Scarlet Justice - ep. 36
"Level Up!"
Training begins in earnest. The end of the first day comes, and I'm resting in a hot tub with Midori and Luna. These warm jets of water feel really good.
The decision was made by Midori after I decided on training with her for the final part of the exams. Our location is a luxury hotel near the middle of the village. It has top class facilities from top to bottom, including food, shopping, and leisure activities. No expense has been spared, and customers are all too happy to spend their money here. Midori produced a deceptively small bundle of money, which immediately snapped the receptionist out of whatever funk she was in. As a result, areas relevant to our interests have been made private, for just the three of us.
"You look a bit uneasy, Luna."
"..." Luna fidgets a bit, unsure how to respond. "Lady Midoriko, I just wonder...are we really taking Miss Lilith's training seriously? Is this a proper way to train? From what I know, and what we've done previously...it doesn't seem right, for some reason. All of this luxury. I'm sorry..."
"Mm." Midori takes a sip from her champagne glass and holds it in her hand. "There's no need to apologize, darling. I think I know what you're feeling at this moment."
"Do you..."
"Yes. Luna...when you think of training, what comes to mind first?"
"Ah..." She thinks for a bit. "Rigorous exercises, and working outdoors. Running, lifting...I suppose the traditional manner of training. Doing hard work and pushing your body, denying yourself of things, even."
"An expected answer. Let me tell you the reality, and why your training in particular has been so abbreviated. Top class athletes all live like this. They have the money to use cutting edge equipment and facilities because of their earnings, and so they take advantage and do what they can to become stronger, faster. They consume supplements and get the best chefs to cook them meals all throughout the day. Lili and I have blue blood running through our veins. We're not commoners who have a need to think about what we spend and where we spend it. 'We' are not like 'them'. And we don't need to train to our limits every day to bring out our powers, or catch up to someone else. That sort of endless, rigorous, painful training, that denial of self...it is good to experience, but we don't need it."
She takes another sip of champagne and lets out a breath.
"We train until we feel sore. Then we rest. We indulge ourselves as a reward for our hard work. And then we repeat the process. Repetition is the key to mastery, and taking care of your body, loving it as best you can, will reap great benefits when you need them the most. Those people who glamorize the lifestyle of hard work and training until you bleed...let them live as they please. While those things are well and good for other people, they're not for us. We don't need to sacrifice like that, and so we won't do so."
Luna is thinking on Midori's words heavily.
"It sounds quite arrogant, doesn't it? You're not wrong to think that much, and it might be so. Either way, I won't apologize for it. We are high maintenance women, people who practice self care so that we can perform at high levels, and then rest until the next event."
"Gaining strength...is it possible to gain as much as you can like this?" Luna asks.
"Hm. There's the issue we needed to get to. Gaining strength is actually very easy to do. Refining and maintaining it is the difficult part. And this is what we set out to do...we hone ourselves as weapons until cutting is as easy as breathing. From there, we do our maintenance and sharpen ourselves. And so on, and so on."
Luna nods. "I think I understand a lot better now. Thank you, Lady Midoriko."
"Good. Don't worry about us, in any case. Even if we do go a bit wild with the ice cream, we'll manage." Midori winks at me, and I smile back.
Looks like we're all on board.
A week passes. We work on my speed some more to bring it to the top, and I can now see that I'm very, very fast. By the end of the week I can keep up with Midori easily, following her back and forth around our training area, accelerating with her, and matching our hand speeds. We can skip rope together so quickly that it feels like heavy winds are blowing through the area; the staff had to come by after the howling got loud enough. We apologized, but they still looked a bit scared of us as they were leaving. This feels like I'm getting close to the peak of my current strength; I will naturally get faster and more explosive as my body grows, and that's not counting the strength of the chakra mode. Speaking of that, while I'm not going to be working too much on it, I have been researching the chakra circulation system while thinking of ways to help Hina out. And I've found some very curious things. Dangerous things, potentially.
