[Kukui Tanku]

I heard someone roar, "TRAITORS!" and then I blocked a slash that would have killed Himiko. I looked up and saw a man roughly twenty eight years of age with pale skin red hate filled eyes and silver hair. He looked pissed off, "YOU KILLED MICHIKATSU YOU BASTARDS I'LL KILL YOU, YOU BLOODLINE SYMPATHISING SCUM,"

I jumped back with Himiko, "You alright?" Something might have still hit her. We couldn't let her get knocked down, she was the key to our survival. Blood manipulation was no joke. If she was taken out of the fight then we had a next to zero chance of living

Himiko nodded, "Thanks to you. That would have taken my head off!" She glares at the man, "That was mean by the way!" I took a look at the man. He mentioned Sensei. Was he a friend? a lover? who knows. Either way he was pissed off and we had to survive.

The man seethed, "I'LL KILL YOU ALL. YOUR GONNA WISH THAT ATTACK KILLED YOU AND YOUR FRIEND LEFT YOU TO DIE YOU TRAITOROUS SCUM!" He charged at us. Only stopping when a slash of wind nearly hit him. It phased through him but he shivered. Like he was cold.

I looked at Sanemi who nodded, "This'll be a long battle! I'm all here for it!" He grinned

A water clone of Choujuro also appeared, "We won't let him kill us!"

I grinned, "We won't!" With that I raised my swords. It was time to attack! This guy would learn he shouldn't mess with us! And just for attacking Himiko, I wanted to beat his face in.

A screen appeared in front of me then. For the first time

[URGENT: Quest: Beat Kokushibo Hozuki

Rewards: +2 lvls lightning manipulation + 1 level in all stats]

Now I really wanted to beat his face in.

I looked toward Himiko and Sanemi, the former's eyes still red like blood, "Sanemi, you and I will try to cut him. Himiko once we cut him, drain him of blood," The two nodded and I looked to Choujuro just as Kokushibo charged at Himiko, "Protect Himiko!"

Choujuro stood between Himiko and Kokushibo in a few short seconds, before the latter could slice her head off. Me and Sanemi attempted to stab the man but he seemingly phased through our attacks like they were just going through water. He growled, "YOU BRATS WON'T BEAT ME," He slashed Horizontally in my direction, making me jump back. He then kicked Sanemi who sent a wind slash at the man. It went through him and was coming toward me.

I dodged. 'Is this guy a Hozuki? No. His entire body would turn into and look like water. But still its worth a shot to see if lightning would work.' I went through the now familiar hand seals of my one offensive jutsu, "Lightning style: Electromagnetic murder!" Directing the lightning chakra through my blades, I sent two blasts of lightning toward the man.

Wordlessly he spat out a wall of water and then turned to Sanemi who sent more wind slashes his way. He phased through those which hit the water wall which collapsed. Kokushibo then spat out three large water bullets. One at me, One at Sanemi, and One at Himiko.

Choujuro blocked the water bullet from Hitting Himiko and Himiko threw a knife at the man and it simply phased through him. Sanemi dodged his water bullet slashed the air once more, sending more wind slashes at the man. I ducked under mine, with it grazing the top of my head.

'Okay this'll be harder than I hoped.' The man growled and wordlessly created three water clones from the failed water bullets. I dodged a stab from the one behind me and I channeled lightning into my hands and sheathed my swords.

The clone wearily looked at me and I grinned ferally. I felt a woosh of air behind me and felt Sanemi's chakra behind me, "Bastard almost got you," I saw a wind blade fly over my head and destroy my water clone. We looked over to Himiko and Choujuro who blocked a strike from the mans sword with his own. Himiko snuck up to the man and attempted to stab him but it phased through him. That seemed to make the man calm down slightly.

Kokushibo kicked Choujuro and lunged at Himiko, "Die bloodline scum!" Quickly I sent a blast of lightning at the man and Himiko threw a knife at him. He once more raised a water wall in front of himself and beside himself.

Choujuro recovered and began running up to Kokushibo and tried to cleave the man in half horizontally but his blade was blocked by Kokushibo's. In a show of strength, Kokushibo one handedly knocked Choujuro away. Choujuro made ten water clones as he recovered once more and they all charged Kokushibo. Kokushibo jumped away from himiko, seeing he had no time

Kokushibo smiled, "Fool! Your just giving me more water to work with," He then went through the first handseals I saw him do all day, "Water style: great water collision wave!" Looking at Himiko he spat out the massive amount of water.

