Chapter 12-Removing a Thorn
If Izumi Higa was ever truly livid, it was now. Two of his strongest Sekirei had met their end at the hands of his demon foe. Both slain by Sekirei # 4, the Black Sekirei Karasuba herself, and cut down by her damn sword like they were nothing. It shouldn't have been possible, even for the Black Sekirei, to best his two strongest fighters so easily. To make matters worse, Sekirei # 22 Kochou was no longer under his control through Kakizaki, who was also surprised to learn his Sekirei had left him. When Kakizaki tried to use his bond with Kochou, he was surprised that the bond was no longer there. Sure, it wasn't much of a bond in the first place, but the fact she had somehow gotten it removed under their very noses was troubling to say the least. How? Surely the alien woman didn't think it was wise to betray them? And for what purpose?
Regardless of the reason, Kakizaki nor Higa liked this turn of events. It filled the former with rage at the idea of one of his pawns would grow some kind of spine and defy them. No one did that to him. Not his employees. Not the scum he employed to "remove" his enemies. And certainly not the alien freaks of nature Minaka had unleashed on Shinto Teito for his stupid game!
"How do you want to handle this Higa-sama?" asked Kakizaki while Higa glared.
"This is the work of that abomination working for Minaka. The one enforcing the 'rules' in this game," remarked Higa with Kakizaki frowned slightly.
"If that is true Higa-sama, then we cannot challenge him openly. Minaka will not stand for it," said Kakizaki with Higa scowling deeper.
"I don't care what Minaka wants when it comes to this game. I will take what I want and crush my enemies like the inferior beings they are in life," said Higa while thinking about how to turn this in his favor.
"We lost quite a few of the Ashikabi on our payroll when they tried to attack the man's castle in the North when he helped that Ashikabi and his Sekirei escape from the city," remarked Kakizaki since he had Kochou monitor the house when it was attacked.
Only to be repelled by a seemingly never ending wave of a water.
"And I should care about them, why exactly?" asked Higa coldly since he had countless pawns who were Ashikabi and losing a small portion of both was of no consequence for him.
"You shouldn't care Higa-sama. But your reputation in the East, which was once being unmatched is now being questioned. Your strength has decreased significantly from all our current losses sir. It would be wise to hold off any form of retaliation," said Kakizaki with Higa glaring at him.
"And wait for that man to attack me with his Sekirei? Or convince one of the other major players in the South or the West or possibly both to attack?" questioned Higa with a hint of paranoia in his voice.
"At this point, a strong defense would be wiser," offered Kakizaki while Higa's glare in creased.
"The defensive approach is for the weak Kakizaki. I am NOT weak!" exclaimed Higa while his assistant was silent for a moment.
"What do you plan to do?" asked Kakizaki with Higa's eyes burned with vengeance in his heart.
"Simple. I plan to go for the jugular in all of this," answered Higa while looking at the picture of Naruto on his laptop and began to scheme how to take him down.
He would have his revenge! Damn the rules of Minaka's stupid game.
(With Naruto)
"Good! Your footwork is coming along nicely Musubi," said Naruto while training his fisting fighting Sekirei so she didn't act like a brawler during a battle.
"I owe it all to you Naruto-sama," said Musubi with a grin on her face while she tried to land several punching on him.
She missed of course. His speed made it impossible to land a hit, but the battle loving Sekirei kept on trying regardless. While part of her said she shouldn't punch him, Musubi knew when her Ashikabi gave an order, it was to be obeyed. As such, Musubi had been ordered to spar with him and try her very best to land a hit per his instructions. Since his skills were beyond measure, the progress made with her Ashikabi would grow leaps and bounds in the hopes of getting stronger.
And Musubi was all about getting stronger.
"If that vile concubine so much as bruises my husband I will make her rue the day!' stated Tsukiumi while watching the spar with interest and a hint of worry.
Worry that Musubi would hurt their shared Ashikabi.
Worry that Musubi will one day get stronger than Tsukiumi.
Worry that Musubi will usurp her position as the strongest after Akitsu.
Speaking of the ice woman...
"Ah...Ashikabi-sama is unbeatable," stated Akitsu while watching every duck, dodge, kick, punch, move, strike, block, and counter in the spar before her.
Her purpose? Analyzing the fist fighting Sekirei and her fighting abilities. Naruto wanted someone to study Musubi's progress in fighting outside of himself and knew Akitsu could easily do that.
She had no intention of letting him down.
"I don't think you have to worry about Musubi hurting Naruto-tan. His own speed is quite possibly beyond any of us. Not to mention he can take a hit when grabbed Musubi's fist and threw her over his arm. If anyone else had done that, their hand would have been broken, if not very sore, and bruised for the next few days," said Matsu while watching her Ashikabi run Musubi through her paces.
