Chapter 12
The Count to Zero
A man dreamt of the world's salvation.
He dreamt a world where no one had to cry.
He failed to make his dream become a reality. He sought to bring peace by killing. And so he killed and killed, all for the sake of justice. But when he had finally managed to save someone without killing, he realized he had went about it the wrong way.
He realized he was never a hero in the first place. But to that boy who he had saved. He was a hero through and through.
And so… that person whom he had saved declared to him that he would carry on his ideals and dreams to reach that goal. A world where no one had to cry.
He sacrificed his life countless times.
Never asking for gratitude.
Never asking for appreciation.
He gave his life for a better world and in return ended up there.
There, is what lied at the end of that dream.
That man cut himself off from the world. Losing a bit of himself with each person he saved. Until finally his world that he dreamt of was empty.
A world that was filled with nothing but swords. A barren wasteland that stretched on forever in every direction.
It was there, that another person found himself walking in the lonely plains and hills of swords.
The same person, with the same ideals and dreams, but from a different timeline with a different route.
Alone, he wandered aimlessly in his own world.
Deprived of life.
There was only the hazy smog in the distance that covered the once gleaming rays of sunshine that represented hope and a dream for a better tomorrow.
He climbed up a hill of swords to the summit. All around him a dust storm rages on in his world. It becomes hard to see clearly in front of him. But the further up he goes, the winds dies down. The dust began to settle. His vision soon clears.
A person could be seen in front of him that stood atop of the summit. Someone else was in his world.
His attention was immediately drawn towards the sword next to the person. A familiar sword that had a fond remembrance in his mind and his heart.
But…
There was something wrong with it.
He recognized the sword, yet it was completely foreign to his senses.
The sword was pitch black with red glowing lines.
It was the complete opposite of the golden sword that he remembers.
It was a vile thing. In a way, one could call it grotesque and unsightly.
His stomach churned.
He knew the sword. His mind knew what that sword is, but his heart refused to believe it.
His eyes drifts onto the person standing next to it.
It was a woman.
His heart leapt to her, like kindred spirits.
Like star-crossed lovers.
But again… there was something wholesomely wrong.
The person who stood before him was different.
The woman who he knew, who he loved had a different shade of golden blonde hair. No longer was it a vibrant gold, but dull and dark. The strand of hair that would normally stick out of place was gone.
She turns around.
His blue eyes met gold.
His heart wretched. His stomach felt queasy.
This wasn't her.
Her armor was blue and white.
This was black and red.
Everything was so wrong.
This wasn't her.
He took a step back.
The cold gaze from her eyes was unnerving to him.
It made the hair on the back of his neck stand up.
This was her.
"S-Saber?"
His mind told him that this was her.
His heart told him that this was not her.
For a moment, she did not respond except continuing her gaze.
His mouth went dry and his hands clammed up.
Her eyes close. His breath hitched.
"You left me…"
Her voice cuts into the air. It cuts into his heart.
"I-I! No!" He vehemently replies. "I didn't! I didn't leave you! I swear!"
She looks at her right gauntlet. It looked more like a claw that belonged to a monster.
"You did." Her hand turns into a fist. "Because if you didn't, then I wouldn't have been turned into this."
A look of revile and horror dances on the man's face.
"I-I was doing my best! I was doing whatever I could to try and get back to you!"
His heart was pounding. Every beat was akin to someone banging on a drum.
He remembered.
Crawling in vain to reach her.
Even though his body was broken.
Even though his arm had been torn off.
He crawled and cried to the heavens in a futile attempt to reach his Saber.
Every inch traveled, he cried out in agony.
Every foot gained, his body broke down further.
Her eyes bore into his. They were lifeless golden eyes.
"What kind of hero are you if you couldn't even save the one who mattered the most to you?" Her words cut deeply into his heart. He bites his lips and hot tears pool near his eyes.
Her hand wraps around the sword's handle and brandishes the tip to him.
His vision swims. It glitches like a static screen for the briefest of moments.
The name of the sword appears in his head.
He knows the name of the sword, but could not bear to say it.
It was then and there that he realized this wasn't her.
Because at the last moments before everything went white.
He remembered. He remembered her throwing the sword to him.
This was not Saber.
Merely a perversion of her. A alter.
Alter Saber.
She raises her blackened sword above her head and swings down to cut him.
He blocks the strike with his own sword. The proper sword as it should be, not the false sword it was clashing against.
The golden blade bit into the black blade.
"S-Stop! Saber! Please! I don't want to fight you!"
It was to no avail. His cries for her fell on deaf ears.
She strikes again. He blocks once more.
"Saber! Please!" He begs.
Her eyes were apathetic.
"W-k- -p!"
"SABER!"
She strikes again and again, driving him to his knees.
"Wak- up!"
"STOP!"
He blocks the strikes. There was no desire to fight her. With every strike he pleaded her name.
"SABER! SABER! SAAAABER!"
"Naruto! Wake up!"
"Naruto! Wake up! It's just a dream! Wake up!"
I jolt up in my futon in an upright position. My body was soaked in sweat and my throat felt dry as a desert.
My heart was pounding like crazy against my chest.
What was that?
What in the actual hell was that dream?
…No.
That wasn't a dream. It was a nightmare. One that was playing to my deepest fears and regrets.
My hand rubs my forehead before running it through my hair in an attempt to calm myself down.
"Are you ok?"
I look to the person and found that it was Sasuke, who was still in her pajamas, had woke me up.
"I-…" My throat was a lot drier than I thought it was. "I'm fine."
It came out hoarse.
"You were screaming 'Saber' over and over. And when I came into your room, you were sprawled out on the futon just… writhing around. Are you sure you're ok?" I could hear the concern in her voice.
"I'm fine… I swear. It was just a bad dream." I wince at how bad my voice sounded.
Sasuke purses her lips together. "I'll go get you some water."
She leaves the room.
"Hmm – those dreams again Emiya-kun?" asked Merem.
I nod.
"Yeah… ever since that day when we were all training. It's becoming progressively worse. Each dream more… vivid than the last."
"How unfortunate," the rat simply says.
"Tell me about it… I haven't had a decent sleep in over a month," I complained. "It's either a bad dream or too much thinking going on in my head that keeps me awake."
I glance at the clock near my bedside. It was five in the morning. That meant I only had maybe less than a handful of hours of sleep. If one could call it that anyways.
"I'm back," announces Sasuke. "Here you go." She hands me a glass of cold water.
I thank her before chugging the water greedily. It was gone in the blink of an eye. My throat immediately felt better with the cold liquid soothing it as it went down.
"Sorry if I woke you up."
Sasuke looked like someone who was sleeping relatively peacefully before they were abruptly awoken by someone or something.
"It's ok really, been there before so I know how it feels haha," she laughs lamely at the end.
I don't doubt it. I run a hand through my hair.
"Well, you might as well try and go back to sleep. I'll have breakfast ready at the same time as usual." There was little chance of me getting any more rest after that, I was going to start my day earlier than usual.
"Are you sure you're alright?"
I wave her concerns away with a hand. "Yes, yes. No need to worry about me, I'll be fine."
"I… ok." Sasuke seemed to protest but relented at my behest. The room was quiet once more as she closes the door.
"While I'm only the Left Arm, I can still run an analysis on you and your arm if you'd like," suggested Merem.
"No point, but thanks for the offer. It's better if we focus on the source and not the symptoms."
The Rat sighs. "If you say so. I'll be returning to my beauty sleep then. Let's talk some more at breakfast Emiya-kun."
He scurries out before I could protest. Merem doesn't like to leave open ends to problems.
I scratch my head.
"This is getting harder and harder…"
It was eight in the morning by the time I stepped into the kitchen.
I turned on the gas for the stove and cracked some eggs into the pan. Eggs, bacon, and toast for this morning's breakfast. I wasn't feeling up to the task of making something elaborate for the first meal of the day. Japanese wasn't appealing to my stomach nor was Chinese as of late. Western dishes were starting to become commonplace for the meals I cook nowadays.
I chalk it up to it being a flavor of the month or some sorts. Besides, it was quite amusing to see everyone look at their plates curiously before digging in. A foreign dish was extremely uncommon and out of place in this part of the world.