Channeling chakra into my legs I dashed toward Himiko as she tried to dodge the attack. Meanwhile, Kokushibo sliced up all the clones Choujuro made and used them for more water bullets, sending them at Choujuro. The wave of Water collided with Himiko and I cursed. As the water cleared itself I found Himiko spitting up some water, "*Cough* that *cough* wasn't *cough fun *cough*" I felt chakra coming in my direction so I grabbed Himiko, Quickly I dodged and saw a water spear where I once was.

I looked at Himiko and then at Kokushibo. The man Kicked Sanemi and Choujuro at the same time with a sweeping kick and saw us. He began heading in our direction. 'Lightning might work. He keeps blocking it from hitting him.' I looked at Himiko again, "Can you use a water jutsu?"

Himiko nodded, "Yeah, this meanie gave me enough water to work with," She went through three hand seals and cupped her hand at her mouth, "Water style: Water trumpet!" A blast of water came out of her mouth and toward Kokushibo.

I went through my own seals and grabbed my swords. 'Still wonder why I can do this but not use chakra flow.' I channeled lightning chakra into my swords, "Lightning style; Electromagnetic murder!" The lightning combined with the water and was sent toward the man.

The attack connected and he turned into a puddle of water. 'Water clone.' I felt danger spike and turned around, I barely dodged a slash which grazed my side. Himiko growled and tried to spray water at the man it simply absorbed into him as it hit his stomach. 'So he is a Hozuki huh.' That or he could absorb water Ninjutsu... and phase through attacks. Okay so he was nigh unbeatable.

He smacked Himiko with the side of his blade, sending her flying into a tree. Shit, I couldn't see if she was okay or not either. Hopefully Sanemi and Choujuro did it for me, "Before I kill her, I'll need to deal with you, bloodline supporting scum. Its people like you who ruin this world," The man spat out with hate. His words felt like venom.

I narrowed my eyes. So he saw me as a threat. Made sense, I had lightning release, "So you see me as a threat huh? Well this means I'll just have to live up to your expectations," I once more tried to channel lightning chakra into my swords but it failed. 'Damnit, range would be useful.' I slashed the mans stomach but the attack simply went through him.

He laughed and I saw a wind blade go through him, I dodged it but felt it cut my arm. Yeah that hurt... "Your not much of a threat. I'm just worried you'll get a lucky shot. But if your pathetic friends attacks can hit you then I don't need to be worried," I saw the barely restrained rage in his eyes. So maybe he wasn't so calm? He tried to slash me but I dodged.

"Watch out!" I heard and I ducked as a water bullet soared above my head, I then saw a wind blade impact it, freezing it. It hit Kokushibo in the stomach making him groan. I looked and saw Choujuro and a bleeding Sanemi grinning, "Wow that actually worked! I didn't think it'd ever work!" Wow the novels weren't bullshit.

Sanemi sent another wind slash in my direction as I felt Kokushibo's chakra near me, "Of course it worked, we're awesome! We have bigger things to worry about now though!" I jumped over to them.

Kokushibo stood proud and growled, "Of course you bloodline supporting scum found a way to imitate them. That was just a pale imitation of what the Yuki clan was capable of though. As much as I hate them, I can respect that they were powerful. THIS IS JUST A CHEAP COPY!" He then began going through a set of hand seals, "This jutsu will kill you all!"

Anyone with a brain could tell he was building up a lot of chakra, "GET HIM!" Me, Sanemi, and Choujuro rushed toward the man. I sent lightning, Sanemi wind, and Choujuro water toward the man trying to stop him from using what ever jutsu he was using. '40, 41, 42... Oh no...' I recognized what seals he was going through now! Shit.

"WATER STYLE: WATER DRAGON JUTSU!" Kokushibo spat out a large water dragon at us. The dragon practically roared and then went toward me. I closed my eyes and prepared for the inevitable but I didn't feel any pain so I opened my eyes. I saw Choujuro in my place as the dragon crashed into him and sent him into the ground.

I felt his chakra and I saw his chest was still moving up and down. I heard a groan which confirmed he was still alive, "He's still breathing. We need to wrap this up soon," I couldn't let anyone die. No. I wouldn't. I channeled chakra through my fists and tried to force them into my swords. 'Work damnit. I need the extra attack range with my lightning attacks.' I can't keep using electromagnetic murder.

Sanemi nodded, "Himiko and Choujuro need medical attention, fast. We can't run either," Sanemi looked at me, "We need to hill him here and now. Your probably the only one of us four who can do this,"

I nodded but before I could speak, Kokushibo laughed, "You think you can beat me? You scum can't even touch me on a good day unless I allow you too!" The only damage dealt to him was the ice bullet. He knocked out two of us, Sanemi was bruised, and I had a few cuts.

