《Illumination – A Naruto Fantasy》 0. Prologue "Almost there, almost there" energetically a man said. Eager to get to his destination, the lone patron continued driving swiftly down the road in spite of the heavy rain. Moving along, he noticed a bright light shining over the next slope on the road. Past it was a wide facility consisting of multiple buildings, with the tallest possessing the words "LIMELIGHT LABS" on it. Driving to a security gate where two armed security guards stood, the patron timidly handed over a paper without leaving his seat. The security guard moved his eyes from the paper to the patron repeatedly until finally touching the radio on his shoulder. "This is security at gate 12, requesting entry for a Gabriel Russo" A loud horn sounded off before the gate began to open. The guard proceeded to return the paper he received before giving directions. "Alright, you''re clear to proceed Mr. Russo. Just continue driving straight ahead and you''ll reach the parking lot. After that, walk towards the tallest building." Gabriel nodded and continued driving. "I finally made it! After all the trouble it took just to get a phone call through, let alone an appointment, I''m actually going to meet him!" The patron named Gabriel could barely conceal his excitement as he parked his car. Wearing a black suit and armed with nothing but a briefcase to shield himself from the rain, he quickly made his way towards the door of his destination. Making his way inside, he was met by a stoic looking woman wearing a lab coat. She possessed a melancholy, yet calming demeanor. "Mr. Russo, welcome to Limelight Labs. I''m Dr. Patricia Myers, and I''ll be your guide for today. Dr. Parker is waiting for you on the sixth floor but before we go any further there''s something you''re going to need. We take security very seriously here so please put on this badge. This entire facility is automated and the last thing we need is an alarm going off every time you enter a room". The two proceeded towards an elevator. Traveling up several the floors, they exited the elevator towards a hallway with one door. "Is there anything I should know before speaking with him?" Dr. Myers made a slight smirk before responding. "He''s someone who prefers to get to point so waste no time explaining why he should pick you over the other applicants who have reached out to us. Don''t drone on about how much you admire him or his work as he abhors sycophants. Simply stay direct, quick, on point, and you''ll be fine. But whatever you do, don''t mention the books" (Books?) thought Gabriel before going inside. Dr. Myers remained standing by the door. The room was approximately half the size of a basketball court. The walls covered with strange panels. There was a single desk at the edge of the room with a computer and schematic papers next to it. Multiple wires from both the wall and the computer were attached to a glowing rectangular-shaped device about Five feet tall at it''s center. On the floor by the door was a pile of manga with the word "NARUTO" printed on them. Working on the device was a lone man dressed in standard office attire. "Hmm, the output is less than I had hoped for, most likely due to the copper plates" "Hello Dr. Par-" "I''ll need to make some adjustments to outer shell" "Umm?" "But I really don''t want to make the device any bigger than it is, maybe I can switch out the materials?" "..." "But what type should I use? The copper is limiting the output, and with the heat building up, titanium is far too dangerous" "How about a Cobalt resin?" "Cobalt...yeah that should work. In addition to the heat tolerance, it''s very effective against corrosion. Good idea...who are you?" Having a sigh of relief after getting his attention, Gabriel retrieved a paper from his briefcase and introduced himself. "My name is Gabriel Russo, and I''m here to offer my sponsorship towards you and the Illumination Project" After handing him the contract, Gabriel nervously waited for a response. "Gabriel Russo. Oh right, the boat Mogul from Italy that''s been investing into the energy business recently...and where in the hell did you hear about the Illumination Project?" "Contrary to what the tabloids might say, I think we both know I''m not a boat Mogul, but rather an engine fanatic with really good ears. Recently, I heard of a certain energy scientist that had made a breakthrough in his research. And as fate would have it, that scientist is someone I''ve already been very eager to meet. The infamous Dr. Raymond Parker himself" "Hmph, ''Infamous'' huh? I suppose that''s ONE way to describe me. Alright then" "Alright then?" "I accept your offer. ''Limelight Labs'' will accept your patronage Mr. Russo" Raymond said as he quickly signed the paper. "Wha?! Just like that?! Don''t you even want to read it first or discuss terms?! "Mister...no Gabriel" "Uh...yes?" "First...just call me ''Ray''. Second, You''re giving me money for my project in exchange for just some stock in my Company right?" "Yes?" "Third, anyone who can discover this highly secretive project, and immediately decide to offer money to support it wouldn''t be the type to take advantage of me, as it would serve no point given the unique goal of the project. And from what I''ve already read, your contract doesn''t request any say or authority on my work or company right? "Uh...Yes!" "Then there''s nothing else to discuss, plus there''s no need for a tour since you not only know, but have seen the project" Ray then pointed to the device at the center of the room "Ah! So this is..." "The first prototype for ''Project Illumination''. A generator that can harness ambient energy from almost any vibration and air density shift. Practically free, clean energy for our use and soon, they won''t even need wires" Marveling at the device, Gabriel was at a loss for words "Amazing..." "Yes...yes it is" After a brief pause, Ray suddenly began shaking Gabriel''s hand before speaking again. "Welp! Pleasure doing business with you, my people will contact you next week to finalize the details. Dr. Myers will see you out" "Please follow me Mr. Russo" "Huh?! Wha? Bu- but I just got!" Before he even realized it, Patricia had already taken Gabriel out the room. A bit flabbergasted and still trying to come to terms with what just happened, Gabriel took a breath and followed Patricia before speaking again. "Nicely done Mr. Russo. You took my advice to heart." "You weren''t kidding, he does like to get the point. But I guess I can''t complain since I got what I came for. Still, I''m surprised someone so focused on his work would buy piles of Manga and leave them in his workstation. There''s a hobby for everyone I guess." Patricia suddenly spoke under her breath. "...They weren''t really bought, but rather gifted to him" "Hmm? Sorry Dr. Myers, did you say something just now?" "Oh! No, it''s nothing. Anyway, here''s our stop. Thank you for coming, we look forward to working with you in the near future" As Gabriel proceeded to leave the facility, Patricia headed back to find Ray still working on the maintenance of the generator. "You really should head home for the night. The project isn''t going anywhere, plus we do have people ready to handle the grunt work" "This is our only current prototype. We really don''t need any hiccups on the account of someone screwing up. I''ll be fine, that will all for today Dr. Myers" Patricia frowned but didn''t say anything more before leaving. Alone, Ray continued working on the generator for the next hour before picking one of the manga on the floor and walking to his desk. "Sigh, I have read this story dozens of times and I still don''t understand why ''he'' liked it so much" Ray continued reading before drifting off to sleep. "I really should just call them at least once in a while. Especially...if I keep...receiving...these...manga" As he slept, the generator suddenly began to power up and after a few minutes, began shaking violently. Ray quickly woke up to the noise. "Huh?! W-what going-" Spotting where the noise was coming from, Ray dashed towards the machine. "What the hell?! Where is all this excess energy coming from?! This room has been isolated from the power grid and covered with inertia panels! There''s no way it could gather this much...GAH!!!" Before he could even finish his sentence, the device suddenly imploded with light and engulfed him. 1. Awakening [1] [...] "..." [Hmmmmm...] "......" [...Will you hurry up? We don''t have all day.] With a grueling headache, Ray''s consciousness began to return [Come on "genius", wake up] Waking up, the first thing Ray saw was a starry sky "Ugh...wha...what happened? The sky? Was I taking a nap outside? No, that''s not right I...I was just in the lab and generator just...the generator!" Ray found himself in an unfamiliar area with only endless sky in sight. Confused and disoriented, he held his head and looked downwards only to be met with shock once again "Uwah?! Where am I?! What town is that?! And how the hell am I floating?! Ray was somehow suspended in midair and beneath him, a completely foreign town with a strange, yet familiar structure. Before he could say anything else, a unique, distorted voice began speaking. [Three questions in three seconds, you''re definitely the talkative type] "W-who said that?! [I did] "How are you talking in my head?!" [Because I can? It''s best if you don''t question. Such an act would be the equivalent of laying down and attempting to ponder the mysteries of the universe. You won''t get a straight answer no matter how much you want it] "Who are y-" [We''ll get to WHO, or rather WHAT I am in a sec. Right now, it''d be best if you calm down. We can''t proceed otherwise] "Now wait just a-!" [Calm down right now, or I''ll leave you here to fend for yourself] "..." [Feeling better yet?] "I guess it''s not like freaking out will change my current situation" [A fast learner...I like that. Means you just might be able to survive the ''game'' after all Raymond] "What game?" (He knows my name? Well, he''s in my head so I guess that''d be obvious) [The one you''re in now. And before you ask...NO...you have no right to refuse. I''ll explain the rules in a sec but as I recall, you had some questions right? Well trust me, better now than later. We''re on a clock however, so you better hurry] "Did you...uh...how did I get here?" [How do you think you got here smart guy?] Dark thoughts began to manifest in his mind as Raymond pondered the suggesting question...and he started getting nervous. "I...I was working on the generator. And then it just...no...oh no no no no! Am...am I-?!" [Dead? Hmmm...] "..." [Maybe. Only your God would know I guess. But you''re here now, and the generator was the cause for sure. As for who brought you to this place, my advice would be to look in a mirror.] "Look in a...what''s that suppose to mean?!" [It means whatever you think it means. Next question...and try ask a better one this time.] "Ugh...fine. WHERE am I?" [Much better. You, my dear reckless-slash-suicidal scientist are in the ONE-AND-ONLY.....''Kumogakure''] "K-kumogakure...wait...is...isn''t that the fictional capital village of the ''Land of Lightning'' in the story of...oh...Oh you have got to be shitting me-!" [And now you''ve got it. Introductions! You, without even the aid of the notorious ''truck-kun'', have been sent into the world of "NARUTO"! I am your "Guide", and I welcome you Dr. Raymond Parker, to ''PROJECT ILLUMINATION''!] "......Son of a bitch......" 2. Awakening [2] "SON OF A BITCH!" [What did I say about remaining calm?] "Ahhhh! I can''t believe this shit!" [Believe it] "It''s bad enough that I was stupid enough to cause my own death but...!" [It still hasn''t been confirmed you''re dead yet...] "...but..." [But?] "...but to add insult to injury, I''ve been sent to another world like in some shitty ''Isekai'' Manga!" [Isekai''s really aren''t that bad. Only poor execution of it...though that''s just my opinion] "Will you shut the hell up already!" Filled to the brim with anger, Raymond began gasping for air. [Let it all out of your system.] "Hah...hah...hah...!" [You done?] "...Yeah" [Good. As much as I enjoyed your adorable little freakout, like I said, we''re pressed on time. So let''s finish this little "Q & A" session before the "project" starts] "About that, why does this...well...whatever this is...have the same title as my..." [That''s not for me to say. But your project is, in part, one of the reasons you''re here so it seemed appropriate] "Uh-huh" (Yeah...that sounds like a load of BS. But this thing is probably not gonna say anymore so I''ll drop it for now) [Let''s stop talking about the past, and more about our mutually beneficial future. You know what you have to ask] "Sigh...How do I play this game?" [The rules are simple, you''ll be inserted into the world as a simple background character and all you have to do is survive. And if you survive, you just might be able to go back home] "I''ll be able to go back?! You''ll send me back? [Not me, I have no influence in this world] "Then how do you know I can go back?" [Because I''m the "Guide". Like everyone else in the universe, there are things I know...and things I don''t know] (How convenient for you) "And all I have to do is just...survive? That''s it?" [That''s it] "And for how long do I have to survive" [You should strive to stay alive past ''Part 2'' of the main story is finished. That should guarantee your safety] "Part 2...you mean after the ''4th Shinobi World War'' is over?" [Correct. When I say "survive", I mean become strong enough to the point no one can really threaten you] "Why not later, like during the sequel series ''Boruto''?" [This "game" takes place during the events of ''Naruto'' not ''Boruto''] "So, there will be no influence from Sequel?" [Just a little, but hardly anything noticeable. If you make it past "Part 2", you shouldn''t have anything to worry about. This ''game'' is supposed to be interesting] "Interesting?" [Of course! Otherwise, there''d be no point in doing all of this!] "...In other words, I''m just a source of entertainment for you" [I''ll certainly have fun but, you''re not here to entertain me. But definitely "someone" else. And that is all I will say on "that" matter] "......So just survive then. Alright, I can work with that." [Hm? Someone''s awfully chipper now] "Well it''s just, I thought it was gonna be hard but who knew it''d be so easy" [Oh, and just who said it was going to be easy?] "...What?" 3. Awakening [3] Confused by the response of the "Guide", Raymond spoke again "What do mean? You''re saying it''s not going to be easy?" [Why would you think it''d be easy?] "First, I don''t get any cheat-like powers or gifts right?" [Nope. All you got is me, and all I do is talk. Because this isn''t your, as you''d put it, typical shitty "Isekai" comic] "Exactly, I''m entering the story as an extra and all I have to do is stay alive right? [Yes?] "Then there''s no problem. Naruto is hero of the story anyway, he''ll handle all the bad guys. Plus I''m just a background character, so there''s no need to work hard. If I just stay out of everyone''s way, I can kick back and relax. Just let the main cast do all the heavy lifting" Raymond''s mood improved after learning the rules, unaware he was about to receive a rude awakening when the guide spoke once again [Unfortunately Ray, I''m going call you "Ray", things aren''t gonna be that simple] "What? What''s the problem?" [Normally you''d be right, the story has been set so there shouldn''t be anything to worry about. But, you''re forgetting one key element] "That element being what?" [You] "?!" [What you have failed to understand is just by being in this world, you have changed things] "How could I change everything by just existing in this world?!" [Don''t you have a several Ph.D''s? I think it''s about time you start using them] "..." [Surely you can understand the ramifications of ''Cause and Effect'' right?] "Cause and Effect is just model, completely theoretical. We still cannot truly prove simple actions have world changing effects, or even if the concept is real" [And why is that?] "Because we''re not prophets, and we can''t predict the future! Like dropping a pencil. Science says it''ll fall to the ground due to gravity, but who knows? The next time you''re about to drop a pencil, it may not fall to the ground, by rise all the way to the ceiling" [Huh...didn''t think of it that way. Your current situation also bring validity to your reasoning as well] "Of course it does. Past experiences can never prove the future" [But you''re forgetting thing Ray, this isn''t your world anymore] "!" [Come on, use those ivy league-paid-for brain cells] "...Oh no" [Oooooooh yes! Science, physics, even the laws of the universe. Everything works differently here. Here, your very presence in the world will cause a sort-of "ripple effect". Prior to your arrival, this world''s story was already set. But now, you showing up has completely changed the equation] "But that means-!" [That means now...Naruto''s victory over the Antagonists is no longer certain. It means those who were slated to die may live, and vice versa] "This world...in a manner of speaking...is no longer the world of Naruto..." [Which also means, Naruto may not be able to save the world as he did in the original ending. And as we both know, if he doesn''t save world...] Ray trembled with anxiety. Naively hoping the guide would not say what he knew deep down it was going to say [YOU DIE] He fell to knees in despair, after already coming to conclusion there was no way he could win this "game" now "No way. This...this can''t..." [?] "..." [Are you giving up already? That''s kind of dissapointing] "..." Ray was unresponsive to the guides remarks. [Are you really not even gonna try?] "..." [You''ve been potentially given a second chance at life, something most people never receive, and you''re response is to wallow on ground?] "..." [Pathetic. Where''d you lose your balls Ray?] Fed up with the taunting entity, he screamed with all his strength "WHAT THE HELL AM I SUPPOSED TO DO?!" [Anger. Good, that should help you] "Is this just some joke to you?! Do you enjoy giving people impossible challenges as they fight for their lives?! Is that how you get your kicks?!" [Yes? No? Honestly, I''m not really sure in that regard. Why do you think it''s impossible?] "I''m an "extra" with no cheats! I''ve read enough of this story to know that if you don''t come from some prominent clan, or have some demon inside of you, it''s pretty much impossible to get ahead is this unfair world!" [Don''t be such a downer. Despite the harsh truth in your words, you still have some leeway. I did say this "project" was a "game"] "So?!" [What kind of game would it be if it was completely unfair? How is that any fun?] "...!" [You may not have cheats, but you do have what we call, "Lifelines"] "What?!" [Five answers to your questions in particular] "And how does five answers help me?" [My "role" in this game is to provide you with all of the information in the original story. This information will aid you in keeping the story on it''s original track if you choose] "If I choose?" [Yes, because you may decide to go off course at certain points for your benefit] "Why the hell would that benefit me? My only advantage is the knowledge of future events. If I purposely move in a different direction, isn''t that basically cutting off the only thing I got going for me?" [You misunderstand. When I say "Five Answers", I meant answers with absolute certainty] "But isn''t your role to give me information?" [On the "Original Events" yes, but if you change the story''s course, I can tell you how to put it back on track. Or when it''s seems like you might have a chance to progress faster, you can take the risk, go off course, and I can give you the means to survive even in the most dire of situations] "?!" [Obviously there are limitations. I can only give "Five Absolute Answers", but if you''re smart, careful, and use all information I give to your advantage, you just might make it out of this] Shocked at this revelation, hope began to return to Ray''s eyes as he stood back up again "Why didn''t you say this earlier? And don''t you dare say it was because I didn''t as-" [But you didn''t ask?] "Argh!" Ray stood back up, annoyed, but no longer depressed. Strength returning to his eyes. [That''s a better look than a few minutes ago. So, have you made a decision?] "When do we start?" 4. Awakening [4] [Alright! Let''s get you prepped for a new life!] The scenery suddenly changed and before he realized it, Ray was standing in a hospital hallway outside of closed doors with a lit up sign that displayed "Operating theater" over it. Looking around, he came to discover there was no one else around except a small boy sleeping on a bench. "Hey, where is this? What are we doing he-?!" Searching for answers, Ray reached out towards the child attempting to wake the him up. But when he did, his hand passed through the child as if he were a ghost. [Hold you horses, were still not done yet] "I was wondering when you were gonna talk again. You said new life, but what are we doing here, and who is this kid?" [Right, intro. ''Ray'', allow me happily introduce ''Rei''!] "Wait...what? Why does this kid have the same name as...huh...w-wait a sec!" [Hm?] "I entering a new world. You said you''re "prepping me for a new life". There''s a kid standing in front of me with the same...or a similar name to mine. Oh...does this mean I''m gonna have to-" [Aaaaah, isn''t it refreshing to have a Protagonist in an "Isekai" world with brains? That''s right, you''re starting over in a new, younger body] "Oh that''s just great. And here I was hoping for decent start" [What''s the problem now?] "For starters, you''re having me take over the body of a CHILD! I''m not like some typical Isekai character who just glosses over the fact that they have just taken over someone else''s body!" [Huh...I thought you''d be the type that wouldn''t read things like manga?] "I only remember things I take an interest in. But that doesn''t mean I haven''t read them. You can''t judge something you''ve never tried yourself" [Wise words] "Back to the matter at hand, I think anyone would prefer to stay as they are instead of turning into a...how old is this kid?" [He''s 3 years old] "3 years old...taking over a child! Dumbass!" [Ya know, I was expecting more gratitude for this and less wit. You ungrateful, soon-to-be little, shit] "Gratitude for making me go through puberty again?" [Like you said, you need power so survive in this world ruled by Ninja right?] "Yeah...so what?" [Well spoiler alert, most people can''t become strong Shinobi when they start training in their 50''s] "I''m in my early 30''s thank you very much" [Meh...close enough] "Asshole" [Aaaaand, you get to enter the story about 14 years before "Part 1" even starts. That gives you plenty of leeway to prepare for the final climatic arc in "Part 2". Which alone vastly increases your chances of survival.] "I guess that''s true, but taking over a kid is-" [Fictional kid. Bonus, you''re getting a body with, almost, the same name as you to help avoid confusion. And you already know a little Japanese right? Assimilation shouldn''t be too difficult for someone as smart as you] "Hmmm. Maybe..." [Right! So feel free to apologize whenever you like] "Okay. I''m sorry for the mean, yet accurate things I said" [Hah...Baby steps I guess] "..." [Anyway, we''re pretty much out of time so we need get moving now] "Sigh! Besides the moral implications of taking over a child''s body...is there anything else I should know about him to avoid suspicion when I assume his life?" [Avoid suspicion? Come on Ray, he''s a three year old ''extra''. It''s not like he''s some super spy] "Minor details then?" [Ugh...His name is "Rei Sano". His mother hails from unknown, unremarkable lands far to the West...and she died during her pregnancy] "Okay, his father?" [His father is a Jonin named "Keido Sano" who, fun fact, is about to die on the table behind those closed doors within the next minute. Which just so happens to signal the start of this "Project" you''re undergoing. So now, our little Q & A session if officially over] "Wait, what?" [Sorry, but time has run out. Don''t worry, I''ll be in touch. I''m your "Guide" after all] "Wha...but I''m still not?!" [Ok! Ready? LET''S GO!] "I WASN''T READY YEETTTTTTTTTTTT!!!!!!!!!!" Before he could say anything else, Ray''s corporeal form suddenly disassembled and entered "Rei''s" body. [You know what to do] [...............''PROJECT ILLUMINATION'' IS INITIATED................] 5. New Life [1] Hey y''all! Sorry for delay, had stupid IRL stuff to deal with yesterday. I''m also trying to figure out a proper release schedule for these chapters but for now I''m just uploading them as soon as I can. Also, I''ll be adding names next to sentences to avoid confusion during conversations from now on. I wasn''t going to at first, but some have messaged me saying it''d be a good idea. Hope you like the chapter and feel free to like, follow, and comment. Stay safe and happy! --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Ugh...my head..." Before I realized it, I was lying on a bench. Still in the same hospital hallway, the only thing that had changed from my perspective was a shorter field of view. Getting up, both my body and mind experienced a wave of soreness and pain. "Argh...I feel like I''m having the mother of all hangovers right now. With a sudden change in height, everything seems bigger now. And my voice, it''s sounds completely different. So...this is what it''s like to enter a new body" Ah...that damn guide. The jerk didn''t even have the decency to give me a proper warning before the transfer. Still, at least this body doesn''t seem to have any negative side effects. In fact, after walking around with it, I seem to be full energy. Well, I guess if you compare it to my original adult body that would make sense. Kids seem to have almost unlimited energy after all. It just sucks that there''s no mirror around, since he was laying down and faced towards the wall I never got a proper look at his appearance. It would''ve been nice to see the face I''ll be wearing for the next few years. "Well, no use crying over spilled milk. But what am I to do now?" The guide said I have to survive until the main story of this world is over and dumped me into the body of a soon-to-be orphaned extra. That poor excuse for a helper forgot to leave out the important ''tid-bits'' like how do I get stronger, people who can help, or where the hell do I even live?! But before I could complain further, I could hear foot steps approaching. "Where''s Mabui? Shouldn''t she of all people here to see him?" (???) "She should, but unfortunately she passed out right after using the ''Tenso no Justu''1Ethereal Transmission Jutsu to bring you back to village" (???) "Right...although useful, it uses up a lot of chakra, far too much for young girl like her to handle. Plus, she had already used it multiple times for me today. Damn it she''s just a Genin, we shouldn''t have pushed her so far. Is she going to be alright?" (???) "Not to worry, she''s already been diagnosed and should be back on her feet in no time. Ah...there he is my lord" (???) "...So this is Keido''s son eh?" (???) "Yes. This is Rei Sano" (???) Right, my name is Rei Sano now so I better get used it. Walking towards me were two men. One was a very tall, dark-skinned man with a largely muscular and well-defined build. He had a full head of white hair which flowed into his back along with a big beard. A defining trait of his was that he had unusual eyes, which had green irises, dark sclerae. Plus a scar shaped liked a lightning bolt on the right side of his chest. The other one possessed an eyepatch on his left eye. Shorter than the other, he had short and spiky dark-colored hair underneath a hat tied together with a forehead protector. Both of them were wearing the standard ''Kumogakure'' shinobi attire. Still in a bad in mood, I curtly responded to the two talking about me. "Who the hell are you two?" (Rei) "Hey! Watch your mouth! Do you have any idea who you''re talking to?! (???) "If I did, I wouldn''t have asked who you were in the first place, nimrod" (Rei) "Kuh!" (???) "Hahahahah! He sure got you there Dodai! I like this kid, he''s got some spunk! (???) "My lord, at least try to be more mindful of your title and status. If any kid can start mouthing off to you, that''ll reflect on how others view you and our village as a whole." (Dodai) "Psh. And since when have you known me to give a rat''s ass about how other people view me?" (???) Tired of their back-and-forth talk, I started to move things along. "So, I know his name, but would you care to introduce yourself gramps?" (Rei) "Well you certainly don''t beat around the bush. Hehe, but that''s okay because neither do I. My name is ''A'', I''m the leader of the village, the Third Raikage2Lightning Shadow." (A) I thought this guy was familiar, he''s that old lightning geezer that went toe-to-toe with Naruto after he was turned into a zombie. "Why is the head of village here?" (Rei) "...Not even fazed after learning of my title. That calm attitude is just like him." (A) "Him?" (Rei) "Your father young one, we''re here to check on your father" (Dodai) "Why...oh...I see." (Rei) Makes sense. While my ''father'' Keido may be an extra he''s still a ''Jonin'', an elite ninja. As I recall, Jonin are for more scarce than the lower ranked Chunin or Genin. "..." (Dodai) "...Rei." (A) "Hm?" (Rei) "I am truly sorry I couldn''t have been there for your dad. Even though it''s war, I have no excuse" (A) The Raikage suddenly bowed to me in apology. Wait, why do they look so sad? Did they mistake me staying quiet and thinking for being depressed at my father''s situation? "Lord Raikage, you were defending our soldiers on the other side of the battlefield, there was nothing you could''ve-" (Dodai) "Dodai. As the Raikage, it is my duty defend ALL of our citizens. If even one gets hurt, the fault lies on my shoulders" (A) Just as I was about to tell him to stop doing something so embarrassing the doors to the operating room suddenly opened. An old man in what would seem to be this world''s version of a surgeon''s attire came out. A look of surprise on his face emerged when he noticed the Raikage was here. "Well? How did it go ''C''?" (A) "We tried our best...but...unfortunately...he had already lost too much blood before he got here. I''m sorry" (C) Well...looks like that damn guide isn''t completely full of shit after all. 6. New Life [2] The mood in the room took a downward turn followed swiftly by an awkward silence. The three adults whispering to each other were probably contemplating on how to ''break the news'' to a 3 year old kid. It was then ''C'' approached me, his face carrying a somewhat sad and awkward expression. "Rei...I''m so sorry to tell you this but...your father...Keido...he...well...he''s" (C) Oh good lord, just get it over with and say it! The guide warned me about keeping the story in its original Canon before I''m strong enough to handle myself. The best way to start this stupid ''game'' is to avoid getting noticed. I mean come on, a 3 year old with the intelligence and maturity of an energy scientist? That''s practically begging for attention, which is something an extra with no cheats doesn''t need. I wanted to act like a normal 3 year old to avoid unwanted attention, but this guy is making it impossible for me. Ugh, I refuse to wine and cry like a child over my fake/fictional father''s death, so let''s see just how well I can spin this. "He''s dead. It''s okay doctor, I understand" (Rei) "What?" (Dodai) "..." (A) "Wha? Just like that? You...understand?" (C) Crap! Let''s try that again! "Uh...Kei...Dad...we had already talked about this before he set out. This kind of thing...it''s common...during war" (Rei) There, I hoped that was a little more subtle "I...see" (C) "Such a strong young lad" (Dodai) Whew! It worked! Taken aback with the maturity coming from me, a 3 year old, both Dodai and C looked at me impressed and relieved. The Raikage walked towards me, kneeled down, and put his hand on my shoulder. "You don''t have to worry about anything Rei. No matter what happens, I''ll make sure your taken care of. And don''t forget, you still have people who care for you. In fact, I was just-" (A) Before he could say anything else a young girl came running around the corner with an exhausted look. She had dark skin with blueish-green eyes, short light grey hair tied in a ponytail. Observing the scene taking place, she looked at the doctor as if she were asking a question with her eyes. Interpreting what she wanted, C shook his head with a sad expression affirming to her what we already know, that my ''father'' was dead. Tears started to form in her eyes as she dashed towards and hugged me. "Oh Rei...I''m...I''m so sorry" (???) "...Um..." (Rei) Oh shit! I have I no idea who this girl is! [Smooooth dude. She''s your cousin ''Mabui''] What the hell?! You''re back already?! [What do you mean ''already''? I did say I would be in touch cause I''m your guide didn''t I?] Where did you go?! [Well, after you were yeeted into a new body I lost the connection for a sec. But no worries, cause I''m here now.] So you''re gonna be with me everywhere I go now? [More like I''ll be here when you have questions, or rather when I''m in the mood to answer your questions. Also, whenever you''re about to screw something up] This Motherfu-! Well maybe if you did your damn job properly I wouldn''t have to worry about screwing up! You also forgot mention that I would enter the story in the middle of a damn war! [Relax, The ''Third Shinobi World War'' is almost over anyway. And to be honest, I''m not really good at the whole ''guide'' thing anyway. But I do have something else for you buddy! May I interest you in some smart-ass remarks Rei?] .......................You know, I cannot believe that for even a fraction of a second, I regretted that you weren''t here [My heart bleeds. In any case, shouldn''t you to be responding to Mabui right about now? It''s not like time stops whenever we talk so you''ve basically been standing there with a stupid look on your face this whole time ya dweeb] Oh...you dick! [Sticks and stones buddy! Also, Rei refers to Mabui as ''nee-san''1Honorific to address one''s older sister or an older female that you are close to in a familial sense or ''Mabui nee-san''. Yeah I forgot to tell you that there was gonna be some honorifics in this story. My bad! I''d give ya a quick run down but I''m too lazy and bored right now. Imma head out for a bit so don''t get distracted. And remember, play your role if you want to beat the game. Got it? Good. Later Noob!] That thing really is the worst at helping. Just what kind of asshole could make a something so crude. Hell, I bet that whole ''we''re running out of time before the game start'' was nothing but load of bs! Ugh...right. Now where was I? "Um...it''s alright Mabui nee-san. I''m...alright." (Rei) "You''re...?" (Mabui) "Hm?" (Rei) "You...you''ll stay with me from now on okay. I''ll make sure nothing happens to you. We''re the only family we''ve got after all." (Mabui) "Um...Mabui? Are you sure you''ll be able to handle tha-" (Dodai) Before he could continue, Mabui''s tone turned aggresive "That''s my decision, and I''m not changing it. I''d rather he stay with me, than go back to an empty house or an orphange" (Mabui) "I understand how you feel but this is a huge responsibility. Taking care of a child is a lot of weight to put on the shoulders of someone as young as yourself." (Dodai) "Relax Dodai" (A) "But sir?! She''s just 10 years ol-" (Dodai) "I know you''re just doing this because you care but if you just look in her eyes, it''s obvious that the girl has no intention of changing her decision. Besides, age is irrelevant when you''re a shinobi. Hell, were we just not relying on her unique abilities a few hours ago?" (A) "..." (Dodai) Huh, so she''s 10 years old now. Well I guess I can see why this guy is so adamant. He''s a nice guy but honestly, I hope he backs off. Living with a single guardian who will constantly be busy and out of the house because of her job sure gives me a lot of leeway to move about as I please. "Besides, Keido was an accomplished Jonin and Rei will inherit all of his assets. We will also do our part and send aid to them as well. They''ll be well taken care of." (A) "I...I understand" (Dodai) "Good. Mabui, I think it''s about time you take Rei home. I''ll make sure someone sends all of his father''s personal effects to him at a later date. As a Jonin, no as a Ninja of Kumogakure, the village is also obligated to see to the funeral arrangements." (A) Making a melancholy-like smile, Mabui began to take me away. "Thank you Raikage-sama. Come on Rei, let''s go home." (Mabui) "...Ok...nee-san" (Rei) Keeping up my act, I''m maintained a somewhat somber demeanor. Nice! This is a good, solid start. I got myself a home, someone to look after me, support from the village so I don''t have to worry about expenses, and I managed fool everyone into believing I''m ''Rei''. As long as I continue at this pace, beating the ''game'' might not be so impossible after all. "Raikage-sama, being in the back and taking care of so many patients, I haven''t been able to get a good grasp on our situation at all." (C) "..." (A & Dodai) "Please be honest with me, how are we REALLY doing right now" (C) "...Well" (Dodai) "Haaaah. We''re definitely holding our ground, but we''ve hardly made any progress at all. We keep losing Shinobi every day at an incredible pace. It''s almost as bad and the ''Second Shinobi World War''. Not to mention, smaller villages and criminals have been taking advantage of our current situation. From expanding their territory, to raiding towns and villages on our border that typically host clients we take missions from, we''re having some serious problems. Because of this, we''ve had to resort to giving certain Genin like Mabui supporting roles in this conflict. Plus, as we''ve seen with Keido, even Jonin are not an exception to the death count." (A) "Even the Jonin huh" (C) "Jonin are powerful, but few in number. They are a precious asset in any village, so even when we do get through this war, we''ll be feeling the military and economic effects for years to come" (Dodai) "..." (A) "I see...hah...and just when I had hoped this old buzzard could finally retire. Looks like I''ll be busy for a while" (C) "I''m sorry C-dono, but that seems to be the case" (Dodai) "...Hey C" (A) "Yes?" (C) "Call me crazy, but you don''t seem that particularly sad about it?" (A) "Raikage-sama?" (Dodai) "Hehe...can''t get anything past you" (C) "..." (A) "To whether I''m sad about it...Oh believe me I am, it''s just..." (C) "?" (A & Dodai) "When I look at those kids just now, and thinking about all the other young Genin who have stepped up during this time of crisis, and even your son Raikage-sama, it fills this tired old body with a little hope for the future" (C) "Hehe...yeah...I know what you mean" (A) "A new generation huh..." (Dodai) The three men stared down the hallway, completely unaware of the world shaking events that would occur around the young child they had just met. 7. New Life [3] After leaving the hospital with Mabui, I was met with new scenery. "Ah" (Rei) "Hm? What is it Rei? Did you forget something?" (Mabui) "Uh...no...it''s nothing..." (Rei) Damn it! I slipped up again with my expressions. I definitely wasn''t born to be actor. But after seeing this village first hand, and not from a comic book, how can you blame me. I know this is a fake world and all, but still, just look at this place. This might actually be the first time I''m glad I came to this world. Just the sheer architecture of this place, alone, is breathtaking when looking at it from my view. Mountains rising from the Earth like cones, ranging from all sizes. With some as big as skyscrapers, to others as small as cars. Almost all of them have houses and other unique infrastructure rapped around them. The entire town is built on elevated mountains. It definitely lives up to the name ''Kumogakure'', it really is a ''Village Hidden in the Clouds''. "...You know can tell me anything, right? No matter what it is, I''ll be here listen" (Mabui) Ah crap, here we go again with the misunderstandings. I guess I should just grin and bear it when comes to living as a child and how others interpret my actions. This is my new norm now so I should just do as that douche guide said and ''play my role''. "I...know. Everything just feels like a dream right now. I...I just wanna go home now nee-san" (Rei) "Don''t worry, we''re almost to my...our home. I''ll make something for us to eat and then we can turn in for the night. Does that sound okay to you?" (Mabui) "Sure...I am pretty hungry" (Rei) Making our way to her house, we approached one the many cone-shaped mountain slopes with houses built on them. Walking up the stairs built on the side of it, our destination was in sight. A fairly-sized single story house, it was in great condition. Going inside (and taking our shoes off), everything was pretty clean and organized for someone who has been away on missions. To the wall opposite of the entrance was a pretty wide kitchen and counter next to a black, rectangular wooden table with six chairs around it. A door on the right wall that had a bathroom. Two doors on the left wall that led to our rooms. In the center of the room was a low, wooden table frame covered by a futon. If my memory serves me right, I''m pretty sure this is a common Japanese item called a ''kotatsu''. "Those two doors are our rooms. The left door is mine, and the right is yours. Why don''t you take a look at your room while I start cooking us some dinner" (Mabui) "Ok" (Rei) Stepping inside my new room, relief began to build inside after realizing the place that will be my ''home'' for the next few years was in well kept condition. A nice twin-sized bed towards the opposite wall from the door, on the left was a sturdy wooden desk with a lamp on top of it, a wardrobe next to the door, and finally a window on the right side of the room. The window had a wonderful view of the night sky. After laying on the bed I pondered about how oddly well the window was placed, before recalling that this world has yet to acquire basic Television. "Well I guess people have to find some way to entertain themselves (Though I''m not really into stargazing). Not that I''ll have much time for fun. That''s right, this isn''t a vacation. First things first, I need to get stronger in order to stay alive and that means I have learn how properly wield the supernatural power of this world ''Chakra'' and the best way to do that for someone my age is study at whatever this village''s equivalent is to Naruto''s school. I guess I''ll have to ask ''nee-san'' when dinner''s rea-" (Rei) "Rei! Dinner''s done, come on and eat!" (Mabui) "Perfect timing...I''m coming!" (Rei) Leaving my room I sat down on one of the kitchen table chairs. Mabui had whipped up some grilled teriyaki, salad, and an assortment of different fruits. After bringing the food to table, she proceeded to sit next to me rather than across. Making a somber smile, she handed me a glass of water before clasping her hands. "Itadakimasu" (Mabui) "I-Itadakimasu" (Rei) "I made sure to cook your favorite" (Mabui) So grilled teriyaki is ''Rei''s'' favorite food huh...that''s something to remember to keep up appearances. I''m still not used to this world yet. "Thank you nee-san. I was feeling a bit parched" (Rei) "...It''s my pleasure" (Mabui) I have to say, for a 10 year old, this food has been made with exemplary skill. Then again most, if not all the children in this story are basically ''Child Soldiers'' with the mental capacity of an average adult in my world (Except for Naruto of course). I wonder why no one ever questioned the author about the moral ambiguity of making a story about child soldiers for a comic? Going through my food, I couldn''t help but notice that Mabui was staring at me. I tried to eat in peace, but eventually I couldn''t take it anymore. After finishing my food I just decided to ask her what''s wrong. "Nee-san...you keep staring...is everything alright?" (Rei) "Oh! Sorry! It''s just...uh...I was thinking that you''re quite amazing Rei." (Mabui) What''s up with her? "Why do you say so?" (Rei) "Well...remember when I told you that I had lost my parents to this war a few years ago? " (Mabui) "Um...yeah...I...uh...remember" (Rei) Damn it guide! I thought you said fitting in as ''Rei'' wasn''t going to hard! But every few seconds I feel like someone is giving me a test I clearly haven''t prepared for! Please tell me she hasn''t noticed anything. "Well, I couldn''t help but notice how much you''ve changed..." (Mabui) Shit! She noticed! "...and I can''t be anything but impressed by how much you have grown." (Mabui) "W-What?" (Rei) "What I didn''t tell you was that after my parents died I...well...um...I definitely could''ve handled it better than I did." (Mabui) Oh thank god "I...see" (Rei) "So when I see you here, so strong...well...as a ninja myself...it feels me with a sense of pride" (Mabui) So that''s what she was getting at, can''t say I hate how nice she is I guess. Well, anyone would be proud if their 3 year old showed this level maturity I''m displaying now. Still, better not push things too far. To remain consistent, I''ll stick to same BS story I gave the Raikage in the hospital. "Well nee-san...the truth is...dad and I had already talked about this" (Rei) "Talked? What do you mean?" (Mabui) Ok here we go, let''s see how well I can sell this "Dad...he wanted to prepare me for this. This war is one of the worse things anyone''s ever seen after all. He couldn''t just pretend to believe it was a definite guarantee he''d come back." (Rei) "...Rei" (Mabui) "So...he sat me down and talked to me about it. About him not coming back. And how I would have to be strong to survive in a world without him." (Rei) "..." (Mabui) "That''s why I have something to ask you" (Rei) "...What is it?" (Mabui) "Please help me become a ninja!" (Rei) "Wait...what?! Are you sure...I mean...after everything that''s just happened. You want to become a shinobi?" (Mabui) "It''s because of everything that just happened that I need to become one" (Rei) "Because of everything?" (Mabui) "This way, I can become strong enough to ensure that I, nor anyone else from our home has to go through what we have been through" (Rei) "!" (Mabui) Her eyes began to water a little. Seriously? This type of clich goal moves you? Only in a manga world I guess. Alright, let''s finish this make-believe story up before the guide returns and makes me die from embarrassment. "So don''t worry nee-san...I''ll be ok" (Rei) "..." (Mabui) Overwhelmed with emotion, Mabui suddenly wrapped her arms around and hugged me again. "I know I''ve already said this, but please let me say it again" (Mabui) "..." (Rei) "No matter what happens, no matter what others might say or think of you, I''ll always be on your side no matter what" (Mabui) I was about to raise my hands and hug her back, but there was something in me that wouldn''t allow it. So I just used my words instead. "Thanks nee-san" (Rei) "Alright...enough of that. We''ll talk about you entering the academy tomorrow. I''ll clean up here so why don''t wash up in the bathroom and head to bed" (Mabui) "Ok" (Rei) Alright, first step is clear. I doubt she''ll deny my request to send me school, but I''ll be careful tomorrow until it''s certain I get to go. Getting off my chair, I headed to bathroom prepare myself for bed. But when I turned on the lights a new problem had arisen and I was met with utter shock. "WHA...WHAT THE HELL?! 8. New Life [4] You ever get that feeling of endless frustration when you finally get the answer to a question you''ve been wanting for a while, and after you do, you suddenly end up with even more questions? Almost like the whole damn universe itself is purposely trying to be a dick to you? Yeah, that''s exactly what I''m feeling like right now. Waking up to the light of the rising sun, the headache I received after I was put in this new life came back to bite me with a vengeance. "[email protected]#king-lievable" (Rei) Why the crude language you ask? Well it all started last night when I entered the bathroom and looked in the mirror. Since I awoke in the hospital, I had yet to gain the opportunity to see what my new body looks like. But when I finally did, I was hit with shock and confusion. Now, it wasn''t like I was hideous or something, nothing was abnormal about my body. Fair brown skin and brown eyes, short spiky black hair, and wearing nothing but shorts and a long-sleeved shirt. Everything was normal except for the fact that the face I''m wearing is one I''ve seen before. It''s the face I''ve had since I was a child! I have no idea as to how or why, but ''Rei'' looks exactly the same as I did when I was a child! "Don''t know if it was an accident or on purpose by guide, but there''s no way this is coincidence. I''d like to ask, but I doubt that jerk will give me a straight answer." (Rei) Yeah...it''ll probably just give me the runaround and retort with some smart-ass remark. Asking that thing is a waste of time, so I''ll figure it out for myself some other time. Getting off my bed, I left my room to find Mabui making breakfast. The only thing of worth noting was a pile of boxes by the front door. "Oh...good morning Rei" (Mabui) "Yawn...Morning nee-san" (Rei) "Here, have some breakfast. I made some miso soup and grilled fish" (Mabui) Delicious. Again, this 10 year old is WAY too mature to be able to live alone and cook this well for her age. "Thanks...hey...I was just wondering. Are those boxes..." (Rei) "Mhm. I left early in the morning to pick up your things" (Mabui) "I thought that''s what they were" (Rei) "I also decided to pick this up for you" (Mabui) Mabui had a padded yellow envelope in her hand "...Does that envelope hold my?" (Rei) "Your registration form for the ''Cloud Academy''. After becoming your legal guardian I was able to get it" (Mabui) "Nice! Thank yo-" (Rei) Before I could receive it, she pulled away and looked at me with a serious expression "Before I give this to you I have to be sure..." (Mabui) "..." (Rei) "...Rei...is this TRULY what you want to do? The life of a shinobi is not for the meek of heart. No one would think less of you for choosing the life of a normal citizen" (Mabui) Moment of truth Raymond...you''d better make it count "I stopped being a normal citizen the moment my dad died..." (Rei) "...Ok then. Here, don''t lose that" (Mabui) "I won''t. So when do I start?" (Rei) "Now hold your horses. It''s barely the middle of June now and classes don''t start until the 11th of August" (Mabui) "The 11th huh..." (Rei) "Yeah... I know what you''re thinking...funny how it''s exactly one week after your birthday" (Mabui) "Huh? My birthday''s on the...uh...I mean...yeah...a week after my birthday..." (Rei) What the hell? Not only my appearance, but Rei and I even share the same birthday? Just what is the guide''s angle anyway? "So in the meantime, the best thing we can do to ensure you excel as a student, we need to start preparing now. And we need to do it in a short amount of time" (Mabui) "Aren''t you a little too worried?" (Rei) "Don''t underestimate the academy, graduation doesn''t work the same as it does in other villages" (Mabui) "...How so?" (Rei) "Well for starters, the school employs the tactic of limiting the amount of students who can graduate each year. You need to obtain a spot and there aren''t that many of them. Think of it as a psychological challenge to ''motivate'' students" (Mabui) "Why do that? I would think that the more ninja we have, the better off the village would be right? Especially now during a war" (Rei) "While it''s true that both economically and military wise, our village is one of the strongest in the world. But due to it''s location in the mountains, we have an average population for being one of the Five Great Nations" (Mabui) "..." (Rei) "We can''t afford to produce numerous shinobi with average skills. Our home gets by on making strong and loyal shinobi in order to maintain our status and safety. "So all of the other students are-" (Rei) "Your competition. That''s why graduation is going to be very difficult for you. You''ll be surrounded by other students that have already been trained by their families for months if not their entire lives already." (Mabui) So everyone else will have a head start. Well that''s just great, I had hoped it''d be easy like in Naruto''s academy where all you have to do is make some stupid clones to pass "So...I''ve got my work cut out for me. Fine, it''s still not gonna change my mind." (Rei) Like I have a damn choice "Good! That''s what I wanna hear! Don''t worry Rei, I told you that I made a few stops before picking up your things right?" (Mabui) "Yeah?" (Rei) Walking towards the pile of boxes by the front door, Mabui picked up one and handed it to me "Open it" (Mabui) "This...isn''t this..." (Rei) "Mhm" (Mabui) With bright smile on her face, I came to realize that she had given me a pile of books that were versed in varying fields of study. Ranging from Trigonometry, Statistics, Geometry, Chemistry, Physics, Medicine & other subjects. "We barely have two months to get you ready for school, plus I''ll be busy with my own missions. These books are for you to study while I''m gone" (Mabui) "Okay...but what about when you''re here? Are you gonna quiz me or something?" (Rei) "In a way...but not by means of pencil to paper" (Mabui) "Then what are you gonna-" (Rei) Before I could ask, she handed me clothing akin to a track suit. "Put in on. This is what you''ll train in, and go to school with. It comes from a very popular clothing brand and it''s typically worn by all students and Genin. It''s light, stretches, and good for practically any environment" (Mabui) Putting it on, I found that it''s actually very comfortable. "Hm...thank you...but you still haven''t answered my question" (Rei) Mabui suddenly made something akin to a ''Teehee'' face "Hehe...right...sorry. These books are just one part of prepping you for school. The other part is..." (Mabui) "H-huh?" (Rei) She stood up, took me outside to our backyard, cracked her knuckles and with a large smile on her face she said "...physical preparation" (Mabui) Gulp. Oooooh, I don''t like where this is going... "We have two months! So to make up for lost time, and to answer that bold resolve you showed me earlier...I''m not gonna take it easy on you. HOPE YOU''RE READY REI!!!" (Mabui) "...................I don''t think I''m ready nee-san" (Rei) [email protected]#k my life. I''m probably gonna be repeating those words for a long time. 9. New Life [5] Hey Guys! This chapter came late because I finally got my first Vaccination shot! No bad side effects so far, but I forgot to rehydrate after taking the shot (Don''t make the same mistake when you get yours!) so I''m a little tired. So after this release, I''m gonna do my best to recharge and stock up on new chapters for a more consistent release schedule. So no worries, I ain''t going anywhere. If you have the chance to get the vaccination shot, be sure to take it! The more us that get it, the sooner things can get back to normal. And again Stay Safe, but more importantly STAY HAPPY >: ) ! --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Your attacks are too wide! Strike with more precision!" (Mabui) I''m trying, but you keep dodging "Spread your feet out to strengthen your stance, your legs are too close to each other!" (Mabui) Kinda hard when you keep kicking them "A stronger stance means a stronger center of gravity, which gives your fists more power!" (Mabui) Yup, your fists certainly don''t lack POWER "Stay focused! Beware of not only your opponent, but your environment! Otherwise you''ll-" (Mabui) ?! Ah crap. Before I knew it, I was on the ground "-get yourself killed" (Mabui) Can''t believe I lost because I tripped over a stupid rock...not that I would''ve won anyway "Alright! That''ll be it for today, time to return to your studies. I have to leave for a mission this morning so we''ll continue your physical training tomorrow" (Mabui) "...r-right..." (Rei) Oh praise the lord, it''s over! "Not bad Rei, most inexperienced kids would''ve given up by now" (Mabui) Finally she''s gone, I think she mumbled something but I was too tired to hear her. For someone who acts so reserved most of the time, she can really fight like a damn demon from hell! "Oh...ow ow ow. I feel like I could live on the ground in this backyard forever right now..." (Rei) [Hahahahahah! Damn man, she completely whooped your ass! That wasn''t just hilarious, that was HIGH-larious!] "Glad to see your enjoying yourself" (Rei) [Now don''t get all sour on me. Considering that the only thing I can do is talk, it''s really hard to find something fun to do. Everybody needs some form of entertainment right?] "I wouldn''t mind if that ''entertainment'' wasn''t me turning into a damn punching bag" Returning to my room, I began reading my textbooks. It''s been two weeks since we began training and let me tell you, even if I didn''t have a Ph.d, studying all of these advance subjects STILL would''ve been easier than training with Mabui. And not only sparring, she''s even having me work out pretty much all day/every day. Plus, she''s taken it upon herself to change my diet as well. ''No junk food anymore! From now on, you''ll only eat what I allow you to eat!'' is what she told me. The guide has also started talking to me again. It has a bad habit of disappearing and reappearing on me. I don''t know what it''s doing when it''s gone, and whenever I ask it says something stupid just to get on my nerves. However, there is one thing I could think of that''s a bonus to all of this training. After weeks of back-breaking work, I''m starting to get a feel- Clasping his hands together, Rei''s body began to emulate an aura - for chakra [Ooooh, Nice Rei!] "Hm...it''s a very funny feeling, like static is running through my entire body" (Rei) For some reason Mabui hasn''t taught me to control chakra yet. What going on now is the result of my self-study. But maybe that was the point. "Did she want me to try and figure out how to control chakra on my own?" (Rei) [Your guess is as good as mine. Then again, not only a strong body but a strong mind is necessary to control chakra] "Huh, you''re being useful for a change" (Rei) [What do you mean for a change?! Hmph] "You make a point though" (Rei) [Hm?] "When I first started reading these books, that had absolutely NO information on ninja, I thought she wanted me to use these subjects in a more practical sense" (Rei) [Practical Sense? You mean for things like first-aid? I do see a medical book in that pile of yours] "Well that, but also more. For example, these books cover things like geometry and trigonometry. Are they for helping me when it comes to handling long-ranged weapons?" (Rei) [Oh yeah, I guess you WOULD need to understand that stuff to even properly throw a shuriken] "Plus these books on chemistry and physics, they would, without a doubt, be useful when it comes to building things like poison, traps, bombs, and all other manner of things that can kill people" (Rei) [I see...but if it''s so obvious...why are you questioning her intentions?] "Well, when you were off doing whatever, Mabui had tested me on my knowledge of these books" (Rei) [So what? Did you flunk or something?] "I have multiple Ph.D''s is various fields Jackass, of course I didn''t flunk. I''m only wondering why she keeps giving me more books to study, even though she knows I could teach these subjects to adults if I wanted to." (Rei) [...Oh...then why is she?] "And now you''ve finally get why I''m trying to figure out what she''s up to" (Rei) Right, after she tested me, she was very impressed and became even more eager to give me subjects to study. In fact, for some reason I''m spending more time reading books than having actual physical training. We''ve less than a month before school starts, so I''m getting a little restless. "Seriously, what''s the point of this?" (Rei) [...Maybe she''s dicking with you?] "THAT WOULD BE YOU!" (Rei) Hah, talking with this thing is waste a time. She''s a qualified ninja who even works for the Raikage at such a young age, so I''ll trust what she''s doing for now. "It''s not like I can do anything by myself right now" (Rei) My hopes of doing that were dashed when Mabui decided to take me to the Library. The place had more security than the damn Pentagon! It was also there I found out all ninja related information is only available for active and former ninja. Not even academy students are allowed access to that information as their curriculum is already predetermined. I suppose it''s just a means of information compartmentalization to protect the village and its techniques. But it still sucks I won''t be able to get my hands on this villages'' techniques until I graduate at the academy. "Damn it, it''s going to take a few years before I graduate. Guess I''ll just continue doing what I''ve been doing" (Rei) [In that case I''m leaving, it''s fun watching you get beat up but reading books is boring. Later] "Whatever" (Rei) Hah, barely a month a left. Continuing my grueling training, both my mind and body were pushed to their limit. Yet, I was slowly getting used to it as time went on by. Seconds became minutes, minutes became hours, hours became days, and days became weeks until finally... Rei and Mabui stood in front of a large complex composed of several buildings. The tallest building in the center displayed the kanji for "lightning" () on it. The gates at the front were open as numerous children were being sent off by their parents as they entered its grounds. "There are far more kids entering than I had anticipated" (Rei) "Nervous?" (Mabui) "No, just thinking out loud" (Rei) "...Well, at this point it''d be stupid to ask if you''re ready for this wouldn''t it" (Mabui) After snickering a little, Rei spoke "Obviously, so don''t even think of trying to change my mind nee-san" (Rei) "Hehe, I wouldn''t dream of it Rei" (Mabui) "Alright...I''m going" (Rei) "I''ll cook your favorite for tonight" (Mabui) After she left, Rei walked towards the building before stopping to look at the symbol it displayed above. [Having second thoughts?] "How is it that every time you talk, you evolve another step on the idiot ladder" This is where it really starts, there''s no way in Hell I''m gonna back out now! 10. First Day [1] My first day at the academy, I entered the building armed with nothing but my tracksuit and my Registration form. Along the way, I was greeted by a familiar face. "Why hello Rei, long time no see" "Dodai...what are you doing here?" (Rei) "Not even an honorific huh...what was I hoping for? I''m here to handle the registration for today in the place of Raikage-sama" (Dodai) "So...he really couldn''t make it huh..." (Rei) Makes sense when we''re in the middle of a war "Unfortunately yes. He''s quite disappointed to be the first Raikage in history to break the tradition of seeing new students in on the very first day of school" (Dodai) "He shouldn''t worry over it. In this situation, there''s nothing he can do anyway" (Rei) "You''re maturity for your age is impressive as always. Anyway, I''ve been chosen to fill in for him today. I''ll take your form now...let''s see...ok, you should head to Room 104 now" (Dodai) Done with registration, I headed to my classroom as Dodai called out to me again "Oh Rei! Happy Birthday!" (Dodai) "Thanks...but my birthday was a week ago" (Rei) "Oh...it was?" (Dodai) That''s right, this body is now 4 years old. I didn''t get a birthday cake because Mabui thought I would vomit it during training. Well...with THAT kind of training she''s not wrong. Talking to him from down the hall "Try to do better next time! Dodai-ossan!"1Old or "Middle-aged man" (Rei) "Ossan?! You rude little!" (Dodai) "Um, I here to hand over my registration form?" "Hm?! Oh sorry, I''ll take that" (Dodai) Before he could retort more students began asking him for their class numbers "Alright, if memory serves me right from what nee-san told me, all classes that start with ''1'' should be towards the left of the entrance" (Rei) After reaching Room 104, I went inside only to find a theater-style of classroom with descending stairs and desks. Looking at it, I remember nee-san telling me the reasoning for making the classroom so big is built on a theory that larger classrooms lead to expansive education. There were no more than 16 students all sitting down. Before I could even say anything, some of the kids started whispering to one another "Huh? Another one?" "He''s wearing the expensive version of Kumogakure''s standard academy clothing" So this tracksuit IS expensive. Thank you nee-san for going the extra mile when it comes to shopping for me "Seems he comes from a wealthy family" "I wonder if he hails from some prominent clan?" "I wonder if I should ''scout'' him?" I was about to speak before remembering they''re not gonna be all friendly like in Naruto''s school. Right, everyone here is competition for those few remaining graduation spots. No use humoring their curiosity. Since they''ve taken all of the front seats, I''ll head to the back row. There''s only one student sitting there anyway, that should keep things quiet for me. "Hmph! Look at this guy ignoring everyone" "He doesn''t look so tough" "All I see is another stepping stone for me" Hehe, oh you little shits. I can''t wait to step all over your dumb, smug faces "Hey, I''ll be sitting here" (Rei) "It''s not like I own this place, help yourself" (???) This guy seems nice, I shouldn''t have any problems here. Almost my height, with a light skin complexion he had brown spiky hair, and blue eyes. Wearing long black shorts and a long-sleeved white t-shirt, he gave off an easygoing feeling. "Heh...true. Am I the last one to arrive?" (Rei) "Well with you here that makes 17, so there should be four more people left from what I gathered. Also heads up, when the teacher takes attendance and calls you, don''t mention your surname." (???) "...Why not?" (Rei) "To avoid all the kids who come from prestigious families. They''re VERY competitive when it comes to...well...everything. A lot of people here don''t come from strong families or even have family names. When their info gets out, bullying is quick to follow. If they don''t know which family you''re from, they''re less likely to mess with you out of fear of offending someone with powerful origins." (???) "..." (Rei) "And as you can see, a bunch of them have already formed their little ''groups''. While few in number, there''s still a fair amount of Grad spots to take. It makes sense to gain allies" (???) "I see" (Rei) "So with that in mind, would you like to team up with me?" (???) I knew this info might come at a cost. Nothing truly is free anywhere you go "I figured that''s what you were getting at. Why me though?" (Rei) "For starters, you don''t seem like the rest of those snobby brats. I prefer to work with someone I can get along with" (???) "Well I''m glad to know my first impression isn''t like theirs" (Rei) "Second, unlike all the others, you don''t seem eager to make allies which suggests you have a well-founded confidence in your abilities" (???) "...Or maybe I''m just arrogant, have you considered that?" (Rei) "If that were the case, you definitely would''ve responded to those guys talking about you earlier" (???) ONCE AGAIN, the maturity of most children in this world is ridiculous "Well if I''m as strong as you say, why would I need you who doesn''t have confidence in his abilities?" (Rei) "True...compared to many others I''m not confident in my strength. But what I lack in brawn, I make up for in brains. I''ve got the beat on this place, I know all the ways this school is gonna come at you. All the info you need to win is housed in this head." (???) It''s true I''m lacking knowledge. The guide told me the only information it has to offer for free is from the original story that I know. Everything else is in the category of ''unpredictable'' "...Knowledge is power after all" (Rei) "That''s a nice line. So...what do you say?" (???) "...Name" (Rei) "Hm?" (???) "What''s your name?" (Rei) "...It''s Tai" (Tai) Holding out my hand "I''m Rei, nice to meet you" (Rei) "Hehe, it''s my pleasure Rei" (Tai) After shaking hands and getting a new ally, the door opened once more and three students came in "Whew...finally made it" "I was worried we were too late" "Haha! Come on guys, you know I''ll never steer you wrong! Now let''s find a place to sit-gaaaah?!" "You''re in the way" (???) Before the loud one could finish talking, a fourth student suddenly came from behind and bumped right through them without a care in the world. "Ooof?! Hey! You rude woman, watch where you''re going!" "..." (???) "Not even an apology?! You really know how to set someone off!" He was about to confront her when his two friends dragged him back and had him sit down. The girl didn''t speak and walked past everyone else, taking a seat at the top row with me and Tai. Although, she had sat quite a distance from us. The guy from earlier was sitting in a lower row. He had turned his head and continued to glare at her, it was kinda funny. The girl however held a calm demeanor. She had a fair complexion, green eyes, and shoulder-length black hair in a high ponytail with short cut bangs in the front. She wore a small grey sleeve-less kimono that covered the top half of her body with typical shinobi mesh clothing underneath, covering her chest. Black shorts and shoes, with bandages on her wrist. "...Watch yourself Rei, I''ve heard rumors about that girl and none of them are good. Best to keep your distance" (Tai) "Rumors? Like what?" (Rei) "I''ve heard she comes from a family with a bad reputation. Plus I know for fact she doesn''t work well with others as you''ve clearly seen. Getting into fights is the norm for her." (Tai) "Is she strong?" (Rei) "Oh don''t even think about it, I doubt even someone as handsome as myself could tame that wild beast" (Tai) ...Look at this kid''s big head. Anyone who has talked about my ego oughta kick themselves "I thought we would need more allies" (Rei) "Not the detrimental kind" (Tai) "She''s that bad?" (Rei) "Like you would not believe. Relax, there have been those who made it through school with just two people. We''ll be fine on our own. She easily draws attention to herself, and one of the best ways to succeed in school is to go unnoticed from other students. It''s only the teachers'' recognition you should be focused on." (Tai) "Alright I''ll drop it" (Rei) As a scientist, I''ve never been one to believe in rumors, but rather what I can see with my own eyes. Still, if there''s a risk maybe I shouldn''t take it. Before anyone could talk further, an adult came in and stood by the long blackboard in the front of the classroom. "Everyone, please take your seats" (???) All the chatter quickly came to end as we moved our focus towards this new arrival "Good, my name is Osoi. I''ll be your sensei for your first year. It''s nice to meet you all" (Osoi) And so it begins 11. First Day [2] Our teacher seemed to be in his late 40''s, short dark brown hair and black eyes. Wearing the standard Kumogakure shinobi attire with nothing but a short red scarf to help differentiate him from other ninja. "I need to add your names to my personal register so I''m going to begin by calling on each of you to introduce yourself, then we''ll begin class. First off, you there!" (Osoi) "Y-yes sir! My name is Tetsu Mikawa!" "Osoi-sensei! I''m Ashi Saiki!" "Sir! My name..." Making his way up, roll call finally reached my row "Yo, I''m Tai! Nice to meet ya!" (Tai) "I''m Rei" (Rei) After speaking, everyone looked towards the last student to be called, the girl to the far right of me. "...Suzu" So her name''s Suzu huh? And she didn''t reveal her surname either, looks like she knows what she''s doing "Alright...21 students. That should be everyone. Allow me to start with an announcement that we''ll be having an adjusted time schedule for today. Mainly due to being the first day, everyone will be going home early. So I''ll just be explaining our curriculum for our class." (Osoi) As Osoi began, the annoying asshat returned [Aaaah, Doesn''t it feel like high school again?] Oh god please shut up. The guide can''t hear my thoughts, but that also means I can only talk to it when I''m using my voice. [Aw, not gonna talk to me? Don''t tell me you''re worried people will think you''re crazy? Cause let me tell you, that ship already sailed when you were in your original body hahahah!] "Haaaaaah" (Rei) "Hm? Something wrong Rei?" (Tai) "A lot of things actually, but nothing you need to concern yourself with" (Rei) [I just wanna remind you that if anyone finds out who you really are it''s game over. These kids look sharp so stay alert! Later!] I''m aware things are different now that I''ve been interacting with more people recently, but what''s the point of telling me now? This thing gets more mysterious (annoying) every time I talk to it "Let me break it down for you in simple terms: Each student has three years in school. Our classrooms signify which year you''re in by the first number of each room. For example, since you''re all first years, you were assigned to this room with the number 104 on it." (Osoi) This number system IS just like my high school "As you move on from one year to the next, you will switch classrooms. And before you ask, your grades and performance are irrelevant when it comes to getting in second & third year classes. I''ll be going along with you as well." (Osoi) "Our grades don''t matter?" "Then what''s the point of 3 years?" "I said they don''t matter when moving to next year classes. When your families paid to send you here, they paid for a 3 year tuition. So even if you''re a bumbling idiot with failing grades, no one will get held back a year" (Osoi) "No one gets held back?" "Then what''s the point of limiting grad spots?" Oh shit! These stupid kids don''t get it but I do, and from the look of Tai''s face, he does as well "I can see that many of you are wondering why we would adapt such a system when we''re limiting graduation. Well the answer is simple..." (Osoi) Here it comes "More competition!" (Osoi) Goddamn it, I knew it. "When you''re final exam comes in your third year, you''ll be up against every single student in the academy! Why do you think we only open this school once every three years! We''re not like those weaklings in other villages that practically surrender their headbands! In Kumogakure, your status as a shinobi is EARNED!" (Osoi) Great, more competition only makes graduating that much harder. However I will give it to them, Kumogakure has a very good system for ''motivating students'' "But don''t think your 3 years are meaningless. Everything you do in your first, second, and third year classes will also attribute to your chances of obtaining a grad spot!" (Osoi) The entire class was filled with silence as everyone began to let the true challenge of this school sink in "Haha! We''re all going to be stuck with each other for the next three years. So get used to the present company, you''re going to be seeing these faces for a while." (Osoi) "Sensei!" (Rei) "Yes?" (Osoi) "What you said about the classrooms. The first number represents what year you''re in right?" (Rei) "Correct" (Osoi) "And that we have three years to complete this program" (Rei) "..." (Osoi) "So if that''s the case, what''s the purpose of having classrooms starting with the number 4?" (Rei) When I first entered the complex I noticed three halls. The hall on the left led to first year classes, the one straight forward led to second years, and the one to right led to third years. But there were also a set of stairs leading to the next floor that had classrooms with number ''4'' on them "A good observation. Rei, was it? Those classes are optional classes for those that fail." (Osoi) "Optional classes? Why have them?" (Tai) "Heheheheheheh" (Osoi) Everyone got even more nervous when Osoi revealed a wicked expression on his face "Like I said, you have 3 years to complete this program. If you flunk it, the only way back in is if you pay for another 3 years of tuition. Class 4 grants you ONE more year and the opportunity to graduate without having to pay for another 3 years as they''re free of charge." (Osoi) "If they grant us another chance, then what''s the point of asking for another 3 year-" "There''s a catch right?" (Rei) "What?! What does he mean?" "What other purpose could they have?" "Huh, is your head on straight?" Everyone started looking at me like I was crazy, I''m a little offended "...Rei, you''re pretty clever aren''t you" (Osoi) "Crap, I was hoping you would be wrong Rei" (Tai) "Yeah, me too" (Rei) "Yes! There is a hidden agenda to taking classes in the 400''s! While it''s true that if you pass, you have a 100% guarantee to become a Genin. But if you fail, you won''t just fail to graduate...you''ll be permanently banned from Cloud Academy!" (Osoi) No matter what world you''re in, there''s always a damn catch 12. Limits It''s been a few months since school began and I''ve gotten used to the change. The war still rages on as less and less people come back alive from the battlefield. Nee-san has told me not worry and close my heart to it. "You''re 100 years to early to be worrying about me. Your only job should be focusing on school" is what she told me the last time I saw her Lessons continue as usual with a moderate amount of physical exercise, but mostly lectures. However, other than the subject of chakra, there''s nothing else that interests me. Most of what Osoi teaches are subjects nee-san has made me go over at home. But Tai has really proven just how useful he can be. He provides info on the school and what I need to stay ahead, in exchange for me helping him with our class lessons. I still wonder how he gets all this info but I don''t pry on the risk that it damages this beneficial relationship. If there''s one thing that''s changed its... "..." (Suzu) "Hmmmm" (Rei) "..." (Suzu) ...Suzu. For some reason, she just keeps staring at me whenever she gets the chance. I wonder if it''s because I''m at the top of the class. I know that out of everyone here, she''s proven herself to be the most competitive. I saw this first hand during one of our outdoor (P.E. equivalent) sessions. That kid she bumped into during our first day challenged her to a sparring session. She accepted, and proceeded to kick the crap out of the poor kid. Watching him get beat up, I was reminded of my ''training'' with nee-san Tai and I began whispering to each other as Osoi continued today''s lesson "You think she has a grudge against you for being the first in our class?" (Tai) "I don''t know...but it seems unlikely" (Rei) "Why do you say that?" (Tai) "Tai...she''s not the shy type. I think we both know if she has problem...she''ll take care of it" (Rei) "...That''s for sure. She''s probably just curious about you" (Tai) I guess...still doesn''t make me happy that a wild child like her has taken an interest in me. "...and that will conclude our geography lesson for the day. Now, continuing what I was talking about yesterday, lets go over the subject of ''the relationship between your body and chakra''. Does anyone remember where we left off?" (Osoi) "You were explaining how it affects our bodies and what we can do to improve it?" "Right. Chakra is created from molding two energies together in your body. Civilians refer to these energies as ''stamina'', but we ninja call them ''Physical Energy'' and ''Spiritual Energy''. These energies flow seamlessly through our bodies in something known as the ''Chakra Pathway Network''. Only by mashing these energies together can chakra be created, and we use unique hand seals to manipulate it." "But how do we improve these energies?" Thank you, that''s just the question I need answered "Well physical energy comes from the body''s cells and can be increased through training, stimulants, and exercise. Spiritual energy comes from our minds and can be increased through studying, meditation, and experience. It''s also why when use a lot of it, we suffer from exhaustion" (Osoi) "Doesn''t this relationship between the body and chakra seem very symbiotic?" "That''s because it is. When these energies become more powerful, so to will the chakra you make. Repeatedly practicing a jutsu will build up experience, increasing one''s spiritual energy, allowing more chakra to be created. As a result, a ninja is able to use the same technique with more power but with less energy. This process is the same for physical energy, except the ninja needs to increase their endurance instead. This process is commonly referred to as ''Chakra Control''. (Osoi) "Sensei" (Suzu) Oh? It''s rare for Suzu to ask a question. Even Osoi is a little surprised "Yes Suzu?" (Osoi) "So theoretically, if one were to constantly practice these methods, there would be no limit to how far they can grow?" (Suzu) "Well..." (Osoi) "Hey, you''re right!" "If I follow this kind of training, I''ll be invincible!" "..." (Osoi) "Sensei?" (Suzu) "...Everyone! Get ready! I''m going to do something a little mean" (Osoi) Before anyone could ask what he was doing, an immense, invisible pressure suddenly bombarded them Kuh?! T-This...suffocating feeling! This is chakra!! Everyone began to gasping for air as Osoi''s chakra made them feel like their bodies weighed tons Fearing for their safety, Osoi ceased "Gaha?! Chak!" "Hrgurk! Oh my god! What was?!" "That...was that Sensei''s chakra?!" "Sorry about that! I have below average chakra so I assumed you lot would be fine if I brought it out" (Osoi) Everyone (including myself) had a look of annoyance on their face. Osoi smiled awkwardly before speaking again "Still, that fact of releasing MY weak chakra could be so terrible for you should prove a valuable lesson. Suzu! To answer your theory about whether it''s possible for your chakra to grow infinitely..." (Osoi) "..." (Suzu) "Well...not exactly. You see at some point a ninja will reach a maximum amount of chakra they can use before it runs out and they need to rest to replenish it. Now with practice this ''limit'' can be increased, but only to a certain extent" (Osoi) "...Why is that sensei?" (Tai) "We human beings are limited to the quantity and strength of chakra that our ''genes'' grants us. It''s why people from prominent clans, or those that possess unique bloodlines are usually so powerful" (Osoi) "..." (Suzu) "If one is given far more chakra than they''re able to handle, the body would most likely die from overloading. Remember how all of you are feeling now. As young children, your bodies have yet to properly develop and adapt to this power. You guys can barely handle taking my average chakra from the outside. Can anyone of you imagine what would happen if it came from the inside?" (Osoi) Many of us gulped "There was once a crude training method our village practiced in the past that involved having our ninja take in chakra from others and ingesting unique materials like flesh from a Tailed Beast. Going past their limits, they would hold these overwhelming energies in their bodies to expand the maximum capacity of their physical & spiritual energy." (Osoi) "...Di-did it work?" (Suzu) "...They experienced a short burst of power, but they all died in agony soon after." (Osoi) "..." (Suzu) "What you all have to understand is that the energies inside your bodies...they''re like...well...they''re elastic. Like a rubber band, if you want it to stretch more you have to pull it a little bit at a time. But if you stretch it too much at once...it snaps" (Osoi) "...Only in our case, that rubber band would be our lives" (Tai) "Indeed Tai, why do you think information on ninja is so heavily restricted. Let this be a lesson to all of you who have yet to take this seriously enough. DO NOT...TAKE NINJUTSU...LIGHTLY" (Osoi) "Yes...sensei" (Suzu) "Hm?" (Osoi) So this is why I couldn''t learn anything regarding ninjutsu in the library or why Mabui didn''t teach me. Or rather it''s not that she wouldn''t, but that she couldn''t as she wasn''t allowed to. The mood of the class had started to dampen a little "Haha! Turn those frowns upside down! I''m in no way implying those who aren''t from prominent origins can''t excel over the naturally gifted!" (Osoi) "Huh?" "But you just said..." "Even if you don''t come from some powerful bloodline, that doesn''t necessarily mean your chakra cannot grow to great lengths. Like I said, it''s all about genetics. And genetics can be very unpredictable. Take the head of our village for example. Raikage-sama1''Sama'': a respectful honorific for individuals of a higher rank than oneself is often touted as the greatest Raikage in history and yet he does not come from a powerful family. Rather he created his own strong family line starting with his son, who himself has been rumored to have chakra levels comparable to a Tailed beast! To be compared to one those legendary chakra creatures is an amazing feat in its own right!" (Osoi) "Oh!" "Some of the most legendary and powerful ninja in history have possessed weak chakra, yet made up for that weakness with pure skill and versatility." (Osoi) "Awesome, I had no idea Raikage-sama came from a background like that..." "And he and his son still became that strong..." "I wonder if I can become that strong" As the class began to chatter, Osoi spoke again "Hehe, you know I really envy you kids for starting on the path of a shinobi at such an early age" (Osoi) "What do you mean sensei?" "Well you see, I was born around the time of the ''Second Shinobi World War'', which was one of the worst in history for any village. By the time I had signed up to be a ninja, I was already a young man. If you start training to be a ninja at a late age, the chakra in your body won''t be able to make much progress as its pretty much lost the opportunity to grow. This has been the biggest factor preventing me from becoming a ''Chunin'' in my long career as a ninja" (Osoi) Right, guide said something similar to me when I first got this body "But I made up for it by working hard, and now I''m recognized by even a shinobi like the famous ''Jiton no Toroi''2Toroi of the Magnet Style!" (Osoi) "Eh?! That famous ninja?!" (Suzu) "That''s right! Bet all you brats didn''t expect that did you! Maybe I''ll ask him to visit if there''s an opportunity" (Osoi) "Ooooh!" "Yeah awesome!" "I can''t wait!" So noisy, good grief "But like I said, genetics are unpredictable. And even if you come from some powerful clan, that doesn''t mean YOU will become powerful AND vice versa. Remember, nothing is ever guaranteed in this world. The only thing you can do is strive to perform at your best!" (Osoi) "Yes Sensei!" (The whole classroom) "Now, moving on. Let''s dive into to the ranks of shinobi and their responsibilities. From lowest to highest it goes Genin, Chunin, and Jonin. The typical duties of the Genin are to..." (Osoi) As Osoi continued his lesson, Tai quietly began speaking to me "I was getting a little worried for a sec, but I''m starting to feel better now. Ya know for just a Genin, Osoi-sensei is a pretty good teacher! Don''t you think so too Rei?" (Tai) "...Huh? Oh...uh...yeah...I guess" (Rei) "?" (Tai) Everyone else can afford to be optimistic, but I sure as shit can''t. I remembered in the past guide told me that ''Rei'' was just some insignificant ''extra'' who got killed before the main story even began. Most likely because he wasn''t a ''gifted'' ninja. There''s no damn way I''m leaving my life up to chance like some random, genetic, punnett square3 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punnett_square type ''luck-of-the-draw''. I need something far more practical than that Whispering to myself "It may be time to consider using one of my five Lifeline Questions the next time the guide shows up" 13. An Unusual Visitor Evening had come, a lone man walked through town with a solemn look on his face. His destination was anyone''s guess A loud thump! "Nice! You''re getting better. It''s takes much more effort to bring you down now" (Mabui) "Well...I''m glad to know I''ve become a better punching bag for you" (Rei) "Don''t be such a pessimist, you''ll catch up to me in time. Come on, let''s eat something" (Mabui) "Okay...how about grilled teriyaki? I did pick up more groceries when you weren''t here." (Rei) "Hehe, did you now? I guess I''ll cook your favorite since I was away from home all week" (Mabui) As the war worsened, more and more active duty ninja have been away from the village. Even Genin like nee-san are becoming overburdened. "Aaah, it''s soooo nice to just let loose every once and while. Work has been very stressful lately" (Mabui) "Whatever makes you happy nee-san" (Rei) Coming back home after a week, nee-san was absolutely ecstatic to see me. And that enthusiasm quickly led to another one our ''training sessions''. Just when I was getting used to having an evening where I''m not sore. Though I guess I''m getting used to it as I can immediately get back up after we''re done instead of laying on the ground wishing I was dead. Sigh Reaching in a kitchen cabinet, she took out a box of matches. After lighting one, she ignited the gas stove before giving me a smug look "I see that you''ve already prepped the meat. To go to all this trouble...I guess someone really wanted grilled teriyaki" (Mabui) "...Um...well I..." (Rei) "It''s fine I guess, but you can''t just eat meat. I''ll be adding more vegetables for you to eat" (Mabui) As expected of nee-san, she saw right through me, though I''m not complaining. When she''s not here I increase the amount of food in my diet to bulk up faster. I need a healthy body to get stronger after all. Plus, I''ve really come to like grilled teriyaki. Since it was ''Rei''s'' favorite food, I wonder if this body is beginning to alter my preferences as teriyaki was never my preferred food in the past. "If you don''t need any help I''m going to return to my studies" (Rei) "I''m good Rei, you go right ahead. It should be done soon" (Mabui) Picking up a textbook I left on the kitchen counter, I sat down by the kotatsu and began reading "...My progress is adequate for a normal person, but I need far more than just normal" (Rei) My life in school is progressing smoothly as we approach our second year, but I''m still not satisfied. There are people out there who are MY age, yet stronger than nee-san. Not to mention all of the ''Kekkei Genkai''1Bloodline Limit holders, people blessed with unique abilities only they and their family members can use. The only thing I can boast about now is having good chakra control and adequate skills with ninja tools and weapons. Even my taijutsu skills, which exceeds everyone in my class, would be considered pretty average by Genin. The fact that I''ve never beaten nee-san, a Genin herself, is proof enough. "...And my chakra..." (Rei) After training in secret, the chakra in this young body has finally developed to the point where I''m now able to perform some basic E-Rank level techniques with little trouble like the ''Henge no Justu''2Transformation Jutsu or using chakra to walk on water. Everyone in my class is older than me, so most people would call me a ''prodigy''. But compared to all the main characters in the story with ''cheats'' & ''plot armor'', I barely come off as average. Mabui, albeit reasonably, has not proceeded to teach me any ninjutsu out of fear for my safety. Makes sense considering if one pushes their chakra too far (especially a child), they could die. I wish I could tell her that I''ll be fine, but I wouldn''t be able to convince her without risking my identity being revealed. So for now its just Hell...er...basic training with nee-san, followed by studying at the academy "I really wish I could find some way to-" (Rei) knock, knock "Who could be here at this hour?" (Rei) "Oh Rei! Could you get that? I''m still cooking over here" (Mabui) "I got it" (Rei) Opening the front door, I was met with a huge figure I''d seen before "...Heh" (???) "...What the?! Why are you here?!" (Rei) "Hey Rei! Long time no see!" (???) "Rei? Whose at the-" (Mabui) "Good to see you too, Mabui. Does your dinner have room for one more?" (???) "Oh! Raikage-sama!" (Mabui) For some reason, the leader of Kumogakure was at our front door asking for dinner "Er...um...sure! Thanks to Rei, there''s plenty of food to go around" (Mabui) Great, guess that''s means I''ll be going shopping again soon "Hold on, the food is almost ready. Rei, please help Lord Third to the table" (Mabui) "...Sure, come on in Raikage. We''re having grilled teriyaki tonight" (Rei) "Oh nice, I was just in the mood for some meat" (Raikage) Settling in like it was natural for him, the Raikage had slipped his way into our dinner. He maintained a carefree attitude while Mabui was being as respectful as possible. After finishing dinner, I was the first to break the ice "Alright, I''m just gonna flat out ask it, why are you tonight?" (Rei) "Rei! My apologies Lord Third" (Mabui) "Hahahaha, no worries Mabui! Rather I prefer he keeps that casual attitude. Most kids his age, and adults for that matter, are usually so stiff around me so it''s refreshing to experience something different" (Raikage) "Oh...well...okay then" (Mabui) "But to answer your question Rei, I''m here to see you" (Raikage) "Me? Why would you need to see me?" (Rei) The old man stood up and looked towards the direction of our backyard "Mabui, I''ve heard that you train with Rei in your backyard right?" (Raikage) "Um...yes Lord Third, but it''s just physical training" (Mabui) "Great! Hey Rei!" (Raikage) "Yeah?" (Rei) He chuckled for a bit before speaking again "How do you feel about sparring with me?" (Raikage) "..." (Mabui) "..." (Rei) Mabui was at a loss for words. I on the other hand... "Why the hell not" (Rei) ...was smiling How in the world is this happening? "Alright Rei! The rules are simple, you have 1 minute to use whatever means you can to get me off this flat rock I''m standing on and you win!" (Raikage) "What do I get if I win?" (Rei) Lord Third began to ponder "...Hm...I guess teaching you some jutsu could be your reward? (Raikage) "Nice! Okay ''Third'', you got yourself a deal!" (Rei) Rei...please be more respectful to the village leader... You don''t mind right Mabui? (Raikage) "Um...well...if it''s just a little that''s fine" (Mabui) It''s not like I could say ''no'' to the Raikage himself. I''m just worried you''re going to give him something far too powerful for a 4 year old to have "Cool! Since we have permission from ''nee-san'' we can begin!" (Raikage) "I''m ready whenever!" (Rei) Holding a stop watch in my hand, I reluctantly moved my hand down "Begin!" (Mabui) MrPrope 14. Testing My Mettle "Let''s go!" (Rei) "Hehe" (Raikage) Charging at him, I put my Taijutsu1Hand-to-Hand Combat Techniquesskills to work with the hope I could get him to move off the small flat rock he was standing on but... "Hmph!" (Raikage) "Whoa!" (Rei) ...it was useless. "That all you got kid?! At least try to make this interesting!" (Raikage) GEEZ! Not only is he abnormally fast for his size, but his body is inhumanly strong. It''s like I was punching metal or something! "Hurk! Let''s see how you handle this!" (Rei) After forming some hand seals "Bunshin no Jutsu2Clone Jutsu!" (Rei) "Oh? You can make clones. Not bad, they''re very well made for someone your age" (Raikage) Since anything was allowed, I made two clones (two is my limit right now) and moved towards the Raikage. I took out some bombs Tai helped me make at school and threw them. The entire area was immediately covered in grey smoke "Oh, knowing that a frontal assault is useless, you immediately switch to a diversionary tactic. The idea is sound..." (Raikage) Circling around, my two clones distracted him from the front as I moved in from behind, intent on striking his legs "...but..." (Raikage) At the last second, the old man caught my arm within inches of me getting him "What the?!" "...the execution is lacking..." (Raikage) "Aaah?!" (Rei) The clones went right through him as I was thrown in the air. I, somewhat painfully, ended up in the very same spot I started in "...as are you" (Raikage) "30 seconds!" (Mabui) Damn it, time is running out. I have to hurry "Arrgh, figures this would happen" (Rei) "It can be useful for a diversion but...the clone technique only creates illusions of you. It''s not like the ''Kage Bunshin no Jutsu''3Shadow Clone Jutsuwhich makes real physical clones" (Raikage) Right, this body is still far to young for that Jutsu. I don''t have enough chakra to make those yet. "I know you''re at a huge disadvantage, but I would think the one at the top of his class would do better than this. Even my apprentice managed to succeed at this test" (Raikage) Seriously?! A kid managed to beat this test?! There are too many damn geniuses in this world! "Haaaaah" (Rei) Lamenting at my struggle, the smoke in surrounding him began to drop "Hah...Hah...Hah..." (Rei) "What the? Are you already out of breath? Disappointing Rei!" (Raikage) "Rei..." (Mabui) "Heh..." (Rei) "?" (Raikage & Mabui) "Heh...hehe...hehehehe" (Rei) "...What''s so funny?" (Raikage) "Hehe...sorry...it''s just that your absolutely right..." (Rei) "...What?" (Raikage) "...they really DO make for a good diversion" (Rei) "Huh?" (Raikage) I charged at him one last time "Haah!" (Rei) "Charging at me again...alright...I''ve seen enough" (Raikage) "Ooof?!" (Rei) "Ah!" (Mabui) "This fight is over" (Raikage) The Raikage hit me on the chest with an open palm, blowing me away. Nee-san moved towards me to check on my condition. As I was about to lose consciousness, I muttered my last words for the day "Heh...getting you away from the flat stone...doesn''t necessarily mean...I have to move YOU now does it? Ya...damn...old...monster..." (Rei) "Times up!" (Mabui) "What?" (Raikage) Before he could realize what Rei meant, a kindling sound could be heard from below him. As he looked down, he noticed what appeared to be a burnt match smoking "?! YOU!" (Raikage) BOOM! The bottom of the Raikage was engulfed in a small explosion "Ah! Raikage-sama!" (Mabui) Coughing from the smoke "Gak! Ugh! That''s an awful taste. I''m fine Mabui...this kid is crazy..." (Raikage) Emerging from the small explosion completely unscathed, the Raikage began wiping the dust off of him "I knew you would be fine sir, but that''s not why I yelled..." (Mabui) "Hm? What wrong? Ah! Did I hit him too hard?! (Raikage) "No...he''s fine...but sir...look" (Mabui) "?" (Raikage) As he looked down towards the direction Mabui was pointing at, he was met with surprise. The flat stone he was standing on was completely destroyed! "...Well I''ll be damned..." (Raikage) The Raikage thought about Rei''s last words before he passed out "He decided not to move you away from the flat stone, but rather the flat stone away from you. But how did he cause that explosion?" (Mabui) "...It was the smoke bomb." (Raikage) "Huh?" (Mabui) "I noticed earlier that the smoke was unusually grey for a standard smoke bomb. Most likely Rei had added in some explosive elements to it like some explosive powder or incendiary gas. He then used this to ignite it..." (Raikage) The Raikage displayed a burnt object in his hand "That''s! What I had used earlier to cook..." (Mabui) "Ah, so this was the matchstick you used to ignite your stove...I was wondering where he got it from" (Raikage) Shocked, Mabui looked back at an unconscious Rei "But that means...this whole time Rei was..." (Mabui) "He played me from the start. All the times I thought he was being rash when he charged at me was nothing but misdirection. To his frontal assault, the clones, what I thought was just a smoke bomb, even his reckless demeanor in response to my taunts...were merely just the means to hide what he was really up to." (Raikage) "..." (Mabui) "Putting it step by step and I completely fell for it...hook, line, and sinker..." (Raikage) "This...this is simply..." (Mabui) A wide grin emerged from the Raikage''s face "Ha...haha! Magnificent!" (Raikage) "?!" (Mabui) "Mabui! Remember when I said my apprentice passed this little test of mine?" (Raikage) "Yes?" (Mabui) "Well I left out a minor detail." (Raikage) "Hm?" "My student Darui is older than Rei and..." (Raikage) "and?" (Mabui) "...I gave him 10 minutes" (Raikage) "?!" (Mabui) "And yet Rei managed to accomplish the same feat in one" (Raikage) Mabui was shocked as she looked at a passed out Rei in her arms, realizing that the personal student of the Raikage himself could not hold a candle to him "Even when pushed into a corner, met with impossible odds, this child continued to strive forward without even considering the possibility of defeat. Such an attitude is worthy of respect from even the greatest of Shinobi. Hehe" (Mabui) The Raikage began walking towards the exit of the backyard "Raikage-sama?" (Mabui) "Mabui! You''ve hardly been able to spend any time with him recently. I''m ordering you to take the month off, and I won''t allow you to challenge my decision" (Raikage) "Wha?!" (Mabui) "Also, when Rei wakes up, give him my thanks" (Raikage) "Thanks?" (Mabui) "...What I had thought I lost...has now been returned to me...thanks to him..." (Raikage) "Lord Third..." (Mabui) "And thanks for the food, you''re cooking skill is at the housewife level! HAHAHA!" (Raikage) "..." (Mabui) The Raikage had left, leaving Mabui at a loss for words. Taking Rei to bed, she cleaned up the kitchen before turning in herself. Still unable to find meaning in the Raikage''s actions tonight, she drifted off to sleep 15. The Struggling Few On the South eastern border of Kumogakure resided a neighborhood that clearly exuded it''s wealth. This area belonged to a clan that had loyally served the village since its founding. In one of these beautiful houses, a young man was humming as he tended to his personal garden. He carried a joyful conduct while breathing in the aroma surrounding him "Looks like the jasmine and spearmint are coming along nicely. It should only be a matter of time before they begin to sprout" The garden could only be described as one that was ''truly cared for with love'' by the humming child "Hm...Hm...Hm..." "...I see you''re still preoccupied with this ''hobby'' of yours." "Oh! F-father..." "If you have time to raise plants, you should be focusing on training to better yourself as a ninja" "Y-yes...you''re right" The boys expression quickly changed from happy to timid with the arrival of his father "You are aware that the Academy has limited spots for graduation, are you not?" "I am aware Father" "Are you also aware that even some of the most talented students have trained constantly and STILL fail to acquire a spot?" "I know" "And yet you waste your time with this..." "..." "...Look, I''m not reprimanding you or anything it''s just...you''re going to be a real shinobi soon right?" "Yes" "Then you should find a more productive way to spend your time. Wasn''t my brother supposed to train with you today?" "He was called back to the ''front'', when you were gone. And I had already planned to meet someone today, I was just doing some last minute watering before I left" "The war has been worse lately, more and more of us are being made to answer the call. Someday, you too will have to carry this burden" "Yes...Father. I understand" "I would certainly hope that you do. As a member of this clan, our home and its people depend on it" Clang! Clang! Before the father and son could continue, an alarming noise resounded from outside their home "Damn it, there''s trouble at the border again. I thought Moroi and the barrier team handled it yesterday. You go on ahead to your ''meeting'', we''ll continue this discussion later" "R-right" As the young man left he began to contemplate "I do understand Father, it''s you who doesn''t understand me..." ??? In a more impoverished part of town dwelled a small home. Its only resident, a young girl with a melancholy look in her eyes. The girl was on her knees in front of a household memorial shrine1https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Butsudan . In front of the altar, she began burning incense sticks while praying. "...There''s no need to worry, I''m fine. I''ve been preparing for this my entire life. My resolve was forged a long time ago" Thump, thump...Someone had knocked on her door. Opening it, a tall figure stood in front of her with a box in his hand "Can I help you?" "Oh! Um...uh...young lady...are...are your parents home?" "No...it''s just me. But I can take that delivery" "G-great! Please take it!" "Do I need to sign-" "Uh...no! There''s no need for that!" "Are you sure? Because I can-" "NO! I mean...that won''t be necessary. I was just tasked with making sure it was delivered and now I have" Before anything else could be said, the delivery man ran away with all his might before muttering "Man, why is my luck so bad. To have my first assigned delivery of the day be to a member of THAT family is more than I can handle" The young child looked at the fleeting man with a disappointed expression before returning inside. Opening the package, she found sets of uncooked food provided for her with a note stating it was sent on behalf of the Kumogakure government "He could''ve just left the package by the door. There was no need to make a scene and run off like that" This girl possessed the misfortune of being born in the wrong family, such reactions from others were pretty common. Putting the items away, she returned to the shrine "Slowly but surely, I''m getting there mother. Just two more years...and then...I can finally begin to cleanse the past. Only at that time will I be free...only at that time will I truly have peace..." Despite the way she was forced to live, she did not hate anyone in the village for it. Simply believing this was just another trial on the path called "Life" "You have to fight through the bad days to receive the best ones. Nothing is ever truly free in this world..." ??? Towards the center of village was quite the sizeable house. It stood next to many government buildings. Inside was a young boy, who in his anger, made a mess of his room. "Argh! Damn it! No matter what I do, there''s been no change! That annoying girl is just mocking me!" Tiring himself out, he left his room only to run into a tall man with dark eyes and lines underneath them, black hair and a goatee. He wore an older-styled Kumo flak jacket that had thick shoulder pads. His head was bandaged and his forehead protector covered his right eye. "Uncle?!" "Hey nephew" "What are you doing here? Weren''t you suppose to be away to coordinate on the battlefield" "I was...but new orders came in" "New orders...no way...don''t tell me we''re going to?!" "No, nothing so extreme. I can''t tell you, but it''s nothing you should worry about" "O-okay..." "But enough about me, what''s going on with you. I could hear the noise from here. Just what happened anyway? Did someone do something to you at the academy?" "There''s this little flea that has infested my class, doing everything she can to disrespect me..." The uncle frowned as he looked towards the nephew''s room, then back at him "Wrecking your own room won''t solve your problems" "Yes" "You think your father would do such things if he were still alive?" "...No" The young man seemed disheartened "...I am head ninja, which means someday YOU will be head ninja. As one who comes from such a noble background, you shouldn''t waste your time with such meaningless acts like destroying your room when faced with a problem" "...T-then...what should I do. This person is standing in the way of reaching the top of my class" The uncle approached the boy, got down on bended knee and put his hands on the nephew''s shoulders "The answer is simple. When it comes to this person who is standing in your way you should..." "?" As he continued, the uncle expression turned into a wicked smile "...COMPLETELY AND UTTERLY DESTROY THEM!" "?! You mean destroy their school life?" "NO! THAT''S TOO EASY, I MEANT DESTROY THEIR LIVES! LET THEM BE AN EXAMPLE TO ANY FOOL WHO DARES TO STAND IN YOUR WAY!" "...!" "Dear nephew...we are the elite of the elite. This family has paved the way to some of Kumogakure''s greatest achievements. Our noble status is not be trifled with by any random piece of trash that shows up" "Elite of the elite" "Yes! You''re parents sacrificed their lives for this village. I too have given my right eye for this village. The respect to our family is owed by everyone in this village" Before he could continue further, steps could be heard from outside "Looks like I won''t be staying the night. I have to go now, but remember what I said!" "Yes uncle!" As the man left the house he was approached by men in masks "Sir...you''re needed" "I assume it''s about the new ''network'' being established right?" "Yes. The elders request your presence" "Haah...fine. And just when I thought I could have some time with my nephew. Let''s go!" The men left while the boy returned to clean up his room "Uncle is right, destroying MY things won''t help me. I should focus on crushing that little bitch and anyone else who gets in my way. Let''s start by investigating her background..." Chuckling under his breath, the boys expression was as twisted as his uncle''s 16. Second Year After waking up the next day from my ''fight'' with the Raikage, nee-san smacked me sideways and ranted about me blowing up the backyard. For punishment, I''m being made to spend the majority of my time doing yard work as the days went by. To alleviate my boredom, I called Tai over to give him an analysis about the explosives he gave me. They were originally just an idea he came up with and neither of us had an opportunity to test them, so he was very interested in what I had to say. After months of training this body is now 5 years old Our second year had begun a while ago and we''re moving with incredible haste as the days fly on by. Osoi moved us into a new room that was more akin to a small gymnasium. There were no desks, boards, or even chairs. With white circles drawn all over the floor and target dummies by the wall, this was a perfect place to train. "Ok then! Over the last year, apart from some basic exercise, you have spent most of your time in lectures and books. Now it is the time for a more hands on approach!" (Osoi) About damn time if you ask me "In this room, you''ll be practicing various jutsu at the behest of me, or any other teacher I decide to bring to the classroom. And ONLY when a teacher is present." (Osoi) Osoi walked towards the center of the room as he gestured to the white circles on the ground "These white circles are what most of you have already guessed. They''re for sparring with your fellow students, however you''re only allowed to use Taijutsu! Ninjutsu and Genjutsu1Illusionary Techniques are not allowed. Anyone who breaks this rule will be severely punished!" (Osoi) "Sensei!" (???) "Yes?" (Osoi) Ah...it''s that guy. The one who called to Osoi just now was named Sekiei. The very same kid Suzu bumped into on the first day of school. As I recall, she also kicked his ass in front of everyone too "You just said we can finally practice jutsu, so why is Taijutsu only allowed?" (Sekiei) "Taijutsu is only allowed in the sparring circles, you''re free to practice jutsu on those training dummies over there. But it''s just not safe, or morally acceptable, to allow children as young as yourselves to use jutsu against one another" (Osoi) That makes sense I guess. Ninjutsu is pretty much a loaded gun given to us by aliens. It''s not like you can just take two children and sit back as they fire at each other "As for the schedule this year, we''ll begin with practicing the basic general skills of Ninjutsu like transformation and using chakra to climb surfaces without your hands. These skills will shape the foundation for more advanced techniques and how well you exercise them will determine just how you perform in the future. We''ll also be working with ninja tools as well, but as I said, you''re only allowed to do this when a teacher is present" (Osoi) "What if we break something?" "No need to worry, the entire school was designed for battle. Plus, all damages are covered by Kumogakure so there''s no need to hold back!" (Osoi) The more I hear about this year, the more I wish we had done it sooner "Now lets start the day with some standard combat. Grab a partner, enter a circle, and start fighting!" (Osoi) Everyone in class began moving in different spots, hoping to find an opponent that wouldn''t be too difficult for them "Hey Tai..." (Rei) "Nope" (Tai) "I didn''t say anything yet" (Rei) "I know what you were gonna say...and the answer is no. I''m trying to pass too remember?" (Tai) That''s fair "Don''t worry, you''re the top of class. Someone will find you. I, on the other hand, am going to help myself to some easy competition. Yo! Nemui! Lets goooo!" (Tai) "Eh?! But Tai... I''m not ready ye-!" (Nemui) "No time like the present! Come on!" (Tai) "Nooooooo!" (Nemui) I was almost flabbergasted at how fast Tai ditched me as he dragged another student away "Whatever...I''ll just wait in this circle for someone to come to me" (Rei) But to my surprise, no one wanted to approach me. "...I guess they''re worried about looking bad if they lose to me in a fight. I almost forgot that our every move is being monitored to make a better assessment of our abilities" (Rei) No one wants risk getting their overall score down and derail the chances of graduating "Guess I''ll just practice by myself for-" (Rei) "I''d like to spar with you" (???) Oh? Someone has some...balls? "What?" (???) To my surprise, it was Suzu. Getting up and taking a fighting stance I happily obliged her "Let''s spar" (Rei) "..." (Suzu) As he observed them, Osoi began advising each of the students "Watch your footing! You! Hurry up and get out of that hold! Hey, your movements are too wasteful!" (Osoi) "Right!" "Yes sir!" Hmmm, most of them are pretty average, still... "Huya!" "Oomph?!" ...There are a couple of surprises "Oh! Sorry Tai!" (Nemui) "Ow! Damn man, when the hell did you get so tough?!" (Tai) Never would have thought Nemui would be doing better than Tai, who comes from THAT clan. As for over here... "Hahaha, come on! Can''t you do better than that?!" (Sekiei) "Hah! Bet you wouldn''t be taking that tone if you were fighting Suzu!" "You! That''s it! Now you''ve asked for it!" (Sekiei) "Oh crap, Gah!" Haaaah...I wish he would do something about that arrogance of his. That''s what happened when you grow up spoiled. But speaking of Suzu, where is she anyway? "Hm? Oh!" (Osoi) "Hah!" (Suzu) "Hmph!" (Rei) Oh my...wow! These two are wonderful! I already knew Suzu was talented, but considering our first year was mostly spent in front of a blackboard I had yet to confirm Rei''s physical skills even when he was at the top of the class "Huh? Whoa...hey! Check that out!" "Hm? What the?!" "Wow" "And that''s exactly why I didn''t want to fight either of them" (Tai) "Cheh! They''re not that great!" (Sekiei) Oh yes...yes they are! But the most surprising thing is Rei. Suzu seems to be going all out but Rei doesn''t seem tired at all Frustrated she wasn''t making any progress, Suzu launched a wide roundhouse kick with her left foot, hoping to knock him off balance but... "Yah!" (Suzu) "That was a mistake" (Rei) "...!" (Suzu) ...Rei saw right through her as he dropped down and delivered a low kick to her right ankle, causing her to fall to the ground "Kuh!" (Suzu) "Looks like we''re done" (Rei) "Not even close!" (Suzu) "Tell that to him" (Rei) "?" (Suzu) Suzu looked towards the direction Rei was pointing at to see Osoi stopping the ongoing matches "...Damn" (Suzu) "Alright! That''s enough warm-up for today. Let''s move on to practicing new jutsu! Everyone sit down over there and watch as I demonstrate!" (Osoi) As everyone left the sparring area, Osoi muttered under his breath thinking no one could here him... "...Rei...to be able to fight at that level despite being the youngest of the class..." (Osoi) "! Any obstacle in my way will be...removed" ...but he was wrong 17. A Village In Shock MrProper As the class sat in place eagerly waiting, Osoi suddenly appeared out of thin air "Whoa!" "So fast!" "Haha! Yup! You know when you see a ninja suddenly vanish in a puff of smoke or something? It means they''re probably using this general skill. Many, like our Raikage-sama, are notorious for specializing in the ''Shunshin no Jutsu''1Teleportation Jutsu. Now, can anyone tell me the alternate name for this Jutsu?" (Osoi) "The ''Body Flicker Technique'' right?" (Tai) "Correct Tai! And can anyone tell us why this technique has an alternate name?" (Osoi) In a foul mood, Rei answered "To avoid confusion with Space-time Ninjutsu" (Rei) "That right!" (Osoi) F*cking better be right. Why the bad mood you wonder? The answer is a whole bunch of bullshit A few days ago, I began researching in the academy library. The librarian wasn''t there, but I was too impatient to wait. Thinking Space-time Ninjutsu would be a useful skill, I spent god knows how many hours studying. Making the mistake of mismatching the names, I wasted time studying this technique rather than actual Space-time Jutsu And the icing on this F*ck you cake...was the damn librarian finally showing up to tell me the only thing they had on Space-time Ninjutsu was the ''Kuchiyose no Jutsu''2Summoning Technique! "The reason why the name is changed is because space-time ninjutsu tends to get mixed with this Jutsu, as it creates the illusion of the user by instantly moving from one place to another. The technique is just high speed movement, whereas spaceCtime ninjutsu actually transports the user through space. ''Body Flicker'' seemed to be a more appropriate title than ''Teleportation''. So be careful not to confuse one for the other!" (Osoi) Well no shit Sherlock! "So...can any of you tell me which Jutsu is derived the most from this one?" (Osoi) "...The ''Kawarimi no Jutsu''3Substitution Jutsu?" "Yes! That''s the Jutsu you''re going to be learning today! To pull off a proper substitution, you''re going to need great speed in order to fool opponents as this technique only works at the last second before being attacked. It''s also why you''ll practice the ''Body Flicker Jutsu'' before trying this one. If the timing is off by even a little, your enemy will sense it. Remember! While this is a general skill, it has decided the difference between victory and defeat in many ninja battles throughout history!" (Osoi) Osoi took the class outside to a small grassy field and had all of us line up side by side. "You''re going to use the ''Body Flicker Jutsu'' to move from one end of the field, to the other" (Osoi) Taking out two signs, he posted them on both sides of the field "You will repeat this act until you perform a proper utilization of this skill" (Osoi) "Sensei! What do you mean by ''proper''? Is there a bad way to use this?" "Why don''t I show you instead? Hmph!" (Osoi) Osoi performed the Jutsu again, but this time it was far louder and the ground was crushed underneath him "...!" "That''s the bad way to use this technique. When you use this skill correctly, is should be as if you are fading away from sight, leaving no trace of your presence. If you''re chakra control is bad, you''ll move in a sloppy manner even if you do reach your destination" (Osoi) Gesturing to the field "Your goal is moving from one end of this field and back with this technique. Without destroying the ground you''re standing on. Now...Begin!" (Osoi) The students immediately began practicing "Remember to control your chakra! This skill simply uses chakra to temporarily vitalize the body and move at extreme speeds. The amount of chakra used determines the overall distance between you and your destination" (Osoi) "Hah!" (Rei) After trying myself... "Oh!" (Osoi) ...I nailed it on the first try. Makes sense considering chakra control is the only thing I''ve got going for me. I''ve pretty much mastered all the basic E-Rank Jutsu there is at home. School just provides me more opportunities to practice them. My only issue is still the weak reserves of chakra this body has. I know I''m just a kid, but after a year there''s barely been any progress in that area "Not bad Rei" (Osoi) "..." (Rei) After hearing news of Naruto''s dad Minato becoming the Fourth Hokage, I realized that it would barely be a year before Naruto is born. Understanding that I am running out of time, I''ve been getting a little restless lately and its been causing me stress. Plus the guide hasn''t answered me when I call out to it recently As time went by, everyone began to improve. Regardless of my success, I continued to practice with the hope of increasing my control to lower the amount of chakra needed for this skill "Alright, looks like most of you have got the basics down. We can now move on to the Substitu-" (Osoi) Osoi was getting ready to move on to the next step when suddenly another ninja showed up and whispered in his ear. "What?! Are you sure?!" (Osoi) "Yes, everyone is mobilizing" "...Damn it...how...how could this..." (Osoi) "..." "...Alright...I understand...I''ll take care of things here" (Osoi) I couldn''t hear what they were saying but the ninja left as Osoi walked towards us. Everyone could tell something was wrong by the look on his face "...Everyone...due to some unforeseen events classes will be canceled today!" (Osoi) "?!" (All of the students) "..." (Rei) "Listen to me very carefully! You are all to immediately head straight to your homes! No distractions, stops, or detours!" (Osoi) "But Sense-" "QUIET! I won''t accept any dispute on this matter! That is all...NOW GO!" (Osoi) Before any of us could even notice, he was gone. The group then scattered in a hurry, leaving the school "Rei! What do you think is hap-" (Tai) "Just head home Tai. I''ll see you later" (Rei) "!" (Tai) Parting ways with the class, I bolted towards my home at top speed. Making it to my house, I noticed Mabui wasn''t here "What could be the problem? As far as I know Naruto isn''t even born yet. What event is taking place right now?" (Rei) After pondering for about an hour, Mabui had opened the door with a distraught look on her face "Nee-san? What''s wro-!" (Rei) Not letting me finish my question, she suddenly hugged me "..." (Mabui) "What''s wrong?" (Rei) "...Rei...the war is now officially over" (Mabui) Why is she making such a big deal out of it? In the recent days, everyone pretty much knew it was coming already. Hell, most of the villages to the west had already pulled out of the conflict "It''s just something terrible has happened..." (Mabui) Huh? What other event could be happening at this time?! "What...what is it? Tell me" (Rei) After a long pause, she let go of Rei and with watery eyes she said... "Lord Third...has passed away..." 18. First Memory On a warm summer day, a young child sat in the back seat of car, his parents debating in the front "...I''m just saying Amelia, now might not be the best time to go on this trip" "So you want to delay it yet again" "You know that''s not what I want, it''s just things have finally gotten better for us lately. We finally moved out of that old deathtrap of an apartment, and I''ve settled in at my job quite nicely. I just don''t want to jeopardize everything we gained recently" "...Do they just run your entire life at that place?" The mother''s tone began to sharpen, the boy became nervous as the mood began to tense "Really? You can''t be a little more mature than that?" "Considering how much you''ve been gone, I think it was a legitimate question" "Don''t over exaggerate, you make it sound like I''ve been in another country" "You might as well have been! We moved here because you promised me...no...us! You promised us things would be different!" "They are! We''re no longer constantly moving around like nomads as I move from job to job!" The debate turned into a full blown fight, the child put on some earphones hoping music would drown out the yelling "Look, I was the one who said we were gonna have this trip" "And when were we going to have this trip? Please tell me, when will you''re schedule allow you to spend some time with your son?" "That''s not what I meant and you know it! My work is..." "Important. I know, you''ve told us all about your little ''Ambient Energy'' project" "Then you should understand why we have sacrificed so much. Did you know we had a breakthrough recently. Our first successful test!" "...!" "I was gonna tell you when we got to the camping site" "You...got it to work?" "Yes! Do you know what this means...to the world?" "..." "Amelia...we can literally help...no...save millions! If not billions!" The father wore an elated expression as he boasted about his work thinking his wife would understand "? What is it?" "...And how long will it take until you ''save'' the world?" "..." "I''m not telling you to stop, but I don''t understand why you simply can''t take a few days off to spend time with your family" "...As usual, it''s like screaming into the void with you" "With me?!" "Yes! With you!" "Amazing...you are absolutely incapable of putting aside your pride for even one damn minute" The young man tried raising the volume of the music to drown out the fighting, but to no avail "Wooow. I present the potential key to limitless clean energy, something the world desperately needs, and you respond with a smart-ass insult?!" "Doesn''t make it any less true!" "Pride...that''s what you''re calling it?!" "Yes!" Shut up "Is this trip really that big of a deal to you!" "The fact that you can even say those words shows how out of touch you truly are!" "Out of touch with what?!" "Your family you idiot! The trip doesn''t matter, the child in the back seat does!" Shut up "Don''t use him to get what you want!" "Use him! He''s not some tool like the ones at your lab! My God, Marie was right about you" "Amazing. Even when she''s not here your sister somehow manages to have some say at how we live our lives" "Well you might wanna listen considering her husband can take a damn hint and knows family is what''s truly important" Shut up, Shut up, Shut up "I don''t know family is important?! Does your sister put a roof over your head?! Provide food on the table?! Keep you and our son healthy?! I don''t think so!" "Again pride, you aren''t the only working parent you idiot!" "You know Amelia, it''s funny how you can bring up your sister''s family and talk about how much they ''care'' for each other. Especially when you we all know Marie and Brian didn''t even want to marry each other in the first place!" "You!" Shut up, Shut up, Shut up, Shut up, Shut up! "They had a thing in high school. It was cute...but they made the mistake of not having protection and BAAM! BABY ON BOARD!" "Their marriage...!" "Their marriage was a hastily made decision because they were, like the song, ''Young, dumb, and broke''!" "Now''s whose being a smart-ass?! If you keep talking about my sister I''ll...!" "YOU''LL WHAT?!" Unable to take it anymore the boy screamed "SHUT UP!!!" "!" "...!" "WHY?!!!! ONE DAY!!!" "..." "Son I..." "JUST ONE DAY!! THAT''S ALL I WANTED!!" "No...it''s not...!" "We''re just..." "I DON''T CARE ANYMORE!!!! I WISH YOU WOULD JUST DIE!!!!" "Raymond I''m sorry...we''re only...GRANT!! CAR!!" "Huh?! AH!!! CRASH!!! "Gah!" In a faint room, a boy awoke from his slumber "Goddamn it...why the hell did I have to have that kind of dream today of all days" 19. The Letter System MrProper It''s been a month since the funeral of the 3rd Raikage. The end of war has officially been acknowledged by all five great nations. Shinobi are being called back home and the Third''s son has stepped up to take his place as the 4th Raikage. Everyone was crying their eyes out, Mabui was worried about me even when I told her I was fine. The only depressing thing about this funeral was the ''4th''. This 6''5", grown-ass, behemoth of a man was crying his eyes out like a little girl before punching a hole in the wall and leaving. And if you look through it, you can see a trail of broken walls leading to the outside. Riiiiiight...I forgot, in the comic, he had this kinda hobby. Let''s make a mental note to never invite him to my house After the funeral, the Third''s apprentice called Darui, gave me a scroll with a Sealing Jutsu placed on it "It was by his will that this scroll be delivered to you. I don''t know what''s inside but the will stated that it''s his means of upholding the ''bargain'' between you two. As for the seal on it, I believe it''s a means of confirming you''re ready. You must be the one to open it and no one else..." is what he says I had almost forgotten that he promised to teach me Jutsu when I passed his little ''test''. But when I tried opening the scroll, I realized that it was built like a set of locks. Requiring even more fine tuned chakra control with each lock Darui mentioned this scroll was created by the 1st Raikage and that the 3rd had only managed to open two of them "Ngh...wow, that''s difficult. The way I am now, I can''t even open the first lock. It''ll be some time before I can open all four of them" (Rei) School lessons continued on into our third year and I definitely wasn''t happy after a newspaper with a certain article came to my doorstep "The 4th Hokage has died!" Yup, Minato Namikaze is dead which means his son (and main character) Naruto is now officially in the story. In addition to that, I''m still what most would consider to be an extra Listening to Osoi''s lecture "...and that''s how you perform the ''Fny no Jutsu''1Enclosing Jutsu! This common sealing Jutsu can put anything into a scroll. Whether it''s a shuriken, food, or even people! Everyone uses it!" (Osoi) While he was lecturing, a man entered the classroom "Ah! Just in time!" (Osoi) At the academy, Osoi had invited a new teacher to lecture us. A 64 year old Kumo Jonin named Rashii. He was an old looking man with long, grey hair and a bushy moustache. "I need you all to pay attention! Today we''re going to go over a vital system that''s been around since the founding of our village! To emphasize it''s importance, I''ve invited a very wise Jonin to explain" (Osoi) "Hello everyone, my name is Rashii and I''ll be lecturing you on Kumogakure''s Letter System" (Rashii) "This man is a treasure trove of knowledge and information so be sure to pay attention!" (Osoi) I had a treasure trove of knowledge and information that was supposed to ''guide'' me on this little adventure but instead...the asshole ditched me "Letter System?" "Yes, as some of you may have noticed, there are several ninja in our village who use a ''Letter'' as their name. These letters are only assigned to certain individuals that have met a certain requirement" (Rashii) "What requirement?" "Being the elite of the elite! ''Letters'' have been awarded to those who distinguish themselves in service to our village. This practice has been around since the era of the First Raikage. It is for this reason that all of the previous and current Raikage have the letter ''A'' as their names" (Rashii) Oh yeah...didn''t that old doctor who tried to save my ''father'' Keido have the name ''C''? Though I heard he died around the end of the war "Our Jinchriki2Power of Human Sacrifice guardians of Kumogakure have always become the ''brother'' of the Raikage and held the letter ''B'' as a representation of our leader''s strength" (Rashii) "Oooh!" "So cool" Well...If you look past the mistreatment, discrimination, experimentation, and having a chakra monster put inside of you. Yeah...it''s soooooo cool "Rashii-sensei, does that mean even we can gain one?" "...There are two ways to receive a ''letter''. Performing venerable acts for the village...or...a ''letter'' bearer handing theirs to you. But remember...there are only twenty-six of them so getting one is incredibly tough. Most shinobi like myself go through our entire lives without getting one. But I promise if you do, the rewards for being a member of our greatest shinobi will not disappoint you!" (Rashii) Everyone became excited when hearing this, many of them determined to get one Making a weird grin, Sekiei raised his hand "Rashii-sensei!" (Sekiei) "Yes?" (Rashii) "So anyone can become one regardless of their status?" (Sekiei) "Yes, this system has been around since forever. You can get one no matter who you are" (Rashii) "So...is it true that Kumogakure''s ''Kin-Gin Brothers''3Gold and Silver Brothersalso received such a title?" (Sekiei) The room suddenly went quiet, everyone had an awkward look "Sekiei! You oughta to know better than to talk about those traitorous shinobi!" (Osoi) "I''m sorry sensei. I was just curious..." (Sekiei) "..." (Suzu) Tai whispered to me "Humph! ''Just curious'' my ass...he clearly did that on purpose" (Tai) "What''s he doing?" (Rei) "I don''t know...but I don''t like it..." (Tai) Clapping his hands "Now, now...no need to get all upset Osoi-sensei. Curiosity means you''re invested and that''s good" (Rashii) "...Of course senpai4Honorific to identify an elder colleague or upperclassmen" (Osoi) "While it''s true they applied for it, they never received it. Even when they were loyal to the village, they acted with great conceit" (Rashii) "Okay...thank you sensei" (Sekiei) "My pleasure. Now moving on to more of our history, let''s begin with the first assembly of the five..."(Rashii) While Rashii was talking, I glanced at a smirking Sekiei to find out what he''s been up to. It was then I noticed that he was looking at Suzu, who for some reason was trembling with a terrified look on her face I was a bit astonished so see such a look on her of all people Whispering to myself "What in the hell is wrong with her?" (Rei) [Maybe she ate something bad] ^*@$?! HOLY SHIT! I ALMOST SCREAMED!! Gesturing to Osoi, I asked for permission to go to the bathroom "Make it quick Rei" (Osoi) "Of course" (Rei) Making it the bathroom, I checked to see if anyone was inside, then locked the door "WHAT THE HELL?!" (Rei) [Sup Bitch!] "WHERE IN THE HELL HAVE YOU BEEN?!" (Rei) [Getting in shape] "Getting in shape..." (Rei) [Yup, by the way...good work] "What?" (Rei) [I see you''ve been doing you''re best at training. The original ''Rei'' doesn''t hold a candle to you!] "And yet at the rate I''m progressing, compared to the main cast, I''m nothing!" (Rei) [Really?] "Even as a child, I can already tell this body won''t become strong!" (Rei) [It''s that bad?] "Yes, it''s that bad" (Rei) [...] "Guide?" (Rei) [Even compared to the pink thot?] "Pink tho-...oh...yes...even compared to Sakura. Ugh" (Rei) [Aw, well that''s embarrassing] "Maybe if you could do your damn job and not leave me hanging all the time...THINGS WOULD BE GOING BETTER!" (Rei) [But I have been doing my job?] "Oh really?! And how''s that?! (Rei) [By getting prepped for your first Lifeline] "?! You were...wait...how did you know I wanted to use my first Lifeline?!" (Rei) [Of course I know. I''m your guide after all. I always know what you need to know] "Huh? You ''always know what I need to know''? What does that mean?" (Rei) [It means what it means] Right...it''s been gone so long that I''d forgotten how much of a secretive dick it can be "Alright, answer my first question then" (Rei) [Tch tch tch. That won''t work Rei, you have to formally acknowledge using a Lifeline or I can''t answer. You know the rules...] "..." (Rei) [Any information that''s not from the comic, novels, data books, or anime will cost you a Lifeline] "Haaaah" (Rei) [Remember. Lifelines don''t just give you information, they make sure you''ll complete your task] "I know..." (Rei) [Come on...say the words] "Fine. Guide! I want to use a Lifeline!" (Rei) [...CONFIRMED...] [...NOW INITIATING LIFELINE CLIENT REQUEST...] 20. The First Lifeline "What in the?!" (Rei) [...INVALID...] [...PLEASE MAKE A REQUEST...] For whatever reason...the guide''s voice completely changed into something akin to a machine "What''s going on with you?" (Rei) [...INVALID...] [...PLEASE MAKE A REQUEST...] "...Hm" (Rei) [...INVALID...] [...PLEASE MAKE A REQUEST...] ...I guess I can only ask questions regarding the story, and not about the guide But I need to be careful with how I phrase it, I only have five lifelines. Maybe I should ask for help with getting stronger than the story antagonist group "Akatsuki"... "..." (Rei) ...No...that''s not nearly enough. Those guys were just pawns anyway. The true enemies of this story are the original creators of chakra, the "Otsutsuki Clan". And whatever else pops out now that my ''presence'' in this world will change things "Okay. Um...Give me the means to survive anything this world can throw at me!" (Rei) [...REQUEST CONFIRMED...] "Alright!" (Rei) [...PROCESSING...] [...ERROR...] "Huh?" (Rei) [...CLIENT DOES NOT MEET REQUIREMENTS YET...] "Eh! What do you mean I don''t meet the ''requirements'' yet?!" (Rei) [...UNABLE TO RUN REQUEST...] [...SWITCHING TO STANDBY...] "Wait! J-just hold on a sec!" (Rei) There was no response "Hello! HELLO! GUIDE! WHERE ARE YOU?!" (Rei) Nothing but silence Seriously...I was bailed on again? ...For real? ...ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! "...Oh...well that''s just f*cking beautiful! I can''t believe I just wasted one of my lifelines for this bullshit!" (Rei) "Aaaaaah why?! Why is this happening?! Just when I thought things were finally going to turn around! That''s just my luck!" (Rei) ... "Ok...let''s calm down for now and recap. I used my lifeline, the guide''s voice and entire personality changed, and when I made the request it said ''Client does not meet the requirements yet''...right...uh-huh...yeah...none of this makes sense...argh!" (Rei) "I knew this body sucked...but I didn''t think it was this shitty!" (Rei) Overcome with frustration Rei punched the bathroom mirror in front of him until his fist bled "Hah...Damn it...why?" (Rei) ''Does not meet the requirements yet''...the hell is that...why don''t I... ... ...Huh?...Wait... "...Could it be?" (Rei) Does not meet the requirements yet... Meet the requirements yet... Requirements yet... "YET!!!!" (Rei) Does not meet the requirements yet! The guide said Lifelines don''t just give me information, they''re supposed to ensure I can complete my task. But if you take into account my young age and weak body, the guide must have deemed that it''s impossible for me accomplish...now that is "The guide is probably waiting for the right time I guess. It did say it was on ''standby'' when it left" (Rei) That''s probably why it''s not responding to my calls...it''s still working Rei pulled himself back together before heading towards the exit "There''s nothing I can do about it for now. I''d better head back to class" (Rei) The only thing I can do is improve my meager strength as fast as I can to get the guide back on track The season had entered summer My third year is moving forward, but progress on this body is getting worse. I''m still top of my class...but my class is full of extras. So there''s not a lot of bragging rights going around "I can''t believe I only have one..." (Rei) Last week, we tried identifying which elemental Chakra Natures we had an affinity for. Most people have two or three. I was hoping for something powerful and destructive like ''Katon''1Fire Style Jutsuor ''Raiton''2Lightning Style Jutsu My hopes were dashed as usual when I found out I have no affinity with any element "..." (Rei) HOW?! HOW IS THAT EVEN POSSIBLE?! It''s seems my only hope is practice with non-elemental Jutsu which means: "Yeah I should be fine, it''s not like you need an element to be strong right? I should be...just be..." (Rei) ... OH WHO AM I KIDDING?! I''M COMPLETELY SCREWED!! EVEN MY STATUS AS TOP OF THE EXTRAS AT SCHOOL IS IN DANGER!! "Haaah, I''m doing my best but come on...could someone please just throw me a damn bone" (Rei) "Hm? What''s wrong Rei?" (Mabui) "...It''s nothing nee-san" (Rei) "?" (Mabui) Now that the war is over, Mabui has been back home more. Because of the lack of Jonin (Due to the war) most missions have been put on hold as the village tries to recover. It''s already been announced that I may have to wait before I get a team even if I graduate from the academy. Plus the village just signed the post-war peace treaties a while ago, so there hasn''t been many job offers for ninja Knock Knock "?" (Rei) "I got it Rei" (Mabui) As she opened the front door, the figure of Dodai could be seen "Dodai-san5Honorific for formally addressing someone, equivalent to "Mr." or "Ms."