Ben-10: The One True Monster
Chapter 7: Episode For Dragons and Fox
A/N: I made a promise to make an update on September 29th but I couldn't fulfill it. I was conflicted about whether I should add a backstory of the Shimada brothers, regarding their role in the story and that they won't make another appearance in the series after this arc until much later.
In their introduction chapter, I introduced them as "Dragon Brothers of the Mist," where the Mist was supposed to represent Kirigakure. But instead it actually represented Kiriko, who was the child of the Mist. In other words, it just means the Dragon Brothers protected/ aided by the Child of the Mist.
Responding to the comment regarding Benji's love interest, I still can't imagine how voting would go: like I don't really know whom people want to ship Ben/ Benji with. Plus as I've said before, I actually like the canon couples. So I would choose the candidates among those who doesn't have a canon ship (like Tenten.)
But for now, Benji is still too young for the ship.
"Dad… are we surrendering to Kusagakure?"
A younger Hanzo dressed in traditional Japanese attire, with his long, black hair neatly bound in a ponytail, assumed a posture befitting the Shimada Clan's future leader. In the backdrop, Genji vigorously wielded his sword, following the guidance of a female instructor by his side. Casting a brief glance toward Hanzo and his father, the instructor wore a gentle smile as she instructed Genji to adjust his stance.
The setting was an ancient Japanese residence adorned with elegant architectural details, though it now housed only a handful of occupants. It lacked the vibrant atmosphere of days gone by.
"Son," Sojiro responded, "'surrender' is not the right word. We are simply forming an alliance with Kusagakure for the time being. Our clan remains as formidable as ever."
Hanzo knew his father was lying, but it was the truth he didn't want to point out.
"Hanzo…"
The boy was almost lost in his thoughts when his father snapped him out of it.
"Young Master, would you care to join our sword training today?" The instructor invited him, sensing that the boy was feeling down.
"Forget about him, shishio," Genji remarked, returning his sword to its sheath. "He's already so skilled. Hmph, did you give him special treatment?"
The woman chuckled softly. "No, I did not. I treat all my students impartially, Young Master Genji. However, it's simply that he is ready to receive it. You, too, will acquire such training when your time comes."
"… I see."
Genji would often backtalk his master, but he was still scared of her nonetheless. Even an airhead like Genji understood that she was no one to be underestimated. She was not just any instructor; this woman, Asa Kamori, was a kenjutsu expert and a renowned warrior who had fought alongside the Shimada Clan in past wars, while she also worked as the head weaponsmith for the clan. Though she doesn't work as a smith anymore.
At any rate, this is why this woman is highly respected, almost equally as the head of the clan among the members, despite her being an outsider.
Hanzo looked back at the two before directing his attention to his father who was sneaking away.
"Wait, dad…"
"Oh,… okay?"
Hanzo walked up to Sojiro with a resolute expression. "Teach me how to master the dragons, please."
Kamori-sensei was delighted to hear that, but Sojiro was confused for a moment.
"Hanzo, you're growing more and more like a true heir," he responded with a smile. "Of course, I'll teach you."
Genji, feeling left out, sulked, "That's not fair, Dad! I want to learn about dragons too!"
Sojiro gently replied, "No, you're still too young, Genji. First, focus on honing your Chakra control. When the time is right, I'll teach you as well. Just be patient, my son."
He then turned his attention to his older son. "Follow me."
As Genji and the instructor observed the two departing the training area, a cheerful young girl, about the same age as Genji, entered through another door. This girl happened to be the younger version of Kiriko Kamori.
"Mom, are doughnuts and 'deez nuts' the same thing?"
"What?" the instructor replied, bemused by the unexpected question.
Indeed, Kiriko was Asa-sensei's only daughter.
Years passed.
And now it was a few months before the Shimada brothers and Kiriko traveled to Konohagakure no Sato to take the Chuunin Exam.
In a spacious training chamber with wooden walls, Hanzo and Genji engaged in a spirited sparring session, each wielding a sword, getting all sweaty as inspected by Kiriko who was feasting on a large plate of snacks.
Although the two seemed evenly matched, it was evident that Hanzo held the upper hand in this encounter. Conversely, Genji, known for his absent-minded nature, had the advantage of greater stamina. The elder brother frequently found himself gasping for breath, while the younger one remained noticeably composed.
