Chapter 5
Seeing Death
Beta: Old man of the mountain
"That's what happened on the mission."
Obito was handing in his report to the Hokage about the mission to eliminate the bandits. He stated that the girls had managed to get their first kills and handled their deaths quite well.
However, he pointed out Naruto wasn't part of the fighting and that he was forced to sit out due to it.
Minato nodded his head,
"Team 12; you all did a good job. For this you will be compensated for C-class mission. However," he smiled at Naruto, "I'm afraid since you didn't do much work Naruto I will have to deduct some of your pay."
Hearing this made Yakumo and Tara turned to him and smile.
Naruto stared at them and then back to the Hokage.
He then turned on his heels.
"Whatever, we done?"
The group frowned and Minato glared at him.
"Naruto while it is true you don't have to see us as family anymore I'm still your superior and thus must treat me accordingly."
"So does that mean Obito has to act punctual for all future training and missions?" Naruto turned his head, "That can be seen as favortism by most." He shrugged his shoulders, "Not that I really care but you shouldn't be a hypocrite Hokage."
Naruto walked away and out the door angering all involved.
Tara and Yakumo wanted to stick it to Naruto for his own failures and how irritating he was in the field.
While Obito just frowned in disappointment with his behavior. He just didn't get the reason he was held back on the mission was to protect him as he wasn't ready.
Minato sighed,
"I'll make sure all of you have the money sent to your accounts. You're all dismissed for now."
The three nodded and walked out of the office with Minato, annoyed by the situation.
"What am I going to do with that boy, at this rate he'll never get promoted and he'll be a genin for the rest of his life." He shook his head, "No that is more than he deserves he might just get dismissed by the forces. The Daiyamo can't stop me from doing that at least."
A small brown creature was listening in and frowned before disappearing in a puff of smoke.
Minato sensed something behind him but wrote it off as either the wind or someone in the ANBU forces outside his window waiting to come in.
Going back to the paperwork he filled out the proper information but he did write comments about Naruto's behavior hoping that someone in the Royal Court will see what he sees. More, see that his behavior is unbecoming and must be rectified.
If they could just get him away from Lady Kure and put him through intense training they know they could make him see things their way.
But for now, he would just settle for writing reports about his bad behavior.
Naruto on the other hand, he was already back at the house and sitting at the table with Lady Kure.
"So how did your mission go?"
It was…. Interesting." He frowned before putting his drink down, "Honestly it was a bit more than I bargained for. Especially since my sensei and teammates were useless."
She frowned and ate some of her food,
"What happened?"
"What didn't happen? Sensei made me stay behind to not fight any bandits because I think I'll be in the way. Didn't even think about what would happen if someone was nearby or a bandit escaped and came my way. He didn't care about what would happen to me when left to my own devices or that it would affect my pay due to him telling the Hokage about not putting anything into the mission."
Lady Kure sighed, while she was irritated it was the right of the teacher to do this. That didn't mean for one second she approved, in her mind, he shouldn't be Naruto's teacher and she was half tempted to get him removed from the team. But she knew that would only cause more issues for Naruto so she let the matter lay for now.
"That wasn't the weirdest thing; there was someone there." He frowned, "He got me good I'm not going to lie. He managed to hit me with some weird techinques I haven't seen before. But I was able to figure my way around them and even learn the mechanics of the moves. However, he did something that caught me off guard."
"What is it?"
"He did some kind of transformation, it was similar to that of the Release."
This made her frown,
"Describe it."
"His body was pulsating, his heartbeat was faster than normal, and it seemed all of his physical senses were higher than before. I don't know what it was but the moves he was pulling off seemed sloppier I guess once he transformed. But his power and speed increased by a large margin."
"I see. You most likely came across one of those fighters." She put her chopsticks down, "The man you encountered? He never game his name did he?"
"Not really, was too busy fighting for my life to bother to ask. But he weas dressed in a suit for some reason. He said he didn't want to be mistaken for a dirty bandit, which made me think he wasn't with the group originally but probably tagged along. Something of a con-artist or scout they hired or something."
"That is a good assumption." She looked at her student, "Most likely he was a freelancer working for a group out of necessity. You'll see quite a few of them in the world and those that only work for themselves to some degree."
"Aren't' they just mercenaries then?"
