I inhaled, breathing it deep. Thankfully, it seems mental preparation far trumps physical limits… if I had them. The cigarette smoke didn't burn my windpipe on the way in or out. Hm. Nicking a packet from Aoi's stash had been easy, and the reward was fulfilling when I was hit with the same high that I used to have when I first started smoking. As the smoke swirled through the air, a slight wave of melancholy hit me – here I was, given a second chance or whatever, and I've already picked up one of the many bad habits I used to have when I was Yvon.
Oh well.
Apparently, I was in the hospital for a week, because I had to sit the Advanced Placement exam the very next day after I was released. I don't know how, or why, since my body usually dealt with negative status effects after I slept for an hour. I aced the test, of course, and spent the whole day with my friends. It was the first time they had seen me with Naruto and began to coo over the bond we had. I was not amused when Biko affirmed me to be a 'momma bear'.
I am NOT motherly! I just slaughtered how many ever ROOT agents I could reach because… I'm just not, okay?!
Ahem.
The next three months I spent taking things easy. After I became a Genin, my life was going to be, without a doubt, busy as hell; so, I took a break from any learning and spent time with my growing circle of friends and family. Hideki and Ryosuke competed for my attention a lot, for god knows what reason and Mai had to be a mediator all too often. Kitsuna and Itachi brought a sense of stability and sanity to the group, while Biko was just… Biko.
Word of my 'training mishap', as the Hokage had so kindly publicized, had spread like wild-fire throughout the village. Thus, I did not only have to deal with an overbearing orphanage staff but also practically the entire village-population. I was being asked of my well-being wherever I went, the elderly wanted me to sit down a lot, and the shinobi clans actually offered to tutor me, all in their own ways. I couldn't show favoritism to any single clan because I might lose reputation with the others, so I declined them all – in keeping with my plan to relax.
I also hadn't found out jack about Orochimaru yet. Hmm... I should really get around to doing that, sometime.
The last evening before I began training seriously for the graduation exam, I didn't spend resting. Instead, I began to hash out my character more. With my new mastery of all bladed weapons, I was already overpowered. Then, if you added on the bending, my rank shot through the roof. Don't even get me started about the Mark. Still, though, I wouldn't give up my battle just yet – I would never be as overpowered as the system apparently wants me to be! Nah-uh, Legion is his own man, folks!
I layered my abilities mentally. Surprisingly, the whole village did not know that I had a major affinity for water to such an extent that moving it came to me as natural as breathing, even though I usually used it to amuse any toddlers I have on me at any time; so, I could still keep it to myself. Maybe they thought it was a simple jutsu…? Eh. The intricacies of the ninja and civilian minds of this world were not mine to comprehend… at least not where this is considered.
That couldn't be my primary means of attack willy-nilly. What I could use, however, was kenjutsu. It was subtle enough not to draw too much undue attention amongst those who did not know me, and it was also believable enough for me to have mastered it. I guess that's a priority, now, getting a good blade and using it in my general repertoire. Maxing out the skill from the knowledge of others gave me… a… strange style. It was extremely odd to be able to recall learning… and not actually knowing what I learned. I assume it will come to me when I grasp a blade. That coupled with being stealthy ought to be my main drive as a shinobi on missions. I can master anything my inner-child wants me to on my own time without giving away my strengths to random shinobi I met on my journeys.
My fallback plan can be my bending. No one has a defense against it, especially blood-bending. In situations where defeat is not an option, this can be my go-to solution. When my reach over the elements reaches to encompass all four and their subsidiaries, it will be the final frontier that none of my adversaries will be able to cross.
Now I know what to do next – my gear. The ROOT-level gear I had pilfered from Fuu had been confiscated, and I wasn't sure if I would ever get it back, but I can go out and buy more gear now. I'll need light armor that conceals well, and a good sword. I checked my wallet to see my limits – around two thousand ryo. Given how easy it was to obtain, I don't think that's a lot. So, I need to find a good source of money.
Simple enough.
