Disclaimer: Okay, for the last time... I really don't own anything. Onto the story:

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Enter Koru

After many weeks of training, Fericul was almost ready. He had undergone many trials as a member of the Sabbathnian Army. He learned many new techniques and fighting styles in his training and was now far more powerful than even his father had been. Fericul had become quite versed in his wind and water powers, and was now the super soldier the army had been hoping for.

"Fericul quit screwing around!" a man by the name of Koru yelled. "We do not have time for your nonsense."

Koru was in his mid twenties, and looked just right for his age. He was around six feet tall, with fairly tan skin. He weighed about one hundred and eighty pounds and so was pretty well built. He had long, black hair that hung down past his blazing green eyes.

Although Koru still had a youthful look to him, he carried an air about him that was more becoming of a man much more on in his life. This could be attributed to the fact that, like Fericul, his entire clan had been wiped out and he was the last of his kind. Unlike Fericul, Koru had seen it all firsthand. He was there, watching as his brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, cousins and even parents were mowed down as though they were mere blades of grass in the way of the Salean Shinobi Army.

They were not any kind of fighting clan; they were simply large and diverse family. Some were ninja, but not many. Most were ordinary people, with jobs in carpentry, construction, politics, and other things. And so when the Salean Shinobi Army marched on their town, they had not much to defend themselves with. It was all over in a few hours, they were simply no match.

Koru had been lucky; he was taken captive and had been sent to a re-education camp. His time inside was a horrible one; constantly having Salean propaganda shoved down his throat, daily backbreaking manual labor, and the ever-present threat of death by torture if he were to disobey his Salean captors. After a grueling three months in that hell-hole, he escaped with nothing but the clothes on his back. It was one night, just before a shift change, when the guards were most tired and inattentive. Koru attacked a new, younger guard and escaped without anyone else seeing him.

For two weeks he wandered the forests, searching for any remnants of the Sabbathnian Ninja Army. He traveled by night so his trek was slow going. Yet he did soon encounter a unit of the army. He told them his story, and they took him in. He was made a private, and yet within the year he grew through the ranks with shows of valor and great displays of his abilities as a ninja and a leader. He was made a sergeant and put in charge of a powerful first-strike unit whose job it was to obliterate the enemy before they could mount an attack. But as soon as the capital was taken, his unit was dissolved and he was put in charge of the new recruits to the army. And now he was personally training Fericul.

"I said hurry it up!" Koru yelled at Fericul. "We are late for your monthly inspection by the general."

"Oh come on," Fericul shouted back through the door. "I am getting ready for General Ridgley's nonsensical testing." He was in his bedroom putting on his outfit; regular black ninja clothes with his steel-lined, black trench coat over it all. General Ridgley was fond of attacking Fericul at random to make sure he was really preparing and so this time, Fericul wanted to be ready.

He opened the door and walked out into the hallway where Koru was waiting. "Let us go Koru," Fericul addressed him with much familiarity and although Koru disliked such informalities within his ranks, he allowed it with Fericul. "Do you think the general will be satisfied with my progress? I am getting quite tired of all of this waiting. I was told that I would be able to get my revenge soon. I appreciate all that you have done for me Koru, but General Ridgley is getting on my nerves. He always says, 'next time, next time, next time you will be ready' but it never happens."

"Calm yourself," Koru spoke quietly as they began to walk through the barracks. "When you see the general, he will examine you one last time, and you will be given your first mission. I hope you are ready for this Fericul."

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