I really want to try them. It would be exciting to reach a level that nobody else has. Even if I'm not yet as fast as the Fourth Raikage, I know that I can reach higher than him, or anyone else. I want to feel that arrogant for once in my life, and be able to show it to the world. I want to see the fright on everyone's faces when I become a truly terrifying force of nature. One day, very soon.
Results are coming in, to summarize it. I feel good. Today, I'm comfortably sore and have the day off to play or rest as I want. It's afternoon, and we've done conditioning earlier...what did I want to do with my time? Ino is free...Shino and Hina might be too busy, and I don't want to throw them off their games. Kurenai, maybe? Hmm...
Ah. I know what I want to do. And it's the perfect time, since I'm training and Midori did mention it earlier...
It's a casual sort of time, so I throw on a loose silk shirt and some sweatpants, along with a light jacket on top. And some comfortable wooden zori on my feet, painted pink. I look ready. Time to go, then.
"..."
On a whim, I move towards Luna and Midori's room across the hall. I press my ear lightly against the door and focus.
"Lady Midoriko...we really can't be too loud, so you shouldn't..."
"If that's the problem, then I can just seal your lips like this~"
Hm. Seems like they're busy. I'll leave them alone for now.
I leave the hotel and head down the road, passing the local arcade. I might stop there on the way back, just to have some more fun. Quite a crowd gathered the last time, after I beat that one game with the flying ship a few times. It wasn't just because I was a shinobi, either. There were some there who had trouble with it on the higher levels because of the amount of coordination needed. The owner said there was a secret hardcore mode that he had to unlock manually, so he would do so if I came to the front desk the next time.
There's a familiar face from one of our earlier D-Rank missions as I pass by one of the stores. I realize now that the Hokage really has a deep knowledge and understanding of the village structure. Building rapport with the common villagers is a good way to help with information networks and support. As expected of the man called 'The Professor'.
"Oba-san," I call to the woman sweeping outside. She's middle aged with fuzzy black hair and glasses, and she runs a fruit shop that sells juices and smoothies. "Might I have your help?"
"Oh, you're the girl from Kurenai's group. Lilith, right? Tell me what you need, I'll see what I can do."
"Do you know a woman by the name of Anko Mitarashi?" I ask.
"I know of her. She comes by every once in a while off peak and asks for a lot of fruit crammed into her smoothies. I don't know where she puts it all. She has a huge sweet tooth, so...your best bet is to go over to the Dango-ya. You know where it is?"
"I do, I've been there a few times. That's the first place I'll check, then. Thank you so much, oba-san."
"It's no trouble at all. You were a huge help that time, and business has never been better. Drop by whenever you like, okay?"
"I'll be sure to visit soon. Please be well." I bow to her before leaving for my destination. As I walk, I notice the fat-chested sensei, Kosugi, on the side of the road talking to Erika.
Half human, then...I wouldn't think it at a glance.
"..."
I can talk to her later. Right now, I don't want to be in proximity of the walking pair of breasts. Something is just...so irritating about her. My current mission is to have a meeting with the examiner who caused a 'newtype flash' like in that mecha show I watched the other day. She has an aura like that masked man...or...no. No, that's actually me. Ah, well.
I reach the Dango-ya after taking a few shortcuts across the village to save time. As I enter, I immediately see my target.
"Yum, yum~! Ah, it's less than a month before the next event! Nothing like some dango and juice to keep spirits high!" She happily munches on a stick of dango. I slide into the seat across from her at her booth, and she takes note of me after escaping her reverie. Her eyes remind me of Erika's, only they're light brown instead of hazel.
"Mitarashi-sensei, isn't it?" I ask.
"Oh! You're from Team Eight, yeah? The record holders in the second test...completed in less than an hour. Really great stuff." I can see that she has two pitchers of juice for herself, and sticks piled high on a plate nearby - discards from the dango she's been eating. There's having a sweet tooth, and then there's going overboard. This...this is a few thousand leagues below the sea, relatively speaking.
"Yes, I am. And I'm-"
"The Hidden Leaf's Scarlet Viper! Top class rookie, Lilith Kobayashi!"