It should be incredibly easy to sneak out of the village with my currently maxed out [Subterfuge] level and find a good bandit camp to take out. I'd be doing the region a favor and filling my coffer at the same time, victims of the robberies notwithstanding. I guess I can take another day asking around for rumors of such attacks. I can use a map to pinpoint the location, sneak and teleport over, deal with the bandits and take their money, and be back in an hour, tops.
A ninja must always have his tricks though. Standard gear that I can purchase from the store will always be only alright, even from the best selection. I guess I can make my own. For that I'll need to learn how to work with metal, leather, and cloth. Then… can create some trick weapons. A fast-draw system for the sword from its sheath like Sam had in Metal Gear Rising, a crossbow like Corvo's from Dishonored, and… a hidden blade, like the assassin's had.
I never really got the point of it, actually. What's the point of the hidden blade when an obscured weapon would do just as well? But having a blade that had no chance of being separated from you had its uses, and its many additions and forms can be a boon… as long as it is never, ever, taken from me and studied. Maybe I'll have to study sealing for that one.
Armor, sword, modifications to the sword and sheath, a crossbow, and then the hidden blade… which had nothing to do with the coolness factor at all. Nope. Pure utility.
It was at this moment that the gigantic clock tower that was set atop the Merchant's Guild tolled, signaling twelve o'clock at night.
PING!
Eh?
[You have survived for one year in Ninpo Online! You have been advanced to the next level!]
[You have leveled up!]
[Title Unlocked: Fledgling Adventurer!]
[Affected by Active Effect: Trans-dimensional Convergence]
Crap.
I felt the cigarette hitting the floor just as my vision blurred, and then I was in my Dive to the Heart. The warp was instantaneous and near miss-able if it wasn't for the fact that I had literally been transported somewhere else.
I looked around. The place had changed quite a lot from the last time I'd been here. Where before there was endless darkness, there was now a stormy sea around my platform. The sky swirled with black energies, and I swear I could see debris flying around in there. It seems that my water-bending and the Mark altered my Dive. How RPG of me.
I took a drag, still in a pleasant slight-buzz, as a door materialized in front of me. It was unremarkable, but seeing it set me on edge. When Roxas walked through that door, he faced that giant man-shaped nobody. I didn't have a weapon on me save for my [Chakra no Mesu], but that shouldn't be a problem given that I was literally in my element.
I walked through without much thought.
I appeared on an identical platform, but this time with glass stairs leading upwards to even more of them. I shrugged, pulling out my cigarette and exhaling, and decided to get this over with.
A few steps up the stairs and there was a ping of darkness in front of me. When it cleared, I was treated to- Wait. Holy shit! Was that a Shade?
Dragon Age was one of my favorite games ever. It was one of those where I just had to play on the worst possible difficulty the first time around, and then mess around with cheats and stuff on the easiest via a second playthrough. The lore was what drew me in more than anything – it felt like I could draw a lot of parallels with it to my own world's history and legends. So to see what amounted to the easiest minion of the Fade here…
My excitement doubled.
It roared when its eyes landed on my form. It flew forward with a speed I hadn't seen before in canon. Huh. Well, it looks like the creatures had been amped up in this version. I cartwheeled to the side and used my motion to bring up a volume of water. It was immediately plunged into the ocean by an 'errant' wave. Oops.
"Sorry!" I called over the stairs as I continued on my way, now feeling a little better about the situation. Even if I was back in here to face an inner enemy, at least it was going to be one of my favorite franchises!
I encountered at least a dozen more. Given where I was, it didn't seem quite so important that I scan them and trying to destroy their minds with [Telepathy] seemed like a risky maneuver, so I just kept plunging them down. They didn't have blood to bend in them, and since I sliced one open and didn't receive any experience, killing them seemed… a bother.
When I reached the highest (and largest) platform, I was greeted with a treasure chest. How novel. You can't fool me with an empty platform, game! I've played way too many RPGs to not know that here is where the Bossfight occurs!
Suddenly excited, I began to make my way over…
When I was swatted by something large and grey. My cigarette was knocked out off my lips as I flew through the air and hit the ground hard, sliding towards the edge of the platform. It was then that [Gamer's Mind] shook me out of my daze, and I backflipped, using the tree-walking exercise to stick my landing.
