I do not own Naruto
Talk now – normal talk
What now – normal thoughts
Speak – biju, higher being talk
Listen – biju, higher being thoughts
Chapter 15 : Year Three part II
Chouji and his father had walked several miles on their journey, for the last hour they were traversing a deep forest, Chouza seeing the boy tiring and wanting to get there quicker had picked up little Chouji and was carrying him on his shoulders, the boy was using his arms to hold onto Chouza's head while he increased the pace.
Finally Chouza slowed down his pace when the two entered a clearing with a large stone with different familiar symbols on its smooth surface; several other stones of various shapes and sizes were spread out in the clearing with a good number of them having small holes in the middle.
Chouji looked at the different stones with curiosity. "What are these?"
He smiled looking at them and remembering the time he visited them with his own father, a tinge of nostalgia entered his voice. "Ah those are sacred stones; they've been here since before the clans claimed this land. Don't worry about that, this here" he pointed with one hand at the largest stone in the clearing "is what we're here for. The mark on the right is the Akamichi clan's symbol, see?" he tapped the symbol with his index finger.
Chouji nodded, the symbol was very familiar; he had seen it in several places in his home and around the compound.
Chouza scratched his chin looking at the other symbols, while the base remained the same through time; various small changes were made to them before returning to the original design. Some clan heads just wanted to distinguish themselves somehow. "Let's see… the center one's the Nara and left is the Yamanka. We've each mastered some very rare secret ninja techniques." He shivered for a small moment. I can't forget the training with the water barrels I had to go through to get that technique down. "Our three clans have teamed up and worked together for generations." A grinned settled across his face as he remembered all the good times spent with his teammates during the early days of their team's formation.
Chouji struggled with the decision regarding his question before deciding to ask it anyway. "Could I work with others as well, like my new friend Naruto?"
He frowned for a moment before shrugging making sure to hold onto his son. "Well I don't see why not son not every generation ends up working together, sometimes things just don't click or there are other incidents." Of course a Yamanaka had to comment about a female Akimichi's size, that team went down in history as one of the damn worse. The Nara who decided not to intervene in the conflict as it was too troublesome didn't help either. Oh he claimed they needed to work it out on their own, however when he saw that things where just getting worse he should had stepped in. He let out a tired breath deciding to forget the matter; all it would do was to get his spirits down. "Your grandfather had a very different team and he turned out well enough." At least of what you know. "I take it you like your new friend?"
"Yeah, he's nice."
Chouza scratched his chin thinking on the subject, he wasn't an expert on seals and couldn't say how strong the one holding the Kyuubi back was however if the Hokage felt he could stay in the village then it would mean that it was strong enough. That didn't include the fact that the Yondaime had been a seal master, considering the night of the sealing there was a chance that the man had made a mistake or rushed things; he doubted that for the most part, the Yondaime had been the fastest person alive. All in all whatever mistakes could have been made would have had been fixed by Jiraya of the Sannin, so any problems should in theory at least be fixed.
His father's team had the man who would become the Yami of the shinobi world on it, the Shimura had never held any special bloodline or clan technique like his own and yet the man had become well know in the world for his strength and skill. Besides having the Kyuubi in him the boy doesn't appear to have anything special to him, maybe he can become strong as well. "Hmmm, we'll see what the future brings son. Now back to our history lesson, to strengthen our unity, its tradition that the Sarutobi clan, give us gifts of specials earrings, that we present in turn to each new generation when they swear their own oaths."
Chouji touched his father's earring looking at it in awe. "And this is yours? The heads of the other clans wear one too…but the getting your ear pierced must hurt."
Chouza nodded looking towards his boy. "It's so we never forget the oath we take…the earrings are always there, whispering it into our ear." He touched his own earning, remembering all the times he heard the whisper in his ear, from the time he got pierced as a young lad, to the time during the war when he was buried under the earth with trees and the corpses of the enemy atop of him blocking out the sun, to the dead of night when he'd awake because of the whispers. He closed his eyes banishing those memories. No, not an easy life. He steadied his voice. "You're going to have to get pierced too someday son."
"Aaww come on."
He added more force to his voice this time. "Son you'll wear my earring from the day you become a genin to the day you become a chunin. That way my oath gets burned into your memory too." You need to accept this son, just as I did before you.
Chouji's voice trembled while speaking the next words. "But it's gonna hurt."
You do not know anything yet my boy. "There are a lot worse kinds of pain in this world son." He briefly touched his own earring. "Don't worry about this small matter though my boy, when the time comes it'll be over in a flash, you'll barely feel the pain."
"Promise?"
He smiled hearing the shift of his son's voice. "Of course! Now how about we go back and eat some of your mother's cooking?"
Chouji cheered even more hearing that. "Oh yeah that would be great!"
Tenten hit the training post again, right punch, left kick, she let out an exhausted breath, knee and elbow strike. Slowly she brought her tired head against the post resting for a moment before slamming it violently against it; her last conversation with Yukimura was at the forefront of her mind.
"What's it about?" she admitted being curious about what he wanted to discuss, usually every thing was talked about out in the open.
"You know how we've been training you to be able to stand up to Naruto in a fight?"
"Um yes?" A tinge of uncertainty was mingled in her question.
"However given that he's had a lot more time of training when compared to you that has given him an advantage. We did learn from teaching him and used it when we taught you hence why you've been able to make such great progress."
She nodded still waiting for him to get to the heart of the matter.
Yukimura let out a sigh. "The problem is that, given his very own nature he has more chakra and stamina then you."
"His nature?" Is something different about brother?
"We believe he had shinobi parents or at the very least grandparents, he was born with greater reserves then others, and with the combination of the seal on him and my presence…."
Her eyes widened as realization struck her. "His reserves are bigger and will only get bigger."
Yukimura nodded looking somberly at her.
She felt a whole in her stomach, a part of her already knew the answer to her question, and she just needed confirmation of the worst now. "What about me?" The words felt like they left her throat being pulled by a hundred horses, the look on Yukimura's face only helped to confirm things.
"It appears that your parents were civilians, your own reserves are normal."
She nodded numbly the pit in her stomach growing ever larger, she wasn't even fully aware when the next words left her mouth. "And given how girls always seem to have less chakra then boys…"
Yukimura shook his head, that actions helped raise her spirits even if just slightly. "That's not always the case; there are plenty of women who have more stamina then men."
So there's hope if you have good genes?
"However given his situation, Naruto has a large advantage over you in terms of both stamina and chakra."
Her eyes widened remembering something. "The chakra exercises we've been doing…"
"Yes" he nodded "while it has helped your reserves grow and your control over them has increased."
A second wave of realization hit her. "Brother has been doing them for longer then I have…"she tightened her fist "… his advantage is even greater."
Yukimura nodded. "Yes…right now your own reserves are impressive for someone your age, with time they will become even greater."
