Prologue
They say that hope begins in the darkness, but most just flail around, looking for a way out. They say that nothing can dwell in darkness for long, that no man alive can survive the coldness of isolation. That being steeped in that dark void is a path of self-destruction that leads only to death. But…everyone dies, not everyone wants to, but its the one immutable truth that can never be changed or altered, no matter how much you pray or worship your mechanical gods of empty and soulless logic.
Naruko accepted this truth without so much as a wince. Even as she broke another bone against her own efforts she held on to that solid truth, the one absolute that you can be assured is really true. Death may be avoided, dodged, held back or delayed. But ultimately it wins, regardless of what you may try to do.
The book in her hands spoke of these truths in various terms. The training the book was designed for was made to push you to the brink of death over and over again until you breathed the same cold air, felt its chill bones over your arms and saw its wings folding over your eyes in every waking moment. To accept death, meant becoming one with it through this training. But such realisations always bear a price with them. And this prices was the heaviest of all. Pain, near constant through the training, the splintering of bones and rending of sentient quivering flesh on blades wielded by your own hands.
It was not about self-mutilation or pain for the sake of pain. This was designed to produce the best killers the world had ever had the misfortune to know, men and women that had changed to world, even if the other ninety percent had died in going through the training. Within several years the eyes of a youngster would gain that same darkness possessed by those far older and wiser than they, having seen things that would break lesser souls and gone through training that would kill or cripple almost anyone else.
Naruko had never expected to find this kind of book when she fled from Konoha. Buried in a cavern underground, which she had entered to seek shelter from the storm, she had found a training ground and the various images and simulations they had used to train the greatest of all their operatives. Shadows, as they became known, and only nine of them were ever produced. But it was Delta, the force of change, which had truly been their greatest creation. However he had refused to bow, even with their conditioning singing their praises in his brain he had used his immense skills to murder each and every one involved in the project, from the trainers themselves to their backers, no matter how powerful they were. He had then killed the other operatives before vanishing into time.
But such power was not easily forgotten by the world and now this journal carried his story across the eras to her.
She treasured it as she trained, using all its possible methods to make herself better and better, improving all the while as the world forgot about her and she was free to break the chains on her own and shake off the collar that had kept her bound for so many years.
She had fled Konoha amongst a hail of storm and fire. Their cries ringing in the air as they chased her, blood still dripping from her hands as she moved into the forests and quickly lost them in the foliage. Killing held a power for her, an addictive power, and she had killed her sixth victim, another murderer, before they had realised it was her and chased her out of the village, unwilling to involve greater forces lest she release they very thing they all truly feared.
So here she sat, training and training, becoming ever stronger as she improved more and more, slowly moving above and beyond human limits, all the while never forgetting her purpose, nor the crimes visited against her by those who had once called themselves hero's and martyrs.
Chapter One: The Sound of Silence
The sun was low in the sky, its light beginning to grow as time slowly ticked by, accompanied by the birds beginning to sing into the cool morning air as the nightlife scurried back home and hunkered down for another days rest. The trees moved in the breeze and she sighed to herself as the light danced on the ground before her, the leaves blocking most of it, even as a cloud lazily blocked the sun for a few moments before drifting on by. She flicked the blade in her hand round and over, absently dancing an intricate dance in her hand as its bright silver flashed in the light before dimming away as it reentered the shadows she dwelt under.
A noise. The sounds of footsteps and laughing came down the path as she turned her head slightly, the hood still hiding her face from view as she saw the three men walking down the path, a few obscene words and gestures told her what she needed to know, along with the symbol carved onto the plates of metal hung around their neck. She waited for them to draw closer, feeling something change within her
"She looks good" one of them said as they reached her "you lost pretty" he growled as his friends chuckled, hands on the hilts of their swords as they watched, even as the commander of the men stood back, narrowing his eyes at her even as the man pulled her hood down, revealing her short hair and the single scar running down over her eye.
She flicked the knife again and he fell back, blood gushing in a glorious crimson arc from the wound on his neck as those around her watched with wide eyes.
She flicked her wrist and the other two fell back, one clutching at his heart while the other one chocked on his own blood, clawing at his neck as she stood, her cloak flowing around her as she faced the commander
"Impressive" he intoned mockingly "who are you? I've never seen you in any Bingo book" he said and she looked at him as she opened her cloak to reveal dozens of blades on belts from both shoulders to each side of her hips, along with several pouches on the belt around her waist along with another batch of knives.
The man gripped his weapon before falling forwards, dead from the blade stuck into his eye, lodged into his brain.