"Not entirely."
"Huh?"
"Mercenaries work for whoever pays them; freelancers works only for themselves or specific people while operating with all the freedom possible." She looked up, "It was not a uncommon practice during the war but due to the establishment of the villages and the samurai nations, they have all but faded away. Swearing their loyalty to one group or another."
Naruto sighed, things got more complicated.
"Well I was force to use my Release against him and rip his head open with two fingers. Which told me that I need more work if that is what it took to beat a fighter of his caliber."
She shook her head,
"No you made the right call." She smiled, "Shitty brat you should hold your head high you fought your first seasoned enemy. You fought the unknown and came back alive. That is the most important thing in those battles. How the fight unfolded is not important, the end result matters the most."
"Hm," Naruto took a drink of his tea, "I guess."
She rolled her eyes, "Think about it this way you learned something about your opponent in terms of his fighting style meaning you can try to incorporate the techninques into your own. Making you that much stronger and seeing this transformation, you are now prepared if you see it again and how to stop it."
Naruto nodded,
"I guess your right but still, there was one thing I noticed he had a weird tattoo on his hand. Some kind of centipede looking thing, but before I could get a really good look at the thing, it suddenly glowed and his body exploded into flames."
"Hm a suicide seal." She sighed, "It is a seal that one either activates manually or it activates upon the user's death. To prevent the enemy from IDing you."
Naruto nodded,
"Yeah which is why I didn't bother telling anyone about this. I saw the tattoo and just assumed it was nothing and due to the fact I didn't have any real proof of the fight, especially after healing myself with the seal, there was no point in bringing it up."
"Indeed."
"So," he stared at the old woman, "That being said I think I need to step up my training. It is time to start working on the more advanced techniques in the Kure family and other styles you have learned."
"Oh?" She smiled, "Did this fight motivate you to start moving further faster?"
"No." Naruto frowned, "If anything it really painted a image in my head; I could have died. Very easily in that fight if my opponent didn't get cocky or make stupid mistakes. Not all of my opponents are going to make those same mistakes and I can't rely on their ego to net me the win. Meaning, I need to start being ready to use more techinques and skills in my fights. More abilities that can help give me the edge and also improve on all my basic fundamentals and physical abilities."
Lady Kure stared and smiled,
'The brat is finally getting it. He is putting value on his own life now compared to others. He wants to make sure he doesn't die. Not the progress I was hoping for or at least in the manner it happened but I'll take it.'
"Alright then. Starting tomorrow we are going to work more on your elements and we are going to improve your physical abilities but be warned this training is going to be more intrusive than ever before." She gave a cold stare, "If you fail, you could die."
Naruto sighed,
"I understand."
"Good now get some food in you and get some rest we'll start tomorrow morning at 7!"
"Understood hag."
He dodged a pair of flying chop-sticks which indented into the wall.
Next day
Naruto was confused when his master had informed him that his team was taking the day off.
Why would they do that? They just had their first major mission and there was things they could reflect on. Why would they just settle into having a day off? There was training to do as well.
He never would understand this village.
But he was more confused by the method he was being taught.
"Um, master what are these supposed to do."
Looking down he had giant weights around his hands and legs, both were engulfing his wrists and ankles to the point that he couldn't feel them. More, he could tell the weight in these items was immense. He could barely move his legs let alone his arms. They were so heavy that he wasn't sure he could raise his hands to guard himself.
"Those brat, are the weights you are going to start wearing for the next month." She frowned, "Your previous opponent has shown you the difference in your reaction time, strength, and speed. You said it yourself, he was better than you. You won due to the Release and him not expecting it to come out in a moment's notice. On top of that, you weren't expecting his technique and were too busy getting hit to damage your opponent. Meaning your reaction time is slow and your body is weaker than it should be." She sighed, "Which is the reason for this method; you have one month. One month, to prove to me you can fight with those and do it without complaining or bitching. You are to wear them all the time, you are to eat and sleep like that."
Naruto frowned,
'I can't move my hands and I sure as hell can't life them up to block.'
"Also, I'm going to be coming at you with everything now."
Naruto found himself spitting up blood when he felt a powerful blow to his stomach sending him flying.
"What's the matter brat training has begun!"