She grited her teeth thinking about the matter. "All of the clan members have these kinds of advantages don't they?"
"Usually yes, they have an advantage regarding chakra when compared to civilian born children. It does depend of the parent's genetic material, and there are cases when even clan born children do not have the same abilities as their parents."
"So I'll never be able to match him, I'll never be able to beat him in a fight." She felt her watering as she thought about the matter. "Why tell me this?"
"Because" he smiled and patted her on the head "if you're willing we'd like to try something else with you."
She swallowed hard looking at the man. "What?"
"A new training regime, we'll rework your current one so you can still learn the things Naruto does, however we want to change your physical training."
She felt like a spark was being ignited in her body, she swallowed hard again pushing the word out of her mouth. "Why?"
He ruffled her hair with a grin forming on his face. "So you can stand on even ground with your brother. We want you to be able to stand shoulder to shoulder with him, it's true that he does have advantages when it comes to chakra and stamina, expecting you to somehow catch up to him right now wouldn't be fair. So if you want we'll help train you so you can catch up to Naruto and see if you can surpass him."
"You mean it?" Try as she might she couldn't keep her voice steady.
Yukimura gave her a cheeky grin. "We did say that we'll help you achieve your dreams, you want to become a legend don't you?"
She nodded feeling a fire course through her veins.
"Your training right now is helping you get there, however if you want to be able to stand on even ground with your brother in regards to stamina and chakra then a change is needed. You can think about …"
"I'll do it!" She shouted jumping at the chance.
"Perfect, Sayaka and I also have about something else for your fighting style…."
She smiled lifting her head from the mat and prepared to continue, the pain in her body felt like a pleasant warm fire now. One hundred more then I'm done.
She smiled again as she began throwing punches and kicks once more. "Practice makes the master."
As focused as she was she never noticed the jounin who was looking at her from the shadows, one that decided to keep on eye on her for the future because of her youthful training; one that had visited the academy to see a potential student.
The sun was setting bathing the village in an orange light, in market district people moved about minding their business.
"Which one do you want?"
The small girl scrunched her nose while looking at the different cloths in front of her. "Can I get the red one mom!"
"Alright, sweaty." She nodded towards the shopkeeper giving her the cloth, the woman nodded and smiled recognizing her, even if just in passing they knew each other, as a merchant in Konoha one ended up either hearing about the rest or actually meeting them.
They had only taken a few steps when her daughter stopped and looked towards their left.
"Uh" her voice seemed filled with annoyance and exasperation "there's that boy from my class, he's so annoying, he keep's trying to show off Sasuke-kun!"
She looked to her left and easily spotted the boy in question, personally she dreaded looking at him, she know what he represented and how he was a sour subject with the merchant community of Konoha. Unlike a part of the merchants she personally didn't hate him, far from it, it was only thanks to him that had she and her husband had finally been able to shore up their business and open their own shop. Her lips curved up into a small smile. No more long nights spent on the roads and away from his family for Kizashi-kun.
At first she and her husband agreed with the other merchants on the matter of how they should treat the boy, she had lost acquaintances in the Kyuubi attack like everyone else; her friends however lost their homes and shops. She had held a grudge against the boy, however it dissolved slowly over time, not seeing the boy had helped greatly, and to her shame she felt joy when she saw him at the market and he looked sad and miserable.
It broke her heart when she realized that she was taking joy in the suffering of a child, she had learned from some of her merchant connections that the boy had failed the academy the first time he had joined it, he had been involved in some sort of scandal as well, one in which he was first accused of being a thief, the same that had become active around the market, only to be revealed as innocent and framed by a fellow classmate hoping to push the blame on him.
She didn't know when her feelings had started to change regarding the boy, perhaps it had been the time in which she hadn't seen him or perhaps she reckoned it was because she had not suffered as much as the other people in Konoha or of the recent incident that involved her family.
Still she couldn't do much to help him out of fear of being ostracized by the other merchants, the boy's biggest act, unknown to him, was causing the downfall of one of Konoha's biggest merchants and one who held a particular strong torch against him. Causing the downfall had been an accident however it repercussions had been real enough, the Hokage wouldn't sit idly by and allow such things to occur.
She scowled before her features softened again. The man was an idiot if he believed that the Hokage wouldn't retaliate after giving the boy such food, worse if the rumors are true then the Hokage had actually eat some of the food as well. Now all the merchants had to be on their toes around the boy, no one knew who could be next if they sold the boy any bad food.
Even now some merchants still raised the prices whenever the boy came to their shop, even if it wasn't by much, a top of five percent, for them every piece counted, it was seen as some sort victory. Ensuring in their own way a form of revenge by depriving the small boy of the money he would need to spend on anything else. She was glad when she heard that the boy had a small network of merchants that gave him fair prices, even if it was out of fear it was better then nothing.
At least he has someone who will be fair towards him. I can't do much to help him, even if a part of the merchant community is neutral towards him now, the part I have business ties are still on the fence about the issue. I just hope he can survive on his own, perhaps in the future I'll be able to help, even if only a little.
She looked around herself and lowered her voice before answering. "Dear, maybe you should give him a chance, he doesn't look so bad."
"No way! He thinks he can outshine Sasuke-kun!"
Mebuki shivered at the look in her daughter's eyes, considering her family's long tumultuous history and the recent incident within her family. No I can't lose you to, we already lost her. I won't lose you as well! "Let's go home Sakura." Another visit to the doctors won't hurt, just to make sure that she's alright. She grabbed her daughter's hand and began walking at an increased pace towards their home.
Now this feels all too familiar. Naruto looked around himself while in the classroom; a part of his classmates had alienated him already, he didn't doubt that their parents had put in a good word about him, while his crafted persona didn't make him the most popular person in class it didn't warrant out right alienation. Well at least it's not all of them; it feels more like last year then the first time I joined the academy.
His boisterous personality had attracted a few good laughs and smiles as no matter what defeat he suffered he just shrugged it off and promised to worked harder and do better next time, of course the results varied, from good in shuriken throwing and spars to bad in kunai throwing and academics, it was a masterful performance on his part and to a degree he enjoyed it as well.
His eyes stopped on one particular person in the classroom who sat further away from him. Odd, the Hyuuga girl either doesn't know or doesn't care about the bad rumors regarding me. She still looks at me with such clear eyes, not even the Aburame boy does that. Perhaps I should approach her, after all this time my only friends are still Yakumo and Chouji.
He looked to Yakumo who sitting next to him. I guess she has proven trust worthy enough; I can try teaching her a few things. I'm curious to see what she will say to my proposal.
He playfully hit her right leg before leaning in to whisper. "Yaku-chan, can we talk after the class?"
She gave him a dirty look for the nickname, something that she didn't particularly enjoy; the girl nodded towards the teachers rolling her eyes in annoyance.
Yeah I don't care. He looked at her with his most innocent face. "So can we?"
