As soon as the words reached my ears, my entire body forcibly seized up.
Fighting against this incredibly powerful sensation, I felt the threads of another source of Cursed Energy entangled with my form.
I'm able to move my head a fraction, my eyes locking directly onto the perpetrator of the phenomenon.
The anomaly in team Gai, Neji's replacement, Inumaki Toge.
He was a sorcerer.
"I knew it" I can't help but smirk beneath my breath, still rigidly held in place.
'So his words are charged with Cursed Energy?' I internally remark as I observe the boy, watching as his Technique is translated before my all seeing eyes.
It seems straightforward.
The energy is conducted by the word, received by the target and affected once they hear it.
I get a better sense of what I'm being restrained by.
It's Inumaki's own pool of Cursed Energy currently restraining me.
'...So what happens if I push against it with my own Technique?'
I activate Infinity.
Instantly, the youth spits blood and falls to his knees, grasping at his bloodied and pained throat.
'...some kind of feedback. There's a limit to his technique somehow… it's probably got something to do with the kinds of words he uses or how he charges them with Cursed Energy'
My attention is taken by a fist freezing a foot from my face.
The use of my technique had broken Inumaki's hold on the two of us.
And while I had been drawn to the source of the sudden interference, Gai had immediately resumed the fight.
I looked back over at the struggling anomaly, the youth slowly being helped to his feet by Lee and Tenten.
Huh.
I'd been so engrossed in the fight I hadn't fully noticed them arrive.
But they could wait.
"Don't get in the way," I snapped at the Genin.
This was out of their league.
As soon as I deactivate Infinity, I meet Gai's assault with full intent.
"Here's 90%!" I roar.
I'm toeing the line right now. I knew the moment I got here that Gai would be able to physically annihilate me unless I used Infinity.
But that wasn't the reason I came here.
Cursed Energy can enhance the body to a degree. I was here to push my capability to the max. I needed to know how strong I was in just hand to hand.
'If the Jinchuriki could get through Infinity, that means others can as well'
So I needed to be able to deal with an opponent in close quarters.
Now was the time to push my physical prowess in hand to hand combat to the next level.
And if there was anyone in the Leaf Village to try this on… well, Maito Gai was the man to test yourself against.
I can't help the chaotic grin.
My blood is roaring in my ears.
'Let's fuckin' do this'
And I take Konoha's Green Beast head on.
"-perhaps I've misheard you. What did you just say?"
"When the Jinchuriki died, it spread 'Cursed Energy' across the land of waves. This instance also granted Kakashi Hatake, Naruto Uzumaki and Uchiha Sasuke a way to interact with the energy"
Danzo took a full minute of silence to process this.
He and Hiruzen sat alone in the Hokage's office.
"Cursed Energy. I've thought upon this for some time, Hiruzen… and I believe that Cursed Energy is the same as Orochimaru's proposed Chakra of the Soul"
The third Hokage went deathly still.
"There is a deeper thread to all this, Hiruzen. Your wayward student knows something. Tell that pesky Toad to get on with it. Orochimaru is an enemy of the village, you need to-
Hiruzen violently cut Danzo off with a fist against the table.
"You do not command me, Elder Danzo."
The bandaged man quietly observed his friend, allowing him to calm himself in the terse silence.
Without a second's thought or consideration more, he immediately switched gears.
"The Daimyo's envoy arrived today. Their demands came across my desk. They want one more. I take it Asuma refused again?"
Hiruzen was quick to move into this change of conversation.
"Of course he did. Court Politics always bored him"
"Who else did you have in mind? I have a few operatives available if you-"
The Third waved the suggestion away, looking out the window "I do have someone in mind" he glanced at his friend, holding his gaze for a quiet few moments "and you're not going to like it"
The War Hawk took only a moment to figure it out.
"No. Outside of the Village he's a danger to-" Danzo shook his head in disbelief, "I read Hatake's report Hiruzen!"
"I thought I made that private," the Third dryly remarked.
"If that amount of destruction were to occur within the Fire Capitol, heads will roll" Danzo snapped, barrelling forward with his concerns "regardless of his capabilities, he's still only a Genin"
Hiruzen slowly, yet lazily, reclined against the Hokage's seat.
He steepled his fingers.
And he sat there, considering a thought or two as Danzo was left waiting.
Hiruzen tapped his fingers against one another, as if he were slowly thinking of some profound solution.
