[Yagura Karatachi]

'It looks like Kokushibo has failed.' Yagura thought as he dismissed his anbu. The man was back on the hunt now apparantly and the four went to Hako town, "Daruma shall take care of it if Kokushibo cannot," The anbu trailing the Hozuki had explicit orders to not intervene unless the man was either dead or to injured to fight back.

'This is what I get for sending a Hozuki without the knowledge of who they're fighting I suppose.' He was told the brat had Lightning clones which is what caused the mans defeat along with his arrogance. Yagura honestly couldn't be surprised at this. He wouldn't be surprised if Kokushibo won the next time.

Failure gives way to one of two things. Death or Knowledge. If death doesn't occur then the person will gain more knowledge. They will either succeed the next time or keep failing until they do or die. That was what his sensei, the third Mizukage had said.

Yagura smiled upon the thought of his sensei. He was built from nothing. He was the first person in Kirigakure history to be come in a position higher than Chunin as part of the lowest caste. He knew both fire and water release and was proficient in both. He was even the create of the water mirror Jutsu Yagura was so fond of.

He was also incredibly kind and wise. Believing equality for all was a basic right for all and that was what he gave them. Even bloodline scum. Yagura may disagree with the man on his views on people with Kekkei genkai but he respects the mans opinions and ideas deeply. He was kind to his people but his shinobi were more warriors than anything. They all fought until flesh shed and they either won or died. It was why Kirigakure was so powerful.

Warriors often left nobody alive.

And that's what Yagura needed right now. A warrior. Most of his most powerful men were dead or missing at the moment he only had Jinjin, Zabuza, Jinpachi, Kosuke, Lumiare, and Rei. And while they were all incredibly strong in their own right. He needed someone else. A warrior close to his caliber.

If only his wife hadn't left him, he could have used Yukimaru for this. His plans for the six tails were instrumental in the near future and Yukimaru would have been a great asset to have. A shame he was taken from him al those years ago.

Yagura felt a tear leave his eye at the memory of his wife and Yukimaru. He pushed them away. He would find them again in the near future. He first had his village to liberate. Yagura stood up and looked at an anbu. The closest thing he had to a daughter, "Rei, would you be a dear and get me Jinpachi and Zabuza?" He'd have asked for Jinjin too but he was doing another task. For his mission to be successful he needed to play the rebels game for a bit longer. And while he was doing that. His strongest men would be slaughtering their suppliers. That was a wonderful piece of information gained his anbu's recent report.

Rei nodded, "Right away father," That made Yagura smile. He may have lost Yukimaru but he still had a child to look after. Rei was a bloodline user but she was pure. Her blood wasn't tainted like everyone else's. And because of that she was powerful. She was the next best water user in Kirigakure and with her bloodline she could make water into acid. That day at Shikyo was the best one he had in the last ten years.

Soon enough Rei came back with the two he requested. Zabuza Momochi and Jinpachi. The former of the two looked pissed off, "Hello gentleman, I hope to see that I'm not interrupting anything," His youngest jonin shook his head.

"Not really but I was just about to get some damned food," Yagura imagined carrying the Kurokiribocho would require one to have a lot of calories daily. Jinpachi shrugged and said nothing.

Yagura smiled, "Good, now I have a mission for you two."

[Kukui Tanku]

Hako was fucking huge.

That was the only way to say it to say the least. Three days after our battle with Kokushibo and some nonstop walking we managed to make it to Hako. Now this was great for many reasons. 1: shinobi training was here. 2: A shinobi library was also likely here and we could get some information about the world from some of the missing-nin laying low. 3: This place had shinobi. Ones who weren't loyal to Yagura and therefor weren't obligated to listen to him or his shinobi, even if they were superior.

It was great because of that. Although Mochi would be a lot harder to find. Although I heard the Pocky here was out of this world.

So small positives at least.

"So what are we gonna do first?" Himiko lazily asked and I was reminded she still couldn't walk that well. Her spine took one hell of a beating in the fight against Kokushibo. It should be fine in a day or so but she had to be carried. Luckily for me, I had to carry the sack of potato's.

I groaned, " Find a hotel hopefully. I'm starting to get tired of this," I of course had the unfortunate luck of not pulling the longest straw. Damnit, Sanemi had better back strength, "Then tomorrow we can go do shit," Truth be told. I was just tired in general.

Sanemi snickered, "Maybe you should have pulled a longer straw then Kukui!" Jerk.

Himiko laughed, "Yeah! Your stuck carrying me for another day!" Fuck my life. Why couldn't I get my spine damaged or a leg broken? I wanted to be carried! "Now what are we gonna do? No hotels yet! I wanna have fun!" My back wasn't having fun.

