I am indeed alive.
Dinner with Orochimaru, Kabuto, and the Sound Five was rapidly turning out to be an interesting experience. The cacophony of chaos had started when Tayuya asked, 'who the fuck are these two?'
Hearing the swear started the complaints from Jirobo, telling Tayuya that she should act more lady-like. Kidomaru started laughing, when in retaliation for being told to act differently, Tayuya swung a fist into Jirobo, making him bump into Sakon.
Sakon, knowing that this was one step away from turning into a full on fight, tried to act quickly to stop them. Trying to separate Tayuya and Jirobo, who were scrapping like two fresh genins, was proving to be a little tough and ended up being a three way fight in the end. Kidomaru, after receiving a glare from Kimimaro, also stepped into the fight, attempting to stop the miniature brawl.
Kidomaru had stopped the fight with each of his three sets of arms grabbing each brawler. That had made peace for about three whole seconds, until they all overpowered the weaker Kidomaru.
Orochimaru was shaking his head and sighing over this whole ordeal as if it was common. Kabuto looked at Kimimaro pointedly, and the moment they locked eyes, he stood up.
Inari watched with great interest as his sensei in Shikotsumyaku got up and strolled over to the fight, and raised each arm at the two brawlers. With a burst of the flesh, two semi-hand looking bone growths shot out from each arm, latching onto the necks of all four of them, ending the fight.
"Enough! We have guests, and you try this again in front of Orochimaru-sama? I expect an apology from the three of you. Kidomaru at least knew not to get involved. He was just too weak to stop you three from and your childish brawl."
After the mumble of apologies and a return to their seats, Sai spoke up.
"So you settle things with fighting in Otogakure? We do the same in Root. When us trainees disagree, we are told to fight our differences out." At this point even Orochimaru was looking on at the story, intrigued.
"We also practice fighting each other whenever and wherever we can, so we are always prepared for a fight. Danzō-sama says it's practice fighting in all environments."
"I still remember the time someone brought a kunai to the showers in Root, it was a quick clean up. He was so mad that someone had broken his sword. "
The silence that followed was only interrupted by the motion of Inari's nodding, remembering all the spars.
"Well…I guess that would keep you on your toes, but how do you guys work together then? I couldn't trust someone if I always had to keep an eye on them."
The question seemed rather odd to the temporary shinobi.
"The mission is all that matters to Root, personal feelings should be removed from a proper shinobi. Danzō-sama taught Sai and I that, and he has never led Root astray."
Inari moved, picking up his plate. "Where do you put the plates?"
Training with Kimimaro was hard, almost Hell like, but one doesn't come from Root without being able to take some rough training. There was the one time he had to fight a bear with no chakra.
"That was pathetic. I'm not wasting my time on you, am I?"
Ever since Kabuto started figuring out what a Kaguya's body should be like, he had been trying new treatments on Kimimaro, to much greater effect.
"Are you even trying? Or are you like all the others and just no-name trash?"
Honestly, if it wasn't for Danzō, Inari probably would be another blood raving lunatic from the Kaguya clan. Definitely not to say that Inari doesn't suffer from it, just knows how to keep it down.
"I am trying, I just require more practice. The weapons are just coming out terribly shaped, bumpy and dull."
Kimimaro looked off in the distance at this, seemingly lost or reminiscing.
"Take your time to practice your bone moulding, since you won't learn my style of fighting with Shikotsumyaku.''
"I will, when do we next spar?" Sighing at the sarcasm flying straight over his head he turned back to Inari, and kept talking.
"We'll meet tomorrow morning again at the same time, we'll be training your shape manipulation."
Breaking down the current spike he had, Inari started walking to his partner, who was studying a scroll. Sai had been studying plenty of scrolls ever since Orochimaru had seen what his ink jutsu could do.
"What are you studying?, Is it more cursed seals?" Orochimaru had quite the knowledge in the cursed seal department. After seeing what they could do, Sai had been studying them ever since.
"Yes, I found one that will para-" interrupted by an approaching Sakon, they stopped. "Oi, can you not hear me? I said go report to Orochimaru-sama, he said something about a message from Danzō."
"Good, you're not too late. Danzō sent word of a mission for you two, he won't tell me anything so there's more information on the target in the dossier. Now get out of my office."
Being shoved out the double doors and having them shut on their faces was nothing new for the pair. Moving on to more pressing matters, they both opened up their dossiers.
