Treasures of Time
Chapter 5: Struggle of Strength
I hope everyone enjoys this chapter. Thanks for reading.
Perspectives: Sterling, Mika, Manzo
Sterling's Perspective
Zur came into view. My heart started racing at an uncomfortable rate. Fear that's the last thing I ever wanted to be before my death. That just my fucking luck.
"I'm impressed little ninja. Far better ninja than you have fallen to that attack. You should be honored at even getting a chance to witness it", said Zur.
"Fuck you old man!" I growled.
Zur gave a deep laugh. Fucking bastard. The least he can do is be a little fucking respectful of a dying ninja, but no I get this.
"You even have enough strength to insult me that's very impressive", said Zur.
I won't be impressive much longer. Even with my body's healing abilities, I will only last for a few more minutes if I'm lucky. He walked over to Saizo and nudged him with his foot. Saizo gave no response. Come on you annoying bastard wake up! I need you to wake up. I can't protect a fucking flea in this state let alone you. WAKE UP SAIZO!
"Your friend wasn't so lucky. Such a disappointment to his family, teammates, and opponents. I thought someone from his family would be a challenge. He has a few seconds at the most, but you can last about five minutes maybe a little longer if I go easy on you", said Zur.
That isn't fucking true. Shit, the reason I made it this far is because the annoying bastard kept saving my ass. Zur's attention went to me. I gasped as his large steel-toed boot stomped down on my chest. The breath was force from my lungs. I coughed up blood. The massive pressure on my chest made it impossible for me to regain my breath. He picked me up and threw me into one of the many piles of rubble. Zur appeared in front of me and raised his hammer. I closed eyes. I waited for the pain then nothingness. It never came. My vision was blurry. An image of a figure stood in front of me. He was holding off Zur's attack with only one hand. How is that possible?
"Saizo?"
A punch to the gut sent the man flying. I tried sitting up. A horrible pain ripped through my chest. I keeled over. I coughed up more blood. He did hand signs I didn't recognize. I heard him mutter some words. Something scaly wrapped around my body. I sighed as I felt a comforting warmth healing me. My vision returned to its full strength. A large snake was coiled around me and seemed to be healing me. The annoying creature flicked its tongue in my ear. This isn't a genin level jutsu. My attention finally went to my savior. It was Saizo. Fuck, now I owe him even more.
"How the hell are you alive?"
Saizo gave no response. The snake released me, before disappearing. I got to my feet.
"How are you not dead?" I asked.
Maybe I'm hallucinating. I pinched my arm. Nope, not hallucinating. Saizo looked at me. His pupils were slit. They held a thirst in them. For what I don't know nor did I want to. There were slim purple markings around his eyes. His hands were clawed. His wounds were healed. He quickly scanned over me.
"You okay ass hole?" he asked.
I flipped him off. He smirked. Some of my best friend is still in there. The calm was ruined when he hissed revealing sharply pointed fangs. I followed Saizo's gaze. Zur had gotten. He glared at him. The image of Saizo ripping out Zur's heart appeared in my head. A shiver ran down my spine and it felt like I was going to throw up. This wasn't my ass of a best friend this was cold blooded predator. I wanted to run, but I couldn't move, I was frozen in place.
"Quiet an interesting genjutsu, but its completely useless against me boy. I've seen thing far scarier than my own death in my lifetime", said Zur.
"Sterling",
I tensed at the mention of my name.
"You're not my prey there's no need for you to be afraid", said Saizo.
Him saying that did nothing to make me feel safe. Something told me it was only a matter of time before he gave completely into the odd chakra he was using. The who knows who his next target will be?
"Go find Mika and make sure she's safe", said Saizo.
I'd almost forgotten about Mika in all this chaos.
"There's no way in hell I'm leaving you dumb ass. She can take care of herself", I said.
"You'll only get in the way", said Saizo.
My hands fisted. The bastard right. I hate it when he's fucking right. I backed away. I need to give these two as much space as possible. I ran off. Zur appeared in front of me. He was swatted away before he could even touch me.
"Your opponent is me", growled Saizo.
He laughed.
"Okay little man I'll let you take me on your own. I don't know where you got this new strength from, but I'm going to put it to an end", said Zur.
