I might die today. I thought this to myself as I walked towards the doors of the okiya with Matron Hanami in hand. Mother was nowhere to be seen throughout the entire day which came as a shock for me.
"Are you ready Tomie-chan?" Matron Hanami says this with a slight quiver in her elderly voice.
"I am r-!"
"WAIT!" I was suddenly interrupted by a high-octave scream. I knew that voice anywhere. It was my Mother's. I see her rushing out in a lavish sea blue yukata, embroidered with silvery-gold clams and white pearls.
"Mother!" I say this with relief as Mother pants heavily, having just rushed from what I assumed was the top of the okiya. Her gasping breaths were soon replaced with a shaky voice, one that betrayed much emotion. It was so unlike my mother to act this way.
"Please don't leave Tomie! We can run! Far away from the village!" Mother begs this of me as tears begin to stream down her face. The one saving grace to this was that Mother had no makeup on. Still, she was beautiful even when she cried. Her crimson hair and sea green eyes spoke of a classical beauty during a time of sadness.
"I…" Mother's reaction gave me pause. It gave me hope and it made me feel loved but…I knew deep down that there was no way to escape the graduation. Diplomatic relations between the 5 great ninja nations were already crumbling. There were whispers of war in the wind, and leaving the village would make us deserters. It was all so rough. It made me want to cry too, but I had to be strong for Mother's sake.
"You know that isn't possible, Yuriko-chan. We would not make it far." Matron Hanami pipes up to save me from the need to handle my Mother's duress. She speaks in a gentle voice that manages to ease Mother's breathing just a bit. Still, Mother does not relent as she suggests a tactic to get me out of the graduation once more.
"Well, what if we cut her hair?! Changed her name?! Pretended she was younger?! Anything Hanami-sama! Anything to keep my baby safe!" Mother was panicking and breathing heavily now. She had completely lost her cool as she attempted to find an excuse that would allow me to skip the horrific graduation ceremony of Kiri. Sadly, this came to no avail.
"Please get a hold of yourself, Yuriko-chan! Do you not think that I am also devastated by this?" I could see the misty tears form on Matron Hanami's face as she speaks as well. Though a single tear does not fall as Matron Hanami controls herself to better aid Mother. "To see one who I consider my granddaughter to be sent off to fight to the death against another child. I refuse to stand for it and yet here I am, preparing to walk my grandchild to her possible death!"
Matron Hanami was shouting now, and she and Mother were arguing. The child in me wanted to cower and cry, but that would be a sign of weakness. A weakness that was beaten out of me during my time at the ninja academy.
It takes quite a moment until Mother relents and she and matron Hanami were hugging now. I felt a strike of sadness hit my heart. Was I really ready to possibly leave these two to enter the void once more? The answer was no. I refused to abandon those who had cared for me all these years, I refused to fade and become a memory. I wanted to live!
It is at this point that Mother has wiped her tears with a handkerchief. Her graceful face morphed with an expression of mourning. Still, she approached me with grim poise as she took both my hands into hers.
"Promise me Tomie." Mother is bolstering her resolve now. Her voice does not miss a single beat as she speaks.
"Promise you what Mother?" I ask like a deer in the headlights. This interaction was the most emotional that my Mother has ever been during my nine years of life with her. It made me feel accepted and loved all at once. Still, I had to do my best to hold it all in.
"Promise me that you'll come back…" She says this with a pleading look in her eyes. The kind that made me want to crumble down and cry. My heart felt like it was continuously being stabbed by guilt for refusing to run away from the graduation exam.
"I…" The words are difficult to form as I look at her straight in the eyes. It takes me a moment to manage speaking as both she and Matron Hanami look at me expectantly. "I'll do whatever it takes Mother…I promise." I say this as I give Mother a big hug, we stay there like that in silence for what seems like ages until Mother pulls away. A part of me wants to beg for her to come back and hold me, but I reel in the emotion. It was time to leave after all.
"I'm ready Hanami-sama," I say to Matron Hanami as she and I both leave the okiya.
