The Akinoyo shinobi bent down, and placed her hands on Aoi. After a few moments Sora noticed a change in the man; although he was unconscious he seemed more relaxed, and at peace.

"Y-You're healing him," Sora said.

Realizing this he reflexively ran his hand over the stab wound again. Now that he thought about it, the last thing he remembered after he was stabbed by Aoi was seeing a river of blood spilling out of the wound. Did she use healing arts back then as well?

'She's tough.' Sora thought. 'Very tough.'

The girl was wearing a silver bomber jacket with pink sleeves, and floral decor on the chest. She kept the sleeves rolled up revealing scarred, and jagged arms; arms that to Sora, looked like they belonged to a man. Even through the jacket Sora could see the girl's muscles outlined under the shirt. She also wore white cargo pants with a pink and white pattern, and black boots to top it all off.

"What are you looking at?" Tsubaki asked.

"O-Oh, I- I was just-"

"Staring, stop that - it's rude."

"-I-I'm just surprised, I wasn't expecting-"

"A woman?"

Sora shook his head.

"A shinobi." He finished.

"Do you see a headband on my head?"

The girl easily lifted Aoi up, and leaned him against a tree. She pursued through the man's belongings unrolling a leather blanket, and laid it on top of him.

"But you know ninjutsu," Sora's voice trailed off.

"That doesn't mean anything."

She got up, and started to gather the parts of her armor. Sora could see stilts inside the greaves which is likely how she was able to stand up to 6ft despite being so short herself. After putting on a few pieces of equipment Sora hesitantly approached her, and began to assist her with the equipment.

Thanks to his father, Sora knew how to arm a samurai. He'd practiced with numerous Kusakyu family men; traditionally armor like this could only be put on with help from another person.

"You're shaking." Tsubaki said annoyed.

"Sorry, I guess I'm a little nervous."

"You're not nervous, you're scared. You'd be smart to learn the difference between the two."

Finally after several minutes Tsubaki was fully armed, and back in samurai armor.

Without a moment's notice the tall woman started to walk in the direction of Ame's entrance. Sora looked at her, and then looked at Aoi.

"What about him?" He asked keeping up with Tsubaki.

"You're worried about the man who stabbed you?"

"I mean... I just... Won't that monster come back with his friends? He won't stand a chance."

The tall samurai shook her head.

"Haruki is too prideful to share his defeat with the rest of the pride. He'll likely just cower in some cave somewhere until his wounds heal."

'Just how much does she know about this rogue shinobi?'

"B-But what about the carriage why would they attack-"

"That was a trading caravan."

"I-I see... So they took all of the goods, and then," Sora's voice trailed off.

"Anyway, you shouldn't care about Aoi. He was going to use you as a bargaining chip to extort Kusakyu. He'll find his way back, and by the time he does I'll have left with the band, and you'll be back home with mommy and daddy."

"But I don't want to go back home. I left for a reason."

"If it weren't for Straw's ignorance you'd be dead right now. You know that right?"

Her words cut deep, but Sora knew them to be true. If Straw hadn't stolen his armor it would've been his body blown into the wind, and not Straw's. Straw was dead because of his own ignorance, and he'd have to live with that. But despite knowing that Sora shook his head.

"The only thing Straw saw in me was a paycheck!"

'Why am I yelling?'

"Why should I give a damn about him? He would've killed me if he had something to gain out of it!"

Sora turned away, and wiped tears from his eyes, desperately trying to hide them from Tsubaki.

"Because he's a human being, and that alone has value."

The samurai stared straight ahead, not acknowledging the boy's tears.

"And you're still a child."

"And you aren't?! You're the same age as me!" Sora said, throwing his arm forward.

'Why am I so pathetic? She saved me, so why am I lashing out?'

"It wasn't meant as an insult."

'What?'

"The Norigami family is pretty wealthy, and they're under the protection of the strongest clan in the village. Running away to play mercenary? No matter your reasoning it's foolish, and the dumb ramblings of a child who doesn't know any better. That's why Straw punched you again, and it's why I let him."

"What are you trying to say?" Sora asked, getting quiet.