'Gengo is a missing-nin from Kirigakure no sato, has recently been casting an auditory genjutsu, making any who hear it a loyal follower of his. You are to assassinate him and any of his followers who pose a threat.
Knowledge on the technique requested, but not mandatory information for Root.
Recommended method is contactless assassination.
-Do not listen or let him speak to you-
Missing-nin Gengo's genjutsu is auditory as previously described, the moment you hear it you are most likely caught in it.
We have one kunoichi inside the inner circle of his followers, she was an agent we had in the land of silence. She had somehow managed to break the genjutsu and reported that she needed assistance taking the land back, we're assisting her to prevent this issue from spiraling out of control.
She was hunted down and killed. There was a samurai we managed to make contact with and form an agreement of ridding them of him in return for loyalty.
Make contact with this Samurai just outside of the land of silence.
Skills: sensor type, highly genjutsu skilled, Is a jonin from kirigakure so expect some skill with kenjutsu.
Burn after reading'
"Did any of the seals you practiced with Orochimaru-sama have the ability to mute someone?"
"I have one but I need a bit of time to get it off. Do you have a technique that we can use for assassination?"
The words had just left his mouth before Inari raised one hand, pointed a finger at the wall and grew his finger tip into a spike before embedding it into the concrete wall.
All of this happened in less than a second of Inaris hand being raised and pointed, the speed was mildly shocking.
"That should work, we just have to: hide, do our set up and get close enough for the kill. Can you think of any issues?"
The sudden tilt of the pair's heads in unison signaled the duo thinking. Sai, the slightly more analytical of them, spoke up first.
"What's the backup plan in case of failure with plan A, we'll call it?" A backup plan was something that they were taught in Root that if they could, they should plan a backup plan out.
"We'll take one out of Tsubomi's plans and just bring explosive notes." The native Root explosive mistress was quite proficient with them.
"She usually brings five stacks of them when that issue happens, do we even have that many?" That almost put a hole in the backup plan, but.
"Can't you just make some? I can make a bone plate for you to write the seal on. We could make as many as we need." Sai only stared for a few seconds and nodded, accepting the solution.
Starting to walk, Sai motioned that they should leave the training grounds, as the more common shinobi were moving into the training grounds.
Looking over at his Root brother, Inari threw an elbow into him.
"This is our first actual mission, not just bandit clean up for Konoha, we shouldn't expect any issues. Danzō-sama will be pleased." Inari would be sure of no issues, he would take care of them for Danzō-sama.
Minato was usually a very charismatic person when he was trying to get something he wanted, but when he had to be serious, everyone could tell he wasn't joking around.
The most common occurrence of 'serious Minato' was bringing up his kidnapped child, and that's when Rasa the Yondaime Kazekage, knew he fucked up.
The meeting had been called for the terms of the upcoming chunin exam being held in Suna, all had been going well until the topic of children had been brought up. They had been discussing their children, their strengths, their goals and such. This was fine until Rasa's child Gaara was brought to attention by Minato.
Who said, "you should try to connect with him a little bit, he is still your son." This pricked Rasa the wrong way, who purposely chose to treat his son that way.
"I'm not going to take lessons on child raising from someone who can't keep track of all of them." Even the Anbu were wondering if they should stop their Hokage from doing anything that could result in an international incident, with the temperature dropping about five degrees.
"What did you say Rasa? I couldn't hear you over accepting the missions the wind Daimyo keeps offering us," now that was a low blow. After all, both of them knew that the feudal lord was trying to find less...barbaric shinobi.
The only rise he got out of his matching numbered ruler was a slight opening of his eyes, before they went back to their regular size again. "That really would put stress on our alliance would it not?"
"Yes, yes it would. All I'm saying is spend some time not trying to murder your son, he is still a human after all. I'm not saying to just completely stop training him, or even stop being stern. I'm just saying all you should do is treat him a little better."
Rasa was honestly surprised at the little jab Minato took at the alliance, being the peace loving man he was. Maybe trying for Gaara to be a weapon through his current means wasn't working as well as he had hoped, a little variety in training wasn't bad.
"I'll consider it, but only as long as we keep getting our missions, Hokage-dono. Now the chunin exams are being held in Iwa this year, I was wondering if you were sending any teams to go?"
Minato had been prepared for the more political maneuvering questions than he had been, for the personal life of the Yondaime Kazekage. The real question he was asking, behind his original one, was if he trusted Iwa to play fair.