"You two, need my blessings?!" Kiriko called out before throwing a snack into her mouth.
The two brothers jumped back from each other to take a short break.
"I suppose that might help," Genji teased, flashing an irritating grin at Hanzo. "We need healing, don't we?"
"No… I don't need it," Hanzo exhaled. "We need to break our limits without your help."
"Well said, Mom told me to not help you guys anyway," Kiriko giggled in response.
Genji hissed. "Then why even ask us?"
"Nah…" Kiriko glanced down at her now-empty plate, featuring the mark resembling a kitsune fox.
"Break's over," said Hanzo vigorously. "Let's go for another round."
"Dang, you are too ambitious, brother," Genji remarked, repositioning his blade.
"I am the heir, and you are my younger brother," Hanzo declared as he charged at his sibling. "It's our duty to resurrect the Shimada clan!"
"But still!" Genji parried the blade with his signature move. "Shouldn't we leave it to the adults?"
"We'll be adults ourselves in a few years," Hanzo asserted, wielding his weapon with such precision that Genji struggled to keep pace. "This is just one more step toward adulthood! It's time to mature!"
Despite having joined Kusagakure, the Shimada Clan had gradually lost its influence over the years, leaving the heir feeling desperate. His efforts weren't in vain, but his pride and desire for strength had led him to hit a wall. In other words, he couldn't find a path to self-improvement within Kusagakure.
There was no doubt that the Shimada Clan and its members were among the most formidable shinobi in Kusagakure no Sato, but they had yet to reclaim their former glory.
Genji once again ended this round of their sparring match in defeat, but being an easygoing individual, he never harbored ill feelings toward his older brother. Within the clan, their one-sided win-loss ratio was acknowledged as a friendly rivalry, never seen as a competition for inheritance.
Nonetheless, Hanzo's aspirations remained too lofty for Genji to keep pace with.
Kiriko quickly hid her empty plate beneath the floorboards upon hearing the familiar, hushed footsteps approaching. Her mother was coming to check on their progress.
"Alright, you two, I will heal you up with my jutsu," the girl offered, walking up to the brothers who were leaning against each other, utterly exhausted on the floor.
"Thank you…" Genji said, panting. "You are really a great help."
The girl smiled and hummed a tune before pulling out a few paper sheets engraved with her jutsu. Meanwhile, the double door slid open letting the female instructor into the room.
"Mom, we're wrapping up here," Kiriko informed her as the paper sheets glowed in her hands.
"Excellent, I have something to discuss with you both," the mother grinned. "Are you interested in participating in the upcoming Chuunin exam?"
"Is that even possible?" Genji inquired while Kiriko restored his energy. "We haven't really attended the academy much."
"Nonsense, you're my students," Asa Kamori chuckled. "Hanzo, Genji, you two are the renowned Dragon Brothers, possibly the most powerful of your generation in the village."
"Oh, that's..." Genji was genuinely taken aback. Had it been anyone else offering such praise, he might not have thought much of it. However, coming from his instructor, it meant more than just compliments.
"Furthermore, I believe Kiriko is ready," she observed her daughter rapidly healing the two boys. "Of course, I have confidence in my daughter's abilities. But that doesn't mean you should act recklessly just because you have a healer, understood?"
"...Sorry," Hanzo mumbled.
"That said… I don't really know how strong other villages have become," Kamori said. "I will have to discuss that with Shimada-san."
And thus it came to where it is now.
In the hall, everyone had their eyes on the display screen
Hayate Gekko, the proctor for the preliminary exam, quickly announced the participants of the next round.
"And so… Temari from Sunagakure and Genji Shimada from Kusagakure… cough, please come down here."
"Hmm…" Masato narrowed his eyes, watching the two genins jump down into the "ring."
"Kusagakure, huh, I didn't know their symbol," Benji remarked.
"What do you think about them?" The older Tenzaki asked.
"Well… I am grateful to them," the younger Tenzaki grinned. "My Earth scroll was theirs, Heh. But their leader put up a good fight. He's terrifying…"
The man blinked. "Terrifying? If you are calling him terrifying, then… I guess that's the power of the Shimada Clan."
"Do you know them?"
"Yeah… you know the clans in Konoha, right? Like, the renowned Hyuga, Nara, Yamanaka, etc…"
"I do?"