It was like watching the Discipline Squad train all over again on the island.
Back when Minaka's plans had yet to manifest.
Back when Miya was the most deadliest woman on the planet.
Back when Takehito was still alive.
"Speak of being sore and bruised, is anyone else feeling that way after last night?" asked Kazehana with a drink in hand and a smirk on her face.
"Silence! Thou must not speak of such things so openly!" exclaimed Tsukiumi while her face became red with embarrassment.
"I don't see why not. We are all Naruto-tan's Sekirei. Anything we say here on the house grounds stays here unless we say otherwise," said Matsu before she let out a perverted giggle.
"I have no shame regarding last night's activities," remarked Uzume with a smirk.
"Nor do I? What about you Akitsu?" asked Kazehana while Akitsu blushed a healthy red from the memory of the previous night.
Her Ashikabi had been quite...energetic to say the least.
"Ah...happy," replied Akitsu with a small smile on her face.
"Tsukiumi?" asked Uzume while Tsukiumi herself went even redder in the face and growling at the cloth using Sekirei.
"I have nothing to say to thee. It is not proper for a wife to say such things regarding her husband when around others," said Tsukiumi while trying keep some air of dignity.
Despite the fact her face was still slightly red.
"Fine, don't admit it. Not saying anything is still the same as saying something," said Matsu with a knowing look while Tsukiumi grit her teeth and glared at her.
"Thou dares to besmirch me with such a foul accusation?!" exclaimed Tsukiumi in usual tsundere fashion and pointing an accusing finger at the red head of the group.
"Maaaaybe," remarked Matsu playfully while Tsukiumi's hair goes wild and she looks ready to throw water around.
"Ah...play nice. Ashikabi-sama dislikes infighting," said Akitsu while Tsukiumi glances over at Naruto and sees him still training with Musubi, but senses he is also observing them too.
"Very well. I will 'play nice' as thou put it. But this is not the end. I will make you rue this day Matsu!" declared Tsukiumi in usual Tsukiumi fashion.
"It is a shame Karasuba had to go on patrol around the city today. She made it very clear that Musubi's progress was important to her," said Kazehana knowing their more violent Sekirei sister wanted to see Musubi reach her potential that Yume apparently saw in the fist fighter.
"We'll give her a nice progress report when she gets back. Besides, she can be a really scary person when no one strong enough can keep her in check," said Matsu before she shivered since the Black Sekirei made it a habit to scare the crap out of the red head.
"Only to you Matsu," remarked Uzume while Matsu slumped her head.
"That was good Musubi. You anticipated my movements there for a second," praised Naruto after he halted the sparring and saw Musubi was beaming with praise.
"Your training helped me a lot Naruto-sama. The more I train, the stronger, and faster I become," stated Musubi while giving him a big super strong hug that would have broken the ribs and bones of anyone else.
Before Naruto could say anything else, he suddenly stiffened, and he looked to be pain for some reason that had nothing to do with the hug. Sensing his pain and his sudden anger over something, his Sekirei were all in front of him with concern written on their faces. Before they could ask what was wrong, the cell phone next to Matsu rang, and the red hair girl answered it since it was Takami.
"Takami? What is it? Something wrong?" asked Matsu while seeing an extremely angry looking Naruto staring off into space.
"Yes. There is something wrong. I need Naruto to come to M.B.I. HQ now. Karasuba is badly injured and is in our medical facility. I take it he has some kind of pained look on his face?" said Takami while sensing Matsu nodding.
"That's putting it lightly. What happened to Karasuba?" asked Matsu while the others looked at her before looking back at Naruto.
"I'll explain everything to him in person. You can come if you want, but I think its best if Naruto comes alone," said Takami before she hung up.
"Something happened to Karasuba-sama?" asked Musubi with concern since the woman was usually so strong and the idea of someone hurting her seemed impossible.
"Takami wouldn't say. She advised Naruto come alone. I can't go and I don't know if any of you wish to go either," said Matsu while Uzume fidgeted since she didn't exactly feel like going considering her actions broke Matsu out of the labs to take something Minaka didn't want taken.
"I will go with Ashikabi-sama," stated Akitsu while holding onto his arm.
"As will I. In times of crisis, it is unbefitting to let my husband be alone and filled with such inner pain," stated Tsukiumi before clinging to his other arm.
"I'm coming too! Not only for Karasuba-sama, but to help Naruto-sama deal with his pain," said Musubi grabbing onto his waist once again.
