(And here's the next.)
After Hinata had parted from Shikamaru and Lee, the two continued on through the land of Fire reaching the final fork in the road. Shikamaru looked down the left path while Lee looked down the right path, "Well Lee looks like this is where we split up." Shikamaru said.
"Yes Shikamaru, I am off to learn the ancient art of ninjitsu from Juto-Shisho." Lee said.
"Well I'm off to learn from Kon-Shisho." Shikamaru replied.
"The best of luck to both of us." Lee smiled giving a thumbs up.
"Yeah." Shikamaru smiled as the two went their separate paths to find the remaining two dragons.
Lee traveled for two days and nights determined to find his chosen master before the others did, by running all day and walking all night taking very short breaks in between time. Soon enough he made it to a beach area where he spotted a shrine down by a cove that lucky for him was at low tide. He ran to the cove and stood before the shrine seeing it read 'In memory of Juto-Shisho', "Ok now to call forth the master." Lee said as he unraveled a scroll and read its incantation.
'I call forth the master of Weapons. Juto-Shisho, hear my cry and come forth as I call your name Juto-Shisho!'
Suddenly the shrine started glowing and a light illuminated around the boy who was captivated by the bright glow reminding him of the flames of youth. Soon he was in a void just like the others were in, "Oh incredible." Lee gasped until he heard a voice.
"Welcome young boy." A voice said as someone approached him.
Lee gasped upon seeing it was the legendary Dragon Juto-Shisho, "Juto-Shisho." Lee gasped.
"Identify yourself." Juto ordered. Lee was about ready to burst with a speech similar to his sensei until he remember something Naruto told him and the others before they left.
'The Ninja Tribunal are not the most faint of hearted and kind characters, they will not take you seriously or listen to you if you come off like total wannabe's or jokes. So when you find them do not make a spectacle of yourselves.'
Lee then decided to introduce himself like a person, "I am Rock Lee of the village of Konoha in the Land of Fire."
"A Konoha ninja are you?" Juto asked.
"Yes." Lee nodded.
"For what reason would a Konoha ninja have to call upon me?" Juto asked hoping for a good answer.
Lee knew he had to be serious, "Juto-Shisho, the ninja land is in danger. We fear the ancient evil known as the Shredder will return, which is why I sought you out hoping you will train me to defeat this enemy."
Juto crossed his arms, "Just as we predicted the Tengu may return, and since me and my brethren no longer exist on the living plane, others will have to be trained to fight."
"Yes, which is why I've come in hope you will train me to defeat the enemy." Lee said like a dedicated ninja.
Juto studied Lee's form until he reached his decision, "Very well if you are so sure you can handle the rigorous training I have planned for you, you may be an acolyte."
"Arigato Juto-Shisho." Lee bowed his head.
"However I am a master of weapons. Which means you shall also learn how to handle weaponry." Juto started.
"That is all right by me. I have teammate who is a master in weaponry and I've studied her moves and how to handle weapons so I should know what to expect." Lee said.
Juto smirked, "I'm afraid my weaponry training is unlike any regular kind of training." He said as the void shifted to a temple area.
"Incredible." Lee gasped at his ability to do so.
Juto started explaining, "The weapon is not simply a tool. It is an extension of skill of body. The great enemies you will face will not be able to be defeated by bits of tin and wood," He said as he manipulated the kunai and shuriken in Lee's brooch to come out and be tossed aside like they were play things, "You need stronger weapons, forged to strike at your enemies physically and mystically!"
Juto threw his right arm out covered by his long sleeved releasing a whip that touched the floor erupting in blue fire which faded and a dragon head rose up from the ground with an open mouth that breathed fire, "What is that?" Lee gasped.
"Behold the spirit forge, fueled by the breath of the four great dragons," Juto explained, "Those who're worthy will find what they seek within, those who're unworthy, incomprehensible pain. Now do you choose to step forward to see if you are worthy?" he turned to Lee.
Lee started sweating and not just from the fire breath coming from the dragon head, but from the anticipation as well, "Hmm, I expected no less from someone so inexperienced." Juto taunted Lee.
Lee hearing that frowned, "I am not inexperienced, and I shall show you!" Lee said going forth and reached into the flame. The flame's intensified and engulfed him while Juto watched until Lee emerged from the fire covered in blue markings.
"The flames never burn me." Lee smirked.
"Well done boy, show me what gifts the forge has granted." Juto ordered eager to see what he has.
Lee whipped out a blue Tri-Baton weapon with two dragon head in the middle facing each other. "I have been given this." He showed his weapon Juto.
"Inazuma, incredible!" Juto gasped. "Inazuma grants lightning from the heavens. It is one of the fangs of the dragon forged for champions. With the fang of the dragon at your command you will discover powers transcended of your wildest imagination."
"Amazing." Lee gasped as he looked at his new weapon.
"However to harness the strength of Inazuma requires concentration of one's chi." Juto instructed.