"Just like them, the Shimada Clan was also a terrifying army on its own, though they lived far away from Konohagakure. But it's been decades since I heard their name. The clan went downhill after a battle for heritage. It's now the strongest clan in Kusagakure but it's nowhere near Konoha's ninja clans."
Benji watched the battle between the two fighters attentively.
"If I remember right, this guy is the younger brother of the two known as the Dragon Brothers. He's also quite weak…"
"But look at his kenjutsu moves," Masato rubbed his chin. "The strength he put in his blades is just about right. That Suna kid has an upper hand only because her jutsu is a ranged one. But Shimada boy's blades never overextend, they reach her precisely."
"I can see that," Benji commented.
"But the issue is…"
Genji was precise and skillful with his kenjutsu already, but Temari's wind jutsu, plus her oversized fan-like weapon, were perfectly cut out for both offense and defense against a short-ranged fighter like Genji. Not that there is a large gap between them though.
Also, at the same time, Genji showcased his large stamina pool— he delivered offensive blows continuously without breaking a sweat. This is someone who trained with Hanzo…
"My bet is on Genji," the younger Tenzaki grinned, gaining the attention of his peers. A comment from the famed "Ben-Ten of the Omnitrix" is that powerful.
That didn't go unheard by Temari, who let her guard up as she found it difficult to keep up with the speed of kenjutsu. Her opponent's blades were almost unpredictable, and she could only rely on her hard-trained instincts to deflect his attacks.
In other words, one wrong move on her part can be a lethal thorn.
Hanzo and Kiriko however quietly watched their teammate's fight. They knew Genji couldn't lose, but at the same time, knew that he was disadvantaged.
Genji jumped to the side, dodging wind-based strikes from Temari, before putting the shorter sword back into its sheath, which was behind his waist.
"Huh, do you feel like giving up?" Temari mocked, wiping the sweat off her forehead.
Genji responded by casting his Dragon summoning jutsu on his blade, enhancing its power.
"Hijutsu! Ryuu no Ken!" (秘術・竜の剣)
Secret Technique - Dragonblade.
As his blade glowed bright green after the cast, he became a blur, charging right at his opponent. Taken aback, Temari reacted fast by spinning herself with her fan open, hoping to get Genji out of the way. Unfortunately for her, the boy wasn't bothered by her defensive attack, he passed by at a high speed, before striking her from behind.
Hayate widened his eyes, having prepared himself to stop the match before someone died. He wasn't one to judge but it was an obvious checkmate.
But what reached her wasn't a blade. It was a dragon, a single dragon which was a smaller version of Hanzo's dragons, made up purely of chakra.
"Wha—"
Compared to Hanzo's terrifying dragons, Genji's dragon didn't make a large impact. But his attacks were otherwise lethal, and it was a given that he could strike down the girl if he wanted. But unlike his brother, this guy was pure and innocent at heart to the point of unnecessary kindness– which was why he held back, yet it was also the reason that would backfire at him.
"This is… draining my chakra…"
Upon realization, Temari leaped forward with a flip to get away from his jutsu. She might have underestimated her opponent, even if a bit. In fact, she didn't know a thing about him.
How could a village like Kusagakure have someone as dangerous as him… She couldn't help but wondered in silence.
Genji's eyes stayed focused, refusing to break eye contact between them. His stance was quiet and stable, to the point he even looked like a statue because he was too still.
"You are strong. So I must finish the match before it's too late!"
Temari opened her fan wide again to cast her jutsu.
"Fūton: Kamaitachi no Jutsu."
(風遁・カマイタチの術)
Wind Release: Sickle Weasel Technique.
As her chanting ended, she swung her fan at full strength, summoning a large number of blades made of wind, heading toward her opponent.
He was but as calm as the wind before the storm.
"Kenjutsu! Ryūjin Bōgyo." (剣術・竜神防御)
Sword Technique: Dragon God's Defense.
As Genji swiftly drew his swords, he moved at a blurring speeds, deflecting every wind blade coming for him with ease. He was indeed standing firm on his feet without even dodging the attack, yet his blades coated with dragon chakra blew away every attack perfectly without letting them reach him.
Without a doubt, everyone in the room, except for his teammates, even including Benji, had their jaws dropped at the scene. It didn't need rounds of applause to know that everyone was in awe of his astonishing performance.