"Breakfast is ready," I call out from the kitchen.
I quickly divvy out the portions to each plate expertly and balance the plates on my hands and forearm.
Kakashi and Sakura had arrived not too long ago to go over some things about the festival.
"Ooh, what is it this time Naruto?" asks Kakashi. He peeked his eyes above the book. "Something western again I'm guessing by the smell?"
"Mhm." I placed the plates in front of everyone. "Just something simple today, nothing fancy."
Sakura claps her hand together happily. "Well it smells amazing as usual Naruto-kun! You should hear the comments my co-workers make at the hospital when I bring in the homemade lunch you make for me!"
My eyebrow quirks up. That's a first. "Oh? What kind of comments?"
"Envious for the most part, but a twinge of jealously. Hospital food really does suck, especially the cafeteria ugh."
I allow myself a small chuckle. "Seems like it's a universal thing with hospital food being really crappy."
"Thank you for the food," said Sasuke to the left of me. She delved towards the tomatoes first as usual. I couldn't help but notice that she had a rather large preference to tomatoes. It was to the point I began to add them to her plate or dish if I had the chance.
"Mhm." I hummed in acknowledgment.
My eyes glance around.
Where was Merem?
Kakashi must've noticed as well. "Merem gone as usual?"
My shoulder shrugged. "I guess so. He was supposed to be here, but something must have come up."
"Ah – oh well. So Naruto, will you be enjoying the festivities tonight?"
I haven't given much thought to it. I've been completely busy this entire month helping draw up battle plans for Sakura and Sasuke, confrontation scenarios for Valdamjong, and delving through more dusty tomes and books about the history of the land.
"I don't know. I might just skip out and finalize the plans for the tournament." If I were honest, I was saying was apathetic to the whole festival. I haven't been much of a celebrating mood for the past year or so. Especially with my lack of sleep as of late.
"All work and no play makes for a dull life," the man across from my comments. "And I thought I was a workaholic. You should take a break Naruto. It's just for one night and I think Sakura and Sasuke wouldn't mind if you accompanied them to the festivities."
I jab an accusatory fork at him. "My life is far from dull you ass. I got a lot on my plate, you know this."
He holds his hands in front of him in a placating motion.
"Scarecrow is right you now." The King of Rats drops down from the ceiling onto the dining table. "Take a night off Emiya-kun. You and I both know you need it more than anyone else."
Damn it, where did he come from?
"Merem, where've you been?"
"Oh here and there, you know me. My loyal subjects were calling to me and as King it was my duty to listen to them. Oh is that bacon? Don't mind if I do." He swipes a slice of bacon off my plate. That thief. "But yeah, take a break and get out of the house you shut in. I'm tired of babysitting you every day. A rat can only take so much before he goes crazy."
I protest, "But-"
"Oh? What's that?" The rat's paw cups an ear. "'Yes, Merem. I'll go out tonight and have some fun. I'm sorry for being a stubborn jackass and not giving you the respect you deserve.' How fantastic! There you go! Sakura, Sasuke, he's all yours for the evening."
I…
…what?
Was I being kicked out of my own house by Merem?
"That's wonderful Naruto!" Kakashi said cheerily. "Merem-san, you're quite the negotiator!"
Oh no… they were teaming up on me.
"Sakura. Sasuke." Kakashi addresses his two female students. "Make sure the stick in the mud here has some fun tonight. God knows he needs some of it in his life right now."
H-Hey… what's that supposed to mean?!
"So we're all in an agreement that Naruto is attending the festival right?" said Sasuke with a smirk.
Everyone in the room nods.
My eyes narrow in irritation at everyone before I sighed in defeat.
"Alright fine, I'll go. I'll go!" I throw my hands up in the air in exasperation. "Quit giving me those looks geez."
They all had a smug look on their face. Even that insufferable rat, Merem was giving me a haughty look with his arms across his chest.
Maybe it wouldn't be so bad to let loose once and a while?
The autumn weather brought the temperatures down a fair bit.
My normal red and white jersey zip jacket was replaced with a slightly thicker black hooded coat. Everyone else wore thicker clothing as well to adjust to the weather. Although I don't think it mattered too much with the throng of people enjoying the festivities.
People from all nations on the continent were having a merry time participating in all the carnival games. Food stalls were packed, cheering and clapping could be heard all around as people won games, and joyous laughter was in the air from the shows on display from various theatre works.
It filled me with a sense of joy at everyone being at peace with each other. This was what Kiritsugu would have wanted. What he wished the world was.
Sakura and Sasuke were flanked on either side of me as we maneuvered through the crowded street. The main avenue of Konohagakure was absolutely packed.
I look around myself to see if anything would grab my attention. As of the moment, nothing was really piquing my interest. If I were honest, I was looking for something that had to deal with a little bit of skill. Something like a ring toss maybe? Or pitching a ball at stacked bottles. Or better yet if they had an archery contest of some sort. One could only hope really.
"So what would you two like to do? I'm a bit impartial to everything if you ask me, so I don't mind much of anything." I said to the two girls.
"Hmm." Sakura puts a finger on her chin. "Let's keep looking around. Everything looks so packed and I don't feel like wasting too much time waiting just to play."
"True. Sasuke? How about you?"
Her response is one of indifference. "Never really came out to these festivals before. Usually just… well you know."
"Ah," was my lame response.
As we walked, a stall captures my eye. It was a small game of archery with the arrows being suction cups. One had to hit the plates as they were toss either to the left or right. There was a total of ten targets you had to hit and the closer you were to the center, the more points you gained to receive a better prize.
Sounds easy enough and the stall wasn't too packed as well. I glance to my left and right. I might as well attempt to get them something decent to make the night a little enjoyable for them.
"Hey, let's go try out that stall." I point over to it. "Looks pretty fun and it'll start off the night for us."
We walked over and the man running the game stall greets me with a smile. "Hello lad! Interested in a game of accuracy? Can get ya something nice for the lasses next to ya!"
"Hmm, how much for a game?" I ask.
"Five hundred yen. If ya can get all ten of the plates you'll be able to get a big prize! If ya skilled that is!"
The man was challenging me. A small smirk plays on my lips. I'll take that challenge on any day. I was going to make him regret doing that.
"Two games then old man." I fish out my wallet and slap a thousand yen on the counter. "Oh. How about we make things a little interesting too by playing both rounds at the same time."
He looks at me as if I were crazy before he shrugs his shoulders. "Yer loss lad."
I simply smile at him. He sets down a quiver of twenty arrows and a toy bow. I test the tautness of the string and flexibility of the bow. From a quick analysis of the bow its draw weight was only ten pounds. If I were to pull fifteen or twenty pounds, then the string would snap and wood to crack.
I take out all of the arrows from the quiver and hold them with the bow hand and some in the draw hand.
My action garners some strange reactions as I notice from my peripheral vision that various people were staring and pointing at me. Even the stall host gave me a questioning a look.
It was an ancient technique that fell out of popularity with the introduction of gunpowder and rifles. The speed shooting technique had Arabic origins that dated well over five-thousand years ago. It was vastly different in comparison to how Kyudo is taught on how to fire an arrow from the bow.
They'll understand soon enough once they see it in action.
He pulls a lever and the game starts.
An arrow was already nocked and let loose as soon as the plate appeared.
Bull's eye.
Two at a time. One from either side. They too were shot down dead on in the center.
There were only two arrows left on my draw hand. Those were quickly shot as well. The rest were being held by my bow hand. I soon fell into a rhythm of drawing an arrow from my left hand, pulling it back and sending it flying to the targets.
Before I know it, the game was over. Not a single plate had managed to get to the center of the stage as they were quickly shot down as soon as they appeared.
The stall host's mouth was gaping. "Holy hell, that was the finest shootin' I've ever seen lad! Yer a natural at this!" The crowd that had gathered around shared the man's sentiments and were applauding the feat.
I place the bow back on the counter. "It wasn't much really."
He snorts. "'Wasn't much' my ass haha! Well pick yer prizes lad."