"I'm saying you need to take a better look at your surroundings."

"I don't get it."

"And that's why I'm taking you back home kid. If you want to run away after that be my guest, but I'm not having your death on my conscience too. I'll let your parents keep that to themselves."

Sora stayed quiet for a while as the two walked along the rain road. He heard what sounded like rain pelting the snowy ground to his right just below the wall; though when he looked up he couldn't see anything through the dark mist.

'Disgusting'

"What about you then? You're part of the Akinoyo clan right? Why are you running away?"

"It's as Haruki said. My very existence is an affront to nature. But I don't want to die or get in the way of my clan; and so I've chosen to leave. It's that simple."

'I don't think that's quite what he said.'

"How is that any different from what I'm trying to do?"

"The difference is that I have the power to protect myself, and unlike you I know about the world outside of Amegakure-"

"Then teach me about it! L-Let me come with you. You can teach me how to fight, and how-"

"Why are you lying to yourself?"

Sora froze. He couldn't quite comprehend what she had said. Lying to himself - was that what he was doing? The events of the last 12 hours flashed in his mind, and he brought a hand to his mouth forcing himself to keep the barf down.

"I-I'm n-not."

Tsubaki ignored that. After a few more minutes the two saw lights in the distance meaning they were finally at the entrance of Ame. Outside the city were refugees that were fleeing smaller towns, and trying to start a new life inside the shinobi village. They looked ragged, hungry, desperate. Some had been yelling at each other, and others were fighting.

'Over what I wonder.'

The closer they got to the mercenary band the quieter things seemed to get. Most of the men were asleep it seemed.

He felt himself instinctually move closer to Tsubaki for protection. The two came across a large, small gate with a handful of soldiers outside it. They were tasked with watching over the mercenary camp it seemed. The closer the two got, Tsubaki realized that there were Orange Men at the camp as well.

'What are they doing here?'

"Ah, Tsubaki, welcome back. Where's Aoi, and Straw?"

"We were attacked by shinobi. We got separated."

"S-Shinobi?" The guard said. "Then you ought to go see Roji straight away." The man paused, and then gave Sora a look up and down noticing him for the first time. "And this is...?"

"There's a wagon burnt to a crisp a few miles down the road coming this way. Found em' outside, a survivor."

The soldier nodded.

"Then you ought to get going."

The two entered the camp, and made their way toward a large number of tents.

"I didn't know things were this bad out here."

"There's a lot of things you don't know, kid.

They stopped outside a rather large tent, and Tsubaki opened up one of the flaps. "Get inside, and don't move. I'll be back in a while with some food, and water."

"B-But I-" But before Sora could say anything she closed the flap leaving the boy alone.

Now that he was sitting down Sora's body finally had a chance to catch up with him.

'So cold.'

Needing a way to see his surroundings he re-opened the flap just enough so that moonlight would shine inside giving him just enough light to see inside the tent. The first thing Sora noticed was a sleeping bag. He instinctively got straight under, and allowed his body to warm up. His feet in particular were almost frost-bitten.

'These shoes... Are all that's left of Straw.' Sora thought.

After warming himself up Sora took a curious look around the inside of the tent. After going through some of Tsubaki's belongings one thing in particular stood out to him. It was a pencil drawing of an older woman. She was sitting in a chair, and smiling as if she was posing for it.

'She looks just like Tsubaki.'

Meanwhile, the young girl had made her way to the tall circular pavilion that featured a large grill, and a man bigger than even Aoi.

She sat at a table, and watched the man closely.

"Big Bowl." She called out.

The man turned around in surprise, and looked at Tsubaki with a scowl.

"Tsu..."

"I told you not to call me that."

"Ah, you wound me girl. Why can't I call my daughter by her nickname hmm?"

The man went over to a pot, and scooped out a bowl of hot stew rich with meat, and every vegetable under the sun."

"Because I'm not actually your daughter, idiot. And I'll need a second bowl."

The man chuckled. "Don't you mean a second and a third? Where's Aoi, and Straw? I heard ya'll went on a scouting run earlier today."

"It's a long story."

