Sequence 04 – Awakening of the lost sun

Previously: Kese had been spending his peaceful days in the Magor's village. One morning his sister, Jolánta asked him and his father to go with her and see a big sailing ship getting near their island. The blacksmiths of course followed her, and seeing the ship, the two of them started to feel a bad boding in their guts.

English isn't my native language, so if you find any mistake, please send me a message about it. My betas got busy and haven't read this yet. If you would like to help me, let me know it. ;) And if you have a question or an opinion, feel free to leave a comment. Every little feedback is appreciated^^.

The chapters contain coarse language, violence and adult themes. I've changed the rating because of these.

Assassin's Creed and Naruto belong to their respectful owners. I'm also not taking other authors' work. I'm writing this fanfiction because I have finally bought some good chocolate and got overdosed. OvO Thank you for reading^^

Don't forget:

- Text after a dash or between two dashes means somebody's talking. - text written in italic has emphasis. 'Text written like this' means the character is thinking. But when he/she quotes someone else is like the next line.

- "I don't use bold font; don't look for it, please."

A small boat was floating on a very quiet day in the middle of April. The few men on it were rowing from their ship towards a small, silent island, where life had been going on its usual course like always. They were sent to take a look around, to see if there were any rampaging ghosts there. Those who had returned from there the year before had refused the captain's order to go, and were locked under deck. The men in the boat had heard a few things from them, that the ghost was only half human, was frightening, had a very ugly head, and it had mercilessly slaughtered third of their crew. They were also told to watch out because that thing could appear from anywhere.

But they were surprised when they stepped onto the docks. They saw two dozen ordinary men, woman and children on the top of a tall cliff; some of them stood on the stairs leading up there, and a few on the port's planks; all of them staring at the pirates with curiosity. Two men were closest to them, occupying the visitors' way to the village. One of them was a huge and wide, middle-aged, grizzled dark haired man with a quite unfriendly expression. The other was smaller and younger than him, he was blonde, and he had a cautious, bleak and fake smile on his lips. The two had already figured out who the visitors were; the younger one had recognized the ship when it had got closer to the island. It was him who 'greeted' them.

- Good morning, travellers. To what do we have the honour to welcome you on our island? – the irony was strong in this sentence.

The pirates were surprised by this "kind" behaviour. One of them cleared his throat, attracting attention to him. When the younger villager took a closer look at him, his friendly expressions immediately vanished and he crossed his arms on his chest. This pirate was in his thirties; his front teeth were huge, his cold light blue eyes were moving rapidly, and he spoke in an extremely toady way, which made the blonde shudder. When the pirate raised his head a scar under his shaved chin became visible. – Good morning. We were sent to take a look if we can find... some place to rest.

- We're sorry; we don't have any free rooms. – the older man spoke.

- Oh, that's a shame. – his voice was rusty, and snaky, along with his gestures. – But we need some supplies, I'm sure we could do a deal with-

- We're sorry; we aren't able to give you anything. Now, please return to your ship and leave the area. – the younger one's stern order confused the pirates. They began to suspect they had been exposed.

- Please, understand us, young man; we only need some clear water...

- I won't repeat myself. – it was now visible he was holding himself back, and even the stiffening wind emphasized his will behind his words.

- Kese. – the older man hissed to him. Fortunately, the pirates thought it was some random word on their language. The blonde sighed, turned back and slowly walked back to the village.

The rat-like snaky pirate put on a buttery smile. – Please, dear Mister. – he turned towards Tas. – We'd only like to-

- What have I just said?!

An unusually strong gust of wind crashed into the pirates when the blonde's thunder-like call was heard; and it sent them to the ground. After the wind ceased, they looked at the young villager. He glanced back at them, his dark gaze made the blood flowing in the pirate's veins freeze. – Leave.

The visitors – except the snaky one – gulped, stood up and went back to their boat. The rat-like pirate got on it at last, but before that he slowly bowed. He still had that creepy smile on his face, and his voice was still too weird. – Sorry for disturbing you. Goodbye.