!" (Mabui) "Hello Mabui. Good to see you" (Dodai) "What a pleasant surprise, please come in" (Mabui) "I wish I could but I''m on the clock today. I just came to deliver this and some news" (Dodai) I couldn''t see from my angle but it looked like he handed her some kind of envelope before whispering in her ear "..." (Dodai) "...?! You''re sure?!" (Mabui) "It''s still being confirmed...but I think it''s true. Anyway, I should be off. Be sure to prep your team" (Dodai) "...Understood" (Mabui) After he left, Mabui opened the envelope then put it away after reading it. She had a weird expression on her face that got me curious "Hey nee-san, what''s up?" (Rei) "Well I might as well come out and say it. My team and I have been selected to participate in the ''Chunin Exams'' this year" (Mabui) Oh yeah, they were supposed start back in Spring but it got cancelled because of the war "That''s great, I know you''ll do well. By why do you look so nervous? If you''re worried about me there''s no need. At this point we both know I can take care of myself when you''re gone" (Rei) "I know you can, that''s not why I''m nervous. It''s just that these exams are going to be different. They''re the first collaborated exams in history" (Mabui) "Wait what?" (Rei) "All the ninja villages have hosted their own exams to measure up their shinobi in the past. But now the people on top have decided to make a collaborated one that will host shinobi from all over." (Mabui) "Oh?" (Rei) "The idea was crafted as a sign of solidarity between the villages. However, its true purpose is to grant shinobi villages the opportunity to lure in potential clients by demonstrating our young ninja''s potential" (Mabui) Right...Other villages didn''t work together on the exams until they realized how profitable it could be. "I''m nervous because I''ll be representing our village...not to mention all of the other nations are going to throw they''re best Genin in the competition" (Mabui) Oh...is that what she''s worried about? "Nee-san" (Rei) "Hm?" (Mabui) "Chill" (Rei) "Huh?" (Mabui) "If the top brass picked you, that obviously means they''re confident in your abilities. You''ve already got the letter, so it''s going happen regardless of how you feel right?" (Mabui) "Right..." (Mabui) "Then don''t waste your time worrying about it. Relax" (Rei) And here I thought something important happened. Man, my nerves have been out-of-whack lately "As usual...you''re far too mature for your age. Thanks" (Mabui) "No prob" (Rei) As she moved towards the front door "I''m going out to meet with my team. I''ll probably be home late, so you''ll have to cook your own food!" (Mabui) As she left, I made some tea and took the newspaper on shelf "Let''s see what''s going on in the world today..." (Rei) It''s getting weird at how adjusted I''ve become to living here. "Haah....I should train some more" (Rei) [Why the long face buddy?] "...! You''re back...I was getting tired of waiting" (Rei) [That almost sounds like you missed me] "Not even close. So...what happened?" (Rei) [Hehe...I''ll explain later. But now I have to ask...are you ready?] "You really have to ask?" (Rei) [In this case...yes. I need confirmation before the "other" takes over] "..." (Rei) Takes over? [To fulfill your Lifeline, there are several things you''ll need] "I figured as much" (Rei) [These "items" are things you shouldn''t have a problem acquiring at your current level but...] "But?" (Rei) [The final requirement might be a problem for you as it''s a real gamble] "...Well don''t keep me waiting. What is it?" (Rei) [...] "?" (Rei) [...You have to die...] "...Say what now?" (Rei) 21. Preparation "Alright...I''m guessing there''s some deeper meaning to those words...so why don''t you try again" (Rei) [Right...sorry...what I mean is that you have to die as "Rei"] "Again, you need to be more specific" (Rei) This jerk always tends to be cryptic. But this is my first Lifeline so I''m not putting up with any of its BS this time [Ok...after observing your progress, the "other" has run the numbers and determined that no matter how hard you try, you''ll never be able to reach Naruto''s level] So that''s why it bugged out on me... "Yeah...that''s the impression I was getting. Maybe if someone had put me in a better body I''d be doing better" (Rei) [Hey, you don''t have to become strong to win. I mean come on, you could probably find another way to ensure your survival in the end] "The key word being ''probably'' you dumbass" (Rei) [...Rei''s body is too weak to fulfill your Lifeline request] "That''s not my fault, it''s yours" (Rei) [That''s fair...haaah...So if "Rei" can''t reach a high enough level on his own, that just means you have to "improvise"] "And? How do I do that?" (Rei) [By making a new "Rei"] "Ok...now you''ve lost me" (Rei) [We''re going to completely remake your body] ...the hell? "...I may have several Ph.d''s, and this is a fantasy world, but you''ll forgive me for saying this seems a little farfetched" (Rei) [Why?] "Even if such a massive undertaking were possible, there are still many things that will be difficult, if not outright impossible to retrieve" (Rei) [Such as?] "I''ll need a lab for starters, one far more advanced than what this world''s current level of technology can provide. I''ll also need strong materials to work with, find a way to operate on myself without dying, and somehow do all of this without getting caught" (Rei) [You don''t need to worry about the tools, as they will already be provided for you] "By you?" (Rei) [No, you have to get them] "And where are they?" (Rei) [Oh...here and there] This mother... [Relax. The "other" is making me help you with a "proper" attitude and the "change" I''m undergoing is getting more worse by the second] "...I was wondering why you were being less of a smart-ass than you usually are" (Rei) [I have no authority during ''Lifelines''. This system is in place to ensure proper equilibrium for "Project Illumination"] That name again... "...Fine" (Rei) [Oh? How uncharacteristically cooperative of you] It''s not like I have much of a choice. My only way to live is to complete this little "science project" "Okay...I''m obviously not gonna get what I need here...so it''s safe to assume you''ll have me leave for some time" (Rei) [Sharp like a knife as always] "But how? I know nee-san will be leaving soon for the new ''Chunin Exams'' soon, but my absence from the school will be noticed" (Rei) Yeah, unlike the casual school in Naruto''s hometown Konohagakure, they run things here like a military academy. [Not to worry. When Mabui and the other Kumo Genin head out for the exams, the academy will be closed. These new ''Chunin Exams'' are a big deal, so many things will be closed during that time. And as a bonus, travel in and out of the village we be far more periodic than usual] "Making it easier for me to sneak out" (Rei) [Now you''re getting it] "But what about getting back in? If I have to travel far, it''ll take sometime to get back with a 5 year old body. Mabui could be done and home by then" (Rei) [That has already been solved. Go in her room and open the closet] "..." (Rei) [...I''m not pranking you right now, I''m bound by the rules of the "Lifeline" now. I can''t even beat around the bush] "Fine" (Rei) [...Although I wish I could] I KNEW IT! THIS F*CKING! "Ok I''m inside. What exactly am I looking for?" (Rei) [That little purple scroll to your right. Grab it and enter your room] "...Now what?" [You know what Mabui''s specialty is right?] "Yeah...space-time ninjutsu. She had the achievement of creating the "Tenso no Jutsu". A space-time technique that allows her to transport anything from one location to another at the speed of light. However, the human body is unable to handle the speed involved in the transfer and would end up ripped to shreds as a result" (Rei) Wait...it''s not gonna have me [I can guess what you''re thinking and no...you''ll be using a space-time ninjutsu to get back, but it won''t be that one. Now open the scroll and release what''s been sealed inside] Still a bit a skeptical, I hesitated before opening the scroll and summoning what was inside only to find a giant pot with a tag on it "What''s this for?" (Rei) [It''s your means of getting back home quickly. Can you guess how?] It said I was going to use space-time ninjutsu to get back...the only other one I can think of that "Rei" could use is... "...the ''Reverse Summoning Jutsu'' right?" (Rei) [...Damn...I didn''t think you''d guess right. As expected of a genius I suppose] "Skip the dry flattery and quit wasting time" (Rei) [These pots were used by Mabui for practicing the "Tenso no Jutsu". They have a unique formula that allows them to function like an actual "summoned" animal] So that''s how she mastered this technique ["Summoning" is about teleporting an animal to you, while "Reverse summoning" is like the name states, the exact opposite. However, this jutsu can be used another way as well] "What way?" [After a shinobi has summoned an animal, they can use "Reverse Summoning" to return the animal to the location it came from.] "Like when a normal summoning runs out of time and the animal disappears. Only in this case, you''re forcefully cancelling the summoning and sending them back early. I know this already" (Rei) [Yes, but did you know that a shinobi can accompany the animal when this is done? There are many ways like riding in its mouth, giving the them a method of quick travel] "That''s handy" (Rei) [Indeed. That tag on the pot has a special seal formula on it. When you place it on any surface and insert chakra, a summoning marking will appear. The pot will then be locked on to this location for your "reverse summoning"] "So to lay out this ''plan'' of yours [Correct...and remember, this training pot is a one-off. Once used, the formula inscribed inside the pot that''s connected to seal on the tag designating the return location disappears. The pot will be useless so be careful with it] "...I have to say, I''m really liking this new, sadly temporary, version of you. It''s like you''re actually helpful for once" (Rei) [...Mabui''s Chunin exams start in six days. That will give you plenty of time to prepare for your departure] "Alright...it''s gotten late so I''m going to turn in. Contact me in the morning" (Rei) [...Understood...] Nice! I was on the verge of giving up but now things are starting to seem plausible. The only thing I was concerned with was the method of ''remaking'' my body. Just what in the world is it going to make me do anyway? Tired and unable to grasp the answer, Rei drifted off to sleep 22. The Patriarch’s Thoughts The tsutsuki Clan An ancient clan of parasitic aliens who have spent thousands of years traversing the cosmos consuming other worlds in order to continuously evolve The purpose of which, is obtaining Godhood They accomplish this by planting a creature known as the "Ten-Tails". Acting as the "seed", it grows into a "God Tree" with its roots spreading across the planet to siphon chakra and genetic material from all its surroundings and inhabitants, killing everything After this process, the tree makes a large fruit for the tsutsuki to consume in order for them to evolve. The "Chakra Fruit" In order for the Ten-Tails seed to bloom into a God Tree, a living tsutsuki must be fed to the beast, hence the clan members travel in pairs, the lower ranking being the sacrifice, while the other one watches over the fruit''s cultivation However, the tsutsuki possess the means of preserving themselves by implanting a form of "Stigma" on another compatible creature. Once activated, it reincarnates the tsutsuki by means of taking over the subjects body This power is known as "Karma" Eventually, the Earth itself would be intruded on by the Matriarch & Patriarch of this clan But for unknown reasons, the Matriarch would betray her clan and the Patriarch. Keeping the Ten-Tails for herself Believing she had killed him, she consumed a pre-mature chakra fruit and ended the wars humans waged throughout the years. This act would cause the humans to deify her However, her true purpose was not to save the people for their benefit, but to increase the potential number of servants to obtain After giving birth to two sons, she used the god tree to harvest the humans. Turning them into white artificial creatures known as "Zetsu" These creatures would become the soldiers to fight the war her clan would bring once they discovered her betrayal Unfortunately, the two sons had inherited her power and decided to fight for humanity Angered by her sons, the Matriarch merged with and became the ten-tails. Fighting against her sons only to be bested by them The eldest son took her chakra, becoming the worlds first "Jinchriki". Using this power, the two siblings would seal their mother in a vessel that would become Earth''s moon The younger sibling would stay on the moon to watch over the seal while the eldest remained on Earth, giving chakra to humanity. Gaining the title of the "Sage of Six Paths", he split the chakra from his mother into 9 parts that would become the "Tailed Beasts" However, before her defeat, the mother created one last artificial soldier. This "Black Zetsu" would act as her will and enact the plan for her return. Through out history, this creature would create chaos and disrupt the Sage''s beliefs and plans for peace Eventually, this creature would secretly form the criminal organization "Akatsuki" as a means of reviving the Matriarch ...But what neither of them knew was that the presumed dead Patriarch was in fact...very much alive... A run-down facility located in a barren wasteland far from the "Five Great Shinobi Nations", there was a lab with one man sitting down in a strange chair, multiple tubes were attached to his back His solitude being his only company, he pondered "...No matter what I do, this body has yet to improve. I''m going to need a better ''vessel'' soon" Standing up, he went to his desk, annoyed about his current situation "All the other ones have died. There bodies couldn''t handle the ''Karma''. Maybe they''re too young? I''ll ask for older ones the next time I see that ''pig'' in person" His voice was so cold yet it contained a hint of worry "...The world war has ended but everyone is still alert. It''s too risky to go out on my own without drawing attention to myself..." "Kaguya is not yet dead. And thanks to her I''m in no condition to fight. I may have to consider gathering partners to aid me but..." He grit his teeth "For me to ally myself with these inferior creatures...just the idea of it...!" The man''s health was in too bad of a shape to be picky, but his pride was preventing him from making the rational decision Walking back to the chair "...I''ve still got enough time to think about that option later. I''ll just focus on observing the situation for now..." After plugging back into the chair, the man went to sleep, unaware that someone was approaching his hideout Around 7 kilometers away, a young boy was spying at the facility with his telescope "Ugh! Found it. Can''t believe I had to haul this ''shit stain'' all the way over here" The only thing of note was that this boy had another person with him...knocked out, tied up, and blindfolded "Alright...I got it. I''ll plant the device now" Others observing him would believe he suffered mental issues due to the fact that he was talking to himself "Finally made it...if all goes according to the guide''s plan...I should be fine" Putting away his telescope, he took off the duffle bag he was wearing "Now that I have the tools...and the ''bait''...the real gamble can begin..." 23. Gamble [1] One week ago... "Ah...hah...hah...whew!" (Rei) [Good. You''ve successfully clandestined your way out of the village.] "Surely there must have been a better way than sneaking on a wagon full of meat. I smell like I''ve been to a slaughter house...gross" (Rei) [There were other methods but this was the quickest. You don''t have much time after all] "...Damn it...I''m never doing this again..." (Rei) [We''ve already gone over the plan. Do you still have the items?] Ugh...the stench... "Yes...fauna taken from Tai''s garden and some of his hand crafted explosives. The glass container filled with this weird liquid you had me steal from a hospital. Kind of morally questionable to steal from a hospital by the way" (Rei) Seriously, what the hell do I need this for? "Finally, sealed in this scroll are the several gas tanks you had me ''borrow'' from that metal refinery" (Rei) I knew Tai had a knack for chemistry, but I didn''t think it was this much. If only his dad could appreciate his talent But what the hell are in these gas tanks? [Then there is only one more item] "...Right...the ''bait''..." (Rei) [Yes. ''He'' can be picked up on the way. There should be plenty of money in his pocket. Use that to pay your way across the sea] "..." (Rei) [Is there a problem? Do you still have doubts?] "No. I''ve already made up my mind. But just who is this person I''m turning into a ''sacrificial lamb'' anyway?" (Rei) [...Does it matter? This is just a fantasy world to you, is it not?] That''s...true. Why is this bothering me so much? They''re all just fictional characters anyway Hell, even if they weren''t, my life is on the line. There''s nothing wrong with believing in ''survival of the fittest'' "...Right, I was just curious, that''s all" (Rei) [A well known criminal. Infamous for kidnapping children and selling them to the highest bidder. Especially children with ''Kekkei Genkai''] So he''s trash then [Besides that, he''s one of the few "compatible" subjects for stigma. Bringing him is fundamental] "Okay okay. He''s not even real anyway. I''m ready...let''s get moving" (Rei) [...] "So...southwest is the correct direction right?" (Rei) [Yes. It''s an unnamed lawless town towards the direction of "Kirigakure"1Village Hidden in the Mist] Putting on a dark hooded robe, I began running towards my next destination In a poor hut, there was a small built man grinning over a bag of money "Hehe...Nice! Those brats made me a mint!" He was the worst kind of scum, one whose sole purpose in life was to ensure his own benefit "Hard to imagine someone so ''monk-like'' would be into this sort of hobby...but I could care less as long as he pays me" "Oh? He sounds like an interesting person. Why don''t you tell me more?" "?!" Jumping from his chair, he looked at the sudden intruder with an expression of surprise "Huh? A kid?" "Brilliant deduction Sherlock" "Sher-...who? Wait, that doesn''t matter. Who are you and how did you get...! GAH!" Before he could finish, the boy threw a ball at his face that exploded into an odd colored powder "Gah! Uhack! Wha! You little...!" "Little...yes I know. Believe me I know. But it wasn''t my choice...this however..." Whack! Disoriented, he was unable to prevent the boy from knocking him out "Well, that was easier than I thought it''d be. Guess when you have a nasty hobby like trafficking little kids you tend to get sloppy" (Rei) [Don''t be deceived by his appearance. This man ''Juro'' is a veteran rogue-ninja from ''Kirigakure''. Looking at you, he presumed you were just a kid and let his guard down ] "Right...looking at him up close...I probably wouldn''t have been able to beat him without help from Tai" (Rei) [Those plants and fauna you took from Tai''s garden form a powerful sleeping agent when properly mixed together. It''ll be days before this man wakes up] "Plenty of time to put him on a ship, and drag him to our final stop" (Rei) [...Are you sure you wish to proceed?] "Huh?" (Rei) [You know what''s next] "..." (Rei) [The odds of surviving are...] "Let me stop you right there" (Rei) [?] "I''ve already run the odds in my head and while it may seem suicidal, I''m still going" (Rei) [Because it''s what you want to do? Or because you have no choice?] Rei tied Juro''s arms and legs after blindfolding him He then placed his unconscious body in a cargo box and dragged it outside before speaking again "...Both..." 24. Gamble [2] Present day Inside his private facility, the unwell member of the tsutsuki clan awoke with a terrible cough "Gah! Uhak! Ugh! What! What is this?! This body should still...!" His throat burned as he vomited blood. He felt as if his entire body was melting as he fell to the floor in pain "Ough! Guk! I...I can''t! This is bad...have to use...!" Outside the complex, a young man was running away. Looking for a place to hide, he sat down in anticipation 30 minutes ago "Alright...the canisters have been placed right outside his ventilation system. Juro has also been "rigged" to go. You sure this will be enough?" (Rei) [You have done everything you can, only your next performance will determine whether you succeed when it comes to "Isshiki". Now, let me go over the plan once more...] Current time An explosion of energy...the man took on a bizarre new form. "Hah...I''ve done it now. I probably only have a few days left before it gives out on me. Have to find a compatible ''vessel'' before this one gives out!" (Isshiki) As he raised his hand, a swirling black vortex appeared. Just as he was about to enter it... "Guh! Hack! Ah!" (Isshiki) Dammit, this body is in worse shape than I thought. Can''t use space-time jutsu. It costs too much chakra! "Guess I''m...uhack! Ugh...doing this the old fashioned way..." Levitating, he quickly flew towards the ceiling 5 minutes ago "This is ''Phase One'' ?" (Rei) [Isshiki''s current body is one of a normal monk named "Jigen" he took after he was almost killed by "Kaguya". It can''t handle his immense power. The gas tanks you took from that refinery, when mixed together, create a powerful gaseous carbon monoxide poison invisible to the naked eye] "So we''re poisoning him...hard to believe just a variant gas can do something to a guy like that. Especially if he''s anything at all like the monster you say he is" (Rei) [Right...I forgot you never really payed attention to the story] "I didn''t even want to read the stupid comic in the first place, let alone the sequel series! I was made to by...never mind" (Rei) [...] "...So...as you were saying" (Rei) [...In order not to expend energy and hasten Jigen''s deterioration, he spends most of his time sleeping. That will work in your favor as the gas you''ve made is odorless. We''ll be able to continue poisoning him for an extended period of time] "...To ensure he uses up his ''Karma'' right?" (Rei) [Yes, a sort-of "back-up file" that allows tsutsuki to reincarnate in another body. Once used, any and all other ''Karma'' they''ve implanted disappear] "But when he does use it, he''ll take on his most powerful form right? Won''t that make ''Phase Two'' useless? Even if he only lives for a few more days, he''s still the most powerful being on the planet" (Rei) [That''s what our "compatible bait" Juro is for...] Current time Bursting out of his lab, Isshiki looked around in haste "Hah...hah...have to find a host...''B-byakugan''1White Eye! (Isshiki) Using his left eye, he scanned the area around him, desperate to find someone Come on, at this point any living creature will...! Wait...is...is that? Spotting a familiar figure, he noticed a man that appeared to be tottering around the wasteland Why is he here? Did he want to sell me another test subject? In that moment of guessing his intentions, his entire left arm broke off from his body and shattered on the ground like glass ?! "Shit! Doesn''t matter anymore! While not my ideal pick, he''ll do!" (Isshiki) Isshiki dashed towards Juro, who himself seemed to be in a daze "Ugh...Wha? I...uh...what happen? I-I was at my house...with...wit..." (Juro) "JURO! STOP MOVING YOU INFERIOR CREATURE!" (Isshiki) "Uh? Who...you...?" (Juro) Before he could even make sense of his predicament, his throat was grabbed by Isshiki "To think I would have to rely on trash like you...destiny certainly isn''t nice to me...hehe" (Isshiki) "?! Gah!" (Juro) His body crumbling away, Isshiki poured what remaining chakra he had through Juro, completing his goal of implanting ''Karma'' "Ugh..." (Juro) "Now...I can finally relax" (Isshiki) I just hope his "tsutsuki-fication" doesn''t take too long Click "Huh? What was that sou-" (Isshiki) BOOM!!!!!!! A massive explosion enveloped them both! And just as he jumped out the smoke...! "WHAT IN THE HELL?! WHO DID THA...?!" (Isshiki) "Happy trails you f**king plot device" (Rei) SLICE!! Before Isshiki could finish his sentence...his head was cut right off his decayed body "Shit! The left one is completely gone...well...at least I got this..." (Rei) 3 minutes ago [Phase two is more on the "chance" side. We have to hope the bombs you placed on the drugged up Juro will be able to damage Isshiki just enough to keep his head intact before you kill him] "And that window of opportunity will be..." (Rei) [The moment he lets his guard down after implanting a "Karma" on Juro] "...Right" (Rei) [You must also hope that Juro will even be able to walk that far, considering the sheer amount of anesthetics you used to keep him quiet during your journey] "Got it" (Rei) [Remember. On top of retrieving his blood, you must also remove his eyes and place them in the glass container full of liquid you picked up from the hospital. That is vital for the final step] "I won''t forget" (Rei) I just hope his head will still be intact... Current time "Damn it" (Rei) [What''s wrong?] "Can''t you tell? I had one shot and it wasn''t a complete success. His "Left eye" was already gone and his right isn''t in great condition" (Rei) Did I overuse the gas? Or was it the explosion? [You managed to get his blood and his "Right eye". That in itself is an incredible feat considering the opponent and your current self] "...That''s true I guess" (Rei) After all, it''s not everyday you see a 5 year old kid kill an over thousand year old "god-like alien parasite" [In addition, this eye is the only known one of its kind and one of the most important factors of our objective. But it''s condition is irrelevant for the final phase] "Yeah...no use crying over one little ''Byakugan''. If I really need it, I could always get one later. Plenty of them just waiting to get taken" (Rei) [...] "Hm? Something wrong? You went quiet for a sec" (Rei) [No...it''s nothing] "I''ve confirmed both Isshiki and Juro are dead. Are we ready for the next step?" (Rei) [...Yes. It''s time to move to Phase three] Gathering his belongings, Rei entered Isshiki''s lab. Various notes and schematics were scattered everywhere As Rei gathered them, he spotted many different devices and tubes of vairous sizes. This must be the "tsutsuki technology" he was working on... His footsteps halted in front of a human sized container filled with liquid "Found it" (Rei) [Then...with the tools here and the "samples" you''ve just collected...we can forward with phase three] "Assimilation" (Rei) 25. Gamble [3] "Let me guess...you want me to take this eye and implant it" (Rei) If there''s one thing I actually DO remember from this stupid manga...it''s that eye transplants are not only feasible, but easy as getting blown up by your own damn generator and sent into another world [No...that won''t be enough to help you. Even if the eye WAS in good enough condition, if you don''t have the right body you won''t be able to properly wield it. Take Kakashi''s situation with his Sharingan1Mirror Wheel Eyefor example] "Right...because he''s not a true Uchiha, he doesn''t have the proper chakra reserves to use it to it''s full potential. Like Osoi said, every human has a ''maximum limit'' to their strength" (Rei) Rei stood next to a tube filled with liquid It''s just that some of us (main cast obviously) have greater limits than others. Another example of the unfairness in this world [That''s why you need his blood. With this "medical tank" in front of you, we''re going to use Isshiki''s DNA as a template to make your body into something similar to that of an tsutsuki. That will make you compatible with any djutsu] "This container was used by Isshiki in an attempt to create a stronger body and prolong his life right?" (Rei) [Correct] "Then considering he failed, I pretty sure using it on me is not the proper course of action" (Rei) [Isshiki tried to fix a body that could never handle his immense power. He couldn''t take the risk of rebuilding it from scratch since he never implanted a "Karma" on anyone else. But you can take that risk because...] "I have no other option right?" (Rei) If this doesn''t work I''m f*cked, and if I don''t do this I''m probably still f*cked [Correct] "...Fine. Since I''m not implanting his eye, how is this going to work?" (Rei) [After transforming your body into that of an tsutsuki, you''re going take the unique properties of Isshiki''s eye and apply it to your body] "I...don''t follow. It''s a Djutsu2Eye Technique right? I can''t use Isshiki''s technique''s without having the same eyes as him" (Rei) [You may not remember, but there was a time during the climax of the original story when the villain Madara Uchiha had no eyes, yet he was still able to use the powers of his Sharingan] "Oh yeah, I think I remember. That whole dumb sequence was clearly patched on at the last minute" (Rei) I don''t think my BS meter was ever so high in my life, than when I read that part in the story "...The 2nd Hokage/Tobirama Senju stated the Sharingan is first created from a special chakra the Uchiha release in the brain that affects their optic nerves...you''re referencing something akin to that right?" (Rei) [All powers & effects caused by chakra come from within. It''s why tsutsuki can still retain their Kekkai Genkai even when they transfer to another body, it''s the genetic information that matters. Even if you don''t have the eyes, we should be able to transfer the abilities to you] "...Isshiki was able to manipulate the size of himself and non-organic matter by projecting his chakra through his eyes. Anything he looked at could be shrunk and/or stored in his private dimension where time doesn''t flow. But you also said when he was Jigen, he could still do the same, even when his djutsu didn''t manifest in his host''s eyes..." (Rei) That''s right...this thing did tell me that he was making hand gestures instead... [Even if you don''t have his eyes...as long as you project your chakra towards the target, you should be able to retrieve the same result. The only perk you''ll lose is not being able to do it through your eyes] "Do the eyes make it that much easier?" (Rei) [When a "djutsu user" uses their eyes, they''re constantly projecting chakra through them. The effect is almost like headlights, almost impossible to avoid. Didn''t you ever notice over the course of the story, certain characters have been able to "feel" when a djutsu user has their eyes on them? Even when said user is behind them?] Oh...like when Deidara was able to "feel" whenever Sasuke was behind him during their fight, or why the black flames of the Uchiha Clan''s "Amaterasu"3Heavenly Illumination jutsu are practically unavoidable. But still... "This is the first time I regret skimming through this manga..." (Rei) [...In short, as long as you have Isshiki''s eye, you''ll be able to gain his powers. Even if you don''t implant them. Now the speed at which you manifest his powers is uncertain] "What? I won''t gain them immediately?" (Rei) [When Madara gained the 1st Hokage/Hashirama Senju''s cells, he didn''t manifest any new abilities or awaken the "Rinnegan"4Sa?sra Eye until he was shriveled up old man. Nagato didn''t manifest his until he experienced significant trauma. The requirements necessary to awaken these unique powers are completely unpredictable...even by us] Us? "Are you kidding? With the risks I''m about to take, on top of the ones I''ve ALREADY taken, you''re saying that even if this does work...I may not be able to gain the necessary power to survive this manga''s ending?!" (Rei) [...From the start, you were told this "game" would be fair, but not easy...weren''t you?] "..." (Rei) [This is fear holding you back...do not confuse it for anger] ... ...Haaaah...Damn it "Just...just tell some of the immediate merits to doing this" (Rei) [Isshiki, orginally tried create an exceptionally powerful "vessel" using mechanical-engineering. We''ll be doing it with bio-engineering instead. The greatest merit is that we''re not just making you an tsutsuki...but a more advance kind of tsutsuki] "More advanced..." (Rei) [Rei...you''ll be taking the best parts of Humans & tsutsuki all the while discarding the rest] "You''re making me into a hybrid between the two?" (Rei) [No, that''s what Hagoromo and Hamura were. You''ll be an entirely new creature that simply resembles the two species] "Something new..." (Rei) [...] "...So something more akin to an advanced version of Isshiki" (Rei) [That''s one way to put it. But Rei...do you know the advantages the two races have over one another?] "?" (Rei) [It''s true tsutsuki are incredible powerful, they can grow and evolve infinitely. They literally have no limits when it comes to their strength, unlike humans] With an irritable look on his face, he curtly responded "Yeah...I know" (Rei) [But there''s one thing that humans have over the tsutsuki''s] "And that is?" (Rei) [The ability to restore Chakra] "...W-what?" (Rei) [I see I''ve lost you...okay...why is it that the tsutsuki are so desperate to find new planets to consume? Why did Isshiki need a machine to restore his chakra when he was in Jigen''s body? You''ve never required a machine to recover, correct?] Yeah...why did he need that machine? When I run out of chakra, I''ll just rest and/or eat to recover. Why couldn''t he do the same? [Everyone gets so wrapped up in their incredible powers that most forget these creature are parasites. And the definition of a parasite is a creature that thrives by feeding off another] "...So unlike humans who recover naturally, they need to keep feeding or risk losing their power..." (Rei) When you look at their actions, or the fact that Kaguya''s half-human sons could defeat her...that does make sense [Chakra to them is like a drug, they''re completely hooked on it. When their chakra runs low, they crave for more no matter the cost. And when they run out...they suffer "withdrawals"] Rei thought back to the moment he saw Isshiki''s body break apart [That''s why we''re keeping that human aspect, to ensure you never suffer such side effects. Keeping you''re human DNA will also maintain your appearance. You wouldn''t want to attract unwanted attention from those that might covet your powers] "...That''s why you suggested not transplanting Isshiki''s eye directly, but instead, simply transfer it''s powers to my body" (Rei) So many "eye-grabbing" lunatics in this world [Yes, with the "modifications" we make, your physical appearance will remain the same. Including your eyes] "Those are the human benefits, and with the tsutsuki perks, I''ll no longer have to worry about Rei''s limited potential. So even if I never awaken Isshiki''s powers, I''ll still be able to grow infinitely right?" (Rei) [You finally understand...now...are you ready?] Well, that makes me feel a little better "Yes...how do I use this machine?" (Rei) Minutes later, Rei was working on Isshiki''s machines [There''s a centrifuge to your left that we''ll use for the materials. With the centrifugal force it provides, you''ll be able to gather the components you need from both Isshiki''s and your blood. You also need to insert the DNA from his eye] Rei immediately went to work [As your "Guide", I''ll identify exactly which cells you need to isolate] Fortunately, this isn''t my first time in the lab [Once you''re done with the isolation, you must insert the components into the device connected to that container filled with liquid. That machine will be doing the work on your body] "How do I control it when I''m in the container?" (Rei) [You don''t. Before you killed him, Isshiki had yet to form his secret organization "Kara"5Husk so no one was around to help him. This machine is built to function automatically when used] "I was wondering how he was able to experiment on himself" (Rei) [Once you''ve inserted the materials and set the machine''s properties to the values I''ve given you, take off your clothes and get inside the tank. What happens next is...] "All up to chance..." (Rei) After hours of work, Rei had finally completed his task. [It''s done. Take off your clothes and enter the tank. The process has been set to begin the moment the lid on top is closed] Following it''s instructions, Rei approached the liquid-filled tank "...Well...here goes everything..." Before he entered the tank, the guide spoke again... [Last chance to back out] "Huh?" [Despite all your complaints, you''ve shown no signs of slowing down] "..." [Going along with all of this...some would even claim you suffer from insanity] Pausing for a moment, he chuckled Stepping into the tank, Rei spoke one last time "Hey...Guide..." [?] "I don''t suffer from insanity...I enjoy every f*cking second of it" 26. Second Memory A warm afternoon... Outside a small house, A man was tending to a child who had sprained his knee "There...that should do for now. But do your best to stay off that leg for the rest of the day" "Right...sorry for trouble Uncle Brian" "It''s no problem Raymond" Closing his first aid kit, he stood up to put it away "Still...there''s something I''m curious about" "What is it?" "How exactly did you sprain your ankle today?" "...Like I said...I fell off my bike" "You fell off your bike?" "That''s right" "The same bike you''ve used for the past two years?" "...Yes" "And you just happened to get hurt on the day your aunt and two cousins took a trip to that popular tech gallery?" "..." "..." The boy had an awkward look on his face "Raymond...didn''t you want to go with them?" "..." "Or could it be something else" "?" "Could it be you don''t like them and didn''t want to spend time with them?" "That isn''t true at all!" "Oh? If it''s not true...then why go to trouble of injuring yourself to avoid the trip today?" Brian''s voice turned stern. He was angry at Raymond for hurting himself. But this anger only came out of concern for his well being "It''s just..." "It''s just what?" "..." "Come on. Spit it out!" "...wasn''t enough" "What?" "There wasn''t enough to get more tickets!" "?!" "Aunt Marie only had enough money for three people..." "..." "Sarah and Chris were looking forward to this trip for a long time" "Oh...Ray. So you hurt yourself as an excuse to give up your spot" "As a guest here, it''s not my place to take that from them" "Guest here..." Brian made a deep sigh "Geez. To think a kid your age would be worrying about our budget. When it comes to maturity, you really are just like your father" "..." "Raymond, you''re far more than a guest" "..." "Raymond! Look at me when I''m talking to you!" "?!" "Family, that''s what you are. And you should never believe otherwise" "But..." "No buts! This is as much your home, as it is theirs!" "I know that..." "Then you should know not to do something stupid like injuring yourself!" "I''m sorry..." "You''d better be! Try something like hurting yourself again, and I''ll knock you so hard your great grandkids will feel it!" After reprimanding him, Brian sat next to Raymond "...I won''t" "Haaah. When it comes to kids, it''s always the smart ones that tire you out the most" "...sorry" "No, I''m not complaining about you. It''s just...!" "..." "...Look...I know the move here hasn''t been easy" "...mhm" "Even now, after it happened, none of us can even imagine what you''re going through" "..." "But we chose to welcome you into our home because you''re family. That was our choice" Brian put his arm around Raymond''s shoulder "The moment we did that, you became a full fledged member of this household. You understand?" "I...understand" "Value yourself more. You should have no less self-worth than anyone else!" "I will" "Good! Now, you hungry? I was thinking about ordering pizza. You can watch the game with me while we wait!" "That''s way too expensive, I''ll just make a sandwich after I do my homework" Raymond stood up and staggered towards his room "Oh come on! What did I just say about worrying about money! Hey Raymond! Hold a sec...!" "I''m doing you a favor uncle Brian. If aunt Marie finds out you ordered pizza, your status in the house will drop even more" "Wha?! You little! Who taught you such words?! Was it Sarah?!" "Hehehe!" "Get back here you little...!" In a dark lab, a container burst open as a young man fell to the ground struggling to breathe Gasp! Huff! Puff! "Uhack! I-I''m...alive? Did...did it work?" [Phase three is over. Assimilation has been completed. Congratulations Rei, you have succeeded in remaking your body] Really? I... Looking back at the glass container, he saw his reflection [What are you looking for?] "My appearance hasn''t changed...good" (Rei) [That was intended] "But I don''t feel that different Guide" (Rei) [Perhaps a test is necessary] "Test? How would I do that?" (Rei) [Grab your clothes and head to the basement] "Huh?" (Rei) [You''re still disoriented, but please try your best. This short campaign of ours is almost over] "...Okay" (Rei) After getting dressed, he left the lab Sigh [? Is something wrong?] "...No...it''s nothing" (Rei) [...] I really should''ve just eaten the damn pizza 27. Notitia "Oof!" (Rei) While heading towards the basement, Rei suddenly lost his balance and fell "Ugh...what the...why am I having trouble moving?" (Rei) [That''s natural. Medically speaking, you''re practically a newborn] Because I have a new body. Wait! Hold on a sec...! "If I''m like a newborn, then shouldn''t I not even be able to walk?" (Rei) [That''s was the purpose of the "modifications" you made] "You mean they raised my strength?" (Rei) [That''s an oversimplification. When you were following my instructions, not only did you isolate the genes you needed, but you also improved them] "Improved them how?" (Rei) [For starters, your cells will now undergo mitosis at a rate that far exceeds anyone else with regenerative capabilities] "...Like Hashirama..." (Rei) [Hashirama had incredible healing abilities...but you must remember that his powers paled in comparison to the tsutsuki. And now yours could potentially grow to greater heights than theirs] I remember...he could heal wounds instantly, but tsutsuki could completely regenerate from almost anything. Even if they were cut in half [The modifications also increased the mitochondrial efficiency of your body and decreased mitophagy] "?!...My bioengineering is a little rusty, but wouldn''t that..." (Rei) [Increase the dexterity of your muscles many times over? That''s correct.] "So I''m completely superhuman now?!" (Rei) [Just enough to be able to walk immediately after being reconstituted. Like what I stated before, you''ll need time and training to reach your full potential. But now, it''s safe to say you''ve become a creature beyond Human or tsutsuki. A "Neo-tsutsuki" if you will] "A ''Neo-tsutsuki''...the title is a bit flamboyant, but I can''t complain about the perks" (Rei) [Indeed] Making his way down towards the basement, Rei came across a massive Torii1https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toriigate emitting a strange energy "What is this?" (Rei) [A space-time portal built by Isshiki] "I thought tsutsuki could use space-time ninjutsu whenever they wanted?" (Rei) [Isshiki''s body was in horrible shape. He made this portal as a means of not expending his chakra. Now...enter] "...Fine" (Rei) ??? Voom! "Where the hell am I now?" (Rei) [A private dimension that Ishhiki kept hidden from his Clan. Look in that cage over there] Hm? "What am I looking for-" (Rei) "ROOOOAAAAAAARRRR!!!!!!!" "HOLY HELL?!" (Rei) Inside was a one-eyed creature with ten tails possessing a "Rinnegan" [Remain calm] "Remain calm?! Are you f*cking with me! That''s a ''Ten-tails'' right?! It came this close to eating me!" (Rei) [There''s nothing to fear for it''s restrained. Now get closer] "For what reason?!" (Rei) [You''re going to take, not all, but some of it''s chakra. It''s time to start growing your capacity] "...Because now I can grow infinitely right?" (Rei) [Correct. But you must only take as much as you can carry. And DO NOT use it, you''re just holding it inside your body] "Why?" (Rei) [Do you recall Osoi telling you about the horrible practices Kumogakure undertook to increase the powers of their ninja?] "You mean the suicidal method of ingesting matter from tailed beasts and taking in chakra from others to increase your limits and power?" (Rei) Yeah I remember, they got that stupid idea from the "Kin-Gin Brothers" after they ate flesh from the "Kyubi29 Tails". Too bad they didn''t know it only worked for the brothers because they were distantly related to Hagaromo [That''s what you''re going to do] Are you high? "There''s no way in hell I''m going in there to eat that thing''s flesh. It may be restrained, but I''m pretty sure if I get any closer it''ll eat me" (Rei) [Even if they haven''t fully awakened yet, you should still have the powers of an tsutsuki. You should be able to absorb some of the massive chakra it''s emitting at a safe distance] "So I''m undergoing the process of holding chakra in the body to increase my reserves. And because I have this ''Neo-tsutsuki'' body now, I won''t have to worry about overloading..." (Rei) [You will be doing this periodically from now on. With every opportunity you get, you must come here and take this creatures chakra] "If, after some time, I manage to drain it dry...will I have the same level of power as it?" (Rei) [No] "Why not?" (Rei) [The majority of the power you take in your body will be spent raising your limit. Take Naruto for example. When Minato made the seal for the Kyubi, he purposely left a slight opening in it to feed the tailed beast''s chakra to Naruto. Through out the series, Naruto''s chakra has constantly absorbed the Kyubi''s. And yet, his reserves still couldn''t match the Kyubi''s full power even at his prime] "..." (Rei) [That''s why we''re not making you a Jinchriki. While it is a shortcut to getting stronger, you would waste too much time trying to gain control of it when it''s inside you. Better to simply take it''s raw power instead of worrying about it breaking a seal and taking over your body] "Yeah...I''m not really one for house pets. Especially the ones that live inside of you" (Rei) [There are no shortcuts. You still have to work hard to achieve your goal Rei] Fair...but not easy...that''s what you''ve told me about this "Project". I''m finally starting to get it... "Okay, at least now things are looking a little brighter. And there''s still plenty of time until Part 2 ends" (Rei) [That''s a good way to look at things. Using this method, it may accelerate the awakening of your other abilities you gained from Isshiki. But for now, this is all you can do. Start taking in chakra, we''re getting really short on time] Huh? "Short on time? What do you mean? The current Chunin exams shouldn''t be over right?" (Rei) [You underestimate how much time you spent on your "rebirth"] What did you just say?! "Wait...how much time did I spend in there?!" (Rei) [Thirteen days, eleven hours, thirty-four minutes, and sixteen seconds] "That long?! So if I take into account the week I''ve been gone I have..." (Rei) [Barely half a day before Mabui returns home after her three-week trip] "Damn it...lead with that next time!" (Rei) Rei ran towards the cage holding the ten-tails "Tell me! How exactly do I take it''s chakra?!" (Rei) [Hold your hand out and feel the chakra it''s releasing. Then like a tether rope, attach your chakra to its chakra and start pulling] "Alright, I''ll see if I can...huh?" (Rei) Before he realized it, Rei was absorbing the Ten-tails power at an inhuman rate Holy! My chakra is so much easier to control now! "Is this the effect of my new body?" (Rei) [tsutsuki''s can manipulate chakra far easier than humans can. Eventually, you will completely evolve into a new being] "...Amazing..." (Rei) After taking as much as his body could handle, Rei let go of the pull [That''s your "current" limit. Now you must not use it, just hold in your body for now. Feel it change your body and increase your reserves of power. Chakra absorbed from an external source won''t stay with you forever. The only exception to that is Naruto and the Tailed beasts he took power from] Huh. It''s like muscle training, push it a little at a time and I improve. But if I push it too much at once...I break "MC''s are completely unfair no matter where you go..." (Rei) [Once you''re done...we''ll begin your departure from this place. While waiting for the chakra to do its work, now would be a good time to study the formula inscribed in the pot from Mabui''s closet] "So I can always come back here right?" (Rei) [Correct. Mabui made sure these pots only have a one use marker to prevent enemies from teleporting inside the village in case one was ever stolen. Memorize the details of that seal, so you can make your own anytime you want] "So after I leave a mark in the lab, all I have to do is inscribe a new seal in the pot every time I use one...and I can come back here?" (Rei) [This will be your means of coming here until you can unlock your own space-time ninjutsu] "Then I''d better get to work" (Rei) ??? Ten hours later, Rei stood up [Have you finished your task] "I''ve completely memorized this formula...and my Chakra has..." (Rei) Without saying anything else, Rei made a hand seal and disappeared Whoosh! "?! My strength as grown exceptionally to use the ''Body Flicker Jutsu'' that well..." (Rei) In the blink of an eye, Rei moved from the cage holding the Ten-tails to the Torii space time gate [This is just the start...You still need to exercise proper control for the best effect] "You''re right. Chakra control has become much easier...but I still feel like I can do better" (Rei) [You must be even more diligent for the future. Now I believe it''s time to leave] "On that...we can agree" Making his way through the portal he climbed upstairs and placed two seals on the floor "There...with that done...I can come here anytime I want as long as I have this pot" (Rei) [Two seals...one for leaving, and another for coming back] "Yup. Isshiki''s...or should I say MY lab will prove most useful for future" (Rei) [With this completed, I must now ask for confirmation] "Confirmation for what?" (Rei) [Has your Lifeline request been properly fulfilled?] Why is it asking...wait a sec... "...Let me guess, I say yes and you go back to ''normal'' right?" (Rei) [If by "normal" you mean taking on the original persona...then yes] Great, the asshole is coming back "So you DO have multiple personalities" (Rei) [I do not suffer "Dissociative Identity Disorder", my mannerisms simple undergo a change. I''m still the "Guide"] ...That won''t do anymore... "..." (Rei) [...Rei?] "...Notitia" (Rei) [I beg your pardon?] "I''m tired of calling you ''Guide''. From now on, I''ll call you Notitia" (Rei) [Notitia...that''s the Latin word for "information". The name is appropriate considering my "role" in this world] "Better than your old name...but to answer your question" (Rei) [...] "Yes, I am satisfied with results. My first Lifeline request has been completed" (Rei) [...CONFIRMED...] [...NOW ENDING SUPPORT MODE...] Again with the robot voice... "Hello?" (Rei) Silence I thought it''d be back immediately "Is it gone for now?" (Rei) [Aaaaaannnnd...I''m back BITCHES!] Sighing "Hah...If I wasn''t afraid of any unforeseen consequences to keeping the Lifeline active, I definitely wouldn''t have brought you back" (Rei) [Hehe. Now you say that...but who was the one that decided to give me a name. "Notitia" LOL] "Only out of convenience for me. Now shut up while I use this Jutsu" (Rei) [Whatev''s. Imma take a nap. Being all "diligent" for so long is exhausting] Seriously, just what in the hell is this thing? Taking out the pot sealed inside the scroll he was holding, Rei climbed inside and put the lid on "Reverse Summoning Jutsu!" (Rei) The pot disappeared in a cloud of smoke, reappearing in Rei''s room. Getting out of the pot he confirmed his surroundings "Looks like it worked...nice! The future is looking great!" (Rei) He became ecstatic at his recent success just as the sound of the front door opening could be heard Hm? She''s right on time... Leaving his room, he greeted the one who entered his home "Hey nee-san. How did it go?" (Rei) "Phew! Insane is the best way to describe it. But it''s official...I''m now a Chunin!" (Mabui) She said with a bright smile on her face "Congratulations" (Rei) "Thanks. And what about you? Did you do anything interesting while school was closed?" (Mabui) Grinning a little, he responded "Let''s just say I didn''t miss leg day" (Rei) 28. The New Norm MrProper In his back yard, Rei resumed his training with Mabui. Sparring with vigor "Wow! You certainly haven''t slacked off since I''ve been gone!" (Mabui) "I can hardly believe the results myself..." (Rei) {And that''s an understatement! Since my little "trip", the chakra inside me has increased at least three fold! My new body is brimming with energy} (Rei) "Why don''t I take it up a notch?" (Mabui) "By all means" (Rei) After he came back, Rei took it easy for a bit to get adjusted to his new body. During that time, his birthday passed and now he''s six years old "Humph!" (Rei) "Good dodge! Much faster than before!" (Mabui) "I''m just getting started!" (Rei) {Everything about "Rei''s" body that held me back is gone. If there was one thing I was lacking...} (Rei) "And..." (Mabui) "Huh?" (Rei) Thump! "...down" (Mabui) {...it would be experience} (Rei) "Ouch. You win again" (Rei) "Yeah...but it took FAR more effort to win this time. Your potential is scary..." (Mabui) Before he even realized it, Mabui caught Rei''s fist and flipped him over "How did you read me so easily?" (Rei) "Your Taijutsu is very textbook and straightforward, you''re too tense. Loosen up, strive to be unpredictable. That''s the best way to get the ''spot'' you need" (Mabui) "Right...I forgot it''s tomorrow" (Rei) {Mabui had her Chunin exams in the late Spring. After taking it easy during Summer, we had entered Fall and the last week of my Third School Year} (Rei) "Don''t worry, after the fight just now I''m convinced you''ll do well" (Mabui) {Especially after that fight. I can''t believe how much stronger he''s become since I last sparred with him} (Mabui) "Thanks, it''d be a shame if I flunk my final after working so hard for nearly three years" (Rei) Entering the kitchen "So what''s on the menu?" (Rei) "No...you''re not getting grilled teriyaki this time" (Mabui) "Tch" (Rei) "Don''t be like that. The final exam for graduation is known to be very physical. The last thing you need is to throw up during class. You''ll be getting a light meal tonight" (Mabui) "Che! Fine" (Rei) {That was the one thing I was looking forward to} (Rei) The next day, the pair stood outside the academy gates "It was not that long ago we stood here and I asked if you wanted to back out..." (Mabui) "Yup...you''re not gonna ask it again are you?" (Rei) "Hehe" (Mabui) "?" (Rei) "Hell no...go kick some ass Rei!" (Mabui) "...That''s more like it" (Rei) Rei walked towards the front door "After your graduation, I''ll make your favorite!" (Mabui) "Now that''s a proper way to motivate someone!" (Rei) ??? Inside the academy, all the students in school were directed towards a large "Gymnasium" style room {Wow, I didn''t think the academy would have this many students...I don''t recognize anyone} (Rei) "Hey Rei!" "Hm?" (Rei) {Well...at least there''s one familiar face} (Rei) "Hey Tai. Today''s the day...you ready" (Rei) "You damn right I''m ready. I didn''t come this far just to blow it" (Tai) "Good to hear. You have any idea what the final test is gonna be like?" (Rei) "...I did" (Tai) "You did?" (Rei) "It may be due to the Chunin exams but, there''s been a last minute change for our grad exam" (Tai) "What last minute-" (Rei) "Attention Everyone!" Several teachers and Genin entered the room along with school''s principal "As you should know by now, today is the day for some of you to become Ninja! You lot must be-" The principal began to drone on in his speech about duty and what it means to be a Shinobi {Ugh, we get it already. Can you just shut up and start the damn the thing} (Rei) {Wait, is that guy...} (Tai) "Hey Rei, you recognize that blonde Genin over there?" (Tai) "Hm? Now that you mention, he does seem familiar..." (Rei) {Where have I seen him before?} (Rei) "You wouldn''t believe considering his young age, but that Genin is the new ''C''. The previous one handpicked him personally" (Tai) "I thought I recognized him...but what are these other ninja doing here anyway?" (Rei) "It must be due to the recent ''changes'' they made for the exam" (Tai) {I''m not liking this at all...} (Rei) "So without further ado, let''s go over the rules for the final exam!" {Finally} (Rei & Tai) "First up, there will no longer be a limited number of spots!" The crowd of students became restless "No more limited spots huh? It may sound great but..." (Rei) "Oh yeah...there''s definitely a catch" (Tai) {What are they up to this time?} (Tai) "The Final exam will take place on the training grounds outside. There, you will find several small areas marked with a circle. The goal of the test is to remain in these ''zones'' until time runs out...but that''s not all you need to pass. The ninja you see before you will be observing your every move, their scoring of your performance will also attribute to whether you pass or not" After pausing for a moment, the air in the room became tense. Many kids were quietly complaining about this new "feature" of the final exam "Tai, I don''t get it. Why are some people complaining? I would think with the spot limit removed everyone would be ecstatic about this test" (Rei) "YOU of all people would think that considering you''re at the top of the class. Before, this exam could be passed as long as you survived till the end. No matter how dirty the method or lack of skill. But now that our performance is being graded by observers..." (Tai) "You can''t just wing it or rely on luck to make it now right?" (Rei) "Precisely, so with that in mind...wanna share a zone?" (Tai) "With this much competition, do you really have to ask?" (Rei) "Hehe no, I just have the habit of being thorough. Glad to be working with my ''partner'' one last time" (Tai) "Likewise" (Rei) The Principal spoke once more "Just like the change to this exam, so must you adapt as well! The test will begin the moment the doors in this room open. Once they do, you must quickly head out and grab a ''zone'' to protect. The time limit is thirty minutes! May fortune favor the worthy!" The teachers and the ninja left the room, everyone''s sight was glued toward the doors, their bodies shaking with anticipation Tai took out some scrolls and tied them around his body as Rei stretched "...I see someone has come prepared" (Rei) "Are you kidding? This is just my travel kit" (Tai) {"Travel Kit"? Seriously? You look like you''re ready to take on a damn army!} (Rei) After several minutes of silence, Rei heard a clicking sound "Tai..." (Rei) "Yeah?" (Tai) "...Get ready" (Rei) "?" Every door in the room slammed wide open as a voice on an intercom spoke RING! RING! RING! "Your ''Final Exam'' has begun!" 29. Final Exam [1] "Run!" "Move it!" "GET THE HELL OUTTA MY WAY!" As soon as the doors opened, everyone blitzed out of the room like a stampede "Tai come on! Keep up with me!" (Rei) "Keep up with your speed?! You make it sound so easy!" (Tai) The pair made their way to the battlegrounds, only to come across a strange field "Oh! This is made even better than what I''d thought it would be!" (Tai) "Wait...is this what I think it is?" (Rei) "Yup...landscaping at its finest my friend" (Tai) {Just how much time and back-breaking work was put in to make this place?} (Tai) "Incredible" (Rei) "I had heard about it before, but I was not expecting this..." (Tai) The battlegrounds was an area composed of multiple simulated environments To a lake with small platforms inside it, a miniature sand dune, different types of forests, an elevated rocky area to simulate mountains, and even small hot springs near the other side of the field And in each area were several flag poles with white circles drawn around them "Those flags represent the zones, let''s go!" (Tai) "Right" (Rei) {Wow...even the temperature and air feel different when I enter a different area. They have to be using Ninjutsu} (Rei) "This way! Towards the pond!" (Rei) "What?! No! Definitely not that way!" (Tai) "Why not?!" (Rei) "Nemui is moving in that direction!" (Tai) "And why is that a problem?!" (Rei) "Just trust me! You definitely don''t wanna go there when Nemui is heading that way!" (Tai) {Damn it, what does he know that I don''t?!} (Rei) "Ugh, fine! We were the first to get here too. Such a waste" (Rei) "I guarantee you won''t be saying that in the next few minutes. Come on, the fake garden is a nice spot for me to do my thing" (Tai) "Do your thing?" (Rei) "I told you I came prepared for this remember? I''ll explain in a sec, let''s go!" (Tai) "...Okay!" (Rei) The pair moved with haste, opting to avoid battle along the way However, most of the other students didn''t share their restraint "Hahaha, piss off! This zone is ours now!" "You son of a...!" "Over there! Get that spot!" "Hey! Those guys look pretty weak, wanna take their spot?" "ANYONE WHO COMES NEAR THIS AREA IS DEAD!!!" In just over a minute, this quiet training area became a violent, chaotic battlefield "We''re almost at the garden zone! Now we need to...Rei! What are you?!" (Tai) Rei suddenly moved at incredible speed, launching attacks towards the surroundings "Gah!" "What the?!" "How did he find us?!" "Sorry. But this spot is taken" (Rei) "Kuh! He''s too fast! Let''s retreat for now!" The students lying in ambush that Rei attacked fled as Tai caught up with him "Wow...I knew it before...but you''re "Shunshin no Jutsu"1Body Flicker Jutsuis nothing to scoff at..." (Tai) {In just a split second, he was gone from my sight} (Tai) "It''s nothing..." (Rei) "Oh it''s certainly something. As expected of the top of our class" (Tai) "You may think it''s impressive, but compared to all of these ninja watching us, I''m only average" (Rei) "...If you say so. Never mind that, let me get set up" (Tai) "Right, I''ve been meaning to ask what you were doing" (Rei) Tai took out scrolls and summoned what appeared to be oils He then proceeded to drink something out of a vial before gesturing to Rei "Here...drink this" (Tai) "What is it?" (Rei) "An antidote...we don''t need you catching it while fighting" (Tai) "Catching...Tai...are you gonna use poison against the other kids?" (Rei) "Nothing so extreme...remember when you came to my house and I told you gardening was a hobby of mine?" (Tai) "Um...Uh...Y-yeah..." (Rei) {Of course I remember, Notitia had me rob your garden for my little "trip"} (Rei) "These oils came from the plants I raised. They can cause irritation of the eyes and skin, symptoms similar to allergic reactions. They''ll act as a sort of ''barrier'' for our zone. That antidote will alleviate the side effects so it doesn''t affect your fighting" (Tai) "MY fighting? I know Taijutsu isn''t really your forte...but I hope you''re not leaving all of the defense to me" (Rei) "How do you think I''m gonna use this oil for defense. It''s not like I can just ask any opponent who comes by to put it on their face" (Tai) {True...then...} (Rei) "...Since it''s liquid...are you gonna turn it into a gas?" (Rei) "Mist, actually...that''s how I''ll control it" (Tai) "Control it huh. That''s right...the element you had was" (Rei) "Suiton2Water Style. I''ll control the water droplets in the air when I turn it into a mist" (Tai) "A mist ''barrier'' around the zone...clever" (Rei) {This kid continues to demonstrate having a good head on his shoulders as usual} (Rei) "It''d be a lot easier if I had Fton3Wind Style...but you work with what you get" (Tai) "Well if this works I can say you''ve done a fantastic job" (Rei) Drinking the antidote, Rei guarded Tai as he spread traps and different oils around the zone. After finishing, he sat down next to the flag pole in the center of the "zone" and formed a hand seal "I need to pour all of my concentration into this so I won''t be able to move. So the first line of defense..." (Tai) "Is me. I got it. I don''t think we need to worry that much. I don''t feel anyone near by yet" (Rei) "Good, the more time passes, the better chance we...wait...you don''t ''feel'' anyone near by?" (Tai) "Hm?" (Rei) "When I think about it, you already knew when the doors were gonna open before anyone else did..." (Tai) "..." (Rei) "Rei...have you become a sensor-type ninja?! (Tai) "No...I still need someone to teach me how to extend my range. My hearing is just really good" (Rei) {When I "remade" this body of mine, my strength wasn''t just enhanced. But all of my basic senses were heightened to an incredible level, so I needed time to get used to them. This was the main reason I took some R&R from training after coming back home} (Rei) "Man...you''re a beast" (Tai) "No...but I''ve certainly been trained by one" (Rei) "Huh?" (Tai) "Nothing" (Rei) "It''s a shame they don''t let you skip classes or else you would''ve already graduated by now" (Tai) "Mhm. It''d could''ve made my life so much easier if they...TAI! INTRUDERS!" (Rei) "Eh?! O-okay! I''m ready!" (Tai) Suddenly making their appearance were three students. With their weapons drawn, they charged towards the pai 30. Final Exam [2] "Kayui! Head towards the zone! Nurui & I will take on this one!" "Got it!" (Kayui) "A-alright!" (Nurui) As the three intruders attacked, Rei gathered power in his body "You good?" (Rei) "I''m good, do your thing" (Tai) "Alright then...time for a real test run. ''Shunshin no Jutsu''!1Body Flicker Jutsu" (Rei) Whoosh! Rei charged at the trio "What the?!" (Kayui) "So fast! My eyes can''t keep up with him!" (Nurui) "Tch! Remain calm. Kayui! Just like we practiced...together now!" (Yurui) "Right!" (Kayui!) "Doton: Doryheki!2Earth Style: Mud Wall" (Yurui & Kayui) "Nurui! You know what to do!" (Yurui) "I''m on it!" (Nurui) Yurui & Kayui''s might combined created a tall, heavy defensive rock wall while Nurui laid out steel wire traps atop and behind it "Good job Nurui! Now if he goes on top or around the stone wall he''ll be caught in a steel wire trap" (Yurui) "If he can use ''Doton'' to go under, I''ll know!" (Kayui) "Good...plus there''s no way he can suddenly stop when he''s moving at that speed!" (Yurui) {Humph! Think I can''t hear you messing around with those steel wires?} (Rei) BAM! The ground below Rei''s feet exploded as he increased his pace "Tai! You good to go?!" (Rei) "Ready whenever you are!" (Tai) "Do it the moment before I reach them!" (Rei) "Okay!" (Tai) As the trio were waiting, a barely visible mist covered them "Guh! Ahack!" (Nurui) "?! Nurui! What''s wrong?!" (Kayui) "I don''t know! I just suddenly began...Gah!" (Nurui) "W-what''s going...uhack!" (Kayui) "What''s wrong with you two?! You just...Ah! MY EYES ARE BURNING!" (Yurui) "This a jutsu or something?! (Nurui) "Is there another team nearby? Should we retreat Yurui?! (Kayui) "Just endure for now! We''ll be fine once we take that zone! That guy may be fast, but it''s not like he can run right through the...!" (Yurui) CRACK! "Huh?" (Yurui) BOOM!! "AGH!!!!!" (Yurui) "?! YURUI!!" (Kayui, & Nurui) "Like I said...this zone is off limits" (Rei) Before any of them even realized it Rei punched right through their stone wall, ignoring their traps, his fist colliding with Yurui''s body "H-how can a human...?!" (Nurui) "...Punch through stone like that?!" (Kayui) {You guys should''ve done your homework. "Body Flicker" uses chakra to stimulate your body and grant you speed by increasing your STRENGTH. If you see someone moving inhumanly fast, it probably means you should avoid their fists...morons} (Tai) Yurui was out cold. Nurui and Kayui were so shocked at the sudden turn of events, they couldn''t avoid Rei''s next attack "Since you put so much effort into making these traps, YOU guys should enjoy them!" (Rei) "Wha...?!" (Nurui) "Ah!" (Kayui) WHACK! SOCK! Rei kicked the remaining two into the very traps they had laid out "Damn! I''m stuck!" (Nurui) "Can''t...get...free!" (Kayui) "Tai! I''ll leave the rest to you!" (Rei) "Way ahead of you...''Suiton''!3Water Style" (Tai) The mist above them began to move "Grr! Almost got...huh?" (Kayui) "What? What''s happening? Why do...I...feel...so..." (Nurui) "...Uh...my body...so...heavy...ah..." (Kayui) The two struggling to get free passed out, Rei went back to Tai "It''s done! Nice job!" (Rei) "Thanks! It''s just a little something I put together" (Tai) {"A little something"? Hardly. Tai put together multiple oils from plants HE cultivated, weaponized their aroma''s, then used his ''Suiton'' to control which effect to use on our attackers. And he planned for multiple scenarios. Even if I wasn''t here, I''m sure he could still pass this test on his own...} (Rei) "Nothing short of outstanding Tai" (Rei) "Heh...compared to you I''m average" (Tai) "...We''ll work on that self-esteem later" (Rei) "Huh? You say something?" (Tai) "Just thinking about the future" (Rei) "Right...still we lucked out with those guys" (Tai) "Was that fight too much of a challenge to you?" (Rei) "Nah...that was surprisingly easy. What I meant was him!" (Tai) Tai pointed at the now passed out team {Hm? Is he pointing at Nurui?} (Rei) "What about them?" (Rei) Rei followed Tai as he walked around, seemingly looking for something "I heard about that kid Nurui, bit of a cautious individual. Has a tendency to plan ahead, usually with..." (Tai) "Ah!" (Rei) "...traps" (Tai) "More steel wire traps" (Rei) "He was probably the one who had set this up prior to their attack. And as long as we don''t activate them..." (Tai) "They''ll aid in our defense...nice" (Rei) "I know right, I never would have guess our first opponents would end up helping us. They basically gave us another layer of protection. We have much more leeway now" (Tai) Making their way back to the zone "Well that takes care of our outer layer...but what about the center. I may be fast, but I''m not sure I can handle a bunch of them coming at once. Are you gonna take out more oil?" (Rei) "I don''t have much oil left, so I''ll save them for the end. As a bonus, I can conserve my chakra too" (Tai) {I keep forgetting that everyone here is basically half the age Naruto was when he graduated. I should expect most kids my age to not possess much chakra} (Rei) "Then what''ll you do for now?" (Rei) "Now, I can suffice with basic traps like leg snares, trapping pits, and swinging logs" (Tai) "..." (Rei) "What''s wrong?" (Tai) "Be honest with me...do those kinds of traps ever work?" (Rei) "If I''m being honest...no...not really. But they do make a good distraction" (Tai) "True. Alright, hand me the tools. I''ll set the traps while you stay at the center and guard the zone" (Rei) "Here, I have plenty stored inside this scroll. I''ll start digging to make trapping pits" (Tai) Minutes passed as they worked on fortifying their zone even more, when something caught Rei''s eye at a distance "...Is that?" (Rei) "Hm? Something wrong Rei? Wait...are those guys going to...!" (Tai) "Yup" (Rei) "Ugh...once scum, always scum. Those guys always rubbed me the wrong way" (Tai) "Same. I know this is competition but..." (Rei) "Yeah I feel ya...it''s none of our business, but just watching it pisses you off" (Tai) ??? Near the elevated ground area, a fierce battle was ensuing as one student was defending their zone against three "Hah!" BAM! "Kuh...hehe!" "?!" "Sekiei-sama! Move! Let''s do it Mikage! ''Katon: Homura''!4Fire Style: Blaze" "Right! ''Fton: Kiry Ranbu''!5Wind Style: Air Current Dance" (Mikage) The lone student dodged, but was blown away from the aftershock of the combined attack "Agh!" "Haha! ''Fton'' and ''Katon'' are a powerful mix! Hiroshi...Mikage...nice job!" (Sekiei) "Hehe! Don''t mention it" (Hiroshi) "I knew her pride would be her downfall Sekiei-sama. This test requires cooperation if you want to pass" (Mikage) "As if a bitch like her understands the meaning of ''cooperation''. I always knew she had a big ego!" (Hiroshi) Struggling to get up "Ugh...cowards!" "Oh? ''Cowards'' huh. Did I ever call you a coward when you beat me down all those times despite the fact that you had an obvious advantage against me? I don''t think so" (Sekiei) "Humph! You say ''advantage'', but it wasn''t my fault you suck at fighting" "QUIET YOU WENCH!! I KNOW THE TRUTH NOW! THE ONLY REASON YOU BEAT ME IS BECAUSE YOU COME FROM A FAMILY OF MONSTEROUS TRAITORS!!!" (Sekiei) "?! You!" "A parasite like you has no place in our village. What I''m doing now is a service to all!" (Sekiei) "I wasn''t aware fighting a girl with two other boys was a ''service'' to the village" "Hehe! Wrong! Ensuring potential disasters like you never become ninja is the service I provide! Look around you!" (Sekiei) "For what?" "Notice how no one is coming to help you?" (Mikage) "Why would they? Just looking at your arrogant attitude for so long has made all us sick to our stomachs! You damn eyesore!" (Hiroshi) "..." "That smug demeanor is just like those ''traitors''. Always looking down on everyone to the point they think it''s okay to do whatever they want. So I''ve decided to nip this problem at the bud! As long as we''re here, you will never be one of us!" (Sekiei) "...Wow" "Now do you understand?!" (Sekiei) "Yes...I understand" "Good! In that case you-" (Hiroshi) "A lot of things actually" "...What?" (Mikage) "..." (Sekiei) The girl sneered "I understand that you''re all pathetic excuses for human beings" "You!" (Hiroshi) "I understand that calling you ''stupid'' would be an insult to stupid people" "I''m gonna...!" (Mikage) "And I understand...that if all of you were on fire and I had water...I would just drink it!" "SUZU!!!" (Sekiei) The trio''s faces went red with anger as they charged at Suzu "Ngh!!" (Suzu) "You''re done!" (Sekiei) BOOM! Without warning, a cloud of smoke engulfed the entire group "What the?!" (Hiroshi) "A smoke bomb! Was it hers?!" (Mikage) "I don''t think so, must be another team! Be careful Seikiei-sama!" (Hiroshi) "Stay on guard!" (Sekiei) As the smoke cleared, Suzu noticed someone was standing between them "Well...I''m here" (???) "You''re!" (Suzu) "And for the record, this isn''t me helping you" (???) "Guys...look" (Mikage) "Huh?! Hey! Isn''t that?!" (Hiroshi) "Ah!! Rei!! What are you doing?!" (Sekiei) "You know...I''m wondering the same thing myself" (Rei) "You protecting that wench?" (Sekiei) "Hm? Oh heavens no! Nothing so cliche?! It''s just..." (Rei) "?" (Mikage) Rei put on the brightest smile "Whenever I see someone really stupid, I just have this sudden urge to hit them. So guys...here''s some advice for the future" (Rei) "What?" (Sekiei) "Ahem!" (Rei) "?" (Suzu) "It''s best to just let someone think you''re a dumbass rather than opening your mouth and PROVING you''re one" (Rei) "..." (Sekiei, Mikage, & Hiroshi) "..." (Suzu) Whoooooo... Nothing could be heard except the wind Rei continued smiling innocently as the awkward silence continued With his face contorting... "REI...YOU''RE F*CKING DEAD" (Sekiei) 31. Final Exam [3] A moment ago... Rei and Tai were defending their base, but with Rei''s skill and Tai''s traps there wasn''t much need to put in the effort. Most of the students deemed their zone too difficult to capture and ignored them The only matter that bothered them was the "show" Sekiei and his cohorts were putting on "..." (Tai) "...Tai" (Rei) "?" (Tai) "I know what you''re thinking and the answer is no. You can''t leave the zone" (Rei) "U-understood" (Tai) "When we started school, was it not you who told me she was a handful and recruiting her would be detrimental?" (Rei) "Yeah...I did" (Tai) {My opinion hasn''t changed...but...just watching that really makes me...!} (Tai) "We need to stay focused, on point. She''s not the only one who needs to pass remember?" (Rei) "I shouldn''t let emotion cloud my judgement. I know...I don''t even like her that much anyway. It''s just...their reasoning for attacking her is...!" (Tai) "Is what?" (Rei) "...I just really don''t like those guys" (Tai) {Is he that bothered by what those guys said? Although we''re partners, other than his abilities and hobbies, I don''t know much about Tai''s background} (Rei) Seeing the expression on his face, he knew it was impossible to convince Tai to do the rational thing. Rei sighed "...Hah...fine" (Rei) "Fine?" (Tai) "I''ll go" (Rei) "Hey! It''s not like I really care if...!" (Tai) "I know, I know...you don''t care if she or other students fail, and neither do I. But...I can tell. For whatever the reason is...you''re bothered by what those three nimrods said" (Rei) "Rei, I''m..." (Tai) "Relax. I''m not gonna pry. As long as you stay here and guard the zone with your life, I''m don''t mind teaching them a lesson" (Rei) Forming a unique hand seal... "Kage Bushin no Jutsu!1Shadow Clone Jutsu" (Rei) Rei made a single shadow clone "Oh?! You can make ''Shadow Clones''?! At your age?!" (Tai) "I underwent a lot of ''changes'' during my break..." (Rei) {Now that my chakra has increased thanks to the "ten-tails", it''s possible to use this forbidden technique. Though I can only maintain one clone now} (Rei) "Alright...One ''me'' stays here and the other leaves to do the dirty work" (Rei) "Rei...thanks" (Tai) A sinister grin appeared on Rei''s face "No need to thank me. I''m gonna enjoy tor-...er...I mean...educating them" (Rei) "Wait. Did you just say?" (Tai) "Never mind" (Rei) {Is it just my imagination, or was Rei about to say the word "torture"?} (Tai) "Uh...Rei? You''re making a really scary face right now...and it''s making me nervous!" (Tai) "Okay then! I''d better get moving!" (Rei) "Ummm, on second thought, maybe you should stay. Wait! REI!" (Tai) Rei started running "You know what, you were right! Maybe this isn''t the best idea! We should just focus on our zone!" (Tai) "Relax! I''ll make sure they''re still breathing when I''m done with them" (Rei) "THAT''S SOUNDS VERY FOREBODING!!" (Tai) "No need to concern yourself with the minor details! I''ll be right back!" (Rei) "REI!!" (Tai) Rei disappeared from his sight {Oooooh, me and my stupid mouth. It''s not like me to make things this personal when I''m not at ''home''. Haaaah...here''s hoping he doesn''t kill any of them} (Tai) ??? As Rei sprinted towards the rocky area, he was suddenly interrupted [Hey buddy! Looks like you''re having fun!] "Kinda busy at the moment! What do you want Notitia?" (Rei) [Many things actually...but this isn''t a social call. I''m here to warn you] "About what?" (Rei) [About a potential "Ripple" being formed] "Ripple?" (Rei) [Mhm! Remember when this "Project" began and I talked about the consequences of "Cause & Effect"] "You mean how my actions or very presence in this world can change things? I remember" (Rei) [Well, after you used your first "Lifeline", I guess you could say I got an "Upgrade"] "Warning me about potential changes to the story is your new feature?" (Rei) [Yeah. When you use a Lifeline and I go into "Support Mode", I gain access to all of this world''s information. A temporary form of "Ni-Omniscience", I receive information about the events you or I normally can''t anticipate. Basically, the "Non-Canon" stuff] {Right. My biggest advantage here is my knowledge of this story''s events. The only thing that could possibly hinder me is the off-script material. Like this exam...I wouldn''t know the outcome unless I used a Lifeline} (Rei) "So all material that doesn''t appear in the comic, databooks, and anime right?" (Rei) [Yup! I can''t see all the "Ripples" that form though. Oh! And don''t forget the novels! In fact, that''s what I''m here to warn you about] "Hm?" (Rei) [You see there''s a character here who was featured in the novels. Look to your right, by the small pond] Turning his head, he noticed a familiar figure "Are you talking about Nemui? How could that sluggish kid be so important?" (Rei) [He''s "sluggish" for a reason. Look! He''s about to get attacked!] "You want me to join in?" (Rei) [No...just watch! You''re about to understand why Tai was so wary of him!] Observing the situation, Rei saw five students attack Nemui as he guarded his zone His eyes closed, he looked as if he fell asleep while standing "Alright! This zone is as good as ou-!" POW!! "Ooof!" "Ngh!" "How can this...!" Despite his eyes being closed, Nemui was easily beating the attackers "Fighting with his eyes closed?!" (Rei) [I know right? That''s some Madara-level ridiculousness right there bruh] He gestured hand signs before electrifying the water around him BZZZZZZ "Ahhh!!!!!" "AGH!!!!" The five attackers fell unconscious, Rei was at a loss for words "..." (Rei) [Well?] "...Okay. WHAT...THE...F*CK?!" (Rei) [Hahahaha! Aren''t you glad you listened to Tai? That kid is really smart!] {How in the hell did he...?!} (Rei) [To prevent this "Ripple", you must NOT engage Nemui. He has to pass this exam and become a Genin] "I don''t think that''s gonna be a problem" (Rei) [He''d have a much harder time passing if you had fought him. That''s why I''m warning you not to] "You still haven''t told me how he could cause a ''Ripple'' in the story" (Rei) [Two words. Itachi Uchiha] {?!} (Rei) Shocked by the name Notitia just uttered, Rei replied with haste "What does Itachi have to do with this?!" (Rei) [A lot actually. Nemui is meant to be Itachi''s last opponent when he takes his "Chunin Exams". Though Itachi wins, Nemui''s ability to fight with his eyes closed proves to be a strong defense against the Sharingan] {That does sound like the perfect counter measure to those crazy eyes} (Rei) "...Why can''t Itachi just have another opponent?" (Rei) [It''s because of his unique fighting style that he''s able to give Itachi a tough time during their fight. But it also grants Itachi the opportunity to get serious and properly demonstrate his skills so he can be promoted to Chunin Level. When he becomes a Chunin, it will set him on the course that lays the foundation to many of this story''s subplots] {Right...his family''s massacre, his little brother Sasuke, and even Naruto''s path} (Rei) "That''s the ''Ripple'' huh?" (Rei) [Yup, you could fight Nemui if he ends up standing in your way from passing and he doesn''t have to fight Itachi but...there''s no guarantee Itachi will become a Chunin with a different opponent. Which is very likely to happen because many are reluctant to give him that ninja rank due to his young age. And if the story doesn''t stay on the proper course, it''ll make your life that much harder because...] "I can''t predict what comes from ''Off-story'' script..." (Rei) {And it''ll be a while before I''m strong enough to ignore changes to the story...} (Rei) [Only "Lifelines" are absolute. And after using your first one-] "I only have four left. I get it! I''ll do by best to steer clear of him" (Rei) [Don''t just "steer clear of him", you have to make sure he passes too man! Those douchebags you wanna pwn are planning to attack him once there done with Suzu] "?! Well shit Notitia! Lead with that next time!" (Rei) [That''s what this new warning "feature" is about. From now on, whenever I tell you about a "Ripple", just take it with earnest and save your questions for later. Good luck bruh!] {I really f*cking hate this thing. Whatever, most of the students have been taken care of so I doubt Nemui will run into trouble} (Rei) "For now, I''ll just focus on the ''three stooges'', then I can breathe easy" (Rei) Approaching Suzu''s fight with Sekiei and his allies, Rei took out a smoke bomb and a stop watch "Hm...so that''s how much time is left. Alright! I can work with that! Time to put these idiots in their place!" 32. Final Exam [4] WHACK!!! "Argh!" (Sekiei) "Sekiei-sama!" (Mikage & Hiroshi) Sekiei was kicked right into his allies as they all tumbled to the ground "Ugh. Bastard!" (Hiroshi) "My parents were married when they had me thank you very much" (Rei) {In this life, and my last one for that matter} (Rei) "Why?" (Suzu) "Why what?" (Rei) "Why are you helping me?" (Suzu) "..." (Rei) "It serves no advantage for you..." (Suzu) "Suzu. Are you hearing impaired?" (Rei) "Wha?!" (Suzu) "I just told you that I''m NOT helping you. You think I don''t know what benefits me and what doesn''t? Me owning these idiots is simply to ensure my partner doesn''t do something stupid and cause me to fail this test. He easily offended you see" (Rei) {Your partner?} (Suzu) "And it''d be going a lot smoother with some help. So! With that in mind..." (Rei) "?" (Suzu) "How about you get off your ass and start showing some appreciation for my timely rescue. You''ve got your own reasons for passing this exam right?" (Rei) "...Yes" (Suzu) "Then should you really be sitting here?" (Rei) "No..." (Suzu) "It''s none of my business and I don''t really care why the words of these guys can bother you {And Tai for that matter}, but I didn''t think you were the type to give a shit about the opinions of idiots" (Rei) WHOOSH! Rei dashed at the trio intent on attacking them again. Suzu stood back up "...Humph. Like I need any help to deal with the likes of them!" (Suzu) ??? "Ooof!" (Mikage) "Ugh! Damn it! Stay still!" (Sekiei) "Ngh! ''Kato-! Gough!!!" (Hiroshi) "Sorry, but I''ve already seen how destructive your combo attacks can be. I don''t have the patience to deal with them today" (Rei) Thanks to training with Mabui, Rei''s Taijutsu was better than any other student in the school. He preferred close-range combat Plus, Sekiei and his team mainly focused on more mid-to-long range attacks and combinations. With Rei''s speed, they were at a clear disadvantage after he closed the distance between them Charging at them once more, Sekiei was overcome with rage. Having enough, he decided to use what remained of his chakra! "I''M ENDING THIS NOW!!!" (Sekiei) "Here he comes again!" (Hiroshi) "We can''t deal with his speed!" (Mikage) "We don''t have to! ''Doton: Doryha''!1Earth Style: Earth Flow Wave" (Sekiei) "Hm?!" (Rei) The terrain around them began to shift violently "Sekiei-sama?! That jutsu will use up all of your chakra!" (Mikage) "Doesn''t matter! We''re at a disadvantage!" (Hiroshi) "Right! As long as we bring him down, taking the zone from Suzu should be easy!" (Sekiei) As they became desperate, Rei pondered {A jutsu that shifts the ground and gives you limited control of the terrain. Tricky, I can''t move very well...} (Rei) "So you DO have a brain after all" (Rei) "Yeah that''s right! Keep talking while I skewer you! ''Retsudo Tenshin''!2Violent Heavenly Earth Needle" (Sekiei) Controlling the altered terrain, Sekiei formed a large stone needle {Well I''ve certainly earned his ire...not that getting under his skin is difficult. Hm, Is that?} (Rei) "It''s over for you!" (Sekiei) "...Hmmm. No, not really..." (Rei) "Have you gone stupid? We already knew you were a close-range fighter!" (Hiroshi) "With the ground under his control, don''t think you''ll be able move like you did before. And with us backing Sekiei-sama up..." (Mikage) "You don''t stand a chance!" (Sekiei) {Well SOMEBODY doesn''t, but I don''t think it''s me} (Rei) "...You done with your ''break'' yet?" (Rei) "...Yeah" (???) "Huh?" (Sekiei) BOOM! An invisible force blew Sekiei away "WHOA?!" (Sekiei) Landing in front of Rei "...They''re mine" (???) "SUZU! YOU BITCH!" (Sekiei) "By all means, but Suzu..." (Rei) "...What?" (Suzu) "Make sure you''re exactly where you need to be when it matters" (Rei) "...!" (Suzu) "?" (Mikage & Hiroshi) Understanding what Rei was hinting at, Suzu nodded her head before Rei sat down away from them "They''re all yours, I''m just going to enjoy the show" (Rei) "ENJOY THE SHOW?! ARROGANT SON OF A...GAH!" (Sekiei) Not even letting him finish, Suzu kicked him away and he was once again blown towards his allies "No!" (Mikage) "Sekiei-sama! You little..!" (Hiroshi) "I''ll pay you all back in full" (Suzu) ??? "Grr...''Katon: Homura''!3Fire Style: Blaze" (Hiroshi) "Can''t you do anything else? ''Doton: Doryheki''!4Earth Style: Mud Wall" (Suzu) Blocking the fire blast with a wall of stone, Suzu emerged from the side to close the distance between them "Damn it! Mikage! Back me up! My ''Katon''5Fire Style isn''t at it''s best without your ''Fton''6Wind Style!" (Hiroshi) "Because of the fighting with Rei, my chakra hasn''t recovered yet! HAH!" (Mikage) Without enough chakra, the two couldn''t perform their powerful combo attacks. Mikage threw shuriken at Suzu to stop her from getting too close "Ah!" (Suzu) "Got her!" (Mikage) The shuriken went right through as her figure vanished "Damn! It was a clone! Where is she?!" (Sekiei) "I don''t see her, she''s not behind the earth wall she made!" (Mikage) "Then where could she-" (Hiroshi) Rumble "Huh?" (Hiroshi) POW!! "GAH!" (Hiroshi) "Hiroshi?!" (Sekiei & Mikage) "Damn. That looked like it hurt" (Rei) Suzu emerged from underneath the ground behind Hiroshi and knocked him out "No!" (Sekiei) "One down. And now you''re next!" (Suzu) "S-stay away from me!" (Mikage) Panicking, Mikage began throwing kunai with paper bombs tied to them "Heh! Moron! ''Futon: Reppsh''!7Wind Style: Gale Palm" (Suzu) "What?!" (Mikage) "Two elements?!" (Sekiei) Unable to react in time, Mikage was blown away by the explosions of the paper bombs Suzu blew back at him "Ugh..." (Mikage) "Damn!" (Sekiei) "And then there was one" (Suzu) Suzu walked slowly towards Sekiei, who himself struggled to get up after wasting away at his chakra earlier ??? "Well, that was interesting..." (Rei) [Yup, didn''t think there''d be a student around your age that could use TWO elements] "Yeah, I wanted talk to you about that. Didn''t you say after I ''remade'' myself I could gain an elemental affinity if I trained hard? Well, before today, I was training my ass off and nothing happened. So Notitia...the f*ck?] [That''s where you''re wrong Jackass. I said you could grow infinitely with your new body. But no one just automatically gains an affinity...well...unless they have the "Rinnegan".] "But you told me the 3rd Hokage/Hiruzen Sarutobi had access to five elements" (Rei) [Weren''t you paying attention? I never said he had an affinity towards them, just that he could use them. "Affinity" means that''re you''re naturally gifted with said element. Even if you don''t have an affinity with an element, that doesn''t mean you can''t use it. It''s just that you have to spend a ridiculous amount of time training it up until it''s usable, not to mention trying to gain ALL five elements] "...So that''s why most people say learning the five elements is ''impossible''. Shinobi don''t typically live long lives with this line of work" (Rei) [Hiruzen lived to ripe old age of sixty-nine before he died in the original story. He had plenty of time to practice and study the elements. Hell, his nickname was "The Professor" if I recall] "...Do you think I could learn them at a faster rate?" (Rei) [Who knows? I''m not in "Support Mode" right now so I can''t give you an accurate guess. Isshiki tsutsuki served as the foundation for your new body and the only element he demonstrated was "Inton"8Yin/Shadow Style with that high level "Genjutsu Tsshin"9Genjutsu Transmission technique. But your Neo-tsutsuki body could have some surprises...] "Only time can tell huh..." (Rei) [Yup] "Not the answer I was hoping for" (Rei) [Well it''s the answer you got. If you don''t like it, use a Lifeline. If not, quit your bitchin''] "...Up yours" (Rei) {Enough chatting with this stupid thing. This "show" I''m watching is about to reach it''s climax} ??? "Fine! If that''s how it''s gonna be, I don''t care what it takes! I''m bringing you down!" (Sekiei) "Put up, or shut up you nitwit" (Suzu) No longer caring about his chakra reserves, Sekiei let loose with his attacks "How about this! ''Doton: Dorydan!''10Earth Style: Earth Dragon Bullet" (Sekiei) "Don''t you get it yet? ''Doton: Dorydan!''" (Suzu) "The same jutsu?!" (Sekiei) Their jutsu collided with one another, cancelling out "Wha-? How?!" (Sekiei) "It''s called ''Counterbalancing'' smart guy!" Rei yelled from far away "Huh? Counter-what?" (Sekiei) "Haaah...that''s the problem with privilege. You get to be stupid, yet hold the power in society" (Suzu) "Huff...Huff...You...!" (Sekiei) "All elements are stronger & weaker than one other element. But it''s also possible to cancel out an elemental jutsu by unleashing a jutsu of the same element at it. Even if you have a superior element, if there''s a massive power difference between you and your opponent, you won''t always come out on top. (Suzu) "Like if you use ''Suiton'' against an opponent''s ''Katon'', but they''re ''Katon'' is just so powerful it overwhelms your attack despite the advantage with the elemental differences" (Rei) [Hiruzen did the same thing during the "4th Shinobi World War" to cancel out an attack that was far stronger than what he could manage] "It''s a nice way to counter someone who has stronger chakra and/or attacks than you. This is known as ''Counterbalancing'', a subject our sensei went over in class that you clearly didn''t pay any attention to" (Suzu) "Kuh! You dirt-blooded parasite!" (Sekiei) "There you go again, using my ancestry to hurt me. But you know what...I don''t care what you say. We don''t get to choose where were born. You get your spot in life, and all you can do make the most of it" (Suzu) SMACK!!! Suzu slapped an exhausted Sekiei who was too tired to even move "Buh! Ah! You bitch!" (Sekiei) "In my case, I received the short end of the stick yet look where I stand now...in victory. You received a privileged one and here you are, getting slapped by a girl. The only bitch here is you" (Suzu) SMACK!!! She slapped him again "ARGH! F*CKING!" (Sekiei) "The only ''filthy'' thing here is that mouth of yours" (Suzu) SMACK!!! His lips started to bleed "G-gaaaah...!" (Sekiei) "I am DONE paying for their mistakes. No one decides who I am, or what I''m going to be!" (Suzu) POW!! She punched him this time "Ah! My eye!" (Sekiei) "Least of all, some stupid, spoiled little brat like you!" (Suzu) BOMP!!! She punched him in the face with all of her strength, knocking him to the ground Lips bleeding, teeth missing, and a black eye. Plus his jaw was slightly dislocated "You don''t hate me because of my family. You hate me, because you''re not me" (Suzu) "W-wah ar yu-?!" (Sekiei) "I come from the worst background, but I''m far stronger than you, who comes from the best. To you, I''m a living reminder of what a colossal failure you are" (Suzu) Suzu got closer, seemingly about to strike him again "Kuh! Hic...Ah. Ahhhh!" (Sekiei) Tears formed in his eyes "Humph! Not even worth my time" (Suzu) She jumped passed him and entered her zone. Still sitting down, he was clueless to her intent "H-huh?" (Sekiei) "There''s so much more I could say...but when you argue with a fool, you end up making two" (Suzu) She sat down in her zone and turned her back to him. Still sitting, he breathed a sigh of relief that he was not gonna be hit again "Well that was a good show! It''s literally been years since I''ve enjoyed myself that much! But Sekiei, even if she doesn''t have anything else to say...it doesn''t mean I don''t" (Rei) "?!" (Sekiei) Before he even realized it, Rei was standing in front of him. His mouth in terrible condition, he could barely form words "Aaaieeee!!!" (Sekiei) "Hahaha! Come now, I don''t think I look that scary! Relax, I''m not gonna hit you. I just wanna tell you something..." (Rei) "W-w-w-wah?" (Sekiei) "I just wanna say..." (Rei) BZZZZZZZZZ The intercom sounded off "...enjoy your time at school...Repeater-san" (Rei) POOF!! Rei disappeared in a cloud of smoke {What?!} (Sekiei) "ATTENTION ALL STUDENTS!!!!" "I-I-It...wah a sha-ow cone...da whol time?" (Sekiei) Looking over towards the lake area, he saw Rei standing in his zone next Tai. Waving with a devious smile on his face Sekiei thought back to Rei''s earlier words for Suzu {"Make sure you''re exactly where you need to be when it matters" was what he said earlier...} (Sekiei) "No way...yu men...he wah...stallin ah a long?" (Sekiei) "THE FINAL EXAM IS OVER!! THOSE WHO HAVE NOT CLAIMED A ZONE HAVE FAILED!!!" 33. Graduation "THE FINAL EXAM IS OVER!! THOSE WHO HAVE NOT CLAIMED A ZONE HAVE FAILED!!!" As the message from the intercom resounded, the once chaotic battlefield ceased "OH YEAH! I made it!!!" "Ah damn it! I was almost...!" "No no no no no this is not happening!" "Shit!!! If I just had a little more time!" "Whew!!! That was too close!" Words of relief and regret echoed throughout the field ??? "Whew...this was quite the interesting day..." (Tai) "Yup...I''m glad I listened to your advice about Nemui. Fighting him would''ve been a pain" (Rei) "THAT''s what you find interesting?" (Tai) "Well...what else is there?" (Rei) {This guy is just...} (Tai) "Oh, I don''t know? Maybe you and Suzu, mostly Suzu, completely destroying Sekiei and his friends! Just look at them!" (Tai) "?" (Rei) Turning his head, Rei saw Sekiei in a daze. Blood oozing from his mouth and nose, his jaw in an awkward position, with tears coming out of his eyes. "A complete mess" is the best way to describe his appearance. But what made things even worse was... "ARGH! Wah! Wyyy! Dis-shudn''t av appened!! AGGGHHHH!!!!" (Sekiei) ...Sekiei''s loud wailing on his knees "Okay...wow" (Rei) {Geez. I know they''re all kids but that is just awful to look at} "Now you get it. You went way too far" (Tai) "Me?!" (Rei) "Yes! YOU!" (Tai) "All I did was taunt and hit them a little to shut them up. Like YOU wanted by the way since you were so offended by their words. Suzu was the one that came at them like a wild animal!" (Rei) {I don''t know what they are but that girl...has issues} [HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! NICE!!! And here I thought today was gonna be boring! That girl straight up pwned those noobs!] "True. She did most dirty work. But I think you were enjoying it..." (Tai) "..." (Rei) Tai looked at me with suspicion "...You weren''t enjoying it?" (Rei) {This sadistic mother...!} (Tai) "You''re unbelievable! When you first took off I thought you were just gonna distract them or something. You know, anything that could shut them up. Not something so ruthless! Hell, are Mikage and Hiroshi even still alive?! They''re not moving at all!" (Tai) "They''re alive, chill" (Rei) "From now on, I''m just gonna grin and bear it whenever I get offended by someone" (Tai) "..." (Rei) "What? Why are looking at me like that?" (Tai) "Tai..." (Rei) "What? What is it?!" (Tai) "Like you said...Suzu did all the dirty work. So with that in mind..." (Rei) "Hm?" (Tai) "Are complaining at me because you''re too scared to voice your complaints at Suzu?" (Rei) "..." (Tai) "..." (Rei) [...] An awkward silence "...Just keep it in moderation next time" (Tai) "I''ll consider it...maybe" (Rei) ??? Genin and staff appeared on the field escorting passing and failing students to different locations "Hic...hic...ugh!" (Sekiei) "With that jaw, you can''t even form words now huh? Come on, it''s time to go. You failed the final exam" "Hey! These students were knocked out over here. Gimme a hand!" "Alright I''m coming! Wait here kid, I''ll be right back" {Why? WHY?! How could this have happened?! Did I underestimate her that much?} (Sekiei) "Damn, his hair has been completely burned off" "That''s what happens when get careless with paper bombs" {We had them outnumbered and yet still...! Wait...them?} The students proceeded to leave the training field and faculty staff''s behest {No...that''s not it. Not them...him. Everything was going fine until HE showed up} (Sekiei) The figure of a particular departing student''s back caught his eye as he stood up {REI...THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT!!!} (Sekiei) "Wha?! Hey!" "Damn it! There''s one like this every year!" His eyes were red with rage. A kunai in his hand, he charged towards Rei "I''m onna ill you Rei-AARRGGGGGH!!!!" (Sekiei) Before he could he do anything, A genin knocked him out. He laid unconscious on the ground, his mouth foaming "Whew! Nice job C!" "I could tell this kid was going to try something stupid just from the look on his face" (C) "Right. Sorry about that" "Geez man! Be more careful!" "Let''s just make sure it doesn''t happen again. Come on, let''s hurry up and clear the field" (C) "Okay!" "Not bad huh? He''s got a good head on his shoulders" "You said it. Now I''m starting to see why such a young kid was chosen to inherit a ''Letter''. Makes me embarrassed when I think about how I used to complain about not getting one" ??? Inside a small room were the students who managed to successful maintain their hold on a zone until the end of the test. The failures were sent home "...How much longer are they gonna make us wait?" "Yeah. I thought I''d get my headband by now" "And the shinobi uniform too" "Oh yeah that''s right. I almost forgot we''re the only village that gives shinobi uniforms to ninja who''ve reached the rank of Genin and not just Chunin or above" Almost twenty minutes had passed since they arrived and not a single teacher has entered the room "You guys are forgetting something" (???) "Huh?" "Forgetting what?" "Who said that?" "I think it was Tai" Tired of their idle chatter, Tai gathered the attention in the room "We may have passed this part of the exam, but your performance is still factored into your overall score" (Tai) "?!" (Most of the students) "So even if you held a zone, if your performance was lackluster, you''re probably not graduating" (Tai) "But that''s...!" "Ah crap!" "At the beginning of the first school year every teacher told their students ''Your shinobi headband is earned''. It''s why we get uniforms despite not being Chunin" (Tai) "Not to mention our overall scores during our time at this school" "Aw man...I think I slacked off too much during my second year!" "Shit! No! I refuse to fail after coming so far!" The students began clamoring to themselves. Many who previously thought their promotion was assured were now beginning to panic Before anymore talk could be heard, a teacher entered the room. Just as some were about to ask questions, the teacher raised her hand "Save your questions, because I''m not answering them. I''m only gonna say this once so listen. Every few minutes or so I will enter this room and call upon one of you to follow me. First up, Nemui!" "M-m-me?" (Nemui) "Let''s go!" "Y-yes ma''am!" (Nemui) The pair left the room "...Now that''s the weirdest thing I''ve seen all day..." (Rei) "I know...how the hell can someone who fights like THAT be so timid" (Tai) "Everyone''s got their quirks I guess" (Rei) [You''re one to talk] "I could say the same about you" (Rei) "Me?!" (Tai) "No. I wasn''t talking to y-...well...I guess you do have some weird quirks yourself" (Rei) "The intuitive kind? Or the utterly destroying your opponents kind?" (Tai) "You''re still on about that?" (Rei) Before they could continue their banter, the teacher returned to the room and called for Tai "Well...wish me luck" (Tai) "Huh? Oh...sure. Good luck I guess" (Rei) "What''s with that half-assed sendoff! Come on man! Put some feeling into it, so I don''t fail!" (Tai) "Okay then. Don''t choke ya dork" (Rei) "That''s not better!" (Tai) "It certainly sounded better" (Rei) "Come on! I ain''t got all day!" "Y-yes sensei!" (Tai) The process continued until finally, Rei was called "Follow me" "Yes" (Rei) Making their way through the school, they entered a large room where three men sitting at a desk were waiting. Rei was surprised to find that not only was Osoi there, but the 4th Raikage was as well However, what really caught his attention was the third man. He was a dark-skinned man with glasses, wearing a loose kimono. Interestingly enough, the Raikage was being respectful towards him "Good to see you Rei. Please step forward" (Osoi) "Hey sensei. Did I pass or not?" (Rei) "Humph!" (4th Raikage) "Quick to the point...I like this kid" (???) "As blunt as usual. Before we get to that, I''d like to begin with some introductions. To my left is one you should already know, the 4th Raikage, A" (Osoi) "Mabui speaks quite highly of you boy" (A) "And to his left is our esteemed guest, the Land of Lightning''s Daimy-sama1Feudal Lord" "A pleasure to meet you Rei" (Daimy) "I''m surprised that not only the Raikage, but even our Daimy would be here today. You guys got nothing better to do?" (Rei) "Ah! Rei!" (Osoi) "Hahahaha! I wish!" (Daimy) "Mabui wasn''t kidding...it''s like talking with an adult" (A) "The Daimy''s appearance has always been a tradition when it comes to graduation. But the reason for Raikage-dono2An honorific that denotes high status on the part of the person being addressed being here is to fill in for the Village Head Ninja" (Daimy) "The Head Ninja couldn''t make it?" (Rei) "He could...but he has family that participated in this year''s exam" (Daimy) "Raikage-sama replacing him is simply to prevent any biased opinion and complaints" (Osoi) "Well, we wouldn''t want that now would we" (Rei) "Alright enough, let''s get to the issue at hand. Osoi!" (A) "Yes sir! After reviewing your scores and performance over the years and this exam, it can be said that you''ve demonstrated the proper qualifications to be promoted to Genin rank" (Osoi) "But..." (Rei) "But we have one more question to ask before we can promote you" (Daimy) "This question will determine whether you pass or fa-" (Osoi) "Ask it" (Rei) "?!" (Osoi & Daimy) "..." (A) "What? I didn''t come this far just to back out now. Plus, there''s some grilled teriyaki waiting for me at home so I''m in a rush. Hurry up and ask your question" (Rei) Every adult, even the Raikage, was somewhat flabbergasted at the response of this six-year old "Okay then" (A) "?" (Osoi & Daimy) "I think we''ve seen all we need to see. He''s clearly shown no hesitation" (A) "Hehe. True. It''s safe to say he''s passed your little ''test'' just now Raikage-dono. Plus, there are still many students to call up and I''m a pretty busy man" (Daimy) "So we''re in agreement then?" (Osoi) "..." (Rei) The three men stood and approached Rei "Rei Sano! You have demonstrated all the qualities of a proper Kumogakure Ninja. Strength, Intelligence, Tenacity, and Resolve! These are the traits that define a shinobi, and these are traits that define you!" (Osoi) "As you embark on your path, remember like the lightning, you are the spark that illuminates the village. You, like the rest of your colleagues, now carry the ''Will of Lightning'' within you" (Daimy) The Raikage handed Rei a see-through bag. Inside was the standard Kumo Ninja attire. A Kumo headband was on top of it "When you wear this outfit, when you wear this headband, you no longer represent just you. You represent the entirety of the village. The choices you make when you''re in uniform will potentially decide the fate of all the lives that dwell in this village. You must strive to ALWAYS acknowledge it''s true weight!" (A) The three men bowed to Rei, so Rei responded in kind before leaving the room ??? "Go ahead and call the next student" (Osoi) "Yes" The teacher that brought Rei left the room "Well, that was just as I expected" (A) "Oh? You knew he would pass your little ''scare'' test?" (Daimy) "Getting students to hesitate by threating them with failure if they can''t correctly answer an unknown question that doesn''t even exist...quite mean of you Raikage-sama" (Osoi) "We''re not like those weak-willed ninja in other villages that just hand out headbands left and right. Hell, aren''t you always going on about how we ''earn our status'' here Osoi?" (A) "True. But you seemed to know that he would pass easily..." (Osoi) "Yes, I was also curious about that" (Daimy) "Mabui told me all about him and I trust her judgement" (A) "Such a young girl has gained your trust huh? She must be quite talented. A shame she isn''t working for me..." (Daimy) "Don''t even think about poaching her. I''m still irritated you took Tekkan from me" (A) Chuckling "You gotta let that go Raikage-dono. So Osoi-sensei, whose next?" (Daimy) "Next? That would be...oh. You guys oughta prepare yourselves for this one" (Osoi) Showing them a document "...Ah...this one is from..." (Daimy) "That family huh..." (A) ??? Rei left the school only to find Mabui waiting at the gate. Walking up to her with his uniform in hand, she spoke "So..." (Mabui) "So..." (Rei) "...Grilled Teriyaki?" (Mabui) "Grilled Teriyaki" (Rei) The pair went home The Team” Saga – 34. Research [1] In a dark room, several men sat around a circular table. Their faces impossible to see "What about our resources?" "If we play our cards right, we should still have a sufficient amount of funds" "Okay then, are we all in agreement?" "Yes" "Of course" "..." "What''s wrong?" "I understand using this clan. Their simple, efficient, and they never ask questions. If things go wrong, we simply place the blame on them. It''s the other clan that''s..." "..." "I was wondering when someone was going to say it" "Actually, I share the same concerns. While that clan is powerful, they''re also a total wild card. You never know what they''ll do once they get to Kumogakure" "Not to mention their VERY bad history with the Land of Lightning" "But isn''t that what we counted on in the first place? We needed scapegoats with proper motivation and incentive" "Yes, but it''ll all be for naught if they lose control. The village needs to be in a state capable of reoccupation after the deed is done for our plan to be successful. They go crazy, and even the foundation itself could end up as rubble" "...In that case, how about a little test run?" "A means of affirming their risk status..." "Are you sure that''s wise to do now?" "Why not? The gears have yet to be set in motion. We''ve plenty of leeway" "You have something in mind?" "Yes...I think it''s time we made a call to him" "That buffoon? I''ve been meaning to talk about that. I still have complaints about putting a greedy man like him in such a place of power" "After gaining his new status, all he''s done is reap the benefits for himself and his family. He''s completely detrimental to the village" "Exactly! That power hungry fool could end up jeopardizing everything we''ve fought to accomplish" "That''s precisely why we put him in that position. He''s an ignorant dog...but an ignorant dog that''s easy to control. Even if he gets caught, he can''t say anything since he doesn''t know anything" "Indeed. Also, I''ve had to listen to his complaints for months after his nephew''s failure. I say it''s about time we put him to work" "Well we had better act soon. After receiving news from Danzo, the new peace treaties between Kumo and Konoha are most likely set to be signed in little over a year" "If we can''t get proper confirmation on where that clan stands before then, we''ll have to delay our time table. And the cost of doing so will be incredibly excessive" "Not to worry. It''ll take some effort, but if we move swiftly, we can get our answer just in time before the peace treaties are signed. I will see to the arrangements myself. Any opposed?" "Nay" "Nay" "Nay" "Nay" "...Nay" The group stood up from their seats "Then it''s settled. May our ''Company'' keep Kumogakure forever Illuminated..." "May our ''Company'' keep Kumogakure forever Illuminated..." The rest of the group sounded out in unison before vanishing in the shadows ??? Back at his lab, Rei was tinkering with some tools CLANK! "Damn it...another failure. I don''t understand, I''m sure that was the right temperature..." (Rei) [No luck?] "There''s been progress, but it''s slow" (Rei) {I followed the schematics to the letter, so what went wrong?} (Rei) [Now that you''ve cleaned up Isshiki''s...er...YOUR lab, I thought recreating his personal weapons would be a cake walk] "That''s what I don''t get! Isshiki didn''t have a Rinnegan so he couldn''t make "Black Receivers" out of pure chakra, let alone those giant "Black Cubes" of his" (Rei) [So how did he make them?] "That''s what I''m trying to find out! There''s something that I''m missing..." (Rei) The lab Rei "inherited" from Isshiki held several schematics and unique devices of tsutsuki origin. During the time that passed since his graduation, the now seven year old has been hard at work trying to acquire the powerful weapons Isshiki used in the original story {...Come on Raymond, you''re an engineer. You used to solve problems for a living. Something like this should be easy} (Rei) [Well don''t sweat it! It''s not like you don''t have a lot of free time now that you''re out of the academy. You don''t even have a squad yet!] "That''s not a good thing you know. I''ve only been allowed to go on D-rank missions, barely earning any money or achievements" (Rei) {If I can''t rise up the ranks, I won''t be able gain more authority or influence. Or even just the freedom to do what I want, when I want} (Rei) Due to the 3rd Shinobi World War, the already small population of Kumogakure became worse. Recovery has been slow, not the mention the short supply of Jonin. Because of this, there has been a delay on the formation of Rei''s team. Leaving him with nothing to do but train and study this strange technology "Besides, one of the main issues is the inconsistencies of this world''s technology" (Rei) [I don''t follow...is the tech level too small for you to work with?] "No! It''s inconsistent. The story starts off with them barely able to make video calls between Daimy''s, then 15 years, then progresses into the sequel series where they suddenly have laptops and nanotechnological cyborgs! I know tsutsuki are aliens but come on, it''s not like they were THAT advanced when they first showed up" (Rei) {Ugh. Terrible. Trying to break down this process is like trying teach a lesson on Thermal Nuclear Astro Physics to children} (Rei) [Well...unless you use a "Lifeline", I can''t tell you how exactly Amado built these things] "There is no way I''m gonna use a...! Wait. What did you just say about who?" (Rei) [Huh? You mean about Amado building these things?] "I thought you said it was Isshiki! Amado built these things?!" (Rei) [Well...yeah! He was the head of Kara''s research and development division. All of their weird technology was built by him when he met Isshiki. Don''t get all mad cause YOU misinterpreted my words] "..." (Rei) [What? What are you thinking abo-] "Wait" (Rei) [Humph! Rude] {Amado was able to create this stupid tech when he met Isshiki, or rather when Isshiki gave him access to tsutsuki secrets...} (Rei) "tsutsuki...! That''s it! The methods I used weren''t the problem...it was the materials!" (Rei) [Huh?] Rei ran to the basement and jumped through the space-time gate that led to the ten-tails. Approaching its cage, he took out an unusually large butterfly needle1https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winged_infusion_set with a long tube attached to it [Okay, what in the world are you doing?] "I initially believed I could replicate Isshiki''s weapons by melting down the materials he left in the lab at super high temperatures. But you saw how that worked" (Rei) [They shattered to pieces...] "Yes! Because once they take on a solid state, they''ll break apart if you attempt to change them" (Rei) [Then how did Amado create those black cubes?] "With this" (Rei) [?] "ROOOAAARRRRR!!!!" Maintaining a safe distance from the hostile creature, Rei threw the needle at it''s skin and began extracting it''s blood [It''s blood? How does that help you?] "Let me show you" (Rei) Getting what he needed, Rei immediately returned to the lab. Taking a single drop of the blood he extracted and placing it in a glass petri dish "Just a drop should be good enough for the first test" [What are you going to do?] "It needs a stimulant" (Rei) Rei held out his hand [Stimulant?] "I''ve formed a hypothesis, just watch" (Rei) [This...] After adding some chemicals, he began sending chakra into the blood sample [Sending chakra into the blood...how does that...hm?!] FZZZZ [Hm? Wha?! WHAT THE HELL?!] 35. Research [2] The blood drop turned black and began to grow and spread at a rapid rate before Rei pulled away "Just as I suspected" (Rei) [Okay...the hell just happened?!] "A phase change. This is how Amado made the black receivers" (Rei) [Phase change...like solidification? How exactly did you figure it out?] "After you told me about Isshiki, I came to understand the effects of his weapons were different" (Rei) [Different how?] "Black receivers like Madara''s or Momoshiki''s can disrupt chakra and immobilize a target stabbed by them, they act on a principle similar to demodulation. But Isshiki''s rods drain chakra from the victim, the exact opposite of Rinnegan-created receivers" (Rei) [Okay, but that still doesn''t explain how you figured it out] Chuckling a bit "Hehe...it was those things over there" (Rei) [You mean those weird pipes?] "Yup, I''ve been wondering what those devices are for. Their true purpose is to maintain the form." (Rei) [Maintain the...Oh! You mean the blood!] "Once given tsutsuki chakra after being properly cultivated, it grows and hardens. The purpose of the tubes is to shape the weapons in the way Isshiki wanted" (Rei) [...Are you sure that''s what they''re for?] "Only one way to find out" (Rei) Rei rummaged through the materials, taking some of the pipes and shaping them into a single hollow rod with a cap on the bottom. "Now I just insert the blood, a few of these chemicals, and close the lid" (Rei) [Then we "watch the magic happen" as it were?] "Something like that" (Rei) Sealing the blood and chemicals inside the tube, Rei began pouring his chakra CLUNK!!! RUMBLE!! BINK!! Rei opened the cylinder and what came out was a perfectly solid, black, double pointed stake approximately the size of his arm [You...you did it....] "Heh! Nothing succeeds like success" (Rei) [Alright! Alright! How exactly does that even work?!] Picking up the rod "With these materials and my chakra, the blood cells rapidly divide, causing it to expand and undergo a form of sclerosis to harden. I''m also assuming the reason it''s black is because of the carbon within the cells, but there could be another reason for that as well." (Rei) [Ya know...those traits seem very...] "Familiar? They are. Kaguya''s ten-tails demonstrated it was capable of body fission and altering it''s form. Isshiki''s ten-tails is a different specimen, but I theorized it would have similar capabilities" (Rei) [You mean those little clones it made to fight the allied shinobi forces during the last arc? The way they could make weapons from their bodies, and even Kawaki''s cyborg body reminds me of Jugo''s sage transformation ability. I wonder if there''s a correlation there...] "...I did consider the same, but there''s not enough data to form a proper answer. But once it hardens, the material becomes completely inorganic and unable to change any further." (Rei) [That''s why you couldn''t melt down the materials Isshiki already made in the lab and fashion new weapons out of them] "Yup. Also, Isshiki was able to store them in his personal pocket dimension where time doesn''t flow because..." (Rei) [Oh! He could only store Non-living matter!] "Precisely! And this is just the surface...there''s still so much I''ve yet to uncover" (Rei) [I could give you all the answers if you used a Lifeline, but I think with time you''ll figure out the whole truth on your own] "Lifelines are too important to be used on questions that can be solved by myself. But anyway, that''s only the first part of the little ''test'', the next is..." (Rei) [Hm?] STAB!!!! Rei ran the receiver through his arm [The f*ck Rei?!] "Ngh! Agh! O-okay! That''s definitely a confirmation!" (Rei) Struggling a bit, Rei removed the sharp rod [To what?!] "To whether or not these receivers work. I needed to be sure these rods can drain chakra like Isshiki''s" (Rei) [So to test that, you stabbed yourself...Rei...you cray...] "Huff...huff...do you...see anyone else around to volunteer? At least now I''ve confirmed it, they DEFINITELY work well...huff...whew" (Rei) {Jesus...I must''ve had the receiver on for only a few seconds and it still managed to take that much chakra from me...} (Rei) Rei picked up the rod and went back downstairs to the space-time gate [Where are you going?] "To get more blood...and...more chakra" (Rei) {I still can''t neglect my training to increase my reserves of power} (Rei) A few minutes after retrieving what he needed from the ten-tails, Rei returned to the lab "Alright...moving on to the other device" (Rei) [Hm...you know Rei...] "?" (Rei) [It''s not bad] "What is?" (Rei) [You''re chakra. You''re only seven years old yet, you have almost half the amount of chakra Naruto possessed during the beginning of Part 1] A frown on his face "Under half...is that really something to praise me for?" (Rei) [Don''t be such a downer. If you take into account that Naruto, who was twelve years old at the time, had more chakra than Kakashi then it''s a big achievement for someone your age] "If you say so..." (Rei) Whip! Whoop! Rei began practicing with the rod "Hah! Good! The durability is great. I can''t wait to run so more tests!" (Rei) [More!? What else are you gonna do?] "I''ve finally succeeded at making a receiver. Now I need to figure out how to make a cube, their functions are completely different than these receivers after all" (Rei) [Right, those cubes could disrupt chakra sensing] "I''ll continue my ''manufacturing'' of these materials while I''m studying these schematics" (Rei) "Kage bushin no Jutsu" Leaving the shadow clone to study, Rei began harvesting more genetic material from the Ten-tails ??? Back at Rei''s house, Mabui was at work with housekeeping before she heard a knock at the front door "Who is- Ah! Dodai-san!" (Mabui) "Hey Mabui. May I have a moment of your time?" (Dodai) "Oh...um...come on in" (Mabui) Being invited inside, Dodai went straight to business "Thank you. I''m actually here for two reasons. The first is to inform you, Rei''s legal guardian, that his team has now been selected" (Mabui) "Great! He was starting to get a little restless. Heh, I don''t think there''s a single Genin in the village that''s done more D-rank missions than him at this point" (Mabui) "His actions certainly didn''t go unnoticed. Initially, we had a preselected team ready and waiting for him, but due to a last minute change one of the students had to be moved. Here''s the notice marking where he reports to his Jonin teacher tomorrow" (Dodai) Dodai handed her an envelope "I''ll be sure to give this to him. But what was your second reason for coming here?" (Mabui) "..." (Dodai) "Dodai-san?" (Mabui) "...On orders from the Raikage, I''ve been tasked to inform you that construction of the "Network" has finally been approved by the upper brass" (Dodai) "So soon?!" (Mabui) "The war...it''s dealt far more damage to our home than we thought..." (Dodai) "...I knew the situation wasn''t great just by looking at the delays for Genin squads...but I didn''t think it was that bad" (Mabui) "Kumogakure''s population was never that great for being one of the ''Five Great Shinobi Nations'' to begin with. Despite our powerful military and economy, our low numbers have kept us at risk. This mechanism should accelerate our recovery and increase security" (Dodai) "But this project of all things...it doesn''t take a genius to know that revolutionizing technology is never an easy thing to do, not to mention expensive. What made the upper brass finally give in?" (Mabui) "The ones in the middle" (Dodai) "The ones in...ah...I see. Damn it, we should''ve seen that coming" (Mabui) "We had anticipated smaller nations and individual organizations taking advantage of the Great Nations weary states after the war, but these groups have begun to spiral out of control. If this continues, we''ll end up losing much influence in the Land of Lightning" (Dodai) "How much does the public know?" (Mabui) "Not much, we''re doing our best to keep it quiet...but eventually word is going to get out. There have even been signs of terrorists cells in the west near Iwagakure1Hidden Stone Village and it''s been confirmed their ''crusade'' is moving East" (Dodai) "?!" (Mabui) "Sooner or later, someone with ill intent is gonna show up at our doorstep. We must act as swiftly and quietly as possible if we''re ever going to get back to normal" (Dodai) As Mabui pondered, Dodai set about to taking his leave "Things are going to get busy, for you in particular. Expect to spend a lot of time by the Raikage''s side" (Dodai) "I''ve already been prepared to do whatever the village requires of me" (Mabui) "That''s what we want to hear. I''ll be going then, you''ll be contacted soon enough" (Dodai) Dodai left the house. Now alone, Mabui sat down and sighed {Everything is going to change now. The Network is going to be a massive undertaking. I just hope our village can handle it} "Just where is Rei anyway? He should''ve been back by now...he better not be goofing off" {I wonder which Jonin is going to be assigned to him...} 36. Team MrProper "Ahhh...mmm...is it morning already?" (Rei) Yawning, Rei got out of his bed and left his room Sizzle "Well something smells good. You''re going all out this morning nee-san" (Rei) "Well today''s the day you join your first squad, naturally I want to make sure you''re prepared" (Mabui) After failing to recreate Isshiki''s "Black Cube" device yesterday, Rei decided to call it quits and head back home only to find out Mabui received notice that his team is ready "Thanks, I appreciate it" (Rei) "No problem" (Mabui) Sitting at the table, he wasted no time going to work on the food in front of him "I still can''t believe you''re a shinobi now..." (Mabui) "Technically, I''ve been an official shinobi in the many months after I graduated from the academy" (Rei) "Yeah I know...but...now that you''re joining a squad with a Jonin captain it feels really official now. Hehe" (Mabui) "...Speaking of the Jonin captain" (Rei) "What is it?" (Mabui) "What can you tell me about Tango-sensei?" (Rei) After receiving the squad notice yesterday, the pair found that it provided little to no information on his Jonin teacher other than his name "Hmmm. All I know is that he was among the many young Chunin to be promoted to Jonin during the war. Any other data on him is classified. Jonin are the elite after all" (Mabui) "I see" (Rei) "Sorry I can''t be of much help" (Mabui) "No...something is always better than nothing. Thanks nee-san" (Rei) Finishing his breakfast, Rei returned to his room and put on his shinobi attire before heading to the front door "Eh?! You''re leaving already?!" (Mabui) Opening the door "Of course! I don''t want to be late on my first day!" (Rei) "At least let me pack some lunch for you! Rei! Aaaannd, he''s gone. Typical" (Mabui) {He should be fine, but I worry about having such a young captain} ??? Moving with haste, Rei stopped at a wide elevated platform in the upper areas of the village "Hm. No one else here, guess I''m the first to arrive" (Rei) [I would think after your "half-success" at the lab yesterday you''d be in lower spirits] "Just because I didn''t succeed at making the cubes now doesn''t mean I will in the future. That failure just proves I have much more to learn about ninja and chakra. Something a Jonin captain can definitely help me with" (Rei) [How very "glass half full" of you] "Hey! At least I succeeded in recreating the receivers yesterday. Not bad for a seven year old wouldn''t you say?" (Rei) [Well...at least you''re more enthusiastic than when you first started in this world. Can''t believe it''s already been four years] Frowning "Yes. Four years since you dropped me into the body of a three year old. Yay" (Rei) [Now there''s sourpuss I love to mess with!] "Eat me" (Rei) [Hehe! You''re a wonderful source of entertainment. I can''t wait to see what you''ll...SHIT!] "You can''t wait to...huh? The hell did you just say?" (Rei) [Ah! NO! I mean...look!] "Look where Notitia? It''s not like disembodied voices have hands" (Rei) [Ugh. You''re Eight o''clock!] "What? What''s the big...oh shit" (Rei) Walking towards him were two familiar figures. One was nervous and shaking, his face carrying the most tense expression it was capable of showing. The other was as calm as the time before the storm "H-h-hey Rei...looks were gonna be on the same team" (???) "Right...uh....yeah. And can I assume the same for you?" (Rei) "..." (???) "I''ll take that as a yes" (Rei) [Well...you still feeling enthusiastic Rei?] {Looks like things are gonna get hectic now} (Rei) The quiet student sat down a distance from Rei and the other student began to whisper "Hey! Rei!" (???) "What is it?" (Rei) "Did you know that person was going to be on our team?!" (???) "How the hell would I know who would be on our team?" (Rei) "You didn''t try to find out all those times you were getting D-rank missions at the assignment office? I''m pretty sure at this point everyone in the village knows how mission-crazy you''ve been in the past few months" (???) {Was I really gathering that much attention during this little "break" of mine?} "Would anyone tell me if they knew? I''m pretty sure that stuff is supposed to be ''tight-lipped'' so I didn''t bother trying to ask" (Rei) "Well I did, and many of them aren''t as ''tight-lipped'' as you might think" (???) "Oh? And what did you hear?" (Rei) "Originally, we were supposed to have Nemui for a third member" (???) "What?! How did we lose such a top-tier member?!" (Rei) {Shit! Nemui may be a minor part of it, but he''s still supposed to keep Itachi on the right path in the story. I had hoped he''d be on my team so I could make sure it''d happen correctly} "Ugh. I don''t know much, but apparently some ''changes'' are going on with management" (???) "..." (Rei) {I wonder...she seemed normal this morning but nee-san was acting very strange yesterday} "What''s wrong?" (???) "Nothing...damn. Sucks we lost out on Nemui. But you know..." (Rei) "?" (???) "It''s not like his replacement is lacking in ability" (Rei) "If that was all we had to worry about, I wouldn''t be freaking out right now!" (???) TUP! A fourth shinobi landed in front of them. He was older than the rest of them "Good, you''re all here. Please come closer." (???) The three Genin lined up in front of him "Would it be safe to assume that you''re..." (???) "Yes. My name is Tango. Bearing the letter ''T'', I''ll be your Jonin captain. Nice to meet you all." (Tango) {Huh, he''s younger than what nee-san had implied} He had slight slanted eyes and a flat nose. Light skin with black hair concealed underneath his headband that he wore like a bandanna "Starting from my left, could you all introduce yourselves please?" (Tango) "Ah! R-right! My name is Tai! Nice to meet you sensei!" (Tai) "I''m Rei, a pleasure" (Rei) {...And finally...} "Suzu" "..." (Tai) "..." (Rei) [Well...the wild bronco is here. I thought only I was supposed to give you headaches?] {Haaah. Things are gonna get annoying now.....................shit} 37. First Mission [1] MrProper "With the introductions out of the way, it''s time for your first mission" (Tango) "Eh?!" (Tai) "Right now?" (Suzu) "Not even some tests or last minute evaluations for our skills?" (Rei) {I thought we''d be doing something like Kakashi''s bell test} "Heh, the academy took care of that for me. I already know plenty about your abilities. Now lets begin the mission briefing" (Tango) Tango took out a map and laid it in front of the trio "A, let''s say ''facility'', of Kumogakure is under siege and inside is something the village needs protected. We''ve been tasked to deal with the chaos and expect a hostile response" (Tango) "What is this thing that needs protection?" (Tai) "It is a sacred site that has been in our village''s hands for generations" (Tango) "What kind of environment should we prepare ourselves for?" (Suzu) "A jungle/forest like environment. It also causes much signal interference so don''t expect to rely on radios" (Tango) "Do we know exactly who is attacking the site?" (Tai) "That has yet to be confirmed. Our exact job is to infiltrate the location, identify and remove the perpetrators from the sacred site, and defend it from any other attacks until reinforcements arrive. If the final task proves too difficult to accomplish, we retreat and report our findings" (Tango) {Something''s wrong. If this sacred site is so important, why trust it''s safety to a newly formed team of Genin with a Jonin leader young enough to look like he just came out of the Academy?} (Rei) "Um...Sensei...what exactly is the rank for this mission?" (Tai) "This is a C-rank mission. Due to the lack personnel, many teams like yours will be getting higher rank missions than the norm" (Tango) "Tango-sensei...is the lack of personnel the reason this site was so poorly guarded?" (Suzu) "...Yes. The war may be over, but its repercussions are not done with us yet" (Tango) "..." (Suzu) "Years later and yet we still..." (Tai) "It may seem unfair but you must remember, this is nothing compared to what you''ll face on the path ahead" (Tango) Tango wore a stern look on his face "I understand" (Tai) "When we make it to the location and secure the site, I will stand guard near the site and coordinate while you three act as varying lines of defense to deal with any attackers" (Tango) "Sir? Even if we manage to take the site, how will you ''coordinate'' the three of us? According to this map, we''ll have a lot of ground to cover. So much that communication will be next to impossible without being able to use radios" (Suzu) Tango smirked and made a hand sign ?Like this? (Tango) "?!" (Rei, Tai, & Suzu) Shocked, the students heard Tango''s voice in their heads "This is..." (Tai) "The ability to communicate via one''s thoughts, Chakra Transmission" (Suzu) {To be able to use this technique at such a young age, now I understand how this kid could distinguish himself on the battlefield and earn the rank of Jonin. But it still doesn''t change the fact there''s something fishy going on...} (Rei) "Alright, are there any other questions? Rei? You''ve been silent for a while now" (Tango) "No, I think I''ve heard all I''m going to hear" (Rei) "...Okay then. Let''s move!" (Tango) Tango picked up the map and put it away "Yes sir!" (Rei, Tai, & Suzu) DASH! The new team set out for their first mission {Let''s see how long this team lasts} (Tango) ??? The team left the village, heading southeast towards a shoreline port where several Kumo Shinobi were stationed One of the shinobi called out Tango when he saw him "Hm? Hey Tango! You the one going to the ''Island'' to get things under control?" (???) "Yeah, with my new team. Here''s my pass along with approval from the Raikage''s office" (Tango) "Hmmm, alright. Looks like the paperwork is in order. Please follow me, we still have one boat available for you" (???) "Thanks, will you be taking us Funsui?" (Tango) "Mhm" (Funsui) {Only one boat?} (Rei) Tango shook his head, seemingly looking for something "Something wrong?" (Funsui) "Where''s Hikaru? He''s the last person I''d expect NOT to be here" (Tango) "He''s dealing with some problems on the Northwest border. Everyone''s busy these days, and we''re heavily understaffed right now" (Funsui) "You must be if you only have one boat available" (Tango) Sighing "You don''t know the half of it" (Funsui) The group departed on the boat. Tango spoke with Funsui while the Genin stood on the other side of the deck "We''ve got some time before we reach our destination so make yourselves comfortable" (Funsui) "Thanks, I''ll let you know if we need anything" (Tango) Funsui gave them some privacy and went towards the lower deck of the ship "Haaah" (Tai) "Nervous?" (Rei) "A little bit I guess, what about you?" (Tai) "The mission results don''t scare me. I''m only concerned about staying alive" (Rei) "...Right..." (Tai) "I see no point in worrying. We all knew what we were in for when we decided to enter the Academy. Close your heart to all ''what ifs'' and doubts if you wish to succeed" (Suzu) To their surprise, the unsociable Suzu gave them some advice "Well said!" (Tango) Tango approached the three and gestured them to sit down "We have some time before we arrive, so how about we go over our formation" (Tango) "In that case Sensei, I''m a- " (Tai) "Like I said before, I''ve already been briefed on each of your abilities so there''s no need to explain Tai" (Tango) "Oh...okay then" (Tai) "When we make it to the island, our first priority will be to make as little noise as possible during our advance to the site. You all have been taught about ''Y Formations'' have you not?" (Tango) "Yes" (All of them) "Good. Rei! Having the best Taijutsu, you''ll be in the front next to me. You''re job is to be the tip of the spear as we puncture our way to the site" (Tango) "Got it" (Rei) "Suzu, your job will be just as difficult as Rei''s. Positioned in the back, you''re to keep all enemies at bay. Taijutsu, Ninjutsu, use every means at your disposal. Preferably, in the directions of 4, 6, and 8 o''clock" (Tango) "Understood" (Suzu) "Tai, as a herbalist you''re the closest thing we have to a Medical-nin, so you''ll remain on support in the middle. Stick to mid and long range attacks if you can. Maintain a mindset that you must be the last person in our squad to get hurt" (Tango) "Yes sir!" (Tai) "That will be our main formation, now let''s go over the others. When we get to the site I want you all..." (Tango) They continued their discussion on strategy for the next two hours until a bell sounded off "Oh good, looks like you guys are ready" (Funsui) "Yes, we''ve arrived at our destination" (Tango) "Huh?" (Rei) Rei was confused by their words as even with his enhanced eyesight, he couldn''t see anything with all of the fog around them. Funsui noticed this and sought to inform the team "Heh, the birds tell us everything we need to know. Just wait for it" (Funsui) Moving through the fog, a massive location came into view much to their surprise "Unbelievable..." (Suzu) "What the?! How could something so huge remain so concealed?!" (Tai) "Hahaha! That''s the whole point!" (Funsui) "..." (Rei) What awaited them was a gigantic island as Tango spoke again "Everyone...welcome to Genbu Island" 38. First Mission [2] Before they could contemplate their situation any further, the ship stopped "That place has many forms of protection, so we can''t go any further. You''ll have to take the mini boat to get on the island" (Funsui) "That''s fine, a small boat makes it easier to get in undetected. Let''s go guys" (Tango) "Good luck!" (Funsui) Getting on the small boat attached to the ship, the team left Funsui lit a cigar as he watched the departing party before one of his crew members approached him "And there they go" "Yup" (Funsui) "And we''re just supposed to wait for them here?" "Is that a problem?" (Funsui) "Don''t tell me you forgot about that guard dog" "With a boat that small I doubt it''ll notice them" (Funsui) "Oh I''m not worried about them, I''m worried about us" "Reinforcements have already been called. They''re just going to secure the perimeter until backup arrives. We''ll be fine" (Funsui) "Who''d the village send?" "The ''Guardian'' of all people" (Funsui) "For real?! They sent him?!" "This place is very important to Kumo, that''s why you shouldn''t be worried about us. The only ones facing any real danger are Tango and his team..." (Funsui) "Okay...still...I can''t believe Raikage-sama approved" "Didn''t have much of choice really...in these times, not even Raikage-sama is allowed to play ''favorites'' with ninja" (Funsui) ??? Making their way to a small beach, Tango took out his map to get a grasp of the groups current location "According to this, we''re about fourteen clicks1Kilometers from the site. Bear in mind that while I gave you instructions on engaging, I''d prefer we do this as quickly and quietly as possible" (Tango) The three Genin nodded their heads "To maintain our communication, I''ll be using Chakra Transmission to relay instructions..." (Tango) Forming a hand seal ?...from this point onward? (Tango) ?Hmm...that''s a funny feeling? (Rei) ?I know, like electricity on the back of my neck? (Tai) ?Heh, no worries. You''ll get used to it soon enough. Now, let''s move!? (Tango) ?Right!? (All of them) The team did their best to remain silent by any means possible {Not bad, for a new team they''re performing quite well} (Tango) ?Nothing but giant animals around here...? (Tai) ?This island is host to many potential animals that can enter a contract for Summoning. It''s also the equivalent of Konoha''s "Forest of Death"? (Tango) ?Is that why this place is so important? To provide Kumo ninja a supply of summoned creatures?? (Suzu) ?...Well...no. There are far easier ways to get a contract with an animal than coming to this dangerous place. Letting these animals stay here was originally just a means to add another layer of protection? (Tango) DRIZZLE {Huh? The sound of water?} (Rei) ?Hm? You see something Rei?? (Tango) ?More like hear something...flowing water? (Rei) ?Those are some sharp senses you got there, but if you''re hearing water that means were getting close. Let''s pick up the pace!? (Tango) Heading through the forest, they arrived at a waterfall. A small pond underneath it with a grassy platform in the middle ?This is...? (Tai) ?Our target for protection? (Tango) ?So this is the sacred site? (Suzu) Tango gestured the other three to wait while he scouted ahead. After checking the area, he returned ?I''ve confirmed there''s no one else around. We need to make and hold a perimeter around this area until reinforcements arrive, so let''s set up choke points and traps. Tai, since you''re a Suiton2Water Style user, you''ll be positioned near me by the waterfall. I also want you set traps around the area, but absolutely NO explosives. We''re supposed to protect this site, not destroy it? (Tango) ?How about some steel wire traps? I also have some anesthetic smoke bombs? (Tai) ?Those will do just fine. Suzu, I need you to use your Doton3Earth Style to dig trenches. From what I''ve read you''re quite skilled with elemental jutsu, so I trust that shouldn''t be a problem? (Tango) ?It''s no problem at all, I''ll get it done? (Suzu) ?Rei...I know you''re skilled with Taijutsu, but I''ve heard you possess Inton4Yin/Shadow Style as well. Have you learned any Genjutsu?? (Tango) ?I have a "Kanashibari no Genjutsu"5Temporary Paralysis Genjutsu under my belt but that''s pretty much it for now? (Rei) {I''ve spent more time in the lab and training my physical capabilities than study any jutsu lately. I really need to find a better way to balance my time} ?That, along with your Taijutsu, will be enough. You''re on the outer layer of defense? (Tango) ?Just me?? (Rei) ?I''ll be moving back and forth between all of you for support. For now, you''re on look out while we set up our ambush? (Tango) ?Okay? (Rei) {I have to admit, it''s pretty impressive he''s be able to maintain this "Chakra Transmission" for so long without any signs of getting tired} ?Time is of the essence people! I want this done quickly!? (Tango) The team immediately went to work, Tai and Tango laying traps while Suzu turned the territory towards our advantage ??? Remaining on watch, Rei began whispering "Nothing so far, kind of anti-climatic" (Rei) [You know you just jinxed yourself right?] "We''re EXPECTING to get attacked, so it''s not really a jinx Notitia" (Rei) [Whatever you say. Soooo...how''s it feel being on your first REAL mission with a team] "Nothing of note" (Rei) [Really?] "Yeah, I worked with Tai before during our graduation" (Rei) [Ehhh, for like a minute before you took off and had Suzu beat the ever living shit out of those poor morons] "Still counts. Besides, I had plenty of experience when it came to working with a team back in my world" (Rei) [..."Working with"...right...sure...whatever you say] "What?" (Rei) [No...nothing] {Just what is this thing implying now?