"Goodbye, Mother," I say this loud enough for Mother to hear as I leave through the doorway. All I can hear is my Mother's sobbing cries as Matron Hanami and I walk to my impending doom.
"BEGIN!"
The fight between Kisame and Arata starts immediately after they enter the arena.
Both boys unsheathe katanas of similar size and instantly clash blades with one another. Arata and Kisame were the most likely candidates to inherit one of Kiri's seven swords.
Jingen Arata was the best kenjutsu student amongst the lower caste, while Kisame was the best among the clan children. They always had an unspoken rivalry between them, which made it a wonder as to why the two were never put to spar until now.
Arata preferred swift slashes, stabbing maneuvers, and spinning slices while Kisame preferred a raw strength style combined with counters. The resulting fight had me on the edge of my seat. Both Arata and Kisame were neck-a-neck in terms of capability. The battle would have to come down to raw skill.
Each time Arata would land several small cuts, Kisame would leave a great gash on his opponent. It was almost mesmerizing to see the two waltz all over the battlefield with the jumps, punches, kicks, and blades.
When things were tied between swords, one of them would launch out a water jutsu with explosive force. Fortunately, Arata was outclassed by Kisame's sheer chakra levels as both attempted to fire out water bullets with Kisame's being way bigger.
Sadly, due to their distance, I couldn't hear a word they were saying to each other, but I did see Suikazan Fuguki looking very interested in the fight. Regardless of distance, I had good eyesight thanks to Matron Hanami's training. It was a trait that would serve me well should I be blessed with survival.
I had only taken my eyes off the fight for a brief moment, yet a lot had happened. Apparently, Kisame and Arata had settled for an old-fashioned duel and were now exchanging sword blows with one another with their feet planted firmly on the ground. Perhaps they were tired now, a fact I would not be surprised by considering how much blood had been spilled throughout the battle.
However, just when I thought things were going to keep going, Kisame suddenly counters Arata's overhead slash and then beheads the poor boy. I sit there horrified at my own happiness. You see I was overjoyed that Kisame won, but the thought in itself made me feel disgusted. Kisame had killed a boy his age, they were both twelve! This was all so barbaric, and yet I was more concerned for Kisame.
The blue-skinned boy was absolutely ecstatic. Covered in cuts, blood, and bruises. If the situation weren't so dire, I would've teased him about looking like a ragamuffin. Instead, I felt heartache. The boy was forced to murder a child his age, a rival who could've one day been his equal. Yet here he was enjoying himself. It made me feel horrified. Then I remembered the Kisame from the original Naruto, the one who specialized in killing his allies. It all made sense. This was his first taste of blood, his first descent into murderous madness.
There was a dark and exhausted smile on Kisame's face as two ANBU appeared by his side alongside the announcer/referee. If tears weren't a sign of weakness, I would have cried for Kisame. The look on his face betrayed his thoughts you see, and he loved what he had just done. My heart felt a twang of sadness and horror that I couldn't quite describe. After all, I'd just witnessed my friend murder a child in cold blood.
"Winner: Hoshigaki Kisame!" The referee announces as Kisame is escorted to the Mizukage's box by some ANBU to be given his diploma. As soon as Kisame comes out, Suikazan is with him and the two are now seated with the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist.
I lock eyes with Kisame as he takes his seat, giving him a sad smile as I nod my head towards him in acknowledgment.
The next few fights were brutal and gore-filled. This generation of Kiri genin was brutal, using weapons and jutsu to their advantage as they each fought to the death.
There was even one kid who tried to run, only for them to be shot down by a rain of kunai, shuriken, and senbon. It was horrific…
Anyways, the next upcoming fight was a doozy in my opinion.
"Terumi Mei versus Saruei Ishiki" The referee announces as both students step up to the battlefield.
"BEGIN!" The announcer shouted as he vaulted out of the arena and into the referee's stand.
The resulting battle flooded the field as both ungraduated genin jumped back and began forming their jutsu. Mei started with a Water Slicer while Ishiki used a Water Whip. Both were using the bloody pools of water around them as a source of water. The resulting blast of mist coated the arena in a fine spray of reddish clouds.