Standing protectively in front of the chest was…
"Fucking hell! Whoever's responsible better get a raise, Outsider!" I grinned, drawing water from far below to me and settling them around my arms like whips, readying myself for a serious battle.
"Your master will not help you here, human." The Pride Demon calmly replied, charging a ball of lightning in his hand. "My own now rules this place. You will be his slave, or you will be cast aside."
Okay, back the fuck up. Master…? The only thing remotely close to one of the sorts was the Nightmare demon from Inquisition. So, who ruled over this one?
I didn't have time to dwell on that as It launched the sphere, and I had to dodge it. It was now that I thanked my ludicrously-high (I think) [AGL] stat since I'm moving at high speeds even without tapping into the speed-force. Gah! Even without wanting to be overpowered, I still was…
I whipped about in the air and the water around my arm thinned and extended, phasing partly into ice at the end and scoring a lucky hit, removing the thing's arm.
It screamed. "You will pay for that, human!"
"Sorry, I don't deal with demons." I quipped, ducking an enraged fist. While it gathered its bearings, I scanned it for good measure.
[Pride Demon – Level 15
HP - 16589/25000
MP - 16800/17000
Constitution - 25
Strength - 38
Agility - 12
Intelligence - 17
Luck - ?
Wisdom - 32
?]
Why in the world was he so weak…?
Oh. Wait. I'd probably be around his level if I hadn't decided to destroy ROOT. Crap. Is this battle even worth it? Will he just keel over if I drilled a hole into him?
"Who is your master?" I demanded, slipping into a water-bending stance and gesturing grandly. The platform began to rumble. "Tell me before I finish you off, and I may consider sparing you."
"Pathetic attempt at intimidation, human." It snarled, clutching the stump of its sliced-off hand, from where black smoke poured out. "You hold no sway over me, Regis, once a king!"
That name sounded familiar, but I shrugged it off. "You were warned." I spoke instead and sharply gestured upwards.
The oceans far below use finally broke the limit to where we could see and came rushing upwards. Water swirled around the platform as if it were a tornado reaching high up into the sky.
The demon did not react, not that I could tell from its gnarly visage. Instead, it snarled, opting to charge me one last time. Well, it was a Pride Demon, and I could hardly fault it for wanting to go down fighting. I would do the same if the situation ever arose.
When it was within grabbing distance, it probably thought it won. Instead, it was skewered with multiple spikes of ice the even broke through the glass of the platform, cracking it in several places.
"You… will not…" it feebly tried, before it burst into black smoke entirely.
"How… anticlimactic…" I honestly drawled, and then blinked. The moment the smoke evaporated, the world around me seemed to come to a standstill. The waters stopped swirling and seemingly froze in place. The skies slowly halted in their churning movements. The noises dimmed until it was all silent.
Then, there were muted thuds. They were soft, but vibrated through the platform, and thus by extension, me. The water around me slowly whitened over, and then shattered – I only belatedly realized that it had turned into ice.
Surrounding the platform were six hulking figures I almost instantly recognized. I loved the game they were from, really, and played it over and over and over… and then some more. But seeing them here… were all fictional characters of my time alive? What did that say about those who created them?
"Legion." Thundered the voice of the mostly black Draconian warrior that hovered tall in the sky. Even though he was far from my position, he was mightier than any sight I had laid eyes upon in both lives… and I had seen the Kyuubi. "Troubled warrior of another world… you have defeated your inner demons and cleared your horizons. In respect of this, I, Bahamut, King of the Astral Realm, would bestow upon you the right to call my kind in blessed battle."
I… okay, what the fuck? WHAT THE FUCK? FUCK YOU, GAME! I DON'T WANT TO BE SO OVERPOWERED! FUCK, I ALREADY AM! SCREW YOU AND YOUR NORMIE MODERATORS!
