[Urahara]

They were finally out of Marineford. It took a few days longer than expected and they got a very unhappy message from Mei-sama asking why but they were done. They had just got the last package they needed and they were able to finally get the fuck out of Marineford.

Urahara was very happy about it too.

This mission had been a huge success for the rebellion as a whole. Not only did they save Marineford but they got back the Shibuki blade, they killed Jinpachi, and they caused Zabuza to leave Kirigakure as a missing nin. That was a massive blow to Yagura's forces. Yagura didn't have any of the seven swords anymore.

Of course two of them were now in the hands of extremely dangerous missing nin but that was a problem for another day. The rebellion had five of the seven swords and a lot of strong ninjas, and they managed to cause Yagura some pain.

It was a great mission overall. Even if the broken limbs they got weren't healed yet and they had a genin whom was barely able to walk that he was currently carrying. Speaking of the brat, "You still asleep brat?" The brat was asleep like ten minutes ago.

"No..." The boy groggily said. He had the worst injuries of them all and they were still healing. "I woke up when I heard Ito and Ameyuri-sama arguing about something trivial." The brat laid his head on Urahara's shoulder. "I can't wait to get back into a bed that's lumpy and hard."

Ah yes. That was something Urahara would never miss. The crappy beds they had back at base were the bane of his existence. "Yeah me too brat. We're almost there so don't worry. " The mission report he and Ameyuri had to give would hopefully be done after they visited a medic to fix their broken limbs. Urahara hated walking on a broken leg. 'Why couldn't Ito carry the brat with wire or something?'

"That's nice... I get to gloat to my friends about being able to steal the Shibuki soon enough." The boy chuckled to himself. "I almost don't believe it still. I'm alive, Jinpachi's dead, and Zabuza won't be an issue for a while." Urahara could almost see the grin on the brat's face. "If this was my first mission then I dread the next one."

"Not everyone's gonna face Zabuza and Jinpachi on their first mission. We just got unlucky. Now how about you just focus on sensing stuff for now? Or you can go back to sleeping until we get back to base and see a medic." The brat definitely needed a medic the most. Most of his wounds were patched but a medic to speed up the healing process would help the brat for sure. Then Urahara would be sure to get his leg healed next. Ameyuri's arm could wait.

"I'll sleep. Wake me up when we're at a medic or celebrating with booze." The brat then yawned.

'The brat's gonna be an alcoholic... Can't say I blame him.' Booze was good and made pain go away. It was a good short term solution. Sake also didn't taste that bad and it was good for getting drunk. 'I wonder how everyone will react this time to such a big victory.'

Whenever the rebellion had a victory this big everyone always celebrated.

It was nice.

Everyone deserved to have a bit of fun, especially since the shit they were all going through was so horrible. The day they liberated Kirigakure from Yagura's control would be a spectacular one. There'd be a week-long party for sure. it'd end with Mei-sama becoming the Mizukage.

Urahara wasn't sure if he'd live to see the day it happened. But he'd be happy to be a part of the reason why it happened. He just wanted to die like a badass at least. Maybe saving someone and causing a massive victory to happen?

Yeah, that'd be nice.

[Choujuro]

Today should be the day Kukui and Ito returned. Choujuro was excited. It had been over a month since Kukui had left. Apparently, something huge happened during the mission if the rumors were true. Apparently, Kukui did something big.

Honestly, that didn't surprise him or the rest of his friends. Kukui was someone who had both incredible luck and horrible luck. He also was the type of person to just be awesome. He was someone Choujuro looked up to and he couldn't wait to hear from him again.

"So how long do ya think it'll take for Kukui to come in?" Himiko was sitting with a sleeping Tayuya on the side she was sharpening her favorite knife. "I can't wait to show him some neat blood jutsu I made." Himiko had gotten a lot better with her Ketseryugan. Choujuro had seen some of her new blood related jutsu and they were really good. "I wonder if he's got any cool new jutsu of his own to show off."