The third Hokage cocked an eyebrow at his advisor and friend, before simply stating, "Chunin exams are soon"
And that was all he said. After all, it was all he needed to say.,
It took Danzo a second to follow the Third's train of thought.
The War Hawk glared.
"You're going to issue a field promotion… after setting him loose on all those Genin. Isn't that a bit extreme?"
Hiruzen scoffed.
"You're not the one who gets to lecture me on some kind of ethical restraint"
The War Hawk's glare deepend, "Indeed. So when I caution you to consider pulling away from an idea, perhaps consider that even I would not go so far"
Hiruzen frowned at that.
He knew Danzo was right, that this was likely a very risky and extreme choice to make, but there were greater concerns on his plate.
The Third Hokage nodded in understanding at his friend's words, but still made his claim.
"A Jinchuriki is dead, Danzo. A Jinchuriki that belonged to the Shinobi forces of our oldest enemy and rival. Word will get out soon. We must send a strong message"
"And you believe he's the one to do it?"
Hiruzen nodded again.
"He's young. There's still time for him to be possibly uprooted, especially for one so powerful. Ryo is a lost child, searching for a home. If we give him one, he will use his power to protect"
Danzo said nothing to that, but Hiruzen was almost certain his friend agreed with him.
Ryo needed a deep root that would tie his heart to the village, a connection that would guarantee his loyalty.
Though he certainly didn't like how things were turning out.
'If an incident were to occur at the Chunin Exams…'
With all the Hidden Villages having been geared for a full on fight, War was inevitable. All it would take was one spark.
One altercation. One clash between foes in the infinite shades of gray that Shinobi lived in and that would do it.
Death and destruction would consume the land.
The Fourth Shinobi War was on the horizon, an inevitable future.
But both individuals in the room were aware of this.
And both were equally prepared.
"Does it hurt?"
Hiruzen cocked an eyebrow at Danzo's quiet question.
"Orochimaru's theories may no longer be completely hypothetical. His testing was disgusting and inhumane… but there was even a time when you looked away, Hiruzen"
Danzo stared at his friend.
"He was only truly defeated by the fact he never came up with a result. Inumaki Toge was deemed a fluke, the only one to survive his batch. But now four more Shinobi can use the same energy. Orochimaru's theories have validity"
They both said nothing for a long moment.
Hiruzen sighed.
"A day doesn't go by that I don't reminisce on how I could have helped him. He had been in such a dark place after the Conflict in the Land of Rain… I had thought he had managed to pull himself out, but I was just deluding myself"
The Third Hokage let out a weary sigh.
"Of course it hurts Danzo" he muttered a curse, "but the past is the past"
A knock rattled the door to the office.
Hiruzen cocked an eyebrow.
"Yes?"
"Hokage-sama" came the voice of Bear through the door, "there has been an incident at the training grounds"
The Third Fire Shadow felt his stomach drop out.
'...what wonderful timing…' he sarcastically thought to himself.
"Yahiko-sensei, there are residuals all over this place…. What the fuck happened here!"
The Amegakure Jonin, Yahiko, wasn't sure how to answer that hot headed question.
Their final destination was the Village Hidden in the Leaves, but they were almost drawn to the distant presence of the Land of Waves.
And when they had arrived at the heart of the Cursed Presence, they were met with a bleak sight.
A grand section of earth, trees, rock and stone had been reduced to nothing.
Yahiko and his team beheld a great nothing before them.
Another voice spoke up.
"I've never seen anything like this before… but this must be where the Four Tails died"
Yahiko regarded the speaker silently.
This was the keenest of the group, their strongest sorcerer besides himself. Between the two of them, Yahiko knew that the black haired boy was probably correct.
The youth was their top Curse Exterminator, the black haired and grim faced Suguru Geto.
His deep connection with Curses, thanks to his technique, was what gave him such capable insight. Thus what Geto had said was true.
This was where a Bijuu, one of the Nine Seals created by the Sage, had been murdered.
Geto looked over at his Sensei.
"Curses will be born here, Yahiko-Sensei"
That fact was immutable.
Yahiko bit back a worried sigh. Instead he relied upon his student's observational skills again.
"How long do we have?"
"That's a question for Nagato-sama" Geto immediately replied, "but I can make an educated guess and say that it will happen within our lifetime. A year from now… or sixty, I don't think I could be any more specific"
Yahiko cursed to himself for a moment.
This wasn't their mission though. The scene of the murder would be handled by someone else, likely Nagato and Tengen-sama.
'Maybe those lazy bums might get involved too'
But as if the two big Clan's would finally step in at a time like this.