The clouds went dark. They sparked with blue lighting. This is bad. Lighting nature is one of his weaknesses. Zur reached his hammer to the sky. A bolt of blue lighting shot down on him. He was surrounded by a new armor made of lighting. Fucked, was only word I could come up with to describe this situation. Saizo won't be able to touch him like this. His hammer held the same glow. It expanded. He slammed it against the ground. Large waves of electricity surged through the ground. Saizo was unfazed by this.
The sicken feeling in my gut only grew, when I saw Saizo playing with Zur. It was like a cat playing with a mouse. The sight would have been far more entertaining if my teammate were himself. Saizo was draining Zur of his chakra. He let the large man charge at him. With one hand he grabbed the large man's bulky neck and brought him to his knees. Saizo's diamond skin sparked with lighting. It didn't seem to bother him in the least. Zur's lighting skin flickered and then went out.
Saizo's other hand stopped above Zur's heart. It shot through Zur's chest and pulled out the man's heart. Zur collapsed with a thud. His heart gave a few weak beats in Saizo's hand before dying. He sighed and threw the heart to the ground. Saizo was covered in blood. I watched as he licked his claws clean. What the fuck is wrong with him? I have to leave. With every passing moment my friend was losing himself.
"BROTHER!" screamed a man.
Shit, enemy back up is the last thing we need right now. The man had shaggy orange hair and a short orange beard. His eyes were a deep green. He was dressed in dark green and wore heavy blue armor. Slung over his shoulder was giant hammer.
"WHICH ONE OF YOU KILLED MY BROTHER!" he snarled.
"That would be me", answered Saizo in a collected voice.
I huffed. At least give me some credit.
"You'll suffer a punishment far worse than death boy", said the man as pointed at Saizo with his hammer.
He was completely unfazed by the threat. At the most I would describe his expression as bored.
"May I ask who you are before you try and strike me with this punishment?" asked Saizo.
"My name Hanma and I will put an end to you", he said.
Saizo laughed.
"I would like to see you try", he said.
Hanma went red in the face. The man rush toward Saizo. He easily dodged the attack. Saizo gave a loud yawn. Hanma's attacks were equal to his brothers. He was so blinded by rage that every attack was a useless waste of energy. Every time Hanma's hammer struck the ground a massive chakra powered sinkhole appeared. They were rapidly eating up the terrain. He's toying with Hanma in the same he did with Zur. It was working. I kept my distance. That's the only way I'll come out of this safely.
Mika's Perspective
I took the women and children safely to the village. The Fang Daimyo came running toward us. He went to his knees in front of me. This is all his fault. He should have told our village his true problem. The village would have tried to fine a way to help even if he couldn't pay. He didn't have to lie.
"Please forgive!" begged the daimyo.
"I don't have to power to forgive you. The Guardians will decide how to deal with you. You can build some favor with my village by taking care of these women and children. They need medical care, food, and clothing", I said.
"Of course", said the daimyo.
I shuttered when I felt Sterling and Saizo's chakra fading. A sinking feeling built in my stomach. This bad. This is very bad.
"Mika are you okay", asked one of the little girls I was caged with.
"My friends are in danger I must go", I said.
"Wouldn't that be easier to do if you had some pants on?" she asked.
My face went red at the embarrassing fact that I was half naked and surrounded by at least fifty strangers. I rushed to my room and grabbed a set of spare clothes. I sped toward my teammate's fading chakras. Please please let them be okay. I don't know what I will do without them. I came to a halt when a massive surge of chakra hit me. It felt somewhat like Saizo's, but it was so different at the same time. The blood lust that stained the chakra terrified me. But the worst part about it was that blood lust was eating away at Saizo's chakra. I picked up my run at full speed.
I relaxed, when he saw Sterling. He looked perfectly fine. That's not right. I'm relieved he's okay, but he shouldn't be in this condition. I had no idea how he recovered so quickly. Even with his advanced healing abilities that doesn't explain his condition now. A few minutes ago his chakra was fading quickly. At the rate he was fading he should be dead by now. How is this possible?
"Sterling",
"What the hell are you doing here?" he growled.
"Don't yell at me!" I screamed.
"You really shouldn't fucking be here. It isn't safe for you here Mika", said Sterling.