Temari was no exception. Her single jutsu drew out a large number of wind blades, but her opponent nullified all of them just by his extraordinary physique and skills.
After a few seconds, Temari's wind blades were fully neutralized, leaving Genji who stood still focused. He didn't let his opponent know that he was already exhausted. His breathing was also kept in check, which in itself was an amazing feat.
"Impossible…" was all Temari could say.
Now she had experienced the ability of a kenjutsu expert firsthand.
"... I don't get people like you," Genji said, supporting himself with his blades plunged into the floor. "What is your ambition? Is it something worth fighting for? What is your purpose of training even?"
For him, the reason to train hard wasn't the future of the Shimada Clan, status, reward, or even some high ambitions. He just didn't want to be left behind. So naturally, he didn't care about the outcome of this battle: he only cared to check how strong he grew to be.
He was talented and skilled for sure, but even he had personal insecurities– especially when compared to his genius brother and the all-rounder comrade Kiriko. He trained the hardest, yet he still always stood second to Hanzo in kenjutsu. Kiriko is a natural gifted, she can carry out many things. Compared to them, he was an airhead who had to work harder because he didn't understand things easily.
"It's none of your business," Temari readied her weapon again.
"... it better not be for naught, woman," he chuckled. "Anyway, I yield. The match is over."
The entire hall remained in silence. Rather, it came unexpected.
"There he went and did it…" Kiriko murmured out of diappointment.
Hanzo didn't say anything as he stared at his younger brother, but Kiriko wouldn't know what the two Shimadas had in their mind.
"Um… with Genji Shimada surrendering, this match has ended in Temari's win," Hayate Gekko announced before walking up to the two participants. "Do you guys need medic?"
The proctor understood the difference in talent and power between the two participants but the outcome wasn't as he antipated. But it's not his place to complain. He was the one who needed stay the calmest in the match.
"No, I will just take a rest," Temari said, glaring at her opponent before jumping back to her teammates.
An opponent who held himself back. He who yielded the victory to her. He who could successfully deflected her attacks… On the contrary, she always got caught in his webs. Everyone would acknowledge Genji was stronger than her.
It's exactly why the outcome was humiliating for her.
"What about you?" Hayate turned toward the boy.
"... I have a personal medic, so no, thank you," Genji answered, taking off his mask.
"I'm gonna tend to him," Kiriko sighed and somehow teleported to Genji and supported him who was barely standing on his feet.
"Holding back is more tiring…" the boy groaned as he leaned on Kiriko's shoulder.
"Idiot…" the girl replied, taking out her healing paper and slapping it on the boy's forehead.
"Everyone is amazing in their own way," Benji commented. "She's kinda cute, too."
Masato deadpanned in response. "Don't change the topic. You bet Genji would win, right?"
"I mean, yeah, but he was clearly holding back. I didn't think of "giving up" in the equation…"
Deep down, Masato was glad that the younger Tenzaki was only wrong because of the unexpected twist, not because of errors in assessment.
"What is her jutsu by the way?" He asked.
"I think her jutsu is support-type ninjutsu," said Benji. "When I fought them, she summoned a shrine or something."
"Plus, from the looks of it, her healing jutsu is also pretty effective. She would make a good medic-nin. Kusagakure has such amazing gems…"
In fact, Benji had thought the Kusa's three genins would have been the strongest out of the bunch, excluding himself.
Let's say we skipped a few matches.
On the display the randomizer was going through the names to choose the opponents for the next round, and soon it stopped, showing the two.
"Now…" announced Hayate, "Tenten from Konohagakure no Sato, and Hanzo from Kusagakure no Sato, please come down into the area."
"It's a Shimada kid…" Masato commented.
"This will be a difficult match," said Might Guy.
Masato Tenzaki and Might Guy were standing on each side of Kakashi Hatake, who didn't seem to be bothered.
"By the way, Masato-senpai," said Kakashi. "I think I must have a talk with your kid later."
"Benji?"
"Yes, since we worked together in the past. I have a lot of questions for him."
"I can see that."
Now that Benji had shown off his abilities even if not all of them and passed the preliminaries by overwhelming his opponents… Masato understood he must have gotten the attention of other jonin instructors, too. It's inevitable after everything that happened…
"You really raised him well, Senpai," Guy remarked. "He's an outstanding kid. But I don't remember you having a child…"
Masato remembered he and Might Guy were never personally acquainted in the past.
