Chapter 24 "When I Was King"
Author's Note: So...it's been a long while! I got a bit overwhelmed this last semester at college and couldn't write for crap, but I pushed through. I graduated college and am back home. Being off campus has helped a ton, and I went to work writing right away...only to take a little longer revising than I'd like.
I finished the rough version of this chapter in time for the fourth anniversary of this story on May 22nd but couldn't get around to revising it due to summer online classes. To make up for the delay I made a new cover for the story and it's uploaded now. Soon I may be able to create character sheets so you can see how Asuka, Katsuye, and Kirisuto look. I'm also working on designing an image of Kirisuto's Mangekyō Sharingan.
Thank you all for reading even though I'm the type of writer I despise and update slowly. It has helped me more than I could put into words.
Now I say we celebrate with a long chapter. I got a feeling all the chapters from now on will be a good length.
A Few Blocks Away from the Last Millennium Zeppelin, in an Alleyway
The Captain rushed forward, sinking his claws into the brick of a nearby building before performing leaping to an adjacent wall. The sudden force from his jump caused the side of the building to explode—sending debris and dust into the air. "If this asshole wants help he has a funny way of showing it," Pip said with a laugh. I nodded in agreement as I backed up a few steps. Miso suddenly ran up behind me and tugged on my skirt. I let out a small yelp of surprise before I grabbed my skirt with one hand and tried to wrestle the cloth out of the fox's mouth, making sure to keep my eyes on the dust cloud that hid the werewolf. "Cut it out, Miso!" I exclaimed, focusing on the dark-haired vulpine for a moment before realizing my mistake and hurriedly turning back to the alley.
I turned just in time to see the Captain had scurried to the top of a building before jumping down toward me. In a moment of adrenaline-filled shortsightedness, I pounced toward the wolf, hopped on his back and wrapped my organic arm around his throat. I put the creature in a choke hold to force his jaw closed. "Hopefully a werewolf's jaw opening muscles are weaker than their closing muscles like a crocodile." I thought to myself, praying to Steve Irwin that I was correct.
The werewolf tried to claw at me, but I kicked away the paw by forcing my foot into the bend of his elbow. The Captain let out a low growl before trying to slash into my exposed back once again only to be stopped when Miso seized the arm in his jaws. The fox had grown enough to match the werewolf's height, surpassing my height in the process. Miso clawed at the wolf's exposed chest as the vulpine shook his head violently to shred the werewolf's arm muscles. I drew my pistol and fired a few rounds down the side of the lycan's neck, trying to get the collar underneath his flesh to loosen up. "Get. Fucking. Free." I growled as I emptied 9mm rounds into the wolf.
After a full second of taking the abuse, the Captain threw himself on his back with a primal snarl. I managed to get away safely before the hulking lycan crushed me. By the time I was ready to keep fighting, I saw the Captain had scrambled to his feet and ran off. Suppressing the desire to give chase. I looked to Miso, whose dark lips were coated in blood, and he suddenly stiffened as if he remembered he had to tell me something. He ran at me and ducked between my legs before springing up, so I plopped onto his back.
"O-oi…" I started before the paranormal beast began to run in the opposite direction of the werewolf—fast. "Is someone in trouble?" I asked. Miso snorted with a slight nod. It was moments like these that made me wonder just how much training Kiri gave Miso to be able to understand English after only being here for a short time. Maybe Miso was just good at reading people in general. The fact that the fox could grow to the size of a small dinosaur made me willing to believe anything.
"Is it Kiri?" I asked. Miso shook his head no. "Katsuye?" I asked next, somewhat unsure if I pronounced the name correctly due to the fact I was on the brink of collapsing now that my body had a moment to rest. Miso nodded. "Damn…she is probably alright though. She is just having trouble. That little Millennium boy she's dealing with acts all cute but he lived after taking a point-blank shot to the skull. He has to have abilities." I thought to myself.
Close to the Last Millennium Zeppelin, On a Rooftop
In a single moment, I had gone from feeling anxious and afraid of being controlled by the enemy to being annoyed and angry. "Don't be a sourpuss, Kat-chan." Schrodinger cooed from within me. From within my mind, to be specific.
