Land of Wind: Tango on the Rock

"Windstyle, Vacuum Palm!" He shouted, unleashing a torrent of wind that I managed to dodge, landing on the sand. I lack any offensive ninjutsu right now, so this is gonna be one tricky fight. I growled as I shot forward, thrusting the sharp edge of one of my fans as he dodged left and sent a punch to my face. I dodged with little room to spare and took advantage of his extended arm, I ducked under and quickly slashed out at his underarm, only managing to tear his uniform as he backed up to gain distance. I didn't let up, I needed to use his shock against him at seeing a kid move nearly as fast as him. Immediately, I closed the gap again, opening my fans fully and sending slash strikes and slash strikes, trying my best to keep him off his guard. He dodged one of my slashes but got sliced slightly in the abdomen by my other fan, "Fuck, you're just a kid!" He growled out before jumping back even more, now fully in the open of the desert sand before doing more hand seals.

"Windsyle, Wind Needle!" He shouted before cupping his mouth and blowing wind needles towards me at a high rate of speed. Luckily, my enhanced vision helped with most as I dodged around the attack, however, with most of my attention being focused on the attack, I didn't see the next one. "Windstyle, Wind Shuriken!" He said, spouting more wind weapons at me. I dodged most of them before, "Argh, fuck." I growled lowly as a few managed to graze my arms and stomach, tearing some holes in my kimono. Deciding to try to press him again as he tried to gain his breath, I quickly moved towards him again, channeling a large amount of chakra into my legs and appearing near his side. Swinging my arm and going for another slash attack, it was blocked as expected as he pulled out another kunai. I instantly ducked low and went for a kick to the knee, making him dodge barely. I growled slightly, as I unleashed a few more flurries of kicks, very nearly hitting him but he kept pace. I grunted slightly as he answered back with a kick to my side, sending me back a few meters from him. "Damn, I still only have the body of a 7-year-old," I thought to myself, putting away my fans and unsheathing the Wakazashi blades from my back.

I looked up to see that he was slightly winded and a slight look of worry crossed his face now that he saw my blades. Without prompting, I shot forward again, aiming to close the physical difference between us with the use of blades. I slashed with one of my blades as he managed to barely dodge right, I followed up with a slash of my other blade, aiming for his neck as he parried the blade with the kunai. Before he tried to reach and grab another kunai, I quickly followed up with a slash to his arm, finally managing to leave a gash in his forearm, earning a loud grunt from him. Without wasting time, I ducked low and stabbed, managing to graze his abdomen again as he barely dodged. "Argh! Damn, you kid," he cursed while backing up even more. With a growl, he quickly made more hand signs before shouting, "Windstyle, Wind Viper!" He shouted before a massive, long snake shot out from his mouth and sped towards me. "Fast-" I tried to say before being hit head-on by the jutsu, sending me flying several meters back bouncing and tumbling on the ground before coming to a stop. I shakingly got up, groaning in pain before spitting out a bit of blood, before I felt a fist connect with my cheek, sending me flying further away. Rage started to build within me, feeling as if all of my training was for nought. With a predatory growl, I righted myself midair and landed on my feet, and skid to a halt, glaring at the jonin, who seemed slightly put off, maybe because I was unleashing slight killing intent.

"You shouldn't have done that," I said with a slight smirk, beckoning my wings to form. I looked with pleasure to see his face, along with his genin, turned slightly pale at my form change. I wanted to keep this as my last card, only to be used when needed, and now, is very much needed. Without much warning except the flexing of my wings, I shot off with great speed, far faster than I was before. The jonin had no time to react as I quickly slashed with my Wakazashi at his arm, managing to slice it off at the shoulder. "AAAARRRGGGHH!" He shouted as I turned and quickly came back around and went for another slash, managing to cut off his other arm in the same manner. The man collapsed onto the ground, painfully groaning at the loss of his limbs. "SENSEI!" Shouted the genin as they abandoned their posts and ran towards me, one of them went to tend to their sensei as the other two glared murderously at me, how cute. I sighed as my healing factor healed my injuries before speaking, "Look, I don't want to kill a bunch of kids, just-" My sentence was cut short by one of them, "FUCK YOU BITCH, HOW DARE YOU HARM OUR SENSEI LIKE THAT, YOU MONSTER!"

I sighed again before wiping off my blades and putting them away, I sighed once again and backed up a few steps, "I'll just get going, I'm truly sorry for your Sensei, I didn't want a fight,' I said as I spread my wings, ready to take off. Unfortunately, I had to dodge a slew of kunai and shuriken once again, due to the two boys throwing them at me. I glared in annoyance, "Well, that's not nice," I said coldly before once again trying to fly away, only to duck under more kunai that came from my rear. "Are these kids controlling those? Is it chakra strings?" I thought, looking back at them, seeing the lone female get up with tears flowing down her face as she took her stance to the side of the boys, "We will not let you go!" Shouted the female. I sighed again for the hundredth time before moving at speeds far beyond their level, kicking one of them in the stomach and striking him in the temple, knocking him out instantly. With another breeze, I moved to the other boy, knocking him out with a simple strike to the temple. I dodged the senbon thrown at me by the female, already guessing those were poisoned. I then quickly moved to take out the female with a hit to the chin and another to the temple.