"Well, he's my brother's kid, actually. I am just taking care of Benji for him."
"Even then, you make a good parent figure."
"O-oh… I don't really know," Masato didn't know how he should react.
Dang, I thought it was a random child adopted from an orphanage. This was that close… Kakashi thought to himself, sweatdropped.
The Hanzo Versus Tenten match quickly ended in the former's win after his quick reflexes combined with the Devouring Dragon Jutsu that exhausted Tenten in a short time.
"I guess she really got a bad matchup," Masato commented in an emphatic tone. "Both brothers are also amazing in their own ways."
"Yep, he didn't pull any punches against a woman…" Benji noted.
"That's what you're worried about?!"
At any rate, the outcome was pretty obvious anyway so again let's skip some more rounds.
"The last one from the Kusa team," said the older Tenzaki. "The shrine maiden."
The electronic display showed the names "Kankuro" and "Kiriko Kamori."
"Another Suna vs. Kusa match, it seems," said the younger Tenzaki. "But it's hard to tell. I don't really know much about both of them. That guy Kankuro has a corpse or something on his back all the time."
"A corpse– do you mean it!?" Masato asked, expressing concern.
"I'm not sure? Maybe a secret weapon or something. It must be purposely made that way to trick his enemies."
"Guess we'll find out soon enough."
As the tension mounted, Kankuro typically made his way onto the battlefield, while Kiriko, on the other hand, teleported directly in front of the proctor, Hayate. The proctor merely raised an eyebrow in response.
"Are you ready? Please take your positions and... begin!"
Oi, oi, no one warned us about these guys. Kankuro thought to himself, worried, though he didn't show it. Aren't Shimada Dragon Tamers just a legend? Now that we see it firsthand, both are scary. I should not let my guard down…
Naturally, Kiriko Kamori looked like a defenseless girl at first glance to Kankuro and the rest, but the air about her wasn't just right. Something's off; that is, despite seeming all "defenseless" and "weak," the confident look in her eyes were unfaltering.
Her jutsu is healing one… Kankuro repeated the info he had. But I don't know how her offensive side will come. If things go badly, I might have to use it. I hope I won't need to…
He slammed his bandaged package on the floor.
Kiriko was calm or at least she seemed to be. Her weapon of choice was three kunai, spinning them in her hand skillfully as she waited for her opponent to attack. If he didn't begin, she would have to go first, which isn't that bad.
"What is he even doing?" Temari whined.
The Jonin leader for the Suna kids could only watch silently. He and Suna genin participants knew what Kankuro had to offer, but after seeing the first two Kusa combatants, they were hesitant to decide Kankuro had the upper hand.
In fact, the genin in question was thinking the same thing.
The only answer he had was… lure out his opponent to see what she was capable of.
"They are really taking time to check each other out," Benji noted.
Meanwhile, Masato attempted to make small talk with Guy and Kakashi.
"My kouhai, you know about the three sanins, right?"
"Of course, we do," said Guy.
"Right…" said Kakashi.
"One of those three legendary shinobi… was a powerful medic-nin," continued Masato. "Her medical ninjutsu was extraordinary and she did have some groundbreaking influence in that field."
"I think we know that much," replied Kakashi with an uninterested expression.
"The thing is… I am confused by how powerful her medical jutsu is. It can heal the minor wounds without a scar behind. I don't know how it would interact with bigger wounds but as far as I've seen…"
"... she could become a medical-nin prodigy," Kakashi noted.
"True," Guy agreed.
"Hmph, guess I don't need to drag this out more than necessary," Kiriko muttered to herself as her eyes quickly scanned the area.
The atmosphere was considerably more intense compared to the fights of the previous Kusa members.
Kiriko threw a kunai at her opponent who dodged it with ease while the former ran to another spot throwing a few more kunai in other directions on her way. The kunai collided with each other mid-air and changed their path back toward Kankuro, forcing him and crouch.
"Didn't know kunai could be used like that," Benji commented.
I mean, with everyone using magic-like jutsu, the use of kunai and weapons are dim in comparison. He quietly thought. But ninja weapons are awesome. Tenten-san was pretty skilled, too. A shame she had to go against Hanzo…
The girl leaped into the air and shot a kunai right at the crouching Kankuro who tried to dodge it with a backflip. But unfortunately for him, the kunai scratched by his leg, tearing through his pants and wounding him.