"You don't get to call me that, Neko-chaaan." I practically squealed back in a mocking tone. The attempt at cutesy speech sounded downright cringeworthy with my ugly husky voice. I couldn't speak for a moment as my jaw muscles tensed up before I sat down in a lotus position against my will. "Quit jerking me around you little shit. Just look at my memories and get out." I exclaimed. I felt the boy suddenly stop controlling my legs—like he froze when he remembered what he was going to do. "Oh yes…I don't know how." The pint-sized psycho said merrily. I scowled.
"Don't be upset. I know everything you know, but I don't know what you remember. I can't choose what you think—what memories you recall—but I can tag along." He explained as he gestured wildly with my hands. "You show me. Use these illusions you call genjutsu to submerge yourself in your past." Schrodinger demanded, holding my body hostage. I felt anxiety sting my insides. Could I face them again? See who I was?
"Fine. Shut the fuck up so I can focus." I finally said, grimacing. I reluctantly started to form a few hand seals to manipulate my chakra before performing a genjutsu on myself, a training genjutsu that created an artificial training room of the user's design. The user didn't expend any energy but was able to practice getting the hang of the chakra formations needed for techniques. The point of the training was that eventually, the user could learn to perform the Jutsu without handseals. "Amazing. I feel your energy—your chakra—swirl and change as you do this. You are very different, aren't you?" He said, his voice dripping with a sort of sadistic pleasure as he ravaged my mind for knowledge.
The sudden influx of chakra was raw and less controlled than normal due to the foreign influence in my body caused my transformation technique to dissipate. My true appearance was revealed to the world. I looked at my hands and saw my bone white scale-covered flesh with black talons. I licked my dry lips, feeling the fine olive-tinted scales coating them. I wanted to reapply my transformation but couldn't afford to waste energy in this place that lacked nature energy. I'd need everything to punish this fucker later.
"Hurry along, dear," Schrodinger asserted causing me to sneer. "Don't rush me. I don't see why you even want this. Kiri and Miso will feel my irregular chakra flow and will come. No matter how far you wormed your way inside me, you can't hide from Kiri's Sharingan." I said with a haughty tone. "You have much faith that they will care enough to come?" Schrodinger replied, his voice lacking its usual jovial tone. "Yes," I answered, sure of my decision. "Even if what he faces can send him home?" The boy asked, joy inching into his voice. My eyes widened slightly. I knew that Kirisuto was tired and missed his family terribly. When he was in ROOT, he'd summon me to speak to someone. He was always lonely without them—the people he loves—like Asuka…
I forced a laugh, "he'd be able to summon me if he leaves, he knows that." I spat back as my hands came together to form the Kage Bunshin handseal. A shadow clone appeared before me; the duplicate also lacked the transformation Jutsu. I looked at my true form with a frown before I forced an unimpressed expression on my face. My real skin was far paler with an olive tint and covered with scales. My lips are only a shade darker in color. My hair was dark red and came to my lower back. Long, rustled strands of hair covered most of my face.
I put my hands together and focused on myself. Ready to receive a genjutsu from my clone. I looked at the clone's torso, allowing my copy's chakra to invade my senses. I hated my body. It was crafted so that I was appealing from my chest, which I hide in my transformation, to my hips. Now that my henge—my transformation—was gone, my original clothing was visible. I had been wearing a copy of Kirisuto's Hellsing uniform for a while. Now I could see my black pants and burgundy high collar canvas jacket that remained slightly unzipped to display my mesh-armored sweater. I required heavy clothing to regulate my body temperature; I am a snake in many ways.
Schrodinger forced me to nod to my clone, who looked apprehensive. "I will start the jutsu then, mistress." The clone said, looking up so that her muddy green eyes could lock onto my own. I despised my eyes most of all as they held no appealing aspect whatsoever. Kiri felt the same way about his eyes when he wasn't wearing his mask. His suppressed anger and sorrow had corrupted his appearance. Apparently, morphed eyes are common in Jinchūriki who lacked a relationship with their Bijū. But Kiri's eyes were permanently changed, which was unique because he and Kurama were friends. I find his demonic gaze intoxicatingly beautiful…I'm sure that even before their corruption his eyes were brilliant but my eyes are ugly.
"Your thoughts gravitate to your master quite a bit." Schrodinger quipped, interrupting my thoughts. I didn't respond, but I did chastise myself. My thoughts weren't right. I shouldn't feel like this about Kiri. Even the White Sage warned me to contain my feelings or else the other serpents would treat me even worse.