They were the ones who'd dispatched Yahiko and his team to investigate the source of the Cursed Energy flare up, already disregarding the warnings of Nagato and Tengen.
Yahiko couldn't help but scoff to himself.
'They were hesitant to believe one of the Great Seals was gone let alone that the King of Curses had incarnate. They likely assumed that Orochimaru had finally gotten lucky, so they probably weren't even taking this seriously… besides with one of the Sage's Seals destroyed, their Families would grow in Strength'
The Zenin weren't likely concerned at all, but some elements of the Kamo clan listened to Tengen-sama. Still they'd sent Yahiko and his team to investigate, rather than letting Nagato and Tengen-sama loose….
Yahiko realized it was now time to finally come clean with his team.
"Kento, Fujiwara, Geto" Yahiko's tone was serious as he named his students, "you are all aware that we were dispatched to investigate a disturbance. However, as we have now confirmed the death of a Great Seal, our mission parameters have now been extended"
"It is the belief of Tengen-sama and Nagato that a Tailed Beast and its Jinchuriki were intentionally killed"
Yahiko gazed over his students before he delivered his next words.
"Tengen-sama and Nagato are also of the thought that there is only one being currently capable of destroying a Tailed Beast"
Yahiko saw the moment Geto pieced it together. The boy likely realized the name that was about to drop from his Sensei's lips.
"Ryomen Sukuna. The King of Curses"
Yahiko gave them a few moments to process that.
Kento Nanami, the blonde haired Genin of the group, grimaced. He had certainly read his history it seemed. After all, Nanami had been a student of Tengen, a sorcerer born outside of the Great Two Clans and an orphan of the last Shinobi war.
He was as studious as he was serious, and the History of Jujutsu Sorcerers had been apart of his teachings.
Besides, it was hard to avoid Sukuna's name in those dusty old tomes, the monster had wreaked havoc for generations.
Nanami's eyes glanced left. Yahiko followed his gaze to the only member of the ground that came from a Clan,
She in particular knew more about the King of Curses than any other. It was her family after all that had their bloodline forever scarred by the monster.
Akane Fujiwara's fury was forcibly being pushed down.
She was a young daughter of the Fujiwara clan and a direct descendant of the Five Empty Generals, a formidable fighting force that had fallen to the King of Curses.
Her ancestors had fought alongside the Sage during the battle against Sukuna thousands of years ago. But the mark of that battle was reflected throughout her bloodline.
Her black hair, slim stature and sharp features had their beauty pierced by the vicious mark across her face.
A black slash that was filled with foreign energy.
Even as he had been slowly driven into a corner, Ryomen Sukuna had managed to do so much damage. Many had been killed. Even the Sage's brother had fallen to the Four Armed demon. Thousands of years later and the scars from that battle still had yet to fully heal. In the case of Akane's family Sukuna Cursed them.
The black mark had taken the sight from one of her eyes while also suffusing her with an incredibly unstable amount of Cursed Energy.
'Hence the temper'
Every day the young Sorcerer had to keep that dark pool of energy in check, lest it consume her.
"I'm guessing you want to do a bit more digging, right Sensei?"
Yahiko glanced at Geto, the one who had asked the question.
The youth still had a blaze attitude coating his words, but the orange haired man could see the serious consideration beneath the surface of the boy's tone.
Yahiko nodded at him, his words addressing his whole team.
"The Higher ups wanted confirmation of a Tailed Beast's death. But unless there are any objections, I believe we should keep searching until we can confirm if the King of Curses truly has incarnated"
None of Yahiko's team said anything against this course of action.
"Very well. Geto, see what else you can discern here" Yahiko trusted the youth to be able to take care of himself, "Nanami, Akane, you're with me. We're going to check out the Village of Wave and see if we can find any leads there"
Gai had quite early on in the fight made sense of Ryo's ability. More importantly, while he couldn't witness Curse Energy enhance the youth's capability, the Green Beast had a full grasp on the youth's potential.
As soon as the ridiculously strong Genin had announced percentages, Gai had kept pace with each jump in strength.
The level of enhancement was incremental too.
Gai had realized that the more the youth pushed Cursed Energy into his own physical enhancement, the greater the return in his physical effectiveness.
At a self proclaimed, "ninety percent", Ryo was fighting at the strength and speed of a fully fledged Jonin.
'If not higher…' the Green beast stonily thought to himself.
He had to admit it now, that even though he had honestly believed the youth would have tapped out by now….
