It's been two months of training. More and more players have chosen to transfer their minds to the game when multiple areas of the world have suddenly suffered natural disasters. Rumors going around that Toshihiro Bayahiki wasn't even human were going around. The team had trained endlessly to become stronger in that amount of time. However the game was far from completed. Throughout the months, multiple guilds have been formed. The team's guild is called, Sword Assault Outburst (S.A.O) and they've already gathered several other members.

Quick overview of character strengths...


Kirito Uchiha

Rank: Chunin

Clan: Uchiha

Affiliation: Sword Assault Outburst

Nature Release(s): Fire Release

Health Points Max: 540

Chakra Max: 430

Weapons: Itachi's Katana


Asuna Uzumaki

Rank: Chunin

Clan: Uzumaki

Affiliation: Sword Assault Outburst

Nature Release(s): Wind Release

Health Points Max: 520

Chakra Max: 500

Weapons: Rapier, Whirlpool Rapier


Klein Namikaze

Rank: Chunin

Clan: Namikaze

Affiliation: Sword Assault Outburst

Nature Release(s): Lightning Release

Health Points Max: 530

Chakra Max: 420

Weapons: Raijin Katana


Agil Sarutobi

Rank: Pre-Jonin

Clan: Sarutobi

Affiliation: Sword Assault Outburst

Nature Release(s): Fire Release

Health Points Max: 590

Chakra Max: 500

Weapons: Leaf Greatsword, Executioner's Blade


Silica Inuzuka

Rank: Genin

Clan: Inuzuka

Affiliation: Sword Assault Outburst

Nature Release(s): Water Release

Health Points Max: 370

Chakra Max: 300

Weapons: Fang Dagger, Fangblade


Lisbeth Yamanaka

Rank: Genin

Clan: Yamanaka

Affiliation: Sword Assault Outburst

Nature Release(s): Yang Release

Health Points Max: 350

Chakra Max: 280

Weapons: Giant Iron Mace


Sinon Hyuga

Rank: Chunin

Clan: Hyuga

Affiliation: Sword Assault Outburst

Nature Release: Yang Release

Health Points Max: 520

Chakra Max: 390

Weapons: Hyuga Sword


Leafa Senju

Rank: Chunin

Clan: Senju

Affiliation: Sword Assault Outburst

Nature Release: Wind Release

Health Points Max: 500

Chakra Max: 400

Weapons: Forest Blade


'This is getting interesting...we'll move forward soon. I'll go with my plan first, then we'll save them.'

'I've told you again and again. He needs to die, he's too much of a threat already.'

'Don't think that way. Just don't...'

Meanwhile...

Kirito slashes apart a random pig in the wild. He was out gathering food for the others with Klein. Klein just killed a cow for some raw beef to cook. There were easier ways to get food, but there was always the need for some more experience. Still, two months in and only three bosses were defeated. Out of the bosses in the game, the manual said that in order to win the game, one, or one within that person's guild had to defeat all 20 bosses within the game as well as make it to Kage-level. That was the requirement. It wasn't as bad as in Sword Art Online, however the bosses were hidden within various spots in the game. They just took longer to find.

"Let's get this food back to the guys." Klein stated. He and Kirito put the food into their inventories and head back towards their home base, which was a building within the hidden leaf village, which was basically their home village in the land of fire, which was partially owned by them as the home turf. Throughout the game, many people have been claiming other nations as their own as well. The Lands of Earth, Water, Wind and Lightning were all claimed by various guilds and forces, like the actual great nations, these forces became enemies. Though the guild that got everyone's attention was a group called 'Akatsuki' probably the most powerful in the game. They ruled the Land of Shadows, a dangerous area west of the land of wind.

It was unfortunate, but according to the manual one of the requirements for getting to Kage-level was to take down five other guardian ninja not aligned with the guild the player was in, Guardian ninja was the second-highest level so it would be difficult, even being a guardian ninja yourself. It was one of the ways that Obito would turn the game into a virtual war, albeit by doing so, giving people a way to feel his pain.

Kirito still felt as though he wasn't strong enough. He was chunin and all, but despite that he still wasn't as strong as Phoenix was. And now Phoenix was probably even stronger than he was before. Kirito sighs as he and Klein walk back home. "Hey, Kirito? Are you okay?" Klein asked seeing Kirito looked down. "Oh, I'm fine." Kirito responded, though things really weren't fine at all. 'I need to get stronger. I have to, to save everyone.' Klein mumbles, "You don't look fine." Klein accidently bumps into someone. "Oh sorry." The black haired girl said as she walked by. Kirito seeing her out of the corner of his eye. Both of them think. 'Her again?'

"HEY! Kirito, Klein!" Kirito snaps out of his distraction to see Riaru. They had become pretty good friends recently. Riaru also joined up with Sword Assault Outburst. Kirito figured out at that point that Riaru's clan was Soyokaze. An odd clan, which he never heard of, but Riaru was really strong, still he wasn't as strong as others in the game.