"Probably." Sanemi, meanwhile was reading a book on advanced wind chakra exercises to try and get even better at chakra flow. "Knowing him he's probably gotten real strong. Ito probably kicked his ass a bunch to get him there though."

Ito was stronger than all of them combined. Ito probably sparred with him a bit. Kukui was a fast learner. He probably got a lot stronger off of those spars alone. "Yeah. He's probably gotten better than ever before." The gap between them was larger than ever now probably.

Kukui was always better than him. He just never realized it. Choujuro knew his friend probably had grown enough to where he'd be able to see it. Sure he had grown as well but probably not to the point of Kukui.

"Maybe he finally got chakra flow down!" Himiko was grinning. "That'd help him a lot for sure!" If Kukui got down chakra flow that'd be great! Lightning was one of the best elements to use chakra flow with for a reason. Kukui being able to do it would be a great power boost.

Sanemi's face was now contorted in a feral looking grin. "I can't wait to see. We need to have a spar as soon as possible!" Choujuro honestly wondered who would win between Sanemi and Kukui. Wind was strong against lightning but Kukui was really crafty.

Choujuro then heard a chuckle. "Don't worry, we can spar soon. Just give me a day or two of rest." Choujuro looked to the door and saw the Kukui. His outfit had changed since the last time he saw him. He wore a jacket and shirt instead of the long-sleeved shirt he had on before.

He also had something with him.

"You have the Shibuki with you..." Choujuro knew he probably looked like a fish. Did Kukui kill the last user of the blade? Jinpachi the Crimson Bomber was very strong. "How?" Kukui was strong. But no way in any universe was he strong enough to kill Jinpachi at the moment.

Kukui grinned. "The bastard nearly killed me." Nearly... That was too close to death for Choujuro's liking. "But he didn't so I blew up his hand and stole the Shibuki blade. Ito got the kill on him. I'm just holding onto it for a bit until It's taken. But I'm treasuring it for now."

"How come Ito killed the bastard and not you? Did she kill steal like a meanie?" Himiko stopped sharpening her knives. She didn't like kill stealers. "I'll smack her if she did and use a genjutsu on her." Himiko really didn't like them.

Kukui chuckled, "No. I was busy facing a much greater evil. If you guys ever see Zabuza then please run." He faced Zabuza and lived? Kukui really was something else... "I managed to get Zabuza to leave us all alone somehow and I'm alive. Dunno how though."

"But your alive you wonderful bastard!" Sanemi stood on the chair he used to be sitting in. "You fucking stole a legendary sword and faced Zabuza Fucking Momochi! That's fucking awesome!" Sanemi said everything Choujuro had wanted too. Kukui stealing the Shibuki was seriously something incredible.

"Yeah! How many people can say they did that? I bet there was a lot of pretty blood there!" Himiko then dashed toward Kukui. "Also don't keep telling us you almost died. It's scary." She pulled Kukui into a hug. "Don't die on us yet. You still gotta kill Yagura."

Kukui's smile turned into something softer. "I won't die." He hugged Himiko back. "I gotta live to make sure you idiots live too. And of course to kick Yagura's short ass into hell." He then pulled some Ninja wire out of his pocket. "Now wanna see me do something cool?"

Choujuro felt his smile grow. Kukui was the best of them.

"Sure!"

[Mei Terumi]

"So thats what happened during our mission." Ameyuri finished with a sigh. "It was a shIt'show but it ended up going in our favor completely. The brat helped immensely with that." Kukui Tanku. He was so young yet already had accomplished so much. "Without him we'd probably all be dead. I think he's the next user of the Kiba blades."

Well that was a surprise. But Mei should have expected it. 'He's going to be vital in the future if he keeps up the work he's been doing so far...' First Kukui Tanku blew up the academy, then he stole the Shibuki blades and caused the defection of Zabuza, now he was going to be Ameyuri's apprentice. All within the year. It was quite impressive.

