Chapter 8.

Since Muteki was staying by Hansuke's side during recovery. She had not yet booked herself a hotel room until today. The hospital staff told Muteki about a hotel not too far from their location. So, she borrowed one of their umbrellas and made her way over through the crowed streets. The buildings are taller than she imagined they would be, and the color scheme is certainly gloomy. The rain is going to be hard to get used to as well. She wondered if there ever was sun around here or was that just a myth?

'Does it matter? I made a contract! I did it! I. did. It. Me, myself, and I. NO CRAZY CURSE. This is all about my skill and nothing else! Papa is going to be so proud! If I need some sun and a change in scenery- I'll just take a vacation!' She took the final turn onto the street priorly mentioned by the nurses. Sure enough there was the sign for the inn.

'My own shop! I'm going to have my own shop!' A massive looming figure took a step before her. The husky, bearded man is completely blocking her path and her path alone. Muteki had hoped this was by accident but when she met his eyes it was made clear to her that this was no such coincidence. Much like back when she first met Hansuke.

'Not this shit again. Feels like these days I can't take 10 steps without someone getting in my way.'

"Hello?" The man grunted back at her in a huff. His dismay and sheer annoyance is clear as day.

"And just WHY are you here Haruno Muteki!? Last I heard you were still apprenticing under your father!?" Muteki scanned his features but came back blank.

"Well, you obviously know my name. Yet I don't know who you are? Are you a friend of my father or something?" The man gasped.

"Friend!? Your father's business sucked my own father's shop dry! He even ran my family out of the Hidden Leaf! Our clan lost millions of ryo thanks to him!" (A/N I'm using yen currency, so in dollars this is hundreds of thousands)

"My father's business-? OH, SHIT you're a blacksmith! Yea I suppose you wouldn't be a fan of my dad then. Haha! Sorry but I still don't know your name. Just who are you?" She is still chuckling, but the man isn't laughing alongside her. No, he's enraged.

"I am of the honorable Fukushima clan! Fukushima Reiji! We are the greatest blacksmiths to ever grace the Land of Fire and the Hidden Rain! We have been arming this land ever since your father destroyed our livelihood decades ago! I will be damned before I sit here and let you try to take our business again! There is nothing for you here, girl! Leave now! Shoo!" The Fukushima clansmen tried to ward her off by flicking his fingers in Muteki's face. She froze when she thought he'd anger the curse, but it appears he doesn't truly mean her harm since the curse allowed him to do so. Although just because the curse allowed him to behave this way doesn't mean Muteki will.

"Ok, I'm going to ask you politely to back up." The two of them were beginning to draw a crowd. So many already recognized Reiji but no one knew who the pink haired girl was. Apparently, she is an enemy to the blacksmith, seeing as he was now screaming in her face.

"I will 'back up' when you LEAVE! You are not needed here!" An immature side of Muteki wanted to point out that he was too late. But she stifled it, thinking it best not to escalate the situation.

"I can exist where I damn please old man! Can you please move-!" She searched the crowd for assistance.

"-Hello? Can someone stop him? C'mon I just want to book a room!" Not a single person moved. There were people in the crowd who held the jurisdiction to. Yet they wanted to watch the show unfold.

"-Seriously? No one? Damn it." She tried to spin around Reiji, but the massive man only had to take a step to get in her way again. Muteki could use some shinobi skills but she's worried about how her curse would react if she decided to get into a fight with so many people around. She could hurt someone, sure. But she's more concerned with her image at this point. The weaponsmith is going to get her shop, these people may possibly be her future customers. Everything is lining up and she refused to have this thing exposed and terrorize them. Muteki even made Hansuke swear to keep her curse a secret. They don't know her here. She can just be the weaponsmith Haruno Muteki. To be recognized for a skill she possesses that she worked for. It's all she's ever wanted. Yet Reiji had no such concerns and continued to berate her.

"I will not let you pass child! Turn around and march back to the Leaf! Be gone with yourself! Return to your father and stay there!" *Hand flick, hand flick. *

"Listen, I'm trying to mind my own business!" Reiji flicked his hands even more. His fingers nearly poked her eye.

"That's the problem! Go away!"

*Hand flick, hand flick*

"-Will you please stop- "Muteki begged.

*Hand flick, Hand flick*

"Ok seriously stop that- "The man is quiet.

*Flick, flick*

"Fukushima was it?"

*Flick, flick*

"I'm trying to be nice here?" In Reiji's mind he said what he needed to, so he merely continued to shoo her.

"Leave!" *Hand flick, Hand flick* Muteki's control is wavering. If this man keeps this up, she's liable to blow a gasket.

"Just leave me alone you overgrown man child! I'm going to that damn inn you hear!? If you have a problem with my FATHER than you need to take that up with him!"

*Flick, flick. *

"ALRIGHT FUCK IT. I'LL FIND ANOTHER INN JUST LEAVE ME THE FUCK ALONE PLEAAASE!?"

"You will do no such thing! I will follow you until you leave the gates if I must!" That finally broke Muteki's composure.

"YOU ARE GOING TO MOVE OUT OF MY WAY WITH YOUR MUSTY ASS BEFORE I SHATTER YOUR KNEECAPS."

*Flick-* Muteki's grip crushed down on the man's hand. The pain shot all the way up his arm into his spine as Reiji's nerves cried out from the pressure. Quite a hard thing to do to a blacksmith's hardened hands.

"MOVE."She used her leverage to force him to the side. When she released Reiji, he found that his hand had already turned purple. The feeling is gone but he didn't believe she broke it. After he finished his quick check, Reiji turned back to stop her. Yet he was too slow, she was already entering the inn before he had the chance. The crowd disintegrated once the skirmish had come to an end. Many could be heard giggling at Reiji's defeat.

He couldn't take it.

No, his father warned him of them. He can't let her stay.

Even if he has to kill her...

With Reiji's heart set on revenge. He went to take a step towards his home. Only to trip and fall on his face.

"Agh! What the Hell did I trip on!?" An innocent frog had been at the wrong place at the wrong time. It survived being stepped on but frantically hopped away from the furious looking human.

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arispuffer- Thank you for reading and reviewing! I'm so glad to hear! And I hope I don't disappoint!