"Oh, so you know of me already."
"Nishishishi~! How could I forget something like that? But...I'm sure you didn't come to see me based on my reputation. A violent glutton like me...eh? Or is it about the contract?"
I nod. "Those things are part of it. Midori-nee mentioned you by name."
She chews on a piece of dango while nodding, then stops in surprise and swallows. "Midori...nee-chan? Hm? You mean...Midoriko? Aneki?"
"Ane...ki?" I repeat.
"Yeah...she mentioned me? Really..." She smiles. "So she didn't forget me after all..."
"Something like that is impossible. You're too much of a unique character," I say to her.
"Gahahaha! You're right! Eh...Lilith, right?"
"Lili is fine."
"Got it. Or...ojou, maybe? Hm. She took you under her wing, obviously. More than that. Calling her your older sister like that...you're definitely special to her." She swallows down another stick of dango and puts the stick in her mouth. "So, what did you bring your cute face here for, in the end? Surely not to see me pig out."
"Well, something like that could be charming, in its own way," I joke. "But...I really wanted to glean some information from you, and learn about you as a person. It's only right, given all that we share."
"Mm. That makes sense. Did you want anything to drink, Lili?"
"I'm fine. Thank you for asking."
"Yeah. Mm...let's see now. Did Aneki tell you anything about that man?"
"Oh...I suppose that's the one she calls the 'trash'. Orochimaru of the Sannin."
"The very same...he was my former master. Since the secret is already out in the relevant places by now, I'll tell you this...he's planning on taking the Leaf. If we stop the tournament, he'll attack right away. We really don't know what he's waiting for, some kind of signal...Lord Hokage encouraged us to continue the exams. That way we'll at least have some time to figure out what he's planning before he attacks for real."
"Midori-nee also mentioned Sasuke..."
"So she knows that much, too. Expected of her." Anko touches the side of her neck once, taking the stick out of her mouth and placing it with the others. "That thing is called a Cursed Seal of Heaven. From what I know, there's only one other seal like it. It's one of the most powerful of Orochimaru's sealing arts. In exchange for your chakra and your sanity, it rewards you with extra power. Kakashi has it sealed up by now, but that temporary seal is only as strong as Sasuke's will is. He didn't have to worry about it any since he drew Ino the last time, but I suspect that his next opponent..." She pauses. "Well, I was gonna say Neji Hyuuga, but Uzumaki definitely has a chance. He's not something you can predict, I can say that much. But it'll be uphill for him."
"Mm." She's perceptive, too. I already like her.
"Any way you look at it, the truth is this. The brand constantly tempts you, it calls to you loudly in battle, asking if you want more strength. And I know for a fact that Orochimaru gave that brand to him in person."
"Do you think that Sasuke..."
"I don't want to think that. That he would give in. But..." Her eyes look towards the table. "He doesn't brand those who he thinks are unworthy. Not...any more."
"Anko." I note that she's been hiding her right hand until now...there's bandage around it. "You met in the forest. Did you..."
"I tried to stop him, but I failed. Yes...it was in the Forest of Death that I saw him. By that time, he had already branded Sasuke with the curse mark. And now...he might bring terror to the entire Leaf." She sighs heavily. "Lord Hokage told me not to blame myself..."
"Then don't," I say.
"Listen, it's not that easy."
"I know. It never is. But you have to try. And you don't have to carry that burden alone. I'm the top class rookie, remember? Depend on me."
"Sheesh. You're...really, really reassuring, you know. It's no wonder that Aneki fell for you." She sighs again and gulps down another glass of juice. "As one of the Three Shinobi, Orochimaru is extremely strong. But he's nothing compared to Aneki. She's received the blessing of the Sage, you know? Ryuuchi Cave's Snake Goddess, a hermit among hermits!"
"Sage, huh..." Those are the arts she would mention from time to time. Things that apparently I would be able to do myself one day...