I take a moment to browse the selection. It was just a bunch of stuffed animals and toys. To a small bit of disappointment, there weren't any stuffed lions on display. Saber absolutely adored lions.
I sigh tiredly. "I'll take the shiba-inu and kitten."
The man plucks them from the shelf with ease and hands me the stuffed animals. "Thanks fer playing lad! Hope you and the lasses have a nice night! Oh! And thanks fer puttin' on a show fer me stall! Business will be good tonight!"
I throw the man a lazy wave and turn towards Sasuke and Sakura. "Here. I figured you both would like something from this festival." I hand the dog and kitten to Sakura and Sasuke respectively.
"I- oh, Naruto-kun! You didn't have to really! That's really nice of you." Sakura thanks me while marveling at the stuffed animal.
Sasuke's face goes a little pink and she shies away from eye contact while mumbling a thank you.
"Eh – it's no problem." I say nonchalantly. "Was kind of fun really. Let's go enjoy the rest of the festivities yeah?"
"You're right! Let's have some fun and relax a little before the finals!" Sakura pumps her fist while smiling.
Sasuke nods her head in agreement. There was a playful smile on her face as well.
"Then you two lead the way! Since I did what I wanted to do it's your turn now."
This was fun. I guess I have to thank Merem and Kakashi for pushing me to get outside more.
I'm still going to get back at them somehow for ganging up on me though…
…maybe.
The night was going off without a hitch so far.
All three of us walked up and down the streets checking out the game stalls and sampling various street vendor food. At one point in time we passed by the ramen restaurant Ichiraku Ramen and had a quick bowl for a more filling meal. There was a part of me that wanted to stay and indulge myself on more servings of Miso ramen, but the fact that it was busy and there were too many people around prevented that.
I know for a fact that before I depart to Fuyuki City, I was going definitely stop by Ichiraku's one more time. That ramen was to die for. It would be a sin for me to not eat there. I would seriously fight a person if they badmouthed the ramen joint.
As we walked down the bustling streets, my eye spots a secluded shop that wasn't as busy as everyone else's. That alone piqued my curiosity and when we got close enough, I saw that it was a weapons store. At the top there was a simple sign in bold red lettering Higurashi.
Hmm… wasn't that one of Gai's student's last name? Tenten – if I recall correctly.
"Hey let's stop here and check this place out." The sign said they were still open so it shouldn't hurt to take a look.
"Sure," says Sakura.
But Sasuke on the other hand seemed unsure.
"Hey, what's wrong with you?"
She rubs her arm and looks the other way. "Well you see… I'm not exactly welcomed in there…"
"And why's that? What'd you do, steal something from them?" I wave her off. "Don't worry, you'll be fine. Now come on, besides you need a new sword."
I drag her into the store despite her insistence on staying outside and waiting.
The size of store was respectable. It wasn't too large, yet not too small to where it would feel cramped with the numerous weapons on display. The chiming of the bell going off alerted the store's owner and the sound of a middle-aged man's voice could be heard from the back.
"Hold up! Hold up! I'll be right there!" he yells.
A moment later and he bursts forward his back to us carrying a box of metal scraps.
"Hello! What can I do for… you," he greets us warmly before practically spitting at the end. "I thought I told you that I didn't want to see your face or that boy's ever again in this shop!" He drops the box on the ground and stomps towards us, or rather specifically Sasuke.
Whoa, where did all of this hostility come from?
"Hey, hey," I step out in front of Sasuke. "What's going on here? What's got you so riled up because of her? Yeah she can be a moron at times, but she's become a little decent as of late."
"Hmph," the man crosses his arms. "As if I'd believe that bullshit. If you're so inclined to know, she and her little boyfriend are a bunch of detestable disrespectful little cretins I've ever had step into my shop! No respect at all for a smith's work! Barging into my shop for a commission on a custom blade and when they get the completed work. What do I get? Nothing but derogatory insults!"
My head swivels to Sasuke and I gave her a look. "Really?" I sigh and pinch the bridge of my nose. "Look, Higurashi-san, whatever happened in the past I'm sure she feels very apologetic about her actions now. Besides, she and her former significant other have parted ways for some time now."
He continues to glare at her.
I mentally roll my eyes. People. "Higurashi-san, it was on my insistence that we take a look at your wares to help her find a new sword after her previous one was broken in combat."
He throws an ugly sneer. "And now you have the audacity to come crawling back for another sword? You were lucky in the first place to get that damn commission if it weren't for that brat being the son of a ministry head! Why I ought to-"
"DAD!" Came a girl's voice rushing up the stairs where he came from. "Dad! Dad! Calm down geez! No need to antagonize them! Why don't you take a breather and go help mom with the stocks down in the storage."
He grumbles before picking up the box of scraps and making his way to the storage. "If you break anything, you're paying double the price on it!"
The bun-tied girl sighs in exasperation. "Sorry about that… my dad has a lot of pride in this shop. So what Sasuke and her ex did really stung. And I have to say, Sasuke sure does move fast. When did you two hook up?"
I couldn't help but snicker. "Ha – yeah right as if. Whoever told you that is wrong."
"Oh… then is it Sakura then? I hear you two hang out often enough."
I gave her dry stare. "Can we just look at your wares… please?"
What in the world is up with people thinking that I'm dating Sakura or Sasuke? Yeah, I'm around them a lot, but it doesn't mean that I was going out with them. Correlation does not imply causation.
Tenten giggles, "Hehe, sorry couldn't help but tease. Anyways, have a look around. I'll be at the front desk if you need anything."
I nod my head. "Alright, come on. Let's see if there's anything that catches our eyes."
Walking through the shelves and displays. There were a great variety of swords and other weapons they had on display.
There were plenty of katanas and the often paired wakizashi, along with less traditional combat weapons such as a war fans, scythes, and sickles. From my structural analysis on all of the weapons, they were all finely crafted, but none of them truly stood out to me. At some point we even came across a row of chokuto swords that bore some similarities to Sasuke's.
When I brought one up to Sasuke to see if she wanted the same style of sword, to my surprise she actually shook her head. Her reason being was that she wanted to stray as far possible from anything related to Daisuke. Which was fine by me I suppose.
As Sasuke and Sakura browsed some more, I separated myself from them to walk up to the front desk.
"So, find anything yet that interests you?" asks Tenten.
"Mmm – not exactly. Are there any… custom swords? Something with a bit more utility?"
She rubs her chin with a hand. "Well apart from the ones behind me and right here. It's all we got."
Once more, I structurally analyzed all the swords on display. They were all certainly made with higher quality materials and care, but they just seemed to be lacking… something… a heart… a core… a…
…What was that? My eyes narrow at a sword that was specially displayed compared to the others. The longer I stared at it, the further my eyebrows crept up into my hairline. Tenten notices and follows my line of sight.
"Ooh? That sword huh? Well I don't blame you. That's my dad's greatest work he has ever done in his career as a smith. A one of a kind sword. A peerless sword in its field compared to others. A sword that can surpass the one's wielded by Kirigakure's legendary swordsmen. Even the one the Nidaime Hokage used."
"That's a pretty bold claim… what makes you say that?"
"Well… it took him over twenty years just trying out different designs and testing alloys. Then it took him another year just to forge it all by himself. I can remember my dad pouring his heart and soul into that blade."
"What's the price? If you don't mind me asking."
"Well…" she starts off.
"It's not for sale," a voice pops up from behind Tenten.
My eyebrow shoots up in question. "If it's not for sale, then why is it on display?"
"Because I'm waiting for someone to pass my test to see if they deserve it or not."
A test he says. "What happened to the good ol' the sword chooses the wielder belief?"
"My shop. My rules boy. If you don't like it, you can leave."
I blink, "Fair enough. So what's your test?"
He crosses his arms in front of his chest. "And what makes you think you can pass my test? I've had would-be swordsman and woman come through my doors and each of them have failed. Not even that upstart Kenjutsu master Hayate Gekko and his girlfriend Uzuki Yugao passed my test."
I couldn't help but give him a knowing smirk. "Trust me… I know a lot about swords. More than you could possibly imagine."