"Come out" she called out in a sing-song tone "servants of the monster, the monster of monsters" she said and in a blur five individuals appeared before her eyes, all but one being female they watched her with amusement and boredom
"It is impressive that you were able to sense us" their apparent leader said, appearing tall and pale, with odd markings on his face
"You smell of death, all of you, but not of power" she told them bluntly "you are slaves of the Snake yes?" she then asked as the red-haired girl bristled at her tone
"You bitch" she snarled only for their leader to hold her back with an arm
"We serve Orochimaru-sama yes" he answered and she nodded while a blade danced in her hand once again
"I see…yes, he may serve my purposes well" she said to them
"Serve…you?" another asked in two voices and she smiled dangerously
"What does it matter who serves who? We all dance to one another's tunes after all, I simply freed those men from that dance back there" she said and the pale one frowned deeply
"Do not disrespect Orochimaru-sama, he is far more powerful and brilliant than you" he said and she laughed
"I wonder, death will be the judge of that I think" she said with a slightly mad grin
"Orochimaru-sama will never die" he said and she laughed again
"He will, he will. It'll just be a matter of how and when, no one can run forever" she said and he all but snarled as the other four jumped back
"Your name" he demanded and she threw off her cloak while chuckling to herself at some private joke
"Delta" she said as he ripped out several of his bones to form two katanas, Delta did not even blink as he did so
"You do not find that disturbing?" he asked her and she laughed quietly
"No" she said simply before moving towards him at speed, taking him by surprise as her first strike brushed across his chest, leaving a small wound where the blade had brushed the skin.
She danced around his blows, easily parrying or avoiding him while lightning fast strikes teased his defences, seeking a way in. She did not wait, did not hold back, she went in from the word go with the intention of killing him and the others as quickly and efficiently as possible. Just as her training had taught her to do.
He blocked and parried and she soon found a layer of bone had formed beneath his skin. But it did not matter, no defence was perfect after all, even as strange markings spread around his form and he continued to attack her, moving faster and faster as he danced alongside her, his face a mask of aggravation and amazement, hers a mask of death. Cold and unyielding even when blades nearly ended her life.
Suddenly she leapt back and pulled out a scroll, swiping a single thumb across it a black sheath emerged, she pulled the blade from it, revealing the shine of a well cared for blade. Without hesitation she darted in, closing with him swiftly as she struck, feeling the blade easily slice through his thickened bone and bit into the mortal flesh and blood beneath it, hearing him gasp in pain and astonishment she leapt back as a haunting melody began to fill the air. A blade sliced into a tree, causing the red-head to gasp as her flute was struck by a knife that wedged itself into it.
"Power borrowed is not power" she said simply as she spun to kick the larger fellow in the face, having heard his hands slapping together as he prepared a technique, a blade cut into his tendon as his hand went limp, useless for now as she turned to the other and sent two blades whistling towards him as she spun and kicked away a blow from the bone wielder, slicing his side with her blade before she leapt back again
"Stop" the leader gasped and she re-sheathed her blade in the blink of an eye before watching as two of them supported their leader as they all watched her carefully
"Deaths wings close around you, bone-user, you will die soon" she said without blinking as she relaxed again, an easy but dangerous stance in their eyes
"It does…we will take you to Orochimaru-sama, he will judge whether you'll be accepted or not" he said and she nodded
"Very well, we shall see if I resist the Snake's hypnotic gaze better than you all" she said "I think I'll walk behind you, by the way, wouldn't want you planting a blade in my back" she said and he frowned but nodded
"You are strong, a worthy opponent" he said and she nodded
"You are also strong, but you are not worthy. Your strength is borrowed, and you will never bleed for your ideals nor place stock in your own life…lead on, I wish see if the Sannin truly are as powerful as they stories say"
The morning was well underway when the village finally came into view, surrounded by its makeshift walls and patrolling guards looking at least somewhat more professional than those the Sound five had been travelling with. The village inside the walls smelt like death to her, this was a place where power was all that mattered, your survived or you died. It was survivalism at its best and Delta watched it closely, observing the interactions of its inhabitants
"Your name really Delta?" Tayuya, the red haired girl, asked her as they approached the walls, looking at her with a glare as she held her flute, partly damaged by Delta's knives