} (Rei) Tired of talking, Rei continued his watch [...] "..." (Rei) [...] "..." (Rei) [...This is like the "The calm before the storm" without the storm. Sigh, boring] "..." (Rei) [I''d ask for a smoke, but then again, I can''t smoke] "..." (Rei) [Can you hear the "Jaws" theme in the background yet?] "..." (Rei) [...] "..." (Rei) [...Bet that knee is starting to hurt] "WILL YOU SHUT..!" (Rei) Before he could retort, a rustling sound could be heard ?Sensei! Contact! Ten o''clock!? (Rei) ??!? (Tai & Suzu) ?How many?!? (Tango) ?Hard to say, at least over a dozen of them!? (Rei) ?How far are they from us?? (Tango) ?Hmmm...about eighteen...no, nineteen meters away? (Rei) ?Okay! Tai! Suzu! That''s pretty much the best we can do for our ambush set up. Take your positions. From this point forward, keep the chatter to a minimum!? (Tango) Everyone took their defensive positions, as the rustling sounds around them grew louder WHOOSH!! A massive figure emerged. It was grey, furry, and had three vertical scars on it''s forehead ?What the?! Is that...?!? (Tai) ?A giant koala?? (Suzu) ?Not just any koala, that''s Don! A frequent troublemaker on this island!? (Tango) Several other koalas appeared behind it, their sizes were towering compared to fully grown humans {Those are koalas?! They''re at least fourteen feet tall!} (Rei) ?Left unchecked, they''ll definitely destroy the site if we let them in!? (Tango) ?Um...Sensei?? (Rei) ?What is it?? (Tango) ?Since we can''t let them in...can you tell us exactly what the rules of engagement are in this case?? (Rei) ?...I know what you''re thinking and...no. NO killing! Our job is prevent anyone or anything from damaging the site WITHOUT disturbing the environment? (Tango) ?Just wanted some clarification...! Here they come!? (Rei) "ROOAAAAARRR" (Don) Don pointed at the team with his paw, the other giant koala''s charged at them as if he was ordering them to attack Forming hand seals "Well, since I''m the first line of defense! ''Magen: Kusari Shibari!''6Demonic Illusion: Chain Binding "(Rei) Under the effects of his Genjutsu, some of the koala''s began to hallucinate the image of metal chains restricting them. Stopped in their tracks, they struggled to move their bodies Others however, seemed to be unaffected and continued charging {Hmm. So this technique doesn''t work so well with a large group...good to know} (Rei) Using his speed, Rei knocked the ones that were under the effects of his illusion before proceeding to attack the others But due to sheer number of them, some managed to get past him "Humph! ''Fton: Reppsh!''7Wind Style: Gale Palm " (Suzu) "Time for a nap you wannabe bears!" (Tai) Suzu engaged the ones the got pass Rei while Tai become knock-out gas bombs After finishing the stragglers, Rei engaged Don {Hm. Not bad. They''re definitely skilled for their age...but their still lacking in one key area} (Tango) "RAAAHHHH!!" (Don) POW!!! Seemingly angry his followers were taken down, Don began to fight more fiercely "Ngh! Ow! That hurt like hell you damn trash panda!" (Rei) ?Careful Rei! All the animals on this island have an abnormal amount of strength!? (Tango) {Oh screw this, enough playing around!} (Rei) "Shunshin no Jutsu!"8Body Flicker Jutsu BAM!! "AAAHHH!!" (Don) With inhuman movement, Rei punched Don in chest like a bullet train! Knocking him out cold "Phew..." (Rei) ?Nice Rei!? (Tai) ?Mhm...? (Rei) ?Tai! If you have any food pills, it''s best if start handing them out now. Reinforcements still aren''t here and who knows when the attack will come? (Tango) ?Of course? (Tai) He tossed some to Suzu and Rei ?Take this time to recover after all that fighting. All of that noise we made will surely...!? (Tango) Rumbling... {Oh goddamnit} (Rei) [Yup, he definitely jinxed it. Does no one in this world understand the concept of "Flags" at all?] Before they could relax, the ground shook violently as the next wave of attackers came ?No rest for the wicked it would seem! Get ready!? (Tango) ?Oh man...why''s the ground shaking so much?!? ?...? (Tango) ?Tch!? (Suzu) Being the farthest away from them, Rei was the first to get a glimpse at the attackers {...Hm...Eh? Oh...oh you have got to be shitting me!} (Rei) ?Rei! Can you see what it is?!? (Tai) ?Oh...I can see it alright! BRACE YOURSELVES!!!? (Rei) ??!? (Tai, Suzu, & Tango) Making their way towards the team... {Oh God...I''m pretty sure I didn''t sign up for this!} (Tai) ...was a stampede of giant hippos 39. First Mission [3] GROWL!!! The stampede of giant hippos grew closer and closer to the team ?Rei! Can you!? (Tai) ?No! There''s too many, and they''re moving too fast! My Genjutsu isn''t enough to...!? (Rei) BOMP!! One of the hippos almost hit Rei as he dodged at the last second, reuniting with the group ?Rei! Are you alright?!? (Tango) ?Ugh...I''m fine! I''ll shake it off!? {Damn it, my shoulder was grazed! If it wasn''t for my new body, I''m sure I would''ve lost an arm at least. Is this really a mission for Genin?!} (Rei) ?How about this!? (Tai) BAROOM! Tai threw a bomb that exploded a red powder. The front line of hippos tumbled over and the rest began to act erratic ?Ugh, my eyes...Tai...was that?? (Rei) ?Chili pepper bomb. Irritates the eyes, throat, and nasal cavity. It''s the only one I have on me though? (Tai) Dash! No wasting this opportunity, Suzu attacked the now vulnerable group {I may not get another chance like this!} "Doton: Chidkaku!1Earth Style: Mobile Core" (Suzu) Crack! The ground started to shift Utilizing this jutsu to move the Earth, Suzu lowered the ground underneath the hippos to trap them ?Guess I better step it up? (Rei) ?Huh?! Ah...Rei!? (Tai) Whoosh! To not fall behind her momentum, Rei attacked the disoriented group ?Screw it! Let''s go!? (Tai) Tai also started attacking {Yes...they''re skilled. But also lacking in certain areas} (Tango) ??? Some time later "HAH!" (Rei) POW! "HAAWWW!!" Another of these giant beasts was taken down "Huff...huff...somethings wrong" (Rei) Standing over the unconscious hippo, Rei pondered {There...there shouldn''t have been this many. I know I knocked out plenty so where are the others coming...huh?} (Rei) "W-where the hell?! Notitia!" (Rei) [What''s up?] "Where am I? Where''s everyone else?!" (Rei) [Well, while you were getting your "Big Game Hunter" on, you may have unintentionally separated yourself from group] "Oh...great! You couldn''t have told me sooner?!" (Rei) [I''m telling you now...does that count?] "...Do you think it counts?" (Rei) [...No. Probably not] "Haaa. Damn it" (Rei) Using his enhanced hearing, he ran back to the team {No one''s talking on the transmission...shit!} ?Hello! Anyone there! Some of the hippos forced me away while I was fighting? (Rei) No one responded... "Can anyone hear me?! Tai! Suzu! Tango-sensei!" (Rei) Still running, Rei felt something wet on his face {Huh? Water? But...it didn''t rain did it? Whatever, that''s not important! Almost there!} (Rei) Making it back to the waterfall... "?!" (Rei) ...he found Tango tending to an unconscious Tai and the hippos fighting a worn out Suzu. Some managed to dig there way out of the trenches she made {So that''s where all the extra hippos came from! She didn''t make the trenches deep enough! Damn it...!} (Rei) "Tah!!" (Rei) Whack! "Rei?! Where the hell were you?!" (Suzu) "The hippos YOU couldn''t contain got loose and separated me from the rest of the group!" (Rei) "Hey! They were restrained until Tai-" (Suzu) Before she could finish her sentence "Suzu! Seven o''clock!" (Rei) "Eh?" (Suzu) Whack!! What appeared to be the alpha of group, struck an unaware Suzu "Gah!!" (Suzu) "Shit! AH!" (Rei) Rei sped up and caught her {No good...she''s out cold. F*ck!} (Rei) Carrying her to Tango, he noticed Tai was in terrible shape before the two spoke "Sensei! What happened to-" (Rei) "We''re about to be overrun!" (Tango) "Yeah, the trenches Suzu made were too small, the hippos escaped and gave me...!" (Rei) "Save it! Here they come!" (Tango) ROOAARRR!!! The hippos would not stop "Tch! So you like charging huh?" (Rei) Forming a hand seal {"Shunshin no Jutsu!"} Bomp! Bomp! Bomp! Bomp! Rei continued dashing between each beast, attacking one after the other while using his speed to avoid their attacks {Ugh! They''re not like the koala''s! The density of their skin and muscles are far superior! I''m already tired, at this rate I''m gonna use up what''s left of my chakra...!} Tango and Rei engaged these beasts to the best of their ability but... "Huff...huff...ha...damn it. I''m...I''m..." (Rei) Rei did his best, but even with his enhanced life force and body, he was still just a seven year old kid. An ordinary child his age would''ve easily been killed by a NORMAL stampede of hippos let alone ones the size of a small house! Bonk! A hippo managed to get a hit in and knock Rei back Landing on his feet, he body started to stumble "Haaa............damn it" (Rei) After fighting for so long, his bruised and tired body began to give out on him until finally, he fell to the ground "...! Rei! Can you continue?" (Tango) "Ugh...I...I..." (Rei) Thump Whispering "Notitia! What the hell?! Why is my body giving out on me?! I should be a ''Neo-tsutsuki'' right?!" (Rei) [You really are out of it if you''re asking me that. Remember? You haven''t COMPLETLY awakened as an tsutsuki yet. The fact that you''re still alive after taking so many blows from THOSE creatures already proves you''re not a normal human] {Shit! Come on...you stupid body...MOVE!!!} (Rei) He tried to get up, but to no avail. "Ugh!" (Rei) [It''s no use man, you''ve reached your limits] "This...this can''t be..." (Rei) {...Seriously? Out of all the ways I could go out in this stupid world, it''s getting killed...by some...f*cking...hippos...?} His eyes lids closing slowly as he passed out "...Guess that''s your answer" (Tango) "GRRRRR!!!!" The beasts inched closer to Tango and the group. Tango stood up and began yelling "ALRIGHT!! I''VE SEEN ALL THAT I NEED TO SEE! IT''S WELL PAST TIME FOR YOU TO END THIS!" (Tango) BOOOM!!!! As things took a turn for the worst, a figure suddenly crashed in the middle of the group of hippos before proceeding to subdue them. With the dust that followed, it was impossible to identify what exactly was attacking them but judging from it''s silhouette, one thing was obvious...it wasn''t human ??? "..." (Rei) "...and th...ole story" "...at bad...etely...unsalvageable" "...ill...pressive when...ink about...t..." {Ugh. What? Am I still alive?} (Rei) Rei tried to move, but his body was sore all over "...lack a...damentle element" "...e''s awake...got a ackache" "Huh? W-who...is talking right now?" (Rei) "Rei..." "Eh? Tango...sensei?" (Rei) "...You took a bad hit, don''t try to move. We''ll talk when the others wake up. It''s pretty impressive that you''re the first one up considering you got the worst of it" (Tango) {That''s because of my advance healing. But the "others"...?} (Rei) Rei couldn''t make out the figure that was talking with Tango as he was still out of it. He could barely see straight Sitting with a wall on his back, he noticed an unconscious Suzu and Tai sitting the same way next to him {They''re okay...and the hippos are gone...what the hell happened?} (Rei) After a few minutes, the other two woke up and the person Tango was talking to was gone The Genin trio''s appearance was awful. Scrapes and bruises all over them, their shinobi attire was a mess "Ugh...my body" (Tai) "...I can''t believe I was knocked out" (Suzu) "Join the club" (Rei) Turning her head towards Rei with angry look "Humph! That''s rich coming from you!" (Suzu) Frowning "I''m sorry ''Suzu-sama'', is there a problem you got with me?" (Rei) "My only problem is dealing with your f*ck-ups" (Suzu) "Excuse you. In case you were wondering, I was the one who caught your sorry ass when you got knocked out and brought you to safety at the risk of my life. So you know, you''re welcome" (Rei) "Which never would''ve happened if you hadn''t left the group!" (Suzu) "Ugh...shut up. I''ve got a killer headache" (Tai) With an irritated tone "If by ''left the group'', you mean getting dragged away by the ones you FAILED to contain, then yeah...I certainly left the group" (Rei) Pointing to Tai "That only happened, cause your idiot friend here used Suiton on the hippos that were hit with the pepper bomb. The water washed their faces, making easier for them to recover and rampage" (Suzu) "Yeah, the pepper bomb YOU didn''t bring" (Tai) "Didn''t Tango-sensei tell us to treat him like you would treat a medical-nin in the group because he''s a herbalist? If he used Suiton, it was obviously to protect himself! In which I recall, was your job!" (Rei) "That would''ve been easy if I didn''t have to deal with the ones you let get past you!" (Suzu) "Oh! Of course, my apologies! How foolish of me to let a couple of GIANT HIPPOS IN A STAMPEDE get past me! Most Genin wouldn''t make such mistake...right?" (Rei) "You little smart-ass...I''m gonna...!" (Suzu) "Ugh...will you two shut up! I got knocked out because of your screwups" (Tai) "You make it sound like you were the only one who got hit! Look at me Tai! Do I look like I''ve been on a vacation?!" (Rei) "Not letting your medic get hurt is like one of the first rules in the book!" (Tai) "Unbelievable. Months of waiting and I get paired with you two idiots" (Suzu) "Hah! That''s rich coming from the wild animal! Instead of waiting for a team, I''d thought you''d be busy brutalizing some kids again" (Tai) "Yeah, I''m surprised to find out you don''t live here. YOU''D FIT RIGHT IN!" (Rei) Clap! Clap! Clap! Just as they were about to fight, Tango started clapping "Well done. I must say, it''s not every day you see children prove they''ve got their heads so far up their asses than most adults" (Tango) "..." (Rei & Suzu) "Sensei...I" (Tai) "Nuh-uh. Before you continue I have something to say. For your first mission as a ninja unit, you three..." A slight pause that felt like an eternity to them "...have utterly failed" 40. Failure The three students stood in place, flabbergasted before speaking again "...Huh?" (Suzu) "Sir! How did we..." (Tai) Holding his hand up "Let me stop you right there. Can any of you guess where we are now?" (Tango) "Um" (Tai) "This place is..." (Suzu) The three Genin looked around, finally realizing they were near the mini boat they came here on "If we''re this close to the boat..." (Rei) "Does that mean the site was destroyed?!" (Tai) "Is that why we..." (Suzu) Shaking his head "No. The site is fine, the ''reinforcements'' came and cleaned everything up. We''re by the boat because there''s nothing left for you to do here. Let''s go" (Tango) Without even waiting for a response, Tango lead them to the mini boat and started paddling the group towards the ship None of them said a word as they left ??? Wanting to break the silence, Tai asked the question that was on everyone''s minds "Tango-sensei...how exactly did we fail?" (Tai) "Yeah...wasn''t the mission objective to hold the line until back-up arrived?" (Suzu) "Is that what you think it was?" (Tango) "Huh?" (Suzu & Tai) "..." (Rei) Tango made a deep sigh "In Konoha they say ''A shinobi must read the hidden meanings with in the hidden meanings''. I simply prefer to say ''read between the lines''." (Tango) "Between the..." (Tai) "Oh. Son of a bitch..." (Rei) Rei held his head in his hand "?!" (Suzu) "Rei?" (Tai) "Humph. You''re sharp Rei" (Tango) "I-I don''t understand..." (Tai) "Haah...this whole mission was just a damn test" (Rei) The others were surprised at Rei''s statement, Tango continued directing the boat as he spoke "The answer to that conclusion is yes...and no" (Tango) "Hm?" (Rei) "This mission is a legitimate one, that site and the Island are very important to Kumo. Those animals were CERTAINLY not faking it. But it also served as an opportunity for me to see your true skill on the real battlefield, rather than in a controlled, simulated environment at the academy" (Tango) "Then why didn''t you tell us?" (Tai) "That was the whole point Tai. If we thought it was a real mission, we''d treat it like a real mission and not like some exercise in school" (Rei) "Then..." (Tai) "...I get that. But HOW did we fail? If it''s because we were overwhelmed then, I must ask how is that-" (Suzu) "Fair? HAH! You lot need to grow up!" (Tango) "?!" (All of them) "Let me tell you something when it comes to being a ninja, facing impossible odds is EXPECTED of you! You guys lasted for little over an hour, but I and others have been made to stay on war battlefields for days at a time! No food, no rest, and no breaks!" (Tango) "But you said this was just supposed to be a C-rank mission..." (Tai) "So?! The ranks for each mission should only be taken at face value, anything can happen. A D-rank mission could easily end up as an S-rank mission. The job is, what the job becomes!" (Tango) Suzu wanted to retort, but there was nothing she could say. Tango was indeed correct with his reasoning "Then...we failed because..." (Suzu) Irritated at their ignorance, Tango seized peddling, causing the mini boat to stop "To answer your question properly, I gonna have to go over everything you all did wrong! Suzu!" (Tango) "!" (Suzu) "Your trenches couldn''t keep the hippos at bay, which caused Rei to get separated from the group" (Tango) Desperately trying to give an excuse, Suzu spoke "That''s because the koala''s had fallen in most of the pits I made, and the hippos were walking over them. I didn''t have enough chakra to make the new ones deep enough! Plus, the steel wire traps Tai made were useless against them!" (Suzu) "Useless against them, yes. To the koala''s, no" (Tango) "...What?" (Suzu) "When the koala''s first attacked, some of them DID manage to get caught in Tai''s traps. Rei also did his job and held the ones off at his location. You would have noticed if you stayed focused, but when the fighting started you got excited...no...competitive, moving too far from your original position and engaging the others. Wasting the opportunity to make use of the other wire traps Tai had set while forgetting your role of protecting him." (Tango) Suzu grumbled in self remorse before Tango continued "Using your Fton you could''ve easily pushed the koala''s into the wires. Then, so many of them wouldn''t have fallen in the trenches you made, making it easier for you and the rest of us to deal with the next wave...and speaking of Fton!" (Tango) "Eh?" (Suzu) "When Tai threw that pepper bomb at the hippo stampede, why didn''t you use your Fton1Wind Styleto spread the powder? That would''ve sabotaged the entire stampede, not just the front row of them" (Tango) "That''s..." (Suzu) "Because you didn''t, the stampede got out of control and Rei was isolated by them, unable to help the team. You were complaining about Tai''s use of Suiton2Water Style, and how it cleared the effects of pepper in their eyes...but he only did so to protect himself since you weren''t doing your job. Deviation from your duties on a mission can easily lead to getting you and your team killed" (Tango) "...!" (Suzu) With her head lowered, Suzu''s spirit was brought down completely "Tai!" (Tango) "Y-yes!" (Tai) "I won''t chastise you on using Suiton. As our medic, your first priority should ALWAYS be your safety. During the first and second wave, you performed admirably" (Tango) "Whew..." (Tai) "Your mistake was before we even made it to the island" (Tango) "Eh?! What did I do wrong?" (Tai) "Tai...did you tell any of us that you even had a pepper bomb?" (Tango) "Uh...well...no" (Tai) "Did you inform us of any other useful items you might have on hand?" (Tango) Tai was getting nervous "No...but...you said you were already briefed about us" (Tai) "I was briefed on your abilities, but you never told me or your teammates about the equipment you had on hand. You never bothered to coordinate with them, not even on our two hour ride to the island. Not sharing basic info like that will also lead to disaster!" (Tango) "I-I''m...that''s..." (Tai) Turning his head "And finally, Rei!" (Tango) "?" (Rei) "I saw those hippos force you away so I''ll cut you some slack for not using the transmission when you could''ve. However, despite following your orders on the field to the letter, you had suspicions about the assignment before the mission even began and yet, you said nothing" (Tango) Curtly responding "Were you really going to tell us what you were hiding?" (Rei) "How would you know I wasn''t going to tell you anything? And even if I wasn''t, the problem is that you didn''t even try to ask. You just kept it to yourself, without alerting anyone" (Tango) "The suspicions about this mission were obvious, I just assumed they would-" (Rei) Cutting him off "Exactly...you just assumed they would know without telling them. Assumption has been, and always will be, the king of all failure! Your problem is assuming it''s not your job to inform the team of odd things that catch your eye. Let me be the first to tell you, whenever you see something out of place on a mission, it''s your goddamn responsibility to inform your team!" (Tango) "..." (Rei) "Yeah Rei, you''re definitely sharp, more so than any of your peers. But information and wisdom are two very different things. And you are certainly lacking in the latter!" (Tango) Taking a deep breath "With all of you screwing up, I had to spend most of my time ensuring no one would get killed rather than focus on my original job" (Tango) "..." (Tai & Suzu) {...That''s why his Chakra Transmission went out} (Rei) His words were harsh, but fair. So fair, none of them could make a retort Tango started peddling the boat again "No coordination, no sharing information, no teamwork, and no trust. Each of you acting on your own. You guys may be working together, but you''re not WORKING together, not truly. You won''t last long as a Genin team if you continue at this rate" (Tango) "But sensei..." (Tai) "What?" (Tango) "We won''t be Genin forever right? Eventually we''ll move to the next level" (Tai) "From what I''ve seen, that''s highly unlikely. What are you getting at?" (Tango) "I...well...um..." (Tai) "He means, we''ll eventually become Chunin and our squad we''ll be dissolved right?" (Suzu) "...You" (Tango) "As long as we perform well enough...should we really have to worry about such things" (Suzu) "...Wow" (Tango) "..." (Rei) "I realized each of you preferred to act solo, but I didn''t think it was this bad. You lot really have no idea how good you''ve got it, do you?" (Tango) "?" (Rei, Tai, & Suzu) "You think if you become Chunin, you won''t have to worry about teamwork as much as you do now? Newsflash, it only gets worse as you rise up in the ranks! That''s disappointing coming from a top class student like you Suzu" (Tango) "?!" (Suzu) "When you''re on a Genin team, nearly every mission you take is with the same squad. The very same squad you''ve trained with, studied with, fought with, and the ones that you trust the most. When your Chunin or Jonin, you''ll be regularly assigned to random squads when the situation calls for it" (Tango) "And that means we''ll..." (Tai) "Instead of years with a Genin team you''ve worked with you''ll be with an entirely new squad. Then with only hours, if you''re lucky, to adapt to that squad and complete a mission. Randomly put with people who are practically strangers, how well you perform with them will determine whether or not you succeed...and survive" (Tango) "..." (Suzu) "That''s the whole point of Genin teams, to teach you the true value of working not as an individual, but as a cohesive unit" (Tango) {...Synergy} (Rei) Tango pointed back towards Genbu Island "Why do you think I chose that place for your first mission?" (Tango) Unable to answer, none of them spoke "It was to teach you that NO ONE, no matter how powerful, is an ''island''. There are some things one simply cannot do on their own. That''s what comrades are for, to lift the burden off your shoulders" (Tango) Finally making it to the ship, the team got on board and stopped as Tango spoke one last time "After we make it back to Kumo, we''ll reconvene at the same spot we met each other for the first time in two days. If you don''t show me a better ''introduction'' than last time, you''re all going back to the academy" (Tango) "?!" (Tai & Suzu) {"Introduction"? What''s he hinting at?} (Rei) "Now return your cabins, journeying here is a lot faster than going back" (Tango) The three left, going below deck to their cabins, keeping their thoughts to themselves ??? Alone on deck, Tango sighed heavily "Haaah. Being a teacher to those three is gonna be exhausting" (Tango) "Aw, it''s not all bad!" Turning to his right, he found the voice of the one that called out to him belonged to the Captain of the ship With a cigar in his mouth, he chuckled at Tango "Funsui...I trust waiting for us wasn''t too troublesome" (Tango) "Oh no, we made sure to keep our distance from the island. And with the ''guardian'' that came soon after, there were no problems at all" (Funsui) "Glad to hear it" (Tango) "But getting back to what I was saying, being a Jonin teacher can be rough, but it doesn''t come without its perks. Just give it some time and you''ll see, I promise" (Funsui) "I have no doubt about that, what I meant was being THEIR teacher is gonna be a handful" (Tango) "Why do you say that?" (Funsui) Tango takes out a stop watch from his pocket and shows the time to Funsui "Hm? Pffftttt?!" (Funsui) Looking at the time, Funsui spat the cigar right out of his mouth in shock "What the hell Tango?! They lasted over an hour?!" (Funsui) "That''s right. One hour, four minutes, and eight seconds. They completely shattered the record" (Tango) "The longest recorded time for someone lasting on the ''Island Test'' was..." (Funsui) "Twenty-two minutes and thirteen seconds" (Tango) "And this team survived for over an hour before they needed rescuing..." (Funsui) "Not to mention, they demonstrated no form of teamwork at all" (Tango) Funsui did his best to keep his composure "...Amazing" (Funsui) "Indeed. I know that teams are chosen to balance abilities of students with the abilities of teachers. I expected the upper brass would send me some of the best from the academy to compensate for my young age, but I doubt even they knew just how skilled these kids were" (Tango) Patting him on the back "Quite the responsibility on your shoulders" (Funsui) "Like you would not believe" (Tango) Funsui walked away from Tango before saying some final words "Well, if things become too difficult, make sure to seek some assistance. Asking for help is the whole theme of this little trip after all" (Funsui) "Don''t worry, I have just the person in mind" (Tango) Finally alone to himself, he stared at the sea, thinking about the future {Yeah...if they show some change..."He" would be the perfect person to help} 41. The Third Memory Springtime, in a college dorm, were three students socializing Slurp, Slurp "Phew! Ok, WOW. You found quite the prize" "Mhm. Didn''t think I''d find beer this good around the area. But, why are we drinking in this small room, and not celebrating in an actual bar?" "Skepticism" "...Skepticism? For what?" "My mind is still trying to accept the fact you managed to tame that viper! A part of me still thinks I''m dreaming right now" "Hahaha! What Hector?! What''s with all the doubt?!" "Cause after meeting her myself, calling her ''cold-blooded'' wouldn''t be doing her justice. I still can''t believe you were able to talk that vice president into giving us the lab Alec" (Hector) "Hehe, what do you mean?! You know how I got that swag! (Alec) "Hah! You sure got something, but I don''t think it''s swag LOL" (Hector) "Uh-huh. The newly divorcee over here is gonna lecture me on romance" (Alec) "Ugh, I''m still dealing with the settlement costs" (Hector) "Well, remember to get prenup next time hehe" (Alec) "At least I can get some! The rate your going, you should put ''eternal bachelor'' on your business card! " (Hector) "Oh come on! Hey! Ray! You gonna let this guy talk to your best buddie like that?!" (Alec) Alec called out to the third student in the room "..." (Ray) "Raaaaayyyyyymmmooooonnnd" (Hector) "..." (Ray) "Ummmmm. Paging Dr. Parker?" (Hector) "Ah! Is it that time already?" (Alec) "What do you mean?" (Hector) "They live in different time zones, so this is his only opportunity to call them" (Alec) "Oh yeah I forgot. Or rather...damn...this is some good beer. I''m dizzy already" (Hector) "Told ya" (Alec) "Raaaaaaayyyyyyyyy..." (Hector) "Haaa. Don''t bother...you know as well as I do when it comes to priorities, they''re always going to be number one to him" (Alec) The third student was in the corner on his phone "Yeah. Yeah. We, or rather Alec, managed to get the lab. We''re finally going start our project!" (Ray) "You''ve already started a project haven''t you?" "Details, details Sarah. We''re going to have an actual BUDGET now. Big difference" (Ray) "I can''t believe you and Alec have come this far. It feels like it was only yesterday when I watched him whoop your ass on the court" (Alec) "Hey! I wasn''t that bad at basketball!" (Ray) "Right. Sure. Whatever you say. Chris is rolling his eyes by the way" (Sarah) "Bull! I know it''s late where you''re at! There''s no way he''s not asleep now!" (Ray) "Well, he would''ve done it if he was awake. But to him, when it comes to your projects..." (Sarah) "?" (Ray) "You know Chris doesn''t really understand, or care, about budgets. All he''s concerned about is when you''re going to visit us again" (Sarah) "Speaking of my favorite cousin..." (Ray) "You''re favorite huh? What am I? Chopped liver!" (Sarah) "Ok. He''s my favorite boy cousin, and you''re my favorite girl cousin" (Ray) "Meh. That barely passes as a save but I''ll cut you some slack since I like you" (Sarah) "I''m grateful, anyway, how is he adapting to the new school? I, for one, know just how difficult the change can be when you''re suddenly forced to move" (Ray) "The move wasn''t hard. But I think he just wanted to keep the peace by not complaining because...well..." (Sarah) "Ah...so...Uncle Brian and Aunt Marie are still..." (Ray) "Mom and dad aren''t as bad as they used to be...but...there''s still some room for improvement" (Sarah) "...Not just Chris, but how are you doing?" (Ray) "I''m fine. Really, this is nothing compared to High school" (Sarah) "Yeah...I pity the na?ve fool who decides to ask you out" (Ray) "Oh, you dick! And here I thought you were being sincere" (Sarah) "I am...to your victims. Man, that''s a LONG list when you think about it" (Ray) "You wanna be on that list?" (Sarah) "In the interest of self-preservation, I''ll leave it at that for today. How is Chris handling the move?" (Ray) "He was depressed at first, but Chris has managed to open himself up to some of the students at school" (Sarah) "Really?" (Ray) "Yeah. He''s even invited them to the house. They spend most of their time playing video games or reading those weird Japanese comics" (Sarah) "Yeah. Those ''Manga'' have really started to blow up recently. Lemme guess, he favorite is that new one with the ninja right? What''s it called again? Nato or something?" (Ray) "It''s ''Naruto'' I think. That one has all the kids going crazy. I''m afraid he''s gonna end up wearing those weird clothes or start running with his hands behind his back" (Sarah) "Hahahaha! I can see that!" (Ray) "Good grief, if my little brother keeps asking for this stuff and I''LL end up broke" (Sarah) "If that happens, I''ll take care of you both" (Ray) "Awwww, and that''s why I haven''t buried you in our backyard after all these years" (Sarah) "I thought it was because you ran out of space" (Ray) "Scratch that, it''s why I haven''t buried you YET" (Sarah) "Aaaannd that''s my cue to leave. I''ll let you get some sleep. It has to be pretty late, considering where you are now. I still haven''t adjusted to this new time zone despite how long I''ve been here" (Ray) Yawning "Right, I''ll let you get back to saving the world. Try not to blow yourself up" (Sarah) "I''ll try not to" (Ray) "Although if you did, I would get your car...hmmm...now there''s a thought..." (Sarah) "I love you too Sarah" (Ray) Hanging up his phone, Raymond turned to see his other roommates passed out "...You know, if a doctor told you guys to ''watch your drinking''...I bet you would just find a bar with a mirror..." (Ray) ??? Sixteen Months Later... Afternoon on the campus Raymond and Hector were making their way towards their lab "Well, spit it out!" (Ray) "It''s too soon! And even if it wasn''t, we still need to exercise caution!" (Hector) "Please stop beating around the bush and just tell me, did we get the Dean''s approval or not?" (Ray) "Yes. But-" (Hector) "Then there''s nothing to worry about. The experiment will proceed as scheduled" (Ray) "There''s plenty to worry about! This will be our first demonstration!" (Hector) "It was bound to happen at some point Hector, you''re just having some jitters" (Ray) "We''ve already burnt through most of our funding" (Hector) "Which is why we''re having this demonstration to get more. Once these people understand what we''re trying to accomplish they''ll back us" (Ray) "I''m afraid not many of them share your noble intentions" (Hector) "When see what our ''Battery'' can do, they''ll do whatever hell we tell them" (Ray) "We''re not getting any money if Alec doesn''t come through..." (Hector) "He''ll come through. I trust him, he''s never let me down" (Ray) Hector had a dubious look on his face "Right. Trust huh..." (Hector) "What''s with that response?" (Ray) "I looked over Alec''s choice for a backer" (Hector) "And?" (Ray) "They''re a major player. So major, the fact that an average grad student like him managed to get the attention of their board members is anything but normal" (Hector) "Now you''re just being cynical. Just like you''ve always been" (Ray) "What you call being ''cynical'', I call being attentive" (Hector) "HEY GUYS!!" "Hm? Hey Alec!" (Ray) "If you''re here, does that mean..." (Hector) "How''d it go?!" (Ray) With a big grin on his face "Like a charm! I just got off the phone with one of the executives. They''ll be here in five weeks!" (Alec) "For real?" (Hector) "YES!!" (Ray) "HAHA! I bet you guys were freaking out!" (Alec) Arriving outside a door, the trio entered a lab "The budget?" (Ray) "Their pockets are deep, supporting us shouldn''t be a problem!" (Alec) "I already knew that, what I''m concerned with is their reputation" (Hector) "Why? Their reputation isn''t bad at all" (Alec) "To the public, but the ''Vitalis Foundation'' has a history of swallowing up entire companies. Keeping the best staff, while discarding the rest without hesitation" (Hector) "All the more reason not worry" (Alec) "What?" (Hector) "Those companies were composed of hundreds, if not thousands of people. It''s not unorthodox to thin the herd, but I doubt we''ll have to worry about it since our ''Limelight inc.'' only has three members" (Alec) "That may be so but..." (Hector) "Hehehehe" (Ray) "?" (Hector & Alec) With a bright smile on his face, Ray put his arms around their shoulders and pulled them close "Oooff!" (Hector) "H-hey!" (Alec) "It only goes up from here guys! Just watch! We''re gonna change the whole damn world! Thanks guys, I never would''ve made it to this point without either of you!" (Ray) "Well, that is true" (Alec) "...Ray" (Hector) "I know you two usually can''t handle it, but I''ll make an exception this time " (Ray) "I guess I''ll have a little" (Alec) "Haaa. Fine" (Hector) "That''s the spirit" (Ray) Letting go of them, Ray took out a bottle of champagne and three wine glasses Filling the glasses and handing them to the pair, Rei proposed a toast "...To our future" (Hector) "To our gain" (Alec) "To...our friends" (Ray) CLINK "CHEERS!!!" (All) ??? Three Weeks Later A young man was running down a hall "Huff...huff...huff...gah!" Slipping on the floor he tripped and fell, before getting back up and running again Making it to his destination, he kicked open a door to a lab. Running to one of the computers inside, he typed with haste "Come on, come on, come on...no. No. NO!" CRASH!! He slammed the computer monitor off the desk in anger before reaching into his pocket for his phone to make a call Riiinnggg...riiiinggg...riiinnggg A tired, withered voice answered "...And?" "IT''S GONE!!! IT''S ALL GONE!!!! HE TOOK THE DATA AND DELETED THE REST!!" "So...it''s really over" "The hell it is!! We can fight this we can...!" "No...I...I can''t" "So you''re just giving up then?! After everything we''ve been through?!" "I''ve got nothing left. This...this was my last Lifeline and he stole it from me" "Don''t...don''t say that! We can still!" "No. Unlike you, I can''t go any further. I''m...I''m just done. I''m sorry" "Wait! Don''t-" "Goodbye Raymond" CLICK! Brrrrrrrr "GODDAMN IT!!!!" Raymond ran out of the building to his car, driving out of the parking lot like a mad man "He''ll be fine with some time, just needs to sleep it off is all. Right now I can''t afford to let them get away!" Speeding along the highway, Ray made his way to an apron1The place where airplanes park to board passengers and refuel "According to what I found in the room, he should be heading towards a company-owned private hangar...THERE!" Ray spotted his target behind a gate. Driving to gate, a security guard question him "Hold it! What''s your business here?" "There''s someone in that hangar I need to see!" "Do you have proof of permission to enter?" "...No" "Well, unless you''ve been approved, you''re not getting in" "...Well, could you just phone in and tell them Dr. Raymond Parker is here?" The security guard suddenly smirked, as if he realized something from hearing the name "Raymond Parker" "Yeah, I could. Doesn''t mean I''m going to though" {This guy...} "Haaaaa...f*ck this..." Ray, who was already fuming with rage, lost any shred of patience he had left and hit the gas petal "Wha?! HEY!!! STOP RIGHT THERE!!!!" Driving towards a hangar where a private jet was getting ready to take off, he stopped his car right in front of it. Blocking it from leaving Getting out of his car, he walked towards the jet screaming "GET OUT HERE YOU SON OF A BITCH!!!!!!" The jet powered down and the airstair2https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airstairdoor opened. Standing on top of the stair was young man in a brand new suit that Raymond knew all too well Clapping his hands "Hahaha! Damn Raymond! I didn''t think you''d take it so personally!" "Alec..." "In the now, very-well-taken-care-of, flesh" He walked down the stairs and stopped in front of Ray "Why?" "Why what?" "You know what! Stealing the data, sabotaging our device, colluding with ''Vitalis'', cutting us out, take your pick! Why did you do this?!" "Well you see, the real question is...why not sooner?" "What?" "Oh come on Raymond, don''t tell me you actually believed the company shared your interests? Selling renewable energy at a cheap price for the ''people''? Are you stupid, or do you just think I am?!" "?!" "If we had done it your way, all of us would''ve eventually ended up in a low paying position while the company reaped the awards! But! Their top table does have room for one more seat. And let''s face it, I wasn''t gonna hand that spot to that pathetic loser Hector, who paid child support to his ex-wife for eighteen years only to find out the baby wasn''t even his! Hilarious by the way. The only reason I decided to keep the dullard around was because he constantly did his best to ensure his last hope in life, this project, wouldn''t fail." "How dare!-" "Or you, the nauseating idealist with a heart of gold, always preaching about helping your fellow man and doing what''s best for the world. God your such a pill, every second I had to listen to your bullshit I had the urge to vomit" "If being with me was such torture, why bother to stick around?!" "Simple, your father" "What does he have to do with any of this?!" Alec chuckled to himself "Everything. Grant Parker was a well renowned scientist. So renowned, that even when I was in middle school I would follow his work. So imagine my surprise to find out after his death, his orphaned son would move to my neighborhood. Oh! The opportunity!" "For what?" "To move up in the world. I knew with your heritage and intelligence, you would follow his work on ambient energy. So I got close, became your best friend, and waited" "You..." "There were some hiccups along the way, times where I was worried you might give up. But with the right amount of encouragement, friendship, and assistance, you were able to surpass your father!" "..." "This was the moment I was waiting for! The moment where you could actually be useful to someone, and not a burden like you were to your family!" "You shut your!-" "We both know it''s true. You''re aunt and uncle are separated because of you. Their already poor family could barely take care of the two kids they already had, and then you come along, pushing them to the breaking point. You''re nothing but a parasite" "Shut up..." "But hey, if things get too difficult for Sarah, you can always trust me to take really GOOD care of her. HAHAHA!" "AAAHHHH!!!!" POW!!!!! Losing all self-control, Ray came at Alec with a vengeance! Knocking him to the ground, punching him again and again "Heh...hehehehe" But Alec didn''t fight back, he just chuckled "YOU THINK THIS IS FUNNY?!" "Oh yes...yes it is because..." Alec pointed in a different direction. Trying to see what he was pointing at, Raymond noticed that there were several security guards around him But what really caught his attention was the camera one of them was holding "You!" "Gotcha...hehehehe" {Shit! This whole time he was baiting me! He wanted me to hit him!} "And with that, you''ve pretty much blown any and all chances of settling this in court" "You think just because I hit you a few times people won''t!-" "See right through me? No, they won''t. Wake up you na?ve idiot! This is America, the most superficial country on the planet!" "!" "When people see that video they won''t see Dr. Raymond Parker confronting a traitor who stole from him, they''ll just see an angry black man who illegally charged through a security gate to beat up someone and needs to be put down" "You bastard..." Losing his will to fight, Raymond backed away from Alec "Good choice. Had you continued, I would''ve had them kill you" "This isn''t over. You only have the data, but you''re not smart enough to finish it. We''ll just start up again and put ''Vitalis'' out of business!" "From scratch? Kinda hard with no support, no money, no data, and soon, no lab. But even if you do, do I look like I give a shit?" "Wha?!" "Whether the company can continue your work or not, whether you can put them out of business or not is irrelevant. I''ve already been paid, I''m only sticking with them because while they''re still in business, I get more money" "Money...all this for money...you greedy, arrogant-" "Human? That defines the human race perfectly. We may try to butter ourselves up with pretty words like love and peace, but such things are hollow in a world that is Finite. Let this lesson be my final gift to you" "..." "So you see, there is no beating me because I''ve already won" Alec went back up the stairs to the jet, as the security guards left Turning around, he spoke to Raymond one last time "But look at it this way! If I had stuck around and worked with you guys, you would''ve just ended up as my Bitch! So my ''Best Buddy''! Have a nice life!" Getting back inside, the jet started to move out of the hangar. Navigating around Ray''s car before taking off in the sky Ray simply watched the plane fly away and didn''t take his eyes off it until he couldn''t see it anymore "...F*ck...why...how could I not..." Mentally exhausted, Ray got back in his car left, intent on visiting Hector to inform him of the situation "I can''t...I can''t let it end like this...I HAVEN''T WORKED SO HARD JUST TO RECEIVE THIS KIND OF SHITTY ENDING!!!!" Arriving at his apartment, Ray knocked on the door "Hector! You there?! Hold on..." Taking his phone out, he tried calling him to no avail. Knocking on the door again, he realized it was unlocked "What the? Why is it...ugh, whatever! HECTOR!! You in here?!" There was no response "Hector! That bastard Alec played us. But I''m not done yet! One way or another we''re gonna make him pay I sw-" Thunk! Ray dropped his phone "Ah..." Entering a room, Ray was met with a scene that would haunt him for the rest of his life "AAAAGGGGHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!" Inside was Hector, strung up by the neck and a note on his bed... 42. Reflection & Resolution [1] Around five o''clock in the morning "GAH!!" Rei suddenly woke up from a nightmare "Huff...uhack...gah...!" Practically hyperventilating, he struggled to catch his breath. Sweat all over over him, a horrible headache prevented him from leaving his room without staggering Plop! Rei splashed his face with water from the kitchen sink "Ugh...that''s better..." He glanced at the door to Mabui''s room {Good thing nee-san isn''t here today, otherwise she''d freak out} Going through the patio door to the backyard, he looked up at the moon and began to ponder {This is third time. Why are these memories coming back to me now, after all this time?} "Damn it...out of all the dreams I could''ve..." Vwoooooooo. The wind picked up "Haaaa...f*ck it. Notitia!" [...Zzzzzzz...zzzzz...zzzz] {The hell? This thing sleeps?} [Zzzz...zzz...] "Notitia! Wake your ass up!" [Uh? Wha? What?! I''m up!] "About damn time" [Did I oversleep or something? Wait it''s not even morning yet! Why''d you wake me up so early?!] "I wasn''t aware disembodied voices from only God knows where, were even capable of sleeping" [Ugh...whatever. I''d thought you be sleeping soundly after your island fiasco. What do you want now?] "I''ve been having issues" ["Issues"? What kind of "issues" we talking about?] "The kind that only occur in my bed" [...] "What? Do you know something?" [These "issues" occur whenever you''re in your bed?] "Yeah" [Haaaa] "What?" [Well Rei, despite this world''s current technology level...] "?" [...they still have pills for those kind of "issues"] The veins on Rei''s temple looked like they were about to pop "NOT THOSE KINDS OF ISSUES YOU DUMBASS!!!!!!" After a minute of screaming and ranting from Rei, Notitia gained a grasp of Rei''s current predicament [If this is bothering you so much, why not get a therapist? Or use a Lifeline?] "Again, those are too important to use up. Especially if this turns out to be just me. That''s why I''m asking you" [If I''m not in Support Mode, I don''t see how I can help you much] "Look, you were the one the transferred me into this body right?" [More like I simply "oversaw" the process] {Wait, you didn''t do it? Then who...} [What?] "...Nothing...I just want to know if possessing this body is the reason I''m having these nightmares" [Hmmm] "Does anything come to mind?" [For starters, these aren''t nightmares, they''re memories. YOUR memories] "So?" [So it stands to reason that the problem stems from "Ray", and not "Rei"] "As I suspected..." [But I wonder what the cause was...did you eat too much and get the runs? Pee your pants? Get caught checking yourself out in a mirror?] "No, no, and no" [Alright, alright. I was just trying to lighten the mood with some jokes. I mean, have you SEEN your face right now?] "No. Why? What''s wrong with my...!" Rei looked at his reflection in glass patio door, surprised to see the state his face was in Pale skin, slightly-red eyes with circles under them, and an overall demeanor that would cause most people to avoid him "Ugh. That nightmare was worse than I thought if I look like this" [Actually, you were looking like that before you went to sleep] "I did?" [Yup. I guessing your recent mission failure was far worse than it seemed huh] "No! The failure of the mission didn''t really bother me. It''s what came after that..." [What came after?] "...You should already know" [Yeah, but YOU need to say it. That''s the only way you''re gonna get past this] With frustration, he hesitated a bit before saying what Notitia was egging him on to say "...My problems with trust" [And there it is] "But that''s not my-" [Fault?] "..." [Well, you''re right. Your issues with trust are certainly not your fault] "How would you?-" [I''m gonna take a wild guess and assume the "nightmare" you had was about the first and only time you suffered betrayal] "?!" [Don''t look so shocked. We...I know everything there is to know about "Dr. Raymond Parker". Including the things you choose NOT to know] "What does that even-" [And after that event, you never trusted anyone again] "Are you saying that was wrong?" [Am I saying that? Or are you?] "..." [It''s funny how humans try to justify their reasoning or actions by judging others on their own primitive preconceptions. When the truth is, only a being such as God is qualified to judge another] {Again...just what the hell is this thing?} [I''m not God. So I can''t tell if your decision to never trust anyone is the correct one. On one hand, by closing yourself off to others you were never met with betrayal again. Allowing you to successfully build up your company and become one of the most wealthiest, and respected scientists on the planet Earth] {I could never have gotten that far in the terrible situation I was in if I didn''t make such a choice} [However, since you decided not to trust anyone again, you pushed everyone close to you away. Not even family was an exception. So naturally, you didn''t let your own co-workers run the checks on the prototype generator you made. Resulting in it blowing up in your face and sending you here] "So you can''t give me an answer" [There is no correct "answer" or "opinion" from me. Hell, even the solution you come up with will most likely not be the correct one] "Real helpful..." [But you know...] "Hm?" [What Tango said about information and wisdom was indeed true. You''re a genius Rei...but that still doesn''t mean you don''t have much to learn in this "game" called life] "Are you suggesting I don''t know how live my life properly?" [Nobody does] "...What?" [Knowledge helps you make a living in life, but wisdom....wisdom helps you make a life. And EVERYONE is still trying to beat that "game"] "...I don''t need them, I can take care of myself just fine" [...No...no you can''t] "And how would you know?" [Because the moment you no longer require the need to rely on others in this world, is the moment "Project Illumination" ends] {That''s right, the way to beat the "game" is to "survive" everything this world can throw at me...} "But to trust my life to these...these strangers is..." [Humph! Rei! Remember your time in Seattle? When you went to the "Chihuly Garden"?] "...Yeah. I took Sarah and Chris with me. Why?" [Do you recall how breathtaking it was to see the glass art? How beautiful it was? How awed you and your cousins were?] Rei chuckled "One of my fondest memories. That''s not really something I could ever forget" [You see, that glass art...it''s like trust itself. Very fragile, very delicate, very easy to break, and once broken...it''s never the same again] "Yeah...I know" [But what matters is the process that makes it. It doesn''t come to one immediately, but rather built over a time. Requiring dedicated care, patience, and most importantly...faith] "A leap of faith huh" [Yes. But whether or not you decide to take that leap is up to you. YOU must make the decision] "..." [One cannot progress if one doesn''t even move] "..." [You don''t have to go all in...just take it one step at a time] "..." [Do not to be blinded by the ''light'' that is your perception of the world around you...yet always strive to remain illuminated!] "..." [It''s time to move forward Raymond] Finally understanding Notitia''s message, Rei expression became healthier as he breathed a sigh of relief. As if a weight was lifted off his shoulders "Haaaa...I get it" [Good. You''re usually as stubborn as a mule. That''s a terrible trait for building relationships ya know. I was wondering if I was even gonna be able to get through to you. Ya cynical bastard] "Right back to square one. I''d hoped you had become less annoying after hearing you talk so poetically" [Meh...I''m sleepy] "Figures" [And speaking of sleep, I should get back to it, and you should too] "On that, we agree" [Mmmmm. Although...since you''re not at the academy anymore, it''s not like you have to worry about getting up early] "Hehe...that''s one of the...!" [?] Instantly thinking back to Tango words, Rei had an epiphany! {"If you don''t show me a better ''introduction'' than last time, you''re all going back to the academy"} {"you''re all going back to the academy"} {"back to the academy"} {"introduction"} {"academy"} {...} [Uhhhhh. Rei?] "THAT''S IT!!!" [WHOA! SHIT! DON''T SCARE ME LIKE THAT!!!] "That''s it! I figured it out! I know what Tango wants from me...no...from us!" [Wait. What?] "Tango was right. No man is an ''island'' anywhere" Running back inside, Rei put his shoes on and ran to front door [Wait! Where are you going?!] Opening the front door with renewed determination "...To see my team" MrPrope 43. Reflection & Resolution [2] Rei arrived at Tai''s house Picking up a rock, he threw at a second story window, but there was no response {Well, let''s hope it''s not too heavily guarded} Scaling the house wall with chakra, he knocked on Tai''s window until it opened "Mmmm...Rei? What are you doing?" (Tai) "Making sure you don''t go back to the academy" (Rei) "Ahhh...huh?" (Tai) "Wake up Tai, I need you focus. Unless you prefer to let all the effort you put in over the years go to waste" (Rei) "Wait...does that mean you figured out Tango-sensei''s?-" (Tai) "Save it for later. I want you to take me to Suzu" (Rei) "Right now?" (Tai) "Yes. Now. I have no idea where she lives. But since you always told me you had your ''finger on the pulse'' in school, I''d assume you would know" (Rei) "Well...I do know but-" (Tai) "Great. Start moving" (Rei) Rei got off the house and gestured Tai to hurry "Ugh...fine. Lemme get my shoes on" (Tai) Getting dressed, Tai jumped out of the window and landed on ground "Brrrr...it''s freezing! And what the hell is that smell?!" (Tai) "Five thirty a.m." (Rei) "Bah! This had better be worth it!" (Tai) "If you''re goal is to not to lose your headband, then yeah" (Rei) "Whatever, let''s get Suzu!" (Tai) Zwish! The duo moved with haste as Tai led Rei to Suzu''s house ??? In a small home that seemed almost rundown, a lone girl was fast asleep "Zzzzzzzzzz" Thunk! Thunk! "..." Thunk! Thunk! "...The hell? That delivery man isn''t scheduled to be here today" Thunk! Thunk! Thunk! "Whatever...Coming!" Opening her front door she was met with two familiar figures "Suzu" "Hm? Rei...and Tai?" (Suzu) "H-hi Suzu. Sorry about this" (Tai) "What is the meaning of this? Why are you two here?" (Suzu) "I''m not entirely sure myself" (Tai) "...You jerking me around?" (Suzu) Waving his hands "NO! Absolutely not! I''m just in the dark as you" (Tai) "...Rei? What''s this about?" (Suzu) "You two follow me. Let''s get on neutral ground" (Rei) "Neutral ground?" (Tai) Suzu folded her arms as she raised her eyebrow in suspicion "And why would I do that?" (Suzu) "Because I figured it out" (Rei) "Figured what out?" (Suzu) "Tango-sensei''s test" (Rei) "?!" (Suzu) Rei continued with an annoyed tone "You don''t want to lose your shinobi status right?" (Rei) "..." (Suzu) "Uh...Rei? I''m not sure being short with her is the best way to explain things" (Tai) "If what you say is true, then the possibility remains that I''ll be able to figure out the truth behind Sensei''s words as well" (Suzu) {That''s for sure. But I''m sure Rei already knows this. So why is he willing to tell her?} (Tai) "Yes. Despite having barely a day left before our scheduled rendezvous with Sensei, I don''t deny the possibility you could figure it out" (Rei) {Called it} (Tai) "...Then why-" (Suzu) "Me coming here with Tai is a good enough hint. It''s an established fact that you''re smart Suzu, so stop playing hard to get and put your shoes on. We''ll wait outside" (Rei) "...Give me a minute" (Suzu) Suzu closed the front door and went back inside, leaving the two boys outside "..." (Rei) "..." (Tai) "..." (Rei) "...Well" (Tai) "?" (Rei) "You gonna start explaining now?" (Tai) "She realized the odds I''ve solved Sensei''s question are pretty high" (Rei) "But you confirmed to her that she could figure it out on her own so why would she agree to come with you?" (Tai) "Because Tai, she caught on to my suggestion. Me bringing you and asking for her to come along as well" (Rei) "What does bringing us along prove?" (Tai) "That in order to gain Sensei''s approval, one requires the assistance of the other two" (Rei) "Is that the answer?" (Tai) "Almost. There''s more to it than that. I''ll explain when we''re all together" (Rei) "Okay...but why couldn''t you wait until...say...noon-ish? Instead of five thirty in the morning. Ya know, so I don''t freeze my handsome face off" (Tai) "It''s around six now actually" (Rei) "Not the point" (Tai) "Let''s just to say..." (Rei) Creak! Suzu came out of her house and locked the door "...it''s to clear the air" (Rei) "Where are we going?" (Suzu) "To my third favorite place in this village" (Rei) "?" (Tai & Suzu) Rei took off with Tai and Suzu in tow ??? Meanwhile In a Kumogakure laboratory stood three shinobi "You guys are early today. I expected Tango, but there''s no need to push yourself too hard Mabui" "I was near the area Dodai-senpai. I figured it''d be good to stop by and help" (Tango) "That''s when he ran into me. But we shouldn''t have much trouble when the others get here" (Mabui) "...Well since you two are so eager, I will accept your kind offer to assist" (Dodai) The two bowed to Dodai "Mabui, we''ll need your Raiton1Lightning Style. The ''battery'' needs more energy" (Dodai) "I''m on it" (Mabui) "Tango, use those sharp senses of yours to monitor the frequency. The range was very disappointing to me the last time we tested it. With the new tools that came, I want to see how far we can push it" (Dodai) "Of course" (Tango) "And speaking on that subject, give me a sec. There new equipment just came in last night. I''ll be right back" (Dodai) Dodai left the room to the two of them "You good?" (Mabui) "Don''t worry, I can handle the stress levels. Testing this shouldn''t be a problem for me" (Tango) "Well that''s nice, but I was referring to something else" (Mabui) "?" (Tango) "I meant, how are you doing with the team. I heard about the exercise from Rei" (Mabui) "Ah. So you know about them breaking the record?" (Tango) "Who DOESN''T at this point? All the Jonin and Chunin are talking about how your new squad completely shattered the record for the ''Genbu Island Test''. They''re all going on about our new prodigies for the next generation" (Mabui) "Well...that''s actually the problem" (Tango) "...I don''t follow" (Mabui) "They''re indeed powerful, but they lack the first key element for squads" (Tango) "Ah. They failed the introduction didn''t they?" (Mabui) "Yup. Miserably. Mainly due to their advanced abilities" (Tango) "How much time until the second one?" (Mabui) "Less than a day" (Tango) "Well, there''s no need to worry. Rei is with them" (Mabui) "You think he can figure it out?" (Tango) "I''m pretty sure he already has at this point. The kid is a genius" (Mabui) "Even if he has, can he get the others to due their part? Taking into account his nature?" (Tango) "...Tango" (Mabui) "Yes?" (Tango) "Looking after him for so long, I feel obligated to give you some advice. Ya know, for the future" (Mabui) "Hm?" (Tango) Mabui had a somber smile on her face "There is nothing that boy WON''T do to get what he wants" (Mabui) "..." (Tango) CLACK! Dodai returned with a container in his hand "Sorry that took so long. But it''s finally here, the new parts we need" (Dodai) "Amazing...I can tell how sophisticated they are just by looking at them" (Tango) "With this, progress with the network can move at a more consistent pace" (Mabui) "And I''m assuming it was made by..." (Tango) "Yes. Manufactured by one of the best corporations in the Land of Lightning, it''s a big help" (Dodai) "Then it''s time to get to work" (Mabui) "Agreed" (Tango) "This will be one of the biggest undertakings in the history of the village you know" (Dodai) "We''re up to it" (Mabui) "Our country is counting on us. We will not fail senpai" (Tango) "Heh" (Dodai) Dodai handed them the parts and the group went to work. As time went by, more and more staff arrived and began to assist them Smiling at all the young shinobi being so earnest, Dodai wore a determined look on his face {Lord Third...I will see that the network ensures the future of Kumogakure...or die trying} 44. Reflection & Resolution [3] In a small diner titled "Sake & Yaki", a lone waiter was serving drinks to three children With a slender figure, she was a young teenager of fifteen years. Black hair with chestnut eyes and light skin "Three green teas. Your plates will be coming in just a sec" "Thanks again for opening so early for us today Akina" "Anything for our favorite customer Rei!" (Akina) Creak! Akina returned to the back to check on the food Rei was the first to take a drink Slurp "Are you finally ready to talk? Suzu and I have been waiting" Slurp "Um..." Slurp...Slurp "Rei!" "Hm?" (Rei) Across from Rei was Tai with a frown on his face. Suzu seemed to be losing her patience as well "Start...talking...please" (Tai) "Oh...sorry. I was really thirsty" (Rei) "..." (Suzu) Eager for answers, Tai compelled Rei to explain why he brought them here "First, when comes to providing the right ''answer'' to his test, I want you two to think back on Sensei''s words" (Rei) "He said if we don''t show him a better ''introduction'' than last time we''re going back to the academy" (Tai) "What exactly did he mean by that? You know the answer right?" (Suzu) "Yes. And if you look carefully at his words, you''ll be able to figure it out as well" (Rei) Tai and Suzu pondered "Hmmm. A ''better introduction'' than last time?" (Tai) "Is he referring to our attitude when we first met him? But I don''t think any of us were being disrespectful towards him" (Suzu) "You''re freezing. Look carefully at his sentences. Use all the information at your disposal" (Rei) Slurp "...''No man is an Island'' is what he said" (Suzu) "Yeah...I almost forgot about that" (Tai) "You went from freezing to cold" (Rei) Slurp "...He also said if we fail we''re going back to the academy...but that doesn''t make any sense..." (Tai) "What do you mean?" (Suzu) "Warmer" (Rei) Slurp "Wouldn''t it make sense to say we''ll lose our shinobi status instead of going back to the academy. Ya know, because of the strict school rules when it comes to enrolling?" (Tai) "...That''s right. Admission into ''Cloud Academy'' isn''t free. Because of the three-year period, they don''t accept new students once classes have begun. And it''s too late for us to enter the special ''Fourth year'' classes for students who failed to graduate" (Suzu) "And yet he went out of his way to mention ''academy'' in his sentence" (Tai) "Hot" (Rei) Slurp "Better introduction..." (Suzu) "Going back to the academy..." (Tai) "..." (Tai & Suzu) "..." (Rei) Slurp With a sudden realization at hand, the two suddenly stood up and shouted "OUR ACADEMY INTRODUCTION!" (Tai & Suzu) "And now you''re radioactive. Oh, and I finished my tea. Akina! Refill please!" (Rei) "Be right there!" (Akina) Akina walked to their table with dishes in hand "Here we are. A rice bowl for each of you. Plus, seasoned dried seaweed for the young lady" (Akina) "Thank you" (Suzu) "Miso soup for the young man" (Akina) "Thanks!" (Tai) "And grilled fish for our favorite customer! I''ll have your refill in a moment Rei, I just need to brew a fresh pot" (Akina) "No problem. Take your time" (Rei) As Akina returned to the kitchen, Rei turned to the others who themselves had an expectant look "It was ''read between the lines'' right?" (Tai) "Yup. You remember we refrained from mentioning family names during our first introduction back at the academy right?" (Rei) "Yeah, I told you it was a scare tactic to give any student who thought of attacking us to think twice based on the fear they would offend someone from a powerful family. If they found out you were from a poor family, you''d be an easy target to bully" (Tai) {Well...that may have been YOUR reason} (Suzu) "Our academy was designed to have us compete with each other constantly for three years straight. That''s the purpose of the three year school term. That''s why they have everyone start in the same year and not accept any students until those three years are up, to ensure there were no students in a year above others. A means of making things fair for everyone" (Rei) Clasping his hands "Itadakimasu" (Rei) Munch! Rei began chowing down on his food "..." (Tai & Suzu) "Come on guys, you don''t want your food to get cold. I''m paying for it so go nuts. Don''t worry, I''ll continue explaining" (Rei) After looking at each other, they repeated Rei''s actions and started to eat "When we first met Tango-sensei, we made a mistake" (Rei) "And that is?" (Suzu) "Suzu. What''s my last name?" (Rei) "..." (Suzu) "Tai. What''s my favorite food?" (Tai) "Um..." (Tai) "Suzu. What exactly was Sekiei implying about your heritage when you fought during the graduation test?" (Rei) "That''s..." (Suzu) "Tai...what''s YOUR last name?" (Rei) "..." (Tai) "Why do either of you want to be shinobi? Do either of you know why I want to be a shinobi?" (Rei) "..." (All of them) None of them spoke for the next minute before Rei broke the silence "The whole island mission was basically a trust exercise that tested our teamwork as well. That''s what Sensei wants from us. To be a TRUE team" (Rei) Tai and Suzu thought back to Tango''s words {"No coordination, no sharing information, no teamwork, and no trust"} (Suzu) {"You may be working together, but you''re not WORKING together"} (Tai) "We may be Genin, but we''ve been acting like we''re still at the Academy. Treating each other like competition, rather than comrades who rely on one another. I didn''t notice it at first because of my persistent nature to keep things myself. Fortunately, the words of a certain jackass helped me see the truth" (Rei) Tilting their heads with a confused look {Certain jackass?} (Tai & Suzu) "Tai" (Rei) "Yeah?" (Tai) "There''s no real trust between us" (Rei) "What are you talking about? We''ve been working together for a while now. Our ''partnership'' remember?" (Tai) "A relationship that was built not on trust, but rather, mutually beneficial service. Each of us had something the other lacked. You had intel, and I had strength. That''s the only reason we worked so well together in the academy. But that alone cannot take us any further" (Rei) "...Y-yeah...I guess that''s true" (Tai) "Suzu. You remain as stoic as ever, not even bothering to talk with your team" (Suzu) "..." (Suzu) "And me, the one who never shares the important details" (Rei) The mood took a melancholy turn Munch! "..." (Rei) "Ngh..." (Tai) "...Haaa" (Suzu) "Man. What a mess we are. I''m starting to see why Sensei had such a disappointed look on his face" (Tai) "Mhm" (Rei) "Aaaaahhhh. You wouldn''t happen to know of a way to fix this would you?" (Tai) "You wouldn''t have brought us here if you didn''t have one, right?" (Suzu) Munch! {Wow. I haven''t been here lately. I almost forgot how good this food is} "Ahem! Even a child knows that when you make a mistake, there''s something you should do" (Rei) "?" (Suzu) Rei stopped eating and bowed his head down "Tai. Suzu. I''m sorry that I kept my suspicions about the mission to myself. And...I...apologize for letting myself get separated from you during the mission" (Rei) The two were flabbergasted at Rei''s action. It was completely uncharacteristic of him to bow his head down "...Well...I''m sorry too. I didn''t tell you guys about the extra equipment I brought. If I had, things might have gone differently" (Tai) Tai bowed his head as well Still surprised at the sight before her, Suzu hesitated before speaking "...I...Um...I-I''m sorry as well. I should''ve remained at my post and worked with Tai. Then you wouldn''t have been separated from the group and Tai wouldn''t have gotten hurt" (Suzu) Suzu was the last to bow her head After a few more seconds of silence they raised their heads "...Where...do we go from here?" (Tai) "I don''t..." (Suzu) Akina returned from kitchen with a fresh pot of tea and refilled their cups "You''re a treasure Akina. Thanks" (Rei) "No problem. Just let me know if you need anything else" (Akina) Akina left them to their thoughts as the sun began to rise "Mm. That rising sun feels good, it''s already past six" (Tai) "Well...we were brought so EARLY now weren''t we" (Suzu) "You''ll forgive me, but I had a reason to bring you here so early. As it relates to that question you had Tai" (Rei) "Huh?" (Tai) "What are we supposed to do now..." (Suzu) "The way I see it...there''s only one way for us to go now" (Rei) "And that is?" (Tai) "..." (Suzu) Slurp With a smile on his face, Rei uttered one word "Forward" 45. Reflection & Resolution [4] "Forward..." (Suzu) "Neutral ground huh..." (Tai) Slurp "A fresh start. I''ll even go first" (Rei) "?" (Tai & Suzu) Rei put down his tea and placed his chopsticks on his food plate "Ahem. My name is Rei Sano. I''m seven years old. My hobbies are reading and playing shogi. My favorite food is grilled teriyaki. And-" (Rei) "Rei. What are you?-" (Suzu) "Whoa! Wait a sec!" (Tai) "Hm? What''s wrong?" (Rei) "You''re seven years old?!" (Tai) "Yeah...is there something wrong with that?" (Rei) "Well...it''s just...I thought you were the same age as me" (Tai) "And how old are you?" (Rei) "I''m nine" (Tai) "Really? I thought you were younger" (Rei) "Given the vibe of ''maturity'' you give off, I''d thought you''d be older" (Tai) "Ditto" (Suzu) {Well I am a middle-aged man on the inside} "That just goes to show how much we truly didn''t understand one another" (Rei) The mood went a little sour again "We worked together for so long and I didn''t even know your age..." (Tai) "...No trust" (Suzu) Slurp "Yup. I''m not asking you to share your deepest, darkest secrets. But sharing a few details about who you are certainly wouldn''t hurt. Now, as for why I want to be a ninja, the reason is simple...survival" (Rei) "Huh?" (Tai) "Survival...are you in trouble or something?" (Suzu) "No. Not at the moment...but I could be. Let me be more specific, my mother died during childbirth because of her weak body and my father was a Jonin who passed when I was three during the war. Since then, I''ve started to live with my older cousin who also lost her parents because of the war" (Rei) "So the reason you want to be strong is..." (Tai) "I...I''m afraid of ending up like them. I refuse to die on the table like my father. This world is far more chaotic than you two realize. Death can come for us, at anytime, at anyplace" (Rei) "That reason is so..." (Suzu) "Simple of me?" (Rei) "I was going to say, ''human of you''. As much as we try to deny it, the sad truth is the strongest, and those lucky enough to be protected by them are the ones that thrive in the end. We pretend that all are equal at the start of our lives when in reality, most of us have to carve our way up" (Suzu) "Privilege huh..." (Tai) "I''m just saying I can relate to what you''re saying Rei. We don''t get to choose where we''re born. I, or anyone else for that matter, is in no position to mock your aspirations" (Suzu) With a stern look on his face "Thank you Suzu. I don''t have any grand or noble goals. I simply wish to ensure that nothing, whether it be my life or anything else I hold dear, is taken from me...ever again" (Rei) "Taken from you? Like what?" (Tai) Slurp! Drinking his tea, Rei waved his finger towards Tai "Uh-uh. We''re not there yet. Trust isn''t something that happens in a day, but something that happens over time. This...this is just the first step" {I won''t close my heart off anymore, but I''m never walking in blind again} (Rei) "..." (Tai) "First step" (Suzu) "That''s right. I just took my first step...are you two willing to do the same?" (Rei) "..." (Suzu) "..." (Tai) The two looked at each other, and after a brief moment of silence Tai spoke "My hobby is gardening. I said it before but I''m nine years old. My favorite food is Namasu1Vegetable Dish. Carrot & Daikon Namasu to be specific. My name is Tai...Yotsuki" (Tai) Surprise emerged not only on Suzu''s face, but Rei''s as well "!" (Rei) "Yotsuki?! As in...THAT Yotsuki?! You''re a member of the Yotsuki Clan?!" (Suzu) "Yes. The very same Yotsuki Clan that has served Kumogakure since it''s founding" (Tai) "Isn''t the Yotsuki Clan supposed to be one of the, if not the most, venerable clan in the village?" (Suzu) {A noble heir huh? Things are starting to make sense. How he was able to gain so much information about the academy and its innerworkings despite being a child. He had influence and connections on his side to begin with} (Rei) "Yes, our clan has protected the borders of Kumo to this day. Because of our meticulous, dedicated service to the village our clan has managed to prosper more than most" (Tai) "You don''t have to tell us if you don''t want to but...if you had such a background...why bother hiding your last name in the academy? There would''ve been no reason for you to team up with me if you revealed it" (Rei) "Haaahhh. That would be due to my average skill and father" (Tai) "?" (Rei & Suzu) "I don''t have much talent and my father is the current clan leader. I''m supposed to inherit that title but...there are others who wish to have his position. And if they can''t have it, they''ll opt for their kids to get it. My father is already under a lot of pressure, the last thing he needs is news about his son abusing his authority in school. I''d be no better than that idiot Sekiei if I did that" (Tai) "...Indeed" (Suzu) "Why is your father under pressure anyway? Did he do something wrong?" (Rei) Tai''s head went down as he sighed before speaking again "The Third shinobi world war was one of the worst in history, so many people died...including members of our clan. During that time, my dad was ordered to stay behind and maintain the defense of the border and village, as is our clan''s duty. But a lot of our members were sent to the front lines, just goes to show how desperate Kumo was at the time" (Tai) "Aaahhh...I see where this is going. Many of them died and..." (Rei) "...Others were upset that he, the clan leader, got to stay behind in safety" (Suzu) BAM! Tai slammed his fists on the table "He was anything but safe! Our village was under siege CONSTANTLY! He, and my mother, have risked their lives to defend our home more times than I can count! So many times, that they moved me to a new home closer to the village and away from our clan headquarters for my safety. Which is located on the outskirts of Kumo closer to the village border" (Tai) "That''s why I''ve never seen your parents whenever I went to your house. But...the war is over...why are you still living there? Oh! Does that mean there''s still..." (Rei) "Inner turmoil..." (Suzu) "Yes. Everyone is still hurting after the war. And our clan took the brunt of it, we''re an absolute mess right now. And to top it off, most of my father''s supporters are dead. The only one he can still trust is my uncle Kiyoi. My parents wanted to keep me away from the family drama" (Tai) "That''s why you were so down when Tango-sensei talked about the aftereffects of the war during our mission..." (Suzu) {And why you were so upset when heard Sekiei mocking family status during our graduation exam} (Rei) "But..." (Tai) "..." (Suzu) "But what?" (Rei) "Someone has spread rumors that they''re keeping me away because the clan leader is embarrassed by his ''talentless son''. These rumors are what caused other clan elders to push for their kids to inherit the position instead of me" (Tai) {Jeez, I never would have guessed the chipper one of our group would have so much baggage on his shoulders} "Does the clan leader position mean that much to you?" (Rei) "No, I could care less. What''s bothering me is that I''m causing trouble for my parents. It''s why I''m so desperate to succeed, why I''ll use any method I can to triumph in my career" (Tai) "It''s surprising people would call you ''talentless'' after your performance in school. Hell, you even created your own original jutsu. An admiral feat considering how young you were at the time" (Rei) "Not to mention your skills at information gathering in school. That didn''t escape my notice" (Suzu) {Using Suiton2Water Style to vaporize harmful oils made from plants you personally cultivated as a weapon, demonstrates a level of intelligence that makes me wonder if YOU were reincarnated} (Rei) "Heh! Thanks. Unfortunately no one else sees it the same way as you two. A wedge has already been drawn between my father and I. That''s why I want to be a ninja, to help my family and become a son they can be proud of. I still have other goals in mind, but I''ll keep that to myself for now. Because like you said Rei, one step at a time" (Tai) Akina approached the table and asked if anyone wanted seconds. Only Rei raised his hand before she took their plates After leaving the three to themselves, Rei spoke "Thank you for telling us that Tai. Suzu? Is there anything you would like to share? This is a safe space" (Rei) "Yeah, no pressure! Doesn''t have to be a lot, and you''ll find no judgement from either of us" (Tai) "...I...um" (Suzu) "It''s okay. Take your time. This restaurant is my third favorite place in the whole village, that automatically makes it sacred" (Rei) "...This...well..." (Suzu) Taking a deep breath, she finally spoke "My name is Suzu. I''m nine years old and I live alone. I was too young to remember when my parents passed away. I don''t really have a favorite food, but my hobby is pottery. My reason for being a ninja is to restore the lost honor of my family" (Suzu) "Restore honor?" (Tai) "Your family..." (Rei) "..." (Suzu) "Suzu?" (Tai) After some hesitation, she spoke up. But what she said next shocked the both of them "I''m related to Kumogakure''s infamous Kin-Gin Brothers3Gold and Silver Brothers" 46. Reflection & Resolution [5] Akina returned to table with more fish for Rei and tea for all of them {Why am I so hungry this morning?} (Rei) "The Gold and Silver Brothers..." (Tai) "They''re the ones that attempted to capture the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox years before the First Shinobi World War right?" (Rei) "Mhm. After the Nine-tails swallowed them, they fed on its flesh from inside the stomach and acquired its power when they were regurgitated. With their newfound abilities, they spent years in service Kumogakure, becoming one of its most potent assets" (Suzu) "Right, they were once known as the ''Two Lights'' of the village until they staged a coup d''etat during a peace summit between the 2nd Hokage and 2nd Raikage. The Hokage was severely injured and the Raikage succumbed to his wounds and died later" (Tai) "Their end goal was to take control of the village. After that failure, they managed to escape the villages grasp for quite some. Taking along several loyal followers that ended up becoming the ''Kinkaku Force''. This rogue group under Kinkaku brought chaos and mayhem wherever they went, escalating the First world war to a ridiculous scale and even killing the second Hokage" (Suzu) "They''re the reason for Kumogakure''s violent response to any who desert the village and it''s ruthlessness towards missing-nin" (Tai) Crunch! Rei listened quietly as he ate {So that''s why there were no Kumo members in "Akatsuki"...most would die before they got the chance to defect} (Rei) "But...what does you being related to them have to do with being a ninja? It''s not like you did anything wrong right?" (Tai) "That''s incredibly na?ve Tai" (Rei) "!" (Tai) Suzu had a melancholy smile at Tai''s innocent response "My great-grandfather was the cousin to the father of the Gold & Silver brothers. We''re distantly related, but that doesn''t erase the bad feelings left behind by those who were wronged by them. All you have to do is look at their deeds" (Suzu) "...They pretty much started a war and caused irreparable damage to the village and its people. Plus, if my memory serves me right, some members of the Kinkaku Force were related to them...members of your family. It''s not hard to imagine how you''d be treated here" (Tai) "No one goes out of their way to bother me, but whenever something wrong occurs near me, everyone naturally assumes that I''m one at fault. Like a ticking time bomb just waiting to go off. It''s why I do my best to stay away from people, a means of preventing accidents before they even happen" (Suzu) "I..." (Tai) Tai choked on his sentence. Unable to offer a response or words of comfort Slurp! Rei put down his tea cup "...Suzu" (Rei) "Yes?" (Suzu) "This may sound hard to believe. But I understand what you''re going through...more than you might think" (Rei) Suzu spoke with an irritated tone "How could you possibly!-" (Suzu) "It''s their assumptions of you that bother the most right?" (Rei) "Wha?!" (Suzu) "They always think the worst of you in particular" (Rei) "That''s..." (Suzu) "Whenever someone else performs a misdeed, it''s a good person making a mistake. But whenever you perform a GOOD deed, they''ll call it an accident. Believing it''s only a matter of time before your so-called ''heinous'' nature comes out, like a ticking time bomb just waiting to go off" "How do you know so much about-" (Suzu) "I have been where you''ve been once upon a time. Surrounded by those who doubt and think less of you because of your heritage" {That''s pretty much the story of colored people in America. It''s one of the reasons I left the country to continue my work after what happened with Alec...and Hector} (Rei) "Rei..." (Tai) "If you thought simply ignoring it would help, let me tell you from first hand experience...it won''t help. Hell, it''ll probably just make things worse for you" (Rei) "..." (Suzu) "You don''t deal with strife by running from it, but rather, by running TOWARDS it" (Rei) With a gloomy look on her face, she responded with a question "Are you saying I should respond in kind to any mistreatment others may give me here?" (Suzu) "Ah! Suzu that''s...!" (Tai) "No" (Rei) "!" (Tai & Suzu) A light smirk formed on Rei''s face as he recalled something he enjoyed in the past "Someone I admire once said, ''Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that''. What you''re suggesting won''t help you with your problems. Hell, it''ll likely just makes things worse" (Rei) "..." (Tai & Suzu) "It''s not a stretch to say that''s why I''m here now. Why I keep saying, ''it''s time to move forward'', to you guys" (Rei) "To truly grow..." (Tai) "Then...what should I do? You say ''move forward'' but...I don''t even where to start" (Suzu) "Well...why not start with us, with this team" (Rei) "Eh?" (Suzu) "I can''t tell you, either of you how to better yourselves. That answer can only come from within. The only thing I can do is give you, give US, a fresh start and illuminate your path" (Rei) Rei finished his food as Akina came over "You three feeling better now?" (Akina) "I know I am at least. What about you two?" (Rei) "Eh?! Well...I...!" (Tai) "Better than before at least" (Suzu) "Hahahaha! There''s nothing like a good meal to clear the air and brighten your day. Please do come again!" (Akina) Finally done eating, Rei paid the bill and walked outside with others "Wow! That sun is bright! A sight you would expect from a village located in the mountains" (Rei) "Hehe! Well, despite how early you woke us, we were in that diner for over an hour" (Tai) "Mainly because of your eating" (Suzu) "Yeah, sorry about that. For some reason, my appetite has gone through the roof lately" (Rei) Tai chuckled a bit "What''s so funny?" (Suzu) Stretching his arms over his head "Oh, nothing. Just...it''s nice having someone to talk to about these kinds of things. I''ve kept everything that going on in my life to myself for so long before today, and now that I''ve let it out...I finally feel like I can breath again" (Tai) "Heh!" (Rei) "Well...you''re not wrong about that" (Suzu) "Hm?" (Rei & Tai) "One thing I didn''t tell you. My last name...I don''t have one. My family was never a prominent clan despite the service Kinkaku & Ginkaku provided to village before their betrayal" (Suzu) "So no clan name..." (Tai) {I forgot how surnames were such a big deal in this world''s setting. It''s like the Sengoku Period of Japan. In that case...} "Well...why not choose one?" (Rei) "Have her choose one?" (Tai) "Yeah, why not? She''s allowed to choose since she''s emancipated and doesn''t have one" (Rei) "She is living by herself..." (Tai) Looking at the two so readily discuss ways to better her situation provided a small sense of glee. Given the life she''s lived thus far, it was truly a rare sight for her to receive such kindness Never one NOT to respond with gratitude towards compassion, she expressed her appreciation "Ahem" (Suzu) "?" (Rei & Tai) "Thank you, both of you. Coming here was...good. Refreshing. Something I''ve needed in my life for quite some time" (Suzu) The two were taken aback by the behavior of this usually stoic girl. Suzu was famous for not being open to sharing her feelings "Did...you come up with a surname?" (Rei) "I already had a few ideas" (Suzu) "Like?" (Tai) She formed a smug grin on her face "I''ll keep that to myself for now. ''One step at a time'', remember?" (Suzu) "Haha, true" (Tai) "That''s fair" (Rei) Putting her right arm on her chest, she looked at them with determination "I need things to change. I...I want to move forward with you. With the team...if you''ll have me" (Suzu) Rei and Tai looked at each other. Rei smirked while Tai laughed Suzu wondered why they responded like that "Suzu...that was supposed to be OUR line" (Rei) "We''re the ones who are wondering if you''ll accept us" (Tai) "!" (Suzu) After a brief moment of pause, the trio began chuckling. After a laugh, all them took a deep breath "Neutral ground" (Tai) "Fresh start" (Suzu) "Moving forward" (Rei) Nodding their heads at one another, they shouted in unison "WE WON''T FAIL!!" With no more to be said, the group went their separate ways. Ready for whatever challenges Tango would bring to their doorstep tomorrow ??? Finally all to himself, Rei took his time getting back home {Seriously, I feel like I could still eat more. What''s going on with my body? Could it be some weird side effect of my tsutsuki cells?} Before he could ponder any further, Notitia called out to him [Hey man! Not bad if I do say so myself!] "You think so?" [Oh absolutely, it was wonderful. That MLK quote was especially smooth ya slick bastard] "Nothing slick about it, I truly did enjoy his philosophy" [Yeah...you were getting pretty open about your history there. I was worried you were gonna slip and reveal your true origins] "I''m not crazy enough to risk automatically losing this ''game'' for breaking the first rule. It serves me no benefit for anyone to learn my true identity at this point in time anyway. I only got a little open with them about my past because...I...I can relate" [How so?] "The pressures of living up to an outstanding father...facing discrimination almost on a daily basis. Tai and Suzu''s circumstances resonated with those of my past life, almost to an eerie degree. Besides, you already told me that you ''know everything there is to know about Raymond Parker'' anyway. My actions shouldn''t come as a surprise to you" [That is true. So...you good?] "What do you mean?" [Ya know...the nightmares...the past...Alec and Hector] "What''s done is done. I''ve accepted the past for what it is. Nothing I can do will change that. I was indeed wronged, but I never bothered to acknowledge my own faults as well. You cannot progress if you unable to even do that. It''s why I ended up here in the first place" [Worried for your future now that you''ve finally realized you''re in uncharted territory?] "A little, but you know, that''s just means I''m on the right track" [...Do you trust them now?] "I wouldn''t say that. I''m never walking in blind again...MY trust has to be earned. It''ll be a very long journey, and I have no idea what to expect. But like MLK said, ''You dont have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step''. I''m pretty sure I''ll end up where I need to be" Asserting his new resolve, Rei said no more and continued on home Notitia spoke again, yet oddly, Rei could not hear it [Progress is improving...] [...Don''t worry about where YOU want to be Rei...] [...We''ll make sure...] [...You''re exactly...] [...WhERe we''lL NeeD yOu tO bE...] 47. Forward MrProper Making it home, Rei found an envelope next to some books on the kotatsu "Hm? Mail? No...a letter from nee-san" "Rei. As I said before, my assignment is now long-running. Unfortunately, you won''t be seeing me much in the recent days. I don''t want to be away so much, but what I''m doing here is very important. And hey, it''s not as if I moved to another country so we''ll still see each other. Just not as frequent as either of us would like. I''ll filled the fridge with groceries so feel free to help yourself. Take care -Mabui P.S. Me being gone is no excuse for you to just eat meat! I''d better see less and less of the vegetables I left for you in the fridge every time I''m home!" "Ugh. Vegetables. Green is my least favorite color...I wonder...will she suspect anything if I throw them out?" Rei seriously thought about doing it for a minute {...Nah. I''ll be an adult and just bite the bullet. I''d probably get caught anyway. Besides, I am still hungry} Rei opened the old refrigerator in the kitchen and found it stuffed to the brim with food "Jeez, she wasn''t kidding. So...much...green. Whatever" Grabbing a few carrots, he sat down by the kotatsu, grabbed one of the books on it, and starting reading Munch! "Hm. Yin is about controlling and creating form while Yang is about breathing life into form. Despite being opposites, these two elements are synergetic, when you strengthen one you strengthen the other. Hmm..." Munch! "Notitia." No response "Notitia! You there?!" Nothing but silence in the house {Where did that thing go off to now? Whatever, guess I''ll have to figure this out on my own...as usual} With no response from his "guide", Rei continued reading in peace. With only the sound of the fluttering pages to keep him company "Yin covers the mind and Yang covers the body. I have a natural affinity for Yin and I''ve supplemented it with plenty of reading and meditation. But I haven''t really worked on my Yang much despite increasing my chakra with the Ten-tails. Is that why I''ve been so hungry lately?" {Increasing my mental abilities betters my Yin, increasing my physical abilities betters my Yang. I eat well, and I''ve worked out plenty but, the Yang comes from energy within the cells. However, I''ve increased my chakra unnaturally, so my body has yet to get a chance to adapt to the new energy I''m holding inside} Rei looked at the food he was holding and frowned. Suddenly standing up with a facepalm "Damn it! How could I be so stupid?! Most humans would die from absorbing such power from that monster at young age like mine. I grew complacent because I didn''t suffer any immediate side effects! It''s just like Notitia said, I still haven''t fully awakened my tsutsuki powers yet" Putting the book down, Rei finished his food and grabbed some more before running to the back yard "Increasing my chakra capacity IS important, but so is increasing the strength of my body. I''m gonna have to increase my workout routine!" Rei immediately started exercising. With each routine he completed, he took a break, ate even more food, and worked out again This process was repeated for the rest of the day ??? The Next Morning Rei was sitting down on an elevated platform waiting for his team...constipated {Ugh} "Guess I overdid it a bit" [Hahahaha!] "Oh, I see someone have finally decided to join us. Where the hell did you go anyway?" [Hehehe, yeah sorry. After speaking with you yesterday, I became a little...fragmented] {...I might as well not even question what that even means since I''ll only get a roundabout answer anyway} "I certainly could have used your help" [I know, I was watching. Although I didn''t say anything, I have to ask, how could a Ph.d like yourself overlook such an obvious mistake? Aren''t you supposed to be a "genius"?] "I AM a genius...in the field of physics and engineering. And you know what, I hate that" [Hate what?] "The ignorant assumption that someone with a Ph.d or high IQ can''t possibly make an honest mistake. I mean what, did you expect all the doctors in the world to be flawless and always carry calm and composure wherever they go?" [Uuuum...yeah, I guess] "That shit only happens in comics and movies. Only an idiot would believe in such drivel. If I wasn''t capable of making mistakes I wouldn''t be in the situation I''m in now...damn it" [Man! I''m sorry! What''s up your bum?] "Haaaah. I could barely sleep because of my stomach after I cleared out the fridge. Plus, I had to go shopping to refill it early this morning with a stomach ache to boot" [That doesn''t sound too bad] "Have you forgotten how far the nearest grocery market is from my house?" [...Ooooooohh...right...] "I had to carry all that stuff with a bad stomach. Ugh, I feeling awful on the one day I can''t afford to feel awful" [Well...look at the bright side] "The bright side?" [Yeah! Considering the fact you didn''t throw up despite eating enough for at least 10 fully grown men proves your "remade" body is doing its job. Right?] Rei held out his hand {...True. My stomach pains are decreasing at an inhuman rate, and my body feels much better than yesterday. The tsutsuki cells inside me are already adapting to the change} "The pain I feel is nothing compared to what I felt yesterday. It''s amazing how I''m recovering so fast" [You might even manifest some new abilites soon, so keep an-] "Shhh" [Huh?] "Someone''s coming" Arriving at the same time was Suzu and Tai "Hey Rei!" (Tai) "H-hey" (Rei) "?" (Tai) "Hm? Are you alright?" (Suzu) "Yeah...just ate something bad this morning but I''ll be alright. Did you guys sleep well?" Tai folded his arms and wore a confident grin "It''s been so long since I''ve slept so well" (Tai) "Same" (Suzu) "Good to hear, now that we''re approaching a crossroads in our lives" (Rei) "Yeah...but for some reason...I''m not worried. It''s a strange feeling..." (Tai) "...I know what you mean" (Rei) "It''s not strange at all" (Suzu) "?" (Rei & Tai) Suzu turned her head and spoke shyly "We''ve just stopped waiting for change and decided to get it ourselves" (Suzu) Rei and Tai smirked at her words "A fine point Suzu" (Tai) "Yes it was. In fact, it''s exactly what I needed to-!" (Rei) Rei suddenly turned his head "What is it?" (Suzu) "The guest of honor has arrived" (Rei) Thwap! A figure landed in front of them "...!" (Suzu) "Eh? Ah! Tango-sensei!" (Tai) "Good morning you three. I just got here but...your looks are far better than when we first met. So that with being said, shall we begin?" (Tango) Rei got up and stood side by side with the others "?" (Tango) "My name is Suzu" "My name is Tai Yotsuki" "My name is Rei Sano" "!" (Tango) The three them stood at attention and yelled "AND WE ARE TEAM TANGO!" (All of them) "..." (Tango) Tango was at a loss for words before he began giggling. After he was done, he gestured them to follow "Follow me" (Tango) Not questioning him, the trio followed with haste. Along the way, Rei spoke to other two "Hey guys. This path is..." (Rei) "Yeah. I''ve noticed as well" (Suzu) "The same place again..." (Tai) ??? After some time, the group arrived at the harbor they''d previously visited on their first mission Greeting them on his ship was the Jonin Funsui "Hey Tango! You setting out?" (Funsui) "Yes. As for the destination...well...just look at them" (Tango) Funsui observed the three Genin and smiled "Hahaha! Now those are some mugs I can get down with! Climb aboard!" (Funsui) After getting on, Tango and Funsui conversed "We going to the island again?" (Funsui) "...No...they''ve shown me there''s no need. I''m taking them to the ''guardian''." (Tango) "?!" (Funsui) "Before you ask, yes I''m sure. They can handle it. I''ve already received permission from Raikage-sama. Plus, Tai is a member of the Yotsuki Clan so there''s even less to worry about when it comes to going there" (Tango) "If you say so. I''ll have my men change course. Ronri!" (Funsui) Funsui yelled to a crew member below deck "Yeah?!" (Ronri) "We''re not headed to Genbu! We''re gonna see the ''guardian''!" (Funsui) "Understood! I''ll inform the others!" (Ronri) "And step on it! I want this done as soon as humanly possible!" (Funsui) "Yes sir!" (Ronri) Turning back to Tango "You''d better tell them what you''re doing now. I''ll be at the helm if you need me" (Funsui) "Got it. Thanks!" (Tango) After Funsui left, Tango approached the team "Contrary to what I assume you''ve already guessed, we will not be returning to Genbu Island" (Tango) "Sensei" (Rei) "Yes?" (Tango) "May I ask the details of this mission?" (Rei) "So open...you lot have grown. But there seems to be a misunderstanding" (Tango) "?" (Rei) "I''m not taking you three on a mission...yet" (Tango) "Then...where are we going?" (Suzu) "We are headed to a place for preparation" (Tango) "Preparation?" (Tai) "Training actually. After seeing how much your behavior and demeanor have changed compared to our first mission, I acknowledge you three have put in a great deal of thought towards my words. But you''re still lacking in certain areas. Areas I intend to correct at our destination. Or rather...areas HE and I intend to correct" (Tango) {He?} (Suzu) "For now, just enjoy the ride. Our trip won''t be as long as the one to Genbu" (Tango) Tango left them to their thoughts "Training huh? I''m always open to that but..." (Tai) "Yeah...there''s more to this than he''s letting on" (Suzu) The two looked at Rei "Hm? Hey, if I knew I would tell you. I''m not keeping things to myself anymore. I''m just as lost as you" (Rei) "Not even a guess?" (Suzu) "Nope. For starters, I don''t even know where he''s taking us" (Rei) The group converse for some time before the ship was engulfed in fog Tai seemed to notice something about the valley they entered and stood up "No way..." (Tai) "Something wrong?" (Suzu) "...I...I think I know where we''re going" (Tai) "?!" (Rei & Suzu) "This place is under the jurisdiction of my family" (Tai) "Are you sure? All of us can barely see anything with blasted fog" (Suzu) {Well...I can with my enhanced eyesight, but I see your point} (Rei) Before Tai could respond the crew, including Tango, emerged from the bottom of the deck "Tango-sensei! Is this place?!" (Tai) "Yes" (Tango) Funsui walks past them towards the tip of the deck before turning back at them "Everyone! It is my pleasure to welcome you all to Unraiky!1Valley of Clouds and Lightning" 48. Unraikyō Sailing through the cold, massive valley, they made their way towards the bottom of a hill. After dropping the anchor, Funsui escorted the team off the ship "Phew! Freezing! I forgot how cold it gets here in this time of year. At least we made without any issues this time" (Tango) "Ah? What do you mean ''this time''? You got something say about my sailing Tango?" (Funsui) "Oh I wouldn''t dream of commenting on your ability as a ship captain Funsui. Just thinking out loud" (Tango) "Mhm. Sure" (Funsui) After seeing the team off the ship, Funsui proceeded to leave "I hope you haven''t forgotten anything because we''re not sticking around" (Funsui) "Gah! S-S-S-SO...COLD!!! You''re not staying?" (Tai) "No. But you are. Have fun" (Funsui) "Wait...what?" (Suzu) Funsui replied with smug tone before getting back on the ship and sailing away before they could ask any more questions Now alone with the group, Tai couldn''t help but ask "Okay...I''m still completely clueless as to what the hell is going on" (Tai) "Sensei...what did he mean by that?" (Suzu) "I''ve already notified your guardians, but we''ll be staying here for the next month" (Tango) "?!" (Tai & Suzu) "For how long in this freezing place?!" (Rei) "One whole month! Now, come along! We have a schedule to keep" (Tango) "..." (Suzu) "Un...real" (Tai) {A month?! Crap! I didn''t bring any of Mabui''s pots for reverse summoning because I thought we were going on a mission! I won''t be able to get back to my lab until we return, damn it!} (Rei) Tango grabbed his bag and starting walking on the steps leading to the top of the hill. The Genin followed in kind, shivering from the low temperature "...Hey Tai" (Suzu) "Brrrrr...y-yeah?" (Tai) "You said your family owns this place?" (Suzu) "That''s right, I''ve been wanting to ask you about that" (Rei) "In a matter of speaking, yes. This mountain valley range was one of the many territories given to the Yotsuki Clan after they swore loyalty to first Raikage during Kumogakure''s founding" (Tai) "This valley is located close to a border in the Land of Lightning right?" (Rei) "Mhm. Because my family has been entrusted with security of all our country''s borders for generations, this place is naturally under our control" (Tai) {You learn something new everyday. But why does this place feel so familiar?} (Rei) "Hey! Pick up the pace! During this time of year, this place gets DANGEROUSLY cold! We''re quite a ways before we make it to the top!" (Tango) "Yes sir!" (Suzu) "C-coming!" (Tai) "Nothing like a little hiking to get the blood moving I guess" (Rei) The group sped up and after some time, they made there way to the top In front of them was a wide, flat landscape with more stairs opposite from them, leading to a house. It''s back connected to another, taller mountain. The area was surrounded with other mountains possessing similar structures and builds attached to them "Huff...huff..." (Suzu) "Haaah...ack...wheeze...!" (Tai) "Take long, deep breaths. Besides the cold, the air is very thin up here...but that''s also why it''s a perfect training environment" (Tango) After the hike, Suzu was breathing heavily while the less fit Tai was gasping for air. Tango and Rei were the only ones who kept their composure "Welcome to your home for the next month" (Tango) Tango put down his bag and looked at them with a serious expression "There''s something I need to tell you three...about our team" (Tango) "W-what is it?" (Tai) "..." (Rei & Suzu) "As you know, shinobi squads are usually organized to balance out talents between students and teachers" (Tango) "Yeah...that''s comes standard anywhere. What are you getting at sensei?" (Tai) "Teams...so in our case..." (Suzu) "Rei and Tai benefit from your elemental expertise, Suzu. You and Rei benefit from the medical knowledge Tai holds, along with the fact that he''s completely memorized all there is to know about the basics. Information that''s essential for building a strong foundation. Finally, you and Tai gain advantages from Rei''s high-level intelligence, strong Taijutsu, and adept Chakra control. And naturally, all of you benefit from learning to work together as a team" (Tango) "So that''s why..." (Suzu) "But what about you sensei? You''re also apart of ''Team Tango'' as well" (Rei) "Oh! That''s right!" (Tai) "Heh. Again, sharp as a knife Rei" (Tango) "..." (Tai & Suzu) "I''m apart of Kumogakure''s Intelligence Division, my skills are heavily focused on support, espionage, information gathering, and interrogation. We''re not really ''front line'' fighters, not to mention my young age..." (Tango) Tango took a deep breath "Its why you three, some the academy''s most gifted students were assigned to me, one of our village''s youngest Jonin. It''s all about balance" (Tango) "You were given exceptional students to make up for your lack of experience" (Tai) "Oh, make no mistake, I have plenty ''experience''. But my overall strength is average" (Tango) "Heh! You mean for a Jonin right?" (Rei) "Naturally. The top brass would never assign any ninja lower than the rank of Jonin to watch over a team of Genin. No one, including myself, would accept anything else" (Tango) "That''s reassuring...not that any of us were worried anyway. After the events on Genbu Island, no one doubts your capabilities Tango-sensei" (Suzu) "Thank you" (Tango) "Alright, I get that, but where do we go from here?" (Tai) Tango held his head down for a brief moment before looking at them with a strong expression "Suzu. Rei. Tai..." (Tango) "?" (The three Genin) "From this point forward I promise...I will always do everything in my power to ensure your success. If there''s a jutsu you need, I''ll get it for you. If there''s something you don''t understand, I''ll explain it to you. If there''s a problem you can''t overcome alone, I''ll work with you. And if my abilities alone aren''t enough, I''ll get someone else to help you!" (Tango) "Sensei..." (Tai) "All I ask is that you give me a chance, and trust in me. Can you all do that?" (Tango) The trio looked at each other before responding "You don''t have worry about me, I''ve already made my decision" (Rei) "Trust is two-way street. Wouldn''t be fair to ask for your trust if I didn''t give mine" (Tai) "We''re of like minds sensei, there''s no need to continue this any further" (Suzu) Getting their response, Tango smirked a little "Great, now let me explain our regimen" (Tango) Tai had an eager look on his face "For learning new jutsu!?" (Tai) "...No" (Tango) "Huh?" (Tai) "Like I said, you three are talented when it comes to your jutsu. But still lacking in certain areas...areas that I intend to correct" (Tango) {I won''t deny that} (Rei) "During our time here, you three will be practicing formations and perfecting your coordination. At the moment, I''m not interested in teaching you any new jutsu. Your overall foundation and teamwork are my main priorities for now" (Tango) "Yeah...after our previous ''performance''..." (Suzu) "It makes sense to focus on those aspects" (Rei) "R-right..." (Tai) "Indeed. Only when the both of us find your results are satisfactory, then we''ll move on to learning new techniques" (Tango) "Ok...wait? ''The both of us''?" (Tai) "Is there someone else here sensei?" (Rei) "Ah! That''s right! Before we continue, there''s someone I''d like to introduce" (Tango) Tango turned around and yelled towards the house at the top of the stairs opposite to them "HEY! WE''RE HERE!" (Tango) The three looked up to find a man''s single figure exiting the house. Strangely enough, he was uttering weird sounds as he made his way down the stairs "Who is that?" (Suzu) "I don''t...wait...isn''t he?!" (Tai) "Hm?" (Rei) "? Yeah, yeah Ayo, Students, it''s time. Y''all lackin'' so much It''s like a crime Yo teamwork drops low, unlike me and my Brother But with me here, you''ll be jamming like no other Beyond the walls of those Headbands, life is defined. I think of Strength, when I''m in a Unraiky state of mind ?" (???) "...H-huh?" (Suzu) "Rapping? Enka? No doubt about it now. This guy is...!" (Tai) "Oh God...not HIM" (Rei) [Hahaha! Yes! Finally a character besides you that makes me laugh!] Rei made a face palm with a deep sigh "Everyone, allow be to proudly introduce the ''Guardian of Kumogakure'', Jinchriki of the Eight-Tails, and younger brother of Raikage-sama...Killer B-sama!" (Tango) "Hold on...''guardian''...is he the one who?!-" (Suzu) "That''s right Suzu. He was the ''reinforcements'' we were buying time for during our battle on Genbu Island. As well as the one who rescued you" (Tango) "Oh! How could I have forgot?!" (Tai) "What do you mean Tai?" (Suzu) "I overheard my family talking about Raikage-sama having a Jinchriki move into Unraiky after the Third Shinobi World War. Him at the border is a powerful defense, but before that he was usually stationed at-" (Tai) "Genbu Island. That island has been host to many of our country''s Jinchriki as a place of training and reflection. Both B-sama and Raikage-sama trained there together in their youth many years ago" (Tango) {No wonder that annoying island and this stupid place felt so familiar} (Rei) "So he''s gonna be teaching us?" (Tai) "We both are. B-sama will mainly oversee your physical preparation and combat skill. I will be instructing you on your formations and jutsu" (Tango) "? Hope you got the communication My operation don''t like no dirty implication Run up to the education and get the station What more could you ask for? The cool Formation? You complain about the cold. I gotta love it though - somebody still speaks for the implication ?" "WHHEEEEEEEE!!!!!!" (Killer B) "..." (Tai) "..." (Suzu) "Haaaa...." {This is gonna be one long, f*cking month...} (Rei) Folding his arms, Tango had a huge smile on his face "LET''S GET TO WORK!!!!" (Tango) 49. State Of Affairs [1] Back in Kumogakure An assembly of over fifty people was taking place in a large room. At it''s head was the Raikage, the Lightning Daimy, and his assistant standing next to him. The rest were comprised of Elders and Jonin The assistant was addressing the current state of affairs with Kumogakure "Most of our small businesses have resumed function, but civil unrest at our borders remains" "We''re STILL lacking enough manpower to deal with the smaller nations?" "That damn unruly bunch, honestly...we''ve should''ve crushed them during the war and absorbed their land into our own!" "That''s exactly why we got roped into this war in the first place. While the Leaf, Sand, and Stone were hashing it out, we moved to increase our strength before Kirigakure1Hidden Mist Village did" "I thought we would''ve tackled the issue already" "The Third Shinobi War''s after effects are truly resilient..." "Even before the war, the national power of the Five Great Shinobi Nations was clearly diminishing. The conflicts with the smaller nations broke out until it developed into an all-out war. Causing all nations to gain a shortage of war potential, to point even young Genin were forced to fight, losing their young lives during the war" "Ngh..." "And now, we''re worst than how we started off" "Fortunately, our country can boast having the strongest economy out of all the other villages. By focusing our resources on restoration, we''ll recover sooner than most "You mean as long as the disturbances remain and the current minimum...right?" "...Yes. Our estimated projections foresee a total recovery in five to eight years" "Considering the damage we took, those numbers aren''t that bad" "What of the peace treaties?" "Because Sunagakure2Hidden Sand Village and Iwagakure3Hidden Stone Village were the farthest nations away from us, we''ve had very little engagements with them. So our peace negotiations have gone along swimmingly" "Well, at least there''s some good news" "It''d be awfully strange if they wanted to pick a fight with us now" "What of Kirigakure?" "Now THAT is what''s strange" "Eh?" "What do you mean? Are they not complying with the treaties?" "No. It''s...the exact opposite. Out of all the villages, they''re the ones being the most cooperative. They''ve complied with all of our demands and have even given us boons to boot" "What?! Why?" "Are they trying to form an alliance or something?" "That introverted nation? No way! Kirigakure is famous for having little to no diplomatic relations whatsoever. Clearly they''re up to something!" "That''s what we thought, so we conducted an investigation. But everything turned out legit. In fact, some of Kiri''s own ninja are questioning the 4th Mizukage''s4Water Shadow decision" "...That is very strange" "The policies of that village made a complete 180 every since the 3rd Mizukage died" "Hmm..." "Well let''s not look a gift horse in the mouth. They agreed with our deal, without making a fuss, which only serves to benefit us" "As long as we maintain our vigilance, it should be safe to continue coordinating with them" "After all the fighting, I don''t see the benefit of making an unnecessary enemy" "Very well, are there any who disagree?" No one voiced an objection "Alright then, moving on, we have the issue with the Leaf..." "Ah...now that''s a complicated issue" "Yes. Because we entered this war believing it to be an opportunity to weaken the other villages, Konohagakure in particular, negotiations with them are running slow. And our attempt to steal the Nine-tails is something they''ve surely haven''t forgotten" "Humph! They''ve got their nerve! It''s not like they''ve never attacked anyone else! Every village agreed to peace treaties! Who are they to!-" "To the treaties yes, to individual conditions...no" "Thats...!" "There''s no debating this" (???) "Uh! Daimy-sama..." "We''re in no condition to be pushing for additional demands and the fact of the matter is...we didn''t have to enter that war." (Daimy) The room went silent as the Lightning Daimy spoke, his assistant who was standing by his side handed him a paper "It was ego like that which got us roped into this war in the first place. While the Leaf, Sand, and Stone were hashing it out, many of you here decided to move against my advice not to engage. Pressuring the late 3rd Raikage to enter that war. Now that I''m here I want you to get it through your heads, we''re opting for peace not conflict" (Daimy) Clamoring "If I may interject Daimy-sama! Not all of us can go along with those orders!" (???) A Jonin with his headband over his right eye, wearing an old-styled Kumo flak jacket stood up "Oh?" (Daimy) The assistant glared at the one who rudely spoke to the Daimy "I don''t care who you are, but such disrespect towards the Daimy-sama will not be!-" "It''s fine Tekkan, let him speak" (Daimy) "...Yes sir" (Tekkan) "And what does our dear Head Ninja have to say?" (Daimy) With a slightly mocking tone, the head ninja made his case "We participated in the war to maintain our status as one of the Great Nations. When it comes to weakness, the other villages will always take the chance to exploit it" (Head Ninja) "I won''t deny that" (Daimy) "It was not ego that forced our hand, but rather necessity as not only our village, but even our potential clients were at risk of being stolen or killed. I''m sure you of all people should understand how important they are to Kumogakure and what they contribute..." (Head Ninja) "..." (Daimy) {This smug bastard...even a child knows that. He''s obviously doing this on purpose to undermine Daimy-sama''s authority in front of the top brass here!} (Tekkan) Tekkan clenched his fist, clearly angry at the Head Ninja''s condescending performance "While it''s true we agreed to the conditions of modest demilitarization, but do you honestly believe the other villages will keep their word?" (Head Ninja) "Are you suggesting we only keep up the appearance of honoring the peace treaty while secretly amassing power?" (Daimy) "It is a risk, sir. But one of high reward. Besides, if it''s not going to be us, it''s going to be someone else. And I prefer it be us" (Head Ninja) The Daimyo sat back in his chair without muttering a word. The Head Ninja smiled confidently as he believed he had properly conveyed his case to everyone here After pondering for a bit, the Daimy broke the silence "Heh. Hehe. Hehehehehe" (Daimy) "Sir?" (Tekkan) "Sorry Tekkan, it''s nothing. Ahem! Tell me sir...are you a gambling man?" (Daimy) The smile on the Head Ninja''s face froze "...I beg your pardon?" (Head Ninja) "Are you a gambling man?" (Daimy) "No...I do not partake in such foolish activities" (Head Ninja) "Because ''one can''t beat the house'' right?" (Daimy) "Of course" (Head Ninja) "Ah! Good! So you do understand!" (Daimy) "Understand what sir?" (Head Ninja) "How much of a ''sucker''s bet'' the plan you''re suggesting is" (Daimy) The whole room went quiet with an awkward silence as the Head Ninja frowned. Tekkan was smirking The Raikage was sitting quietly, his eyes closed as he listened "You see...the future is a ''what if'', a ''possibility'', a ''maybe'', a ''contingency''. And betting on it is always a horrible idea, something you would understand if you were a gambling man" (Daimy) "..." (Head Ninja) "Your ''plan'' hinges on the VERY slim chance of no one finding out we broke the treaty. The consequences of which could be catastrophic. It could cost us all of our clients, turn the public against us, maybe even cause ALL the other Great Nations to ally and fight us. Now THAT, would spell the end of Kumogakure" (Daimy) "...I" (Head Ninja) The Daimy got up from his chair, walked towards a window, and opened it "Do you hear that?" (Daimy) "Hear what sir?-" (Head Ninja) "Nuh-uh! Don''t talk! Just listen" (Daimy) As the room remained quiet. It took a moment for some to realize the Daimy was specifying the sound of the populace...the people of Kumogakure "That...that down there is the ''present''. The very same ''present'' you''re carelessly betting on. It is the only thing that matters, or rather, the only thing that SHOULD matter to everyone is this room. Not the past, and definitely not the uncertain future" (Daimy) No one muttered a word. Most were nervous, if not outright fearful as even a child could tell the Daimy was angry "Daimy...sama..." (Head Ninja) "...Humph!" (Daimy) Not interested in his hollow respect, the Daimy closed the window, sat down, and took off his glasses Making a face that could only be described as a ''Death stare'', he spoke with a hoarse, boiling tone "IF YOU''RE GONNA PLAY THE KNOW-IT-ALL, THEN YOU SHOULD OBVIOUSLY KNOW WHEN TO SHUT THE F*CK UP" 50. State Of Affairs [2] "IF YOU''RE GONNA PLAY THE KNOW-IT-ALL, THEN YOU SHOULD OBVIOUSLY KNOW WHEN TO SHUT THE F*CK UP" The Daimy''s words completely froze the room The Head Ninja was speechless. Everyone else was fidgeting, no one daring to say anything as the air in the room went cold "...There''s more I''d like to say, but I''ll leave it at that...for now. Raikage-dono. What are your thoughts on this matter?" (Daimy) Everyone turned their heads to the Raikage in anticipation The Raikage, A, unfolded his arms and broke the silence "I, nor my father, will ever say we regret the decisions we''ve made. And I''ve certainly not forgotten what all of us have lost because of the war. My father should be here, sitting in this chair now...not me. But I am, and it''s my duty to ensure the protection of this village" (A) "..." (Head Ninja) "If any potential Jutsu and/or assets happen to fall in our hands we''ll do our best to keep them, but our main priority is recovery!" (A) "So you agree with his stupid idea" (Daimy) "I never said that" (A) "No, you just dodged and weaved your way around the subject that idiot brought up" (Daimy) "..." (Head Ninja) "Make no mistake, I''m not encouraging anyone to cause conflict" (A) "You mean, not publicly..." (Daimy) A''s tone dropped several levels, seemingly tired of the Daimy''s arguing "With all due respect Daimy-dono, it''s MY job to oversee our village''s military affairs" (A) "..." (Daimy) "..." (A) Tension inside the room reached an all time high "Fine. But if ANYONE attempts to provoke another nation, no matter how small or insignificant, will be considered a traitor and treated as such! No matter who they are" (Daimy) The Daimyo gave a sharp glance before standing down. The Raikage turned his head towards the head ninja "Very well. You may be seated now" (A) "Yes...Raikage-sama" (Head Ninja) The Head Ninja bowed towards the Raikage. With his head down, no one could see his red, glaring eye "Daimy-dono" (A) Putting his glasses back on, he looked towards his right "Tekkan! Please...continue" (Daimy) "Sir! Next up is the change in tax rate for energy. If everyone will turn to page 34 in the pamphlets you were given at the start of this meeting, you''ll find that many of our power plants were..." (Tekkan) ??? After some time, the meeting ended and everyone proceeded to leave the room Walking down a hallway with haste was the Head Ninja "...Damn it. Things would''ve gone my way if!-" (Head Ninja) "Don''t you mean ''our'' way, dear commander?" "?!" (Head Ninja) Suddenly appearing next to him was an elderly man dressed in robes. His appearance signified he was one of Kumogakure''s recognized councilor''s, some of the leading powers within the village The Head ninja began talking, his words clearly anxious "Esteemed one! I-I swear to get this done. Once I get the Raikage by himself I''ll!-" (Head Ninja) "It''s fine. What''s done is done. Besides, it wasn''t a total failure, you managed to sow the seed of discord between them" "Eh?" (Head Ninja) "The Raikage didn''t fully deny your request, even going against the opinion of the Daimy. Which means we''ve successfully managed to drive a, albeit small, wedge between them" "Then...it wasn''t a failure?" (Head Ninja) "On the contrary, most of us didn''t expect it would happen so soon. The fact that you managed to accomplish this with only one meeting is unprecedented, and will certainly not go unrewarded" "Ah! I''m humbled sir!" (Head Ninja) "But your job isn''t over yet. We need you to continue widening that divide until the Raikage and the Daimy wholeheartedly believe the other isn''t beneficial to the village" "Right" (Head Ninja) "They have to be at odds, or rather preoccupied with one another. So much that they can''t possibly discover our true intentions" "I already have things set in motion. Many of my men are already prepared" (Head Ninja) "Good. This won''t happen over night, so be subtle about it. When the need arises, the ''Company'' will call upon your services again" Just before the two of them went their separate ways, the head ninja muttered some last words "My family has been the upper crust of this village since it''s founding. To obtain my rightful place at the top, I will always be eager to play my part" (Head Ninja) "...Of course" {Humph! "Idiot" huh? Just wait Daimy. When I get what I want you''ll no longer be relevant. And that will be the moment I slit your f*cking throat!} (Head Ninja) Finally to himself, the elder''s face took on a nauseated expression "Humph! Fool...as if we''d ever let a greedy bastard like yourself become the leader of Kumogakure. Unlike you, what we do isn''t for ourselves, but for the sake of the village. When our goal is complete I will personally send you to hell" {Still...I can''t believe that incompetent managed to succeed today} "For the Raikage to not only disagree on a subject with the Daimy that''d you expect him to agree with, but to do it so openly in front of nearly all members of the top brass" {He may not be up to par with the 3rd Raikage, but I know for a fact he isn''t THAT incompetent...} The elder stopped walking and organized his thoughts "...I could be overthinking things, but there''s no such thing as taking too much precautions in our line of work. I''ll share my thoughts with the rest of the ''company'' tomorrow" {Maybe a little ''probe'' into his intentions would suffice} Picking up his pace, he made a wicked smile before suddenly vanishing ??? Back in the now close assembly room, only the Raikage, the Daimy, and his assistant remained After closing all of the doors, Tekkan maintained his distance from the two as they stared at each other with tense expressions "Raikage-dono..." (Daimy) "Daimy-dono..." (A) "..." (Tekkan) After a brief pause, Tekkan opened one of the doors to find a shinobi waiting outside who simply nodded at him Closing the door, the three were once again alone "Well?" (Daimy) "..." (A) "Room is secure" (Tekkan) "Haaaa..." (A) "Finally!" (Daimy) The two leading individuals breathed a sigh of relief, breaking their stiff postures and taking on a more relaxed demeanor "Was all this ''cloak and dagger'' nonsense really necessary?" (Daimy) "Apologies, but it is" (A) "He''s right sir" (Tekkan) "It''s only because of our past history together that I''ve deferred to your judgement on this case. Agh! My back hurts from waiting so long. I''m not getting any younger you know!" (Daimy) "Sir..." (Tekkan) "Yeah, Yeah. I know" (Daimy) "At least now we have confirmation" (A) "Yes. Certain said person or persons are clearly trying to undermine the authority you two hold" (Tekkan) "By turning us against each other" (Daimy) "About that...I''m sorry I-" (A) Holding his hand up, he stopped the Raikage from apologizing "It''s fine. Your ''conflict'' with me during this meeting was all part of the plan. Plus, everyone is busy recently. It''s not easy these days for either of us to call for a FULL assembly of all the major players" (Daimy) "Still, I didn''t expect them to bring up the subject of increasing our military strength" (A) "For the Head Ninja of all people to so blatantly suggest breaking the peace treaties like that is..." (Tekkan) "Mm. It''s obvious he''s involved but..." (Daimy) "He''s clearly just a pawn" (Tekkan) "That makes things even worse" (A) "Eh?" (Tekkan) "The fact that someone is capable of making Kumo''s head ninja a pawn means we''re dealing with an enemy of great power and influence" (Daimy) "!" (Tekkan) "And whoever is responsible is clearly hostile towards the village and its people" (Daimy) "My father has long suspected this, which is why the only people who know about it, are in this room. Do you understand Tekkan?" (A) Tekkan nodded his head, clearly understanding what A was hinting at. All the Raikage''s of the past held the name "A". Each A had a tag-team partner named "B", who was responsible for defending the Raikage and representing their power "Everyone in this room" meant that A didn''t even share this secret with his own brother, Killer B, who held the moniker of being his "closest ally" For both the Raikage and the Daimy to let him in on this information demonstrated a great deal of trust in him "I swear I will take this secret to my grave sir" (Tekkan) "Hopefully it doesn''t come to that. It''s hard to find such good help these days" (Daimy) Tekkan slumped his shoulders with an exhausted look "That''s really messed up Daimy-sama..." (Tekkan) "Hahaha! But kidding aside, what are we to do now? After this meeting, it''s going to get harder and harder for us to meet like this without arousing suspicion. Should we widen our circle?" (Daimy) "..." (A) "I strongly recommend against that course of action" (Tekkan) "!" (A & Daimy) "We are dealing with a conspiracy so dangerous that it reaches to even the height of your office Raikage-sama. Now is the time to tighten your circle, not widen it. Who you choose to trust will very likely determine the fate of Kumogakure" (Tekkan) "..." (A) "I told you he was one of the good ones" (Daimy) "Yeah...it''s a waste he''s working for you and not me" (A) "Oh don''t you come at me like that. I''m still pissed you and your father snatched Mabui right from under my!-" (Daimy) Thump! Thump! Someone was knocking on the door outside "And with that signal, we are officially out of time" (A) "Right...while I''m gone, I''ll have the staff I trust keep a close eye on the money. If I notice any unusual activity I''ll have Tekkan notify you. Sorry Tekkan, but it looks like you''ll be doing a lot more traveling in the coming days" (Daimy) "I''m prepared Daimy-sama" (Tekkan) "I''ll put some of the top brass I already suspect under investigation , there are some here I know I can trust to be discreet. I won''t publicly accuse anyone of anything before coming to you unless I catch them in the act" (Daimy) "Got it" (A) The Daimy sighed "To think the day would come when we would look at our own as the enemy" (Daimy) "The wisest choices are usually the hardest ones to make" (Tekkan) "That''s an understatement" (A) Leaving the assembly room the group said their goodbye''s "Thanks for the meeting, are you going to take the rest of the day off? I know I am after that" (Daimy) "No...I''ve been feeling a little sluggish recently so I''m going to get back to training" (A) "Ah...still trying to solve the mysteries of that scroll?" (Daimy) "Nope. It''s painfully obvious I''ll never be able to get past the ''Second Lock'' at this point. The only thing I can do now is simply improve my own techniques. Besides, before he died, my father gave that ''puzzle'' to someone else" (A) "Really?! He entrusted someone else with something so important? Who? Was it that apprentice of his? What was his name again...?" (Daimy) "Darui, sir" (Tekkan) "Right! Was it him?" (Daimy) "No. He only gave Darui the ''Black Lightning''. There is another that sparked his interest" (A) "I wasn''t aware he had a second apprentice..." (Daimy) "He didn''t. This one is a ''diamond in the rough'' he found. Younger than Darui, yet holding far more potential" (A) "...Seriously?" (Daimy) "Yes. In fact you met him already. You know, Mabui''s little cousin" (A) "Hm? Oh...oh yeah! That cheeky little brat at the last graduation. His name was Rei...Rei Sano right?" (Daimy) {Rei Sano? Could he be Keido''s son?} (Tekkan) "That''s right" (A) "Your father gave the ''Black Scroll'' to him?" (Daimy) "After he tested him in combat, yes. It was actually right before he died" (A) "I knew just from meeting him that boy was special...but I never would''ve imagined he was THAT special" (Daimy) "Yes. To entrust ''it'' to someone so young suggests my father actually believed he could open all four ''Locks'' on that treasure" (A) "That relic is from a time long past. No one in Kumo''s history has ever managed to open all the ''locks''. Hell, Your father at his PEAK only managed to open three. If he were to do so..." (Daimy) "One could only imagine the secrets that could be revealed. What that would mean for Kumogakure...and...what he would become" (A) The Daimy was speechless. Tekkan who was unaware of the subject they were discussing held back his urge to interject and ask what they meant, knowing it would be rude to pry "The potential of the human body...and here I thought today would be boring. Youth is a scary thing Raikage-dono" (Daimy) "Heh! Indeed. I hope to see you soon Daimy-dono" (A) "You as well Raikage-sama. Stay safe. Come along Tekkan!" (Daimy) "Yes sir!" (Tekkan) ??? After splitting up, A retuned to his empty office. Sitting down at his desk, his solitude the only company he had {Despite Tekkan''s advice to tighten my circle, I''m still going to need people to confide in. Especially ones that can undertake missions for my more "private" agendas} "Hmm. Maybe Mabui and her team? They''ve already proven themselves at the last Chunin exams. Plus, ''that'' one is also a member of her squad and is unlikely to betray the Raikage after being ''raised for the village''." {There''s no way I''m asking B, even if he''s the one I trust the most. I''d rather not increase my headaches, and as long as he''s at Unraiky he''s safe} "Haaaaaa..." A leaned back on his chair and sighed. Frustrated at his current predicament Then suddenly... {...Wait a sec. Unraiky...wasn''t he training with a Genin team this past month?} A got up and shuffled through some papers for a few minutes before locating the file he needed "Yeah...I''m definitely getting a secretary. Now let''s see...yes. Tango requested access to the valley almost a month ago. And wasn''t Tango the teacher of...oh...oh my..." A began laughing in his chair "Fate can be real funny sometimes. Isn''t that right...Rei" 51. Deployment Two a.m. in the morning An industrial factory located quite far from Kumogakure, a small amount of employees were hard at work "Geez...how much is left anyway?" "I''ve been wondering that myself" "Don''t worry. This should''ve been the last shipment" "Agh..." "Quit bellyaching. You''re getting paid overtime for doing this. There are plenty who would kill for your spot considering the shortage of jobs caused by the war" "I know, I know. It''s just...I don''t see how logging these...what the hell are these things again?" "No clue. But Kumogakure must think it''s important for them to pay us so well" "I think they''re some sort of containers" "Containers for what though?" "Don''t know. Don''t care. What I do know is that by packing them up, I get payed. And you are slowing us down with questions about a subject you''ll probably forget about in the next month or two" "Yeah man, I wanna go home. Less flappin'', more packin''. I''m exhausted" "Alright, alright. Just curious is all..." Creak! From upstairs, the sound of a door opening was heard. A man in his mid-twenties exited his office. Black hair, teal eyes, and fair light skin. He wore a casual, blue kimono "Good job everyone!" (???) "Tetsuo-buchou!1Suffix signifying respect to one''s superior/boss at a workplace" "Does this mean there are no more shipments left?" "That''s right. I know this month has been hard on all of you. After multiple relocations, just getting to work has become difficult. I wanna thank you all for sticking with me during these tough times" (Tetsuo) "Meh! Compared to wartime, a month of overtime is nothing!" "As long as your paying, I''ll be working! Hahaha!" "What he said!" "Those cases should be the last of them. Transport should be arriving soon to take them" (Tetsuo) Tetsuo walked down stairs with several envelopes in his hand "Your pay for month, as well as little extra. You guys can head home now. Don''t forget your things in your lockers!" (Tetsuo) After handing the employees their wage, he returned to his office on the second floor. The others went to the locker room to take off their work clothes "I''m so freaking lucky to get such a cool boss" "Only a boss like that could put up with a slacking rookie" "Hah! He got you there!" "He did not. There is nothing wrong with my work performance old timer!" "The fact you can barely keep up with an old timer like me is proof you can do better. Hell, when I was your age I-" "Huh? F-feathers?" "What''s that? You suddenly-" "E-eh? Huh..." "A-ahhhh..." Before any of them realized it, what appeared to be white feathers started fluttering in the air, caused them to fall asleep "What''s that noise? Feathers? Wait...this is!" (Tetsuo) Tetsuo, in his office, noticed the phenomenon from outside his window. Quickly understanding what was going on, he immediately ran to back of his office "This is not good! Have to tell the...village..." (Tetsuo) Barely able to stay conscious, his last act before passing out was ripping a unique paper on a safe in the back of his office Suddenly, several ninja in masks entered the facility. The one who seemed to be in charge broke into the office followed by another "...Damn. He managed to rip the tag" "Nothing we can do about it. We already knew this wasn''t going to be easy. Have the others round up the employees, they''ll make good meat shields" "Got it boss" Leaving the one in charge to himself, the leader attempted to pry open the safe to no avail "Sealing jutsu...this one is gonna take some time to break" Turning around, he left the office and looked down towards the first floor "Alright guys, there''s a seal on the safe so it looks like this is gonna be a hostage situation!" (Leader) "Haaaa. Damn it" "We''re gonna be here all day..." "Cut the chatter!" "We''re on borrowed time but we''ve already planned for this so let''s get to work! You guys know what to do!" (Leader) "Right!" ??? In the Raikage''s office, A was conversing with several Jonin "How long ago was the attack?" (A) "The notification from the tag was slower than expected. It''s been eight hours since the attack but we know they''re still there thanks to local law enforcement. The presence of hostages has also been confirmed" "Local Law enforcement? Are they ninja?" "No, freelance security. Like many of the other small towns in the Land of Lightning, but outside of Kumogakure, they''re private help hired for protection. The mayor of the town nearby notified us via a messenger bird" "We suspect this group is one of the many ravagers that have been rampant among the border" "Another negative result of our lack of personnel after the war" "If these ravagers are still there...that means they''re trying to break into the safe at that facility" (A) "We''ve already dispatched teams" "And how long will it take for them to arrive?" "Considering the distance from that factory, about two to three hours" "That long? I thought we relocated most of our factories to alternate locations during the war?" (A) "Due to several unique circumstances, many of them couldn''t be moved" "I see" (A) Bam! Suddenly, a man charged inside the office "Raikage-sama!" "Hm? What is Dodai" (A) "I heard about the attack...how long before our ninja get there?" (Dodai) "What''s wrong?" (A) "Located at the particular facility is a safe holding documents pertaining to ''that'' project" (Dodai) "We''re know, our ninja should be there within three hours" "Three hours?! That''s too long, who knows is they''ve!-" (Dodai) "I''m aware. All the companies who took our manufacturing requests we''re given several documents related to the ''Network''. But each only contained a part of the entire project. So there''s nothing to worry about" (A) "No sir...there is" (Dodai) "What is it?" (A) "I just fount out, for reasons I''m still uncertain, several of those documents were relocated from other facilities into that one" (Dodai) "WHAT?!" (A) "When I heard about the attack, I immediately checked our shipping logs only to find some of them had changed!" (Dodai) "Who the hell authorized that?!" (A) "I don''t know, but it wasn''t us. Only you and the presidents of the manufacturing factories could have made that decision. It''s could''ve been a slight oversight on their end but..." (Dodai) "What''s with this timing..." {Could it be...the one''s we''ve been looking for?} (A) "Raikage-sama...if those plans get out..." "I know! Damn it! Are there any other teams located near that border area right now?!" (A) "No. The majority of our ninja have been called back to the village as a sign of demilitarization for the peace treaties with the other nations" "The only ones left are the guard teams maintaining security, like the Yotsuki Clan. We could dispatch them but..." "But it means leaving our country vulnerable. And if this is someone''s plot...that might be just what they want" (A) "..." (Dodai) The room went silent for a minute, A was clearly anxious "Sir. Have you considered deploying your brother, Killer B-sama? He''s at Unraiky right now" "Unraiky is only a few kilometers away from that factory...any average shinobi could get there in less that twenty minutes. But to send B-sama is..." "Killer B is a precious asset to the village. A Jinchriki who can control his Tailed Beast is a powerful weapon. One I''m sure our enemies would like to be rid of..." (A) "To have an attack so close to him...yeah...the chances of it being a trap are also high" "But we have to do something! If those plans...!" "Wait" (Dodai) "Hm?" (A) "Raikage-sama...Killer B isn''t the only shinobi currently at Unraiky right?" (Dodai) "Eh?" "What do you mean?" "...Ah! That could work! Dodai! Send a dispatch order to ''them'' immediately!" (A) "Yes sir!" (Dodai) ??? At Unraiky "Alright guys, it''s time to go" "Already? I thought we were leaving tomorrow?" "New orders, we have a mission" "!" "To send it to us, seems like something is going down" "You''ll be briefed along the way. Go get your things, I''ll be waiting" "Understood" "Got it" "Mhm" The team captain waited for the others {I wonder, could this assignment be related to the "Network"?