This wasn't like him. Normally he never gets upset with me. What happen to his normal personality? I don't like the state he's in.
"Where's Saizo?" I asked.
He didn't say anything, but his head turned toward the sounds of battle.
"Why aren't you with him?!" I cried.
I ran toward the battle. Sterling grabbed me. I struggled in his grip. Tears were streaming down my face.
"Please let me go", I begged.
"You would only get in the way. Trust me you don't want to be there", said Sterling.
I refused to believe that. Even if it were true we couldn't leave him alone. He's our teammate. Sterling tightened his grip on my waist.
"We are his teammates we should be with him. Sterling, we can't leave him all alone", I said.
I slapped him across the cheek. He pulled away from me. Sterling rubbed the red mark on his face.
"What the hell was that for Mika?!" he yelled.
"Good, it seems like you are yourself again", I said.
"You didn't have to fucking slap me", grumbled Sterling.
"Take me to him now", I said.
He tensed.
"I guess we should be there for the bastard", I said.
We went running toward the sounds of battle. I felt a chakra growing in power and one dying. There on the battlefield was Saizo. He was standing with his foot on a man's chest. This isn't him. I saw a monster. His hands and sleeves were covered in blood.
"Saizo",
He didn't even look at me. I stared at Sterling hoping he could give me an answer. He shook his head.
"Mika, you have the best chance of getting through to him. I'll be there to protect you if you need me to", said Sterling.
I pushed Saizo off the man. He stumbled back a few steps. Saizo was glaring at me with the predatory eyes. He wanted to kill me. I was the foe who separated him from his prey. Where's my friend? Where is the person I care so dearly for? He came at me, but I made no move dodge. His hand was on my neck.
"Try and kill. I know you can't, because you are in there somewhere Saizo", I said.
He threw me aside.
"Leave Mika. I don't want to hurt you", said Saizo.
Each of his words sounded like they were a struggle to get out. I didn't move away from him. His attention went to the dying man.
"NO", I screamed.
He flinched. That was the only response he gave me. Before he could finish off the man, I hugged him from behind. I felt him tense underneath my touch.
"Get off me!" he snarled.
"No",
He shoved me away. I watched as he ripped out the man's heart. I hugged him again. He tensed and started growling.
"It's over Saizo. You can stop. Please stop", I begged as cried into his chest.
"Mika?"
"Yes, it's me", I said as I hugged him tighter.
"It hurts so badly", said Saizo.
"Come back", I said.
"I don't know how", said Saizo.
"Please I know you can come back", I said.
He pushed me away again, but this time with more force. Sterling caught me.
"You okay?" he asked.
I nodded my head. A painful growl caught our attention. Sparkling blue chakra surrounded him. It was hurting him. He came at us. Before he could reach us Saizo was thrown far in the opposite direction. Manzo was standing in front of us.
"You two all right", he asked.
Manzo took out a paper with odd-looking symbol written on it. It seemed to be written blood. He appeared in front of Saizo, before he even had a chance to get up. Manzo pressed the paper above Saizo's heart. My teammate collapsed. I rushed to his side. Injuries appeared all over his body. I started crying. Manzo put his hand on Saizo's chest. A sparkling chakra surrounded Saizo body. It healed in him faster than any technique I've seen. Saizo's body went lax. His pain seemed to be over. Even after being healed his appearance hadn't returned to normal. I gently touched his face. He leaned into my touch.
Manzo's Perspective
Mika looked at him with such care.
"He'll be fine", I said.
"Really?" she asked.
I nodded my head. A small smile appeared on her face. Sterling appeared by her side.
"He's going to be okay", said Mika.
The boy relaxed.
"What about sensei?" asked Sterling.
"Right here", said Hantia.
My eldest grandchild was carrying a heavily weakened Ren on her back. Hantia's clothes were covered in blood. Not very surprising. Thankfully neither of them seemed to be hurt. I picked up my unconscious grandson. Only my daughter can get him out of this form.
We returned to the house of the fang daimyo. The kids needed rest. Camping outside doesn't make for good sleeping conditions. The daimyo isn't my problem caring for these children is my only concern. I kept guard outside of the children's rooms. They were all in a deep sleep. I tensed when I heard one of the doors slid opened. My body quickly went at ease.