"As far as you know" she replied, not looking at her as they approached the gate
"Hmph, you keep that up and Orochimaru-sama will have your head on a spike" she threatened and Naruko looked at her, something both seductive and deadly about her gaze that made Tayuya take a step back
"He is free to try, but you should know I do not fear the void that awaits us all" she said and Tayuya looked away
"Think your so tough" she muttered under her breath
"You will have to swear an oath of Orochimaru-sama if you wish to live here" Kimoro, the bone-user, told her before coughing up a little blood
"We shall see if the Snake can put me on my knees first" she said
"You respect strength then?" Tayuya asked her and she paused for a moment, considering the question
"Not in the same way you five do, I suspect. I respect more than physical power" she explained as one of the gate guards reached out to stop her only to cry out as his hand was sudden severed from the rest of his body
"Hold Delta" Kimoro ordered her only for her to smile slightly at him in a way that made him frown before leading the way deeper into the village
"This place reeks of desperation" Delta muttered to herself as they approached a large building in the centre before making their way down beneath the village into a secured bunker "and in desperation, there is opportunity" she said and Tayuya shot her an odd glance
"Your crazier than most of us" she said and Delta smiled again
"Perhaps I am, but we shall see the Snake thinks. How ironic, for the Snake to hide in the tall Grass" she said with a chuckle even as she was led to the lower level and shown into the large area where her target sat, watching them all with a small smile that was a little too wide
"Orochimaru-sama" the Sound five intoned as they went onto their knees, Delta standing behind them as she sniffed the air
"Death" she said clearly, voice echoing "despair, blood, rape…darkness. This place is steeped in the void" she said as she turned her eyes, like purest glacial waters, onto the man in front of her, moving past the Sound five as they remained bowed
"Who is this?" the man asked
"I am Delta, Snake, I am here because I am strong and I believe you can help me" she said as a man next to Orochimaru moved out of the shadows
"You should show some respect" he said with a smile to match his masters
"Lie in silence worm, I am here to speak to your master, not a slave" she said in that same almost playful tone of voice as always as the man's smile widened and Orochimaru registered some surprise at her words
"You are either very brave or very stupid to say such things here" he said and she chuckled softly as faced him under her hood
"The same could be said of many, but let us dispense with these peasantries. You desire those who are strong to fight for you, and I can fit that bill" she said and he laughed, a soft hissing sound that would've made any but Delta shiver in fear and disgust
"You think you are strong?" he asked her and she threw off her cloak once more
"Death will decide that, I think" she replied and he grunted
"Kabuto…kill her" he said and Kabuto, the man beside him, grinned before stepping in front of her
"I anoint myself with my own life" she muttered as she revealed her blade, throwing the sheath away as she smeared blood on her sword arm and seals faintly glowed before vanishing from it as she took up position with the sword held high
"Well…" Kabuto started but Delta was already moving, covering the few meters between them in a blur of speed as her blade sought out its target, her sword arm blurring as the blade bit into the steel of a kunai and sliced through it with barely a pause, her feeling the tip slice through flesh before she twisted and slashed again, Kabuto dodging away as she thrust it, slicing his cheek as she relentlessly assaulted him, denying him a moments rest as he sought to utilise his lethal medical skills to end her life.
He knocked her black a step but before he could even take a breath she was cutting through air to meet his hand that remained outstretched. He pulled it in and darted away as Delta came in again and again, not pausing once, easily predicting and counter-attacking at every move he tried to make, repeatedly healing wounds that reopened a few moments later
"Damn you" he howled in frustration and lashed out at her even as she twisted away and pulled out a blade, stabbing at his elbow to disable it, another blow to his knees made him kneel before a third and final twist sent her blade towards him neck, Kabuto only just pushing himself forwards to avoid the blow as it skimmed the back of his neck, making him gasp in fear at how close he had come to losing his life.
He healed and twisted to strike out only to find her activating another sealing array on her right leg, her speed suddenly increasing as she attacked again, dancing around him as her blade met flesh over and over again, each blow strong enough to splinter bone, the sword cutting kunai after kunai in half without any signs of damage or slowing down.