And so she told it starting with when they left early in the morning. Big Bowl grabbed himself a bowl of food, and sat across from the girl listening to everything she had to say. She told him about the idiot boy in her tent, and about Straw, and about Haruki Okami, and her fight with him.

By the time she'd finished telling her story the two were both done with their food, and whatever was left in the pot had grown cold and dry.

"So that's everything then," Big Bowl replied with a heavy sigh.

"It is."

"You did the right thing by protecting that boy."

"I'm not so sure. He's an idiot who doesn't understand what he's losing by being out here. It pisses me off."

"Hmm, did you ask him?"

"What?"

"Did you ask him what he's running from? Did you ever ask?"

"Tch, what's there to ask? He's protected by the Kusakyu. He lived inside the village, he-"

"Didn't you also live inside the village? Weren't you protected by the Mizukage?"

"It's not that simple, it's more nuanced than that!"

"And there ya go." Big Bowl said with a smile. He couldn't see Tsubaki's expression under her helmet, but he knew he'd struck a chord.

"..."

"This doesn't change anything. I'm still bringing him home."

"Do what you feel is right, Tsu. Just don't take too long before you tell Roji. He'll want to know what happened, and the longer you keep it from him the more suspicious of you he'll get."

"He can wait until after the meeting with the Kusakyu. Speaking of which, what the hell are all these 'Orange Men' doing here?"

"Ah, I almost forgot. Cayan has some kind of meeting with the lead jonin. Think it's got somethin' to do with a slave girl they brought."

"Whatever, as long as it doesn't interfere with my plans to get the hell out of here. As soon as the meetings done we'll finally be able to leave Amegakure."

"Are you really sure about this Tsu?"

"Of course I am. I don't want anything to do with this village anymore. I want to leave it all behind, and start fresh."

"Ya know if you talk to Rubin about the Mock Exams, I'm sure he'll let you-"

"And what good would that do me huh? I'll just bring attention to myself, and then-" She looked away, "and then someone will come kill me."

"You said your mother."

"Don't. Mention. My. Mother."

Big Bowl nodded. "If you say so Tsu, if you say Tsu."

"Tch," The girl took the extra bowl of food, and brought it back to her tent. On her way she stopped by the armory, and grabbed some light leather armor, and a shield.

'All out of swords huh?'

She brought the equipment back to the tent, and sat it just outside.

Inside she saw Sora sitting up in her sleeping bag staring at the other end of the tent.

"Hey." She said, "It's cold, but-"

Sora eagerly took the bowl from her and scarfed it down.

"Wow, this is the best meal I've ever had. Like, I've literally never had anything as good as this."

"The first meal you eat after escaping death tends to stick with you."

The boy paused for a moment, and looked down at his food.

"Oh, yeah I-I guess that's what it is huh?"

"Get this armor off me."

"O-Oh, right!"

Sora put the bowl down, and reached up to help Tsubaki out of her armor, his legs still stuck in the sleeping bag.

"Hey Tsubaki." Sora said meekly.

"Hmm?"

Sora's head was facing her chest plate, and as he was undoing some of the straps he simply stopped, and looked down at the ground beneath him. Tsubaki couldn't see it with her helmet on, but she could hear it. His tears hit the ground beneath him.

"You were right. I am scared. I've been trying to hide it, and lie, but what I saw back there t-the carriage, a-and what happened to Straw- I... Please take me home, Tsubaki."

The girl raised her arms, and removed her helmet. Then she placed a hand on the boy's head.

"Idiot. Finish getting this armor off me."

The boy did as he was told, and finished taking the armor off of the girl. Afterwards she placed the pot on the ground outside the tent. Too ashamed, and shocked to notice, the girl crawled into the sleeping bag with him, and turned opposite to him.

"I will." The girl said. "I'll get you home."

Sora closed his eyes trying to stop the tears. He was so thankful for the girl's help, but after everything that's happened - Images of the carriage kept flashing into his brain, he couldn't get them out. After some time he felt some kind of warm embrace across his body; something was holding him, and coddling him. He did not know what it was, but it was warm, and kind, and precious. Everything that had happened today no longer mattered, all the blood, and pain was meaningless. It was gone, and he was happy.