I suppose you could say this is how Kirigakure gained its moniker as the Bloody Mist. When the blood of their enemies and even their own children mix in with the waters, the resulting clouds would end up stained in blood.
Anyways, Mei was absolutely terrifying and mesmerizing to watch in combat. She was confident, intelligent, and most of all, powerful. This was the strength of one who would call themselves Kage one day. Her hand signs were slow and hypnotic, unlike Ishiki's hurried pace. Her jutsu was calculated and artfully placed, unlike Ishiki's panicked jutsu.
However, things would soon be different as it seemed Ishiki's act was all a feint to inch closer and closer to Mei until he could force a taijutsu battle. The boy was almost prodigious in his physical form and technique. A fact he wanted to capitalize on when Mei specialized in ninjutsu.
Ishiki punched, kicked, and attempted to grab Mei, all the while the talented kunoichi was forced on the defensive. This bout lasted for several moments, with Ishiki gaining more foothold each time.
I almost couldn't bear to watch Mei get punched in the face as her opponent scoffs. I could tell the boy was getting cocky until Mei suddenly kicked him in the nuts.
"YOU FUCKIN' HAG!" Ishiki shouts out for the entire arena to hear. That's when I knew the battle would end. He just called a young girl a hag, a cardinal sin if you ask me.
Things take a turn for the dark as Mei surges forward to beat her opponent into a bloody pulp. Mei uses every bit of taijutsu knowledge and rage to break Ishikis arms and legs, leaving the boy to struggle on the ground begging for mercy. However, instead of mercy, Mei replies with hand signs, signaling Ishiki's impending doom.
That was when I saw the glorious jutsu of Mei come to life. The Yōton aka the Lava Release was used to melt Ishiki's face right off. The boy is then coated in molten rock as a fat bubble of blood bursts from the lava.
"Winner: Terumi Mei!" The referee announces this as Mei is escorted to the Mizukage to receive her diploma.
A few more fights happen though none that are interesting enough for me to describe. The only other two that stood out were Yuki Hakuryuu and Funato Renma.
Hakuryuu had beaten his opponent by shishkabobing them with an ice pike. Meanwhile, Renma had simply controlled the waters to drown his opponent after beating them bloody.
Soon enough, names were called and I dreaded my own being shouted. It isn't till all the students are finished that I sigh in relief. Perhaps they had forgotten about m-!
"Kawakami Tomie versus Fumma Toru!" The announcer shouts out my match as I slowly stand and make my way to the arena at a dazed pace.
Each step spells out my impending doom as I walk past the nearly barren bleachers. I turn to lock eyes with Kisame who is looking at me from the other side of the arena. He mouths out one word to me, "Win."
I give Kisame a sad smile in return as I descend the stairs leading to my impending doom.
My walk through the darkened halls feels disturbing, to say the least. There was a definite gnawing feeling in the back of my mind as I followed the light at the end of the path. Blood mist was pouring through the tunnel. The scent of blood and gore was in the air and getting stronger with each step.
I was close now. Close to my death. My opponent was the best genjutsu student in the entire class. Oh Lord, I was about to fight a vicious illusionist. Matron Hanami had been ruthless in her training, but I didn't know if it would be enough against a genjutsu of all things.
I was in front of the tunnel exit now. All this fear was inside of me as I took a deep breath. Was I really going to let my fear of death get the better of me? Was I really going to fall under the weight of the pressure? Was I really such a pussy after having spent years preparing for this moment? Was I really going to cause my friends and family grief? No! I was not!
I clenched my fists and resolved to take a step forward. Today is the day I graduate! Today is the day I kill!
As I enter the arena stained with blood and bits of gore, I send a silent prayer to the void. The arena is vast, big enough to hold multiple battles at once, with ponds of varying sizes stained in blood and crimson mist permeating through the area. Fumma Toru is already on the other side, wearing a black short-sleeve track jacket and flowing blue pants. She had bandages wrapping her balled-up fist and a smirk on her average features. She had a hooked nose, dull brown eyes, and purplish-black hair.