Naruto stood to his feet but he found himself shaking due to the impact of the blow.
Then his head cracked to the side and he was sent skidding across the ground again.
'Shit she isn't pulling her punches this is worse than normal training.'
Naruto saw her appear above him and brought her foot down in a straight stomp.
Using the momentum of swinging the weights he aimed for the old woman. But found her pushing off the weight, leaping into the air, and coming down with a more powerful stomp on his stomach making him cough up more blood.
"Get up brat, your not done in the slightest."
Naruto gave a weak smile,
"Yeah guess you are right you old crusty fart." Naruto shakily stood up and struggled to get his hands up but found himself yet again flying through the air.
"If you aren't able to learn how to move and block with those on, your going to die brat. There is no soft touch in this training."
Naruto hit the ground with a vicious thud and looked up to see her coming at him again but this time she was moving in an odd serpent like pattern.
'Her footwork, I know it is related to the footwork but I haven't seen anything like this in the Kure family before. What the hell is it?'
"STOP THINKING BRAT!"
He was cracked across the jaw with a vicious kick and Naruto was sent flying through the air once more. "IF YOU HAVE TIME TO THINK, YOU HAVE TIME TO FIGHT!"
Naruto groaned and got back to his feet, but he could see blood trickling down his face.
'Okay this is going to hurt for sure but at least the hag is taking me seriously.'
Naruto saw her appear in front of him again but he managed to block her strike with the weights on his arm.
He still went flying and felt himself crushed underneath the weights on his arm when he hit the ground.
"Don't think blocking with those will help," She walked to him slowly. "I can use that idea against you and trust me when I say it is a greater mistake if you think that I didn't account for those in this training session."
Naruto felt himself kicked in the chest and then thrown by the weights on his ankle.
"This is all you going to be going through brat! Start working harder or I promise you going to wish you died in that fight earlier!"
Naruto smiled when he hit the ground.
'I see so that is the method to the madness. Okay then, lets get started!'
Naruto got back on his feet, but he was wobbly and noticed her rushing him again. This time, he was prepared.
He quickly pushed with the weights on his ankle dodging her strike at the last second.
But was hit with a kick in the chest making him feel something break.
'Shit she made a counter to my counter!'
"Got to think four steps ahead brat!"
Naruto gritted his teeth.
One month; he had one month to figure out the method to this training and somehow not die at the hands of the old woman. He was sure he was missing something but wasn't sure what it was yet.
But hey, a month to figure it out, how hard could it be?
Wave
Tazuna couldn't believe what had happened.
It was supposed to be simple; he hired a ninja team from the great Konoha, came back to his home village, they would protect him, and he would finish the bridge that would bring prosperity to his land.
He was sure that this would work. Even though they didn't have enough money and he might not have told the entire truth of what was going on, he was sure that they would help him.
But no the minute that red hair woman heard the actual nature of the mission and what was really going on, she just said it was time to retreat. Stating that he lied and that there was no more reason to help him.
The brats agreed with her and so did that silver hair prick. He was forced to walk home, back to the village with nothing to show for his efforts. I mean he did offer them a treaty and a trade agreement in their favor but it wasn't enough. It was never enough for them and that angered him.
He was sad that he had to tell his daughter his plan was a failure and that nothing he did would change anyone's mind.
Sad to know that he would probably be killed in the next few days just for trying to help his people prosper again. To get out from underneath the tyrannical boot of that bastard Gato.
He had tears streaming down his face; he was terrified as he knew his grandson would pay for his actions and he had no idea what he was going to do. How he was going to save them or at least help motivate his village not to give up on this dream.
"Hey old timer!"
"Huh?"
He turned his head and frowned.
Standing behind him was a girl who looked about 16, maybe seventeen. She was wearing a strawhat that was covering her face from view. On her she was wearing a loosely fitting kimono that hugged all of her young features. Ascentuating her lucious breasts that were easily bigger than most girls her age and seemingly had a shapely figure to compliment that chest.
Yeah he had to admit he wished he was 40 years younger.
"What's go you down?"
The man sighed,
"Well I'm the great bridge builder Tazuna and I'm honestly heading to my death."
"Heading to your death huh? Why not walk in the opposite direction then? I mean it would make sense if you wanted to avoid it?"