I felt my awareness of my surroundings fade away then a slight tremor in my chest. A feeling similar to the coughing spasms I constantly had in the past. I was going to suffer once more, and even though I knew I would be saved soon by the Kiri, either in the past or present, I still trembled. "After this, I'm going to make sure your butt buddy of a master dies feeling my snakes writhe in his lungs." I cursed. Schrodinger just laughed. "I doubt that could happen."
Near the Border of the Land of Fire 11 2E, The Eleventh Year of the Reign of the Second Emperor
I jumped out of bed, not caring in the slightest that I was unmasked and wearing only a T-shirt and boxers before I ran to Asuka. I practically tackled her as I pulled her into a tight hug. A face full of her chest made me regret my decision immediately—I had forgotten that I was a few inches shorter than Asuka when I was 16. I felt an intense blush rise up my whiskered cheeks.
"Eh…Kiri-kun." Asuka murmured, a hint of a New Konoha accent made her linger on the syllable "ki" as she said my name. I looked up to her, focusing on her bright blue eyes peering at me then I suddenly realized that I had just hopped onto Asuka half-naked.
I released Asuka's waist and reached for my General's cape to cover myself. Behind me, Asuka rose to her feet. "Sorry, I had a nightmare again." I lied quietly.
The masked Asuka's posture went from rigid, prepared for action, to relaxed with her arms crossed. "You shouldn't use that button if you wanted to call me for that, Kiri-kun. We have our comms." Asuka started. I opened my mouth to answer but fell silent. I wanted to steal her away and take her somewhere safe before I'd fail and end up alone again. I could bring them to Ryūchi Cave, no one could find them there. Only the Uchiha knew about the Sage haven.
Munin appeared beside me as Asuka, and the world around me faded to black. I turned, attempting to stun the creature by giving her a quick punch to her throat, only to have darkness overtake my vision before I felt my fist only hit the air.
I blinked, activating my Sharingan in the hopes that it could help me see through the darkness, but by then I was back in my bed. My bed in the tent. "This isn't real. Remember?" Munin said, appearing by my bed with her clothing spotless, sat in a Gothic chair. I turned to her and grimaced. "I do now. Why are we here? If you want to test my abilities then just fucking fight." I said, rage filling my being.
Munin frowned slightly. "Calm down. Anger isn't useful." The creature lectured. I closed my mouth before I said anything else and forced an exhale. "I want to see what made you the person you are now," Munin said. I looked at her for a moment before looking at the foot of my bed—at my ninjatō and service pistol sat on the table by my hanging uniform. "This does make me accept my fate, but I could just tell you what happened. Seeing it is…difficult." I admitted. Munin cocked her head slightly as she looked at me. "I know. I want to see how you were hurt and are hurting at the same time." She said. I looked up at her and narrowed my eyes, "I won't play your game. I don't need to see this again."
Munin sighed, annoyed. "You will relive this if you want those vampires to live. No matter which of us wins I'll spare them if you want." The black-eyed creature offered. I scoffed, not believing her for a second. "I doubt a god would give a rat's ass about what I want, but I'll do this. I know what happened so this won't affect me." I said, lying to her and myself. Munin smiled. "Go on then. I'll be watching." She said before letting the illusion of the past begin once more.
A few moments later and I was about to leave my tent. I had my ANBU General's uniform on, and it felt strange to wear the finely weaved clothing after being demoted two years ago. Since I joined ROOT, I became accustomed to roughly covered mesh armor and thick clothing fit for fighting in the swampland near the Land of Waves. I adjusted the way that my revolver rested in its shoulder holster with a small sigh before exiting my tent.
Directly outside my tent was where my fellow officer's tents were. To the right were the Shinobi officer tents and to the left were the Shintai officer tents. The Shintai were soldiers that couldn't access chakra and typically used firearms while the Shinobi were soldiers that used chakra to utilize ninjutsu, genjutsu or taijutsu. I flared my chakra subtly, and Asuka came to my side in an instant, dressed in her ANBU attire. "Are the captains assembled, Raccoon?" I asked. Asuka nodded.
I narrowed my eyes before walking towards the assembly tent. This tent was the largest, save for the infantry tents, and had seals installed along the walls to hide the mass collection of chakra. I entered the tent, lowering my head a bit so I could pass through the door flap. Seated at the table were various captains, tactical advisors, and lieutenants. Members of the Akimichi, Yamanaka, Nara, Inuzaka and even Hyūga clans were present. I adjusted my cloak, feeling the Uzumaki clan symbol on it bearing down on shoulders.