"I'll stay here with Uzume and Matsu," said Kazehana while knowing Akitsu, Musubi, and Tsukiumi all leaving the compound left it vulnerable to possible attacks from any Ashikabi or multiple Ashikabi getting in their big fat heads to attack them.
"Thanks Kazehana. Keep an eye our for anything and anyone. Any intruders come in here to fight you...crush them!" ordered Naruto with his tone being much fiercer when compared to other times he talked.
With a nod, Kazehana, Matsu, and Uzume watched him vanish in a swirl with his other three Sekirei for M.B.I. HQ. After they left, Matsu went inside to see what happened to Karasuba via satellites over the city.
(M.B.I. HQ-Moments Later)
Karasuba was put in a medically induced coma. The most advanced machines ever made by the company were working on her to keep the Black Sekirei alive. When Naruto saw her after appearing via Kamui, his anger skyrocketed, and it was clear he was seconds away from losing his mind.
Karasuba's body looked like it had been in a warzone.
She had bandages all over her body. All four limbs were still intact, but one looked like it had been holding onto her with just a few strands of pure Sekirei muscle. Right now, the medical robot muscle synthesizer repair unit was literally making new muscle tissue and sewing the internal parts of her arm together. Her waist looked like it had been slashed at multiple times, cut deeply in different places, and...were those bullet wounds? When did that happen?!
"You want answers I take it," remarked Takami while she walked into the room after the sensors told her Naruto was here with three of Sekirei.
"I do," whispered Naruto, but his words were heard clearly for the scientist to hear.
"Karasuba was making her usual patrol route. Word came over the line of a disturbance in the East and requesting backup. She went in the hopes of testing out her strength on anyone daring to cause a ruckus. As it turns out, the whole thing was trap laid out by one Izumi Higa. He had someone here on his secret payroll to setup Karasuba from the start and had all the Ashikabi in the East under his control attacker. He also hired a mercenary assault team to take her out should they fail. Hence why she has several bullet wounds from them after she defeated every single Sekirei in her path. Normally, someone like Karasuba would be able to dodge or cut through the bullets with ease, but being in such a weakened condition after fighting so many Sekirei...," said Takami while she saw Naruto was getting increasingly angry at this development.
"Higa's pawn. Is he still alive?" asked Naruto before turning to stare at Takami.
"For the moment. Under normal circumstances, we would simply make someone like that disappear without hesitation. But considering this is Karasuba and you caring deeply for her...I think it is only fair this piece of filth met his end by your hand," said Takami while Naruto agreed.
"Agreed. You three stay here. What I have to do...is not meant for you to see nor hear," said Naruto while Musubi sat in the chair by Karasuba's medical bed with both Tsukiumi and Akitsu reluctantly nodding.
"I'll take you to his cell," said Takami while walking out with Naruto right behind her.
It didn't take long to get there destination. About three floors down an elevator and about 200 yards down a corridor before making a turn to the right, followed by an immediate left once they reached at a 4-way junction. After that, they had to go down another two stories down an elevator before they entered what was considered the prison area. It was a very scare place with few prisoners to hold since most of the people who did things that went against M.B.I. usually got killed shortly after capture.
"What's his name?" asked Naruto.
"Tanaka Takeshi. Age 28. He joined M.B.I. after applying for the job and passed all of our screening processes. He was probably converted to Higa's cause after the screening process. The problem is, we can't find a financial paper trail, or reason behind him being Higa's pawn," said Takami while Naruto frowned.
"I know of one. It is the oldest reason in the book," said Naruto before he headed for the door.
"What reason is that?" asked Takami with concern.
"Simple. He has Higa's mindset. This man hates Sekirei. Takeshi doesn't do it for money or because he was blackmailed. He does it because of the hate in his heart for Sekirei," said Naruto before entering the room and shutting it loudly with enough force to shake the room he was in.
And to wake up the sleeping moron handcuffed with the restraints hooked to the table currently bolted to the ground.
"Huh? W-What?!" asked Takeshi while looking around for the noise.
"Hello Takeshi. Do you know who I am?" asked Naruto with a cold tone saturated in a silent rage waiting to come out.
"Yeah. I heard of you. Everyone has heard of you. Some guy Minaka roped into being head of a Discipline Squad and has seven Sekirei under his command. Well...six now," said Takeshi with a hint of pride in his voice at the end.
"Don't be too sure. Karasuba is a survivor. Always has been. Always will be one. She is not dead nor deactivated," said Naruto with Takeshi's face going from smug to a scowl.
"Damn it. And here I thought I could have the rep of being the one who helped kill the Black Sekirei," said Takeshi while Naruto's eyes narrowed.