"Yes, we've already gotten three teams to sign up for the exam and we may have more going in due time. I believe they'll do good this year." He honestly did too. There were a few genin that he saw making rank.
"I'll consider sending some of my own then too," after all if your ally sends some it would almost be an act of cowardice not to.
Telling Orochimaru that they were leaving went with little interruptions, apart from Kimimaro giving Inari a stern talking to, about trying to control his bloodlust in a fight better.
The trip wouldn't take too long, the tricky part of the journey would be hiking up the mountains of the land of silence. The earthen peaks that rose all around the country acted as a natural defence.
Having a few shinobi climb them wasn't too taxing on resources, the amount of materials you'd need to move a force to take over a country wouldn't be worth it to most commanders. Making this two man operation simple, if not a little difficult.
Their inside woman was a tough one to find, the exact location she was waiting wasn't specified, only that she was waiting on the outskirts. The first plume of smoke they found was just some campers, they didn't even notice the pair look at them and dash off.
When they finally stumbled upon their mark, each of them could see clear indications that said kunoichi had been settled for a while. The leaves piling up on either side of her tent, the amount of ash in the fire pit.
The kunoichi was of a taller than average stature, with black hair in a ponytail. The sword on her hip pointed towards her inclination towards combat arts, her left hand resting on the pommel of the katana. Knowing this was most likely their way in they approached.
Akiko was having a shitty time if she was to be honest. Finding out that there was a missing-nin taking over someone's country usually made people less than happy.
Also waiting for a helping hand she hadn't expected, even if there were strings attached. It wasn't fun being told to escape to the outer edges of your village, and to wait for two shinobi.
That was also something that irked her. They didn't need two child operatives, they needed like thirty skilled nin!
"Are you two from Roo-" the speed at which the hand latched onto her face was terrifying. Getting stares from both of them instantly made her silent without struggle.
The paler one started talking, before the other one started slowly removing his hand, almost ready to jump back into position.
"Do not mention our group's name out in the open, do you know who's around?" The threat of violence did not need to be spoken.
"I'm sorry, I was just praying it was you guys, I'm almost at the end of my rope here. So how do you two wanna get this plan of operation started?"
The sooner she was back to her village, the sooner she could free it from tyranny. The sooner the tyranny was lifted, well..the better.
Hearing a voice, Akiko looked at the duo. The paler of the group was the one to speak up again.
"How will we be entering the land of silence, if you were waiting out here would that not mean they might be keeping an eye out for you inside the town?"
The way out of a village was usually already hard to find, without being detected. But to infiltrate a village you don't know the layout or anything about, was something on the harder side of things.
Inari's inner monologue was disturbed by the recent smily addition to their group.
"Oh I planned for this! Here wear these, they're meant for someone of a bigger stature, but it should work."
Looking at the offered cloth they could see that it was colorful and attention grabbing, not really what they wanted.
"You plan on sneaking in as performers, wouldn't that attract too much attention? I know that a disguise is necessary but… this might just get us caught instead."
Wearing something like fancy merchant clothes would get them by nice, but might get them in trouble when they have to sign their names.
"Oh all you super serious shinobi types are all the same. They're looking for intruders they'd be wearing dark colors to blend in, not people wearing bright colors who are just going to walk in the front door."
"That's…. very possible."
They'd have to bring this up to Danzō-sama.
Maybe he could wear orange, Inari always loved orange.
"Well, what are we waiting for? Let's go!"
"So let me get this straight, you three are part of a traveling act? The girly is a sword swallower and you two are jugglers? I'm no genius but I know there's more to a traveling act than that so where's the rest of your band?"
The plan had gone off great, no one asked any questions and they got in. The issue had popped up when a shinobi had come by, asking questions like he was interrogating them.
The nervous glances the Root shinobi were receiving from their lead in weren't too reassuring, this might get messy.
"Oi I thought I told you to stop harassing the circus folks! This is like the third time man, what is it with you? Every time some circus comes through you interrogate them. Geez, I'm sorry about this guy," their savior had rambled on and on.
"Have you three already done your check in? Before this nut-job harassed you," receiving a trio of nods, he smiled.
"Welcome to the Land of Silence, please don't let this interruption ruin your stay."
The inn they were staying in was quaint but still clean, plus it was cheap even if the price still put tears in Akiko's eye's. Now that they had a base to say the least they could get to the real work.
"Now that we're all safely here Sai and I will continue with the plan. You, stay here for now." This would have been the end of discussion with a Root nin, but Akiko wasn't one.