I molded a minuscule amount of my immense chakra reserves into ice style chakra and dispersed it—cooling the room. "Morning everyone, you all rest well?" I asked as I ran a hand through a stubborn tuft of hair on the back of my head. Shikaai Nara let out a content sigh as she popped her neck, "thank the Yuki clan for Hyōton." She muttered, referring to the ice release chakra. "A waste of chakra." Murmured a Yamanaka clan member in charge of predicting enemy movements. "Some of us have more chakra reserves than a cheerleading group, Yamanaka-san." I joked through half-lidded eyes. Shikaai chuckled and Chōjirō Akimichi, the son of the current clan head, snorted at their friend's expense. "I'll take your chipper comments as a yes. Now let's review our reason for being close to the border." I said, signifying the time for banter had passed.
"24 hours ago the governor of the Land of Wind asked for assistance. His militia scouts reported significant Separatist movements through the canyons near the Hidden Sand Village. We believe that the Separatists are planning to take Sunagakure to have a hold along the border of the Land of Fire." I explained, a stern expression on my face. Soon the other captain's gained serious countenances as well. "They're trying to take Konoha—the Emperor—aren't they?" Shikaai Nara asked, most likely asking herself out loud rather than talking to me. I nodded before continuing, "the scouts estimated that the Separatist forces are mostly consisting of Shintai and have fewer than a hundred Shinobi. About 550 troops total." The captains began talking amongst themselves.
"The Old Konoha district alone has to have at least 3,000 Shinobi including the Fourth War veterans, and we have around 700 men. They must have lost it." Keziah Inuzaka said haughtily. "The Separatists are anarchist scum, but they aren't dumb. There must be another angle to this." Suggested Rin Hatake, a Kunoichi specialized in reconnaissance and assassination techniques. She also was the daughter of Kakashi Hatake, the sensei of my grandfathers Sasuke Uchiha and Naruto Uzumaki.
"I believe this is a diversion," I stated. All eyes turned to me, and I suppressed the urge to shiver, I hated being looked at. "They know this many troops of that composition aren't enough to take Suna. I informed the Emperor of this, and he agreed with me. The other generals are currently posted around the capital with troops preparing for the true invasion force." I said with a hushed tone. The Inuzaka looked infuriated as he stood up and slammed a hand on the meeting table. "So we are just out here playing!? What's the point of being here?" He yelled. I sighed, annoyed.
"I certainly didn't miss dealing with idiots like you," I muttered. "What did you say!?" The man asked. I ran a hand along my jawline before letting myself sink back into my chair lazily. "I'm wondering if you're stupid or disabled for needing to ask that," I said with a bored tone of voice. I heard a slight amount of shuffling and turned to see Raccoon was looking at me like she wanted to smack me for being bad. I smirked in return before looking back at the officers.
"If we pack our bags and go home so you can keep rutting your kin then the enemy will know we caught wind of their plan, Captain Inuzaka," I said as I sat up straight and focused my gaze on the man. I pumped chakra into my eyes to activate my Sharingan, the man immediately lowered his gaze in response. "If you intend to disobey my orders then you may end up tipping off the enemy by acting rashly." I chastised before letting a small feral grin cross my features. "If you hinder this mission then you are risking the wellbeing of the capital's citizens. I am willing to force you to follow my orders with genjutsu rather than let you fail them…understand?" I threatened as the tomoe in my eyes slowly rotated as I focused on the man's facial expressions.
The Inuzaka let out a shaky scoff before easing back into his chair. A moment of silence lingered as all eyes were on the captain with a bruised ego. He grit his teeth before looking me in the eye, "I'll do as you say, General Uzumaki. But I'd rather be fighting the actual threat." He exclaimed before bowing his head slightly. I let my grin dissipate with my Sharingan as I nodded, "Good. Killing the enemy is fighting. No matter if they are a diversion, fresh recruits or veterans, killing them will weaken the Akatsuki." I said to him; he nodded in response before eyeing the captains around him with embarrassment.