The following morning Tsubaki woke up feeling more energized than usual. She'd only slept for a few hours, but for some reason her chakra had been fully replenished. She considered Big Bowl's meal, but even those were just leftovers, and she'd eaten his food plenty of times before so she knew how much it helped when it came to her chakra levels.

Tsubaki sat up, and quickly covered her eyes as some sunlight was peaking in through the tent. She leaned back a bit, and then turned to the boy next to her.

"H-HEY!" She yelled.

She grabbed the boy, and started to shake him awake.

"No, no, no, no, no, no, no how could this happen?!"

The boy was wrapped head to toe in deep purple vines, and plants. Just like a cocoon in a spider's web sitting aimlessly in the dark waiting for its execution.

Tsubaki began tearing through the vines until she saw him. His body was weak, and his eyes were sunken. If it weren't for the faint pulse she felt in his wrist she would've pronounced him dead.

As late as they got in last night it was a miracle they'd only slept for a few hours.

'A full night's rest and... '

Before Tsubaki could finish the thought the boy opened his eyes.

"T-Tsubaki," he said.

She grabbed the boy, and tore him away from the plants, and out of the sleeping bag some of them resisted her pull as she did.

"Agh!" The boy made a pained expression, and reached up holding his head.

"I don't feel so good," Sora said.

He looked around the tent and saw purple plants everywhere; it was like a small forest had bloomed overnight.

"W-What is this?"

Thankful that the boy was okay, she didn't skip a beat.

"Let's go. We're running late," she said, her voice cracking nervously as she spoke.

Sora helped Tsubaki back into her armor; he did so meekly and without question. Afterwards she reached outside the tent, and pulled in a shield, and the leather armor from last night.

As Sora put the leather armor on, Tsubaki hurriedly explained the situation.

"The Onmyodo is the name of the mercenary group we're a part of. We're delivering some gifts to the Kusakyu as a token of good faith. After that we're going to sneak away, and get you to your parents, and after that I'm leaving with the Onmyodo. Understood?"

Sora simply nodded in response.

"Good."

The two stepped outside the tent, and saw soldiers running amok preparing for the meeting. Big Bowl was handing out breakfast, men were sparring in the dead fields, and the Rain Road was bustling with wagons full of booze, and treats for the Kusakyu Clan.

"H-Hey..." Sora said, looking down. The boy picked up a sword that had been left by their tent.

"I-It's heavier than it looks."

"Be grateful. Someone somewhere here is frantically searching for that sword. You better capitalize on their misfortune; though you shouldn't need it anyway."

Sora nodded in response.

'Seriously, why is it so heavy?'

The two then lined up on the Rain Road with the other soldiers. Tsubaki kept note of Sora's movements; they were slower, and more sluggish than yesterday.

'Once I get you home you can start to really recover. Tch, I can't believe I didn't see this coming. Damnit!'

"T-The Onmyodo must've paid a lot of money to get an audience with Kuda," Sora said.

"You have no idea kid. It's gonna be a whole parade. 90% of the Onmyodo band are gonna parade the streets all the way up into Kusakyu Castle. Okita wants us to make a big show of it."

"Okita?"

"Okita Kiriyama, he's the shinobi leading the Onmyodo."

"I-I thought that Roji guy the guard mentioned last night-"

Tsubaki shook her head.

"He's in charge of this platoon, and this mission I guess, but he's not the leader."

'That's what Big Bowl told me anyway.'

Sora looked down at the shoes he was wearing.

"What is it kid?"

"Straw, and Aoi... They've never been inside a shinobi village before; I was thinking - It's going to be really sad they're not here to see this."

"They'd just be disappointed anyway."

"Maybe, but I want them to be disappointed. I want them to see it's not as great as it seems. Just like I did; just like I learned about what's outside of Ame. I want them to learn about what's inside of it."

"And now you've come full circle huh kid?"

The gates to Amegakure had finally opened, and the long lines of Onmyodo mercenaries began to enter the village; there had to be at least 200 of them marching inside with caravans full of gifts. As they made their way in there were dozens of refugees clamoring on the outside of the Rain Road desperately trying to force themselves into the ranks, and into the village, but Orange Men, Rain Soldiers, and Onmyodo men worked to keep them back.