"Tsk…" he groaned, one knee on the floor as he glared at Kiriko who stared down back at him.
She continued going on the offensive, this time throwing a large number of kunai, which then collided with each other on their way, consequently forming a net like pattern approaching the target.
"Just how many of them was she hiding?!" Even Benji was amazed.
"An average shinobi should hold a few dozens of kunai and shurikens stand-by," said Masato. "It seems even though this is a preliminary round, she didn't let her guard down."
"Still isn't it like…"
Tsk… If I dodge these, she will find an opening from above and attack me. Kankuro thought. I have no other choice. I wish we could fight at a closer range…
But the Suna genin decided to jump into the air to dodge the overwhelming number of kunai.
"Got you!" Having adapted to his timing, Kiriko was already in the air, charging toward him with a kunai in her hand.
Ha, what a foolish move! Kankuro smirked and pulled out his kunai to clash with Kiriko's and stall until they landed back on the ground.
"You are finished!" Suddenly, his body moved toward Kiriko like a ragdoll, his arms transforming into two pairs of segmented limbs.
During the unexpected turn of events, the Kusa girl was quickly captured in her opponent's limbs.
"What is going on…" Benji pondered.
"A surprise attack huh, you can learn something from this, Benji," said Masato.
I hope it doesn't count as a sexual harassment. Benji sweatdropped, watching the way Kankuro hugged Kiriko.
Meanwhile, the bandages on Kankuro's package suddenly came undone revealing Kankuro himself jumping out of it— all at the same time the other Kankuro holding Kiriko had his skin and disguise fall off, revealing to be a wooden humanoid.
"I see, so you are a puppet master," she noted.
"Now it's time for you to give it up," Kankuro grinned. "I won't go easy on a woman."
"Don't worry. I don't need it."
"Both your hands have been restrained," he replied confidently. "You can't cast whatever jutsu you've got now."
The girl shot a glare at her opponent just before her eyes glowed in a bright blue color. It was like a faint aura of bluish chakra radiated from her body until she vanished from the grasp of Kankuro's doll.
"Huh!?"
Almost instantaneously did she reappear right above Hayate surprising the latter, before landing right in front of the proctor.
"You seriously thought you successfully lured out my jutsu, right?" Kiriko said, holding kunai in one hand and paper seals in another. "I am not just a medic-nin…"
It was as if she teleported when she arrived right before Kankuro, delivering a kick to his face, the latter being unable to summon his puppet in time.
"Is that body flicker?" Benji asked.
"Perhaps something similar," Masato replied. "Combat use of Body Flicker could be useful, but preparation, cast timing, and accuracy are complicated. Instead, one could utilize their sheer speed to surpass the sound barrier and make it look like they "teleported.""
"But which one is she?"
Masato looked annoyed. "Don't ask me, man…"
The younger one of Dragon Brothers wanted to cry some cheers for his teammate but the older brother prevented it by taping his lips together. The two watched the match silently…
The most nervous out of them was their jonin leader.
"Kamori…"
The name simply frightened him, nothing else.
[ Transition ]
Kiriko Kamori was a normal little girl.
Her parents weren't poor but weren't really rich either. They were weapon smiths and descendants of artisans that moved to Kusagakure no Sato. In fact, their predecessors defected from the artisan village after getting into ideological disagreements.
Kamori shop was a small but reliable weapon shop in Kusagakure. Normally, such a business wouldn't be possible, but the Kamori family survived against their artisan village thanks to their innovative policies and a commitment to crafting quality arms.
"Dragon blades," currently wielded by Genji Shimada… They had been passed down generation after generation. Forged by the Kamori ancestors long before the founding of Kusagakure, these blades were said to hold mystical properties that enabled the Shimadas to harness their dragon chakra.
As for Asa Kamori, her destiny was bound to the way of the sword. She became one of Kusagakure's greatest swordswomen, earning her place in the Shimada Clan's elite ranks over two decades ago. It was also the reason she got recruited by the Shimada Clan to be part of their army. But it was over twenty years ago.
As they went to war, Asa left her young daughter with her grandmother. When she returned, there was just something off about her daughter.