The Sound five had moved away to avoid the fight, Delta breathing steadily while Kabuto's composure began to slip as his movements became more and more desperate
"Deaths wings close around you" she whispered softly, almost seductively, before the blade stabbed through his middle, Kabuto twisting to avoid anything major before shoving her away and falling to one knee as he panted softly and healed up the wounds as she watched him
"Pathetic" she muttered as he stood up, readjusting his glasses as he did so before facing her again
"You're cheating" he said with a sick grin and she took up her stance once more
"My power was earned, and I pay my price every second of this battle. Your own strength is little more than words and poison…you are not worthy of my respect" she told him before she moved, faster than before, towards Kabuto who twisted to feel the blade pressed against his shoulder
"Stop" Orochimaru called out and the blade halted the moment the word left his mouth and Delta retrieved her sheath, re-sheathing her blade as she turned to face Orochimaru who stood before her, looking impressed
"You're boasts weren't lies after all" he said and she smirked slightly
"However it appears your slaves were" she said and he frowned at that
"So…you want more power" he said and she uttered a short laugh
"No, I have power, I only seek a place to use it, to find one I respect" she told him as he sat back down
"Then, what of me?" he asked as she grinned a grin that made Orochimaru frown
"I gaze upon a dealer of death, who flees from death. A monster of monsters, a betrayer, a lier, a hypocrite. Miro a los muertos (I gaze upon the dead)" she said and Orochimaru laughed heartily
"And yet you will still join me?" he asked her mockingly and she nodded
"Of course, death cannot be where death is not, after all" she said and he smiled
"Then, kneel and swear an oath" he told her and she unsheathed her blade only to point it straight at him
"I serve my mistress, death, first and foremost, myself second, and you last. In death, all things are equal Snake. I will obey for now, but know that hourglass around your neck as already begun to count the grains of sand. But I do not think it will be my hand that finally allows my mistress to have her fill of you" she said and Orochimaru all but snarled but still nodded
"Good enough" he said through gritted teeth "report to the barracks for your equipment and then go get a mission, we'll be sending you on special ones since you're so powerful" he snarled and she nodded
"Good" she said and walked out of the room, leaving Orochimaru and his lackey's to seethe while she attempted to find her way through the maze of corridors and the like that ran through this place like a rabbits warren.
She moved through the cool air of the underground base with a grace easily belying her dangerous nature. Those who saw her moved to either side without knowing either her name or her deeds, only knowing that on some level they should not be near or, nor try to touch her unless they wished to taste the sting of her sword, her finger tapping it in a slow rhythm as she wandered around the base before moving up to the first floor where all of the administration tastes were carried out, along with the serving of food and some of the lodgings for the various mercenaries and the like, the rest being on the second floor where some of the training rooms were along with the places for Orochimaru's most trusted men.
She walked into the empty room, it being quite early in the day
"You must be Delta" the man, scars lining one side of his face, said as he pulled out a jacket, and a forehead protector "don't know what you did to get promoted so high so fast, here" he said as he handed her the stuff and she slipped it on without complaint
"A Jonin already" she said as she touched the tough fabric "so he was true to his word, should be fun" she smiled slightly
"If you say so, you can get something to eat downstairs, or in town if you've got the coin to spare, otherwise you need to go to training ground seventeen" he said and she nodded as she left the room as men began to arrive, though even they avoided her somewhat as she took the stairs down and stepped out into a place smelling of sweat, tears and fear. Blood was spilled here from time to time and the vents providing the place fresh air did not do quite enough to removing the smell from the air.
She did not need to see the dorms to see what they would look like, she would sleep under that stars as she had done for so many years now, even during the summer storms and winters biting chill.
Instead she went to the cafeteria and walked inside to find the place packed with men and a few women who were not having a good time of it. She felt a hand reach out to touch her, but a flick of a dagger was enough to deter them as they noticed her jacket and the number of weapons she was carrying
"Compensating" someone muttered and she faced him, her own cold eyes draining his of the fire they had held when he had made his comment
After a few moments she turned away and he breathed again and she gliding through the crowd of men, her grace causing even the most boisterous to think twice about trying to have a go.
"Let go" a voice suddenly said, full of defiance despite the fear in the underlying timbre of the voice. Delta turned and moved towards the source, a young woman of perhaps sixteen or seventeen, dressed with a camo scarf around her neck and a skirt of the same material, black shorts underneath that and a sleeveless top with needles along a belt.
Three men were pressing against her, grinning with an expression that made Delta sigh as a blade appeared in her hand before it pressed against one of the men, tracing his jugular as he suddenly went completely rigid
"Let her go" she said as her other hand removed two more knives and readied itself
"You ain't got the guts lov'" the man said and she glanced at the other two
"Why not?"
"Kabuto'll kill ya" one of them explained and she grinned
"He will, that will be quite something then, I look forward to it" she said as her blade began to bite into his skin as blood began to trickle out of his neck
"Delta" a voice suddenly called out that made them all go rigid save Delta who turned to face Kabuto who had that sick smile on his face again
"Can you not kill him?" he asked her and she hummed for a moment
"I'm sure the Snake has more of them" she said
"That may be so, but we'd rather not have to train some more people" he said and she retracted the blade as the man sighed, before she sliced across his arm making him cry out and clutch at the laceration her knife had caused
"There you go then" she said with a glance to him and he shook his head as the onlookers watched in disbelief that a newbie was taking such liberties and getting away with it as well
"Don't kill them, yet" he said and she flicked her knife once more before sliding it into her holster as she grabbed the younger girl and pulled her away from the canteen and up into the town where poor people moved around poorer looking buildings.
