[Kukui Tanku]

"Go ahead," I crouched down and smiled at Tayuya, "Give it a try." I handed Tayuya a little bit of Ninja Wire. I had spent the last two hours drilling into Tayuya how Ninja Wire works and how you can manipulate it with Chakra. Of course, that wasn't what I spent the entire last two hours on. When Tayuya had asked about Genjutsu and if it could be combined with the wire... I had to make some stuff up but I think it made sense.

"Okay Sensei," Tayuya took the Ninja Wire and channeled her chakra into it. Part of it began floating. "I made it float!" I smiled at Tayuya. I could see why she was a member of the sound four. Orochimaru had an eye for talent. "Do I try and do a Genjutsu now?"

"Maybe..." I hummed. The idea behind Ninja Wire Genjutsu was having sound travel into the wire from her flute and using it to catch the target as soon as they were in the Genjutsu. "Try and move the wire a bit more." I wanted to see how far she could move it and how long she could move it. " Then we'll see if you can cast a Genjutsu." Tayuya had gotten proficient in playing the flute and Genjutsu over the past month or so. Well proficient for her age.

She was still nowhere near a master but she was doing great for her age.

Tayuya nodded. "I'll move this wire as much as I want!" The wire then began to move more erratically. Tayuya also stopped speaking and focused on moving the wire. I even saw a small bead of sweat drip down her face. "This shitty wire's hard to control."

'Let the cursing begin.' I chuckled to myself. "Yeah, it is if your chakra control is not sufficient. Wire Manipulation is tricky." She had good enough control for Genjutsu though... "It could also be that you need more experience." I watched the wire move around wildly some more. If a bit more tamed. "Breathe in Tayuya."

Tayuya took a deep breath, "Okay Sensei. I'll get ahold of this damn wire for sure. Even if it takes me years!" The child like determination was nice. I missed the innocence I once held... Even what was left of it just a few weeks ago.

'I'll protect her... Even if I have to fight Orochimaru.' I'd never win. Not in a million years. But... As long as I could protect Tayuya and anyone else unfortunate enough to be close by, I could die again happy. "Keep going and I'm sure you'll get it in a few days." The only reason why I got it down so quickly was because I knew exactly how to move my chakra to move the wire perfectly thanks to sparring with Ito and my Sensory skills.

Sensing is bullshit. It may not be Sharingan levels of Bullshit but it was up there.

"I'll get it down by the end of the week then!" Tayuya glared at the wire which was still practically dancing in the sky, likely not moving how she wanted it too. "I'll do it no matter what and then I'll master Genjutsu with this stupid crappy wire!"

I grinned. "I'll leave you too it for now then."

I then looked over to what everyone else was doing. Choujuro wasn't here because of something secret he didn't want to tell us yet. But Himiko and Sanemi were here and they were sparring. Himiko had made blood Senbon out of her own blood and was freely manipulating them with her Ketseryugan whilst dodging blasts of wind from Sanemi.

'They've grown alot in the past month.' I sat down before looking back at Tayuya. 'She has too.' It was nice to see them thriving. They all deserved it... 'And look at me.' I placed a hand on my chest. I still had burn scars and scars from where I was impaled by ice. 'I'm barely alive.' I felt a grin form on my face again. One bigger than before. 'But at least I'm alive.' I've had to do so many horrible things already just to live.

It's only been just over a year too. Like 15 months to be exact... 'I can't help it when I feel bad about it... But I'll be bad if it means I continue to live. And I can continue to protect them.' I looked at my left hand 'I'm a bastard, ain't I?'

Suddenly I sensed a big chakra signature walking toward the room. I looked up and Kushimaru walked into the room. Something about his posture made him look really happy today. He wordlessly handed me a bottle of sake and walked out with a spring in his step.

Weird.

But hey free booze!

'Gonna seal this away for later when I'm alone.'

It was a peaceful night. A majority of the people at base were asleep and it was quiet. Not only that but it was cozy and warm. We had blankets and pillows strewn about and were lying on them currently. I say we as in; Me, Himiko, Sanemi, and Choujuro. Ito was with Tayuya doing something probably stupid so it was just the four of us.

For the first time in months.

It was nice to just... be around each other. No training. No others to deal with. Nobody trying to kill us. It was just us relaxing and enjoying each other's company. 'I missed having friends around.' I had friends in my past life of course, but... they all kinda ditched me when I was sick. Then when I got better they flocked back to me like they were there the entire time. They weren't real friends. 'But they are.'

We've almost died together enough times for me to be sure of it. They've saved me and I've saved them. 'It would have been nice to have known them in my past life.' A majority of the people I knew in my past life sucked. 'I'm glad I died.' I didn't want to die again. Not now. Not ever. Not until I was old and grey with grandkids to spoil with my friends spoiling their grandchildren as well. But... I enjoyed my life here more than I ever did in my last life.

Of course, bad stuff happened but still. I'd go through it all again if need be.