Once inside the village the gates behind them had closed. Walking along the main roads of Ame, now instead of refugees lining the sides of the street it was Ame citizens watching in earnest curiosity. They were better dressed, decently fed, and well protected by the Ame government.

"Where's Roji?" Sora asked.

"He's at the front of the line. He'll be the one talking to Kuda."

"I've heard so much about her, but I've never actually seen her."

"Huh? Oh, well that makes sense. You may be a part of a big family, but you aren't part of a shinobi family. Even seeing her is probably a once in a lifetime chance for you."

"When my brother was younger my dad had brought him to the castle to meet her. He thought she was crazy, but in an exciting way." Sora couldn't help but smile.

"He'd go on and on about how he wished he could be like her one day, and he'd even practice hand signs in the backyard, but nothing ever happened of course."

"Another thing, he'd always want to play fight with me. I was always the bad guy though, and he was the super cool shinobi. He'd even get me out of bed just so we could play before mom had breakfast ready."

"Sounds like you really love your brother."

Sora's smile remained, his face fixed on the line of soldiers in front of him as he marched.

"Yeah."

Not wanting to interrupt Sora's remembrance she let him have that thought; and grew quiet herself.

'I'll bring you back to your brother kid. I promise you that.'

Tsubaki, and Sora both unintentionally listened in on a conversation happening in front of them. It seemed every soldier was talking about the Kusakyu in one way or another.

"I-I'm surprised they didn't limit the soldiers we could bring," a soldier named Manzo said.

"It's because we're soldiers that they don't care," a soldier named Koichi replied.

"Who knew one clan could burn through this much alcohol in a week."

Koichi shook his head in disgust,while another man from the group stepped forward.

"It's because the Kusakyu have really high alcohol tolerance; it takes a lot to get em drunk."

Sora figured that was probably true. It was another odd fact his brother mentioned on more than one occasion. He said the Kusakyu were known for their extravagant parties. As they approached the castle they were met by a large drawbridge which slowly lowered to welcome their arrival.

Then everyone saw them. Watching from the castle walls, and across the moat were the Kusakyu. To everyone's surprise what they saw was men, and women clad in expensive clothing. For what they lacked in elegance, and formality they made up for with style. The most common trait the Kusakyu demonstrated was their striking purple hair, and most of them had eyes the color of gold.

"The color of their eyes isn't natural." Manzo said nervously. "I've never seen anything like it."

"That's because they're not. A soldier said. You know,some call these Kusakyu folk demons."

"W-Why is that?"

"It's because they used to have horns stickin' out of their heads." Koichi said.

"That's not the entire rumor by the way," Sora whispered to Tsubaki, "The Kusakyu supposedly have a huge stash of horns under the castle."

"Fairy Tales," Tsubaki said simply.

"Haha, not the superstitious type huh?"

"Absolutely not."

Koichi, and Manzo seemed to fall onto the same topic.

"HORNS?!" Replied Manzo.. "Please Koichi, did you drink some of the booze we're supposed to be delivering? Must all be going to your head."

After crossing the bridge the group was led into a large courtyard where they were surrounded by walls on all sides. Plants of all kinds aligned the edges of the inner curtain of the castle. Pinks, blues, reds, and yellows, and various combinations of the colors lightly decorated the walls giving the castle an exquisitely tasteful look.

Both Sora, Tsubaki and the other guards looked around in awe, and wonder. It was like they were visiting some kind of forbidden place; the castle just had that wondrous aura about it.

'So this is where my brother spent most of his time.'

In the center of the courtyard, and beneath the mercenary's feet washard white stone; the same kind that was used to build the bridge. There was also a surprisingly large drainage system fit with at least a dozen drains, and multiple gutters just situated evenly along the castle walls. In front of them was the keep; and on the balcony attached to it was the head of the Kusakyuclan herself – Kuda Kusakyu.

"There she is!" Manzo said.

The crowd of mercenaries grew even louder as they all looked up at the head of the clan.