She rolled her eyes again this time in exasperation before nodding her head.
Heh, I win again. Maybe I should get the others involved in my pranks as well.
Katsue took another sip of drink thinking about her current dilemma, she had been struggling with the matter for almost two weeks and needed to make a final decision. I can't deny that the students are improving their taijutsu, she bit her lower lip, however even if we are ninjas this goes beyond what's acceptable. In the long run it will destroy their bodies, no matter what progress they make now it will cost them in the future.
She saw the changes in the student's bodies, muscles like that don't just develop over night, and knew what could have caused such drastic changes. I know Yujiro-san wanted to help
Yatsuhiro, however this was now gone far beyond what was acceptable. She tapped her fingers on the desk after placing her cup down. I wonder how the headmaster will react to this. Right now it can go two ways, either he knows about it and will silence my one way or another, or he will be as surprised as I was. If this get's out it will definitely change the game he is playing with the Hokage.
Taking a deep breath she got up from her desk and started making her way towards the headmaster's office. A shame for this to have happened, things had been well enough until now, the students were making good progress. And now who knows what will happen to the students, it may just destroy their shinobi carriers. She tightened her fist making her way down the hallway. It worse knowing that Yujiro has taken advantage of when the students when they were vulnerable rather then encouraged them he has turned them on their own fellow students.
She took a moment to compose herself as she reached the desk of the headmaster's secretary. Well no matter the moment of truth has arrived. She put on a smile as she looked at the woman. "Good day Shuji-san."
The woman nodded placing a sheet of paper on the desk and looking at her with her grey eyes. "Miwa-san, do you wish to schedule an appointment with the headmaster?"
Katsue shook her head keeping a professional tone. "If it's possible, I want to talk to him today, it's a rather urgent affair" she lowered her tone and added more emphasis on the last word "as it is sensible."
The secretary's eyes briefly widened and she nodded motioning towards a chair. "Please take a seat, the headmaster has been in a meeting, however I will inform him of the matter."
For a moment she panicked and waved her arms. "I don't mind waiting for him to finish his meeting, I don't want to impose if…"
The woman chuckled and gives her a reassuring smile. "It's quite alright; given the nature of the meeting he's having its best if it ends quickly."
"Well alright." Katsue followed the woman's pace taking note of the woman's body language as she knocked and entered the headmaster's office. She still carries herself so well even after all the time she's spent behind that desk. She chuckled raising a hand to her mouth. Well the woman's a credit to the kunoichi profession, a shame she isn't a teacher herself. I know she was a jounin before she ended up here; rumors had it she was even an Anbu member before she burned out. Huh thinking back a lot of us burnouts seemed to have ended up here, she absentmindedly rubbed her chin. I have to wonder if we really are the right people to teach young children.
"Miwa-san" the woman had an amused look on her face "you may enter the headmaster will see you now."
What about? "His meeting…" she asked slightly puzzled. I supposed if it was a ninja he could have left through the window. Bloody damn doors, I used to snub them as well when I was on active duty, now it just seems disrespectful.
"It's quite alright, please enter."
Katsue saw the smirk on the woman's lips however she didn't know what to make of it. I can't be a trap to get rid of me, so what's got her acting this way. "Thank you." She quickly got up from the chair and entered the office.
Ah so that's what that expression meant. She knew the man sitting in front of the headmaster's desk, not personally but by reputation. Kafu had talked a lot about how strong and skilled the man is, the story is that his father managed to hold off Kiri's seven swordsmen with just taijutsu. She took in the rather unique hairstyle, the bushy eyebrows and the very unique dark green suit he was wearing; the other part of the man's reputation had to do with his rather odd personality.
The headmaster smiled motioning towards his guest. "Ah Katsue-san, I don't know if you have the pleasure of meeting Maito Gai yet."
"No", she shook her head, "not yet."
"Katsue-san here is one of our teachers."
She held out a hand towards the man, who in the blink of an eye was out of his chair and shaking her hand. So fast!
"Yosh, a pleasure to meet someone who is helping to kindle the fire of youth into the next generation!"
She smiled and nodded words lost to her.
The headmaster continued with a tone of happiness she had never heard him speak in. "Gai here is an old student of mine, I asked him over because there's someone who reminds of him at the academy. Sadly we got lost talking about the old days" he let a chuckle escape his lips, "or should I say youthful days."
"Nonsense Nakatani-sensei, our youthful days our only just ahead of us!
Well his reputation is deserved.
"That they are, well I thank you for helping with that matter Gai-san." The two men shook their hands before Gai turned to leave.
"A pleasure to have met you Miwa-san." The man gave her a wide smile, one that revealed his perfectly white teeth that shined, she blinked at that once then again believing her eyes were failing her.
She returned the man's smile though not as youthful. "Likewise Maito-san." How does he get his teeth to shiny, is it a genjutsu?
The headmaster waited a moment after the man left his office before speaking; in the mean time he motioned her to take a seat.
"Gai is a splendid ninja, one that I'm proud to have had under my wind when he was growing up. I knew the man's father when I was younger," he gently rubbed his left forearm smiling, "strong punch that one." He shook his head a scowl replacing his smile. "Gai and his father are proof of the will of fire; idiots back then couldn't recognize it even with it flaring into their damn faces. It's because of these kinds of people, who prove that they can overcome their disadvantages and become great ninja that others have taken to walking their path, and I have aided them in what I could."
Where is trying to go with this? "I understand sir." She noticed a shift in the man's eyes, she couldn't place it and it had barely registered to her before it disappeared.
"Good, now from what I understand there was something you wanted to talk about? Something rather urgent."
"Yes, it's something that I have been struggling with, I know that such allegations" she saw the man's eyes widen at the word, "could have a devastating impact on someone's career. However I felt I had to approach with the matter, as ninjas we are expected to cheat, this though will hurt the students more then it could ever aid them."
"Miwa-san" the man brought his hands together looking at her gravely, "tell me everything."
"It started with…" From there she told him everything she had observed regarding her fellow teacher's actions regarding their students. How he had taken several students under his wing and how those same students had grown at an explosive rate when it came to their taijutsu-skills and how their bodies had changed. Given the short amount of the time and nature of the growth the only explanation that made sense was that her fellow teacher was giving their students steroids.
"I see" the man nodded gravely "thank you for brining this to my attention Miwa-san, I shall personally investigate this, for now I will need a complete schedule of your class's activities. Any suggestions on when Hirai -san meets with his students would be welcomed."
"Of course sir!"
She left the office feeling much lighter then before, in a sense a burden had been lifted of her shoulders and now placed on the headmaster's own. Well that's why he's in charge.
She couldn't help but feel that something more had gone on in there, she replayed the while meeting in her head trying to figure it out. That's was an odd conversation I had with him, what was he referring to back there? I… her eyes widened. That's it! The conversation about someone like him at the academy and how he has helped other students with problems become shinobi! He must want me to pass a student with a similar problem, one that Maito-san would take on as a student!