"Let me go" the girl demanded and Delta did so once they were in an empty training ground. Delta took a moment to sit down before facing the girl who had her arms crossed, to hide their shaking, and wore an angry expression to hide the tears in the corners of her eyes
"I didn't need you help" she spat and Delta looked at her silently "what'd you want?" she shouted and Delta stood up before embracing the girl
"One such as you need not fear me" she told her as the girl tried to push her away "the void will welcome you, because you are strong" she said and the girl punched her, though Delta did not react
"I'm not strong" she hissed and Delta shook her head
"Strength lies in both the arms and the head" she told her and the girl pushed her away, more gently this time as Delta let her go
"What do you want?" she asked more calmly
"To help" Delta said as she sat down once more while the girl stood before her, now more nervous than scared
"You're Delta, aren't you?" she asked and Delta nodded "the one who nearly killed Kabuto-san"
"Yes, I am" Delta answered
"Then why waste your time with me, though, if you want…that I'll gladly give it to you over them" she spat with fear in her voice but determination in her eyes. Delta gently stood to take her face in her hands, stroking her cheeks and neck
"You are so beautiful…yes, this is what I wanted to find, one with a strong mind and heart, one who can find hope even in the darkness. That, to me, is true strength" she said as she gently kissed the girls forehead
"W-what?" the girl gasped
"Your name is?"
"Kin"
"You are strong, Kin-san, in mind if not body, but the body can be easily changed and made powerful. The mind is not so easily changed" she said and Kin shivered
"You…want to help me then? Truly?"
"Truly, Kin-san, I will help you become strong"
"Why?"
"Because such strength, and balance, is beautiful to me" Delta explained to her as she kissed her cheek softly while holding her hips so Kin was unable to pull back
"I'm beautiful to you?" Kin asked and Delta nodded
"Very, in death all is equal, but power, of mind and body, are this worlds true measure of beauty. There are many in this world who can kill thousands of people with ease but they are not beautiful. More beautiful is the woman who toils even while that threat hangs there to feed herself and her children, who sells her body and mind, but keeps possession of her soul. There are few souls able to do that, and they are the diamonds I seek amongst the coal" she said and Kin shivered, though this time it was in delight rather than fear
"W-what will you do with me then?" Kin asked
"I will take you under my protection, that will keep the men away from you, along with some of the women in this place. And I will train you, I will seep you in the same dark void that I was…I will make you strong" she told Kin who nodded her head
"Like Orochimaru would?" she asked and Delta shook her head
"I will bend you, heat you and shape you, I will allow you to become strong, but it will be your own will that decides whether the strength can be taken. The Snake gives power, whereas I offer the path to achieving it yourself. It will be yours…It, will be pure" she said and Kin appeared to think for a moment before nodding
"Do it then" she said while moving forwards so Delta embraced her tightly
"I will protect those that may become strong" she said and Kin let out a soft sigh
"Can I be weak?" she asked softly and Delta kissed the top of her head once more
"All is equal in death" she said and Kin shook before Delta felt tears wetting her uniform as she stood there, in the sunshine, holding Kin as she opened herself to Delta and allowed herself to be guided down another path to that that Orochimaru offered her.
Training ground seventeen was filled with dust and blood as Delta walked into it, along with nearly a dozen other fresh recruits, all clearly swords for hire looking for a better job than robbing caravans. She glanced around the desperate and the bloodthirsty and began to play with one of her knives in full view of everyone.
She was somewhat surprised that her name had already begun to so rapidly spread amongst the rank and file but she decided that it was likely for the best. She wouldn't want to kill most of the Snake's army now, that wouldn't be fun at all, neither would it be productive for the future of the region, though already it was clear to her that the cracks were showing. Fear can only lend so much strength to someone after all, eventually it saps the body and heart of strength and leaves it to die in the frozen wasteland. That was why the Snake betrayed his own people so willingly, despite their adoration of him.
She found herself smiling at that thought as she watched the trainer arrive
"Get in line you pieces of shit" he roared and they did so, even as she remained with her blade in hand, watching as he made his way down the line, both testing them and letting them know who was in charge here, as many of the men were totally undisciplined and therefore only power would keep them in line
"Put that away" he snarled at her and she locked eyes with him. His own eyes were darkened by years of the horrors he had committed, but they still held something…something Delta's eyes had not held for many years now.