"So I was right. You didn't help Higa for money. Nor were you blackmailed. You did it simply because you hate Sekirei," remarked Naruto with Takeshi snarling at him.
"Of course I hate them. They are a bunch of super powered alien freaks! When I was first signed on to become part of M.B.I. and work for them, I had no idea it would involve such...creatures. When Higa's assistant approached me with the offer of sabotaging the game on a certain level when asked, I jumped at the chance. Hell, I turned down the offer of money to do it. I gladly would do it again just to see another Sekirei or a whole group of them die because of my actions!" confessed Takeshi with hate practically flooding out of his eyeballs.
"I see. Thank you for explaining that to me Takeshi-san. Now I won't feel any guilt about this," said Naruto while slowly approaching the man.
"Guilt about what? What are you going to do?" asked Takeshi suddenly fearful of this man producing a heavy amount of killing intent.
"I'm going to hurt you. I'm going to hurt you, Higa, his assistant, and everyone like them under their employ. The time has come for a purge in the East of Shinto Teito. In a way, I must thank you for your actions. You see because of you...I now have the excuse I need to kill every single hate filled fucker in this city. Regardless of whether they are under Higa's employment or not," said Naruto with his eyes glowing with power and malice.
"Wait! Stop! You can't do this! I am a human being. I have rights!" protested Takeshi with Naruto giving him a very evil grin.
"Your rights? As of this very moment, your so called rights...have just been revoked," said Naruto before he unleashed his anger and fury on the fool in front of him.
Despite the room he was in supposedly being soundproof, Takeshi's screams of pain, and suffering could be heard echoing throughout the company.
When it was over, Naruto came out of the room covered in blood, and staring at a green in the face Takami before he walked right past the woman. He just gave her a "clean that shit up" look and walked away to be with his Sekirei and make plans for the war he that was to come to Izumi Higa's doorstep.
By the time he got back to his Sekirei, Naruto had removed the blood from his clothing using his various Jutsus in his arsenal to do a "wash clean while walking" process that got the blood off. No sense in Musubi knowing what he had done and while he was sure the other two knew, they were smart enough not to say anything around the airheaded fist fighter about it.
"Ashikabi-sama," said Akitsu while walking up to him and held onto his arm.
"Husband," said Tsukiumi while she approached and gently held onto his arm.
"Naruto-sama, is everything going to be okay?" asked Musubi while seeing her Ashikabi looking at them all before he focused on the recovering Karasuba.
"Yes. Everything will be okay Musubi. Don't worry," said Naruto calmly, but his tone was still quite serious.
"What is thy plan husband?" asked Tsukiumi while hoping her question didn't offend him.
"This attack was orchestrated by Izumi Higa of the East. He called on every available Ashikabi under his command to attack Karasuba. In the event they failed, a mercenary team was on standby during the ambush. She came out victorious against all of them, but the damage was severe with M.B.I. finding out what Higa's mole had done, and was able to get her here in time for treatment," explained Naruto while staring at Karasuba's form and walked over to it before grasping the wounded Sekirei's hand tightly.
And found Karasuba returning it. Meaning she was still there. She knew he was here. And just like Karasuba...he was fucking pissed off!
"Husband?" asked Tsukiumi curiously while noticing he was ignoring the question.
"I have been too kind to my enemies. Too...nice! Higa has been humbled multiple times and given multiple chances to back off. The time for mercy is over! The time for being polite to my enemies is over. The time for war is now!" exclaimed Naruto furiously with his power radiating from his body.
"You can count on me husband!" declared Tsukiumi while she stood ready to fight beside him.
"Me too! I'll show all of these mean bullies what it means to fight us Naruto-sama," said Musubi passionately.
"Ah...I will fight beside Ashikabi-sama to the end," said Akitsu calmly, yet there was a desire in her eyes to stand by his side.
"No," said Naruto firmly to their shock and surprise.
"What? Why?!" demanded Tsukiumi at being denied this chance to fight beside him.
"Because this war doesn't involve honorable combat. Or being fair. Or being nice. This is going to be a bloodbath. I will not subject the three of you to the violence I am going to bring down on Izumi Higa. You are too innocent, too honorable, and too loving to be tainted by this darkness I am going to unleash. I will not have you lose a piece of your very souls by witnessing what is about to happen to my enemies," said Naruto knowing this wasn't some Sekirei battle or some form of "honorable combat" like two of his three Sekirei loved.
This was going to be a massacre. An all out slaughter of enemies. No survivors. No pleas for mercy. Nothing!
"Bu I should be by your side. It is the duty of the wife to stand by her husband. No matter the reason," protested Tsukiumi with Naruto giving her a gentle smile now.