Gai's lightly battered and bruised body told the hard truth that Ryo was indeed capable of pushing the Jonin's limits.
And looking at the battle crazed youth in full swing, the Green Beast realized that in order to end this fight he'd have to jump a bit forward too.
"Third Gate: Open!"
And not even a second later;
"Fourth Gate: Open!"
Raw power flooded his body through his Tenketsu.
Gai blurred forward.
The first punch caught Ryo in the chest. The second in the chin. And the kick sent him hurtling high up into the air.
Gai leapt after him, ready to-
Ryo roared, his exclamation sending blood and spit into the air, "ONE HUNDRED!"
All of the flickering Cursed energy that had surrounded Ryo's fists vanished.
Mid air, the youth twisted to meet Gai's leap.
His face was cut up, heavily bruised and bleeding, the rest of his form was also battered and injured, but he was still mustering more strength.
Gai was prepared for a counter attack, but the speed of the attack surpassed even his understanding.
Ryo came hurtling down toward Gai, his arm extending and attempting to clothesline the Green Beast. The Jonin's arms had come up to take the blow, but the force still passed into him.
Gai was pretty sure a bone fractured in his forearm as he was catapulted into the earth.
Though injured, the Green Beast was still conscious.
'It seems I have no choice'
If Gai were to put Ryo down for good, he'd have to go further.
"Fifth Gate: Op-!"
"What is the meaning of THIS!?"
In a dark room of cold grey metal, buried beneath the earth, a pale scientist sat behind a desk.
Scattered before him were reports and scrolls, each detailing the vital pieces of information that kept his goal progressing.
Even over the multitude of information before his eyes, he didn't fail to note the arrival of a figure in his open door office.
"I'm glad you could make it"
The man was expected.
He was grim faced with a short mustache and you could clearly note the makings of a recently shaved beard.
There was a long row of stitches across his forehead, the remnant of some old wound proudly displayed across his head. Many times Orochimaru had offered to use Chakra to fully mend the wound but the man always refused.
Even though he had such a serious and unsettling face, his demeanor was always calm.
Professional.
His tone reflected that.
"Since you reached out to me…" the man gracefully sat in the small stool before Orochimaru's desk.
Cool eyes regarded the Snake Sanin.
"...I'm assuming you've come across something interesting, and wish for my input"
Orchimaru's guest had his full attention now.
The words felt leading, as if the man was insinuating that he had already known the request was coming.
"Is this your doing, Noritoshi?"
The man smiled lightly.
There was no joy to the expression.
"Categorically, yes"
Orochimaru's gaze tightened.
He was being toyed with.
"Test Subject 45 was the only survivor. Of any batch. You were the one who told me that personally. Do you mean to suggest you've lied to me"
The man's expression never wavered.
"Of course not my friend, however you aren't the only one running an, 'experiment', shall we say" he gestured offhandedly, reaching into his robe and getting a minute flinch out of Orochimaru.
"Something I left in Konoha managed to uncover a long forgotten relic. While our alliance remains as agreed, I should let you know that this relic will change my approach going forward"
The unshakable Kamo Noritoshi was changing course?
"What is it? What is this 'relic'?"
Noritoshi's eyes seemed to gleam with an intent Orochimaru could not discern.
He answered the Sanin with another question.
"Did you know that there was a Sorcerer who achieved Immortality?"
Orochimaru was intently focused on the man before him now.
His focus was acute and deadly.
He needed to hear this.
"Ryomen Sukuna, often revered as a four armed god of malice and malevolence, was actually a Sorcerer. He achieved Immortality by turning himself into pure Cursed Energy, and as the story goes, his energy coalesced and formed into a-"
"A Curse" Orochimaru couldn't help his surprised exclamation.
The black haired man nodded toward the Sanin.
"Precisely. How he managed this… well shortly after doing so, he was sealed away by the Sage of Six Paths, so whatever he did and how successful the attempt was…"
Noritoshi shrugged lightly, "we don't know yet"
Orochimaru now understood something else.
"You believe the relic is this Sorcerer, or whatever remains of him? Ryomen Sukuna?"
Kamo nodded sagely again.
"Indeed. And I believe our next course of action should be to confirm if it is indeed true that Ryomen Sukuna has incarnated, and if he has, in what shape or form he is now in"
"I have threads I can still pull in Konoha" Orochimaru was thinking to himself but speaking aloud for the benefit of his companion, "let me see what I can uncover as well before we make any moves"
"Do you still intend to attack during the Chunin Exams?" Noritoshi thoughtfully wondered.