"My lord… I… think you have forgotten that none may understand us, save those who are touched by the Oblivion Crystal." Ramuh, the Fulgurian, whispered from the being's lower right. "I believe we best allow Shiva to transform into her human avatar to commune with our next chosen."
Bahamut… looked sheepish? What the fuck? "Of course, I… I was aware…"
"Truly?" Shiva in her giantess form, the Glacian mused from a position around the platform I was on, directly in front of me. "Our benevolent lord truly remembers such trivialities?"
"I was unaware our 'benevolent lord' even remembered anything." A gruff voice spoke from behind me, and I recognized it immediately as the Infernian. I turned to see a scowling Ifrit glaring down at me. "I see nothing special about this mortal. Perhaps the wretched Void-walker was mistaken."
"The Outsider gives his Mark only to those who truly have a chance to change the weave of fate." An impossibly deep voice spoke from my current left. There stood the Archaean, Titan, arms crossed and with an expressionless visage. "I see it on his hand."
"That fool might as well have been mistaken." A screechy female voice spoke to my back, and I almost whirled to glimpse the Hydraean. Leviathan, in all her serpentine glory, hovered in the air, impossibly-long body seemingly coiled around the platform itself. "I see nothing of value. He does not even appear close to matching the standards that other boy had."
Sick of being spoken about like I wasn't there, I finally spoke up. "You lot do realize Í'm right here, don't you?"
The six Astral Lords, collectively known as the Hexatheon, all stilled.
"You speak our tongue." Ramuh murmured, lowering himself a bit closer to the platform. That wasn't saying much, however, since he was probably four times over as tall as the Hokage Mountain. "This… is impossible."
"Impossible… until now." I trailed, making a show of blowing at my fingernails, then rubbing them against my clothes. "I regularly break beyond the standards of the impossible." I lied. The only reason I was anything of worth was that I belonged to a world where all of these… were stories. "And what's not to understand? You're speaking regular English, just like everyone I've… met… so far… SONOFABITCH!"
PING!
[Due to a special action, a game function has been revealed!
Translation: ON]
I stared at the screen in front of me with a twitching eye. So, I can listen and speak any language… ever? And read, too, because the books in the library had to be in Japanese, now that I think about it.
"Never mind. Apparently, I can understand any and all languages. How... ugh. I literally can't even, right now." I grumbled. "Dormammu? If you're listening, can I bargain? For being a weaker character? Please? Pretty please with a giant 'fuck you' on top?"
The six figures didn't seem to know what to make of my impromptu desire to yell to the heavens.
"Okay. I'm going to take that as a 'no'." I called out, then sighed. "Fucking flaming skeleton."
"Oh, I like this one." Ifrit snickered. "I would like to change my vote to 'yes'… even though I was unanimously voted against."
"You remind me of Loki." I shot at him. "That… is really not a good being to remind me of."
"Silence!" Titan roared, visibly annoyed. He deflated and face-palmed when Ifrit and I both adopted an innocent expression. "Now there are two of them." Titan sighed. "Will you bring the Star-Scourge to your world as well?"
I shrugged. "I'm not Ardyn, and he's not me. On the other hand, I'm not as emo or broody as Noctis, and I don't really know how the kings before Regs were, so I'm just gonna say that I'm gonna be my own man, okay?"
"You know of events you should not." Ramuh mused, eyes narrowing. "Truly, an interesting phenomenon."
"For- Look, I would very much like to get back to what my life is now, okay?" I grumbled. "And I also don't want your flipping covenant. I'm fine without it and I'd rather not summon the lot of you into the Elemental Nations. So, can I just go?"
"You dare deny our covenant?!" Leviathan screeched. "Idiot boy! Know your place!"
"Thank you very much, snake-face, but I'm. Not. Interested. Got it memorized?" I asked, tapping my temple.
"Why do you wish not to bond into a covenant with the Astral Realm?" Shiva asked, tilting her head in confusion. "Most would tremble at the chance to summon their own army."
"Because I don't want to." I pouted, crossing my arms. "I'm already too powerful. I don't want to be so. And… what army are you even talking about? It's just the six of you that I see."