They stood facing each other, the man leaning over her as she remained relaxed, her icy blue eyes peering into his soul, into the blackness that dwelt there along with his fears, the one primal fear so few animals could truly overcome and remove from their psyche
"Do you fear death?" she asked him and he twitched as though startled, she could tell he was beginning to sweat, his heart rate climbing as adrenaline surged into his veins "do you fear the darkness?" she asked as she took a step back while she stepped forwards, her blade still dancing in the dusty air with a casual grace so like her
"Stand back" he snarled, though she could sense he unease, the growing panic in his voice
"I don't…the darkness, the void, is afraid of me" she whispered in that nearly seductive tone of hers as she finally stopped and re-sheathed her blade for now into its holster before watching him as he stood glaring at her
"Your fine" he finally said, nearly chocking on the words as they left his mouth "go" he told her and she walked off while the other men kept looking ahead, unwilling to meet her eyes, lest they gain the same unwanted attention the trainer had received from her.
She wandered through the streets filled with the smell of dust and rotting food and other such scents that filled the nose, the town barely having a working sewer system never mind anything else more advanced. She walked the streets to see the despair and desperation of those living there. The families selling their sons and daughters to the Snake for food and water and whatever else they needed, the sounds of flesh striking bone followed by a whimper of pain as a daughter was beaten by her husband or father.
She felt no anger towards the people here. During her training she had come to realise that this was, to an point, humans true nature. Humans were capable of great evil and great good in equal measure, but at their most basic, with the rules and regulations of society and culture to mediate and modify their behaviour they often reverted back to more primal forms, easy conducting violence against one another as a form of control as a replacement for respect and love. Though those things certainly existed in different forms here. And while the acts here made it easier and easier for her to think about killing them, for now she would have to reign in that instinct of hers. She needed a place to stay after all.
That, and it was hard to tell which of the people here held the values she desired, that power of spirit, not of body and mind.
In that regard Kin was perfect for her. The girl needed protection and assistance to become stronger, she had a strong mind but that can only carry one so far in a world of physical power only. So Delta would train her, she would shape her into whatever shape Kin wished to become, a weapon to protect, or a weapon to slay. After all, there was that saying; 'the threat of one blade keeps another in its sheath'. The threat of violence could defend just as well as the act of violence itself.
For now, though, she needed to earn some money, buy a place (not particularly hard in this place) and then start training Kin properly. But she would not survive the same treatment that Delta had over the years, she needed something softer, something more caring with one who desired to only see her grow into someone strong and unafraid of the world around her.
She walked into the training ground where she had left Kin to find the girl sitting on fallen log while looking at the ground almost solemnly.
"Kin" she called out softly as the girl looked up to her and nodded "shall we get started then?" she asked and the girl nodded again, a determined look on her face as she stood up and walked over to Delta who smiled slightly at her look
"Come on then" Kin said almost impatiently and Delta shook her head slowly
"I will do the basics with you first of all, we will train your mind as we go" she said and Kin frowned
"So I am weak" she spat
"You have the potential to be strong, stronger than even that Snake if you wished. But I speak of a different kind of strength to his" she told Kin who was now glaring daggers at her, she thought for a moment before nodding to herself "fight me then" she told Kin who balked at the idea of fighting someone who had very nearly killed Orochimaru's right hand man
"No" she said with fear in her voice as Delta turned to face her, lifting her hood to cover her face once again as she stood with her hands clasped in front of her
"You fear me, you fear the men around your and are terrified of your surroundings around you. You, are scared" Delta said plainly, her voice cool and level the whole time, a far cry from her usual near playful, or seductive, tone of voice
"I am not afraid" Kin all but snarled as she readied herself to fight, the anger in her eyes lessening her fear
"You fear death, the same as all those here. You are no stronger than they are, because you, are afraid" Delta said again and Kin hesitated before throwing her bells, attached to needles, around the area, carpeting it as she began her technique, one designed to induce visions and the like in the target as she readied a kunai.
Delta heard the ringing of the bells and felt the sting of pain along with the accompanying illusion that began to twist and alter her vision as she kept herself looking straight at Kin even as multiple copies appeared
"A low level illusion technique" she said softly as Kin lunged towards her, crying out in desperation as she drove the sharpened weapon towards Delta with the sole goal of killing her "however" Delta muttered as she dislocated her own finger without a blink, the flash of pain washing away the illusion as she sidestepped the blow and tripped Kin over, watching as she barely managed to right herself before leaping away from Delta who continued to watch her even as she reset her broken finger
"You don't know know chakra?" Kin gasped and Delta nodded
"I had no need to, with the irregularity with which I sustained injuries. I never need it after all" Delta explained as Kin snarled and leapt at her over and over and over again until she fell to the ground
"Your anger overcomes your fear, but soon that fear returns. My strength is too far out of your reach" Delta said as Kin roared and struck out again and again, even as tears began to spill from her cheeks and she stumbled before falling to her knees
"Goddamn it!" she screamed as she punched the ground with her fists as Delta put her hood down and looked down at Kin
"Power is attainable, Kin, what is rarely there is the will to obtain it, whatever the cost. Do you want to be strong? To rid yourself of this fear you have?" she asked and Kin nodded her head furiously "then I will help you, but know this, being powerful by itself will not rid you of fear" she told the girl who looked up at her while wiping away her tears
"What?" she asked
"Even the most powerful men fear the Reaper when she visits them, that is the origin of most fear. Rid yourself of the fear of death, and you rid yourself of the purest form of fear" she explained as Kin watched her
"But…I can't" she said before Delta gently took her face in her hands, wiping away the last of her tears
"Not by yourself, no. But I will be here to help" she said and Kin nodded before Delta moved back before turning to face her "lets get to it then, we'll start with the basics. But I should warn you, for power, there is always a price. And the greater that power the greater the price. This training will push you beyond your limits, Kin, it will hurt. Are you still willing?"