"Yep! I bet she'll pass all of that down to you when you're ready. But, yeah...Orochimaru seems to want to crush the Leaf completely, somehow. We're keeping an eye on everything as best we can, but he's crafty. He's also Lord Hokage's..."
"Former student. The one with the sharp mind."
"Yeah."
"It's no wonder he said those things to me. But then...he also said that I have something Orochimaru doesn't. That something is why he won't win," I say with determination.
"Heh. Well, don't do anything too far out of line. Like I said, the tournament is going to proceed as planned...that's likely the time where he'll try to do something. Also, your first round opponent..."
"Gaara of the Desert," I say. "It's no problem, I understand how he fights a little bit. If I can accelerate well enough, then maybe that will be a solution on its own..."
"Ah..."
"I've learned a lot from talking to you today." I lay down a few bills to cover Anko's meal. "Consider this my thanks. I'll see you in a while, Miss Anko."
"Oi, oi. No need to be so stiff. Aneki wouldn't like that, you know?" she scolds lightly. "Ah, but...thanks for paying, I might have eaten a bit too much for today's budget, ehehe..."
I sigh and shake my head before starting to leave.
"Um...oh! Let me come with you! You're going to see Aneki, right? I wanted to ask her if I could help."
"Help?"
"Yeah! I want to teach you the snake summoner's staple technique! You're still a young genin, and I'm guessing she didn't want to overwhelm you, so you probably don't know it yet, right?"
"I don't think so," I admit. "It should be okay, then."
"Great! Let's go to see her together. And also, you can think of it as me repaying your kindness just now."
I give her a look. "This would seem like collusion to someone else, wouldn't it?"
She shrugs. "It would be news to me. Techniques are techniques, no matter where you might get them from."
"Ah, I see. Then I'm in your care, sister."
We walk all the way back to the hotel, and Anko reveals that she eats about the same amount of sweets and junk every day. It must be because she chews through so much energy in a day that she's still so fit, but I suspect that will catch up with her if she retires, or simply gets old enough. It wouldn't affect her terribly as a shinobi, but why not look your best for as long as you can? Besides, I might still want to chase girls when I get a lot older, and a fit body wouldn't hurt there...oh, right. I'm getting ahead of myself again.
"Anko!"
"Aneki!"
It's a very joyful reunion for the two of them. They chat and catch up, and after some discussion Midori decides that it would be great if Anko joined us for the rest of my training. Anko says that she can pull a few strings and get started with us the week after next.
For this week, we do the same things as usual. This amounts to more physical training and improving my ability to use ninjutsu quickly and safely. I imagine that it will tie in nicely to the next part of the journey. In between training sessions, Luna, Midori and I relax and play together. Luna's father, who I learn is named Tatsumi, taught her how to do things like play billiards and bowling since they would go out together to local bars and diners. As a result, she's an expert when playing and the shocked looks of the men she routinely beats never gets old.
The third week of training begins, and there are two more including this one before the tournament final round. This is, as they say, where the real fun begins. I meet with Midori and Anko in our designated training facility this morning, with Anko offically free to help out - she'll be staying with us in the hotel for the rest of the month. Luna is absent due to...exhaustion. The reasons don't need to be explained, as the glow on Midori's face says everything. We all wear matching training outfits; breathable shirts and those sorts of high performance shorts that runners like to wear. They're snug, and surprisingly comfortable.
"Sheesh! Aneki! You really captured a woman with a body like that, it's so unfair!" Anko whines.
"Ah, it's fine. You'll find someone of your own, you know? But...well."
"Well?"
"We can see if she's interested in that sort of play, maybe? She's no slouch herself, you know."
"O-ooh. Would you really...?"
"Oi. We've still got work to do. While I appreciate your consideration for Luna's agency, there are other times and places for such things," I scold.
Midori coughs into her hand and nods. "Y-yes, you're right. Another time. Okay, here's where we are in terms of the second half of your training. There are four techniques I have in mind for you to learn, and I want to cycle through them during these sessions so that you have something on hand in case of an emergency. If the Leaf doesn't put a stop to that trash, you will need something in your back pocket. I can't be everywhere at once...not effectively, anyways."