She stopped mid step thinking on the subject, examining it from different angles. He could be playing on the jounin's emotions to get him to unknowingly dance to his tune. Tsk, hands down Nakatani-san you are good at playing these kinds of games, well it's not like I can do to much to change things and it's not like they don't have a point. One side it look's like manipulation on the other if Maito-san and his father before him managed such a thing who's to say someone else couldn't reach similar heights? Uh…talk about a double sided sword.
Yakumo tapped her foot on the ground. "So what is this about?"
The two were at one of the training grounds the academy had, considering the amount of classes and students the academy had at one given point he wasn't surprised to find an empty. The problem was that not many students inquired about making use of the fields, there were rules about using them, however it wasn't such a large hurdle to jump, his sister and her group had managed to make use of a field easily enough.
"Well, I" he fidgeted for a moment looking away from her eyes hoping to show a convincing nervous façade; this was an important step in telling her about his status and a way to later cement her loyalty. "Um actually wanted to teach you something that can help you."
She looked at him surprised. "Oh what?"
He gulped once. "A martial art."
Yakumo raised an eyebrow at him and began tapping her fingers against her left arm. "You want to teach a martial art?"
"Um" he scratched the back of his head. "Well I came up with a couple things while I was at the academy before, and I think there's something that could help you."
"Really? And you never used this before because you wanted to be fair to the rest of us?"
Oh I can almost taste the sarcasm on her voice, well seeing is believing. He kept his goofy smile on. "How about a spar right here and now?"
She shook her head. "I need to get home."
Amusing she actually thinks she's better than me at this, she knows that even if I don't pay attention in class I still pull through somehow. He kept his mouth shut until Yakumo turned her back to him; his voice took on an amused yet still sincere tone. "Running away? Well ok you are a girl after all."
Yakumo stopped mid step, her voice carried a new edge to it now. "What did you say?"
Something that would have gotten me killed if sister heard me. He got into his stance. "Did I stutter or something?"
Yakumo narrowed her eyes at him. "You're forgetting you don't win our spars."
He cranked his neck. This is what I get for holding back so much around her. For a moment he considered dropping the mask however he reconsidered that would reveal too much too soon. He kept an amused smile on his face and tilted his head to the side looking at her like he had just heard a great joke. "And you do Yaku-chan?"
She gritted her teeth in response. "Fine, I'll go all out this time."
He made a come here motion with his hand.
Yakumo charged forward and sent a palm strike to his chest, he kept his smile and slapped her hand away before replying with a palm strike of his own to her left shoulder that sent her to the ground.
Well that lasted as long as I expected. "Again?"
His only response was her getting off the ground and settling into her stance, he had to give it to her she was persistent it took another four tries before she stopped.
"How!?" she clenched her hands into fists. "I could see the weak spots in your defense! So how? You were never this good before."
His face took on a more serious expression now, something that he couldn't say he had show her often enough. "Yakumo, I've been at the academy for three years now, before I was always up against bigger kids then me, you've seen how the teachers look at me haven't you?"
She nodded.
"I learned how to survive and adapt while here." He gestured to the academy ground around them.
The girl had a puzzled look on her face that turned to intrigue. "So why not use this style in our spars and in the academy ones?"
"I uhh just kind of get excited about how great I'll be and stumble about what to use and stuff." He shrugged. "By the time I decide what to use I'm already beaten."
"And in our spars?"
He lowered his head to the ground not looking her in the eyes. "I wasn't sure how you would react… usually when I started doing good the teachers would just make it harder for me, the other students just kept their distance from me. I was worried you'd do the same thing."
She got up and squeezed his shoulders smiling. "You're and idiot, I wouldn't have done that."
He still refused to meet her gaze. "And if your uncle told you?"
"What?" she took a step back shocked by the question.
He looked toward her now meeting her gaze. "You've seen how the teachers look at me; your uncle isn't that far off either."
"No" she shook her head "he…"
"Listen I want you to look at your uncle's face when you talk to him about me, actually look at it and see his reaction, don't tell him about what happened today, just ask him what he thinks about me, tell him that you've noticed that the teachers look at me funny."
Comprehension flickered across her face. "That…they do look at you funny…why is that?"
He gave her a toothy grin in response. "You're a smart girl Yaku-chan, I'm sure you will figure it out."
A small amount of anger entered her voice. "Don't call" she stopped midsentence looking at him with new eyes. "How much have you been holding back?"
Smart girl. He tilted his head giving her a toothy grin. "What are you talking about Yaku-chan?"
She scowled at him. "Don't try and fool me! If you were holding back here then where else have you been holding back?"
He smiled and narrowed his eyes at her. "Awww, I already said it didn't I, Yaku-chan? You're a smart girl I'm sure you'll figure it out." Leaving the stunned girl behind him, he made his way back to home. "Well time for me to get going, I'll see you tomorrow."
Now this is odd. Tenten first noticed something was different after she defeated Yatsuhiro Okuma, seeing her teacher approach the boy after the spar she chalked it off to him simply correcting the boy's attitude and encouraging him. The issue that caught her attention was just how much the boy grew after his defeat, and not just him, she remarked, a number of the people she defeated seemed too had grown in leaps and bounds when it came to their taijutsu skills.
Being able to match the others in her study group in taijutsu in just a few months seemed to much for them, the other detail was the change their bodies exhibited, their muscles had grown far more then she thought possible in such a short time. In fact it seems the only reasons they are able to match the others is the brute strength their showing.
She looked over the muscles of one of the students. Even with my training I haven't been able to put on those kinds of muscles in such a short time. So what are they doing? Everhthing seems tied to Hirai–sensei.
For the most part she may have had had continued to ignore it had it not started to affect the closest thing she had to friends in the class. Thanks to her own taijutsu skills she wasn't allowed to spar often with her classmates, given that she usually ended things before the other person knew what was happening and her more brutal approach in some situation it wasn't that surprising. No the problem was that the people close to her were being targeted now; their own spars involving a lot more violence from their opponents.
The Hyuuga boy was bad enough, she had never fought him in a spar just yet, however he ranked second after herself, he was skilled, that was something she couldn't deny, combing that with his fine eye for detail allowed him to devastate his opponents physically and if need be mentally as well.
She had hoped to fight him and shut his mouth however the awaited spar never happened. An interesting result was that everyone in the class wanted to see the two of them fight; bets had already been made on who would win. With the recent issue even the Hyuuga boy had found himself pushed hard from those he defeated.
"Next fight Tenten Sanada and Hyuuga Neji."
What…? Her head snapped to Hirai–sensei, a brief look revealed that Katsue was present. So is he doing this behind her back? Is he hoping that he can approach the loser of the fight to join him?
"Oh….snap!" she didn't know who said the words however that seemed to sum up all of the assembled students thoughts.