Toru stands in a lazy position with her stance slightly slanted and her hands in her pockets. A smug look on her features as she leans backward. I hated her. I hated her confidence, her sociopathic smile, and her lazy demeanor. But, even though I hated her, I wasn't sure if I'd be able to kill her.
"BEGIN!" The announcer shouts out.
It's time! I instantly pull from my side pouch and fire out two senbon aimed at her eyes, but Toru dodges as she kicks off of the wall. Then, Toru pulls out a serrated kunai and rushes forward.
I pull out my senbon from a bag behind me that hangs just above my waist and begin jumping to meet Toru. The senbon are placed in a claw-like fashion between my fingertips and I had a death grip on them.
Toru and I meet blades and clash and slash. She goes for slashes with her left hand, holding the Kunai like a dagger and attempting to draw my blood and she continuously performs overhead and uppercutting slices. Meanwhile, I'm more graceful with my spins and pirouettes. I twirl and bend and try to stab at odd angles. This exchange doesn't last long though as I'm forced to leap and backflip away from an explosive tag attached to a kunai. I wince and brace for impact only to realize it was a fake!
Now it was Toru's turn to push her offense as she began to throw serrated shuriken at me. I artfully samba and sway away from the thrown weapons as I perform a jutsu. Dog, horse, tiger, and finally rat! I then cup my hands to my lips as I think to myself "Suiton: Rising Water Slicer!"
Suddenly, a shredding wave of bloody razor-sharp water fires off towards Toru who I didn't notice was performing her own hand signs. As she dodges the ground beneath me cracks as an enormous figure rises from the ground.
"Kya!" I shout out as I begin to fall only to realize that something has caught me. Said something was now attempting to crush me in half. I turned in a panic to see a giant crab holding me in its dominant claw. I begin to choke and think about a genin could have access to such a powerful summon.
Sadly, I don't have time to contemplate how she was doing this as I gasp for air. My bones feel like they're slowly being broken as the great brown-gray crab crushes with its claw. I feel a rib snap and suddenly I'm coughing out nothing. Wait…There was no blood, which could only mean one thing! A genjutsu!
"Kai!" I shout out as I gather my chakra and flare it up violently to break the illusion. I was gasping for air even though the illusory attack had ended.
"Pfft. Looks like you got out. And here I thought all I needed to do was give your brain a little nudge till your heart gave out." Toru says in her high and shrill voice, it was annoying just to hear. She then leaps into the air with shuriken and kunai between her fingertips. Then, she swiftly spins midair as she launches them toward me.
"It'll take more than that to kill me…" I say this calmly as I continuously backflip away from another volley of serrated shuriken and kunai. What is up with this girl and her fetish for serrated weaponry?
"You're right, it will," Toru says this as she lands a couple of dozen feet away from me. She smiles while focusing on another set of hand signs. This time though, I wasn't going to let her finish. I swiftly grab several senbon and launch them in an attempt to counter. However, as soon as the senbon land, Toru's form dissipates much like a mirage.
"Oh no!" I shout out as I search the misty battlefield for the illusionist.
"Oh yeah!" Toru shouts out like the Kool-Aid man as she pops up from literally behind me. She then slashes the back of my shoulder as I dodge a lethal blow to the neck. Shit!
"Aaaaahhhhh!" The serrated edge of her weapons stings like no tomorrow as I scream in pain. She was behind me the entire time, watching my aim at another one of her genjutsu. How was I supposed to beat her?!
"That's right! Scream like the trash that you are!" Toru says this as I sluggishly cartwheel and dance away. I was bleeding heavily from the wound and there was no time to heal it. Toru was already on her next set of hand signs.
I decided to use my trump card as I signed the water dragon jutsu when I saw it. It was my mother, standing before me in a stark white kimono with cherry blossom embroidery.
She's moving to embrace me and I feel so calm and loved. I had won, I was home, and the fight was over. The sakura trees were blooming on the roadside of the okiya and there was a sense of ease.
"Mother!" I say as I feel a sense of ease as I rush towards her.
"Come to me Tomie-chan," she says in her usual voice. By the time I had reached her, I wasted no time and hugged her. She smelled like the cherries she loved to eat and was clean from head to toe. Her wavy blood-red hair was undone as it flowed in the gentle breeze.
