Hey guys next chapter here! Now I know some of you are wondering about your OC's and just to put your minds at ease I'm telling you now that the ones I have accepted are going to be shown during the Chunnin exams alright? Now lets get on with this chapter alright?
It had been a few hours since Team 14 had departed to Wave to backup Team 7 and the team was making great time. They had already picked up the Demon Brother's along with an ANBU who had retrieved the duo while the team continued its journey. No one said much as the three Genin were excited to be apart of the first mission Naruto had ever taken as D ranks just don't count.
Yugao on her part was keeping a well trained eye on their surroundings since there was always a chance of an ambush by enemy nin. A lesson she had learned many times in the past as a member of ANBU.
While Azusa and Shiro lacked any sensing abilities per say Alex was using his Kenbunshoku Haki to sense for any forms of life around them. He had more range than just about any sensor ninja and no one could hide their spiritual energy from him making it invaluable in situations like these. So far he had found various fauna that gave them a wide berth but other than that nothing noteworthy.
It was only about a mile away from the spot where Team 7 had faced down Zabuza for the first time that Alex actually caught something on the edge of his Kenbunshoku Haki's range. He sensed human spiritual energy and immediately stopped making the others to do the same.
"Why the sudden stop Alex? You want to do a little sightseeing?" asked Shiro with a raised brow.
"No dip shit. Ever since we left the village I've been using my Kenbunshoku Haki to sense for potential enemies and so far haven't found anything. But right now I'm getting a pretty high concentration of people in that direction." explained Alex while pointing in the direction he was sensing the people from.
"Are they hostile?" asked Yugao while mentally making a note to ask Alex what 'Haki' was later.
"Don't know. But that's why I stopped us cause its too unusual for that many people to be out here. If I was a betting man I would say they were probably a group of bandits." stated Alex as he tried to use his Haki to get more of an idea on what he was sensing but couldn't at his current level.
"We should check it out just to make sure Sensei." said Azusa.
Yugao took a moment to think on their options. They were on a tight schedule to meet up with Kakashi's team yet from what she was briefed on there was a crooked businessman running Wave. These may be a merchant group just setting up for the night or it could be some bandits on Gato's payroll. Either way it was better to make sure so they aren't caught off guard later on.
"Alright we'll check it out but we will NOT engage if they are bandits. At least not until we know what we are dealing with." commanded Ygao getting a round of nods from her genin before leaping into the trees in the direction Alex specified earlier with her three genin following close behind.
A few minutes later and a straight mile of travelling through the trees and Team 14 finally arrived at the location and found out that what Alex had sensed earlier were indeed bandits. The bandit camp was very large consisting of well over a hundred bandits. From where they were hidden Yugao could sense a few chakra signatures ranging from genin to low chunin meaning a few of the bandits must of been missing nin. Other than that there were a few ronin but most of them were typical thugs with weapons.
The camp itself was in a clearing and filled with many fur tents with plenty of campfires currently lit as the bandits ate and jeered. But what caught the Team's sight the most was the cages on the right side of the camp currently filled with prisoners. They consisted of girls about ten year old to men looking about in their late fifties. They were all dressed in rags but the men's hands looked blistered and bloody, probably being forced to do hard labor. Just a few feet away there were some men doing just that as they dug some pits for whatever reason.
For once there was no wise cracks out of Shiro's mouth and Azusa's smile was replaced by an angry frown. Alex though had his hands clenched on the tree so hard that he was starting to claw into the tree as he grit his teeth so hard they began to hurt. He wanted nothing more than to run out and cut the bandits down with Dragon Slayer but held himself back, barely. Yugao for her part was taking in the situation with an analytical eye as she had dealt with many bandits camps during her career and could honestly say this was the largest camp she had seen by far. She would like to eliminate them since they could be detrimental to the mission with Team 7 in the long run but with just three genin and herself she knew it wouldn't be possible as there were just too many bandits for them to take on without some kind of plan. Her genin may be skilled but they lacked experience which was what really made shinobi powerful.
"Alright so we've determined that they are in fact bandits. A lot of bandits. So we'll mark down their location and leave for now." said Yugao while Shiro and Azusa nodded as they could see their sensei's logic in the decision. Alex however rounded on her with a disbelieving glare.
"What about the prisoners!? We can't just leave them here with these sick bastards!" exclaimed Alex not believing they would just abandon these people. By the time they came back to rescue them they could all be dead or worse!
Yugao responded to his outburst with a harsh glare. Out of all of her genin Alex had the biggest heart but was too brash in his actions, same as a certain genin of Kakashi's if she recalled. Regardless while she could sympathize with Alex's feelings she needed him to understand that there was nothing they could do at the moment and that her orders were final as his superior.
"Silence genin! Regardless of what you think we can't help them now! We don't have the manpower and you three still lack experience where it counts so you will do as I say and stand down! Are we clear genin?" said Yugao as she glared at Alex waiting for a response.