"I see." Mei smiled. "Good to know that the Kiba blades will be given to someone trained by you personally." Ameyuri was one of the best she had. But she was hard to impress. Mei honestly considered it a miracle that she'd pass on the Kiba blades herself instead of her having to find a user for them post mortem. "This mission has been a huge success and it honestly couldn't have gone better."

They now had five of the seven swords. Whilst having Samehada and the Kubikiribocho would have been wonderful, they still had a majority of the swords. Kisame and Zabuza could either be killed or swayed back into joining them later. And not only that but Mei had the time to set up an agreement with some farmers out in Seimei Mountain. If Marineford fell then it wouldn't be a huge problem like it would have been otherwise.

This also gave her more time to set up other connections.

Maybe some outside the land of water? There isn't much Yagura could do to supply chains coming from outside the land of water. Perhaps she should set one up in the land of waves? They would probably be very willing to help if she had someone teach them chakra and how to use it.

They could probably also use the land of waves a sa back up base should Yagura seige their current one... 'Note to self. Get Ao to set up connections in the land of waves...'

"Yeah..." Ameyuri then yawned. "Things are finally looking good again. At this rate, Yami or Kanao might find a cure for my sickness and I'll get back to kicking ass better than ever." There was genuine hope in her eyes. It was nice to see that. If either of her best med-nin could find a cure for Ameyuri's sickness then that would be wonderful.

A full strength Ameyuri was someone Mei wished she had. She would be more confident in setting up a lot more attacks on Yagura's bases and supplies if Ameyuri was at all strength. An enraged full strength Ameyuri Ringo in a thunderstorm was someone who would probably kill most lesser S-ranks within a minute.

"Hopefully there is a cure for your sickness. Go visit Kanao again after Urahara's done getting his leg healed." Mei sighed upon remembering the crimson swordsman. He is a fucking idiot for walking on a broken leg. "Speaking of Urahara." Mei wondered if the man had the Shibuki on him. It would make sense. "Does he have the Shibuki with him at the moment?"

Ameyuri shook her head. "No." That meant one of the genin had it... "The brat has it still. He's been carrying it most of the time since Urahara uses a different type of sword and the brat was the one to get it afterall." That was stupid. But Mei supposed it made sense by the laws of the swordsmen if they were using that as a basis. "Since he didn't kill Jinpachi he doesn't keep it and he knows it. He's probably just using it for a quick five minutes of bragging rights between his friends or something before giving it to someone that can actually use it."

That would make sense since Kukui Tanku is a child... Then again most people would brag about even seeing one of the legendary swords. Even she would have at one point. 'I suppose It's time I have a meeting with the boy.' Mei had met with all the best shinobi she had and all the up and coming shinob she had at some point in time early on in their careers.

It appeared Kukui Tanku was heading in the direction of becoming someone incredible. She would need to meet him personally at some point anyways. It was best if it happened now. "Could you get me Kukui Tanku?" Mei looked up at Ameyuri. "I would like to have a meeting with him."

Ameyuri grinned. "Think he's got potential too huh? I'll go find the brat."

Ameyuri then shunshined away. Leaving Mei to wait.

[Kukui Tanku]

'Why me?' I looked at the woman in front of me. Ameyuri had simply grabbed me and told me "The boss lady wants to meet you, brat" before shunshining me in here a minute ago. The first thing I did was put Shibuki on the desk and stay silent. 'Why am I even here? Couldn't Ameyuri have just taken Shibuki from me?'

Nobody was speaking. It was just silence with Mei Terumi looking at me like a predator would at It's prey. Picking me apart. Analysing me. I was trying to not squirm at her gaze. I was thankfully succeeding. Mainly out of fear. Messing up my first actual meeting with the woman who is my boss would not be great.

"I was expecting a loud child. But your oddly quiet. Why is that?" Mei seemed to finally break the silence. She was looking at me with cold emotionless eyes. Shinobi's eyes. "Are you scared? Nervous?" I was very scared and nervous. Mei could literally melt me within three seconds into goo and nobody would know if I was here or not except for Ameyuri.