Sanemi grinned and got in a fighting stance, "You better believe it you son of a racist bitch. I bet as soon as we kick your ass back to hell you'll crawl up your mothers ass and beg for love you'll never get,"

I quickly created three lightning clones and knew that was my last jutsu of the night. I was probably not going to be able to move much after this, but I'd need to leg it out of here with Sanemi and two hopefully not dead bodies.

The clones charged Kokushibo with the real one staying back, resting. Sanemi nodded at me and ran to go help the clones. Kokushibo channeled water to his blade and sent it out like a ship, dispelling a clone, The residual lightning chakra in it shocked Kokushibo as it travveld through the water blade. 'Why didn't I make clones earlier?' Oh yeah. I'm dumb.

Sanemi began his assault with a bunch of wind slashes, forcing Kokushibo to recover quickly and try to dodge. He got hit by a slash and a large cut appeared on his chest as he dodged a clone. He winced in pain before he threw a kunai at a clone, dispelling it. Shit. I decided to charge at the man

Kokushibo growled and sent a water bullet at Sanemi which stopped his assault, "I'll kill you slowly for that you stupid brats!" He then looked at me as I charged toward him. He formed a water spear and threw it at me. Ducking under it I was kicked in the face, away from Kokushibo.

My other clone charged in a suicide move as Sanemi's wind slashes ceased as he dodged. The clone jumped onto the man's back, "THIS IS FOR CLONE TWO!" He dispersed in a flashy display of lightning and Kokushibo screamed in agony. He looked to be paralysed.

I took this as my opportunity and rushed in, using what little chakra I had left I grabbed the man's skull and it turned into water. I channeled the chakra into lightning chakra, "DIE, DIE, DIE!" The man writhed in pain and fell limp as my chakra ran near dry. I let the man go and he fell limply on the ground. I then looked at my hands.

I killed a man... I killed before but... 'Kill or be killed...' That was the world we lived in now... I still felt like throwing up. I balled my hands into fists. 'I'm a monster...' I didn't even feel bad...

I felt my vision go hazy. Chakra exhaustion damnit... I looked at Sanemi who helped me stand, "We need to get out of here now,"

Sanemi nodded, "Yeah... but first I think you need to rest... you don't look like your in any condition to run,"

I tried to protest but I felt my eyes grow weaker...

Yeah I needed to rest.

Before my eyes drooped completely I saw a screen.

[Quest complete: Beat Kokushibo Hozuki!

Rewards: +2 lvls lightning manipulation + 1 level in all stats]

"Yay..."

[Himiko Chinoike]

'Weak, useless, Himiko.' Himiko thought to herself bitterly. Was she dead? She didn't know. But she felt useless. All she had done in the fight was get knocked around and not even do any damage. 'I deserve to die for getting in their way.' Maybe if she wasn't there then her friends would be able to beat the bad man.

The man had just attacked them. They were trying to make a jutsu. Sanemi had technically already succeeded a long time ago. But they were trying to make something useful in more situations. Like a supermassive water jutsu! But she probably wasn't going to ever do that.

Himiko wondered if her friends made it out alive. 'I hope they did... Maybe they left me.' No. Himiko knew that even in the short time they all knew each other, they built up a lot of camaraderie. They would never abandon each other. They defected together and they resolved to change their home together.

'I need to be stronger.' If she survived then she had a whole lot of training to do if she wanted to become strong enough to stand by the side of her friends. Even with her Kekkei Genkai she couldn't do anything. Maybe she could have suicide bombed the evil man? No that might not have worked.

Himiko just wished she was strong enough to protect her friends. To make sure she'd never have to see the pretty shade their blood was.

Himiko steeled herself. 'I need to get stronger.' She thought. 'No matter what I'll protect them.' She resolved.

Then she opened her eyes. Blinking the sleep out of her eyes, she looked around and saw it was night time. She also saw a campfire and Choujuro looking at it as Kukui and Sanemi slept in their sleeping bags. Where were they all exactly? Himiko didn't care. They were all alive!

Choujuro noticed her, "Himiko!" He then looked at the sleeping two as they stirred and quickly smacked himself on the head, "Quiet remember Choujuro," He shook his head, "Your awake. How are you feeling?" He looked beaten up. She noticed Sanemi and Kukui looked a bit beaten up as well, with there being a boot shaped bruise on Kukui's face.