After the pirates rowed away and were finally out of hearing, Tas turned to his son. – What the hell was that?

- I'm sorry, I got a little pissed off when I realized one of them was... – he suddenly stopped his explanation and looked at his father's shoulder. – You're bleeding.

The blacksmith was cut on his left shoulder and upper arm.

- Me too?

Kese looked at himself, searching for injuries. – What?

- Not you! They were all covered by cuts like these after they fell. But their cuts seemed larger...

- What did this?

- I don't know for sure, but I think it was the wind.

- Father, wind doesn't cut people.

- Yes... – the blacksmith frowned suspiciously. - It does not.

- I saw everything from up here. - Karcsa told Kese after he got back to the village. The Magor boy led him away from the others when the few excited villagers returned to their doings. They had gathered to the docks, wanting to see the pirates when their children had told them about the ship. Strangely, their nervousness had dropped significantly hen the blonde had appeared there...

- Those cuts were made in that instant that unnatural wind hit them; and it appeared from seemingly nowhere, right after you spoke. – he turned to Kese. – You should talk to Emiko. I start to think she was right about you being a shinobi.

- What?! Why?

- Because I think that cutting wind was created by you.

The blonde looked at him with narrowed eyes, then he put on a doubting smile.

- That's ridiculous.

- Kese, I'm not joking. Just... Talk to her, please.

- Alright. – he sighed, but what he truly meant was "hell no". 'Why is it so important anyway?'

Later the blonde returned to work alone, because his father was sent to the doctor by Rozi. But Kese wasn't as calm as in the morning; his mind was around the ship and the pirates. 'What brought them back right now? What do they want again? Do they want The Apple or they came back to get revenge? They don't want to do charity work here, that's sure.' questions like these were roaming inside his head while working. His worry didn't ceased when he finished for the day and he still saw the ship nearby. So after everybody went to sleep he got up, took his spyglass and headed towards the cliffs where the Magor children had spotted the sail.

The blonde blessed the calm, cloudless night and the almost full moon greatly for they provided him a clear sight. He examined the ship through the spyglass, and found the crew a little too still. He saw only a few of them in the light of their lamps. 'Maybe I'm just paranoid', he sighed and took another look at them. 'I'll come back later to see if they're up to something', he stated right before his eyes caught something. A dark blur on the surface, right next to the ship. 'Ah, must left their boat there... Wait a minute, something is moving!' He could barely see it: another boat was slowing crawling down on the side of the hull, lit only by the moon's bluish light. He also saw human figures gathering above it on board.

Kese's heartbeats slowed down and became abnormally quiet. He stepped back, but tripped over a large rock and fell to his bottom. The telescope lightly rolled away from his palm after he hit the ground. His widened eyes stared at the sail, with pleading expression. – Please... don't come back... – the memories of that night flashed into his mind. He knew for sure the pirates wanted to plunder the village, not holding back their bloodlust this time. And to avoid that, there was only one option. - ...Go away, please... I don't want to kill you!

- Liar. – a vision appeared in front of him. He saw a middle-aged man, sitting in an armchair, smoking cigarette. – I know you want them to die. They've caused enough suffering to you and to your family. – he stood up, stepped to Kese and lifted his head. – You're just afraid, aren't you? – he released the nodding blonde's chin. - Stand up and do it! Oh, don't be so helpless... – he chuckled with joy from his heart. – We have taught you everything you have to know. You can do it. So don't be afraid.

And with the next blink, the smoking man disappeared. Kese – although he was used to random visions – glanced around, looking for this man. He frowned then took another look at the ship with the telescope: he saw more men above the boats, but now, they were climbing down to them. He sighed and closed the spyglass. – You should stay where you are... – he whispered, then turned towards the village. 'I can't tell it to anyone, I don't want others to get involved. I have and want to do this alone, again... And I suppose they are more prepared than last time. It'd be the best if...' he slowed down a little, then darted off towards to Karcsa's and Emese's house. He sneaked into the stable – quietly and carefully, not to disturb the horses and the other animals which fortunately knew him-, took a few things and ran back to the cliffs. 'I'll just put these back when I'm finished.'