Choujuro pushed up his glasses, "Guys I think we should go to a hotel. It'd be best that we finish resting. We're still pretty beat from our first fight," Choujuro. The sweet innocent middleman in our merry band of idiots. I'd forever be grateful that he was here, "Kukui will probably be more than happy to carry you tomorrow. I think he woke up on the wrong side of the bed," My smile turned into a frown.

"You guys suck."

Himiko pat my head, "You love us! You'd be lost without us. Now I guess Choujuro's right. We gotta let you get to bed Mr. Crankypants. Now onward!" Himiko pulled on my hair and pointed forward, "Lets find some place to rest and then we can get some food!"

God I was hungry. We barely had any food the last few days. We quite literally survived off of berries and nuts as there wasn't any fish near by. I'd love some food right now. Anything. Sanemi's stomach seemed to agree with me as it grolwed at the mention of food, "Yeah I think food would be a good idea. But how about that's first?"

I grinned, "For once I'll happily agree with you. Food sounds nice. I could go for a nice bowl of ramen," Ramen sounded so good right now. It was cheap, good, and fulfilling. Also the broth would keep our stomachs warm which was a plus.

Choujuro grinned too, "Y-Yeah that does sound nice," He sighed, "Some nice lobster ramen with extra Fishcake sounds really good right now," Naruto. Heh. I looked around and saw a small show nearby. Choujuro also seemed to see it, "There's probably one there!"

Sanemi immediately looked int he direction of the shop, "Oh god it smells like heaven!" I smelt the air as well. I nearly collapsed from the wonderful smell in my nose, "Okay three votes for ramen. I'm in. Himiko?" Sanemi looked up to the parasite on my back right now.

Himiko squealed, "Yeah, yeah, yeah! It smells sooooo good! I want some! I want an extra large bowl! Kukui carry me there right this instant and I'll get off as soon as we get there, I promise!" God that sounded great right now. Okay first stop ramen shop!

I musted up more strength. I'd need it for this miles long trek, "To the ramen shop we go!"

[Ito Kaguya]

"Damnit."

They were late. The telltale signs of battle were here. Lightning marks, water made of chakra, a few drops of blood. Kushimaru looked at Ito as he looked at some of water and stuck his finger in it. , "A Hozuki's been here... and from the looks of it they lost," The Hozuki lost? Weren't- Oh yeah Kukui had lightning jutsu.

Hozuki's chakra water was special. It reacted wildly to others chakra when separated from the main body. Thats the telltale sign a Hozuki was here and either lost or was dying a few meters away. Mangetsu-sama taught Ito that one! Ito looked at some of the blood, "So you think they went somewhere else?"

Kushimaru nodded, "Its likely. from the footprints I see, two figures ran in the direction of Hako town. And from how deep in the dirt they are, I'd say they were carrying people. This confirms there's four of them. Or maybe two if they were killed," Kushimaru shrugged, "Alright brat, we're heading to Hako. Luckily its a neutral zone for us so we're safe there,"

Ito grinned. Sure they had missed out on Kukui by... a few days maybe? But they had another lead and they couldn't have gone too far. Judging by the fact at least two people won and lived, the lightning user had to be there as that's kinda the only way you can beat a Hozuki easily. And even better for them. Hako was neutral since it was a daimyo ran place. And the Daimyo hated Yagura. Although he couldn't remove him from power due to "reasons"

"So we're going on another trip eh sensei? Hopefully we catch them this time!" Ito was hopeful they'd get them this time. She couldn't lose hope now. Although there wasn't enough blood to say anyone died which meant the enemy was probably still alive too. But Kushimaru-sensei could take care of them with ease!

Kushimaru grinned under the mask, "Optimistic much brat? We might not catch them in Hako but they'd be either close to it or somewhere near it. This is our best chance brat. If we fail here we're going home okay? We can't let ourselves be caught by Kiri-nin," That was a concern Ito had but Sensei and she could take care of it all for sure!

Ito nodded, "Kay but I don't think it'll come down to that sensei. Your really strong anyways. But now lets get a move on so we can catch them, kay?" She was feeling really happy and energetic. She had some of the best few nights of her life recently. This was like a vacation from all the bad news and death she saw!

Kushimaru nodded, "Okay brat. Judging by how old the tracks were we're only three days late and if two of them are injured they should be just reaching there. So it should take a few days to get there and track them down inside of Hako itself," That made sense. Ito nodded.

They began traveling quickly.

'We're gonna get you pal. Its been way too long since I've talked to anyone my own age and Suigetsu doesn't count!' Ito thought detirminedly. No need to think about a hit squad for her. She was so close to her goal of the year she could smell it!

Now all they needed to do was merk some Hozuki prick. Most of them sucked anyways for siding with that Yagura bastard. Ito would be happy to see them gone.

One day they would be and the racism in Kiri with it.

Ito would be sure of it with her future allies.