With another sigh, I righted myself, not bothering to glance at the cowering civilians in the distance. I flexed my wings again, only to receive a punch to my face, making me move away slightly to see who dared to strike me, to see the same kid that I kicked earlier. "What...the...fuck?" I thought to myself as I saw the same kid, dressed in the usual Suna genin attire, a desert camo. I turned to the spot where he fell down, only to see nothing but wooden fragments. I turned back to him seeing him bring out some kind of puppet along with some loose kunai. "Damn it, a puppet user," I inwardly cursed, seeing him glare at me. "How...how are you so strong? You're barely older than us!" He asked, red in the face. I sighed again, "I just trained, hard, day and night, every day." I answered back, deciding to be mostly honest. "I mean, if it wasn't for the gamer's body, I wouldn't have been able to train like a damn crack addict." I finished in my thoughts. Damn it kid, just give up.

"You killed our sensei, you hurt my friends, I'M NOT LETTING YOU GET AWAY!" He shouted as he sent the kunai at me along with his puppet. I dodged out of the way with minor difficulty, before moving with speed and appearing behind him, letting loose a punch to the head. It landed as his head exploded into wooden chunks, "What the hell are you?" I asked, looking at the kid who now stood where I was. "Hm, I simply switched with my puppet when I saw you move." He answered back snarkily. I felt my eyebrow twitch at his behavior, "Rule number one of fighting an enemy-" I said before once again moving with more speed as I saw him switch with his puppet again, this time, I shattered the damned puppet to bits with a chakra infused punch before moving to his side, grabbing his arm and dislocating it with a jerk. He fell to the ground in pain as I got close to his ear, "Do not explain your techniques to said enemy like a moron." I finished before flexing my wings and flying off into the clouds so I was not seen as I quickly restarted my journey toward the outskirts of Sunagakure.

Sunagakure Village Inn: Blood with Blood

Setting down my gear in the living room on the couch, I immediately made my way to the bathroom to relieve myself. After a few moments, I finished up and made my way to the sink, aching to wash my face of all of the dirt and grime from my travels. I turned on the water, ran my hand through the cool liquid, and proceeded to splash it on my face, rubbing thoroughly as I sighed in pleasure. "It's been a while..." I said in thought, trailing off as I opened my eyes and let my hands fall so I could lean on the sink. I stared into the mirror body tired from the long and grueling hunting I was forced to do for the last couple of years, unfortunately, I am still unsuccessful in my findings. I looked into the mirror to see the same face with scars staring back at me. Cold, black eyes that allowed no light to pass in or out. My messy black hair was hidden under a bamboo rice hat and some stubble on my face in my effort to grow out a beard.

After a moment, I turned off the water and made my way back into the living room, taking off my hat in the process and setting it down near my combat bow and quiver kit. I sat down and pulled out a couple of scrolls, one a map of the elemental nations, and the other one a long-term mission given to me by Onoki sama. I opened the mission scroll and reread it, reviewing the information given to me. "Mission Rank: S, due to secrecy. Time Limit: Ongoing. Mission Synopsis: It has been proven that the death of the son of a high-ranking court member of the merchant guild, Ryu Arashi, has been committed by a 5-year-old child with limited chakra training. The name of the child is Katomi Misamoto, who apparently, was a customer who frequented the 'Himawari Florist and Distribution Company', at a branch location in the tourist village of Firefly; Located in the southwestern part of Fire Country near the border with the Land of Rivers. The son of Ryu, Kiyoshi, was the owner of said establishment. It has also been said that after she killed Kiyoshi, she subsequently slaughtered some of his workers in cold blood, then left and burned down her family home, killing her father in the process. She then disappeared after the sadistic crime and has been hinted to have fled to another village, likely Konoha."

I furrowed my brows in irritation as I continued to read the next section, "Mission Protocol: To find Katomi Misamoto alive and bring her in for questioning to Iwagakure. If she resists, she is to be eliminated on the spot, leaving no traces of her existence. If she is in the custody of another hidden village, maintain surveillance of the child and try to broker a deal with the village leader for prisoner transport to the Village of Iwagakure." I finished reading as I sighed and ignored the section explaining her physical characteristics. "How the hell does a child manage to do that and managed to evade me like a damned ghost," I said as I closed the scroll and glanced out of the window at the setting sun, allowing a passing glance at the murder of crows on top of a roof. I've been hunting for this brat for the last two years, since a few weeks after her crime, for a child, who should only be 7 or 8 by now, to evade an anbu is something I need to keep secret.