"I know you feel that way Tsukiumi. But, this is not something I can afford you to see in terms of violence. This isn't a Sekirei battle or a minor fight between two different parties having an argument. This is going to be a war. Plain and simple. Its going to be violent. Cruel. Harsh in every sense of the word. I will not have my Sekirei have nightmares or have their soul's scarred or tainted by this. Do you understand?" whispered Naruto to the busty blonde, who reluctantly nodded before she looked away.
"I do. But I do not like it. How can I prove myself worthy of being your wife if you deny me the means to do it?" asked Tsukiumi with Naruto kissed her forehead and made his water using Sekirei blush a very deep red.
"You will always be my wife. Same with Akitsu, Musubi, Karasuba, Matsu, Kazehana, and Uzume. Each of you are special to me. Precious to me. For that reason, what I must do now, you cannot witness," replied Naruto with Tsukiumi holding him tightly.
"Promise me something husband. Promise me you will come back to us. To me. That this will not change you. That you will always be the husband I married. That...That WE all married," said Tsukiumi while Naruto smiled more while petting her long blonde hair.
"I promise Tsukiumi-chan. When I get back and we put this ugliness behind us, I will be every bit the loving husband I was before today," said Naruto with a smile on his face.
"Very well. But know this! After this issue is resolved, I demand you spend time with me doing husband and wife...things!" replied Tsukiumi, who was going tsundere on him with her fierce demeanor shifting to a gentle one while blushing red in the face that would make any cherry or tomato jealous.
"Of course. I would do nothing less for my lovely Tsukiumi," said Naruto gently smiling before he stared at his other two Sekirei and gave them a gentle smile too.
Before he walked out of the room.
(Minaka's Office)
For once, Minaka was not acting like a smiling idiot. He was deadly serious. A rarity unto itself. Why was he serious? Because his Black Sekirei had been taken out in an unbefitting, yet temporary manner, and was recovering here at M.B.I. HQ.
And all because one Izumi Higa couldn't stand the idea of playing the game correctly.
"You know what I want," said Naruto while Minaka nodding.
"You want Higa's head on a platter. I understand. He violated the rules to the point where even I can't ignore him. His actions have cost me quite a few Sekirei and their Ashikabi. He took some of the fun out of my game and I find that to be unacceptable. You want him? He is all yours," said Minaka since he had tolerated Higa's actions in the past since they were amusing to him.
But now? The man had crossed the line and something had to be done about it.
"No restrictions?" asked Naruto with Minaka nodding.
"No restrictions," answered Minaka while Naruto smirked.
"What about his other Sekirei? While Karasuba took out his strongest, he has plenty of others within his ranks both officially and through the Ashikabi he...employs," questioned Naruto with Minaka nodding.
"As you already know, we have ways of...overriding the winging process performed by an Ashikabi and a Sekirei. This failsafe was done should there ever come a time when an Ashikabi becomes too abusive to the Sekirei for our tastes. When you strike, all of Higa's Sekirei he winged will collapse with their connection to him cut off," said Minaka with Naruto nodding since he knew the madman had such means at his disposal.
Which was why Naruto made sure his own Sekirei had that particular failsafe disabled to ensure Minaka couldn't hold anything over him. Though whether the psycho in front of him knew it or not was anyone's guess.
"And the Ashikabi he employs?" asked Naruto with Minaka smirking.
"A text went out to all Ashikabi in the East less than a minute ago. Contrary to what Higa thinks, I know just how many Ashikabi the man 'employs' to do his dirty work when he wants to further his ambitions. The message sent was straight to the point. 'Abandon the Ashikabi of the East and all debts are forgiven. Refusal will be met with...force,'" said Minaka with Naruto smirking now knowing the crazy son of a bitch had just done what Higa never could or would do in order to win.
Give others a clean slate with no strings attached. It was ballsy and daring, but the overall reward through Minaka resulted in such a move basically buying Higa's "hired help" right out from under him. Not only that, but the threat of total annihilation to those who would side with the Ashikabi of the East regardless of the generous offer think twice. Naruto knew that some Ashikabi joined Higa not for money or due to blackmail, but because they saw Sekirei as tools. A means to an end. To win the ultimate prize before throwing their Sekirei away like yesterdays' trash. Those were the type of people Naruto could not stand and would not allow to live past this campaign to destroy Higa's powerbase in the East.
"Good. I suggest you have all the teams to transport Sekirei back to M.B.I. get ready for their deployment. You will need them soon," said Naruto before he was gone in a flash.
It was time to reach out and hurt someone.