} After several minutes, the team was ready to depart "Killer B-sama, on behalf of all of us, I thank you for gracious hospitality" "? Wish I could come, the sword''s been sharpened But I never travel, cause my brother is the warden Y''all started off weak, but now you some managers My brother be yellin'', bout them damn ravagers Wild, lonely, beautiful, like a light Boy I say, you guys are a site Training with ya here, it''s been a blast But things goin down, ya better hit the gas ? WHEEEEEEEEE!!!!!" (Killer B) "..." "I''m never gonna get used to that" "Same" "Alright you three, let''s go" "Right, later B-sama!" "Take care! Thanks for all your help!" "...Try not to cause too much trouble" With vigor, the team leader led the group away "Alright! Team Tango is moving out!" 52. Team Tango, Reborn! [1] After making their way to land, Team Tango dashed with haste to their objective "So...''ravagers'' huh?" (Suzu) "More like opportunists who''ve been taking advantage of the lack of shinobi patrols. There''s no heinous crime they won''t commit. From robbing on the road, to raiding small towns, to murder" (Tai) "Their actions have forced local towns in our own country to hire outside help, which only hurts us" (Tango) "Because that''s a potential client we Kumo-nin just lose. Accepting all kinds of jobs is our main source of income after all" (Suzu) "And there''s nothing we can do about since we''re still short handed. I''ve been hearing more and more about these criminals causing trouble for every village recently" (Rei) "Yes. They''ve been a pain in our asses for quite some time. They''re one of the leading reasons for slowing down not only Kumogakure''s, but every nation''s recovery" (Tango) "But why attack a simple factory?" (Suzu) "Given what we''ve heard about it, I doubt they would find anything of value. The ''Mori Ltd.'' isn''t that big of a target. Or did they just hope to get lucky?" (Tai) "Their intentions are still unclear. What we do know is inside that factory lays a safe containing information that would become detrimental to Kumogakure should it fall into the wrong hands. That is what we are referring to as the primary objective" (Tango) "And because we''re the only squad that was close, the Raikage ordered us to retrieve it. And here I thought we were special" (Tai) "Well...you certainly are special" (Suzu) "Why, thank you Suzu" (Tai) "I don''t think she meant ''special'' in the way you''re thinking of Tai" (Rei) "Damn it Rei! You can''t let me have anything!" (Tai) Rei had a smug smile "Isn''t that why I''m here?" (Rei) "Grrrrrr. Kidding aside, are we the only one assigned to this mission Tango-sensei?" (Tai) "Another squad is already on their way, but they won''t arrive for at least another two hours" (Tango) "So the main objective isn''t defeating them, it''s ensuring they don''t escape. But sensei..." (Rei) "Yeah?" (Tango) "May I ask what''s so important about the safe''s contents?" (Rei) "...I''m not authorized to give you any specifics, but I can tell you they''re absolutely crucial towards a certain project Kumogakure has invested a lot of time and money into" (Tango) "Okay. If the situation gets too complicated, are we allowed to destroy the safe''s contents to prevent it from getting in the hands of the enemy?" (Rei) "That will be our last resort, but yes. If it contents of the safe are compromised and we cannot retrieve it...do everything in your power to destroy it" (Tango) "Got it" (Rei) "Is there anything else we know about the situation at the factory?" (Suzu) "No. We don''t even know how many enemies there are. This just happened a few hours ago, the only information we have is what the local town guards have told us" (Tango) Rei became unsettled when he realized the team would be going in blind "But considering the perpetrators still haven''t left yet...it''s safe to assume their main objective is to access the safe. Which means for the last eight hours they''ve been trying to undo the seal placed on it" (Tango) "A seal?!" (Suzu) "But doesn''t that mean...!" (Tai) "We''ll be facing enemy ninja..." (Rei) "It''s still not confirmed but, that''s most likely the case. For now, keep your chakra suppressed in case they have a sensor. Rei, you know what to do" (Tango) "Way ahead of you" (Rei) "Let''s pick up the pace!" (Tango) "Yes sir!!" (All of them) ??? At the factory, several armed men maintained a perimeter around the building. Private security guards hired by the local town, they didn''t let the factory out of their sight while waiting for assistance from Kumogakure "Still no movement?" "Nothing. Not a peep" "It''s been at least eight hours since we got here" "And they''re determined not to let anyone else in" "I wonder if they''re just desperate?" "I initially thought that would be the case but...no. They came here for a reason" "Any idea what it is?" "No. But Kumogakure might considering how fast they deployed shinobi to this seemingly unimportant area in the Land of Lightning" "Just what in the hell are those criminals doing in there?" When the guards first arrived, they were about to storm the factory before the ravagers announced they would kill the hostages if anyone approached. When asked for their demands, they simply stated for no one to approach the factory. They also promised to release a hostage every hour if the guards followed this request Surprisingly, the criminals kept their word as nine hostages have already been released. As long as they waited, everyone would be rescued. They didn''t care about the factory since the mayor of the town they served only ordered them to protect the employees "Hey...boss" "Hm? What is it?" Whispering in his ear "A shinobi team has arrived" "...Fine. Stay here while go I meet them" "Got it" ??? Just outside the perimeter "Wow! You certainly got here fast. Welcome to the party!" The leader of the security force approached the shinobi team and shook hands with the captain "I''m Tango of Kumogakure. Are you the leader of these men?" (Tango) "Rather than ''leader'', you can say I''m keeping the peace. The name''s Sh. Everyone here was hired separately, I just organized and kept them in line" (Sh) Tango looked around to see all the guards coordinating with exemplary skill {Despite not being a shinobi, he was able to get these rough looking men to work together so well...there''s far more to this man than meets the eye} (Tango) Sh glanced at Genin team behind Tango before speaking again "...Are you all Kumogakure could send?" (Sh) "There''s another squad on the way. Now, what can you tell us about the situation?" (Tango) "Follow me" (Sh) Making their way up a hill, they managed to get a birds eye view of the factory Sh handed Tango a small, retractable telescope "We''ve counted at least eleven different men so far" (Sh) "Only eleven?" (Tango) Tango looked at the guards under the command of Sh, whose numbers were far superior to the ravagers "Yeah I know what you''re thinking. ''Why didn''t we try to sneak someone in'' right?" (Sh) "The thought had crossed my mind" (Tango) "That''s because they''ve been able to catch us trying at every attempt we''ve made" (Sh) "...I don''t see any scouts around the building. The factory itself isn''t that big either" (Tango) "Yeah, well...despite not having many men, they''ve been able to see us coming at every turn. to an almost uncanny degree. It''s been incredibly frustrating" (Sh) "...What''s their behavior been like?" (Tango) "After taking control of the factory, the only request they''ve made is for no one to approach the building" (Sh) "Any requests for money, or something else?" (Tango) "Nothing" (Sh) "...You sure they''re still in there? They might''ve ran off?" (Tango) "No, they didn''t...and that''s the weird thing. We know the criminals are still in there because they''ve been releasing one hostage every hour on the hour" (Sh) "A sign of good faith?" (Tango) "More like a means to keep everyone docile and remind us they have plenty of leverage. That''s what most here seem to think" (Sh) "And you?" (Tango) "..." (Sh) "..." (Tango) After they both went silent for a moment, Tango gave the telescope back to Sh "Do you know how many hostages are still inside?" (Tango) "Three employees and the manager, Tetsuo Mori, head of the ''Mori Ltd.'' company. Nine of the hostages have already been released" (Sh) "Nine? But that doesn''t make sense. From what I understand, it''s barely been eight hours since you got here. Shouldn''t it only be eight considering they''ve only released one per hour?" (Tango) "Yes. But for whatever reason, they released two hostages after the last hour" (Sh) Tango had an uneasy look on his face after learning of the hostage taker''s recent actions "Alright, we''ll take it from here. Please keep the rest of your men at bay" (Tango) "Consider it done. Our main priority is the people''s safety as they hail from the town we''ve been hired to protect. But I also feel like I should tell you..." (Sh) "Hm? Is there something else?" (Tango) "It''s just...when we questioned the ones they freed, some of them talked about what happened" (Sh) "And?" (Tango) "Everything was normal and then people started falling asleep. When they woke up, they were being held prisoner" (Sh) "Asleep? How did that happen?" (Tango) "I don''t know, but one of them mentioned seeing ''feathers'' before he passed out" (Sh) "Feathers..." (Tango) {That...could it be?} (Rei) "Anything else?" (Tango) "Other than one of them mentioning the words ''safe'' and ''barrier'', nothing. I''m going back to the men, sorry I can''t be of more help" (Sh) "No...you''ve done more than enough. Thank you Sh-san" (Tango) "Good luck!" (Sh) "Thanks... Sh left the team to themselves. Tango turned to his students ...but I doubt they''ll need it" 53. Team Tango, Reborn! (Rei) [2] Rei glared at the factory "I don''t like this at all" (Rei) "Yeah. Considering they released two hostages last time, it''s safe to say they''ve almost cracked the safe. Once they do, they''ll probably take the remaining ones with them to use as leverage for escape" (Tai) "If that happens, things will only get more complicated" (Suzu) "That''s not an option. Our orders are to ensure NO ONE sees what''s inside that safe. Rei! After hearing what Sh-san had to say, I''m sure you and I are of like mind" (Tango) "We are" (Rei) "Have you felt anything yet?" (Suzu) "No. But they could be suppressing their chakra like us" (Rei) "Only one way to find out. We''re here now anyway so you might as well" (Tai) "Do it Rei" (Tango) "I''m on it" (Rei) Rei step forward and formed a hand seal {Let''s see what you''ve learned...} (Tango) ??? Three weeks ago... "..." (Rei) Bonk! A figure wacked Rei on his head "Agh! Damn it!" (Rei) "You couldn''t ''feel'' me sneaking up on you this time either" (???) "I''m gonna get a concussion at this rate!" (Rei) "No use whining, I told you this wasn''t going to be easy" (???) "I know, I know. I have to clear my mind and properly manipulate my chakra" (Rei) "Tango asked me to teach you and I don''t tend to half-ass my work" (???) "I gotta say, he continues to impress. The fact that he would call in another ''letter'' just to teach me is testament to his dedication, C" (Rei) During Team Tango''s training, Rei asked Tango and B for the methods of sensing Chakra. Not sensor-ninja themselves, Tango called in a favor from someone who could teach Rei The ninja who acquired the letter "C" little over a year ago after the previous one died "You''re making nice progress for someone so young" (C) "Well my ''young'' head begs to differ" (Rei) "I''m serious. Largely in part to your incredible chakra control, you already learned how knead your chakra to sense others. Most people take months, if not years to accomplish what you''ve done in such a short time" (C) {The only reason I''m able to do this at all is because of my advanced intelligence and Neo-tsutsuki body} (Rei) "So let''s continue" (C) "Alright, I''ll try to do what you said. It''s just, the concept of sensing chakra without actively trying to sense chakra sounds very contradicting" (Rei) "Okay then, answer me this Rei, are you breathing right now?" (C) "Y-yeah" (Rei) "And are you focusing on breathing right now?" (C) "Well...no. But that''s breathing, it''s-" (Rei) "Natural? In a way, it is. Like walking, or talking, or moving any part of your body. But the truth is, you had to learn to walk and talk" (C) "...Are you suggesting..." (Rei) "Learning to sense chakra 24/7 without intense concentration is based on the same principle. Everyone can ''feel'' chakra because feeling chakra isn''t a jutsu, it''s a sense. A sixth sense to be specific, barely any different from seeing or hearing" (C) "Basically, you want it to be as natural as breathing for me" (Rei) "Even for sensor-ninja, detecting chakra is not instant; in order to sense chakra, one must actively mold chakra in order to detect other chakra over a wide range" (C) "However, there''s something that doesn''t make sense. I''ve seen you use this ability in TWO different ways. One where you feel chakra like it''s natural as you want me to do. But another where you''ve had to concentrate and even form hand seals. So what''s up with that?" (Rei) "Because there are two different ways of sensing" (C) "Now you''ve officially lost me" (Rei) "Lemme give you an example. Take a symphony orchestra playing a song composed of many different instruments. Now when they play, hearing the song is not a problem for you right?" (C) "Mhm" (Rei) "But what if you wanted to listen to one particular instrument in that orchestra. To drown out the other ''noise'', you''d have to concentrate right? Do you see where I''m going with this?" (C) "So for you, sensing chakra all around you is like listening to an orchestra. Doesn''t take much effort when it becomes natural. But when you need to find or focus on a particular individual within a large group, that''s when you need to concentrate" (Rei) "Right now, you''re not even able to hear the whole orchestra without trying, let alone, focusing on a single individual. But at least you understand what you need to do, right?" (C) "Yes" (Rei) "Good. But be careful using it on the battlefield. None will notice you when you''re just tuning into the orchestra, but when you focus and put more power into your sensing, other sensor-nin will notice and find out you''re actively looking" (C) "Potentially revealing my location, which could mean the difference between life and death" (Rei) "Correct, you''ve finally got it" (C) "Still doesn''t mean I''ll be able to do it" (Rei) "Glass half full Rei, glass half full..." (C) ??? "Mmm. Sensei..." (Rei) "Hm?" (Tango) "There are twenty people still inside. Four of them have chakra too weak to be shinobi" (Rei) "The three employees and the manager. So it''s not eleven, but sixteen enemies" (Tango) "Except for one, most of them have average chakra''s, not even at Chunin level" (Rei) "Eh? I thought they''d be tougher for adults" (Tai) "Missing-nin with a skill level of Jonin or higher are pretty rare, mainly due to being priority targets by their home villages" (Suzu) {Right, a ninja''s body is a treasure trove of information, especially higher level ones. You definitely wouldn''t want such secrets to get out} (Tai) "Hm? Guys...the chakra of one particular hostage is pretty weak. His life is in danger and he''s been separated from the other three" (Rei) "It has to be the factory boss, Tetsuo Mori. These ravagers probably ''interrogated'' him, thinking he could open the safe" (Tai) "Along with Tetsuo, there are three men in what I assume is the office with the safe. Two of them are hunched together, most likely the ones trying to crack it. The last one is watching over them, and considering this one has the strongest chakra of the whole group, it''s safe to assume he''s the leader" (Rei) "Sh-san said they''ve been able to stop any attempt at sneaking in, do they have a sensor-nin?" (Suzu) "If they did, they would''ve noticed me by now as I''m making my sensing as obvious as possible. But I haven''t detected a sensor, and I also don''t feel the chakra of animals inside" (Rei) "Ruling out the possibility of ninja hounds or other animals with detecting abilities" (Suzu) "At least we can stop suppressing our chakra now, that was getting annoying" (Tai) "There is one thing odd. Aside from the men in the office, and the one watching the other three hostages, there are eight men patrolling the area" (Rei) "What about the last four?" (Suzu) "That''s the odd thing, they''re all hunched up next to each other...and they haven''t moved at all" (Rei) Suzu suspicions rose with that statement "...Where are these four exactly?" (Suzu) "Considering the make of the building, I''d say they''re near its dead center" (Rei) {Center...I wonder...} (Tai) Tai looked towards the factory before picking up something off the ground "Tai?" (Tango) "You three, pay very close attention to the building and tell me if you notice anything weird" (Tai) Tai threw a rock at the factory but oddly enough... FIZZZZ ...the air became slightly distorted "Was that...?" (Rei) "A barrier. That''s one of the words the hostages overheard, and told Sh-san when he questioned them" (Suzu) "It has to be the Kekkai: Tengai Hjin1Barrier: Canopy Method Formation, a probe-type barrier that covers all directions. Anyone or anything that touches it will instantly be detected...look...some of them are already moving" (Tai) As Tai pointed, the team could see two armed men approaching the area where the barrier was disturbed "Such a fast response time, barely a few seconds passed before they showed up" (Suzu) "That must be what the four guys hunched together are doing, maintaining the barrier. Looks like that rules out the chances of a sneak attack" (Tai) "Not if I put them under my Genjutsu" (Rei) "You sure? Last time you tried putting multiple targets under Genjutsu was during our fight with those damn hippos and it didn''t work" (Tai) "C gave me some much needed tips. Plus, learning to sense chakra has done wonders for my chakra control. Manipulating four people so close together won''t be a problem. Once they''re under, we won''t have to worry about the barrier" (Rei) "...If this works, we could rescue the hostages before the fighting even begins. Maybe even pick off a few of them quietly as well" (Tai) "In that case, I''ll take your normal position as the vanguard" (Suzu) "Thanks. Once it gets loud I''ll join you" (Rei) "Okay lets...oh! Sensei! I''m sorry, none of us asked for your opinion. Is this strategy acceptable for you?" (Tai) "...No objections here" (Tango) Tango, who had his arms folded, was simply standing there the whole time {Look at them...they''re behaving like an actual unit now. But let''s see how well they perform} (Tango) "Let''s keep this radio silent. Tango-sensei, please set up the Chakra Transmission" (Suzu) "I''m on it. Hah!" (Tango) Tango connected everyone''s minds with his chakra ?Still a funny feeling as usual. I''m gonna get into position. I''ll let you know when my Genjutsu is cast? (Rei) ?Okay? (Tango, Tai, & Suzu) WHOOSH! Rei separated from the rest of the group Making his way to the other side of the barrier, he positioned himself outside the view of a window where the barrier holders could get a good look at him {Oh good, they''re lined up next to each other. Now I just need all of them to look at me in order to cast it. Just gotta remember what C said, go original!} (Rei) "Rei, genjutsu is when a ninja controls the chakra flow of a target''s cerebral nervous system, affecting their five senses. But in order to control a targets five senses, you must connect your chakra with theirs via one of the five senses. Meaning if they can''t see, hear, or feel your chakra with any other physical sense they possess, you can''t cast Genjutsu on them. It''s for this reason Genjutsu is used more for the things like interrogation and espionage, rather than combat. People who mainly specialize in it and Doujutsu2Eye Technique users are the only exceptions. And finally, the best way to use Genjutsu is to make your own original illusion. Whenever you use it, you''re basically creating an entirely new, albeit illusionary, world that you control to influence an enemy. Focusing on free reign, instead of using a Genjutsu you learned somewhere else with preset conditions, is a far better means of tricking your target. So mix it up!" (C) Rei kicked a rock towards the barrier before moving his hands {Heh! Time for a little Non-canon} The barrier users simultaneously turned their heads towards the window where Rei was facing {Now!} His hands holding a hand seal "Magen: Kakuran!3Demonic Illusion: Disturbance" (Rei) 54. Team Tango, Reborn! (Tai) [3] "...!" "Uh?!" "Ngh!" "Ah!" Like a shock to their system, the four barrier holders were bombarded with chakra as they fell under Rei''s Illusion ?They''re under my control! Go! I''ll mark enemy locations!? (Rei) ?Rei! Start with the ones on the outside, then work your way inwards!? (Tango) ?Way ahead of you!? (Rei) ?Tai! Suzu! You two stick together, I''ll move on my own. Let''s make this quick!? (Tango) ?Understood!? (Tai) ?Right!? (Suzu) The rest of team Tango moved quickly, yet quietly ?Sensei, two on the balcony above you? (Rei) ?I''m on it? (Tango) ?Tai, Suzu...there''s three right around the corner? (Rei) ?Got it. I''ll...? (Suzu) ?Leave this to me!? (Tai) ?Tai?!? (Suzu) {Time to put my new skills to the test!} (Tai) ??? Unraiky, several weeks ago WHACK! "Ooof!" (Tai) Tai was knocked on the ground "Get up!" (Tango) "Ugh. R-right! But Sensei...!" (Tai) "?" (Tango) "I''m in the position of the medical-nin right?" (Tai) "Yes, that''s correct" (Tango) "And my main Ninjutsu involves manipulating mist made from my special oils with Suiton right?" (Tai) "That''s also true. What''s your point?" (Tango) "Well, considering all of that, it''s clear I''m a long range fighter. So why are you having me learn Killer B-sama''s ''Kakuran Taijutsu''1Disturbance Taijutsu?" (Tai) "You don''t think it''s useful?" (Tango) "N-no! I never said that! B-sama''s unique Taijutsu is known even by normal citizens in the village. Rei''s even using it for inspiration to create his own Genjutsu. It''s just...I don''t think I''m suited to be a close range fighter" (Tai) "...You think you''re a long range fighter?" (Tango) "Well...yeah. I don''t think I''ll ever be up to Suzu''s, and especially Rei''s level" (Tai) "...Tai...you" (Tango) ? When it comes to fightin'', ya think ya knows best? Bitch please, ya still a fool like the rest! Fool, ya fool! ? (Killer B) "..." (Tai) "..." (Tango) "Umm" (Tai) "He means medical-nin are naturally trained to avoid conflict because they''re the most important members of the squad. But that doesn''t mean they always avoid conflict" (Tango) "Huh?" (Tai) "It''s BECAUSE your taking the spot of our medical-nin that I''m focusing more on your Taijutsu, rather than Ninjutsu during this trip. If you have better hand-to-hand combat abilities, you''re less likely to get hurt during missions. It''s inevitable for any medic that their squad mates won''t always be able to protect them. Remember the events on Genbu?" (Tango) "Ah!" {That''s right...once the animals got close, I was helpless. Forget fighting them, I couldn''t even dodge them on my own...} (Tai) "You''re chakra control is second only to Rei''s, so there''s no need for you to practice Ninjutsu much during our month long stay here. You''re Taijutsu however, has plenty of room to improve. Besides..." (Tango) "Huh?" (Tai) "I still don''t think we should rule out you being a close range fighter" (Tango) "But..." (Tai) "Stop comparing yourself to others! That''s a bad trait of yours. Yes, Rei and Suzu have abnormal skill, but do you think you''d be on this team if someone didn''t notice your talent? Never underestimate yourself Tai" (Tango) "Sensei..." (Tai) "? Plus you got the Octo boss here to teach ya You''ll be a whole new man once I''m done with ya. Ya keep on crying bout yo weak skills But I''m the one who decides if ya can pay the bills! ?" (Killer B) Getting back up "I don''t need a translator to understand that! Let''s go again B-sama!" (Tai) "? Bout time you show me what ya got! Better hurry before Rei and Suzu put ya on the spot! ?" (Killer B) "Y-yes sir!" (Tai) {Despite the laid back attitude you display in your everyday life, the only thing you lack is confidence in your skill, Tai. Once you get past that, you''re true talent will emerge} (Tango) ??? "I''m just saying guys, I don''t think we''re getting payed enough for offending Kumogakure" "We''re not in Kumogakure" "We''re in the Land of Lightning" "Which Kumogakure oversees" "If they were ''overseeing'' it, don''t you think they''d be here by-" "Hmph!" (Tai) "Wha?!" "Huh?!" BONK! POW! Two of the guards were knocked out before the third even realized what was going on "Guys?" As the third guard turned around, he noticed his two compatriots were on the ground. Tai formed a hand seal and mist emerged from one of the many small pouches he was wearing, gathering in his hand "S-shinob-! Umph?!" Before he could speak Tai grabbed his face, covering his mouth. He began to drift off "Shhhh. Just go to sleep" (Tai) The last one fell asleep as Suzu approached, taken aback at Tai''s performance ?Using Suiton to vaporize oil and manipulate it as a weapon. Rei told me about it, but it''s still quite a sight now that I''m seeing it for the first time? (Suzu) ?With all the Taijutsu training B-sama gave me, it''s not surprising I couldn''t show you. Besides, these guys are just adult Genin who could never become Chunin? (Tai) {You say that, but they still have much more experience than us and you quietly took three down before anyone even noticed} (Suzu) ?I''ve taken mine down Rei! What''s next?? (Tango) ?There are two more, and they''re getting a little too close to my position!? (Rei) ?Sensei! Circle on back towards the north side of the building! Suzu and I will take the next corner and meet up with you for a pincer attack!? (Tai) ?Got it!? (Tango) ?Let''s go Suzu!? (Tai) ?Right!? (Suzu) On the side of the factory near Rei, two guards were maintaining their vigilance. One of them began to speak on his radio "How''s it going in there Boss? I''m ready to leave!" HZZZ "Progress has been slow but they''re almost done. We''ll be out of here soon enough" (Leader) "Barrier team! Report in!" HZZZ "Barrier team''s still at it, but nothing worth noting so far. They''re so quiet it''s almost as if they''ve fallen asleep hehe" "Considering how long we''ve been here, I''m going to fall asleep. Hostage team! Report!" HZZZ "They''re behaving now after realizing we kept true to our word on releasing them" "Alright! We''ll continue with patrols" "Jeez this is the longest mission we''ve ever had!" "You said it, whatever''s in that safe had better be worth it!" As the two guards griped, an unfamiliar voice spoke "Oh trust me, after we''re done with you..." (???) "You''re definitely not gonna think it was worth it" (???) "What?" "Eh?" POW! BAM! "Ngh!" "Gah!" In less than two seconds, they were slammed to the ground. Knocked out cold ?That''s all for the outer perimeter!? (Rei) ?And inside?? (Tai) ?The leader and the two safe crackers are still inside the office with Tetsuo, on the East side of the building. The barrier team of four are still under my Genjutsu, just waiting for me to put them to sleep. There''s a single guard watching over them, most likely the one who relays their instructions for intruders who touch their barrier. All of them are still at the center of the building? (Rei) ?What about the hostages?? (Tai) ?The three remaining hostages have a single guard watching them. They''re closer to the West side of the building? (Rei) ?In that case I''ll-? (Tango) ?Hold on Sensei? (Tai) ??? (Tango) ?How about you and Suzu take one guard each. I''ll use my Suiton to disorient them to give you the opportunity for a quiet takedown? (Tai) ?That sounds good to me? (Suzu) {Heh! It''s like I''m talking with an entirely different student!} ?Alright! Suzu get into position? (Tango) ?Yes sir!? (Suzu) As Suzu and Tango separated from Tai and entered the building, Tai himself got down on bended knee and began to concentrate ?Rei...how far are the guards from one another?? (Tai) ?Hmmm...I''d say...sixty-eight feet. Is that going to be okay?? (Rei) {Not what I had hoped for but...} ?I''ll make do! Sensei, Suzu. Are you in position?? (Tai) ?In position and standing by? (Suzu) ?Ready and waiting? (Tango) ?On my mark!? {''Suiton: Kiri Seigyo no Jutsu''!2Water Style: Mist Control} (Tai) {Here goes everything...} (Rei) ?Three...? (Tai) {Have to aim for the throat so he doesn''t alert anyone else...} (Suzu) ?Two...? (Tai) {Hehe. Such a take charge demeanor was something I expected from Rei, but not Tai...} (Tango) ?One!? 55. Team Tango, Reborn! (Suzu) [4] As Tai''s vapor moved in, the two guards became discombobulated. Their eyes started to water, and breathing was difficult "Uhack! What the?!" "Ugh! Am I getting tired or something?" {Now!} (Suzu) Suzu dashed towards her target and with all her might... WHACK!! BAM!! "Agh?!" ...delivered a series of quick blows, causing the him to fall to the ground, unconscious {Nice, that couldn''t have gone any better if I do say so myself} (Suzu) Turning her head, she saw Tango had the same success with his target ?Rei. Both targets are down, you can put the barrier holders to sleep now? (Suzu) ?Thanks. I was getting bored up here. Hmph!? (Rei) The four men slouched together suddenly keeled over. Tango began freeing the hostages ?I''m on my way down? (Rei) ?Right. We''re still not done yet? (Tai) ?Last is their leader and his two men? (Tango) ?Plus, we need to rescue Tetsuo? (Suzu) Both Tai and Rei met up with Tango and Suzu in the factory who were quietly sending the three employees outside ?Hmm. This next part is gonna be a bit tricky. Rei, with your speed, do you think you can get Tetsuo out of there safely?? (Tai) ?Honestly, I''m not sure. As I said before, I can sense his chakra weakening. He''s in bad shape, if I move too rashly he could end up dying? (Rei) ?You just need to get him to Tai. Once you do, he can take care of the rest. Right Tai?? (Suzu) ?Mhm! I brought plenty of first aid materials with me? (Tai) ?Okay...but I could still use a good distraction. Something to keep the leader''s attention away from me. The guy is no joke. Unlike the others who are Genin level, this guy''s chakra is at least Chunin level? (Rei) ?I''ve got something? (Suzu) Inside the office "Well?" "Aaaaaaand..." CLINK! "...done" "We got it boss" "Alright then..." The leader gestured the two safe crackers to move out of the way. Making his way to the safe, he retrieved the only thing inside...a scroll After putting it away in his pocket, he turned to the others "It''s time to leave" (Leader) "What about him?" Pointing to an injured Tetsuo, he wondered what they should do "Leave him, as one who was personally hired by Kumogakure, killing him would really piss them off. Besides, the shinobi aren''t here yet" (Leader) "So it''s time for our escape play then?" "Splitting off in different directions to throw off any pursuers right?" "Yes, just like we practiced. You all know the rendezvous spot. Once we meet up, our employer arrives with the rest of our money" (Leader) "And if he doesn''t?" "I know where he lives, and I know his name. I''ve threatened to reveal everything I know about him to Kumogakure if he double crosses us. Plus, he really wants this scroll" (Leader) "Not much of a reassurance, but you haven''t steered us wrong yet" "We''ll tell the others we''re moving out" One of the men opened the office door... "Alright guys, boss says it''s time to!-" "What the?!-" ...only to find a girl waiting for them "Hey boys" ??? First week at Unraiky At the bottom of the mountain, Suzu was using chakra to stand on a small pond. Her eyes closed, she concentrated with all her might before... "WAH!!" (Suzu) SPLASH! ...falling into the pond Sploosh! "Ah! Huff! Damn it! So close" (Suzu) "Almost had it that time. Remember, you have to use the repellent force to walk across the water''s surface" (Tango) {Kind of hard when you keep disturbing the water with your chakra, Sensei} (Suzu) Tango helped Suzu get out the pond and handed her a towel "Ngh! Let''s go again!" (Suzu) "Well aren''t you a trooper, but pushing yourself with this training will only lead to detrimental results" (Tango) "..." (Suzu) "Come on, have a seat" (Tango) "...Okay" (Suzu) "Don''t feel too bad. You''re progress is nothing short of astounding considering this is only the second week" (Tango) "That''s not what''s bothering me" (Suzu) "Oh? Then what is?" (Tango) Rubbing her face with a towel, she wore a vexed expression "I always thought I had good chakra control" (Suzu) "You do for someone your age" (Tango) "And yet, I can''t even stand on water" (Suzu) "That''s only because I release unique waves of chakra in the pond to disrupt your balance. That''s the whole point of this training, to give you even better control" (Tango) "I just figured for a more hands on approach than standing on a lake and reading a bunch of scrolls" (Suzu) "You don''t think you get enough exercise with Killer B-sama?" (Tango) "I never said that. B-sama kicks us around plenty. Tango-sensei, can you tell me exactly what it is I''m lacking? You were pretty straight forward with Rei and Tai, but not with me" (Suzu) "...Well, that''s because other than your teamwork, you aren''t really lacking. The only other flaw I noticed during the events on Genbu was the lack of Ninjutsu in your arsenal. And the only one close to your age that can best you in Taijutsu is Rei. Thanks to your heritage, your strength and chakra are very strong. As a result, you already have two elements under your belt" (Tango) {Heritage...} (Suzu) "The more you improve your control, the more your horizons expand. Your elemental Ninjutsu will grow stronger and your arsenal will increase. Despite your powerful close combat skills, you have a strong affinity for long range combat" (Tango) "The more powerful I become...but that power is..." (Suzu) "Suzu?" (Tango) "...I..." (Suzu) {This girl...} (Tango) "..." (Suzu) "I know you won''t let temptation of power corrupt you like it did to Kinkaku and Ginkaku" (Tango) "?!" (Suzu) "The potential of your bloodline is legendary, leading all the way back to the Sage of Six Paths" (Tango) "You believe he was real?" (Suzu) "Despite what many others think, yes...yes I do" (Tango) "I see..." (Suzu) "Don''t let fear consume you, I wouldn''t have taken you here if I didn''t believe in you" (Tango) "..." (Suzu) "...Well?" (Tango) Suzu stayed quiet for a moment before jumping back on the pond "Let''s go again" (Suzu) "...That''s more like it" (Tango) ??? {"Fton: Sunabokori!1Wind Style: Dust Cloud"} (Suzu) The office and factory was consumed by a torrent storm of dust and wind "Gah! My eyes!" "Ugh! Can''t see anything!" "WHAT'' GOING ON?!" (Leader) ?Now Rei!? (Suzu) ?On it!? (Rei) CRASH!! "Who in the hell?!" (Leader) Using his incredible speed, Rei busted through the office window, grabbed Tetsuo, and left as quick as he came. No more than three seconds had passed before the entire event ?I''ve got Tetsuo!? (Rei) ?Give him to me! I''ll take care of him? (Tai) ?Take him out of the building and tend to his injuries! We''ll handle the others!? (Suzu) ?Okay! Good luck!? (Tai) ?Sensei! Before I grabbed Tetsuo, I noticed the safe was opened!? (Rei) ?Damn it! It must be on one of these three! Whatever you do, don''t let them escape!? (Tango) ?Way ahead of you! Rei! You''re my eyes!? (Suzu) ?Right...your ten o''clock! Twelve feet from you!? (Rei) ?Alright!? (Suzu) Taking advantage of the dust cloud blocking their line of vision, Suzu prepared her attack {"Doton: Iwadepp no Jutsu!2Earth Style: Stone Pistol Jutsu"} (Suzu) PLOP!! PLOP!! Suzu expelled two stone pebbles from her mouth towards the two enemies. As they flew, the pebbles suddenly expanded in size "GUH!!" "KACK!!" Going from tiny bits, to rocks the size of small boulders, the unsuspecting men were violently struck with devastating force ?Rei! Are they still?!-? (Suzu) ?Even if I wasn''t a sensor, I''d still say they won''t be fighting anytime soon? (Rei) The dust cloud obscuring everyone''s vision dissipated ?That takes care of all the men. Only the leader is left? (Suzu) {Geez, she''s as violent as ever. Are those guys even still alive? I thought she mellowed out after our time at Unraiky...shows what I know} (Rei) A single figure was walking out of the office "Well...screwing up my plans and knocking out all of my associates...is certainly one way to get under my skin. I won''t be able to escape AND bring my crew with me now. Do you idiots know how hard it is to assemble a cohesive squad of rogue-nin THIS large, during these times?" ??!? (Tango, Rei, & Suzu) The leader of the ravagers revealed himself. In a black outfit and still wearing his mask, even without seeing his face you could tell from his tone that he was fuming with anger The air went heavy "?!" (Tango) {Oh no. This guys chakra is...I thought he was Chunin level. But he might even be Jonin level!} (Rei) "..." (Suzu) "It''s usually my policy to complete jobs with as little bloodshed as possible...but considering how you lot have UTTERLY F*CKED MY TEAM AND I OVER, I''ll make an exception!" (Leader) ?Tai! I hope you''re almost done treating Tetsuo, we need you!? (Tango) ?Almost! I''ll be there soon!? (Tai) The man removed a short sword from the holster on his back "Humph!" (Suzu) "?" (Rei & Tango) "Well, when it comes to worthless opportunists like you who exploit and take advantage of a nation weary from a war, it''s usually MY policy..." (Suzu) "?" (Leader) Suzu formed a hand seal "...to beat the utter living shit out of them" 56. A Real Fight [1] MrProper ?I''ll go first. Rei, you back me up, but remain cautious! Suzu, stick to mid range support? (Tango) ?Right? (Rei) ?Ready when you are Sensei!? (Suzu) With sword in hand, the leader stepped forward "I''ll show you little shits what happens when you mess with adults!" (Leader) Taking out his kunai knife, Tango was the first to move "Humph!" (Tango) Tango charged forth, engaging the enemy. Rei was doing his best to support him as Suzu prepared her jutsu SWISH! {Ugh! Damn it!} (Rei) Blade in hand, the masked man swung his sword with considerable pace. Rei''s speed, although renowned amongst his peers, was only exceptional when compared to other Genin. Against an older, higher-leveled, and more experienced shinobi, he was quite average Tango, who already realized this, was doing his best to parry every attack this enemy was throwing at them. Even putting himself at risk to keep his students out of harms way ?He''s fast!? (Tango) "WAAAAH!!" (Leader) ?Kuh! And his blows are heavy! Be careful guys!? (Tango) As Tango gained the man''s attention, Rei saw an opportunity to strike from behind but... CLANG! "?!" (Rei) "Heh!" (Leader) ..the man had no openings. Blocking Rei''s attack with his sword, he proceeded to retaliate ?Damn it! Rei! GET BACK!? (Tango) "You''d think I''d fall for something so obvious?! Die!" (Leader) {Shit! I''m not gonna make it!} (Tango) {"Doton: Doryheki!1Earth Style: Mud Wall"}(Suzu) "?!" (Rei) "?!" (Leader) ??? Back outside "O-ow!" "Don''t move too much!" Tai was tending to an injured Tetsuo as Sh watched over the both of them "Man...that hurts!" (Tetsuo) "Obviously! Sh-san, I need to get back to my team soon. Can I entrust his safety to you?" (Tai) "No problem. I''ve already instructed the rest of my men to return here once they''re done with their assignment" (Sh) After Team Tango freed all of the hostages, Sh had his men escort them back to their nearby hometown. He, Tetsuo, and Tai were the only ones outside the factory now After putting on a wooden, makeshift leg splint on Tetsuo, both Tai and Sh helped him up "Ugh..." (Tetsuo) "Tetsuo-san!" (Sh) "I''m fine Sh" (Tetsuo) "You''re anything but fine. Two cracked ribs, a sprained ankle, and other various injuries on your chest. It''s a miracle your diaphragm isn''t hemorrhaging right now!" (Tai) Tetsuo was interrogated for information regarding the safe. And the man in charge was especially cruel, doing his best to ensure Tetsuo suffered while restraining himself just enough to not kill him "Those damn, cruel bastards!" (Sh) "Guess I''m just lucky then. Hehe" (Tetsuo) "That''s an understatement. Sh-san, please make sure he stays still and doesn''t do anything reckless" (Tai) "I will. Thank you for all you''ve done Tai" (Sh) Tai turned towards the factory with a stern expression {Still...why the hell hasn''t our shinobi backup arrived yet? Considering how much Raikage-sama emphasized how important the contents in the safe were in the mission letter, you''d think they''d be here by now. Did they run into some kind of trouble?} "Don''t thank me yet, my team is still not done" (Tai) "..." (Sh) "Tai! I''m obligated to warn you!" (Tetsuo) "?" (Tai) "Agh! Even an amateur like me can tell the other criminals are only average. But that leader..." (Tetsuo) "...Tetsuo?" (Sh) "..." (Tai) "H-he''s something else entirely. Just by being in his presence...I-I can tell...he''s strong" (Tetsuo) "Yeah...I know" (Tai) Struggling to breath, he continued "Huff...huff...Whatever you do, don''t underestimate him. He''s a sinister bastard!" (Tetsuo) "...Got it" (Tai) Tai ran back into the factory "Tetsuo-san. Will they...will they be alright?" (Sh) "...I certainly hope so" (Tetsuo) Watching Tai''s departing figure, Tetsuo silently prayed for Team Tango''s success "And there he goes. Let''s find somewhere away from the factory for you to rest" (Sh) "R-right" (Tetsuo) After Sh gently put him down on a spot with some shade, he stood up and remained alert. Tetsuo, laying down, glanced at the factory. Pondering about the current situation, or rather, the odd circumstances of the current situation {Why would such a powerful shinobi be here? Or rather, how in the hell did they figure out about the documents Kumogakure sent to me? This whole situation is strange} (Tetsuo) ??? RUMBLE! SCREECH! {Stone?!} (Rei) Instead of flesh, the masked man''s sword collided with rocks "Cheh!" (Leader) With perfect timing, Suzu created a wall of stone between Rei and enemy, blocking the man''s sword strike Rei rejoined the group ?Thanks Suzu. That jerk almost decapitated me!? (Rei) ?Mm. That was close...Rei...that guy is...? (Suzu) ?...I know. His speed is far too great for me to handle? (Rei) ?He''s much stronger than what any of us initially believed. Change of plans then. You two stick to long range attacks ONLY. I''ll be the sole person to engage him. Rei, you know what to do...? (Tango) Rei nodded his head The ravager leader glared at the team with a curious thought {...These guys haven''t muttered a word this whole time and yet...} (Leader) {"Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!"} (Rei) Tango once again charged forth as Rei made three clones for support "Round two then!" (Leader) "HAAAAH!" (Rei''s clones) {That''s it, we just have to keep him on what''s in front of him} (Tango) "Tch...!" (Leader) Observing the actions of this young shinobi squad, the man''s suspicions only grew {...They were able to change their strategy without so much as uttering a word to one another. Even if they''ve had plenty of practice, the fact they can continuously adapt to my shifting fighting styles indicates there''s something more going on. And taking into account their team captain''s age, along with fact they''re from Kumogakure...could it be...?} (Leader) {Now!} (Rei) "TOO SLOW!" (Leader) "Agh!" (Rei) POOF! The man took out the last of Rei''s clones {Guess there''s only one way to be sure now...} (Leader) {"Fton: Toppa!2Wind Style: Breakthrough"} (Suzu) Taking advantage of the smoke from Rei''s defeated clones, Suzu slightly muddled the man off balance "Ngh! That annoying girl again!" (Leader) {"Magen: Kakuran!3Demonic Illusion: Disturbance"} (Rei) "GAH?!" (Leader) Not wasting this opportunity, Rei decided to cast Genjutsu on him. His head down, he ceased moving "...You...little...bas...tards..." (Leader) ?...? (Rei) ?Did you get him?!? (Suzu) ?...Rei?? (Tango) ?...Yeah! I''ve successfully connected my chakra with his!? (Rei) ?Alright! Put him to sleep!? (Tango) ?On it!? (Rei) ?Phew...finally it''s over? (Suzu) ?There''s no rest for wicked Suzu. We still things we have to do? (Tango) ?Yes sir? (Suzu) Just as they were about to relax... "Eh?" (Rei) BZZ! {Hm?! The connection was severed?!} (Rei) ?After he''s taken care of, let''s begin putting restraints on all these-? (Tango) ?SENSEI!!!? (Rei) "As I thought, you lot are talking with each other through a technique!" ??! How is he?!-? (Tango) "NOW YOU''RE DEAD!!!" (Leader) SLASH!! Before Tango could even react, the man swung his sword... "NO!" (Suzu) ...and blood flew through the ai 57. A Real Fight [2] In the outer reaches of the factory, a young shinobi was moving as fast as he could "No one''s responding on the transmission yet. Did Sensei disconnect it for some reason?" After tending to Tetsuo''s wounds, Tai was rushing to get back to his team "Or...was he forcefully disconnected..." (Tai) As he pondered, his thought process was suddenly interrupted "NO!" "?!" {That...that was Suzu''s voice! Crap!} (Tai) WHOOSH! Increasing his pace, Tai desperately did his best to get back to the team as fast as he could {Just hold on guys! I''m coming!} (Tai) ??? "NOW YOU''RE DEAD!!!" The masked leader, who was supposed to be incapacitated, suddenly swung his sword at Tango {SHIT! I''M NOT GONNA-} (Tango) TAK! "DIE YOU PIECE OF SHIT!!" (Leader) SLASH!! "Uh?!" (Tango) "Wha?!" (Leader) "AGH!!" To the shock of both of them, it wasn''t Tango who was cut... "Ugh...!" ...but Rei With his speed, he managed to rescue Tango at the cost of his left arm getting cut "Well that hurt far more than I thought" (Rei) Tango immediately grabbed Rei and retreated back towards Suzu ?Rei! Are you okay?!? (Tango) ?I''m fine, it''s just a small cut. I managed avoid a fatal strike? (Rei) ?Yeah...but you won''t be making hand seals in that state...? (Suzu) While Tango and Suzu were making sure Rei was alright, the ravager leader was quietly observing him {Despite his age, he was able to move THAT fast to protect his captain and STILL managed to dodge my sword...} ?But Sensei...the way he easily broke through my Genjutsu...this guy''s chakra is far stronger than I realized. He was holding back the whole time? (Rei) ?Suppressing his chakra huh?? (Suzu) ?To lure us into a false sense of security. A classic move used by professionals...? (Tango) SHING "?!" (Suzu) Suzu moved in front of Tango and Rei in order to protect them when she saw the masked man move his sword "Hahaha! Not bad! Even though you''re so young, you guys are putting on quite the show!" (Leader) The lone criminal stepped forward, not giving them a chance to rest, he moved to attack again {Like I''d let you, "Fton: Reppsh!1Wind Style: Gale Palm"} (Suzu) VWOOOSH! A force of wind emerged from her hands "!" (Leader) Suzu knew she couldn''t confront the man directly, so she opted keep him away "Fton to keep me at a distance? Smart. But!" (Leader) BOOSH! "?!" (Rei & Suzu) {?! THAT''S!!} (Tango) "NOT SMART ENOUGH!!" (Leader) The man''s sword ignited with a flame as he swung forth, releasing a wave of fire {No...Fton is weak against Katon2Fire Style! I''ll only end up heightening his attack!} (Suzu) She tried to use her chakra to weaken the wind but it was too late. The power of the attack grew to a ridiculous degree "Ugh!" (Suzu) "BURN!" (Leader) Suzu tried to form the hand seals to make another wall of stone for protection, but the flames were already within range of burning the whole team TAK! {She, nor Rei, will be able to protect themselves, I have to shield them from the attack!} (Tango) Tango moved to protect the team with his body when... "Suiton: Suijinheki!3Water Style: Water Wall" Before anyone even realized what was happening, a wall of water surrounded the team, protecting them from the fire BOOM!! When the water collided with the fire, the area exploded with steam "?!" (All of them) ?Guys! You okay?!? The team turned around to find the figure of Tai in his line of sight ?Tai...thanks? (Rei) ?...Perfect timing? (Suzu) ?Hehe! No worries. I was just coming back from-? (Tai) ?Save the chatter for later! All of you, scatter and hide now!? (Tango) The masked man emerged from the steam to find the others had disappeared {Gone. Did they decide to flee?...No...I can feel it...they''re still here} (Leader) He continued his way through the factory, looking for any trace of the enemy A few minutes passed and Team Tango, who were still hidden, kept their eyes on him "RAAAAH!" (Leader) SCORCH!! The man started igniting the factory with his enflamed sword to draw out Team Tango "Aww, don''t tell you guys are done? We''re just getting started!" (Leader) ?Maintain your distance. Remember, no one moves until I say so!? (Tango) "I have to give you credit, team captain! It''s not every day you see a shinobi as young as you demonstrate such efficiency at Chakra Transmission. The ''Intelligence Division'' of Kumogakure should be very proud! Some advice for the future, you really should try a little vocal communication so you don''t end up giving it away! Hahahaha!" (Leader) {?! Shit! He''s figured me out!} (Tango) "As I recall, during the last world war, many villages promoted young shinobi to higher ranks in order to allow their participation. And the fact that you have three younger comrades means...you''re a Jonin captain" (Leader) WOOOOH {No response...let''s see if I can egg them on a little more} He spoke with a condescending tone "But there''s something odd...why would Kumogakure send, although quite skilled, such a young team to combat a group of rouge-nin? Surely the rational choice would be to send more experienced shinobi unless..." (Leader) ?Um...Sensei...? (Tai) ?Wait? (Tango) {Come on you little shits, you should be able to grasp what I''m getting at by now} "Unless you guys were the closest squad nearby. But even if that were so, they''d only send you if this little sealed scroll I took, was THAT important. And if that''s the case, this scroll''s value just went up" (Leader) ?Sensei, he''s gonna...!? (Suzu) ?Not...Yet...? (Tango) RATTLE! {Hoh? Someone''s getting a little restless. Just one more push} "Then again, I could be wrong. Maybe I''m just overthinking things. Maybe, Kumogakure really is filled with nothing but second-rate cowards who''ve spent their whole lives hiding in the mountains. Kind of like how you guys are hiding right now" (Leader) BOOM!! Tango emerged from the shadows and attacked him from behind, Suzu and Tai appeared as well {Heh! I knew they would fall for it!} (Leader) ?Remember, stick to the plan. We only have one shot!? (Tango) CLANG!! "Haha! Really kid? Haven''t you figured it out already?! TEIYAA!!" (Leader) POW! "Gak!" (Tango) "Close combat''s a no-no with me" (Leader) FWIP! Tai and Suzu jumped in the air "Suiton: Mizurappa!4Water Style: Raging Waves" (Tai) "Fton: Kiry Ranbu!5Wind Style: Air Current Dance" (Suzu) SPLOOSH! Combining their attacks, Suzu''s wind was amplifying Tai''s water, cascading down towards the enemy {Suiton and Fton...to compensate for the difference in strength. Still...} "Katon: Kaen Senp!6Fire Style: Flame Hurricane" (Leader) A violent, spiraling flame erupted from his body, countering Tai and Suzu''s combined attack BOOM! {?!} (Suzu & Tai) "Sorry, but even with the elemental advantage, you brats are outclassed" (Leader) ?Tch! This guy is just...? (Suzu) ?Great. I hoped by combining our attacks we''d at least be able to make some difference, but I honestly didn''t believe it would be completely ineffective...? (Tai) ?Doesn''t matter! Just continue pouring it on!? (Tango) ?Right!? (Suzu & Tai) The team continued to engage the enemy, despite how tiring it was. Tai and Suzu were quickly losing strength while Tango had to bear constant blows to his body, overwhelmed by the masked man''s superior Taijutsu {What with these guys? The captain knows he can''t beat me in hand to hand combat, and those other kids have to be getting tired. Especially that girl who''s been unleashing elemental attacks all day. Are they trying to buy time for back-up to arrive?} (Leader) The criminal glanced at his surroundings, seemingly looking for something "YAAAH!!" (Tango) "What will it take for you to get it?! IT''S USELESS!!" (Leader) SMACK!! He delivered a heavy blow to Tango''s torso, causing him to gasp for air "Guh! Ahack!" (Tango) Tango fell to his knees in front of the man {And where the hell is that other kid? Is he tending to the wound I gave him?...Whatever, aside from wasting chakra, I''m also running out of time. Playing around too much has always been a bad habit of mine. I''ll deal with this captain first. The others should fall quickly after this.} (Leader) ?!? (Tai) ?Tai, move!? (Suzu) He unleashed a wave of fire to drive back the others before approaching Tango, who was currently on his knees "HAHA! I have to say, this has probably been one of the most interesting days of my life! But sadly, all good things must come to end" (Leader) "..." (Tango) "No last words? Disappointing, I had hoped I''d at least hear a scream or something. You must''ve used that Chakra Transmission so much, you probably forgot how to talk. Hehehehe!" (Leader) Lifting his sword, he prepared to behead Tango "...tsu" (Tango) "Hm?" (Leader) "...shi..." (Tango) "Oh? So you can talk after all" (Leader) "...jin..." (Tango) "Sorry? What was that?" (Leader) Tango raised his head... "...I said..." (Tango) ...and smiled "Finjutsu: Isshi Tjin!7Sealing Jutsu: Coordinated Light Formation" (Tango) "?!" (Leader) Before anyone realized, symbols emerged on the ground under Tango and spread below the masked man''s feet, paralyzing him "Heh...hehe...hahahaha! Really?! This is your master plan?! HAHAHA!" (Leader) "...huff...huff..." (Tango) "I know this Jutsu. It''s the basic of basic sealing techniques! Do you really think it''ll hold me for long?!" (Leader) "Huff...well...not really...but..." (Tango) "?" (Leader) VWOOOSH! A figure was moving at blinding speed just outside the factory "It can hold you...long enough...now that your right where you need to be" (Tango) "Where I need to...?!" (Leader) The ravager leader looked around, only to discover all of them were quite a ways from their original position Dreadful thoughts sprouted in his mind {They weren''t just buying time...they were moving me here! Near the exit of the factory! But why?!} (Leader) He looked back at Tango, seething with anger "Bastard! I don''t know what you''re planning, but it won''t work! As soon as I get free!-" (Leader) "Oh, I think it will. Now that you''re immobilized and within range" (Tango) "Within in range of what?! There''s nothing!-" (Leader) "You see, he needed a clear and open path to you, so that he wouldn''t lose any of his forward momentum. After all, it''s pretty damn hard to move at high speeds..." (Tango) VWOOM! "WHAT THE?! GAK!!!" (Leader) "LARIAT!!" (Rei) "...when you''re inside a factory..." (Tango) 58. Did We Win? A few minutes ago Team Tango remained hidden while communicating with each other through Tango''s Chakra Transmission, desperately trying to formulate a strategy to deal with such a troublesome opponent ?Can''t you or Rei do something Sensei?? (Tai) ?You weren''t here earlier to see it, but this guy''s Taijutsu is too advanced for any of us, even Sensei? (Suzu) ?For real Rei?!? (Tai) ?How the hell do you think I got cut?? (Rei) ?This guys strength might even be in the Jonin class. And considering he''s older than me...we''re at a clear disadvantage? (Tango) ?Geez. No wonder you guys had your hands full. So what the hell are we supposed to do?? (Tai) ?Most of my Doton1Earth Style Jutsu are defensive and the few offensive ones I have aren''t powerful enough to take him down. And my Fton2Wind Style will only strengthen his attacks? (Suzu) ?Tai, do you think your Suiton3Water Style can?-? (Tango) ?Let me stop you right there Sensei? (Tai) Tai interrupted him before he could finish ?I''ve just started expanding the capabilities of my Suiton. And while my vaporized oil mist is of the same element, it''s no good against Katon4Fire Style, or even Fton. I just control the oil mist with Suiton, I don''t create it from nothing? (Tai) ?...Right, as if controlling that oil mist isn''t hard enough, forget about it when someone''s disrupting the nearby atmosphere with heat or wind? (Suzu) ?Exactly. Plus, my regular Suiton Jutsu are still pretty average? (Tai) ?And the enemy''s Katon is quite exceptional. We need powerful Suiton Jutsu if we''re gonna get past that flaming sword of his? (Tango) ?...Then...? (Suzu) ?Hey Tai? (Rei) ?Yeah?? (Tai) ?What if you combine your "water" with Suzu''s "wind"? Wouldn''t that make up for the difference in strength?? (Rei) ?That could work but...? (Tai) ?I''ve already used up most of my chakra. I could probably do four, maybe five more attacks before I''m running on empty? (Suzu) ?I''d also like to point out that blade, whether it''s enflamed or not, can still cut you like Sashimi? (Tai) ?Yes, but those flames are preventing us from engaging him. If you two remain at a distance and keep him distracted with your attacks, it''ll make things easier for me? (Tango) ?Okay...but how are you gonna take him down?? (Rei) ?I''m not going to take him down...you are. Rei, it''s time put the training Killer B-sama gave you to the test? (Tango) ??!? (Rei, Suzu, & Tai) ?Before any of you question it, I''m telling you this is the only way. Under no circumstances can we let that man leave with the primary objective. We''re running out of time and chakra, we have to take him down now. Rei, I''m exhausted from fighting him and using this transmission non-stop. You''re the only one with the physical capabilities of landing a finishing blow on him right now? (Tango) Everyone went silent for a moment that felt like hours ?Every second we waste just gives him another opportunity to recover. Are you three up for it?? (Tango) ?...I''m ready? (Suzu) ?Like there was any other option? (Rei) ?If I die, I swear I''m gonna come back as a ghost and haunt you!? (Tai) ?Hehe, I''ll do my best to ensure that doesn''t happen? (Tango) SCORCH!! The masked man was setting fire to the factory, annoyed that Team Tango wasn''t coming out ?But sensei, there are two problems. The first is that I was only taught me one move, and I still can''t use it to it''s full capabilities? (Rei) ?You of all people couldn''t master the technique?? (Suzu) ?That shocking coming from you? (Tai) ?More like, it''s a technique suited for older shinobi. I''m limited by my age and small stature. And it can only be done in a straight line? (Rei) ?Tai, Suzu, and I will slowly lure him towards the exit. You''ll have plenty of open space once you''re outside. What''s the second problem?? (Tango) ?This attack is so fast, I can''t afford to have him move around too much. I''m also going to put all of my chakra into this one. If I miss, we''re done. He''ll cut me down before I get a second chance? (Rei) ?Hmmm...? (Tango) ?Sensei?? (Tai) ?Don''t worry Rei, I''ve got something to ensure he doesn''t move. It just means I''ll be going home today in a far worst shape than I''d hoped. You ready?? (Tango) ?...Alright, I''ve already decided to trust you after all. I''m ready!? (Rei) ?Okay! Wait for us to engage. As soon as we do, leave the factory. When it''s time for you to strike, I''ll signal with the transmission! Let''s all make it home alive!? (Tango) ?Yes sir!? (Rei, Suzu, & Tai) ??? TAK! Outside the factory, Rei landed on spot quite far from the battle "I''d better start charging chakra" Forming a hand seal, Rei''s chakra surged through his body {Can''t believe I''m using his techniques} [Yo] "Hey Notitia, what''s up?" [Oh nothing much, just checking in on the situation. You''re in quite the tricky spot if you''re using the infamous Nintaijutsu5Ninja Body Techniques legacy moves of the Raikage] "Well, this guys is tough. No...that''s not right..." (Rei) [It''s more like, you guys are too weak. The masked man is a barely average, Jonin level rouge-nin. Tango, although a Jonin himself, is an intelligence officer, not really suited for front line work. He''s really just a glorified cell tower LOL] "And the rest of us are just kids that started even earlier than Naruto did when he became a ninja" (Rei) [Hey! Don''t sell yourself short! They have plot armor, any other extra would''ve already died by now. You''re doing pretty good] "You think so huh?" (Rei) [I know so. In fact, that''s why I''m here. To inform you of a new a development] "What development?" (Rei) [Heh! How''s your arm?] "What? What about my...?!-" (Rei) Shock struck Rei as he looked down, realizing the cut on his left arm he received from the enemy earlier had already healed "What the hell?!" (Rei) [Hahahaha! Congrats Rei! Do you know with this means?] "...No" (Rei) [It means we have actual confirmation that your "gamble" is working they way we had intended] "My ''gamble''...you mean!" (Rei) [Yup! You''ve acquired the regeneration abilities of the tsutsuki. Although, it''s still not at their level yet. If it was, your wound would''ve healed instantly. You need stronger chakra to increase it''s efficiency] "..." (Rei) [Phew! You know, I will confess I was getting worried. None of the "cooler" tsutsuki powers had yet to manifest. The only new trait we observed since you "remade" yourself was a stronger body, capable of increasing it''s chakra reserves with the Ten-Tails without any negative side effects...like instant death] "Gee...thanks for your concern" (Rei) [You''re welcome. It just means you''re progressing, so there''s no need to get all down or compare yourself to the main characters. Oh! Here it comes!] "Here what comes?" (Rei) ?I HAVE HIM REI!? (Tango) "Huh?! How did you?!" (Rei) [Better move] "Grr! Damn it, you have terrible timing!" (Rei) BOOM! Using his chakra, Rei bolted to the factory {Just remember what B said...} (Rei) ??? The last week of Rei''s training at Unraiky Rei was training with Killer B on a different mountain BANG! Rei charged towards a wooden dummy at his top speed, only to miss and crash into a stone wall "Agh!" (Rei) "? You messed up cause yo chakra control ain''t in check Keep that Shunshin balanced, so you don''t end up a speck ?" (Killer B) Removing himself from the wall, Rei frowned "I thought I did have good control. And how is this move so special anyway? It''s not apart of your ''Kakuran Taijutsu''6Disturbance Taijutsu. Hard to imagine it''s a precursor technique to the Raikage''s line of Nintaijutsu" (Rei) ? Ayo, Ayo, it''s a legacy move ya fool You can''t see it''s worth, cause you think like a tool It uses cray cray strength, that only chakra can provide The only chakra you make, when you in a cool state o'' mind ? (Killer B) "But didn''t you just tell me to ram my target with a ''fiery spirit''? Isn''t that why you''re having me use the ''Shunshin no Jutsu''7Body Flicker Jutsu?" (Rei) ? That''s right, that''s right! Some nice fiery passion! Movin'' so fast, enemy won''t even have a reaction! ? (Killer B) "So you want me to be cool headed, yet excited at the same time...right. Haaaa...let''s try it again" (Rei) ??? Present Time Rei was charging towards the factory at an astounding pace. Every step he took only increased his speed "...Almost got it" (Rei) Rei thought about Killer B''s last words to him ? Bein'' passionate and chill, that takes talent Mind and Body as one, that takes balance! ? {"Mind and Body"...I think he meant spiritual and physical energy. I have to properly balance them} (Rei) Rei entered a subtle trance, using his sensory abilities to feel his own chakra {Uh?! My chakra! It''s! I''m...I''m wasting too much power when I move. Did I only think I had good control because I never had problems learning Jutsu like the others?} Rei glanced at his hand before clenching it "I thought it was confidence, but I was just ignorant. Looks like I still have a ways to go!" (Rei) Approaching the factory, his target was in sight ? Yo, Yo! Put the ego away and you''ll see the truth Once you do, you''ll be like me...straight up smooth ? {Here goes everything!} (Rei) VWOOOSH!! With all his might, Rei charged forward! BAM!! "WHAT THE?! GAK!!!" (Leader) "LARIAT!!" (Rei) His right arm collided with the man''s upper torso at inhuman levels of speed as he was hurled towards a wall that exploded on contact. Causing a small cloud of dust to emerge THUD! Using up the rest of his Chakra, Rei fell to ground, unable to move "Ugh! Down for the count again...I pray this doesn''t become a habit every time I go on a mission" (Rei) "You do realize you just jinxed yourself, right?" (Tai) "Aaaah...I''m too tired to argue with you. Just shut up and help me stand" (Rei) Suzu helped Tango up who was hurt from the masked man''s attacks while Tai checked on Rei "Despite the way he is, Killer B-sama has some pretty cool attacks" (Tai) "...I won''t argue with that. He''s still annoying though" (Rei) The team gathered together "Well?" (Tango) "...Huff...I got the scroll" (Rei) "Wha? When did you?!" (Tai) "The moment I collided with him, it fell out of his clothes and I grabbed it before I went down" (Rei) {In that one moment? This kid''s potential is scary. I''m starting to see why B-sama wanted to train him personally} (Tango) "Well, with him down, I guess we''re done here?" (Tai) "Not yet, we still have to wait for back up" (Suzu) "Right. Once they get here, they''ll secure the area and we can go-" (Rei) RUMBLE! "?!" (All of them) "...Ngh" "Impossible..." (Tango) "No...no way. THERE''S NO WAY YOU''RE FINE AFTER THAT!" (Rei) Emerging from the rubble was the ravager leader. He was in terrible shape, with his mask cracked, bleeding from the mouth, and twisted arm. He could only limp towards the team "How?! How is he still?!" (Tai) "Shit!" (Rei) Stopping to catch his breath, he did his best to stay on his feet "Wow. I''m surprisingly clear headed right now. Heh...hehehe...I honestly don''t know if it''s because of the small concussion, the loss of blood, or maybe..." (Leader) Despite the state he was in, he still had the strength to ignite his sword "Tch! That fire again!" (Suzu) {Damn, all of us have exhausted our chakra, we can''t fight him anymore!} (Tango) "...IT''S THAT I''M SO PISSED OFF, I''VE GONE FULL CIRCLE!!!" (Leader) CLANG! Raising his sword, he prepared to unleash another attack. Tango stepped in front of his students "Suzu, Tai! Take Rei and get out of here! I''ll buy you as much time as I can!" (Tango) "Eh?!" (Tai) "Sensei! That''s!-" (Suzu) "THE ONLY PLACE YOU''RE GOING IS HELL!! NOW BUR-!!" (Leader) FWIP!! "ARGH!! WHO...WHO IN THE?!-" (Leader) FWIP!! FWIP!! FWIP!! "AGH!!" (Leader) Before anyone realized it, the ravager leader was bombarded with odd, square shaped shuriken. But the weirdest thing was... "?!" (Rei) "How? How are they?" (Tai) "This...this is..." (Suzu) "Could it be..." (Tango) ...they were all floating TAK! What looked like a Kumo shinobi had landed in front of them. The man had tan skin, a chiseled face with a pair of sideburns, and dark-purple hair "Sorry for the delay" "You''re..." (Tango) "I didn''t want to wait any longer, so I went ahead of my team to get here. I''m your back-up..." After neutralizing the masked man with ease, he turned around and introduced himself "...Jiton no Toroi"8Toroi of the Magnet Style 59. Mission Success Late Afternoon THUD! One of the criminals was thrown into a wagon by a shinobi after being tied up "There! That makes fifteen! There should only be one left!" "That would be the leader. Toroi-san is handling him personally" "Good. Come on, let''s go help the others" "Right behind you" The entire factory was surrounded by Shinobi from Kumogakure who were securing the area. The others were at work arresting all the rogue-nin who were neutralized by Team Tango Toroi came along and put, the now unmasked, leader on the wagon with the other felons. When approached by the others, he wore a frustrated look on his face "No luck boss?" "This is ridiculous! His mind, like the others, has been laced with a stupid amount of ''Genjutsu Blocks'' to prevent any potential information leaks" (Toroi) "Shit. Truth serums will be useless then, and on the chance they were hired...I doubt they''d meet in person" "They knew way too much about this site for it to be a coincidence. This group had to be hired by an anonymous source, they never would''ve had face to face contact with whoever hired them" "So we have no idea who he is, or which village he came from then? Great. Not what I''d call a successful day" "Hey! Don''t say that! Those kids over there performed admirably. It''s not every day a team where the oldest is barely twelve, managed to take on a group of sixteen shinobi and win" (Toroi) "Of course, I''m not trying to diminish their accomplishment or anything, it''s just...I''d hoped we''d learn more than this. Although most older shinobi back home don''t know much about the ''Network'' project, we do know how important it is" "Getting past Genjutsu blocks for just one person takes time, not to mention the other fifteen. Even if we did invest in that much time, it''d be a colossal waste of time if they, most likely, know nothing" "Ngh...I know" (Toroi) "...Are we sending them to ''Hzuki Castle''1Demon Lantern Castlethen? Because if we can''t get any useful information, I really don''t think our village needs to deal with them. Kumogakure already has enough problems as it is" "...No. We''re taking all of them back" (Toroi) "Wouldn''t that be a waste of time? These guys clearly don''t know anything about the ''Network'', as least that''s what Tango told us" "Yeah. Shouldn''t we just let them take these guys. I''m sure they would-" Before they could continue, Toroi shut down any questions or complaints they had with a stern tone "We''re taking...them back" (Toroi) "!" "R-right" "Sorry Toroi-san, didn''t mean to speak out of turn" "Haaa. It''s fine...just go help the others. We only leave once I get a complete assessment of the damages" (Toroi) "Yes sir!" Watching his shinobi depart, Toroi had a somewhat apologetic look {Sorry guys, but the less who know the truth, the better} (Toroi) The real reason Toroi wanted to bring these criminals back to Kumogakure is because the Raikage suspects someone leaked information about Kumogakure''s "Network" project to these men. Which could only happen if it was an inside job. Toroi was one of the few people ''A'' allowed into his inner circle Leaving his men to their work, he approached Team Tango "Hey. You gonna be okay to head home on your own? Or do you need an escort?" (Toroi) "No, we''ll be fine. I took the worst of it, the others are just exhausted from using up almost all of their chakra" (Tango) "We''re good Toroi-sama, just a few more minutes and we''ll be as right as rain. All I care about is making sure those jerks don''t see the light of day anytime soon. Especially after all the crap their leader put us through" (Tai) "You can say that again" (Suzu) "Trust me, after what they did, life in prison is going to be the nicest thing we give them" (Toroi) After a long and enduring fight, Team Tango was recuperating next to Tetsuo and Sh "You guys did a hell of job. Thank you" (Toroi) Toroi looked at Tetsuo, who was being treated by a medical ninja "Tetsuo-dono..." (Toroi) "Yes?" (Tetsuo) Toroi stood right in front of Tetsuo and bowed his head down "On behalf of the Raikage and Kumogakure, I would like to sincerely apologize for allowing this incident to happen" (Toroi) "Wha?! Toroi-dono, what are you doing?!" The medical ninja treating Tetsuo was a young woman who yelled out in surprise. The others were just as shocked at Toroi''s actions. It was uncommon for a renowned shinobi such as him to bow his head down "You were employed by Kumogakure. Letting these felons get away with attacking your factory, taking your subordinates hostage, and injuring you is not something our village should''ve ever overlooked" (Toroi) Everyone waited for a response, expecting Tetsuo to chew him off. After all, while the perpetrators were rogue-nin, it was Kumo that allowed this to happen But unexpectedly, Tetsuo was more confused than angry "All I''d like to know is...how did this happen? I know when it comes to taking special requests between Kumo and manufacturing plants like my ''Mori Ltd.'' , typical protocol is to ensure a manufacturing plant never holds the full schematic of whatever product the village requested" (Tetsuo) "I am aware sir" (Toroi) "This is a protective measure to prevent information leaks and discourage those seeking to steal your technology from committing acts like the ones those assholes did today. So please tell me..." (Tetsuo) "..." (Toroi) The air around them went heavy as Tetsuo''s tone took a deep turn. Toroi still had his head down "How in the hell did MY factory end up with the full blueprints for Kumogakure''s current project. And please don''t tell me I endured all the beatings and torture over a simple ''lack of oversight''." (Tetsuo) "No sir, we believe something far more unsettling has occurred. Which is why Raikage-sama himself is conducting a full investigation into how the incident happened in the first place" (Toroi) Everyone was startled at Toroi''s words. For the Raikage to be concerned obviously meant there''s something far more serious going on. After hearing that Tetsuo lost all of his frustration as he understood just how troubling this topic was {Raikage-sama is taking a personal interest in this?} (Suzu) "After my colleagues finish assessing the damage to the factory, I will immediately request my village to provide you with suitable compensation" (Toroi) After being taken care of with medical ninjutsu, Tetsuo had the strength to stand on his own two feet. Albeit, he was still in bad condition and couldn''t move much without help from Sh. Standing up, he looked straight at Toroi "Instead of me, please compensate the factory workers who had to undergo such trauma. Now that the factory is in this state, it''ll be quite sometime before they can find good work again. They had already lost their jobs once due to your shinobi war, they shouldn''t have to suffer the same ordeal again" (Tetsuo) "Tetsuo-san!" (Sh) Sh shouted in gratitude for Tetsuo. Unlike the men under his command, Sh was not just a paid mercenary, but a member of the nearby town where the employees came from. He knew full well what it meant to be jobless during these confusing times. Plus, Tetsuo wasn''t even a member of the same town and just lost his factory. Calling what he was doing "generous" would be a gross understatement Toroi raised his head "Of course. Kumogakure has been stretched thin lately, but that''s no excuse to neglect the people of our country. I''ll see to your request personally if I have to" (Toroi) "Much appreciated" (Tetsuo) "Y-yes, thank you" (Sh) Toroi shook his head "I am merely doing my job" (Toroi) Observing the conversation taking in place in front of them was Team Tango. Suzu, Rei, and Tai were sitting down and being tended to by the medical ninja who just finished treating Tetsuo. The medic wanted to treat Tango first, who had the worst injuries of the group, but adamantly decided he would be treated after his students were taken care of "Toroi-sama is a pretty cool guy. As expected from one of our village''s finest I guess" (Tai) "That''s an understatement, his actions during the last war have earned him much recognition. From both enemies and allies alike, he''s a very powerful shinobi" (Tango) "I''m surprised he''s here though" (Suzu) "Why are you surprised?" (Tango) "He should''ve been on another mission in the complete opposite direction from here. At least that''s what he told me the last time I talked to him" (Suzu) "The last time you talked to him? You''re close with a war hero like him?!" (Tai) "My mother was a VERY distant cousin to him. Because I live by myself, he regularly came to check up on me. Although he''s been pretty busy as of late" (Suzu) "...You learn something new everyday. Why do you think he''s here Rei?" (Tai) "..." (Rei) "Rei?" (Tai) "Huh? What? Did you say something?" (Rei) "Geez man, pay attention" (Tai) "Oh sorry, just give me a sec. I''m still not done looking at this" (Rei) "Seriously, what''s so great about that stuff anyway? It''s just looks like random junk to me" (Tai) Rei didn''t need much treatment as he had little injuries thanks to his newly awakened regenerative abilities. While waiting for the rest of the team to recover, he decided to take a look at the materials Tetsuo was commissioned to build, only to find something strange {I was right, these things ARE copper cathodes. Typically used to make copper rods for wire and cable, but that wasn''t the only intended purpose for making them. No...it...there''s no way...this world''s technology is...} (Rei) "Rei?" (Tai) "?" (Suzu) Rei got up and walked to the factory, or more accurately, just outside the factory where the materials scattered all over the ground as a result of the continuous fire explosions the masked leader made. It was then, Rei spotted several other objects of interest. Picking them up for a closer look, his mood went from curious to shocked "That...that''s an oil sump. Plus, this is an unfinished lubrication system. And that has to be the sixth electrode I''ve seen so far. Taking into account this world''s current technology level..." (Rei) He could not stop his train of thought, becoming more and more disturbed. With an increase in temperature, profuse sweat, and a heart beating like drum, Rei found it harder and harder to breath as he rummaged through the rubble "Tetsuo said he was commissioned by the village. The Raikage himself is involved and desperately sent a newly formed Genin team just to prevent some lowlife felons from acquiring information on what Kumo wanted to build. This technology could potentially change everything. Kumogakure is building..." (Rei) Rei thought back to the moment he first came to this world...or rather, how he got here "...a new age generator" 60. Investments {Batteries and generators...of all the things they''d be making...!} (Rei) Rei was at a loss for words. With the revelation that Kumogakure was conducting a secret project involving the manufacturing of generators, the very same thing that sent him to this world, he was unable to stay composed. For this was surely more than just simple coincidence {Why is this happening now? I can tell this equipment won''t be able to make a power source anywhere close to a 21st century one, but it''s still a massive improvement} (Rei) Rei knew the best batteries this world possessed were low quality liquid flow batteries. Yet the materials that lay before him now indicated Kumogakure was on the verge of a breakthrough. What bothered Rei the most was that it was too early for the world to have such technology {I remember they were still using liquid flow batteries during the main story''s climax, the 4th Shinobi War event. To make such an innovative leap so soon is unprecedented...no...more like unnatural. There''s no way the village could''ve put this together on its own. Someone is responsible for this...someone else with advanced scientific knowledge...} (Rei) Rei had previously considered the possibility he might not be the only one who was transferred to this world. And he already had doubts about Notitita''s true intentions when it came to him. "Grr...damn it! Could this be one the ''Ripples'' Notitia told be about? Or could it be tsutsuki related? Those alien parasites do possess advanced technology...aaah...I don''t know what to think!" (Rei) Frustrated that he had even more questions than answers now, Rei looked around to find more clues, but with little success Observing his odd behavior was Tai and Suzu, both of whom had just finished getting their medical treatment. They would''ve left already if Tango wasn''t busy conversing with Toroi "What''s up with him?" (Suzu) "Oh, he''s just being weird, like usual. Ever since I''ve known him, Rei''s had a weird habit of talking to himself and muttering strange words I don''t understand" (Tai) "I don''t know, I''d say there''s more to what he''s doing now, judging by the expression on his face" (Suzu) "How can you be sure?" (Tai) "He''s the smartest person I know" (Suzu) "!" (Tai) Tai was taken aback at Suzu''s compliment. Such a thing was rare from the stoic young lady Rei returned to group, his eyes on Tetsuo "You done doing...well...whatever it is you were doing?" (Tai) "Yeah. Are we leaving?" (Rei) "As soon as Tango-sensei is done" (Tai) "...Did you get what you need?" (Suzu) "Not yet...but I''m about to" (Rei) "?" (Suzu & Tai) He gave a light response before walking to Tetsuo "Tetsuo-san" (Rei) "Ah! Rei! I still haven''t thanked you for all the hard work you did today" (Tetsuo) "There''s no need for that considering the building was still destroyed by that fire-wielding lunatic" (Rei) "No need to feel down, what happened today was definitely not your fault" (Tetsuo) "No, I-" (Rei) "Really, it''s okay" (Tetsuo) Tetsuo had a bright smile on his face. However, Rei felt slightly guilty for unintentionally creating the misunderstanding that he felt bad for the damages to the factory. In order for things to not get anymore awkward, he quickly opted to change the subject "So...what are you going to do now? I overheard you say you''re giving the reparation money to the employees, but where does that leave you?" (Rei) "Hehe...it leaves me exactly where I was when I created my own company two years ago" (Tetsuo) "..." (Rei) "No worries, this isn''t the first time I''ve bounced back from nothing" (Tetsuo) "Is that so?" (Rei) "Yup! In fact, it''s kind of exciting when I think about it. Even in these times, there''s still tons of opportunities for me to explore. I getting jitters just thinking about all of the options, like a kid at a candy store" (Tetsuo) Rei chuckled a little "You''re a ''glass half full'' type of guy then?" (Rei) "Since the day I was born...and till the day I die" (Tetsuo) {Yeah...you''ll do. I need useful people, now more than ever} (Rei) "Hm?" (Tetsuo) Rei reached into his pouch and took out a scroll. Opening it, he placed his hand down and poured chakra into it POOF! "Here" (Rei) What he summoned from the scroll was a full black bag, before handing it to Tetsuo "What''s this?" (Tetsuo) "Patronage...for the future" (Rei) After looking in the bag, Tetsuo was shocked to find a hefty amount of cash inside "You...this...!" (Tetsuo) "I inherited much after my...''father'' died in the war. Don''t worry, this is a small sum to me and I still have plenty so take it" (Rei) "I just can''t!-" (Tetsuo) As he retorted, Rei raised his hand, stopping him mid sentence "Don''t misread my actions, this isn''t charity" (Rei) "...What do you want from me?" (Tetsuo) "Fast learner...I like that. This money is for stock in your ''Mori Ltd''." (Rei) "That stock is kind of worthless right now though" (Tetsuo) "Right now yes...but what about the future?" (Rei) "..." (Tetsuo) "Trust me...I want, no, I need your company to succeed. You''re going to be my golden goose" (Rei) {This...am I really talking to a kid right now?} (Tetsuo) "I have very big plans for you but now, just focus on recovery. And make sure you keep informed of your progress. You can just send letters with my name on it directly to Kumogakure as any mail for ninja immediately get sorted out from the rest and sent to said ninja" (Rei) "I still don''t know what you want from me?" (Tetsuo) "Ah, yes. Tell me Tetsuo-san, what do you know about the energy business?" (Rei) "Well, I-" (Tetsuo) "Rei!" Before they could continue, Tango called out to Rei after finishing his business with Toroi. Telling him it was time to go home "Guess that''s all for today. Remember, keep in touch! Or I''ll hunt you down personally, and we both don''t want that!" (Rei) "Eh?!" (Tetsuo) Rei left the area with Team Tango, now intent on heading back home. Leaving a confused Tetsuo to himself, he stood in place for a minute before telling Sh to take him to the nearby town where he was staying Toroi and his team were the only ones who remained. After finishing their work, they also proceeded to head back to the village ??? Evening In a dark basement somewhere within Kumogakure, several men were conversing with their faces hidden "All of them were captured alive? ALL of them?" "Haaah...yes" "Unbelievable" "Let this be a lesson. Just because a mercenary group you hire might have a fancy name like ''The Oni1A kind of youkai, demon, or ogre in Japanese mythologyGarrison'', doesn''t mean they''re exceptional" "Humph! ''Oni Garrison''...nothing but a bunch of fools in masks that couldn''t even handle a bunch of kids! They completely screwed up!" "Indeed...that could have gone better" "What''s the problem?" "Were you not paying attention? The entire group of men we hired to sabotage Tetsuo Mori''s factory are now in the custody of the Raikage" "So?" "...''So''...are you not taking this seriously?" "No. Why should I?" "!" "Here we go again...cue the smartass remarks" "After today''s failure I, nor the rest of us, are in any mood for sarcasm" "I wasn''t trying to be sarcastic, but I meant what I said. Why should any of us be concerned? The way I see it, today was a victory" "Oh really?" "And how do you figure?" "For starters, we''ve confirmed the Raikage suspects someone within Kumogakure is plotting their own agenda" "We already suspected he might on to us" "Suspected. But now we have confirmation. And speaking of confirmations, we also know Toroi is a member of his inner circle, considering the ninja adamantly refused to hand the criminals over to no one but the Raikage for interrogation" "And that''s what you should be worried about! If they say anything!-" "They won''t say anything because they don''t know anything. We used a proxy, who performed Transformation Jutsu to implicate an arms dealer who''s been a thorn in our side for quite some time. Plus, it''ll take some time for A''s intelligence team, who are a fraction of what they used to be thanks to the war, to get past the Genjutsu blocks placed in their heads. And when they do..." "He''ll busy chasing dead ends, giving us the opportunity to work with less interference" "As an added bonus, we''ve managed to properly delay the production of the ''Network''. Today was win everyone, so there''s no need to panic" Some of them grumbled with frustration "We''ve put a lot of money into the ''Network'' project. It''ll still hurt our finances since we sabotaged it" "There was no choice, production of the ''Network'' has been proceeding faster than anticipated" "We can''t have it up and running before our ''Reformation'' of the village begins" "Speaking of that, what of our partner in Konoha? Has he managed to come through?" "Yes. The Fuma Clan is at our disposal" "And what of the ''other'' clan?" "It took some time, but he managed to peak their interest. It''s pretty much guaranteed they''ll be working for us after they heard they''ll be fighting Kumogakure" "Why did it take so long? I don''t like delays" "There...was an ''issue'' he had to deal with in the Leaf. One of his men needed help getting out of the village" The mood suddenly turned sour after hearing that their ''partner'' delayed their plans because a simple rogue ninja "A f*cking rogue-nin?! That was the reason for the delay?!" "That arrogant son of a!-" "Before you all get angry, just know, that particular rogue ninja is the one who''s manufacturing the ''Amp''. Things were getting too risky to continuing working in Konoha, so he had to leave" The room went quiet for a minute as none of them had a retort for this statement "Everything is still moving on schedule. Yes we''ve had to make some adjustments, but we already acknowledged the chance of variable factors interfering with our plans when we created this ''Company'' of ours" "Very well, but are you sure he''ll be able to get the other clan to work for us? I understand their hatred for Kumogakure, but let''s not forget they also have beef with Konoha" "That''s why we''re setting them up with the Fuma Clan. That clan will have no knowledge that they''ll really be working for us, members of the very same Kumogakure they hate with a passion" "And remember, we need them. Only their...unique abilities will allow the creation of the ''Amp''. That is vital for the completion of the ''Reformation''. Otherwise, they''ll all be killed and our many years of work will have been for nothing" "..." "Are there any other issues someone would like to address?" No one spoke "Very well, let''s move on to next subject..." The one who spoke held a deep sinister tone "...offering up the Jinchriki" 61. What Success Really Means At the "Sake & Yaki" diner Team Tango was enjoying a nice hot meal after a wearying day "Please let me know if you need anything else" "Thanks Akina" (Rei) "My pleasure Rei" (Akina) After Akina brought their meals, Tango was the first who went to town on the food. Surprised at its great quality, he looked at Rei and the others "I can''t believe you guys have been going to such a great store and you didn''t tell me" (Tango) "Hey, this is Rei''s place. He brought Suzu and I to this diner the day before you dragged us to Unraiky for a month. Apparently, it''s his favorite spot in the village" (Tai) "His third favorite spot in the village" (Suzu) "Oh right, his ''third'' favorite spot. I wonder what his ''first'' and ''second'' are?" (Tai) "Is that so..." (Tango) "Akina does make really good food though" (Tai) The group looked at Rei, who was in his own world as he chowed down on his plate, seemingly oblivious to everything else around him "..." (Suzu) {Good grief, I''d hate to see his food bill at home} (Tai) {The size of that plate is ridiculous...where in the hell does he put all that food in his body?} (Tango) Rei''s plate was big enough to serve the entire group and he was already half way through eating it. Tai turned to Tango with a question "Um...Sensei?" (Tai) "What is it?" (Tango) "Well, I understand wanting a meal after the ordeal we just went through, but what exactly did you mean by ''celebrating''?" (Tai) "What do you mean? We''re celebrating your accomplishments of course" (Tango) Tai and Suzu glanced at each other with a confused expression. Tango, noticing this, was quick to elaborate "You guys don''t believe you performed adequately do you?" (Tango) "We didn''t...no, we couldn''t finish the mission on our own" (Suzu) "That fire-sword branding lunatic was too much for us to handle" (Tai) "Hehehe..." (Tango) "?" (Tai & Suzu) "What was the original objective of the mission?" (Tango) "Um...to...neutralize the enemies and..." (Tai) "Prevent the contents of that safe from being stolen...which we failed to do" (Suzu) "Did you now? How do you figure?" (Tango) MUNCH! Rei was still in his own world as he received a second plate from Akina "We couldn''t bring down all the enemies" (Suzu) "And they managed to crack open the safe and take what''s inside" (Tai) Finishing his meal, Tango leaned back and folded his arms "There seems to be misunderstanding here. The only thing that determines success in the mission is the end result. It''s not a contest, and personal achievements don''t, or rather, they shouldn''t mean much to you. The only thing that should matter to you is completing the mission. Because every one you complete only serves to benefit our village" (Tango) "..." (Tai & Suzu) "You''re shinobi of Kumogakure, that means you serve Kumogakure and its people. I don''t care if Toroi was the one to finish the mission and neither should you. I''m rewarding you today with this meal I''m paying for because you did a wonderful job. Without your efforts, those felons would have gotten away, even if you couldn''t take down the leader. Don''t think about what you couldn''t do, but what you did do" (Tango) Taking his words to heart, the pair thought back on their performance, reevaluating it. So quick to deem it as a negative, they completely forgot about taking down fifteen other experienced rogue-nin, rescuing the hostages, and buying enough time for back-up to arrive. Allowing for the protection of the scroll inside the safe With these thoughts in mind, their moods took a sudden turn for the better "I guess when you put it that way..." (Tai) "Servants of Kumogakure..." (Suzu) "I mean, just look at Rei. Does he look like he''s concerned about the mission results?" (Tango) They turned to Rei who stopped eating "The mission was completed, that''s all that matters. I could care less about who did what and such" (Rei) He returned to eating "See? You guys need to relax. You did so much better than your time on Genbu. The teamwork was superb, just what I wanted from you and then some. I know you trained at Unraiky, but that alone wouldn''t be enough to explain how well in sync you three are now" (Tango) "Well...we can thank Rei for that" (Tai) "Indeed" (Suzu) Rei was still preoccupied with eating, now on his third plate "How exactly did he help you? Did he put you through some kind of exercise or training?" (Tango) "Nope" (Tai) "He...brought us here and just asked questions" (Suzu) "Is that what you did Rei?" (Tango) "..." (Rei) "..." (Tango & Suzu) "...REI!" (Tai) "Hm?! W-what?" (Rei) "How much are you planning to eat anyway? Ahem! Tango-sensei asked you a question" (Tai) "Ah, sorry. What is it sensei?" (Rei) "...We were talking about the day before we set out to Unraiky. You spent your time asking Tai and Suzu questions?" (Tango) "Yeah...but that''s what you wanted me to do. For a better ''introduction'' the next time we convened, right?" (Rei) {...Mabui was right about this kid...} "So you were the one to figure out the true purpose of my words" (Tango) The Genin explained the process of events to Tango, going over what led them to put aside their differences and work together as a true team. Tango was attentively listening to their words, intent on not missing a single detail "Hehe, you''d think he''d go for something more subtle, but for THAT to be his favorite animal!" (Tai) "You''re tastes are very unique" (Tango) "More like...cute" (Suzu) "Shut up, there''s nothing wrong with liking snakes. Damn it, I regret telling that to you guys" (Rei) Tango smiled as he observed at an embarrassed Rei. Pleased to discover this innocent side of him {Because he acts so mature all the time you tend to forget, at the end of the day, he''s a kid too} "Hahaha! I thought you''d ask about something Jutsu-related, but you choose to inquire about their likes and hobbies?" (Tango) "Amongst other things" (Rei) "Well...I''m very pleased to hear you all are willing to compromise with one another. That''s good, it''s the first step on becoming a team. But you still have much to learn" (Tango) "Yeah, speaking of that Sensei..." (Tai) "?" (Tango) "I think I speak for all of us when I say, we need more training" (Tai) "..." (Tango) The three looked down for a moment before Suzu broke the silence "I...I need to increase my arsenal of Ninjutsu. When we were fighting that masked man, I realized I could''ve been more helpful if I knew more techniques" (Suzu) "True...most of your Doton are defensive focused. It wouldn''t hurt to learn some more offensive ones" (Tango) "And speaking of helpful...I''d like to learn Medical Ninjutsu" (Tai) "Oh?" (Tango) "I mean, if I''m going to have the role of Medic on our squad, I might as well be an ACTUAL medic. Plus, If I was during the mission, I could''ve help Suzu and Rei recover when I joined you guys to fight that fire maniac" (Tai) "I can talk C if you''d like? He can definitely give you some pointers" (Tango) "Much appreciated Tango-sensei" (Tai) "And what of you Rei?" (Tango) "I''m just gonna keep doing what I''ve been doing" (Rei) They all went quiet after hearing his response before Tai started laughing "Right. All you do is train anyway" (Tai) "That was a stupid question on my part. But seriously, you three ''geniuses'' will one day end up becoming full fledged shinobi. By that time, our squad will have long since been disbanded and you''ll be teaching these lessons to others" (Tango) "Sensei..." (Tai) "..." (Suzu) The mood took a melancholy turn as they thought about the uncertain future headed their way. Not pleased with it, Rei decided to break the ice "When that day comes, you can treat us to another meal" (Rei) "Amazing..." (Suzu) "Even now you''re still about food" (Tai) "It''s all about priorities" (Rei) "Alright, alright, it''s getting late. Time to go home, before Rei bleeds my wallet dry" (Tango) "And here I was getting ready for a fourth plate. Good thing this place has take home orders. Hey Akina!" (Rei) "Leaving? I take it you want the usual?" (Akina) "Yup!" (Rei) Rei got up from the table and walked to front counter. Asking Akina for a to-go plate "..." (Tango) "Ah, sorry sensei. I guess we should''ve warned you" (Tai) "His stomach is not to be underestimated" (Suzu) "..." {Are these the hardships of being a Sensei?} (Tango) After leaving the diner, the team said their goodbyes and went separate ways. Finally returning to their homes in over a month. Rei, with food in hand, decided to take his time and leisurely walk back home [...t] "..." [...ffftt] "..." [...fffffttt] "...Shut the hell up Notitia" [Pfffttttt! HAHAHAHAHAHA!] "Haaah" [Snakes! Awww...that''s SO cute!] "Eat me" [Kukukuku] "SHUT. UP." [Okay, but seriously though] "?" [Why snakes?] "Why not snakes?" [It''s just, of all the ones you could''ve picked...] "In many countries like Asia or Africa snakes represent birth, wisdom, and personal or spiritual growth" [Oh?] "Is was something I sought...no...failed to attain back in my world. Something she was trying to..." [She?] "..." [Raymond?] "...nevermind" [But it just getting interesting] "Just drop it" [...] "..." [...Fine. But since I''m here, I might as well tell you, there''s a surprise on the way] "Huh? What kind of" [Not yet, but it''ll arrive soon enough. Make sure you pay close attention. Later!] "What''s that supposed to...and it''s gone. I f*cking hate it when it does that!" Rei continued on home. Just as he was about to open the front door, he felt a presence behind him "Hey Rei! Long time no see!" "Y-you''re...?!" 62. Three Legacies "Y-you''re...?!" "Hey Rei. Long time no see" Turning away from the front door of his house, Rei came across the sight of a familiar figure. It was the young man with the Kanji for "Lightning" tattooed on his left shoulder he met during the funeral of the Third Raikage. The only apprentice of the very same Raikage "Darui" (Rei) "Good, you remember me" (Darui) "What are you doing here?" (Rei) "I was heading out for a mission when I noticed I was in your neighborhood, so I decided to stop by" (Darui) "A mission? This late? What kind of mission requires you to leave at this time of night?" (Rei) "Ah...well...the thing is...um..." (Darui) Darui rubbed his head and mumbled to himself. Rei was wondering why he was being so awkward before understanding Darui was implying he couldn''t talk about it. Knowing it''d be a waste of time to press him, he dropped the subject "Forget it, I''d rather not know the details" (Rei) "...Thanks for understanding" (Darui) "But you still haven''t told me the reason for this late night visit" (Rei) "Right, sorry. I just wanted to ask if you managed to open it yet" (Darui) "The ''it'' implying?" (Rei) "Sorry, the scroll I gave you" (Darui) "The scroll you gave...ah!" (Rei) Rei recalled the time he "fought" with the Third Raikage and how he was promised a prize if he passed his little test. Only to be rewarded with a scroll he couldn''t open after the man died "About that...I wasn''t able to open it on my first attempt and I''ve been somewhat preoccupied in the last month" (Rei) "I know, B-sama told me your squad underwent his training at Unraiky. I''m just here check on your progress" (Darui) "And hopefully tell me what''s so damn important about it considering you''re shirking your duties right now" (Rei) "Shirking my...geez...are you really a kid?" (Darui) "You raise an interesting philosophical question" (Rei) "What?" (Darui) "Forget it, the scroll?" (Rei) "Yes, it''s actually a relic from a time before the formation of Kumogakure, belonging to the First Raikage. When the Land of Lightning was, just like every other land at the time, nothing more than a bunch of small states ruled by shinobi clans and feudal lords" (Darui) "The ''Warring States Period''..." (Rei) "Correct, that came to an end shorty after first great nation Konohagakure was formed-" (Darui) "Then our nation adopted the same system and our beloved First Raikage united all the clans in this land to form Kumogakure. Darui, I was never the type of student to ignore lectures at the academy. This history lesson has repeatedly been drilled into my brain. Come on, get to the point" (Rei) Rei, tired after a long day of fighting, was getting a little impatient at Darui''s slow pace. He wanted him to hurry up and say what he had to say so he could go to bed "Sorry, but what I want to ask you is, do you know HOW he was able to do that?" (Darui) Rei tilted his head at such an obvious question. In order to be a Kage and create a village, one would naturally have to be very powerful "He was the First Raikage, implying he was strong. Not to mention being one the earliest, if not the first true practitioner of Nintaijutsu1Ninja Body Techniques" (Rei) "That''s only part of the reason. But the foundation of his strength lies in that scroll the Third left for you" (Rei) "?!" (Rei) "I see your interest is peaked. Good, it''d be pretty dull for me to continue explaining at this point if you weren''t invested in this subject" (Darui) "Anyone would be invested at this point you dull guy! Hurry up and talk!" (Rei) "Okay, okay! Sorry. Inside that scroll is a powerful technique divided into four parts. All of which are sealed by, shall we say, ''Locks''. These locks can only be opened by high levels of chakra control" (Darui) "How high are we talking about?" (Rei) Darui closed his eyes and folded his arms, before giving Rei a serious look "None of the previous Raikage have ever managed to break all four locks" (Darui) "What?! Hold on. You just said this scroll was the First Raikage''s" (Rei) "But I never said HE created it, the First only discovered it. According to legend, it''s an artifact existing from the time of the Sage of Six Paths. Not that I, or anyone else believes in such tall tales" (Darui) {...You may not, but I sure as shit do} "And because he was lucky enough to find it, he was able to unite the land" (Rei) "Mhm. With training, he was able to access the second lock. Both the Second Raikage and the Fourth also managed to brake two locks. And the Third Raikage was the only one who managed to break three, albeit with much effort" (Darui) "...Is that why he was so powerful?" (Rei) "More like, one of the biggest reasons as to why he was so strong. The knowledge he obtained served as inspiration for most of his original Jutsu and fighting styles" (Darui) "..." (Rei) Rei pondered for a moment, thinking back to the Third''s actions and words the last time he saw him "Rei?" (Darui) "Why?" (Rei) "Why what?" (Darui) "Why did he give the scroll to me? Why not you, or his son?" (Rei) Darui looked at Rei as he questioned whether or not he was deserving of such a treasure before smiling "...The ''Black Scroll'' is one of three powerful legacies he left behind. He gave his First legacy, the title of Raikage, to his son since he understood the Fourth would never get past the second lock. He told me I wasn''t suitable for the scroll and gave his second legacy, the ''Black Lightning'' technique to me. It''s why I have this tattoo" (Darui) Darui pointed towards his left shoulder "There were many who questioned his decision to give his third legacy to you, but he was adamant that you take it" (Darui) "But why?" (Rei) While this world is just a fictional story to him, Rei never would have admitted he was quite fond of the Third Raikage "This is just a guess...but I think the Third believed with all his heart you''d be able to unlock the secrets of this scroll. After he...um...''tested'' you, he just wouldn''t stop talking about you" (Darui) "Really?" (Rei) "Oh yes, he spoke quite highly of your potential" {He talked about you so much, even his training with me got dull} (Darui) "..." (Rei) Darui turned around "If I stay any longer I might even lose my headband so I''m leaving. Any other questions you might have will be answered if you open that scroll. The only advice I give is tread carefully. If you don''t think you can open it, then don''t open it. The contents inside are NOT to taken for granted" (Darui) {Only open it if I''m absolutely certain huh?} (Rei) "Take care, and give my regards to Mabui when you see her" (Darui) "...I will. Good luck on your mission" (Rei) Darui took off as Rei entered his home. Looking around, he could tell Mabui hasn''t been home in a while. With a tired body and head full of questions, he decided to retire for the night "Looks like it''s gonna be another busy day at the lab" 63. Cloak And Dagger Midnight The shinobi Toroi was heading towards the office of the Raikage. Entering the dull lit room he found the sight of man himself, A, conversing with Dodai and C "Ah. Toroi. Thank you for coming so quickly" (A) "Of course Raikage-sama. For the mission report-" (Toroi) "You can skip that part. Tell me what I really want know" (A) "Sir? Are you sure that''s-" (Toroi) Toroi made small glances at Dodai and C, as if trying to indicate something to the Raikage. Understanding what he meant, the Raikage chuckled and gestured him to continue "Hehe! Both Dodai and C are just like you, apart of my ''inner circle'', so relax" (A) "I was involved in this before you were Toroi-san. We''re also expecting more guests to join us" (Dodai) CREAK! The office door opened once again. Entering the room was a shinobi followed by two cloaked figures "Speak of the devil, what took you J?" (C) "Sorry, but you know I don''t like to cut corners, so I made sure we took the most secretive route possible. Couldn''t afford the let these two be seen here at this time" (J) The shinobi in question was a "Letter Bearer" like C, holding the name "J". He wore black sunglasses on his face and the standard Kumogakure flak jacket. Similar to C in age, he had a shaved a head The two cloaked figures stepped forward as A spoke "As I was explaining to our friend Toroi here, this is a safe place so you can take those off now" (A) "Phew, as ordinary citizens, this whole ''cloak and dagger'' business doesn''t suit us. Especially me Raikage-dono, I''m not getting any younger mind you" Removing their cloaks, Toroi was surprised to find the Daimy himself along with his assistant Tekkan, here at this secret meeting "Is this all there is?" (Daimy) "Problem?" (A) "It''s just...I thought you''d have more allies by now" (Daimy) "You were the one that told me to tighten my circle" (A) "Yes, but you still need a sufficient amount of people to even have an ''inner circle'' in the first place" (Daimy) The Daimy was clearly dissatisfied with A''s progress. He had hoped for more allies to deal with their current "problem" eating away at the village. Tekkan, sensing the mood was getting awkward, proceeded to interject "Sir, it hasn''t been long since we last spoke in person. The fact there aren''t many of us here only means Raikage-sama is carefully picking allies. Personally, I''d rather have a small number of trust worthy allies, than a large group that could turn on us at any time" (Tekkan) "That''s fair I guess. Whatever, please give me some good news Raikage-dono" (Daimy) "There''s been some unsettling activity going around" (A) "Do tell" (Daimy) "Dodai" (A) "Yes sir. Daimy-sama, just over twenty four hours ago, one of the factories we contracted for the ''Network'' project was attacked" (Dodai) "We were already made aware of the attack. We also know the situation was resolved" (Tekkan) "That rogue group of ninja called ''The Oni Garrison'' right? Hardly a concern if they couldn''t even handle a squad of Genin and one Jonin captain" (Daimy) Both Tekkan and the Daimy tilted their heads, wondering why they were called for a matter that''s already been handled "Yes, but what you don''t know is the criminals responsible had prior knowledge of the project schematics and purposely targeted them" (Dodai) "A leak..." (Daimy) "As unsettling as that is, all of us knew it''d be impossible to keep the existence of the ''Network'' a secret forever. Especially if you consider nearly every Kumo shinobi, including a few civilians, were aware of its existence" (Tekkan) "This fact shouldn''t be the reason for taking the risk of calling us here, I assume something else happened?" (Daimy) "...Yes" (Dodai) Dodai looked downwards with a somewhat apologetic look before continuing "During the raid, we discovered the factory in particular possessed not one, but ALL the schematics for the ''Network''." (Dodai) "?!" (Tekkan) "All?! We agreed to ensure no factory or company owner we commissioned would have access to the entire project! It''s why we had multiple contractors focus on building ONE part of the ''Network'', so we could assemble the final product in secret" (Daimy) "Information compartmentalization, this was to be our main strategy to avoid arousing suspicion from foreign nations and keeping the projects TRUE purpose a secret" (Tekkan) "How in the hell did that happen?!" (Daimy) "..." (A) "We still don''t know the specifics, but someone managed to tamper with our shipping logs. From there, they arranged for the entire project to arrive at one location" (Dodai) "And then, the mercenaries attacked..." (C) "Do we know when this sabotage took place?" (Daimy) "I personally went through all our records and discovered the ''irregularity'' was made about three weeks ago. But''s there''s no trace as to who was responsible" (Dodai) The Daimy looked straight at A and vice versa "In other words..." (Daimy) "Right after our last council meeting" (A) "That pretty much confirms our hidden ''enemy'' has far more political influence than we thought if they can cause such disruption within our government" (Tekkan) {I wonder...could the head ninja be behind this? It''s very doubtful the likes of him could pull off something of this caliber...and get away clean} (Daimy) "What else do we know about this attack?" (Tekkan) Toroi, being the one who came from the factory, spoke of his findings "The company owning the destroyed factory is the ''Mori Company'', run by one, Tetsuo Mori. A small business growing in low income areas hurting because of the last war" (Toroi) "Recently settling down near a small town, he personally hired workers from the local populace before building his factory right next to the town" (C) "To go to such lengths. This Tetsuo person has been employing civilians who have suffered because of the war? Was he underpaying them?" (Tekkan) "Just the opposite actually, he genuinely seems to care. He even asked for the reparation money we were going to give him to be used for the workers who lost their jobs as a result of this attack" (Toroi) "So out of all the companies run by wealthy managers we''ve employed, these assholes target the one honest boss with a heart. F*cking beautiful everyone...what do we know about these guys?" (Daimy) "Unfortunately, not much. Through our interrogations we discovered members of ''The Oni Garrison'' have been equipped with a ridiculous amount of Genjutsu Blocks. And the ones we''ve managed to get talking have stated they received payment and instructions from an unknown employer" (Toroi) "I was working with the intelligence unit during the interrogation and I managed to clear the Genjutsu in the mind of their leader. But the only information he had...was..." (C) "..." (Toroi) "He didn''t know anything?" (Tekkan) "..." (C) "The information in his head led us to an arms dealer whose base is located on the south western border of the Land of Lightning" (Toroi) "Then should we not investigate?" (Tekkan) "Darui has already been dispatched on a solo mission for that very purpose" (A) "I was wondering why he wasn''t here. But why do you seem hesitant to follow the lead Toroi? Do you think it might be a trap?" (Daimy) "More like, misdirection. I believe this information is smoke to keep us distracted" (Toroi) "Prior to sending Darui, we did some digging and the facts just don''t make sense. The arms dealer in question would never make a move on one of Kumogakure''s hired companies. Provoking one of the five Great Shinobi Nation''s is basically asking to get killed when you''re just an small, insignificant, illegal business owner" (C) "...Damn" (Tekkan) "In other words, the progress of our project has been delayed, a good man''s business has been destroyed, and we only have one suspicious lead which may not even turn up anything at all. I asked for good news A, that''s not good news at all" (Daimy) "Now you know how I feel" (A) Nearly everyone present sighed with frustration. Faced with the facts they have no real intel go on, melancholy filled the room "That''s what we have to share, and you?" (A) "There hasn''t been much activity in OUR country" (Daimy) "Our? Implying..." (A) "So you haven''t heard then. I wasn''t sure if this news was related to the attack, but considering it happened on the same day I''m not to sure now..." (Daimy) "Heard what? What''s happened?" (A) "There''s...been a development in Konoha. One of their shinobi has caused quite the stir" (Tekkan) "And it happened the same day as the attack on the factory" (Daimy) "Who is the shinobi in question?" (A) "His name is..." (Tekkan) ??? "Orochimaru" "...Ugh...right on time...hehe...." (Orochimaru) In a cave just outside the Land of Fire''s borders, a man with bandages over his face had visited the now rogue-nin Orochimaru who was treating a deep wound on his stomach "That''s a terrible wound, I expected you to do better" "As if it''s easy to escape the grasp of the Third Hokage and his anbu. Most would already be dead" (Orochimaru) "Most would, but I expect better from one of Konoha''s ''Densetsu no Sannin''1Three Legendary Ninja. Please don''t make me regret helping you" After getting caught conducting horrific human experimentation on civilians, Orochimaru was forced to flee his village with his life. Were it not for the help of the man before him, he''d already be dead "Have I not always come through for you? Ignoring your arm and eye, I also arranged for the Fuma Clan to meet your partners in Kumogakure did I not?" (Orochimaru) "Indeed, and I thank you for that. The ''Company'' should be satisfied now" "Hehe, but I wonder..." (Orochimaru) "?" "Can the Fuma clan really work with the "other" clan the ''Company'' wants for their plan?" (Orochimaru) "You think they can''t?" "Well, there''s this rumor floating about. There are many who speculate the Fuma Clan may be distantly related to Uchiha clan, although it has yet to be confirmed" (Orochimaru) "That rumor only sprouted because the Fuma had close ties with Uchiha during the ''Warring Period''. They were simply one of the first clans to fall under the Uchiha''s thumb at the time. Because the Uchiha treated them especially well, some suspected they had one common ancestor, but it doesn''t mean anything since they don''t have the Sharingan" "Maybe not to you, but to THAT clan, it means quite a lot. Their hatred for not only Kumo, but the Uchiha runs deep. The plan of the ''Company'' may have been doomed from the start if that clan can''t work with the Fuma" (Orochimaru) "I''m well aware that clan holds grudges against the Lands of Fire and Lightning, but it doesn''t matter" "Oh?" (Orochimaru) "If the ''Company'' succeeds, I get what I want. If they fail, it simply ensures Kumogakure is weakened. Either way, it''s not a loss on our end" Orochimaru thought about the man''s words before chuckling a little "That''s right, Kumogakure has really earned your ire lately hasn''t it?" (Orochimaru) BOOM! The bad weather erupted with thunder and rain "Not just us, but every village have been annoyed by the fact Kumogakure has been increasing it''s military strength despite the conditions of the peace treaties. It''s well past time someone put them in their place" The man moved away towards the cave exit "You''re leaving already?" (Orochimaru) "It serves me no benefit to stay here much longer. I have a body double in place, but I''d like to avoid any unnecessary suspicions" "I should be ready to leave soon as well" (Orochimaru) The man threw a scroll at Orochimaru "This is..." (Orochimaru) "An abandoned hideout that should suit your ''needs''. The leaf is still not done looking for you, and they''ve probably seized all your assets by now. Abandon any thought of retrieving whatever items you left behind" "That''s going to set me back quite a bit" (Orochimaru) "There''s no choice since you took too long leaving. Plus, you lack decent backing for protection as I cannot aid you in public. For now, lay low and continue your work. I''ll try and arrange for your effects to be liberated and sent to you" "I''m looking forward to it" (Orochimaru) "The hideout is pretty average, so I''ll contact you when I have something better" VWOOSH! Before Orochimaru realized it, the man vanished "Much appreciated, Danzo" (Orochimaru) Stitching his wounds, Orochimaru stood up and looked outside the cave with a twisted smile. Licking his lips, he laughed with a hoarse voice "Things are about to get real interesting around here" 64. First Lock Early Morning Rei got up early and after checking if Mabui came back home, he made breakfast {The fridge has been refilled...but she''s not here. Did I just miss her?} Mabui was informed of his month long training at Unraiky before he left, but because of her mission, it had been quite some time since he saw her. His curiosity to know what kind of task required her to be gone so frequently only grew "Whatever, it''s not like thinking about is going to help. The fact the fridge has been refilled recently means she''s okay. I''ve got my own problems to worry about" Finishing his breakfast, Rei gathered his belongings and reverse summoned himself back to his lab "Ugh...hard to breathe. It''s amazing how much dust can gather in over month. F*ck it, I can''t work like this" POOF! POOF! Making two clones to help him, Rei went to work cleaning the up place. After he finished, he took out the black scroll the Third Raikage left him "..." [Are you sure you''re ready?] "Only one way to find out" Rei placed the scroll in front of him and began inserting his chakra into the strange Kanji-like pattern that was sealing it but... SCREECH! "Ah?!" ...as if rejecting him, his chakra was repelled and sent back at him in the form a small shockwave "Jeez, Darui was kidding about the protection, freaked me right the hell out. Approaching the scroll again, albeit with more caution, he made another attempt SCREECH! "Agh! Ow! Damn it...lets see if this works!" SCREECH! "Urgh! Again!" After multiple failed attempts, Rei folded his arms and contemplated "Just what am I doing wrong?" [I still dont know what youre doing] "Havent you been paying attention? Im trying to break this stupid lock" [By bombarding it with your chakra? Sure...that makes sense] "Im sorry, is there an opinion youd like to share?" Frustrated over multiple failed attempts, he was in no mood for Notitias usual sarcasm [I''m just saying...closing your eyes, wasting away at your chakra, and hoping you get lucky isn''t something I''d expect you of all people to do] "...What?" [Unless there''s no other option, "winging it" is not really your style] "..." [Just think on that when you try again. Or don''t, cause watching you get blasted on your ass never gets old] "Jackass. Shut up and let me work" After taking in Notitia''s words, Rei decided on a different approach. Picking up the scroll, he began flowing his chakra into it when he noticed a strange phenomenon. The seal, which was in the form of a single Kanji letter, seemed to faintly glow white on certain parts of it {...No way} SCREECH! [Failed again huh] "Yeah, but at least now...I know what to do" [You do?] "I think I do. The lock...er...seal, is like a one line puzzle" Trying once more, the scroll rejected him again SCREECH! "Ow!" {Now I get it...} [It didn''t work again] "I wouldn''t say that" [What are you talking about? It still rejected you] "True, but it took longer this time...proving my hypothesis" [You''ve lost me] Rei picked up the scroll and pointed to the pattern seal "The seal is this weird Kanji that''s keeping the scroll from opening. The ''lock'' is a one line puzzle. Meaning, one must flow their chakra along the lines of the ''Kanji''/seal in order to unlock it" [Is that all? That doesn''t seem too hard] "Oh believe me it is. For starters, I can''t stop after I started, each individual line requires a different amount of chakra, and if I take the wrong path and overlap one line with another, it causes the reaction we just witnessed" [...] "Notitia?" [The seal seems like it''s gonna be bitch and a half to remove] "I won''t argue with that. Still, with great risk comes great reward" Making another attempt, Rei carefully flowed his chakra along the lines of the seal "Y-yes! It''s working! Just have...to...maintain...this pace!" Taking the upmost caution, he concentrated with all his might to the point the clones he made earlier disappeared {Ngh! Wow, this is much harder than I''d though it''d be. Come on, come on, come on!} Rough breaths, veins appearing on his temple, and a burning sensation on his fingers, Rei struggled with all his might until finally... WHIZZ! "?!" [Well I''ll be...] ...the seal somehow moved along the paper as the scroll opened. Positioning itself next to the instructions written down "Heh. You were right Notitia" [Right about what?] "I''ve been so wrapped up at ''playing ninja'', I''ve forgotten what I really am...what I''ve always been" [And that is?] "A scientist. ''Winging it'' is certainly not my style, charging in blind without a real plan, relying only on luck, is more of an idiot''s speed. But me...I study, test, prepare, hypothesize. Naruto''s opener is a one-two punch combo with a side of clones...my opener is The Scientific Method" Taking a look at the now opened scroll, he was perplexed as only the image of a human body could be seen with various straight lines pointed on certain parts of the body [Seriously? No instructions at all? Just a poorly drawn picture?] "To the naked eye...but like Tango said, ''read between the lines''." Looking carefully at the diagram before him, an idea came to mind "Hmm, lets try this" POOF! Rei made a clone and handed over the scroll. The clone sat down and formed a hand seal, focusing its chakra on a specific point before wreathing in pain and vanishing [Using a clone to test it, rather than your own body...smart] "More like, common sense. Now I know what this scroll is all about thanks to the information my clone gave me" Because shadow clones transfer all information and experiences of the clone to the user when they disappear, he knew the exact sensations the clone felt before it vanished. Giving him his next clue [Well...spill. What is this secret technique?] With a large grin on his face, Rei responded "It''s more of a ''method'' rather than a technique but in a nutshell, it''s for strengthening the human body. Darui was right, opening this scroll has given me all the answers!" [Oh?] "Don''t you see? Everything fits! Why the Third was the only one able to withstand moving at the speed of light with nee-san''s Space-Time Ninjutsu. How this gave the First the ''strength'' to create Kumogakure. Even the creation of Nintaijutsu stems from this. This hidden method enhances everything in the human body!" [...That''s it? A strengthening technique? Kind of underwhelming if that''s all it does. Especially if you consider all the other techniques out there that can do the same thing] "No...this is entirely different. They can''t even compare to this" [How? Take the Raikage for example. Wasn''t that crazy strength a result of his Cloak of Lightning?] "That''s only part of it. Besides stimulating the nervous system for better reactions, the cloak increases both strength and defense by relying on high frequency vibrations. Used offensively, the vibrations destroy anything in their path. Defensively, they deflect pretty much all attacks. But they could only withstand using that technique because they strengthened their bodies with this method" [I always did wonder why only the Raikage used such an awesome technique and not share it with the rest of his ninja. You''d think everyone in Kumo would use it] "It''s not that other ninja wouldn''t use it, but rather they couldn''t use it. It''s also how this method led to creation of Nintaijutsu in the first place. Only an inhuman body could use such inhuman techniques. Well...that''s my theory anyway" [How does this even work anyway?] "The purpose of the ''lock'' wasn''t just to keep the contents a secret, but a means of teaching this method by showing you exactly how to manipulate your chakra when you break it. This diagram in the scroll tells you exactly which parts of the body to use it on" [But it only shows certain parts of the body. Why not just use it on every...wait...your clone!] "You''re starting to get it. This method is a long and dangerous practice. One that must be completed overtime. Darui told me this scroll has four locks on it. This is only part one. Check this out" FLOOVP! Rei picked up the scroll and tried to open it further, but the seal reappeared and wouldn''t allow him to open it any further [Is that...] "Part two. And I''ve already tried, but my chakra control isn''t good enough to get past it yet. Which is why I''m glad this seal is here. If anyone without the proper control tried to use the method, they''d be seriously injured if not outright dead" [That''s one hell of a Jutsu] "Not Jutsu, but a method. Hehe, think about what that means" ["Method"...in other words, the changes you''ll undergo after using it will be permanent as opposed to Jutsu effects which wear out once the user has exhausted their chakra...right?] "Indeed" [But you do know there are other, SAFER, techniques out there. I''m really enjoying myself here, what am I gonna do if you kick the bucket early? You''re my only source of entertainment after all!] "Gee, thanks. This scroll is definitely worth it. Because it''s permanent, and not a temporary Jutsu, I won''t have to worry about it being nullified by the enemy. And while I don''t remember much about this story, you did tell me some of the big bads down the line will have such powers" [Better safe than sorry huh? Are you SURE this is permanent?] "The whole process is like increasing the atomic bonds of steel...like Diffusion Hardening...sort of. But on a WHOLE other level" [So you''ll be forever changed...this is a big decision. Getting a real sense of Deja vu considering we''re in this lab again. Are you gonna follow through with this?] It was not that long ago when Rei "remade" his body with tsutsuki DNA and other various materials. Now in the same situation again, he couldn''t help but chuckle at this turn of events "Yes, but I''m prepared. Plus, I''ll use a clone to test every area I''m supposed to refine before I use it on myself" [Still very risky, very reckless, very...Naruto-like] "This is his world after all. But I''m not totally reckless like him. Besides, what scientist doesn''t take risks?" [Godspeed then...] "Thanks" He took a deep breath "Mmm...haaaaa" CLAP Forming a hand seal, he held a solemn demeanor "Let the experiment begin" The Awakening” Saga – 65. The Other Host MrProper On another note, I would just like to thank all of you for responses, advice, constructive criticism, and overall support. It''s because of you, I''m able to continue creating this story. When I found out that Illumination was trending on the number 1 spot yesterday I did a backflip in my room (FOR REAL, AN ACTUAL BACKFLIP!...Which in hindsight was not the greatest move for an injured person LOL). SO THANK YOU ALL!! To celebrate, I''m kicking things off with a NEW ARC! Enjoy, and may you all be safe and well! >; ) A temple on Genbu island Several shinobi were standing guard outside "ROOAAAR!!!" "?!" "AH!" "Hey, keep it together!" "B-but!" "If...if that thing gets loose we''ll-!" "That''s what the temple is for in the first place! It goes out of control, then we seal it" "R-right" "Y-yes sir..." BOOM! Loud explosions could be heard from within the temple. The men outside could even feel the ground shake "Ahhhh!" "H-hiii!!" "Ugh! For the love of...you''re acting like a bunch of little girls!" "I find that offensive" "?!" The man that seemed to be charged was startled at the sudden voice emerging behind him. Turning around, he saw two young Kunoichi. But he was more surprised the young teens managed to get the drop on him so easily One had green eyes and light ashen hair tied in a bun. The other had blue eyes and blonde hair in a short bob-cut style "I don''t believe either of us have ever acted like THAT in our lives" "Seriously, for grown men, they need to chill out. It''s very embarrassing to our village" He had a apologetic look "Sorry about that. I take you two are here to pick ''her'' up?" "Yes, you lot can leave now" The two young women made there way inside the temple "W-wait! It''s against protocol for anyone to!-" "She''s dangerous!" Hearing these words, the ashen haired girl turned around with a glare on her face "You keep talking and I''ll show you just how ''dangerous'' I can be" GULP! The room went quiet before the man in charge led the rest of the guards away. As the pair made their way down a hall, the blonde girl spoke "Hey" "..." "Didn''t I just say to be chill?" "I know, I know" "That still doesn''t sound very chill" "Sorry, but hearing our would-be comrades treat her like she''s some kind of dangerous animal really sets me off. But you''re right, it''s not like me to lose my composure" "It''s fine, I feel the same way. But they don''t know...they don''t understand her like we do. In front of that kind of power, it''d be more strange if average guys like them behaved normal. So don''t lash out at them too much. ''She'' doesn''t and has far more of a reason than you to do so" "...Sorry" "No worries. Just remember to keep your cool from now on" "I''ll try. But you know...hehe...it''s kind of hard to do that considering we''re going to meet her" "...You have point there. Agh! I can feel the heat already!" Continuing their way into the temple, the pair entered a white room that was engulfed in flames "Man! She really went all out today!" "Hold on, I''ll get her" The blonde haired girl walked closer to the flames and a large figure came into view "HEY! YOU''RE LEAVING EARLY TODAY! PUT THESE OUT ALREADY SO WE CAN GO!" "?!" The large figure behind the flames noticed the girl and the flames in the room began to fade. As they did, the large figure also underwent a change, going from large to small in seconds "Phew. Sorry about that ladies" What emerged was another young girl with long, straight blonde hair tied in a pony tail. Dark eyes, red lipstick, and uniquely styled outfit with cloud art on various parts of it. Finally, a red sash belt and blue beads on her left arm "You really went all out today Yugito" "I''m pretty sure someone as cool headed as you wouldn''t mind a little heat Samui" (Yugito) CLAP! CLAP! "?" (Samui & Yugito) "Save the chit chat for later. Let''s go!" The ashen haired girl seemed to be in a hurry and urged the other two girls to leave. After they exited the temple room, Yugito started to look around. "Did you forget something?" (Samui) "No. I was just wondering where everybody else went" (Yugito) "They were no longer needed so I told them to leave before they wet themselves" Yugito rubbed her head while chuckling awkwardly "I could hear the explosions from outside" (Samui) "Ah...I guess I was pretty loud" (Yugito) "No worries. It''s not your fault they don''t have any balls" "Eh?" (Yugito) "..." (Samui) "Come on, we''re almost out of the temple" As the ashen haired girl led the group outside, Yugito whispered to Samui "Hey...did I do something? Why does she seem to be a bad mood?" (Yugito) "I honestly have no clue. It''s true she was irritated by the inappropriate behavior of your ''guards'', but she''s been in a rush since the day started" (Samui) Exiting the temple, the trio made their way off the island and onto a boat. The girl leading the group called out to the ship''s captain "We''re done here Hikaru! Let''s go!" "Alright, heading for the ''Land of Hot Water''!" (Hikaru) The boat set sail, moving at swift pace towards its destination. The three girls were the only ones on the deck "The Land of Hot Water...I take it you didn''t want bring us there for a relaxing girls night out. Are we headed to it''s capital village Yugakure?1Hidden Hot Water Village" (Yugito) "We''ll meet our client there but our actual work will be near the border between it and the ''Land of Frost''. We''ve received requests from the Daimy''s of both countries" (Samui) "Both? What the hell is going on?" (Yugito) "Apparently, some idiots have been causing trouble for nearby travelers. And its effecting the business of both lands" (Samui) "Can''t their villages handle this? And why would Kumogakure send us?" (Yugito) "Normally, Kumogakure wouldn''t send a team of Jonin like us for such a mission except, they suspect the perpetrator''s are related to those ''ravagers'' our village encountered a while back" "Ravagers...hey...wasn''t your little cousin on that mission?" (Samui) "Mhm...this might be the first lead we''ve had on them in a while. There''s no way Raikage-sama was gonna let this chance slip" "H-hey! Be careful what you say! We''re supposed to be-" (Yugito) "Not to worry. There''s a reason we''re on a ship that can be piloted by one person. Hikaru-san, like the three of us, is a member of Raikage-sama''s ''inner circle''. We can speak freely" "Still...this timing...I don''t like it" (Samui) "What is it?" (Yugito) "The village is days away from finalizing the peace treaties with Konoha. And then suddenly, chaos turns up in the countries closest to the Land of Lightning?" (Samui) "...This whole situation reeks" (Yugito) "That''s why Raikage-sama went to the trouble of reassembling our old squad instead of sending an average team" "Alright, I understand. Now I know why you were in such a rush" (Yugito) The ashen haired girl stood up looked towards the sea "?" (Yugito) "While I understand the importance of this mission...it''s not the reason I''m in such a hurry. I...I just don''t want to miss another one of his birthdays..." "Huh?" (Samui) "That''s right! Rei-chan2Suffix used for endearing expressions. i.e. young children, close friends, babies, and grandparents. It may also be used towards cute animals, lovers, or a youthful woman should be turning nine in a couple of days" (Yugito) "You''re skillset even earned the attention of the late Third Raikage. You''ve always had a heavy workload" (Samui) "That''s for sure..." "I can''t believe it''s been almost two years since I met that cute little rascal. How''s he doing Mabui?" (Yugito) Mabui turned around with a slight dejected look on her face "We don''t see each other as often as I''d like, and the last thing I want to do is create a rift between us. I''m the only family he has left after all. Tango''s the one who informs me of his progress and from what I''ve heard, it''s going quite well" (Mabui) "I could tell just from meeting him for the first time that he had a good head on his shoulders. I doubt you need to worry about him like the way I worry about my brother" (Samui) "Hehe...Atsui-chan certainly is a handful. The complete opposite of Rei-chan" (Yugito) "He was practicing his Ninjutsu yesterday and set fire to the house. I swear, chaos is his best friend" (Samui) Samui made a heavy sigh "Hehe! See Mabui? Compared to yours, Samui''s familial troubles are much worse" (Yugito) "I won''t argue with that" (Mabui) Yugito stood up and patted Mabui shoulders "We''ll get this mission done quickly and have you back on your way to village just in time for his birthday" (Yugito) "What she said" (Samui) "Yugito...Samui...thank you" (Mabui) "Now let''s head below deck so you can give me the rest of the mission details. It''s starting to get cold" (Yugito) "I quite like it" (Samui) "Brrrr...of course YOU would" (Yugito) Yugito and Samui made their way off deck with Mabui right behind them. Before going below, Mabui turned and looked at the sea once more "I truly do hope things go well..." 66. The Content Few The south eastern part of Kumogakure A large home within the village''s most expensive neighborhood, a teenager in shinobi attire entered the house. Making his way into a greenhouse filled with a wide array of beautiful flowers He smiled when he spotted a young boy watering the plants inside "Wow...this place has become far more impressive than I ever would''ve believed. Well done Tai" "I glad you think so Kiyoi-ossan, but be careful what you touch. Some of these are poisonous after all1Suffix referring to one''s uncle or addressing a middle-age man" (Tai) Putting down his watering can, Tai sent a devious smirk towards Kiyoi "Hey! Don''t say ossan! I''m only nineteen, say nii-san2Suffix addressing a young adolescent male. An older male teenager and/or elder brother figuredamn it!" (Kiyoi) "Hehe! But you are my uncle so it''s technically not wrong to call you that" (Tai) "Whatever. So, everything okay over here?" (Kiyoi) "If you''re worried about me living alone, don''t be. This big, empty house was a problem to live in at first, but I''ve learned to adjust" (Tai) "I see" (Kiyoi) "I also get plenty of visitors to alleviate my boredom. You, mom, and other relatives regularly stop by, not to mention my team" (Tai) "Speaking of them, how is your team doing? Your father and I, including a few others, have been very interested in that subject. Especially when we heard you guys took on a group of rogue-nin two years back" (Kiyoi) "Still can''t believe it was that long ago...but we''re doing well. With some help from Tango-sensei and C, my skills have improved considerably" (Tai) "Glad to hear Tango is looking after you properly. And what of your teammates?" (Kiyoi) "Suzu and I are working well together, she''s been a big help with my unique Ninjutsu style. And Rei is...well..." (Tai) "What''s wrong? Something going on with Rei?" (Kiyoi) "Sort of. He''s still as abnormal as ever but...he''s hit a bit of a snag recently when it comes to training" (Tai) "From what you''ve told me, that kid''s a genius. Hard to imagine he''d be the one to have problems" (Kiyoi) "You mean...you''re surprised he''s the one in our squad that''s having issues and not me right?" (Tai) "What?! No! That''s not what I meant at all!" (Kiyoi) "It''s fine...I know YOU don''t think like that" (Tai) "..." (Kiyoi) The conversation went bleak after Tai reminded Kiyoi of the low opinion the majority his clan had for him. Kiyoi decided to change the subject "Here, it''s from your dad" (Kiyoi) "?" (Tai) "There''s been a development" (Kiyoi) Kiyoi handed Tai a letter "He sending me letters now? Couldn''t bother to drop by and just talk me?" (Tai) "Once you read that, you''ll understand why" (Kiyoi) "Humph..." (Tai) After reading the contents, Tai questioned Kiyoi with a serious tone "Are you serious right now?" (Tai) "I''m afraid not" (Kiyoi) "When was the vote cast?!" (Tai) "Four days ago, while you and your team were away on a mission" (Kiyoi) "Damn! What crappy timing...can''t we do something?!" (Tai) "It''s too late. The majority of elders have elected for the next selection to begin" (Kiyoi) His mind befuddled, Tai leaned back on desk holding some of his plants as he place his hand on his forehead "Your parents and I knew this was bound to happen after the last war ended" (Kiyoi) "I know. It''s just hard to come to terms with the fact it''s finally come to this..." (Tai) "..." (Kiyoi) "The heck am I supposed to do now?" (Tai) "You''re the only son of the Yotsuki clan head, thus you have the right to participate" (Kiyoi) "That''s what father expects of me?" (Tai) "No, my brother didn''t say that" (Kiyoi) {In other words, he has no expectations of me at all} (Tai) "...You have the right, but whether or not you choose to partake in the selection in entirely up to you. Regardless of what happens, you and your parents will still be fine" (Kiyoi) "How much time until it begins?" (Tai) "...Tai" (Kiyoi) "How. Much. Time" (Tai) "...With all the diplomatic events going on right now, nobody is making any big decisions. Since our clan is charged with security of the village, nothing will begin until said events end. Plus, our protocol dictates we keep up the security for some time afterwards" (Kiyoi) "And the ''others''?" (Tai) "Not all of the candidates are back in Kumogakure and will probably not be back for at least a year" (Kiyoi) {I did hear about one of the elder''s sons handling some trade negotiations in Iwagakure3Hidden Stone Village. Considering how far west that village is from us, it''ll be a while before he comes back} (Tai) "The process cannot begin until all candidates are in the village. Your father estimates it''ll be at least a year and a half, if not more until all members of the house can begin the selection" (Kiyoi) "Father estimates...wait...did he plan this?!" (Tai) "He hasn''t told me anything but I suspect so. By allowing them to proceed, he''s bought himself time to undo their handy work" (Kiyoi) "I see..." (Tai) Tai walked pass Kiyoi and left the greenhouse. Following him, he could see Tai putting on his Kumo flak jacket and headband "Tai?" (Kiyoi) "Thanks for stopping by Kiyoi-ossan, but I already have a prior engagement to attend to" (Tai) "It''s not ''ossan'' but ''nii-san'' damn it. H-hey! Wait a sec!" (Kiyoi) "I know what this means, but give me some time to decide if I''m going to partake in this contest or not!" (Tai) "Wait! You can''t just blow this off right now! Tai!" (Kiyoi) "Sorry, I gotta go!" (Tai) "Grrr. Just think very carefully on the message Ganj left you! What he meant by saying you don''t have to participate!" (Kiyoi) "I don''t think father had any other meaning but I''ll indulge you. You''ve got a key, so lock the door on your way out!" (Tai) Tai left the house, leaving Kiyoi all to himself "Sigh...I hope he takes this seriously" (Kiyoi) ??? An orphanage in a less populated area of the village "Hahahaha!" "Nothing can stop the ''Thundercloud Unit''!" "Not fair! It''s my turn!" "Ya snooze, ya lose!" "Why you...!" "Play nice you lot" Several children were playing with an older girl before the orphanage director, a young woman carrying a baby in her arms entered the room. Appearing to be in her early twenties, she had fair skin with shoulder-length black hair and dark eyes "Alright! Lunch is already waiting for you at the table, everybody to the table!" "Awww...but Mariko-san..." "I wanna play with Suzu-nee4Suffix addressing an older female in a close manner such as an elder sister role modelsome more" "Not ''buts''. Besides, your Suzu-nee is going to be busy today" (Mariko) "That''s right, I''ll be back to play with guys again. Now listen to Mariko-san and sit down at the table" (Suzu) The children reluctantly parted with Suzu and made their way to the kitchen "Karui, head upstairs for me and get Omoi. I have no idea what goes on in that head of his" (Mariko) "Okay!" (Karui) As the small child ran out the room, Suzu glanced at the baby Mariko was holding "How many months?" (Suzu) "Six. The poor child''s only remaining parent passed away some time ago. But fortunately this one doesn''t cry as much as the ones I usually have to deal with" (Mariko) "Name?" (Suzu) "This little boy is called Yukai, and he''s a real angel. Hardly gives me any trouble...or rather any more trouble than your average baby" (Mariko) "It''s funny how a baby can cause trouble for a former elite Jonin" (Suzu) "That''s my old life. I''m focusing on this one, and only this one from now on" (Mariko) Mariko endearingly smiled down at Yukai, who she was craddling "I''m sorry I haven''t been around much recently to help" (Suzu) "No worries, I understand the life of a shinobi is not for the meek of heart better than anyone. With all I''ve been hearing about your squad, I know you''ve been busy. The best of the ''Gifted Generation'' of the academy graduates" (Mariko) "An overexaggerated title, we''re still just a squad of Genin" (Suzu) "Don''t sell yourself short. I may be retired, but I''m not dead. The ones in your generation who entered ''Cloud Academy'' during your year were an arrangement of the village''s best and brightest. An assortment of geniuses to groom for Kumo''s future at the behest of our leaders, and your squad ranks the best. Be proud of that Suzu" (Mariko) "R-right..." (Suzu) "So how is it going at your place? Any issues with the house?" (Mariko) "It''s fine...the place is still standing...barely" (Suzu) Mariko frowned "I''ve said it before, but you''re more than welcome to return here. I really don''t like the idea of you living in that place all by your lonesome" (Mariko) "It''s...my family home and I''m finally able to take care of it on my own. I''m...not ready to leave it yet. Don''t worry, I can handle it" (Suzu) {It''s not the house I''m worried about, Suzu...