"Yeah I would but sadly my family is here and I have no choice due to my failures and the greedy nature of shinobi."
The girl tilted her head, showing her frowning,
"What happened to the shinobi? What did they do to piss you off so much?"
"What didn't they do? I hired out some shinobi to help my village in my time of need. When they found out that it was higher ranking than they thought possible and that I didn't have the money for going higher on the mission, they just up and abandoned me." He clenched his fist, "I get it, if your not qualified or too inexperienced it would be a danger to you and a mistake to just rush in." He bit his lip, "I understand that but they didn't really have that excuse. After they turned down the trade agreement I offered and all the money they could want along with an alliance with some deals on trade, they still said no. They stated it wasn't enough," he had tears streaming down his face, "It is never enough."
"I'm sorry to hear that but who were they?"
He snorted,
"The supposed Red Death of Konoha, the master of 1000 moves idiot, and their so called prodigies for this generation of shinobi."
The girl's frown deepend,
"Sounds like they were just too greedy."
"Yeah but I don't know what else to do. I mean without them we can't possibly fight back against Gato and we don't hav the means to hire out another village or the time to do so. Ultimately, what am I going to do? My daughter and her son are going to be punished and I'm going to be killed. I just-,"
The girl sighed,
"Sounds rough. However, your actually in luck."
The man looked up and saw her tilt her hat upward, now showing a smile,
"I actually have some business with Gato to settle myself. So don't worry by tomorrow your worries will cease to exist."
"I'll believe that when I see it kid."
She laughed,
"I like you old timer, don't worry I won't charge you immediately for this job. But I will ask for compensation down the road got it?" The girl walked past him with a grin on her face and him shivering.
'That girl,' he looked at her retreating back, 'There is something about her. I can't put my finger on it. It is like, watching a tiger stalk their prey. Just slowly skulking to their target and then in a flash lashing out and slaughtering them.'
He couldn't help but shake his head, most likely she'll get bought off and she'll come for him.
For now he was preparing for the inevitable while drinking all the way home.
Next day
There was a banging at his door and Tazuna groaned.
"Go away."
"Tazuna is Rashi! Get out here you need to see this!"
"If it is Gato's forces just let them kill me but leave my-,"
"GATO'S DEAD!"
This got him jumping to his feet.
"Impossible! What kind of sick joke is this!"
"I'm not kidding please come outside you need to see this!"
Tazuna quickly unlocked his door and saw his neighbor looking pale as a ghost. He turned around and pointed in a direction and all Tazuna could do was gasp.
His bottle hitting the grass and shattering into millions of pieces.
He just couldn't believe it, it didn't seem real.
There in the middle of his yard; was Gato but he was impaled on a spear of earth. The spear went all the way through his chest and out his back, another going thorugh his mouth and out the back of his skull.
Next to him was most of his men; dead and scattered all over the ground. Some with their faces smashed in, others broken beyond repair, and some even bleeding to the point that they looked more like raw hamburger meat.
"W-w-w-what the fuck?"
"I don't know how but all the villagers saw was some girl walking into his compound and then walked out. She was covered in blood from head to toe and just told us that she wanted to drop off some bodies for you Tazuna. We were terrified but she assured she had no interest in harming you and just came by to show she was serious."
Tazuna stared at the carnage; there was a part of him that was relieved. This meant there was no more corruption; he was really gone and all of his men that were left would get the message; leave Wave or suffer the same fate.
Any ninja in his employ would leave as well to look for others to pay them for their services.
He collapsed to his hands and knees and was breathing wildly,
'Did, did I really walk that close to death itself? How could I not see it.' He looked up and stared at the carnage, 'She, what evil did she wrought onto our village? What the hell is she?'
He could only remember her march, that march of death, and the dark smile on her face.
That wasn't what terrified him the most.
No there was something even worse that terrified him other than the aura she seemed to radiate and looking back on how she walked and carried herself.
It was the fact he saw her eyes for the briefest moments when she moved the hat.
The eyes were blank, no sign of expression in them. No way to look into them, nothing to say what her soul was thinking.
More; the girl was blind. She slaughtered them all without ever 'seeing' them.
'She, she is the embodiment of a monster.'
Tazuna would remember this day; all of Wave would. It was the day The Devil walked into their village.
Chapter End
