That is troubling, the situation is even more dire than I thought it would be." Seigfried muttered distractedly.
"But our mamas raised us to be fighters, I am pretty sure that among the three of us we will be able to deal with whatever is thrown at us." Ambriel said passionately from her position besides Issei.
"Amy chan has that right Seigfried, I won't let you face it alone, even if its a trap I will be walking with you in to it." Issei said resolutely.
"Thanks guys." Seigfried said as his shoulders sagged in relief. He wouldn't admit it to them but he felt scared, there was something about this whole situation that made him feel cold, and sent unpleasant shivers up his spine.
"Anytime." Issei said as he began looking out the window. After staring at the scenery outside he noted that they were still quiet a few ways away from their destination.
Looking back at his companions he said "Listen guys get some sleep, I will wake you guys up when we are about to arrive."
Both tried to argue but a stern glance from Issei told them that there was no room for any argument. With a sigh both of them nodded. Seigfried just leant his head back and closed his eyes while Ambriel went a step further and laid her head on Isseis lap sending him an innocent look when he raised his eyebrows at her.
Shrugging he cast a warm smile in her direction as one of his hands found her scalp and started to massage it softly. The affect was immediate and Ambriel soon yawned after which her breathing evened out and she fell asleep.
(Elsewhere)
"My lord I bring news." A voice greeted a dark room.
"And pray tell what was it that made you abandon your mission." A similar old voice replied.
"I have found the legacy of Lord Madara Uchiha." The first voice said with barely concealed excitement sending the room into shocked silence.
BANG THATS IT FOR THE CHAP HOPE YOU LIKED IT. I AM SORRY FOR THE BELATED UPDATE BUT UNI WAS A KILLER AND I FINALLY GOT TIME TO WRITE AFTER I GOT THESE HOLIDAYS. READ AND REVIEW.