[Kukui Tanku]

'This has to be the best bed I've slept on in a while.' I thought as I laid down. I was currently the only one awake I believed. Damnit I felt like shit right now. We had just finished our first day in Hako town which included eating a shitload of ramen and getting a hotel. Tomorrow we had planned on going to a shinobi library and getting some information if possible. It'd be nice to learn a bit without having to figure it out ourselves.

'Maybe I should take a walk.' I felt uncertain about what I wanted to do to be honest. The fight with Kokushibo was the first fight we've had with an actual shinobi. He took out two of us and if it weren't for a move that almost felt like it was a shitty end to a fight in a book induced by plot we'd all have died. It made me feel like I was weak to be honest.

I had the gamer but literally the only thing I was talented at was swordsmanship which I had practice at and heat of the moment learning which has only happened once so far. Everyone else had the promise to be able to back up their dreams.

I felt weak. Insignificant. Pathetic. I had to rely on a systems boosts to be stronger than I was and it made me feel like shit. My stats probably weren't even that high either. At this rate I wasn't gonna live past twenty. Maybe I was overshooting it a bit? 'Stats.'

[Name: Kukui Tanku

Age: 11

Title: Defector of Kiri

Chakra: 120/120

Stamina: 120/120

Strength: 22

Dexterity: 23

Constitution: 24

Chakra: 12

Chakra control: C]

'Must be midnight.' I was eleven now huh? That marked over ten months into my stay in the Naruto world and me being just over the age limit to play darts in Suika town now. 'That would have been fun.' Eh. Looking at my stats I remembered I had pitiful chakra reserves. At least it regenerated semi-quickly. Two points every five minutes.

'Maybe I need new weights again.' Stronger ones. Maybe thirty pounds? So a total of 120 pounds. yeah that sounded good to me. And that added a lot of extra body weight for punches and kicks. Running could make up for the lost speed. Okay yeah that worked well.

I also needed more variety. I had three jutsu and one of them I didn't use often because it took a lot more chakra then it should to be worth it. Maybe I could get started on the second stage of lightning release soon? I had to do it soon right? It was pretty simple. Get a lightbulb and make it as bright as possible without it shattering.

'Maybe I can get a jutsu or two as well for water. Learning some defensive choices doesn't sound too bad.' I wouldn't start learning water release for a while but I knew the basic principles behind it which was why I could use the hidden mist jutsu.

'Good to know I've stopped thinking about my self-pitying.' Intrusive thoughts stuck again. 'Damnit. I was just trying to get my mind into a better place. Okay, Kukui you can just train later. Don't let anyone get killed because you hate yourself and your weakness.' I took a deep breath.

Yeah a walk sounded really nice right about now. I sat up and looked around. Everyone looked to be sleeping nicely. 'Good to know everyone's feeling well.' Maybe I should go get some pocky? Yeah that sounded nice. That or I could go get the supplies we had to bail on in Suika thanks to Kokushibo.

Nah I could get those tomorrow. The shops weren't open anyways. 'Yet the sweet shops are.'

Yeah pocky sounded nice.

Besides it was my birthday now right? A little treat seemed like a good thing to get for it. Some chocolate flavored pocky seemed like a decent gift for myself along with heavier weights for training. Something to help me grow better. An then soon some lightbulbs for elemental training.

'Yeah. Maybe then I won't be so weak anymore. Maybe then I can use chakra flow and not be weak.' With this choice in mind I opened the window. 'Maybe I'll get some pocky for everyone.' I'm sure they'd like it!

With that I jumped out the(first story sadly) window.

[Chapter end]

And that's the chapter! Kinda hoped for it to be longer but my muse ran wild at the end and sorta went off track into Kukui's mental health spiraling again. On a bright note I have a few ideas for where I want this little side plot to go in the end. Kinda hoping its enjoyable. Now we're half way through the arc though so things are really gonna start heading into gear soon. I am really excited for the next chapter tbh. Specifically the first part. It'll be part of the greater plans of this fic eventually... okay that's a lie. This is just another sideplot that'll tie into the main one somehow.

I am really excited for it though since it'll lead into a new age of side plots called [REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED] Not spoiling that shit now. You best believe your all waiting until next week to read that. Unluckily for me I have to wait a few weeks to see your reactions to it... At least by then I should be finishing the third arc and the fourth should be planned. Also I should be working on other fics. Naruto fics or otherwise i don't know.

To be honest its been a bit since I've had a go at another fic for more then a chapter. I have a few that have a chapter or less than one but its almost done but nothing over that. I haven't found an idea that's really hooked me in yet other than this one.

So hopefully that goes well and I have another fic uploaded.

Anyways, I've been rambling for far too long now. See Y'all in another six days(for you 48 days? for me... idk if the math is right lol)

- Tobi

EDIT: Decided to release a day early to sync up with my AO3 release times