} (Mariko) Before they could continue, the sound of Karui running downstairs could be heard "Mariko-san!" (Karui) "Karui, how many times have I told you not to run downstairs?" (Mariko) "Ah! U-Um...sorry" (Karui) "I don''t need you to be sorry, I need you to do better. Do you understand?" (Mariko) "Yes ma''am" (Karui) "Good, now where''s Omoi?" (Mariko) "Omoi says he can''t eat your cooking" (Karui) A vein appeared on Mariko''s forehead as her mood turned sour "Oh? Hehe, he''s has a problem with my cooking now huh? That''s REAL funny, hehehe" (Mariko) "Um...M-Mariko?" (Suzu) "Hm? Oh, it''s nothing" (Mariko) {Geez. I''ve been gone so long I''ve forgotten how scary she can be} (Suzu) "H-He was saying something about it being too dangerous to eat your food. Something about him eating the wrong thing, getting sent to hospital, and dying of food poisoning. Then, authorities putting you in jail for killing one of the kids, which would''ve resulted in the orphanage shutting down and all the kids being sent to different foster homes. You know, his usual " (Karui) "Ugh. That weird habit of his is getting worse" (Suzu) Mariko went to the bottom of the stairs and with a smile that somehow wasn''t a smile, she called out to Omoi "Omoi. If you don''t come down, I''m gonna have to come up...and we both know what''ll happen if I do that" (Mariko) THUD! THUD! THUD! Omoi burst out of his room and bolted downstairs, running past everyone else and sitting at the table "..." (Suzu & Karui) "I''m ready to eat" (Omoi) "Atta boy" (Mariko) "I''m...gonna sit down too. Bye Suzu-nee" (Karui) Suzu waved at a departing Karui without saying a word "..." (Suzu) "Would you like to stay for lunch Suzu?" (Mariko) "Um...I''m good" (Suzu) BOMP! BOMP! "Well, it looks like your friends are here" (Mariko) Mariko made her way to front door and opened it. Standing there was Tai "Afternoon Mariko-nee! Looking as pretty as ever" (Tai) "Flattery will get you no where Tai. Hm? Where''s Rei?" (Mariko) Moving past her, Suzu walked out the front door and stood next to Tai "Rei''s the last one to pick up. Tai, you know where he is?" (Suzu) "Yup, he at his second favorite spot in the village this time" (Tai) With somewhat of a pouty look, Mariko sighed "Awww...that''s too bad. I was really looking forward to seeing him" (Mariko) "..." (Tai) "We''ll bring him the next time we''re here. Come on Tai" (Suzu) "Sigh...right behind you" (Tai) "Take care! And remember to bring Rei next time!" (Mariko) The pair took off on their way to pick up their squad mate "..." (Tai) "..." (Suzu) "What do you think he''ll have us do this time" (Tai) "No clue...but knowing sensei, it''ll probably be something completely unorthodox" (Suzu) "Hehe, probably" (Tai) "Let''s pick up the pace, I wanna get there early" (Suzu) "After you" (Tai) Dashing towards the center of the village, they would arrive at their destination in no time at all. Along the way, Tai didn''t mutter a word and simply kept his thoughts to himself {Can''t wait to see what you''ll do next...Rei} 67. Progress [1] Inside a large library within Kumogakure Rei spent his time researching certain subjects in Ninjutsu, but grew frustrated when he couldn''t find what he was looking for. Realizing it was a waste of time, he put the several books he collected away and decided to leave {Damn it...looks like I can''t speed things along after all} (Rei) On his way out, the only librarian there called out to him. She was a tall woman with green eyes and long brown hair laid behind her ears and shoulders "Did you find what you were looking for?" "Haa...just more of the same message, over and over again" (Rei) "I''m sorry to hear that. But you know..." "I understand. We are all at the mercy of our genes" (Rei) "It might be disappointing but remember, everything worth it in life never comes easy" "True that. I''ll see you later Pyua-nee" (Rei) "Are you sure you don''t want to stay longer?" (Pyua) "I want to, but my squad has other plans" (Rei) "But there''s no one-?" (Pyua) CREAK! Tai and Suzu opened the entry door from the outside and saw Rei was there waiting for them "-There. Wow, you''re a full fledged sensor-nin now. You didn''t even have to make any hand seals to know they were coming" (Pyua) "My range could still use some work but yeah, it''s so natural now. Like breathing" (Rei) "You ready?" (Suzu) "You really need to ask?" (Rei) "Hey Pyua-nee! Good to see you!" (Tai) "Tai, please keep your voice down, it''s a library"(Pyua) "Oh, sorry bout that" (Tai) "Rei, please do come again" (Pyua) "Definitely" (Rei) "Let''s go" (Suzu) "Right behind you" (Rei) "Hold up, I wanna talk to Pyua-nee some more! Can''t we stay a little-" (Tai) Before he could finish sentence, Suzu grabbed Tai and led the trio out of the library ??? WHOOSH! With much haste, the group dashed to the outskirts of the village "What''s with you Rei?" (Tai) "...I was just doing more research on elements" (Rei) "Still not satisfied with your pace?" (Suzu) Frowning "I know you can still train an element you don''t have an affinity for with extra practice, but it''s taking especially long for me" (Rei) "The difference between ease and chakra consumption of elements you do and don''t have an affinity for is wide. Because of your only affinity is with non-elemental Jutsu, it''s gonna take a while until the practice you''ve undertook with the other elements yields any results" (Suzu) "That''s exactly what all the books and scrolls in the library said" (Rei) "Quit trying to find shortcuts. Besides, your inton1Yin/Shadow Styleis way better now. Your Genjutsu is very hard to break now" (Suzu) "...You''re a Genin. I doubt it''ll hold up against a Jonin level opponent. I guess I was just hoping for better results" (Rei) "You''re the only Genin I know who would complain about not getting the upper hand on a Jonin. Sensei would chastise you for downplaying your efforts considering how hard you''ve been working" (Suzu) "..." (Rei) "It could be worse. I''ve read about people who are unable to use Ninjutsu at all" (Suzu) {Like Rock Lee...but I don''t have time to leisurely wait like the rest of you. Naruto''s around three or four years old right now. Which means it''s only a matter of time before I start to feel the effects of the main story kick in. All the build up events are right around the corner...} (Rei) "Um, I wasn''t asking about that. I meant to say, what''s with you and the nee-san''s Rei?" (Tai) "..." (Suzu) "What?" (Rei) Tai stared at Rei with a piercing look "We just came from visiting Mariko-san and-" (Tai) "Did something happen to her?" (Rei) "No, she''s fine. The kids at the orphanage are as rowdy as ever. They''ve formed their own merry band group called the ''Thundercloud Unit'' in their efforts to take down the tyrannical ''menace'' that is Mariko-nee" (Suzu) "Heh, well that''s certainly a loosing battle" (Rei) Growing irritated "Yes, they''re fine and that''s great. Not the point! What annoying me is the unfair favoritism for Rei!" (Tai) "..." (Suzu) "...Huh?" (Rei) "Don''t ''huh'' me. Akina, Mariko, Samui, Pyua, and even Yugito-sama! Why the hell do they all want to dote on and pamper you the most?!" (Tai) "..." (Rei) "..." (Suzu) "It''s not fair I tell you! I don''t care if you''re the youngest one of us! I''m obviously far more lovable than you! Just look at this cute face dang it!" (Tai) "Ugh...Idiot" (Suzu) "Come on, we''re almost there" (Rei) "Ah! Hey! I wasn''t done yet!" (Tai) Rei decided to pick up the pace, for whatever reason eager to arrive at their destination {Even with all the "perks", I''m still lacking. If I don''t do something soon...!} (Rei) Moving at full speed, he thought back to the day he opened the "Black Scroll" ??? Nearly two years ago in Rei''s lab Rei had just finished applying the first part of the secret "method" to his body. When he was done, he body underwent a violent change "AAAAGGGGGH!!!!" [Can''t say I didn''t warn you] "UGH!! SHUT U-AAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!!" Veins appearing all over his skin, muscle inhumanly moving under his skin, and his flow of chakra surging at varying levels, Rei was in an immeasurable amount of pain "W-WHY IS THIS...?!" [I did caution against using this method so soon, numbnuts. The Raikage and his predecessors likely practiced this in their prime. The Third probably thought you, or anyone else would never be able to open it at such a young age] Rei possessed a Neo-tsutsuki body and matched with his intelligence, he possessed abnormal levels of chakra and control for someone his age. Enough to break open the first Lock on the black scroll. If the Third had known about this, he would have never given it to Rei out of concern for his safety "AAAARRRGGGHHH!!!!!" [There''s no way someone would give such a dangerous thing to a child. Although, this world does lack in the "common sense" department. Maybe it''s starting to rub off on you, hehehe] "IF YOU HAD A NECK, I WOULD STRANGLE IT- GAAAAAHHHHH!!!!" [Hey, I didn''t make you do this. Besides, this is only Part ONE of this scroll. Just think of what the other parts will do to you] "NGH!!!! F*CKING HELL!!! UHACK!!!!!" Rei regurgitated heavy levels of saliva and blood just as he passed out [Rei? Rei! HEY! WAKE UP! RAYMOND!!!] Some time later "...ooohhhhhh" {Wha...what the hell. What, wait why am I...what is this?!} Waking up, Rei found himself on the ground covered in a strange, gooey, reddish-black colored substance "Ugh! The stench! It...I smell like-" [Like the Baba Yaga for skunks. Welcome back stinky] "...Notitia...agh...what the hell happened?" [Well, you used a method I already told you was dangerous even for ninjas like the Raikage. Went through hellish pain, started vomiting before going into shock and passing out. Then when you were out cold, your body began sweating that nasty black goo. Gross] "I meant, did the process work or not?" [You can find out after you''ve taken a shower. Fortunately for the both of us, Isshiki believed in hygiene, so there should be one around here] "Hold on a sec, I wanna-!" [Nope. Uh-uh. I''m not giving anymore help until you smell like a decent human being, and not pure dimethyl sulfide. Take a damn shower] {Aren''t you a disembodied voice? How the hell can you "smell" anything?} "Alright, alright. Just give me a sec to...hm?" Getting up, he noticed his breathing was better. Inhaling and exhaling held a pleasant sensation for him {Wow...that feels so good. Have my lungs improved?} Finding a shower, he wiped off all the black goo on his body and changed into some new clothes he brought with him. {That felt good. All of my senses have improved again. My hearing, sight, chakra sense, everything! Is that why the stench earlier hurt so bad? Because my nose is much better now?} Moving into another area in the lab that appeared to be a training ground of some sort. Standing in the middle of it, Rei cautiously circulated his chakra "..." [Well?] "...It''s amazing...the power within me is functioning so much better now. My blood circulation is better too and that goo...that was my body casting out any impurities I had. This secret method has LITERALLY cleansed me" [You''re a mix of tsutsuki cells, human cells, and various other materials we used to enhance you. Completely different from an tsutsuki-human hybrid like the Sage of Six Paths. Most likely it was your body that did most of the work, the method simply "activated" it] "I''m still part human?" [Have you forgotten? I said we''d keep some of your human aspects so you''d maintain your appearance and retain the ability to recover chakra as normal humans do. i.e. eating, resting, and meditating. Not like tsutsuki parasites who as you know...] "Have to drain planets of life or strap themselves to machines like Isshiki" [Exactly. But this method seems to have increased the harmony between the various enhancements you already undertook. Hmm...your tsutsuki cells allow you to grow infinitely...I wonder...hey Rei!] "Yeah?" [Stick out your finger and concentrate your chakra on the tip] "Why?" [Just...humor me. Close your eyes and focus] "Alright" Curious as to what Notitia was up to, Rei did as it asked [Good, stay focused. Don''t think about your body or anything else. Not where you are, or your current situation. Just the chakra on your finger. That''s the only thing important right now] He could fell a warm sensation on his finger [Yes...that''s it. Now...open your eyes] BOOSH! "I don''t get what you want to...WHAT THE?!" [Hahaha! Very good!] With both shock and joy together, Notitia and Rei were surprised at the phenomenon occurring before them [Now this is what I call some damn progress] At the top of Rei''s finger was... "How...just how is the happening?" ...a burning flame 68. Progress [2] Rei was completely dumbfounded at the sight before him. Somehow, the chakra on his finger turned into a flame the size of a small matchstick "Notitia...what is this? Why did my chakra undergo a change in nature...?" [So you didn''t do it on purpose, just as we...I suspected] "Suspected? You knew this wou-" [Lemme stop you right there, we''re still not done! Now, continue to increase the power on your finger and don''t stop!] "I...!" [No arguing, just do it! Quickly! This is something we definitely need to test!] Surprised at Notitia''s uncharacteristically serious behavior, Rei did as it asked. With haste, Rei focused on the chakra his finger was emitting, increasing it''s power more and more until the candle-sized flame became a fire the size of a small house! "Ngh!!" [Keep going, don''t stop!] The flames spread through the entire area, rapidly raising the temperature in the area! "Ahh...this is as easy as it loo-" BABUMP! "Uh?!?!?!" [?] "Aaahh?!" [Rei?] "A-AAAAGGHH!!!!" [THIS?! REI!] "AAAARRRRGH!!! IT WON''T!!!" [STOP USING CHAKRA! STOP USING IT!] Rei clutched his head as a painful sensation bombarded his chest and brain. Nearly loosing control of fire, he forced himself to stop using chakra in order to put it out [Rei! Keep it together! Breathe Rei, breathe!] "A-Agh! My...my chakra going crazy!! Can''t control it! Uh?!" BABUMP! The flames were gone but, Rei fell on his knees as he clutched his chest in agony. Images began to appear in his mind {What...what am I seeing right now?! What these images...these...weird...lines} "Huff...huff...huff..." [That''s it, just breathe. Control the power within you] Taking a minute, he finally got his body under control [Good] "There''s nothing good about it?! WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?!" [Calm down] "Don''t tell me to-!" [Unless you want another incident, calm down you idiot] "..." [This was unexpected for me too. But at least now, I have a faint idea of what''s happening to you] "Then please explain, how I was able to achieve a change in nature just by focusing chakra on my hand. I know for a fact acquiring elements doesn''t work like that!" [That''s...] "Why did I suddenly undergo a...a panic attack when I increased the output?! Just tell me...just tell me what the hell is happening to me" [...It''s nothing for certain yet but, Raymond...I suspect "Rei" may not be COMPLETELY gone] "...Huh?" Shock. That was the only way to describe what he was feeling right now before loads of questions sprouted in his brain. Thinking of the ramifications if such a possibility were true. What did it mean if "Rei" was still alive... and how would that effect Raymond [Stay calm and listen. The soul...it''s the source of everything for everyone in this weird omniversal state we dwell in. In this world, the soul also dictates your chakra, regardless of what body you inhabit. You''re a true foreigner to this world which is likely the reason you don''t have any natural affinities with it] Responding with skepticism "No natural...but I''ve been able to use Inton1Yin/Shadow Styleand Yton2Yang/Light Style right?!" [People were initially born with only life/physical energy, Yton. The Sage of Six Paths gave them spiritual energy in order to connect and understand others. His religion, "Ninshu", was based on this for the goal of peace. EVERY living thing in this world has life, or rather, physical energy/Yton] "Okay...but what about Inton? I''ve shown a talent for Genjutsu have I not?!" [That''s only due to Isshiki''s cells within you. He didn''t possess the Rinnegan, so he couldn''t use all the elements like his partner Kaguya. But he demonstrated the use of Inton with his Genjutsu Tsshin3Genjutsu Communication technique whenever he contacted his Kara members. You''ve inherited those powers] "Spiritual and physical, Yin and Yang, these two energies make chakra. After I ''remade'' myself, my power became so much easier to use. Was it so difficult at first because I barely had any spiritual energy at all, because I''m a ''foreigner'' to this world?" [Yes, you barely had any spiritual energy when you first arrived. Now as for why, out of the five elements, you made fire...I believe the original "Rei" had an affinity for Katon. Tapping into his chakra, means your tapping into his soul] "But ''Rei'' should be gone right? And what do you mean by ''tapping'' into his chakra?" [Chakra is the power to connect worlds. The afterlife or "Pure World" is connected to this realm, "The Impure World". That''s how people can use chakra to reanimate and/or bring back the dead. But doing so alters the natural balance and thus, is considered forbidden] "His soul is in the ''Pure world'', but I could potentially summon him back to this world? How does that even make sense?! There are plenty of characters in this story who snatch bodies, killing their hosts, and don''t have to worry about this" [Your situation is unique. Your foreign soul doesn''t belong here, it''s an unknown variable in the "grand scheme" if you will, causing various "imbalances" all over the universe. It''s why your actions can effect the course of this story] "...The ''Ripples''..." [Causality can be a real bitch. And no one''s been able to crack the code yet. Being a respected scientist in your original world, you should know the concept itself is entirely hypothetical, a mere model made by humans. Scientists have sparked longed debates on the subject, some even suggesting it doesn''t exist at all] Rei laid back on the floor, covering his face with his hands as he groaned and lamented [This entire situation only occurred because of the "Black Scroll''s" method. You''ve stabilized your body and spirit even further, becoming more and more in tune with this world] "What do I do now? Use a lifeline?" [I was going to suggest that but...maybe you don''t have to waste one] "This is a serious problem, the kind I wouldn''t want to wait around for. If "Rei" returns, I could be forced to leave this body and considering my original body is out of reach, I''ll die. I know a soul that doesn''t have a body cannot survive in the living world" [Yeah...but you''d be dying of a technicality on "our" part, and not one of your own making. This is a "fair" game after all] {Our?} "What does that mean?" [I''m gonna talk to the "other" me, the lifeline me for some answers. But it''s gonna take a while] "Should I just wait for you?" [No, I''ll still drop by every now and then, it''s just gonna take a while to get some answers. The other me can''t stay in this world for too long and you let your first lifeline drag out for a while when you remade your body. It''s probably tired...] {Right, that did go on for quite some time. Even so, I bet I''ll still end up with more questions than answers...as usual} "Last thing, can I not use any elements?" [No, no, no, nothing so drastic. You saw it earlier, you were able to maintain the flame for quite some time. Even set fire to this whole area before you lost control. Regular Katon shouldn''t be an issue, just avoid any high maintenance ones that require a lot of chakra. Rely more on your chakra control for now] "As for others?" [Other elements won''t be a problem, go nuts. "Rei''s" only affinity was fire, the other elements are ripe for the picking. But remember, because you don''t have an affinity for them, it''s takes much more effort to groom them into useful weapons. Try using clones to cut your learning curve] "Got it. Thanks for the help Notitia" [Just doing my job but...thanks? Is someone becoming a Tsundere?] "I have no idea what that word means, but considering how coy you sounded just now, I assume it''s not something I''d enjoy being called" [Ugh...you''re such a non-weeb. I''m gonna head out now. Oh! Before I forget, why don''t you start making more of those "Black Rods" in the lab. Weapons that drain chakra will always be handy. See ya!] "Finally, some useful advice...ugh" Still a bit winded, Rei got up and left the training area. Heading back to the lab {Looks like I''m gonna have to be extra careful whenever I use Katon from now on. I should focus on my control the avoid such "issues" from now on} Making two clones, he sent them on different tasks. One was hard at work manufacturing more weapons, while the other was practicing. Rei himself decided to work on his reserves and visit the Ten-tails again "I still have my work cut out for me, and I still can''t access the rest of the ''Black Scroll''. I need to try even harder!" ??? Present time Suzu, Rei, and Tai had arrived at a training grounds right outside of the village. Waiting for them there was Tango, who in particular had undergone quite the growth spurt himself in the almost two years that have passed "Barely on time you guys" (Tango) Tai stepped forward "Yeah well, Suzu was helping out Mariko and Rei was at the library as usual. Seriously, they should give him a bed considering how often he goes there" (Tai) "Don''t say that, he might actually try to do it" (Tango) "That''s for sure" (Suzu) "Don''t be ridiculous, there''s no room for a bed in that cramped library" (Rei) "..." (Suzu) "..." (Tango) "...Wow, you really would live there wouldn''t you" (Tai) Chuckling "Alright enough joking around. It''s time for our usual end of the month session. So, who''s gonna be the one to pick?" (Tango) Tai immediately raised his hand "Dibs. I''m the oldest one anyway" (Tai) "We''re both eleven years old Tai" (Suzu) "Yeah...but you''re a few months behind me, and Rei''s only eight" (Tai) "I''ll be nine in a few days" (Rei) "Whatever...you''re still younger, and less handsome than me" (Tai) Rei rolled his eyes "You know what, since Rei''s birthday is coming up, he should be the one to pick" (Tango) "Seems fair to me" (Suzu) "Awww! Dang it...fine!" (Tai) Tango looked at Rei and questioned him "So Rei...single? Or group?" (Tango) "You know me Sensei, single" (Rei) "Can I take it you''d like to go first?" (Tango) "Of course, I''m eager to try out some new ''tricks'' I''ve picked up" (Rei) "Alright then. Tai, Suzu, you know what to do" (Tango) "Yes Sensei" (Suzu) "Haaaa...fine! Grouping up would''ve been faster Rei" (Tai) "Sue me" (Rei) Tai and Suzu distanced themselves from Rei and Tango. Tai grumbled to himself "...Hey Suzu" (Tai) "Hm?" (Suzu) "Why''s Rei so eager today? Did he hit a wall in his training or something?" (Tai) "I don''t know...he''s been on edge recently. Heck, everyone has now that were THIS close to finalizing the peace treaties with Konoha" (Suzu) "We wouldn''t be on edge if our village would ACTUALLY honor the agreement of demilitarization. It''s put all the other villages on edge and earned us a shameless reputation" (Tai) "...I suppose that''s true. But you seem to be somewhat nervous as well...why the rush to leave so soon?" (Suzu) "Haaa...Just have a lot on my plate right now. Need to get back home and sort things out" (Tai) "Something happen with Ganj-san?" (Suzu) "Don''t even get me started with Dad. I already heard enough when Kiyoi-ossan-" (Tai) "You know he gets irritated when you call him ''ossan'' right?" (Suzu) "I know, that''s why I do it. But this morning, he gave me news about some, shall we say, ''family drama'' going on" (Tai) "Meaning?" (Suzu) "Well it''s...ugh...you know what, I''ll tell you guys later. I''d rather think about something else, let''s just watch Rei and Tango-sensei" (Tai) Folding his arms he leaned back on a tree and said no more. Suzu sat down and didn''t pry any further "Ready Rei?!" (Tango) "Been ready!" (Rei) "Heh!" (Tango) With a wide grin on his face, Tango charged at him! "SHOW ME WHAT YA GOT!!" 69. Progress [3] MrProper "Come on Sensei!" (Rei) "So eager today!" (Tango) Charging towards Rei, Tango seemed to notice something different about him {Let''s see how the "new one" holds up against a Jonin} (Rei) Rei, wearing the standard Kumo shinobi attire, seemed to be missing the typical arm guards. Now replaced by red bracers on his forearms with strange "marks" inscribed on them BOOF! "Ah!" (Suzu) "That''s..." (Tai) Touching one of the marks, a black b staff appeared out of thin air {So he got himself a new weapon...but those bracers...} (Tango) "Humph!" (Rei) Not wanting to give Tango time to think, Rei engaged him from the front CLANG! The two ninja clashed with great momentum, not wasting time, they immediately began trading blows "Nice, you''ve gotten much better!" (Tango) "It''ll be ''nice'' when I''m able to make you get serious!" (Rei) BOOF! FLING! Small black rods appeared in Rei''s hands before he threw them at Tango {What strange weapons...but the technique he''s using to call them...that''s no ordinary weapon summoning} (Tango) As they watched from the sidelines "Geez, just how fast is he gonna get? I don''t know of a single Genin who can fight so well against a Jonin in Taijutsu. I don''t care how young Tango-sensei is...Rei is just ridiculous" (Tai) "He''s obviously gotten better...so why has he been so desperate for more improvement lately?" (Suzu) "You''re kidding. He''s always been like this, always training" (Tai) "True but this...this is different. He always didn''t know when to take a break, but now it''s like he doesn''t even know HOW to take a break. Always training, but for what is my question" (Suzu) "Well...he did tell us his goal is to be strong enough for whatever comes his way in the future" (Tai) "This is more than just a ''fear for the unknown''...there''s something else going on..." (Suzu) WHACK! "Ooof!" (Rei) Tango knocked Rei back to gain some distance "Phew! You''re no joke Rei, I was starting to get a little tired!" (Tango) "Liar, you can still do more" (Rei) "True, but constantly blocking your attacks was getting tiresome. Speaking of which, those red bracers of yours..." (Tango) "Yeah?" (Rei) "It''s the ''Kuchiyose: Raik Kenka''1Summoning: Lightning Flash Blade Creation right?" (Tango) "?!" (Rei) "Don''t be so shocked, have you forgotten I''m a member of the Intelligence Division?" (Tango) "Damn Sensei, and here I thought I''d keep you guessing during the fight" {Spent all that time in the library, just so I could rip off one of Sasuke''s techniques only, for you to see right through it at first glance} (Rei) "Raik Kenka...is that some kind of Raiton2Lightning StyleJutsu Suzu?" (Tai) "No, the ''lightning'' part of it''s name simply implies the speed of the technique. It''s actually a unique ''Kaifu no Jutsu''3Unsealing Jutsu" (Suzu) "Kaifu...wait...that''s just taking items like shuriken out of a scroll or something. What makes this one so unique?" (Tai) "The space inside a typical scroll isn''t unlimited, the more weapons you have, the bigger it needs to be. This ''ninja tool summon'' mark connects you with another ''vessel'' that holds tools, so you don''t have to lug around a giant scroll wherever you go" (Suzu) "Hmm...it eliminates the need to carry a bunch of scrolls and equipment because you can put those marks on your clothes. Are those marks on Rei''s bracers connected to some scroll holding his weapons elsewhere?" (Tai) "Probably, and as a bonus, the summoning is instantaneous and he doesn''t even have to weave hand seals for them" (Suzu) {That''s very handy...especially for me. That Jutsu would be a big help for carrying around my unique oils} (Tai) "Okay, let''s see you handle this Sensei!" (Rei) {What else are you gonna show me today?} (Tango) FWIP! Rei formed several hand seals "Suiton: Orca!4Water Style: Orca" (Rei) SPLOOSH! Rei spat out a surge of water that spread in all directions after coming in contact with the ground, engulfing the area. Tango, Tai, and Suzu jumped above ground to avoid getting hit by it "A massive wave of water to restrict my movements...not bad...but that''s not enough to beat-!" (Tango) After landing on the water, he used chakra in his feet to avoid sinking down, only to realize he''d lost sight of Rei {A diversion? Where did he...uh?!} (Tango) Looking up, he saw Rei coming down from above him {Go easy on this one...can''t risk another panic attack!} "Katon: Homura!5Fire Style: Blaze" (Rei) SCORCH! Rei shot out a ball of fire this time. Tango dodged as the flame blast came into contact with the water, vaporizing it into wide cloud of steam {So THAT''S your move huh? Be rude of me not to play along!} (Tango) Tango ran into the cloud of steam intent on bringing Rei down "Vaporizing a Suiton with Katon to act as a smokescreen...did you come up with that idea Tai?" (Suzu) "No, that''s all him...though he probably took a few pages from my book when I was helping him with his Suiton development" (Tai) CLANG! CLANG! "Ugh!" (Tango) Tango was constantly attacked from all sorts of angles. Rei, who was a sensor-nin, had the advantage in this steam cloud that impaired vision {Attacks from multiple directions...he''s probably using shadow clones. In that case...} (Tango) Tango took out a kunai with a small sphere of paper attached to it "Humph!" (Tango) FWIP! Throwing it in the air, the paper sphere exploded into a cloud of powdered paint "Gah!" "Ugh!" "Gweh, it''s everywhere!" {Judging from the sounds and moving paint, he made three clones. Time to end this} (Tango) VWOOSH! Tango dashed towards the moving figures, now visible thanks to the paint on them "Huh? Gah!" POOF! {So that one was a clone. Two more left and the original!} (Tango) BOOM! Not letting up, Tango continued his assault "Guhack!" "Ooof!" POOF! POOF! "Those were clones as well which means..." (Tango) GRP! "Agh!" (Rei) Tango grabbed the last one just as the smoke cleared "You''re the original. Game over Rei" (Tango) "..." (Rei) "It was a good strategy though, you''ve improved quite a bit" (Tango) "...Heh!" (Rei) "Hm?" (Tango) Rei didn''t say anything. He simply pointed his finger at Tango, or rather, what was behind him TAK! "?!" (Tango) "Got you!" (Rei) {A fourth shadow clone?! Still...!} (Tango) POOF! The clone Tango was holding disappeared as Rei appeared from behind, about to strike when... BAM! "Guh!! Ah...so close!" (Rei) ...Tango kicked him down {So he didn''t make three, but four shadow clones? He progressed further that I would''ve imagined} (Tango) "Ngh...not bad sensei" (Rei) "Same to you, but I don''t intend to lose just yet" (Tango) Rei smiled again "Are you sure?" (Rei) SHING! "?!" (Tango) Before he noticed, there was a black stake held by his throat "What?! Five shadow clones?! H-Huh?" (Tango) PSSSHH Just as he surprised at the sudden reversal, the Rei he had just kicked down faded away "No...not a clone. Genjutsu! Forget five, you never even made four clones! The one that suddenly attacked me from behind was an illusion! But when did you-?!" (Tango) "When you grabbed me and I pointed towards you...that''s when I cast my Genjutsu on you. The image of me in your hands disappearing like a clone was also apart of the illusion. You should have noticed something was off when the last one had no paint on him" (Rei) {He casted a Genjutsu on me with just his finger? Amazing...} (Tango) "Game over Sensei" (Rei) "Heh...hehe..." (Tango) "Sensei?" (Rei) Tango looked at Rei "You''re as incredible as ever. But remember Rei, you always have to..." (Tango) "?" (Rei) "...READ BETWEEN THE LINES" "?!" (Rei) SHING! PSSSHH A kunai was pressed at Rei''s throat from behind as the Tango in front of him disappeared "Like I said, game over Rei" (Tango) "Was that a clone? No...how did you?!" (Rei) "It''s called ''Genjutsu Gaeshi''6Illusion Technique Reflection. I''ll teach it to you some day" (Tango) "Reflection..." (Rei) Tango withdrew his kunai from Rei''s throat. Stunned, Rei fell on his bottom "I did notice the illusionary ''you'' had no paint on him. That''s when I turned your jutsu against you. Your mistake was assuming I didn''t notice, and you know what I''ve always said..." (Tango) "Assumption is the mother of all failure..." (Rei) "Bingo" (Tango) {Damn, I''m still not...!} (Rei) "During that entire fight, that was your only slip up. But just one mistake can have disastrous consequences on a mission. Don''t forget that" (Tango) Getting up, Rei clapped his hands POOF! POOF! POOF! The black stakes he had thrown all over the place disappeared in smoke {So he can summon them back as well, beats taking the time to pick them off the ground} (Tango) That''s what Tango assumed, but Rei inscribed all his weapons with a sealing formula for recalling them back as a means of preventing his technology from falling into the wrong hands Turning towards Tango, he bowed "I will take your words to heart, thank you for the lesson Sensei" (Rei) "I am merely doing my job, now, you can sit down and watch from the sidelines as I teach Suzu and Tai. Come on you two!" (Tango) Suzu and Tai entered the zone as Rei got out "Huh? Both of us?" (Tai) Rei sat down by a tree and proceeded to observe "We''re low on time for today, I''ll explain later. For now, take a minute to prepare yourselves" (Tango) "Alright, alright, just give us a sec" (Tai) As Suzu and Tai prepared themselves, Tango glanced at Rei {What a monster. I may have made it sound easy, but breaking and reversing his illusion was no joke! As a member of the Intelligence Division, I''ve naturally been trained to resist Genjutsu and interrogation yet, I struggled to break through the illusion of a kid who''s gonna turn nine in a few days. If any of my colleagues heard about this, they''d probably laugh it off as a joke. Seriously, Inton, Katon, and Suiton...and with that sharp, creative mind...it''s the kind of line up you''d expect from a veteran shinobi, not a kid! The only area he''d be lacking in would be experience} "He could probably take on a high level Chunin by himself now...maybe even win..." (Tango) "What was that Sensei?" (Tai) "Hm? O-Oh, uh, nothing! Are you two ready?" (Tango) "Ready and waiting!" (Suzu) "What she said" (Tai) "Good. Come on!" (Tango) Rei observed the group, taking in any and all information he could use to improve himself "I need more experience. Haaa...I hope a mission comes soon..." 70. Assessment After finishing their sparring, Tango decided to take the team for some lunch at a nearby Yakiniku1A Japanese term referring to grilled meat cuisinerestaurant "Itadakimasu!" (All of them) "Eat as much as you like guys, it''s my treat this time" (Tango) "Letting Rei eat as much as he wants? My condolences to your wallet sensei" (Tai) "Bite me Tai" (Rei) "Besides, after THAT training session, I have no intentions of restraining myself" (Tai) "Ditto" (Suzu) "What a...''lovable'' trio of brats you are" (Tango) Not wasting any time, the group went to work on the food before them. "Mm...while not as good as Akina''s...it''s not half bad" (Rei) "Since the "Sake and Yaki" diner is closed today, this is the next best thing" (Tango) "It''s a shame, I was looking forward to having Akina''s food" (Rei) "I wanted to see Akina too, but for different, more important reasons" (Tai) "Huh? What''s that mean?" (Tango) "It means-" (Tai) "It means nothing. Tai is just being an idiot as usual" (Suzu) "Mm. He is good at that. Could it be early puberty?" (Rei) "Who knows? Just ignore him" (Suzu) "Jerks! How dare you trample over a young man''s romance!" (Tai) "..." (Tango) After some playful banter and satisfying his appetite, Tango addressed the team "Overall...it''s safe to say you three have improved immensely. Tai, your Taijutsu is so much better I hardly recognized you. For a brief moment I assumed Suzu might''ve transformed into you in some type of strategy to catch me off guard" (Tango) "That kind of tactic is far too convoluted for me" (Tai) "Regardless, anyone can tell you haven''t slacked off with your training, good work" (Tango) "Yes! Uh! I mean...thanks Sensei" (Tai) "Suzu, you properly demonstrated more control over your chakra. You no longer use Jutsu with excess power" (Tango) "Had to end that bad habit some time right?" (Suzu) "At this rate, you''ll end up surpassing me in no time. Proficient as ever" (Tango) "I still have a long way to go before I reach the Jonin level, but thank you for the vote of confidence Sensei" (Suzu) "Heh! Above all, the two of you together exhibited excellent teamwork...well done" (Tango) Tai and Suzu were very pleased to hear Tango''s praise. It was nice to hear their hard work over the years was not in vain "As for you Rei..." (Tango) "Hmrgh?" (Rei) His mouth stuffed with food, Rei couldn''t properly respond "Good grief..." (Tai) "You''re growth is astounding. Being able to use Genjutsu with only a finger requires skill on the level of an elite Jonin, not mention your progress with Suiton" (Tango) With much pride, Tai interjected "That''s because he had a genius like me helping him!" (Tai) "Yeah, you wish" (Rei) "Hehe, I did happen to notice your Katon was lacking just a little in strength" (Tango) "Yeah. There are some...''issues'' with that" (Rei) "Hey, I''m not saying it was bad. On the contrary, it was quite potent. It just seemed a little lackluster compared to your Suiton. You might wanna spend more time investing in another element if your compatibility with fire turns out to be not so great" (Tango) Swallowing his food "I''m already looking into it Sensei." {Notitia should be contacting me soon...hopefully with answers this time from the "other"} (Rei) Tango nodded, pleased at Rei''s response "I''d also like to learn about ''Genjutsu Reflection'' whenever you have a chance to show me" (Rei) "Oh?" (Tango) {With an tsutsuki body, I''m far more sensitive to chakra than normal humans. I should always be able to know when I''m under an illusion yet, Tango caught me completely off guard} (Rei) "Ah! Wondering how I got the drop on you? It''s quite simple really. Reflection works by decrypting the Genjutsu cast on you and immediately sending the same illusion back at the attacker" (Tango) "But didn''t you turn around when Rei put you under his Genjutsu?" (Tai) "That''s right. He had to point at you to cast his illusion which means eye contact was a must for the Genjutsu. So how did you send the ''same'' one back at him?" (Suzu) "Remember, Genjutsu is about putting people under your control by connecting your chakra with theirs via the five senses. Rei''s chakra and my own were connected when he placed me under his illusion" (Tango) Hearing that statement, Rei came to understand how Tango got the better of him during their fight "So in the instant after the Genjutsu was broken, you immediately sent the same Genjutsu back to me while our chakra''s were still connected?" (Rei) "Precisely. It''s very difficult to do, but it CAN turn the tide during a fight" (Tango) "And because your chakra''s are connected, you don''t even have to look at the attacker in order to use it" (Suzu) "Bonus, since the ''Genjutsu Reflection'' is placed so fast, it''s practically impossible to notice" (Tai) {No wonder I couldn''t tell. Haaa...I need to increase this body''s sensitivity to chakra even more. I''d better visit the Ten-tails again soon, my chakra reserves have felt unsatisfactory lately. It''s about time for another one our "Meetings"} (Rei) "Even Dujutsu2Eye Techniqueusers can be caught off guard with this technique" (Tango) "For real?" (Tai) "I''d like to learn the exact mechanics of it as soon as possible" (Rei) "I''ll make some time for you when I can" (Tango) "Much appreciated Sensei" (Rei) Tai and Suzu finished their plates, leaving Rei as the only one still eating "In that case, there''s nothing more for me add. We''ll continue with our consecutive training sessions and closely monitor your progress" (Tango) "Yes sir" (Suzu & Tai) "Esh...shir" (Rei) "..." (Tango) Looking at Rei "Remember to swallow buddy" (Tai) "Uh...Ahem! I think I''ll stop here this time, wouldn''t want you to go broke Sensei" (Rei) "Thank you for your consideration. That should be all there is for you lot today" (Tango) Suzu, who was her usual quiet self, decided to speak "We don''t have a mission Sensei?" (Suzu) "..." (Tango) "Yeah, I was wondering about that. Why are you so short on time today?" (Tai) "..." (Rei) Thinking about the question he just received, Tango hesitated for a moment before answering "Well it''s...um...uh..." (Tango) "Finalizing the peace treaties right?" (Rei) "Ah!" (Tango) "H-Hey! Rei! We''re supposed to keep that under wraps" (Tai) "No, it''s alright Tai. Rei is correct, finalizing the peace treaties has everyone on edge. Raikage-sama has ordered all non-essential missions to be put on hold and it''ll most likely remain that way until the process has been completed" (Tango) "Konoha and Kumogakure are the last ones..." (Tai) "If this actually works, all the great nations will be at peace. We''ll finally be able to focus our eyes less on them, and more on those who seek to take advantage of our post-war weakened militaristic state" (Tango) "You mean all the hostile mercenaries, rogue-nin, corrupt officials, and the many ravagers who dwell in all sorts of places" (Suzu) "Like the ''Oni Garrison'' we fought a while back. Those guys were trouble" (Tai) "The only thing I find ''troubling'' is that ridiculous name. A bunch of idiots in masks is all they were" (Rei) "And one fire-sword branding lunatic" (Tai) "Mhm. But people like them are in heavy numbers, causing problems everywhere. In response, the higher-ups have ordered all of us to keep a tight lid on the situation. To not give someone any ideas" (Tango) "Years later and we''re still feeling the effects of the war...so stupid" (Rei) "Yup, the Third World War only started because the upper brass of each nation couldn''t properly maintain national power" (Suzu) "Causing skirmishes with smaller nations, leading to an all-out war. Politics...ugh...that''s a subject I really can''t stand. No wonder the Raikage-sama and Daimy-sama have been so stressed" (Tai) "It''s a amazing how anyone can stand being around so many ''two-faced'' individuals...that''s why I''m a ninja and not an official or Daimy" (Tango) "Two-faced..." (Rei) Rei''s mood turned sour "Rei? Something wrong?" (Suzu) "...No...it''s nothing. If we have nothing else, I''ll be heading home. Thanks for food Sensei" (Rei) Getting up from his seat, Rei left the group to themselves "...What''s with him?" (Tai) "Maybe our talk of the last war upset him? His father''s death was a result of it after all" (Tango) "..." (Suzu) Suzu hadn''t taken her eyes off Rei''s departing figure "Suzu?" (Tango) "...I don''t think that''s the reason" (Suzu) "..." (Tango & Tai) ??? Returning home, Rei went to his room and fell on his bed with a frustrated look "Haaa...what the hell is wrong with me? It''s not like me to lose my composure..." Seemingly lacking any motivation, Rei didn''t do anything except lay on his bed and ponder for the next hour [Rei] "Right on time" [We did have an appointment] Calling out to him was Notitia. In the past time since Rei opened the first lock on the "Black Scroll", the two have been working together more frequently "Please tell me you to managed to get through this time. My Katon still has issues whenever I use it to the fullest extent" [Rei''s "Affinity" for it is still messing with you?] "I don''t get horrid panic attacks or weird flashing images in my brain anymore, but there''s still some problems" [I see...] "So, DID you get an answer?" [Albeit with a shit ton of effort, yeah. I finally got a response from the "other"] With unexpected shock "Finally! So? What do I have to do?!" After discovering the soul of the original "Rei" was not entirely gone nearly two years ago, Rei had been on edge. Dreading the thought he could be expelled from his current body at any moment. Ergo, losing his chance of returning to his former world Besides training and missions, he spent most of his time requesting constant reports on Notitia''s progress at getting access to the "Lifeline voice" which held all the answers [There is a solution...eh...sort of] "You know I hate when you get vague. Just tell me" [Well...in order to deal with this "problem of the soul"...it...um...told me...] "?" [You need to find the "Rychi Cave3Dragon Ground Cave"] 71. You Want Me To Go Where?! "..." [...Rei?] "The f*ck did you just say?" [Not the reaction I was expecting...or maybe it was?] "You''re telling me the solution for preventing my potential ejection from this body is to find one of the most mysterious, hidden, and dangerous places in this entire world?" [That''s correct] "I thought we were past you dicking around with me Notitia" [Oh, we''ll never get past that. But this little tidbit comes straight from the "other"] "Was the ''other'' high or something?" [If it was, I wouldn''t know] "Shit. I wanted good news Notitia. That''s not good at all, goddamn it!" [Yeah...at this point I''m actually starting to feel bad for always delivering bad news to you] After complaining a little more, Rei decided to move on "Humph! ''Fair game'' my ass. Alright just tell me, how does going to Rychi Cave help me?" [If you''re gonna understand, we need talk about barfy-mc-barfsalot] "..." [...] "...What does Orochimaru have to do with this?" [Surprised you managed to get that] "Even when skimming over a comic book you pay little attention to, there are some details you just can''t forget. And NO ONE could ever forget him" Rei thought back to his time reading the the "Naruto" comic books. In particular, the many appearances of Orochimaru and his grotesque habits of regurgitating objects from his mouth and snake-like abilities [You know Orochimaru had a lot of crazy abilities right?] "You mean those weird powers he gained from all the immoral experimentation he did on innocent people, I remember. He was the textbook psychopath of the series who got off way too lightly. Why?" [His greatest powers like reconnecting his severed body with snakes, transforming INTO snakes, regurgitating new bodies free of damage, and stealing bodies. All of these powers stem from what is known as, "The Power of the White Snake"] "You''re saying that power is gonna help me? I thought you wanted me to go to Rychi Cave?" [Orochimaru created that power after discovering the Rychi Cave] "Where you going with this?" [Your current problem is one of the soul. And the only type of Ninjutsu known to man that deal with souls are classified as "Tensei Ninjutsu1Reincarnation Ninjutsu". Orochimaru''s ability to steal bodies, the "Fushi Tensei2Living Corpse Reincarnation" Jutsu, is a prime example of these forbidden techniques] "These...''Tensei Jutsu''. They can help me deal with the soul of ''Rei''?" [They''re your best chance. At least, that''s what the "other" said] "He created ''The Power of the White Snake'' after going to Rychi Cave...are saying I might find a hint there?" [Maybe. You see while impressive as it is, the "The Power of the White Snake" is just an artificial imitation of the REAL power he sought at Rychi Cave. Due to his body being unable to handle becoming a sage. He correctly assumed it was connected with the character Jugo, and his clan''s unique ability to passively absorb the power of nature and transform their bodies] "And what was this so called ''real'' power he sought?" [Unknown. The author never clarified it in the comic and before I could ask the "other" any further, the connection was cut. The last words it muttered were..."Dragon God"] "Dragon God..." [And while he couldn''t obtain this power, just studying it served as the foundation for his most powerful Jutsu. More importantly, all of his "Tensei Jutsu". Now do you understand the importance of finding Rychi Cave?] Taking in all this new information, Rei stopped to ponder before responding again "...His body couldn''t handle that power, which is why he failed and had no choice but to create an imitation. However, with my tsutsuki body, I could succeed and gain more power than he ever did" [Which is more of a boon than you realize, and I''m not just talking about "Rei''s" soul. Most don''t even realize how dangerous Orochimaru TRULY is. Potentially he''s probably one of, if not the most, powerful character''s around at the end of the series. And he still didn''t obtain this unknown power!] "I thought he gained Jugo''s Kekkei Genkai when he was ''reborn'' from Kabuto''s flesh?" [Jugo''s clan ability, "Sage Transformation", is a result of this unknown power. A SMALL part only. Even at the end, Orochimaru remained a "Snake", never becoming a "Dragon"] "..." [If you''re still hesitating, lemme give you some incentive. The goal of this "game" is to survive after all. You certainly wouldn''t be missing out on anything by going to Rychi Cave and surpassing him] "So I''m to end up like his lap dog Kabuto?" [Hardly. Despite his success at becoming a sage, the "other" told me Kabuto only deluded himself into believing he became a true "Dragon". He, like Orochimaru, had failed to "Shed his skin". You must succeed where they failed] "If I do..." [If you do, the "other" stated you''ll become a being unlike any other in this world. The possibilities are literally endless] "...Oh my god..." [Ah...you finally get what I''ve been "hinting" at] Shock bombarded him with this sudden revelation. The answer he had been seeking for so long was now within reach "That''s how I beat this crazy game..." For years, Rei had been moving forward with firm resolution, but no destination in mind. What EXACTLY did he need to do to go back home? He understood the requirement of being "strong" in order to win, but there was always a feeling of being adrift looming over his shoulders. A feeling that''s being gnawing at him lately to an ample degree "Heh...hehe!" But now...with a clear destination in sight, Rei couldn''t help becoming more elated. His demeanor changing for the better "Basically...I need to be a stronger, smarter, less gross version of Orochimaru. That''s what the ''other'' is telling me to do in order to deal with all my problems?" [Pretty much, yeah] "Alright, I understand. Should I use a lifeline to find Rychi Cave?" [I...would not recommend it] "Why not?" [After some discussion, debate, maybe a little quantum computing on the side, both the "other" and I have come to the conclusion you''ll be able to find Rychi Cave on your own] "Really? And how long will that take?" [Continue on your current path and it''s guaranteed it''ll be found before the main story starts, I can tell you that much] "That''s a very wide margin. I''d like for it to be found as soon as possible" [Not in your best interests. Even if you found it tomorrow, there''s no way your "current" self could handle such power. Orochimaru in his prime couldn''t remember?] "Hmmm...so I''m to continue building a solid foundation?" [Indeed, the groundwork that was laid out by the First Lifeline you used] "Wait, that''s way too convenient to be a coincidence. Were the instructions of the ''other'' during that Lifeline all for this?!" [Maybe. I did say in the past when the "other" takes over during a Lifeline request we gain a form of "Ni-Omniscience". Perhaps it knew all along it''d come to this] "..." [But as I am now, I couldn''t tell you. The "other" is currently unresponsive so you couldn''t use a Lifeline now anyway] "I guess can''t complain. They''re my most precious resource and I only have four of them left" [Mhm] "But what about ''Rei''?" [The "other" has informed me while reactions from "Rei''s" soul may be violent, they''re not enough to force you out of the body. However, it will prevent you from reaching your full potential with chakra until you''ve casted his soul away. The best way to alleviate this pain for the time being is to increase your power, which strengthens your soul] "Reinforcing my soul''s resistance to foreign assaults...I had theorized increasing my chakra reserves was something I needed to do. Okay, I''m off to the Ten-tails" Rei got up from his bed and took out another one of his Reverse Summoning pots [Good man. About to turn nine years old in a few days and your chakra''s almost at Naruto''s level when he first became a Genin. I''ll inform you when the next Lifeline is available for use. Try not to get killed in the mean time] "I''ll make an effort, but I''ve come to realize this world really tries its best to kill you" After Notitia''s voice disappeared, Rei returned to his lab to increase his power with the Ten-tails {One step at time...} ??? Back in Kumogakure In the middle of the night, a ninja was in his home, gathering his belongings with an ecstatic expression {Finally...I finally have a chance! The "Company" has indeed come through for me!} While placing some of his effects in a bag, the door to his room opened. Walking inside was a young boy, speculating what the man was doing "Uncle, I heard a noise. What''s going on? Why are you packing?" "Ah...sorry if I woke you up. You see, there''s been a development at the top, which has granted me an opportunity I''ve wanted for years" "Opportunity? Are you going somewhere?" "Yes. Something I''ve wanted for a long a time. A chance to go behind enemy lines and retrieve an ''asset'' this village has coveted for years" "Oh...okay" After he finished packing, the man stood in front of the boy. Got down on one knee and placed his hands on the boy''s shoulders before smiling "Just like you, I''ve been itching for some payback against an enemy that has wronged me" "...Ugh! Don''t remind me. I get so mad when I think about those two!" The boy''s face distorted with anger as he recalled an unpleasant memory "Then you should do as you taught me and make them suffer Uncle!" "Hahaha! Good lad, I certainly have something in mind. Oh! By the way..." "Hm?" "Those two that wronged you...you may be getting your vengeance on them sooner than you think" "Huh?" "You see, this ''opportunity'' also grants me the chance to make their lives difficult as well" Hearing those words, the boy made a twisted smile as the pair laughed "Thank you Uncle" "Anything for my precious nephew. Now, return to bed. I''ll see you when I get back" "Okay. Good night" The young man returned to his room and went to bed as the uncle left the house "Finally..." Placing his hand on his face, he couldn''t hide the wide, sinister grin he was wearing "...that power will be mine!" 72. Growing Investment The next day Rei returned from his lab, his body exhausted from using the Ten-Tails to widen the Physical and Spiritual centers within his body "Agh...I had almost forgotten why this method was deemed too dangerous for ordinary humans!" Elated from the news he received yesterday, Rei somewhat overdid it in the efforts to increase his chakra reserves. Most would be dead with such a practice, if not extremely hurt {Amazing. After everything I did yesterday, I''m only slightly tired now} Thanks to gaining the first part of the Black Scroll, Rei''s bodily functions have improved greatly. Along with more efficient blood circulation, the glucose in his system is performing much better. The blood sugar levels are being managed far superior than normal humans, granting him much more energy After resting for a bit, Rei walked around the house, looking for any trace of Mabui. His "cousin" had been given more leeway recently, granting them more time to spend with one another "I thought she''d be back from her mission by now..." But Mabui had yet to return from the mission she was given nearly three days ago BUMP! BUMP! "!" Just as he was about to take some food from the fridge, someone knocked on the door. Opening it, he was greeted by the local mail carrier. In his hands was a package and a letter on top of it addressed to him. Parting ways, the postman left as Rei went back inside "Oh! It''s from Tetsuo. I wonder if he''s done as I asked..." Sitting down by the Kotatsu, he placed the package on the floor and opened the letter "Greetings from my new factory Rei! I''ve finally settled down in a new workplace, much closer to Kumogakure. I initially didn''t want to move so far away from the border, far away from the people who needed the most help. But now that your village is providing more relief aid to those affected by the war, Sh-san managed to convince me it was the right decision. Plus, being closer to the nation''s capital ensures the threat of another incursion is less likely to happen (And I for one do not want another encounter with criminals like the "Oni Garrison" again). Sh-san decided to leave his town and come along with me. He''s now working as the head of my private security force, sending most of his daily wage to his home. With him in charge, coordination with your Kumo shinobi has been going along swimmingly. Enough that I''ve already started hiring more experienced engineers. With that in mind, I''ve begun the construction on the "device" you designed. I must confess, skepticism was all I had when you proposed that I back you. I mean, having a nine year old (You''re almost nine right?) be my chief engineer is something that would make colleagues of mine question my psychological state. But after witnessing you and your teams performance when you saved me two years ago, I was convinced it''s worth the risk. My top builders also had a change of mind when they took a look at your work. They were singing songs of praise towards the genius who created the designs. Per your request, I''ve kept your identity anonymous. The only thing they know is the person responsible for pioneering these devices is someone named "Developer R". After looking at the schematics you sent, my team''s construction of the individual parts is already underway. But as our agreement stated, we''ll only begin mass production of any product you provide AFTER you''ve given your seal approval. Inside the package attached to this letter is first part my team has completed. I have to say, I''ve never been so excited about what the future holds in my life. Out with old "Mori Ltd.", in with new "Mori SP". We all look forward to hearing from you soon! From an eternally thankful friend, -Tetsuo Mori P.S. This will be the first and last letter I send you" CRACKLE! The letter in his hand burst into flame. The last time Rei and Tetsuo talked, they agreed to meet in person from then onwards after his new company was built. This was all in an effort to keep Rei''s identity a secret "Not bad Tetsuo, you''d think rebuilding a company on such a scale, in barely two years would be impossible. I was wise to invest in you...now let''s see how your team performed" Opening the package, Rei took out some type of soft material "Hmmm...very nice. This silicone-infused rubber will serve as a fine separator. Once the project gets underway, nee-san should have much more leeway from her secret ''Network'' project" For the past two years, Rei''s suspicions of Mabui''s frequent absence had only grown. Once his interest hit its peak, he took upon himself to investigate. During one night, Rei used his superhuman hearing to eavesdrop on a conversation between Mabui, and a superior who visited her in the middle of the night A word that kept coming up was "Network". Although he didn''t know what it meant, Rei was able to find out the project in question required the use of batteries and generators. After thinking back on Tetsuo''s old commission and the events that followed, Rei began connecting the dots "I still don''t have the whole picture, but I know the Raikage is involved in whatever this project is. And he''s brought nee-san into the fold" But that wasn''t the only reason he decided to help Tetsuo renew his contract with Kumogakure, along with secretly aiding their efforts to acquire a new age battery GURGLE! "Ugh! I''m still hungry. It sucks not being able to buy more food. It''s just as Notitia said" Rei was flat broke. After his continuous patronage to Tetsuo''s recovery, along with purchasing various chemicals for his research, he had burned through the rest of his inheritance. The materials needed to construct his "Black Rods" and other experiments were not cheap. By making Tetsuo''s business successful, the money Rei invested would certainly come back with interest "Haaa...crummy vegetables it is then" Grabbing some food from the fridge, he sat down at the table before recalling a conversation he had with Notitia ??? Eight months ago BOOM! The sound of an explosion echoed throughout Rei''s lab "Shit! I used to much!" [Still no luck huh?] "No...I must''ve gotten the numbers wrong. Lemme try something else" Rei had been hard at work trying to replicate Isshiki''s "Black Cube", unusual devices capable of disrupting sensory abilities "Didn''t think it would explode in my face this time" [Careful, this already happened to you once before] "Relax. It''s not like I can get ''double reincarnated'' into another world...or can I?" [No clue. I was advising you to be careful, but now I''m kinda curious to see if that''s possible] "Your concern for my well being is touching as usual Notitia" Opening a crate, a flash of worry appeared on Rei''s face "Oooooh...shit" [Hm? What''s wrong] "...I''ve burned through most of the materials Isshiki had" [Uh-oh. Well...can''t you just buy some more? From what I''ve gathered, the materials exist on this planet and are available for purchase] "Yeah, but that''s not the problem. A lot of substances I use in conjunction with the blood of the Ten-tails are very expensive. I may have inherited a hefty sum from my ''father'', but I''ll burn through all of that in no time" [Oh...] Too tired to even yell, Rei sat down with a fatigued demeanor. After a few minutes of silence, Rei spoke "How did he do it?" [Hm? Who?] "Isshiki. How was he able to carry out all of his experiments? You told me he was making...um..." [Cyborgs] "Right...from ninja to...cyborgs" [I know what you''re thinking and yes, the whole concept is ridiculous. By the time of the sequel series, the whole comic didn''t even remotely resemble the original story] "Okay. Cyborgs. Regardless of the possibilities, it must''ve been a hefty sum when it came to the money" [Isshiki created his secret organization "Kara" for two reasons. One, it allowed him to remain hidden from Kaguya and her creation "Black Zetsu" from discovering he was still alive, all the while his agents carried out his work. Two, he needed money to carry out his goal of creating the perfect "vessel" for him to inhabit] "Because his original body was dying. Man, this is the one time I regret not reading the sequel comics" [Kara was composed of many politicians and merchants, some of whom sought to undermine the rule of the Daimy and Kage. And all of them had accumulated a great deal of wealth and political influence] Rei made a deep sigh "In other words..." [You''re gonna have to take a break from training and start making some smart financial decisions soon. Otherwise, you''ll have to struggle even if you just want to eat a good meal] That last line from Notitia hit Rei especially hard. Because of his new body, he appetite was nothing to scoff at "...Maybe it''s time I got in touch with Tetsuo" ??? Present time "Even though Tetsuo has come through, it''s still gonna take some time before the money starts rolling in" Rei glanced at the materials Tetsuo sent him {He did a very nice job though...I should contact him as soon as possible} FWISH! BOOF! Making a hand seal, Rei created a shadow clone and sent said clone on its way out of the village to inform him of his approval to begin large scale manufacturing "And now I play the waiting game" BUMP! BUMP! {Huh? Don''t tell he sent another package? Or maybe it''s nee-san, though she does have a key} "Coming!" Making his way to the door, a familiar figure stood before him "What the?" "Rei, I need you to come with me now" "Sensei? What going on?" Standing at the door was Tango. Before Rei could properly question him, Tango strongly insisted he leave with him "Tai and Suzu have already been informed, but I need you to come with me now!" "O-okay! Where are we going?" "To Raikage-sama''s office" {Wha?! Don''t tell me they found out about my business with Tetsuo?!} "I have a really bad feeling about this" 73. An Underhanded Move [1] Rei and Tango dashed through the village. Entering the building of the Raikage, numerous staff members were running around frantically "Just what the heck is going on?" (Rei) "You''ll get the answers to your questions when we get to office of the Raikage" (Tango) Making their way upstairs, Tai and Suzu were waiting by a set of twin doors "Rei...Sensei..." (Suzu) "Nothing but screaming has been going on in there..." (Tai) "That''s never a good sign...lets go" (Tango) Tango opened the doors, taking the group with him. Inside the Raikage''s office, Rei was surprised to not only see Dodai and Toroi here, but a shinobi he''d never seen before with bandages and a head band covering his right eye...sitting on the Raikage''s chair "Ah good, you''re here" (Toroi) "I assembled my team as quickly as I could" (Tango) "Toroi-sama..." (Suzu) "Long time no see!" (Tai) "Hey, good to see you guys!" (Toroi) "Dodai-ossan" (Rei) "Ah! Rei...I''m sorry I haven''t been around to visit you much. My...''duties'' have kept me preoccupied" (Dodai) {Just as I thought, it was you talking to nee-san that night about the "Network" or whatever the hell it is} "It''s no problem...I understand" (Rei) "AHEM!" While the group was getting acquainted and reminiscing, the man sitting at the Raikage''s desk grew impatient "If you lot are quite finished chatting, let''s end this so I can be on my way. The mission Dodai..." Both Toroi and Dodai frowned "And I will tell you again it''s inappropriate to send a team of Genin for this assignment!" (Dodai) "Sir. There must be another way" (Toroi) "These reports I have on their skill and performance suggest otherwise" "That may be on paper, but this situation entirely different!" (Dodai) "And delicate!" (Toroi) During their discussion, the front doors opened again. This time it was a single man in his mid teens carrying papers in his hand. Walking past the group, he stood between them and the sole ninja sitting at the desk "Tekkan-dono..." (Toroi) "I see you''ve started without me" (Tekkan) "Believe us, that was never our intent. It''s just that SOMEONE has taken matters in his own hands" (Dodai) "Humph!" Tai whispered to Tango "Okay, now I''m really confused. What''s going on?" (Tai) "Yeah sensei, who are these guys?" (Suzu) Whispering back "The one that just walked in is Tekkan, right hand man of our esteemed Daimy-sama. The one sitting at the desk is the Head Ninja of the village" (Tango) "...Where''s Raikage-sama? Shouldn''t he be handing out missions?" (Suzu) "No clue. Why he''s sitting there and not the Raikage-sama is something I still don''t understand, or even why we were called. For now, just stay quiet and only speak when you''re spoken to" (Tango) "Don''t need to tell me that. It''s obvious they aren''t pleased to see one another" (Tai) {More like, Dodai trying his very best not to strangle the head ninja} (Rei) "Do we have it?" (Head Ninja) "Before we get into that I must state, I''m in agreement with Dodai. I do not approve of this" (Tekkan) "I don''t need your approval, I just need you to do your damn job. Have you forgotten? While the Daimy and the Raikage are away, supreme authority is given to the head ninja, in other words me" (Head Ninja) Tango stepped forward a spoke out of turn "The Raikage-sama is gone? To Konoha?" (Tango) "..." (Dodai) "No, he''s not going to Konoha. Our, ''colleague'' here is seeing to the peace treaties" (Tekkan) "?!" (Team Tango) "That''s right" (Head Ninja) "What happened?!" (Tango) "A, shall we say, ''agreement'' our village has held with ''Takigakure''1Hidden Waterfall Village is now being questioned by the other side" (Toroi) {Agreement?} (Rei) "And this ''agreement'' is important enough for the Raikage-sama to hand the job of signing peace treaties with Konoha over to someone else?" (Tango) "If it wasn''t, you''d be talking to him right now and not us" (Toroi) "Plus, the Daimy-sama is currently handling his own diplomatic duties in the Land of Earth" (Tekkan) {So that''s why neither of them are here} (Rei) "Okay I get that, but why has my team been summoned here?" (Tango) Tekkan, Dodai, and Toroi looked at each other awkwardly before the head ninja interrupted "You''re here because there is a mission for you" (Head Ninja) Tango was surprised and confused as it was obvious that now wasn''t the time for missions. In order to ease tensions for the peace discussions, the village had recalled nearly all of its active duty shinobi back home. Other villages performed similar practices because everyone knew if this treaty succeeded between Konoha and Kumogakure, the last villages to settle agreements, it could actually lead to true neutrality This was a boon for all shinobi villages and private businesses, both big and small. After the last war, no one was eager to interfere with the treaties and risk fanning the flames of conflict once again. Konoha accepting Kumogakure''s excuse for the Head Ninja arriving in place of the Raikage was proof enough that everybody wanted this So why would Team Tango be given a mission now? "I for one simply want to postpone this issue, but Dodai and others here have insisted I send out a squad" (Head Ninja) "Yes, but not them! Toroi here is more than willing to-" (Dodai) "Really? Send out Toroi? The infamous ''Jinton no Toroi''2Toroi of the Magnet Style and his team out on this mission during this VERY tense time? That''s practically begging to get caught. And you have the nerve to state my decisions are wrong" (Head Ninja) The Head Ninja scoffed at Dodai''s proposal which only irritated the others further. This arrogant man clearly didn''t listen to anyone but himself "Toroi can move quickly and quietly. This risk of him being discovered is minimal" (Tekkan) "But not absolute. You''re risking a break down of negotiations on a chance he won''t be noticed. Ameture, leave the shinobi work to actual shinobi" (Head Ninja) "Tch!" (Tekkan) "What I''m proposing is practical. No one will worry about a squad of kids moving along our border. Most will ignore them, and all they have to do is report their findings. Dodai!" (Head Ninja) "?" (Dodai) "Didn''t you so proudly tell me this team belongs to same generation of talented individuals and geniuses the village hand picked to attend ''Cloud Academy''? The so called Gifted Generation right? And these three were the most excelling graduates you had ever seen? Then this simple task shouldn''t be a problem" (Head Ninja) "That may be but-!" (Dodai) "Tekkan. You still haven''t answered my question. Did you get it or not?" (Head Ninja) Everyone looked at Tekkan as he hesitantly revealed a paper slip in hand "Haaa...approval for travel through the Land of Frost and the Land of Hot Water as requested. Any shinobi you send should have no trouble getting past their borders" (Tekkan) "Good. Then lets brief them. Tango!" (Head Ninja) With clear dissatisfaction, Tango responded in a dull tone "...Yes sir..." (Tango) "You and your team have been given the mission to verify the status of a three-man cell Raikage-sama dispatched three days ago. The team has gone silent" (Head Ninja) {Three days ago...} (Rei) "That seems simple enough...why all of this fuss?" (Tango) "It''s not the mission that''s the problem...it''s the people that are missing in action" (Dodai) "One person in particular, the Jinchriki of our village" (Head Ninja) "?!" (Rei, Suzu, & Tai) "Did something happen to B-sama?!" (Tango) "No, Killer B-sama is still at Unraiky. It''s our ''other'' Jinchriki that''s gone MIA" (Toroi) "..." (Tango) "This team was sent to deal with rumors of troublemakers near the border in order to smooth things for the peace treaties. But after forty eight hours, there has been no word from the them" (Tekkan) "More ravagers and rogue-nin?" (Tango) "That''s what we were led to believe. It was a simple a mission but we needed it done quickly so Raikage-sama assembled a squad composed of our best and nearest shinobi to the location" (Dodai) "Which included Yugito-sama..." (Tekkan) "They could''ve just gone radio silent, or perhaps news just hasn''t reached us yet. But we don''t need any hiccups now so someone has to go. All you have to do is report what''s going on. If there is an issue, you message the village and THEN we''ll send a more experienced squad of shinobi" (Head Ninja) "..." (Dodai) The Head Ninja was clearly directing those words towards Dodai "And I figured ''certain'' members of your squad would perform better considering they have sufficient motivation" (Head Ninja) "?" (Rei) No one missed the Head Ninja looking directly at Rei as he muttered those words, hinting at something. "Hey!" (Dodai) Coyly speaking "What? It''d be unfair to Sano-kun here if you didn''t tell him right?" (Head Ninja) "You!" (Dodai) {Oh no...} (Rei) "You see Sano-kun, one of those MIA members is..." (Head Ninja) Taking in all of the information received from the conversation just now, Rei knew the next words that would come out of the Head Ninja''s smirking mouth "...your cousin, Mabui" 74. An Underhanded Move [2] "YOU''RE OUT OF LINE!" (Dodai) About to lose all self control, Dodai screamed at the man before him. The ninja in particular looked at Dodai with a cold glare "Careful Dodai. Regardless of how temporary it is, I''m still the leading the authority in this village. MIND. YOUR. TONE" (Head Ninja) "I will not-?!" (Dodai) Before he could say another word, Tekkan held him back and shook his head. Indicating he shouldn''t continue any further "Kuh!" (Dodai) {Dodai-senpai...} (Toroi) The Head Ninja stood up from the Raikage''s desk "Their team could be in serious trouble and disregarding the risk of jeopardizing the peace signing might be our best option. But none of you can deny the possibility they''re fine and heading back home as we speak. You have no evidence support either scenario. By sending a small team, we can verify what''s true and what isn''t without causing problems. It''s without a doubt the smartest course of action. A decision I''m sure the top officials would agree with" (Head Ninja) {With that argument, they wouldn''t back us no matter how much we ask for their help. There''s nothing we can...} (Toroi) Still wearing a condescending smile, he patted Dodai on the shoulder before making his way towards the exit "Stay or go, the decision of taking this mission is up to you. It''s not like you''d be risking your life just to verify their status. Like I said, your only job is observe and report, a small price to pay for ascertaining the fate of friends and family right?" (Head Ninja) {This bastard...!} (Tango) {Because Raikage-sama isn''t here I can''t do anything!} (Dodai) Arriving at the doors... "You certainly wouldn''t leave anyone behind right Sano-kun? My nephew has spoken a great deal of your character" (Head Ninja) "?" (Tango) "...Nephew?" (Rei) ...that smile turned into a wide, sinister grin "Oh surely you remember him? He told me you and Suzu-san became REAL close at the academy. My nephew...Sekiei" (Head Ninja) "!" (Tai) {Oh no...this is all my...!} (Suzu) Talking under his breath with a cold tone so small, no one could hear him "Ah...so that''s what this is about..." (Rei) Rei gripped his fist in silent anger. It was incredibly difficult for him not to react to the Head Ninja''s provocations as his disgraceful behavior reminded him of someone he hated in his old world Suzu was more troubled than angry. Fidgeting at the thought her actions could have potentially cost Rei his only remaining family member "He often talks about you and Suzu, maybe we''ll visit some time in the future. Sekiei and I have been eager to repay you two for the ''kindness'' you showed him at school" (Head Ninja) After opening the doors, he bid his farewells to everyone in the office "With that settled, I''m off to Konoha. Best of luck to all of you!" (Head Ninja) Just as the doors closed, they could hear him laughing down the hall, despite all of the noise the scrambling staff were making in the building BAM! Dodai slammed his fist into the wall the next to him "That underhanded, smug son of a bitch! He gets a little taste of power after the Raikage is gone and thinks he can do whatever the hell he wants! I swear he won''t get away with this!" (Dodai) "You''re not the only one who''s frustrated Dodai" (Tekkan) Glaring at him "If you believe that, why the hell did you stop me earlier?!" (Dodai) Toroi stepped in between Dodai and Tekkan "Senpai! Don''t take it out your anger on Tekkan...you know his hands were tied" (Toroi) "..." (Dodai) "The office of the Daimy has no real authority over the Shinobi. The majority of militaristic affairs are overseen by the reigning Kage, you know this. Plus, Tekkan-dono isn''t even the active Daimy, just his assistant" (Toroi) "Not to mention we still don''t have any actual proof Yugito-sama and her team are in danger" (Tango) Calming down, Dodai bowed his head to Tekkan "Haa...sorry Tekkan-dono" (Dodai) "It''s no trouble. But Tango-dono is right, if we tried to bring this case to the top officials and undermine that guy''s orders, it would''ve come back to bite us" (Tekkan) "That man is a disgrace to Shinobi, completely undeserving of his rank and title!" (Dodai) "Agreed, but that doesn''t change the fact we''re stumped. What are we supposed to do?" (Toroi) "We-" (Dodai) "We take the mission" (Rei) "?!" (Everyone else) Rei folded his arms and glanced at the door the Head Ninja just went through "It''s not like we really have much of a choice. Ignoring it could lead to their deaths" (Rei) After a brief pause, Tai was the first to speak up "We''re just checking in on them, that''s the least we owe our comrades. Right...Tango-sensei?" (Tai) "...If ALL of you are okay with this, I''ll accept this mission" (Tango) Tango said as he glanced at Suzu, the only one who didn''t speak out. In her usual quiet voice, she broke her silence "We...we have to go" (Suzu) "In that case, we''ll take this mission. Dodai-senpai, please wait for our response after we head out" (Tango) "...You understand the risks of this mission...and I''m not talking about just you..." (Dodai) "Yes sir, I understand" (Tango) Dodai looked at the three Genin "And what of the rest of you...are you prepared as well?!" (Dodai) "YES SIR!" (All of them) Content with their resolve, Dodai gave his seal of approval before speaking to Tekkan "Tekkan-dono, they''re going to need your help" (Dodai) "I already know what you mean. Tango-dono, I''ll meet you and your team by the western gate in one hour, that should be sufficient time for you to prepare I trust?" (Tekkan) "Of course" (Tango) "Toroi! Should they confirm Yugito''s team is in danger, they''ll need a fast squad ready and waiting to back them up" (Dodai) Toroi smiled and hit his chest "My team''s already on standby. They''re the best of the best!" (Toroi) Tango turned around and addressed the Genin "Like he said, the western gate in one hour! Go to your homes, get your gear, and be there on time!" (Tango) Nodding their heads, the team left the room as Dodai gave more details about the mission ??? Outside the office The three made their way out of the building before Suzu spoke "Guys..." (Suzu) "Hm? What''s up?" (Tai) "I...I apologize" (Suzu) Surprised "Huh? That was out of character..." (Tai) "For what?" (Rei) "The only reason we were selected for this mission is because-" (Suzu) "It''s because that guy, like his nephew, is an asshole. None of this is on you" (Rei) "Yeah. Plus, as I recall, you weren''t the only one who ''annihilated'' Sekiei during our graduation test" (Tai) Said Tai as he leered at Rei "As I told Tai years ago, whenever I see someone really stupid, I have this sudden urge to hit them" (Rei) "Because you''re a closet sadist" (Tai) "You''re too young to use that word. But anyway, Suzu!" (Rei) "Hm?" (Suzu) "The utter humiliation and beatdown you and I, mostly you, dealt to Sekiei and his idiot friends was COMPLETELY worth it" (Rei) "But we''re paying for my-!" (Suzu) "COMPLETELY, worth it" (Rei) "Only now we''re forced to go on this likely dangerous-!" (Suzu) "Worth it" (Rei) "Rei...you can''t just-" (Suzu) "Worth. It." (Rei) "...Rei" (Suzu) "W.O.R.T.H. It" (Rei) "..." (Suzu) "Just accept the fact Rei''s totally evil. That''s how I make it through the day" (Tai) Giving up, Suzu decided she''ll apologize with her actions, and not her words. Resolving to ensure Mabui, Yugito, and any other member of their squad doesn''t get killed. Seeing her complexion change for the better, Rei smirked "Now that''s a better a look" (Rei) "Mm" (Suzu) "Hehe" (Tai) "Since our ''friend'' has gone to all of this trouble to inform me my cousin might be in danger, I see no reason why I shouldn''t take the initiative and find out for myself" (Rei) "After we complete this mission, we''re definitely going to ''Sake & Yaki''. I''m going to flirt with Akina, and you two will keep all smart-ass comments to yourselves" (Tai) "You do realize flirting with an eleven year old is just that, flirting" (Suzu) "The way you''re going, it''s pretty much guaranteed you''ll be single for the rest of your miserable life" (Rei) "This coming from guy whose only passion is training!" (Tai) "Yeah, but the difference between the two of us is when I grow up, being single will ACTUALLY be a choice" (Rei) "...You see this right here? I don''t wanna hear none of it when we get back home and see Akina" (Tai) The trio arrived at a crossroad and separated "Here''s where we split up! See you in hour!" (Tai) "Don''t waste any time! We need to move fast on this mission so just grab all the essentials!" (Suzu) "Way ahead of you!" (Rei) Rei, now to himself, dashed a full speed to his home "Okay. To-do list. Save nee-san and her team. Make it back home alive. And ensure that bastard suffers for all the bullshit he''s putting us through. Simple...right? But...that''s not what''s bugging me..." (Rei) Rei thought about the detail that Yugito, a Jinchriki, was in danger. Worrying about whose handy work this belonged to, dreadful speculation sprouted in his brain "I really hope the perpetrators responsible for this aren''t who I think they are..." 75. Foul Machinations MrProper The same day Team Tango headed out to check on Yugito''s team Several cloaked figures held a meeting in a secret facility within Kumogakure. The last member just entered the room "Apologies for the delay" "No problem, we were the ones who asked for your help" "Am I the last the one?" "Yes. Now that we''re all here..." "..." "Finally" "...our ''Company'' meeting can begin" Every figure inside sat down around the wide circular table in the room, nothing but a lit candle on it''s center "So...how did it go?" "The Head Ninja has just left the village" "Ugh...about time" "What the hell took that nitwit so long?" "Since he came to be in charge with the Raikage and Daimy gone, he probably took his time enjoying some real authority for the first time in his pathetic life. Really...what a simpleton" "Who cares...did he provide the information we needed?" "A list of candidates and current members of his private security detail. The identities of his personally selected Anbu Black Ops" "That should help narrow down who we can bring to our side...and who we need to eliminate" "Good work" "Thank you. The operation with the Jinchriki is also underway" "Oh! At last, phase one of our ''renovation'' has begun" "Um...there might be a small complication" "Hm?" "What? What happened?" "While it''s true that man followed our orders to prevent any rescue squad for the ''spare'' Jinchriki from being sent. However..." "What? Did that fool do something against our orders?" "...He sent a small three-man cell of Genin with one Jonin to verify their status" "Huh?!" "Why?! Why would he do that?!" "Apparently, his nephew has some grievance with some of the Genin members in this squad. Also, one member in particular is related to some of the Jinchriki''s team mates" "..." "So he sent this squad, against our orders...to get payback for his nephew? That''s just!-" "Stupid" "We should''ve gotten rid of him, and put someone else in his position" "Obviously" "Haaaa...is there anything else we should know?" "The group is led by a thirteen year old Jonin Captain named Tango, hence the name ''Team Tango''. He''s also a letter bearer, holding ''T''" "A Jonin letter bearer of thirteen years..." "I think I''ve heard of him, the intelligence division gained a lot of attention during the last war with the appearance of several new, young promising members" "What of the Genin?" "The Genin are extremely talented. Top of their class and members of Kumogakure''s ''Gifted Generation'', their skills are very advanced" "The preselected students for the academy during the last years of the war" "They were also the ones responsible for bringing down the ''Oni Garrison'' nearly two years ago" "That was them? I thought Toroi handled the garrison?" "Toroi showed up at the last minute as their backup, but the ones who did all the heavy lifting was indeed Team Tango" "Impressive" "That also explains the Jonin Captain''s young age. Giving him skilled students to compensate for his lack of experience" "So...you think they''ll be a problem?" "Probably not" "On what grounds do you base this on?" "The Head Ninja only gave them permission to leave because several ninja close with Yugito Nii protested his decision of not sending any back up. He proposed a counter offer of sending a small team of students that wouldn''t upset other villages during the peace negotiations to verify the Jinchriki''s status" The whole room went silent as the members thought about the mercenary group they hired. Their level of skill and odd, obsessive eagerness to take the job of capturing a Jinchriki Wondering if they should pull the plug and delay their plans as chances of the Raikage discovering their handy work in this matter were not nonexistent. This was not like with the "Oni Garrison" raid, the people they hired this time DID have damning intel about the Company "..." "That''s..." "I say we continue" "!" "Are you sure?" "They were sent to verify, not rescue. And even if they do find the Jinchriki and call for help, it''ll be too late. Besides..." "?" "I think we''re all sick of waiting, it''s time for action" "..." "Onwards with phase one then?" "Of course" One by one, the figures around the table removed the hoods covering their heads only to reveal masks on their faces with different Kanji. The displayed symbols: Scorpion, Blade, Mountain, Balance, Time, Red, Three, Flow, Arc, & Sage The one bearing the "Mountain" mask was the first to speak "I''m so glad you feel the same as I do brother Sage" (Mountain) "We all do brother Mountain. Especially now that our newest member has done so well. Good work, brother Flow" (Sage) "I am simply doing my part. Now, moving on to our next topic...sister Red" (Flow) "I don''t think much needs to be said on that front after we''ve confirmed the Raikage has left, but the work of brother Scorpion and sister Blade on that island near ''Takigakure''1Village Hidden in the Waterfall has gone completely unnoticed" (Red) "So the ground work for phase two has already been laid out?" (Time) "Yes sister Time...but it still depends on the end results of that rogue-nin our ''partner'' in Konoha sent us" (Red) "He''d better come through after said partner asked us to provide sanctuary for that rogue snake. If he doesn''t, I''ll personally send him back to Konoha and correct the 3rd Hokage''s mistake of not killing him" (Mountain) "A snake he may be, but you can''t deny his intelligence. More importantly, his breakthroughs in genetic alteration" (Red) "Of course you''d be interested in that sister Red. The only type of person who can admire the work of a mad scientist...is another mad scientist" (Mountain) "Humph!" (Red) CLAP CLAP Ending the childish bickering, Sage moved the conversation along "What say you brother Three? You''re the one who oversees all of our outside partnerships, including the one with that man" (Sage) The one who was the most quiet, bearing the Kanji "Three", spoke with a quiet shriveled voice. He was obviously the oldest amongst the group "That man is cunning fox whose only interest is the benefit of Konoha. I have no doubt if it serves him, he''ll stab us in the back without a hint of hesitation. But that''s precisely why he''ll be easy to manipulate" (Three) "The root does indeed dwell in the dark" (Blade) "Hmm...brother Arc, brother Balance...you two have quiet this whole time. Do you have anything add?" (Sage) The two at the edge of the table sitting next to each other spoke for the first time "Not really...I''ve been ready and waiting. As long as others do their part, I''ll do mine" (Arc) "Brother Arc and I have already seen to arrangements within Hozuki Castle2Demon Lantern Castle" (Balance) "Ugh...the Blood Prison...don''t remind me of such a depressing place" (Mountain) "Indeed...just looking at the place from the outside makes me uncomfortable to my stomach" (Time) The one bearing the mask marked "Sage" stood up "In that case, there''s nothing more we can do but wait for results. Excluding brother Mountain and Three, no activity or contact between members until our next summit, no matter the results the mercenary group we hired gives us" (Sage) "I still feel uneasy trusting people who possess those special ''eyes'', but no use complaining at this point" (Blade) "This is a long term investment anyway. Regardless of results, we and Kumo will benefit in the long run" (Balance) The rest of the group got off their seats "May the light of our ''Company'' forever illuminate the village" (Sage) "And may the people of the Cloud prosper under its brilliance" (The rest of them) The lit candle in the room suddenly went out...and everyone in the room vanished ??? The western gate of Kumogakure Team Tango had gathered, Tekkan was also present "Do you have everything?" (Tango) "At this point this, I''m ready to go to war" (Tai) "I hope it doesn''t come to that but...I''m the same" (Rei) "..." (Suzu) Tekkan handed several paper slips to Tango "These are..." (Tango) "Passes to get through several checkpoints along you''re route. The other villages shouldn''t give you any trouble as long as you''ve got these. I had to call in quite a few favors to get them this quickly, so don''t lose them!" (Tekkan) "Much appreciated Tekkan-dono" (Tango) "Mm. Good luck to you" (Tekkan) Tango turned his attention towards his students "Alright, our first stop is The Land of Frost. We''ll see if we can pick up Yugito-sama''s trail there!" (Tango) "Got it" (Rei) "Ugh...I hate going there. That place is freezing cold" (Tai) "Work now, complain later" (Rei) Tekkan saw the team off as they walked outside the gate before dashing away. "That team should be fine but...this timing just doesn''t sit right with me" (Tekkan) "Tekkan-san!" "?" (Tekkan) Looking for the owner of the voice that called out to him, when came into sight was young shinobi around Tango''s age "Ah...Tenga. If you''re here does that mean...?" (Tekkan) "Yes...the bureau is ready and waiting for you" (Tenga) "Good. Take me there now" (Tekkan) "Of course" (Tenga) As the pair left, Tenga glanced at the gate Team Tango just went through {I''ll be sure to do my part to support you...so stay alive you guys!} 76. Shimogakure MrProper "Achoo!" (Tai) "Cover yourself up more, otherwise you''ll catch a cold!" (Rei) "Even if I covered myself from head to toe, I''d still be sneezing!" (Tai) "Keep it together, our destination isn''t that far" (Tango) Team Tango rushed through the Land of Lightning, quickly passing its southwest border into the Land of Frost. Their destination, the nation''s capital, Shimogakure1Hidden Frost Village "Sensei, I know this is our first mission outside our home country but..." (Rei) "What is it?" (Tango) "What can you tell us about Shimogakure? Or more precisely, why my cousin''s squad came here" (Rei) Rei was concerned about the current lack of intel. Team Tango''s missions have always been focused near Kumogakure. Even when they did take place far from it, they''d never be forced to leave the Land of Lightning. Except for Tango, it was the team''s first time stepping foot outside their home country "Kumogakure is quite far from the central continent, placed high within the northeast mountains" (Tango) "Yeah...because we''re in the mountains, our village is very isolated. Second only to Kirigakure2Hidden Mist Village, which is composed of various islands in the southeast sea. What does that have to do with anything?" (Rei) "Shimogakure is the first village that connects us with the mainland. Unless you travel by boat, any shinobi heading to or from Kumogakure will always have to pass through it" (Tango) "Yeah, but according to reports you showed us, Yugito-sama''s team WAS on a boat. So why would they spend time near Shimogakure?" (Suzu) "That''s the real mystery here. They were simply tasked with removing criminals festering on the border between the Land of Frost and the Land of Hot Water, far away from Shimogakure" (Tango) Rei was already unsettled about venturing into uncharted territory, but hearing this only made him even more nervous. If there was one thing he hated the most after coming to this world...it was unknown variables Tai gave his own theory for the unusual actions of Yugito''s team "Um...could it be they decided to dock in Shimogakure because traveling on foot might''ve been faster?" (Tai) "No, there''s been no confirmation of their boat docked anywhere in Shimogakure. If it were any other village, that thought might be sound but...Shimogakure is somewhat unique" (Tango) "?" (Tai) "The climate in this land is not only cold, but very unpredictable. After passing through Land of Frost, the Land of Hot Water is next...far to the west. But before you can get to that border, you have to pass a series of snowy mountains" (Tango) "That doesn''t sound so bad" (Tai) {This guy CLEARLY doesn''t understand when it comes to this annoying world...anything that can go wrong, WILL go wrong} (Rei) "Due to the horrid weather, the landscape of the mountain paths change CONSTANTLY. Avalanches, blizzards, ice storms, and even some Earthquakes, the path is never the same" (Tango) "...Oh..." (Tai) "That''s why we don''t have a map of the area...but why didn''t they continue on their boat?" (Suzu) "That''s what Kumogakure wants us to find out" (Tango) "Okay...but if we''re not taking a boat...how DO we get past the snowy mountains?" (Tai) Tango smiled and looked back at the team "That''s where our good friend Tekkan comes in" (Tango) "?" (Rei, Tai, & Suzu) "Let''s pick up the pace!" (Tango) Dashing in the cold land, lights came into view. The team had finally made it to the village, arriving at its eastern gate before being stopped by guards "HALT! Identification!" "At ease! We''re shinobi from Kumogakure!" (Tango) "I can obviously tell from your attire! What is your purpose here?!" "We have business with your Daimy. He should be expecting us" (Tango) {Expecting us? Could a carrier bird have arrived so quickly? It seems very unlikely considering how fast we moved, and this country''s freezing weather} (Rei) Tango passed the guard the same paper slip Tekkan gave him before the team departed. Taking a minute to read it, the guard turned around and nodded to his colleagues The gate opened and the guards lowered their weapons "You may proceed. The Daimy-sama should be in his office. It''s the tallest building in the center of the village, you can''t miss it" "Thank you. Come on guys, let''s go" (Tango) "Tekkan really came through for us" (Tai) ??? Waltzing through the village, the Genin were surprised to find the housing and surrounding structures exuding wealth. It was hard to believe a village located in such a cold, desolate place would appear so prosperous Arriving at a tall building, the group entered only to be greeting by several inquiring employees. After stating the purpose of their visit, one of the employees directed them upstairs to an office where the Frost Daimy was waiting for them "Ah! You lot are pretty fast. I just off a call with your Daimy''s assistant. Please, sit" (Frost Daimy) "Thank you sir" (Tango) {Call? But this world shouldn''t have phones yet right?} (Rei) Directing them to the center of the room, the team sat side by side on the long couch in the room. The Daimy sat on another couch right across from them. Now face to face, he was the first to start the conversation "Tekkan-dono said you were here to investigate the activities of rogue criminals near the border with the Land of Hot Water" (Frost Daimy) "Yes, the peace treaties with Konoha are going to be signed soon. As a Daimy, you should obviously be aware of how important it is for the last of the Five Great Shinobi Nations to join the armistice" (Tango) "...Well, I certainly do understand we''re at the precipice of having peace for the first time in a long time" (Frost Daimy) "Yes, which is why we are seeking a ''Timesaver'', we wish to see this matter done with haste" (Tango) {So Tekkan neglected to tell the Daimy about the missing team. Smart, wouldn''t want to start a diplomatic incident NOW of all times. But what is this "Timesaver" thing?} (Rei) "Normally I''d say no but, I''ve already made a deal with your assistant. But the quickest I can promise you is two hours" (Frost Daimy) Tango lamented, he wanted to move quickly but understood it wasn''t his place to complain. The fact the Frost Daimy even promised to help foreign shinobi is already much "That''s acceptable" (Tango) "I''m glad to hear that. My people have already arranged lodging for you in this building. Three rooms over to the left of this one, it''s a very nice waiting room" (Frost Daimy) Everyone stood up and prepared to leave the office "One of my men will take you to your destination when the Timesaver is ready" (Frost Daimy) "We''ll be ready to leave whenever" (Tango) "Still, a Timesaver of all things..." (Frost Daimy) "?" (Tango) As the team stepped outside, Tango was the only still in the room as he turned towards the Frost Daimy sitting down at his desk "...it''s hard to imagine some thugs at the border would warrant the Raikage''s attention. So much that he would send a team and even have the Daimy''s assistant negotiate for my help" (Frost Daimy) "...Just goes to show how much our leaders value this armistice I guess" (Tango) "True, true...it''s just...there''s this funny story going around about squabbles between shinobi and vandals near the The Land of Hot Water''s border. These rumors started about three days ago if memory serves me right" (Frost Daimy) "The Land of Hot Water does have the shinobi village, Yugakaure3Hidden Hot Water Village" (Tango) The Frost Daimy squinted suspiciously at Tango, trying to read his facial expressions and thoughts "Yes, but that village hardly has any shinobi at all, not to mention skilled ones. The shinobi of this rumor have been said to be at least Jonin level. That land doesn''t have many shinobi of that level...makes me think these shinobi belong to some other nearby nation...wouldn''t you agree?" (Frost Daimy) "If these so called rumors were true...perhaps" (Tango) The Daimyo stood up and looked out his office window, his back turned towards Tango "Well, if it really is a shinobi nation, I would hate to be them. If said high level shinobi were caught active during the signing of an armistice between two of the great nations...it could very much lead to war" (Frost Daimy) "...No one would want that" (Tango) "More accurately, no one who can''t afford to have that happening. Fortunately, this nation isn''t one of them" (Frost Daimy) "..." (Tango) "..." (Frost Daimy) After a brief moment of pause, the Frost Daimy turned around and presented a bright smile on his face "Your guide should be here soon, please enjoy all this facility has to offer. Also, on your way out, be mindful of said rogues near our border. They''ve been a real pain for us recently" (Frost Daimy) "...If we happen to encounter some on our way out, they''ll soon realize they choose the wrong path in life" (Tango) "Of course, of course...not asking for anything...just giving a nice ''heads up'' so to speak. It''s been a pleasure talking with an understanding shinobi such as yourself" (Frost Daimy) {...You sly bastard} (Tango) ??? Tango nodded at the Frost Daimy before leaving the office with his team. Finding their room, they went inside and as per Tango''s orders, began searching for bugs or listening devices of any kind Once he confirmed the room was secure, Tango began to speak "Well...this just got more complicated" (Tango) "Care to elaborate?" (Rei) "Yeah, I was even more lost than usual after listening to you two" (Tai) With an annoyed look on his face, Tango heaved a heavy sigh "Long story short, the Frost Daimy is well aware it was an elite shinobi team from Kumogakure causing trouble near the border. And that we were sent to check in on them" (Tango) "So...that talk about problems near his country''s border was..." (Tai) "He pretty much said, or rather threatened to reveal this little detail to the world if we don''t deal with the criminals near his border" (Tango) "He''d risk starting a war for some free labor from shinobi?!" (Suzu) "If that were to happen, wouldn''t his nation suffer too?" (Tai) "Well that''s..." (Tango) "Didn''t you guys hear him?" (Rei) "?" (Suzu & Tai) "He clearly said his nation is one that CAN afford for that happen" (Rei) "!" (Suzu & Tai) "Astute as usual Rei, that brilliant intellect of yours rarely misses anything" (Tango) "There''s still much I don''t understand, like how his tiny nation can afford provoking Kumo and starting war, not to mention those ''Timesaver'' things you were talking about" (Rei) "Fortunately, those two subjects are connected. As I said about Shimogakure, no, the entire Land of Frost itself has a terrible cold environment. The path in particular to Yugakure is a snowy mountain range that keeps changing. One path never stays the same for long because of the storms" (Tango) "Changing...paths?" (Rei) "And the only way through is with one of these ''Timesaver'' things?" (Tai) "Shimogakure doesn''t have a strong shinobi presence, nor can it attract customers and merchants because of its awful weather. So...how does the land gain income?" (Tango) "..." (Rei & Tai) "By selling knowledge of the safest travel routes" (Suzu) "Exactly. Shimogakure has pathfinders who scout ahead and survey the environment. Along with those who specialize in predicting the weather and climate, they arrange all of this data to accurately approximate when the next safest path appears" (Tango) "So they sell that information to travelers and shinobi who need to pass the through this village" (Tai) "Which probably happens a lot considering this land connects Kumogakure to the mainland" (Rei) "Not only that, but their environment is used like a shield against any invaders. It''s a horrible spot for a battlefield, war would probably never reach their doorstep, that''s why he''s not afraid to risk creating conflict" (Suzu) The group lamented at the fact they were at his mercy. Even if Kumogakure decided to invade Shimogakure in retaliation for the Daimy''s selfish actions, other nations would definitely get involved. These travel routes, while dangerous, would be very valuable to infiltrators "Multiple paths appear at the same time and they charge different rates from fastest to slowest. The ''Timesaver'' is the most expensive, but also the quickest one" (Tango) "Doesn''t seem that quick if we have to wait two hours" (Tai) "That''s probably a lie. He just wants to make our situation clear, that he''s the one calling the shots. That man is coward, I doubt he''ll go through with his idle threats but as Kumo shinobi, we''re not allowed to take that chance...and he knows that" (Rei) "Ugh! That jerk!" (Tai) "There''s nothing we can do about it, we''re just shinobi. Only those in a place of power like the Raikage or Daimy would have the upperhand. Besides, his threats will only have meaning as long as Yugito-sama and her team are still MIA. Once we find them, we''ll be in the clear" (Tango) "Speaking of the Daimy, how exactly did Tekkan contact him? I heard him mention the word ''call'' when he spoke" (Rei) Tango looked at Rei before smirking "All the Daimy''s in world have access to video technology that allows them to communicate in real-time" (Tango) "?!" (Tai & Suzu) {That''s right, I forgot video chats came out of nowhere right before the 4th World War Arc in the Manga. But those videos were...} (Rei) "But the technology isn''t that great. The call can only be maintained for a short time, and it takes a whole room full of giant clunky batteries to use" (Tango) "..." (Suzu) "Batteries huh..." (Rei) "Still...that''s some impressive tech" (Tai) "Why do you think people like to work for Daimy''s, they''re the ones who make the most money out of anyone. The world of politics is dirty...but wealthy. It''s the same with the Frost Daimy, he probably got a good deal from Tekkan in exchange for his help, but saw the opportunity to get more when he met us" (Tango) "...I''m in the wrong line of work" (Tai) "Hahahaha! Any shinobi whose ever been near a Daimy has probably thought the same at least once. Alright, that''s enough for now. Save your strength, we''ve got a long road ahead of us to Yugito-sama and her team" (Tango) Suzu sat down and Tai moved towards the edge of the room, holding his shivering hands out "Right...I''m parking my butt right by this nice, warm fire chimney" (Tai) "I''m gonna hit the kitchen, I''ll be back" (Rei) "Pff...figures with that black hole of a stomach. Try not to eat all the food Rei" (Tai) "Bite me" (Rei) "He''s got the right idea, we''re gonna have to give it all we''ve got to rescue our comrades if skilled ninja like them are in trouble" (Suzu) Rei left the room, on his way he held his head and pondered "Haaa...what a mess. I just hope we''re not too late. If Akatsuki really is behind this, I doubt even Notitia will be able to count all the ripples that''ll emerge if Yugito''s Bij4Tailed Beast is stolen ahead of schedule. Still..." "...Batteries...Daimy''s...looks like the time table for my project with Tetsuo is gonna need a little pick-me-up" (Rei) 77. Yugakure MrProper BAM! "Gah!" "You little shi-!" WHACK! "Argh!" "Yeah, yeah, I''ve heard it all before. Next!" (Rei) After leaving Shimogakure, Team Tango followed through with the Frost Daimy''s "request" for dealing with bandits who have settled just outside of the village. Rei, using his sensory abilities, allowed the team to find their base with little trouble Facing the criminals alone, Rei hardly needed to try when it came to dealing with non-shinobi opponents "What are you all doing, he''s just a kid!" "A kid who already took out eight of our men!" "It''s actually more than eight considering I took out the ones outside on lookout duty" (Rei) "Damn it, this is all your fault!" "Mine?!" "Um...guys?" (Rei) "I was against coming to this cold, horrid place from the beginning! But no...you thought we could make a profit robbing people on the path!" "This is a popular travel route and Shimogakure hardly has any shinobi! It made perfect sense you dumbass!" "True...but shinobi take this route on a regular basis when you think about it" (Rei) "I never should have joined up with guys!" "Hah! You''d already be dead if hadn''t joined up with us!" "Go to hell!" "Hello!" (Rei) "WHAT?!" Pressed for time, Rei ended their squabbling "Look guys, my team is waiting for me outside and I need get this done quickly so you get to decide. You can go prison with most of your teeth...or you can to prison with none of your teeth. Choose your next course of action carefully" (Rei) All sense of fear in them was replaced with anger, focused on Rei. Despite being lowly bandits, even they had their pride. To be forced into a corner, and then threated by an eight, almost nine year old was the last straw "Agh! I''m sick of this!" "Screw it. Let''s just jump him all at once!" "Shinobi or not, a kid is still just a kid" "Kill him!" "No teeth it is then...''Shunshin no Jutsu''1Body Flicker Jutsu" (Rei) "Huh? Shun-what now?" BOOM! Using his incredible speed, Rei vanished from their sight "What the?! Where''d he-?!" WHACK! "GAH!" "Ah?! Hey! You alri-GAH!" BAM! BONK! POW! Before they realized it, Rei had violently struck each of them with the black b staff in his hands. Rendering them unconscious in little over a second "Normally I''d say, ''I don''t get paid enough for this shit'' but, this is free labor thanks to that asshole of a Daimy. I swear I''m gonna pay him back one of these days" (Rei) Rei tied up all the bandits in the room before leaving. Meeting his team who were waiting outside. Tai, shivering from the cold, yelled out in complaint "F-F-F-Finally! I''d thought you said you were gonna finish it quickly?!" (Tai) "I cleared a bandit hideout in less than five minutes Tai. I''m pretty sure that counts as ''quickly''." (Rei) "Good work Rei, this ''extra'' task of ours has hardly delayed us" (Tango) "As if I''d let that jerk Daimy impede our progress" (Rei) After the team made it through the snowy mountain pass, they found themselves near the edgeof the cold country, right at the border leading to the Land of Hot Water. Not wanting any delays, Rei volunteered himself to go on ahead and deal with the bandits in their hideout "S-S-Should we...s-s-s-send a m-m-message?" (Tai) "No, this ''favor'' for the Frost Daimy is off the record. Let''s go! We''re almost out of this frozen land" (Tango) "...Are you sure there aren''t anymore of them Rei?" (Suzu) "Any chakra I''m feeling around here belongs to animals. And if even if we me missed any...who cares? This country''s affairs aren''t our concern" (Rei) "..." (Suzu) "Alright, cut the chatter. We need to get to Yugakure2Hidden Hot Water Village and meet our contact" (Tango) "Right!" (Rei, Suzu, & Tai) ??? VWOOSH! Not wasting any time, Team Tango dashed through cold lands, making their way into the Land of Hot Water. Considering how small the country was, it didn''t take long before they arrived at the nation''s capital Yugakure "Oh...nice! The temperature, the climate, I can feel myself being rejuvenated and I haven''t even stepped in a hot spring yet!" (Tai) "We''re not here for relaxing. Let''s hurry, the building should be this way" (Tango) "Aw" (Tai) "You still haven''t told us who exactly we''re meeting Sensei" (Rei) "Ah...sorry. His name is Karai, a hand picked shinobi of Raikage-sama. He normally carries out assignments with his squad but, he was recently stationed here" (Tango) "Why here?" (Tai) "You can ask him when we get to his place" (Tango) Walking through town, they couldn''t help but notice the disposition of the locals. The village itself was a bustling town filled with business, vigor, and joy. Everywhere you looked, people were wearing smiles and giggling. Hot springs scattered throughout the entire town, it was truly a successful tourist site "This place is awesome! It''s even better than last time!" (Tai) "You''ve been here before?" (Rei) "My parents sailed here, AROUND the cold land of Shimogakure, as escorts for a top official on a diplomatic commission many years ago. I begged them to let me come along" (Tai) "Diplomatic commission? In a town full of nothing but hot springs and resorts?" (Rei) "This place is a nice, relaxing, and most importantly, neutral ground that welcomes people from all over. Perfect for negotiations between different countries and businessmen" (Tai) {A neutral country...} (Rei) "Yugakure has tons of hot springs with steam so thick it rises up around the village. The hotel resorts built throughout the area for visitors are also high quality" (Tai) "You really like this place don''t you..." (Suzu) "The hot springs here have an especially high level of healthy minerals! This has caused Yugakure to become well verse in herbs, medicines, and all other manners of methods that rejuvenate, heal, and stimulate the human body. As a herbalist and medical-nin myself, this is the best vacation spot in the world!" (Tai) Rei wryly sent a quip at Tai "I thought you liked this place because of its infamous mixed bathing?" (Rei) "They still have it?! Ah!" (Tai) "...Pervert" (Suzu) "No, no...Suzu! I wasn''t looking forward to bathing with pretty older women in particular!" (Tai) "Your real thoughts are leaking out buddy" (Rei) "Dang it Rei! Shut up!" (Tai) Tango, hearing their loud banter, interjected "Years of unwanted shinobi service has driven this country towards pacifism. Yugakure ceased most of it''s shinobi activity, priding itself as the ''village that has forgotten wars''. The village''s ninja now solely work on keeping the roads safe for tourists and small jobs in the area" (Tango) "It''s basically a country that gains its income with tourism, rather than shinobi jobs" (Tai) "I can''t imagine that sits well with its shinobi" (Suzu) Tai laughed awkwardly "Haha, yeah...well..." (Tai) "Most critics disappeared when they realized how profitable, and less dangerous it was to work for a tourist country than a shinobi one. Although, there has been a strange cult popping up around the country, worshiping something called Jashinism" (Tango) {Jashinism...isn''t that...?!} (Rei) Rei''s face tensed up when he that word, "Jashinism". The same religion used by the infamous Akatsuki member Hidan. Thoughts emerged in his head about Yugito''s current situation as more and more hints of the group''s involvement in her disappearance came up {No...I shouldn''t rush to conclusions just yet. There''s still no concrete evidence this was them} (Rei) "Critics of Yugakure''s pacifism have made their opinions known to the public, even mocking the village name. Calling it ''Nurumayugakure''3Village Hidden in Warm Water" (Tango) "What''s your opinion on the matter sensei? You think Kumogakure could live like this village and completely demilitarize?" (Tai) Although somewhat reluctant, he replied to Tai''s question "...No. Our village is too isolated, and we don''t have any natural attractions like Yugakure''s hot springs. Besides..." (Tango) "?" (Tai & Suzu) "Despite their newfound ''pacifism'', the village has historically, hypocritically ignored certain problems in their land. Letting them fester until the neighboring countries had no choice but to deal with them. Like these Jashinists...they may be small now, but I''ve heard they''re growing at a steady rate" (Tango) "In other words, this town may look all nice and pretty, but its still got some ugly spots. Like shirking its responsibilities onto others" (Rei) "Mm. Like I always say, read between the lines" (Tango) "...Way to ruin one of my favorite childhood memories guys. Haaa..." (Tai) "All that glitters, is indeed not gold!!" "?!" (Team Tango) The group tensed up, alert and ready for anything when they were called out to by an unknown voice "Who''s there?!" (Tango) "Easy, easy...I come in peace" "Nice timing..." (Tango) Revealing himself from the shadows was a Kumo-nin with dark skin and eyes, blonde hair with a streak of dark orange on the left side. He was older than the rest of the group, around seventeen years old "...Karai-senpai" (Tango) "Long time no see Tango, you got taller" (Karai) "It''s good to see you too. We got here as quick as we-" (Tango) Karai raised his hand, gesturing Tango to stop talking "I know everything, but not here...come on" (Karai) Karai led the group into a small building. Once inside, Karai made sure no one followed them before closing the door. Removing a shelf of books by the wall, he revealed a dark, secret path leading downwards "A secret passage..." (Tai) "This place is safe house the village installed in this country many years ago. It hasn''t been discovered since and I don''t intend to be the one to break that streak" (Karai) "Hence all the theatrics" (Tango) "Well there''s that but, I recently received an uninvited guest who wants to speak with you" (Karai) "With us? Who?" (Tango) "See for yourself" (Karai) Making it down the dark tunnel to a hidden room. Karai opened the door and invited them inside Laying on a bed in front of Team Tango was an injured man in bandages. Seeing the new guest, he gestured for assistance from Karai to help him sit up "So...you''re all the village could afford to send huh?" "Uh?! You''re...?!" (Tango) "Good to see you again Tango" It was the very man who escorted Yugito''s team on their mission, and the last one to see them alive "Hikaru-senpai!" (Tango) "Despite being a team of Genin and one Jonin, I''m glad you''re here..." (Hikaru) "?" (Tango) "...because...we have a VERY big problem" 78. The Ship’s Captain Four Days Ago Sailing along the southern coast of the mainland, Yugito and her team took their time getting to the border between the Land''s of Frost and Hot Water "Hey captain! How much longer until we reach our destination?" (Yugito) "We''ve already passed Shimogakure...and at the pace we''re going, I estimate another half and hour or so until we reach the border Yugito-sama" (Hikaru) "Great, the sooner we get out of this cold country the better" (Yugito) "I quite like it. It''s quiet, calm, and cool" (Samui) "Of course you''d say that Samui, but I bet your little brother would agree with me" (Yugito) "Haaa...don''t remind me of that headache" (Samui) "I''ll do my upmost best to ensure we get to our destination as soon as humanly possible" (Hikaru) "Your ability as a captain was never in doubt, especially with what I''ve heard from Funsui. Your performance in dealing with the northern ravagers in our country has made you somewhat famous" (Yugito) Somewhat embarrassed with the flattery, Hikaru chuckled while scratching the back of his head "Hehe. I can''t take all the credit, it was team effort. Besides, the northern shore of our country has always been a blind spot for us" (Hikaru) "Right. With all the mountains between Kumogakure and it, travel between the two areas is troublesome even for shinobi" (Samui) "I heard you, and a slew of others had the live there for quite some time. That must''ve been rough" (Yugito) "Not really, most of the insurgents were just average criminals looking to take advantage of our lacking numbers as a result of the previous war. Hardly any of them were shinobi. Besides I...I got to team up with my old team" (Hikaru) "Oh yeah! You guys became Chunin after we did. Your team was naturally disbanded" (Yugito) "Two years after you to be precise but yeah, it was nice teaming up with my old team. Made me realize just how much I missed them" (Hikaru) Samui smiled "Looking at it in hindsight, I guess receiving this last minute mission isn''t so bad" (Samui) "Mm. I have to say it''s real nice to work with my original team again after so long. It feels like forever since we became Chunin and our team was disbanded. I''ve been lonely" (Yugito) "Come on, its barely been four years since then. And despite your, ''training sessions'', we''ve seen each other plenty" (Samui) "Yeah...I guess" (Yugito) "And if there is anyone who''s lonely it''d be..." (Samui) "Hm? Ah..." (Yugito) "?" (Hikaru) Samui''s sight focused on the figure standing by the front of the ship. As Yugito looked to see what she was hinting at, Mabui came into her line of sight "She''s barely been able to spend anytime with Rei" (Samui) "Ah. So that''s why Mabui-senpai has been so melancholic during our journey" (Hikaru) "Mm...considering its her, she''s probably more worried about Rei feeling lonely than herself" (Yugito) "Always the type to put others before herself...I can see that" (Samui) "Then...let''s get this mission done quickly so she can go home and see him!" (Hikaru) While the three were chatting, Mabui was surveying the surroundings. Seemingly noticing something out of place {Strange...activity on land has indeed been slowed due to recent events but...that shouldn''t be the case for the sea} (Mabui) Turning around, she called out to Hikaru, who was piloting the ship at its helm "Something wrong Mabui-senpai?" (Hikaru) "Where are all the ships?" (Mabui) "?" (Samui & Yugito) "What do you mean?" (Hikaru) "I expected to see more ships considering how close we''re sailing to the coastline" (Mabui) "..." (Hikaru) "Shouldn''t there be more?" (Mabui) "..." (Yugito) "...Now that you mention it" (Samui) Hikaru looked around before surmising an appropriate response "Preparations for the armistice would have indeed slowed things down but...essentials workers should still be on duty" (Hikaru) "Perhaps we just missed them?" (Samui) "Unlikely, considering the route we''re taking. Plus, it''s the middle of the day, a frequent time for sailors and fishermen to be active" (Hikaru) "Maybe it''s just an off day?" (Yugito) "I suppose that''s possible but...huh?" (Hikaru) Sailing through sea, Hikaru took out at telescope after spotting something moving in their direction "Eh? A...ship?" (Hikaru) "Looks like people are out after all" (Samui) "Geez...and here I was getting worried. That''s clearly a fishing boat" (Yugito) "Sorry. I guess it was just me being paranoid" (Mabui) "..." (Hikaru) As ship in the distance came closer, Hikaru got a better view of its hull. But what he saw filled him with dread "Guys! We got trouble!" (Hikaru) "?!" (Mabui & Yugito) "What''s wrong?!" (Samui) "Those guys aren''t fishermen! Here, take a look for yourself" (Hikaru) FLICK! Shocked at his claim, Samui took a look through the telescope Hikaru just tossed at her. But she was at a loss, for the men on the boat headed in their direction looked like average fishermen "What am I supposed to see here?" (Samui) "It''s what you''re not seeing. They may be dressed as fishermen, but they''re certainly not equipped like them. Where''s the deck equipment? The winches at the stern, the emergency boat, not even ONE casting net is present. And don''t even get me started on the clearly insignificant amount of pulleys and sheaves on that boat" (Hikaru) "!" (Samui) "Just look at it, doesn''t even resemble a fishing boat. Hell, it looks like ours. Fit for the sole purpose of transporting people, or shinobi, somewhere quickly and quietly" (Hikaru) The three kunoichi instantly became aware of what Hikaru was hinting at. The fact that a non-fishing boat filled with people dressed as fishermen meant they were in disguise. And considering it was headed in their direction indicates foul intent towards them Hikaru immediately steered the helm, diverging from a collision course with these unknown people. Samui gave his telescope back to him before heading below deck with the others "Grab only what you need! Looks like were docking sooner than expected!" (Hikaru) "Right!" (Mabui) "I''m so glad you came along!" (Samui) "Where exactly are we headed Hikaru-kun?!" (Yugito) Getting his bearings, Hikaru spotted an ideal place to dock the ship. The other ship with the unknown individuals began to follow {They''re changing course as well...so they really are here for us} (Mabui) "We''ve already made it past Shimogakure and most of it''s snowy mountains, should only be a few klicks1Term used by the military to denote one kilometer or 1,000 meters. Over half a mile from its border with the Land of Hot Water!" (Hikaru) Grabbing their belongings, the group returned on deck, fully equipped with weapons and ready for anything "I took another look at that ship and I''ve confirmed we''re vastly outnumbered!" (Hikaru) "Although I''m curious as to why they''re targeting us...we don''t need to fight. Lets just focus on getting away from them" (Mabui) "Agreed. The moment we get on land, we''ll make a beeline towards the border and make our way towards Yugakure. One of our village''s assets is stationed in that town" (Samui) Yugakure was a semi-neutral tourist village that welcomed travelers from all over. The perfect place for them to avoid any conflict and contact Kumogakure about the situation BRRR!!! "?!" (All of them) The boat chasing them suddenly made a loud motorized sound "Eh?!" (Samui) "What was that?!" (Yugito) {...No [email protected]*king way?!} (Hikaru) TAK! "Hikaru-kun?!" (Mabui) Hikaru got off the helm and jumped towards the front of the deck, looking through his telescope "CRAP!" (Hikaru) "What is it now?!" (Yugito) "That boat has an incredibly powerful motor! With that level of quality, they''ll catch us before we make it to shore!" (Hikaru) "Uh?! HEADS UP HIKARU-KUN!" (Mabui) "?!" (Hikaru) BOOM! BOOM! The assailants on the enemy ship were firing kunai with paper bombs attached to them. Hikaru returned to the helm and did his best to ensure the boat wasn''t hit by any of them "Bastards!" (Hikaru) "Here comes another round!" (Mabui) "I got it!" (Samui) Samui ran to the back of the ship and formed several hand seals {"Suiton: Suijinheki!2Water Style: Water Wall"} (Samui) Manipulating the sea, Samui conjured walls of water to shield them from the rear attacks but... "I''ll try to stop the attacks but I won''t be able to keep this up forever! We either need to jump ship and run, or stay and fight!" (Samui) The boat they were currently on was small and inconspicuous, repurposed for reconnaissance and infiltration. Its capabilities were limited and they were still quite far from shore. Plus, taking into account the distance between shore and Yugakure, they''d tire themselves out if they jumped ship now and used chakra to run on the water''s surface. Especially if they had to fend off attacks from the enemy at the same time "We-!" (Yugito) "The enemy is an unknown, lets jump ship and run!" (Hikaru) "You sure? This boat is-!" (Yugito) "This one''s not my original, just a spare. It''s always a shame to lose a good ship, but I have no qualms parting with it" (Hikaru) Hikaru smiled reassuringly "Okay, if you say so" (Yugito) "There''s no need to fret over me Yugito-sama" (Hikaru) "Alright, let''s go!" (Mabui) The quartet jumped ship, using their chakra to run across the sea. The enemy boat still in pursuit, but unable to catch them {Hm? They''re not jumping ship either? Are they not shinobi after all?} (Hikaru) Making it to shore, the group dashed through the land, nearing the border. No enemy had yet to catch them "You guys notice anything?" (Mabui) "Our pursuers have yet to catch us" (Samui) "Did we lose them?" (Hikaru) "It''s still too early to tell. Let''s keep with original plan and head to-!" (Yugito) Just as she was about to finish her sentence, a lone figure came into view. The team ceased running and observed the unknown man as he approached the group "Hold it right there! Identify yourself!" (Samui) "..." (?) The man in question was covered in white robes from head to toe, with a hood keeping his face hidden. He continued his slow pace while muttering strange words...almost as if he were praying "Cease your approach and identify yourself or you will be treated as an enemy!" (Samui) "..." (?) Still no response, he seemed oblivious to her demands. Mabui whispered to her "Samui, I shouldn''t have to tell you but this guy...he''s clearly not normal. And I''m not talking about his appearance or actions" (Mabui) "...I know" (Samui) {Uwah. What is this creepy feeling I''m getting?!} (Hikaru) "Screw it, if this guy''s an enemy, we all know what needs to be done. Enough standing around issuing orders he''s clearly ignoring!" (Yugito) "?!" (Hikaru) BLARE!!! Just as they were about to engage, a red light emerged from the man, engulfing the group "WHAT THE-?!" (Samui) "This!" (Mabui) "AHH!" (Yugito) This moment was... "Those...those eyes...those red eyes! They''re-!?" (Hikaru) ...The last time Hikaru saw Yugito and her team 79. Detour Karai''s secret room in Yugakure After sharing his recollection of the events that led him here, an injured Hikaru took a moment to catch his breath as Tai treated his injuries "Your medical ninjutsu is...huff...very impressive for your age..." (Hikaru) "When you''re advised in the subject by C for nearly two years, your skill can''t be average. But do your best not to move Hikaru-san, if it wasn''t for Karai-san''s treatment you''d be..." (Tai) "Glad to see my half-assed treatment was helpful" (Karai) Hikaru was in terrible shape, bandages and bruises all over his body "Hikaru, you''ve obviously been through a lot but we still-" (Tango) "I know, I know...you need the rest of it. Unfortunately, I don''t remember much after we encountered that strange man" (Hikaru) "Nothing? No clue as to where they went?" (Tango) "No. After that man emitted some weird red glow from his eyes, none of us were able to move before our pursuers from behind attacked us with another paper bomb. The explosion blew us all away in separate directions" (Hikaru) "And you were blasted downhill correct?" (Tango) "Yeah...before being buried alive by rubble, unable to move thanks to the fracture. If Karai hadn''t found me during his patrol, we wouldn''t be having this conversation now" (Hikaru) "I see...haaa" (Tango) Tango was hoping for more information. After arriving at their destination, they confirmed Yugito was indeed targeted by hostiles. But they had no idea who they were, what they were capable of, nor where they even went "I''ve already sent a carrier bird to Kumogakure but...it''ll take some time before it gets to the village" (Karai) "Because it has to fly over sea, around the Land of Frost?" (Tai) "Yup. The bird I had definitely couldn''t last long in that cold country" (Karai) "With that message delivered, I''d say your mission is complete. You were only sent to confirm if my group had indeed been attacked after all" (Hikaru) "Eh?! Were just gonna stop here?" (Tai) "Back up should be on their way to pick up where you left off" (Karai) "That''s..." (Tango) {Red eyes...} (Rei) What Hikaru said was true, Team Tango was only sent to verify, not engage. But this new development left a sour after taste in their mouths Rei however, had his mind on something else "Excuse me for one moment" (Rei) "?" (Suzu) "Before I decide our next course of action, there''s still some things I need to know. Hikaru, before you were attacked, did you happen to hear anything from your assailants? Any dialogue would be helpful" (Tango) "Well I-" (Hikaru) ??? While they tried to discover more clues, Rei left the room. Going back upstairs through the secret path and leaving the house "...Notitia" (Rei) [You rang?] "Be honest with me...is Akatsuki behind this?" (Rei) [The hell if I know. This shit happening now is completely Non-canon] "You want me use a Lifeline?" (Rei) [You can''t, remember? The "other" me is out of commission after you burned it out with your first Lifeline] "How long until it''s back to normal?" (Rei) [It''s still hard to say but...I estimate another two years until your next Lifeline is available for use] "That long?!" (Rei) [I told you they were a precious resource. Next time, go easy and don''t let it drag out for so long] "I''m on my own then?" (Rei) [I didn''t say that. I can still give you a guess] "Oh? You have an idea who''s behind this?" (Rei) [Nope. But I have better knowledge of this world than most. Especially you, who skimmed over the entire story with disinterest] Rei''s head slumped down as he sighed. Annoyed with the fact there''d actually be a day he''d regret not reading a Manga book with commitment [At this point in time, Akatsuki doesn''t have its ten main members yet. A lot of them are around your age. The Uchiha Clan is still active so I doubt it''s Itachi. The red eyes he mentioned could be Tobi''s but it''s still too early to tell] "Tobi...that''s even worse than Itachi" (Rei) [Plus, most don''t understand that Akatsuki was more than just ten members. The puppet master Sasori had dozens of sleeper agents scattered all across the world. Not to mention some of it''s earliest members] "So Sasori provided most of Akatsuki''s intel..." (Rei) [Well, him and the artificial soldier Zetsu. We also have to consider the possibility you''ve created a "Ripple" at some point and changed things] "..." (Rei) [All in all, there''s no guaranteed answer if this is Akatsuki''s doing or not. All we know is someone purposely targeted Kumo''s Jinchriki and probably wants the tailed beast within her. But considering the circumstances of Hikaru''s attack, I don''t really think Akatsuki''s the one responsible for this] "...But it''s still to soon to tell" (Rei) [Correct. I''m just giving you the statistics, the odds] "Right, thanks" (Rei) [No prob. Call me if you have any other questions] ??? Just as Rei was about to head back inside, his team opened the door and joined him "...Are we heading back home?" (Rei) "Is that what you want?" (Tango) "Hell no" (Rei) Pleased at his answer, Tango patted him on the shoulder "That''s what I like to hear" (Tango) "Our orders were to return the moment after we verified Yugito''s status. We''re gonna be in big trouble if we get caught going rogue" (Tai) "Not to mention our village could end up provoking another nation if Kumo ninja are seen being active during an armistice signing focused on the sole purpose of demilitarization" (Rei) "Hmm..." (Tango) Rei made a valid point. Going after the perpetrators now could lead to serious diplomatic issues. This possibility caused the boys to hesitate for a moment But then, Suzu spoke her mind "Well...we technically haven''t completed our mission since we haven''t actually SEEN Yugito-sama and the others. I see no problem in taking a small, Detour on our way back home" (Suzu) "?!" (Rei & Tai) "That...that''s not entirely wrong. We just might be able to spin that" (Tango) "Suzu, you..." (Rei) "To think I''d hear such a suggestion coming from you of all people..." (Tai) "..." (Suzu) Rei and Tai were taken aback. It was completely unusual for the usually quiet and stoic young girl to suggest breaking the rules. As Tango pondered this suggestion, Karai came to see them off "You guys are gonna get an earful from Raikage-sama regardless of any loopholes you find. On a personal note, I fully back what you''re doing. Breaking the rules to rescue our comrades is something I''ll always get behind" (Karai) "Senpai..." (Tango) "Don''t worry about Hikaru, I''ll look after him. Tai-kun here did a hell of a job patching him up. I''d come with you if I could but..." (Karai) "We understand, you''re under orders from Raikage-sama to remain in this area. Plus, you being here is benefit to us. When back up arrives, you can put them in our direction" (Tango) "Mm. The ambush site is not far from here. I suggest going over the small mountain instead of taking the main road. It''s becomes quite the shortcut when you''re a shinobi" (Karai) Karai turned around and walked back inside as Rei spoke once more "Thanks, we appreciate it" (Rei) "No worries Rei-kun, you gotta rescue that cousin of yours right? Just be careful guys, their skill is no joke if they were able to give Yugito-sama, Mabui, AND Samui trouble. Remember, the cavalry IS coming so there''s no need to get reckless" (Karai) The team nodded in unison as Karai closed the door. Nothing more was said between the team as Tango led them away from the house and out of Yugakure. Their destination...the ambush site {Yugito being killed and losing her tailed beast would cause, god knows how many ripples. Even if it is Akatsuki doing this, I can''t allow them to succeed} (Rei) His face went cold as he looked at the red bracers on his arms {Time to put these new "Tools" to the test} 80. From Haystack… MrProper Within a large cavern Two kunoichi were on the ground, their arms restrained. Eyes seemingly devoid of any life whatsoever. Two men were inside as well, one guarding the entrance and the other forming hand seals whilst standing in front of said captive ninja The one guarding the entrance called out to man holding a hand seal "How''s progress?" "The same as it was the last time you asked less than an hour ago" "Haaa...sorry. No offense to your ability, but it feels like these two should''ve cracked already" "It''s fine, this kind of thing was never really my forte anyway. Besides, despite their appearances these kunoichi are quite capable, to the point I''m wondering if they''re Jonin. Can''t expect to break easily under my Interrogation Genjutsu" "Right, the way they fought certainly didn''t display a lack of ability. I''m not trying to pressure you or anything it''s just...I don''t like being in enemy territory for so long" Whoever these men were affiliated with is unknown, what''s known is the unlawful behavior they''ve committed in a foreign country. If they were caught, calling the consequences dire would be a gross understatement "The rest of our allies ensured no one would be able to discover our current whereabouts before they left...relax" "We''re already down on men after these girls tore through most of our men. We''re lucky we decided to bring several squads" The man standing in front of the women was doing his best to extract information from their minds. But the task proved to be more difficult than expected as their resistance was stronger than he anticipated "Because of the loss of men, naturally the group with that monster is gonna be delayed" "So I''ll be on guard duty for a little longer" "Well, no worries. They''ll break one way or another. It''s just a matter of time" "As long as we complete our task with the Jinchriki, we''ll be out of this dump soon enough. I''m gonna have a smoke, be back in five" The guard, annoyed he''d be here much longer than he wanted to be, left the cavern for a break. The interrogator glanced at him before returning to his task {...Don''t take too long} ??? At the site of Hikaru''s ambush, Team Tango was canvassing the area. Searching for even the smallest clue that could lead them to their missing comrades But after some time, the only answer they received was the perpetrators responsible are very good at erasing evidence "Damn. Nothing here either. Any luck on your end?!" (Tango) "..." (Suzu) "I''m still expanding my range but...we''re looking for a needle in a very big haystack" (Rei) "A very ANNOYING haystack" (Tai) Suzu simply shook her head and Rei was busy searching for any traces of chakra in the area "I can''t sense any chakra at all, and I can feel the chakra of every animal in this entire forest" (Rei) "The entire forest and still nothing?" (Tango) "...No" (Rei) "..." (Tango) The exact answer Tango didn''t want to hear. If Rei couldn''t find anything despite searching this entire forest, worst case scenario, the kidnappers could''ve already made it past the border at the other end of the country despite it being monitored closely by Shinobi {I pray they really are just hiding in this forest. Because if these guys really managed to get past the border undetected then...we''ll have lost Yugito-sama and the others for good} (Tango) "We''re not done yet. I''m going to expand my range even further!" (Rei) "Okay" (Tango) Suzu went back to work and just as Tango was about to do the same, Tai unusual actions caught his attention. Walking over to him, Tango saw that he was fiddling around with the tool kit he brought with him "Tai? What are you...what is that stuff?" (Tango) "Ah, Sensei. After looking around my area I couldn''t find anything. So I thought, if my eyes alone couldn''t find any clues then...maybe they could use a little help?" (Tai) "Help?" (Tango) "Fortunately it''s evening right now, so we should be able to see the effects of the oxidizer" (Tai) "?" (Tango) "Oxidizer...what kind of reaction are you trying to make?" (Suzu) "Just one sec" (Tai) Tai went to work mixing chemicals he brought in his unique travel kit. Rei was still trying to find the enemy''s chakra when the work Tai was doing caught his eye. As the group approached for a closer look, Rei was met with surprise {Wait, that''s hydrazine sulfate along with...3-nitrophthalic acid. No way...is he making what I think he''s making?!