"WAIT! What am I doing then? I can't let two people I hardly know do all the work. I'll just tag along."
Inari rose to deal with this… challenge. Why couldn't people just follow orders?
"No, you will stay here. We already have a plan and you would only interfere with the set plans." Honestly, why can't people just listen?
"No! I'm not gonna wait around while someone else fights for my village, I'm gonna fight for it too. Do you think I'm just a weak girl who can only use a sword? I'll have you know that I'm an actual samurai from the Tetsu no Kuni, the old man just sent me out into the world to get more experience."
Inari was just about ready to tell Sai just to put a seal on this Samurai and be done with this arguing. Instead, Sai moved forward.
"Who is this old man you refer to?" Ah, Sai was getting info to leverage and make her back down. Who knows with these never give up types.
"Huh? Oh the old man's name is Mifune", if Root hasn't trained them to remove emotion, it certainly taught them to not show it.
That training came in handy, as neither Inari or Sai showed any emotion when they heard the disrespectful way of referring to the master samurai and lord of Tetsu no Kuni.
"He's so forgetful sometimes, I bet he doesn't even know I'm here. Like he sent me here like two years ago and I've received like three letters, then that guy Gengo came and took over the Daimyo's position and my friends are all scared."
She's never going to accept no, is she?
Looking at his Root brother, he started making hand signs that only Root would understand.
"Should we let her in as a backup plan? Or as... something?"
You could practically see the gears turn in Akiko's head, trying to understand the sign language.
"Maybe, she would be good for a distraction at the least, most samurai are good at direct confrontation. Plus, we do have all the explosive notes from Tsubomi-senpai," seeing a nod from Sai he let their temporary third member in on the plan.
"We have two options for your presence in our plans, either you act as a distraction, getting Gengos attention and his associates. The other option is that you act as a backup just in case we get discovered. Option A has a higher chance for mix ups, keep in mind."
It didn't take any detective work to know which option Akiko preferred. Her eyes practically gleaned at the chance for direct confrontation.
"I'll take option A, I wanna show that bastard Gengo what happens when you mess with a samurai and her friends!"
"Well then that settles it, Sai and I will process with the assassination once you cause a scene. For now we rest, I'll keep first watch."
"I gotta get my armor though, if I'm gonna be a distraction I gotta have like the best chance at making it out alive. I'll be back in a couple of hours, don't worry!"
Almost skipping to the door, she opened it quickly, turned around, gave a smile and wave to the two boys and left. She didn't get a smile back but she got a wave.
Waiting a few good seconds, Sai spoke up. "Inari, are we heading back to Konoha after this, or are we heading back to Orochimaru-sama aft-" The sentence was cut off by their temporary third member barging in, scratching the back of her head.
"Hey guys! I totally forgot it would be suspicious to drag some samurai armor around town, hahaha... guys?"
The sight of a long spear-like object coming out of Inaris palm, and Sai holding several kunai at the ready scared her, a lot.
"Woah guys calm down it's just me, not gonna hurt ya. Just need some help to like, smuggle my armor. I also forgot my sword hehe."
Sai looked at Inari, Inari nodded and dissolved his bone spear, Sai stood up and holstered his kunai.
"I can seal your armor and sword until tomorrow. Do you know how to unseal things?"
"Well, I didn't pay much attention in the academy part of my training, like who needs to know how different diplomats act or which countries we allow into the Tetsu no Kuni. I just need to swing my sword, right? And the old man was always hounding me, saying 'you're gonna wish you knew this' and I always said no way old man. He always told me at least you hold your promises Akiko, like I always said yeah I never go back on my word like wh-",
A loud clap interrupted the further rambling of the samurai, both Sai and Inari had enough.
"As nice as it was to hear that story, we have big plans and we need to get you ready. So you and I are going to go get your armor, seal it, and I will teach you how to unseal it. Understand?"
And Inari let out a mental sigh of relief, at Sai and Akiko leaving, mostly Akiko. He had a lot of explosive notes to write, and writing those while someone chattered on is less than ideal.
"We're baack! Did you miss big sis Akiko?"
"We are back, objective accomplished. How goes the explosive notes?"
Completely ignoring Akiko, Inari kept talking with Sai.
"Good, I did not make as many as I had hoped I would, but one-hundred and fifty-two should be enough for a backup plan."
You could practically see the smoke blow out of Akiko's ears. If one note could destroy a storefront, what the hell would that many do?