"So which techniques are these?" I ask eagerly.
"Glad you've asked," Midori says with a smile, clapping her hands together. "The first is the Lightning Release technique I promised you the other day. A little extra something that I've yet to try out myself, but should do wonders for you. It's code-named 'Mobius', also called the 'Godspeed Cannon'. A technique that hyper compresses chakra into one point on your hand, similar in some ways to Chidori...however," she says while raising a finger, "You won't be using it to stab at high speed. It will take more effort to complete overall, but you're Lili, so you can do it for sure. The benefits are the ability to concentrate the chakra, carry it along with you, and fire off an extremely fast bolt of energy whenever, and wherever, you desire. You can control the output, and it goes without saying that it does even more damage the closer you are to your enemy. It's the technique of a new shinobi era!"
That sounds absolutely amazing. I want it. I want it yesterday.
"Lightning Release...Mobius." I let it come from my lips and it sounds even cooler now. I need it. Oh, do I ever need it.
"The next one coming up is a good and useful technique for your purposes," Anko continues. "Aneki can easily do it, but I wanted to be of service and teach you the ins and outs of it. This is called Hidden Shadow Snake Hands. Since you've got a unique seal on your arm, there are a few extra tricks you can learn like this one. It's not a terribly hard technique to learn or master, especially for you, but you can expand on the possibilities if you feel like it."
"I also promised a way to make use of that excited state of yours," Midori says. "It's going to be tied to your tracking technique, and we're going to help that go up another level as well. Finally, there's one last thing. This is the emergency jutsu I mentioned."
I nod and listen carefully.
"It's going to take a good amount of effort on your part to get up to speed. We're going to work on it seperately, in stages. This is a single stroke attack that takes advantage of your speed, and pushes your body to its limit as a result. It's a technique usually reserved for those who are going to take part in the Sage Training, but I decided to show it to you now since you'll be in a struggle soon...the most efficient use of this is as a high power finishing move. It's called Jakyou Messenga."
It certainly sounds like a serious technique. Destruction is even embedded in the name.
"So...this is our agenda for the next two weeks. We're going to give you our guidance and support, Lili."
I nod in response. There's a lot to go over, but it's as Midori said. I'm Lili, and I can do it all if I just do my best. "Understood...I'm in your care, sisters. Let's begin."
Anko and Midori give me a smile in return.
The next two weeks of training begin, and the cycle is simple. Work, rest, slack off, repeat. My first order of business is taking hold of the new lightning jutsu, and I do so easily. The real work comes in perfecting it.
Lightning Release: 'Mobius'. A technique formed from hyper compressed lightning chakra. After focusing the energy into one point, the user fires it from their index finger like a gun. The technique explodes outwards, piercing anything in its way and delivering massive damage to obstacles. When fired from up close, it can become even more dangerous.
This is a high speed assassination attack that is the antithesis of Chidori. It's just about perfect for me: it's quick, deadly, and fits with my desired style of offensive ninjutsu. This is with my other techniques; the piercing lightning type art False Darkness, the area of effect water type art Exploding Water Colliding Wave, and the quick and explosive water type art Water Shark Bullet. Seeing as Gaara's sand might be composed of Earth Release, water is at a disadvantage while lightning would be an advantage.
Hidden Shadow Snake Hands, the technique that Anko guides me through, allows the user to eject snakes from their wrist or sleeve, usually after a punching or similar type of motion. The snakes are used primarily to attack from a distance and, being snakes, can inflict multiple poisonous wounds on the victim's body or hold them in place. I can also produce these snakes from different points on my body, like from the legs of my pants if need be. In general, this is really useful as I can easily cover my issues with close range fighting and push the opponents back into my domain. All of my strongest techniques work best with room to spare, so the ability to establish an effective range like this is wonderful.