I stood and clasped my hands behind my back. "Now we are to pack up camp and move into Suna. There I will meet with the leaders of the militia and give you further instruction. Remember that Suna may not be your home, but it is of the empire. We must defend it." I ordered. The captains saluted in response before exiting the tent. I looked downward in thought as they did so. "This feels so real, but strange. I remember everything I said today to an incredible degree. Perhaps that is Munin's doing. She may be looking into the deepest parts of my mind to recall what should be said to play the role of my past self." I thought to myself before turning to Raccoon—to Asuka. "I hope the day goes by fast. I hate marching." I muttered.
Hours After Arriving in Sunagakure, the Village Hidden in the Sand
I sat at a small dining table in the governor's mansion with a tired expression on my face. At the opposite side of the table was Asuka, who sat eating soup. "Tired as well?" I asked her with a small smile on my face. She nodded with a laugh as she swallowed her food, "out of every kind of terrain I hate the desert almost as much as a swamp! Only positive is that it's dry and doesn't stink." She said excitedly before she continued to eat with gusto. I nodded with an exasperated expression. "The heat is almost as bad as the humidity of the swamps. But at least it's cool in here." I grumbled as I brought a section of dried meat from my plate to my lips and took a bite.
The governor was a descendant of Gaara of the Sand, a friend of my paternal grandfather and Jinchūriki of the One-tailed Tanuki, and thus was kind enough to provide me a room of my own. I insisted that I needed Asuka to join me for protection, but in reality, we both felt better sleeping close to one another. "I hope we can deal with the Separatists before they can cause any civilian casualties," Asuka commented as she looked up at me. Her fair skin's caramel hue was slightly more apparent from the desert sun, and her short, unruly light brown hair looked a tad bit frizzy from the humidity.
I stood up, as I had finished eating, and started heading toward the bathroom. "I think we can handle them if the numbers were reported correctly but this wouldn't be the first time scouts were wrong." I thought aloud. I stepped into the bathroom and washed my hands to clean them of pepper and sand. As I turned off the faucet, I looked up to the mirror and saw my reflection. "Wow, I still looked…human at this point. Still ugly as sin but not that bad." I thought to myself. My skin was still pale but had a bit more color to it, my corrupted eye merely had red specks in the iris, and neither of my eyes had slit pupils. The most noticeable differences were that my hair was still pale blonde without a hint of graying and my body wasn't covered head to toe with branding scars. I did have many battle scars staining my skin, though. In fact, I think my naturally dark Kyūbi whisker marks were slightly thinner as well, and dark, corrupt pigmentation didn't surround my eye sockets.
"Kiri-kun?" Asuka called out. I turned and saw she was in the doorway looking at me with worry. I grinned sheepishly, "were you calling for me? I zoned out for a second there." I admitted. Asuka frowned a bit before closing the distance between us and looked at the sides of my face in an exaggerated manner. I raised an eyebrow at her antics. "What?" I asked. "I think you were in here pouting about how you look again!" Asuka accused, before putting a finger under my chin to guide my gaze up to look her in the eye. "I told you that it doesn't matter how you look. You're better than anyone else! No one else I ever met would do all you have for me." She said with a fierce resolution in her voice.
I couldn't help but blush heavily at her praise. Asuka looked confused. "Why're you blushing now? I swear you do that way too much!" She jokingly complained as she stopped guiding my chin. I rubbed the tender area. "I'm not. I was thinking about how I don't look as bad as I could." I explained before stepping past her to approach the bed. I sat on one of the two twin beds the room was furnished with. Asuka had moved her bed, so it was alongside mine. She said it was because the blanket she brought was big and she didn't want a desert scorpion to climb up the sides and sting her. But I knew that Asuka just had trouble sleeping alone. She'd sneak into my house and sleep alongside me when we were little. I smiled and noticed that when Asuka was still around my face didn't hurt from smiling too much.
"I just had a funny thought is all, Asu-chan." I finally said before I slid under the bed covers and released a content sigh. A short while later and Asuka was in bed as well. I had my eyes closed and was drifting off to sleep when I felt someone was staring at me. I turned and saw that Asuka was looking at me with a puzzled look on her face. "Whatcha looking at?" I whispered, tired. She smirked, "looking at a boy who doesn't realize how cute he is." She teased before turning away from me. "Nighty." She said before going to sleep. I just laid there, blushing and smiling like an idiot.