Alex returned her glare with one of his own for a few seconds before turning away with a snort of disdain. He hated to admit it but his sensei was right and he was letting his emotions cloud his rational judgment. Yet he still couldn't bare the thought of leaving these people to suffer. He had the power to split islands with a single punch for god's sake's yet he can save some people from a bunch of thugs with swords? Made him wonder why he had his powers anyway if he couldn't use them as he wanted to.
Just as Yugao was about to order them to fall back something was happening at the camp that caught all of the teams attention. Apparently one of the workers had fallen from exhaustion and couldn't get back up. The man was sickly thin and obviously malnourished making them wonder how he was able to work in the first place. As the man struggled to lift himself off the ground some of the bandits at a nearby campfire took notice and began to laugh at his plight. Then one of the bandits broke away from the group, walking towards the downed man he carried what looked like a thick cane.
He stopped standing right above the man and started yelling down at him and violently shoving his foot in his gut. When the man didn't immediately get up after that the bandit got irritated real quick and started to beat the man with the cane. The team could only look on in disgust as the man was brutalized by the bandit until he was more bruises than skin. A few minutes later the bandit stood over the beaten form of the prisoner his face red in anger at the mans 'non-compliance.' Apparently deciding he was through playing around the bandit drew the short sword he had at his waste and brought it up over his head.
Meanwhile the other prisoners were crying out begging for the bandit to spare the man. It was all for naught though as almost in slow motion the blade came down. Bandit's jeered, prisoners cried and the team could only watch as the blade came down with a sickening squelch as steel ripped through flesh sending a spray of blood into the air as the blade met the beaten mans neck. And just like that it was over. The other prisoners could only cry in sadness or stare in silent mourning over their lost friend as the other bandits laughed at their pain.
Yugao, Shiro and Azusa gazed in silent sorrow at the mans brutal end and at the fact they could do nothing to prevent it. As Yugao turned towards her genin to order them to fall back her words died in her throat as she saw Alex who was gazing at the scene with narrowed eyes full of anger and hatred. She saw his hands clenched so hard his nails drew blood from cutting into his palms as his entire body shook with barely restrained rage.
Alex himself was replaying the past scene over in his head with each rotation drawing more anger into the ever growing pool. How could they!? It wasn't enough to beat a weak man but they just up and killed him!? Then they had the gall to laugh at the prisoners pain over the loss of someone close to them!? And he just sat there and let it happen! Why, why, why WHY!? Why didn't he do something!?
And just like that the damn holding back Alex's rage broke and with a cry of rage Alex leaped from his hiding spot in the trees a good thirty feet forward until he now stood at the very entrance to the camp and just ten feet away from where the unforgivable action he had witnessed had just taken place. Shiro and Azusa were about to jump out after their reckless teammate but Yugao pulled them back as she was just a second late in doing the same to Alex and now the genin was the center of attention of the bandits who now all had weapons drawn and facing him.
"Don't move! Alex may have broken his cover but we may still be able to help him by staying hidden. When the moments right I'll grab him and we'll make a run for it." said Yugao while inwardly she was cursing herself on not acting sooner. She saw the look in his eyes and knew what he was going to do but was too slow to react. Now because of her hesitation she may just lose one of her genin.
As this was going on Alex was now glaring at the bandit who had murdered the beaten man in cold blood with a stare that could make the Shinigami shiver. All the bandits in the immediate area were now there glaring at him wondering what a kid was doing out here and what was with the huge sword on his back that was larger than he was. Honestly they found the sight laughable and made show of it by laughing and making fun of him.
"Well what do we have here? A little punk that thinks he's tough shit? Listen kid why don't you take a hike before you wind up like this waste of space." said the bandit as he kicked the body of the man he had just killed.
His words along with those of the other bandits only served to drive Alex's anger to new heights as he slowly pulled Dragon Slayer from his back. The ease with which he held the giant blade surprised the bandits momentarily but didn't dissuade them from mocking him. All the while Alex could hear a voice in the back of his head calling for him, urging him to butcher these pigs with no remorse. To spill enough of their blood make a river. And Alex gave into the voices demands without hesitation and as soon as he did Alex saw his vision go completely crimson as he felt something envelop him before his body went numb as if he had just gotten overdosed on painkillers. Other than that Alex felt his bloodlust reach heights he never thought possible as his mind was filled with nothing but thoughts of the impending slaughter he was about to bring upon these lowlife's.
As for Alex's team they were frozen in shock as they witnessed what was happening to Alex. They did nothing but sit and watch as the bandits continued to mock Alex and were getting fed up to the point of wanting to shut the bandits up themselves. Then IT hit. It was like a giant wave of killing intent washed over them to the point it was almost like getting punched as Shiro, Azusa and even Yugao recoiled in shock while the bandits immediately shut up once the wave hit them.
'What the hell!? Alex never had ki like this before!' screamed Shiro in his mind.
'Holy shit! Those shitheads must have seriously pissed of your friend cause even me and scaly here can feel his ki! ' shouted Greed from Shiro's mind as him and Ddraig were watching through Shiro's eyes what was going on.
'I know he was upset but this is insane! Where is all of this bloodlust coming from!?" though Azusa as she knew this kind of ki was unnatural for someone like Alex.