"What the hell do you need so many for?! Are you trying to get us all killed?"
"Why would we kill ourselves unless ordered to? We're worth too much to our master alive. No, these are the backup plan, our Senpai always used these for a backup plan."
Sai was thinking that Inari made enough for overkill, but isn't overkill just being extra thorough?
"We'll sleep now that you finally have your gear, the explosives are prepped and Sai, you and I all know the plan. Akiko, don't forget earplugs."
Getting in was easy, the guards didn't have any advanced sensors. Getting by the guards was easy, killing them after was easier. Inari was getting fluent with his bone spears while Sai was getting excellent experience with his tanto.
Next came the sneaking around and climbing into position for Inari, while his partner in assassination planted several groups of explosive notes.
Just in case.
Crawling through the rafters is easy, doing it in Root gear that has a armor plate in the chest area wasn't easy. But if they couldn't do it, they shouldn't be Danzō-samas shinobi.
Now that Inari was in position and had just enough of an angle to see and attack, so he awaited the signal from Akiko.
A small sound that wouldn't be heard beyond Inari was heard to his left. Upon looking, he saw it was Sai who had settled down. The two of them are now waiting, oh so patiently.
Time was something that usually Akiko didn't keep track of, being the 'carefree' individual everyone called her.
Today was very different though, she was giving Inari and Sai a ten-minute head start on their part of the job.
Patience was not among her specialties, but if you wanted to become the master samurai of the Tetsu no Kuni, you gotta learn it.
Fuck patience.
Running up the stairs she swung her sword two times, that's all it took to drop the pair of guards at the front door. Sheathing her sword she looked at their faces, they only had shock to indicate they at least knew of the attack.
Next came the large doors to the former Daimyo's and current tyrants home, she had to be the distraction right?
With a kick the doors slammed open and there stood a samurai, sword in the sheathe and ready to draw again.
"GENGO! ON MY HONOR AS A SAMURAI, I COME TO FREE MY PEOPLE FROM YOUR TYRANNY!"
And there he was,sitting on the throne the man of the day. Gengo, missing-nin from Kirigakure and usurper of the Land of silence.
Clapping, not that Akiko could hear it but clapping was seen from the tyrant. Somehow he managed to look stuck up in the act of just getting up from his chair.
"I applaud the boldness of attacking me directly, but someone wouldn't do that unless they're an idiot or powerful. You seem to be the latter so why don't we talk this out? Maybe we can reach a conclusion without any more violence."
"I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT YOU SAID, JUST KNOW I'VE COME FOR YOUR HEAD!"
With that statement she stood proud, watched as Gengo sat down and motioned for his small band of ninjas to attack.
Deflecting kunai was the first thing they were taught in the Tetsu no Kuni, to the point it became an instinct.
The first two sorry shinobi who charged here had a decent idea of teamwork, with one forming hand signs and the other charging in with a sword...against a samurai.
Second lesson most samurai learned was if you see a shinobi making hand seals, stop them.
Dashing forward to make the swords-lady brace for dueling, she danced around them and sheathed her sword. The shinobi who had been forming hand signs had seen Akiko going to his partner and hoped that she would hold the samurai off long enough.
He had started fumbling his hand signs when the samurai dashed around and charged him. True fear was felt when the samurai drew her sword from its position, and all he had were stumps where his hands used to be.
He didn't have time for any other thoughts as the following slice took his head.
Turning to the remaining opponent she flicked the blood off of her katana, and sheathed it.
It almost looked like a duel with the sudden pacing around in a circle they did, too bad for the third lesson.
Don't give a shinobi time to think.
Kicking her sandal off at her opponent she charged, before it even hit the sword wielder. And it was over like that, sword drawn out of the sheathe and a clean cut through the major neck arteries.
Whatever they were called.
"GENGO YOU'RE NEXT!"
Honestly neither Sai or Inari could blame Akiko for blowing their cover on the assassination.
The bone spear was right behind his head, just about one foot away and ready to puncture his head and scramble his mind. The only thing that gave it away was Akiko's falter in her glare on Gengo, she looked behind him at it, and so did he.
Inari went with what little he could and stabbed forward, almost killing him, but he had already moved before Inari started his actions. What resulted wasn't the instantaneous brain scrambling, instead Gengo received a leaking puncture wound to the neck.
Reacting quickly Gengo struck the length of bone, before Inari could harden it sufficiently and broke the end that was in him off.