"Damn it…" I thought as tears welled in my eyes. The world around me was fading to darkness again. I didn't care though I just wiped my eyes. Munin appeared beside me, she had her hip cocked to the side, and she craned her neck to look at my face under the arm that covered my eyes. "Why are you weeping?" She asked, confused. I looked at her with grit teeth. "You'll see soon. Put me back about nineteen hours into the next day. I don't want to deal with talking to those people anymore." I demanded. I felt my chakra flare like I was back in my world. I wasn't poisoned by Seras' world anymore, but I knew I still couldn't fight Munin at the moment. Plus, I wanted to face it again now. I needed to try let her go...
Munin narrowed her eyes. "I will do this, but when you're experiencing your greatest pain, I want you to say why you hurt. I retain my individuality because I remember the pain of mortal life but don't know why. You will tell me why pain exists!" Munin demanded in return. She looked manic, like a rabid animal yearning for flesh. I opened my mouth to answer when she yelled, "and don't try to give me some pitiful platitude while you're cool-headed. I want to hear your thoughts when you're suffering. Thoughts that haven't been filtered with empathy and reflection." I shut my mouth, understanding her intentions to a degree.
"I will. Then you will release me, and we will fight…I want a fair fight. I can tell that you can give me more chakra. I feel as powerful here as I did in my world." I asked, my voice firm and my eyes drying. She scowled, "I was going to do that anyway. Fighting you while you're poisoned by that world is a poor way to measure your potential." She said, sounding offended that I didn't think she'd heed my request. "Good," I said as I closed my eyes. I remembered that I had my Sharingan activated the entire time that the battle commenced.
Two Hours into the Battle of Suna
I opened my eyes with my Sharingan activated. I felt adrenaline filling my veins and the night's cold air caressing my body. I looked around and saw that the Separatists forces that were supposed to be 550 strong were actually about 2,500 in number, with a fifth of the troops being Shinobi. I was stood on the middle level of a massive wall that protected the outermost reaches of the Sand village. I was looking through one of the many small holes in the wall used for soldiers to fire projectiles at opponents.
I was wearing my ANBU tactical vest over my ANBU General uniform. Over my shoulders was a high collar navy cape emblazoned with the Uzumaki clan symbol on the back. Asuka suddenly appeared alongside me, bowing, "I have the next battle report, General Uzumaki." She announced. I nodded in acknowledgment. "Half of the local militia is dead or wounded. Around 30 of our 50 Shinobi are dead or critically injured. Our Shintai riflemen are performing well, though." She stated.
I put a hand on my ninjatō's hilt and smirked, "Then it is time that we enter the fight. Gather the rest of our ANBU team and meet me at the side gate. We will flank the riflemen and deal with the Shinobi that come to us." Asuka nodded in response before using the Shunshin technique to disappear in a whirlwind.
I see now that she was hesitant to go out there. Maybe she could feel that these Shinobi were stronger than most Separatists. Maybe she felt that something bad was going to happen…
Thirty Minutes Later
I let out a whistle as I dived into the closest trench dug into the back of the Separatist battle line. A dozen riflemen turned in horror and confusion at the sight of me leaping down from a tree with my ninjatō drawn and covered in wind chakra. "Uchiha!" One yelled in anger before wildly firing at me with his lever-action rifle. I deflected a bullet with the flat of my blade before landing on him—plunging my sword into his heart. The other soldiers thought I was still in the air due to the speed at which I fell. They let out a communal war cry as they fired at the afterimage.
None of them even noticed the other ANBU. The members of Team Ku dashed from the treelike and threw a barrage of shuriken with deadly accuracy. The remaining Separatist gunmen collapsed with projectiles lodged in their necks, temples and one had their heart pierced. I drew my sword from the corpse of the man I killed before crouching down low. The other Shinobi followed suit.
Asuka tottered over to my side and looked over the edge of the trench with me. "They didn't notice the increased gunfire, just like I predicted," I said, appreciative of our luck. "Maybe if they didn't scream nonstop every time they fought they wouldn't be so vulnerable," Asuka muttered. I snickered. I looked over her shoulder to check the condition of the other members of the team. The other three members had no clan, like Asuka, but were able Shinobi. They also happened to be kind, talented Shinobi. Which was a rarity in Konoha. The oldest in our group was Akechi Soichiro, a 22-year-old blonde that towered over Asuka and me in height. The next person was in the same class in Academy as me and graduated early as well; her name was Hanae Koi, she had long hair with brown eyes. The last team member was younger than me; his name was Hokuto Yoshii, he was 15 with dirty blond hair and was rather small in stature. I wonder if they were plants—Shimura's men.