"Yes" Kin replied immediately and without hesitation and Delta nodded
"Very well then, lets go through the basics then"
Delta set Kin up and then sat down as the girl began to work her way through the basic regime. Although it was basic it was more like a Jonin's training regime than anything a Chunin, let along a Genin should be doing. Numerous laps adding up to four or five miles, followed by push ups, sit up and squats alongside basic combat training with Delta herself. But even this was relatively easy compared to what Delta had put herself through to become what she now was. That regime lasted most of the day some days. Kin was getting off lightly as far as Delta was concerned.
She watched the girl run silently, watching her form and body, noticing the slight stumbles and moments where her pace changed suddenly to reduce some pain or something else. By about halfway an hour had passed and the girl was panting as she continued, sweat pouring off of her in drips as she began to slow down
"Come on Kin" Delta called to her "your more than halfway there now" she said and Kin began to run again, clearly pushing through the pain she was feeling to continue on running at Delta's urging but after a few more laps she collapsed onto her knees, panting as Delta walked over to her
"I can't" she gasped and Delta lifted her chin gently to look her in the eyes
"You can, or are you telling me your just like all the rest here?" Delta asked and Kin growled faintly "where's all that fire gone, Kin? Was it all just talk, are you exactly the same as the Sound five, bowing your head to a monster and stealing power for yourself? Are you that pathetic?" she asked softly and Kin pushed her away
"Fuck you" she snarled before she got back to running, continuing as Delta's words rang through her mind
"Good girl" Delta muttered to herself as she stood in the centre of the field and continued to watch Kin train.
She saw a few men looking over at them but one glance from her was enough to send them away and not look back as she turned her attention back to Kin as the girl threw off her jacket and skirt to revel she sleeveless shirt and the somewhat tight shorts she was wearing underneath it all, barely pausing as she did so to carry on running as her mid-back length raven black hair blew in the wind behind her, the ribbon holding it together at the end just barely holding it in place as she ran.
However a few laps short she stumbled and nearly fell before Delta caught her
"Good girl, Kin-chan" she praised her, kissing her sweaty forehead affectionately as she held her loosely "you're doing far better than I thought you would" she said with a small but genuine smile and Kin nodded
"Please" she begged softly and Delta lifted her chin again
"Can you do a little more? For me? Please Kin-chan?" she asked the girl who looked conflicted while Delta gently stroked her arms "I'll give you something if you do" she said and Kin nodded slowly, clearly in pain as she desperately tried to finish the last few laps before finally her legs gave out.
Delta caught her easily and carried her into the shade of a few trees where she sat with Kin laying on her cloak, her feet in Delta's lap
"Delta-san?" she asked
"Yes" she replied as she began to softly massage the muscles, making Kin whimper softly before sighing in relief
"I didn't finish?" she asked as though confused
"You did, you did very well for your first time doing something like that without the aid of chakra. So I think you more than deserve a rest and this" she told the girl who nodded and closed her eyes, her heart rate lowering as her body began to cool off.
Delta massaged the girls muscles firmly, moving gradually up Kin's legs, who despite her discomfort did little to discourage her, her fingers coming dangerously close to her inner thigh before she switched legs
"Something else you picked up?" Kin suddenly asked her tiredly and Delta nodded slowly
"Something like that" she replied vaguely, knowing it mostly from having to massage her own sore muscles to enable her to rapidly rest and recover so she was able to carry on training despite her body's warnings not to. She also quite liked the feel of Kin's skin and muscles under her hands. Though her legs were certainly feminine they still held the evidence of years of training, though none of it had ever been as intense was what Delta was putting her through. Her skin was smooth and held no scars despite what must have been a difficult childhood.