Shuffling away clutching the bone that was in his neck he tore some cloth off of his shirt, and wrapped it around his neck, to try and stop some of the bleeding.
"I wasn't a Jonin for nothing you KNOW! I won't be taken out by two brats and a samurai."
Noting that he was forming hand signs, Akiko charged hoping to end the fight before it started. She reached in front of the man, drew her sword and almost reached his hands, but knew she was fucked when he let a smug smile reach her eyes.
Stopping his signs and using a speed most Jonin had, kicked her away with a force that was none too kind. Next came down the duo of brats, couldn't tell who they were, if they were important because of their face masks.
Both of them drew swords that we're missing their tips. Did he piss off Tetsu no Kuni? Well best deal with the brats, but what chance did they have?
Sprinting towards the two he quickly did his hand signs and announced, Suiton: Suidan no Jutsu (Water style: water bullet technique.).
A surge of four water bullets followed that command, one after the other. All they had time to do was duck behind a quickly formed bone shield, spiraling out of Inaris wrist.
A testament to the skill of Gengo was that the edges of the shield were chipped and broken, that shield had been reinforced with as much chakra as could be grabbed in that moment.
Seeing the shield Gengo pondered, Is that earth release? But where did he get the stone?
Hearing an ink and bottle behind him, Inari knew that Sai was at work making a seal, now the name of the game was defense, his specialty.
Pulling his tanto from his back he readied for any conflict from the front, just in time for several kunai to be launched at him.
The distinctive clang of metal deflecting metal was lost on both Root members, courtesy of some ear plugs.
A flurry of hand signs and water rising was the only warning for Inari, before a torrent of Suiton jutsu were unleashed onto him.
Seeing the issue of water messing with Sai's ink, Inari reached out and made a dome of bone around Sai. Leaving one arm to make a dome for himself as well.
The waves rocked against the dome threatening to break through the shell, reinforcing the dome put less worry into Inaris' heart.
Once the sound of the water colliding with the reinforcement had stopped he could hear metal clashing, very rapidly.
Dissolving the barrier to peer outside both of the Root members saw Akiko, unrelentingly slashing at Gengo.
They could see that she was giving no time for any counter attacks, she was slashing as fast as she could, all Gengo could do was defend lest he be maimed.
Getting a tap on his shoulder he saw Sai was done with his seal, looking at the seal he realised…he had no idea what it did.
Quickly seeing his partners staring, he signaled.
"Paralysis seal, get it to touch him for it to trigger."
Ah yes, that's what it was.
"I'll get on it, see what you can find on Gengos genjutsu." With that announcement his partner dashed away, hopefully scrounging something from this mess of a job.
Now came the fun part for Inari, combat. Holding the paralysis seal in his right hand, he thought on how to apply this without getting in the way.
A spear should do the trick, or anything really.
Akiko knew she wasn't that wise, smart or respectful, But she was damn good with a sword!
But this man was beginning to tire her out, he realized she had the upper hand when she had launched a surprise attack and had focused solely on defending.
That was the beginning, Gengo had clearly earned his rank of Jonin. As even though she wasn't a full fledged samurai, she was faster than most middle class shinobi and was being slowly pushed back by him.
Now she was slowly backing up slashing and deflecting with her all, at least until the back of her foot hit something and fell to the floor.
Looking up through her samurai mask she saw Gengo, thrusting down toward her. Watching as her life flashed before her eyes, she smiled because it was an honorable death at least.
Akikos end didn't come from the kunai, the loud thud interrupted everything. When she opened her eyes she saw a large javelin embedded into the wall, almost impaling Gengo in the stomach.
Looking to her left she saw Inari, javelins stabbed into the ground all around him and one in his hand. Seeing this shinobi, no, this child interfered when he had Almost won mad Gengo seethe with anger.
"I TOLD YOU ALL YOU WON'T KILL ME HERE! I still have so much to do!"
He was an excellent shinobi, it was almost a shame to see him losing himself to his emotions. Oh well, any shinobi who let their emotion get the best of them shouldn't be one.
By this time Akiko had stood up and gotten back into her stance, sword sheathed and ready for drawing. Inari was thinking of how he could make this work, with the seal Sai gave him.
Ah that might work.
Instead of javelins he needed to rush the Nuke-nin, this could get troublesome fast. Akiko seeing that Inari was running in decided to run in as well, two on one was favourable odds.