"She's so young." Sora said.

"It's not that special; if it wasn't for Sejin refusing to step down, Mikan would be heading the Kosutta clan in her place. And my clan is the same way."

Sora didn't know much about the Kosutta, but everything he'd heard told him they were bad people, and the worst clan in Amegakure. He knew even less than that about the Akinoyo.

Kuda Kusakyu had a determined, callous face; her eyes looked drenched in murder and frustration; her hair was a dark purple, and her one eye as gold as the sun. The other eye was dressed with a black eyepatch.

'Man why is this sword so freaking heavy?'

As the group settled down Roji, the highest-ranking member of the Onmyodo mercenaries stepped forward,and nervously cleared his throat before kneeling before the head of the clan.

"Oh, great Kuda!" He yelled. Roji's voice reverberated off the walls "My employer, Surudo the Body Snatcher, better known as Okita Kiriyama has sent me, Koichi his best mercenary here as a representative to offer you an apology for our most recent transgressions."

The Onmyodo mercenaries began to talk amongst themselves.

"An apology?" Manzo said, "What are we apologizing for?"

Hush whispers washed over the group painting the Onmyodo with a sense of curious unease.

He looked up at Kuda. "I... trust you'll accept," he then turned his attention to the Kusakyu who all seemed to be enjoying the alcohol the Onmyodo had provided.

Kuda looked down at Roji with disdain.

"The Kusakyu clan happily, and graciously accepts your gift Roji. It's clear a lot of thought, and consideration was put into this care package. We will never forget the Onmyodo's amazing gesture of goodwill."

The Kusakyu cheered, and hooted, thankful for the gifts. The Onmyodo mercenaries all started to laugh along with the Kusakyu, thankful for a successful transaction.

"But... The Kusakyu do not accept your apology Roji. In fact I intend to kill Okita Kiriyama with my own two hands. I will tear off his legs, and throw him back into the cold abyss he climbed out of."

Roji hesitantly looked back at his men.

Tsubaki grabbed Sora's hand.

"We're leaving."

"W-What's happening?"

Roji protested, "B-But Kuda, all the good we've done for the Kusakyu in the past. It's- It's not too late to rebuild trust."

"The funny thing about trust Roji is it's oh so easy to break. And the thing about a Kusakyu promise is once it's broken - the only way to pay it back is with blood."

"B-But our battles across the-"

"The Onmyodo aren't as important to us as you think," she said with a smile, "your entire organization, and the goods you distribute could disappear,and it wouldn't bother us in the slightest," she paused and extended her finger, "But you know what? You're not entirely useless Roji... because you do matter to someone. You and your men. You matter to Okita Kiriyama." Kuda said.

"Kuda please! S-Some of our men have families!"

Sora looked around as Tsubaki dragged him through the crowd. It was then he noticed it; all of the Kusakyu were lined up on top of the walls; the gate leading out and to the drawbridge was closed.

'Oh no.'

"Whatever happens kid, don't let go." Tsubaki said.

Tsubaki, and Sora weren't the only ones trying to leave. The Onmyodo started to panic, and in a frenzied shuffle they all began to run in unison back to the drawbridge.

Mercenaries clawed at the walls begging for escape- begging for life. Kusakyu shinobi lined the walls, took aim with their fingers, and shot focused bits of clay into the crowd. On impact arms, legs, heads, and entire torsos flew all over the courtyard.

Sora watched as an explosion caught Manzo's feet sending them up in the air, and then as if it was a competition his legs were shot out of the air making them explode into smithereens. What was left of Manzo flew into a wall splattering on impact painting it a crescent red.

The smell of burnt flesh filled Sora's nostrils as a white light overtook him.

Like vultures, various Kusakyu clan members scoured the remains of the mercenaries for the swords they wielded, and any personal belongings that could prove useful to the clan. The blood of the mercenaries sank into the ground through the drains, and through the gutters; it traveled downward, creasing itself around pipes and etching itself into concrete walls. It was underground where rats, and roaches fed on what little human meat flushed itself into the sewer, and it's where a small percentage of survivors remained.