It was amusing for the fact that he was talking to a person whose definitive answer was obtained by being saved by a sword, actually merged and lived with a sword, and so far have acted as a sword all their life.
"An elegy," he says.
My lips purse together tightly. He wanted a serious reflection about the user. He wanted to be able to see the soul of a person through words. And what better way to do that then have them reflect on their life and actions.
How ironic… as I had a perfect elegy for this situation.
How cruel…
I couldn't help but laugh sardonically at my situation.
The people in the store look at my oddly. Sakura and Sasuke by this point had already moved to the front desk to the side of me.
"What? Too tough for you boy? I don't blame you, you're too young to even think of an elegy let alone about yourself."
"No," I shake my head. "I have one for you. Just to be clear… if my elegy is acceptable for you. I'll get the sword correct?"
"Yes and that's a big 'if' on me accepting it. I've heard them all. Prideful ones. Arrogant ones. Idealistic ones. But none of them have truly spoke to me that would be deserving of it."
I look at him somberly, "Then allow me…"
I breathe in deeply to steady myself. I'll have to take extra precautions as to not allow the high-class thaumaturgy to fully activate. Plus a change in interpretation and translation of the aria into a more poetic form should help.
"His body is made out of swords…"
I intone with my eyes closed. A massive surge of prana courses through my magical circuits. There's so much that it actually starts to permeate throughout the store, rattling all the swords on display. I can see a circuit board lighting up green with flecks of blue in it. It wasn't working, but no sense in not finishing something that I started.
"His blood is of iron… and his heart of glass..."
I could hear everyone distinctly step away from me. A draft picks up in the store and begins to surround me. I try my best to suppress as much of the latent magical energy as possible.
"He survived through countless battles…"
Now the floor boards began to shake. All the dirt and dust in the room lifted up into the air. It can feel it swirl around me.
"Not even once retreating… Not even once being victorious…"
A jolt of pure prana arcs throughout my circuits. Magical energy a ten times the capacity of the circuit breaks its foundations trying to escape. I crush it back into me.
"The bearer lies here alone… Forging steel atop a hill of swords…"
The magical energy rages around inside my soul. It was begging for release, to assert its authority upon Gaia's reality marble. This body was a circuit specialized to use this 'one magic' from the very beginning. So it would only be reasonable for it to act that way.
"Thus… This life needs no meaning…"
My whole body was trembling from the raw input of prana that was being generated. It felt warm yet cold. The magical energy in my circuits attempt to break its foundations once more to escape. And I use a hundred circuits to take in a thousand times the capacity.
I had to be careful as to not break the world and reform it. But I wasn't sure if I could, or rather should, finish the aria.
"This body is made…"
"STOP!"
I open my eyes in surprise to see who stopped me. It was the man himself.
"Stop! Please…" he begs. "No more. I have… heard more than enough."
I release a breath that I didn't realize I was holding. "Hah-…"
"You..." his voice croaks. "What… what was that?"
"An elegy."
"I know that, but… that elegy… that wasn't normal. That was something else. Somehow… I don't know how or why, but I could feel all the swords in the room just… call out to you…"
I close my eyes once more. "You wanted an elegy. So I give you one."
"I know what I said boy," he snaps. "But what I felt… no what I saw was something unnatural. Something surreal. As if there were a world filled with nothing but swords."
My eyes bore into his. "I think you're just looking into it far too deeply."
"Those eyes… you're eyes aren't human, boy."
"I am very much human old man. What am I a monster?"
"No… a machine masquerading as a human."
The room suddenly felt extremely uncomfortable. The air was stiff and the hairs on my skin were beginning to stand up.
His statement made the shop go dead silent. A sharp glance around, made me aware that this shop was totally empty besides the five of us. How fortunate that no one walked in at the time as they would've witnessed a standoff of sorts.
"So… do I pass?" I break the silence and change the subject.
He sharply inhales. "How can I deny someone such as yourself after hearing that sorrowful elegy? Tenten, get the sword for me please."
The brunette rolls over a nearby stool and grabs the sword off of the display. She quickly hands it off to her father before he presents it to me. He slightly pulls it out of its sheath before shoving it back in with a soft click.
"Henceforth, this sword shall be by your side. Its fate is now your fate."
His words startle me. Those words… those words were the exact same ones that she said to me on that fateful night!
"The pact is now sealed…"
He places the sword in my hand and turns to his daughter.
"Tenten, show the customers out please and help me close up the shop. We're done for tonight."
"A-Ah," she was sounding a little speechless. "Yes father. Please this way." Tenten guides us out the shop before bowing as we left and closes the door.
…Déjà vu much?
"So… that elegy of yours Naruto…" Sasuke speaks up.
Her voices takes my attention away from the sword. "Don't worry about it. You wouldn't understand much of it anyways."
I pull the sword out of its sheath a little bit for a look. The more I held onto it, the more I appreciated the forge master's work and effort that he placed in it. It really was a one of a kind sword.
I push it back into its sheath with a snap and sigh.
Too bad my heart belonged to another sword entirely. This sword was in its infancy compared to the one that I held.
"Here you go." I hold it out to Sasuke.
"I-… really? Are you really just giving it to me?"
My eyes roll, "No idiot, I'm joking." I conked her head lightly with the pommel of the sword. "Of course I'm giving it to you geez. You need a new sword and I certainly don't need one."
Sasuke rubs her head. "T-Thank you! Thank you so much!"
And out of nowhere she pulls me in for an embrace which shocks me.
My whole body tenses at the action. It begins to shake uncontrollably.
"Senpai?"
I blink and the image of a purpled haired girl that I tried to save looks back at me. When I blink again it's gone.
"Naruto! Are you ok?!" said a concerned voice.
I look to my left and see Sakura shaking me out of my stupor.
A hand rubs my head as I shake it off. "I-I'm fine… yeah, yeah I'm fine. I'm ok."
"You… you went catatonic on us for a moment. Are you… sure you're ok?" she asks once more.
"Yes!" I snap at her. "I said I'm fine, ok!?"
They both give me a strange expression and I look away. I take a moment to even out my breathing. I had almost lost control of myself right then and there.
"If you say so…" muttered Sakura. She gave me a concerned look telling me that she wasn't going to give up yet.
I sigh tiredly, "Sorry – just… bad memories is all." I didn't feel like further explaining it and changed the subject. "How about I give you some details about your sword Sasuke?"
"Sure," she says with a small smile.
Her hand grips the handle and pulls the blade out cleanly from its sheath. All three of us take in its beauty momentarily.
"So… I guess at first glance you can say it bears some similarities to your old sword in the style of a straight edge blade. Its official style is called a Kissaki Moroha-Zukuri developed maybe a hundred or so years ago." I start off with appearances first. "As you can already tell it's a unique design in the fact that it's a double-edged blade instead of a traditional single-edge that Nihonto blades are known for."
"What's the length of it?" Sasuke asks. "It's certainly longer than my old sword."
"From pommel to tip, it's exactly ninety centimeters long. The hilt is sixteen centimeters long while the blade is seventy-six centimeters. Along with that there's a slight curvature that's almost imperceptible to the eye." The numbers were just filling my eyes at this point as I stared at the sword. "Which would be zero point seven, two, one degrees. The weight of the sword is fairly light coming in at one point eight kilograms."
Sakura whistles off to the side. "You know… I will never not be amazed at how you're doing all of this."
"Agreed!" Sasuke says eagerly. "Tell me more! Please!"
I shrug my shoulders. "Alright… continuing on, the sword is fairly light considering it's a special steel alloy. The steel used was traditional tamahagane and a thing called a universal chakra reactive 5160-steel. The swordsmith used the special layering method as made famous by Masamune called the Soshu Kitae. Seven perfect layers all throughout the blade."
"What about the history?"
"The sword took exactly one year to make by one Higurashi Murata as his magnum opus. That sword is the culmination of his life's work of failure and success. It took him over twenty-one years of trial and error to create what he would call the perfect sword. With that he folded the alloy exactly twenty-one times, no more no less, creating exactly two million, ninety-seven thousand, one-hundred and fifty-two layers."
It was my turn to whistle.