(Izumi Pharmaceuticals HQ)
Higa scowled from his seat in his office. His loyal assistant Kakizaki was there too. They had learned of Higa's plan to take them down by one of the more loyal Ashikabi he had in his employ. Apparently, M.B.I. didn't take his actions against the Black Sekirei Karasuba lying down, or with amusement for that matter. No. Higa had crossed a line. A serious one. Not only with Naruto in general, but with Minaka as well. Higa had unknowingly made these two possible enemies into temporary allies with the purpose of their alliance to crush Higa to the point where all of his descendents (if he lived long enough to have any) would be unable to recover.
"Most of the Sekirei we have bought or blackmailed have abandoned the East of Shinto Teito. They have either move to the West or the South. Some of the more loyal Ashikabi who are of the same belief as you regarding Sekirei are here to defend the building," said Kakizaki with Higa scowling further since he felt they were all worthless despite those staying to support him.
'Let's see how this plays out,' thought Higa before an explosion was felt at the base of his building.
(With Naruto)
Naruto easily disabled the Sekirei with the twin swords with ease without killing her and threw the woman aside before focusing on the Ashikabi. The man was in his mid 30s, had the showings of growing a beard, and was clearly angry that his Sekirei lost. Naruto used his negative emotion ability to sense the man didn't really care about his poor Sekirei in the slightest. Either the jerk winged the weapon wielder by force or the man had winged her naturally, but did not care about his Sekirei like he should.
Not that it matter. His life was forfeit.
By the time any medical personnel were available to treat the man's internal bleeding and ruptured organs, it would be too late.
Walking into the building, Naruto saw the security guards rushing him with the purpose either beating their foe into submission, or using lethal force with their guns. Not that it mattered to Naruto since he could take an explosive shell from a tank and keep walking like it was nothing.
When they were close enough, Naruto used his chakra chains like tentacles, and whips that struck like angry snakes. The chains pierced through flesh, left quite a few marks on the bodies they hit, or wrapped around the guards before throwing the idiots into nearby walls to go "splat!" upon impact. The many employees around him had already begun to flee upon seeing him do this, which he naturally ignored since none of the employees in this place were his target.
At least not the official ones on the books.
As he entered the elevator, Naruto noticed the security camera in the corner. Turning his head toward it, the Godly individual stared into the lens of the camera for 10 seconds straight...before punching it. He knew Higa was patching into the security feed and was watching him from that office where the piece of shit did business.
What better way to intimidate the man then smash the camera?
The elevator suddenly stopped, emergency lighting came on, and the most irritating elevator music started to play. Seriously? This guy is stupidly wealthy and he has the nerve to have his elevators play cheesy, annoying, blowing your brains out elevator music?
What an asshole!
To make things even more annoying, the elevator jerked before the sound of the clamps that held the container detaching. As a result, the elevator began to plummet at high level velocity to the bottom floor. No doubt in an attempt to kill him before he could reach the top.
Too bad it didn't work on someone with godly powers like Naruto. When the elevator his basement, it crumpled like a beer can would under the boot of a full grown man. It caught fire and it exploded from within for good measure. Walking out of the fire and rubble in his out of phase like state, Naruto wiped off some invisible dirt, dust, and other things before he looked at another camera aimed in his direction. No doubt Higa was hoping for a quick end in his favor and thought for a brief moment victory was his to claim.
Such arrogance.
Smirking all the same, Naruto decided to take the stairs to slowly, methodically, and psychologically make Higa sweat in his comfy office. No doubt the fool was calling every security guard and hired muscle in the building to swarm his location with purpose of stopping Naruto via killing the Ashikabi of the Black Sekirei.
(With Higa)
Higa grit his teeth as he watched from the security cameras how his so called "security" was being reduced to nothing. Men he hired from all over the world, all of whom had military training, and knew how to use lethal force when commanded. All of them under his employ and ordered under no uncertain terms that they were to eliminate this monster with extreme prejudice. Higa wanted Naruto dead. Butchered! Torn to pieces! Blown up! Anything that would result in this freak of nature dying a painful death. And what did he get for money being spent on these people? Failure! One failure after another could be seen on the security footage being broadcasted into his office of this abomination beating his security left and right like they were nothing!
Armed security with state of the art weapons, knocked around by some invisible wind, or were hit with giant balls of fire. Some of the Ashikabi had sent their Sekirei to deal with him, but each one was defeated, and deactivated by Naruto with M.B.I. now having a reason to come to his company's HQ to collect them.
Another irritating development.