Well this is going to be interesting! She held out her hand in the classic sign before an academy spar. "This has been a long time coming." She noticed the boy nod and complete the sign as well.
"We shall see whose fate it is to win."
"Right…fate."
Yujiro Hirai looked between the two before letting the fight start. "Begin!"
Raising a hand the boy made a hand sign and his byakugan sprang to life, the veins around his eyes bulging.
So I finally get to fight it. "This is a surprise, brining it out like that, she could hear the hushed murmurs front around her, "you've never done so from the start of a match."
"I will not underestimate you."
"Good" she got into her stance grinning "prepare yourself then." I can have some fun now. She couldn't go all out against him, no, that was reserved only for her brother; still she could still have fun against him.
The two sped forward exchanging a floury of fast paced blows, only a few of the students were able to keep up with the speed. The Hyuuga tried to attack the tenketsu points in Tenten's body while she deflected the attacks and countered managing to land a few hits on the boy's chest and arms.
Tenten smiled as they broke apart, she had allowed only a few attacks to graze her arms, seeing her opponent's ragged breaths, given the boy's age she knew he couldn't keep her byakugan active for long. She had observed the boy fighting using his bloodline and without it, she noticed how the boy was always more winded after using it. Her brother agreed after discussing her observations that the bloodline must be costing the user a certain amount of chakra. Through the training the amount needed to keep the bloodline active would naturally decrease and their skills with it would increase, sadly for her opponent he was still very young and didn't have the reserves to keep fighting for a very long time using it.
"Not bad" she gave him a cocky grin, "is that all?"
"Fate may favor you at the moment; however," he switched his stance bringing his left foot forward and lower his knees ever so slightly, "I am not yet defeated."
"Heh." Good keep that attitude up.
Her opponent sprang forward using his right hand to strike at her left shoulder.
Tenten wanted to laugh knowing what the boy wanted to do after fighting so many opponents in the god realm his move wasn't a surprised, it was sadly for him clear from a mile away. Well let him get his hopes up before I break them down and then use them to start a fire and eat dinner over them.
When the blow missed its mark the boy spun quickly and used his left hand to send a blow to her stomach and his right hand to her left shoulder again.
She dodged the first and second blow surprising her opponent while getting slightly closer to him and throwing a right punch towards his head that he barely manages to dodge. "You sure are good with those eyes of yours" her smile took on a blood thirsty edge to it, "how about I take them from you?"
The boy's eyes managed and managed to take a single step back before Tenten using her extended right arm bent it and used her elbow to strike his head forehead above his right eyebrow splitting it open causing the boy to drop to his knees like a puppet who's strings were cut.
Well that's that. She took a step back as Hirai sprang forward and was checking her downed opponent, she noticed from the corner of her eye Katsue arrive on the training field, her classmates were still speechless.
"I…" Katsue looked at her fellow teacher taking in the scene "damn it Tenten, I was only gone for three minutes!"
She shrugged. "It isn't that bad, just a simple cut." And the force required to knock him out, of course but they don't need to know.
Katsue checked over the boy as well and spoke a few words with her fellow teacher. "That's it, your coming to headmaster's office for this!" She looked around the field. "The rest of you are not allowed to leave this place, stay here and performs katas or physical exercises."
She saw her other sensei leaving the filed with the Hyuuga most likely taking him to the nurse's office to better treat the cut.
Katsue grabbed her shoulder forcefully and began walking towards the academy. "Let's go."
Well let's see where this goes, I already have my excuses planned out.
The trip to the headmaster's office was mercifully quiet and uneventful; Tenten had gone over what she would say to defend her actions during the walk and was grateful for the quiet time. She noticed how the woman, who she assumed was the secretary, gave them a surprised look before composing herself.
"Miwa-san, this is a surprise, what can I aide you with?"
"I need to the headmaster concerning one of my students actions during a spar that resulted in the other one being left with an open wound on his head."
"I see, I will inform the headmaster, a moment please."
Well I know at least that she isn't kidding about the matter. She realized just how angry Katsue was seeing how quiet the woman had been to the trip and still was.
The secretary returned quickly enough. "The headmaster will see you now, please enter."
Katsue shoved her from behind towards the office. No need to shove, I'm not afraid.
Seeing the man up close Tenten had to admit he did look like a veteran warrior, the only other shinobi of similar age that she knew of was the Hokage. "From what I understand there has been some sort of altercation just recently." His tone was strictly business yet still carried a warmth to it.
"More then that sir." Katsue hissed.
"Oh?" his tone took on a mild curious tint. "Please tell me."
And she did, or at least she explained what she saw and what she confirmed had happened from the other teacher.
"I see" his voice hardened and his presence seemed to tower over her like a mountain, it might have impressed her had Sayaka not done far worse. "Well my dear I have to ask about your actions, how do you explain them?"
"I know that I went too far with my attack" that seemed to at least get a small reaction out of them, "however I am not sorry for it."
"Explain."
"Sir, I understand that as shinobi we will find someone who will try and break us with their words, and I know we need to resist such a thing, but when those attacks comes from one of our own, who flaunts his strength, not really true, and goes on how it is his fate to win and the other people's fate to lose and never win against him? No I can't accept that, I made a stand against him." Seeing the two hesitate she continued. "Aren't we supposed to stand up for our comrades no matter what opponent we faced? Even when that person is one of ours? Isn't that what the will of fire is all about? Isn't that what she is supposed to do?! That's what I did, and I will do it again in the future."
"I see…you are correct about the will of fire." He turned towards Katsue "Is what she said about the boy true?"
"To a degree yes" Katsue nodded placing her hands over her chest. "perhaps not as bad as she made it out to be" Katsue stopped for the briefest of moments, perhaps to let her imagine victory only to steal it away. "However I have already spoken to him about his attitude, he does not flaunt his skills."
What she actually talked to him about it? That's good, but I'm not giving up the argument that easily. "You don't see how the sad and distraught the people he defeats are after the spars!"
Katsue slammed a hand down on the headmaster's desk. "I do because I talk to each of them!"
What?
Katsue continued the anger clear in her voice. "Yes, his attitude during the spars leaves the others distraught, however you aren't that different!"
"What? I don't leave them close to tears!"
"No" she continued exasperated "you just make all of their progress look non existent!"
"What?!"
"Well," the headmaster cut in. "I can see that their much more to this then meets the eye, I happen to have heard about your taijutsu skills and agree in that you have great potential. Tell me would you like to graduate early?"
She could graduate early? Would she even want such a thing? No, I'm not ready for something like that. "No sir, I want to graduate with my friends."
"What if they graduated early as well?"
"I think it would be best if we had more time to sharpen our skills and mature."
"Well said, this isn't war time; once you are out there will be no going back. I believe you understand that eventually you will have to work with other people."
"I know sir."
"Good, good."