"By entering into a covenant with us, you gain the right to summon any of our children, and even ourselves, in the time of your most dire needs." Bahamut declared. God, even his voice sounded righteous. Very puke-inducing.
"Your… children…" I trailed, then stopped.
Final Fantasy 15 was going to be Versus 13 first, a part of the Nova Chrysalia line. It means, at some point in time, they shared a universe. I don't know why it was decided to scrap the decision, but eh, we got a good game out of it, so who was I to question that? So, anyway, if the lot of them shared a universe, and these guys have children… Astral children… Oh. Wait. WHAT?!
"NO. Hell no! Fuck Dormammu! Fuck all six of you! I'm not going to be summoning an army of Nektons like Caius Ballad! NO!" I vehemently denied, stomping my foot. "Get the fuck out of my mind!"
"We are currently in connection with your soul." Ifrit corrected.
I made a face. "Whatever. Just leave! God, you'd think the six of you would get the message!"
The other five members looked very unsure. "You… truly do not wish to bond in a covenant with us?"
"NO!"
"This… is unprecedented." Ramuh mused, but there was a smirk on his face. Dumbledore-alert! "However, you simply must. If we leave without bestowing upon you the Covenant, it will be… problematic."
"Lemme guess, you're not going to elaborate on that, are you?" I snarked, rubbing my temples. "Killing myself was the worst decision I ever made."
"You are still alive." Shiva helpfully reminded me.
"If you wish not to join in a Covenant with us, then so be it." Bahamut decreed, but he looks visibly unsure. "In exchange, however, you must perform… a duty."
"I don't want your glorified summoning-contract, so I don't need to do jackshit for you." I growled. "Leave. L. E. A. V. E. Get out!"
"You must find another to bear the burden." Ramuh picked up after his Lord, given that the other was… in a rather amusing state of being spellbound at the sheer audacity I was currently exhibiting. I felt like I ruled, for a moment, until I registered what he said.
"I'm NOT giving anyone your covenant!" I cried out. "Do you know what someone in my world could do with even one… of… Actually, never mind. Hand it to me, and I'll make sure I pick a good summoner."
Almost as soon as I agreed, a hovering light appeared in front of me. On closer inspection, it turned out to be a shining bright diamond the size of my fist. It flew towards me, and I quickly opened my inventory so that it zipped right in. I couldn't trust them to not fool me into a covenant… ugh.
"Smear the blood of the summoner upon this diamond, and a Covenant will be forged." Ramuh explained, looking a little put out. Wait, was he really expecting me to fall for becoming their summoner just like that? "Beware: this anima can only be used once. Once it has been used, it is rendered a part of its's summoner's soul-"
"Whatever, goat-rider." I shrugged. "I get the gist. Can I go, now?" Then I started glowing. "Oh, I'm glowing."
My eyes snapped open, back in the real world. I sighed and looked outside, absently noting the position of the moon and the background noise of the clock tolling. It had been an hour. Great.
I quickly opened my game menu and navigated over to the inventory, which was empty save for a couple of books from the library that I… ahem… procured, and the anima. I highlighted it to read its description.
[Anima Crystal – Astral Gate
The only Anima to exist today. Bleeding upon it will allow someone to enter into a Covenant with the entirety of the Astral Realm, granting them the ability to summon, bond with, and learn from, the Astrals.]
Okay…. So that really was real. Okay. I just talked back to six gods. At once. I'm a badass!
I did a little jig around my room in celebration before calming down. Wait! Hadn't I leveled up before…? I excitedly navigated over to my [Character Page] and assigned the five points I had.
[Character Page
Gundan – Level 38
Title: Outsider's Chosen
Next Level: 0/18,000xp
HP - 490
QI - 490
RR - 490
CON - 39
STR - 39
AGL - 93
INT - 39
LCK - 94
WIS - 3 9]
Great! So now, I had to get eighteen thousand experience points to advance on to the next level… which was important why, exactly? I just want to change history – I don't need to be overpowered to do it!
Okay! SO! Here on out, I was going to do my best not to level up. Should be simple, right?