'She can probably tell if I'm lying or not... most good shinobi can.' And Mei was presumably a kage level combatant already. "Yes." A glint of curiosity ignited in the woman's eyes. "You are basically my boss. I don't wanna screw up my first real meeting with my boss." Honesty was usually never good in this world but it might help me here.

"Understandable." The auburn haired woman said. "You do not need to worry though. I won't harm you unless your a traitor. But it appears you are not one. Your achievements say that your a supporter of our cause." The woman's gaze harshened, "You have destroyed the academy which basically stopped Yagura's production of shinobi, your the reason why we have the Shibuki blade back, and you are the reason why don't need to actively worry about Zabuza Momochi anymore."

"I'm sure someone else could have done those things." Maybe Choujuro could have blown up the academy, Ito could have taken Shibuki, and Zabuza would have defected anyways. "And they likely would have done better as well." I was relatively weak still.

"But it was you who did those things. It was you who was in the position to do those things and it was you who acted upon your position. Your achievements have benefitted our cause greatly in the grand scheme of things. You have done well for someone with so little experience and training."

I had no retort to that so I just bowed my head. "Thank you Mei-sama."

The terrifying woman smiled. "No need to thank me. It should be me thanking you for the things you have done. My job has become a bit easier because of it. Did you know that you destroying the academy led to a prison break?"

'I'd call bullshit but she has no reason to lie to me...' "No... But even if my actions did lead to that it wasn't me that directly liberated those people." Those people likely would have been liberated anyway. Maybe I helped speed up the process but ultimately I didn't do much.

Mei chuckled. "No. But your actions made it possible." Mei then looked down at the Shibuki blade on the table. "You may not believe it but your actions have caused a lot of good. Both indirectly and directly." She then took the Shibuki and put it in a scroll. "Because of this I figure you should be rewarded. Normally people get paid for missions which I'm sure you are aware of but we don't exactly have a lot of that. So is there anything you would like within reason as compensation?"

'I'm not gonna look a gift horse in the mouth.' I already knew what I wanted. Whilst recovering I managed to complete the second stage of lightning manipulation. Which was a pain to do may I add.

[Lightning manipulation; Lvl 20]:

Increases control of lightning according to level

Lightning jutsu are 20% more effective.

Lightning jutsu cost 20% less

Lightning jutsu are 20% less effective on user]

Because of this, now had untold amounts of free time I didn't have before. I planned on using it for more training and reading. "Knowledge. I almost died way too many times for my liking on that mission. I don't plan on dying until I have grandkids to spoil." I probably would die before then though. "So anything would be nice. Prefferably lightning jutsu but I'll take stuff on pretty much anything." Anything would be useful. I'd love medical jutsu or genjutsu so I could give some knowledge to Tayuya but I wasn't going to be greedy.

Mei smiled. "A smart choice. Knowledge is power after all and power means survival. I can arrange for you to be given some books and scrolls. That is all I would like to talk to you about today. I expect great things from you, Kukui Tanku. Your future looks very promising."

'This turned out better and worse than I expected at the same time.'

[Chapter end]

Honestly the ending turned out a bit differently than I expected. Originally I had Kukui become a chuunin but I decided that didn't make sense. So I had him gain the best thing he could. Knowledge. Kukui can and will take any oppurtunity to learn and gladly use it. Anyways this was the last chapter of the arc and we got the chapter stockpile upto seven now. Nice. Honestly I don't have much to say today.

I liked every part of the chapter. The last two were my favorite to write though because I will always like writing any of the Kage or future Kage and Kukui. I have a feeling that Mei and Kukui are going to be interacting a lot more in the future everyone. No It's not gonna be MeixKukui. Weirdo's.

Anyways I ask this at the end of every arc but what did you think of the arc? Did you like it?

- Tobi