"Now we're going to speak about by your attitude in the class as we will speak about this other students as well no properly solve this matter."
"Sir, can we speak about what some of the other students have doing?"
"Please enlighten me."
"I noticed something odd with some of my fellow classmates that Hirai-sensei has taken an interest in." She noticed how the man's eyes narrowed and even Katsue seemed to be giving her a shocked and then interested look. I guess it isn't a surprise, has she already told him about the matter?
"Tell me everything you have noticed."
"Come you guys you're going to miss it!" Naruto waved impatiently nudging his two friends on, the three where on the Hokage monument heading for a spot Naruto had discovered that according to him had the best view. "Ah there it is." The three sat down at the spot indicated by Naruto and looked at the night sky.
"It looks nice." Chouji carefully removed a small bottle from his jacket and took a sip from its contents, the trip up the monument had taken a lot more out of him then he had thought. He cast a quick look behind him, while he couldn't see the man he knew he had a guard with him, he hoped the man was in better shape then he was.
Yakumo hummed in agreement looking at the night sky, it had its own beauty to it, the three of them and Chouji's guard as well as her own uncle had travelled to the Hokage monument after Naruto convinced the two of them upon traveling to good spot he knew up there to look at all the different stars.
Naruto chuckled and then smiled looking at the sky. "There's a story about a people called the Elazan who believed that there was beauty in darkness, and that the daylight was more profane. They saw the stars as the Thousand Eyes of Krell watching them. The sun was the single, jealous eye of Krell's brother, Galt. Since Galt only had one eye, he made it blaze brightly to outshine his brother. The Elazan, however, were not impressed, and preferred to worship the quiet Krell, who watched over them even when Galt obscured the sky."
The two looked at him like he had grown a second head. "What?" he asked indignant "I do read you know!"
"It's just" Chouji began steadily "where did you hear that?"
"Um" he scratched the back of his head looking away from the two "well I hear people talking when the long distance trade caravans come to Konoha and stuff."
Yakumo nodded looking from the sky to Naruto. "It's like that story you told me about the Evening and Dawn star."
"Huh" Chouji looked puzzled at the two, "what story was that?"
Naruto gave him a toothy smile. "I'll tell you as well."
Yakumo looked on as Naruto began his story, in truth she had been looking a lot more closely at her friend recently, she had taken his advice and asked her uncle about him, the result was surprising, even for someone like her she could tell that there was some sort of resentment there. She didn't know of an exact cause for it, not something that would set her uncle and the teachers against her friend.
The thought that he was the son of a traitor or at least someone who had lost his honor had crossed her mind, yet even that seemed strange to her. For so many people to look at him that way, just how important had either of his parents been? If it truly was an important mission that failed because of either of his parents, then they must have held some high rank or they wouldn't have been given that mission in the first place.
And they uncle lets me play with him, so why? Is he hoping that Naruto can somehow redeem his dishonored parents? Does uncle think he has hidden potential and can become an ally? She looked closer at Naruto. After fighting him back then I can believe that he has some strength, even if he acts like a fool he still manages to keep his position in class.
She realized that while her friend did act like a fool, he still somehow managed to stay near the middle of the class rankings, something that many didn't expect. He had unknowingly aided her when they first met as he slipped the information about the clan heirs joining the new academy year. Her uncle had been happy to hear that bit of information, thinking she realized that while he had grimaced hearing from whom the information came from he still allowed her to keep meeting him afterwards. Did he think that Naruto could help me further? Is that why he allowed our friendship to form back then?
Looking at Naruto talking to the Akamichi heir, she agreed that Naruto had unknowingly aided her again, helping her meet a fellow clan heir and helping in forming a friendship between them. Even if they were not particularly close yet, the first steps had been made and it was mostly thanks to her blond friend. I could call him a bridge of sorts.
I still feel like guilty it like I'm using him, even if it's not intentionally. Maybe I can try helping with his studies, even if it looks like he doesn't need that much help or I could help him gain a stronger resistance to genjutsu later.
"And that's how the two stars got their names." Naruto nodded to himself in a satisfied manner.
Chouji for his part was horrified and couldn't keep it from his voice. "Why would the boy abandon his family like that?"
"Pff" Naruto crossed his arms "that's what Yakumo asked as well, he did have a dream you know."
Chouji continued uncertain. "But to abandon them like that…"
"I don't know if I could do that." Yakumo chipped in.
Chouji shook his head. "Me neither."
Naruto let out a tired sigh. "It's just a story on how those two stars got their names."
He does seem to like the stars quite a bit. "You like them a lot?" she asked looking back towards the night sky.
"He does, doesn't he? I picked up on that fact, yet I've never truly asked him about it."
"Yep" Naruto nodded looking pleased with himself. "I really like looking at the night sky filled with stars."
"Why?" Chouji looked towards the sky though for the life of him he couldn't understand what the big deal was.
Yes, I'm curious about that as well. She wanted to find out more about her friend, and Chouji had helped in getting information that she desired without having the actually pry deeply into the matter.
"Why?" he asked surprised. "Just look at it?" Naruto sat up pointing at the sky, a new exuberance to his voice unlike anything either of them had ever heard. "Who knows what else is out there? Things we can't even begin to imagine could just be waiting to be discovered! Stuff beyond our wildest dreams could be waiting for us to find them!"
Yakumo almost took a step back. She had never seen him talk with such passion before; she realized that Chouji was just as surprised as she was. "You really like it don't you?"
"Yeah" he scratched the back of his head again looking at his feet. "Heh."
Chouji took another sip from his flask before closing the lid on it. "Well it is beautiful but I still kind of prefer the dawn."
Yakumo nodded looking towards the moon. "They both have their strong points."
Naruto for his part knew that the dawn had nothing on the dusk. Dawn always came up ugly, as if the sun was clumsy and in a hurry. The dusk was smoother, the moon more graceful. Maybe it was because the moon was more patient. In life and nature darkness always waits.
I think I'm getting bored with this or just maybe I've out grown it all? Naruto looked around the classroom, waiting for the inevitable flood once everything started. I placed sketches of Iruka and Mizuki with a thought balloon containing the words I'm watching you on the underside of the toilet lids. I used toilet paper to completely cover the teacher's meeting room. I even spiked the drinks in the meeting room, not to mention the reserves.
He let out a short sigh watching a bird fly from a branch outside of the classroom, a small smile tugged at his lips. You're free little guy, enjoy it. She moved his head back to the blackboard a bored look on his face. Maybe I'm just losing my touch, I have lost part of the interest for pranks, I usually did it to ensure people didn't take me too seriously, then I used it to get back at some of the teachers that insisted on being rude. Now I'm doing it for the same reasons however I just don't seem to have the passion for it anymore.