"I want to show you something Tomie-chan." Mother says this to me in a soft and comforting voice as I snuggle up to her.
"What is it, Mother?" I look up at her with curiosity in my eyes as I ask this.
"Something beautiful." I expected a toy, but instead, she pulled out a kitchen knife wrapped in a neat little bow. I could see my reflection on the knife and it was beautiful. I loved to cook and it was the perfect gift. At first, I think she's going to give it to me, only for her to suddenly reach up to her neck and slit her own throat.
"MOTHER!" Blood sprays and coats my face and I cry out in a traumatized voice! How could she do this?! How could she leave me alone in this world?! Why? Why?! WHY?!
Amid my panic, I realized something. Mother was just standing there, an empty look on her green eyes. This wasn't possible unless! It was then that I remembered that my mother wasn't here, she was at home, worried about me! This was another sick genjutsu made by Toru!
"Ka-!" Before I can dispel the illusion, I am cut off.
"Too late." I hear Toru's voice as I feel a serrated blade slash at my neck. The pain is unimaginable as I stumble backward, choking slightly on my own blood. I then trip backward on a small stone as I fall into a deep pond knowing naught but the abyss that takes hold of me as I sink.
"TOMIE!" I hear Kisame shoutout from the seats above the arena just before I close my eyes.
I find myself falling into a familiar abyss as the darkened sky above me burns with Jashin's symbol. It's been years since I was last greeted with this place. Ever since I denied Jashin that day, all I've had for dreams was nothing but pitch black darkness. It reminded me of the abyss that waited for me after I died the first time.
I lay in a sea of blood, with skulls, flames, and the screams of the damned to keep me company. A titanic horned shadow looms over me as I lay there dying. It was Jashin…He was laughing at me. Tears welled up in my eyes due to my self-hatred. Jashin was right…I was too weak without him.
"HAHAHAHAHAHA! Your pathetic grasp at life amuses me, child! Now, do you see why you belong to me? You are nothing without my power. Naught but a gnat in a world of giants! Without what I have to offer, you will die!" Jashin says this with the sheer demonic glee only a dark god could muster. With each sentence, a tear slid down the side of my face and disappeared into the deep expanse of blood.
"I…" Speaking was difficult and almost came out gurgled, but I managed to get a hold of my words. "I'm sorry Jashin-sama," I say in a hushed tone as I float on.
"What was that? I cannot hear you, child." Jashin says this in a teasing tone as I realize that he could hear me. He just wanted me to say it louder, and honestly? I acquiesced to his request. I wanted to live!
"I'm sorry Jashin-sama! I'm sorry for denying your good graces! For besmirching your offer and asking for time! I want nothing more than to live! To have a life fulfilled! To change a world filled with tragedy and destruction! I was wrong to deny you, my soul! I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!" I let it all out as I cry yet my heart drops as all I hear is laughter once more. What could Jashin possibly want now?! I was already lowering my pride and weeping before him, and yet there was no sympathy to be found.
"Hahahahaha! In your next life, perhaps you will learn not to reject the offer of your betters. Goodbye child." Jashin says this as he turns away from me to walk away.
"Wait…" I weakly croak out as he takes a small step away from me. "Wait, please! I'm begging you! I'll do anything! Please grant me your power Jashin-sama! I want to live a full life! One without regret! One that I can be happy about!" I say this as I attempt to muster up the strength to stand and chase after him. I could feel my bones crying out in agony! "I'LL DO ANYTHING!" I say this as I kneel, bow, and beg. I could feel myself slipping away as the darkness took me.
However, just when I was on the brink of slipping back into the void, Jashin turns to me and laughs.
"Hahaha! I am afraid it will take more than pretty words to gain what I now have to offer. Your soul has ripened more than I could have ever hoped! Now, I wish to raise the stakes. Tell me what you have to give, child." Jashin says this as I feel his burning gaze boring into me. The scrutiny of a god was not something one could simply scoff at. His dominance and his command over me were almost too much to handle as I lay there dying.