"You know." We all perked up and our heads moved to look at Sanemi. "I've been thinking. With Kukui almost dying again-" I chuckled awkwardly, "-what will we do if one of us dies?" The mood died instantly. "It'll happen eventually. That's a given. But what will we do if one of us dies on a mission? We're all real shinobi now. Fighting to hopefully one day kick Yagura in his tiny pathetic dick." That got a few giggles out of Himiko. "That means we might fight a battle we're not prepared for and we could die."

'He's right.' Anything could happen. 'They might die...' I might die... 'No. They're strong.'

"We'll find a way to drag the one who died out of hell then." Himiko raised a knife to the sky. "But it'll never happen. We all gotta accomplish our dreams and stuff first. And we all gotta get a few kicks in on Yagura."

"Yeah!" Choujuro said, with a bit more enthusiasm than I expected, "We all need to live to see Yagura's fall. I need to become strong... " Choujuro then scrunched his face up in thought, "I don't think we've told each other our dreams yet."

Oh yeah... I thought we did.. Maybe we all forgot? Oh well. "I have someone else in mind I wanna kill..." They all looked at me waiting for elaboration, "He's not a good guy. Let's just say that." Obito was strong. But he wasn't pain level. He could be beaten by a normal shinobi with strategy. And a lot of prep time.

"Well I wanna kill some people too." Sanemi looked at his swords which were a few feet away. "They're some evil sons of bitches."

Himiko grinned. "I just wanna have fun."She then threw a knife into the air and caught it. "But I'll gladly help you kill those evil bastards too. If you want I can castrate them!" I felt a grin growing on my face. I'd never let any of them near Obito but the thought was nice.

"Thanks for the offer but I want that pleasure myself," Sanemi said before standing up. "Besides It's a bit personal. But your help will be greatly appreciated, Himiko,"

"I'll help both of you too," Choujuro said with determination clear in his voice. "These people sound pretty terrible. You're probably gonna need help with them. They might be crazy strong or something." Didn't Choujuro beat Black Zetsu in canon?

'I won't let them around Obito but I'll need some people to handle Zetsu for me...' I hated it but Zetsu wasn't a fighter. It would probably go down easier than Obito would. "Probably..." I didn't know what awaited me in the future. Or how strong I'd be. "All I know now is that they gotta die." I then stood up as well and walked over to a chair that had my backpack on it. I grabbed a scroll from it and unsealed some pocky. I got it before we left Marineford. "But that's a while away. For now let's just focus on the present."

"Of course,, he has some pocky." Sanemi sighed before grinning. "Mind if I have some? It's been dark the last few minutes and now I'm hungry."

"No." I grinned.

"Why?!" Sanemi whined.

"Consider this payback for making me pay for breakfast that one time in Hako."

[Yagura Karatachi]

Yagura considered himself a calm man. He like every other person could get angry. It took a lot for him to do so and he prided himself on that. Of course,, he had been a bit mad a lot recently but who could blame him? He was dealing with failure after failure. Of course,, there were some plans that he knew would come to fruition soon which made him calmer. But he still had those failures which made him mad.

So imagine how fucking pissed off he was when he found out that not only was Jinpachi dead but Zabuza had defected. That wasn't the worst part at all. No no no. The Shibuki was in the rebellion's possession now. Yagura wondered how the fuck it happened. How does something like this even happen?

Yagura could barely contain the Sanbi when he first learned of the news from his anbu. Zabuza was long gone too. Somewhere in the land of water. Likely scheming his next move. Yagura had sent out a hunter nin squad after him and marked him as an S-rank missing-nin out of spite.

The man was most certainly strong but he wasn't S-rank level yet. So if his hunter nin failed which was unlikely, some bounty hunter group would probably try their luck and bring Zabuza's corpse back to him. Then Yagura could kill them all and take back the Kubikiribocho.

It was honestly a shame Juzo had defected. He could have taken the blade back and saved Yagura the headache of finding someone else to use it.

But of fucking course, every one of his swordsmen had to have to fucking defected. 'Why can't everything be easier for once?' Yagura rubbed his forehead. It had been a long night so far. Yagura predicted that he'd be in his office for a while. 'I sure fucking hope this works just so I can test it on Zabuza.'

Yagura looked at the design of his next project. It was a crown. Fitting since he would become the savior of the world someday. Made out of a cold-resistant gold which would hold three gems of compressed chakra. This would hopefully allow him to use the Yuki clan's Hyoton better than even them.

'Sensei would be proud.' The Third Mizukage would likely not approve of his cleansing of the world but he would certainly be proud of Yagura's achievement with the crown at least. It would have been revolutionary during the third war. Konoha wouldn't have won. 'Maito Gai will fear me after I'm done with him.'

The very first thing he'd do once he went to the land of fire would be to fight Maito Gai for a bit of revenge. Yagura was still haunted by the color green sometimes. There was no way he would lose to Maito Gai this time. He was far stronger than the blue beast. At least this time.