He reached his previous spot quickly, and before he started his preparations, he took a look at the pirates: the last of them were getting on the boats. Kese gladly noticed he was a little too quick. He put away the quiver with the arrows, and began stringing the bow. He had chosen his favourite: it shot the fastest, but was the toughest and most difficult to string. At the third attempt he succeeded, and pulled the string a little to check if it was ok. He reached into his pocket to take out the spyglass.

This was the moment something touched his neck and made him freeze. Something cold, hard and sharp. No mistake, it was steel. 'A freakin' blade pointed at my freakin' neck?!' he gulped. His first thought was the pirates. 'Are they already here? Could I be this late?! Shit, I don't have any weapons besides the bow! Why does he hesitate? Won't he kill me?'

The person behind him chuckled and lowered his sword. - It's always fun to tease you, Kese.

- You son of a... – and within a flash, that person's chin was gracefully stroked by the young blacksmith's fist. – Don't dare doing this again, you dickhead! I hope your face changes place with your ass so you could taste...

- This HURT you hot-headed idiot! – a certain Magor boy groaned on the ground in front of the blonde. Karcsa hissed while trying to move his aching jaw. – By the way you can do this cursing better, it sounded so... – Kese grabbed him and was about to punch him in the face again, when his friend realized he was in a serious and deep, well, dirt. – Okay, okay! I'm sorry, just don't...

The blonde growled and threw him away. – What the fuck were you thinking?!

- Alright, Kese, I'm sorry, please, calm down... – Karcsa was really frightened by him.

- Don't tell me to calm down! – Kese shouted at him. – And where the heck did you get that sword?!

- Well, from your forge.

- Our forge?! Great!

- It's not like you haven't just stolen bow and arrows from us. – he remarked cynically, still adjusting his jaw. – Man, are your fists made of steel or what? - Kese didn't answer to that question. He watched the pirates with his telescope and frowned. 'He's very nervous and not only because of me', Karcsa thought. – Did you take the bow because of them? – the blonde didn't reply again, but his friend already knew the answer.

- Do you know a place besides the docks where they can set foot?

Karcsa hummed and stood up. – Yes. Why?

- Because it seems they know it too. – Kese handed over the telescope to him. – They're heading towards it, right?

- Yes! But how-?

- I don't know. But I won't let them step onto our island. – he picked up the quiver, the bow and the sword as well. – Could you show me that place?

Karcsa hesitated, looking at him, then at the spot where the pirates were. – Will you kill them? – he whispered.

- If they touch the ground, I will. – the blonde noticed his friend didn't want to answer him. – Listen, Karcsa, it won't be your fault if they die. It won't be your doing, it'll be only mine. You don't have to tell me; I'll just follow them and find that place by myself. But both of us live here, so we shouldn't let the village we call home get in grave danger... I am capable of eliminating this jeopardy, and with your help I could be more efficient at it.

The Magor boy sighed and took a few seconds before answering. – Alright. But we have to cross the village. Can you do it quietly?

'What do you think, how am I able to sneak into your aunt's room without getting caught?' - I should ask you the same.

- What do you think, how was I able to follow and sneak behind you just right now?

Kese smirked, and remembered their cunning attack on the villagers' assembly last year. – Okay, let's do it. But we have to stop at our house.

A few minutes later the blonde entered his room through the window, without making any noise. He quietly walked to his bed, knelt down and pulled out a wooden box from under it. After removing its lid, a grotesque, eyeless mask was staring at him, grinning perkily. Creating panic would be possible if there was at least one man amongst these pirates who had seen this grin before.