Sounds of explosions echoed throughout the building. Gunfire could be heard. A few more explosions later and the door to Higa's office was knocked off its hinges. Naruto had walked into the room with slow methodical steps, his presence oozed rage, hate, and a darkness that seemed to make everything around him die. Once he was in the room, he stared at Kakizaki, who looked extremely nervous, and ready to piss himself. Higa was sitting in his desk, sweating up a storm, willing himself not to be terrified, and slowly losing in the process.
"How many times did I spare your life up until this point? How many times did I ignore you in the hopes my actions would leave you humbled? Make you rethink yourself in the hopes you wouldn't stay a bitter, spoiled, power hungry bigot? How many times did I ignore your poking and prodding of my defenses with your attempts to control or defeat me?" questioned Naruto before glancing from Higa to Kakizaki and back to Higa again.
"You are an abomination. So are the Sekirei. You are all a disease on this planet," replied Higa while Naruto remained silent for a moment.
"And what about you Mr. Pawn?" asked Naruto to Kakizaki, who now looked irritated at being called such a name.
"I agree with Higa-sama. Sekirei are a blight on our world. Humans are part of this planet and has no need for uninvited guests like the Sekirei," said Kakizaki while Naruto made "that's quite interesting response" type noise.
Before Naruto was in front of Kakizaki, grabbed the fool by the throat, and stabbed him multiple times in the guts with his concealed sword before throwing the man out of the nearest window. The man didn't even have a chance to scream out in pain, much less in fear of falling to his death when this happened, as Naruto didn't want to hear his pitiful screams.
"I can arrest you for murder," said Higa while not really caring if Kakizaki died since the man was a pawn and pawns could be expendable.
Kakizaki knew it too and accepted his position in Higa's organization long ago. He was a loyal yes man, but also gave out the occasional warnings to ensure that Higa never did anything without considering his options. Still, Higa would not miss Kakizaki since the man was a servant, and died a servant's death.
"Go ahead Higa. Call the police. Tell them someone killed your personal cock sucking assistant. Have them come here. Have them come here and see the damage I have done to your company, security personnel, and explain to them why M.B.I. has quarantined the entire area around your building. Oh wait! They can't! M.B.I. already owns the police, the military, and the very city itself with its infinite wealth. The only reason Minaka didn't have you 'disappear' earlier in this game because he found your actions amusing," said Naruto while Higa scowled.
"Until now," commented Higa with Naruto nodding.
"Your latest action filled with arrogance and hate were enough to upset him. You did a bad thing when you sent all of those Ashikabi and their Sekirei after Karasuba. To make it even worse, you hired a mercenary strike team to finish her off in the event she actually won against them. You broke the rules of the game. Many rules to be more precise," said Naruto while Higa scoffed angrily despite everything.
"Rules? As if Minaka gives a damn! As if anyone in this 'game' gives a damn about the rules. Rules exist to keep the superior beings down. Rules are meant to keep people like me from rising to the top where I belong! Before M.B.I. came along, my company was the most advanced medical company in Shinto Teito, if not all of Japan! My family's company was so strong, government official and so called 'rivals' paid monthly tributes to my family just so they could get in the front door of my hospitals. We got 'gifts' from just about everyone in order for the latest treatments, and drugs be used to treat illnesses they suffered from. My family even got tributes from them just so we would ensure that they would be invited to one of my company's holiday parties. Izumi Pharmaceuticals ruled with an iron fist for years! I was practically a Shogun or Emperor, who would have ruled over all of this city with everyone bowing to the greatness of my company. And we didn't get where we are now by the following the rules of the world or some madman preaching about 'Gods' from his clock tower perch," said Higa angrily with sweat coming off him in waves now while Naruto took a few steps closer.
"It didn't mean you had to punish the Sekirei for your bitter hatred. They were and still are the victims of Minaka's machinations. Or do you think they like fighting one another and dwindling their race to the point of inevitable extinction?" challenged Naruto with Higa snarling at him.
"You think I don't know that? You think such a 'sudden revelation' will make me rethink my opinion of the alien freaks Minaka let loose on the city? If I had my way, every single Sekirei would be dissected, ripped open, and their genetic material along with any other secrets they might possess would be used to enhance the human race to make our species even more superior. The goal of the human race is to advance ourselves beyond our own limitations and to destroy anything or anyone that stands in our way," said Higa, who had believed long ago that humans were superior to all other life.
If there was any species out there in the world or the Universe for that matter who could challenge the claim of human supremacy, they were to be destroyed or enslaved. It was what Higa believed growing up and it was what Higa believed now.