A groan escaped his lips. And yet I still have to do them for a few years to keep the mask up, I wouldn't be so bores if sister would just let me steal some more things. He tossed a quick look to Yakumo who was talking with Shikamaru about something. At least teaching her helps pass the time; she has started to take to the style rather well. If she can learn to throw in some genjutsus mid fight she'll a danger on the battlefield. Not to myself, or sister, to the others though more then likely. I wonder just how much her uncle will let me corrupt her.
The flask was tubular, copper, banded with straps of dull zinc; Duck drew it from a pocket of his chest armor. Ten black armored shinobi, their full squad, surrounded Duck as he unscrewed the stopper, and then dripped a few drops onto his segmented glove, only the moonlight showed the water on the black glove. As the group intoned the rite, now sacred for the squad, their voices were toneless as they rasped out; Duck dripped the water onto the ground in the place he had chosen.
In a second it is undistinguishable from the rest of the ground, never the less the rite was made. Water had been given, a tradition that had started with the squad since the war with Kiri generations ago. The water users of the original squad had perished in the brutal battles with Kiri shinobi, whose own prowess with water far surpassed their own, warriors hailed as coming from a world of seas.
Even when faced with such warriors Konoha's own refused to give up the battle; they fought with everything they had against impossible odds. To those that came after the original members the ritual of offering water was created to honor the first members and never forget their sacrifice. With the water given battle could now be waged on the soil.
They stood in a circle, with Duck rising and joining their circle, ten warriors wrapped in darkness, armored and terrible. For a moment they hum a slow chant and slap their right hands against their armor. The chant over, they move with smooth precision, their weapons checked and rechecked for the mission. Tiger readied his hands for his fire jutsu, lighting flashes across the squad's captain Sparrow's kunais, he nods looking at them.
The circle breaks, not even the moonlight reveals their forms as they skirt the littered rocks along the edge of the depression, they move swiftly while hiding in the shadows. One group quickly forms, their captain Sparrow, Tiger who is carrying their communication equipment, Crow and Rabbit, another group with Panther, Squirrel and Cow and one last group with Donkey, Beaver and Duck who has the most medical training out of the group, making him the squad's medic.
No words are spoken or needed between them; quick hand signs help exchange information as the terrain is assessed. They know why they are here and what they must do. And they must do it. With a gesture of his hand, Sparrow double times them, the squad moves through the shadows heading into a canyon. Below them in a dimpled basin scoured from the pan was the target. Sparrow saw it for the first time, the newly discovered temple.
The temple had been found in recent times, a large ten kilometer square edifice with black metal walls surrounding it. Small flames could be seen inside of it with the smoke rising, the guards of the temple. Sparrow looks at it for a while, a few seconds probably, but for him an eternity of contemplation. He for he had been told of the structure, discovered recently and claimed as a monument by the rulers of the country it was in, many visitors had flocked to the place and paid large sums only to enter it. Vast amounts of hidden treasure was said to be locked within it. That interested him little; the target was a large artifact within the temple that had caught the eye of their client.
Sparrow opened his comm. Squad, the target lies before you. We will begin on my word. Advance!
Their objective was simple enough, acquire the item and exterminate the guards and any who oppose, the objective had been given from the highest echelons, the mission could only end in success. Another moment passes as the moon is blocked out by clouds. Squad, move out!
They descent the dimpled slope at a run, hidden in the shadows obscured from view.
Sparrow reaches a sloping wall of iron-buffered siding; he scales it quickly walking on its surface. Two men guard the parapet, samurai going by the pieces of their armor, and not experienced ones, their legs and shoulders are unprotected, and their masks only shields their faces and not their whole head. The two gaze towards the moon as the clouds reveal it once more, Sparrow moves, to fast for the two to react properly, a quick to move with his right hand and he slashes across one of the guard's spine up to his neck, the second falls down the lighting covered kunai embedded in his head.
Tiger reaches another part of the perimeter, the darkness he knows has become his mistress at this point, he opens a door and enters the gloom, his hands ready. For a moment bright eyes set in black masks look behind them for a second before they fall silent.
Crow leads the assault over the north wall, the enemies fall to the floor unsure of what is occurring; genjutsu ensnares making their passage peaceful. Somewhere, an alarm starts to ring. Either they have made a mistake or someone who can challenge them is present, his sharingan becomes active before he continues.
Panther crosses an open space between the temple floors cutting down enemies, huddles of bleary enemies stumble outside in confusion only to be cut down as they appear. Rabbit enters a vault of sorts by the north wall and finds three guards struggling with a large mounted crossbow, she leaps and lands in the behind the three butchering them with her sword.
Squirrel and Cow catch a dozen of the enemy as they panic; they impose a crossfire of kunai and shurikens that slaughters them all. More emerge throwing shuriken's of their own, one marks Cow's shoulder guard with a denting scar. Someone with some skills then.
Duck moves in around them, setting up a third part to the crossfire. Between the three's barrage as shuriken's and kunai's the enemy is cut down forming a pool of blood on the temple floor. Rabbit moves from vault to vault, slaughtering, through one doorway, she turns to face a screaming guardsmen who shots three bolts from his crossbow simultaneously at her. She dodges, none of the arrow ever reaching her. The crossbow now empty the guardsmen hurries to reload it, with a swift move she cut open his face reaching the brain, she hears a resounding crack as the man's head burst open when he hits the floor.
The squad moves deeper into the facility. Between two low concrete blockhouses, Donkey is rushed by twenty guards who stream over him like ants; they wiled axes and large hammers. Poor excuses for guards in any case, he laughs as he kills them, snapping necks, splintering limbs, and slicing through bodies of those who get to close. His armor is dressed with blood; he churns through the gore into the control room stopping the alarm. Sparrow kills with another move of his kunais, Crow cuts more down with his sword, Tiger scorches, they kill and kill again.
Something stops Squirrel in his tracks, he pauses almost thoughtful, trying to make sense of things, struggling to control his emotions, his body spasms, he stands on a derrick walkway, with a good view of the room ahead of him. Looking down he sees a sword sticking out of his torso. As his legs give out, he lets out a scream in rage, he was not finished, he wanted to do more, he would never see his child grow old now, barely seeing his little girl take her fist steps and now it ended. His face hits the floor, his mask shielding his identity holds, with his last breath he tells his squad of his attacker. The squad heard his howls and knew they had lost a member of their squad.
Crow jumps to his right side avoiding a sword swipe, he turned sharingan blazing looking at his opponent, a large figure in a grey samurai armor, mere paces from him, charging with a long sword. The speed seems like that of a snails, he spots the weakness in his armor and with a quick flicker of his arm his kunai goes through the man's stomach and nips his spine. He falls spread eagled, the sword long since slipped from his grip. Curious. The man smiles as he closes his eyes his chests explodes showering cat with blood and flesh. A suicide seal?