I'm not gonna be able to live this one down after retirement, a child, a damned squirt, a pipsqueak, managed to lead me on a goose chase throughout the elemental nations. From Konoha to Mizugakure, even to Kumo, nothing of her high and low, not even clues. And now I'm back here in Suna to find any clues, and still, nothing. "Damn this kid is good, or as good as dead by now," I said, getting up and strapping my bow and quiver to my person, grabbing the scrolls and putting them back into my pockets before walking to the door. I paused to put back on my combat boots before leaving my inn room, aiming to do some scouting around the village and try to speak to the stiff-ass Kazakage once more. "Kami, I wish I was as free as those crows right now, Kami, protect me from the shame of this nonsense." I finished in thought as I closed the door.

Sunagakure Village Outskirts

I landed once again behind some large rocks, now that the sun is nearly set, I can finally enact the next phase of the plan. "You know, I wanted to let you know that you nearly used the shunshin no jutsu in your last battle." Ariana quipped up, earning a slight look of shock on my face as an answer, "Really? Damn, that'll be something good to have in my arsenal." I said, pondering for a moment. "You really haven't thought much about some of the basic ninjutsu have you?" She asked. I sweatdropped slightly, realizing that I haven't trained much in them, "No, honestly, at least not much until the other day, but I do have an idea with a couple of those basic jutsus." I answered back. A moment of silence passed as I leaned against the rock, continuing to ponder the idea. "And what is your idea of these jutsus?" Ariana asked after a moment.

I cleared my throat and took another moment to check my surroundings and map, not noticing anything close to me for a while. "Ariana, are you aware of Sasuke's ability to teleport himself when he was in Shippuden? I think it's called, ameno-, amenotej-" I struggled to pronounce. "Yes, Amenotejikara, right?" Ariana finished. I hummed in agreement before continuing, "The basic principle is switching yourself with a target of your choice, an object or a person. Now, with the kawarimi no jutsu, it has the same principle, however, it was typically only used with objects like a log. My thinking is, that if I train with the kawarimi enough, I should be able to do it instantaneously, without smoke, and hand signs." I finished. "I see, and are you going to use the same testing with the shunshin?" Ariana asked as I nodded in return, once again looking ridiculous to be nodding at nothing in particular in the desert behind rocks. "Exactly, Shisui was able to take a somewhat basic jutsu and turn it into a near copy of the hirashin, although not as instant or able to cover long-distance travel," I said. "What a fascinating idea indeed," Ariana answered back before I became more focused and stood up from the rock.

"I'll think about that later, now it's time to continue the mission," I said as I stilled for a moment, calming my breath and attracting the natural energy around me into my body. "Let's see if this theory may work, if I use senjutsu chakra, I would blend in with nature as if I were a part of it. This should be able to mask my chakra completely or nearly completely." I finished as I entered what I now deem as sage mode and started to spawn three shadow clones, concentrating as much as I could to use the perfect amount of chakra and molding, aiming to spawn them without smoke or noise. After a moment, they successfully spawned without smoke or noise before getting a notification, "You have mastered the shadow clone technique, and your ninjutsu rank has increased to C-rank." I smiled slightly as I turned to them and nodded, all three of them then transformed into crows without much hassle. I let out a breath as I then transformed myself into a crow, feeling slightly disorientated. I mentally commanded my clones to take off from behind the rocks and followed, looking out into the distance at the gates of Sunagakure.

Sunagakure, Kazekage Building: We Meet Again

Opening the door to the office of the Kazekage, I bowed slightly out of respect before clearing my throat, "Kazekage sama, I'm sure you know why I'm here, so, I won't waste your time." I said walking to his desk and standing. "Understood, please, sit." Said the third Kazekage simply, he was a man of business and of little words, very respectable. I sat down before continuing, "I've been to all of the other hidden villages and still couldn't get a hint or clue of Katomi, I came back here to ask if you may have acquired any new information." A moment passed as the Kazekage drank from his cup of water before answering, "Unfortunately, I have not procured more information about Katomi, however, I am thinking of at the very least, adding her name to the bingo book of Suna with an entry for her to be found alive for a reward." He spoke, leaning back in his chair with his arms crossed.

"I see, well, as you already know, Iwa has already added her to theirs, along with Kumo, Taki, and Konoha; Kumo said they will consider it," I stated, earning a nod from the Kazekage. "Well, I'll get going, you're a busy man, who might want to get rest soon, so, I'll get out of your hair and try that restaurant again too," I said, getting up and bowing to the man, before making my way to the door. The Kazekage chuckled, "You're free to make yourself at home in our village for now, however, I highly suggest to be careful next time you may show. We are nearing a war soon and my shinobi may not be as...welcoming...of outsiders." He said as I nodded in agreement, "That will be noted, Kazekage sama," I said as I bowed once more and left.

The Kazekage sighed as he turned around to his office window, taking a moment to ponder while glancing at a crow fly off to a murder of crows on a building near his office. "Katomi, where could you be?" He questioned himself in thought, rubbing his hand through his spiky black hair. "No matter, I need to finish some of this damned paperwork and get some rest for the war briefing tomorrow, Konoha's mobilizing is at a higher priority than this. Encroaching on the territory of one of our trading partners takes precedence. This common enemy, however ridiculous considering this is a kid, can be dealt with later." He said as he turned back around and allowed an uncharacteristic glare to cross his face at the paperwork.