"I…" I thought deeply about what I could possibly offer, what I wanted in the future, and what I needed to do at this moment. "I offer…" What could I possibly offer Jashin? I had only one thing he wanted, and that was my soul. I needed another sou-!
Then it hit me, like a bad decision in a fairytale I was about to offer something I had no right to give. It was almost enough to make me sick. What could I possibly give you might wonder? Well…
"I offer my soul and the souls of my future children, to serve you in life and death Jashin-sama."
"Oh?" Jashin's gaze bore deeper into my very soul, watching my very essence like a hawk as I offered him more than one soul. "What guarantee do I have that you will birth these children?"
"You have my word," I say as I grab a senbon from my back pouch, wincing and crying out in pain as I carve Jashin's symbol into my left palm. "And my blood." I let my blood mix into the endless sea of crimson liquid as I feel Jashin smile. I was going to survive, no matter what it took.
"Hahahaha. Very good child," Jashin says this as another contract burns in front of me. This time, with no quill as I already have my senbon in hand.
I slowly read the contract to see that it is the same as before, only this time the souls of my future children are also included in the contract. I would be Jashin's priestess. I would be his herald. I would gain the power to taste life forces, create blood curse jutsu, and summon his children. I would follow his commandments, and I would offer him sacrifices of his choosing. I would be his, in life and death.
This was a bad idea, but I had nothing and no one else to offer to Jashin. This was the only way to survive! I sign my name in English, a language I haven't used in a long time, as I feel excruciating pain. Then, my soul leaves my body in an instant and all that's left is a gnawing eldritch darkness. Hungry and wanting as it begs me to feed its dark desires. I was going to feed it…FEED IT FOR JASHIN!
"HAHAHAHAHAHA! YOUR SOUL IS MINE!" I feel awe as Jashin laughs at the obvious. I had just sold my soul to an evil god to survive, Mother would be so proud.
"NOW RISE MY CHILD! RISE AND BE BORN ANEW!" Jashin shouts this as I scream his name in praise!
"BLOOD FOR JASHIN!" I shout out as I fade away from his world.
Suddenly I find myself in bloody deep water as I quickly go through the signs for the first technique Matron Hanami ever taught me. Horse, Dog, Hare, Dragon, Serpent, Dog, Ram!
"Suiton: Healing Waters." I think this to myself as the water around me glows green for a moment. The healing waters allow me to breathe in the bloodstained liquid, and as I do so, my slit throat and ravaged shoulder begin to knit themselves together at a fast pace. The sheer amount of blood in the water from all the previous fights obscured the glow as I took my time.
Then I steady myself as I push myself slowly out of the water, focusing as I swiftly begin to sign out the 44 hand signs needed for the water dragon jutsu. Ox, Monkey, Hare, Rat, Boar, Bird, Ox, Horse, Bird, Rat, Tiger, Dog, Tiger, Snake, Ox, Ram, Snake, Boar, Ram, Rat, Yang Water, Monkey, Bird, Dragon, Bird, Ox, Horse, Ram, Tiger, Snake, Rat, Monkey, Hare, Boar, Dragon, Ram, Rat, Ox, Monkey, Bird, Yang Water, Rat, Boar, Bird!
With a silent roar, the dragon comes to life as I ride it out of the water! How dare she use my own Mother against me! How dare she make me look weak! How dare she try to kill me! How dare she think that she was going to win this! I was going to kill her!
"Why aren't you announcing my win?!" Toru's shrill voice can be heard even from beneath the waves and I silently laugh. Boy was she in for a surprise!
"HOW DARE YOU!" I scream at the top of my lungs as I spin and dance atop the water dragon that swiftly heads straight toward Toru.
"What the-!" The water dragon crashes into Toru as I spin like a figure skater and quite literally skate off of the water dragon. Unfortunately, the girl manages to turn and has just enough time to dodge so the resulting hit isn't fatal. Instead, as the bloody water dragon collides with her, she is barely caught in its tidal jaws as they both crash into the far wall of the arena.
"H…cough cough…How are you still alive?!" Toru's mouth is dripping with blood and she has a livid expression on her bland features as she speaks. "I shredded your throat! You should be dead!" Her shrill voice makes her sound like a screaming banshee as she steadies herself and shakily points her kunai at me.