Higurashi Murata went all out. He wanted to create a sword that rivaled, if not surpass, the legendary Kirigakure swords. He dreamt of forging something even greater than the lightning blade that the Nidaime Hokage once possessed. And he wanted it to be wielded by someone who would carry on its name into the annals of history therefore immortalizing his name.
That was ambition that I can respect.
I give the sword a once over again. A gray-white colored blade with a red handle and black sheath. There were some seal etchings made onto the blade to increase the power of the wielder. It amplified the user's chakra output exponentially to become more potent. Basic chakra or elemental, it worked with everything no matter what.
Damn… this sword must've cost that man a fortune that probably bankrupt him.
I can only hope that Sasuke actually can live up to the name of the sword. Speaking of which.
"So… what do you want to name the sword?"
"Err – name it?"
"Mhm. All famous swords have their own name to identify them by. Didn't you name yours or something?" I ask her.
"Uh… no? Never really put much thought into it." She looks sheepish at this point and looks away.
An audible sigh of disappointment escapes me.
"Anyways, it's traditional to christen a sword with a name. To reflect the notable quality and characteristics of it," I prattled on and then I held a hand out. "On second thought, you don't have to name it right now. It's better to let it come naturally."
"Yeah… you're right." She holsters it behind her back like she did with her old chokuto.
I can't help but note that it actually suits her very well.
"Looks good…" I remark.
Sasuke must've picked up on it as her face blushes.
"…for a numbskull like you."
Her face falters and shoulders slump.
I smirk in amusement. "Come on. Let's go enjoy the fireworks and end the night on a good note."
"So where's a good spot to watch?"
"Well I was thinking-"
I'm interrupted as a group of people calls for our attention. Well more like Sasuke and Sakura's but it was a generalized call out in the end. My head swivels and what greets me is a congregation of what appears to be genin walking towards us.
"Oh… it's you Ino," Sakura blandly states. "And everyone else? What are you guys doing here?"
The blonde haired girl named Ino gripped her chest in mock pain. "Sakura-chan! Why do you have to be so rude! Sheesh! This is why you're never going to get a boyfriend! And-" the girl stops talking and looks at me. "Hellooo… what have we here?"
She saunters over my way.
Oh lord…
"So you're Sakura's little secret crush huh? Hehe – not bad if I do say so myself! Eight out of ten!"
I blink before closing my eyes and opening one. "Sorry, but not interested."
"E-Eh? W-What? I wasn't… I didn't… huh?!" she flounders around for words to form a coherent sentence.
"Wow… I've never seen Ino this flustered before," whispers Sakura.
Well, first time for anything I suppose.
"Anyways," a black haired teen stepped in and spoke up. "We came over because we saw blondie and Sasuke hugging it out. Some of us," he glares at a brunette haired teen and his teammate, "got curious and wanted to say hi and be nosy."
I gave all of them a cursory glance. They all looked to be in my age group of eighteen or nineteen. All normal looking people that seem to stick close to their social circle of friends.
"I'm sorry that you have to deal with Ino on a constant basis Shikamaru," apologizes Sakura.
He shrugs, "You get used to it. I see Sasuke is here too, I guess all that crap that Ino spouted was true."
At this, Ino shoves Shikamaru out of the way.
"So is it true?! You dumped that rat faced snobby bastard Daisuke?"
Whoa, where did that come from?
I look to Sakura for information. Her faces tells me it all. Daisuke had a terrible standing with everyone here. No surprise there with how he usually acts.
"Yeah," she shrugs indifferently. "It was the other way around, but I'm over it now… have been for a while."
"Phew," Ino wipes off her brow. "I can already tell you're a lot less bitchy and haughty now that you're hanging around with decent people." Ino gives me a narrow look. "Well… I think…"
"Ha, ha," I respond with a dry laugh. "You're about as funny as a graveyard."
Ino hissed, "Wow that's harsh! Anyways, I guess now we know the reason why Sakura declined the invite," she says coyly at the end.
"Invite?" I parrot.
"Ah yeah, um I was invited to go to the festival with some of the others," Sakura starts off, "but well I decided that I wanted to go with you and Sasuke. So I sort of forgot to reply back to them."
"Sort of forgot?" I tease.
"H-Hey! I blame you and your damn training! It made me totally forget!" her finger jabs into my chest. "Besides I wanted to go with a small party with you and Sasuke."
"And I can see you three have been busy!" Ino wraps an arm around Sakura's neck. "Look at all these prizes you guys have! Hot damn, did you guys go to like every game stall and win them?"
Sakura laughs, "Well on the contrary, it was Naruto that won them all for us. He's surprisingly good at playing games. Especially the ones that deal with throwing or shooting."
They all look to me to elaborate to which I shrug. "They're pretty fun I guess."
"Geez – you're so lucky Sakura," Ino pouts. "I wish I had a guy that would win at least one prize for me." Her eyes glare to the other males in the group.
"Bah – win'em yourself Ino!" said a brunette haired teen with a white dog. "Maybe if you practiced your skills more often you could actually win something." He laughs pointing a finger at her.
The blonde haired girl growls. "Grrr, Kiba you mutt for brains."
I snort and roll my eyes. What a strange and large group of friends Sakura and Sasuke have. It felt a little bit crowded now. A bit too much for my tastes.
"Anyways, are you three going to watch the fireworks?" lazily drawls Shikamaru.
"Yeah, we were actually deciding on where to go," I answer him.
"Want to tag along with us? We were actually on our way before Ino sidetracked us."
I look to Sakura and Sasuke. "Depends on these two whether they want to or not."
The aforementioned girls both look to each other and shared a grin that I didn't like.
One moment, my arms were free. The next, Sasuke and Sakura looped their respective arms into mine and dragged me off.
"Nope! It's a Team Seven celebration tonight!" Sakura says on my left.
Sasuke follows her up on my right. "So we'll be enjoying the fireworks by ourselves tonight!"
I gave them a playful glare. "Oi, you're dragging me! I can walk perfectly fine you know damn it!" But there was a soft grin on my face.
Just one more day and I'll be on my way back. I want to tell them sooner or later, but seeing how much fun they were having so far. I couldn't bring myself to do it yet.
Tomorrow after the tournament, I'll break it to them.
I can only hope it goes down well.
As we left the area, I couldn't help but feel as if there was a set of eyes watching me from a distance for a fleeting moment. When I make a glance back I find nothing.
Strange…
"Hey come on Naruto!" Sakura and Sasuke tug on my arms some more. "Quit being so slow!"
It distracts me and the strange feeling of being watched goes away.
"I said it quit dragging me and let go of my arms damn it! You're causing a scene!"
On the other side of the village in the main communication's relay near the Hokage building. Solomon Merem was sitting inside one of the rooms in front of a monitor talking to someone over the line with an annoyed tone.
"What do you mean you'll be late Rin?!"
She responds in exasperated voice detailing the mechanical problems on the airship and the slow process for immigration and customs.
Merem's tiny paw drags across his nose. "Of course there always has to be some sort of problem on the way. Murphy's Law my ass. Where's Emiya when you need him to fix things? Oh wait, he's with me." The rat laughs at his own joke and immediately regrets it as Rin shouts at him on the other end of the line.
"So let me get this straight. You'll be arriving late in the afternoon instead of in the morning as originally planned?"
A simple 'yes' could be heard.
"And you'll be riding on the Left Leg to make up for lost time. Correct?"
Another yes.
"Oh by all that is the Root. That's going to go over so well tomorrow."
Rin begins to outline that they were going to be landing a fair ways off to avoid any suspicion and enter through the main gate of the village.
"You know on second thought I would love to see the Left Leg just-"
Merem stops talking and snaps his head to look behind him. His eyes narrows as he felt someone's presence beyond the door that quickly vanished.
"One moment Rin."
The Demon of the Left Arm expands his senses and found that whoever it was had a familiar signature. It was comparable to that of Emiya Naruto.
Rin's voice could be heard asking the rat what was going on.
"Something that can't be said over the line. Too insecure. We'll talk some more once you arrive here. I think I've ran up my time here, so I'll be taking my leave now. I'll see you soon Rin."