'For that to happen the crown actually needs to be worked on.' First, he needed a Yuki clansmen for their chakra. Then he'd need to construct the chakra gems very carefuly with the one containing the Sanbi being last just to make sure he wouldn't die. 'The sealing teams research is going splendidly so far too.'

He wouldn't die if he stil had a bit of the Sanbi's chakra left. Around a tail's worth. It meant the crown would only be two thirds as powerful as it should be but it would be enough for sure. All he needed was the Hyoton powers and he would be golden.

Pakura and Utakata would die and he could take the Rokubi and add Its power to his crown.

Then he could save the world slowly but surely. Slowly adding each bijuu's power to the crown until he reached godhood. He would hopefully have won by then. Maybe he could try and go for immortality? Someone would need to make sure the world is safe after he dies. But Yagura didn't trust anyone enough for that.

Once he dealt with Orochimaru maybe he could take his research.

"Lumiere." His personal anbu kneeled in front of him immediately. "Take this design to my engineers and tell them I'll be there shortly to oversee the crown's creation." Yagura also wanted to get something else out of the way today. "Also inform them that we're going to be creating the gem out of my chakra today."

It would be a test run to see how the others might go. Also to save time later. Yagura knew that it'd be a lengthy process for each gem and it would likely be best to get the most one he could do now done first. It would also probably be uncomfortable. Not as much as the final gem would be but it would be uncomfortable, if not painful.

It was always a good idea to know what you'll be dealing with.

"Right away, Yagura-sama," Lumiere shunshined away a second later.

'I will win in the end. Even with the world against me.'

[Ameyuri Ringo]

It had been a long week for Ameyuri.

Originally she wanted to do this at the start of the week but some rumors of Yagura setting up another prison were spreading and she had to check them out. And then she had to help Urahara's drunk ass for a few hours. But now she was able to do this. She made her away through base and saw Ito who merely pointed behind her at a door.

She opened the door and saw the brat she was looking for currently asleep. And of course,, there was a bottle of Sake next to him... Why wasn't she surprised? 'Kushimaru gave him that didn't he?' it was the brand Kushimaru normally bought and there was no fucking way the brat stole Kushimaru's booze.

Ameyuri sighed and touched the brats forehead, sending a small bit of lightning release through her hand to shock the brat awake.

The brat sprung forward and grabbed his crappy swords right away. Channeling lightning through them. He looked sober thankfuly. He finally noticed her. 'What the hell was that for? I was having a good dream for the first time in months!" Ameyuri wasn't gonna ask. The brats thoughts could stay to himself.

"Come with me brat." Ameyuri grinned as a resigned "Oh fuck" look took place of the brat's semi-angry expression. Ameyuri knew she had to milk this.

"Another mission?"

"Guess."

"Of course,." The brat sighed. "I hope that my second mission doesn't end up in meeting fucking Yagura." Honestly, Ameyuri wouldn't be surprised if that's how their next mission ended up. Her luck was terrible and so was the brats. "My luck hasn't been the best."

'It won't." Ameyuri began walking out the door and the brat began to follow. "That's as unlikely as Yagura suddenly developing a kekkei genkai."

The brat chuckled. "That would be hilarious but terrible for us."

"It would."

Eventually Ameyuri and the brat made it to the room Ameyuri had prepared earlier. "What's this?" The brat asked. A twinge of curiosity was visible in his eyes. "Why are we here?" He seemed skeptical. He had his hands near his swords. He was also tense.

'Good He senses the danger in the air.' Ameyuri had let out a fraction of her killing intent at this point and the brat wasn't even registering what it was.

It made sense though. Zabuza had way worse killing intent. Like way worse killing intent.

"Well, brat." Ameyuri unsheathed the Kiba blades from their bandages. "Over the last month, you've impressed me. So I'm taking you on as my apprentice." The look in the brat's eyes shifted. Not to one of excitement like Ameyuri would expect from any brat. But one of "Oh shit."

"I'm gonna get my ass kicked." The brat said it matter-of-factly. "Welp I assume this is lesson one?" Ameyuri nodded and grinned. Lesson one was always the best one. "Okay then." The brat unsheathed both of his shitty blades.

"I'm going to enjoy this." Ameyuri grinned. "Prepare brat, Because I want to test your mettle. Come at me with the intent to kill."

[Chapter End]

This chapter took me thirteen days to start and write. So much for over five chapters right? Anyways... Yeah It's short. I've not been in the best of writing moods recently so I've not written a whole lot because of that which sucks. I had big plans for this month too. Oh well. I'm sure I'll regain my mojo again soon.

Anyways even though this chapter wasn't long it was a lot of fun to write. It's the most fun I've had in a while writing a chapter as a whole. I'm honestly really excited for the rest of this arc which is a short training arc.

Also, Yagura's fucking pissed off and preparing for his dreams to become reality.

Hopefully you all enjoyed the chapter!

- Tobi