"Hey, get up kid. Come on!"

Sora tried to open his eyes, but everything was blurry. He was in pain, oh so much pain.

When he finally opened them he saw Tsubaki outside her armor, but there was someone else with her. A boy anxiously looking around as if he was guarding both him, and Tsubaki.

"Goddamned Kusakyu." He said seething. He looked back at the two.

"Hey is he up yet. We need to go."

"Look at him. What do you think?"

"I think you're lucky I saved your asses. If it wasn't for my lightning shield he'd be more fucked up than he already is. So thank me by getting his ass up so we can go. It's already been an hour."

Tsubaki sighed, and lifted Sora up by his right arm.

"M-My armm?" Sora said, confused. He couldn't feel it for some reason; he looked over, and couldn't see it either.

'That's weird.' Sora thought. Usually there's something there.'

"I've stopped the bleeding, but the kid is running on nothing but dopamine. We need to get him situated ASAP or he's going to be in a world of hurt."

The group started to move through the Kusakyu sewers. The water was a tinted maroon with red humps of gore listlessly flowing through it.

"Who are you anyway?" Tsubaki asked.

"Doesn't matter."

"Um, yeah it does."

"Your friend's sword. That was me; I was using a substitution jutsu."

"So that's why he was complaining..."

'And I thought it was because I... sucked up his muscle mass or something.'

"Yeah, I didn't get the weight quite right. Substitution isn't my strong suit."

"But, I still don't unders-"

"Look, I'm not asking you why you're here am I? Or why you have Sora with you."

"Sora? Who's-" Tsubaki brought a hand to her mouth.

'I never even asked for his name.'

"How do you know who he is?"

"I know all the important people connected to the Kusakyu family, and he's one of them."

"Do you know who I am?" The girl asked.

"As a matter of fact, I do - Tsubaki Akinoyo."

"Tch," she gritted her teeth.

About a dozen meters away or so the group saw light coming from an exit-way.

"There." Hilt said. "That's our exit."

But as they approached they saw a man's silhouette, the light shining past his figure.

"Oh come onnnnn!" The man yelled. He brought his hands up to his hair, and started to pull angrily. "Thanks to you idiots, I owe that damn vixen 1,000 ryo. Why couldn't you have just died with the rest of those mongrels?"

"Shit," Hilt whispered.

"Do you know his name too?"

"Shusei Kusakyu, Jonin level shinobi, and one of Kuda's lieutenants."

"Can we beat him?"

"No," Hilt said without skipping a beat.

"Then we'll need to get around him somehow."

Hilt paused for a moment and stared at the man angrily. He wanted nothing more than to kill him here, and now. Hilt started to breathe more heavily, and he clenched his fists.

'Such bloodlust.'

"Look, I don't care what kind of personal vendetta you have against him-"

"It's not just him," Hilt said angrily, "I will kill every member of the Kusakyu clan."

The man named Shusei seemed to be lost in thought, and was talking to himself. He paid no mind to the conversation between Hilt and Tsubaki.

"Hmm, if I can wipe them out before the vixen gets here then maybe I can save face, and keep my Ryo."

"Look Hilt, I don't give a damn about your vendetta; figure that shit out another time. Right now we need to get out of here."

Hilt took a deep breath, and shook his head.

"Yeah, whatever."

"It's decided." The man said, clapping his hands. He pointed at the three. "I'll kill all of you before Miami gets here, slug your remains into the sewer here, and go buy cotton candy with Miami's money!"

"Do you have a plan?" Tsubaki asked.

"Just focus on getting him out of here. I'll be the distraction."

Sora was still barely conscious, hanging on to Tsubaki with his single arm. She grabbed him by his legs, and lifted the boy up and onto her back. She then placed his arm firmly around her chest.

"Just like that. No matter what happens, do not let go."

Sora didn't say anything, but he was gripping Tsubaki tightly so she figured he must've understood her.

Then, in a burst of light, and strength Hilt torpedoed toward the Kusakyu Jonin, Tsubaki following close behind him.

"Woah, you kids are fast! Ah, I suppose that's what it is to cling to life."