The Tohsaka heiress voices her concerns before hanging up.
Before the rat left the room, he tidied up the place and the two individuals that were under enthrallment.
"Now… where do you think you're running off to hmm?"
The white rat follows the feint trail in pursuit of whoever was snooping in on his activities. It was time to find out who the culprit was and get some answers.
About a month of preparation and planning have gone into Sasuke and Sakura to ready themselves as much as possible for the grand finals. Kakashi and I gave them all the necessary tools for them to be successful, it was now time for them to use it.
"Remember to choose the option with the highest chance of success, however slight they may be. In here, there is no place for honor. Even if your fellow peers decry you for dishonor, it can be washed away with success. Feed whatever pride you have to the dogs."
Kakashi follows up. "Indeed. Team Seven's object is to win. No showboating. No fancy moves. Fight like hell."
The two girls looked at the both of us resolutely. They understood what to do. What they expected to do.
"You're not here to entertain. You're here to win. Don't mind the crowd or anything else except for you and your opponent down in the arena."
"Oh," Kakashi is reminded of something. "Don't forget to stick to the plan. Especially you Sakura." He turns to me. "You help her set everything up a couple days ago right?"
"Yeah. Everything is set and ready to go."
Kakashi claps his hands together happily. "Good! Now we'll leave you two to get ready. Meanwhile Naruto and I, are going to try and find some sweet seats! Good luck you two!"
I couldn't help but smile at the two. It was a rare moment that I actually did, but this was a genuine one. "The battle is to the strong."
With that I turn around and begin to walk off with Kakashi that is until a voice shouts at us down the hall.
"HEY! NO MOTIVATIONAL SPEECH FOR LITTLE OLD ME?!"
I huff a breath in annoyance. It's been a month of not seeing his ugly hide anywhere that I almost forgot about him entirely. Fortunately, it was just him, as his entourage was nowhere near in sight.
"Sorry, but I already capped my daily amount of motivational speeches. So all that's left are sarcastic remarks and insults. Which one would you like?"
"Tch – fuckin' typical." Daisuke looks to Sasuke and her new sword. "So I see it's true that you hooked up with him huh?" Then to me. "Hey I hope you like sloppy seconds, bitch."
I clench my fist in my pocket. I want punch his face in again. And this time, I'll be sure to break his nose in.
Kakashi notices and puts a hand on my shoulder. "Whatever you're thinking Naruto. Don't do it. You're better than that."
I wasn't. I really wasn't. Especially with a person like Daisuke.
I grit my teeth in frustration before calming down and giving him a grin reminiscent of a certain fake priest. "Do you prey Tsubasa?"
"No? The fuck is that supposed to mean?"
I inhale deeply. "You will… I promise."
Tsubasa Daisuke laughs me off. "You're a fuckin' joke I swear. You think I'm gonna be scared huh? I'll fuckin' wipe the floor off of those two and win the finals. I've had six jonins train me for the last month and I've learned more than being under the tutelage of a old has-been shinobi like Kakashi."
Kakashi in his usual way, waves him off. "Mah Daisuke-kun, haven't you ever heard the saying, 'quality over quantity'? It has its merits you know." There was a condescending tone in his voice, like an adult scolding a child. "Come on Naruto, let's go find seats already. My old has-been legs need some rest you know!"
I couldn't hold back an amused snort.
As I walk passed him, I leave a parting comment.
"Lord, have mercy."
Because Sakura or Sasuke won't.
The chatter of the crowd was lively as everyone waited with anticipation for the matches to begin.
"Hey Kakashi."
"Hmm?" His nose was stuck in his book still.
"Where were you last night? Thought I'd catch you at the festival, but I didn't see you at all."
He sighs before snapping his book shut. "I was busy helping Anko with an investigation. There was a murder last night."
What? A murder? During the festival?
"Need to know basis?"
He hums, contemplating whether to share before shrugging. "Do you happen to know who Gekko Hayate is?"
"Konoha's own Kenjutsu master right?"
"Yeah. He was found dead on a roof top with his blade completely shattered. There was a bunch of superficial wounds on him that looked like they were meant to induce pain rather than to kill. Autopsy reported that the cause of death was… well… he was partially melted away." Kakashi scratches his head.
"What?"
"Yeah… there was some black mud residue on him that was extremely corrosive to flesh. It was a nightmare to clean up."
My heart skips a beat. Black mud residue?
I stop Kakashi just before we exit the tunnel leading out into the spectator stands.
"Kakashi, did the area feel off to you or anything like that?"
He thinks for a moment. "Yeah, it just felt… I guess you can say like it was cursed. Everything about the area was off putting and cold. Especially cold now that I think about it."
My eyes narrow at each description. I needed to find Merem. He needed to know about this right away.
"…Why? What's going on Naruto? Do you know who did this?"
I was conflicted inside on whether I should tell Kakashi or not. But I can only imagine that going over him so well.
'Oh yeah, I know who did it. It's the physical manifestation of All the World's Evils that killed that Jonin.'
Everything would go to hell in a hand basket after that.
"No… well maybe. Just an inkling I guess. I'd have to ask Merem to get a clearer picture."
"Well you do your research another time. We got two girls that we have to cheer on and support. Now hurry up." His hand waves for me to follow.
One thing at a time I suppose. Plus I didn't exactly know where Merem was in the first place.
After we entered the stands. Kakashi and I found the entire place filled to the brim like sardines in a can. There were probably hundreds if not thousands of people packed into the stadium to watch the fights today.
It wasn't long before we were flagged down by an overenthusiastic Anko. She had reserved two seats for us with the other jonin instructors sitting next to her. Kurenai, Asuma, and Gai were here to enjoy the fights and support the genin.
"So, did you guys hear?" asked Asuma.
"Hear what?" I reply.
"All five Kage are here today to view the match," he answers with a puff of smoke. "For the first time since the Shodaime Hokage called for a summit. All five of them are in attendance. That hasn't happened in over a hundred years!"
Anko whistles in astonishment. "I'm not surprised. All the genin that made it to the finals are all from the Big Five."
I narrow my eyes at the balcony where all the Kage should be. Straight off the bat I spot a familiar mop of bright red hair and green eyes seated next to the Hokage. "Well I'll be damned… he actually did it."
"Did what?" Kurenai asks.
"The Godaime Kazekage. I guess you can say I know him. Not sure if he'll remember me though."
"Acquaintance from when you were travelling?" comments Kakashi offhandedly.
"Yeah, you can say that."
"Hey, the first match is starting soon! Kakashi get your nose out of that damn porn novel and watch!" Anko snaps his book shut and plucks it out of his hand.
"B-But… I didn't bookmark where I left off…"
"SHHHH!" Anko shushes him.
"For the debut match to kick off the grand finals! We have Uchiha Sasuke of Konohagakure! Versus! Omoi of Kumogakure!"
The crowd becomes ecstatic at seeing the first two competitors walk out into the field. Sasuke had the home field advantage here with the support of her home village. Plus with her advertised as the last Uchiha after the massacre, there was even more hype built around her.
The third proctor that was standing in as an official was a man dressed in the normal blue outfit that Konoha jonin typically wore with his forehead protector acting as a bandana. There was a senbon between his lips that I noticed he was chewing on slightly.
"Alright! Anything you two have to say each other before the match begins?"
Sasuke shakes her head.
The dark skin teen garbed in a traditional Kumogakure uniform shrugged his shoulders and spits out the lollipop to the side.
"Man… I'm glad my sensei reminded me to spit out my lollipop earlier today. What if I tripped or something and ended up choking on the candy? And then what if I started freaking out and released a whole bunch of jutsu that pierced like a gas line or something. And then what if it ignited and destroyed like a part of Konoha!" The teen frets and exaggerates over nothing.
Sasuke gave him an incredulous look as she wondered how the thought process went that far. Hell even I'm curious as to how he led himself to that conclusion. That guy had a wild imagination for sure.
"Err… alright? Then let the first match…. BEGIN!"
Everyone in the stands goes wild as the proctor jumps away from the two in the middle.
