Weird, I think this is actually the first time I've ever included OOC information. But I felt this chapter, more than any other needed some form of clarification. Yes, the Yauuj clan is based off of Kakuzu's Earth Grudge Fear, which is what allows him to do what he does. I wanted to have a character with his ability and Kaito seemed to fit the bill perfectly in my mind, a villain with multiple hearts and a heart that flip flops between honorable and savage seemed just perfect. Also, I'm pretty sure some of you will notice that I like to utilize some Japanese terms in my stories, this is to add a bit of authenticity, I hope it isn't annoying.
(Just so you know, Fuuton refers to Wind Elemental Jutsu and Raiton to Lightning. What combining them does, well, that's saved for another chapter)
Chapter 3
Hikaru reached out, his arm fully extended as he flew through the air, searching for a branch to extend his time in the air. As he reached the sturdy piece of wood, Hikaru swung himself through the air, eyes darting left and right as he looked for any sign of danger. Suddenly, Hikaru felt like an explosion had taken place directly in front him, the force of the rapid expansion of energy being enough to send him flying backwards, clear off the branch he had just landed on and sending him crashing to the forest floor below. With a confused state of mind mind and a bruised and sore patch of back flesh, Hikaru simply lay in the remains of the cushioning bush he had landed atop of, trying to make sense of what had occurred. It was only when Jin appeared, standing twelve feet above him where Hikaru had been only moments before, smirking at him triumphantly. "So, need this?" Jin asked rhetorically, brandishing what Hikaru realized with a surge of terror was his necklace, the one that was worth four points.
Hitori had come across hundreds of other Shinobi through out his long career as a Kirigakure Shinobi. He had cut down countless men, but had encountered many more who he had not killed, among them, he had come across only a handful of prodigies. It was one of these men, he knew, he faced now. The man moved at an wondrous speed, a speed that Hitori knew originated from a combination of talent, Shunshin No Jutsu and combat experience, each offering a different aspect that allowed him to follow Hitori's progress through out the battle, process it and move his body out of or in the way in time to either escape or deal damage. Had Hitori not been bleeding from a horrid gash that stretched from his left eyebrow down, across the bridge of his nose and ending at the right corner of his lips, he would have considered it superbly impressive. As it was currently, he only found it annoying. It was only as he raised his left hand to brush blood from his left eye, did he recognize the young man, for he had inflicted a very similar wound to him years before hand, back in the time where Hikaru was still being formed in his mother's womb, the realization of the man's identity only caused a sense of dread to blossom in Hitori's gullet. It was Yauuj Kaito, the man whose cruelty and talent was said to be unrivaled in all the years that had been recorded. As Hitori danced out of the way of a skillfully thrown kunai, he recounted exactly how he had been introduced to Yauuj Kaito.
In the middle of the battle royale portion of the Jonin Exam, thirteen years ago, when a young, 15 year old Kaito had struck down one of Hitori's closest friends. Driven by a blazing hot wave of rage, Hitori had lunged at the young man, only to be dodged and receive a vicious slash across his left year, severing his earlobe. The pain had brought him back from his own recklessness and as he had gazed upon the prodigy that was Yauuj Kaito, he had known, instantly, that the Ninjato wielding youth was just as skilled as he was, despite the 6 years that Hitori had on him. They had fought furiously, Hitori attacking with all he had only to be stopped at the most inconvenient of moments and have the tide turn on him as the lightning fast youth seemed able to match up with his Swift Release as he aimed for just the right spots that would bring instant death. After an hour long exchange, the two had separated, both leaping back until there was 50 meters between them and then they had realized, all the others had stopped fighting, so entranced were they by the display of Hitori's and Kaito's skill and that had been the moment when the Exam had ended, and both Hitori, who's ear had stopped bleeding due to some mediocre medical jutsu by Hitori himself, and Kaito, who was nursing a series of cuts all across the surface of his flesh had been awarded the status of Jonin. It had also been the moment where Hitori had realized that Kaito had been holding back, for he had not used a single elemental jutsu, instead, he had done battle with Hitori with Kenjutsu, Hitori's specialty as a Junior Member of the New Seven Swordsmen of the Mist. The knowledge had struck Hitori hard, as he knew that the Yauuj were well known for their potential to utilize many elements and a strange sort of wire. The news had angered Hitori, and he had vowed to himself that he would grow twice as powerful as Yauuj Kaito and defeat the man, even at his best.
But as he fought Kaito now, he had been treated to just what he had missed out at the exam, and he was beginning to wish that Kaito would hold back once more, for the numerous elemental jutsu and the maneuverability of the strange wires, which seemed to come from everywhere at once, had forced Hitori to be on the defensive for quite a few minutes. "I gotta do something quick, or else, I might just end up dying" Hitori thought to himself as he deflected yet another diving black wire of the skillful Yauuj.
Kaito stopped for an instant, his hand reaching up to clutch at his chest, squeezing hard at the flesh just above the heart of the seventh Kazekage as it fluttered into stillness, having been put under too much pressure from the battle. The intense pain of "death" roared through Kaito's system, causing his nerves to dance with agony,he fell to his knees, his vision flashing in and out, despite his best efforts he knew he would fall into the comatose state that followed the death of one of a Yauuj's hearts, whether it be their original or a stolen one. As the darkness claimed him, Kaito was aware of one of the two masks he had released stalling in it's movements just in time to meet Hitori's swing, thus killing it. The pain from the destruction of the thread creature hit Kaito an instant later and he fell into unconsciousness. "Well played...Hitori...Sempai" Kaito whispered.