He took the mask out of the box and was about to hide it in under the bed when he saw one more thing. His onyx eyes couldn't avoid catching its pure whiteness in the dark; and his fingers to touch that textile. It was Ince's lost hood; he had found it inside the mountain when he had gone back to The Apple last year. But he hadn't given it back to him on purpose: he wanted to have it and he didn't know why. The first time he had put it on he had a strange but good feeling in his guts. It fitted almost perfectly on his head, it was just a bit loose; and to have a better sight and make the hood look cooler, he had cut off a little from its front part.

He took off the vest he was wearing, put on the hood, then a comfortable coat which he wouldn't mind getting dirty. After this, he took the mask and got out of his room, closing the window behind him.

- What's up with that hood? – Karcsa asked, frowning at him.

- I'll tell you later. Let's go.

Cold and gentle wind was stroking the budding trees of the island, as a lone figure with a burning torch appeared in the forest. He was one of the few pirates sent out by the others to look for a safe way towards the village. Like his fellow scouts, he too got lost and decided to turn back to the coast where the others were waiting for them. He wasn't anticipating any kind of surprise, so he was caught off guard when someone stole the torch right out of his hands. The dumbfounded pirate turned back just to receive a blow to his face and stomach, get kneeled at the same spots and finally get pinned up to a tree. A strong hand was on his neck choking him, but letting him get enough air. The pirate's eyes widened in fear when he got to see the face in front of him.

- What are you doing here? – a sinister voice asked behind an unmoving grotesque grin.

- No-nothing! I just took a leak! What the hell are you?!

The creature in front of him hummed, then pushed the torch towards the pirate's face, making him whimper and curse. – I ask once again. What are you doing here?

- I won't tell you! Relea-

This was the moment when Kese got enough of this man, so he knelt him in his loin. The pirate screamed, tying to protect his testicles from further damage, but his hands got burnt right away.

- Next time I'll take your head. – the sinister voice spoke again. - So, what are you doing here?

- We-we were sent to kill the villagers... – the pirate whined. – And to capture the chakra user, to drain his reserves. Ah, and yes, the treasure! We were sent to take that too! Please, let me go!

'Chakra user?' Kese had only one guess who this person might be. – Why would you need his chakra?

- The ninjas have less so they need it, and the Deacon ordered us to deliver them some.

- The Deacon? Who is he?

- I-I don't know! I've never met him, please, let me-

And to the pirate's greatest surprise, he was thrown away. He was released! He immediately started to run from the masked man who had interrogated him.

- Why did you let him go? – Karcsa appeared from behind some bushes. Kese just pushed the torch into his hands, took the bow and the quiver from him and started running after the pirate.

- He'll lead me right to the others. – he pulled out an arrow and was ready to shoot anytime. He heard some noise nearby and he suspected they were getting closer to the invaders' camp. The pirate he was chasing got an arrow between his shoulders when he was only twenty metres from the others. His corpse fell into the dust of the forest, his death was silent and undiscovered. Well, mostly undiscovered. Another scout saw him falling and went there to see what happened to him. But before he could have gone back to the camp to warn the others, his chest was pierced through by a sword. He fell on top of the other pirate, and his killer cleaned the blade in his victim's clothes. – Didn't I tell you to stay back? – the blonde whispered when he heard his friend vomiting.

- No, dumbass. – Karcsa collected himself. - You forgot to tell me you would slaughter them right away.

- I'm sorry.

- Fuck yourself.

While the Magor boy was recovering, Kese sneaked closer to the pirates. They were lesser than last time, about fifteen men, plus the ones sent away. The blonde decided to take these out with the bow while scouting around a little. After a few minutes he started to feel tension amongst the pirates. 'Your mates are away for way too long, aren't they?' Kese thought and returned to his friend. He left the bow and quiver at him, told him to hide and not go near the camp, then he went to that place he had chosen to launch his assault. Of course, at first from the shadows, to weaken and lessen their forces, for quantity was still on their side.