Jacobson's Eye, the technique that I've been using extensively for tracking and identification, has now evolved. The new name is Crimson Depths, and it improves the technique range to at least 7 kilometres. It works in the same manner: I taste the atmosphere or objects to detect scents and chakras. From there, I can track targets, decipher obstacles, and maneuver through the world. It will continue changing as I keep using it, just as before. It makes me feel more snake-like, really. I like it.
I further improve the tracking technique by using it as a sort of binding for my 'excited' state. This way, whenever I drift into it I can focus and block out some of the pain inflicted on my body, enough at least to continue fighting where most couldn't. Hopefully it doesn't come to that too often, but predators also have times where they need to go into survival mode. This will be useful for those unexpected times.
Lastly, I learn the emergency technique over a few days and shelve it for later, having completed the basics of it. This is as said, a Sage technique called White Snake Sage Art: Jakyou Messenga, also called 'Gleaming Fang'. Using chakra, the user wraps themselves in the aura of a snake and charges forward at an incredible speed, tearing into and through unfortunate enemies. The technique requires a fair amount of chakra and excellent control. Its range is also deceptively long, making surprise attacks possible. There's a specific type of energy that is used normally, but this technique can also be used with normal chakra. However, the chakra cost is incredibly high as a result and I can only use it twice in a given day, with the caveat that I start with full reserves - making it effectively a one-time use emergency technique, as first established. I remember what Anko said about Midori and the White Snake Sage, who created the technique. I should have the strength to use it regularly soon enough. For now, there are other things to worry about.
I continue to keep myself in good condition, working on my stamina and building up my strength bit by bit. Training has gone extremely well, and I'm more than happy with my results.
With three and a half days until the tournament starts, we wind down training and focus on my recovery.
"Everything we've set out to do has been done," Midori says as we finish our training day at noon. "It's time for you to take it easy before the big day. You've done so well, Lili."
"You really are awesome!" Anko says with a smile. "Totally the real deal, you know? I can see why the Hokage was looking out for you and everything. You're gonna go places. Ah, well...most places. You've got some rumours about you, Lili."
"I can only guess what they might be," I say as I wipe my face with a towel.
"Soon enough, you'll be known more for slaying ladies than bandits." She snickers. "Most people aren't sure what to make of it yet, but Tsume was raving about you the other day to me and it came up. If you're anything like Aneki, she's got reason to be afraid for Hana there."
"Oh? And what about you? Not worried I'll snatch you up, too?"
"Heh." She grabs hold of an invisible bat and swings through the air. "I switch hit, hon."
"Ah."
"Yep. It's a life. I try not to get around too much, though. I have a bit of a reputation regardless, because people can't be trusted to shut up sometimes," she says with a frown. "But getting down like that is just...I dunno, uncouth. Y'know? And unsafe at times. Don't let things on the outside fool you, shinobi like to-"
"Miss Anko, I think she more than gets the point." Luna returned to us after recovering from her bout of exhaustion, and helped with general training. I don't know what exactly has transpired between those three while I've been away or sleeping, but...from Luna's domineering sort of tone towards Anko, I can venture a guess.
"Yes'm. Just the facts of life, you know?"
"Yes, I know it well."
"Luna, be nice. I know it's not often you get someone to bully-"
"Lady Midoriko, it is not like that. I am simply asserting myself today."
"Yes, yes. And it was really sexy when you asserted yourself last night with-"
"Not in front of Miss Lilith!" Luna hisses.
"Mm." I sip from my bottle of water. "Luna has a point. Nothing more should be said."
She sighs with relief. "Thank you, Miss Lilith."
"You're welcome. I believe that what happens inside of the bedroom with three consenting adults should stay there."
"Yes, that's right," she says with a nod.
"I mean, the stories about you pouncing on Anko-nee the moment you could and asserting your dominance must be very spicy...but it's as I said. Nothing we should discuss in public."
Her face darkens as she glares at me, looking betrayed. "...the worst. Every single time...the worst."
Anko laughs and Midori wears an amused smile as Luna grumbles. I sigh and start towards my room for a well deserved shower.
All in good fun, as always.