Riaru's Profile

Riaru Soyokaze

Rank: Full-Jonin

Affiliation: Sword Assault Outburst

Nature Release(s): Lightning Release, Wind Release, Yin Release

Health Points Max: 850

Chakra Points Max: 600

Weapons: Truth Saber

Along with that Kirito he was also rejoined by Saizo in his guild as well.

Saizo's Profile

Saizo Kaguya

Rank: Pre-Jonin

Affiliation: Sword Assault Outburst

Nature Release(s): Earth Release

Health Points Max: 650

Chakra Points Max: 500

Riaru said to them. "Okay, you won't believe this!" He said, in a matter that really didn't say what he was actually thinking. The two really couldn't tell whether he was worried or cheery. It was an odd thing. "What's going on?" Klein asked in concern. "Someone's asked to see you." Riaru said leading them back to base.

In the room waiting for Kirito was another man. He was about 20 years old by the looks of him. He had black hair. He wore a large black cloak, it was just black and it went to the male's feet. Underneath was a fishnet shirt and navy blue pants. He had black eyes and glared at Kirito, the left side of his face was covered by half a black mask.

"Who are you?" Kirito asked.

"Itachi Uchiha." He responded. "I've been watching you for awhile, Kirito Uchiha." He added.

"Watching me?" Kirito questioned.

"I've been watching you, I've heard you were strong from a friend of mine." Itachi said.

"Really?" Kirito said. "Well thanks." Kirito said bluntly. Kirito checked Itachi's profile. He was surprised when Itachi's profile said he was a Kage Guard, 1500 Health Points, and 1000 Chakra Points.

'He's so strong.' Kirito thought. Klein had the exact same thought. Riaru only glanced at him before leaving to attend to other things.

"Who are you anyways?" Klein felt needed to ask that.

"I am no one. No one at all. I simply want to assist you, Kirito." Itachi said.

"Why?" Kirito asked.

Itachi closed his right eye and revealed it, Kirito was looking at a Sharingan, but it was oddly shaped. It differed from Kirito's because the tomoe were no longer there. "Because as you are, you are not strong enough to defeat Toshihiro Bayahiki." Itachi stated.

"I know that, I'll get stronger to beat him." Kirito said confidently.

"That's nice...however. You cannot do so in your state." Itachi said.

"What? Why not?" Kirito asked.

"You will understand soon, let's see if you can figure it out yourself. In the meantime, take this." He opened up his menu and transferred to Kirito a new jutsu formula. Itachi disappeared with a quick bolt of lightning.

Kirito didn't know what exactly what to think of this, it could be a trap, or it could actually be something that would help him. It wasn't everyday that someone like Itachi just came into his base and gave him a new jutsu, but he did see odder things. Kirito checked his jutsu list, which had expanded since he ranked up. He saw a new jutsu was there, it was called Chidori.

Kirito shrugged, but he knew something was suspicious with the man that talked to him. He knew he had to prepare in the case he had to fight him later. Which was a bother because he already had Toshihiro Bayahiki and Phoenix on his list of people to defeat, he really didn't want to add in someone else, especially someone so powerful. "What was that all about?" Klein asked. Kirito only shrugged his shoulders because he hadn't the slightest guess.

Since a jutsu really couldn't be harmful Kirito goes into a field after eating some lunch to try it out. "Let's try it then." Kirito opens his menu again and looks at the hand signs that he needed.

'Ox, rabbit, monkey.' Kirito thought as he weaved the signs. Kirito's arm suddenly was engulfed with lightning. "AH!" Kirito was surprised by how much pressure the attack had on his hand, he instantly started to panic and throw his arm around. Kirito smashes his hand into the rock behind him, which he didn't know was there, but he expect for his hand to get hurt, but the rock was smashed to pieces with a single shot. Kirito gasped as the lightning disappeared. 'So this is the Chidori? It's so powerful...' Kirito thought. 'But I have little control over it.'

"Hmm..." Itachi glared at Kirito from a distance.

'If I can control it, I'll become even stronger. But that guy didn't tell me how to use it.' He thought. 'I could go try and find him, but I don't know where to find him...I guess I'm on my own..'

'Let's see if he passes...' Itachi thought before disappearing when Kirito looked towards him.

"Okay, let's try again." Kirito makes the same hand signs and actives Chidori, but it was like a rampaging animal, almost as if it had a mind of its own. Kirito almost lost control of his own arm trying to unleash it. Sinon comes around looking for Kirito, she turns the corner only to see Kirito almost hitting her directly with the Chidori. Sinon jumps backwards in a gasp and sighs as Kirito didn't accidently put her out of the game.

"Sorry Sinon." Kirito sighed. The Chidori took a lot of chakra, and he had little control. At this point he could only muster up four Chidori before his chakra ran out.

"Ahh. It's fine." Sinon sighed. "Look, we have something coming up." Kirito nodded and followed Sinon back.

In a meeting room in S.A.O's home base...

"I have something important to show you all." Sinon stated, she enlarged her menu to show a message said by Tenshi to the many people standing in the room. There were at least 100 members of the guild.