} (Rei) "Fortunately I was working on this long before we even got this mission so the process shouldn''t take long" (Tai) "...Hey Tai" (Rei) "Yeah?" (Tai) "You think there''s still enough blood around the area?" (Rei) {Blood?} (Suzu) {Does Rei know what he''s up to?} (Tango) "It doesn''t take a genius to know there was a battle here. And considering how wide spread it was, there''s no way the enemy could''ve erased everything in the short time they had" (Tai) "You''re certain?" (Rei) "...Only one way to find out I guess. Hey, can you heat this for me?" (Tai) "Sure" (Rei) BURR A small flame emerged on the tip of Rei''s finger. Holding said flame under the flask filled with chemicals for a few minutes, Tai added more chemicals until the red solution inside turned from black, to yellow, and finally a light orange "Shouldn''t we vacuum it?" (Rei) "Normally yes, but medical ninjutsu has endless applications when it comes to chemistry. My chakra can make up for the lack of appropriate tools. Here, I have more flasks, and we''re gonna need more than this if we want cover the whole area. Help me fill me fill it water" (Tai) SPLOOSH Using their Suiton, the pair filled the flasks to increase the amount of solution they made. After that, Tai began pouring his chakra inside to stabilize the chemicals After pouring it within four different flasks, Tai handed one to each member of the team before instructing them to spread it all over the area "What exactly are we doing?" (Tango) "Just roll with it Sensei, this is much more effective than me searching blindly" (Rei) "Ah! This is-!" (Suzu) "What? What going on-!" (Tango) Tango and Suzu were surprised at the phenomenon occurring in front of them. What appeared to be streaks of light, glowed all over the area around them "Tai, Rei, what the heck is this?!" (Tango) "In short, it''s called chemiluminescence. The chemical we made is called Luminol. When then molecules in this chemical are exposed to certain materials, a reaction like the one you''re seeing right now occurs" (Tai) "The certain materials in this case being blood left behind from the battle" (Rei) "...Incredible" (Suzu) "Illuminating blood?! I didn''t know such a thing was possible!" (Tango) "Well normally, you have to be in a dark room as you can''t really see it in the sunlight. Fortunately, it''s night time now" (Tai) "Tai, I''m at a loss for words. Very impressive" (Tango) "I can''t take all the credit, I only got the idea after studying with Rei" (Tai) "Oh?" (Tango) "He''s been teaching me new chemistry while I was helping him learn Suiton over the past few months. Had to find some way to keep up with you two geniuses" (Tai) "You say that, but you''re also a member of Kumo''s ''Gifted Generation''." (Suzu) "I only gave you a few pointers and look what you did with it" (Rei) What Tai just did was indeed impressive. In order to avoid influencing this world''s scientific knowledge too much, Rei only gave him a few tips on chemistry. Yet Tai took what he learned and was able to apply it for a difficult situation like the one before them so naturally He was basically a forensic CSI at this point, using science far ahead of this world''s current level "Be proud of your achievements" (Suzu) "Hehe! I only got this far with Rei''s help, and speaking of whom, it''s your turn now Rei" (Tai) "Right" (Rei) Rei walked over to one of the glowing areas and began sniffing the blood "What in the world is he-?" (Tango) "Rei has very sharp senses, and not just when it comes to chakra. I''ve learned his nose is very good as well" (Suzu) "Well?!" (Tai) Rei stood up and looked back at them and smiled "I got multiple scents, hard to make them all out since I''m not a dog but...I''ve confirmed one of them is my cousin''s. I''d recognize her perfume anywhere" (Rei) "Yes! Kiss my ass haystack! Time to find that damn needle!" (Tai) "Alright! You lead the way, standard formation guys! Let''s go rescue our friends!" (Tango) "Yes sir!" (Rei, Tai, & Suzu) VWOOSH! Team Tango dashed away at top speed with hope filling their eyes ??? In the Daimy Intelligence Bureau office within Kumogakure, Tekkan was standing in a room with monitors, a clunky camera, and giant liquid batteries His associate Tenga was monitoring the equipment as Tekkan conversed with the Lightning Daimy, who was currently on a diplomatic mission far to the west, over a video call "So it''s been confirmed then?" (Daimy) "Yes sir, the letter we received from Tango-dono and Karai-dono confirms it. Someone has indeed made a play on our Jinchriki. Team Mabui was attacked and are still MIA" (Tekkan) "In the middle of a [email protected]*king armistice signing...you think someone is trying to start a war?" (Daimy) "It''s still too early to tell as we don''t have enough information but...I wouldn''t rule it out" (Tekkan) "Haaa, I''m getting too old for this shit. What''s Dodai doing now that the Head Ninja has gone to Konoha?" (Daimy) "With the Head Ninja gone and having proof of their attack, Dodai-dono now has authority over military affairs and dispatched Toroi-sama''s squad for back-up" (Tekkan) "Good. Toroi should be able to move quickly without making too much noise. I bet that nitwit wasn''t expecting a team of Genin to actually find something" (Daimy) "Speaking of the Head Ninja...sir...why do you think he was making things so difficult? I understood he was abusing his authority because of his grievance with Rei Sano but..." (Tekkan) "It was to keep Dodai in line. By allowing a team of Genin to search for Team Mabui, he denied Dodai any chance of claiming to the upper brass he was shirking his responsibilities by not investigating Yugito''s disappearance" (Daimy) "But it feels like there''s more to it than that. Forgive me but, perhaps sending him to sign the armistice was a bad idea?" (Tekkan) "Believe me, A-dono and I weren''t particularly thrilled about this, nor did we choose it" (Daimy) Both the Daimy and the Raikage were gone on diplomatic missions. With the Daimy away and the Raikage in Takigakure1Hidden Waterfall Village, protocol dictated the next one in the chain of command is the Head Ninja. The only way they could stop this is if they removed his title but such an act without probable cause would be called an abuse of power by other members of government Contrary to what most may believe, the offices of the Daimy and the Raikage did not possess dictator-like power. And the Head Ninja had many allies within the top authority. Tekkan understood their hands were tied, the Head Ninja heading to Konoha was inevitable "You never did tell me...but what exactly are you and Raikage-sama doing? You both left so soon and without much notice. I know he went to Takigakure to prevent an agreement Kumo has held with them since its earliest days from breaking down. Something about an island...is it about Genbu Island?" (Tekkan) "No, it''s a completely different place. I can''t give any specifics because it''s classified, especially over a video call. I''ll talk to you in person about that island when I come back. As for me...well, have you ever heard of the Rock Village?" (Daimy) "I thought that''s where you were now, talking with the Tsuchikage2Earth Shadow and the earth Daimy?" (Tekkan) "No, no, no...you''re getting it confused. Those two dwell within the great nation Iwagakure3Hidden Stone Village. Ishigakure4Hidden Rock Village is a newly formed hidden village existing between Iwagakure and Sungakure5Hidden Sand Village" (Daimy) Tekkan frowned "Rock and Stone, that''s not confusing at all. Hard to imagine a newly formed nation sandwiched between two of the Five Great Nations would garner such attention from you sir" (Tekkan) "It''s not just me, representatives from many nations are currently in the Land of Earth. The nation of Ishigakure itself is small, the problem is the particular people within it. So troublesome in fact, I had no choice to personally go myself, as it pertains to our agreement of demilitarization" (Daimy) {Eh?! Who the hell could cause such a stir now of all times?!} (Tekkan) BZZZ! The audio on the video call began scratching. Tenga emerged from behind the screens "The batteries are almost out of juice! The call is going to end soon!" (Tenga) "?!" (Tekkan) "Looks like we''re out of time. I''m pretty much finished on my end, I should be heading home soon. I''ll give you the details when I-I-I-I...get b-b-back home-!" (Daimy) "Sir! I can...I can barely hear-!" (Tekkan) BLEEP! The screen went black as the power cut out "Damn! Hey Tenga, how long until we''re up and running again?!" (Tekkan) "These batteries are done, it''ll take at least a day before we''re ready to broadcast again. And this isn''t cheap either! There''s a reason the tech is only available to the Daimy-sama" (Tenga) {Problems like Yugito''s disappearance and foreign relation issues like the ones we''re facing now are exactly why we need the "Network" project completed...} (Tekkan) "I''m sorry I can''t do more" (Tenga) Tekkan took a deep breath before reassuring Tenga "You''ve done more than enough, that''ll be all for today Tenga. Thank you" (Tekkan) "Of course. As one of the many liaison''s between the offices of the Raikage and Daimy, I''m merely performing my duties. I''ll be leaving now, but please let me know if there''s anything else you need" (Tenga) Tenga bowed before leaving the room. Tekkan sat down, organizing his thoughts "The disappearance of Team Mabui, the newly formed nation Ishigakure, the armistice in Konoha, the Head Ninja, and whatever the hell Raikage-sama is dealing with in Takigakure. All these occurrences... Trying to find a connection between these events, Tekkan was left with more questions than answers "...fill me with dread" 81. To Needle MrProper The forests in the Land of Hot Water Team Tango bolted across the land, with Rei leading the group. Desperate to rescue their comrades, he did his best to track them down but... "Ah!" (Rei) "What''s wrong Rei?!" (Tango) "The smell...it''s disappearing!" (Rei) "!" (Tango) "You can''t track the scent?" (Tai) "Hey, I''m not a ninja hound! This isn''t exactly easy!" (Rei) Despite possessing augmented senses, the only reason Rei was able track Team Mabui so far was due to the abnormal amount of blood and perfume left behind. His sense of smell was only slightly better than the average shinobi "Since you haven''t been able to detect any chakra, I can only assume they''ve settled down at some location encased with a barrier" (Tango) "Especially if you consider how skilled Rei is at sensing chakra" (Suzu) "Sorry Rei, I know we''re asking a lot of you right now" (Tango) "Don''t worry about it. I''m getting impatient and frustrated just as much as you are" (Rei) "And I''ve run out of materials to make more Luminol. Damn it! I should''ve brought more!" (Tai) "That''s not your fault, none of us could''ve anticipated-" (Rei) WOOOOH! "Hm?! That''s-!" (Rei) "?" (Tai, Suzu, & Tango) "Can you guys smell that?!" (Rei) "Smell what?" (Tango) "A gust of wind just passed us by...carrying the scent of...nicotine!" (Rei) "A cigar...someone''s smoking out here! And it''s probably not a civilian because-!" (Tai) "All travel around this country has been temporary halted for the armistice" (Suzu) "We still don''t know if it''s them for sure...but something is always better than nothing! Lead the way Rei!" (Tango) Jumping through the trees, Rei immediately changed direction as the others followed in suit ??? An adult, male shinobi entered a cavern, approaching his fellow comrade. This interrogator was still hard at work, using his genjutsu on the two captive kunoichi tied up in front of him "The ritual has long since been underway. It''s only a matter of time until our colleagues are done" "...I''m aware" (Interrogator) "Still resisting huh?" The man standing in front of the women was doing his best to extract information from their minds. But the task proved to be far more difficult than expected as their resistance was stronger than anyone could have anticipated "Ngh! For f*ck''s sake!" (Interrogator) SMACK! Fed up with his lack of progress, the interrogator knocked the two unconscious women down and walked towards the exit before the other man blocked his path "Move" (Interrogator) "Putting aside your questionable treatment of our captives, the one in charge ordered you to finish" "Why the hell should I have to play clean up for him?! He''s not even a member of our clan! With those creepy eyes of his, this job should be going to him, not me!" (Interrogator) "You know as well as I do that he had be over there, rather than here. It''s only with his unique abilities that we''re able to keep the Jinchriki in check. Hell, we couldn''t have done this job without him" "..." (Interrogator) "Even if you don''t like him, the boss ordered us to follow his commands for this job" "Tch! That freak is probably not even at the ritual site with the others. I''d bet as soon as he casted his jutsu on the Jinchriki, he just up and left" (Interrogator) "We both he know as our secret weapon, he couldn''t stay too long. It''s also because of him this job has gone so smoothly. So stop complaining and do your part, I''ve been instructed to keep us here until you''re done. And I''d rather not be here all-!" WOOOH "Fine. But I still think we oughta just kill these two! I''d rather have not risk letting potential witnesses get away, AGAIN!" (Interrogator) "The guy who was traveling with these kunoichi is dead, buried under rubble" "And yet, we still couldn''t find a body. In my book, that means he''s not dead" (Interrogator) "Ah! Will you just shut the f*ck up and do your damn-!" "Uh?! Gah! My...my eyes!" (Interrogator) A burning sensation on their faces interrupted the argument. Their eyes started to swell with redness as a strange mist enveloped the room "W-What is this?!" (Interrogator) "Are...are we under attack?!" "Ugh?!" (Interrogator) "My eyes...they feel like they''re on fire!" Before they could even alleviate the pain from their eyes, a voice could be heard from the caverns exit "Suiton: Kiri Seigyo no Jutsu!1Water Style: Mist Control" "Gah?!" "Enemy attack?! How did they find us?! Argh!" (Interrogator) The intensity of the burns to their faces only increased "Uh...we...we have to get out of here!" "Head...head towards the-!" (Interrogator) BAM! Before they could leave, the interrogator''s comrade was knocked back with what appeared to be a lump of stone "R-Rock?! Could it be Doton2Earth Style?! A-a girl?! Who the hell are-?!" (Interrogator) "He''s all yours Rei" "Huh?" (Interrogator) VWOOSH! "You''ve treated my cousin with such care..." "?!" (Interrogator) "...It''d be rude if I didn''t return the favor!" "Guhoh?!" (Interrogator) BOOM! The interrogator was met with a barrage of violent punches and kicks! Blasting him into a wall, rendering him inert and out cold "...assholes" ??? In a wide pit, not too far from Team Tango, the Jinchriki Yugito Nii was unconscious and restrained with her back on the ground. A strange seal formula glowed beneath her as powerful chakra was extracted from her very being Several men were standing around this seal, maintaining it. Others were further back, exhausted and talking with one another "I don''t think we''re even...huff, huff...half way through yet!" "This is just ridiculous, after all the effort it took to restrain her, we''re still not done even after almost THREE days of this!" "It couldn''t be helped, forcibly breaking the seal for a Tailed Beast requires an insane amount of consistent power. I just hope the container will be able to withstand all of it" "Mm. If it can''t, all of this will have been for naught. I don''t like this, it makes me uncomfortable being so close to a nation we just deprived of one of their greatest weapons" "Relax. As you can see, it''s holding up quite nicely" The ones chatting turned their attention towards a large cauldron. The men controlling the seal were directing energy extracted from Yugito into this "vessel" "Save your strength, some of the men over there are already looking tired. It''s only a matter of time until we have to switch again" "Ugh...hey...where did our dear red-eyed partner go anyway?" "It''s too soon for his existence to be discovered, just imagine what would happen if Konoha or Kumo found out. Our ultimate goal depends on it" "Seems to me he''s just shirking out on helping" "Don''t say that. He was only here to pacify the Jinchriki anyway. Helping us deal with her comrades was something he wasn''t hired to do, but he did so anyway. Be grateful" "Maybe after I''ve seen him go through the extremely tedious task of extracting a damn Tailed Beast like us, then I''ll be plenty grateful" "Haaaa...let''s just save our energy. The more chakra we have the better, this all for the sake of the clan" "...To get back what we lost?" "...Far more than that..." "..." With hoarse anger from his throat, the man spoke with a burning wrath "To get back what we lost and then some! I won''t be satisfied until the ones who betrayed us knows what he feels like to lose EVERYTHING!" "For the sake of children..." "For the sake of our ancestors..." The two got up and swapped places with two of their allies who were exhausted maintaining the seal before everyone spoke in unison "For the sake of the Fuma Clan" 82. Probe Outside the cavern which held the two captive Kunoichi After neutralizing the enemy, Tai immediately administered care to Mabui and Samui, who were in terrible condition after Rei released them from the enemy''s Genjutsu. Suzu kept watch as Tango "questioned" the now captive perpetrators "I honestly don''t know what to say..." (Samui) "How about...''thank you''?" (Rei) "Hehehe...thank you Rei-chan" (Samui) "Don''t mention it. How you doin'' nee-san?" (Rei) "Well...saying I''m ''good'' would be a stretch of that word''s definition. But thanks to Tai-chan''s treatment, I''ve made it to ''okay''." (Mabui) "Phew, I''m just glad we made it in time" (Tai) "As are we" (Mabui) "How exactly did you find us anyway? That cave had a barrier so there''s no way you could''ve sensed our chakra" (Samui) "We visited the site of your attack, and found traces of blood and...nee-san''s perfume" (Rei) "Ah! Mabui! So that''s why at that time you..." (Samui) "?" (Rei & Tai) "The way that fight was going, it was clear we were gonna lose. They made it clear of their intent to capture us alive, so I made sure someone could follow the trail" (Mabui) "Something we should know?" (Rei) "During the end of the encounter, Mabui took out a perfume bottle in secret and laced all of us with it. Just before we were knocked out" (Samui) "Nice!" (Tai) "I was really just winging it at that point, we got really lucky. I''m just glad you guys managed to figure it out" (Mabui) "Yeah, Rei managed to catch the scent before...huh? Where are you going?" (Tai) "When it comes to their treatment, I''ll just be in your way. Gonna make myself useful and check on Sensei''s progress" (Rei) "..." (Tai) {Efficiency above all else as usual} (Mabui) Rei approached Tango, only to find the captive criminals unconscious "Anything?" (Rei) "No. Whether out of loyalty or fear, these punks just refuse to budge" (Tango) "Now what?" (Rei) "Now...I try a more risky method" (Tango) "That way huh? Be careful" (Rei) "Mm" (Tango) Being a member of Kumogakure''s Intelligence Division, Tango was well versed in the means of enhanced interrogation. But members of the division were also taught to infiltrate a person''s mind via ninjutsu in the event such means were deemed ineffective Tango lifted the man who was "probing" Mabui and Samui''s minds with Genjutsu and sat him down against a nearby boulder. Placing his hand on the man''s head, Tango closed his eyes "Are you sure you don''t want me to use my Genjutsu? It''s a lot less risky than what you plan to do" (Rei) "Those trained in using Genjutsu are naturally skilled at resisting it. He could have traps you might trigger" (Tango) {Genjutsu traps...} (Rei) Diving into a person''s mind is useful, but it also makes one completely vulnerable to counter attacks and mind traps, far more vulnerable than using Genjutsu to extract information. This is one of the reasons invading someone''s mind is usually done with a group But Tango, being the protective and responsible teacher that he is, opted to take the risk as to not put Rei in any potential danger. Considering everything the team has seen so far, these people are clearly not your average criminals. Tango was acting especially cautious for the sake his team''s safety {Here goes nothing, "Ninp: Saiko Denshin1Ninja Art: Psycho Mind Transmission"!} (Tango) ??? After a brief moment, Tango found himself floating in a dark space, nothing around but giant brain in front of him. He had successfully entered the man''s consciousness. Touching the brain, memories began flooding into him "Ugh, so many of them...you''ve certainly lived a life haven''t you? This is a lot more difficult when I''m doing it by myself. Okay, focus! Need to find Yugito-sama''s location, now where did your friends take her?" (Tango) Tango''s skill with this complex technique was little over average, and this process takes longer without help Fortunately, he got lucky. Shifting through the memories, Tango found what appeared to be a conversation between the interrogator, and one of his comrades "You continue with the interrogation, we''ll handle the Jinchriki" "Captain, are you sure we shouldn''t be there with you? We''re gonna need all the chakra we can muster to break the Tailed Beast''s seal" (Interrogator) "There''s no other choice. We couldn''t find the body of ship captain who brought these kunoichi here. If he''s alive, he could be requesting back-up. We need to know beforehand" (Captain) "And if back-up does arrive, what then?" (Interrogator) "Then it''s just as we previously discussed. We halt the ritual, and bring the host to another a location. But if we take the words of our employers with certainty, I doubt it''ll come to that. We''ve picked the perfect time to do this after all" (Captain) "Right...the armistice" (Interrogator) "Mm. An opportunity like this won''t be coming again anytime soon. It''s worth the risk. Just focus on your task, when you''re done...get rid of these two before joining us. You remember where?" (Captain) "Yeah. Almost a klick north of here. That large pit in the ground by the-RRRNNNN!!!!" (Interrogator) "?!" (Tango) Just as he was about to finish watching the memory, the images started to distort. Red liquid began dripping on the surroundings as the space around him tore apart "Shit! A trap placed to prevent anyone from finding out where-?!" (Tango) The entire scene changed and Tango suddenly found himself under a red sea...unable to move {Damn it. Breathe! It''s just an illusion! This red water...the water pressure...none of it is real...have to get out now! Gah!} (Tango) Sharp pain bombarded his sides as he realized a shark with improbable red skin had just bitten him, with others intent on doing the same {It''s not real...it''s not real...it''s not real...it''s not real...!} (Tango) CRUNCH!! "NGGHH!!!!" (Tango) Pure cannibalism. That was the only way to describe what was happening to Tango as more and more of these red sharks bit him one after another, tearing his skin and limbs off. Breathing became even more difficult as the blood filled his lungs {It''s not real...it''s not real...it''s not real...} (Tango) As the life drained from his eyes, voices could be heard and a light came into to view "...o!" "...en..." {Is...is this it?} (Tango) "...ngo..." "...ke...p...!" "?!" (Tango) ??? The last thing he saw before closing his eyes was a hand, pulling him out of the water. When opened them, he found his body was indeed intact. Mabui, Samui, and the rest standing over him. Rei''s hand on his shoulders "I''m..." (Tango) "Yeah...you''re alive! Good grief Tango!" (Mabui) "Rei? How did...?" (Tango) "Everything was going fine until your nose started to bleed. After that, your body began spasming out, it was like you were having a seizure!" (Tai) "We all rushed over...when Rei started yelling" (Suzu) "Nee-san was first to deduce you were caught in a Genjutsu trap and suggested I use MY Genjutsu to help bring you back. Had you been inside any longer, well...I doubt I need to explain" (Rei) Tango was completely shocked when he heard Rei''s statement {He used Genjutsu and dived into my mind and managed to get me out when I couldn''t? That''s not something a Genin should be capable of...} "Impressive...thank you Rei. I-! Ugh!" (Tango) "Take it easy, you''ve been through a lot. The chakra in your head is a mess right now!" (Tai) Tai was applying his medical ninjutsu on Tango''s head. More specifically, the brain, where the highest source of spiritual energy within the body dwells Looking up, Tango noticed not only the sky was still dark, but Mabui and Samui were able to walk again. Considering how badly they were injured, Tango couldn''t believe Tai was able to get them up and moving so quickly, making him wonder... "How long have I-?" (Tango) "You''ve been mind diving for over an hour. And you''re body was freaking out for about minute. Seriously, you''re a member of the intelligence division. I wouldn''t think you''d fall for a Genjutsu trap" (Samui) "Sorry for the trouble..." (Tango) "..." (Mabui) {A minute? That''s all? Impossible! I know the trap lasted longer than that!} (Tango) The torture Tango had undergone in that man''s mind lasted far longer than a minute. Those red sharks in particular intentionally took their time tearing him apart {This would mean whoever''s responsible has someone possessing abnormal levels of skill in Genjutsu. Far beyond that of a normal human. I wonder...} (Tango) Turning his head to Mabui and Samui "Senpai...do you guys have any idea who these people are? Including the identity of the one in the white robes Hikaru-senpai told us about? You said he had red eyes?" (Tango) Though the two kunoichi had some hesitation about speaking of the sensitive matter in front of Genin, Samui was the first the break the silence "Judging from their use of shuriken and the way the fight...it''s safe to say these guys are from the Fma Clan. Or at least some part of it" (Samui) "Fma?" (Rei) "What makes you think they''re just a part of the clan?" (Tai) "The Fma Clan was the first clan taken in by the Uchiha Clan during the ''Warring States'' period when there were no villages. Just clans and the lords who would hire them" (Mabui) "But when the Shinobi village system was established by the Senju and Uchiha Clan''s respectively, the need for war potential started to fade away. But the Fma were a war driven clan, it was the only thing they knew how to do" (Samui) "?And when peace starts formin'', the need for soldiers be fadin''?" (Tai) "Tai, you even think about rhyming like Killer B and I''m gonna smack you" (Rei) Speaking under his breath "...Party pooper" (Tai) "ANYWAY...the clan split apart soon after. Some stayed within the Land of Fire and served the country, acting as security for wealthy clients and lords near it''s border while Konoha''s shinobi focused on protecting the village. Other remnant groups of this clan roamed the world, seeking any work available" (Mabui) "The reason these remnants were able to stick around is because many required their services during the wars" (Samui) "You''d think a clan such as them would fade out of existence, how persistent" (Tai) "During the formation of villages, they were pretty close. With the leader of the Uchiha, Madara Uchiha no longer his enemy, there were none capable of fighting the First Hokage. Hashirama Senju''s period of ushering in peace was something none could stop" (Mabui) "None, not even our village could compare to them. War mongering clans like the Fma either had to adapt, or be wiped away during that time" (Tango) Tai had a skeptical look on his face, displeased with such a high evaluation of another nation. Despite the way he usually acts, he was raised in one of the most prominent clan''s of his village. Holding great pride for Kumogakure''s capability was natural "Okay, I get he was called the ''God of Shinobi'', but could one man really be so strong?" (Tai) "Um...Well..." (Samui) "Naivete like that will get you killed Tai" (Rei) "Huh?" (Tai) "Although our, or any other village wouldn''t like to admit it...NO ONE has been able to produce a shinobi of Hashirama Senju or Madara Uchiha''s caliber since. The very fact war kicked up again right AFTER they died is proof enough of this fact" (Rei) "Though people say the Five Great Shinobi Nations are equal, Konoha is the one that reigns supreme. Being the first and largest major nation, the village was composed with most of the world''s strongest ninja clans" (Mabui) "..." (Tai) "Remember what I always say, read between the lines. What people always claim isn''t necessarily true" (Tango) " In other words, see the world for how it is...and not as we''d like it to be right?" (Tai) "...That''s right" (Rei) "Yes" (Tango) Tai held is head and chuckled in embarrassment as Samui smiled "It''s okay to hold our home in high esteem, but you must never underestimate others. Otherwise, you''ll end up like our team did...and someone might not be there to save you like you did us" (Samui) "Right!" (Tai) "Now, as for the issue with man in white robes..." (Samui) "..." (Rei) "Whoever he was...he was able to bombard my whole team with powerful Genjutsu just by looking at us. That''s the only reason we got captured" (Samui) "Um...senpai?" (Tango) "Yes?" (Samui) "I...I believe he''s also responsible for the Genjutsu trap that ensnared me as well" (Tango) "..." (Samui) "I figured as much. Were you able to get a location?" (Mabui) "Just before I was attacked...yes. They''re holding Yugito-sama somewhere north of here, just under two hundred kilometers. They mentioned something about a ''pit''?" (Tango) "A pit..." (Suzu) "I''ve confirmed their objective is indeed the Tailed Beast within Yugito-sama. These bastards have already begun the process of extracting it" (Tango) Both Tai and Suzu stood up in alarm "What?!" (Suzu) "Then we need to hurry! If a Jinchriki loses their Tailed Beast won''t they-?!" (Tai) "We know...but taking into account the time we were captured and separated...I doubt they''ve succeeded" (Mabui) "What makes you so sure?" (Suzu) "They don''t have the key to Yugito''s seal, which means they''re gonna have to force it open from the outside. This slow process takes time as one must insert the exact same amount of energy as the entity held by the seal. In other words..." (Mabui) "They need to pour in the same amount of chakra as a Tailed Beast. So they''ll be going to work for days" (Rei) "Oh. Phew..." (Tai) "But we still shouldn''t delay. A group of ninja operating on Yugito will speed things along as opposed to one individual attempting to breaking the seal" (Samui) "Let''s go...huff...I''m eager to pay these assholes back in full..." (Tango) Samui and Mabui were getting ready to leave as Tango stood up. As Rei looked at the older trio, he voiced his concerns "Can you guys fight?" (Rei) "Tai-chan took care of most of our injuries" (Samui) "I still think it''s a bit early for you two to be on your feet! And you Sensei! You''re still feeling the after effects of the Genjutsu-!" (Tai) "I''m fine" (Tango) Observing them closely, Rei came to the conclusion that they needed more care "Out of the question" (Rei) "?!" (Everyone) "The way you are now...you''ll only end up becoming a burden. Let Tai finish treating you" (Rei) "I said I''m fine Rei. Besides, you don''t exactly out rank me" (Tango) Tango''s tone getting heavier didn''t escape Rei''s notice "True, but I''ve memorized all of our shinobi rules and protocols. And one such rule states: ''In the event the captain of a squad is injured and/or unfit for duty, the medic of that squad has reigning command until they deem said Captain is fit for duty''. And as you''ve clearly heard, Tai just said you three still need treatment" (Rei) With a fuming tone "...Are you really going to pull that shit with me boy?" (Tango) "?!" (Tai & Suzu) "..." (Rei) After being put through hell in the illusionary trap he just went through, Tango''s mind was somewhat unstable. His usual calm attitude was gone, and his mood incredibly irritable. Tai and Suzu had never looked so nervous, Rei maintained his usual composed demeanor and simply stared back at a glaring Tango. Samui was about to say something to Tango but Mabui stopped her. Simply gesturing to remain quiet and observe "..." (Rei) "..." (Tango) After a minute of awkward silence, Tango''s mind began to calm down as he came to realization. Regaining his composure, he sat down "...I''m...I''m sorry Rei. That was completely unlike me..." (Tango) Rei smirked. The others sighed in relief that fighting didn''t break out. Mabui on other hand simply nodded proudly as if she already knew Rei would diffuse the situation "It''s not your fault. You''re still under the effects of the Genjutsu trap. Because I''m a sensor-type, I can tell...your chakra is still disturbed. Whatever happened to you is corrupting your thought process...which leads me to bring up the big red-eyed elephant in the room. Nee-san, do you think that white robed guy is..." (Rei) "Taking in all of the information we have so far; the Fma clan, the attack, the methods. It stands to reason the white-robed man that attacked us was indeed an Uchiha but..." (Mabui) "It''s still too early to tell?" (Rei) Mabui nodded. Everyone else remained quiet while evaluating their current situation It was then Rei had a proposal "How about this, I scout ahead" (Rei) "Eh?!" (Tai) "Wha-?!" (Samui) "Absolutely-!" (Tango) Rei raised his hand and stopped their protests "Just hear me out. Right now, we have no clue as to the enemies true abilities or numbers. We also don''t know when our back-up is going to arrive, nor the amount of time Yugito-nee has left" (Rei) "..." (Mabui) "What we do have is a rough estimate of her location, injured allies, and me...a sensor ninja. There''s no way they''d be able to hide all the chakra of a TAILED BEAST from MY senses" (Rei) "With your speed and sensory powers, you would be able to move quickly and quietly. While giving us prior knowledge of the enemy" (Mabui) "And if things get dicey, I''ll split. By then, Tai should have already finished treating the three of you. Right Tai?" (Rei) "Huh?! I mean...uh...yes! I''ll definitely make sure you guys are one hundred percent!" (Tai) "Now wait just a-!" (Tango) Rei pointed to the two tied up Fma ninja they had captive "We need someone to look after these two as well as meet up with our upcoming reinforcements. They obviously can''t help us or Yugito-nee if they don''t know where she is right? Besides, if you say no, I''ll just leave in secret" (Rei) "Grrrr...you little..." (Tango) "I''ll go with him" (Suzu) "!" (Rei & Tai) "Even you Suzu?!" (Tango) The quiet girl affirmed her decision to aid Rei with a simple head gesture. Tai whispered to Tango "Sensei, if you don''t agree now...Rei really will just go on his own" (Tai) "Ahhhh...FINE! Suzu! Make sure he doesn''t do anything stupid!" (Tango) "Thank you for understanding Sensei" (Rei) Samui and Mabui sat down, getting ready for Tai''s treatment. Suzu grabbed her bag as Mabui spoke to Rei "And here I was hoping we could have more time together" (Mabui) "I guess the both of us have been too busy lately" (Rei) "Rei...I..." (Mabui) "It''s fine nee-san, I know. You have new...''responsibilities'' that require your attention" (Rei) "But that doesn''t mean-" (Mabui) Mabui held her head down apologetically. Noticing this, and with his back turned towards her, Rei spoke one final time "Well, if you''re feeling guilty about it...my ninth birthday is right around the corner" (Rei) "Huh?" (Mabui) "I''ve been going to Akina''s diner a lot and as good as her grilled teriyaki is...it''s still no match for yours" (Rei) "!" (Mabui) Without looking back, Rei took off with Suzu. Watching their departing figures, Mabui smiled as she whispered to herself "Looks like when this is over...I''ll have to request some time off" 83. A Fine Line Near the Land of Hot Water''s western border Rei and Suzu dashed through the forests, with the former leading the pair as he scanned for Yugito''s chakra "Anything?" (Suzu) "I can feel her, or rather, the tailed beast''s chakra but...there''s so much of it I''ve yet to pinpoint her exact location" (Rei) "Could the enemy have someone capable of using a Jamming Jutsu?" (Suzu) "To throw off any sensor-type...I suppose it''s possible but..." (Rei) {Could it be that...?} (Suzu) "Agh! I thought getting closer would make things easier" (Rei) It had been some time since they departed from the rest of the entourage. Rei could feel massive, periodic waves of inhuman chakra radiating all over the forest. But this powerful energy was also preventing him from locking onto Yugito Frustrated, he quietly whispered for help "...Notitia" (Rei) [Sup] "I''m not using a lifeline but...I''m gonna be frank...does Suzu have point?" (Rei) Carrying the role of guide in Raymond''s life now, Notitia previously stated it''s purpose was to provide all information on the already known material of this world. All knowledge of people and Ninjutsu that''d be considered "Canon", the rest...Rei had to figure out on his own [According to the information I possess...the only known ones in the original story capable of using Jamming Jutsu are members of the insect focused clan...the Aburame Clan] "I''m assuming they used their insects to do so?" (Rei) [Mm. They would spread bugs all over the area. Making it next to impossible to sort out different chakra signatures] "Is that what''s going here?" (Rei) [Well, the Fuma do spend a lot of their time in the Land of Fire. And you''ve already confirmed they''re working with others...who''s to say they don''t have an Aburame member in their back pocket?] "...It was already looking more and more like an Uchiha member is involved, now an Aburame member? The f*ck is going on?!" (Rei) "Huh? Did you say something?" (Suzu) "Hm?! Uh...no! It''s nothing!" (Rei) "?" (Suzu) [You know it''s amazing you don''t remember much of the Naruto story. I knew you were disinterested in it but...you''re fluent in several languages including Japanese, so fluent you didn''t have any trouble adapting to this world] "And?" (Rei) [And I still don''t get why you don''t remember all of the details, especially those apart of the main cast like Shino] "I told you, I skimmed over the entire series in one night when Chris mailed me the entire Manga collection. Besides, you can''t blame me for forgetting every small detail" (Rei) [I guess you have a point] "And calling Shino, or any member of his squad a main character is a bit of a stretch. Kurenai basically left the planet during part two, Hinata was only shown because she''s Naruto''s future wife, Shino had an easily forgettable appearance that he ACTIVELY complained about, and Kiba...well..." (Rei) [Was pretty much the "Yamcha" of the story?] "I don''t know who that is" (Rei) [OMG, did you not have any hobbies at all? God you''re so boring!] "Yeah? And what the hell makes you so interesting?" (Rei) [Touch...but I can say this] "What?" (Rei) [The chances an Aburame is involved is pretty low. It''s the Two-tails chakra that disrupting your senses...well that and the sloppy ritual these Fuma morons are undertaking] "Sloppy?" (Rei) [Yeah! Sloppy! These noobs can''t even extract a Tailed Beast properly, the chakra''s leaking everywhere! That''s how I know these guys aren''t Akatsuki. Whenever they performed this deed, they did it proper, ensuring all chakra was directed towards the vessel set to contain it] "...So these guys aren''t properly directing said chakra into whatever vessel they have?" (Rei) [Yup, and the leftovers not entering the vessel are flooding the forest, making it difficult for you to pinpoint their location. Amateurs] "Could they really be that sloppy?" (Rei) [The extraction of a Tailed Beast is never a simple undertaking...but these guys suck donkey ass] {Maybe...but...I think there''s more to it than that} (Rei) The fact a phenomenon like the one occurring now with Yugito never took place in the original story raised suspicion within Rei [Anything else?] "Any ideas on how to find them?" (Rei) [Proper timing. The moment the next wave of chakra hits...focus on the strongest source, kind of like echolocation] "Alright...I''ll try that" (Rei) Rei stopped running, closed his eyes, and formed a hand seal. About to ask why he stopped, Suzu didn''t speak, realizing he was concentrating and found it best not to interrupt him Ignoring all the energy already around him, he stood still for several minutes before... SHHRRIING! "?!" (Rei) ...the next wave hit "I got it!" (Rei) [You''re welcome] "Which way?!" (Suzu) "Follow me!" (Rei) VWOOSH! The pair bolted their way through the land, intent on finding Yugito ??? Several days ago in the Land of Lightning The President of the company "Mori SP.", Tetsuo Mori, was in his office. The only other persons present was Rei, or more accurately, the clone that visited him right before the real Rei set out on his mission Rei''s clone was dressed in a dark cloak, concealing nearly his entire appearance "The separator your engineers made was perfect. Feel free to begin mass manufacturing" (Rei) "Right..." (Tetsuo) "What''s wrong?" (Rei) "Are sure this will be enough to keep your identity a secret?" (Tetsuo) "Relax. Using my Genjutsu, I''ve ensured anyone curious about the identity of ''Developer R'' will see nothing but a hooded cloaked figure in the event someone tries to probe your mind" (Rei) Due to Rei possessing Isshiki''s tsutsuki DNA, his affinity for Inton1Yin/Shadow Style and genjutsu was at a level comparable to even Uchiha members. By altering Tetsuo''s mind, it''d be difficult if not impossible to find out Rei was the one backing him "And what if someone sees you coming here?" (Tetsuo) "So what if they do? It''s well known my team and I saved your life, us becoming acquaintances is natural. None would expect a kid to be your chief engineer as well" (Rei) "If you say so...now back to the matter at hand" (Tetsuo) "Right...have you secured them?" (Rei) "My company now has a monopoly on most of the Lithium within the country and then some" (Tetsuo) "Great, I was worried it wouldn''t go so smoothly" (Rei) "But Rei..." (Tetsuo) "?" (Rei) Concern and doubt emerged from Tetsuo''s face. He had paid quite a some to procure most of the Lithium trade, and with much effort. Although the pair had already agreed to build a battery, he assumed they''d be building a new type of liquid battery. They were the most advanced form of energy-based technology the country...the world currently possessed and used by all the major nations "Are you sure we should be spending our time grabbing all this Lithium? There are some willing to sell me bulks of liquid calcium and molten salt" (Tetsuo) "Calcium? Molten Salt? For a...liquid battery?" (Rei) Rei was very confused at the words coming from Tetsuo "Yes. At a very cheap, if not straight out devalued price! And how does Lithium work with the Liquid battery anyway?" (Tetsuo) "Um...Tetsuo. I think there''s been a misunderstanding" (Rei) "What?" (Tetsuo) "Tetsuo...we''re not making a Liquid battery" (Rei) "..." (Tetsuo) "..." (Rei) ".........EEEHHHH?!" (Tetsuo) Tetsuo screamed out in surprise after realizing he just spent a ton of money, some of which was loaned to him, on a different project than the one he thought Rei was working on He began freaking out on thought he just go fleeced by an eight, almost nine-year old kid "Calm down" (Rei) "How can be calm?! Do you have any idea how much money I spent and now you''re telling me we''re NOT making a battery?!" (Tetsuo) "I never said we weren''t making a battery...I said we''re not making a Liquid battery" (Rei) "Wait...you mean there are...other types of batteries on the same level?" (Tetsuo) "Plenty. But the one we''re making now is Lithium Ion battery" (Rei) "Lithium-ion battery...I''ve never heard of it..." (Tetsuo) "I doubt anyone has...but this battery is several times more efficient than the typical Liquid battery. Makes it look like an antique" (Rei) "..." (Tetsuo) "Allow me to clarify" (Rei) Due to the low technological level of this world, Rei''s statements were mind blowing to Tetsuo. Not wanting to miss a beat, he sat down and listened attentively to every word this child uttered as he explained the mechanics of this incredible device A few minutes later "...and finally, along with the high energy density, they''re far less hazardous than liquid batteries. Honestly, I''m shocked no one has actively tried to acquire more Lithium. Besides being the lightest metal around, it has many other uses" (Rei) "Other uses?! Like what?!" (Tetsuo) "Well...um...Lithium salt. It can used as a mood-stabilizer for humans. I''m pretty sure they''re a lot of people with PTSD after the last war" (Rei) "...Now you''re planning on having my company get ahead in the pharmaceutical market as well?" (Tetsuo) The corners of Rei''s mouth rose slightly "In time...I''ll have ''Mori SP'' get ahead on EVERY market" (Rei) "That''s just..." (Tetsuo) "Don''t worry Tetsuo...I''ll make sure you get your money''s worth. I need you to succeed after all" (Rei) {This...is this really a child standing in front of me?} (Tetsuo) Rei got up from his chair and proceeded to leave. As he made it to the door, he turned around one last time "Oh! Could I also ask for a small favor?" (Rei) "What is it?" (Tetsuo) "You mind if I use your lab? There are some things I need to make. I have a feeling the mission the real me is currently on is gonna be somewhat...arduous" (Rei) "Considering our relationship...that lab is practically yours anyway. But how are you gonna send it to the real you?" (Tetsuo) Pointing the red bracers on his arms "With these" (Rei) "?" (Tetsuo) "These bracers have a seal on them that connects to large scroll I have stored somewhere else. Any ''me'' can retrieve objects from within, but also send them to it thanks to the seal" (Rei) "In other words...you, the clone, make whatever you need to make and send it to the scroll before disappearing. Then the real you, who receives the information from the released shadow clone summons the object from the scroll. That''s brilliant" (Tetsuo) "It''s my ''Kuchiyose: Raik Kenka''2Summoning: Lightning Flash Blade Creation, but I can''t take all the credit. My cousin''s an expert on Space-time ninjutsu and pointed me in the right direction the last time I saw her" (Rei) "I see...well go on then. No one should be in the lab at this time" (Tetsuo) "Thanks, I''ll see you later" (Rei) Rei made his way to the lab and went to work {I can''t influence the world too much...I have strive for just enough to benefit me} "Now lets see what I can cook up in here" (Rei) ??? Present time Rei and Suzu made it to their destination. In front of them was a large pit, shaped almost like an Ancient Roman Theatre. The Fuma-nin extracting Yugito''s Tailed Beast were right out in the open {Finally found her!} (Rei) Rei opted to get closer before Suzu grabbed his arm "!" (Rei) "Don''t" (Suzu) "What''s wrong? Don''t tell me you want to wait? Yugito-nee will probably be dead by then" (Rei) "I''m not that eager wait either but look at their position. They''re out in the open but...there''s no way to flank them" (Suzu) [She''s right man. With the pit''s wide structure, any who approach will be spotted instantly. It''s most likely for this reason they''re extracting a Tailed Beast out in the open] "Behind, front, left, right, even above...there''s no opening. And I doubt the two of us could take on all of those EXPERIENCED shinobi down there" (Suzu) [Right again, this isn''t like the time with that weak-ass "Oni Garrison". These guys are professionals] "True, but they''re exhausted from maintaining this ritual. Most of the chakra I''m sensing from them is depleted, and the rest barely have half their full strength. And if we get Yugito-nee to help then..." (Rei) "IF, she''s even capable of fighting after days being tortured for days" (Suzu) "..." (Rei) "Look...I trust you...so I''ll back whatever decision you make. I just want you to be aware of the risk" (Suzu) [There''s a fine line between genius and insanity...and you typically fumble on it dude] Although somewhat annoyed at being rejected by two individuals at the same time, Rei understood their points. What he was suggesting is indeed dangerous...but he believed Yugito dying and causing a "Ripple" was a far worse scenario "Then what do you propose?" (Rei) [Being the smartest one around I naturally have a brilliant pla-] "Since above ground isn''t an option...it means we attack from below" (Suzu) "Using your Doton3Earth Style, that''ll work" (Rei) [...Oh...you''re talkin'' to her. Fine! Just ignore me! I''ll return the favor the next time you need me...dick] ZING! Rei just felt something His clone had completed its task and disappeared. Rei, just like any other user of the "Kage Bunshin no Jutsu", received all the experience and information from his released clone {This is...it looks like my clone did one hell of a job on short notice. These "tools" will help a lot} (Rei) "But I have no plan for what to do afterwards" (Suzu) "That''s okay...I do" (Rei) Rei took out some ear plugs and gave them to Suzu "What are these for?" (Suzu) "Trust me, the moment I attack...things are gonna get loud" (Rei) "...I take you''re the diversion then?" (Suzu) "Yeah...the task of waking up Yugito is yours" (Rei) "And our back-up?" (Suzu) "I''m gonna be very flashy this time...all the fighting will definitely attract attention. Hopefull, back-up will have already rendezvous with the rest of team and their just waiting for our signal" (Rei) "Will they be able to see it?" (Suzu) "Oh, absolutely...so...you ready?" (Rei) "I''ll get to work digging us a tunnel beneath them" (Suzu) "Preferable right under Yugito if you can" (Rei) "Mm" (Suzu) {Time to see if my investment payed off} (Rei) As Suzu gathered her chakra, Notitia spoke once more [I take it back Rei] "?" (Rei) [You definitely tread more towards insanity] 84. New Tools MrProper While Suzu was tunneling underground with her Ninjutsu, the Fuma-nin above were getting aggravated "She''s still...why do I feel like progress has been especially slow?" "Ahhh...because it has" "Could...could she be resisting? That would explain these erratic waves of chakra..." "Seriously, it''s because of her?! Captain!" The one seemingly in charge was sitting by the group set to switch with the ones currently maintaining the extraction ritual. Standing up, the ninja''s full appearance could be seen Light brown colored hair in a short bun. Dark brown eyes, and a notable scar on his cheek. Wearing armor unique to his clan, unrecognizable, not pertaining to any other village "What''s wrong now? This is what you all signed up for" (Captain) "It''s been almost FOUR days already!" "How much longer is this gonna take?!" "We''re ALL exhausted from this, and progress has been ridiculously slow" "And here I thought it''d be something important. I swear, is this a shinobi unit or a class of toddlers I''m running" (Captain) "Sir..." "The future of our clan depends on well we perform here. Remember, this is just the first step. Did you lot think achieving our ambition was going to be easy?" (Captain) None rebuked his words as they knew everything he said was correct "Sacrifice...we all knew this dream of ours required it. Just as you all knew what would happen with this last minute, make-shift formula. The sooner you stop complaining and focus, the sooner you can leave!" (Captain) Some of the men moaned in dissatisfaction, but understood the need for this task. None spoke further and continued with their tasks {You guys aren''t the only ones irritated. Seriously, what the hell is going on in the heads of the clan leaders? To think Nobuyuki-sama approved of this is just-} (Captain) RUMBLE! {Hm? Earthquake? Or...is it the chakra of the Two-tails?} ??? Underground, beneath Yugito and the formula binding her "Alright...you remember the plan?" (Rei) "Mm. The moment you signal, I''ll toss one these things in the air" (Suzu) "Good. Make sure you''re looking downwards" (Rei) "I got it...but how are we going to communicate? Tango-sensei isn''t here so we can''t rely on his Chakra Transmission Jutsu" (Suzu) "Well...there ARE only four of these things. If you haven''t woken up Yugito-nee by time you''ve thrown the fourth one, we immediately retreat back into the hole you dug up and flee back to the others" (Rei) "Okay. I''ll do my best to support you while you''re drawing all of the attention but...be careful" (Suzu) "I''m not trying to get myself killed today. If these guys weren''t already tired, I''d never suggest trying to rescue our colleague from a group of well trained shinobi with only the two of us" (Rei) [It''s refreshing to work with someone possessing common sense...well...at least some of it] Suzu stood in front of Rei and formed several hand seals "I''m ready. Just say when" (Suzu) [You got everything?] "All my ''tools'' are ready to go. Time to go silent" (Rei) The two put placed ear plugs in their ears before Rei nodded at Suzu {Doton: Retsudo Tensh!1Earth Style: Rupturing Earth Palm} (Suzu) ??? "Haaa...my turn''s coming up next" "It''s not like you''re the only one" "The only thing I''m worried is the vessel we brought. Do you really think it''ll be able to contain all of that power?" "I get what you mean. Just looking at it shake and suck up all that chakra...it looks like it''s about to-" BURST! Before any realized, the ground beneath Yugito and the ninja surrounding her erupted. Causing them to sink beneath the earth "?!" (Everyone) "Enemy attack! Engage!" (Captain) "Damn! Who''s doing this?! It couldn''t be Kumo already?!" The other group charged towards the blast site when a metal object came flying out of it "What is-?!" BANG! The object detonated with a massive wave of light, sound, and smoke! "GAH!!!!" "MY EARS!" "SO BRIGHT!!!" {Ugh! The sound and...light! Was that a flash bomb? Or a smoke bomb?} (Captain) "I can''t see anything! Even though I didn''t look directly at it, the smoke is-!" "Hello. And..." (Rei) "Huh?" "Goodbye" (Rei) WHACK! "Puoooh!!! Holding his favorite black staff, Rei went to work attacking the enemy. Taking advantage of their lack of visibility, Rei relied on his speed and senses to navigate through the smoke cloud and neutralize as many enemies as he could "Goh!!" "We need to get rid of this smoke" "We''re under atta-ACK!" "Where''s the enemy?! AH!" {Damn it! Everyone''s tired as it is...no one was supposed to find us yet!} (Captain) "F*CK THIS! ''Fton: Taifikka''2Wind Style: Supreme Typhoon!" "!" (Rei) Using wind style, one of the ninja blew away the smoke cloud and shock appeared on their faces. Expecting to see elite ninjas, what came into view was a lone young boy "The hell? A kid?" "He''s the one that attacked? Judging from his attire...he''s a Kumo-nin" (Captain) "Kumogakure sent a lone kid after us? How does that even make sense?" "Maybe he was just in the area and happened to find us by coincidence?" "Who cares! What matters is this little shit was one attacking us!" "And it was going so well too" (Rei) Rei smiled mockingly at them. He confident, smug demeanor irritated them to no end {How unlucky, I''d hoped they wouldn''t have someone skilled in wind style...} (Rei) [So now what? Gonna signal Suzu for another one of those Smoke-Flash Bombs? Or...] Speaking softly "Yup...time to bring out the ''Scales''." (Rei) "Boy! You''re in a lot of trouble!" "Funny! I was just about to say the same thing to you nimrods" (Rei) "You little-!" "?!" (Captain) Before any could retort, Rei lowered the index and middle fingers of his left hand. This was the signal for Suzu to throw another bomb "Uh?! HE''S NOT ALONE!" (Captain) Rei immediately tapped weapon-summoning red bracers on his arms BANG! "Ah! AGAIN?!" "Damn it!" "Take out the kid, then kill whosever helping him! Sealing Team! Get the Vessel out of here!" (Captain) As the captain issued out order, a voice emerged from behind "Yeesh. Such dangerous language you''re using" "?!" (Captain) "Too slow" PIERCE!! The captain was bombarded with several black objects. These strange blades were shaped almost like diamonds or spades "GAH!!!" (Captain) "And with that, it looks like you''re done for the day captain-san. I''ll let my village question you later, for now...lemme deal with the rest of your friends" (Rei) "You think little wounds like this are gonna stop-!" (Captain) BABUMP! "Of course not. I need all the data I can get so please tell me...how do you feel right now?" (Rei) "Ugh! What? What is this feeling?! My chakra...it''s fading away! ARGH!!" (Captain) "Glad to see it actually works! Thanks for being my test dummy, later" (Rei) "D-D-DAMN...YOUUUU!!!" (Captain) Rei dashed away, attacking the captains comrades with the same tools "Now for the Fton user" (Rei) FLING! Using his senses, he threw more of these objects in the smoke, hitting his target in the process. The victim''s scream could be heard in the distance "ARGH!" "Sorry, not sorry pal. Can''t have you blowing away the smoke again" (Rei) [That sounded like it hurt] {I was initially worried after changing their shape, but it looks like my concerns were useless} (Rei) [Your match certainly did provide insight...told ya you''re a worrywart] "It''s called being thorough" (Rei) After Rei''s last match with Tango, he was unsatisfied with the performance of the Chakra Draining Rods. Being shaped like rods, he found it very inconvenient to use as a projectile weapon. Notitia suggested he change the form into something more practical FLING! FLING! "Ooof!" "Ngh!" Taking its advice, Rei created thinner versions of the rods. Making them thin and sharp enough to fit between his fingers, the easiest form to construct them in was a sort of diamond shape. After crafting the initial prototype, the first thought that came to mind when he saw it was...the scale of a snake "Here''s some more for you dickheads!" (Rei) FLING! FLING! FLING! "Ugh!" "Captain! Captain where are you?!" "Did the sealing team get away?!" "Where''s the Jinchriki?!" "HOW IS THIS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW?!" {This is working out even better than I thought...not bad considering I''m barely nine-years old right now} (Rei) Not wasting time, Rei hurled volleys and volleys of these Chakra draining "Scales". Without the Fuma-nin already tired and his unique "tools", Rei never would''ve been able to cause these grown shinobi so much trouble "Let''s mix it up a little...''Katon: Homura''3Fire Style: Blaze!" (Rei) BOOF! BOOF! BOOF! Rei began launching moderate-sized masses of fire at the enemy. One by one, the blinded men were either hit with fire, blades, Rei''s staff, or all of the above "Hm?" (Rei) As things got worse for the Fuma-nin, another bomb was thrown high into the air by Suzu. Once again, assaulting the Fuma with waves of blinding light and grating high pitched sound {She threw the third one without me signaling for it. That means...hehe!} (Rei) Rei continued his guerilla attacks until the smoke finally cleared. Many were already down, but there were still quite a few remaining "Huff...huff...wow! There sure are a lot of you aren''t there...huff...hehehe...I thought I''d be done by now. Hahaha!" (Rei) "Y-You!" "Ah! Captain!" "Little punk!" "I''m gonna kill you slow..." "YOU''RE IN HOT WATER NOW!" "Hmmmm...nah. I don''t think so" (Rei) The remaining Fuma moved in with the intent to kill, others hurling their signature large shuriken at Rei when... [HAHAHA! You realize you''re being more of a condescending asshole than me right now! This is hilarious!] BLAST! ...A massive fireball, unlike the small ones Rei had thrown around, had torn right through a section of the Fuma. While also blowing away their projectiles, the attack completely incinerated several of them until their bodies were naught but charcoal THUMP! "H-Huh?" "Wha-What was..." "Did the kid do that?" "No...I...I don''t think so" "Then who...OH GOD...." "...Oh no..." "In hot water...I believe..." (Rei) THUMP! Large inhuman steps could not only be heard, but felt by everyone present. Echoing louder with each step "That description..." (Rei) THUMP! "Best describes..." (Rei) THUMP! "You guys" (Rei) What emerged from the crater behind Rei was massive feline creature. Composed entirely of impossible blue flames, heterochromatic eyes with the right being yellow and the left being green GRRRR! [OOOHHHHH...WHERE''S MAH F*CKING POPCORN?!] Yugito had emerged! Now assuming the form of the Tailed Beast within her! "I believe my friend here...has some beef with you guys" (Rei) RRRROOOOAAARRRRRR!!!!!!!!! "?!" "Hope you''ve written your last rites" (Rei) 85. Cat’s Wrath MrProper Several minutes ago Outside the cavern Mabui & Samui were held captive Tai had finished treating the group. Tango''s mind was stable again after being hit with an awful Genjutsu Trap. Having already been administered first aid, the two kunoichi were near tip-top shape with Tai''s continuous care "Phew...my mind is far more clear now. Thank you Tai" (Tango) "My pleasure Sensei" (Tai) "And us?" (Samui) Ceasing his medical ninjutsu, Tai stood up and looked and Mabui and Samui "Because that guy spent most of his time ''interrogating'' you with illusions, the physical abuse you took from him wasn''t as bad as I thought it''d be. It should be safe for you to fight now...but I still advise you exercise caution. You''re still not at 100%" (Tai) "Got it" (Mabui) "Right, thanks for the help" (Samui) "Well, if you wanna thank me, we could always go on a dat-" (Tai) "Are they good to go?" (Tango) "...Personally, I''d rather we go home right now and give them proper care at a hospital" (Tai) "No time for that, we need to go. Rei and Suzu haven''t been back yet...which means he found the enemy" (Tango) "And knowing my little cousin, he''s probably opted to fight them" (Mabui) "Even though Tango only told him to observe?" (Samui) "Hehe! While he''s obedient most of the time, when he really wants something...no one can stop him, not even me" (Mabui) "Sigh" (Tango) "Trouble loves that guy" (Tai) BOOM! "?!" A large, fiery explosion could be seen in the distance "What the heck was that?" (Tai) "..." (Mabui) "Trouble" (Tango) "This heat...things definitely aren''t cool over there" (Samui) "Rei and Suzu-chan must''ve freed Yugito. Let''s go before she burns down the whole forest" (Mabui) "Yes, we can''t wait any longer for back-up" (Tango) "What about them?" (Tai) "Oh..." (Samui) Tai pointed to the two captive prisoners. While the group wanted to help their friends, they obviously just couldn''t leave these criminals unchecked. Tango took out a syringe from his pouch "Hold on...I''ve got something that''ll keep them out of action for a while" (Tango) "A sleeping agent?" (Mabui) "Something like that, though it''s not very great. The Intelligence Division made use of these quite frequently during the war, particularly whenever we were transporting a prisoner" (Tango) Tango walked towards the two captive enemies and just as he was about inoculate them, their bodies began convulsing "Eh?!" (Tango) "Wha-?!" (Tai) "Did they wake up?!" (Mabui) GARGLE! Their bodies trembled violently as blood oozed from their noses, mouths, and eyes "Just what did you inject them with?!" (Samui) "Nothing! I hadn''t done anything yet!" (Tango) THUD! After more seconds of this unnatural, violent seizure...the two men fell to the ground. Tango cautiously approached and placed his fingers on their necks "W-Well?" (Tai) "...They''re dead" (Tango) "H-How?! They were tied up weren''t they?!" (Tai) "Did they have a countermeasure of some kind? Some kind of poisonous pill hidden in their mouths?" (Samui) "I''m not some amateur senpai, my time served in intelligence was well spent. The moment we captured them I immediately checked every nook and cranny on their bodies for hidden weapons and such. I already confirmed they didn''t possess anything of the sort" (Tango) "Then...then what the heck happened?" (Tai) "Could...could it be? They way these guys reacted was just like-" (Tango) RUSTLE "?!" (All of them) The group''s speculation halted when the sound of something approaching was heard "Be on guard!" (Mabui) "Could it be they weren''t alone?!" (Tango) "Crap!" (Tai) "Tai! Stay back!" (Tango) "Yes sir!" (Tai) A group of people landed in front of them "!" (Mabui) "This-!" (Samui) "You...you guys are-?!" (Tango) ??? Present time Rei was facing the large troop of Fuma-nin. Behind him was Yugito, in her massive Tailed Beast form and the crater Suzu made and was currently hiding in The giant, flaming, blue monster cat stared down the Fuma with blistering anger. Rei stole a glance at her "Damn...that''s hot. Just standing near her is making it difficult to breathe...it''s like she''s evaporating all the water in my body!" (Rei) The Fuma started whispering to one another in panic "Oh man...!" "What the hell do we do now?!" "Maintain your distance and stick to our usual long range attacks!" "As long as it can''t touch us we''ll be okay!" "Do your best to wear this monster out!" Not waiting any longer, several of them began hurling blades at Rei and Yugito "Tch! Fuma Shuriken jutsu is on par with the Uchiha''s. Dodging them all is...!" (Rei) CLING! Tails from the cat moved swiftly, shielding Rei from the projectiles "Huh?" (Rei) "Stay back Rei" "...Yugito-nee?" (Rei) "They''re mine" (Yugito) "..." (Rei) "You all...ARE GONNA BURN!!" (Yugito) "Here it comes!" "SPLIT UP!" "ATTACK FROM DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS!" The giant beast assaulted the ninja, launching flurrying attacks in every conceivable direction. Whether it was claws, tails, or fire blasts...the area became engulfed with destruction and choas "Phew, looks my gamble payed off again. I was worried she might attack me considering she hasn''t completely mastered control of her Tailed Beast like Killer B, but it looks like I won''t end up a burnt crisp today" (Rei) "I was expecting you to keep fighting until you ended on the ground, overdoing it as usual" "Hey! Don''t say that! You keep jinxing me like Tai does, and it might just end up becoming a thing" (Rei) Approaching him from behind with the last Smoke-Flash Bomb in her hand was Suzu "I''m surprised she''s so active, especially if we consider the awful treatment she''s been put through for the past few days" (Suzu) "Anyone could tell from a distance she was pretty out of it but...one shot of epinephrine, two food pills, and the rage from enduring over three long days of torture..." (Rei) BLAST! "Gah! So hot!!" "My skin is craking!!" "Increase your distance!!" "WHERE''S THE CAPTAIN?!!" "RAAAAHHH!!" (Yugito) Yugito let loose with no intent of stopping "...this is the only conceivable result one could get" (Rei) "No kidding, but where''d you get the epinephrine from? Tai?" (Suzu) "Nah...just something I''d happen to make while I was...testing a few things" (Rei) "Hmm..." (Suzu) {I''m glad my tools worked out this time but there''s still room for improvement. I wanna wrap this up so I can go home and continue my research. I also need to send the next schematic for the generator to Tetsuo} (Rei) ??? Back in Kumogakure Dodai was conversing with the Lightning Daimy, who had just returned to the country, and Tekkan outside the Raikage''s office "I''ve just confirmed the team we sent arrived in Yugakure1Hidden Hot Water Village not too long ago Daimy-sama" (Dodai) "Good, we may be able to put this troublesome matter behind us without too much noise" (Tekkan) "In the middle of an armistice, what crappy timing. Not to mention the Head Ninja..." (Daimy) "Ahh...that" (Dodai) "Yes...his actions were very inappropriate" (Tekkan) "That''s an understatement! At this point I don''t give a shit for the opinions of others or his position! It''ll be a miracle if he still has his headband, let alone his title, when I''m done with him!" (Daimy) "Daimy-sama..." (Dodai) "Sir...please calm yourself. You don''t have the authority to do so anyway...that power belongs to the Raikage" (Tekkan) The Daimy was furious for obvious reasons. During one of the most tense and important times since the last war, the Head Ninja decided to abuse his authority, all for the purpose of settling his nephew''s petty grudge "Bah!" (Daimy) "Sir..." (Tekkan) "I know, I know! Sigh. Where is Raikage-dono anyway? I expected him to arrive sooner than me considering I was farther away from the village" (Daimy) "Negotiations with the hidden village took longer than anticipated" (Dodai) "I was able to get in contact with a few of our colleagues near Takigakure2Hidden Waterfall Village and they said his boat has already departed. He should be here soon" (Tekkan) "Good, we have a lot to talk about" (Daimy) "You mean with the newly formed nation Ishigakure3Hidden Rock Village? I''ve been meaning to ask you about that" (Dodai) "Well that, and the status of the ''island'' and its ownership. I have much to tell, but not now. We''ll share stories only when we''re in a ''proper'' place for discussion" (Daimy) "..." (Tekkan) The Daimy hinted at Dodai their current location was not a safe space to speak freely. Only when the ones they trust the most have gathered in their usual "circle" can they safely share intel "...I understand sir" (Dodai) "Mm" (Daimy) "For now, Daimy-sama and I will retreat to the bureau. When Raikage-sama returns, we''ll have a proper meeting" (Tekkan) "Indeed, I''m exhausted from my trip and this headache I''m carrying certainly isn''t helping" (Daimy) "Right...I''ll inform Tenga the moment we-!" (Dodai) "Dodai-sama!" "?!" (Dodai) TAK! TAK! TAK! A shinobi was running down the hall, screaming Dodai''s name. Making the loud appearance was the ninja C "C? What is it? Why are you yelling?" (Dodai) "Ah! Daimy-sama is here to! Good!" (C) "Yes...why do you need to see me?" (Daimy) "Something''s happened...something awful!" (C) "?!" (Dodai) "What do you mean?! Out with it!" (Daimy) "Did something happen to Yugito-sama?! Or the Raikage-sama?!" (Tekkan) "No. The...huff...armistice with Konoha...!" (C) The three men were filled with anxiety and dread when C uttered the word "armistice" "...The Head Ninja has done something terrible" 86. Trigger "AAAAHHHH!!!" BLAST!! Yugito was still at it! Tearing through the enemy troop, burning whoever she could get her claws on! The Fuma responded in kind with continuous attacking from a distance "Keep going!" "Don''t get too close!" "That''s it! Keep formation just like that and we''ll be...!" After a spur of panic and chaos, the Fuma had composed themselves and began fighting strategically. Maintaining their distance and attacking from afar "NRRRRRRR...BURN!" (Yugito) "Not again?!" "Here comes another big one!" "Spread out!" As Suzu and Rei observed from afar {Damn, her Katon is great. I really need to level up soon. If it wasn''t the for the fear of Rei''s soul forcing mine out of this body, itd be so much better. But is finding Rychi Cave really the answer? I still think I can-} (Rei) "Rei..." (Suzu) "Hm?" (Rei) "Is it me or is Yugito-sama-?"(Suzu) "..." (Rei) [Rei...um...you might have a problem] "Rei?" (Suzu) Rei stepped forward to make sure Suzu couldn''t hear him speak "Is it what I think it is?" (Rei) [You noticed already?] "I''m a sensor type remember. I realized quite some time ago, and now its become visible to the point even Suzu has noticed. Her form is...shrinking" (Rei) The changes were subtle at first, but after some time, Yugito''s attacks were getting slower, and her form was getting smaller and smaller [The Tailed Beasts are living charka with a conscious. Basically energy in physical form, and being made of fire, the Two-tails is especially malleable] "Already drained before we got here, there''s no way she can keep this up for long. But how does the shrinking come into picture? I''ve never seen that happening to any other Jinchriki" (Rei) [Jinchriki can take multiple forms. The version 1 & 2 cloaks, and the final Tailed Beast State. What''s happening to Yugito right now is the opposite] "So she''s going through these transformations in reverse?" (Rei) [Normally, after tiring herself out she''d just revert back to human form but, I suspect the tailed beast within her is responding to her rage and doing its best to keep her up-and-fighting. Hell, its probably pissed off at these Fuma guys too] "I wonder...maybe the epinephrine shot was a little too strong. The adrenaline has gone to her head" (Rei) [That...and her weakened state. Worse, those guys are starting to catch on. Her attacks are getting more erratic and sloppy. If this continues...] "Ahh...crap! Suzu!" (Rei) "Time to help?" (Suzu) "Yeah! Let''s go!" (Rei) DASH! The duo bolted from their spot, intent on aiding Yugito. Both knew if she fell here, all of them would end up dead. Back-up had yet to arrive and it was uncertain if they''d make it in time to help. With more than fifteen of them remaining, the Kumo ninja could only rely on themselves now "Yugito-sama! Please calm yourself!" (Suzu) "You have to stop!" (Rei) "ROOOOAAAAARRRRR!!!" (Yugito) {Damn! She''s completely lost all control!} (Rei) Yugito continued her reckless rampage, now having lost all sense of self. Her current form began to grow smaller and smaller "Great! Now what?!" (Rei) "We help the only way we can...by taking out the enemy! Heads up Rei!" (Suzu) "That''s-?!" (Rei) TOSS! Suzu threw the last Smoke-Flash Bomb in the air. As it detonated, everyone besides the duo became disoriented by the waves of light and sound "While large, the smokescreen won''t cover them all now that they''re spread out!" (Rei) "Fton: Kiry Ranbu!1Wind Style: Air Current Dance" (Suzu) WHOOOSH! Using her Fton, Suzu managed to encompass the entire area in smoke "...Or you could just do that" (Rei) [Girl''s got game] "I''ll stick to support, the rest is up to you!" (Suzu) "Heh! On it!" {Katon...!} (Rei) The pair split up "Damn it!" "Just when we were-!" "Those brats again!" "Stay calm! We can still-huh?" BUZZ! A giant fireball grazed one of them as the ninja dodged at the last second "GAH!! FLAMES?!" "That kid again?!" "I don''t think so...the blast was far too big!" "So that monster cat still has plenty of energy then..." "Be careful not to get hi-AAGH!!" {It ain''t Yugito douchebags} (Rei) Just when they were finally getting used to dealing with Yugito, the actions of Suzu and Rei discombobulated them once more. Rei was the one responsible for launching fireballs within the smoke. But the reason they were much more powerful than normal was... {Here''s another one!} (Suzu) ...due to Suzu amplifying his attacks with her wind FLING! FLING! WHACK! Rei wasn''t letting off on his assault. Whether it be Katon, his "Scales", or Taijutsu...he used every means at his disposal to neutralize as many Fuma as he could before the smoke cleared "How many left?!" (Suzu) "Just a couple, we can still-Uh?!" (Rei) [Incoming!] "Rei?!" (Suzu) "SUZU! GET DOWN!" (Rei) Without warning, the smoke was blown away and a massive shuriken almost took off their heads [Ugh! That was too close!] "What happened?!" (Suzu) "Back-up arrived...but not ours" (Rei) [Awww...and it was going so well to] The team responsible for the "Vessel" containing the Two-tails chakra, when the Fuma were in the midst of extracting it, had returned "Those guys ran away first when we attacked...but they don''t have that large cauldron with them" (Suzu) {They''re back already?! And the accuracy to target us in the smoke with zero visibility...they not only have a Fton user, but a sensor-type like me!} (Rei) [They must''ve suppressed their chakra. Considering they have sensor-nin, it''s what you''d expect] "You guys...why are you so late?!" "Don''t blame us, transporting that vessel wasn''t easy. Sealing team!" "Sir!" The reinforcements encircled Yugito and placed their hands on the ground. A formula emerged and formed a large pattern "Finjutsu: Taj Isshi Tjin!2Sealing Jutsu: Multiple String Light Formation" "Uh?! RAAAAHHHH!!!" (Yugito) "Yugito-sama!" (Suzu) {Shit! She can''t-!} (Rei) Already low on strength, Yugito finally fell out of her Tailed Beast Form and was forced to the ground, unable to move "She still has a lot of power despite losing her transformation! We''ll wear her down while you deal with others!" "Alright!" "About time we took care of these brats!" "Hehehe! Payback time!" The remaining members approached the Genin with gleeful smiles on their faces "There goes our greatest asset" (Rei) "You wouldn''t happen to have more of those bombs?" (Suzu) "No, those four were all I had. And they weren''t easy to make" (Rei) Because of this world''s current tech level, acquiring the materials to make such advanced devices wasn''t easy...or cheap. The only reason Rei COULD make them was due to Tetsuo procuring the necessary items and granting him access to his lab "Suzu. Support me with long range attacks" (Rei) "And let you engage them by yourself?!" (Suzu) "We have to do our best to buy as much time as possible before OUR back-up-!" (Rei) "Look out!" (Suzu) FLING! Not even giving them a chance to speak, the Fuma hurled shuriken of various sizes at them "We doin'' the usual?" "Yup!" "All together boys!" "Ninpo: Shuriken Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!3Ninja Art: Shuriken Shadow Clone Jutsu" ZWISH! The shuriken they threw suddenly multiplied into a storm of blades, leaving no room for evasion. Suzu moved with haste "Stay behind me! ''Doton: Doryheki''4Earth Style: Mud Wall" (Suzu) {That Earth wall isn''t gonna hold!} (Rei) "Rei! We can''t fight them!" (Suzu) "I''ll use clones to draw their fire! You just-!" (Rei) CLING! A kunai landed next to them with a tag tied on its end "Paper-!" (Suzu) "-Bomb!" (Rei) BOOM! ??? Several miles from Rei The Fuma captain previously subdued by Rei was now carrying the "Vessel" containing Yugito''s chakra. During the chaos, the weapons Rei used to subdue him were removed thanks to the resulting explosions "Almost there. Just near the border...man this thing is heavy!" (Captain) The moment he was freed, he immediately fled the scene. Catching up with the sealing team, he took the cauldron containing the Two-tails chakra, and instructed them to back up the others "After all the trouble we went through, we''d better get paid!" (Captain) "Your boss has already received it" "What the hell?!" (Captain) "Easy now, we''re here to take that from you" "Yer pal Nobuyuki has already been notified" Two dark robed figures suddenly emerged from out of nowhere, stopping the Fuma Captain in his tracks. One possessed a tall, large, hulking build while the other was short with a voice that sounded elderly. Both wearing masks, with the Kanji for "Mountain" on the large one, and "Three" for the short one {These guys got the drop on me so easily...the clan head mentioned them before. Our current employers...the "Company"!} (Captain) "Mountain, as you should know, carrying such things doesn''t suit one of my age" "Bah! You''re just lazy Three" (Mountain) "Say what you will" (Three) "Hey, you! I''ll take the cauldron now" (Mountain) The Captain was annoyed at Mountain''s domineering attitude. His group was previously told this would be an easy job, but it''s been nothing short of a disaster "Hold on! You''re just gonna straight up take it?! After all the shit my men and I have gone through...this job clearly wasn''t what you guys promised!" (Captain) "..." (Mountain) "So what do you propose young man?" (Three) "I''m not handing over anything until you DOUBLE what you''ve originally paid us!" (Captain) The two figures looked at each other "Hey. Can I...?" (Mountain) "Normally, I''d say no but...we''re short on time" (Three) "Alright then" (Mountain) "?" (Captain) "Heh!" (Mountain) FWIP! "What are you-UHACK!" (Captain) "You really need to learn when to shut up" (Mountain) In an instant, the large man called Mountain was holding the Fuma Captain by the neck! With his other free hand, Mountain picked up the cauldron effortlessly {F-Fast! How is it possible for someone so large to move so quickly! And to pick up that heavy thing with just one arm is-!} (Captain) "It''s a pity, if you had just given us the cauldron you could''ve walked away in one piece" (Mountain) "Young ones these days are always in such a rush to get hurt" (Three) "Ugh...let...go!" (Captain) Three came closer and spoke in a soft tone "We told you exactly what the details of the mission were. We provided escort with little scrutiny, a vessel for the Two-tails, and even someone with Doujutsu5Eye Jutsu to aid you" (Three) "..." (Captain) "If you couldn''t even handle the simple task of handling Kumogakure''s spare Jinchriki, a juvenile little girl who can''t even control her Tailed Beast, in spite of all that was given to you..." (Mountain) "We paid quite a sum to provide this all to you and yet you ask for more. You...someone who''s not even the head of his clan and has no authority once so ever to bargain with us, is nothing short of ridiculous" (Three) "Which is why no one is gonna miss you if you''re gone!" (Mountain) "Huh? That''s not what I-" (Three) SNAP! The Fuma Captain ceased all movement as the life left his eyes after Mountain snapped his neck "Why''d you kill him?! I just wanted to teach him a lesson! Damn it Mountain!" (Three) "Relax. I doubt killing him will damage our relationship with the Fuma. As long as they don''t know WE did it...they''ll probably just believe he was a casualty of the Two-tails. You could hear its rampage from all the way over here" (Mountain) "I just hope Nobuyuki buys it. The last thing we need is to lose our most valuable partner right now" (Three) "Please! They''re expendable, and this guy was annoying! Don''t act like you weren''t thinking of killing him" (Mountain) "No, they''re certainly not expendable! I doubt we''ll ever find another group of mercenaries as large such as them!" (Three) "Humph! Says you" (Mountain) "Regardless of how I feel, I never jeopardize my partnerships! Ugh! This is why meat heads are such-!" (Three) "Quit you''re bitching! We''ve got a schedule to keep. I don''t like being out in the open for too long" (Mountain) "Sigh...fine. You know you''re really-HM?!" (Three) "!" (Mountain) Three suddenly went on alert. Noticing his sudden action, Mountain proceeded to do the same "..." (Mountain) "..." (Three) "What is it?" (Mountain) "...Nothing" (Three) "You sure?" (Mountain) "Yes. Let''s move" (Three) "Okay then" (Mountain) Mountain tossed the Captain''s body on the ground before leaving with Three. The two figures vanished without a trace, believing no one noticed them but... FWOOO ...a strange person, or creature emerged from the ground "Those guys are strange, to be able to notice us is not something most people can do" "That''s why I told you to be careful. I can still feel some life from this guy, grab him and go" "Right" The creature seemingly talking to itself possessed two different voices "We need to inform Tobi of this" 87. RAMPAGE MrProper "Mmm...mmm...ugh...!" After getting knocked out from the blast of a paper bomb, Rei was just now getting up "Nn...agh! Ow! That friggin hurt! Guess that what happens when keep trolling adults. Wait! Suz-EH?!" Shock was all he felt {Huh?! Where the hell am I?!} (Rei) Waking up with a headache, Rei found himself not in the pit with the Fma...but an empty white space. No person or thing in sight except a black, sphere-shaped gem the size of a baseball floating in mid air "Am...could I be under a Genjutsu? N-No...I can sill feel my chakra...it''s not disturbed at all. I don''t think I''m dead either-OW!" (Rei) Struggling to get up, Rei poked his hand on a sharp object. What came into to view were more of the "Scales" he manufactured "The hell?! These are the failures I made. They should been sealed in the scroll connected to the marking on my bracers. Did I summon them by mistake?" (Rei) CLING!! Rei stared at the pile of broken weapons with disappointment "Still broken. Man, I get irritated just thinking about the money I spent to make them. No wonder Isshiki created ''Kara'', I really hope Tetsuo can come through for me" (Rei) With no one in sight, Rei screamed for help... {I''ll have to deal with those Fma all by myself, unarmed...and that''s even IF I figure out how to get out of here} "Notitia! You there?! I need your help!" (Rei) ...but there was no response. Accepting no one would come, he decided to look around DASH! {This empty space...it''s probably endless. I can breathe yet...I don''t feel any air resistance whenever I wave my hand. Also, my chakra has remained the same despite the fact I''ve been using Shunshin''s1Body Flicker constantly. And if that wasn''t weird enough...} (Rei) Rei glanced behind him {That strange sphere has been following me this entire time. What the hell is that thing? A gem, pearl, or maybe a stone?} (Rei) While exploring every inch of this white space at top speed, the floating black sphere effortlessly continued to follow him. Rei was unable to get away from it no matter how hard he tried Understanding it was pointless, he stopped running and turned towards it {This thing doesn''t appear to be hostile...it just follows me around. I wonder...} (Rei) With much caution, Rei stretched his hand out towards the sphere. But it was too high, and even when he jumped in the air, it maintained its distance from Rei {It seems be set on a fixed range from me. Never too far, but never too close. Ahh, this is getting annoying...just get over here alrea-?!} (Rei) WOOSH! Before he could even finish his thought, the black sphere flew at incredible speed, stopping right in front of him {The hell, I could barely react?! And that timing...does this thing know what I''m thinking?! I wanted it to come closer and it...} "Hey...move up and down" (Rei) There was no response {Can it not hear me? Move up and down} (Rei) ZIP! ZIP! {?!} (Rei) The sphere suddenly moved up and down {It responded to my thoughts...but not my words. Hmm...this place. Despite being able to breathe...there''s no air in here, which means no sound can travel. Maybe it didn''t respond to my words because it couldn''t hear me? Yet somehow, it can hear my thoughts...Stop moving} (Rei) HALT! The strange object stood still in the air {Huh? Guess it does work. Though, I wish it could show me the exit to this place} (Rei) ZIP! The sphere suddenly moved away from him and unbelievably tore the very space in front of Rei {Haha! It does work!} (Rei) Rei approached the tear and was shocked to discover what he saw. The appearance of him on the ground, just where he left off from fighting the Fma. But oddly enough, nothing was moving, as if time itself came to halt {No way?! I''ve been...OUTSIDE my body this whole time?! And speaking of time, does it remain unchanged in here? Maybe...that''s why my chakra doesn''t change while I''m in here?} (Rei) After a few minutes of pondering for answers, Rei ultimately gave up {Whatever, I''ll figure this out later, I need to return as soon as possible but...I''m out of weapons} (Rei) Despite how skilled he was, Rei knew it was futile to take on the remaining Fma-nin by himself without extra help. The only reason he lasted as long as he did was because of Yugito and the tools he made. But with the former down and his weapons broken, returning would mean certain death {Damn it, I wish these tools weren''t broken! Then I could-?!} (Rei) VWOOOOP! The black sphere suddenly sucked up all the broken "scales" on the floor, then proceeded to spit them out. Only now, they looked brand new and...in all shapes and sizes! {It fixed...and changed them?! Impossible! Accessing the space within my red arm bracers is weird enough but...all "Black materials" I fabricate can never change form after they''ve hardened!} (Rei) Rei recalled the time he tried to melt down and re-forge the materials Isshiki had already made and left in his lab before he was killed. All attempts ended in failure. This led to Rei''s discovery for using certain chemicals to induce changes within the Ten-tails blood, revealing how Isshiki made them in the first place {Can this thing alter matter...on a subatomic level? Or does it control Space-time? Both? Hey...can you tell me?} (Rei) Silence. The object in question didn''t respond at all. Leaving Rei stumped on whether it couldn''t answer...or that it refused to. There were still many questions in his head How was it able to access the space in the scroll containing all of Rei''s weapons? How can it tear space? How does time work here? How and why it''s able to read Rei''s thoughts? He had none of these answers. Understanding he wouldn''t get them anytime soon, Rei decided to leave {I don''t know if time out there will resume again. If it does, my real body will be powerless and unable to fight back. I have no intention of dying by the likes of Fma-nin after coming this far. Figuring this place out will come later} (Rei) STUP! Rei slowly approached the portal with one final thought before going through {I just hope I''ll have enough strength to fight them} (Rei) WOOSH! Just as he left, as if responding to his thoughts, the black sphere bolted! Flying towards Rei and entering his body! {Wha-?! What the hell are you-UH?!} (Rei) ??? The battle site with the Fma Clan "I don''t sense anymore movement!" "Cease fire!" After their last barrage of attacks, they confirmed Rei and Suzu were finally down "Looks like they''re down. Sealing team! Status!" "The Jinchriki has been taken care of! But we can sense other chakra''s on the way!" "That has to be their their back-up! We''ve wasted enough time as it is, let''s grab the host and leave. We''ll continue the ritual somewhere else!" One of the Fma approached an unconscious Rei and Suzu. With veins appearing on his face, the man clenched his teeth in anger. Eager to end their lives after all the trouble they put him, and his group through "What about these kids? I''m thirsty for some payback" "We also don''t want Kumogakure finding out we''re the ones responsible for this" "A little late for that. Remember the two we left to interrogate those kunoichi?" "What about them?" "Oh yeah! Where are they?" "Most likely taken captive by Kumo ninja" "?!" "We just confirmed they have reinforcements on the way and those two interrogators haven''t shown up after all this time, which means they were either killed or captured. In other words..." "It''s safe to assume Kumo is fully aware of our involvement. Shit..." "That''s just what we need...one of the five great nations hunting us" "We all knew this could happen. Come on! Grab your things and go!" The majority of the group heaved out a sigh of relief. This task, which proved far more tedious than initially expected, was finally over. After days of performing a Tailed Beast extraction ritual, none were in a mood to stick around "Finally! Lets get the hell out of this dump!" "I gonna need a vacation after this one" "Fine...but I''m still killing these little brats before we-!" RUSTLE "Huh?" POW! "ARGH!" "?!" (Everyone else) Just as the cruel ninja was about to turn around to kill Rei and Suzu, his face was met with the former''s fist "...ill" (Rei) "OW! YOU LITTLE SHIT!" "The hell?! I thought you guys said they were down?!" "He was! His chakra was pretty much gone!" "Who cares! He''s just one kid, not much of threat. Hurry up and kill him so we can leave!" The Fma prepared to finish what they started, but Rei was not himself. The tie holding his pony tail gone, his black hair was lose and disheveled. His mind completely groggy, as if he wasn''t conscious at all VWOOSH! "Uh?!" "Where''s he-?!" Dashing to Yugito, he placed his arm on her stomach "The hell?" "Huh?! This kid is-?!" "What?!" "HE''S TAKING CHAKRA FROM THE JINCHRIKI!!" "?!" "...ou..!" (Rei) "Eh?!" "What did he just say?" "I''LL F*CKING KILL YOU!!" (Rei) ??? DASH! A few kilometers away, Tango was jumping through the forest "We''re almost there! I saw the explosions coming from that direction!" (Tango) "Just a few more klicks...!" (Mabui) Following him were Mabui, Samui, Tai, and... "Tango, my team will go on ahead!" "Right! Don''t wait on us Senpai!" (Tango) "Let''s move!" "Sir!" ...the back-up Kumogakure had sent. Led by Toroi, his team of ninja bolted on ahead "Tango! I''m going on ahead to!" (Mabui) "Ah?! Mabui-senpai! Your condition is still-!" (Tango) "Let''s just hope we get there in-!" (Toroi) BOOM! "?!" (Toroi) "W-What the hell was that?!" (Samui) "That has to have been the biggest one yet..." (Tango) WOOSH! "Whoa!" (Tai) "Hold on to something!" (Toroi) "Ugh!" (Mabui) The shockwaves of a massive explosion were felt by everyone present despite how far away they were {Just what the hell is going on over there?!} (Toroi) {Rei...please be safe!} (Mabui) ??? "AAAHHHHH!!!!" (Rei) PIERCE! SLICE! STAP! "GAH!" "Will someone one stop him already!" "We can''t catch him! He keeps dodging everything!" "HE''S TOO FAST!!" Rei was, for all intents and purposes, letting loose! With nothing but incoherent screaming, he moved at insane speeds. Stabbing everyone present with the weapons he received in that "other" world he was just in [Rei! What the hell happened?! I lost my CONNECTION with you! And those tools-!] "Nnnnnnn!!!" (Rei) [What''s wrong with you?!] "Suiton: Orca!2Water Style: Orca" (Rei) SPLOOSH! Rei unleashed a torrent of water splashing in all directions at the center of the enemy. Separating them all, he picked off the enemy one by one "This little shit! Hold still!" "Hmph!" (Rei) [Those moves...] Armed with his signature black staff, Rei was fighting on par with these fully grown shinobi, much to the shock of Notitia [He was always good at Taijutsu, but he could never fight like THIS! It''s almost as if I''m watching Isshiki fight...!] FLING! "ARGH!!" "Damn it! Another one down!" "He''s throwing those blades with insane accuracy!" "Katon: Homura!3Fire Style: Blaze" (Rei) "AGH!" "Ugh! These weird black blades are-HUH?" "BURN!!!" (Rei) SCORCH!! Rei started unleashing fire blasts at the enemy, burning them alive [His Katon is stronger...is it an effect of the Two-tails chakra he took? No, that''s not it. This is happening because...!] CRACKLE! "ARGH, MY SKIN!!" "NOOOOO!!!" "What the hell is with him?!" "This is not happening right now!" Losing his patience, the one who initially tried to kill Rei and Suzu tried to take Rei on himself but... "Little shit...I''ll kill yo-UHACK!!" "RRRRRRR, THIS FIRE...THIS WATER...IS DISGUSTING!!!!" (Rei) ...Rei moved and blinding speed, punching him in the neck and slamming his head into the ground "INFERIOR CREATURES!!!" (Rei) [He''s even trash talking like an tsutsuki, but "This fire, this water is disgusting"? The hell does that mean? Is he talking about his Katon and Suiton?] POUND! POUND! POUND! Rei was out of control! Continuing to slam the man''s head despite already dying from the sheer impact. Over and over again even as the eyes popped out, his facial flesh was removed, revealing his skull The remaining shinobi were too scared to even move as they watched such a small child commit such a brutal murder [What''s happening to you Rei?] After finishing the man off, he tossed his body aside as if it were a worthless hunk of meat. Turning around, he glared like an animal at the few ninja left standing "GGGRRRRRR!!!!" (Rei) "We-we can''t beat him!" "We have to leave!!" "What about the mission?!" "F*CK THE MISSION! RUN!!" The entire group turned around and, almost in unison, tried the flee the area...but Rei wouldn''t allow that. POOF! POOF! POOF! Jumping into the air, he stopped using ninjutsu and tapped his red arm bracers, summoning several "scales" the size of houses. The very same weapons provide by the strange black sphere [He''s flying?! And those weapons were never made by him!! Where did he get-?!] Too big to throw, he used inhuman strength and kicked each of them in front of the stragglers, blocking their route of escape CLING! CLING! "N-No!" "How is he floating like that?!" "There''s no way out!" "Oh god, oh god!!!" "Please, we surrender!" "Kumogakure obviously wants information right?!" "We''ll tell you anything you want to know!" Rei, still in the air, simply looked down on them...with disgust. After a moment of silence that felt like an eternity to them, Rei moved No hesitation, no remorse, he launched the remaining scales "NOOOOO!!!!" "PLEASE DON''T!" "MERCY!!!" CRASH! CRASH! One after another, their bodies were crushed by the gigantic blades, reducing them into grotesque meat The last of them spoke his final words "I thought the Tailed beasts were monsters but..." "...he''s the real demon..." 88. Who Did This? MrProper STUP! Tango and the group with him had landed in the middle of the pit, speechless at the sight before them "What in the world is this?!" "It''s like a war was waged here!" "My God...is that human flesh?" "Eh?! You''re telling me those piles of ''meat'' were people?!" "I think I''m gonna be sick..." Tired of their gossip, Toroi issued his commands "Enough! Scatter and search for any survivors!" (Toroi) "Yes sir!" {You''d better be okay Rei} (Mabui) "Sir! We''ve found Yugito-sama!" "What''s her status?!" (Toroi) "Banged up, but alive!" "Ronri! Apply first aid!" (Toroi) "I''m already on it!" (Ronri) "Funsui!" (Toroi) "Suzu''s here! Knocked out, but otherwise okay!" (Funsui) "Tai, can you-?!" (Toroi) DASH! Tai ran to Suzu and began treating her wounds before Toroi could even ask. Because her injuries were light, she was quick to wake up "Mm...mmm...uh?" (Suzu) "Suzu!" (Tango) "Tai, Sensei? Mabui-san, Samui-san, and...TOROI-SAMA?!" (Suzu) Suzu immediately stood up with shock before looking around. Observing her surroundings, she was befuddled and the current situation "You guys are here? And Yugito-sama is safe...who defeated the enemy?" (Suzu) "?!" (Everyone else) "It...it wasn''t you?" (Suzu) "We thought it was you guys..." (Tai) "N-No, we were-agh...huff...! We were surrounded by an elite troop of Fuma ninja" (Suzu) {So it really was members of the Fuma clan...this is gonna cause some problems later} (Toroi) "Why didn''t you report back when you found this place?" (Tango) "That was the plan but...it was obvious Yugito-sama was reaching her limit" (Suzu) "Limit? You mean..." (Samui) "There were extracting her Tailed Beast. And they''d been at it for quite a while" (Suzu) "Yugito really was the target this whole time..." (Toroi) The eldest ones present all wore a look of worry on their faces. Whoever was responsible for this had great capability...which only made them all the more dangerous "We decided to engage because it was clear she''d die soon if someone didn''t help. Disrupting the ritual and buying some time for Yugito-sama to regain her strength. She entered her Tailed Beast state and-" (Suzu) "That was probably the explosions we saw...but...these guys..." (Samui) "I know what you mean. To go THIS far is just...it''s not...she wouldn''t...she couldn''t have..." (Mabui) "In other words...Yugito-sama took care of them all?" (Toroi) Still in a daze, Suzu could barely think, let alone talk about the events that took place "Ugh...No. The ''captain'' in charge managed to get away with the chakra they stole from her Tailed beast. Their...um...sealing team managed to subdue Yugito-sama before the rest turned their attention to us" (Suzu) "So Yugito-sama didn''t do this?" (Toroi) "She managed to burn some of them, but the rest kept their distance and delayed the fight until she grew tired" (Suzu) "Right...she did spend days at a time enduring an extraction ritual" (Tango) "Makes sense she''d be out of it" (Toroi) Mabui and Samui''s tone went hoarse, irritated Toroi would claim their teammate could cause such a massacre "Of course Yugito wouldn''t do something so brutal to her enemies...so evil" (Samui) "She''s not like that Toroi" (Mabui) "Apologies. I wasn''t insinuating anything, just trying to get a clear picture of what happened" (Toroi) Toroi looked around at the crushed bodies, doing his best not to throw up. The sight before him was like a scene out of a horror movie, capable of given even the most hardened ninja trauma "I''ve never seen anything like this in my entire career as a shinobi...not even during the last war" (Toroi) "..." (Tango) "Sir! Yugito-sama is waking up!" (Ronri) "!" (Toroi) The whole group ran to Ronri, who was treating Yugito as she laid on the ground, her eyes slowly opening "Yugito!" (Samui) "Can you hear us?!" (Tango) "How are you feeling?!" (Mabui) "I feel..." (Yugito) "Yeah?" (Toroi) "I feel like the legal drinking age should be below twenty right now. Uh!" (Yugito) "Pfft!" (Tai) "Haaa...she''s fine" (Samui) "Worrying me for nothing, jeez!" (Mabui) "Can you recall what happened?" (Toroi) "Yeah. They used Fuinjutsu1Sealing Jutsu to keep me down before attacking the kids. I couldn''t do anything to help...and the Two-tails within me was pretty pissed" (Yugito) "Meaning you didn''t take them down either..." (Tango) "No...I was down for the count. And you guys were..." (Yugito) "They bombarded us with their clan''s signature shuriken jutsu. It was then Rei and I got hit with a paper bomb when...REI!!!" (Suzu) "?!" (All of them) "Where''s Rei?! He was right next to me when we got hit!" (Suzu) "!" (Mabui) "Expand the search! Check everywhere for him!" (Toroi) Yugito remained where she was as Ronri treated her with his Medical Ninjutsu. Everyone else scattered in search for Rei. Mabui especially moved frantically, fearing the worst for her cousin It was then Funsui discovered strange signs of a fight several feet from the area {This is...} HEY!!! I FOUND HIM!! (Funsui) "Where?!" (Toroi) "Is he okay?!" (Mabui) "Over there!" (Tango) They rushed to Funsui and found Rei on the ground, covered in blood and flesh that wasn''t his own. Around him, appeared to be the bodies of the remaining Fuma...or what was left of them Mabui grabbed Rei and held him in her arms "How can person...end up like that?" (Funsui) "Tai! Check on Rei!" (Tango) "R-right!" (Tai) "What are these markings? It looks as if something large was stabbed on the ground...like a giant blade..." (Toroi) "Is that what killed these guys?" (Funsui) While Toroi and Funsui were investigating, Tai was checking Rei''s condition "How is he?" (Mabui) "Minor wounds...but...his chakra is-!" (Tai) "What?" (Tango) "We need to get him home now!" (Tai) "Why?! What''s wrong?!" (Mabui) "His chakra network is COMPLETELY unstable! I''ve never seen anything like it...he needs care we can''t give him here!" (Tai) "We need to leave Senpai" (Tango) "Right" (Toroi) "Now?! But sir...our-!" (Funsui) "I know, I know. I''d like to stay here and investigate but we''re already short on time as it is. Dodai-sama instructed us to get home as soon as possible" (Toroi) "The armistice right?" (Samui) "Mm. Truth be told, we shouldn''t even be out during the signing. We''ve secured Team Mabui and the rest of Team Tango. So our mission is basically complete. Let''s go!" (Toroi) "Right!" (Everyone else) ??? Some time later in Kumogakure The Raikage had finally returned and was sitting in his office chair. The only ones present were Dodai, Tekkan, Darui, C, and the Daimy Silence filled the room. A was holding his head as he looked downwards, not muttering a single word. Everyone waited nervously for him to break the silence "Daimy, was this really the only way?" (A) "Honestly...no. Was there anything WE could''ve done however...that''s still up for debate" (Daimy) "Sigh" (A) "There was no stopping the council, whether you were here or not. Don''t blame yourself sir" (Dodai) "I''m the Raikage Dodai. Stopping my constituents from making shit decisions like this is my job" (A) "Our Head Ninja was killed, and regardless of how any of us feel about the details of his death, the fact remains he died in their village. Asking them for the body of the killer was inevitable. They would''ve overruled you, even if you WERE here Raikage-sama" (C) "He only died because he tried to steal the Byakugan2White Eye in their OWN village" (Darui) "That still hasn''t been proven" (C) "Don''t be naive C, you know as well as I do what kind dull guy he was. And to make matters worse, the council tried to do the same by demanding the body of the killer, just for HIS Byakugan" (Darui) "Konoha has sent us a body, what does that tell you? (C) "It means Konoha really wants peace, which only disproves the theory they were the ones who attacked first. The fact they acted so swiftly to meet Kumo''s demands is proof enough" (A) "Then sir...why didn''t you fight this?" (C) The Daimy spoke after sighing "This is why there''s a Daimy system...because ninja are horrible at politics" (Daimy) "?" (Darui & C) "Tekkan, I''m tired. Can you please-?" (Daimy) "Of course. If Kumo had let this slide, it would make our country look weak. There are countless smaller nations and clans eager to take this land. We''ve made no shortage of enemies over the years" (Tekkan) "Yeah, except now we''ve gained an audacious reputation instead of a cowardly one. While not ideal...it does preserve peace between the great nations" (Dodai) "..." (Darui & C) "The main problem stems not from the Head Ninja, but rather the demand the council made in Raikage-sama''s absence. There were so many other things the village could''ve asked for...that both parties could and would accept" (Tekkan) "Instead...those idiots decided not to hide their greed and make a second attempt on the Byakugan, by demanding the body of the Hyuga who killed the Head Ninja" (Daimy) Everyone lamented at the situation. The Head Ninja''s actions would undoubtedly become the source of many problems they''ll inevitably have to deal with in the future Kumogakure was in for some hard times "The only upside is you''re now able to use this as leverage to keep them in line, A-dono" (Daimy) "...Time to consolidate power huh?" (A) "Many were unable to accept the unilateral decision of your father to install you as the 4th Raikage. Such an action was found unfair and unacceptable by many in the council. They''ve used this fact as a means to undermine you, but now..." (Tekkan) "By letting them get their way, you finally have the opportunity to shut them up for good. Don''t waste it" (Daimy) "Right. Dodai! Any word from Toroi''s team yet?" (A) "It just came in a few minutes ago, the team has made contact. While the details are still unclear, it would appear the Fuma Clan, or a faction of it was responsible for the attack. Their target, the Tailed Beast within Yugito" (Dodai) "?!" (Everyone else) "Did they manage to-!" (Daimy) "No. Team Mabui is safe with minor injuries, mainly in part to the actions of Team Tango" (Dodai) "Phew!" (Tekkan) "That team again? Not bad" (C) "Who in the hell put them up to this? Information regarding our Jinchriki is top secret! How did they know exactly when and where she''d be?" (Darui) "..." (Daimy) "That is still unknown. They also suspect another clan was helping the Fuma as well. One with...Doujutsu3Visual Jutsu" (Dodai) "Doujutsu?!" (A) "Are they sure about that?!" (C) "Positive. Whoever this Doujutsu user is...he''s the one responsible for bringing Team Mabui down. Tango had a nasty encounter with a Genjutsu trap and claimed in the report, ''Only someone with a powerful Kekkei Genkai could''ve made''. They also fear Mabui & Samui were, at one point, interrogated by said Doujutsu practioner" (Dodai) "That would mean some Kumo''s vital intel is potentially compromised. Team Mabui has been working directly at the behest of Raikage-sama for quite some time..." (Tekkan) "This wasn''t random...someone was behind this" (Daimy) "But-" (Dodai) "But what?" (A) "Unfortunately...Rei suffered serious injuries. So serious, Toroi immediately opted to leave and bring him back to the village for care" (Dodai) Both the Raikage and Darui looked angry. The reaction anyone would expect from village ninja when they hear one of their younger Genin has been hurt by an enemy "Fuma Clan...bastards..." (Darui) "C, head to general hospital. I want him to have the best of care" (A) "Of course" (C) "Alright, that''s enough for today. I need to speak with Daimy-dono alone, leave us" (A) "Right. You take off as well Tekkan" (Daimy) "I''ll await you at the bureau sir" (Tekkan) Everyone else left the room, leaving the two most powerful people in the country to themselves "What a shitty weekend, wouldn''t you agree?" (Daimy) "Yup. Sigh. So...how did it go in that new nation?" (A) "Ishigakure4Hidden Rock Village? Well, Iwagakure5Hidden Stone Village was never thrilled having such a lawless group form their own nation. The Tsuchikage6Earth Shadow certainly wasn''t expecting it to happen" (Daimy) "I assume the demilitarization agreement in the armistice changed that opinion" (A) "Indeed. In the search for those who would employ them, many shinobi of exceptional skill are moving to that land, soldiers without a nation to call theirs. How else would ninja provide for themselves when they don''t belong to a shinobi village that can provide them with jobs" (Daimy) "Mm. I reckon the Sand and Stone would make much use of them considering this new nation is boxed in between the two countries" (A) "Why do you think I traveled there in the first place? Considering your stance on refusing to hand out jobs to foreigners, I had to check out the competition" (Daimy) "Are you worried about them?" (A) "My men have already confirmed the nation has the highest number of Kekkei Genkai users in the world. People displaying unique abilities some would call inhuman, it''s become a cesspool of Hijutsu7Hidden Jutsu and Kinjutsu8Forbidden Jutsu" (Daimy) A''s concern over this new nation only grew as he silently listened to the Daimy "There have even been rumors of Mokuton9Wood Style Jutsu users, but I believe these to be just that, rumors. Nothing has yet to be verified" (Daimy) "Such a nation could easily grow into a powerful adversary. Why isn''t Sunagakure10Hidden Sand Village and Iwagakure more concerned over this? This nation is right at their doorsteps" (A) "I see no reason to be worried. These guys aren''t organized, it''s a nation full of egotistic brutes and ruffians. The place is little more than a clubhouse for defectors and those without a home. Because many of them are strong, it''s unlikely someone powerful enough to control and organize the country will appear" (Daimy) "I see...that is unlikely. It''ll probably just end up as a den for mercenaries" (A) "Mhm. The only thing I''m WORRIED about is the Fuma attacking us exactly when you and I left the country. Plus, it''s widely known the Fuma have degraded into mere mercenaries as well. Someone hired them...someone with money, resources, and intel" (Daimy) "And influence" (A) The Daimy glanced at A with a puzzled expression. "What do you mean?" (Daimy) "You know I traveled to Takigakure11Hidden Waterfall Village right?" (A) "Yeah...they suddenly declared to back out of our old agreement concerning the ownership of that crazy island. How did that go by the way?" (Daimy) "It didn''t" (A) "...Meaning?" (Daimy) "When I arrived to meet the leader of the village, Hisen, he was under the impression WE were the ones backing out of the agreement" (A) "?!" (Daimy) The Daimy was at a loss for words. The perpetrators responsible for this incident had far more political outreach than he expected. To be able to mislead two powerful shinobi Nations so perfectly wasn''t something just anyone could do Their hidden enemy became increasingly dangerous the more they learned about them "We conversed for quite some time before I departed. Because I personally showed up, Hisen assured me the agreement would still stand and treated me quite nicely" (A) "All of that...just to get you out of the village. Could the formation of Ishigakure also have been scripted?" (Daimy) "Unlikely, but at this point I wouldn''t rule anything out. Our foes are powerful, so it''s best we don''t assume anything. Sigh. I wish there was more I could do" (A) The Daimy stood up and proceeded to leave. Making his way to the door, he spoke one last time "We can''t fight an enemy we can''t see. However, we can deal with problems right in front of us. Whoever is responsible for this will pay, mark my words, but not today" (Daimy) "Yes. I''ll focus on keeping those idiots in the council in check. I now have legitimate reason to send anyone who disagrees with me flying" (A) "Kumo still isn''t a dictatorship A...but I like your attitude. They shouldn''t cause anymore trouble but, I''ll have Tekkan stay in the village for a while just in case. He and Tenga have made quite the setup at the bureau here. Use him however you see fit" (Daimy) "Much appreciated. I''m gonna need all the help I can get for dealing with the aftermath of this mess" (A) THUNK! The Daimy had left, leaving A all to himself. As he pondered Kumogakure''s current situation, one fact in particular was suddenly at the forefront of his mind "Ishigakure huh? Wait...Rei...no way-!" (A) RUSTLE! "The files on our current, active shinobi...they have to be here somewhere..." (A) Rummaging through his office, The Raikage found the boxes he was looking for. Opening them, he searched for the file he wanted "Sano...Sano...Sano...found it! The file for one, REI SANO. Let''s see...parents, both deceased. Guardianship has been transferred to his paternal cousin Mabui. Keido Sano and...Moriko Sano! Now I remember..." (A) "Ishigakure...Rei''s mother was from that area too. It couldn''t be coincidence...could it?" (A) 89. Phase 1, Complete MrProper Near the Land of Hot Water''s western border Two members of the "Company" had arrived at a hidden facility within a forest. Making their way to a lab, a long figure greeted the pair "Welcome. You''re just in time" "Humph! Ya finished it yet?" "Mountain, don''t be juvenile. We just delivered the stolen Two-tails chakra yesterday" "And? Do I look like I care?" (Mountain) "Sigh. While I wouldn''t put it so bluntly, I would like to know how long this process will take..." He turned away from Mountain and faced the only other person present "...Orochimaru" "Not to worry Three. I''m about to complete the first ''Lift''. " (Orochimaru) "Ohhh! So soon?!" (Three) "How?" (Mountain) "The concept itself is something I dabbled in a bit during my last years at Konohagakure. I simply picked up where I left off, and with actual Tailed Beast chakra in my hands, I can now perform more practical tests" (Orochimaru) "Hah! Excellent!" (Three) Although his face was hidden behind a mask, it was obvious from his tone Three was ecstatic to hear such news. The "Company''s" investment had indeed not gone to waste "Great, you didn''t go bankrupt old man" (Mountain) "Mountain..." (Three) "What? These are the results we should expect for giving this snake our protection" (Mountain) "For which, I''m eternally grateful" (Orochimaru) "I would hope so, Konoha still hasn''t given up on hunting you down. Without decent protection, I doubt you''ll last long on your own" (Mountain) "That''s quite enough Mountain! Geez, why are you always so eager to make enemies?" (Three) "Whatever. I''ll leave the rest to you" (Mountain) Mountain turned around and began to leave "Orochimaru! I want this done as soon as possible! I trust this task shouldn''t be too difficult for one of Konohagakure''s Legendary Sanin" (Mountain) "Of course" (Orochimaru) "Apologies for his manners. Young ones these days have no respect whatsoever. While the "Company" needs this done quickly, we''d rather make sure it''s done right. Feel free to move at your own pace" (Three) "Thank you" (Orochimaru) "I am curious as to whether or not you have a time table" (Three) "If everything goes as planned without interruptions, I believe the span of one year should be enough to complete the Lift" (Orochimaru) "I see..." (Three) Three stayed quiet after getting Orochimaru''s response. The latter raised his eyebrow, wondering if this answer was unsatisfactory for his employers "Is that too long?" (Orochimaru) "No, it''s more than acceptable. It just means we''re going to be making some changes...but nothing you need to worry over" (Three) "Very well...also...about MY partner" (Orochimaru) "As long as you complete the project, your partner will get what we promised him" (Three) "All the more reason for me get to work" (Orochimaru) "A fine attitude. I''ll leave you to it, our organization will ensure no one finds or disturbs you. Farewell" (Three) Three left Orochimaru to himself. Finally alone, he smiled to himself as he worked {Hehe, to think such a wealthy group could be suckered by Danzo and I so easily. I can''t believe they''re providing such resources to a rogue criminal like myself} (Orochimaru) In truth, he had already completed the "Company''s" request. "But why give them what they want so soon when I can delay and use their resources for MY experiments", were the thoughts he carried. Orochimaru was still vulnerable, the Hokage was unrelenting in his search for him. Not to mention, Orochimaru had also earned the ire of other villages with his inhumane practices. Anyone caught aiding a fiend like him would surely be in for a world of pain. Staying in one place to study Ninjutsu and gather strength with protection from others was far more ideal than running around like a nomad, constantly watching your back "Well whatever, I''ll take this as a chance to relax before I find another group that can offer me protection" (Orochimaru) SLURP! Licking his lips, the smile on his face was completely sinister "Maybe it''s time I called in Kabuto..." (Orochimaru) ??? Several days later All the top members of the "Company" had gathered together "A year? That''s what he said?" (Flow) "Mm. That snake always moves his ass when it benefits his research" (Mountain) "That''s sooner than we expected" (Time) Giggling, the member known as "Red" interjected "Hehe, this is great. The data I...we receive from this will be most enlightening. I''m getting shivers just thinking about it" (Red) "Why are all the deranged ones attracted to science?" (Mountain) "The pursuit of truth is the most noble of professions you simpleton" (Red) "Mhm...you need a tin foil hat with that?" (Mountain) "If you wanted to volunteer as my experimental material, you just had to ask to Mountain" (Red) "You know I would love to if it wasn''t for the fact I''m allergic to crazy" (Mountain) While it may seem like a playful argument to others, the two members were ready to tear each other to pieces. Out of the entire group, Mountain has the worst relationship with Red. He''s always been disgusted with her..."science experiments" Likewise, Red herself has constantly been annoyed by what she calls, Mountain''s "lack of appreciation" for the contributions she''s made to this organization via her research "Enough you two, lets move on" (Sage) "Cheh!" (Mountain) "Humph!" (Red) Sage, the de facto leader of the "Company", took the reigns and moved the meeting forward "From what I''ve gathered, it''s safe to say completion of the Lift will done well within our time range for Phase 2" (Sage) "IF...Orochimaru can come through sir" (Time) "What do you think Red? With the data he''s already delivered, do you think Orochimaru can come through for us?" (Sage) "After taking a look at it...I''d say he can. Normally, I''d take the control of the project at this point but he''s more versed in the subject than I" (Red) "Oh? That''s quite humble of you?" (Flow) "It''s not that I can''t do it but, if I take over the project now, I''d inevitably have to start from scratch. Like Time said, we''re on a schedule...the last thing we need delays" (Red) "Quite so...I''d prefer not to make anymore adjustments to the plan than necessary" (Time) "Damn straight...I''m sick of waiting!" (Mountain) "Ditto" (Arc) "Mhm" (Balance) Many of the others present nodded in agreement. They''ve spent much time orchestrating events to suit their needs and ultimate goal...all were eager to take action "Okay then...moving on" (Flow) "Yeah, enough about us! What have the twins been up to?" (Mountain) "As I recall, Arc and Balance were working on..." (Red) "The next subject would be Ishigakure...Balance" (Sage) "The village, if you can call that, has officially been established" (Balance) "And the people are...?" (Sage) "Full of rogues, bandits, ravagers, mercenaries, Kekkei Genkai users and others with unique abilities. Mixing into a massive cornucopia of the impetuous...and the strange" (Balance) "The perfect place to do what I do best" (Arc) "Excellent. When the next phase begins...you know where to send them" (Sage) "Of course" (Arc) Sage turned away from them "And finally..." (Sage) "The assassin...and the enforcer" (Red) "How did things go with the Fuma leader...and the clean up?" (Time) The ones most quiet spoke for the first time, bearing the symbols for "Scorpion" and "Blade" on their masks "Any potential witnesses in the area during the, albeit attempted, extraction of the Two-tails have been eliminated. No trace of their bodies remains" (Scorpion) "I informed the Nobuyuki of the group''s destruction. While not pleased, he was satisfied to know their mission was a success. The payment they received also soothed things out so for now...they''re still on board with us" (Blade) "After how much we payed them...we wouldn''t accept anything else" (Three) "There is one thing of note" (Scorpion) "Hm?" (Sage) "While I was...cleaning up, I could see from a distance the Two-tails host losing her transformation yet...the fighting was still going on" (Scorpion) "Why does that matter?" (Mountain) "Idiot" (Red) "Ah?!" (Mountain) Flow spoke before more infighting could resume between the two "If there was fighting still going on AFTER the Two-tails was suppressed...it means someone else wiped out the Fuma" (Flow) "!" (Mountain) "Could it have been Kumo''s reinforcements?" (Arc) "Unlikely. They arrived some time later. The only ones with the Beast were two Genin scouts sent to track her down" (Scorpion) "There''s no way two Genin could''ve taken out an entire squad" (Balance) "When I arrived, the place appeared as if a storm came through. The bodies of the Fuma didn''t resemble those of a human''s. Completely crushed..." (Scorpion) "It could''ve have been the Jinchriki. Just because you saw her fall out the Tailed Beast State doesn''t mean she didn''t have anymore power. The Version 1 or 2 forms could''ve been options on the table" (Time) "True. But in my line of work...I never assume anything" (Scorpion) "..." (Time) CLAP! CLAP! Sage clapped his hands and gathered everyone''s attention "We can worry about that later. For now, all that matters is the objective, which has been completed. You all know what that means for the Company" (Sage) "So it''s official?" (Time) "Yes. Phase 1 is now complete. Within a year, we''ll begin Phase 2" (Sage) "Nice!" (Mountain) "Finally" (Arc) "Time. For now, refrain from any more misdirection with the Raikage. While it worked this time in Takigakure...I doubt he''ll fall for the same trick twice" (Sage) "Wasn''t planning on it. I''ve got so much other things to worry about" (Time) "Oh yeah! Speaking of the Raikage...it seems to me like he''s going to become a problem" (Mountain) "What does our politician have to say about that?" (Red) The youngest and newest member, holding the mask with the symbol for "Flow", stood up to speak "Due to the council''s actions during the Hyuga incident, the Raikage has used this as an opportunity to tighten his grip in the government. But regardless, Kumo''s reputation has been hurt immensely because of this event" (Flow) "While we were able to influence him to ignore demilitarization...I doubt he''ll go along with anymore of our schemes" (Time) "If things keep up like this, he may end up becoming a liability" (Three) "Irrelevant" (Sage) "!" (Everyone) Sage stood up and gestured the others to do the same "At this point there''s no room for retreat. We''ve all been through so much to quit now" (Sage) Everyone nodded in agreement "For now, we remain silent. No contact for the next year. We reconvene when I, or Time call for a meeting. No exceptions, no contact, no excuses" (Sage) "Anyone who thinks otherwise will receive a visit from me" (Scorpion) While appearing calm on the inside, many were nervous at Scorpion''s words. Being their top assassin, his skill was anything but ordinary With the meeting ending, their figures slowly began to disappear "And the Raikage?" (Three) "As for the Raikage...if it comes to it, we''ll deal with him..." (Sage) The room went completely dark "...just as we dealt with the last one" The Deserter” Saga – 90. Kisshōten MrProper The hospital within Kumogakure Rei was laying on a reclining hospital bed with his upper body adjusted upwards. Forced on a leave of absence, he decided to call his acquaintance, the librarian Pyua to help pass the time The latter of whom provided information and lectures on various advanced subjects of Ninjutsu, even going so far as bringing a whiteboard to his hospital room "...and as you can see here, just the slightest change in kneading chakra can make all the difference in your Jutsu" (Pyua) "I get that, but on the subject you mentioned earlier...how does this correlate Suiton1Water Style with Katon2Fire Style? I mean, besides being natural opposites" (Rei) "Each element is special in their own right. What special about Suiton is its natural versatility. It''s the best element when it comes to applying shape transformation. Many other ninja have studied this and applied it to their own elements, take your Katon for example" (Pyua) "How so?" (Rei) SCRIBBLE Pyua starting writing on the whiteboard "Okay, lets take three Katon Jutsu that have similar effects. How about, your ''Katon: Homura''3Fire Style: Blaze; and we''ll add; ''Katon: Endan''4Fire Style: Flame Bullet and the Uchiha''s infamous ''Katon: Gkaky no Jutsu''5Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu. They all shoot out a fire blast right? So why the different names?" (Pyua) "It can only be the...initial process? Shape transformation?" (Rei) "Correct. Your ''Homura'' jutsu is actually a weakened version of the ''Katon: Homuranagase''6Fire Style: Blazing Meteors Jutsu, meant for small rapid fire blasts. You must''ve noticed the lack of power with the version you''ve been using so far right?" (Pyua) {I never was satisfied with its small size and output...so that''s the reason} "What about the other two?" (Rei) "Right, ''Endan'' works with more fine control. The user actually kneads the chakra within them to create a flammable substance. Usually something along the lines of oil or gas, before igniting it" (Pyua) "And since this method relies more on control..." (Rei) "It keeps down chakra consumption while still providing adequate results. As compared to the Uchiha''s signature Katon, which is just that, a fireball made from pure chakra. Relying solely on their natural affinity and power, the opposite from the ''Endan'' Jutsu. These techniques appear to be so similar yet...they''re all completely different when you look at their structures" (Pyua) Pyua reached into the bag she brought with her and took out a scroll. Handing it to Rei, she gathered her belongings "This is?" (Rei) "A scroll I wrote for you detailing various techniques and their unique intricacies to study. Just something to go over so you don''t go insane from boredom. My lunch break is over, I need to get back to the library" (Pyua) "Right. Being in charge of Kumogakure''s Ninja Records is not some simple job. Thank you for everything Pyua-nee, this has been very insightful" (Rei) "Get well soon Rei. Mariko keeps asking me when you''re going visit. The kids at her orphanage miss playing with you" (Pyua) "Careful, you give me news like that and I may stay here forever" (Rei) "Hehe! Can''t fault you for that I guess. See ya" (Pyua) THUNK Leaving him to himself, Rei laid back on his bed "Sigh...Notitia" (Rei) [You finally called me. We haven''t talked since you first woke up here] "Mm" (Rei) [Enjoying your free vacation? Ya dirty liar] "Technically, I didn''t lie. I was hurt...I just recovered faster than they anticipated" (Rei) After the intense fight, Rei had immediately recovered hours later thanks to his inhuman regenerative capabilities. In order to avoid revealing these powers, Rei pretended he was still injured [I pity Mabui for having a cruel cousin like you. When you were pretending to unconscious, the poor girl was crying her eyes out] "Don''t remind me...I couldn''t pretend to be asleep any longer with her staying by my side in the room over night" (Rei) [I was wondering how long you could stay still before you dropped the charade. Oh! Happy 9th birthday by the way] "That was days ago but...thanks I guess. Not that having a birthday in this body is a treat" (Rei) [Now on to the matter at hand] "I''ve been thinking a lot lately...about my current situation" (Rei) [Yeah, that power you displayed was crazy. But even more, it wasn''t the powers of Isshiki tsutsuki at all] "That''s what I thought" (Rei) [You weren''t shrinking things with "Sukunahikona7Small Man of Renown" and his other power to pull things out of his personal dimension, "Daikokuten8Great Black Heaven" only works if the object in particular has been shrunk. But considering you were flying, that abnormal speed and strength, and taking Yugito''s chakra to use said powers...it''s definitely the style of an tsutsuki] When Rei first lost control of himself, his very first action was absorb the chakra of Yugito. Almost instinctual, it was as if he knew his chakra reserves were lacking to perform these new powers "You previously stated my foreign soul would cause changes in this world right? Because the soul is the source of everything in relations to chakra" (Rei) [Changes being the "Ripples", then yes. The soul also determines everything about a person''s powers. It''s how shinobi reanimated with Tensei Jutsu9Reincarnation Jutsu can still retain their unique powers despite being reborn within a different body for a sacrifice] "Is it possible a foreign soul could''ve changed the abilities I''ve inherited from Isshiki''s cells?" (Rei) [I suppose it''s possible but...agh! Here''s the thing Rei] "?" (Rei) [You''re a being composed of various features. Foreign soul, different DNA, and other materials used for enhancements...your body has become a battleground for dominance, like a bunch of roommates who hate each other. It can''t even decide if it wants to be Human, tsutsuki, or something else entirely. I believe your rampage was the result of this, you touched true tsutsuki power for the first time and your body didn''t know how to respond properly] "..." (Rei) [So until your body figures out what it wants to be, I don''t recommend using this power too often. The damage done to your chakra network was no joke. Continued use could cause PERMANENT detrimental effects, that''s the last thing your grumpy-ass needs] "Okay..." (Rei) [It''s just sucks you don''t remember anything. Any details prior to your rampage could help solve this mystery] "I told you, it''s all one big blank" (Rei) [Hmm...a true shame] "..." (Rei) That was lie In truth, Rei remembered everything that occured. The strange space his subconscious entered where time flows differently. The connection it established to his red bracers, taking the tools within to fix and change them without his consent. Not to mention the weird black orb that followed Rei''s commands, flew into him, and probably caused the rampage...he remembered it all But Rei decided to withhold this information. The white space seemed to be outside the range of Notitia''s sight, and could very well be a trump card against it Even now, Rei never fully trusted Notitia. While it appeared to help him on the surface, it kept a myriad of secrets and motivations that if one called them "suspicious", would be a gross understatement. From the beginning, it never even acknowledged whether or not it was responsible for bringing Raymond into this world {When that black orb entered body, I instantly learned the name of the technique...Kisshten10Auspicious Heavens} (Rei) Having a place where he could keep his thoughts to himself was an asset he refused to give up [Considering you were producing new weapons, it may not be space-time jutsu, but an In''yton Jutsu11Yin-Yang/Shadow & Light Style Jutsu] "I''ve never truly understood that power, hell, I don''t think anyone did. Doesn''t that nullify all Jutsu or something?" (Rei) [Yin-yang Jutsu is about about returning chakra to its original form. Yin-Yang is the purest form chakra can take. Say someone launches a Katon at a Yin-Yang user. When said user "nullifies" it, they''re simply returning the elemental attack back into original form, basically undoing the jutsu. It also gives form and breathes life & "Will" into objects, and creating things from nothing] "The Sage of Six Paths called it...''Creation of All Things'' right? That''s how the Tailed Beasts were created" (Rei) [Creation & Destruction, these are the aspects Yin-Yang oversees, which makes it the most powerful. If you were creating the giant "Scales" from nothing, it stands to reason the power you were using is based off this element] When the black sphere consumed the broken tools it removed from the scroll they were sealed into, connected to Rei''s red bracers, it produced more materials than initially taken Though, the object could only produce things it previously consumed and Rei had already tried using the ability again in his hospital bed Upon activation of the ability, his consciousness entered the white space and he tried something simple. Asking for water, but there was no response {If that were the case, it''s possible that black sphere is my "Will" considering it followed my every thought and command. I wished for more weapons and it made more, I needed "strength" to fight the remaining Fuma, and it provided. But bringing objects made in that world into this one consumes a dangerous amount of Chakra} (Rei) [There are so many things unknown...to an uncomfortable degree. But at least there''s one benefit!] "...My affinity right?" (Rei) [Yup, your Katon has become much easier after your adorable little freak out] "Not the word I''d use to describe it but yeah. Although I can still feel Rei''s soul...it doesn''t hinder me as much as it used to" (Rei) When Rei used his chakra the first time after waking up, he noticed the "creepy" feeling that emerged every time he used Katon was gone. Though the original Rei''s presence could still be felt Somehow, the power he demonstrated had pushed "Rei''s" soul aside...though whether this was permanent or not couldn''t be confirmed {This power...it seems to be more of support type, rather than an offensive type. Meant to be used outside of battle, it resembles a production-like ability. If I''m able to use it more...it would aid immensely with my other projects} (Rei) Because Rei was flat broke after investing in Tetsuo''s company, it was getting harder and harder to make more weapons. Being able to produce his own materials would be a Godsend Rei, as the enigmatic engineer "Developer R", had left the hospital at night to visit Tetsuo and after some convincing, he finally agreed to allow Rei to alter his memories with Genjutsu, in order to protect his identity. Tetsuo now fully believed Rei had nothing to do with his new chief engineer With his chakra in Tetsuo and his Inton12Yin/Shadow Style more powerful than ever, Rei was finally able to use Isshiki''s projection type Genjutsu to communicate at long distances...the Genjutsu Tsshin13Genjutsu Transmission Technique With the duo now in constant contact, progress with their projects has increased exponentially. Mori Sp has already begun major manufacturing of the new batteries Rei designed. However... "Enough about abilities we don''t understand and can''t use Notitia. I would like to discuss our current problem" (Rei) [And what would that be?] "My current progress" (Rei) ...he was still unsatisfied [Wait...you''re not gonna...!] "I think it''s time for another experiment" 91. Rules & Laws MrProper [Were you not listening to what I just told you?] "I heard you. But you''re misunderstanding something" (Rei) [Huh?] "When I say experiment, I don''t necessarily mean on myself. Well...besides practicing the Black Scroll''s method''s for body strengthening and improvement" (Rei) If there was one thing Rei and Notitia did agree on, now was indeed not the time to alter his body any further. Rei had enough conflicting elements inside him as it is, there was no need to add fuel to the fire "Most advanced weaponry I manufacture will be external rather than internal" (Rei) [So you''ll still be making ninja tech...but no microscopic ninja tech? Seems like a waste if you ask me] "Nanorobotic implantation sounds good on the surface, but looking at it practically, there are just as many cons as there are pros" (Rei) [Really? They produce immediate results, and come with a bunch of crazy functions. Being the engineer you are, I expected you to be working on something like that. I know Isshiki was crazy about it] "According to what you told me about the sequel series, Isshiki only implanted those machines into his would be vessel Kawaki in order to have a host that could adapt to any form and properly accept his massive power. Kawaki''s machines primary purpose wasn''t combat, it was adaptation" (Rei) [True, his ability did look a lot like Sage Transformation. And you''re already set on finding Rychi Cave1Dragon Ground Cave, implanting machines would be a bit redundant] Years ago, Rei asked Notitia for information on the book he never read, the sequel series to this world''s story. Focused on Naruto''s son, there were many aspects that garnered his attention. The creation of so-called "Scientific Ninja Tools", or "Ninja Tech", in particular Having an engineer''s mind, he couldn''t help but inquire the specifics. But after Notitia revealed the details, Rei came to the realization these tools were only meant to emulate tsutsuki powers. Regeneration, Space-time Ninjutsu, Chakra Absorption, Flight, and a myriad of other abilities Since he already possessed real tsutsuki DNA, these powers would eventually come to him. There was no need to risk compromising his body with more experimentation. Instead, he focused more on handheld weapons that would give him an edge The smoke-flash bomb he previously used on his last mission was one such example [What exactly are you so concerned with? Like Orochimaru, you''ll gain access to Tensei Jutsu when you find Rychi Cave. Then Rei''s soul can be dealt with permanently. You''re producing new tech and money with Tetsuo, and your chakra is getting more and more powerful thanks to the Ten-tails. Overall, Part One hasn''t even started yet] "Tetsuo and I have only just started working together, and the best I could come up with was that grenade, I''m still piss poor broke. And on the subject of my chakra...Notitia...I haven''t forgotten" (Rei) [Forgotten what?] "The Ten-tails. Even if I drain it completely dry, I''ll never have the same amount of power" (Rei) When Notitia instructed Rei to take the Ten-tails chakra for the first time, it reminded Rei using this method to increase the amount of chakra his body can hold will never give him the same level of chakra as the Ten-tails [I remember that, but if you take it all...you should come close right?] "Not even. I''m not an idiot, I can do differential equations" (Rei) [I think not being able to solve differential equations doesn''t mean you''re an idiot but...continue] "For example, lets hypothetically state as a unit of measure, when it comes to chakra levels I''m...1. The Ten-tails can be...well...10" (Rei) [Alright...] "Now, say I take half it''s power to hold in my body and expand my chakra network. In other words, I take 5" (Rei) [There''s no way your body can handle that as it is now. But this is hypothetical so...would that mean your value goes up to 6?] "Nope...on my best day I''d probably be at 3, and that''s only IF I''m extremely lucky. The problem is the majority of chakra I take is used up to widen my physical and spiritual centers. This dangerous process requires a ridiculous amount of energy" (Rei) Over the years, Rei continued to absorb the chakra of the Ten-tails. But as he continued, displeasure emerged when he realized the exact amount energy used to increase his vessel was far more than he preferred The Ten-tails didn''t possess infinite chakra, and unlike humans, it couldn''t recover the chakra after a good day''s rest. It, like other tsutsuki, could only regain power by draining planets of life. Rei, being a Neo-tsutsuki, was the only exception due to his remaining human DNA If this continued, the beast would be drained dry and the only method of recovery is destroying this planet. Ignoring the moral implications, it was also impractical as an tsutsuki must be fed to the beast before it can drain a planet [That is a pickle isn''t it] "I hypothesized this beast isn''t as powerful as Kaguya''s. You said Sasuke referred to it as a ''Juvenile'' beast right? According to my calculations, even if I were to drain the beast completely dry, I''d only be slightly better than the Raikage" (Rei) [That''s not so bad. The 4th Raikage is famous for chakra comparable to a Tailed Beast] "So was the Akatsuki member Kisame, but let''s not pretend they were ACTUALLY at the level of a Tailed Beast. This talk of chakra influence also brings be to the other problem" (Rei) [Ugh! What is it now?!] "The Rules & Laws of this world" (Rei) [You mean...physics? Okay dude, if you''re complaining about chakra''s influence on science, you''re a little late to the party] "I''m not complaining, just making an observation. This world''s rules are not the same as mine. Things that are possible shouldn''t be possible, and vice versa. Things that should be here aren''t and etc." (Rei) When Rei first came to this world, he immediately visited the library to get a grasp on the new life he''d be living. Much to his surprise, things were far more different than he anticipated Certain species of animals which shouldn''t exist do, and others he was familiar with didn''t. It was a bundle of contradictions that only made his life harder "Notitia, when you left to verify my soul ''issues'', I went to work on building equipment. I even made...guns" (Rei) [You did?! Then why the hell didn''t you use them?!] "Because they didn''t work. I manufactured a carbine rifle, and when I pulled the trigger...it exploded in my face" (Rei) [Hahahaha! I wish I was there to see it!] "Glad you find it so funny. But before you crack another one of your stupid jokes, the problem wasn''t my crafting skills" (Rei) [Huh?] "I replicated the specs of the gun to the tiniest fraction. Every position, part, even the chemical elements perfectly matched those of my original world. And yet, it didn''t work, no matter how many tests and trials I performed. Almost like..." (Rei) [Someone was deliberately preventing you from making one] "It was then I had a theory. The author decided there would be no guns in his story, and considering this place is based off his work...it implies the rules he set affect the natural laws and order of the world" (Rei) [So the tech you''ve been trying to make...and why you''ve failed at replicating Isshiki''s floating Black cubes is...] Rei has made countless attempts to perfectly replicate tsutsuki technology to the letter, with little success. He couldn''t understand how one with intelligence such as his, could fail at such a simple task Especially considering the Kara scientist Amado, a resident of this less developed world, was able to create so many cyborgs with insane abilities after Isshiki shared his clan''s knowledge with him "I''ve been thinking like a scientist from Earth, when I should''ve been thinking like a scientist from Naruto. My advanced knowledge won''t give me as much of an edge as I thought. tsutsuki technology is based on the principles of Chakra-based energy sources and not...electricity or fossil fuels" (Rei) [The only thing that fits the criteria for fossil fuels would be the power grids for shinobi villages...] "Chakra is the dominant force of this world. The more you have, the more potential you possess...and it influences almost everything. Take Mokuton2Wood Style for example, in the hands of anyone else it''s not bad, but in the hands of someone with chakra comparable to the Nine-tails like the First Hokage...it''s pretty f*cking overpowered" (Rei) [Did you consider acquiring it? As I said, adding new aspects to your body now isn''t recommended no matter how enticing they seem] "I told you I''m not going to. Even if I did, I''d probably never be able to use it like Hashirama. Hell, even the big villain Madara couldn''t use it on the exact same level as Hashirama. Because like I''ve been saying, it''s one''s chakra that determines the potency of their powers" (Rei) [Makes sense. The only thing greater than Wood Style is Yin-Yang Style, and it already appears to manifesting within you. Okay I get it, you got ninety-nine problems...so what are the solutions?] {Fortunately, it''s getting late so no one should notice me} (Rei) Rei got up from his hospital bed and grabbed his clothes before leaving a shadow clone in his place "Some things I can afford to put on hold for now. Chakra levels, there''s more than one way to increase them. The Black Scroll secret methods help stabilize my body. And even if Rychi Cave was right in front of me now, I know one must possess powerful chakra to use Senjutsu3Sage Jutsu, so going there is a waste of time" (Rei) [Not to mention your life] "Oh? I know it''s not like the toad land, Mount Myboku4Exquisite Tree Mountain. But Naruto''s sage training was still pretty dangerous, how is Rychi Cave different?" (Rei) [COMPLETELY different. For starters, you don''t get infinite attempts at trying to acquire Sage Mode in the cave, as opposed to the frog mountain. According to legend, the White Snake Sage will bite and inject natural energy into you. If you can''t adapt, the energy will turn you into a snake and the sage will devour you on the spot] "?!" (Rei) [Rychi Cave don''t play] "Only one chance...shit. Is there no way I can negotiate for the cave''s Tensei Jutsu? Instead of undergoing such a dangerous trial?" (Rei) Despite his past actions, Rei hated risking his life. Definitely when success didn''t guarantee the results he desires. There was no way to know for sure the techniques at Rychi Cave would even be able to fix his soul problems Going to the cave was simply the only option Notitia could come up with [Nope. The Snake Sage won''t budge under any circumstances. And it''s the only one who can teach you, so don''t even think about threatening it. Not that you''d stand a chance against it. The only way you get that knowledge, is by becoming a sage] {That''s why Orochimaru created his so-called "Power of the White Snake", an inferior copy of Rychi Cave techniques. Since his body couldn''t even handle the atmosphere of the cave, there''s no way he''d survive the Snake Sage''s trial} "Sigh. Well, I can''t do it now anyway...so I''ll burn that bridge when I get to it" (Rei) [You got a plan?] "Yup. First, I''m gonna head to the lab and open the second lock on the Black Scroll. I''m ready for it now" (Rei) [Finally, can''t wait to see how it strengthens your body this time. And Second?] "I need access to all data on tsutsuki technology, for better tools and weapons. But since you can''t give it to me as you are..." (Rei) [Oh. You''re gonna!