And what was on Kese's side? Surprise, again; and skills from his father's Baranta training and even more from his blood. 'Will it be enough?' he asked himself, petrifying by his own doubt. 'They could be more prepared to fight because of my previous "performance"; and on the second hand, they know about a certain chakra user', he had a strange feeling in his stomach when he thought about this. His doubt grew bigger. 'Am I shaking?!' he clenched his fist. Then, the words of that smoking man came to his mind and calmed him down. 'If I'm afraid, I would definitely fail. I have to be confident and unwavering. Again, my world is in danger: my family – and my life and freedom.' He tied the scabbard's belt to his waist and drew the dagger he had taken from one of his victims. A patrolling pirate walked by the huge rock he was hiding behind. Kese took a glance around, then stabbed the man from behind and pulled him into his hiding spot. He didn't risk to be discovered early, so he moved on quietly.

In all of a sudden the shore was filled with clang of metal as many weapons were drawn right before Kese could reach his next target. – All right, where the hell are you, bastard?! Search for him! – the pirates began to scatter and behind a tree the blonde let himself have a bitter smile. Now he had to be doubly cautious, but he knew that in the end he would get exposed and have to fight. Up until then, he needed to cut their numbers.

He heard footsteps from behind him, so he turned and slammed the head of that someone to a trunk, while hoping it wasn't Karcsa. And to his greatest relief, a redheaded pirate fell unconsciously to the ground. The blonde raised his dagger to end his life, but hesitated. 'Do I really need to kill him?' he asked himself again, and an idea came to his mind. He put down the knife and let him live; he moved on again and knocked out three more pirates, when he noticed the coast had been way too silent. It was too dark, so he switched on his other eyes and glanced around. 'Shit, I'm surrou-'

- You're surrounded, youbastard!

- Surrender and we'll let you live long enough to watch your beloved village burn down!

- We have luck, Kaede, Hagane. He is the one.

The blond heard laughters. – You'll be my bitch! Stand up and turn around! I wanna see your face, blondie.

Kese slowly did as he was ordered, meanwhile cursing in his head how reckless he had been. 'Fuck me and my ideas! I need to f- oh... my fuck.' A giant was standing in front of him, blocking a big part of his sight. He was a tall, no, enormous, muscular man with dark skin, shaved head and respectable beard. 'He's even larger than father! He must be Hagane*.'

The blonde was wearing his hood and his mask too, but Hagane's victorious expression didn't change when he saw the grotesque grin.

- That mask. – he said with amusement. – The "Dushou" mask the Deacon spoke about, Nezu?

- It's Busó*, but never mind. – Kese would have frozen if he hadn't been like that already. It was the same buttery, snaky voice from before: the rat-like man, who had made him see red. "He looks like a rat... has a scar... on his neck..." The bald pirate's last words echoed in his mind. It was him. 'The man who killed Botond.' – Drop your weapon! – Nezu hissed but when Kese refused to do so, the pirate turned to the giant. – Hold him down.

Hagane stepped forward, but the blonde immediately drew his sword and pointed it towards him. Kese heard a 'whoa' from behind him and could see the giant and Nezu frown. – Swift like the wind. You really are one of them. – latter spoke, and the blonde didn't understand their reaction. 'I've just pulled out my sword. Why is it a big deal?' Nezu turned to the others. – He's a chakra user, so be careful. And don't kill him.

With this the rat-like man stepped back and sat down on a fallen trunk, while the other pirates began circling around their blonde attacker. Their purpose was clear: to corner then defeat him by knocking him out; maybe taking a limb or two if necessary. But they weren't aware that he was more like a predator than a prey.

And a cornered predator is much more dangerous than any prey could be.

* - Hagane means 'steel' in Japanese.
- Busó is pronounced similar to Dushou, it would be 'Bushou'. Hagane didn't remember it correctly.