I structurally analyze the sword that belonged to the competitor known as Omoi. It was a simple straight single-edged katana that was abnormally longer than most. It was a conductive chakra metal that reacted to the lightning element the most compared to the other elements. He had been using it since he was eight years old and was considered to be highly proficient with it in his village.
Although it would be an insult to compare his sword to Sasuke's. Omoi's katana was made of lower grade materials, meaning it was just a run of the mill, standard issue blade given to shinobi of Kumo.
After the crowd's exuberance dies down. All is quiet in the arena as the two competitors stared each other down. They were waiting for someone to make the first move.
Sasuke kept herself well-guarded in a loose but compact stance. She hadn't activated her sharingan as of yet, so Omoi had to be on the lookout for that. There was no doubt that he probably prepared a countermeasure against her mystic eyes.
The raven haired girl makes the first move and slides her right foot back.
He mimics her move, but palms the handle of his blade.
That meant he was primarily a swordsmen first with a few extra tricks up his sleeve. Sasuke had become a lot more versatile since her training with Kakashi. I can already tell what her first move was going to be. A poke and prod tactic to force him to show his hand first.
In the blink of an eye, Sasuke produces a multitude of shuriken and throws them at her opponent.
He keeps his cool and slides out his katana in one smooth stroke to cut the projectiles down. I notice his blade glowed a light blue hue when he sliced through them like butter. Sasuke must've noticed that as well and continues her tactic.
A handful.
A dozen.
A hail of shuriken is released.
Omoi continues to deflect and block them all effortlessly. But in doing so revealed his preference of combat. Instead of countering with his own set of shuriken, he opted to go straight for his sword. There was an annoyed look that flashes his face. He realizes this as well as soon as the rain of shuriken stops.
Sasuke kicks off the ground away from him to create a larger distance between them. Her hands flashes through a seat of seals and bellows out a multiple small fireballs with the speed of a bullet.
"Katon: Hosenka!"
He weaves through the fireballs like a snake in a field of grass, trying to gain ground towards Sasuke. But it was to no avail as he was overwhelmed by the sheer number of fireballs. There were times where he couldn't dodge anymore and was forced to use his sword once more to dispel a few of them.
At the end of the onslaught, he had been forced back from where he originally started. A negative net gain. So now there was even more space between the two.
Good. It was already well known that the Uchiha Clan were exceptional users of the fire element and shuriken techniques. She was playing to her known strengths and kept her aces hidden up her sleeves until the situation called for it.
Her opponent had over exerted himself. He knew she was playing keep away, but he couldn't do much about it.
I found myself nodding in approval to her strategy.
Both of her hands dig into utility pouch and produces more shuriken.
"Crap. Not again…"
And once more, Sasuke releases a storm of shuriken. This time, she added her lightning chakra to them for added potency.
"I'm guessing you're approving of what Sasuke is doing Naruto?" spoke Kakashi.
"Yes. Although her execution is sloppy and needs more work on her long-range capabilities. Shuriken and kunai are simply too inept at properly whittling down an opponent. She's keeping her cards close to her chest and forcing him to run through a gauntlet to get to her." I explain to Kakashi and whoever else was listening. "All Sasuke has shown is that she's adept at shuriken and fire techniques. Maybe a hint of proficiency with imbuing objects with elemental chakra, but that's hard to spot. Especially with how many she's thrown so far."
"Huh… I didn't catch that actually," notes Asuma.
Omoi was getting sloppy. The torrential rain of shuriken was starting to get to him as a few here and there begin to cut into him. All superficial, but it all adds up the longer the fight drags out.
As he blocks the last thrown shuriken I take note on how many have been used so far. "One-hundred and ninety-two so far in the span of fifteen seconds. Not bad, could be faster."
"Not bad? That's actually pretty good Naru-chan! Especially for a genin. That's easily Chunin level, if not nearing special jonin," defends Anko. "Plus, that's smart of her to use seals to store a ton of shuriken."
I disagree. Hassan-I-Sabbah could easily throw hundreds if not thousands of throwing knives in a heartbeat from great distances. In fact he could have qualified for the Archer class if it weren't for his noble phantasm.
But I keep my mouth shut and focus in on the fight.
The male Kumogakure shinobi was beginning to pant in exhaustion.
Sasuke kept her composure and looking as if it were all just a warmup.
There were two aspects one must consider or factor in when fighting an enemy. The heart and the mind. The first represented the physical vitality of oneself and the opponent. The second represented the psychological value and impact one has on oneself and the enemy. Confidence. Arrogance. Meekness. Shrewdness.
All of them factored them into a battle and molded how a person thinks and chooses their next best course of action.
Metaphorically. Sasuke held the high ground position while Omoi was on the lower ground. Therefore the onus was on him to make the decision to even out the field between the two. With that, he had several routes for him to choose to attempt to shift the match in his favor.
His first obvious choice was to rush towards her with his enhanced speed and close the gap. But Sasuke was smart and kept him at bay. Now he was forced to dance to her tune and play the game of long-range attacks.
But – if he were to do that, then it would expose his arsenal of techniques he knows. And even then, by the time they crossed the radius of the field, Sasuke would have ample time to dodge. Not to mention she could flash on her Sharingan at any moment and send whatever technique he throws right back with twice the power.
All in all. He was stuck between a rock and a hard place.
The dark skinned teen flashes through a set of hand seals before clapping his hands together and pushing them forward.
"Raiton: Sandaboruto!"
His hands were encased with a blue lightning chakra. It shined brightly for a moment, before a streak of lightning blasts forward to where Sasuke stood.
"Raiton: Sandaboruto!"
The same technique is returned by her at the same time and cancels Omoi's jutsu out. There was a brief display of thunder and lightning before it exploded in the middle of the field creating a sizeable crater that could the size of a house.
A veil of dirt and dust separates the two.
Omoi doesn't take the chance and is already speeding through another set of seals.
"Raiton: Gian!"
His cheeks bulge as his mouth emits a stream of focused lightning akin to that of a laser beam. It cuts through the shroud easily and blows everything away in his field of view. The technique was so powerful that it actually sliced the streets and rocks in the back cleanly in two.
"Katon: Gokakyu!"
He cranes his neck up and the beam of lightning follows in suit. It pierces the core of the grand fireball and an enormous explosion occurs in midair. The action forces him to cover his eyes and cancel out his lightning technique.
A fatal mistake to make. He took his eyes of Sasuke and now he lost track of her.
Her sandaled feet lightly touch the ground and she charges at him.
In a clean motion, he pulls the sword from the scabbard, turns, and slashes at her wildly to create spacing. She ducks low dodging it effortlessly and directs a fist that smashes into his face.
He stumbles back a step. His head rears from the punch.
Omoi recovers immediately and tries to bring the sword for a downward slash. His stance was improper. His feet were too wide. Both of his hands were needed for the swing, but he had made another mistake of bringing his free hand up to hold his nose.
Sasuke seizes the opening.
Her Sharingan rapidly spinning as she was using its battle analysis ability to its fullest potential. She unsheathes her sword with her right hand to block the sword in a reverse grip. Her sword's edge was made of tougher and durable steel compared to her opponent's. It bites into the softer steel blade, locking it into place.
The loud clang resounds throughout the arena.
Her left foot snaps out for a kick into the boy's shin. He loses his footing completely. It causes his grip on the handle of his sword to falter.
Omoi had his sword in his right hand.
A blink.
Sasuke chops his wrist releasing his grip on the sword and takes it.
With his footing gone, he was no longer standing as he was now kneeling in front of Sasuke with both swords on his neck in a scissoring fashion.
It was over.
The look on his face had defeat all over it.
"Yield," she says.
"I-…" his eyes scour for a way to escape. His hand inched its way to his pouch in the vain hope of searching for something to pull him out of the tight situation he found himself in.
Sasuke inches the swords closer to his neck. Her sword grazes the skin of his neck, leaving a small cut which makes him gulp in fear.
"I-… I yield!"
"WINNER! UCHIHA SASUKE!"
The girl down in the arena releases her hold and relinquishes the blade back to its owner. They both bow as the crowd clapped and cheered in approval. Everyone around me was ecstatic at the prospect that one of their own shinobi had given them their first victory of the day.