Himiko ignroed it for now, "I'm okay," She then felt intense back pain, "My back just hurts. What happened?" They won apparently and thats what mattered.

Choujuro winced, "Yeah you hit that tree pretty hard. Luckily you didn't break anything. We're not equipped to heal that stuff," Huh... They did need a healer. They didn't have anyone in their group who knew medical jutsu, " But anyways, I got knocked out by a water dragon. Kukui and Sanemi apparently killed the man and they robbed him. We got a lot of money and supplies from him thankfully,"

That was nice actually. Some good news at least, "Thats good to hear. Where are we though?"

"In the forest, heading to Hako village. We'd have gone further but Kukui's exhausted and Sanemi's healing," Choujuro said as he looked up at the stars," I kinda feel weak... I saved Kukui from the water dragon but... I could have done more," He looked at Himiko, "Everyone calls me the strongest but why should I get the title if I can't stop my friends from being injured?"

'He feels like I do.' Himiko thought. Choujuro did a hell of a lot more than she did, "Your not weak," Choujuro looked like he was about to protest but a pointed glare from Himiko made him timidly back down, " You said you saved Kukui right? Well that's a lot more then I did. I was supposed to be the cool insta-killing badass girl who saved everyone from a long fight! Instead I had to be protected by everyone and knocked out pathetically," Choujuro opened his mouth to protest but another glare stopped him, "What I'm trying to say is that you did one hell of a better job helping than I did. You weren't useless,"

Choujuro sighed, "Thanks, Himiko,"

Himiko smiled. At least they were alive and having this conversation. She could have her pity party later, "Your welcome,"

[Kokushibo Hozuki]

Kokushibo felt his head throb. Where was he? He looked around and saw he was in a forest but that was about it. He then shook his head and looked for his blade only to realize it was gone. What had happened? Last thing he remembered he was ambushing so-

Oh yeah... THOSE BASTARDS WERE THE ONES THAT KILLED HIS FRIENDS.

Kokushibo failed. He punched the ground. That was when he realized all of his gear was stolen. That made him punch the ground again. How did he lose? Oh yeah they had clones. Lightning clones. Of course the bloodline scum had lightning clones.

Kokushibo smacked himself, "Damnit. Damnit. Damnit. I failed..." He whined. How could he face Yagura-sama? How could he face her? He couldn't at the moment. He was weak for letting then get away. The brat may have gotten lucky with the lightning clone jumping onto him but that wouldn't work. They were likely still weakened after the fight though. 'I should go after them now.'

His body protested and Kokushibo quickly sat down, "Damn body." How was he alive exactly? Getting his head fried by lightning release should have killed elected to not think about it. He was alive and that was all that mattered. He still was given the chance to beat them.

Okay maybe he should be more rational about this.

Charging in right away without being a shinobi first and foremost is what almost gotten him killed. "Shinobi rule seven; never let emotions get the better of you in a battle," He recited. There were seventy shinobi rules. The first ten were the most important. And he broke at least three of them. Seven, two, and ten.

He couldn't make this mistake again. 'First I need to recover.' Once he was recovered and could actually fight he could track them down again. Once he recovered he'd need to track them down and do one of two things. Assassinate them in their sleep. Or get them out to fight on his terms.

Also he needed more shinobi supplies... 'Where's my wallet.'

The fuckers stole his wallet.

Okay he'd deal with that later. First he needed to get money again. A few robberies should suffice. Then get supplies... actually why not just skip the middle man and steal supplies. Okay that was what he was going to do after he recovered.

Then he was going to track down the bastard brats. He'd lead them into a trap where he could easily kill them and then he'd become a hero of Kirigakure once he brought the scum to justice.

Yeah that sounded nice.

But first and foremost he needed to make sure he wouldn't fail again.

He needed to steel himself. Fighting Michikatsu's former students turned traitors wasn't going to be easy at all now that he knew what they could do.

"Of course one had to be a lightning user that's half competent."

Chapter end. Holy fuck this was one hell of a ride. The entire first part takes up two thousand words with the fight being at least 1,300 words I think. Kinda felt like this one had to be a longer one tbh. I hoped to make it 4k+ long with another part. But I felt like that wasn't needed since the fight played out differently than planned and Kukui shouldn't have a pity party two chapters in a row. So here we are.

Anyways, Kokushibo did survive. But just barely. Kukui didn't have enough chakra at the time to shock him to death. He almost killed him. But he didn't. He did successfully beat him though so he got the quest rewards which are nice indeed.

Next chapter: Hako.

Also just gotta say, I'm loving the little pieces of world building I'm sprinkling in here.

- tobi