Shusei leapt backwards, and took aim. Small forms of clay generated in front of his finger, and then blam! blam! blam, blam! blam blam!

He shot chunks of clay straight toward the boy, and as he did Tsubaki focused the chakra in her feet, and ran up the walls of the sewer until she was on the ceiling running upside down toward the exit.

"Lightning Style: Electric Shield" Hilt cried out. As the first clay explosive entered his range, a chaotic blue shield erupted from the boy's body, and as it did the clay explosive simply evaporated into nothing.

"An affinity for lightning release huh? So annoying." Shusei said as the rest of his bullets met the same end.

"Well, it isn't the end of the world. Can't hit em?"

He raised a second hand, and pointed at the ground under Hilt's feet, and up at the ceiling where Tsubaki was running.

"Hit around em." Then again, blam! blam! blam, blam! blam blam! several bullets blew up the ground beneath Hilt's feet sending him flying up, and toward the celling. He'd lost control of his momentum, and started to flip endlessly, and Tsubaki on the other hand leapt from the ceiling avoiding the explosions.

"Dammit all!" Hilt yelled.

The boy had lost control of his lightning shield, and so it dispersed.

"Gotcha." Shusei said, sending bullets straight at Hilt as he fell.

"I don't think so."

Tsubaki threw several kunai at the bullets, catching them before they'd get too close. The bullets exploded in midair, but the shockwave from them sent Hilt, and Tsubaki back against a sewer wall. Before any of them could recover, Shusei was standing before them holding one hand out ready to annihilate them.

Tsubaki checked on Sora who was still on her back.

'Still breathing.' And no signs that her plants were sucking him of his chakra or life force.

Hilt on the other hand was not done. Just like before he was seething, looking up at Shusei in disgust, and anger.

'Hilt.'

The boy clenched his right hand tightly. Tsubaki could see a small fizzle of electricity coming from it, and then -

"CHIDO-"

"I don't think so." Shusei said, stepping on Hilts hand, and twisting the heel deep into his wrist. the lightning went just as soon as it had come.

"Aghhh, goddamned Kusakyu!"

"Didn't know the Onmyodo had a couple of shinobi with em' bit of a shame too. Ame is lookin' for runts like you to fight in the Mock Exams."

Just then the sound of footsteps could be heard coming from the other side of the tunnel.

"Looks like you lose again, Shusei."

The woman was skinny, almost anorexic with short purple hair and pink highlights on the tips.

"Damned Vixen." Shusei scoffed.

"Agh, Miami K-Kusakyu." Hilt said.

"Your detonations lacked range, and precision. Though it's a good thing they did. That is Rubin's son you're stepping on."

Shusei stared deep into Hilt's eyes, and scoffed.

"Give me a break. What the hell is his son doing down here?"

The girl shrugged her shoulders.

"He probably snuck in with Onmyodo. He has a bit of an obsession with us. It's quite unhealthy."

"You shut your goddamn mouth!" Hilt yelled.

"Hilt!" Tsubaki said glaring at him. "Shut. Up."

"As for the girl?" The woman continued. "One of the Akinoyo sisters. I don't recognize the boy on her back though."

Shusei stepped off of Hilts wrist.

"Guess it's your lucky day kiddos."

Tsubaki, and Hilt struggled to their feet, and watched as Shusei, and the woman started to head off in the opposite direction of the exit.

"Can you stop showing me up like that?" Shusei cried out.

"Hey, if you killed him Kuda would've dragged you to Blood Prison herself."

"What's so wrong with that? Bet Yuta'd be glad to see me. Bet I'd get some appreciation down there." Shusei said.

"L-Let's go." Tsubaki said to Hilt, and the two made their way to the exit.

"Ohhh by the way! Tell Rubin no hard feelings!" Miami said.

It was a long, and arduous day but Sora, Hilt, and Tsubaki had finally escaped the clutches of the Kusakyu. Over 200 mercenaries went behind those doors, and not a single one came back out. The screams of the forever dead were heard all across Ame as the Kusakyu massacred them between their walls. The Kusakyu castle of inebriation was a graveyard full of loss, and complete annihilation.