Tenshi appears in front of them as a hologram. "Attention all players. This is your only and last warning, do not try to interfere with my master, Toshihiro Bayahiki's plan. Otherwise you will be destroyed, and permanently imprisoned to watch the world's destruction. Again this is your last warning. With other news, this game shall now become more difficult, the bosses 10 through 20 shall now be released into the game. That is all." Tenshi bows again and disappears.

"This guy..." Klein mumbles with his teeth chattering.

"We need to speed things up." Agil mentioned, the others all nodded.

BOOM! Everyone in the room turns to outside where an explosion occurred in the distance. Kirito was the first one out the door to see someone standing in the middle of the road. The others followed Kirito outside to see a white haired man, he was about 17 years old, he had a silver sword in his hand. His eyes were very odd, the right eye was purple with several other circles around the cornea in the middle. The left eye was gray with three ripples around the cornea. "Kirito Uchiha." The young man said deeply and sternly.

"Me?" Kirito said stepping forwards.

"My boss has ordered me to kill you." The man said pointing the edge of his blade at Kirito.

Kirito took out his katana and was about to fight when Klein and Asuna held their arms in front of Kirito. "Who are you anyways?" Klein asked.

'One odd person after another...' Asuna thought.

"I am the most powerful bounty hunter in this game. My name is Orion." Orion stated narrowing his eyes on Kirito.

"And your boss wants you to kill me?" Kirito asked narrowing his eyes on Orion as well.

Orion smirked, "You catch on fast. Now then, sorry, but you're dead." He said shining his blade in the harsh sunlight.

"Go ahead and try." Klein said getting in front of Kirito with his katana. "If you want to fight Kirito, you'll have to get through me."

Agil went alongside Klein with the same thoughts. "And me."

"And us." Asuna added on as all of them went in front of Kirito.

"Have it your way." Orion sighed.

Sinon just now accessed Orion's data. She gasped as Orion was a Kage Guard. Health points, 1450. Chakra, 1100. "Everyone run! He's much stronger than we think!" Sinon called out.

"Too late!" Orion yelled out and moved faster than blinding light, he slashed so quick that they couldn't even see him running by. "Flying Raijin Slice!" Orion called out as he slashed the team with quick slashes. The health points of everyone other than Kirito, who was luckily not hit was dropped to below 20% instantly by Orion's attacks.

"Everyone!" Kirito yelled out in surprise. 'Now I've got this guy to deal with? This game is insane!' Kirito attacked Orion with his katana, however Orion easily got behind him within seconds and slashed Kirito in the back. Even with the Sharingan activated, Kirito wasn't fast enough to react despite knowing where the attack would come from.

"Is this really how strong the beater of SAO is? Pathetic..." Orion mumbled. Kirito narrows his eyes and clenches his fists against the floor as Orion looked at him with disappointment. "Now to finish him." Orion weaves some hand signs. "Water Style, Super Shark Bomb!" A massive shark bomb attacks Kirito directly, however another attack comes in to stop Orion's attack. "Kage Shibai!" A massive black sphere is shot at the shark bomb making it just barely change direction from Kirito and hitting the buildings behind him. "Hmm..." Orion mumbled. Riaru stood behind Kirito. "I've got your back." Riaru said reassuringly. Saizo also got around and held his sword behind Orion ready to strike, even if Orion could move so fast.

"How foolish." Orion mumbles. "Seeing how killing you would be too boring...I'll let you get stronger before I kill you. Besides I'm not here to take on an entire nation at once." He said seeing how even more members of the nation came around the area as well readying themselves for battle, it would be useless to continue to fight. Orion looks at Kirito with glowing eyes. "If you have any pride as the winner of SAO, you'll face me again. Just try it..." Orion smirked as a massive lightning bolt strikes Orion and he disappears in a single flash.

"UGH!" All the people in the area cover themselves from the lightning that Orion unleashed. "Damn it..." Kirito mumbled. 'I lost again...' Kirito sighed. There was no doubt he would have died once more if he was alone. Kirito's head flashbacked to earlier.

Flashback

"That's nice...however. You cannot do so in your state." Itachi said.

"What? Why not?" Kirito asked.

"You will understand soon, let's see if you can figure it out yourself. In the meantime, take this." He opened up his menu and transferred to Kirito a new jutsu formula. Itachi disappeared with a quick bolt of lightning.

FLASHBACK ENDS

'What could that guy mean?' Kirito asked himself in his mind. 'Could it mean mastering that jutsu? Or could it mean something else? I need to know... All I know is. I can't win the game in my condition. I must somehow figure this out.' Kirito stands back up.

"Kirito are you okay?" Asuna said a little injured herself.

"I'm fine." Kirito replied. 'And...to protect my friends.' He finishes his sentence in his mind.

In a corner Itachi looked from the shadows. 'He has a long way to go...' He then disappeared into the shadows behind him.

This is the chapter, I'm a little low on time and I have serious writers block these days so this one's a little short...

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