Even as he moves to avoid it a part still reaches him. As he gags, he sees feet besides him, iron clad boots of a samurai who is standing over him, his blade raised over his head about to strike him down. A quick move from behind and the samurai turns blocking a kunai with his sword, another slashes across his stomach the armor relenting under the lighting covered kunai, his entrails spilling out of his stomach on the floor. As the samurai falls to his knees Sparrow gives him a quick death blow slicing the man's throat. Sparrow pulls Crow to his feet.
More then we thought.
Is it not always this way?
We'll make a man out of you yet.
Sparrow clips Crow on the shoulders in respect and encouragement as Crow cleans himself of the entrails covering him. They both turn. Another screams fills the radio. Donkey is dead. Another samurai, much more competent then rest had severed Donkey's legs and opened his stomach. Another swift cut silences him permanently; the clang of the sword hitting the metal floor is forgotten as the sound of their comrade's flesh being cut remains at their forethoughts.
Crow knows what the others are feeling; even he is not entirely without it now, the desire for vengeance burns in them. As they stride forward, Sparrow uses his radio to judge the deployment of the squad. The surgical precision of their strike is melting as the men encounter unexpected skillful enemies, the assault if hesitating. Sparrow knows he can't allow this to happen. He barks off a string of orders that redirects and fortifies the ebbing wash of his men's advance.
Sparrow and Crow meet with Tiger and Cow at a new designated checkpoint. Cow finds Doneky's body, sprawled in pieces in the shadows of a corridor. He signals Duck to it. The medic arrives, together the two removes what useful items they can from their fallen brother, his mask is taken to be given to another that will take his place, his body is burned leaving little trace of his presence their. All of the squads carry vials to help burn away the bodies of their comrades should they perish. Duck carries several more, one for each squad member.
The sounds of fighting fill the hallway of the temple, Tiger and cow have managed to encounter one of the more skilled samurai. The exchange of blows is brief but intense. Cow takes a slash across his back slicing his armor; Tiger manages to put a kunai through the samurai's left eye socket. As the samurai falls thrashing to the ground Tiger roasts him with a fire jutsu.
Sparrow and Crow skirt vaulted bunkers in the west of the temple where their objective should be located. Statues filled the corridor as do depictions that mare the walls, creatures whose mere image he can feel scratching at his mind, half human half beast like things. A small click from behind alerts them of the presence, they jump in time to avoid the sword swipe, however a large armored hand still catches Sparrow by the throat, the blade is driven through Sparrow's left hip, to late he notices the green viscous dripping from the blade. Crow tries a genjutsu using his sharingan to little effect he dives into them; the samurai is half as big again as either of them, his armor black and shiny like that of a great scarab.
Crow twits, fighting to get his sword close to the samurai's face. Blood in his mouth, sparrow fights the samurai, fights the grip, fights the pain. He writhes to give Crow a clean shot, the sword inside of his hips slices deeper cutting arteries, he blacks out. The samurai gets a hand around Crow's wrist forcing him to drop his blade and hauls him over, but this is a mistake. Now Crow has a clean shot. Though still gripped, Crow throws two shuriken; the point blank attacks impact and crush a part of the samurai's helmet reaching his skulls.
The breach is all he needs, with a swift move he grabs his sword again another quick move and he slices through the enemy's skull. The corps drops to the floor lifeless; Crow notices the pool of blood which is streaming from Sparrow's leg wound. The wound he realizes is deep. Blood drizzles out from under him, through the while in his armor. Wordlessly, for to speak would be to scream, Sparrow shudders and passes on his kunais.
Crow wants to argue, but knows that this is not the time or the place. Sparrow had been grooming Crow for command responsibilities since his introduction into the squad. Crow had always hoped that such an inheritance would be a long time coming. He slides his sword back into the scabbard and arms himself with the kunais. Two gold leafs traceries etch the sides of the ancient weapons, regarding its history and uses. The captain of the squad had always wielded the kunais. The flicks his wrist and turns the weapons over weighing them. On the ground, a stiffening island of metal in a lake of blood, Sparrow opens his radio channel and instructs them all to answer to Crow.
Make it a clean blow.
Crow nods grimly, by the time Duck arrives the matter is done and Sparrow has passed on. The medic clasps Sparrow's empty hand once as a gesture of honor. He opens pocket and retrieves a scroll, the one that holds the vial needed to destroy his old comrade's body. The wound had sliced a major artery; worst was the poison that had slipped into the bloodstream. With better medical care and time it would have been something he could have lived through, but there was no time, the expertise or the supplies needed.
Crow opens the command channel and speaks to his men; they hail him with grim solemnity and utter devotion. Sparrow would be mourned later. Beaver reports the southern perimeter secure, and Rabbit and panther add that all opposition has ceased. In fifteen minutes they have killed one hundred guards and the samurai with them. For the loss of three, it has been a costly victory.
The squad regroups at the main entry of the temple, Duck and Tiger check to ensure the destruction of their comrades bodies, the corpses of their foes are left to give a grim example of what occurs when their client's wrath is incurred. Crow, Rabbit and Panther secure the item they came for, Crow inspects the item his sharingan helping to commit it to memory, it looks he realizes like a large golden egg with strange lines and circles drawn on it's surface.
Crow and panther begin to work on the scroll and seals which would be used to transport the item to their client. While the two work cat looks through the notes on the item, the new item had been found three months before in a fortified vault in the collapsed part of the temple.
The vault door had at the time been covered in strange drawings; a month had been needed to reach the interior of the vault breaking through gates using Iwa nin. Something ancient perhaps, from a time before the rise of shinobi. All the guards had reported feeling something in the air after the item was discovered, a strange presence of sorts.
Study of the artifact had revealed nothing in the two months since its discovery, something given the countries limited resources and possible age of artifact wasn't surprising. There is only duty, victory and death, and all must be savored when they come. With the item sealed Crow orders the squad to regroup, with their objective complete they leave the place. The massacre, he knows is something their client desired, a way of showing his long deadly reach. If the future fire daimyo wants something he shall have it.
Chapter 15 – alternative title : Blood spattered debut.
Anything you recognize belongs to someone else. Any overtly original twists placed on old ideas you may wish to incorporate, feel free. Completely original ideas and concepts, please ask.
I was hoping to make this chapter a double deluxe one, sadly real life got in the way so it ended up being something very different.
A heads up about the next chapter, it may not come out next month, sadly with the holidays in December and other matters I've run out of back up chapters, ch. 15 was 60% done since December, with real life getting a tad more difficult writing the next chapter will be more difficult, chances are that I will want to have a back up chapter before posting something new.
The second half is a story called BLACK GOLD, I just cut it up and changed it up a bit, however I did not write it.
Quotes :
- 07-Ghost
- Patrick Rothfuss, The Name of the Wind
- Brandon Sanderson, Mistborn: The Final Empire
- Michael Connelly, The Closers
- I had hoped to build up the fight with Neji more, likewise the fight itself wasn't that good.
Review away
Constructive criticism or pointing out possible errors/issues within the story is always welcomed.