Anyway, now that it was officially the next day, it's best I get to training for the finals. However, first, I need to get my hands on the scrolls required and learn them myself. Ugh. Wait… shouldn't Academy teachers have them?
Well… I haven't broken into the Academy, yet. Why not?
I quickly spun on my heel and apparated, appearing right outside the entrance to the staff room. Creeping silently along the cubicles designed for the teachers on duty, I noted that, thankfully, the room was empty; probably since it was midnight. My almost godly [Subterfuge] skill ensured that no one caught me even if there happened to be an odd late-nighter.
I snuck into a cubicle assigned to our current homeroom teacher and began searching. I found all three of my intended prizes stuck in a box together and shoved haphazardly towards the corner of the desk. Thankfully, there was more than one copy of them, so I pulled out two of each and quickly stashed half into my inventory.
Then, I tapped a scroll.
PING!
[You have acquired the jutsu scroll; Ninpo: Bunshin no Jutsu.
Would you like to learn this jutsu?]
I quickly accepted.
PING!
[You have learned a new skill!
Bunshin no Jutsu (Active) Lv 1 (0.00%)
By ejecting chakra from your body and manipulating it, you are capable of creating a basic illusion of yourself. The image produced is intangible, and vanishes after a solid object passes through it.
Cost: 10CP
Duration: 30 seconds ]
Wow. That was a horrible skill. If it wasn't for the fact that it started users on the path to Genjutsu, it would be useless. Honestly, though, I already knew it would suck; but if I wanted to pass…
Now, for the two that were actually useful.
PING!
[You have learned a new skill!
Kawarimi no Jutsu (Active) Lv1 (0.00%)
After charging an object with your chakra, you can instantly substitute with it at any time.
Cost: 50CP
Range: 10m ]
Cool. Now I have a cop-out in case things get too hairy. With my amazing energy regeneration, this shouldn't be too taxing to use.
But what was this about charging the object with chakra? I was almost a hundred percent sure that Kakashi had substituted with a Naruto clone in canon at a split second's notice. How odd. Maybe this was a balancing mechanic? Nah, it's more than likely I don't know what really happened. The Shunshin and this one were jutsus that were hardly explained in canon.
PING!
[You have learned a new skill!
Henge no Jutsu (Active) Lv1 (0.00%)
By expelling chakra from each of your tenketsu and condensing it down to reflect a static image from your mind, you effectively project an illusion of having changed shape.
Cost: 10 CP/sec.]
Great. Being undercover for anything was now a viable option. Not that it wasn't before, mind you – I'd rather use a manual disguise that's hard to dispel and won't be expected than a simple jutsu that can be dispelled by another… I think? I mean, Mizuki's [Henge] was dispelled when a transformed Iruka punched him, but that could just be him releasing the technique when he realized he was fooling no one.
I stood and stretched, dropping out of [Subterfuge] fully. My work was done. Maybe now Hideki would finally stop badgering me to procure the scrolls for the three. There aren't any other valid ninja techniques that the Academy normally tests, so I'm all set!
Oh, wait! I still need a scroll on the Academy Taijutsu for Ryosuke and me! I began to search the desk again but came up empty. Even the cubicle next to the one I was in didn't have one… ugh!
"Ahem."
I squealed like a little girl and shot off the ground, landing on the ceiling and clinging to it. "Don't do that!" I spoke immediately, but my eyes shot wide open when I realized exactly who was in front of me.
Kakashi, in all of his brooding, socially-awkward, smut-reading glory, stood right behind where I previously was, eye lazily trained on me. "The Academy is currently closed." He spoke, unashamed.
I rolled my eyes and dropped from the ceiling without a sound. "That's why I'm here, smartass."
"Touchy, touchy." He mocked, still not pulling out a book. Odd. Why was he even here, and in standard Jonin gear rather than an ANBU set? "You should refrain from speaking to everyone like you know them. It may leave a bad impression."
Well… I couldn't very well tell him that I knew practically everyone of any import in this world from a Japanese comic, so I just shrugged. "I'm not one for propriety. And anyway, you're in the Bingo Book – everyone knows you, Hatake Kakashi."