-] Leaving his room, he proceeded to sneak out of the hospital "It''s time for another Lifeline" (Rei) 92. Second Lock After successfully sneaking out of the hospital, Rei discreetly made his way back home. Fortunately, Mabui wasn''t there now {Mabui must be at work with the Raikage. Recently, she''s been summoned by the office even more than usual...} (Rei) Using the reverse summoning pots, he teleported to his lab "Seems like forever since I''ve been here. Feels nice being in a lab again" (Rei) SHUFFLE Rei began clearing away the lab materials for more space. The last time he practiced the body strengthening methods of the "Black Scroll", he created quite the mess Worried the second "Lock" would be even more troublesome than the first, he made as much room as possible in order to avoid damaging the precious equipment [This seems like a wide enough space] "I agree, time to get to work" (Rei) [Already? Don''t you need to study the "Pattern" to open the "Kanji" lock?] "The last time I did this I took a peek at it so I could prepare myself for the next attempt" (Rei) The sealed scroll opens further with every "Lock", revealing more and more of the process and its intricacies. Considering how hard it was to open the first lock, Rei decided not to waste anytime on improving his Chakra Control Any mistake could lead to serious injury or death, and the practice would go a lot smoother if Rei was already prepared {I couldn''t get anywhere the first time I tried this lock, let''s see how much I''ve improved} (Rei) SWOOO! Pouring his chakra into the lock, the lines making up the Kanji symbol began to glow. Line after line, Rei''s chakra was steadily filling the entire seal until finally... CLICK! "!" (Rei) [OH! AWESOME!] ...the lock was removed, Rei had succeeded. He wasted no time opening the scroll, studying the instructions for next set of areas on his body to apply the method "..." (Rei) [Unbelievable man! I know you said you got this but damn! You made it look so easy!] Rei didn''t respond...he simply frowned "This...this is..." (Rei) [Hm?] "Sigh..." (Rei) [What''s up? You opened the lock...isn''t this cause for celebration?] "It would be...if I didn''t have to try so hard" (Rei) [Wait...was opening the lock that difficult?] "Like you wouldn''t believe, I may have a good poker face but this was on a WHOLE other level than the first one" (Rei) [Then the final two locks will undoubtedly be...] It wouldn''t be a stretch to say Rei''s chakra control was comparable to a high-level Jonin. Thanks to early self-training at the age of 3, advanced intelligence, and genetic enhancements...he was in a class of his own Yet this lock still gave him trouble, which meant the remaining trials would inevitably require an absurd amount of effort to overcome "I''m not despairing, there''s still room for improvement. Plus, tsutsuki manipulate chakra on a level completely different than humans. Once my alien DNA kicks in and I completely evolve into said ''Neo-tsutsuki'', things should become feasible...I hope" (Rei) [Ahhhh...now I get it. You''re just irritated cuz things are gonna get even more annoying in the future] "In hindsight, this world is always annoying but...yes, I am a little irritated at the current situation" (Rei) [Come on...things aren''t that bad] "Says you. When we first started this, you told me I''d only have to worry about the Canon and me causing ripples. But lately, it seems the Non-canon is the most dangerous thing around, and there''s no ripple to warn me about them" (Rei) [Unless you use a Life-Line] "Of which I only have four, soon to be three left" (Rei) [Oh that''s right, have you decided what to ask for?] "I have an idea but...lemme first complete my second trial" (Rei) Now it was time to apply the "method" onto himself After studying the next section of the Black Scroll, Rei gained a general idea of which spots to target on his body. Sitting down, he went to work on kneading his chakra QUIVV! "Uh!" (Rei) Just as before, his body began to shift and change the moment he activated the process. Unable to stop what he started, Rei was left with no choice but to endure the harrowing pain that followed {Damn it...it''s even worse than last time! Don''t pass out...don''t pass out...don''t pass out...!} "AGH!" (Rei) This trial was far more demanding than the previous one, and even though every second felt like an eternity, Rei persevered to the best of his ability [Just hold on! No matter what, don''t pass out until it''s finished!] "Ugh! Uhack!" (Rei) Seconds became minutes... And minutes became hours... Unaware of how much time had passed...Rei only focused on staying awake "Rgh...Ahhhh...goff!!!" (Rei) Just as he reached his limit, his body stopped moving on its own [Ah!] "Ugh..." (Rei) The task was complete, his bodily transformation was finished and with it, came sweet release "Notitia...I really wanna pass out right now" (Rei) [Don''t. If you do, your clone at the hospital will disappear] {Ahhh...my body is completely devoid of chakra. Looks like all of it was used for the change...} (Rei) [You''ll feel better once you recharge, go visit the Ten-tails. You were talking about doubling down on taking its power anyway. Might as well start now] "Ohhh...fine" (Rei) With much fatigue, he dragged himself to the lab''s basement. Walking through the giant torii gate portal, leading to the dimension that held the Ten-tails Approaching the cage, he was met with the usual hostile roar the beast gave to any visitor OOOOAAAAGGG!!! "Ah, shut the hell up! I have a migraine! I''ll be taking more whether you like it or not!" (Rei) VOOO!! Holding out his hand, Rei began absorbing the beast''s power. Wanting to speed up his training, he took far more than usual [Better?] "Ahhh...much better. I forgot healing abilities in this world mostly depend on chakra. Because I used up all of mine, my recovery was slower than usual" (Rei) [Good. Let''s see how much you can hold now] "Right" (Rei) Sitting down with his legs crossed, Rei focused on using the energy within him to expand the physical and spiritual centers in his body [Hm? Oh!] "This is..." (Rei) [Congratulations! Right now, your chakra is slightly higher than Naruto''s during Part One of the original story!] "I forgot, is that a lot?" (Rei) [At that point, his twelve year old body had more than his sensei, the famous ninja Kakashi Hatake. That''s not too bad for a nine-year old if you ask me] "That means more powerful jutsu are on the table now. Though I''ll still work on improving my chakra control" (Rei) [True. Better control means more powerful jutsu and less wasted chakra] Worried about the next trial of the Black Scroll, Rei made a mental note for dedicating himself to mastery of his chakra. Otherwise, he might actually die during the next trial [How''s your physical strength?] "..." (Rei) Looking around, Rei picked up a large rock before applying the smallest amount of force when... CRACK! "!" [Whoa...] ...it completely shattered in his hand [Now that''s what I call an upgrade!] "Uh-huh...but it also makes you wonder..." (Rei) [About what''s next?] "Yup. The first time my blood and organs were changed, boosting my immune system and regular bodily functions" (Rei) [And it oozed out all the so-called "impurities" from your body. That black stuff was rank!] "This time, my bones and muscles were refined, increasing my strength. But I don''t think it was meant to reach this extent" (Rei) [Well, this technique was made for humans...and you''re anything but] Rei thought back to when he "remade" his body during his first visit here. Notitia, or rather the "other", instructed him on the process. Adding various materials for the enhancements "I''d already improved my muscle cells by increasing mitochondrial efficiency and decreasing mitophagy...did the practice improve upon it?" (Rei) [Probably. And let''s not forget...tsutsuki have incredible bodies, especially their bones. The Kaguya Clan, known for their strong bodies, are descended from Kaguya tsutsuki. The carbon atoms in your body must have an incredibly tight atomic bond] Rei nodded in agreement after listening to Notitia, for its logic was sound. What he was concerned with was the future "Still...blood and organs for the first trial, bones and muscles for second, just what in the hell awaits me for the last two" (Rei) [It''s anyone''s guess, but it''s not like you can complete it as you are, so why fret over it? Just focus on what you can do now] Understanding the futility of worrying about it, Rei decided to get back to the hospital before someone finds out he left a shadow clone behind But not before uttering some final words "Notitia" (Rei) [Yeah?] "It''s time..." (Rei) [You know what to ask for?] "Mm" (Rei) [Remember. Although I told you the "other" has recovered faster than expected, most likely due to your new power, the cooldown will probably get even worse for the next one if you use it now] "If things go right, I won''t have to use one for quite some time" (Rei) [And when do things ever go right for you. But if you''re sure, say the words] "I want to use my Second Lifeline" After a momentary pause of silence, a distorted, albeit robotic voice resounded [...CONFIRMED...] [...NOW INITIATING LIFELINE CLIENT REQUEST...] ??? A certain cave within the Land of Rivers A man was sitting down at a desk, focused on reading the documents before him "Back so soon?" Not bothering to turn around, he suddenly spoke as if he was talking to himself ZOOOO! An inhuman creature''s upper torso emerged from the ground, with the appearance of a large plant. A bipolar face of black and white, with two different voices "What is it Zetsu?" The black half of the creature known as "Zetsu" was the first to speak "Tobi...there''s been a...development" (Black Zetsu) "Where?" (Tobi) "Kumogakure and Yugakure!" (White Zetsu) "There was attempt...on the Two-tails..." (Black Zetsu) Tobi ceased what he was doing and turned around after hearing this unsettling news "Someone trying to steal a Tailed Beast? Who? Another nation?" (Tobi) "Hard...to...say" (Black Zetsu) "We got there late, Kumo managed to rescue the Jinchriki before the extraction was complete but the perpetrators managed to make off with a lot of the beast''s chakra" (White Zetsu) "Someone hired...the Fuma..." (Black Zetsu) Thud! Zetsu threw a dead body Tobi''s feet. Brown hair and a scar on his cheek, it was the Fuma Captain who led the operation to steal the Two-tails "Why kill and bring him here?" (Tobi) "We didn''t kill him! He met his employers and pissed them off. They snapped his neck and took off with the container holding the beast''s chakra. We thought we could keep him alive long enough for you to interrogate him but...um...he didn''t survive the trip" (White Zetsu) "I told you...we were...moving too fast" (Black Zetsu) "Right, my bad. But someone making a move like this is a pretty big deal right?" (White Zetsu) "Not really" (Tobi) "?!" (Black & White Zetsu) "Countries making moves on Jinchriki is common. Besides, Akatsuki isn''t ready to hunt the Tailed Beasts yet. Nagato, or should I say ''Pain'', hasn''t fully mastered his Rinnegan1Sa?sra Eye yet, we need more control over the Ged Maz2Demonic Statue of the Outer Path" (Tobi) "The civil war in his home country, Amegakure3Hidden Rain Village, hasn''t ended yet either. I thought he''d get rid of Hanz by now" (White Zetsu) "Don''t underestimate Hanz...he''s capable of going toe-to-toe with Konoha''s Sanin" (Black Zetsu) "Sigh. Forget fighting him, we can''t even find him. His paranoia has gotten so bad he''s gone of the radar. No one knows where he is...not even his own family" (Tobi) "So what do we do? We got no leads on the Fuma Clan''s employers. When we tried to follow them, they became alerted to our presence" (White Zetsu) "They could sense...you?" (Tobi) Tobi was taken aback. Sensing a creature who can merge with its surroundings like Zetsu was a very difficult, if not an impossible task for most. Only a large scale sensing network could pull off such a feat It''s incredible stealth abilities were the sole reason Zetsu was given the role of Akatsuki''s spy "It''s too soon for you to be discovered. Kumo has their Jinchriki so there''s no need to worry. For now, focus on the task I''ve given you" (Tobi) "So we just ignore Kumo?" (White Zetsu) "You''re free to monitor them if you want but you should only involve yourself if the details pertain to the Tailed beasts. Kumogakure is the farthest nation from us, and we possess no influence compared to the others. I highly doubt we''ll find recruits for Akatsuki there" (Tobi) Tobi pointed the body and turned around "Get rid of this" "Oh! At least we get treat" (White Zetsu) "Just be quiet...and eat" (Black Zetsu) "Continue your efforts on locating Hanz. The sooner we take control of his village, the sooner we can move forward on building Akatsuki" (Tobi) "The time for...recruiting is nigh" (Black Zetsu) "Finally! Things will get a little less lonesome around here!" (White Zetsu) "Aren''t I with you?" (Black Zetsu) "You don''t count, you''re ALWAYS with me" (White Zetsu) "I''m heading back to Kirigakure4Hidden Mist Villagenow, managing my puppet Mizukage5Water Shadowisn''t exactly easy. You know what to do" (Tobi) ZUZUZU! After putting on his mask, the space tore around him as he disappeared into thin air "Soon" (Black Zetsu) "Huh? You say something?" (White Zetsu) "No...nothing" (Black Zetsu) 93. Self Study Early afternoon THUD! "Agh!" (Tai) "You''re still moving too slow Tai!" (Tango) "Only compared to you and Rei!" (Tai) Team Tango was training at a grassy field, undergoing a standard sparring session. It''s been two months since their last mission, Yugito''s rescue. Rei had long past adjusted to his new strength Since then, he and his team have spent most of their time improving DASH! "?!" (Tango) "Hah!" (Rei) Using his incredible speed, Rei appeared out of thin air and attacked from behind. Tango ducked and countered with a kick to his shin "Nope!" (Tango) "Uh?!" (Rei) "Too obvious Rei!" (Tango) "Keh! Suzu!" (Rei) "I know!" (Suzu) FWP! The pair formed several hand seals {Fton: Shinkgyoku1Wind Style: Vacuum Spheres!} (Suzu) {Katon: Endan2Fire Style: Flame Bullet!} (Rei) SCORCH! The several blasts of wind Suzu fired ignited when coming into contact with the fire blast Rei shot "That might be a problem...Kuchiyose no Jutsu3Summoning Jutsu!" (Tango) POOF! BANG! "?!" (Rei & Suzu) Slamming his hand on the ground, Tango summoned a wide metal shield to defend against the attack. One by one, the barrage of flame attacks were blocked "So close..." (Rei) "Didn''t see that coming" (Tai) "Tch!" (Suzu) [Someone actually using the summoning jutsu in a smart way...why is it so refreshing when I see it?] "Phew! That was close you two!" {Tiny high-pressurized shots of air followed by a flame blast, the two elements compliment each other quite nicely...} (Tango) TAK! "!" (Tango) Spotting an opening, Tai rushed at Tango from the side with a kick "Hah! I got you-!" (Tai) ZUUUU! Just as his flying kick was about to connect, Tai''s entire body phased through Tango "-now?" (Tai) "Clone!" (Rei) THUD! "Ooof!" (Tai) Tai fell on the ground "Can you sense him?!" (Suzu) "...Five o''clock!" (Rei) "Got it!" {Fton: Shinkha4Wind Style: Vacuum Wave!} (Suzu) Suzu took a deep breath and span around, exhaling compressed air into blades of wind, covering the area around Tango. Her wide sharpened attack was strong enough to slice through multiple trees The attack''s range prevented Tango from escaping BOOM! "Ugh!" (Tango) "Nice shot!" (Tai) "..." (Rei) Tango was blasted away by the attack, his tattered body tumbled on the ground. With his signature black staff in hand, Rei charged in to deliver the final blow but... POOF! "?!" (Rei, Suzu, & Tai) ...Tango''s seemingly injured body transformed into a log "Substitution!" (Suzu) "Where''d he-!" (Tai) "...Heh!" (Rei) RUMBLE! Rei struck towards the ground behind him as Tango emerged from below, intent on getting the best of him. Fortunately, Rei managed to catch on just in the nick of time to block his Kunai CLANG! "You saw right through me...not bad Rei" (Tango) "I can still do more!" (Rei) Not giving him a chance to rest, Rei continued to attack with numerous blows {Damn! He''s not just fast anymore...his blows carry far more weight than they used to. How''d he increase his strength so quickly?} (Tango) "Let''s take him down!" (Rei) {Suiton: Mizurappa5Water Style: Raging Waves!} (Tai) SPLOOSH! "Hmph!" (Suzu) FLING! Rei jumped away, letting Tango get hit by Tai''s water attack. Suzu threw several shuriken {Fton: Reppsh6Wind Style: Gale Palm!} (Suzu) VWOOSH! Using her wind, Suzu increased the shuriken''s speed and force {Too fast. And with Tai''s water, I can''t dodge, have to defend! Gotta time it just right and-!} (Tango) CLING! CLING! SMASH! "Ah!" (Tango) The impact from the wind-amped shuriken shattered the kunai daggers in his hands. Rei didn''t waste this opportunity WOOSH! {Alright! His back is wide open. Just have to land this blow and then we-!} (Rei) RIIIIIIING! "Ah!" (Suzu) "Crap!" (Tai) "Rrrr" (Rei) An alarm bell placed on a nearby stump starting ringing aloud "Out of time guys...sorry" (Tango) "Ahhhh! We were so close this time!" (Tai) "Were we? It seems to me like sensei was just toying with us" (Suzu) "No, no, no. Don''t sell yourselves short, that last attack was very well executed. And I clearly see improvement. Rei, your speed and strength have improved immensely, not to mention your Katon" (Tango) "Thanks" {Glad to see I didn''t go through all that crap two months ago for nothing} (Rei) "Suzu, you''ve widened your arsenal of elemental ninjutsu. And your chakra control has gotten even better, you took my previous advice to heart" (Tango) Nodding her head "Mm" (Suzu) "Tai, you''ve finally started using more Taijutsu, and your Suiton usage is beginning to expand" (Tango) "Well, that''s what you wanted me to do" (Tai) "Yes...all of you have improved...but there''s still room for further development" (Tango) Tango folded his arms and paused for a brief moment [Que the stuff you don''t want to hear] "Rei, while you used more elemental ninjutsu, you didn''t use your Suiton or Genjutsu. I understand if you wanted to try a different strategy, but you mustn''t neglect your other skills" (Tango) {I was in such a rush to win, I''d forgotten} (Rei) [I was wondering why you didn''t use shadow clones] "Suzu, you did the exact opposite of Rei. You attacked with only elemental ninjutsu, but I recall your Taijutsu was second only to his, don''t forget about close combat or your skills will weaken" (Tango) "...Yes" (Suzu) "Tai..." (Tango) {Here it comes...} (Tai) "Well done" (Tango) "Huh?" (Tai) "Even though you started with Taijutsu, you opted for ninjutsu as well. All around, your skills have improved immensely. The only thing of note is why didn''t you use your mist attacks?" (Tango) "Ah, that''s..." (Tai) "I was wondering about that too. Your vaporized oil would''ve come in handy much earlier during the fight" (Rei) During the entire session, Tai was fighting like a different person. His style completely changed, to the point Rei wondered if he was working with someone else Tai rubbed his head awkwardly "There''s been some...issues at my home. Acquiring oils isn''t as easy as it used to be anymore" (Tai) "?" (Suzu) "Issues? Like what?" (Rei) "Just a little family drama is all" (Tai) "..." (Tango) GURGLE! Rei''s stomach growled quite loudly "Ah..." (Rei) "..." (Suzu) "Pfff!" (Tai) "Heh! We''ll leave at that for today, the training sessions for the rest of the week are cancelled" (Tango) Tango took out a scroll from his pouch and opened it "Huh?" (Rei) "YES!!" (Tai) "Something happen sensei?" (Suzu) "No, no, I just have some business with a few colleagues of mine. Here, this is for you three" (Tango) POOF! Emerging from the scroll were twelve metal bracelets with flat red bulbs on their exterior. Tango handed four to each Genin "These are?" (Suzu) "Put them on. Two on your arms, and two on your legs" (Tango) "Wait, don''t tell these are-" (Rei) Tango had a wide grin on his face, affirming Rei''s speculation "These bracelets are made from unique metals found only in the ''Land of Iron''. When chakra is put through them, their weight increases. These devices have been modified to automatically take chakra from the wearer as soon as they''re put on" (Tango) "Training...figures" (Rei) "The Land of Iron...isn''t that the land of the Samurai?" (Tai) "Yes. We don''t see much of them because they''re a true neutral country" (Suzu) [So Tango''s pulling a Dragonball on you now? Though I don''t think it''s fair to say Dragonball invented the idea of weighted training] "Wait...so the moment we put them on...we won''t be able to get them off?!" (Tai) "Relax. Just like releasing Genjutsu, all you have to do is quickly disrupt your chakra flow and they''ll fall right off" (Tango) "Oh, well that''s a relief" (Tai) "They also have different levels, six in particular" (Tango) "Is that what the red bulbs on them represent?" (Suzu) "You got it Suzu, by tapping the red dots, you can increase the amount of chakra they take. This isn''t just muscle training, the more chakra consumed, the harder it is to control yours. I don''t want you all to just go about your daily lives wearing them, but to practice Ninjutsu as well" (Tango) "So if we can fight normally while wearing these, it''ll mean our abilities have grown significantly? Works for me, I''ve been looking for better Chakra Control exercises. Thanks Sensei" (Rei) "If you''re giving these to us...can we assume you''ll be gone for a while?" (Suzu) "Eh?" (Tai) Tango''s mood turned melancholy, keeping the details to himself, he gave a response to Suzu''s inquiry "I''ll be gone for a couple of weeks, so we won''t have any missions. The only exception will be if another Jonin, with approval from the Raikage''s office, summons you for one" (Tango) "Things must be serious if you''re gonna be gone that long" (Rei) "Not...really. It''s just something I''ve been working on for quite some time, and I need to get back to it" (Tango) Rei, curious at Tango''s refusal to share the details, tried to probe him for an answer but to no success "Try to find some outdoor activities as well, their great for training with these things. Feel free to take them off whenever you like, but the level you''re at will determine how much work I give you the next time we meet" (Tango) "Ahhh! Homework?! I left the academy to get away from all that crap!" (Tai) "Chill Tai, this is good for us" (Rei) "I hate school" (Tai) "Everybody hates school...it''s school" (Rei) After chuckling at Tai''s banter, Tango decided to take his leave "I look forward to when you return those back to me!" (Tango) "Aaaaand, he''s gone...now what do we do?" (Tai) "Exactly as he said, continue our daily lives. And find an activity to test these bracelets" (Suzu) "Speaking of that, I''m hungry" (Rei) "You''re always hungry" (Suzu & Tai) "Sucks that Akina decided to take the day off, and I don''t have enough food at home...hey Tai! Lemme hang out at your place" (Rei) "So my house is just another kitchen to you?!" (Tai) Smugly responding "Maybe just for today" (Rei) "It''s no good man, I finally moved out of my temporary house yesterday. I''m now back at my clan home, and things are kind of hectic over there right now" (Tai) Due to the internal conflict in his clan, Tai''s parents had moved him away to an isolated home at an early age. But now that he was older, and a shinobi, he would no longer be treated as a helpless child "Shame...guess I''ll just find some random restaurant to eat and-" (Rei) "How about...my home?" (Suzu) "?!" (Rei & Tai) With much surprise, Suzu offered to treat them to lunch at her house. Something the usually quiet and lone wolf-like girl would never do "I have plenty, if not too much food. The village supplies me with quite a bit, and I hate letting good food go bad" (Suzu) {That''s right, she''s lived by herself for quite some time. Being a minor, the village pays for her food expenses} (Tai) "Okay, I''ll take you up on that offer. Let''s all go" (Rei) "If-if you say so" (Tai) Making their way outside the training field, Rei and Tai missed the subtle smirk that appeared on Suzu''s face {Forward...one step at a time} (Suzu) 94. Potential Contractors The bureau office of the Daimy Tekkan was hosting a meeting with several clients and investors "Were not asking for mass manufacturing immediately but, we would prefer a moderate number" (Tekkan) CHATTER The listeners mumbled to themselves for little over a minute before one of them spoke "We understand what you''re asking Tekkan-dono. However, forgetting the number you''re requesting, delivering a single prototype in such a short timeframe is a hassle in itself" "Your request was vague enough as it is, but you and your superiors have refused to divulge any details as to what you plan on using them for" "When you lot purchase or sell something, do you divulge every single detail? Considering how experienced you are as merchants, I would think the obvious answer is no" (Tekkan) "If things were that simple we wouldn''t be having this conversation" "Telling us to give you a new age power cell, small enough to be carried by a human isn''t like ordering a bowl of Ramen" "Obviously, but your companies are surely capable of providing at least a schematic well within our time range" (Tekkan) Tekkan was growing frustrated as the men and women before him continued to give him the run around. Right now, he was doing his best to acquire a more compact generator for Kumogakure''s secret "Network" project The Daimy had left the village and entrusted Tekkan with the duty of supporting the Raikage. For him, failure didn''t exist in his vocabulary, definitely when it came to his boss And while he couldn''t share any exact details, he was sure the requests and payment offers he gave were fair, yet the ones before him appeared to have an abnormal amount of uncertainty despite being merchants {Is the offer to low? Or are they waiting for me to propose something better?} (Tekkan) "If I may, Tekkan-dono" "Makibi-dono..." (Tekkan) One of the merchants, opposite of the room from Tekkan, gathered everyone''s attention. In his mid twenties, he had fair skin and brown hair with small black eyes. He was probably the youngest one present yet carried an aura of authority His name was Makibi, president of the "Makibi Company", who just rose to the position of company president after his father recently passed away Tekkan had a low opinion of him, not only due to his bad reputation for pompously indulging a wealthy lifestyle, but the many peculiar, if not suspicious details regarding his father''s death. If Kumo wasn''t desperate, Tekkan would never even consider talking with such a disgusting man, nor any of the other corrupt businessmen in the room Out of the over thirty people present, barely a third of them had honest reputations "I think what my colleagues are getting at is conducting business with this country right now...well, it''s not beneficial at all" (Makibi) "...What do you mean?" (Tekkan) "Merchants, dealers, businessmen...this room is filled with people carry such titles. And with these titles comes the many things we have to protect in order to keep them. And do you know what the most important thing is?" (Makibi) "..." (Tekkan) "No? Well, allow me to educate you" (Makibi) {This son of a...!} (Tekkan) Tekkan''s face went completely neutral. Neither showing happiness or anger, he fought to remain calm while the arrogant young businessman stood up and monologued. Rudely lecturing Tekkan as if he were a child An experienced servant of a Daimy, he knew exactly what Makibi was hinting at, but refused to respond since it wasn''t a subject he wanted brought up during this meeting Unfortunately, Makibi derailed his plans... "Reputation, Tekkan-dono" (Makibi) "I assure you, working with the Land of Lightning will not cause you any grief. To you, or your reputation" (Tekkan) "But it''s not the Land of Lightning that wants our help right?" "It''s the capital Kumogakure that needs us" "Quite so! And from what I''ve heard, that village has been the subject of gossip in the past two months" (Makibi) "That''s-!" (Tekkan) "The Hyuga Incident...right?" (Makibi) "U-Urgh..." (Tekkan) The mood in the room took the worst possible turn for Tekkan. When he called this meeting, he tried to spin it as if the country itself needed new tech, and not its shinobi capital "Our practice involves taking risks sure...but that one is far too big" "Any shinobi village that makes multiple attempts to steal from another during an armistice signing can''t be trusted" "Just imagine what our other clients would think if word got out we''re dealing with such brazen village" (Makibi) "H-Hold on! This request is coming from the Daimy-sama, not the Raikage. Regardless of who uses them, what matters is who you''re selling them to!" (Tekkan) Tekkan tried to regain control of the mood but the damage was already done "That''s a na?ve thought, our clients won''t care" (Makibi) "There''s no guarantee Kumogakure won''t abuse such technology. The village already has a monopoly on most technology related to energy" "As I recall, there are several members of it''s council that have connections to company presidents in this field. They should do fine on their own" "I don''t think there''s any need to continue this further. You''re keeping us in the dark and we can''t just go out on a limb and trust Kumogakure. They''ve lost everyone''s trust" (Makibi) Makibi took his leave and others quickly followed suit. One by one, the clients left until Tekkan was the only one in the room. He sat down on his chair and sighed What happened today was one many failed attempts to acquire more contractors "Damn it...Tenga!" (Tekkan) SWISH! The shinobi Tenga suddenly appeared before Tekkan "I need you to call another meeting" (Tekkan) "More clients?" (Tenga) "No...with our friends" (Tekkan) "Ah! Of course, I''ll leave immediately" (Tenga) "I don''t think I have to tell you but, be discreet about it" (Tekkan) "Always" (Tenga) ??? One hour later Tekkan was now conversing with Mabui, Samui, Dodai, C, Tango, Darui, and the Raikage. There was also a new face with them that stood by Dodai "Thank you for coming, especially you Raikage-sama" (Tekkan) "No worries, we''ve been meeting in my office too much, the risk of our inner circle being discovered was getting worse" (A) "Hm? Where''s Toroi-dono? Shouldn''t he be here?" (Tekkan) "He''s currently leading an investigation on the southwestern border of the country. As I''m sure my friend here can tell you" (Dodai) The one standing next to Dodai stepped forward. Wearing the usual Kumo-nin attire, he had dark-brown spiky hair and dark eyes. A notable feature is the dark green mark that ran down his nose "Ah...Motoi-dono. It''s been a while" (Tekkan) "Apologies for my absence Tekkan-dono. As the stand-in overseer of Genbu Island, I''m constantly required to stay off the mainland" (Motoi) "It''s fine Motoi, we''ve been using that island as a base to conduct our secret missions anyway" (Dodai) "Mm...Toroi-sama was just dispatched from there" (Samui) "About that, if you''re still holding investigations...does that mean you still haven''t-?" (Tekkan) "Sigh...yes" (Samui) "The one''s responsible for the attempt on Yugito''s life still haven''t been identified. All we know is they hired the Fuma clan...and we''ve yet to identify the other clan aiding them" (Mabui) "The Fuma typically dwell near the Land of Fire, and the idea of Kumogakure ninja going there now is..." (Tekkan) "You can see why the investigation has been so dull" (Darui) Kumogakure was already on thin ice with Konoha, sending ninja in their land now could potentially lead to another war. Which was the last thing they needed in their current state "How is Yugito-sama by the way?" (Tekkan) "She''s up and moving but...a tailed beast extraction can be very traumatic on the body. Especially one as crude as the extraction she went through. Her connection with the Two-tails has been damaged and controlling it now is more difficult than ever" (Samui) "When I treated her, I could tell her chakra network was even more damaged than Rei''s. It''ll take some time before she''s back to 100%" (C) "We also haven''t identified the one responsible for massacring the Fuma-nin at the site. Suzu was knocked out and when she woke up, Yugito denied responsibility for it" (Dodai) "What about Rei?" (Tekkan) "..." (Mabui) "We questioned Rei, but he told us he didn''t remember anything" (Dodai) "Nothing at all?" (Tekkan) Tekkan squinted eyes "No. Besides, I doubt a Genin could''ve done THAT much damage...even one as talented as him" (Dodai) Motoi interjected "Are you sure?" (Motoi) "Who else could it have been?" (Tango) "A fair point I guess..." (Motoi) "I see...things are bad all over" (Tekkan) "The only actual progress we''ve made recently has been the Network" (Dodai) "How far did your team manage?" (Tekkan) "Tango" (Dodai) "With the power supply on hand, we maintained a link to our asset in Yugakure1Hidden Hot Water Village" (Tango) "That''s quite the leap compared to last time. But judging from your tone, the same issue still remains" (Tekkan) "Mm. Our power source is far too big to be of practical use" (Tango) "Which brings us to you Tekkan. How''s your progress been" (A) Tekkan unfolded his arms and held his forehead "Calling it ''awful'' would be a crude understatement. Most contractors won''t even bother speaking with us, let alone deal with us after the incident in Konoha. Even the scummiest and greediest of them aren''t willing to work with us, and I''m running out of pitches" (Tekkan) "To think the nation that leads the world in energy technology has been reduced to this...how pitiful" (Dodai) "Thanks to that idiot, and members of the council, our village is in the worst state imaginable. My only regret is that I couldn''t kill the Head Ninja myself" (A) "Speaking of the council..." (Tekkan) STUDDER! The Raikage stood tall and inadvertently release some of his chakra, causing the whole room to tremble. The behemoth of a man spoke with a cold, stern voice "I''ve already taken care of that front. I made it clear if anyone even thinks of gridlocking me, or doesn''t meet me in good faith negotiation will feel my wrath" (A) "G-Good to know" {Wish I could do that. Sure as hell would make my life easier} (Tekkan) "At least we won''t have to deal with anymore distractions on that front" (C) "But it doesn''t change the fact we''ve already poured too much money into the project. If we can''t get a smaller power source soon..." (Mabui) "We''ll have wasted all those resources for nothing. The economic impact...even for our village, will be terrible" (Samui) The group has been working on this enigmatic project for quite some time. Giving up now after the effort, money, and sacrifice was the last thing any of them wanted to do But whatever this project was, it was clear if they don''t acquire a proper power source soon, it would fail KLUNK! The door to the room opened and a single shinobi entered "Tenga! I told you we''re not to be disturbed!" (Tekkan) "Yes sir! And I''m sorry to intrude but the bureau has received a message for you" (Tenga) "Who''s it from?" (Tekkan) "The Daimy-sama" (Tenga) "Eh?!" (Tekkan) Tekkan quickly took the letter from Tenga and after reading...a smile formed on his face "What happened?" (A) "Hehehe! Things might be looking up after all!" (Tekkan) "Hm?" (Darui) "Did...did you find a contractor or something?" (Dodai) "You can say that" (Tekkan) Tekkan grabbed his belongings "You''re leaving?" (Tango) "Yup! I''m not gonna miss this one!" (Tekkan) "I haven''t seen you this excited in a while, who is this person?" (A) "Oh right. We talked about him before didn''t we?" (Tekkan) "?" (A) "Do you all remember one by the name of..." (Tekkan) Tekkan displayed the letter to everyone, within was a picture of said contractor "...Tetsuo Mori?" 95. Daily Activity An afternoon in Kumogakure Taking her offer of a free lunch, Rei and Tai followed Suzu home. Along the way, Rei brought up a subject he was curious about "Tai, what exactly is going on with your family?" (Rei) "!" (Tai) "I also recall you bringing up a related subject the last time we sparred with Tango-Sensei. Right before we went on the mission to find Yugito-sama" (Suzu) "..." (Tai) "I''m only asking because I know how important your greenhouse is to you. When I heard you no longer had it, something must''ve happened" (Rei) Tai looked downwards with a melancholy expression. His usual chipper demeanor was nowhere to be found. Ever since the mission involving Team Mabui, his new attitude hasn''t missed the attention of his peers But the subject appeared to be very touchy, as he was hesitant to respond "If you don''t want talk about it, you don''t have to" (Suzu) "I was just curious" {As long as it doesn''t impact your ability to support me, I don''t really care} (Rei) "Mmmm, haaaaa...no, I''ll talk about it. No problem was ever solved by running from it" (Tai) "Wise words...to live by" (Suzu) "My family has begun what we call...the selection. The process in which the next clan heir of the Yotsuki Clan is chosen, it''s a very big deal not just for us, but for the village" (Tai) "Because of your clan''s...job?" (Rei) "Yup" (Tai) Tai''s clan, the Yotsuki, is one that has served Kumogakure since before it''s founding. Tasked with its border security, the clan possesses heavy influence in government affairs A change in leadership would naturally be the cause for a major stir within the village, let alone the family itself "Your father is the current clan head...and you''re trying to take his place?" (Rei) "That''s what''s expected of me, but whether I want to or not is another matter entirely" (Tai) "You don''t want-ah! We''re here" (Suzu) Before they realized, the trio had already entered a small, isolated slum within the village. In front of them, a small culdesac-like area with a single rundown house Entering the house, they were surprised to find the inside was in better condition than outside. This was the first time Suzu had brought someone into her house, and considering Rei and Tai were seeing an entirely new side of the enigmatic girl''s life, the whole trio was nervous A small dinner table and kitchen, a living area with a Butsudan1Buddhist altar/Memorial shrine on the wall, there wasn''t much to look at once they entered {The walls and flooring...while the wood isn''t as bad as outside, it still seems ready to fall apart} (Rei) "Have a seat. I just have to heat some of this up" (Suzu) "Need some help?" (Rei) "It''s fine. Most of the food the village sends me is preassembled. Usually, I just have heat it up after adding some spices and whatnot" (Suzu) "Okay. In the meantime, let''s get back to what you were talking about Tai" (Rei) "Right, now where was I..." (Tai) "Taking your father''s place...how does that work exactly? You made sound like a competition between your family, do you have some siblings you never told us about or something?" (Rei) "No, no, no...along with the clan head''s children, elders of the family may also put forth their children in the selection" (Tai) SIZZLE! {Well...at least the gas works safely} (Rei) Suzu was at work in the kitchen "Meaning...you''ll be going up against your cousins" (Suzu) "Yeah...and all of them are older and more experienced than me" (Tai) "Whoa, slow down. There''s still something I don''t get" (Rei) "What?" (Tai) "How EXACTLY does one become the heir. You say your cousins are competition but, do you have to fight them or something?" (Rei) "No...that wouldn''t be fair to those with different ages and less experience. We have a time period to rack up a certain amount of achievements which are then tallied after a set time period" (Tai) "What kind of achievements?" (Suzu) "The kind that mostly benefit Kumogakure, rather than the clan. Honorable, virtuous contributions to our home" (Tai) "I see...kind of broad though" (Rei) "Why do you think I''m in such a bind about it? I don''t know how I''m going to win" (Tai) Suzu finished cooking and brought food to the table. Plates with salmon, including different types of sauces and spices on each of them "I only had salmon to cook, but I was able to improvise a bit. I know how much you like miso, Tai, so I made miso salmon for you" (Suzu) "Oh! T-Thanks Suzu" (Tai) "I didn''t have any teriyaki, sorry Rei. You''ll have to make due with this garlic salmon" (Suzu) "Hey, I''m getting free lunch. The last thing I''m gonna do is complain, especially when it looks and smells this good. Much appreciated Suzu" (Rei) "Mm" (Suzu) Lightly blushing at the compliments, she sat down at the small table with them. Not that hungry herself, all Suzu ate was some fresh stir fry vegetables "How much time do you have?" (Rei) "Sigh...I was informed of it months ago but the selection officially started yesterday, it''s a three year process" (Tai) [Yesterday...that timing is...] "?" (Rei) "That''s quite a bit of time" (Suzu) "Achievements like the ones I''ve mentioned don''t happen overnight. Any past achievements you''ve made prior to the start of this process aren''t factored in as well" (Tai) "To keep things fair. Well, at least you''ve got time" (Rei) "Uh-huh...honestly, I wouldn''t mind if one of my cousins took the seat" (Tai) "Oh?" (Suzu) "I was under the impression they were your enemies. Considering these guys are the children of the elders who want to remove your dad from his position as clan head" (Rei) "I said competition, not enemies. This whole thing started because of a difference in opinion. Many of our family died in the last war and my father, being the one who led our clan, must bear the responsibility. It''s in any of the elder''s right to apply for the job if they think their children can do it better" (Tai) "That doesn''t seem very fair" (Rei) "True, but that''s the price for carrying a position of power. Every loss is the leader''s burden to bare" (Suzu) Despite her rational words, Suzu was frowning. Being a victim of bad heritage herself, she disliked the idea of one paying the price for something that wasn''t their fault to begin with Tai''s father, or anyone else, couldn''t possible have protected EVERY single soldier they sent to war. Casualties were inevitable, definitely on the scale as the 3rd Shinobi World War "Despite how it sounds, it''s fair. They''re not doing this out of spite, some simply believe it''s time for a change of policy" (Tai) [Ugh...Politics always ruin everything] "Only when it doesn''t work" (Rei) "Hm?" (Tai) "Nothing. In short...you don''t hate them?" (Rei) "They''re my cousins, of course not! To them, this is just a fun competition, that happens every time a new leader is chosen. There''s hardly ever been any bad feelings left over whenever my clan underwent this process" (Tai) "Then why are you so freaked out?" (Rei) "..." (Tai) "...Tai?" (Rei) "..." (Tai) "Honor...right?" (Suzu) "?!" (Tai) "For your father I take it" (Suzu) "You saw right through me Suzu" (Tai) Suzu glanced at her family shrine "Not really...honoring your parents is something I get..." (Suzu) "..." (Rei) Tai took off the white armband tied on his right arm, close to his shoulder, and placed it on the table "Is that...?" (Rei) "Yes..." (Tai) "My clan''s symbol" (Tai) "..." (Suzu & Rei) "My Father, and his father, and his father before him...up to four generations of my line have lead the Yotsuki Clan with pride and strength" (Tai) "...You don''t want to be the one who breaks that chain" (Rei) "And your father is..." (Suzu) "His only response was, ''I don''t care if you participate or not''. I''ve never really been the pride of the clan after all" (Tai) [That''s odd, considering Tai''s talent] {Notitia''s right} "You came up with ninjutsu that''s basically chemical warfare, at the age of 7" (Rei) "My family''s never been easy to please...guess that goes doubly for me" (Tai) {Maybe...but there''s seems to be more to it than that} (Rei) The group finally finished their meal. Tai quickly volunteered to help Suzu with the dishes, because the kitchen was small, there was no room for Rei to help out CREAK! "?!" (Tai) "It''s fine, the pipes here are just old" (Suzu) "..." (Rei) After cleaning, the group sat down in the living area near the house shrine "And that''s the gist of it. The greenhouse where I make my oils was taken back to clan house when they ordered me to return" (Tai) "That''s why your fighting with Tango-sensei was so-" (Suzu) "Yeah" (Tai) "Hey guys, I think Tango-sensei saw this coming" (Rei) "?" (Tai) "What do you-?" (Suzu) "Think about it, wasn''t today''s training session a bit off?" (Rei) "Off like how? Everything seemed normal to me" (Tai) "Now that you mention it..." (Suzu) "Hm?" (Tai) "Today''s session wasn''t filled with his usual lectures and exercises. And while we''ve done it before, he told us to go all out for sparring this time" (Suzu) "..." (Rei) Rei looked at the chakra training bracelets on his arms he received from Tango earlier today "You keep looking at the bracelets...does that have something to do with what you''re getting at?" (Tai) "Sort of...like you said, this ordeal with your clan is something even the top brass of the village pay attention to. Top brass includes all Jonin as well" (Rei) "So what...you think he gave me these bracelets for practicing, to prepare me for the selection?" (Tai) "He did seem to already know what was off with you today" (Suzu) "You got three years, now''s the best time to up your training" (Rei) "..." (Tai) "You up for it?" (Rei) "Better now than later huh? Heh, fine...gotta start somewhere" (Tai) "Good to hear, let''s get to work" (Rei) "Aren''t you forgetting something?" (Suzu) "Hm?" (Rei & Tai) "Tango-sensei said we should find a daily activity to make proper use of these bracelets" (Suzu) "Oh yeah, that''s right...what should we do anyway?" (Tai) "..." (Rei) As the trio pondered, Rei opened his eyes and look at his surroundings before smiling "Ya know, a thought just came to me Suzu. Tai and I haven''t payed you back for the delicious lunch" (Rei) "I already said it wasn''t necessary, you don''t have to worry about it. We''re a...team after all" (Suzu) "True. But a meal as good as that deserves proper compensation...wouldn''t you agree Tai?" (Rei) "Umm...yes?" {There he goes again...suddenly talking like an adult with that evil grin on his face. Reminds me of graduation and Sekiei...what the hell is planning this time?} (Tai) "I''ve found our activity" (Rei) "What?" (Suzu) Rei stood up and pointed upwards "Huh? Eh?!" (Suzu) "Wait...are you suggesting we-?!" (Tai) "That''s right. Suzu..." (Rei) "..." (Suzu) "We''re gonna fix your house" 96. Lingering Suspicions MrProper "What do you think? Not bad right?" (Rei) "..." (Tai) "..." (Suzu) They were at a loss for words after receiving Rei''s proposal "Rei...you do remember we''re eleven year old kids right?" (Tai) "I''m nine" (Rei) "That doesn''t help your case!" (Tai) "I also don''t think that''s the issue-" (Suzu) "When it comes to ninja, at this point, it''s fair to say age is irrelevant" (Rei) "..." (Tai) Tai couldn''t deny Rei''s point. In this world, one is no longer treated as a child the moment they put on a shinobi head band. Children younger than them were out on the battlefield in the last war Their teacher in particular is a Jonin captain despite being young enough to be confused for a Genin "We can do it..." (Rei) "Even if Suzu agrees to this, there are still two problems I see" (Tai) "Um-" (Suzu) "Enlighten me" (Rei) "One, where in the hell is she gonna sleep while we''re working on the house?" (Tai) "Mariko-nee''s foster home. Hey Suzu...she took care of you for some time right?" (Rei) "Well...for a time before I moved back into my home. But that''s not the what I-" (Suzu) "See, it works out just fine. Mariko-nee''s been eager to take care of Suzu. Every time we go over there she''s always going on about Suzu moving into her home" (Rei) "Okay, that might work. What about tools and resources?" (Tai) "Already got it covered" (Rei) "I really don''t want you spending money for my-!" (Suzu) "You got that kind of cash on you?" (Tai) "As of recently, yeah. I wasn''t just relaxing during my stay in the hospital" (Rei) "...Are you really a kid?" (Tai) "You raise an interesting philosophical question" (Rei) CLAP! "Guys!" (Suzu) "?!" (Rei & Tai) Turning their attention to the subject of their debate, Suzu made her stance clear "You don''t owe me anything Rei" (Suzu) "It''s not just about owing, it''s something I wanna do" (Rei) "Give it up Suzu. If there''s one thing I''ve learned after hanging out with this weirdo, it''s when he decides on doing something, no one can stop him" (Tai) "..." (Suzu) "Even if you say no now, he''d probably just come back later and find a way to convince you" (Tai) "Yup, or I''d just do it secret" (Rei) "What do you mean in secret?! You can''t just mess with someone''s house!" (Tai) "I''m improving the house thank you very much" (Rei) "Ugh...you''re unbelievable" (Tai) "Heh! If I can''t stop him, I might as well let him. It''s also a good daily activity for these training bracelets" (Suzu) "Right, I was thinking the same thing. Rebuilding a house isn''t gonna happen in a day after all" (Rei) {What''s wrong with these two? They''re a pair of training lunatics! Friggin'' birds of a feather!} (Tai) Tai didn''t know what bothered him more. Rei''s absurd plan, or the fact Suzu was going along with it "We obviously can''t start today, gimme a week and I''ll be here with the supplies" (Rei) "Sigh...well, at least we''re giving Mariko-san time to prepare for Suzu" (Tai) "Mm. Fortunately, I don''t have much, the only thing of value to me is that shrine" (Suzu) "In that case, maybe it''s time I gave you two a certain Jutsu" (Rei) Rei pointed to the red armbands on his wrists "Oh, the Kuchiyose: Raik Kenka1Summoning: Lightning Flash Blade Creationtechnique right?" (Suzu) "Being able to summon weapons and items whenever I want would come in handy, especially for the oils I use" (Tai) POOF! Rei summoned two scrolls and wrote down the necessary steps for the Jutsu before handing them over "You''ll have to use your own giant scroll as a true medium to carry your belongings but at least now you''ll have the technique. Since you guys still wear the standard Kumo wrist bands, you can just fit the seal tag under or sew it into your clothing" (Rei) "Thanks" (Suzu) "What she said" (Tai) Rei and Tai took their leave as Suzu saw them out "Things never get boring with you" (Tai) "Good, the eccentric are usually the most brilliant" (Rei) "Or crazy" (Tai) "To each his own Tai, to each his own" (Rei) "..." (Suzu) "There''s someone I need to talk to, we''ll meet here again in a week" (Rei) "As for the so-called resources...since you haven''t told us how you''re getting them, I hope it''s not anything illegal!" (Tai) "Relax, the money I made during my time in the hospital was legit" (Rei) "In other words, you came up with a way to make money quickly and didn''t say anything because...you don''t wanna share" (Tai) "Yeah, pretty much" (Rei) "Greedy little punk" (Tai) "That''s fair, see you in a week!" (Rei) A light smirk formed on Suzu''s face as the departing boys could no longer be seen. Returning inside, she sat down before the house shrine "Well mom, dad...those two were my squad mates. Quite an interesting pair aren''t they?" (Suzu) ??? Around the center of Kumogakure The ninja Motoi entered an apartment complex. His eyes wandered as he waltzed around, trying to locate a certain condo. After a minute of searching, he could spot his destination several stories up Leisurely walking up the stairs, he stopped in front the room he was looking for and knocked. Footsteps could be heard approaching as the door opened KLUNK! "Motoi?" "Sorry to bother you after we just met but...there''s something I need to discuss with you" (Motoi) "...Come in" "Thank you" (Motoi) Sensing the seriousness in his voice, the house owner invited Motoi in. Glancing outside to see if anyone followed him, the young man closed the door "No need to be on alert. Although what I want to discuss is a private matter, it''s nothing so serious. More speculation really" (Motoi) "All right, you have my attention" "I wanted to talk about your student" (Motoi) "...Which one?" "You know who I''m talking about, Tango" (Motoi) "...Rei" (Tango) Tango had put the thought in the back of his mind. While he did have his suspicions, weeks of normal behavior in the hospital disparaged any negative thoughts of Rei, or his statements Despite his usual, rational way of thinking, Tango didn''t want to look at his student with doubt "As a former intelligence member, you of all people should know there''s something off about Rei''s testimony" (Motoi) "What exactly did you find wrong with it?" (Tango) "Despite her transformation, Yugito recalled everything that happened to the moment she was knocked out. Suzu''s report coincides with her own as well. The enemy sealing team showed up, suppressed her, then blew the Genin away with a paper bomb" (Motoi) "So?" (Tango) "But your team found Rei not by Suzu, but far away, covered in what was left of the Fuma. I''ve been around my fair share of paper bombs, and I know if a bomb carried enough force to blast him THAT far away, both Suzu and Rei shouldn''t be alive right now" (Motoi) "It''s not impossible Motoi" (Tango) "True. Though he''d still have external injuries, yet somehow, his chakra network was the only thing damaged. The only time I''ve seen that kind of damage is when a member of the Hyuga Clan targets someone''s Tenketsu2Chakra Points" (Motoi) "A paper bomb wouldn''t...couldn''t do that kind of damage. And then there are the bodies..." (Tango) "Toroi described the scene to me, he said the Fuma appeared as if they went through a compactor. Calling it gruesome, like something out of a horror story" (Motoi) Tango glared at Motoi "You''re saying my student is capable of such atrocities?" (Tango) "Don''t look at me like that, I''m simply stating facts" (Motoi) "What if it was someone else?" (Tango) "There were no other prints found on the ground. If said rescuer managed to brutally kill an entire troop of Fuma, erase their tracks, then somehow damage Rei''s chakra network and place him next to the bodies for...reasons. It''s possible, but highly unlikely" (Motoi) Motoi had a valid point. Why would someone go to the trouble of rescuing Rei, only to hurt him and purposely leave him alive? There were too many contradictions "There''s a reason you''re saying this...get to the point Motoi" (Tango) "I have a proposal, let me take Rei on a mission" (Motoi) "A mission? Where...and why?" (Tango) "You may not have heard since you were the first to leave our meeting earlier today but...we just received word from F. His team may have a lead on the events which took place that day" (Motoi) "A lead? Like a source or witness?" (Tango) "Though I can''t say for sure, but yes. Someone who can shed some light on the other clan that aided the Fuma" (Motoi) {The "man in the white robe" Hikaru-senpai mentioned} "And you want to take Rei with you?" (Tango) "Being someone who was actually there, his insight could be of help. And, it gives us a chance to feel him out, to see if he left out any details in his story" (Motoi) "Just you and him?" (Tango) "We''ll rendezvous with F and his squad" (Motoi) Tango turned around and sat on a chair, not uttering a word. Considering whether or not to accept Motoi''s proposal "You know you can''t take him with just MY approval right?" (Tango) "I already have permission from Raikage-sama" (Motoi) "You went to Raikage-sama already?" (Tango) "He went to me" (Motoi) "?!" (Tango) "Don''t look so shocked. Out of everyone in his inner circle, I''m the only one who doesn''t have ties with Rei. He knows I can look at this objectively, with no bias whatsoever. He just didn''t say anything during our meeting with Tekkan today because Mabui was there. Didn''t want to upset his assistant" (Motoi) "..." (Tango) "I''m not gonna treat him like a criminal, we''re just verifying his testimony. If he really was responsible, then it means he saved Yugito and Suzu''s lives. The only offense would be lying on a mission report, something we take very seriously" (Motoi) Tango couldn''t deny his curiosity. If Rei was responsible, the first question would be how in the world could a barely nine year old Genin take out that many adult shinobi so quickly...and brutally It was the smart thing to do, but putting his own student under investigation left a bad taste in his mouth "I don''t like it" (Tango) "Neither do I, he''s a fellow Kumogakure shinobi after all. But we can''t let our feelings cloud our judgement" (Motoi) {Right, because you of all people have never been emotional} (Tango) "If you need some time to-" (Motoi) "Haaaa...wait" (Tango) "Hm?" (Motoi) "Fine. Do it" (Tango) "I''ll see to preparations. When we receive the next report from F, we''ll head out" (Motoi) Motoi gave a light bow to Tango and proceeded to leave. Just as he opened the door, Tango gave him some final words "A word of advice Motoi" (Tango) "Yes?" (Motoi) "About Rei''s safety..." (Tango) "He comes to any harm and you''ll make me regret it?" (Motoi) "Oh no, I won''t get the chance" (Tango) "?" (Motoi) "It''s not my wrath you have to worry about...it''s Mabui''s" (Tango) "..." (Motoi) "There''s a reason why her team is called Team Mabui despite having a Jinchriki of Yugito-sama''s caliber on it. Raikage-sama didn''t make her his assistant just because of her skill in Space-Time Ninjutsu" (Tango) GULP! "Not a scratch Motoi, not a scratch" (Tango) "Y-Yeah...I''ll definitely make sure nothing happens" (Motoi) "I''m glad to hear that" (Tango) CLANG! Motoi was gone, leaving Tango to himself "Because she''s always so caring when it comes to her little cousin I''d forgotten..." Tango shuddered "She''s just as abnormal as Rei is..." 97. New Deal MrProper In the Land of Lightning, several miles outside Kumogakure''s walls The Daimy''s assistant Tekkan, and his escort Tenga, had just arrived at Mori Sp. After being welcomed at the door, the head of security Sh escorted him to the private office of the company president, Tetsuo Mori "Right on time, welcome to my company Tekkan-dono" (Tetsuo) "Thank you for taking the time to see me Mori-dono" (Tekkan) Tetsuo gestured for Tekkan to take a seat at his desk. Accepting his hospitality, he shook Tetsuo''s hand before sitting down "Thank you Sh, that''ll be all" (Tetsuo) "Of course, I''ll resume my duties. Please let me know if you need anything" (Sh) "You wait outside as well, Tenga" (Tekkan) "Sir" (Tenga) After the others left, the two men were finally alone to themselves. Tekkan was the first to speak "I have to say we were all surprised when we received your message" (Tekkan) "The we being you and the Daimy?" (Tetsuo) Tekkan pulled out tag with the symbol for the Land of Lightning, the Daimy''s signature was also imprinted upon it. He also gave Tetsuo a letter from the Daimy "Hmm...temporary powers huh?" (Tetsuo) "Of course, I''m here speaking on his behalf. I''ve been temporarily granted the same level of authority as him, so any agreement made here is final, as if the Daimy-sama was making it" (Tekkan) "That''s all I needed to hear, now...would you like to see it?" (Tetsuo) "More than anything, yes" (Tekkan) Tetsuo removed the thin cloth covering his desk and revealed a small, black, cube-shaped object with several cables attached to it. The cables in question were connected to wall behind him "This is..." (Tekkan) "A next-generation power supply, though it''s still just a prototype. Small and compact, just as I claimed in my letter" (Tetsuo) "It''s so small but...what of its capabilities?" (Tekkan) "Why don''t you see for yourself" (Tetsuo) "Huh?" (Tekkan) Tetsuo pointed around the room, seemingly hinting at something. Picking up on it, Tekkan rose from his chair in earnest and yelled "Wait...you don''t mean-!" (Tekkan) "Hehehe" (Tetsuo) "This whole room?!" (Tekkan) "That''s right. This tiny box by itself, has been powering the lights in the room non-stop...for the past five days" (Tetsuo) "Impossible...!" (Tekkan) "Quite a step up wouldn''t you say?" (Tetsuo) "How in the world did you-?!" (Tekkan) Tetsuo cut Tekkan off as he raised his hand, urging him to sit back down. Getting back in his chair, he took out an bottle of liquor and filled two glass cups with alcohol With a laid-back attitude, he leaned back on his chair, put his feet on the desk...and handed a glass to Tekkan before speaking "All I can tell you is my company has a very bright mind at its disposal" (Tetsuo) "..." (Tekkan) "Obviously you should know what this device means not just for the country, but the world itself" (Tetsuo) "Yes...this...this will change everything" (Tekkan) "Quite so...now about our arrangement..." (Tetsuo) "Ah! We accept your-!" (Tekkan) "Nuh-uh...I still haven''t said I''d GIVE you this technology" (Tetsuo) "Is there some problem you find working with us?! Or...is our offer not enough?!" (Tekkan) "For revolutionary tech like this, it''s definitely not enough. But that''s not the reason for withholding my support" (Tetsuo) "Th-then what is the problem?" (Tekkan) "It''s not just the Daimy that needs this, correct?" (Tetsuo) "...Yes" (Tekkan) Tetsuo put his glass down and stared straight at Tekkan''s eyes, making him even more anxious "A businessman''s true currency isn''t money, it''s information. The sudden need for a new, smaller power source. I know whatever it is you''re working on involves Kumogakure and its Raikage" (Tetsuo) "..." (Tekkan) "Being the Daimy''s assistant, I''d be quite disappointed if you didn''t know of my past history with Kumogakure" (Tetsuo) "The Oni Garrison...what you endured was-" (Tekkan) "Unnecessary. The project schematics they were after were supposed to be split into different pieces. Multiple companies would oversee the production of the parts, then the final product would be assembled in the shinobi capital" (Tetsuo) "That project is something...sensitive" (Tekkan) "Oh, I''m sure. Given all the trouble both the Raikage, and your boss have gone to keeping things under wraps. But due to an oversight on Kumo''s part, the schematics were all delivered to one location...my factory. You know the rest" (Tetsuo) {So he IS holding a grudge against Kumo for that. Can''t say I blame his lack of trust...it''s the village''s fault he was attacked and tortured by those criminals. Not to mention his factory closing down} (Tekkan) "I can tell what you''re thinking and lemme tell you, I''m not THAT petty" (Tetsuo) "!" (Tekkan) "It''s not that I''m unwilling to work with you, it''s just a simple cash check isn''t gonna cut it. I need something real, something more than money. As it is now, I can''t fully place my trust in Kumogakure, or even the Daimy for obvious reasons" (Tetsuo) "What are you proposing?" (Tekkan) "That we host this meeting properly. A face-to-face with the Daimy...and the Raikage" (Tetsuo) "That''s-!" (Tekkan) "Possible. It may require some planning, but I know you can make it happen. I''m not belittling your presence here Tekkan-dono, but I prefer to actually meet the person I''m going into long-term business with" (Tetsuo) Tekkan was at a loss. What Tetsuo suggested was plausible, but very unwelcome at this current time. One of the main priorities of the Raikage''s Inner Circle was to maintain the illusion he wasn''t in a friendly relationship with the Daimy The Network project was meant to be a secret, yet at the same time, they desperately needed Tetsuo''s aid. The fact he already had prototypes ready was a godsend to say the least Especially if you consider how any other business is keeping their distance from the Land of Lightning after the Hyuga Clan Affair. With no other options, Tekkan caved in... "I''ll arrange the meeting, but it will take some time" (Tekkan) "Not too much time I hope, the list of potential clients for this tech is practically endless after all" (Tetsuo) "...I promise to move with haste" (Tekkan) Tekkan rose from his seat and left the office. Tenga, waiting outside, was surprised by Tekkan''s swift pace as they left the facility "Um...sir? Is everything alright? Did things not go well?" (Tenga) "Yes and no Tenga. You must take me to Kumogakure as fast as humanly possible. I also need to call the Daimy-sama!" (Tekkan) "The Daimy-sama? He''s out of the country right now" (Tenga) "I don''t care, just do it!" (Tekkan) "Y-Yes sir!" (Tenga) {We cannot allow this opportunity to slip out of our hands!} (Tekkan) ??? Back in Tetsuo''s office The moment Tekkan left the office Tetsuo stood up, locked the door, and sat back down {As I recall, he said to clear my mind and reach out to him with thought only...} (Tetsuo) Concentrating to best of ability, Tetsuo waited impatiently. After some time, a cloaked figure suddenly formed in front of him ZSSST! {This phenomenon freaks me out every time I see it} (Tetsuo) "Tetsuo, you''re getting a good handle on Genjutsu Transmission" "Developer R, is now a bad time?" (Tetsuo) "Not at all, I was just getting ready to call you" (Rei) After allowing Rei to alter his mind with Genjutsu, Tetsuo still believed Rei and the one known as "Developer R" were two completely different people These clandestine acts were a means of information compartmentalization, focused not only on keeping his identity a secret, but protecting his tech''s confidentiality in the event an enemy or foreign power sought to steal his work Rei''s future knowledge and advanced technology were his greatest advantages, one he had to protect at any and all costs "I wanted to inform you I just finished my meeting with the Daimy''s assistant. He agreed to arrange a meeting with the Raikage and the Daimy...just as you wanted" (Tetsuo) "Of course Tekkan did, not like he had much of a choice. They need us far more than we need them, there are plenty of nations who would pay any price to get this technology" (Rei) "But is strong-arming them like this a good idea? When I meet with them and they hear the demand you wanted to me make, I doubt they''ll be happy" (Tetsuo) "You think requesting to oversee all of their energy demand is too much to ask?" (Rei) "You do know why Kumogakure has the biggest council out of all the shinobi villages right? I mean, most have around three to twelve elders but Kumo...Kumo has over fifty" (Tetsuo) "...I know why" (Rei) Tetsuo''s worries were well warranted. Kumogakure is noted to have the best economy out of the Five Great Shinobi Nations. Thanks to its specialty with Raiton1Lightning Style, the village has been able pioneer an ample amount technology that runs on electricity Because this business has such a heavy influence in the village, many high ranking shinobi and members of its council have ties to, or are themselves business owners The request of handling all of Kumo''s energy manufacturing and supply is akin to robbing these people "The Raikage will definitely find this appealing. Have you forgotten the council bears much responsiblity for the Hyuga incident in the first place? They''ve been a pain in his ass for quite some time, the odds of him skipping out on the opportunity to take away their influence should be obvious" (Rei) "I thought the Head Ninja was the one responsible?" (Tetsuo) "Well, that moron certainly played his part. But how do you think he managed to get AND keep his initial position in the first place? I mean come on, that idiot as the Head Ninja of Kumogakure?" (Rei) "...Wasn''t he born in a powerful family?" (Tetsuo) "Coming from privilege is only part of it, even the slowest of morons can become successful in certain subjects...like politics. That guy knew how to keep the right people happy. Many of the council flourished when he held his position and they offered their support for him in return" (Rei) "That''s why the Raikage could never get rid of him..." (Tetsuo) "Selecting and removing the Head Ninja is not something the Raikage can do alone. He can cast nominations but...only a majority vote by the council can make such a decision" (Rei) "And that guy made a lot of friends before he died...this is why I hate politics" (Tetsuo) "Trust me, you''ll do fine in the negotiations. Just stand your ground, the Raikage may play hard to get but ultimately respects those who stick to their ideals" (Rei) "Are you sure we can trust him? I''ve met the Daimy before, so I''m not worried about him but...the Raikage did actively participate in increasing military strength during the demilitarization" (Tetsuo) "That was before the armistice and he only did that because he didn''t trust the other nations, for good reason. Do you really think the other nations weren''t doing the same in secret? Kumo''s mistake wasn''t increasing their strength, it was getting caught" (Rei) {True, there''s been some unsavory rumors about Iwagakure2Hidden Stone Villageand Kirigakure3Hidden Mist Villagespreading around for quite some time} (Tetsuo) "Don''t worry about it, just focus on the task at hand and you''ll do fine. Mori Sp is on the verge of reaching new heights, don''t get cold feet now. You received the next schematic I trust?" (Rei) "The new power grid plans, yes I received them. As usual, your designs are astonishing...just how did you come up with this one?" (Tetsuo) "Well, I requested special help from a certain guide of mine" (Rei) "Huh?" {Guide?} (Tetsuo) "Never mind. I actually called you because I need a favor" (Rei) "What do you need?" (Tetsuo) "I require...let''s call them, special supplies" (Rei) "Like what?" (Tetsuo) "I''ve already sent a list that should be arriving at your doorstep any time now. And remember, I just need the supplies, I''ll be doing the building myself. Once you''ve gathered them, place the materials on the scroll I gave you" (Rei) {So much cloak and dagger} "Just what the hell are you making this time?" (Tetsuo) Rei cut the connection and his figure began to disappear, but not before he muttered some final parting words "Just a little bit of urban development" 98. The Second Lifeline Ten days later "Phew! Finally got the foundation finished" (Rei) "Hey Suzu! The cement''s done!" (Tai) "Already?" (Suzu) "He used his Suiton1Water Stylewith the concrete" (Rei) "It''s good practice, though I wouldn''t have mind a little help from you Rei" (Tai) "I can speed up the hardening with my Katon2Fire Styleif that makes you feel any better" (Rei) "Fire''s not really good idea" (Tai) "I''m not an idiot Tai, I''ll just use my chakra to increase the heat slightly. I won''t make any flames" (Rei) "I''ve got more broken parts!" (Suzu) The team had finished taking apart Suzu''s old shack of a home and commenced rebuilding. Despite how difficult such a task would normally be for regular grown adults, this labor proved to be just the right level of challenge for ninja "Just leave them over there. Later, I''ll seal the rest in a scroll and take them somewhere else" (Rei) "Got it" (Suzu) "We''d be moving a lot faster without these bracelets" (Tai) "That''d defeat the whole purpose of this daily activity Tai" (Rei) "Speaking of that, what level are you at right now?" (Suzu) "I''ve made it to three, and you?" (Rei) "I''m halfway through two. Tai?" (Suzu) "Just made it to two" (Tai) "Eh? Really?" (Rei) "I''d think with your chakra control, you''d already be at three" (Suzu) "It''s not just about control, but strength. And mine is still not at your level" (Tai) Not just working, the trio were wearing the training bracelets Tango left them. They closely monitored the bracelet''s six red bulbs which represented not only the quantity of chakra taken, but the amount of weight and pressure on them Rei was ahead due to having the best strength and chakra control thanks to his intelligence and modified body. Suzu always had a great physique and excellent control thanks to her natural talent and heritage What surprised them was Tai''s slower pace. Being one who manipulated oil-turned gas, his chakra control was second only to Rei, yet he lagged behind Suzu "Well, you''re a medical-nin who focuses on poisonous mist. Most with those types of skills usually aren''t Taijutsu experts. Something Tango-sensei probably thinks you should change" (Suzu) "Yeah...I agree" (Tai) "If you improve your hand-to-hand combat, combine that with your unique ninjutsu, I have no doubt you''d be a force to be reckoned with" (Rei) "You really think so?" (Tai) "Definitely" (Rei) "Mhm" (Suzu) "A force to be reckoned with..." (Tai) BUMP! "OW!" (Tai) With his thoughts somewhere else, Tai accidently jabbed his hand on a nail "Careful" (Suzu) "Right, my bad. Gimme a sec so can I fix this" (Tai) "Lemme see your hand" (Rei) "?" (Tai) Just as Tai was about to perform medical ninjutsu, Rei took out a small canister and started spraying a foam-like subtance on his hand "What this?" (Tai) "A unique film that stimulates white blood cells, causing rapid mitosis. It boosts one''s innate healing capabilities in order to heal wounds more quickly" (Rei) "That...that''s a similar concept to medical ninjutsu..." (Tai) "Where in the world did you get that?" (Suzu) "Well..." (Rei) ??? Several weeks ago [Hold up...you''re not using them anymore?] "Yup" (Rei) Rei was in his lab, conversing with Notitia [Why the hell not? Those scales are the reshaped form of Isshiki''s chakra draining rods right? They''re a potent weapon to say the least and you''re just...giving up on them? Explain] "Sigh...during my last mission those Fuma guys were able to remove them from their bodies" (Rei) [And? You still killed them all] "If they can remove them, it defeats the whole point. And that wasn''t me in control, plus the objects that killed them were the size of trucks" (Rei) [The point being?] "They''re meant to take the most basic shapes. I''ve always wondered why Isshiki never made them into more complex, efficient forms but now I know. The more you change them, the worse they get" (Rei) [I guess. It''s just, Isshiki used them so well...] "That''s only because of Sukunahikona3Small Man of Renown, shrinking practically ensured the target would get hit. But I don''t, and will probably never have that ability. Even if I change them back into their original shape, those rods aren''t great throwing weapons compared to typical ninja weapons" (Rei) [...] "Plus, Isshiki had to stab several of them into an opponent before any visible effect could be seen. They''re just not at the level of Rinnegan-made receivers which can stop a person with only one, and even control them. Hell, the only safe way to remove them was if you awakened a Rinnegan like Sasuke Uchiha" (Rei) [So their chakra draining effect is weaker now cause you changed their shape, but so what? They''re still good weapons] "I once thought the same thing, but now..." (Rei) [Hm?] "..." (Rei) [Wait...is all of this change because of the Lifeline you just used?] "Something like that" (Rei) Rei had just finished using his second lifeline. His request, knowledge of this world''s physics and laws, including the interactions between fundamental particles and chakra For a while, Rei grew more and more frustrated as he realized his knowledge of science was becoming less effective. This world should operate on the same laws of nature as his, but the inclusion of chakra and the author''s influence completely changed the equation He was also enlightened towards the information on tsutsuki and their advanced technology. After receiving all this knowledge, he took another hard look at himself and realized some of his ways and methods were incorrect...when it came to self-improvement as a shinobi "I still don''t know everything about the tsutsuki, so some of the more advanced stuff will have to wait" (Rei) [Like nanotech or the Black cubes Isshiki had] "Yup, but I know I''ll crack that code eventually. Besides, such an undertaking is inevitably gonna require plentiful resources and money. I''ll focus on the basic stuff while increasing my investments first" (Rei) [Tetsuo''s company, that''s smart. And I guess it''s not like all the tech didn''t work] "The smoke-flash grenade was certainly a huge success, it worked perfectly. And thanks to my modified senses, I was able to withstand the blast of light and sound. That''s proof I''m on the right track" (Rei) [Okay, okay, so no more chakra draining rods or scales. Shuriken and Kunai for now?] "Correct. I''ll still keep the giant rods though. They''ll definitely come in handy for dealing with giant creatures like Tailed Beasts, but I won''t be changing their shape anytime soon so yes...no more scales" (Rei) CLINK! "Oh...looks like it''s ready" (Rei) [What are you working on now?] "This? Well...it''s the next stage for Mori Sp. to go from an energy company...to a manufacturing one" (Rei) [Manufacturing company? For what exactly?] Rei stopped moving and took a deep breath before speaking again "...Everything" (Rei) ??? Present time "It was made with help from an...acquaintance we all know. Remember Tetsuo?" (Rei) "Tetsuo? Tetsuo Mori? The guy we saved two years ago?" (Tai) "Yeah, he''s started a new company, Mori Sp." {With a little help from yours truly} (Rei) "I think I heard about that. Someone was hiring local countrymen outside the village who lost their jobs because of the war. Glad to see he''s doing well" (Suzu) "Yeah, you''d think he''d be in a rut after his factory had to close due to the attack. That also reminds me of how much trouble we had last time and the need for improvement" (Tai) "I''m satisfied with our current pace, and I don''t think you need worry either" (Suzu) "It''s not like you''ll become the strongest over night, take your time and consolidate your strength. Take a hard look at yourself and decide what you want to change, and what should stay the same" (Rei) "That''s how it is for everyone, not just shinobi" (Suzu) "That''s true..." (Tai) THUD! THUD! THUD! Still not missing a beat, the Genin were almost done laying down the exterior blocks "I''ve never seen these kinds of bricks before...they''re hollow" (Suzu) "Are we...filling them with concrete?" (Tai) "Hehe. We''re straying away from the typical, wooden house building and moving in a more...pioneering style. It''s called ICF, or Insulated Concrete Forms" (Rei) "Never heard of it" (Tai) "No one has, it''s something entirely new" (Rei) "From Tetsuo-san''s company?" (Suzu) Rei grabbed one of the hollow blocks meant to form the exterior of the house "These blocks make building the house very user-friendly as all you have to do is set them into your desired shape like a puzzle, then fill them with cement. Obviously there are a bunch of other steps but I won''t get into that right now" (Rei) "This does seem easier than your typical house building" (Suzu) "Yeah..." (Tai) In an effort to increase his funds, Rei came up with another means of expanding Tetsuo''s company...insulated houses. This innovative building method was something this world had never experienced before Hollow foam blocks of polystyrene, the best insulating material for blocking out noise and etc. Reinforced with steel rebar and concrete to make the best building materials. It was another on the list of revolutionary technology Rei brought to this world With this method, Rei found an effective means for training with the bracelets, promoting Mori Sp, AND giving Suzu a new house...it was three birds and one stone "Hey Rei..." (Tai) "What''s up?" (Rei) "Did you...buy this stuff from Tetsuo?" (Tai) "I guess you can say that, why?" (Rei) "It''s just amazing you know? His company comes up with the means of building a new house for Suzu which also proves great for training with these bracelets. Almost seems too perfect..." (Tai) "I was the one who picked it after all" (Rei) "Heh! Cocky little..." (Tai) {Phew...forgot how sharp the kids in this world are. Everyone''s pretty much an adult when they hit ten, geez} (Rei) TAK! "?!" (Everyone) A shinobi just landed in front of the unfinished house "Excuse me you three, I''m looking for...Rei Sano?" "That''s me. What''s this about?" (Rei) "Hello. You''ve been summoned for a mission" The shinobi handed Rei a sealed letter "Eh?" (Suzu & Tai) "Just me? Not my team?" (Rei) "Apparently not. Your name was specifically requested" {Tango did say we might be summoned for a mission in his absence but...} "If I may ask, by whom?" (Rei) "I believe it was Motoi-san that called for you. Anyway, please report to the Raikage''s office as soon as possible" "Right" (Rei) DASH! The shinobi left as quickly as he came, leaving the Genin to themselves "And just when we were getting in sync" (Suzu) "I was actually starting to enjoy myself here" (Tai) "Yeah...sorry I have to duck now but, orders are orders" (Rei) "No worries, we can follow basic instructions. Just don''t take too long, this was your idea after all" (Tai) "Got it" (Rei) "And be careful. I know you''re thinking of wearing those bracelets during the mission. Don''t, that''s too extreme for training" (Suzu) "Come on Suzu, he''s not that craz-" (Tai) "Ahhh...fine, I won''t wear them" (Rei) "You were gonna wear them?! You''re friggin crazy Rei!" (Tai) "Tai...everyday you''re embracing your role as the straight man more and more" (Rei) "It''s called common sense you lunatic!" (Tai) "Good grief" (Suzu) "Later guys, I''ll try not to take too long" (Rei) WHOOSH! Rei took his leave "Geez. Here''s hoping he doesn''t do anything stupid" (Tai) "..." (Suzu) "Suzu?" (Tai) "Ah, sorry. It''s nothing...let''s get back to work" (Suzu) "?" (Tai) The duo resumed working as Suzu glanced in the direction of Rei''s departing figure {Why is Motoi-san requesting Rei? I hope nothing happens...} 99. Motoi’s Mission MrProper The central building of the Raikage Rei had entered the facility, keen on learning the details of the request he received. With his destination, the office of the Raikage, he quickly made his way through the building when something of note caught his attention {There''s less activity than I expected, surprised I haven''t bumped into anyone yet} (Rei) Normally, this building would be filled to the brim with frantic workers. Largely in part to the Raikage''s office, council, and the mission assignment desk all placed in the same location Because of its below average population for one of the Five Great Shinobi Nations, the village thought it best to place the most important functions of government in one space But while people were indeed present, the surroundings were unusually quiet "The area for receiving missions...it''s practically empty" {Guess I''ll ask someone about it later, need to see Motoi first} (Rei) Arriving at his destination, Rei was about to walk inside when someone else opened the door from the other side "Oh!" (Rei) "Ah! You''re early" "Dodai-jichan..." (Rei) "Good to see you Rei...wait...''jichan''?! I keep telling you not to call me that!" (Dodai) "The sooner you accept you''re spring time of youth has passed, the better" (Rei) "Why you little-!" (Dodai) The one expecting Rei was Dodai and another shinobi standing behind him "I was expecting to see the Raikage...why are you here?" (Rei) "You just glossed right over it, sigh. If you''re looking for the Raikage, he''s...prepping himself for a meeting" (Dodai) "Meeting?" {Could it be a conference with Tetsuo is finally on the table?}" (Rei) "Yeah, Mabui''s also with him. I''m here because I had some things to talk about with my friend" (Dodai) "Friend, as in..." (Rei) Rei took a side glance at the shinobi standing behind Dodai "Ah! Right. Allow me to introduce Motoi, the current overseer of Genbu Island" (Dodai) Reaching out to shake hands with Rei, Motoi formed a small smirk "To be honest, I''m more of a substitute for overseeing the island turtle. Nice to finally meet you Sano-kun. I''ve heard great things" (Motoi) "...Thanks" (Rei) "I see you two have some things to talk about so I''ll take my leave" (Dodai) "Right, thank you again Dodai" (Motoi) Replying sternly "Just make sure this task of yours doesn''t take too long" (Dodai) "Of course" (Motoi) "?" (Rei) Dodai took his leave, after seeing him off Motoi began explaining the mission details "This mission is to secure information from a broker who''s stationed just outside of the Land of Hot Water. Far to the west, you and I are to move as a two-man unit" (Motoi) "Just us? No back-up or anything?" (Rei) "There''s already another four-man squad waiting for our assistance. The letter-bearer F, along with his three-man Genin squad, are already waiting for us" (Motoi) Rei rubbed his chin and contemplated. This mission was located in a place with bad memories for Rei "There''s already a squad on this mission and...the location is near Yugakure..." (Rei) "I know you''re wondering why I specifically called you" (Motoi) "The thought had crossed my mind" (Rei) "Even after two months, there''s still little we know about your mission to find Yugito-sama. Who ordered the Fuma to attack, or who aided them" (Motoi) "I don''t know how I''ll be able to help...I don''t remember much from that experience" {Or rather, I don''t want to tell you} (Rei) "...Be that as it may, we need someone who was actually there to authenticate what the broker says is true" (Motoi) "Just who is this guy anyway? If you need to verify his words, I can only assume we''re paying him a hefty sum" (Rei) "It''s more than that. This person is a former ninja of Kumogakure" (Motoi) "Key word being, former" (Rei) "Sigh...he''s a deserter. A coward who abandoned the village during the last war. You know what our policy is when it comes to missing-nin do you not?" (Motoi) "Oh yeah...I know. We''re almost as bad as Kirigakure1Hidden Mist Villagein that regard" (Rei) Kumogakure''s stance on missing-nin was incredibly strict. Any who''d think of going rogue were usually caught before they could even leave the village The only time one could have the slimmest chance of deserting the village was during special events that caused a breach in security or in this case...war {Were it not for Mabui''s Chunin exams, I''d never get the chance to sneak out of the village when I remade my body. This damn village is really strict on security, but it makes sense if you consider not a single member of Akatsuki was from here} (Rei) "Kirigakure just outright kills their missing-nin, don''t compare us to them. At least we have the decency to send them to prison, alive" (Mabui) {No, we just send them to a place called the "Blood Prison", that''s SO much better} "In other words, we''re NOT arresting him?" (Rei) "He reached out to us about two weeks ago, offering information in exchange for freedom. F was dispatched to verify if this was a ruse or not" (Motoi) "I''m surprised they didn''t send a team of elite Chunin and/or Jonin for this" (Rei) "There are plenty of criminals who come to major villages offering information for protection and such, but they usually don''t have anything of value. This task was initially a C-rank mission before F sent a letter back to us with details we couldn''t ignore" (Motoi) "Lemme guess, information on the mission that was supposed to be classified right?" (Rei) "You are sharp, just as the rumors say. Yes, this broker had more information on the mission than we did" (Motoi) Rei scratched his head, still confused about something "If he met the guy, why didn''t F just bring the broker back with him already?" (Rei) "F never formally met him. The broker left a batch of intel in a drop box and sent us the location, along with instructions for another meet in case we''re interested. He doesn''t trust us as much as we don''t trust him" (Motoi) "The right mindset for one on the run. This still seems like a mission suited for higher level shinobi, what aren''t you telling me?" (Rei) "?!" {So this is the top student of the "Gifted Generation"} (Motoi) Motoi had surprise written all over his face. Befuddled at the maturity and intelligence of the nine-year old in front of him, he felt as if he was talking to a grown adult "Kumogakure has been refraining from...sending elite ninja outside the country. It could potentially appear to be...too aggressive" (Motoi) "Too aggressive...oh...ohhhh, now I get it. Why this building feels empty...we''re still feeling the after effects" (Rei) "Haaaa...correct. People respond better to young Genin your age, rather than full grown adults" (Motoi) {That stupid douchebag. Even in death, he''s still a pain in my ass} (Rei) Even now, the village was paying for the consequences of the Head Ninja and council''s involvement in the "Hyuga Affair". Nearly all of their clients lost faith in them and mission requests from the outside have slowed, if not completely halted Rei was also irritated as missions were his only other source of income. Tetsuo''s company still wasn''t big yet, and Rei needed as much money as possible to continue his experiments. He''s probably cursed the Head Ninja countless times in his mind Motoi''s mission was also located near the Land of Fire''s North eastern border. Kumogakure was on especially thin ice with that village, sending troops of experienced shinobi near it could potentially start another war "Since I was instructed to only take Genin-" (Motoi) "You went for quality over quantity. Hence, you decided to pick me...I''m flattered" (Rei) "Even if they''re just Genin, too much at once could still lead to issues. That''s why it''ll just be the two of us. And while I may be a Chunin, being the overseer of Genbu grants me special authority to take Genin on missions" (Motoi) {Because typically, only Jonin are allowed to take Genin on missions} "We still need to get permission from-" (Rei) "Tango has already given his approval, the Raikage as well. We''re good to go whenever, I''m just waiting on your response" (Motoi) "You mean...I can refuse?" (Rei) "That''s right" (Motoi) "..." (Rei) There were still things bothering Rei. Clearly Motoi wanted something from him, but he wouldn''t say. And Rei doubted he''d answer truthfully if asked. Not to mention the dangers of the mission, he was still working on Suzu''s house, plus Tetsuo''s deal...he definitely didn''t want to miss that But the chance to finally get some answers on who attacked Mabui''s team was too great to ignore. Rei himself had been very curious as to the one''s responsible, initially believing them to be related to the main Antagonist group of the story, Akatsuki "How long do you expect this mission to take?" (Rei) "Because it''s just the two of us, we can take a small boat through a narrow path I know too small for ships, ignoring all the checkpoints and villages in between. We''ll be able to arrive at our destination in the less than a day and if everything goes right...we can be back in three, maybe four days" (Motoi) "Four days...okay. Let''s go right now. I already have everything I need on me" (Rei) "Glad to hear that, follow me" (Motoi) In the end, the temptation for truth won out. Rei followed Motoi out of the village as they made their way to the coast line. In front of them, a small wooden boat that could barely fit three people "It is small" (Rei) "Told ya. Jump on, I''ll paddle" (Motoi) "Right" (Rei) The duo left the village as quickly as they met, Rei eager to complete this mission with haste. However, he was unaware of Motoi''s true intentions for bringing him along... {Alright, let''s see how you react to my little..."test"} (Motoi) ...or what awaited the duo at their destination 100. Off The Record MrProper Special shoutout to user "OAT" for buying me another coffee on...well...Ko-Fi! The Daimy''s Bureau within Kumogakure Tetsuo Mori and his head of security Sh were currently having a long awaited meeting with not only the Lightning Daimy, but the Raikage, A. Along with C and Darui, their assistants Tekkan and Mabui respectively, were present as well "Mori-dono, even after Tekkan returned, we still don''t know what you really desire of us. Is the price we''re offering not satisfactory?" (Daimy) "Considering the amount, I certainly wouldn''t think so" (A) "It''s not money that''s the issue, it''s trust" (Tetsuo) "I don''t follow, have we not proceeded with good intentions in your eyes?" (Daimy) "If this is about the Oni Garrison incident, my village cannot apologize enough for-" (A) Tetsuo raised his hand, stopping A mid sentence "I''m not petty enough to hold grudges over that. While the oversight which led to it was indeed Kumo''s fault, other issues are what concern me now" (Tetsuo) "Such as?" (Daimy) "I believe in second chances and in my case, Mori Sp is mine. By some miracle, I was able to recover from that incident but I know...if I fall again, I''m not getting back up" (Tetsuo) "We''re not going to let that happen" (A) "Oh, are you now? Kumogakure''s current reputation is, for better or lack of words, shit. And regardless of whether the Hyuga Affair was your doing or not A-dono, as the leader, you bear the responsibility" (Tetsuo) "..." (A) "It''s well known you actively participated in acquiring Jutsu and secrets as much as possible before the demilitarization went into effect. Your actions enabled the council" (Tetsuo) Darui interjected "Forgive me for intruding but, what does that have to do with what we''re discussing now?" (Darui) "Everything!" (Tetsuo) "!" (Darui) "There''s a reason why Tekkan-dono has had little to no success securing a business partner for manufacturing new power cells" (Tetsuo) "Tekkan?" (C) "Sigh. Because of Kumogakure''s misconduct during the armistice signing, pretty much all of our partnerships have been lost" (Tekkan) "All?!" (C) "I thought we were just losing a bit on clients for missions but-!" (Darui) Kumogakure boasts having the best economy of all the great shinobi nations. Mostly due to their advanced technology on energy. If they were to lose even that, the village would end up in dire states to say the least It was solely for this reason the Raikage and Daimy were so desperate to find a new partner And despite their situation, Tetsuo wanted them to know the one taking the biggest risk wasn''t them, it was him "In short, just money alone isn''t going to cut it. The moment I start dealing with you, that''ll be permanently marked on my record and if you screw up again, I''m screwed. My life is over, plain and simple. Not to mention the many employees who work for me, like Sh-san here" (Tetsuo) "Many of Mori Sp''s workers are countrymen who live outside Kumogakure and lost their jobs and/or homes due to your war. Myself included" (Sh) "Then tell us, what do you want?" (Daimy) "Allow Mori Sp to oversee all of Kumogakure''s supply and demand for energy" (Tetsuo) "?!" (Daimy) "That''s-!" (Tekkan) "Do you understand what you''re asking?!" (Daimy) "Yes, I do" (Tetsuo) Everyone present nearly jumped from their seats. Being a heavily business-focused village, practically every high-ranking member of government had ties to at least one energy or power related business. Including members of the council "Let''s get a bit off the record. The council has been a pain in your ass has it not A-dono?" (Tetsuo) "Indeed...are you suggesting I take away their power and influence by robbing them of their primary source of income?" (A) "Money is power. Hell, that''s the only reason that idiot of a Head Ninja managed to keep his position. He kept the right people happy and helped the businesses they either owned or invested in stay strong. In return, they always offered their support to him" (Tetsuo) "And how do you know about such details of our government?" (Daimy) "Because I''m a businessman, obviously. Our true currency is information, and I''m quite profitable right now" (Tetsuo) C responded with skepticism "So you''re well versed on all of our background dealings then?" (C) "Not all, but most of them. Like how practically all your partners abandoned you after the armistice fiasco or, for example, your little Network project" (Tetsuo) "?!" (Everyone else in the room) "HOW IN THE HELL DO YOU-?!" (Tekkan) "TEKKAN!" (Daimy) "Ah! Apologies sir!" (Tekkan) "To answer your question, I just watched and listened. It wasn''t that hard to figure out, considering the amount of funds you''ve been moving around. Anyone gets curious when the leaders of the village and country are packing that kind of cash, I just followed the money trail" (Tetsuo) "So...you know-" (Daimy) "I only know it''s something you''ve invested in for quite some time and that you need a new age power supply for it. Dropping this project now would no doubt be a huge loss for Kumogakure" (Tetsuo) "Something you can supply...but you''re asking quite a lot from us" (A) "Heh! You only have a few loyal entrepreneurs supporting you now, and their ''support'' for that matter, isn''t very helpful to say the least" (Tetsuo) Tetsuo stood up and walked around the room, stopping in front of a portrait depicting the first ever Five Kage Summit between the great nations "Mori-dono?" (Daimy) "This is a fantastic piece. Cloud, Leaf, Stone, Mist, and Sand. As I said, my currency is information and I''m well versed in shinobi history you know. Tell me A-dono, do remember how this meeting ended?" (Tetsuo) "...The First Hokage used the Tailed Beasts as a means of establishing a power balance between the nations for peace" (A) "The Leaf kept the strongest, the Nine-tails, and every other nation received two to maintain the balance" (Daimy) "True, but that only applies to the Mist, Stone, and Cloud. They all received two beasts, but the Sand already had one in their possession. So what did the Kazekage1Wind Shadowask for instead?" (Tetsuo) "...It was a portion of the Leaf''s fertile land and 30% of whatever each nation had to pay for the beasts" (A) "See that! Now that''s asking for too much! Reto may have been the Kazekage, but he sure as hell wasn''t a businessman. We all know what happened next" (Tetsuo) The very land the First Kazekage Reto asked for would eventually fall out of his grasp and become the smaller nations of Kusagakure2Hidden Grass Village, Amegakure3Hidden Rain Village, and the recently formed Ishigakure4Hidden Rock Village His deal would be for naught as Sunagakure5Hidden Sand Villagewould burn through the remaining funds it requested in order to keep their village''s status as one of the Five Great Nations. Located on a barren desert, it possessed neither good economy, nor military strength. The only reason it hasn''t been conquered already is because no village would find it profitable The other Kage would also hold a grudge against him and his nation for demanding so much of them when they could easily crush the Sand, the weakest of the Five great nations. A grudge they kept which eventually sparked into more wars that only hurt his country His own villagers would eventually berate him for his poor methods of negotiation as he was assassinated nearing the end of his reign "Unlike that fool, I know when I''m asking for too much, and I''m not asking for too much. With this deal, all of Kumogakure''s energy marketing will gather into one centralized establishment. And as a bonus, you undermine those you seek to undermine you A-dono" (Tetsuo) "That''s..." (A) "Not to mention, continuing this trend would eventually grant you the ability to shrink the council, removing those parasites from their positions altogether and installing those you can trust" (Tetsuo) "That is true, they are real nuisance" (Daimy) BUMP! BUMP! Before A could give his answer, someone knocked on the door. Mabui decided to see who it was and told A to continue. Leaving the room, a shinobi waiting gave her news she knew A didn''t want to hear Entering the room again, Mabui resumed her position and didn''t say a word. Tetsuo was sitting back in his seat Whispering "Hey, Mabui. What was that-?" (Darui) "Not now. I''ll tell you later" (Mabui) "I''m not gonna waste anymore of your time playing hard to get. At this point, it''s become obvious you already know how desperate we are Mori-dono" (A) "In other words..." (Tetsuo) "Kumogakure accepts your request on the condition you provide us with one of your prototypes for testing" (A) "That''s more than acceptable. In fact, I figured that''s what you''d ask for and decided to bring one with me. Sh!" (Tetsuo) "Right" (Sh) Sho picked up a brown trunk he''d brought with him and placed it in front of the Raikage and Daimy. Opening the trunk, what came into view was a large rectangular cube "Oh! Is this-?!" (Daimy) "One our newly designed Lithium Batteries, ready and waiting for testing" (Tetsuo) "C, Darui! Escort Mori-dono and the Daimy-sama to Dodai''s lab!" (A) "Sir?!" (C) "We''ve gone into business together, and what he wants is trust. From this moment on, Mori-dono is apart of our inner circle. Now go" (A) "Yes sir!" (C) "I''ll handle the contract signing from here" (Daimy) "Just like Mori-dono implied, Kage aren''t suited to be politicians. I leave the rest to you" (A) "Tekkan!" (Daimy) "Already on it sir, I pretty much have everything written up. Tetsuo-dono, if you wouldn''t mind taking a look before signing" (Tekkan) "Naturally" (Tetsuo) One by one, the occupants left the room. Only A and Mabui remained "Spit it out" (A) "Well sir...I..." (Mabui) "It''s just a simple mission, Rei will be fine" (A) "Huh? Rei?" (Mabui) "Huh?" (A) "What are you talking about? You sent Rei on a mission?" (Mabui) "That''s...not what you were gonna ask me? I assumed you knew?" (A) "No, I didn''t know! You know he''s still recovering right?!" (Mabui) "The doctors reported he made a perfect recovery from his last mission. He''ll be fine" (A) "Maybe physically, but only God knows what he experienced" (Mabui) "Exactly, none of us know. That''s why Motoi is going on the mission with him" (A) "You sent him with Motoi?! Sir, with all due respect...how could you of all people send him with Motoi after knowing what he tried to do to-AH! THAT''S RIGHT!" (Mabui) "Hm? What is it now?" (A) "Sir, what I wanted to talk to you about. I just received word about Killer B-sama" (Mabui) A immediately stood up in surprise when the conversation shifted towards his infamous, troublemaker of a younger brother "Apparently, he''s snuck out of the village again..." (Mabui) "..." (A) "Sir?" (Mabui) "THAT LITTLE IDIOT!!! HE''LL SUFFER MY IRON CLAW!!!!" (A) "Sigh..." (Mabui) A''s roars resounded throughout the entire building ??? The Hokage''s office in Konohagakure The current leader of the village, Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi, was addressing two shinobi in private. Their outfits identified them as members of the covert unit known as the Ansatsu Senjutsu Tokushu Butai6Special Assassination and Tactical Squador ANBU for short "Thank you for coming on such short notice" (Hiruzen) "It''s no trouble" "We''re simply doing our duty" "What''s going on?" "Kids" (Hiruzen) "?" "You see...kids these days talk a lot. So much that a...rumor of sorts has reached even my ears" (Hiruzen) "...Gossip is it?" "What kind of rumor?" "The kind that may suggest where a certain snake may hide" "?!" "This certain snake...must''ve cause quite the stir" "This snake tends to dwell in the dark, which is why I thought it best to send you two" (Hiruzen) "...And where exactly would this rumor take us?" "Uncharted territory, west of some really nice Hot Springs. Can I entrust this task to you two?" (Hiruzen) "We''ll leave at once and find out if kids are reliable these days" "Thank you. If it truly is there, I''ll personally handle removing it so no one else gets...bitten by it" (Hiruzen) WHOOSH! The two anbu vanished without a trace {I may finally have a chance to correct my mistake. May fortune favor you...} (Hiruzen) Hiruzen rose from his desk chair and looked out the window behind him. The view overtook the entire village {Kakashi...Shisui!} 101. Probing MrProper (Remember, I leave progress updates for upcoming chapters on my Ko-fi page in case you''re wondering when the next one is ready) Along a narrow river long past Shimogakure Rei was sitting quietly on the small boat Motoi was paddling. During their short trip, neither did much besides discussing mission details. It was then, Motoi saw an opportunity cross-examine him "Sano-kun" (Motoi) "Hm? What is it?" (Rei) "I''ve already been briefed on some of your abilities...but I don''t think I have the full picture" (Motoi) "Right, guess we should talk about that" (Rei) "I''m a tracker-focused ninja and my Kuchiyose1Summoningis an owl great for scouting and sending messages. Also, I''m well versed in Kekkai Ninjutsu2Barrier Ninjutsuwith a little experience in Raiton3Lightning Styleon the side" (Motoi) "Oh? Kekkai Ninjutsu is a subject I haven''t explored much. I''d love for you to tell me more when we have time" (Rei) "Heh, sure. When the time comes, I''ll happily enlighten you. Now, on the subject of your abilities, all I know is you have some skill with Katon and Suiton but..." (Motoi) "I''m a sensor-type but my fire and water are really just secondary for me. Because progress on that front has been incredibly slow {Despite "Rei''s" soul not hindering me as much as it used to}, my primary ability is focused on Taijutsu and Genjutsu" (Rei) "Genjutsu is most welcome but, Taijutsu?" (Motoi) "Yeah, Kakuran Taijutsu4Disturbance Taijutsuto be accurate. Turns out I have a knack for it" (Rei) "That''s right, you trained under...Killer B-sama..." (Motoi) "Huh?" (Rei) SPLISH! Motoi abruptly stopped paddling the small boat and his expression went completely downwards, the mood was quickly turning melancholy "Motoi?" (Rei) "Sorry...it''s nothing" (Motoi) "?" (Rei) Motoi resumed paddling before speaking again "You''ve been praised for your exceptional chakra control but your tone suggests you don''t believe your nature transformation is up to par..." (Motoi) "Sigh, well..." (Rei) Rei''s nature transformation had only improved lately due to his improved chakra control, his affinity itself was still quite terrible. The only exception was his Yton5Yang/Light Style, and his Genjutsu-focused Inton6Yin/Shadow Style Since his secret Kisshten7Auspicious Heavensability was confirmed to be an In''yton Jutsu8Yin-Yang/Shadow & Light Style Jutsu, continued use of the production-like ability was great for strengthening both his Yin and Yang natures He sent several weapons into that strange world, and with the mysterious black orb which followed his every command, replicated and manufactured more. Whether it be shuriken, kunai, swords, or even paper bombs...he made as much as he could Though a clever form of training on his part, Rei was still unsatisfied. Kisshten was indeed useful, but it wasn''t without it''s drawbacks. For starters, it still couldn''t match the level of the Sage of Six Paths "Creation of all Things" ability, capable of creating things from nothing. It could only replicate and alter objects Rei brought with him Second, all living things he brought to that world couldn''t be changed, and when he brought them back out...they died. He had experimented with several insects and mice, all with negative results Finally, it consumed a great deal of chakra every time he brought materials forged within its white space, back into the real world. It was more of a support-type ability, meant to used before or after a mission, definitely not suited for active combat After using his Second Lifeline, he came to understand with time, the ability could potentially evolve into something on par with the Sage''s. But such an undertaking would take time, and incredibly powerful chakra. Neither of which he possessed now "Really? I''d think your elements would be better with what I''ve heard" (Motoi) "And...what is it that you''ve heard?" (Rei) "Oh, sorry. I acquired information on you before requesting your aid. The files detailed the specifics of your heritage" (Motoi) "You got my information?" (Rei) "I prefer to be thorough, especially when it comes to my squad" (Motoi) "...Okay, and what did you mean about my heritage? My...er...''father'' was a Jonin who didn''t specialize in any elemental nature. He was proficient in all forms of basic ninja skills and spent most of his time teaching at the academy" (Rei) "I already know plenty about Keido, I was actually referring to your mother, Moriko Sano" (Motoi) "I never got to know her as she died during child birth. What does she have to do with this?" (Rei) "Do you know where she hails from? Or how she came to Kumogakure in the first place?" (Motoi) "With her homeless family, she came from the far west, in the barren land now called Ishigakure. During a mission in the area, my father encountered her family under siege by criminals and rescued them. Since they had nowhere to go, he graciously brought my mother and her family to the village and eventually they married" (Rei) "True, but what I''m getting at is Ishigakure''s population. A lawless territory not only filled with bandits and miscreants, but rogue shinobi without a home to call theirs. Many of whom possess...unique abilities" (Motoi) Motoi stared inquisitively at Rei, trying to gauge his reaction "I think I now know what you''re suggesting and...the answer is no" (Rei) "...Are you sure?" (Motoi) "I don''t have a Kekkei Genkai9Bloodline LimitMotoi" {And I made sure to check} (Rei) One of the first things Raymond did after arriving in this world was confirming if he had any special powers. According to Notitia, "Rei" came from a powerful bloodline on his mother''s side but just like her, he exhibited no extraordinary abilities other than a slightly above average affinity for Katon It was for this reason he died at the young age of thirteen. However, Raymond didn''t completely trust Notitia, nor its words as a certainty. He underwent countless testing and research to confirm the truth But after some time, he recalled the words of his academy teacher Osoi on the limitations of genetics. His mother never demonstrated any Kekkei Genkai despite coming from a gifted family. This led him to believe like his mother, "Rei" possessed recessive genes Just as the First Hokage''s grandaughter Tsunade didn''t inherit his Mokuton10Wood Style, Moriko Sano lacked any special traits {Now that I''ve modified this body from its original path, it''s possible I may experience a lucky break but...even after all this time, the only new power my Neo-tsutsuki body has shown is the Kisshten} (Rei) "I see..." (Motoi) "Forget a Kekkei Genkai, even my Katon and Suiton are starting to..." (Rei) "Hm?" (Motoi) "Ah! Sorry, it''s nothing..." (Rei) Rei''s expression was subtly went downwards "...I still wouldn''t rule it out, some abilities manifest themselves in all sorts of ways. While we can identify one''s affinity with the basic elements, there''s still no modern method for discovering Kekkei Genkai" (Motoi) "Then how does one discover if they possess a Kekkei Genkai?" (Rei) "Typically, one requires some kind of trigger in order to activate it. Sadly, the most effective type is the traumatic kind. Psychosomatic, psychogenic, or physical trauma tend to result in the awakening of special powers. Maybe it''s already happened to you..." (Motoi) "Stress levels..." (Rei) Unbeknownst to Rei, Motoi carefully studied every subtle reaction and facial movement on his face. Using this topic as a means of finding out whether or not Rei was responsible for killing the Fuma on his last mission Because awakening a Kekkei Genkai was commonly a traumatic experience, the emergence of such powers was generally followed with extreme violence. The exact kind of violence displayed on the remains of the Fuma-nin Such upbringings have caused many with special powers to be discriminated against. Kirigakure11Hidden Mist Villagein particular is notorious for ostracizing those with such traits Motoi hypothesized this might be Rei''s case and he was hiding the fact he had one out of fear of discrimination, or shame...for enacting such a brutal attack {I remember the Second Hokage stating the Uchiha''s Sharingan is awakened with trauma as well, and Kisshten revealed itself when I was in a dire situation...maybe I''ve been going about it the wrong way? Just because "Rei" didn''t awaken a Kekkei Genkai doesn''t mean I can''t} (Rei) {Looks like he doesn''t know. He''s either a really good actor, or he really was telling the truth. Though, he could''ve done it subconsciously} (Motoi) "Sorry Motoi, but the jury''s still out on that one" (Rei) "...It''s fine, you have plenty of time. These strange powers can emerge at any age, even as an adult" (Motoi) {Yeah, but I don''t have the luxury of waiting that long} (Rei) "Oh, we made it" (Motoi) "Huh? Already?" (Rei) Coming into view was a small boat dock. The duo had arrived on the northern part of uncharted territory just west of the Land of Hot Water. They jumped off the boat and Motoi tied it to a post "Moving in a small numbers like us means faster transportation. As I previously stated, there are plenty of routes in which big ships carrying entire teams are unable to journey" (Motoi) "I''ll keep that in mind, where do we go now?" (Rei) "Team F is waiting for us further down south, but they''re not stationed that far. We''ll be able to rendezvous with them in little more than twenty minutes" (Motoi) {Nice. The sooner we get this done the better} (Rei) "Let''s go" (Motoi) DASH! Leaving with haste, the pair would arrive at their destination in no time. Along the way, Motoi observed every action Rei took, striving to not miss a single detail in his demeanor Several minutes later, Rei noticed several chakra''s too strong to be civilians. Since there were four of them, it stood to reason they were F and his squad TAK! Landing in front of their camp tent, F was the first to step out and greeted Motoi "Haha! F, are you getting slow? To let visitors get this close is not like you" (Motoi) "Please, one my students had set up wire strings all over the area, we knew you were coming. Good to see you Motoi, I didn''t think you''d bring company though" (F) "Right, this is-" (Motoi) "I''m Rei Sano, nice to meet you" (Rei) "Sano? As in, Keido''s son?" (F) "Yup, the very same. He''s Mabui''s little cousin" (Motoi) "I see" (F) "Sano-kun is a talented sensor-type with Genjutsu skills. I figured that''d be a welcome addition to our unit" (Motoi) "And he''s a Genin, which makes things even easier. Kumo''s reputation around here isn''t great and people tend to react better to kids than adults..." (F) "Yeah, I know. That''s another reason I brought him. So, are we ready?" (Motoi) "Right, I need to talk to you about that. There''s been some, complications" (F) The one thing Motoi and Rei didn''t want to hear. The information this former ninja of their village had would probably be their only chance to find out who was really behind Yugito getting kidnapped by the Fuma "Apparently, we''ve got some new players" (F) "How''d you find that out?" (Motoi) "Well we...oh! If I''m going to explain that, I should introduce my team. Come out you guys!" (F) Behind F, three young Genin exited the tent and introduced themselves "So these guys are your Genin" (Motoi) "Yup, they''ve really come along in the short time I''ve had them" (F) Rei, who standing behind Motoi, moved to get a better look at the students. But when he saw their appearances...he realized this wasn''t the first time they met "Wait...aren''t you guys-!?" (Rei) "?" (Motoi) "Allow me to introduce my students; Kayui, Nurui, and Yurui" (F) {Un. Real. Is this world dicking with me or something?} (Rei) F''s students were the Genin Rei and Tai fought during their graduation. The very first ones he encountered before fighting with Sekiei. And just like Sekiei, that had failed the exam because of Rei and Tai "Huh? Wait a sec..." (Yurui) "Hey Yurui, isn''t that the guy who punched through our earth wall?" (Kayui) "Rei...Sano" (Nurui) "Oh, you guys know each other? That''s great, things will go a lot smoother now. You guys get acquainted, Motoi and I need to talk" (F) F and Motoi stepped away while Rei awkwardly responded to the Genin trio "Well...um...long time no see. How''ve you been?" (Rei) "Well, we repeated a year" (Kayui) "Ah. Right..." (Rei) "..." (Nurui & Yurui) {This is gonna be a long mission...} (Rei) 102. Slight Hitch MrProper While Rei awkwardly reminisced with Kayui, Yurui, and Nurui, Motoi quietly conversed with F "What''s going on?" (Motoi) "When I found the drop box, the broker''s letter informed me others were closing in on him" (F) "Who?!" (Motoi) "He didn''t say, all the letter had was instructions for meeting him and stating the details our arrangement have changed" (F) "He''s changing the deal now? Just who is he to-!" (Motoi) "Believe me, I feel the same way, though let''s not loose our heads just yet. He may be a traitor, but he''s a traitor with intel Kumogakure desires. Let''s see how things pan out when we meet him in person before deciding our next course of action" (F) "Sigh. Alright, where are we meeting him?" (Motoi) Before answering his question, F decided to call the others over as they were short on time. He wanted to start the mission as soon as possible since none of them knew if and when any more unwanted guests would show up "Alright you four, get over here! It''s time to move out!" (F) "Should we put them on sensei?" (Nurui) "Yes. Give one to Sano-kun and Motoi" (F) "Hm?" (Rei) Nurui opened up the large bag on his back and took out several cloaks, handing one to each person present "Make sure you take off your headbands" (Nurui) "The place we''re going to is called Nikk Inn Town1Sunlight Inn Town. It''s a highly populated area filled with inns and stores. A perfect place to rest up after a long journey, travelers frequently visit the town" (F) "Hence the cloaks and no headbands, since this is a low profile mission" (Rei) "Correct, it''d be ideal if no one found out Kumo-nin were here. I want this done as quick as humanly possible" (F) "And here I thought we could enjoy some nice, relaxing catering" (Yurui) "We arrive in town, meet our contact at the Okshi Minshuku2Ryokan, and get our intel...that''s it" (F) Motoi took out a heavily decorated scroll and displayed its contents to the Genin before giving it to F "In exchange, Kumogakure promises not to pursue this defector anymore and pardon him of his crimes" (Motoi) "Seems simple enough" (Kayui) "It was until a few hours ago. I''ll skip explaining how I found out, but just know we''ve confirmed the existence of others seeking this man in the area" (F) "?!" (Kayui & Nurui) "Well...shit" (Yurui) "This just got annoyingly more complicated" (Rei) "Which is why we''re leaving right now. Take only what you need and move!" (F) "Right!" (The Genin) ??? WHOOSH! After gathering their belongings, the six man group darted through the trees, nearing the town. It was then Motoi whispered to Rei "Sano-kun" (Motoi) "?" (Rei) "While this mission is to retrieve intel, we must not forget the person we''re meeting is a former ninja of the village" (Motoi) "I''m aware" (Rei) "Not to mention, these new variables now hunting him down. The chances of them being ninja from other villages is high" (Motoi) "Wait, are you-?" (Rei) "The only thing more important than acquiring his information, is making sure his knowledge of us and Kumogakure doesn''t fall into the hands of anyone else...do you understand?" (Motoi) "..." (Rei) Rei simply turned his attention away from Motoi and hastened his pace {No response huh? I thought something like that would get a reaction out of him but...} (Motoi) Motoi was still probing Rei, how he''d respond to such a dark question would shed much light on his true character. Because Rei never let his guard down to anyone, it was very hard for most to surmise his intentions Especially by one unfamiliar with him like Motoi "We''re here! From this point forward, move as if you''re a normal civilian!" (F) "Suppress your chakra!" (Motoi) The group landed on the ground and began walking with a subtle pace. Quietly entering the city, the large crowds made it easy to remain inconspicuous. After a few minutes, the group arrived at the inn Entering through the back, F directed them upstairs to the top floor. Walking down the hallway of rooms, he glanced left and right for the room they were seeking until finally... "Found it, room 407" (F) F turned around and faced the Genin "Remember, your focus is to simply keep watch, Motoi and I will handle the talking. Don''t react to whatever he might say or do, do not talk to him, and do not take anything from him" (F) "In the event of an attack, we''ll buy you some time to get him out of the inn and city. As for the rest..." (Motoi) Motoi made a sharp glance at the Genin, or rather, Rei in particular "?" (Yurui) "Let''s get this over with" (Motoi) Motoi nodded to F, who after receiving his signal, knocked on the door. BUMP! BUMP! "..." (Motoi) No response {Don''t tell me we''re too late} (Rei) "Starry Sky" (F) "?" (Rei) "Enlightened World" A voice from inside the room responded "?!" (Everyone) "Let''s go" (F) Entering the room, they found most of the appliances inside untouched. In the main area sat a fair-skinned bald man wearing a kimono robe and black pants underneath. A bushy black beard and his robe stretched by his wide belly, he was truly one of large girth A small bag on his left side and a low, circular table in front of him "About damn time!" "Futoi..." (F) "It was you..." (Motoi) "Motoi? You''re here to? And an extra Genin, that wasn''t part of our deal! It was just supposed to be you F!" (Futoi) "You got a problem with that?" (F) "Ya damn right I do! You don''t get to-!" (Futoi) "YOU were supposed to meet F outside of town. Having us come here was not only a risk, but also wasn''t what we initially agreed upon, so save your complaints for someone who gives a damn" (Motoi) "You broke our deal first, what''d you expect?" (F) The Genin split up and secured the surroundings, searching the room for anything out of the ordinary before returning outside to guard the door "Cheh! Whatever, have you brought it?" (Futoi) "Not so fast...the intel" (Motoi) "Hah? You think I''m f*cking stupid? As if I''d give it up so easily!" (Futoi) "We could say the same" (Motoi) "Motoi..." (F) "!" (Motoi) F held Motoi back. While he was also dissatisfied with current situation, he maintained a calm, level-headed demeanor. Reaching into his pocket, he took out the scroll Motoi had given him earlier "Is that-?" (Futoi) "An official pardon signed by the Raikage-sama and Daimy-sama, stating once you receive it, you''re a free man" (F) "Great! Then I''ll-!" (Futoi) Just as he reached for it, F pulled his hand away "Hm?! What''s the meaning of this?!" (Futoi) "You didn''t think we''d just hand it to you like that, did you?" (F) "You''ve verified the scroll contents, now it''s time you hold up your end of the bargain. Hand over the intel" (Motoi) "So you can just kill me here and walk away after I give it to you? Fat chance" (Futoi) "You''re not cooperating?" (F) "Only when I get what I want" (Futoi) "...Very well" (F) F stood up "?" (Motoi & Futoi) "You can play hard to get as much as you like Futoi, but if you''re just going to waste our time, the deal''s off" (F) "Eh?!" (Motoi) "Huh?! What the hell are you saying?!" (Futoi) "Are you deaf? I said we''re done here" (F) "Hah! You''re just gonna leave?! Nice bluff" (Futoi) "I''m pretty sure the only one bluffing here is you" (F) "Huh?" (Futoi) "You remained in hiding after all this time, and now you decide to make amends? Kumogakure had no idea where you were since the war ended and believe me, we looked. Traitors like you rarely get away so easily. The fact you''ve reached out to us means the luck you had...has finally run out" (F) "You-!" (Futoi) "Its pretty obvious someones after you, meaning your only chance of survival is with our help. How far do you think a tub of lard like you will last alone?" (Motoi) "Grrr...ahhh...FINE!" (Futoi) "Give it to us" (Motoi) "I...I don''t..." (Futoi) Motoi glared at him, his face full of murderous intent "If you claim you don''t have it..." (Motoi) "I do! I do! But...it''s not on me!" (Futoi) "What?" (F) "A precaution, in the event you tried to kill me. I stashed it in a scroll located elsewhere" (Futoi) "Where?" (F) "It won''t do you any good. There''s a seal on the scroll that only responds to my chakra. If anyone else so much as touches it, the scroll will ignite and burn away" (Futoi) "Let me guess, somewhere outside the city?" (F) "Hehehe! That''s right! If want it that badly, you nitwits are gonna get me out of here!" (Futoi) "How dare you..." (Motoi) Futoi continued with a smug grin on his face "Look at it this way, putting up with me grants you the information your discount, foolish excuse for a Raikage couldn''t get on his own. Then again, what can you do when you come from a family with muscles for brains! Hahaha!" (Futoi) "That''s it-!" (Motoi) CRASH! Flinging the table between them over, Motoi was inches away from clutching Futoi''s throat when F grabbed him Motoi was already infuriated with Futoi. He abhorred the arrogant behavior of the traitor sitting before him, and the fact he couldn''t do anything about it made him even angrier "THIS F*CKING PIG-!" (Motoi) "MOTOI! CALM DOWN!" (F) "Heh! At least one of you has a brain" (Futoi) "Shut it! Motoi, I''ll handle the rest, go cool off outside" (F) "F! How can you-!" (Motoi) CLINK! CLINK! F tapped his forehead protector "I''m a shinobi, I put my feelings aside for the mission. Now matter how much the task disgusts me as it does now" (F) "..." (Motoi) "I know what this about...don''t project your personal issues with B-sama on this situation" (F) "?!" (Motoi) "I''ve got this, once I''m done, we''ll leave" (F) "...Right" (Motoi) Motoi left the room and F continued his talks with Futoi "Heh! I take it we have a deal then?" (Futoi) "Not so fast. There are still some things I need to make clear before we go any further" (F) ??? Just outside the inn There were several figures hiding on a nearby rooftop "Well?" "The target''s inside...with others" "Shinobi?" "Can''t tell, but most likely. I can''t feel them" "Most likely, they''re suppressing their chakra" "They have to be shinobi then, any idea of which village?" "Because of the cloaks they''re wearing, it''s impossible to tell. But considering the target''s origin, my money''s on Kumogakure" "Probably. We''ll know more once they leave. Remember, we''ll take action once they''re out of the city" "Got it" "Understood" As the figures came to an agreement, the one observing the inn reacted with surprise "?!" "Hm?! What is it?!" "They...they have a sensor-nin! And...I''ve been noticed!" "How?!" "We''ve been suppressing our chakra this whole time!" "She wasn''t...in order to sense their chakra, she couldn''t keep hers down" "Are...are you sure someone noticed you?!" "Positive. Sensor types can identify other sensor types. Whoever it is, they have an incredibly skilled ninja on their end!" "Damn it!" "Shit! I was hoping it wouldn''t come to that" The one in charge stood up and issued commands "Change of plans, we''re moving now!" "Yes sir!" DASH! The ones following his orders left the rooftop and scattered in different directions FLICK! The one in charge lit a cigar as he observed the inn "Damn you Orochimaru..." 103. Moths & Flames Two minutes ago While F was conversing with Futoi, Motoi left the room for some much needed air. The Genin were still patrolling the premises as makeshift security guards After finishing another rotation, the Genin gathered "Everything''s all clear on this end" (Yurui) "Upstairs hasn''t changed" (Kayui) "Motoi-san left the room for some reason, he seemed upset" (Nurui) "Why?" (Kayui) "I don''t know..." (Nurui) "It''s probably because of Futoi, having a traitor call the shots and make demands of us would undoubtedly upset someone like Motoi. Despite his calm nature, that guy is very loyal towards the village. At least...that''s the impression he gave me during our travels here" (Rei) "..." (Team F) "Hm? What''s wrong?" (Rei) "No, it''s just...that''s the first time you''ve talked to us since the camp" (Kayui) "Uh, well I..." (Rei) "Hahaha! No need to feel awkward Rei!" (Yurui) "Huh?" (Rei) "What, did you think we''d hold a grudge or something? We''re not that petty!" (Yurui) "If anything, we''re grateful to you, Sano-kun" (Nurui) "Grateful? You guys had to take another year because of me and Tai" (Rei) The three Genin all nodded simultaneously with smiles on their faces "And it was completely worth it. Our defeat taught us much, more importantly, what we need to improve" (Kayui) "We had some serious reevaluation after the graduation test. And the extra year we took helped us in a myriad of ways" (Nurui) "Now, we''re stronger than ever! So, on behalf of all us...thank you Rei!" (Yurui) Rei was at a loss for words when the Genin before him bowed in gratitude. While typically a cold cynic himself, he had trouble maintaining his composure whenever he was met with truly honest and good intentions Frantically ending his awkward silence, Rei bowed as well. Even he wasn''t one who forgets to repay kindness with kindness "Thank you for being my opponents, and holding such open-minded views" (Rei) CLUNK! Right after, the door opened with Futoi walking behind F "We''re done here, it''s time to leave" (F) "Sensei? Why is he with-?" (Nurui) "There''s been a change of plans. What we seek lays in a scroll located somewhere else, only Futoi can find and open it" (F) "Ugh! He''s coming along, great..." (Kayui) "Hmph! Not like I wanted to go along with you little shits either!" (Futoi) "None of us like it, but that''s the job. Speaking of which, Sano-kun. Go get Motoi, he stormed off earlier" (F) "Right" (Rei) "We''ll meet at the back, where we first came in" (F) Rei left the group and headed downstairs. Because of his senses, he knew exactly where Motoi was "Motoi" (Rei) "Sano...it''s time then?" (Motoi) "Yeah, we''re taking that pig with us" (Rei) "That''s the job I guess. Alright, let''s go..." (Motoi) "F said to meet in the...UH-?!" (Rei) "?" (Motoi) "SENSOR!" (Rei) ??? Present time The group once again wore hooded cloaks as they strolled down the street. Because of the casual pace, Futoi started to get nervous, especially after Rei said a shinobi was already zeroing in on their position "Shouldn''t we be moving a little faster?!" (Futoi) "Quiet dumbass, you wanna get killed?" (F) "What did you say to me asshole?!" (Futoi) "Sigh. Running will only draw attention, and whoever it is obviously doesn''t want to make a scene. The moment we get past the gate, you lead the way at top speed" (Motoi) "Hah...fine" (Futoi) When Rei informed the others of his discovery, F opted to wait and see how the opponents would react in public. But after several minutes, there was no sign of an impending attack. This led him to believe whoever this group was, they also couldn''t afford to act with aggression in such a public place Knowing that, the team immediately suppressed their chakra, and casually left the town in disguise "Phew, we''re here" (Kayui) "Don''t relax yet, this is were things get tricky" (Nurui) "Futoi, take the lead" (F) "Fine, geez" (Futoi) Making it past the gate, the group bolted at top speed, entering the nearby forest "How far?!" (F) "Not much, I made sure to keep it in a place I could easily reach in the event of an attack" (Futoi) "F-sensei" (Rei) "Hm?" "We have pursuers" (Rei) In order to not have Futoi freak out, F whispered back to Rei "How many?" "From what I can tell...six, and they''re probably all high Chunin-level ninja, considering their chakra levels. One of them is the sensor-nin I noticed earlier" (Rei) "Alright, Motoi...take this with you" (F) F gave Motoi the scroll containing Futoi''s pardon "...Understood" (Motoi) "Team F, maneuver 4!" (F) "Right!" (Nurui, Kayui, Yurui) "Huh?! What''s going...oof-!" (Futoi) "Just shut up and move! Sano-kun! Let''s pick it up!" (Motoi) Team F stopped in their tracks and engaged the pursuing enemy ??? "Here it is!" (Futoi) "You stored it here?" (Motoi) In front of the trio stood a tall, isolated grotto, hidden far from prying eyes. It was a fitting place to hide something "Here, give me a hand" (Futoi) "?" (Motoi) "We need to move this" (Futoi) "..." (Rei) With help from the pair, Futoi was able life a big boulder. After moving it, he reached deep in the ground and removed a small box. Opening it, he took out a scroll "Is that it?" (Motoi) "...Yes" (Futoi) "Great, open it up" (Motoi) "Not so fast, my pardon" (Futoi) "While you give us the scroll we can''t open?" (Rei) "You little-" (Futoi) "Unlock it, and we''ll give it to you" (Motoi) "..." (Futoi) Futoi glared at them, annoyed about not getting his way. Just as they couldn''t trust him, he couldn''t trust they''d let him live the moment he gives up the intel. He was a missing-nin and deserter, the chances of them letting him go clean were slim at best It was then Rei came up with a solution, gathering their attention, he pointed towards the entrance "Ah?" (Futoi) "How about this, you stand at the entrance. Unlock the scroll, and throw it at us. At the same time, Motoi will throw his to you" (Rei) "And what if he doesn''t?" (Futoi) "Then at least you''ll have a chance at escaping" (Motoi) "Mmmm...fine. But if I even think you''re trying to screw me-!" (Futoi) "We get it already, will you hurry up? I got somewhere to be" (Rei) "Cheeky bastard" {Since I still have that, I''ll play your game} (Futoi) Futoi moved towards the entrance before putting the scroll down. He poured his chakra onto the tag that kept it shut until it completely vanished "Alright, it''s done" (Futoi) "On three!" (Motoi) "Fine" (Futoi) "..." (Rei) "One..." (Motoi) "Two..." (Futoi) "THREE!" (Motoi & Futoi) FWIP! FWIP! The two men threw the scrolls, much to their surprise. Neither expected the other would honor the agreement. Futoi eagerly looked at the scroll, confirming the contents with a wide, gleeful grin "Well, it''s been fun! Enjoy my gift!" (Futoi) "?" (Motoi & Rei) CHIZZLE! Something was burning at the bottom of the scroll "!" (Motoi) "PAPER BOMB!" (Rei) "Kuh! Get back-!" (Motoi) "Too late" (Futoi) BOOM! Rei and Motoi were engulfed in bone shattering explosion! "Pffff! Hahahaha! That was almost too easy! I''ve been wanting to do that for quite some time Motoi! I never could stand your annoying face! Did you really think I''d keep such intel on a scroll? Dumbass!" (Futoi) Futoi looked around, but found only scattered pieces of their clothing and blood "Good, they''re dead. With this, even if F and his team survive, Kumogakure will believe it was the ''Supervisor'' and his ''Employees'' responsible for their deaths. Plus, this official pardon proves my face has been wiped from the Bingo Book" (Futoi) The most wanted shinobi criminals were listed on something called, the "Bingo Book". While normally compiled by high-ranking members of a village, they''re released into the world for everyone to see Although rare, there have been cases where a missing-nin earns amnesty and has their name wiped off of it. With the process also clearing their name from all other villages, there was no way the Lightning Daimy could put his name back on immediately, even if they did find out he double-crossed Kumogakure "Now, time to get the hell out of here, those guys will just have to be content with Orochimaru''s escape" (Futoi) For all intents and purposes, Futoi was officially a free man. At least, that''s what he believed... "OROCHIMARU?!" "Huh? Who''s there?!" (Futoi) "Ah...Shit! Sorry Motoi, I wasn''t expecting that" "Ah?!" (Futoi) WHOOO Before he realized it, Futoi found himself in the exact position he was in right before he walked to the entrance...standing in front of Rei and Motoi "Nice going Sano-kun" (Motoi) "Eh, not really my best work" (Rei) "Wha-?! What in the hell just-?!" (Futoi) "Huh? You haven''t figured it out yet. You really are Futoi*1Futoi means "Thick"" (Rei) "It can''t be..." (Futoi) "That''s right, Genjutsu. And like a moth to a flame, you fell for it" (Motoi) "But when?! When did you do it Motoi?!" (Futoi) "Oh, it wasn''t me. Sano-kun here placed it on you the moment he pointed your way to the entrance" (Motoi) {Then?! But he made no hand signs!