"Quiet now. Use kunai and shuriken to end them quickly, perhaps a quiet jutsu if things get out of control." I instructed before using Shunshin to "teleport" behind a few supply crates alongside the lip of the next trench.
Team Ku slowly made our way up the back trenches of the Separatist firing line. We had managed to take out three dozen or so riflemen before being noticed. It was then that we realized that most of the riflemen in the middle of the trenches were Shinobi. "We got them out in the open!" An officer exclaimed, and at once all but a few dozen Shinobi turned their attention completely to Team Ku. "Suiton:…" The Separatists began, speaking the name of the Water Style technique.
"Fuck…" I cursed before I began to weave handseals rapidly. "Fall back, form the strongest delta formation you can using Doton Jutsu that you can!" I ordered. Asuka stared at me for a moment before darting back into the nearest trench. She immediately exclaimed the name of an earth style tunneling technique as she began to deepen the trench. The other ANBU hesitated, in shock. I grit my teeth before I tossed one of my hands backward and expelled wind chakra to get them moving. Then I performed the last few seals. "…Dai Bakusui Shōha!" The Shinobi exclaimed before they spewed out vast torrents of water that quickly built up to form an insanely huge wave. "That wave has to be bigger than the Hokage Monument!" Yelled Akechi in terror. "Hyōton: Hyōtoiki," I said calmly before I spewed a large cone of blue-white energy with a roar. The chilled flame-like chakra started freezing the crescent of the massive wave, steadying its advance as the frozen section curled back on itself.
"Ice Style?" Hanae questioned as she put the finishing touches on a large triangular earth wall with the help of the other ANBU. "He shouldn't waste chakra like that. The idiot." Asuka spat, I could hear that she was worried about me. Which in turn made me angry at the Separatists for causing her stress. I created more Hyōton chakra before increasing the density of the ice breath. The denser breath was used to strengthen the foundation of the ice wall, ensuring that the massive weight of the water could be held long enough. I wiped my lips, warming them, before observing my handiwork. I had formed an ice dam that halted the advance of the water and flash froze nearly all of it. I had also used almost all of my chakra that I had prepared earlier in one go.
I panted as I waited to see the enemy's next move. Kekkai Genkai techniques always made me waste chakra since they were so hard to perform. My thoughts were interrupted by a voice augmented by chakra. "You have power fitting your position, General Kirisuto Uzumaki, Son of Boruto Uzumaki and Yuuko Uchiha." I looked upwards and saw a lone figure was stood on top of my ice formation. He wore the uniform of an officer but also had a black cloak adorned with red clouds fluttering in the desert wind. "And you have the numbers fit for someone commanding an army of poor quality, Akatsuki," I exclaimed with a feral grin. The man took a step forward and allowed himself to fall the ground. He landed before me, the impact of the fall didn't even cause the man's knees to buckle. "He has quite a bit of chakra." I thought as my Sharingan showed me the dense flow of chakra within the man. "I guess your objective isn't to take Suna, is it?" I asked as I drew my ninjatō and molded chakra in case I need to use another jutsu. The price of having a large chakra pool was that I needed to carefully mold it so I wouldn't be wasteful.
"Our goal is the same as that of the original Akatsuki. So our use for you is obvious, Jinchūriki of the Kyūbi." The man said as he steadily approached. I could now see that the man was in his late 40's with tan skin, a thick beard, and a shaved head. The most worrying thing about his appearance was the Kumogakure headband wrapped around his forehead. Kumogakure, the Village Hidden in the Clouds, was a part of the empire. That meant this guy was a defector or some swamp bumpkin that found the headband in a thrift shop. "If you're after Kurama you're going to have to go through him and me," I warned before pulsating my chakra to signal for Team Ku to move forward. I waited a moment, and nothing happened. I took a quick look back. I saw dozens of Separatist ANBU surrounding the earth wall. "Asuka…" I thought. My chest tensed as I felt the man was less than a foot away from grabbing me. He was obviously a bit of a hothead if he fell for such an opening.
I delivered a quick backhand to the Shinobi's cheek as I pivoted on my foot to avoid the shortsword, a chakra receiving trench knife, he had attempted to plunge into my spine. I observed the black lusterless metal of the knife and started to believe that the man was truly after Kurama.