Sasuke scans the crowd with a smile on her face. All those times training day in and day out had finally paid off.
There was an old saying that was preached to students practicing kendo.
One thousand days of training for one moment of reckoning.
Her eyes finds me in the crowd. A hopeful look on her face was asking for approval. For recognition.
An impassive gaze meets hers.
A small grin plays at the corner of my lips. I close my head and nod approvingly. When I open them again, Sasuke's eyes widen exponentially that came with a million watt smile.
"Excuse me. Are you Emiya Naruto?" A gruff sounding voice comes from my left.
I look and it happens to be one of Konoha's ANBU agents. A captain from the looks of it with his white coat. I wonder what he wants.
"And if I am?" I reply. When I look back, Sasuke was already beginning to walk off now.
"The Five Kage request to have an audience with you," he says with no nonsense. "Immediately."
I slowly turn back to look at him with a raised eyebrow. "An audience with me? Why so?"
"I apologize, but I cannot disclose that information publically."
Kakashi leans over next to me to whisper. "Go Naruto. If they want to see you then it's better to comply. These are the people you don't want to mess with."
I had half a mind to snort.
"Fine, I'll go. Save my seat will you? I'm sure it won't be too long."
He waves me off. "Take care of him will you ANBU-san?"
He nods, "Follow me."
I get up with a tired sigh. I wonder what they could want.
And where the hell is Merem?
As I followed behind the ANBU agent a few paces behind him, I darted my eyes around to see if I could spot out a small white rat.
It was abnormal for him to be absent for long amounts of time. Merem Solomon was a habitual creature. He always checked in to keep tabs on me every eight or ten hours. I haven't seen him since the morning of yesterday.
We enter a dimly lit tunnel that deafened the roar of the crowd.
I pull my hands out of my pocket discreetly and train my eyes on the ANBU's feet. I had a deep dislike for dark enclosed places. It never hurt one to be cautious.
By the time we were somewhat in the middle of the tunnel, the man stops.
"Is something wrong?" I ask suspiciously of him.
He still had his back to me.
I was ready to trace Kanshou and Bakuya in an instant if he tried to pull a fast one on me.
The ANBU captain turns around slowly and pulls back his hood revealing a kingly white rat on top of his brown hair.
"So paranoid Emiya-kun," it chuckles, "come now. I thought you would be able to tell that it was all a ruse?"
"Merem you ass," I said an irritated tone. "What the hell are you doing? Enthralling an ANBU captain of all people! What's so important that you're keeping it so discreet and secretive?"
He wasn't usually so clandestine with his actions. What was he thinking controlling a high-level personnel? ANBU had a routine quarterly psychological evaluation performed by a Yamanaka to make sure they were sound and stable.
"Those blondies have nothing on me and my mental prowess." He brushes off my concerns. "We're being watched Emiya-kun. More specifically, I'm being watched. Can't you tell?"
"Yeah… a little bit. Last night I felt like someone was watching me, but today I haven't felt that odd sensation yet. And by who? And why?"
If Merem was going to great lengths to conceal himself to fly under the radar, then it was more than enough to put me on alert status.
"Use your nose you idiot. Haven't you noticed some peculiar things that are a bit off kilter? My magical readings have been going off the charts lately, but I can't accurately pinpoint where. And who else, but Michael and his little secret friend."
I inhale deeply through my nostrils. The first thing I smelled was the dampness followed by the familiar taste of iron. Blood. I was smelling so much of it, that I could practically taste it with my tongue in my mouth.
And the second being the acute smell of used prana in the air. As if there were a great and many people channeling their magecraft all at once. I try and pinpoint it, but it all becomes blurry the harder I try.
"What the hell is going on?"
"Now you see my cause for concern Emiya-kun? A couple months ago this place was dead to the world in terms of active prana generation. Now it's lit up like a Christmas tree."
He makes the ANBU place a hand on the wall which causes a seal to appear, at a glance it feels familiar to me. "One of the reasons why I brought you here is because I stumbled across a peculiar little magic circle. Someone's preparing something today and I bet you my all my treasures that it's the same person that I encountered last night that was snooping on me."
"Did they happen to murder someone as well?" I follow up.
"Yes. I was following the trail at the time and the poor fellow was already turned into a paste on the ground. The life force from him was completely sucked away. And I have a sneaking suspicion, you and I both share, as to who it is…"
I swallow the lump in my throat.
"Do… you think they're after control of the ley line? Or something… more sinister?"
He was silent for moment as he continued working on analyzing the seal.
"That would be my first guess. Anything else after is just pure conjecture on our parts and its up in the air. There's plenty of souls to harvest if that's what they are after. Maybe looking to topple the regime and system? Who knows Emiya-kun… who knows…?"
His tiny red eyes narrows at the seal. "This isn't looking good Emiya-kun," he murmurs. "Have a look."
I come around for a better look and thoroughly analyze the seal. It looked to be like two squares layered up on each other to form an octagram. There was a circle that encompassed the entire thing with two more in the center of the squares followed by flame markings spread out from the epicenter. As per usual there were seals inscribed everywhere on the borders and inside it.
"Look familiar to you yet?"
My eyes narrow for a moment, then exponentially expands out.
"T-This… no…" I say breathlessly. "This can't be… is it?" I look to him.
"A variation of it, from what I can tell. It doesn't seem to have the same efficacy as Rider's, but it can still do quite a lot of damage."
Blood Fort Andromeda: the Outer-Seal, Blood Temple.
"Merem… we have to warn the Hokage… we have to warn everyone!"
I turn immediately to where we came from, but Merem stops me.
"No you boneheaded idiot! Listen to me Emiya-kun. If we pull the plug now, we could potentially jumpstart whatever they are planning ahead of schedule!" The ANBU captain's hand grabs onto my wrist. "Think of how many innocent lives that can be lost!"
That stops me right in my tracks.
He was right. But I just wanted to save as many as possible and get them far away from here. Every part of my being was revolting at the idea of inaction.
"We need to be discreet. There's more eyes and ears that are looking at us than I can care to count. Luckily," he scrapes off a portion of the seal causing it to fizzle out. "There are only a few seals that I can sense, so they were sloppy. My rats can deal with them. While we try and prevent a disaster from unraveling."
"I know…" I didn't like this at all. Sitting around and twiddling my thumbs while hoping for the best?
There was a high chance that I was going to be fidgeting in my seat all throughout the matches.
What if they enact their plan in the middle of a match?
That would cause mass confusion and hysteria for the spectators at the first sign of trouble. And with so many foreign delegates and shinobi, it would be bedlam in the arena. Konoha forces would think it was a terrorist attack or invasion on their homes while the visitors would presume that it was a conniving scheme for a trap.
"So was the whole audience with the five Kage thing a lie?"
He looks back at me. "Actually no. That's a real thing, so you still have to head on up. We're finished here, so let's get the move on. And remember, keep it quiet and subtle. We don't know who is in on the plan and who isn't."
Merem controls the body and we move to a flight of stairs.
I felt like there was a countdown happening in my head…
…A countdown to zero.
Author's Notes: So once again I've delayed the release of yet another chapter. I seriously need to get my act up together, so apologies on that. To sum it up, I didn't like a huge chunk of the chapter. Some four or five thousand words and ended up deleting it and reworking the entire chapter. Then I didn't like how it left off so I extended it some more and well… yeah you get the picture.
Anyways, this chapter sheds a light on Naruto's broken and scarred mind. He's a troubled man with a deeply troubling past and it's all catching up to him very quickly. Rin's on the fast track to her debut in the story to knock some sense into her boyfriend and take him home. Sasuke's got a new sword. Team Seven looks proper with Naruto added in the mix and it's all about to go down very soon.
That's it for this chapter in the continuation of my story!
I hope everyone enjoyed this week's update! I'd like to thank those who've taken the time to review, follow, and favorite my story! I really appreciate those who leave a comment on the chapter(s)! If you're able to, please leave a review of your thoughts on the chapter and story! Feel free to message me anything as usual! Special mention to AriaYuuki for attempting to help me with the story. I appreciate it haha!
Word count before A/N: 13,716.