Lee thought, 'This could be difficult. Chi is like chakra, and I am incapable of using my chakra for ninjutsu or genjutsu, but I have to try otherwise I will never be able to defeat the true enemy.'
"Now then acolyte you will put your skills to the test against an obstacle I have designed especially for you," Juto snapped his fingers, and they suddenly appeared by a waterfall area, "You're opponents shall be these Kappa demons." Juto said as forty kappas appeared in the water.
"Kappa?" Lee gasped.
"Yes young acolyte, fight well." Juto said as he vanished, leaving Lee alone.
"Ok, time to fight." Lee said getting in a stance making a karate yell.
One of the kappas moved through the water and right for Lee, who quickly got below the demon and attempted to give it a swift upper kick but his foot passed right through the kappa being water like, "What?" Lee gasped as the kappa swatted Lee aside as he rolled across the water.
"These demons, they can travel through the water!" he gasped watching as they disappeared and reappeared through the water making it impossible for Lee to even land a hit on any of them.
Juto's words suddenly entered Lee's mind, 'To harness the strength of Inazuma requires concentration of one's chi.'
'I have to concentrate. Otherwise I'll never pass this test.' Lee thought as he concentrated harder than he ever did before and the blue markings started appearing on his body again, "Inazuma striking Lighting!" he shouted as he leaped above the ground twirling his weapon all around that revealed blasts of lightning that traveled into the water shocking the kappa along with destroying the ground under the water thus causing the water to be drained leaving them no cover.
Lee landed on a rock like pedestal, and looked down at the exposed kappa with no water to use as shields, "Feel the power of Youth!" he shouted concentrating his chi, "Mystic Leaf Whirlwind!" he shouted flying forward spinning like a tornado right for them.
"Uh-oh." The kappa said as they were all blow away by Lee's attack.
Lee powered down his chi and stood in the center of the once lake seeing all the kappa knocked unconscious, "Yes!" He cheered.
The kappa suddenly vanished and Juto reappeared, "Congratulations acolyte. You managed to concentrate your energy through Inazuma to defeat your opponents, however they were merely child's play compared to the opponents you will face in future events." Juto said.
"Then I wish to continue learning, Juto-Shisho." Lee bowed his head in respect to his master.
Juto smirked thinking their may be hope for his acolyte yet. Soon Lee started training with Inazuma against Juto in perfecting his skills with it along with his aim, and accuracy all the way up to training with the Shredder armor once worn by Juto. Within time and preparation Lee was standing by the beach controlling the winds around him, and the water in the ocean while lightning stuck the ground as he controlled it, "Wonderful acolyte." Juto smirked.
Meanwhile back in the village of Konoha, in the Foot Temple, Naruto and Ino were in their Foot robes sitting at a table having tea until a foot ninja entered, "Pardon me master and mistress." He said.
"What is it operative 285?" Naruto asked his Foot soldier using a codename for him.
"Master we've just discovered the whereabouts of an artifact." The Foot soldier explained as Naruto almost choked on his drink.
"An artifact, of the Tengu Shredder?" Naruto gasped.
"Yes master and it's the real thing." The operative assured him.
Naruto's eyes firmed, "Let's go Ino, we need to talk to the Hokage." He stood up along with Ino as they went to the Hokage's office.
Later at Tsunade's office, the two finished explaining it to the Hokage, "Are you serious?" Tsunade asked.
"Yes Tsunade-sama, an artifact belonging to the original Shredder has been discovered," Naruto started, "It could very well be the gauntlet or better yet a different artifact. Either which it has to be secured before anyone else finds it preferable the heralds." Naruto firmed his eyes.
"Please my lady, we have to recover that artifact." Ino pleaded.
Tsunade pondered on this and came to a decision, "Very well Naruto, you and Ino are given the mission to retrieve this artifact, however I should assume you will be bringing back up as well."
Naruto nodded "Already ahead of you. Hun!" He called out and Hun appeared in the room.
"You called master?" Hun bowed his head.
"Summon the four elite. We're going on a retrieval mission." Naruto said referencing to Neji, Tenten, Yoroi, and Misumi being the four elite ninja.
"As you wish master." Hun replied as he left to round up the elite for his master.
"Come Ino, we must prepare." Naruto ordered as the two left the Hokage's office.
Soon enough standing by the gates of Konoha, were Naruto and Ino in their armors, along with Hun and Zabuza at their sides, and the four elite standing before them wearing their elite uniforms and holding their weapons, "My Foot ninja elite, this mission we are about to embark on will be dangerous, not because of nukenin, but because we will be recovering an artifact belonging to the Tengu Shredder." Naruto started.
"Guarantee it will be heavily guarded, and we must all be at the peak of our strengths if we hope to recover it before it falls into the wrong hands." Ino added.
"We shall not let you down master and mistress." Yoroi spoke up.
"We'll fight until the end." Tenten added.
"You have our word." Neji put in.
"The artifact will be recovered." Misumi finished.
"Good, now let's move!" Naruto called as the eight of them moved out to find the location of the artifact before the heralds and Sasuke do.
(Chapter done.)