"Aha~! As if I'd ever reveal my secrets to you. Now…Let's finish this!" It was time to unveil one of Jashin's children to the world. However before I can even sign out the summoning jutsu, Toru is already signing out another genjutsu. The same one that allowed her to get behind me.
"How droll…" I say this as I stick my tongue out and taste the air. In an instant, I could feel life all around me. I could taste the motions of someone moving very quickly. A person was sprinting to get a stab at me from my left! It was strange. I could see them, yet I wasn't using my eyes. Instead, I could taste their shape. I could taste their movement. I could taste their fear and trepidation. All this is served up into a strange sensory dish.
'Klang!' The sound of serrated kunai meeting senbon rings through my ears as the genjutsu suddenly dispels itself. The illusory Toru disappears as the real one is revealed to my left.
"I-Impossible?!" She shouts out with her harpy-like cries as she jumps back.
"The same trick won't work twice on me!" I say this as I lick my lips and sign out the jutsu that would end this farce. Boar, I sign this out as I close my eyes with my tongue still out. Dog, I sign this out as Toru begins frantically fishing her pockets. Bird, I sign this out as I taste Toru's life force form throw a couple of her remaining serrated shuriken at me. Monkey, I sign this out as I sashay and sway to dodge the incoming shuriken. Ram, I sign this out as Toru frantically tries to rush at me with her last serrated kunai. Unfortunately for her, she is too late!
"Summoning Jutsu!" I shout this out as I palm the muddy bloody ground beneath my feet.
Instead of the standard summoning circle with Japanese symbols, Jashin's symbol appears on the ground as all the blood within the arena is suddenly absorbed into the circle. Then, in a massive burst of blood, a creature appears.
The creature is a wolf, but not just any wolf. It is a child of Jashin, so there were some very big differences. For starters, this creature had bloody gray fur that was tousled and long. It had two mouths with large teeth and a singular eye in between them. Two sharp ears rested atop its head and the creature also had an aura of smoke around it. Then, I saw the rest of it. At first, I thought the summon was just covered in blood due to the gathered bloodsplosion but then I realized what was beneath it. Six sinewy legs covered in a lattice network of flesh and a multitude of blind eyes. The wolf was taller than both Toru and me and as soon as I locked eyes with it, I knew what it was. Or rather who they were…
"The Wolf Divided, they who unmaketh. Thank you for answering my call." I say this with utmost reverence as I kneel. I say this as I open my eyes to see Toru frozen in terror at the sight of my eldritch and demonic summons. There were whispers amongst the crowd now. Whispers about how I had managed to get a summoning contract at the age. About how I was able to cast a water dragon jutsu. About how I survived a lethal blow only to come out unscathed.
There were also whispers of fear, about the creature I had summoned. About their hideous form. About their horrifying arrival.
"We have answered your summons child. What would you have us do?" The Wolf Divided speaks in two voices, one of a man, and one of a woman. Both voices are deep, both wheezing and gasping for air as if their breath was being choked out of them.
The Wolf Divided had asked me what I wanted to do. I looked to Toru, who was quaking in her boots. I looked at the horror on her young face. Was I really ready to murder someone my age? Was I really ready to kill? Was I really ready for the life I had trained for all these years? I thought that I wasn't sure until I remembered the genjutsu Toru showed me. The one about my Mother.
It was then that all sympathy for the Toru disappeared. The girl deserved to die. Plain and simple. Nobody uses my loved ones against me and got away with it! Nobody!
"My request for you is simple. Please kill Fumma Toru." I say this with a manic grin on my face as I point to Toru who freezes up as soon as I point to her.
Suddenly The Wolf Divided howls a great and terrible noise that nearly deafens me due to the proximity. All before they who unmaketh instantly pounce on Toru with blinding speed. So fast were its movements that not even my tongue caught its speedy attack. Toru is covering her ears and it looks like she's crying. A perfect sacrifice for Jashin! Cowering in fear at the very sight of his children.
The fight was over in that instant.