'T-t-this is unreal! His ki is almost like Kyubbi's!' thought Yugao as she tried to stop the shaking in her hand as she remembered that dreadful night thirteen years ago. One doesn't go through something like that and forget it so easily just because they want to.
It was then they got the second shock of their lives as ALex's form was covered in a certain armor that seemed to spring from nowhere. The armor was as black as night and covered Alex from head to toe. The armor was made of a bunch of interlocking plates with clawed gauntlet's but what really made the look was the helmet, the helmet had the appearance of some type of canine with ear-like appendage's and an extended triangular muzzle filled with razor sharp 'teeth'. The eye's though were a glowing crimson that burned just as bright if not brighter than Kyubbi's eyes ever did making it that much more sinister looking.
"I-it can't be! He has THAT!?" said Shiro in shock at seeing the famed cursed armor of Guts. And he wasn't the only one shocked by this.
"It is Shiro. It seems Alex didn't just get Gut's blade from Shi." said Azusa as she now had her full attention on what was happening in front of her. She was just as shocked as Shiro that Alex had that type of weapon with him the entire time and didn't know it. She figured the emotions that bubbled up from recent events must have activated the armor allowing Alex to summon and use it now.
"Wait, do you two know what that... THING is? If so then tell me cause whatever it is it's bringing up some very bad memories." asked/commanded Yugao as she did not like being left in the dark. Especially by her own students.
"In short, that thing is Alex wearing one of the most insane armors ever created. The Berserker Armor. And just as the name implies when Alex puts on that armor you can guarantee that anything and anyone in his way is as good as dead." said Shiro seriously making Yugao widen her eyes at his words before turning back to look at Alex who was now staring down the now scared bandits.
"W-w-what the hell kind of trick is this!? What are you trying to pull you little bastard!" shouted the bandit as he pointed his bloodstained sword at Alex who just continued to stare and growl at the man.
It was quiet for a good minute before Alex finally made a move. Alex brought his head back and then forward letting out a deafening roar that could be heard for miles. Then in a burst of speed that even Yugao couldn't follow Alex was in front of the bandit that was the source of his only now he had Dragon Slayer lodged through the mans gut all the way up to the hilt with the rest of the blade sticking out of his back. The bandit didn't even have time to scream in pain before Alex pulled the blade upward splitting the man up the middle and sending a shower of blood everywhere.
For a moment no one spoke, no one even dared to breath. Then almost as if time had finally restarted one of the bandits cried in rage as he charged Alex intent on cutting him down with the large blade in his hands only to be cut down himself as Alex's larger blade cut through the smaller sword like tinfoil before going right through the mans body. That was what initiated the massacre as all of the bandits then charged Alex hoping sheer numbers would be enough to kill the metal clad demon only for said demon to begin cutting them down by the dozens. Each swing of his blade taking down at least six bandits in a single strike as every weapon was cut down just like their owners before the much more powerful weapon.
The rest of Team 14 could only watched in shocked horror as they watched their teammate and student become a walking force of death as he brutally butchered everything in his path. Thankfully he seemed to possess enough mind to avoid the prisoners but everything else was fair game. They collectively cringed whenever a bandit got in a lucky hit that caused some of Alex's blood to fly only for the pain to be ignored and the bandit to do the deed be cut down a second later.
In just twenty minutes the once thriving camp of bandits was reduced to nothing but a field of corpses and blood with Alex's armored figure standing right dead in the center of it all. He just stood their with Dragon Slayer in his right hand covered and dripping blood. It was only then that the rest of Alex's team cautiously approached him. They weren't sure if he would lash out at them as he may still be consumed by the armors effects. Their fears were soon put to rest as the armor soon disappeared allowing the other to gasp at how he looked.
All over his body his clothes were adorned with cuts that even now were bleeding profusely along with numerous bruises. Slowly turning to face them Alex gave them an exhausted smile which was offset by the large cut going down the side of his face due to a lucky hit by a bandits dagger.
"Hey guys. What took ya so long?" said Alex with a grin before falling face first to the ground. Instantly the others rushed to him as Azusa started using her medical training to check on him.
"He's got four hairline fractures, some internal bleeding and a fractured right arm. I can stabilize him until we get him someplace I can properly treat him." said Azusa as she used her chakra to heal most of the cuts and bruises while also stabilizing him for travel.
"Alright then once he's stabilized seal up his sword cause I doubt any of us can carry that thing and not break our backs from the effort. Shiro, you go free the prisoners and try and scrounge up any information that you can from the corpses and any of their possessions." ordered Yugao as her two students started on their individual tasks.
She herself looked down on Alex and knew that when he woke up he would have a lot to answer for.
What the team didn't see was a lone Cloud Ninja who watched the slaughter and was still reeling from the fact that a lone Leaf genin caused such carnage. And that weird armor, was it some sort of bloodline? All he knew was that he needed to report this to the Raikage as soon as possible and set off to do just that.
There's the next chapter for you guys! Review and/or PM me but also send me some ideas for some original arcs as I don't want the OC's just following the cannon storyline.