Orochimaru hummed, "yes… yes I still do. But unless you truly think I should pull back for now…" the Sanin looked Kamo dead in the eye.
He wanted to hear the man's opinion.
Noritoshi sighed deeply, "While I would only caution you against a full invasion, it is also quite likely that any kind of chaos or battle within Konoha would certainly lead to Sukuna's appearance…."
Eventually he scoffed.
"Do as you will my friend, but perhaps you can permit a team of my own to join under your banner" Kamo's following words were cold, "but their objective will be to find and acquire Ryomen Sukuna, or release him if they must"
Orochimaru nodded once.
"I understand"
"Good" Noritoshi immediately replied, standing up from his seat and nodding toward the Sannin, "one last thing before I go"
Kamo turned back from the open door to the office.
"You should take a look at the Land of Waves. If my sources are correct, a Tailed Beast and its Jinchuriki were destroyed there. I know that was something you've been looking into for a bit, so I thought you should be one of the first to know"
The man waved cheerfully even as Orochimaru's face shifted into shock.
"Until next time"
"What is his name?"
Onoki's Invisible Man repeated himself.
"Ryomen Sukuna"
The Tsuchikage, small in stature, slowly stood from his chair and moved to the large glass window of his office.
At the peak of the Kage tower in Iwagakure, Onoki saw everything.
"Why didn't you kill him before he finished Roshi?"
Toji scoffed at the Kage.
"He's not someone you can attack head on without any preparation, old man. Roshi tried that, look where it got him"
Onoki grumbled, but his agent wasn't finished speaking.
"Though I'm not saying it can't be done. It'll probably take a bit of time. But there are a few conditions that must be met"
Onoki couldn't help but roll his eyes, 'for a price you mean'
"Don't beat around the bush with me, ya brat, just spit it out!"
Toji grinned.
He flipped a finger in the air.
And for once, the first thing out of his mouth wasn't a sum of money.
"First, the Vessel. Sukuna isn't just walking around free, but attacking and wounding his Vessel will likely force him out"
Another finger flipped up.
"Second, his technique. Knowing everything he is capable of gives us chance"
A third finger popped up.
"Third. This won't be a simple fight. There will likely be numerous combatants involved, both Sorcerer and Shinobi. We need to set the location to match our objectives"
"Every element of the fight must be in our favor somehow…." Onoki groused, "well. It's not like this isn't the first time I've come across an enemy of a similar nature"
The Tsuchikage curled his fists.
"But of course, once again this fearsome opponent is from the Leaf Village"
Onoki glanced over at Toji.
"What are you not telling me about this 'Ryomen Sukuna'?"
"Plenty" Toji smirked, "but nothing you should concern yourself with. Give me the word, and I'll take the time necessary to sort this out"
The Tsuchikage looked back to his village.
Over his shoulder, he gave his answer to the Invisible Man.
"You get a blank cheque for this mission. Gather what you need, Iwa will see this done"
The instant the Hokage's roar reaches my ears, the world slows down.
I lose focus of Gai, who also is turning toward the new arrival and his entourage of ANBU.
'Oh shit. We really caused quite the ruckus then?'
"Jonin Gai, Genin Ryo! You will report to me this instant!"
Damn. I'm fucking screwed.
I can't help but glance over at the sullen faced Gai.
'Well. At least I'm not getting reprimanded alone'
Hiruzen stood in his full Hokage attire, flanked on either side by two sets of three ANBU. Weapon's were readied yet sheathed. Tensions were certainly high as well.
But the old man wanted us front and center.
'Better be quick-'
The instant I focus on the thought of being before Hiruzen, my body instinctively takes a step forward and-
If my eyes hadn't been active, I wouldn't have understood what happened.
Physically, my figure was taken from twenty meters away from the Hokage to standing right before him.
Mentally all I had done was think to be closer to Hiruzen. But while at this heightened sense of Cursed Energy manipulation, my technique had complied.
Through the utilization of Blue, I had essentially propelled myself through Space, drawing myself to the place two feet from the Hokage.
All of the ANBU almost lunged at me.
None of them had been able to see what had just happened, and thus all of them were caught off guard by it.
'Protect the Hokage' had been their first thought.
But Hiruzen's hand in the air halted them.
His eyes glared down at me. Now was not the time to be brazen or abrasive.
'We must have really made a ruckus…'
So I bowed at him.
