And just as promised, here's the next chapter of N:NG! Hope you'll like it!
Chapter #78: Quicker then the Eye
Title Page: Kai, Kusari and Takaru are sitting on a cliff: the blonde and chain master are frying some fish above the fire, while the son of Tsunade is fishing from the edge
"That Grass guy… literally vanished!" yelled Kai surprised, but Akira immediately corrected him: "No, he's not really gone. I can hear him… and he's charging right at that rain-nin" and as the blonde gazed down to the arena, he suddenly saw Ryo bending over like he was just hit in the stomach.
"What the hell?" the chakra manipulator asked himself as pain shoot from his chest. "Just now, it's almost like I've been punched in the stomach. But that Grass guy is nowhere in sight. What's going on?" and with that thought a weak sound of someone running on the ground reached his ear. His eyes widen is surprise as he realized what happened: "This… can't be!"
"Don't think you've won!" he yelled as anger taken over. In a flash he performed a quick set of hand seals and instantly tens of thin, sharp-ended, chakra whips shoot from his back, making him resemble an octopus. The whips flew in every direction, piercing air from every side.
Finally one of the tentacles hit something and Kusari's eyes widen in surprise as Tokame's body suddenly appeared out of nowhere, pierced by Ryo's whip, which lifted it high to the sky. Tobane only let out a loud 'Tokame-kun' from her mouth as she saw her teammate hanging motionless on the tip of the rain-nin's creation.
"I really hoped it wouldn't come to this" announced Ryo a bit sadly. "But it was you who didn't give up and…" but with those words his eyes widen as Tokame's body suddenly began fading away into thin air. "Bushin? But that means…" yet he didn't manage to finish that thought as something hit him hard in the back of his head.
As he collapse to the ground on the edge of consciousness, he managed to look over his shoulder, where Tokame began appearing from thin air. "Sorry, my friend" the grass-nin announced calmly. "But it seems that I'm the victor…"
In a flash Lee appeared next to them and checked the rain-nin: "Well, he's just knocked out cold, but that ability of his might have drained him from chakra, so I guess I should let the medics handle him any way" and with that he raised to his feet, lifting his hand up in the Kusa gennin's direction: "Winner: Kyohaku Tokame!"
"Well, took him long enough" complained Taka with his hands crossed, however Kai was still completely clueless: "I don't get it! What just happened? One second that Grass guy is there, the other he's gone, then he appears out of nowhere, getting pierced by that weird, tentacle thingy, just to disappear and appear behind that Rain fellow…"
"It's light" Hizoku replied simply, gaining everyone's attention. "The reason you're eyes can see things is because they deflect light rays. By using his chakra, Tokame is capable to manipulate light to an extend: he can bend it or make it go right through objects, thanks to which he can make something invisible or form a thing that isn't there. It's not genjutsu per say, however with that ability he can trick anyone's eyes…"
"What?" the blonde asked, still not really understanding. Takaru merely let out a sigh: "You might say that the time you saw that Grass guy's pierced body, all you really saw was a mirage…"
"I suppose that's one way to put it" Kokoro cut in.
"So that's why he was able to disappear" concluded Kumiko as she trailed off into her thoughts. "He made light go through him and thus made himself invisible. It does make sense, considering it's the law of Physic, but still being able to make light go through you… it just doesn't seem natural…"
"Well, natural or not" began Ibuki as she set her eyes on Tokame, who was slowly heading back towards the platform. "That guy won't be easy to deal with in the next round" and with that they all went silent. A second later, Lee spoke up again, once more gaining everyone's attention: "Let us proceed to the next, elimination fight!"
The screen began skipping through the names of people still left in the competition. Kai jumped up and down, ordering it to pick him, however the monitor didn't listen and in stead choose two, other people: DEBANO KITSUNE versus KIHAKO TASUKI.
Without even waiting for his teammates to wish him luck, Tasuki jumped down to the arena. Kitsune on the other hand received a 'do your best' pat on the back from Kogane and an approving nod from Toku. Hanamaru threw his hands to the sky, showing his support, but Rei on the other hand simply laid against the wall and got back to sleep.
The boy exchanged glances with Shikamaru and then calmly walked down the stairs, where his opponent already awaited him. Hitomi narrowed her eyes as she rested them on the moon-nin: "The flow of that guy's chakra… it's not natural… and yet familiar…"
"I'll tell you right away" announced Tasuki calmly as he gazed at Kitsune. "I'm not gonna hold back even a little bit. And I'll aim to kill, so if you do not want to die, I suggest surrendering immediately" but the leaf-nin only raised his eyebrow slightly, without answering.