"Mom, what's going on with Kiriko?" Asa confronted her grandmother with a furrowed brow.
With a hesitant pause, the elderly woman replied, "Well, you see, a series of events occurred, and now she's become the vessel of a Fox Spirit from the shrine."
"Vessel? A Fox Spirit from a shrine? What are you talking about?"
The grandmother's voice quivered as she attempted to reassure her daughter, "Don't fret, it's harmless, and Kiriko is behaving just fine."
Kamori-sensei, however, couldn't shake her concern. Observing Kiriko closely, she found out her chakra was a bit off, more like it had been amplified.
"I don't see how it is normal… so where can I find this "Fox Spirit" person? I will purge him."
"No, wait," the grandmother panicked. "He's protecting her. He is in her heart."
"Like a ghost?" Asa sought clarification.
The elderly woman nodded slowly. "Indeed, he's a spirit."
I thought Fox Spirit is a self-given nickname of some shady shinobi. She composed herself after hearing her grandmother's explanation.
"Our shrine is in danger, set to be destroyed by year's end," the elderly woman disclosed. "The Fox Spirit, bound to the shrine, offered to safeguard it in exchange for a dwelling within Kiriko."
"And Kiriko agreed to this?" Asa inquired.
"Yes," the grandmother replied with a fond smile. "She's such a kind-hearted girl."
Toshiro, Kamori's husband, decided to join the conversation but inadvertently ignited a playful dispute among the family members.
"Heh, Kiriko is gentle and kind, unlike her m–"
"What's that supposed to mean? Are you saying I'm not kind?"
That was how Kiriko quit being a normal girl.
Some time after those events, Kiriko was first brought to her mother's workplace… the Shimada Castle.
"Wow, mom, this house is massive."
Asa Kamori introduced her daughter to the two brothers of Sojiro, the Head of Shimada Clan, for the first time back then.
"But the fox spirit, huh," Sojiro wondered out loud. "I think I've heard of the name, at the very least… in the legends told by my grandma."
"Legends by your grandma?" Kamori-sensei deadpanned. "That would be like tales from centuries ago."
"True, but at any rate, I'm looking forward to their joint training, sensei."
Meanwhile with the kids…
"Kiriko-chan, which one of us do you think you'll marry in the future?" Genji blurted out.
"Moron," Hanzo gave him a hearty smack in the back. "Who starts a conversation like that?!"
"... you two look fun," Kiriko giggled. "Maybe we should play "hunting for kabuto" game together!"
Genji, never one to back down from a challenge, eagerly agreed. "Fascinating! And if I ever find a Kabuto, I shall name him Yakushi."
"Sounds perilous!" Hanzo disapproved. "We will need to train until we achieve Jonin level at least before looking for a Kabuto in the forest."
"What kind of Kabuto are you looking for!?" Sojiro exclaimed.
Genji was an aimless eager blade, Hanzo was an ambitious over-enthusiastic arrow, and then Kiriko was… the bond that held back the three. Without Kiriko, maybe the two brothers wouldn't have as good a relationship with each other as they have now.
In contrast to the boys, Kiriko's heart leaned more towards helping and protecting the weak rather than reveling in fights and rivalries. As a result, she often positioned herself in the background, avoiding getting her hands dirty unless the situation demanded it.
"Kiriko."
Her grandmother's voice called her attention. "Yes, Grandma?"
"Last night, I had a conversation with the Fox Spirit."
Kiriko's eyes widened with surprise. "Wait, you can just... talk to him?"
It was some years after meeting with the boys.
"Yes. And so he agreed to cooperate with me to teach you… our shrine's dedicated healing jutsu."
"Sounds shady," Asa came out of nowhere with a suspicious look. "At any rate, tomorrow there's a sword training."
"But grandma can teach me… later at night, right?" Kiriko turned back toward her grandma.
"Of course."
[ Flashback Ends ]
What the hell!
Kankuro didn't see it coming when he was kicked in the jaws and sent back flying like a rag doll. But as a puppeteer, he couldn't let go of his puppet, Karasu. He managed to pull Karasu back amidst the crisis to use the trump card.
Kugutsu no Jutsu (傀儡の術)
The Puppet Technique.
He had no other choice.