Said teen seemed to deflate. "Even Academy Students know me now." He grumbled.
"I'm just special." I winked at him and turned back to my searching. "If you aren't going to help, please leave. I'm looking for… aha!" I whisper-shouted in victory as I found two battered scrolls for the Academy style of taijutsu.
"You snuck into an incredibly secure building that's guarded by ANBU at all times… for the Academy taijutsu scroll?" Kakashi deadpanned.
"Hey, I need this to pass! Plus, Ryosuke is an orphan, too, and he will be learning this right alongside me." I retorted, stuffing the two scrolls into the folds of my kimono. "What are you doing here, anyway? I have a reason, but…"
"Well, I'm here about that." Kakashi unabashedly said, pointing at the currently-bandage-covered Mark. Never let it be said that he beat around the bush when he's serious.
I didn't know how to react to that. Was he sent by Hiruzen? God, were they going to try to talk the information out of me now? I didn't want to be bugged by future elites all day long! Oh, well, might as well throw them a bone. "What do you want with the Mark?" I 'hesitantly' asked, pulling my hand behind me.
His eyes sharpened a bit at the name. Hm. Definitely sent by Hiruzen. "I was a Genin under the Yondaime, so I know a bit about space-time ninjutsu. I was curious… a couple of my friends said they spotted you disappearing and appearing randomly around the training grounds."
"So, you stalked me?" I demanded, annoyed. Crossing my arms, I resisted the childish urge to stick my tongue out at him. "Doesn't that give people a bad expression?"
"No one knows I'm stalking them unless I want to." He admitted, and I was almost floored at the pure unrepentant attitude he had. "So they never have a bad impression of me."
I pointed a finger at him accusingly, before sighing. "Nothing I say is going to get through to you, huh?"
"Nope." The teen eye-smiled. His lone visible eye then pierced me with a certain haunted air that made me shiver. "Besides, you remind me a bit of myself."
"I'm nothing like you." I said, partially in rebuttal and partially in denial. "Anyway, so… what, you wanna see how the Mark works?"
"Nope." he responded. "I was just wondering how you got it."
I 'shivered', projecting an image of unease. "That's… not important." I 'hesitantly' drawled. "And anyway, I've got to get started on practicing this," I strung, jerking my chin towards the scroll in my hand, "and that's a long story, so I'm just gonna go. Later." I waved cheerily and apparated away, popping out in my room which was empty of any humans.
God, how gullible did they think I was? Admittedly, Kakashi was a hero, but still.
Eh. Okay, now to spend the night practicing. Let's see how high I can get the levels on the E-ranks by tomorrow morning, hm? Six hours of non-stop ninjutsu practice… sounds fun. I can get on the taijutsu scroll tomorrow with Ryosuke.
"I'm calling this Council session to order."
The room, previously dimly vibrating with hushed murmurs, fell silent as the night at this announcement from their leader. Hiruzen sighed, puffing his pipe absently. He'd practically been pressured into this meeting by his other alive teammates, and was not looking forward to their reactions. It stood, however, that he was the Hokage, and unless he wanted to hold this meeting, no one could force him. Hopefully, his once-friends knew this.
"There have been rumors floating around about my former comrade, Shimura Danzo, I gather." He spoke, without much ceremony. There was no point – he well and fully knew the sole purpose for this meeting, so asking for matters to be brought up was needless. "I will put these rumors to rest."
He took a moment to take a drag before speaking next. "At 2146 standard time, the denizens of Konoha felt a mysterious wave emanating from the Merchant Guild's clock tower." He spoke, voice without inflection. "This was, as logical conclusions may have led you to believe, a sensory jutsu developed by an ANBU operative. The agent managed to find and locate a hidden complex behind the Hokage Mountain and was sent in with a squad to investigate."
He suppressed a smirk when Homura shifted uncomfortably. Koharu was far above such slips, but his male teammate… well, let's just say subtlety was never his strongest suit.