"Hokage-sama"
Gai appears next to me a second later, also bowing before our Village's Leader, already offering words to diffuse the situation.
"Hokage-sama. My deepest apologies, I take full responsibility for-
"Maito Gai. As a Senior Jonin of Konohagakure, you should know better than to let a little pissant get under your skin"
Gai's jaw snapped open, but I didn't get to laugh at his shocked and surprised face before the imperial finger of Hiruzen Sarutobi was pointed at me.
"And you. Goading others into a battle? Carelessly destroying the land and the peace?! Have some respect for your peers and your village!"
I never saw the flick that swatted against my forehead.
But-
"OW! FUCK!" I hiss, instantly bringing two hands up to sooth the microscopic strike.
But the force behind it!
'...I've just received a flick delivered at Kage-level strength… go figure'
Hiruzen crossed his arms.
"I trust there will not be a repeat of this"
Gai nodded.
However… I did not.
Hiruzen took note of this, turning his head to face me seriously.
"Ryo?"
I sigh.
"I still wanna fight Gai again"
Hiruzen's eyebrow raised up a few centimeters.
"Why"
"Why?" I parrot, "cuz' he's fucking strong, old man"
Hiruzen looked at me with an incredulous expression.
"That is your reason?"
I run a hand through my hair in annoyance, scratching my head in frustration, "I know how it sounds. But Jiji, I can feel it. There's more to my powers than what I'm currently capable of, and if I can't figure it out… I gotta rely on the other guy"
I point at Gai, still looking toward Hiruzen's now even and contemplative face.
"My eyes don't lie, old man. Gai's strong. Strong enough that if he were tryna' put me in the dirt, it ain't in my favor" I point toward myself again, "so therefore, I can go all out. Gai can take it, I'm sure he can. And then ny pushing myself to the limit, I can figure out how to go further"
The high of battle has completely worn off now, but I can still feel the pitiful amount of Cursed Energy I had left.
I have just enough.
"Until today I never knew-"
In a heartbeat, I blink back to where I had first moved from.
"-that I could do-"
I blink back toward Hiruzen. His eyes were a second behind each time, but he was the fastest out of everyone here.
Even at his age his senses were still keen.
"-this" I shrug, "But just one fight with Gai, and this is what I figure out? A short ranged combat effective teleportation?"
….
I finally took the few seconds to think over what I'm now capable of.
It's a great step forward.
'CQC master? Not quite yet. But getting used to using Blue like this would be important for the future'
Hard to hit and to hit hard was the goal.
I'd more than certainly made strides in accomplishing both, but if Hiruzen would allow more than-'
"If you wish to fight Gai under such circumstances, did you think to ask the man before pushing him like this?"
My shoulders slump.
"I didn't think to ask…" I look over at the composed and attentive Maito Gai, "but I figured it would have been no"
Hiruzen looked over at Gai as well.
The Jonin realized the Hokage also wanted to know what his answer would have been had I been straightforward with my intentions.
Gai stood at attention.
"At face value, Hokage-sama, I would have denied Genin Ryo at that moment in time"
"At that moment in time?" the Hokage repeated.
Gai nodded.
"Now, having fought him…" Gai nodded to himself once, "If Genin Ryo were to ask me to fight again, at a different location further away from the Village Center, I would agree"
Gai glances over at me.
I hold his gaze.
'...You wanna go again eh?' I observe him keenly, '...maybe you've also learned something too?'
Hiruzen hummed at the Green Beast's declaration.
"Then to avoid any more disturbances, I shall be personally present to mediate these fights" the Third Hokage gazed at me seriously, "but I will step in if things go to far" his eyes flick over to Gai as well.
"Am I understood?"
My posture improves instantly, quickly snapping up and affirming the order alongside Gai Sensei.
"Hai, Hokage-sama!"
"Good. The both of you will also be required to each complete a Hundred designated Community Service D-ranks" the Hokage looked toward Gai, "I will allow you to take your team with you, and they shall receive full mission benefits Gai, but you will not"
Gai bowed his head at the Hokage's verdict and punishment.
"Of course, Hokage-sama"
Hiruzen glanced at me.
"Ryo. You will do these missions alone"
I want to sigh.
"Hai. Hokage-sama" I pathetically grunt.
'Damn that's annoying' I mentally grumble.
But then I think about what I've learnt today…
'Hm. It ain't that bad though…'
Quick little set up chapter. Just some down time and training ahead before the Chunin Exams.
Who's gonna fight who?!
Lets find out!
All the best,
Freedom.