"You are so full of shit. I can sense your emotions and see through your very soul. You don't do what you have done for the greatness of humanity or making the human race the 'superior species' of the Universe. You do it for yourself. You do it because you hate just about everything and everyone who is better then you. You hate Minaka because for all his psychotic madness is a hundred times smarter. The Sekirei are all physically superior in one way or another to humans. You look down at everyone who is beneath you and hate everyone above you. You are a disgusting piece of filth. Nothing more," replied Naruto while Higa was gritting his teeth in anger.
Mostly because of what Naruto said to him was true.
"So what? Do you expect me to get on me knees? Beg for mercy? Make me swear to change my ways? Bah! I would rather die," said Higa with his bitterness of life denying him being the superior human of his time.
His intelligence had no equal. His cunning was unmatched. His ruthlessness would make the Yakuza envious. He was the very definition of ambition.
Only for those like Minaka, the Sekirei, and this walking freak of nature to stand in his way of his ambitions and plans. He hated those who stood in his way, whether they did it purposely, or by accident.
"That's fine by me. I intend for you to die slowly anyway. Besides, I don't believe you would get on your knees and beg. You're too damn arrogant and spiteful to beg for mercy you never did deserve in the first place," remarked Naruto while Higa grabbed the gun he had hidden under the table, stood up from his cushy office chair, pointed the gun at his adversary, and emptied the entire clip.
Only for Naruto to simply phase out of existence and the bullets went harmlessly right through him.
"I should have known you would do that considering it was how you used it to escape the last time you were here," remarked Higa while throwing the now empty gun at Naruto's head, only to be easily caught by the man, and crushed it like it was tinfoil.
"You never were as smart as you believed Higa," said Naruto before he used Amaterasu on the man, who screamed in pain at suddenly being set on fire.
Naruto watched with some measure of amusement as the man managed to run out of the open window used to throw Kakizaki into the outside world. The arrogant fool had no doubt been turned into ashes long before his body ever reached the ground and a quick Kamui to the remaining black fire would have to be done to ensure no one else was hurt by it.
All in good time though. Why rush?
Taking out a USB flash drive given to him by Matsu for when he finally toppled Higa on his own term before this recent incident, Naruto inserted it into the built-in computer on the desk. Instantly the USB flash drive went to work, accessing the computer, obliterating firewalls, security codes, defense systems of every kind, and began taking every file in the system. Everything from daily financial reports to some of the more...classified files that Higa didn't want anyone to know about.
The kind of things that could damage his company or him beyond measure. The kind of illegal things that gets you thrown in prison where a big bald fat guy from the Yakuza, who hasn't had sexual relations with a woman was waiting for you to "assist him" in that problem.
Not that it mattered with the man dead. It almost made Naruto regret burning the son of the bitch alive. Oh well. What was done was done. No intention of crying over something or someone not worth crying about.
RIIIING!
"Yeah," said Naruto after answering his phone.
"It's me. We are here and recovering all of the Sekirei. Our systems told us that Higa and Kakizaki are dead," said Takami while she was clearly in the main chopper.
"Naturally they are dead Takami. You didn't think I would let them leave here alive after what was done to Karasuba, did you?" replied Naruto with Takami sighing on the other end.
"No. But did you have to kill the Ashikabi of the Sekirei who stayed loyal to him?" asked Takami with Naruto scoffing.
"They chose to serve a hate filled bigot Takami. They were given a chance to walk away and they chose to stay. Their lives were forfeit. Besides, do you really think half of those so called Ashikabi naturally winged those Sekirei? I think not," said Naruto while he was staring at the computer screen now sixty percent done.
"Minaka was happy you took out Higa, but not the others," commented Takami since she knew Minaka well enough to know the man wanted more Ashikabi and their Sekirei to still be alive.
"Yeah well, tough shit. Minaka said no restrictions and he knew what I was going to do when I came here. He gave those warnings to every Ashikabi in the East. Those morons who didn't listen signed their death warrants. Besides, the Sekirei they had are still alive, just in 'shut down' mode until they can be given a jumpstart to live again," said Naruto while the USB drive had taken about eighty percent of Higa's files at this point.
"What are you going to do now?" asked Takami with Naruto watching the computer screen until it reached one hundred percent in the downloading process.
"Sky is the limit Takami. Sky is the limit," said Naruto before taking the USB drive out of the computer and pocketed it for Matsu to examine later.
But for right now, he intended to see Karasuba with the intent of getting an update on her recovery before focusing on other threats.
(A/N: YAY! After two years, I have updated. I know, it has been a long time. I have been busy. I have been writing new fics, dealing with some personal stuff, getting a job, more personal stuff, and getting over some bad personal stuff that happened recently. I intend to finish this up before moving to another older fic and clear that one out of the way. So I ask for patience. Until next time...PEACE!)