Gengo stood his ground, it had worked before and he had no better alternatives. When just in reach of a spear hit, Inari raised his right hand and pointed his index finger. The bone-spear shot out, at blinding speeds intent on putting a hole in Gengos forehead.
What Inari expected was for him to dodge. What had happened instead was he dodged, but managed to break the spear. Leaving Inari running forward with a broken weapon.
Gengo, thinking that Inari was open, charged him, still keeping a hand free to guard against the samurai right behind the child soldier. He expected the left hand to come down so he smacked it out of the way, leaving open space for Gengo to stab.
A thunk was heard, not the sound of flesh as Inari had improvised some bone plating where the kunai was going to strike. All he got in return was a slap on the shoulder from the right hand, that he had broken the weird spear off of
Gengo, inwardly smirked. If that's all the kid could do for a counter attack that close, it's an easy win. He would have dashed away to plan his counter attack.
At least he would have, if he could move fast enough. Something was slowing him down! The samurai girl was getting dangerously close now, and he could watch everything that the best was doing in slow-motion from the focus in his eyes shift, to his stomach rupturing with new spikes.
Those spikes had hit him, he saw every second through an adrenaline induced haze. From them leaving his enemies body, to them hitting him in the center of his body.
But he could finally move, first he used his kunai he still had and broke the connection between himself and the tiny shinobi. And started hand signs, well that's what he would have done.
All of reality came crashing down with his hand on the floor, removed up till the middle of his wrist.
So he did what anyone would do, he screamed, he raged. Swung his regaining hand into the brats face and sent him flying, it was his fault. He kicked that samurai away, again. He almost had the samurai girl and he interrupted their fight.
That brat stabbed him with something, and it hurt. But he must have done something to make him slow, yeah that's it. No way Gengo, ex-Jonin from Kiri would lose to two brats and a samurai.
Wanting revenge he started moving towards the downed child, his mind going dark from the amount of blood he was losing. When he arrived at the downed kid he no longer saw Inari, he saw the fourth Mizukage, Yagūra.
"It's your fault! We all lived happily with the Kekkei Genkai users, then you gave the order and we couldn't stand it!"
By this point he was on top of Inari, strangling him. Inari couldn't think straight as he was winded and now being strangled.
"WE ONLY FOLLOWED ZABUZA BECAUSE HE WAS THE STRONGEST ONE WHO OPPOSED YOU! Now I get to see the life leave your eyes," realizing he was in immediate danger, Inari went full porcupine mode.
Shooting out bones in all possible ways ahead of him, he hit Gengo in almost all vital organs. But the man proceeded as if possessed.
A quick and quiet slash followed by something falling relieved Inari, finally being able to breathe. He dissolved the bone spikes that were protruding into Gengo, seeing his savior Akiko, looking smug.
"DON'T UNDERESTIMATE THIS SAMURAI YA!"
Standing up, Inari took his ear plugs out, Akiko following suit. They looked at the body, head and hand missing. Pulling out a scroll, he sealed it all onto it.
"Y'know, Sai would've been really useful to have, like back us up."
"He moved on to different task, you do not need to worry yourself about him. We won in the end did we not?"
"You're right!" Pumping a fist in the air and doing a dance, Akiko was really the picture of someone happy.
A tiny smirk formed on Inaris face, but disappeared the moment it formed.
"Now you can head back to Konoha and like, show big sis Akiko around!"
Time seemed to slow to a crawl at this, was she actually an enemy spy? How did she find out they worked inside Konoha?
Picking up a combat stance with a bone spear ready to shoot out, he demanded.
"Where did you hear that information? Who is your source?"
Adopting a stance of universal surrender with her hands up, she asked back.
"Woah, woah. What do you mean? About Konoha? I overheard you guys in our hotel room, I just thought you'd be excited," this was their fault they weren't careful and she had to pay the price.
"Listen I can just like forget about it, y'know I forget things all the time. Please?"
For one of the few times in his life Inari was conflicted, He knew what he had to do and he really didn't want to.
"That's not how Root works, I have to eliminate you."
"You're going to kill me? Because of something I overheard? C'mon just like trust me, can't you do that?"
"No. I cannot do that, my master's will is more important than anyone else's."
"So that's what it comes down to then, you just refuse to think for yourself. Try it just for once, just for me."
Inari could feel his own bones creaking under the pressure he was squeezing in his hand. This wasn't something that was easy to choose, but he knew what he had to do.
Danzō-sama is everything, as long as he lives I have purpose.