"Hey, what the hell is that guy's problem?" asked Kogane annoyed. "Basically he's stating that he'll kill someone just for the heck of it!" and with that she turned towards the two, Moon kunoichi. Tenka only let out a sigh, before she replied: "There's nothing to be surprised about. That's just who Tasuki is. You shouldn't be shocked that he doesn't care about his opponent, considering he don't give a damn about any of us…" and as the blonde girl gazed at her confused, Teela narrowed her eyes, settling them on her teammate, as a certain memory flashed in her head:
---Five years ago in Hidden Moon Village---
"So you guys are the heirs of Chishio clan?" asked an twelve-year-old boy with spiky, light green hair, as he walked over to the two, other boys, who looked just like the mirror image of one another, expect that one had green hair and the other was blonde, who sat on the wall near the meeting spot. "Not exactly how I pictured you two… but at least one can tell you're related…"
"And who are you supposed to be?" asked the green-haired twin, Kumo.
"Kihako Tasuki, at your service" the boy replied, bowing teasingly with a smirk appearing on his face. "It'd appear we'll be on the same team. Actually it's regrettable that I've landed on the same cell as two members of the most useless clan, who can't even use their bloodline limit that they were so feared for…"
"What did you say?" asked the blonde, Nobu, as he instantly got to his feet and picked out his kunai, while his brother did the same. Tasuki simply smiled and reached for his sword: "I believe you heard me just fine. What good is the bloodline, when it only works for twins?" and the moment he said so, both brothers charged at him while he swung his katana at them.
However before any of the attacks reached their targets, a mysterious woman with long, light-blue hair, clipped in a ponytail, and golden eyes, appeared between them and stopping Tasuki's attack by grabbing his hand and kicking away the Chishio twins knives away, she gazed at the three boys, while two more kunoichi arrived, this time more around the boys age: one with long, light-blue hair and one redhead.
"What is the meaning of this?" the woman demanded as Kumo and Nobu lowered their heads in shame as she glanced at them. She then settled her eyes on the other boy, yet his only reaction was putting his sword back in its place. "Tasuki, that is not the way you should treat people that are your comrades…"
"Comrades?" the swordsman repeated with a sarcastic note in his voice. "Don't make me laugh! Comrades are worthless! As long as we're not blood-related, I won't acknowledge them as my comrades! They can be my companions, people I'll go on missions with, but whether they live or die is of no meaning to me!"
"I know that recent events has been hard for you" replied the woman with a calm voice. "With your father's death and all, but that shouldn't push you to push other people away. I know it must be hard…"
"You know nothing!" the boy shoot back, for the first time showing anger. "And don't act like you do! Teammates are to help one complete missions and nothing aside of that! I'll work with them, since I don't have a choice in that matter… I will even learn to tolerate them… however do not expect me to give a damn about them. If they die… well, tuff luck…" and as he said so, he began walking away, with the light-blue-haired girl following with her eyes.
---Flashback end---
"Twenty second match: Debano Kitsune from Konoha against Kihako Tasuki from Tsuki!" Lee announced loudly, lifting up his hand. "Ready and… BEGIN!" and the instant he said so, the moon-nin bite his finger. To Kitsune's great surprise, strange and yet familiar symbols appeared on his opponent's right arm.
With one, quick motion, Tasuki drew a straight line that went through the symbols with his blood. At this point his adversary nearly exploded, while from the platform above, Hanamaru choked on his chips: "This can't be! That… that's Rei-chan's…!"
"Hijutsu: Hitokage Tougou!" the moon-nin called out as green chakra began escaping his body. "Aid me Shinkou!"
---a dreadful deja-vu… what awaits Kitsune?---
And so the double update is concluded. Hope you enjoyed it and that you'll leave your opinion once you're done reading. I already described the technique Tasuki used, so I'll just say that it's the same one Rei used in her fight against Teela.
And now, before finishing, the updated list of gennin:
Konoha #7: Murasakki Kumiko, Tanken Ibuki, Gekido Takaru, Hagane Kusari, Haisha Kai
Konoha #3: Konpaku Rei, Rikoteki Kogane, Amagasa Toku, Debano Kitsune (in progress), Gusoku Hanamaru
Konoha #4: Igaku Mikka, Inuzuka Tsume, Benda Kokoro, Hatake Senkou, Kobushi Galu
Konoha: Hamano Taki, Hyuuga Hitomi, Manako Akira, Tanken Funbo, Horohoro
Suna #1: Aoru, Torune, Honemaru, Tarakudo, Takai
Suna #2: Sabaku no Sabure, Hari, Dekai, Horamaru, Karame
Kusa: Hokku Tobane, Kanraku Nezumi, Kuchibashi Taka, Kyohaku Tokame, Wanabi Hizoku
Ame: Furikuzu Tsuino, Hebereke Nazaa
Bakufu: Azarashi Kawa, Abura Tetsu, Makko Shita
Tsuki: Junsei Teela, Tenka, Kihako Tasuki (in progress)
Hane: Ono Reiji, Sentou
Kumori: Kyuu
And for the time being I'm done. Hope you enjoyed the double update and hopefully I'll manage to update next week, though I cannot promise anything.
Until next time! Peace out!