"We discovered a hidden base of operations right under our noses." He continued after puffing his pipe. "It seems, unfortunately, that Danzo believed he was above the authority of the Hokage, and decided to continue the existence of ROOT in secret even after the order was given to disband."
"Impossible." Hyuuga Hiashi breathed. "We would have seen it!"
"The base was far beyond the range of even the most potent Byakugan in your clan, Hiashi-dono. And somehow, I doubt you take frequent trips to the top of the Hokage Mountain." Hiruzen mused. "Regardless, the team entered the base and took it by force, eradicating all opposition when it was made obvious that peaceful submission was an option not taught to ROOT. The identities of the fallen are still being compiled, but I am glad to say that only two clan members so far were amongst the casualties. My condolences to the Yamanaka and Aburame clans. You may collect the bodies tomorrow."
Inoichi jerked in surprise where he sat. Shibi simply inclined his head. Both were unaware of any missing members of their clan, so their deaths had been faked when any members were reported KIA. There was no sadness to be had.
"When confronted, Danzo revealed his intentions of assassinating me and taking the reins of the village in his own hands, and proceeded to attack me, just as I had managed to arrive on site." Hiruzen lied. "Therefore, he was dealt with; swiftly and efficiently. His name will not be put on the Memorial Stone."
"Were all the ROOT agents present during the incident?" Shikaku asked, eyes sharp. Having all this right under his nose happen without him being aware… he did not like it, clearly.
"I'm happy to say no. There was only a skeleton-force present to operate in the hideout. All other ROOT agents have been recalled from their positions around the Elemental Nations and have been quietly taken into custody as they arrive. I was actually going to consult with the Yamanaka clan tomorrow to set up a schedule to try and gauge the extent of the damage before returning any Clan members. However, now that you know, Inoichi, your clan and you will assist the Torture and Interrogation Department in this endeavor. Triple the amount of an S-rank pay will be transferred into your Clan account for this purpose."
Inoichi nodded, grim-faced. While the money was well beyond his imagining, he could only dread what delving into a conditioned mind would be like.
"Who was this ANBU agent?" Kurama Katsuhiko asked, eyes wide. "Clearly, he or she deserves recognition for such an endeavor?"
"His identity is not important." Hiruzen spoke in a clipped tone. For everyone present, this was obviously a tell that the matter had come to a close. "Any further issues to be discussed? No? Dismissed."
The room emptied slowly. Understandable, given the magnitude of the news its occupants had heard. Soon, however, only the Hokage and his two old teammates were left behind.
"So he's dead, then? How could you, Hiruzen?" Homura asked, eyes only lightly moist. Ah. Team Tobirama, the only five-Genin cell of its time, may have disbanded decades ago, but its members still held the drilled-into ideals of comradeship into their hearts. Or, at least, everyone save Danzo did.
"He left me no choice." Hiruzen muttered, standing to turn and look out the room's window. "The mission reports he had stashed away under fuinjutsu… they were horrendous. I couldn't risk him escaping to continue his plans elsewhere. Did you know he was going to send a squad to Amegakure to escalate the conflict between a vigilante group and Hanzo there next week?" That they knew ROOT was still operational was obvious to the aged leader from the look on their faces.
"Whatever he did, it was for the good of Konoha." Koharu spoke, voice thick. "You have no idea the amount of damage he has saved us from, Hiruzen."
"Maybe." Hiruzen muttered. He closed his eyes when there was a twin sound of two blade unsheathing, and then two solid thuds as something meaty hit the floor. "But it was not his place to turn men into… something less… to raise the Leaf. That was not the way Tobirama-sensei taught us, my old friends." He turned, gazing dispassionately upon their heads, separate from their sagging bodies. "I only wish you realized that in time."
He walked out of the room with unsteady steps, leaving the cleanup to his ANBU. He had a lot of work to do to re-induct all the ROOT members back into society… so he'd best get on the job. Thankfully, he'd already sorted out Orochimaru's punishment.
He just hoped his student's future Genin team could forgive him, he thought, with an amused smirk on his face. Gundan, as usual, was a cause for mixed feelings, it seemed.