"You are very beautiful Kin" Delta said and Kin looked up at her as Delta finished up with her leg and sat back
"I'm…not that pretty" she argued softly and Delta looked at her
"Everyone has their own visions of beauty, but even I can see your beauty. But perhaps you will believe me as we carry on training, after all a side effect of all this will be that you will look..better shall we say" she told Kin who did not respond, but Delta didn't mind that too much, it was probably part of Kin's lack of confidence, caused by her lack of strength, and fear, after all.
Delta stood up after a few more minutes and made Kin stand as well, gently keeping hold of her lest she fall over
"I don't think you'll be able to manage those squats in this state, we'll just do the strength training then. Then if we have time I'll go through the combat training with you" Delta said and Kin nodded, despite the pained look on her face.
The push-ups and pull-ups were even harder for Kin, who was not very strong to begin with and Delta soon called a stop to it before standing in the field and taking up her usual stance, putting her knives on a log before taking up her position facing Kin with her needles
"The easiest way to train is to fight in true battlefields, that is the ultimate test that so many fail" Delta told Kin as she spread her hands, her face hidden in the shadow of her hood "therefore, try to kill me, if you do not, I will hurt you" she told her, watching Kin swallow softly before taking a breath before launching herself at Delta, throwing her needles as Delta dodged and danced around them before Kin pulled out her kunai and began to slash and thrust it at Delta with the sole goal of killing her, something Delta was pleasantly surprised at.
"Good Kin-chan, faster" she said as the girl winced at the pain in her legs but continued slashing at her sensei who continued to easily dodge and evade her as easily as water flowing around a stone
"Damn it, stand still" she groused as she threw her weapon at Delta who caught it easily and threw it back, causing Kin to gasp as Delta went on the offensive, using only a small fraction of her true strength and speed as she struck against Kin, giving her time to react and block her
"That's it Kin-chan, don't fear what I may do, don't fear me, think only about my next move, and the move after that. Watch me and only me" she said as she lazily threw punches that Kin began to dodge with greater and greater ease as she began to get into her zone, it was a slow process, but experience would improve that.
Delta twisted and darted behind Kin and knocked her to her knees, watching as she failed to roll with it, so she jumped back and let Kin regain her bearings
"You need to roll with my attacks Kin" she told her as the girl locked eyes with her, no longer afraid of her but still shocked at her speed "you are not as strong as me, so you must deflect, not block, my attacks" she said and Kin nodded somewhat hesitantly before Delta began to attack her again, Kin sidestepping her attacks and pushing her blows aside as Delta smiled before stopping suddenly and hugging Kin
"Thats it" she praised her, kissing her cheek "very very good Kin-chan, that's precisely what you need to do, I'm glad you picked up what I was doing with your attacks" she said and Kin smiled softly at being praised so earnestly and honesty by her teacher
"Thank you" she muttered and Delta laughed softly as she pulled back
"It is all true, I'm very proud of you Kin-chan, if you want we can carry on or you can head back and we can carry on tomorrow"
"But what about my missions?" Kin asked and Delta smiled that dangerous small smile of hers
"You can do them, you need the money after all as do I, but otherwise I will train you" she said and Kin nodded
"Okay" she said as Delta sat down and reached into her cloak to remove a few ration bars which she handed to Kin
"Was this the kind of training you did?" Kin asked her and she hummed in thought for a few moments while chewing on the cardboard of the bar,
"Mine was much more intense than this" she said
"Like?"
"I once spent a month nearly starving myself inside a forest, simulating being behind enemy lines whilst being hunted by them, though technically those bandits actually were looking for me" she told Kin who looked shocked before slowly nodded
"Is that why you call Orochimaru-sama 'Snake'?" she asked and Delta nodded
"He is afraid, he fears death above all else, he fears the Void without knowing what it is. One who cowers before death is not one worthy of my respect, because no matter how powerful he appears to be, his fear has consumed him and will destroy him some day. That hourglass around his neck is already counting down" she said to Kin who looked away but nodded all the same
"Will you be here tomorrow?" she asked and Delta nodded
"Of course, have a good rest Kin-chan, take this knife of mine and just mention me if someone tries to give you trouble" she told Kin as she deftly handed her one of her razor sharp knives while leaning back against the log
"Thank you Delta-san" Kin said with a small bow and Delta smiled at her
"I'll see you tomorrow Kin-chan" she said as she watched the girl redress before leaving the field, leaving Delta alone with her thoughts and plans.
She couldn't wait for her first mission after all.
The End
This is the second chapter, or story, that I am thinking of writing. The others will not be quite this big or as finished because writing a chapter in a day is difficult and time consuming, so I hope you'll forgive me for that. And as I said previously, please do vote once all the chapters are up at the end of the week or so.