"You shouldn't be up little one", I said.
"Everyone must seem that way to you", she said.
Mika sat down next to me. Her lavender hair hid her face.
"Yes, it does seem that way. You should be sleeping", I said.
"Can I ask a favor?"
I nodded my head.
"Can you teach me that jutsu?" asked Mika.
"Your sensei is a fine medical ninja. She can teach you well", I said.
"I know that. But I also you are a powerful medical ninja too, even though you're not known for it", said Mika.
"You must spend a lot of time in the library. That jutsu is extremely complex and you are far from ready to learn it. I'll give you this Mika. You have a massive amount of potential. When the time right I'll take you under my wing. I promise, but I must warn you that I've never had a student", I said.
She smiled.
"Thank you", said Mika.
"You are stronger than you know", I said.
"I'm nothing special", she said.
"You remind of my daughter", I said.
"Me like Lady Minori. She one of the most powerful women in all the nations", said Mika.
"Yes, that's true. She never thought she was anything special too. To this day she doesn't think that. Being humble is a great trait, but that wasn't the strength I was referring to", I said.
"Than what are you talking about?" asked Mika.
"You were brave enough to face someone you love when they were at their worst without hesitation. By all reason you shouldn't have been able to get through to him", I said.
When I looked over at the girl, her face was a light shade of pink. Her feelings for my grandson were obvious to everyone except my grandson.
"You will make a great match for Saizo. All you have to do is be patient", I said.
Her blush went a shade darker.
"What was that piece of paper you put on Saizo's chest?" asked Mika.
"I can honestly say I don't know. My daughter has many secrets and talents. I don't know all of them", I said.
She yawned.
"Go back to sleep. It's safe here for now", I said.
She nodded her head and returned to her room. When I was sure they were asleep, I took out my cigarette. I took a deep breath and let the smoke fill my lungs. I release it with a deep breath. My daughter's talents are something beyond me. It was difficult to believe my little girl handled such stressing situation, so well. If she were in danger on mission I would be one of the first to after her. My mind traveled to that moment.
Manzo's Flashback
It was the earliest hours of the morning. Like many nights sleep chose to evade me. I sat on the porch swing of daughter's house. My family is safe. That fact put my nightmare riddled mind at ease. The front door opened and my daughter stepped out. I quickly put out my cigarette. She smirked.
"You didn't have to do that", she said.
"What caused that change of heart?" I asked.
"I spent a few month with a giant smoking snake, so your habit isn't so bothersome. Besides who am I to judge. I drink far too much for a woman of size and age", said Snow.
She took a seat next to me.
"Why aren't you sleeping?" I asked.
"The same reason you can't. And I'm also worried about my babies", said Snow.
"That's understandable. Every parent of a shinobi goes through that same exact fear. You're handling it well, Snow", I said.
She smiled at the rare use of her true name. A white crow appeared on her shoulder. She untied the message. My daughter collapsed. Her body changed to one of a snake sage's.
"What wrong?" I asked.
The answer I received was a stream of diamond tears. If it were a problem something with her kekkie genkia I could help. This was a problem I couldn't handle. I tapped on the window of her bedroom. It instantly opened. Kakuzu easily crept through the window and was by my daughter's side in seconds.
"My treasure tell me wants wrong", he said.
"Saizo", she answered.
"Mom",
My eldest grandchild appeared. Snow took a few deep-shuttering breaths. A cool calmness took over her. She stood up. Somehow she'd shut away al her pain fear and negative emotions. A large snake appeared around her arm.
"Doku",
The snake placed a piece of white scaly skin in her hand. She bit her finger and wrote a symbol on it with her blood. She handed me it and the message.
"When you find Saizo he might not be himself. His body has tapped into the strength of the snake. He's not ready for it yet. It's going to eat away at him. Put this on his chest and all that natural chakra he's absorbing will be transferred to me", said Snow.
I nodded my head.
"Get there and bring him back as quickly as possible. I want my baby safe", said Snow.
I sighed that's my little girl. Now she's a powerful woman. I opened the door to my grandson's bedroom. He was in a deep sleep. I filled a pail with warm water and started washing the blood from his hands. The seal on his chest was glowing a slight red. Snow must be taking in massive amount of natural chakra from Saizo.