Akiko wasn't blind through her samurai helmet, she saw Inaris eyes gloss over with conviction. She knew she couldn't change his mind anymore
"Well I won't die without my hands on my sword!"
He didn't speak a word and started throwing bone spikes at her, reaching behind him and throwing forward for momentum, like an endless rain of senbon.
Akiko, true to her samurai heritage, was deflecting almost all of them. The bones she didn't deem necessary to deflect bounced off of her armor, piling up on the floor.
The exchange stopped with Inari holding a spear and a sword in separate hands. On the receiving end of a spear thrust she cut the bone spear, surprising Inari who had in fact reinforced that. Not that he showed it.
"Challenging a samurai, to a sword duel. I'm gonna beat some common sense into you! " No response, again.
Instead Inari made a finger gun with his left hand and shot a high-speed spike that Akiko barely dodged. With the sword in his right hand he charged and swung at Akiko, and to his plan she blocked it.
What Akiko didn't expect was for Inari to grow a bone around her sword, the growth covering the entire blade. Quickly thinking she threw the sword away, and swiped a low kick to his left leg.
Barely moving from that hit, he shot a spike again at her while she was down low. It seemed she adapted rather quickly, as almost as she had wanted him to do that she moved around and the spike landed right beside her helmeted head.
Akiko pivoted from her position and threw a high kick right into his face, shattering his lower jaw With her boot. Stumbling back he spat some blood to the side, and fixed his jaw with his Shikotsumyaku. The skin rolled with rapid formation of said bone.
Akiko stood with no weapon so she worked with what she had left and put her fists up ready for hand to hand combat, which is why she couldn't do anything when the bone stabbed right into her ribcage.
The bone launched from his ribs at her, she didn't know he could do that. Then he threw a spear that pierced her gut, the destruction of her armor sounded deafening with the shock of it all.
Falling to one knee she knew it was over, pulling out the bone she lay there bleeding. She could hear his boots as he walked over, coming to finish her off. Akiko looked up, and she could tell that this was it.
"Since you saved my life, I'll make it quick."
Going down to both knees and taking off her helmet Akiko bowed her head for execution. At least she could die with some dignity.
Holding a freshly made needle, for a quick cranial nerve carving.
"Inari, before I go, you should try to live for yourself…y'know?"
"My master's will is my future, that is all I need."
She could only let a sad smile out and shake her head at this.
Sorry Mifune-ojiisan, looks like the world gave me too much experience.
Just staring Inari pulled out a scroll, eyes locked on her still corpse.
Sealing Akiko and her helmet away, he remembered this was for Root, this was for Danzō-sama.
Inari trailed over to the samurai's discarded sword and he reconnected to the bone, breaking down the bone and sealed the sword away separately.
Finding Sai was his next objective, hopefully his mission had turned out for the better.
Finding information on Gengo genjutsu was turning out to be a rather fruitful search, well for everything but the info in the jutsu. There was document after document, on plans to trick more and more shinobi into his group. Good thing they stopped him before he had acquired any powerful shinobi.
He could have become a threat to Konoha and Danzō-sama.
Hearing footsteps behind himself, Sai swung his tanto. Meeting bone guarded wrists, he saw it was Inari, covered in blood.
"I take it the target was killed," seeing a nod he continued. "And what of Akiko?"
"Killed."
"That's regrettable, I was sure the two of you could beat him without casualties." Oh maybe he kept a journal on how to do the jutsu on his body.
"I killed her, she learned we were from Konoha. She overheard us in the hotel."
"Oh that is unfortunate. Danzō-sama will not be pleased, he did want to keep a spy here. Did you check Gengos body for anything?" Seeing a shake of his partner's head he grabbed the scroll marked with his name, and unsealed him.
Body, head and hand dropped out of the scroll, leaving a blood pool quickly forming. Quickly patting Gengo down, Sai found what he was looking for. It didn't say in complete detail but Danzō-sama could make it work.
"Let's get out of here, set the fuse for the explosive notes. Give us enough time to reach the outskirts of town though."
With a nod from Sai, the two took off for Otogakure. Stopping at the border to leave, they waited. And waited.
Then with enough force to make the ground quake, and shake the balance of the two, the building erupted. The ninja manning the borders had started running towards the explosion and this was their chance.
Sai made a bird for him and Inari to ride on, and thought about how Danzō-sama might react to this mission's completion.
life got way out of control since last time I uploaded. I got Fired, got sick, got depressed. but writing cheered me back up and I will continue this.