As Kiriko attempted another kick, Kankuro defended himself with Karasu before jumping back to make space between him and the opponent. The puppeteers usually fight from a safe hiding spot with their puppets on the frontline, but in this match, it's inevitable that he would have to engage in a close-range fight with Kiriko, which is a big no.
For the time being, he decided to occupy her with Karasu as he quickly searched for safe positioning in the grounds.
The statue!
He rushed toward the statue of the hands weaving a seal, placed in front of the arena, all while occupying the girl. Or so he thought. A kunai flew past his head.
It wasn't that she missed the target; rather it was a warning that she could get him anytime.
Grr… again! This is like when Temari fought that dragon kid! Kankuro frowned. She's underestimating me.
Sharp blades hidden under Karasu's wrists slid out and swung at Kiriko, who constantly deflected the blades with her kunai, as she chased the puppeteer.
Tsk, if I knew this beforehand, I would have prepared a stronger poison in Karasu. Kankuro was dumbfounded. I really hope that sedative works.
Sensing something was wrong, the girl jumped back as Karasu released a sedative gas from his insides.
"Does that count as a Jutsu?" Benji said with a deadpan face.
"Poison is also a Ninja's weapon," replied Masato. "In this exam however, as long as it's not lethal, it should be fine. We need to test their ninja skills after all so this is valid."
"Why isn't she teleporting away?" Guy said.
Neji used his Byakugan to assess the chakra system of Kiriko.
"What do you see, Neji?" Lee asked.
"... she has enormous chakra reserves. It's like a beast hiding in her body. But I can't really explain it."
A sedative? Kiriko figured it out. No, this is the level I can handle.
"Kitsune… I need your protection," she whispered to herself, spinning the kunai on her fingers.
Her eyes glowed once more before a flower-like explosion manifested around her body, neutralizing the sedative and knocking away the puppet.
Meanwhile the Suna's puppeteer began climbing the hand-shaped statues to get a safe high-ground advantage.
Kiriko quickly weaved a series of hand seals, releasing the seal inside her heart.
"Miko no Jutsu!" (巫女の術)
Shrine Maiden Technique.
"Come forth, Kitsune Shrine!"
As she faced the puppet Karasu, a shrine-like structure made of bluish semi-transparent energy emerged behind her while a platform-like path manifested around her.
"What is this? This looks awesome!" Naruto commented.
Masato indeed had no idea, but it bothered Kakashi a bit. He shrugged off his uneasy feelings anyway.
Kiriko ran along the path while throwing kunai at her opponent. This time, somehow, the kunai flew much faster than usual, some shooting past Kankuro. Before he realized, one of the weapons slashed his cheek, catching him by surprise. Taking advantage of the moment, Kiriko had disappeared from his sight and teleported behind the proctor Hayate, before crawling up the wall like a spider.
With all the strength left in him, Kankuro recalled the Karasu, pulling the chakra strings. But when he turned around to look at his opponent, she was hovering mid-air, spinning herself as she delivered a kick right at his face. It was more powerful and impactful, throwing him away like nothing.
Kankuro was knocked away from the statue and dropped to the ground, then falling unconscious.
"Splendid…" Benji muttered.
The proctor Hayate Gekko quickly approached Kankuro and inspected him. "... um, with Kankuro incapacitated, this round has ended in Kiriko Kamori's win!"
The Chapter for the Dragons and the Fox has come to an end.
I am in fact a bit out of the loop after the break, so this chapter was less serious with less content than other chapters.
Hanzo, Genji, and Kiriko are playable characters from an MMO hero shooter video game called "Overwatch." In the original story, the three grew up together, but Kiriko was around 15 years younger than Genji, which didn't make sense. So I made her older than Genji and younger than Hanzo in this story— to suit Genji's spoilt-son persona.
The three were added to the story to make up for Benji's participation in the third round since I thought this should be better than adding three random characters. But before I realized, I have made them too overpowered… So yeah. It was difficult to pit them up against others without breaking the finalist list.
Actually, I had a hard time deciding whether I should write their backstories, but remembering how most anime-only characters just appeared for an arc and vanished into oblivion, I decided to take it on and add the backstory of Shimada. It would be annoying to read if you have read Overwatch because the depiction of Shimada Clan in this story is far different.
They will also return in at least one arc (which is pretty much a fanfiction-exclusive.)
Also, as promised, I am also working on my other fanfiction, The Unidentified Lifeform.
Chris Chronos.