Chakra receivers were metal stakes used for chakra communication and disruption. Rinnegan users could naturally create them, but an artificial process of creating them was discovered by the Separatists. They'd weld foot-long spikes of the material onto brass knuckles to form trench knives that the Bijū Collection Squads used since they make it harder for a Jinchūriki to control chakra or communicate with his Bijū. I couldn't let the man stab me deep enough introduce any amount of the metal into my chakra network.
"I'll make a deal with ya," I exclaimed as I followed up my backhand by wrapping an arm around the man's outstretched arm and placed a boot on each of his shoulder blades. I heaved as I pressed hard and dislocated his arm. Yelling in pain, the man retrieved a kunai hidden in his free arm's sleeve and tried to stab me. I used my other arm to bat away his hand before leaping back to safety. He looked at me with frustration filling his eyes as he flexed his arm, trying to fix its placement. "You looked like you weren't paying attention…" I said, patronizing him as I stood upright. "Now…what was I going to say? …Oh yes! If you win, you get Kurama, and my life as those are a packaged deal." I suggested as I paced around the man, flicking my sword about wildly as I spoke.
"Kiri-kun quit fucking around!" Asuka interrupted. "Yeah, we're screwed if you don't do something!" Hokuto yelled, a tremor in his voice. I could hear that the kid wasn't willing to die yet. Strange, as he had no trouble killing other soldiers that were younger than him.
I glanced over my shoulder. The enemy ANBU were motionless. "Maybe they were a ripoff of ROOT?" I thought before hearing a sickening pop. The man was working his arm in circles, his muscles producing disgusting noises with each revolution as his arm was steadily corrected. "What happens if you win, General?" He asked, his composure returning. "My allies get the chance to go back over the wall. Then I'll kill all of your men, and I'll make sure you are captured without much pain." I offered.
Asuka let out a low growl of frustration back in the trench. Akechi backed up slightly. Hanae eyed her suspiciously while Hokuto looked scared shitless of Asuka. "Why don't you add that he'll get a chance to suck your dick too, idiot! Make the shit deal—shittier!" Asuka exclaimed from the hole. I face palmed, my face turning beet red, as I turned back toward the trench. "Shaddap, dickhead! I probably got this." I yelled indignantly. Rest of Team Ku's faces fell, "probably…?" They thought. The Akatsuki ANBU looked confused.
After a moment of silence, the bearded man laughed out loud. "She has a point, your deal isn't fair, but I'll accept it." He said as he drew another, larger chakra receiving trench knife from a storage seal. I grinned. "At least someone here realizes their place," I said with a jovial tone. The man gained a manic grin, "after all I'll kill you in no time. Then I'll tear the Bijū from what remains of your body!" He yelled vigorously as he charged me. "Or my name isn't Tan—" He started. "Fūton: Kūdan," I said cheerfully as I made a gun-like motion with my hand. The man was instantaneously hit dead center in the chest by a pressurized air projectile. The wind was knocked out of him, ending his sentence, before he was launched back at a high velocity. The ice formation cracked, sending fragments everywhere as the man's body hit it. "I don't care to learn your name," I explained before performing a few handseals with one hand. "Hyōton: Hyōryūdan no Jutsu." I chanted before clawing my hands downward.
The crescent at the top of the formation started to extend, and the ice wall began to cluster together to become a crooked pillar. Then the end of the pillar split with a roar and the body twisted around, shedding excess ice until it resembled an oriental dragon. The ice dragon bullet's yellow eyes focused on the man. It bellowed in anger before flying through the air toward him. "It is customary to give one's name in battle when they incite it." He muttered as time seemed to slow down as the dragon began to wrap its jaws around him. Sand was tossed into the air as the dragon hit the ground, I threw a hand in front of my eyes to shield them. As the particulate in the air dispersed, I heard Imperial troops along the wall cheer, believing the opponent's officer was dead.
"I am Tanjiro, Jinchūriki of 03." I heard the Akatsuki member exclaim from behind me. I turned around only to flinch as he swung his chakra receiving trench knife towards me. He was covered in an aura of blue chakra; an aura that resembled a Tailed Beast Cloak. I jumped back to dodge the blow, but the hand that was holding my blade was slashed, causing me to drop my ninjatō as a result. "Shit." I cursed.
This bastard was good.
Chapter End