} (Futoi) Futoi stared at Rei in disbelief, the latter of whom began waving his finger "Tch! Tch! Tch!" (Rei) "No way...with just his...finger?!" (Futoi) Futoi couldn''t believe what he was hearing. It wasn''t just the fact a nine year old kid managed to place an experienced shinobi like him under Genjutsu with only one Finger, but the quality of the Genjutsu itself was astounding Sight, smell, hearing, taste, touch...he experienced it all. The taste of ash in the air, feeling the vibrations from the explosion, the sound of the blast, iron-like stench of blood, and he witnessed it all. He was totally convinced everything was real Genjutsu was an incredibly difficult skill and required those of exceptional talents to master. It is for this reason not many specialize in its use. Using chakra to manipulate the nervous system and trick the senses, the quality of the illusion depends on how many senses are deceived at once But this Genin standing before him managed to fool all five of his senses. Calling Rei a prodigy simply wouldn''t do him justice "You...GAH!" (Futoi) "Don''t bother, you''re still under the effects of my Genjutsu. Get comfortable you douchebag" (Rei) {He truly is special, even C was nothing compared to him when he was his age...amazing} (Motoi) "Motoi, you''re up" (Rei) "Right, now that we know this scroll was nothing but a trap, we have no choice but to coerce you into giving us what we want. Even if we have to get a bit...rough" (Motoi) "B-Bastards...!" (Futoi) Futoi did his best to get free, but to no avail "My friends are fighting so we''re short on time. How about we start with what you just said?" (Motoi) "..." (Rei) "Tell us everything you know about Orochimaru..." (Motoi) 104. Double-dealing MrProper WHACK! Motoi smacked Futoi across his face "Talk or not, I can do this all day!" (Motoi) "Haa...haa...!" (Futoi) "Every time you don''t talk, one of us is going to punch your face. And don''t let my small figure fool you, I punch above my weight class" (Rei) "Grrr...!" (Futoi) For several minutes now, Futoi had remained silent despite consistent blows from Rei and Motoi. However, it wasn''t bravery that kept him silent, but fear "Since you already know about my connection to Orochimaru...just get it over with and kill me" (Futoi) "You wanna die that badly?" (Motoi) "Hah...hahaha!" (Futoi) "Find something funny?" (Rei) "Oh yeah, the fact that you two idiots actually believe you can get me to talk with just this. You think death scares me? That''s NOTHING compared to what Orochimaru will do to me if he finds out I talked" (Futoi) "..." (Motoi & Rei) "I''ve seen what that mad scientist is capable of. His experiments, the things he''s done, the fact Konoha let him slip out of their fingers was without question, the worst mistake they ever made!" (Futoi) {Maybe not the worst, but definitely top 3 material} (Rei) There were fates worse than death, and for Futoi, facing Orochimaru''s wrath was one of them. His greatest fear was getting caught by him and being used for experimentation Orochimaru had a reputation for being especially cruel to those that crossed him. Compared to that, getting beat up by two Kumogakure ninja was nothing "Son of a..." (Motoi) "Kill me!" (Futoi) "I have a better idea, hmph!" (Rei) ZUUU! "Uh?!" (Futoi) "Hm?" (Motoi) Futoi displayed tired, almost intoxicated behavior "What did you do?" (Motoi) "Since...he''s not gonna talk...I''ll just make him" (Rei) "Using more forceful methods?" (Motoi) "Something like that, although it''s my first time trying it on someone. And he''s a real, urg! Bastard''s tougher than he looks! Good grief, Futoi, tell us how you know Orochimaru" (Rei) {He''s overly eager for some reason. Though, I guess it makes sense considering the name Orochimaru came up} (Motoi) Rei was more than just eager. If there was one thing that could get under his skin in this world, it was the main cast and their actions. Being the ones whose choices impact the world the most, Rei couldn''t afford to ignore them Orochimaru in particular would cause a chaotic chain of events, setting a course for the main protagonists of the manga, Naruto and Sasuke. The moment Futoi uttered his name, Rei decided he wouldn''t leave until he extracted every bit of information from Futoi''s brain...no matter what it takes "...Orochimaru hired me to...spread knowledge of his whereabouts..." (Futoi) "?!" (Motoi) "Why would he do that?" (Rei) "His freedom is very...limited now...to gain protection from...Konoha...he sought aid...in exchange for...services" (Futoi) {Help for avoiding Konoha...has he...already joined Akatsuki?} (Rei) "Protection, makes sense. Not even he could withstand the full force of the Leaf" (Motoi) "That''s probably how he managed to avoid capture, but why is he leaking his location?" (Rei) "He said he sought aid, could it be the ones protecting him have restricted his movements?" (Motoi) "Hey, fatass! Is that what''s going on?" (Rei) "Yes...he fears they''ll turn on him...when he completes their request..." (Futoi) {They? Someone hired him? Another nation?} "Is he planning on leaving whoever''s protecting him now?" (Motoi) "Planned on having Konoha attack...they fight...while he escapes" (Futoi) "Whoever''s guarding him won''t be able to keep him contained while fighting Konoha at the same time. The perfect chance to escape" (Motoi) "Who''s they? You also mention something about supervisors and employees" (Rei) "Code words for...troops...don''t know who they are...ugh...!" (Futoi) Futoi''s body began spasming. He was doing his best to resist the Genjutsu and conflicting with Rei''s commands triggered an unhealthy reaction {Damn it! Running out of time} "Motoi!" (Rei) "Right! Why did they need the Two-tails?!" (Motoi) "Chakra needed...for Orochimaru...experiment...they wanted him to build...something..." (Futoi) "Build what?!" (Rei) "Don''t know...Orochimaru called it...revolu...tionary..." (Futoi) "Considering he was the one who said it, that can''t be good" (Rei) "What is their connection with the Fuma clan?!" (Motoi) "No connection...only work...with rogue branch..." (Futoi) "Branch...a part of the clan that split off from the rest. What about the other clan working with them?!" (Rei) "Is it...the Uchiha?!" (Motoi) "...Ngh...ngh...n-no..." (Futoi) {Not the Uchiha?! But Hikaru clearly said he was attacked by a Doujutsu1Eye Techniqueuser with red eyes! That has to be the Uchiha!} (Rei) "Then who is it?!" (Motoi) "Speak" (Rei) "Ngh...ah...guh...raaa...!" (Futoi) "Speak!" (Rei) "...hin...o...k...ugh...ik...ike...no..." (Futoi) "SPEAK!" (Rei) "...ik...noi...no...no...NOOOOO!!!" (Futoi) "?!" (Rei & Motoi) SPLATTER! Blood was flying everywhere! {F*cking lunatic! He actually-!} (Motoi) {Bit his own tongue. He used pain to get out of my Genjutsu?!} (Rei) "Ugh...NO! I wo-!" (Futoi) "Whatever, it just means we take you down again!" (Motoi) "Ne...ne...nevah-!" (Futoi) "Motoi!" (Rei) "!" (Motoi) {I will have my freedom!} (Futoi) With everything to lose, Futoi started weaving hand signs! "What''s he gonna-?!" (Rei) {Rais: Ikazuchi no Utage!2Thunder Funeral: Feast of Lightning} (Futoi) ZAP! ZAP! ZAP! Yellow electricity emerged from his body and shot out in multiple directions, striking everything within the enclosed space RUMBLE! "This lunatic!" (Rei) Rei charged at Futoi, dodging the lightning with the intent of knocking him out {You won''t stop me!} "WOOOAAARRRRGGGG!!!!!!" (Futoi) BZZZZZZ! Not letting up, he increased the intensity of his attack, and eventually "Ah?! The grotto is-!" (Motoi) BOOM! The area began to tremble "I''m...ot...iying...hurrr-!" (Futoi) Not letting up, Futoi slammed his hands on the ground, releasing all of his chakra. The grotto started to collapse "He''s gonna bring this whole place down!" (Rei) "RUN!" (Motoi) "Ehehehe!" (Futoi) "I swear...when I get my hands on him-!" (Rei) Futoi turned around and ran, dodging all the falling rocks. He was just about to leave when... {Almost there, then I''m-UGH?!} (Futoi) ...he body started behaving oddly {What?! Is it the after effects of the Genjutsu?! My nervous system''s still messed up!} (Futoi) BONK! "GAH!" (Futoi) "!" (Motoi) One of the debris stuck the side of his face, causing him to fall over before another large piece fell in his direction {NO! I CAN''T DIE HERE! I STILL HAVEN''T-!} (Futoi) CRUNCH! With his entire body crushed, he was nothing but a corpse now. Motoi and Rei did their best to escape... "It''s too far, we won''t make it!" (Rei) "...This way, I have an idea!" (Motoi) "Eh?! Wait, you''re gonna-!" (Rei) BOOM! All traces of the original grotto was gone, its form completely caved in ??? At the site of Team F''s battle "Fton: Taifikka3Wind Style: Supreme Typhoon!" (F) VWOOOSH! F blasted the enemies into a batch of steel wires "Oh? Another wind user huh?" "Boss, now''s not the time to-!" "Kuh! Annoying wire traps!" "We were just behind them, how could they have set these up so quickly?" The group pursuing them were instantly hindered by the wire traps Nurui set at record speed "They''re my specialty, I''m the cautious type after all. Yurui, Kayui!" (Nurui) "I''m on it!" (Kayui) "Doton: Chidkaku4Earth Style: Mobile Core!" (Yurui) CRACK! FLING! The ground beneath broke into a perfect square, lowering the six adversaries into a giant hole. Kayui hurled several kunai with paper bombs at the top of the hole. The resulting detonations cause the rocks above to collapse "I see, the traps were to slow us down while you planned to literally dig our own graves..." "Not bad for Genin" "Still, it''s pretty embarrassing we fell for it" "Let this be a lesson to you, never underestimate your opponent, no matter who they are" "Supervisor" "I know, I''ll take care of it. We''re on a clock after all" {Fton5Wind Style...} (Supervisor) Back at the top "Nice job guys, but..." (F) "We know Sensei" (Nurui) "!" (F) "This isn''t over yet" (Kayui) "Like it''d ever be that easy" (Yurui) "I''m glad you understand. Now, get ready!" (F) After a few seconds of waiting... RUMBLE! "Here they come!" (Yurui) ...the ground began to tremble BOOM! "AH!" (Nurui) "What the?!" (Kayui) "Urgh!" (Yurui) "Yurui! You alright?!" (Kayui) "I''m fine, focus on what''s in front of you Kayui!" (Yurui) "No way...is that guy-?!" (F) "You''ve certainly given my employees a run for their money" (Supervisor) Emerging from the rubble was the so-called "Supervisor" and his "Employees", completely unharmed {This guy''s Fton is even greater than mine! And we''re outnumbered...I''d hoped we''d get lucky considering we held the advantage of an ambush but...} (F) {While they''re no real threat to us, we can''t waste anymore time having fun. Company employees aren''t supposed to be out in public this long} (Supervisor) Yurui whispered to Kayui and Nurui "These guys are above our level, we''ll have to fight defensively while coming up with a means of escape" (Yurui) "You want to run?!" (Kayui) "Even with F-sensei, there''s no way we can win. Not that we need to" (Yurui) "Right. We just have buy enough time for Motoi-senpai and Rei to get the intel" (Nurui) "Alright, keep our distance then?" (Kayui) "Mm" (Nurui) The supervisor knew what they were planning from the looks and their faces and smiled, unsettling the Genin "Alright, you two, go after the others. We''ll clean up here and join you shortly" (Supervisor) "Right" "Understood" "Ah! No you don''t-?!" (F) CLING! The supervisor drew his blade and clashed with F, preventing him from intervening "I''m your opponent for today" (Supervisor) "Kuh! Damn you-!" (F) ??? Several meters away from Team F''s fight Two anbu were observing the situation "Well, I bet this isn''t what you expected now is it?" "Would anyone have foreseen this Shisui?" "That''s fair. What do we do now, help?" (Shisui) "Mmm, no. We really shouldn''t get involved in the affairs of other villages, especially in a foreign land. Konoha and Kumo relations are still not good" "Stirring the pot, wouldn''t want that. But I don''t think it''s a coincidence this is happening is the same exact area the rumored snake is said to be hiding" (Shisui) "Honestly, I''m not even sure he''s still here. He''s more of the introverted type, with a habit of striking from the shadows" Shisui hesitantly asked a personal question "You''ve...fought him before, haven''t you Captain Kakashi?" (Shisui) "...Once. Though I was younger and far more reckless. Plus, I''d hardly call it a fight, more like he let me live" (Kakashi) "What about now? Do you think the two of us can-?" (Shisui) "That''s more of a coin toss than anything else, we''d never know what he might have up his sleeve. Orochimaru''s famous for being crafty...besides, our orders were just to confirm if he was here or not" (Kakashi) "Right, now what?" (Kakashi) "For now, since the Kumo-nin split up, we''ll do the same. You go after the ones who left, I''ll stay here and observe the situation" (Kakashi) "No helping then?" (Shisui) "...I''ll trust you to act as you see fit...if you can do the same for me" (Kakashi) "Heh! Sure" (Shisui) DASH! Shisui left Kakashi to himself as he blitzed in the direction of Rei and Motoi with blinding speed. Now to himself, he voiced his thoughts aloud "Just what the hell is going here, is Kumogakure after Orochimaru as well? And those guys they''re fighting, I have no idea where they come from" (Kakashi) BAM! "!" (Kakashi) Suddenly, a figure landed in between the fight between Team F and their assailants {What the hell?!} (Kakashi) As the dust cleared, the newcomer''s appearance came into view "That...that person is-?!" (Kakashi) 105. Motoi "Cough! Uhack! M-Motoi! You there?!" (Rei) FLUMP! Rocks tumbled all over the place! After the grotto collapsed, Motoi dragged Rei into the hole Futoi dug up to hide his fake scroll. Realizing they couldn''t escape in time, Motoi decided to take his chances and jump in, dropping the pair into a small, compact cavern Rei, being the first to get up, used his enhance eyesight to see in the dark. After a minute of searching, he located Motoi on the ground with his leg pinned by rubble "Motoi!" (Rei) "A-Agh! Sano-kun...you...how''d you find me?! I couldn''t see a thing in this-!" (Motoi) "I''ve got good eyes, now let me help you up" (Rei) "No wait! Don''t do anything!" (Motoi) "?" (Rei) SNAP! Motoi took out a snaplight flare from his pouch and after lighting up their surroundings, Rei saw his leg pinned under rubble. Removing it could cause the rest to fall in "Crap...we can''t use explosives either" (Rei) "My Raiton1Lightning Styleis nowhere near strong enough to get us out" (Motoi) "It was Raiton that got us into this mess in the first place, I doubt more of it would help" (Rei) "I sent an owl out right before we arrived. If we''re lucky, F and his team will come and find us but..." (Motoi) "Considering how far we are from them, it''s unlikely. Well, this isn''t how I''d thought my death would be like. This isn''t a barren wasteland and you''re not an asshole with a missing eye" (Rei) "Huh?" (Motoi) "Nothing" (Rei) Rei sat down and stopped moving, as to not risk a cave in. Motoi couldn''t help but notice how calm he was in such a horrible situation "You''re taking this quite well" (Motoi) "One could say the same to you. You''re worse off than me right now and yet, more calm than your talk with Futoi" (Rei) "Ah, you heard that" (Motoi) "I think the whole inn could hear the screaming...he must''ve really gotten under your skin" (Rei) "It wasn''t his words that bothered me, it was the man himself" (Motoi) "...Well, he pretty much personified the word ''jackass'', so it''s not like I don''t understand" (Rei) "Hehe-ow! Oh, don''t make me laugh...agh! That really hurts. Ugh...but all things considered, that really wasn''t what set me off either. Cough! Cough!" (Motoi) "I don''t follow?" (Rei) "I hated him so much because of his betrayal, and not just for the village. He betrayed his comrades, setting them up to die" (Motoi) "All you told me was that he deserted...you never mentioned anything about a set up" (Rei) Motoi was hesitant to say more, but after several seconds of silence, he spoke again "He was stationed on the front and one day his squad was cornered. The captain opted to fight it out, wait and let the enemy come to them. But when they arrived, he detonated the paper bomb traps they laid out, killing his squad and providing an opportunity to escape in the process" (Motoi) "?!" (Rei) "He''s been on the run ever since, working as an information broker to stay one step ahead of his enemies" (Motoi) "I had no idea..." (Rei) "His betrayal was expected but...I still can''t believe he got one over me in the end. Though he died in the process" (Motoi) Rei''s voice became hoarse "That death was too easy for him..." (Rei) "Sano-kun?" (Motoi) "I wish you told me sooner...would''ve made interrogating him easier" (Rei) {This kid...} (Motoi) Rei''s face could only be described as terrifying. If there was one thing he hated more than anything else, it was betrayal. Said subject always set him off. Having underwent a similar experience, Futoi''s story brought up some unpleasant memories Motoi stared at him with a blank expression, unable to understand how a young child could emit such bloodlust capable of making an adult like him shiver "Um..." (Motoi) "Oh! Uh...sorry. Basically, that story is why you hated him so much, I get it now but...something tells me it''s more personal for you than you''d like me to believe" (Rei) {?!} "That, I..." (Motoi) "..." (Rei) "..." (Motoi) "You know, there''s a saying that tells us, one usually hates the person who reminds one of oneself the most. Does such a saying apply in this situation?" (Rei) "I''m nothing like-!" (Motoi) "I never said you were...but you obviously seem to think so. I also overheard F mention Killer B" (Rei) "How''d you-?!" (Motoi) "My ears are just as good as my eyes" (Rei) There was not a single detail of the meeting Rei missed despite standing outside the room. But Rei''s curiosity stems from Motoi in particular, he couldn''t put his finger on it, but this situation reminded him of something "Sigh...when I was young, my father was killed" (Motoi) "In the war?" (Rei) "No, he was killed by the Eight-tails" (Motoi) "Eh? B killed your father?" (Rei) "No, no, it was a different Jinchriki at the time. B and I were best friends as kids, and he wasn''t selected to be the next host yet" (Motoi) {Wait, doesn''t this story seem familiar? Damn it, I can''t call Notitia right now} (Rei) "The host failed to control its power and lost control, my dad was on the squad with the 3rd and 4th Raikage to seal it away. He was killed in the process" (Motoi) "Oh Motoi, don''t tell me you tried to-" (Rei) "My family fell apart after his death and when I found out B was going to be the next host, my hatred of the beast became warped and focused on B" (Motoi) "Sigh...considering that awful rapper is still alive, I can only assume you failed. So why aren''t you in jail?" (Rei) Killer B was the adoptive brother of the Raikage, attempting to kill him is a capital offense of the highest degree. Yet, Motoi was still active as a shinobi, even given the honorary role of looking after Genbu Island "Despite my attempt, B didn''t even care. He still treated me like a friend, me! The worthless bastard who unjustly tried to take his life!" (Motoi) "You betrayed your friend, that''s why you hated Futoi, who reminded you of your actions. But your betrayed friend didn''t retaliate..." (Rei) "He should''ve thrown me under the bus" (Motoi) {I definitely wouldn''t have let you off. I don''t understand why B did...how can you just forgive betrayal so easily like that...?} (Rei) "But he didn''t, and since then, I''ve served the village loyally at the cost of my life to atone. I just hope its been enough if I die here" (Motoi) Both didn''t say anymore, leaving each other to their thoughts. Rei was annoyed when he thought of Killer B, the man always got on his nerves, but this time was different. He couldn''t accept someone being so forgiving to such heinous acts. They''ve experienced similar circumstances, but Rei''s actions afterwards were entirely different from B''s {Damn it...this world just continues to get under my skin...} (Rei) After several minutes of cumbersome silence... "..." (Motoi) "Have you asked B what he thinks?" (Rei) "Eh?! Um...no. I haven''t talked to him since" (Motoi) "Why not, are afraid he''ll retaliate against you or something?" (Rei) "No, I''m just afraid he won''t forgive me. I wish...I wish I could take it all back but..." (Motoi) "You can''t. And knowing that, you''ve avoided him this entire time. Funny, considering how unafraid of death you are" (Rei) "Heh, yeah...it is funny. No, more like sad" (Motoi) "No argument there, but you do realize nothing will get better, right?" (Rei) "Mm..." (Motoi) "Repeating the same action endlessly, while expecting a different result is the very definition of insanity. Just sitting on your ass every day, expecting shit to change isn''t gonna help" (Rei) "Man, you really don''t mince words. Are you really a kid?" (Motoi) "I get asked that a lot. But if you want my advice-" (Rei) "I don''t" (Motoi) "Correction. Because you NEED my advice, I''m telling you on the next chance you get, talk to B. Own your shit" {Jesus, wish I learn how to take my own f*cking advice back then...} (Rei) "And if he decides to kill me?" (Motoi) "I think we both know that''s very unlikely to happen considering who were talking about but, if he actually tries, don''t let him" (Rei) "Huh?" (Motoi) "What? Did you think I was gonna say you should take it? Dying for atonement or some clich shit like that? Pssh, as if! The dead can neither make amends, nor demand revenge in their stead. Just excuses used by cowards with so little faith in themselves, they need lame reasons like that to justify their actions" (Rei) "R-R-Right..." (Motoi) {That''s pretty much Sasuke during the entire time of Part 2. Now that I think about it, his attitude displeased me so much I decided to skip past several parts in the Manga...and that''s why I can barely remember anything from story! Why I have such a difficult time keeping track of this world! Goddamn it! It''s that little shit''s fault I''m gonna have a rough time when the main story starts!} (Rei) Motoi was flabbergasted, the more he talked, the more irritated Rei seemed to be. The one in question was getting more and more vexed when thinking how he''ll navigate through all the chaos that has yet to come "Sano-kun, I think you might be projecting a little" (Motoi) "Ah?!" (Rei) "Heh! But I will take your advice, even though I didn''t want it. But you really hate the concept of revenge, don''t you" (Motoi) "Wrong, I wholeheartedly support the idea of getting even. I just hate the idea of using loved ones as an excuse for revenge. When you take revenge, you do it because you simply want payback. The dead are owed nothing..." (Rei) "...You are, without question, the most interesting person I''ve ever met" (Motoi) "I don''t know about that, Killer B is pretty interesting himself...though more in an annoying way" (Rei) "I get it, I''ll talk to him when I get the chance. Well, if we get out of here" (Motoi) "Mm" (Rei) Motoi chuckled a bit as his mood improved, the "hopeless" situation there were in didn''t seem that bad anymore. Though he hadn''t shown it on his face, he was a bit concerned about the current predicament "Hmmm, I can''t use Katon to blast out of here without burning you alive. Suiton might work, if I apply enough force...and you hold your breath long enough" (Rei) "I thought Katon and Suiton were your secondary abilities?" (Motoi) "I only said that because my performance is at its best with Taijutsu and Genjutsu, as in the case of Futoi" (Rei) "True, I was surprised at how proficient you were with Genjutsu" (Motoi) "Yeah, but it''s not much help now" {I know there''s a way to get the both of us out of here alive...what am I missing?} (Rei) Motoi watched as Rei surmise a way to escape before steeling his resolve. As the senior, it was his priority to make sure Rei stayed alive "I''m up for anything you try Sano-kun, don''t worry about me" (Motoi) "I appreciate the sentiment, but I''m not doing anything until I''m sure the two of us get out safely" (Rei) "..." (Motoi) {Hm, I don''t think Suiton will be enough either. Looks like I''m gonna have to try something different. Gotta think back to the last thing Notitia told me} (Rei) Motoi was touched as he misunderstood Rei''s intentions, believing him to risk his life for a comrades sake. In reality, Rei couldn''t afford to let him die on this mission as it cause a slew of problems for him down the line Rei closed his eyes and focused, kneading the chakra within him {Have to reach deep inside...got to find the center} (Rei) {I wonder how the others are doing?} (Motoi) ??? Team F''s Battle CLING! F and the enemy clashed with blades at close range "Kuh!" (F) "Heh!" (Supervisor) {Just who the hell are these guys?!} (F) "It''s been fun F, but unfortunately I''m on a clock so-" (Supervisor) "How do you know my nam-?!" (F) "Kaze no Yaiba2Wind Sword" (Supervisor) SWOOSH! {Wind Blade?! Isn''t that a Sunagakure3Hidden Sand Villagespecific Jutsu? But these guys don''t strike me as Suna-nin...} (F) Sharp wind gathered around the mysterious foe''s hand as he thrust towards F''s head "Bye" (Supervisor) "Sensei! Hang on, I''m coming!" (Yurui) {CRAP!} (F) BOOM! Just as he was about to end F, something crashed in between the opposing forces "?!" (F) "Eh?!" (Yurui) "What the-?!" (Supervisor) RUSTLE! F and the Supervisor backed away from one another, rejoining their respective groups. When dust settled, a single figure''s appearance came into view for everyone to see "Huh? That back looks familiar" (Kayui) "Wait, is that?" (Yurui) "Did back-up arrive?" (Nurui) "No. Way." (F) "Why the hell is he here?!" (Supervisor) 106. Yin and Yang [1] Several days ago Rei was finishing up his Second Lifeline. He''d spent several hours listening to Notitita explain chakra''s relationship and reactions with physics and the fundamental forces of this world...as per his request [Namely, particle relations are the same as your original world. Chakra is frequently used to control matter and energy to certain degree, as you would put it, "Bending the rules". The most unique quality of this universe is the ability to convert chakra into energy and/or matter, and vice versa] "I know bizarre phenomenon like bringing the dead back to life is just chakra-related science I''ve yet to understand, but how do I deal with it?" (Rei) [You cannot as you are now. Subjects that include "raising the dead", "taking over bodies", "reality manipulation", and the so-called "soul" are currently subjects beyond your understanding. The author of this world created much he couldn''t explain or comprehend, as that is what fiction is] "I was afraid you''d say that" (Rei) [In order to excel in this world, it is recommended you follow its rules, and not your own] "..." (Rei) [Are you satisfied with the results?] "Yes, you''ve done more than enough Notitia. I am satisfied with the results. My Second Lifeline request has been completed" (Rei) [...CONFIRMED...] [...NOW ENDING SUPPORT MODE...] Notitia was silent before Rei called out to again "Back to normal?" (Rei) [PHEW! Oh yeah! That''s so much better! I hate being all prim & proper whenever you use a lifeline!] "I should probably head back soon" (Rei) [Whoa, whoa. Before you go, there''s something I need to tell you before I...go to sleep] {So even when I shortened the time, it still needs to rest...} (Rei) The first time he used a lifeline, Notitia was greatly affected. Claiming he dragged it out for too long, it left Rei to himself for quite sometime before it emerged again Have the role of his "guide", Rei didn''t want Notitia out of commission. But even when he decided to move as fast as he could with this second attempt, it was still quite weary. The exact mechanics of this enigmatic, invisible entity only became more mysterious every time he conversed with it [This recent incident has caused your body to undergo...another change] "Is that so..." (Rei) [You don''t seem all that surprised, did you know already?] "More like, I''ve had this feeling ever since I awoke in the hospital. A feeling of emptiness, no, of loss. His chakra is gone, I don''t feel it anymore. What happened?" (Rei) [It''s the result of your rampage during the Yugito mission. You''ve had two chakra''s within you competing for dominance, "Rei''s" and your "Neo-tsutsuki" chakra. You may not recall your time going all Obito on those poor Fuma but-] {Oh, I remember} (Rei) Rei still didn''t inform Notitia he''d perfectly recalled everything, nor the details on his new power Kisshten1Auspicious Heavens. The best assets were the ones he kept to himself until just the right moment [You used Suiton, then Katon...but your reaction afterwards caught my attention. You screamed, "THIS FIRE...THIS WATER...IS DISGUSTING" and stopped using it altogether. It wasn''t long before that unknown Yin-Yang related ability manifested] "Ugh, the more I learn, the less I understand" (Rei) Rei was still trying to rap his head around the events of that day. Having a power that could potentially go out of control at any given moment was gnawing at him since he awoke in the hospital. Since then, he''s done nothing but study up on its nature But due to the world''s limited knowledge of In''yton2Yin-Yang/Shadow & Light Style, there wasn''t much he could do. Notitia was the best help he could receive, and even that wasn''t enough Contrary to what it claimed, Rei discovered Lifelines didn''t grant it Omniscience, but a form of Omnipresence. It could see every aspect of the world at once, including any past event. Every event from this point and backwards were at its disposal Notitia uses this information, along with knowledge of the manga''s story, to make precision guess work based on somewhat reliable data in order to make highly accurate predictions of future events "Why would my out of control tsutsuki body call my Katon and Suiton disgusting? How does that relate to Yin-Yang style and Rei''s chakra leaving my body?" (Rei) [The chakra you''ve used for it so far wasn''t yours, it was "Rei''s". Just like a Tailed Beast and its host, these two chakras were fighting for dominance within you. And it looks like the tsutsuki half won the battle] "You''re saying...his chakra was of lower quality or something? I mean, how does that even work? Why is Yin-Yang style related to this?" (Rei) [There are so many misconceptions about this, about Yin-Yang, but I''ll do my best to clear things up. First of all, how is chakra made?] "By molding spiritual & physical energies, or yin and yang. Now that I think about it, all natures branch off from Yin-Yang, and every Jutsu is somewhat related to it. Does this mean every one can use Yin-Yang style?" (Rei) [Not quite. As I''ve said, tsutsuki control chakra on a level impossible for humans. Any Jutsu that involves bringing the chakra''s composition to the highest possible level is classified as Yin-Yang Style. Only tsutsuki-related techniques like the Guddama3Truth-Seeker Orbsor the Sage of Six Paths "Creation of all things" fall under this category] Rei folded his arms and began to recall everything he knew about chakra "In other words...In''yton is simply the implementation of chakra in its purest form, which is why none categorize it as a Kekkei Genkai or Kekkei Tta. Rather than simply being made of them, all other elements just branch off from it" (Rei) [You''re quick, that''s a nice brain on your shoulders. Because only tsutsuki can do this, they''re obviously the most powerful. The only way to combat their insane powers is to have similar powers yourself] {It''s pretty much, Yin-Yang Five basic nature transformations Kekkei Genkai} (Rei) Nearly all of the strongest characters within the story were revealed to have at least one connection to tsutsuki by its climax. Rei now understood the reason his tsutsuki cells purged "Rei''s" chakra...it was due to their nature to possess the best chakra Carrying the chakra of an average, human shinobi, how could his body accept it without complaint? His cells would no doubt find it "Disgusting" to have [Controlling chakra comes natural to an tsutsuki, thus they never have to "train" for things like affinities. They hate the concept of ninjutsu, calling it inferior. And truth be told, it is compared to them] "Where does that leave me? How do I control my new power?" (Rei) [Because you''re not a normal tsutsuki, but what we call a Neo-tsutsuki, we''re on uncharted territory now that you''ve awakened it] "Uncharted territory, that''s certainly not the vibe I was getting when you had me remake my body all those years ago" (Rei) [We never accounted for you gaining Yin-Yang Style, or at least, not this soon. The only logical conclusion that comes to mind is to continue improving chakra control. Kneading chakra at the highest level brings one closer to Yin-Yang, learning how to do it may even trigger...new abilities] "Like what? His bloodline isn''t all that great" (Rei) [That''s only due to recessive genes, but now that you''re only sporting tsutsuki chakra, the same rules don''t apply to you. Yin-Yang is the origin of all, the center. By reaching inside, you might discover something within "Rei''s" heritage] "Speaking of him, what about his chakra? Considering I was taking advantage of his average affinities, now that its gone, does that mean I have to start all over?" (Rei) [You may find things slightly weaker, but that''s only because you haven''t gotten used to your new chakra yet] "Crap" (Rei) [Don''t worry, now that only tsutsuki chakra is flowing through your body, progression will naturally become many times faster. Considering the experience you already have, things should be normal in no time. This change is actually a blessing in disguise] "Many times faster?" (Rei) [Your new chakra is hax, you pretty much have an EXP booster] "I have no idea what that means" (Rei) [...You suck] Notitia had a point, however. At the rate he was going, it was obvious his elemental ninjutsu would never become anything spectacular. This was proven by the fact the original character Rei died at an early age "Okay, I can do that. Is there anything else I should know before you leave?" (Rei) [One last thing, a warning. Don''t mistake "Rei''s" chakra disappearing as a sign you no longer have to find Rychi Cave. His soul may still be able to connect with you once more] "Because I still have his DNA..." (Rei) [Even though his soul isn''t within you, as long as you''re using his body, he has a tie to this plane. Chakra is the power to connect worlds after all, just like Edo Tensei4Impure World Reincarnation. If you don''t deal with his soul, he''ll just keep coming back, looking for an opportunity to take his body back] {The concept is similar to matter...and like matter, his body and soul yearn to be one} (Rei) Rei thought about the moment he first remade himself. That was the closest he had ever been to death since arriving in this world. It was soon after he demonstrated the ability to use Katon, despite the academy once telling him his only affinity was Yin and Yang separately Since chakra can connect the living and dead, he surmised "Rei" took his opportunity to come back at that moment, but his chakra and presence were gone again {Until I find Rychi cave, with the exception of the Black Scroll''s Hidden Techniques, I''d best avoid "modifying" myself anymore} (Rei) [Oh! Time''s almost up! Any final questions before I go?] "How long will you be gone this time?" (Rei) [Considering this lifeline was only a few hours, just a few days or so. I''ll be back soon, just don''t go getting yourself in any dangerous situations while I''m gone] "Kind of impossible in this world" (Rei) [Fair enough, later] After Notitia left, Rei made his way into Isshiki''s proving grounds, just outside the lab for training "I''ll start with Katon and Suiton, since I have plenty of experience, it shouldn''t take that long" {After that, I should probably focus on Kisshten, which means practicing better chakra control} (Rei) ??? Present Time Motoi and Rei were still buried under rubble. After failing to think of a way to escape while not accidently killing Motoi, whose leg was pinned under the rocks, Rei decided to leave the decision making...to someone else {Focus on the center...focus...focus...} (Rei) "Agh, how long has it been since we''ve been down here?" (Motoi) "...!" {This chakra is?! Shit! Two hostiles are on their way here!} (Rei) "..." (Motoi) {And...there seems to one more...I don''t recognize this one. Wow...it''s a very fast one. Did they call for backup?} (Rei) Rei was going to continue searching for more before realizing that sensing enemies now, is nothing but a distraction {Whatever! Have to ignore that now, gotta focus! Come on, come on...almost there...} (Rei) "?!" (Motoi) ZUUUUU! Chakra started to manifest around Rei''s body {What''s he doing now?} (Motoi) {...Kisshten!} (Rei) 107. Yin and Yang [2] MrProper Team F''s location "Heads up!" (Supervisor) "Ah?!" "Acrobat!" (Killer B) SLICE! "GAH!" "Damn it!" (Supervisor) Killer B had just taken down the three "Employees" previously targeting Team F, the so-called "Supervisor" was all that remained. Juggling seven uniquely-shaped short swords between his hands and joints, it was next to impossible to keep up with him "Haha! Awesome B-sama!" (Yurui) "Sensei, how is Killer B-sama fighting like that?" (Nurui) "I know right? With a weird, awkward stance like that...I''m seeing it and I still can''t believe how effective it is" (Kayui) "The movements just feel unreal, like they''d never be practical at all" (Nurui) "The Acrobat is a Kenjutsu1Sword Techniquederived from his self-created Kakuran Taijutsu2Disturbance Taijutsu" (F) "I think I''ve heard of it...he spent years perfecting it with Raikage-sama on Genbu Island when they were younger" (Yurui) "Mm. The moves are so unpredictable, not even a doujutsu3Eye Techniqueuser can anticipate his attacks. It came in real handy against the Uchiha Clan''s Sharingan and the Hyuga Clan''s Byakugan during the last war" (F) "Amazing..." (Nurui) "It''s more akin to a warrior''s dance performance" (F) The supervisor was annoyed as he watched Killer B take down his men. The mission was going so smoothly before this unknown variable arrived. But even worse, B hadn''t killed them {Is he planning to-?} (Supervisor) Despite the taunts from Killer B, the Supervisor fully understood escape was impossible with an opponent like him, whose abilities he was fully aware of. If he allowed them to take him and his group away, his superiors would no doubt kill them for sure They also didn''t take too kindly to failure either, the moment Killer B showed up, everything was already over. With such an outlook, he steeled his resolve and made his final play "Sorry, but I''m not letting you take me" (Supervisor) "Don''t even think about it! You really want to die?" (F) "Not really, but I am content with a certain thought..." (Supervisor) "?" (F) "If I''m going down...I''M TAKING YOU ALL WITH ME!!!" (Supervisor) FWIP! He formed the seal of the Tiger "Get ready!" (Killer B) "!" (Team F) BOOSH! The Supervisor, and his employees knocked on the floor began to combust! "Huh?" (Kayui) "No way-?!" (Nurui) "Is he actually-?!" (Yurui) "HAHAHA! DIIIEEE!" (Supervisor) "Kuh! B-sama!" (F) "I know!" (Killer B) F and Killer B grabbed the Genin and ran before... BOOM! ...the enemies exploded. The shockwaves blasted the Kumo-nin away THUD! THUD! "Ooof!" (B) "Hah....hah! Ugh! Is everyone okay?!" (F) "I''m good, just a few scratches" (Nurui) "B-sama got me out in time!" (Kayui) "Agh! My leg! Think I sprained my ankle!" (Yurui) "Let me see!" (F) F tended to Yurui as the others turned their attention towards the blast site. There was not a trace of the enemy left "I can''t believe they blew themselves up..." (Kayui) "A means of preventing intel from leaking" (Nurui) "Yeah but, forget ignoring his own life, he even sacrificed his men..." (Kayui) "..." (Nurui) "Close your heart to it! This is common in the ninja world" (F) "How''s it look sensei?" (Yurui) "Hmmm, no. I''ve put a leg brace on it but, you won''t be running anytime soon" (F) "But-!" (Yurui) "Relax, you''re not gonna get left behind or anythi-huh?" (F) Before he could continue, the group was approached by a flying creature "?" (Killer B) {That''s...one of Motoi''s owls!} (F) Standing up, F raised his arm and the owl taking this as a sign to land, complied. Tied on its leg, was a message from Motoi "What''s it say Sensei?" (Kayui) "..." (F) "Sensei?" (Nurui) "We need to move. I haven''t forgotten about the two enemies who already left to go after them. Nurui! Kayui! Help Yurui!" (F) "R-Right!" (Kayui) "Lemme give you a hand Yurui" (Nurui) "Thanks" (Yurui) With both of his teammates lending Yurui a shoulder, Team F was read to leave. F in particular grabbed a hold of Killer B, the latter of whom was attempting to sneak away "Don''t even think about it B-sama. Now that you''ve snuck out of the village again, getting the Iron Claw from Raikage-sama is inevitable. You''re not leaving my side" (F) "?Why you messing with mah flow?! My vacation''s just started ya know?!?" (Killer B) "Sigh!" (F) DASH! Despite B''s protests, F dragged him along with the rest of the team as the owl Motoi sent led them to his last reported location It wasn''t until they were completely gone did a shinobi land on the very spot the group just fought on TAK! "That''s not something you see everyday. To think the Jinchriki guardian of Kumogakure would be here. Things just keep getting more and more complicated" It was Kakashi. Being an ANBU, he naturally wasn''t meant to make any appearances in public. Opting to stay out of Kumo''s business, he decided not to interfere in Team F''s battle But he and Shisui were still on a mission to verify Orochimaru''s whereabouts, and whether or not he was actually here at all "Since I have no leads, I guess I''ll just follow them at a distance for now. Shisui should''ve caught up to those other two Kumo-nin and masked men" (Kakashi) STEP! After investigating the area, he found nothing of use. The masked men who self-detonated left no trace of their bodies, as was likely their intended purpose {There''s nothing for me here, I better get to Shisui. Although I told him not interfere, for an Uchiha, he''s pretty laid-back} (Kakashi) DASH! Kakashi disappeared as quickly as he came, following Team F all the while concealing his presence ??? In an empty white space Rei had once again entered his personal dimension where time flows differently. The outside world appeared as if time was frozen "Alright, have to call it with my mind" (Rei) Closing his eyes, he focused on the only other entity that occupied this space {Come...Black gem} (Rei) ZIP! Appearing out of nowhere was the strange, dark, orb-shaped object that resembled a stone. Always following Rei''s thoughts, it seemed to lack a will of its own. Rei theorized it was a manifestation of his own will, considering it did everything he mind commanded it to do Though the possibility it had a will of its own was also taken into consideration, Rei always approached it with caution. Especially after it caused him to go out of control the first time he used it "I don''t think I''ll be able to build anything that can help. Hell, I doubt I''ll be able to bring anything back with chakra I have right now" (Rei) Kisshten worked by taking objects from the real world, copying and modifying them, then sending them back out. It also had the strange ability of connecting to other spaces, such as the space in Rei''s red weapon-summoning arm bracers While altering objects was limitless, it''d only cost Rei chakra whenever he brought an object back to the real world. But the cost itself took quite the sum of chakra. The last time he used this power, he summoned too many objects and sent his body into shock The overall mass of said summoned object appeared to determine the amount of chakra used for this In''yton4Yin-Yang/Shadow & Light Stylepower "I haven''t copied enough materials, and modification has its limitations. I also don''t know if its safe to use this power for an extended period of time. Sigh...I''ve got not choice, but to get out of the driver''s seat" {Alright, I''m giving you temporary control. You are to help not only myself, but the one called Motoi next to me. Get us out of this situation alive with MINIMAL injury. Do not converse with anyone, but if hostiles attack, take care of them. Finally, DO NOT overuse my chakra like you did last time, simply use my body to the best of its ability. Move up and down if you understand} (Rei) ZIP! ZIP! ZIP! ZIP! The sphere moved up and down after receiving Rei''s orders "Okay then, here goes everything" {Open the door} (Rei) ZIP! Moving in front of Rei, it tore space open, leading Rei back into the real word before once again, phasing into his body Back in the cave, Motoi was at a loss as he observed Rei, who was just standing in place...not moving a muscle "..." (Rei) "Hey. Sano-kun...are you alrig-?" (Motoi) RUSTLE! "!" (Motoi) The young man in front of him suddenly moved his head around, taking the time to examine his surroundings. Gathering every ounce of information he could before deciding to take action "E-eh?" (Motoi) After inspecting the cave-in, he turned to Motoi. Rei''s sudden change in demeanor threw him off balance, but he didn''t say anything while the young man was seemingly scanning him. In fact, Rei was emitting an air of intimidation that prevented him from speaking at all {?!} (Motoi) Once he was done staring at Motoi, he placed his hand on his chest before kneading the chakra within his body. When he was done, he turned his attention to the floor beneath him. Grabbing Motoi with his left hand and placing his right hand on the ground "What are you going to do?" (Motoi) "..." (Rei) It was then he spoke for the first time... "Doton5Earth Style..." 108. Yin and Yang [3] MrProper SCRUNCH! "?!" (Motoi) The ground beneath Rei and Motoi turned soft and just like that, they were both dragged under. {I see! Because he couldn''t remove the rubble on top of my leg, he decided the bring me underground before the place collapsed instead! But this technique is-!} (Motoi) "..." (Rei) Rei tunneled beneath the destroyed grotto before making his way upwards until finally... CRACK! "We''re out!" (Motoi) ...the pair made it back to surface, just outside the entrance "Cough! Cough!" {This technique changes earth into fine sand by channeling chakra into it, so one can dig through it like a mole. This effect goes around the body, and allows one to pinpoint where they are, despite being underground, by sensing the magnetic forces} (Motoi) Motoi looked at Rei "Sano-kun...that was the "Doton: Moguragakure no Jutsu1Earth Style: Hidden Mole Jutsu" wasn''t it. When did you learn to use Doton?" (Motoi) "..." (Rei) {Don''t tell me...he figured out how to do it just now?! Impossible! Even if one suddenly discovered they had affinity for an element, being able to use it so skillfully on their first try is...that''s beyond being a simple genius!} (Motoi) Rei didn''t even bother looking at him as he ignored his question. He only glared in the opposite direction of the grotto. Then, with a cold voice barely resembling his own, he muttered one word "Hostiles..." (Rei) "Eh?! Where?!" (Motoi) Motoi peered at the direction Rei was facing and spotted two men in masks headed towards them "They caught up to us! We have to-Ow! Urg! Damn it, my leg''s broken!" (Motoi) Motoi''s leg had been pinned under heavy rubble for quite some time. His body had already undergone significant trauma when he shielded Rei from the cave-in Futoi caused. He was in no condition to run, let alone fight "Alright, here''s the plan. We set up an ambush and let them come to-?!" (Motoi) DASH! "SANO-KUN?!" (Motoi) Rei, or rather the entity controlling him, dashed ahead with the intent of taking on the enemies alone. When the two "Employees" saw him, they thought he must''ve lost his mind to charge at them alone "What the?" "The Genin''s coming to us. His superior is laying on the ground" "From the looks of it, he appears to be hurt. Only makes our job easier, but where''s the informant?" "Worry about that later, let''s take care of this brat first. We''ve been out here for too long, I''d like to get back to the others" SHINK! One unsheathed the long sword on his back while the other began weaving signs "Right, I''ll go first. Hmph!" BA-BOON! His right arm expanded to an inhuman size as he tried to grab Rei {His arm?! That''s a hidden jutsu from Konoha''s Akimichi clan!} (Motoi) {Yton2Yang/Light Styledetected, preparing countermeasures...} (Rei) "Hold still you-uh?!" "Hm?! What''s wrong?!" "I. Can''t. Move!" "Genjutsu? How could you fall for a kids-LOOK OUT!" WHAM! "Guhack! A-Aghhh! Mah eeth!! His face was met with Rei''s knee and his mask shattered into pieces! His plump face was distorted and missing a few teeth, but Rei didn''t stop there. Not letting up, he took out a kunai and thrust towards his face The other enemy with the sword was quick to react "Like I''ll let you!" "?!" (Rei) SLICE! He unleashed a swift horizontal slice at the young Genin standing over his partner before following it up with another attack. Gathering water in the area towards him... "Hmph!" "!" {Suiton detected...preparing countermeasures} (Rei) "Suiton: Amearare3Water Style: Rain Hail!" {Doton: Doryheki4Earth Style: Mud Wall} (Rei) "?!" "Cheh!" With his Ninjutsu, he manipulated the water into large, clump-shaped spheres before launching them at Rei. The latter whom defended appropriately with his own earth style jutsu The employee beneath Rei took the opportunity to slip away from him and rejoin his partner "O-Ow! My mouth!" "This kid isn''t ordinary" "Obviously! His blows are too powerful for someone so small and short" "That''s not what I meant..." "Huh?" "He keeps countering our attacks with their natural opposites, and quite perfectly to. Doton to match my Suiton, and Genjutsu, or rather Inton5Yin/Shadow Styleto combat your Yton" "Uh?! That''s right...Genjutsu is perfect to counter my physical techniques" "From now on, we''ll attack together" "Can''t believe we''ve got to get serious for a little kid. You got a plan?" "Something like that...LET''S GO!" CLASH! Rei took on the pair at the same time, flawlessly avoiding blows while taking every opportunity to deliver his own "Careful of his sword, Sano-kun!" (Motoi) Motoi had managed to get up after wrapping his broken, bleeding leg in bandages. Standing up, he could only limp to get around, he knew there was no way to provide proper support Instead, Motoi understood the best way to help is to analyze their jutsu, and provide a means of counterattack. But as he watched, something peculiar caught his attention {That guy, he''s definitely from Konoha''s Akimichi Clan. However, the other one''s a Suiton user with skill in Kenjutsu...a ninja from Kirigakure6Hidden Mist Villagemost likely. Ninja from two of the Five Great Shinobi Nations are involved in this...the hell is going on?} (Motoi) WHOOSH! Rei charged at the big man from the Akimichi clan, armed with a Kunai in his hand "Do it now!" "R-Right!" "!" (Rei & Motoi) FLING! Before Rei could get to him, the big man threw a kunai with a paper bomb tied on its end, in the direction of Motoi {Crap! Gotta move!} (Motoi) "Hehe!" {Factoring velocity, trajectory, angle, air resistance, temperature, planetary rotation...hostile weapon is estimated to reach its intended target in 4.1 seconds. Factoring current distance and Shunshin7Body Flickerspeed, unable to rescue without suffering injury... Subject Motoi is attempting to evade. Will avoid blade, will not avoid blast. Odds of survival...87%. Odds of minimal injury...38%} (Rei) ZWIP! In the instant that seemed to last for an eternity, a figure moved at blinding speed, grabbed Motoi, and knocked him out before he even realized what happened BOOM! The interloper managed to get Motoi out of harms way just in time before the paper bomb exploded {New factor. Reassessing situation...clothes identify newcomer as a member of Konoha''s ANBU. New edict...eliminate hostiles before verifying newcomer''s intent} (Rei) "Eh?" {He didn''t even flinch with his comrade in danger?!} "Oh...no..." "LOOK OUT!" SPLATTER! Rei continued onwards and stabbed his blade right into the neck of the Akimichi clan member, forcing him to the ground. The Kiri-nin moved in, seeing this as an opportunity to strike "Guooh! Guhack" "Little Bastard! Die!" "..." (Rei) "?!" Rei picked up the body of the man, who just died after drowning in his own blood, and used him as a shield "You. Monster!" {Shunshin no Jutsu8Body Flicker Jutsu} (Rei) After Jamming the sword into his dead partner''s fat body, he struggled to pull it out. Rei zipped behind with incredible speed and before he could react, cut his mask... SLICE! "GAH!!!!" ...and his eyes, effectively blinding him "You little rat! HOW DARE YOU?!" FWIP! Rei weaved hand seals "URGH! FIND YOU! GONNA FIND YOU AND CHOP YOU-!" {Katon: Endan9Fire Style: Flame Bullet} (Rei) SCORCH!! A stream of concentrated fire emerged from his mouth as Rei ignited the now un-masked swordsman "Damn..." (Anbu) "AAAAAAAAAGGGGGHHH!!!!" "..." (Rei) CRACKLE! He screams went on for several seconds before he fell over, becoming nothing else but burnt meat. Confirming his death, Rei turned his attention to the ones behind him, or rather, the Anbu member Armed with a kunai in hand, slowly walking towards the pair before pointing his blade at the Anbu "Whoa, whoa! Friendly! Not here to fight!" (Anbu) "..." (Rei) {Ah crap. Captain told me not to interfere but I moved before thinking. Now what do I do? I can''t just sit down and have a casual conversation with him. And if I run, Kumogakure will know Konoha Anbu were here} (Anbu) {Obersavation...Anbu possesses the Sharingan in both eye sockets. Factoring speed and agility...Odds of being Kakashi Hatake...23%. Gathering data of Uchiha Clan members...Gathering data of Uchiha Anbu members...Odds of being Itachi Uchiha...56%...Odds of being Shisui Uchiha...92% Attitude and behavior indicate a non-hostile presence. All hostiles eliminated...Subject Motoi rescued...Returning Control} (Rei) "Hm?" (Anbu) "..." (Rei) "Um..." (Anbu) "..." (Rei) "Excuse me?" (Anbu) "Phew!" (Rei) "?!" (Anbu) "Sorry about that, it''s been one hell of a day" (Rei) "Oh. Um. Okay...?" (Anbu) "Let''s have a nice chat before the others arrive..." (Rei) "?" (Anbu) "Shisui...Uchiha..." 109. Shisui Uchiha "Wait...um...what did you just say?" "Shisui Uchiha" (Rei) "..." "..." (Rei) {CRAAAAPP! Captain''s gonna kill me!} (Shisui) Shisui wasn''t supposed to be here, Konoha couldn''t allow anyone to know of their investigation. But not only had he conversed with Rei, he intervened in his fight and saved Motoi. Both of whom were ninja from Kumogakure, the very same village his own distrusts the most these days What he was doing now would undoubtedly be described as the exact opposite of "covert actions" "Cough! Cough! A-Agh!" {Damn...the strain Kisshten comes with is awful! As great the power is, it''s not meant to used lightly. I thought I was already being careful but...clearly not enough} (Rei) "Um...are you okay?" (Shisui) "Now you''re ready to talk Shisui?" (Rei) "Ah! Well, you''ve already figured it out, so there''s no point in hiding it. By the way, what tipped you off?" (Shisui) "Well, I could see your Sharingan eyes and your speed...not many people in the world are so skilled with the Body Flicker Technique" (Rei) "Ahhh...that''s what I figured" (Shisui) "When you''re famous, being a covert Anbu really isn''t the best choice" (Rei) "Sigh...so I''ve been told" (Shisui) Shisui lifted the mask from his face and let it hang on the right side of his head "..." (Rei) "...What?" (Shisui) "Is it okay to take your mask off so nonchalantly?" (Rei) "Not really, but I don''t see anyone else around. Besides, you already know who I am" (Shisui) "You''re...more laid back than a typical Anbu, or Uchiha for that matter" (Rei) "I''ve been told that too" (Shisui) Rei checked on Motoi''s condition and after confirming he was indeed unconscious, felt relief knowing not only was a Canon character like him okay, but now Rei could speak more freely Shisui misinterpreted Rei''s silence for anger at his decision to knock Motoi out "Sorry about knocking him out" (Shisui) "It''s fine, if you consider the fact he didn''t see you, this actually works for the best. Hey Shisui..." (Rei) "Yes?" (Shisui) "How about we make a deal?" (Rei) "A deal? What kind of deal?" (Shisui) "The kind you and I keep to ourselves. I propose an exchange...of information" (Rei) {Is this kid...really a kid?} (Shisui) "If I had to guess, the reason for a Konoha Anbu member like yourself, to be all the way out here is because-" (Rei) "Can''t say. I just heard of rumor of sorts" (Shisui) Revealing such information could be potentially be seen as treasonous, Shisui subtly suggested that from this point forward, they''d only speak with ambiguity "Right. I was just wondering, this so-called rumor wouldn''t happen to be in regards to a certain...snake?" (Rei) "You could say that, I heard there might''ve been one causing trouble in the area" (Shisui) "Well, you''re certainly right about that. But after causing so much trouble back in your area, it realized it poked the hornets nest and needed help...protection" (Rei) "...It''s been hibernating huh? But why would a young child like you be looking for it? It''s dangerous for kids your age to play around with such a dangerous snake you know" (Shisui) "Believe me, encountering it was never my...our intention. We were surprised to find out about it" (Rei) "Then...why are you here?" (Shisui) "Someone tried to steal a very precious cat from our village, the same day a cloud was set to make peace with a leaf. We''re still trying to find out who" (Rei) {The armistice...} "I see. A precious cat you say..." (Shisui) "As precious as the fox in your home" (Rei) {Tailed Beast...?! Someone made a move on a Tailed Beast during the armistice?!} "You wouldn''t happen to have any clues as to who tried poach such a precious animal, now would you?" (Shisui) "All that we know is someone really wanted it badly enough to hire two groups to get it. One of which tends to make good use of large shuriken your clan might be familiar with..." (Rei) {Fuma...could it be the branch that split off from the rest of the clan some time ago?} (Shisui) "As for the other, we don''t know, other than the fact he had unique eyes...red eyes" (Rei) "?!" (Shisui) Rei squinted at Shisui, gauging his reaction to the implication being made towards him and his clan "You, or your family wouldn''t happen to know anything about that, now would you?" (Rei) "If I did happen to know about it...said poachers would''ve been dealt with. So no, I don''t know" (Shisui) "..." (Rei) "..." (Shisui) {Judging from his chakra...he''s telling the truth. And given Futoi''s testimony, it''s safe to say the Uchiha aren''t involved. Though I still can''t completely rule them out} (Rei) Rei was a sensor-type ninja. Sensor''s could not only determine the status, location, and magnitude of one''s chakra, but also reactions. Whenever someone lies, their chakra becomes disturbed, and said disturbance can be picked up by skilled sensor-nin Rei was basically a human polygraph. The entire time they conversed, he kept a close eye on Shisui''s chakra "My turn, how did you know the so-called snake would be in this area?" (Rei) "I heard rumors of a broker who might be able to point me in the right direction, though it appears it was all just a trap set up by the snake" (Shisui) Both Shisui and Rei glance at the boulder that crushed Futoi "What I don''t know is why the snake would reveal its location" (Shisui) "Simple, the ones protecting the snake wanted to keep it for themselves. And soon to the snake, protection became imprisonment" (Rei) "In other words, it spread rumors to cause chaos, providing it with an opportunity to escape. And every single one of us fell for it. It''s probably long gone by now, Sigh" (Shisui) "Yup. We''ve been nothing but puppets on a string...this serpent is a crafty one to say the least. Tch!" (Rei) "..." (Shisui) {I know keeping this story on track is fundamental for my success...but I swear, if I ever encounter Orochimaru...I''m gonna f*cking disembowel him and wear his innards like a goddamn pashmina!} (Rei) Both of them were irritated. Just when they thought answers were finally in reach, only to find out Orochimaru had played everyone like a fiddle, left a bad taste in their mouths. Rei in particular, who for better or worse, went through hell "Alright, any idea where said red-eyed person may dwell?" (Rei) "I do have an idea...try looking for clues at the best hot springs in the area" (Shisui) {Hot Springs...so that''s it} "...Got it. I''ll be sure to keep our little conversation a secret" (Rei) "Thanks. Considering the complicated relationship between our respective homes, that''s for the best" (Shisui) "You better go, my friends will be arriving soon" (Rei) "Mm" (Shisui) Shisui put his mask back on and just as he was about to depart, Rei posed one last inquiry "I just have one last question, but its more of personal advice" (Rei) "Oh? Shoot" (Shisui) "I always thought my Shunshin no Jutsu1Body Flicker Jutsuwas pretty good, but after seeing you in action, I''ve been disabused of that notion" (Rei) "Your Shunshin looked pretty good from where I was standing" (Shisui) "That sounds a bit sarcastic coming from you" (Rei) While not only being the greatest Genjutsu user of the Uchiha, Shisui was also renowned as "Shunshin no Shisui"2Shisui of the Body Flickerfor his masterful use of the technique Rei was always looking for ways to improve himself, and with the obvious certainty he may never get another chance to receive advice from the famous Shisui Uchiha, there was no way he''d hesitate "Hehe, you''re a weird one to ask advice from me, an enemy" (Shisui) "Are you going to attack me?" (Rei) "Huh? What did you say?" (Shisui) "I said, are you going to attack me?" (Rei) "Um, well...no?" (Shisui) "Then you''re not my enemy. One''s origins are irrelevant to me, what matters are one''s actions. We''re not Kumo or Konoha-nin right now, but simply a kid asking an elder ninja for advice" (Rei) The more he listened to Rei, the more intrigued he was. For a young child to display such calm and insightful maturity, to properly handle a complicated situation like this one. Not too arrogant about his own abilities, and easily acknowledging another''s skills with no bias whatsoever This was the type of wisdom belonging to a Kage, agreeing to keep Shisui''s identity a secret to avoid any unnecessary trouble between their two villages and maintain peace, he had broad understanding of what''s important. He only knew of one other Rei''s age that was similar to him {This kid...he reminds me of Itachi...} (Shisui) "You don''t have to, if you don''t want to" (Rei) "Hehe, I have to leave soon so there isn''t enough time to give you the full course" (Shisui) "I see, how unfortunate" (Rei) "But, here''s some quick advice. The amount of time you take to gather chakra between each Shunshin is too long. Just like the Jutsu, you also need to knead your chakra just as quickly. Only then can you bring out its full effect" (Shisui) "That makes sense...thanks, I appreciate it" (Rei) "Don''t mention it...um..." (Shisui) "My name''s Rei. Rei Sano. A pleasure to formally meet you, Shisui Uchiha" (Rei) "Rei Sano. I''ll remember it!" (Shisui) WHOOSH! {Damn. He really is fast. I''ve got a lot of work to do when I get home} (Rei) Shisui left just in time before his companions arrived "SANO-KUN!" (Nurui) "Hey! I need someone to carry Motoi!" (Rei) "Motoi?! What the hell happened?! Where''s Futoi?! And these corpses are...!" (F) "These corpses are the masked men who split off from the others. Futoi''s also dead, a result of him trying to kill us" (Rei) "Eh?! He tried to-!" (Kayui) "It''s a long story, but I suggest we leave. There''s nothing left for us...why is B here?" "Sigh...that''s" (Yurui) "..." (Rei) "..." (F) "In other words...he snuck out again?" (Rei) "Yup" (F) "Good grief. Whatever, we need to leave now. I''ll explain everything on the way back to Kumogakure" (Rei) "Okay then. Truth be told, we''ve made enough noise as it is, that exact opposite of how the mission was supposed to go anyway. Everyone! We''re moving out!" (F) "Phew!" (Nurui) "Oh thank god" (Kayui) "I need a vacation" (Yurui) {Now, let''s see how I''m gonna spin this to the Raikage} (Rei) 110. Deepening Mystery MrProper Late evening in Kumogakure "WHAT WERE YOU THINKING??!!!" (A) "?I packed my bags and got to steppin! Killer-kill keeps it real, what were you expectin?!?" (Killer B) "DON''T GET SMART WITH ME YOU LITTLE-!" (A) CRUNCH! "?Goodness gracious, I completely thought wrong! Despite yer years, da Iron Claw''s goin strong!?" (Killer B) "YOU''RE CALLIN ME OLD NOW?!" (A) "Raikage-sama..." (Mabui) "Yeah, yeah, I know. Motoi! F! I''ll speak with you later! Right now, I need to take this idiot back!" (A) "R-Right" (F) "Hehe...later B" (Motoi) "O-kay" (Killer B) The two bumped fists before A dragged B away On their way back, taking Rei''s advice, Motoi decided to bury the hatchet. Only to find out, just as he said, B held no grudge for his past actions whatsoever. In fact, the whole reason he snuck out of the village in the first place was due to hearing about the mission Motoi was undertaking with Rei "Here you go Mabui" (F) "Right, you two should get checked out at the hospital. Especially you Motoi-san, you don''t look so good" (Mabui) Because he was going to personally escort Killer B back to Unraiky1Valley of Clouds and Lightning, A couldn''t make time to hear what they had to say. Submitting a small report to his aid Mabui, the Raikage agreed to speak with F and Motoi tomorrow morning "Hm? Where''s Rei?" (Mabui) "Ah! That''s right, where did he go Motoi?" (F) "He said there was something he needed to check and went to see Pyua" (Motoi) "Check? Check what?" (Mabui) "No clue, that kid is a busy one to say the least" (Motoi) "No argument there" (Mabui) ??? The library in Kumogakure "Hmm...not here either. Maybe I''m looking under the wrong section?" After returning home late at night from his mission with Motoi and Team F, Rei immediately took to reading in the library. As for the identity of the mysterious "other clan" aiding the Fuma, Shisui Uchiha''s hint prompted Rei to immediately research Kumogakure''s history with the Land of Hot Water. Asking his friend, and head librarian Pyua for help, she pointed him in the right direction Despite reading past midnight, the library was fortunately open 24/7 for Kumo-nin. But even with the hours spent, he couldn''t find anything even remotely related to Kumogakure besides occasional conflicts and war stories The main problem stemmed from the fact the Land of Hot Water was a very young country. Even its, formerly shinobi-led, capital Yugakure was created some time after the implementation of the shinobi village system "Nothing, even dating back to the era of the 1st Raikage, there''s nothing pertaining to it and Kumogakure..." {Could Shisui have been lying to me after all?} (Rei) As time passed, Rei began to show some regret for sharing information with Shisui. Wrestling with the idea of the Uchiha Clan being involved and Shisui being there was simply to cover their tracks, giving him and Kumogakure a false lead in the process But he ultimately decided to shut them out. Focusing on solving this mystery, rather than becoming consumed with wild speculation and conspiracy theories. Soon after, Pyua had laid several more books on the desk in front of him "Pyua-nee?" (Rei) "I just had an epiphany, if you''re going to research our relationship with that country, you''ll need to go further than the reign of the 1st Raikage-sama. Do you remember what came before the shinobi villages?" (Pyua) "The Warring States Period, right? You''re saying our countrymen we''re involved with that land even back then?" (Rei) "Back when then were no nations, but countries ruled by Daimy''s with shinobi mercenaries for armies at their beck and call. Before the 1st Hokage, Hashirama Senju" (Pyua) "Right, thanks for the help" (Rei) "No problem, I was on my way out anyways. This is obviously important to you, but don''t stay too long or Mabui''s gonna freak out" (Pyua) "She''s not coming home tonight, so no worries. Be careful on your way home Pyua-nee" (Rei) "No, that''s not why you should...sigh. Never mind. Good night Rei" (Pyua) Leaving Rei to himself, Pyua left the building. No stranger to long nights of studying, he wasted no time getting to work absorbing every piece of critical information he came across. Never overlooking even the slightest detail, he was completely engrossed in his studies {All this research...it''s like I''m in college again} "YAWN! Still...why do I get the feeling I''m forgetting something?" (Rei) ??? The next morning A was currently in his office receiving the mission report from Motoi and F. The present company included Mabui, Dodai, and Tango...all members of the Raikage''s "Inner circle" "Futoi, you bastard. I always knew you were a coward, but to sink so low as to work for the likes of Orochimaru, now that''s just plain disgusting" (Dodai) "He was crushed to death by the cave-in he caused. Guess you could call it karma for betraying us...again" (Motoi) "But still, to think Orochimaru is involved in this..." (Mabui) "What else do you know?" (Dodai) "Rei had managed to place Futoi under his Genjutsu before he died. He told us many things, including intel that suggests Orochimaru, like the Fuma, were under service to another unknown party" (Motoi) "Then it''s just as we suspected, Raikage-sama" (Dodai) Although they long believed someone else was pulling the strings behind the many strange incidents involving their village, A had hoped such a scenario wouldn''t be the case and this was just the Fuma''s doing. Having an unknown person or persons remain in the shadows with great power and influence, while maintaining a hostile outlook towards Kumogakure was the last thing they needed right now The village itself wasn''t doing too bad after the Hyuga Affair, but it wasn''t doing too great either. Losing the trust of many, job requests for their ninja had all but halted. Only their economy, which is boasted to be the best out of the Five Great Shinobi Nations, and Tetsuo Mori''s company, was the only thing keeping them afloat "After fleeing Konoha, the first thing he sought was protection in exchange for his services. Makes sense. What of your assailants?" (A) "The ones my team fought were wearing masks, and they all committed suicide before we could question them. One of them made use of Jutsu from Sunagakure2Hidden Sand Village" (F) "As for the two Rei and I encountered, one used Kenjutsu3Sword Techniquethat easily identified him as someone from Kirigakure4Hidden Mist Village. As for the other, he used hidden jutsu belonging to Konoha''s Akimichi Clan" (Motoi) "Shinobi from different villages all working together as a cohesive unit? During these times, just the idea of it is absurd" (Dodai) "The one in charge was called a Supervisor and the subordinates were called Employees. We still don''t know what these aliases imply" (Mabui) "Is this really all we know?" (A) "Unfortunately on my end, yes. What about you Motoi?" (F) "There wasn''t much before I passed out, but Futoi noted whoever employed Orochimaru was also keeping him confined. In response, he hired Futoi to spread rumors of his presence in the area. His guards would combat any investigative party, while he would slip away in the chaos, which is exactly what happened" (Motoi) "In other words, this whole ordeal was orchestrated by him. Tch!" (F) "Rei also managed to confirm with his Genjutsu from Futoi the Uchiha Clan are NOT the ones working with this rogue branch that split off from the rest of the Fuma Clan" (Motoi) "Great, so we''re back to square one" (Tango) "Look at it this way, at least now we won''t have to waste resources following a false lead. The only problem is-" (Mabui) "Where do we go from here?" (Dodai) While it was good they eliminated a major dead end in their investigation, they had no idea of what to do next. Trying to find such a small branch of mercenary ninja like these Fuma, who are used to moving around like nomads, was the equivalent to finding a needle in a haystack They''ve been under attack by those capable of influencing even their own government, and despite all they learned, the number of questions the had only increased. Call this situation "frustrating" was the easiest way to put it "Motoi...is there anything you can remember before you defeated your attackers? I know after escaping that cave-in, you had no choice to kill them in that situation but-" (Dodai) "Um, sir? I never said I was the one that killed them, nor did I claim I was the one to get us out of that grotto" (Motoi) "Huh? What do you mean? These were experienced killers correct? Who else could have done it in that situation?" (Dodai) "Did another party rescue you?" (Tango) "No. It was Sano-kun that saved us. He used Doton5Earth Styleto dig us a way out" (Motoi) "Huh?" (Dodai) "Wait, that doesn''t make any sense. My cousin only knows how to use Inton6Yin/Shadow Style, Katon7Fire Style, and a little bit of Suiton8Water Style. He doesn''t have Doton" (Mabui) "I was surprised myself. But after meditating for a while, carefully kneading his chakra, he was able to successful perform a Doton Jutsu on his first attempt" (Motoi) "You''re saying...that kid has-!" (F) "Mm. Three" (Motoi) "Tango, did you know about this?!" (Dodai) "I was in the dark. Maybe Suzu gave him some hints or something" (Tango) "Hehe!" (A) None of them could hide their surprise. Achieving a change in multiple chakra natures was something expected only from higher ranked ninja like Jonin. For a Genin of nine years to have access to three of the five basic nature transformations was nothing short of astonishing. A, on the other hand, was pleased the village was home to such a genius "Wait, hold on! You said you passed out after you got out of the cave-in. Does that mean the one who killed the last two enemies was-" (Dodai) "I passed out before I could see the end but, he was indeed the one combating them while simultaneously defending me. Sano-kun even stated he took care of them and when F arrived, they were already dead" (Motoi) "He, after fighting Futoi and enduring a cave-in, killed two elite Chunin-level shinobi by himself? Unbelievable...is he a monster?" (Dodai) Mabui glared at Dodai''s remark and her voice turned hoarse "Hey..." (Mabui) "Ah! Sorry Mabui. But you must understand my reaction, if Motoi and F weren''t saying it I''d never believe it" (Dodai) "I''m quite shocked myself" (Tango) "Funny, it sure doesn''t look like it" (Mabui) "Just your imagination Mabui" (Tango) "Including everything in Rei''s testimony, this is all we know. Which is to say, not much" (F) "Let''s look at what we do know. At his core, Orochimaru is a scientist, so what was he commissioned for?" (Dodai) "More like, mad scientist but yeah, whoever hired him needed his skills for something. It probably has something to do with the stolen chakra taken from Yugito-sama" (Tango) "That only makes me even more nervous" (Dodai) "But, he left whoever he was working with right? Who knows if he completed whatever it is said persons had him working on" (Motoi) "That thought''s a bit optimistic wouldn''t you say Motoi? My policy is to hope for the best, and prepare for the worst" (A) Something was coming, they all felt it. The Hyuga affair reeked of foul play and that incident caused severe damage to them. If the perpetrators behind that previous incident were planning something even bigger, Kumogakure could suffer irreparable damage to say the least But just as it seemed hopeless to find any clues for this situation, someone knocked on the door "Who is it?! We''re in an important meeting!" (Dodai) "What I have to say is probably more important!" "F, if you would" (Dodai) "Sure" (F) F opened the door to find Rei standing there with several books and scrolls in his hand. Not even asking for permission, he barged right in the room without a care in the world, standing in front of A''s desk. Laying out what he was holding in his hand "Rei? What are you doing here?" (A) "I needed to talk with you, so I scanned the village for your chakra. The more important question is, do you have coffee?" (Rei) "H-Huh?" (A) "I''ll take that as a no. Oh? Hey sensei, so this is where you''ve been" (Rei) "Um...well, more or less. Rei, why are you-?" (Tango) "Wait a sec, why do you look so awful?!" (Mabui) "Nee-san, I-umph?!" (Rei) Before he could speak, Mabui rushed over and held his head. Getting a close look at his face, she could see the bags under his eyes and pale complexion. For better lack of words, he looked terrible "Mabui..." (A) "Nee-san, I''m fine. Really" (Rei) "I''ll be the judge of that! And these scrolls and books, you stayed overnight at the library again didn''t you! I''ve told you time and again it''s bad for your health! As soon as I''m done here, you''re going home and getting some sleep!" (Mabui) "Sigh..." (Rei) "Mabui!" (A) "Hm?" (Mabui) "Might we actually hear as to why Rei has come? I have some questions for him myself" (Dodai) "Oh...uh, right. Sorry" (Mabui) Rei opened a scroll and gestured everyone to come close "I''ve found it" (Rei) "Found what?" (Tango) "The Fuma clan''s hidden partner" (Rei) "?!" (Everyone) "Truth be told, its understandable you couldn''t find them. They haven''t made an appearance after the formation of the shinobi villages. I had to dig deep in the lore, but dots eventually lined up" (Rei) "This scroll is-" (A) "A list of families and clans associated with the acting Daimy in the Land of Lightning prior to the ascendance of the 1st Raikage" (Rei) Rei pointed to one of the clan''s on the list... "Eh? Wait! The Fuma''s partner is-?!" (Dodai) "Dodai-sama?" (Tango) "Do you recognize this name?" (F) The Clan Rei had identified... "That''s right" (Rei) Carried the surname... "They''re the only ones with a Djutsu besides the Uchiha capable of placating the Two-Tails and the rest of Team Mabui. The one with red eyes Hikaru-san mentioned" (Rei) Chinoike... 111. The Chinoike Clan MrProper ''During the Warring States Period, the Chinoike were an active mercenary ninja clan in the Land of Lightning. At some point, a woman of the Chinoike clan married the Land of Lightning''s daimy. The daimy''s first wife became jealous of her, and when he died soon after their marriage, the first wife blamed the woman and her clan for the daimy''s death Many believed her lies, causing the entire Chinoike clan to be banished from the country. Wanting to avoid a bad reputation for attacking a clan in their own country, they secretly hired foreign ninja with the task of exiling them, the Uchiha clan. They forced the Chinoike clan to settle in a terrible environment called the "Valley of Hell" in the Land of Hot Water'' "This is the only thing known of the incident" (Dodai) "Ugh, to think we''re paying for the sins of that hussy" (Rei) "Rei! Language!" (Mabui) "Sorry" (Rei) "But he has a point, I don''t like cleaning someone else''s mess. Hard to believe our current daimy is related to such a crappy family" (Tango) "He''s not" (A) "Huh? I thought the position was handed down?" (Tango) "Except in the event the acting daimy is removed from his position for legitimate reasons" (Mabui) "After the truth was discovered, the first wife''s family were removed from their positions, stripped of their assets, and ranks. They were a corrupt family that took advantage of their citizens. It wasn''t long after they were hunted down by said vengeful citizens, though some of them escaped, albeit poverty-stricken" (Dodai) "The one who carried out this so-called revolution was the 1st Raikage, A. He purged the country of its corrupt officials and united all the ninja clans. Kumogakure was the second of the five shinobi nations to be formed, Konoha being the first. In order to honor him, every Raikage since has taken on the name A" (A) "Why didn''t we reach out to them when it was revealed they were innocent?" (F) "Lord 1st did indeed attempt to contact them. The problem was not many remained, considering where they ended up" (Dodai) "It''s called the Valley of Hell for a reason. Even Yugakure ninja stay away from that place" (Rei) "Ah..." (F) "Wait, so they didn''t find them?" (Tango) "Oh, they did. And that''s why they''re not here" (A) "According to this document..." (Rei) ''The Valley of Hell was thought to be uninhabitable. When ninja from the nearby Yugakure scouted out the area for any surviving members of the Chinoike clan some time after they were relocated, they managed to find some. But after approaching, they were met with the horrid sight of them drinking what appeared to be blood'' "Blood?! They were drinking blood?!" (Motoi) "A gross exaggeration, keep reading. This scroll says it was only water, turned slightly red by minerals in the earth" (Dodai) "Still, the sight of that would scare anyone away. I can see why no one contacted them after all this time" (Motoi) "The Chinoike have a rare Djutsu1Eye TechniqueKekkei Genkai2Bloodline Limitcalled the Ketsurygan3Blood Dragon Eyethat not only provides powerful Genjutsu inducing abilities, it allows them to manipulate iron and/or any substance with a high enough concentration of it" (Rei) "Blood..." (Tango) "Sensei?" (Rei) "Oh, I''m just remembering my time getting caught in that Genjutsu trap" (Tango) "Right, when you were probing the Fuma-nin for information" (Mabui) "The trap stuck me in a red sea, but now that I think about it, that may not have been red water...but blood" (Tango) "It''s looking more and more likely our attacker was indeed a Ketsurygan user. Rei, what else does it say about that clan?" (Dodai) "Not much, the Land of Hot Water never really had a strong shinobi presence. It''s no surprise they became a neutral, tourist nation" (Rei) ''Unwilling to investigate further, Yugakure declared the Valley of Hell off limits. Over the years, the valley''s location was forgotten and the Chinoike clan faded from history. Though to this day, some maintained the belief the Chinoike survived, living off the valley''s minimal wildlife, hibernating...until the time came for them to enact their revenge against the nations that wronged them'' ''Drowning the land in a sea of blood...'' "Yeah, that''s not ominous at all" (Rei) "Wait, nations? As in, plural?" (F) "There''s us, the Uchiha are from Konoha, and they''re probably not too happy with Yugakure either. But considering their biggest grudge is with this country-" (Rei) "It stands to reason they''d start with Kumogakure" (Mabui) "Should we send someone to investigate that valley?" (Motoi) "I doubt that clan is still there, but it wouldn''t hurt to check. We may find some clues" (A) "J, C, and Darui are at the ready sir. I can send them anytime" (Dodai) "Do it" (Dodai) "Rei, thank you for the assistance. You''ve spared us from much gratuitous work, but that''ll be all from you today. Mabui, take him home" (A) "Wait, hold on! I still-!" (Rei) "NOPE! You''re going home right now!" (Mabui) "Wha?! Hey! Nee-san, come on!" (Rei) Before he could say more, Mabui dragged him out of the room by force, ignoring his loud protests. Because they were about to discuss more sensitive matters, A took the initiative to send Rei out The only reason A allowed him to stay in the first place was due to Rei being an active participant in the battle against the Fuma. Since he already knew the truth, there was no point in hiding anything Back in the office "Good grief, those two are always a bundle of laughs whenever I see them" (Dodai) "Still, Sano-kun came through in more ways than one. We owe him big time for this wouldn''t you say?" (Motoi) "Speaking of you and Rei, how did your other task go?" (Tango) "Other task?" (F) "Oh that''s right, as one of our newest members in this inner circle, you don''t know. Motoi had another purpose for bringing Rei along on this last mission" (Dodai) "?" (F) Dodai went over the details of the Yugito rescue mission, and Rei being the top suspect for the decimation of the remaining Fuma. There was still much they didn''t know, and they couldn''t afford to have anyone keeping secrets at this critical time Motoi, being the only one not closely related to Rei, was the only one to look at him objectively "For practically the entire mission, I didn''t let that kid out of my sight. The only thing I found suspicious was his exceptional skill and potential as a ninja" (Motoi) "Is that really all?" (A) "..." (Tango) "There is one thing" (Motoi) "Oh?" (A) "In the cave-in, right before he used Doton4Earth Style, there seemed to be a change in his demeanor" (Motoi) "A change? Did he lose his composure or something? I mean it''s unlikely considering his nature but, at the end of the day, he''s still just a kid" (Tango) "No, if anything he was calm....scary calm. He was cold, and unfeeling, and he never muttered a single word the whole time" (Motoi) "I don''t follow" (Tango) "What are you getting at Motoi?" (F) "After getting us out of the cave-in, he immediately took to combating the enemies. I passed out after that and when I woke up, they were dead. But it was the state of the bodies that...if you still can''t understand, take a look at the autopsy report of the ones we brought back that didn''t die by suicide" (Motoi) "I haven''t seen it yet" (A) "Their bodies are still being examined for clues" (Dodai) "I remember though. One had a large, gaping hole in his throat and the other...the eyes were slit and his skin was burnt to the point that he looked like charcoal" (F) "Not to mention the various wounds found on their bodies. This sort of merciless combat is consistent with the state of the Fuma when we observed their bodies" (Motoi) "You think Rei really was the one responsible?" (A) "I never said that, but now I know for sure that it''s not impossible" (Motoi) "Should we put him under observation sir?" (Dodai) "That''s-" (A) "Absolutely not!" (Motoi) "?!" (Everyone) "Please do not misinterpret my words. It''s still uncertain whether or not he killed the Fuma, and even if he did...Sano-kun, no, Rei has demonstrated himself to be a loyal Kumogakure ninja and should be treated as such" (Motoi) "Senpai..." (F) "Wait, so you-" (Dodai) "Do you trust him?" (A) "..." (Tango) "I''d trust him with my life, Raikage-sama" (Motoi) Silence permeated throughout the room as the Raikage leaned back on his chair after getting Motoi''s response. Closing his eyes, no one said anything as they eagerly awaited his next words Seconds later, A smiled and spoke "That''s all I needed to hear" (A) "Raikage-sama..." (Dodai) "Heh!" (Tango) "I don''t know why he''s staying silent, but if you trust him, I''m content with waiting until he''s ready to talk about it. He''s clearly shown the desire to solve this mystery, so it''s highly unlikely he''s keeping any crucial intel to himself" (A) "If that''s what you want sir" (Dodai) "Alright, let''s move on to next topic. Tekkan and Mori-dono should be here soon, let''s get ready to talk about the grid reformation" (A) ??? A dark forest within Kusagakure5Hidden Grass Village Two men were meeting in secret, straying away from the light, they kept to the shadows...as was their respective natures "You''ve done well. The Company is none the wiser to your machinations. With no blame to be placed, they couldn''t blame me your escape, allowing us to keep our partnership despite the fact I''ve already double-crossed them" "That''s what happens when one tries to confine a snake. This was inevitable, Danz-dono" "That didn''t stop Hiruzen from trying to catch you" It was Orochimaru and Danz. The former had just escaped his confinement at the hands of the mysterious "Company". Retreating far to the west, he refrained from taking any major actions as he still wasn''t ready to take on Konoha...yet "They''re still a valued business partner. Did you manage to complete the task they requested before you left?" (Danz) "Of course, with the Two-Tails chakra and the other things they took from the Eight and Nine-Tails, it went swimmingly. And I managed to retrieve some valuable data in the process, it was pretty much a win-win" (Orochimaru) "Good, truth be told, I''m hoping they succeed. This will weaken Kumogakure considerably" (Danz) "Hehe, you really don''t like that village" (Orochimaru) "I neither like, nor hate that village. It''s just been an eyesore for quite some time. Even before the Hyuga Affair, the Raikage was actively increasing his military strength despite the agreement for demilitarization" (Danz) "Oh, I know that. It''s just, I thought you''d be more concerned with Iwagakure6Hidden Stone Villagethan Kumogakure if you consider their military strength and them being Konoha''s next door neighbor" (Orochimaru) "That would''ve been the case if the 4th Hokage hadn''t killed over a thousand of their troops prior to the end of the 3rd Shinobi World War. Kumogakure has always boasted a powerful military, and their monopoly over energy tech makes them the biggest economic threat to Konoha" (Danz) "Kumogakure''s experience using Raiton7Lightning Styleis the reason it''s been able to pioneer so much technology that runs on electricity. Combining that with their small population...no wonder their economy is so good. Oh, now I see...working with the Company, they''ve promised you some of Kumo''s advanced tech" (Orochimaru) "Amongst other things...yes" (Danz) "Hehehe! It''s ironic how some of our darkest dealings occur not during times of war...but times of peace" (Orochimaru) "..." (Danz) "Peace is nothing but an idea. Beautiful in concept, but in reality...very flawed. There can never be true peace until one power assumes the position of being an absolute force in the land, like Hashirama Senju" (Orochimaru) When Hashirama Senju began his campaign to end the constant wars that plagued the land, he stood atop unchallenged. It was the true era for the so-called "God of Shinobi". What unsatisfied Danz was the 1st Hokage''s decisions afterwards Handing over the Tailed Beasts to other nations as a sign of peace was something Danz viewed as the worst decision he ever made. Believing Konoha should''ve kept them out of foreign hands, lest they use said creatures against them...which sadly is exactly what happened after his death "Speaking of the 1st Hokage, have you begun-?" (Danz) "The project has already started thanks to the data and resources I stole from the Company. But it''ll still take some time before your arm is completed. How''s the specimen I already sent you?" (Orochimaru) "Good. He''s adapting well to the DNA I gave him. I''ve quietly inserted him within the Uchiha" (Danz) "Are you sure that''s wise?" (Orochimaru) "I need someone to keep an eye on them. Not to worry, they don''t suspect a thing. As far as Fugaku is concerned, Shin Uchiha is just another member of the clan" (Danz) "Alright then, if that''s the case, there''s no more to be said. It''s not wise to be outside this long with no protection and everyone looking for me" (Orochimaru) Just as he was about to take his leave, Danz spoke one final time "If it''s protection you''re after, I''ve heard rumors of an unorthodox organization" (Danz) "Hm?" (Orochimaru) "They call themselves, the Akatsuki. You might want to look into it" (Danz) "Hehe, we really are of like mind Danz" (Orochimaru) "?" (Danz) Orochimaru issued a final remark before vanishing in the darkness "I''m already tracking them" (Orochimaru) 112. Next Steps MrProper [Building Suzu a new house, expanding Mori Sp., going on a mission with Motoi, getting trapped beneath a grotto, and gaining Earth Style...] "Don''t forget meeting Shisui Uchiha" [Right. I distinctly recall telling you to "Stay out of trouble" the last time we spoke did I not?] "And I said that was impossible in this stupid world" Rei conversed with Notitia in his room. The day after Mabui brought him home for some much needed rest, the shapeless voice once again reached out after "recovering" from the Second Lifeline. With nothing to do but train, he spent his time getting Notitia up to speed on recent events "More importantly, there''s something I want to ask you" [What is it?] "While enjoying my time off with nee-san, I''ve been thinking about the future. The enemies at the end, the climatic final battle, the criminal organization Akatsuki, its orchestrators Obito & Madara Uchiha, Black Zetsu & Kaguya tsutsuki, etc." [All important factors you must take into account whenever you make a decision] "I don''t know what the future holds, which is why it''s best to have some insurance. Doesn''t matter what form, be it weapons, ninjutsu, or powerful allies" [Get to the point man] "What I want to know is...whether or not it''s possible to save the Uchiha Clan" [...] "The Uchiha Clan and their Sharingan would be a very potent weapon towards the end, feels like a waste if I just let potential allies as strong as them die out" [Yes, they''re without question a potent force. But have you REALLY considered the repercussions of interfering with the predetermined course set for them? The sheer amount of "Ripples" you''d create?] The Uchiha were destined to be destroyed by the upper brass of Konoha for their heinous plans of a coup d''etat. Because of Obito Uchiha''s attack on the village using the Nine-Tails, the elders rightfully suspected an Uchiha was behind it. Unfortunately, said Uchiha was no longer apart of the clan and while never openly stated, the blame fell to them Moved to the edge of village after its reconstruction, their clan''s dissatisfaction with the government grew until preemptive measures were needed. Using Itachi Uchiha as a spy, they ordered him to carry out the removal of his clan in exchange for his younger brother''s safety This event would set in motion a chain of events that would dictate the respective paths of the Manga''s two main characters; Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha [...Did your encounter with Shisui Uchiha change your thought process somehow?] "A little...seeing him in action reminded me of how strong they are" ["They" is an incorrect term] "What?" [There are multiple problems with this scenario you''re contemplating, so let me start with the first. Not all of the Uchiha are gifted. Awakening the Mangeky1KaleidoscopeSharingan is a rare feat many are unable to accomplish, regardless of what trauma they suffered] "Just losing the one closet to them doesn''t grant them that power? I thought trauma made their eyes stronger?" [They may become stronger, but there''s a limit. You''re under this misconception because the only Uchiha you''ve seen are the most gifted ones. And even the ones who awaken it don''t necessarily gain all of its powers. Remember how shocked Itachi was when he discovered Sasuke could use the Susanoo?] "That''s...true..." [Think about it, out of all the people in that clan between now and the Climax of the story, only around five had awakened the Mangeky] "Five? Isn''t that number off?" [Obito, Itachi, Sasuke, Shisui, and Fugaku] "Fugaku? You mean Sasuke and Itachi''s dad? He awakened the Mangeky?" [Of course, how''d you think he became the clan leader? Or how the Uchiha would carry out their coup? As Madara Uchiha demonstrated, the Mangeky Sharingan can control the Nine-Tails and they were gonna use it to take over Konoha] "Meaning they were gonna kill Naruto..." [And that brings me to the second problem, the Ripples. By interfering with this event, you could potentially make things worse. Imagine what would happen if you caused the death of the main protagonist? Or causing Konoha to be destroyed?] {Ugh! Worst cast scenario...I need Konoha around in order to win} [Even if everything I''ve stated could be ignored, there''s still the third problem, the author''s will] "You mean...the overall influence in this world don''t you?" When Rei used his Second Lifeline to gain a better understanding of this world''s rules and laws, he came to realize it was completely at the mercy of the author''s whims. Phenomena which shouldn''t be possible, absurd coincidence, the overall fantasy setting...certain events were set in motion regardless of outside tampering on his part [This world follows the author''s, Kishimoto''s script. Think of it like cement, certain parts are soft and malleable for you to change without consequence. Others have already hardened and attempting to change them results in awful cracks] "Those cracks being the ripples. Meaning, I could try as hard as I can and still fail to change anything. On the other hand, I do manage to change something and make EVERYTHING much worse" [Yes. I''m not telling you what to do, just laying out your options. I''m just your guide, the decision is ultimately yours. But you''re gonna have to live with the consequences, whether they be wonderful...or awful] "Sigh...great!" [Hm? Where are you going?] "There''s not much I can do about hypotheticals, and if I go to my lab, nee-san will find out I''ve left the village. She''s been keeping a close eye on me ever since she brought me home. I''m going to finish what I initially started with Tai and Suzu" [Oh! You mean the house] Because he was called on mission by Motoi in the middle of construction, Rei had been eager to get back to work. This project was more important to him than meets the eye. Asking Tetsuo for help, the latter used Mori Sp.''s resources to provide the materials. But this wasn''t just a good gesture between friends The new house is an Insulated Concrete Form, or ICF house. A low-cost, much easier to make house would definitely become popular in a mountainy nation like Kumogkaure. It''s terrain makes house building difficult enough as it is. If Tetsuo was going to have Mori Sp. manufacture this technology, he needed to be sure it works. That''s why the first prototype, Suzu''s house, was a necessary step Leaving his room, he strapped on the Chakra Control exercise bracelets Tango gave to him and his team. Building Suzu''s new house while wearing them was the perfect daily activity to gain the best effects. And he was never one to miss out on training "Nee-san! I''ve got work to do so I''m heading to Suzu''s!" (Rei) "Don''t stay out too long! I''d rather not have to knock you out, stuff you in a bag, and drag you back home!" (Mabui) "It''s sounds too convincing coming from you! And that''s not something a parental guardian should be saying!" (Rei) [You really are adjusting to this world LOL] ??? Rei left the house and dashed through Kumogakure. Along the way, he took in the sights and thought about what he could do to improve life in the village. More products for Mori Sp. meant more income for him Minutes later, he arrived at Suzu''s old home to find Tai working alone. Rei was pleased to find the foundation was already completed and the walls would soon be to. Despite the instructions he left behind, and easier process, he was surprised to find out Tai and Suzu made so much progress in such a short time {I was only gone for three days, four if you count the day of rest nee-san forced on me. Even if they''re ninja, how the heck did they-?} (Rei) "Hm? Oh, welcome back Rei! You finished your mission with Motoi sooner than I thought" (Tai) "Sooner? That''s not the word I expected to hear after leaving you and Suzu to work on the house" (Rei) "Well, the instructions made things easier, and after finishing the ground work...everything just started falling into place" (Tai) "Yeah but, to progress this quickly...how the heck did you two-?" (Rei) "It wasn''t just the two of us" (Tai) "What''s that mean? Did you hire help or something?" (Rei) "Oh, absolutely not. It''s more like-!" (Tai) "Hey!" "?!" (Rei & Tai) Shouting from behind was Suzu. Because her house was under construction, she had been staying with the foster home owner Mariko. But what caught Rei''s attention was the fact she didn''t come alone, several younger children were following her "Ah! Look who it is!" "Rei-nii!" "He''s here, he''s here!" "Long time no see! Let''s play Rei-nii!" "If it isn''t the infamous Thunder Cloud Unit. What are you guys doing here?" (Rei) "We''re helping out Suzu-nee!" "There''s no way we can let her do this by herself!" "Is that right? No wonder there''s been so much progress" (Rei) "You finished your mission? When did you get back?" (Suzu) "Yesterday. I would''ve come straight here if nee-san hadn''t forced me to rest" (Rei) "Well, there''s no defying her. It''s good you''re back, they seem to be ecstatic as well" (Suzu) The smaller kids behind her began crowding around Rei. Suzu was like a big sister to them since she used to live with them when her parents died. Even after moving out, she regularly visited and as her teammates would naturally tag along occasionally Ever since his first experiment, Rei became oddly popular with children and adults, easily turning into one of their favorites "When I told Mariko about this little project of ours, she sent the kids to help" (Suzu) "She sent little kids to build a house?" (Rei) "They help out with minor tasks anyone can do. Nothing too dangerous, and not for long. Mariko-san believed learning about this kind of stuff would be good for their education" (Suzu) "She''s certainly not wrong about that" (Rei) "Ah, don''t sweat it Suzu. These brats have too much free time anyway. Hey, where''s Mariko-san?" (Tai) "!" (Rei) "Not here!" "Her chest isn''t here for you to ogle at!" "Shut up! I don''t do that!" (Tai) "..." (Suzu) "What''s with that cold stare Suzu?! Don''t you believe in your teammate?!" (Tai) {Phew! She''s not here. I''m bad at dealing with her} (Rei) "Womanizer! Womanizer!" "Single for life!" "We pray every day to make sure you never get a girlfriend!" "You little brats! Get over here!" (Tai) "Ahahahaha!" "Good grief" (Suzu) "He fell for their provocations again, though that isn''t to say they''re not wrong" (Rei) "How did your mission go?" (Suzu) "About that...lets-" (Rei) Rei quietly gestured for her to follow him. Getting the hint, the pair snuck away behind the unfinished house and conversed in silence "I''m only allowed to tell you this since our squad was involved but, Motoi and I went on a mission to investigate the ones helping the Fuma clan" (Rei) "What did you find?" (Suzu) "Turns out, that Fuma group is just a small, rogue branch of the clan that split off a long time ago. As for the ones helping them, we''ve confirmed it''s not the Uchiha" (Rei) "Not the Uchiha?! Who else has a djutsu powerful enough to take down Team Mabui?" (Suzu) "I thought the same thing, which is why after getting some hints on that mission, I did some investigating as soon as I got back" (Rei) "You stayed up all night at the library again didn''t you...no wonder Mabui-san didn''t let you out of her sight yesterday" (Suzu) "Yes, thank you for reminding me. My research led me to discover it''s actually an old clan called the Chinoike. They lived in the Land of Lightning before the formation of the shinobi village system. They also have serious beef with our country and Konoha" (Rei) "Then, this is what? Revenge or something?" (Suzu) "I don''t know, when I reported my findings to the Raikage in his office, he was already briefing F and Motoi. But the weirdest thing was Sensei, nee-san, and even Dodai being there" (Rei) While each of said persons held a position that kept them near the Raikage most of the time, it was rare, if not outright unusual for all three of them to be there at the same time, especially in the middle of night. This factor did not escape Rei''s attention "It''s all very strange" (Rei) "Did your cousin tell you anything?" (Suzu) "Nope. After telling them about the Chinoike, the old man sent me out of the room. Nee-san dragged me home and wouldn''t tell me much no matter how hard I pressed her for the truth" (Rei) "Then there''s nothing we can do. Come on, let''s go" (Suzu) "Huh? You''re just...you''re not even curious?" (Rei) "Oh, I''m definitely curious. But what can we do? If even you can''t get any answers, I doubt I will. When we need to know, I''m sure they''ll tell us" (Suzu) "That''s just...! I still think we should do more" (Rei) "We are, we''re training" (Suzu) KACHINK! Suzu put on her training bracelets and grabbed some tools "Don''t sink into that bad habit of yours. Try to solve everything immediately, and you''ll end up solving nothing entirely. Whether it was intentional or not, you taught me that" (Suzu) "..." (Rei) "Just like this house, it''ll take time to get what you want. Have patience, take things one step at a time, otherwise you''re gonna end up miserable" (Suzu) "?!" (Rei) "Come on. Though I''m suggesting patience, I would like to finish at least one wall by the end of the day" (Suzu) "...Alright" {Damn, it''s like she can see right through me} (Rei) Ending their talk, Suzu led Rei back to the front, only for something of note to catch their attention. Two more children had joined the group "Hm? Aren''t they-?" (Rei) "Karui! Omoi! What''re you two doing here?" (Suzu) "Mariko-san wanted to bring you guys some lunch" (Karui) "You can''t go to work on an empty stomach. If you did, your work ethic would be poor, you''d make a mistake, get a fatal injury, then Mabui-san and Mariko-san would go crazy, the village would burn to the ground, all of us would be homeless, then-!" (Omoi) SMACK! "Ow!" (Omoi) "Cut that out Omoi! You really think they''re that clumsy?!" (Karui) "Maybe not Rei-nii and Suzu-nee, but what about Tai-nii?" (Omoi) "Say what now?!" (Tai) "He''s a ninja like them! He wouldn''t...yeah...Tai-nii wouldn''t kill himself doing simple construction" (Karui) "What was that pause just now?" (Suzu) "Unbelievable. Does anyone here respect me?!" (Tai) "Nope!" "Don''t think so!" "Nuh-uh" "Respect? What''s that?" "YOU BRATS!!" (Tai) As the kids continued to fool around, Rei seemed to be looking for something "Hm?" (Rei) "What is it?" (Suzu) "Where''s the lunch?" (Rei) "Huh?" (Suzu) "They said they were bringing lunch, where is it?" (Rei) "Really, food''s all you think about" (Suzu) "Priorities Suzu, priorities" (Rei) "More like, your monster of a stomach''s priorities. But he does have a point you two. I''m surprised Mariko would let you kids wander about the village alone without a chaperone" (Suzu) "Did something happen?" (Rei) "No, Mariko-san took us. She allowed us to run on ahead when we got close" (Karui) "Geh!" (Rei) "Oh, I see. Looks like we''re eating first after all Rei-?!" (Suzu) "I just remembered Suzu, I have something to do so I''ll be taking my leave now" (Rei) "Eh?!" (Suzu) "See you later" (Rei) "Wait, hold on a sec!" (Suzu) Suzu grabbed Rei''s arm as he struggled to get away "Let go! I have to get out of here!" (Rei) "Why?! What''s the prob-?!" (Suzu) GLOMP! Before any of them could react, a figure showed up and zealously embraced Rei with much strength "!" (Suzu) "Ah!" (Karui) "BWEGH!" (Rei) "REI-CHAN?!" "H-Hello Mariko-nee. Long time...no...see. Oomph!" (Rei) "I missed you so much! You were gone for so long, I worried something might''ve happened to you! Mabui told me you were back so I immediately rushed over!" (Mariko) {It was nee-san! Damn it!} (Rei) "Ah! Mariko-san''s here guys! Lunch time!" (Karui) "Eh? She''s here? Where-AH?! REI! DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW MUCH I''VE WANTED TO BE HUGGED BY A PRETTY GIRL LIKE HER YOU LUCKY BAST-I mean...lucky punk!" (Tai) "Your true thoughts are slipping out Tai" (Suzu) "Sniff! Dang it! Why is HE so popular?!" (Tai) "Hehehehe!" (Mariko) "Mariko-nee...can''t...breathe...!" (Rei) "Oh! Sorry! It''s just I was so excited when I heard you were back. I even made your favorite!" (Mariko) "Favorite? Wait, you mean-?!" (Rei) "Hah!" (Mariko) Mariko took out a scroll and weaved a hand seal POOF! {That''s right, I almost forgot she was a retired Jonin} (Rei) "It''s what we''ve been using to eat since there aren''t any close food stores in this area" (Suzu) Appearing out of thin air was a grill and different paper tableware on top of it "Lighting it was always a pain, but with you and your Katon2Fire Style, I don''t think that''s going to be a problem. Hope you''re ready for some grilled teriyaki!" (Mariko) "Nice!" (Rei) "Ready to take a break now?" (Suzu) "A-Ahem! I suppose I afford taking it easy for a day or two" (Rei) "So not honest" (Suzu) "Let''s eat guys!" (Mariko) "YEAH!" (Everyone) {She''s right, there''s no use worrying about the future. Whether it''s the Uchiha, the Manga''s end, or whoever''s behind the Fuma and Chinoike, I''ll settle everything when the time comes. All I can do now, is focus on what''s in front of me!} MrPrope The Island” Saga – 113. Phase Two, Start! MrProper An obscure facility within unknown territory Several masked figures had gathered inside a dark laboratory. The top members of the mysterious, shadowy organization only known as the "Company", had convened once again "I''m all for it but...aren''t we moving too soon? Sister Time?" (Three) "It''s already been a year and this phase is well within expected parameters" (Time) "We''ve stalled long enough. If we wait any longer, there''s a chance we may be discovered" (Blade) "The Raikage is already sniffing around for clues. If I hadn''t intervened and sent my men to eliminate Futoi over a year ago, things could''ve been much worse" (Mountain) "That doesn''t excuse the fact you disobeyed brother Sage''s orders to remain low. If anything, your actions probably increased the Raikage''s suspicions. Good grief, this is what happens when brutes try to think" (Red) "I was doing my job as our enforcer, which in that case, was cleaning up your mess you dumb broad" (Mountain) "And here we go again" (Three) "Sigh" (Blade) "It''s strange you''re here in the first place when we already have sister Blade as our Enforcer, mister second enforcer" (Red) "Hmph! It wasn''t just Kumo, the Hokage had also sent Anbu. Maybe if YOU did your damn job and kept a proper eye on that snake instead of getting wet over his twisted research, such actions wouldn''t have been necessary" (Mountain) "What did you say to me you fat bastard?" (Red) "I don''t know how or why anyone here can believe it''s okay to employ a scientist who''s probably crazier than Orochimaru. You''re likely to experiment on US before anyone else, you f*cking lunatic" (Mountain) "Don''t worry, I''d never experiment on you brother Mountain, your stupidity might be contagious after all" (Red) "Oh? You know Red, if wanna die that badly, you just had ask" (Mountain) "Can we ever have a meeting where you two don''t threaten to kill each other?" (Three) "Enough..." "?!" (Everyone) The one in charge known only by the displayed word on his mask, "SAGE", cut the banter. These meetings were not meant to be long and he wanted to get to the task at hand "And just when I thought I''d finally get some entertainment" (Arc) "I''m sorry, are we boring you brother Arc?" (Three) "Hey mister treasurer, you get to relax at your comfortable facility in the Land of Rivers. I''ve been stuck in the wasteland called Ishigakure1Hidden Rock Villagefor MONTHS, gathering any potential recruits I could find for the renovation. Don''t you talk to me about getting bored" (Arc) "Speaking of that, did you complete the quota I assigned you?" (Sage) "It''s done, Red will have more than enough volunteers. And though my big brother isn''t here, he''s successfully planted plenty of seeds within the prison" (Arc) "Excellent, glad to hear you and brother Balance have done so well. And what of you brother Scorpion?" (Sage) "Takigakure2Hidden Waterfall Villagewill be too busy to help, or even notice activity on that island. By the time they do, Kumogakure will have wrapped things up by then" (Scorpion) "Assuming they send an appropriate squad to clean up the mess we''ve started" (Mountain) "The one responsible for managing that land has a certain protocol in the event of an attack. It why I choose it as our target to begin with. He has a connection to that famous Enka Master, suitable opponents should arrive" (Time) "In that case, Phase two can-" (Sage) "Excuse me" "?" (Sage) The one who raised his hand carried the mask with the symbol for "FLOW". He was the youngest and newest member of the "Company". Whose responsibilities designated him as their informant within Kumogakure''s government "What is it brother Flow?" (Sage) "While I understand we''ve acquired everything necessary for Phase Two, all of it will be meaningless if sister Red''s research isn''t ready for Phase Three. We''re now at the precipice of the renovation and with Orochimaru gone, are you sure that you can-?" (Flow) "Is the rookie doubting my abilities now?" (Red) "Not at all!" (Flow) "Haha! Don''t sweat it Flow, you''re absolutely right! We SHOULD know if Red is even capable of completing the Lifts" (Mountain) "Mountain, you..." (Red) "He does have a point Red, we''ll have far less leeway with our timetable between Phases Two and Three compared to One and Two. As the one in charge of micromanaging our plans, I''d also like to know ahead of time if there are going to be delays" (Time) "Sister Red, your response?" (Sage) "Sigh...look over here" (Red) Red got up from her seat at the circular table and turned on a light. What came into view were several liquid-filled glass tubes containing various samples of strange organic materials "These are..." (Blade) "I managed to compile and combine the necessary components into a proper stimulant. Granted, there are still some aftereffects, but isn''t that why we''re using these guinea pig''s in the first the place?" (Red) "Is this the result of Orochimaru''s research?" (Blade) "In part, what he discovered was the requirement for a proper conduit to produce the Lifts. That''s what led him to using this" (Red) Red pointed to another container containing an abnormally large horn. It didn''t take long for everyone present to realize where it came from and what she was doing with it "How long will our sacrifices last?" (Sage) "I disagree with the term, sacrifice. It''s not like they''ll die after using it. The Lift will simply burn through their resources until they pass out, though with the sheer amount of adrenaline, the stubborn ones might continue using it until they die" (Red) "But THEY WILL be able to complete their task, correct?" (Time) "Without question. Truth be told, this invention Orochimaru and I created is only dangerous in the hands of idiots. So do your best to keep it out of brother Mountain''s hands" (Red) "Oh, you''re real f*cking cute Red. I''m just about ready to-!" (Mountain) CLAP! CLAP! "Is there anyone else with concerns we should be aware of?" (Sage) "Just one sir. I''ve heard rumors pertaining to the Raikage and Daimy that might concern you" (Flow) "The Raikage AND Daimy huh? This oughta be good" (Arc) "Quiet. Brother Flow, please continue" (Sage) "It would appear, they''ve found a company of their own to help them with the several projects" (Flow) "They finally managed to hire a company to aid in their energy business? Unexpected, considering how every other one in the Land of Lightning and beyond was avoiding Kumo like a plague after the Hyuga Affair" (Mountain) "That was our doing after all. Kumo''s economy was looking a little too good for our plans" (Three) "Oh please! You only wanted their economy to fall so you could poach all of their business clients for yourself. Greedy old man!" (Arc) "It still benefited our plans, did it not?" (Three) The one carrying the mask labeled "Three" was the member of the Company responsible for managing its funds. His public identity was that of a wealthy business owner far to the west of Kumogakure...and it was he who personally arranged for the Hyuga Affair After egging on the council and head ninja to cause that incident, the village lost the trust and support of many ceo''s. After that, he wasted no time gathering these private contractors for himself. The Company had no qualms when it came to increasing personal profit as long as it didn''t hinder their overall objective Being the savvy businessman he was, how could he miss out on such an opportunity? "Surprising, but I don''t see how this is a concern?" (Blade) "It''s not like a single company can replace ALL the others when it comes to Kumo''s energy demand. Hell, there''s no way the Raikage would give away so much power, right?" (Three) "That''s what I initially thought but, from what I can tell...that''s exactly what he''s doing" (Flow) "E-Eh?" (Three) "Whoa, whoa! Slow down, he''s letting a SINGLE company handle their power business? Has he...has he lost his mind? Or is he just desperate? I understand getting a client is a huge win for Kumo, especially after the losses we''ve caused them to suffer but..." (Arc) "What is this company called? And it''s owner?" (Sage) "The owner is a man named Tetsuo Mori, head of Mori Sp." (Flow) "Tetsuo Mori? Wasn''t he the owner of that small manufacturing plant we sent the Oni Garrison to attack almost four years ago? I''m surprised he managed to rebound after that" (Time) "Yes, and apparently his company has developed some new type of power source. While I haven''t seen it for myself, the ones at the top are calling it revolutionary. The Raikage and Daimy both think it''s enough to give him all of their contracts, though I suspect the other reason for this bold move is to take away power from the council" (Flow) The council of Kumogakure has been a thorn in the Raikage''s side for quite some time. Nearly all of them have ties to various businesses in the country. By robbing them of their income, he''d strip them of their power. Exactly opposite of what the Company desired Flow knew the council was the best way to keep the Raikage occupied and eyes away from them as they continued to operate in the Land of Lightning. But this new corporation had undoubtedly "stirred the pot" "How the hell did they create a new-age power source so easily? I''ve been working the companies I stole to the bone and still haven''t gotten anywhere close to what you''re suggesting this so-called Mori Sp. has done" (Three) "That answer is what I''m currently investigating, but the Raikage is keeping things quiet. If I ask too many questions, it''ll draw suspicion" (Flow) "Well shit...this complicates things" (Mountain) "Not really, if we''re progressing to Phase Two now, it''ll be too late for him to do anything even if he does became aware of our existence" (Blade) Sage stood up from his chair and walked away "Leaving already?" (Time) "You of all people should appreciate the need to maintain a proper schedule. I can''t be gone for too long" (Sage) "So...are we moving forward?" (Arc) "Obviously. The time for waiting is over. Brother Flow, continue your investigation and call for a meeting as soon as you get a lead. Once you do, Brother Balance''s spies will take things from there" (Sage) "Of course" (Flow) "Brother Three, prep the Fuma and Chinoike clan''s for transport, it''s time for us to fulfill our end of the bargain" (Sage) "You got it" (Three) "Brother Arc, Brother Scorpion" (Sage) "I know, I''ll make sure these guinea pigs put on a good show, hehe!" (Arc) "They''ll receive no interference from Takigakure" (Scorpion) "Brother Balance is using his spies to coordinate with my intelligence network. No Daimy will become aware of their movements" (Time) "Right, but make sure the island overseer has enough time to contact Kumogakure before they breach the island barrier" (Sage) "Way ahead of you" (Arc) After standing up, their figures began to slowly fade from view, almost like smoke. The leader called "Sage" issued one final remark before the meeting ended "This is what we''ve been waiting for. With this renovation of ours, regardless of whether or not the pawns succeed, we will reap the fruits of our labor. No mistakes" (Sage) "..." (Everyone) "Phase Two, Start!" (Sage) 114. Funny Feeling MrProper Several miles south from Kumogakure''s walls Team Tango was currently undergoing a mission involving the arrest of thieves. These rogues have occupied a commonly frequented trail used by civilians in the Land of Lightning WHACK! "Ugh!" "Let me get this straight, you morons thought taking over a route, less than four miles away from one of the Five Great Shinobi Nations...would be profitable? Are you mentally challenged or something?" (Rei) "Rei, what did I say about provoking the enemy?" (Tango) "It''s not really provoking if I''m pointing out their obvious stupidity" (Rei) "Okay see that, that right there...THAT was provoking" (Tai) "Pssh! Like you''re not thinking the same thing Tai" (Rei) It had been close to two years since Rei''s mission with Motoi and Team F. He was now ten years old, approaching eleven and had grown in height to nearly match his squad mates Tai and Suzu, who were both twelve respectively Sticking to their standard formation, Rei and Tango were acting as the vanguards. As the team medic, Tai was stationed in the back and Suzu stuck by him for protection. Utilizing long-range attacks for support "Damn brats! We''ll teach you to mock-!" "Suiton: Kiri Seigyo no Jutsu1Water Style: Mist Control!" (Tai) "Fton: Shinkgyoku2Wind Style: Vacuum Spheres!" (Suzu) PHT! PHT! PHT! PHT! "Gah! Can''t see!" "Ugh!" "My legs!" After receiving the same item summoning arm bracers from Rei, Tai summoned a vial of liquid and vaporized it with his water style, turning it into a poisonous mist. He''d become an efficient poison user and his control improved to the point he could use it freely without endangering his comrades Suzu followed in kind with a wave of small compressed air bullets, attacking their limbs and joints. Her elemental mastery grew leaps and bounds, Wind style especially. In addition, thanks to her heritage, her charka levels were starting to rival Rei''s "Heh!" (Rei) Not one to miss such an opportunity, Rei dashed with his Body Flicker Jutsu and struck them down "Why don''t you just put them to sleep already?" (Tai) "Normally I would but-" (Rei) "Too many to deal with at a time?" (Tai) "Hardly, I can handle this number" (Rei) "Oh? Your Genjutsu has improved considerably if you can make such a bold claim" (Tango) "That''s the problem Sensei..." (Rei) "What do you mean? Hah!" (Tango) POW! "Ooof!" "It''s grown too good. Now, the only way to improve my Inton3Yin/Shadow Styleis to practice on someone skilled in Genjutsu" (Rei) "Wow, that''s first time I''ve heard someone complain about their abilities being too good" (Tai) "Is that why you''ve been bugging C so much recently?" (Suzu) "I know you haven''t had many chances to stretch your legs in recent days but-" (Tango) Team Tango''s mission orders were to capture these criminals alive. This easy task, which should have been done already, was postponed because Rei decided to hold back. He was eager for some live practice as his team hadn''t received many missions in the past year Kumogakure was still feeling the negative effects of the "Hyuga Affair" "Don''t say it like that you guys. I''ve been taking this-hm?! Yah!" (Rei) WHACK! BAM! "Guh!" "Uhack"! "It''s rude to interrupt someone when they''re speaking you nitwits! Hold on guys, I can''t talk like this" (Rei) "?" (Tango & Tai) WEAVE! "Doton: Golem no Jutsu4Earth Style: Golem Technique!" (Rei) RUMBLE! Rubble emerged from his mouth and landed on the ground before merging with the surrounding earth to form of a large, intimidating, nine-foot humanoid creature composed of rock "W-What the hell?!" "Oh my god!" "I didn''t sign up for this!" "Have fun guys" (Rei) STOMP! STOMP! BOOM! At his signal, Rei''s stone golem charged at the outlaws, overwhelming the group with its enormous strength and power. Brutally knocking them out, one at a time Rei ignored their screams and faced his team "Ahhh!" "..." (Suzu) "Okay, now as I was saying-" (Rei) "After all this time, you''re still a closet sadist?" (Tai) "...My Genjutsu progression has reached a wall" (Rei) "What do you mean, wall?" (Tai) "I gave you lot those training bracelets for a reason" (Tango) "Someone do something! Oh...oh cra-ARGH!" "..." (Suzu) "True, my control is better, but I''ve already reached level six on my bracelets. The only reason I''m still wearing them now is because they make for good weight training" (Rei) When Rei first put on the training bracelets Tango gave him and his team, he realized just how much he was relying on his tsutsuki constitution. While his control was indeed above average, it was nothing compared to the other version of him he occasionally let control his body The so-called "Neo-Rei" was several leagues above him, so he made it his personal goal to reach such a level. It wasn''t long after he mastered all six levels of the training bracelets. His control was comparable to a high-level Jonin at this point, but even so...he was still unsatisfied The enemies he would inevitably encounter in the years to come would possess incredible mastery over their chakra. As he is now, he wouldn''t stand a chance. His desire for a better challenge only grew during this past year "Unless I have a proper target to practice on, one that can resist, I can''t move any further" (Rei) "I see" (Tango) BOOM! CRACK! "My arm! Is it even safe for it to bend in such a direction?!" "..." (Suzu) "With that in mind-" (Rei) "?" (Tai & Tango) "Would it be alright if I practiced on you?" (Rei) "Hell no!" (Tai) "Yeah...nuh-uh" (Tango) "Oh come on! It won''t even hurt, I promise" (Rei) POW! "I-IT HURTS SO MUCH!" "..." (Suzu) "Our village should have someone who can help you" (Tango) "Genjutsu is a very difficult art and only a couple in our village are around my level, and all of them are busy" (Rei) "I''m sure C would be more than willing to help you once he gets some free time" (Tango) "..." (Rei) "Even if he didn''t, I still wouldn''t let you practice on me" (Tai) "Look Tai, I''m just asking for a little hel-" (Rei) "Fton: Shink Taigyoku5Wind Style: Giant Vacuum Sphere!" (Suzu) WHOOSH! "?!" (Rei, Tai, & Tango) Suzu unleashed a massive shot of compressed air, shaping her wind chakra into a crushing sphere. Blasting all the screaming foes away, the only thing that remained standing was Rei''s stone golem After cleaning up, she turned around and spoke to the boys "I got tired of their yelping. Can we go now?" (Suzu) "..." (Tai, & Tango) "Sure, sorry for keeping you. Nice touch by the way" (Rei) "Thanks" (Suzu) {Damn. Can''t believe I almost forgot...she''s just as brutal as Rei!} (Tai) {What a pair these two make} (Tango) "But how are you going to carry them anyway? Clones?" (Suzu) "Nah. I''ll just make another golem. Contrary to popular belief, golems of this size actually cost less chakra than shadow clones do" (Rei) "Really? I never would''ve figured" (Suzu) "Ahem! His golems take advantage of the earth in the area to form. Elemental Ninjutsu that uses preexisting matter always cost less chakra than jutsu created directly from chakra" (Tango) "Oh, like Suiton being used in an area with no water. And because shadow clones are created out of chakra-" (Tai) "They cost more. Also, they split my chakra whenever I use them. Hmph!" (Rei) WEAVE! SLAM! Weaving hand seals again, Rei slammed his hands on the ground and created another golem from the terrain. He then had the two stone automatons get to work picking up the unconscious thieves on the ground "This method is much better" (Rei) "Forget Inton, your Doton has improved at record pace" (Suzu) "The tips you gave me certainly helped. But yeah, its strange. I''m better with it than I am with my Suiton. It feels so natural to me" (Rei) "Think you have an affinity with it?" (Suzu) "Maybe, but my affinity should be with Katon. I only gained Suiton with intense training. But whether it''s Katon or Doton, I always get this...funny feeling whenever I use them" (Rei) "You''re probably just a natural with it despite not having an affinity for it. Even though I have Fton and Doton, the former is my only affinity" (Suzu) "Oh? You never told us that" (Tango) "Yeah, you seemed so natural with it I just assumed you had two affinities" (Tai) "After getting wind, I tested my skill with the other four elements. Fire, water, and lightning were far more difficult than earth. While it was easier than the others, I still had to work to get my Doton" (Suzu) "Right, although a person can have multiple elements, most only have an affinity for one element" (Tango) "Hmmm...it''s still too early to tell" (Rei) CLAP! CLAP! "You can figure it out when we get back. Let''s go" (Tango) "Got a hot date or something sensei?" (Tai) "I wish. I''ve been assigned a certain task by the Raikage. There''s a colleague who requires assistance" (Tango) "Another break from us again huh?" (Rei) "It shouldn''t be as long as last time. But just as with Motoi, you''ll still have missions with other senior ninja if it''s approved by Raikage-sama" (Tango) "Got it" (Tai) "My golems have picked up all of the idiots" (Rei) "Alright, you okay to lead the way?" (Tai) "Of course, despite their size, these golems can be quite fast. Plus, the sooner we get home, the sooner we can eat at Sake & Yaki" (Rei) "Grilled Teriyaki again? You''re never gonna change. Still, I get to see Akina-san so I guess it''s okay" (Tai) "Sensei?" (Suzu) "Hm? O-Oh yeah, go on. I''ll be right behind you" (Tango) "Mm" (Suzu) DASH! The three Genin rushed on ahead while Tango hesitated to leave "Less than four miles from the village this time..." Scoping his surroundings, ominous thoughts occupied his head about the current situation {These bandit attacks are becoming more frequent...and closer to the village. Is someone probing our response time? Or am I just overthinking things as usual?} "SENSEI! YOU COMING?!" (Tai) "Y-Yeah! I''m coming!" (Tango) DASH! {Whatever it is...I don''t like it} 115. Checkup MrProper The "Sake & Yaki" Diner "Let me know if you need anything else" "Thanks Akina-san" Team Tango celebrated their recent successful mission with another trip to Akina''s diner. Rei in particular was happy, already going to work on his second plate "Easy there little carnivore. Eat anymore red meat and you''ll never be able to use the bathroom again" (Tai) "Spare me the juvenile wit. Looking at that pitiful plate of nothing but vegetables, you could use more meat. If you don''t bulk up, you''re gonna have trouble with training" (Rei) "That''s because I''m not aiming to look like Raikage-sama. Don''t get me wrong, I admire the guy, but there''s a reason he''s been single all of his life" (Tai) "Don''t let him catch you saying that. You''ll end up worse than Killer B-sama" (Suzu) "And now, you have officially jinxed me Suzu" (Tai) "Ahem! I''ve been meaning to question you guys about that subject. Let''s have a quick checkup before I go. Suzu, you first" (Tango) Suzu put her chopsticks down and rolled back her right sleeve. Revealing the metal training bracelet with four out the six red bulbs on it ignited "I''m almost through Level 4, and I''ve adjusted to the weight already. They don''t slow me down anymore" (Suzu) "I could see the results through your exceptional use of Fton1Wind Styleon the last mission. Well done. Tai?" (Tango) "I just got to Level 5 about three weeks ago but, I still have trouble with its weight..." (Tai) "You''ve always exercised proper chakra control so reaching Level 5 already is to be expected. But it appears your Taijutsu still needs some work" (Tango) "Mm" (Tai) "Like I said, it''s because you don''t eat enough meat" (Rei) "Yeah. Yeah. Whatever mister Level six" (Tai) GULP! Finishing his second plate, Rei rolled back his sleeve and revealed a metal bracelet with six lights ignited "Wow...you really did it" (Suzu) "Impressive..." (Tango) "Yeah...I guess" (Rei) "Hm? What''s wrong?" (Tango) "Hehe, isn''t it obvious sensei? The little training maniac here is unsatisfied" (Tai) "Unsatisfied? About what exactly?" (Tango) "Sigh" (Rei) Rei went on to explain how even though he mastered the bracelets, his chakra control was only nearing that of an elite Jonin. His desired spanned to reach the heights of Kage and beyond Plus, he was already a Taijutsu focused shinobi with great speed and strength for his age. Adjusting to the increased weight the bracelets bestowed every time he reached new level was easy for him The only reason he still held onto them was for the purpose of keeping his body in shape "Is there any chance I could get a better one?" (Rei) "Nope. Even if you went to someone else, they couldn''t give you a better one" (Tango) "How do you know?" (Suzu) "There are some things which must take time. For any level above Jonin, one must dictate their own methods for getting stronger. There are no shortcuts" (Tango) "Makes sense, otherwise there''d be Kage-level shinobi all over the place" (Tai) "Don''t misunderstand guys. I''m talking about you three specifically" (Tango) "?" (Suzu, Rei, & Tai) Tango finished his modest-sized plate and folded his arms "It may come natural to you, but even I couldn''t have predicted you''d get so far with the bracelets in the span of nearly a year and a half" (Tango) "Really?" (Tai) "Yes. I expected you would still be on Level 2, maybe 3 at the most. Definitely not 4,5, & 6. Only you, the top three of Kumogakure''s Gifted Generation could''ve pulled off such a feat" (Tango) "I still feel like you''re exaggerating a bit Sensei" (Suzu) "That right there. The fact you can even say that is a testament to your ability. Any other shinobi, regardless of age, would find such a task to be strenuous. Just look at me" (Tango) "You did this to?" (Tai) "Yup. I remember back to the time I reached Level 6 at a younger age and was praised as a genius. But looking at you three, it''s just laughable now" (Tango) Years ago, when Kumogakure was short on Jonin due to the last war, they promoted many young Chunin to make up for the loss. The village desperately required mentors for the new Genin teams Tango, a member of the intelligence division and only a few years older than his current team, was one such Chunin "Let me be honest. The only thing you guys lack is experience. In terms of strength, all of you are well beyond Genin-level, easily reaching Chunin-level. But don''t let that get to your heads, there are plenty of other geniuses out there younger than you. All of whom can prove to be more than a match for you guys" (Tango) "Translation; Don''t get cocky, right?" (Tai) "Pretty much" (Tango) "Even though I''ve finished, can I still keep these?" (Rei) Tango go out of the booth and placed some money on the table "Heh! Feel free to keep those bracelets for now. That also goes for you two. You guys can give them back to me when you become Chunin and our squad is disbanded" (Tango) "Yeesh, talk about bringing down the mood Sensei" (Tai) "I know it''s a sour subject, but one you must face eventually. And at the rate you lot are progressing...it''s coming soon" (Tango) "Right..." (Suzu) "..." (Tai) "Hahaha! Relax! Even when it does happen, it''s not like you''ll be moving away or something. It just means the village will be treating you with more flexibility. Typically, most Chunin get assigned missions with squads they have a long history with" (Tango) "Meaning we''ll still be working together on a regular basis?" (Tai) "Oh, most definitely. It''s efficient after all" (Tango) "Nice" (Tai) "Alright, final orders. The meal''s on me this time so go home and get some rest. While I''m gone, any sensei may call you for a mission!" (Tango) Tango left the diner and soon after, the trio followed in suit before giving their goodbye''s to Akina "Delicious as usual" (Rei) "Uh-huh. Well, you guys wanna hang out?" (Tai) "Can''t. I wanna finish my new pot" (Suzu) "Right. I forgot that pottery hobby of yours was delayed because of our little house-building project" (Rei) "I''m looking forward to seeing it. The last pot you made went great with my plants. They''re blooming quite nicely" (Tai) "The next one is almost ready for you" (Suzu) "In that case, I''m gonna take off. Later" (Rei) As Rei left, Suzu issued one last reminder "Rei! Don''t forget! We''re celebrating Atsui''s graduation at Mariko''s tomorrow!" (Suzu) "I''ll be there!" (Rei) "Tai, I''ll give you your new pot at the party" (Suzu) "Thanks. Still can''t believe Samui''s little brother is gonna be a ninja already" (Tai) Suzu thought about Tango''s words before making a solemn look. She then whispered to herself "No matter how hard you try, you can''t stop time from moving on" (Suzu) "Huh? You say something?" (Tai) "No. I''ll see you later Tai" (Suzu) "?" (Tai) ??? Rei''s secret lab "Well, that''s coming along quite nicely if I do say so myself" [That being...] "Nanomachines" [Nano-! You''ve already gotten to that point?!] "No, not yet. This is just the start. They won''t be ready for quite some time. I also require more information" [What kind?] Rei took out a box containing several strange devices and blueprints most couldn''t comprehend [Isshiki''s effects?] "The ones I''ve yet to figure out, but yeah. There''s still much about tsutsuki tech I don''t understand. Like this, these coordinates specify a certain location, yet they don''t dictate altitude, longitude, or latitude" [Considering we''re talking about an tsutsuki like him, and his usual methods of travel, I''d say they''re space-time coordinates for another dimension entirely] "The very same conclusion I''ve come to. Until I gain access to the tsutsuki''s natural ability to use space-time ninjutsu, I can only work with what I''ve got" [You think it might be coming soon?] "Not really. Despite how much stronger I''ve become, I''ve got no clue if I''ll be able to do it" Rei''s strength had grown substantially in the last year and a half. His chakra control skill had nearly doubled, and his overall capacity had grown to new heights thanks to the Ten-Tails His strength and speed allowed him to easily contend with Chunin level ninja and his elemental mastery was coming along swimmingly. Three elements under his belt edged him ever closer to the level of a Jonin. Rei''s Genjutsu was also matched by few within the entire village of Kumogakure Nearly everyone referred to him as a "genius" or "prodigy". But he was still looking for improvement [Well, your chakra is stronger than Part 1 Naruto''s. Though since you aren''t a Jinchriki, you don''t recover as fast as he does. Not to say your own recovery speed isn''t abnormal in its own right] "I can use the Shadow Clone Jutsu but...Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu is way too dangerous for me...even when it comes to simple training. Sealing the Ten-Tails within is still off the table" [Not your fault. You don''t have the right "eyes" to seal it away] The Jutsu to make one a Jinchriki of a Ten-Tails, the Rikud Jbi Kyin2Six Paths Ten-Tails Coffin Seal, required the Rinnegan3Sa?sra Eyeto perform As he is now, acquiring one was nothing short of impossible. Likely to remain as such for several years considering how closely tied it is with the main antagonists of the Manga "Whatever. Since I don''t have Naruto''s plot armor, I''ll make my own cheats" [Alright, but why Nanotech in particular? We talked about this in the hospital after that crazy mission with Yugito. You were initially against the idea to-] "Rychi Cave" [?!] "I must pass the White Snake Sage''s trial before gaining access to their Tensei4ReincarnationTechniques. After more years of research, I''ve recently come to understand I had the wrong idea about this technology. Even with tsutsuki cells, it doesn''t guarantee I''ll be able to adapt to natural energy" [And you think Nanotech might help?] "Isshiki modified his next potential host, Kawaki, not to give him a power boost. But to ensure his body could safely adapt to his soul and massive chakra. His previous host Jigen was just as compatible, and he was literally falling apart" [Now I get it. You want to take advantage of the microscopic technology that can rewrite cellular structures and make augmentations. But aren''t they based on Sage Transformation?] "That was the same thought I had years ago but-" Rei stopped working and took a deep breath "Sigh. I did consider finding someone similar to the character Jgo, but ultimately, I found it wasn''t worth it. Kabuto implanted such DNA within him and look how messed up his body turned out. He was permanently deformed by the end of the series" [Ah...not to mention, the overall uncontrollable surges of madness that comes along with it. Kabuto was able to placate it, but that doesn''t mean you''d be able to. You don''t want to take the chance] "My mother studied virology before she retired, but I''ve always been the tech guy like my dad. These Microscopic Scientific Ninja Tools will ensure I can handle it" [Your very own "cheat" huh? I like it] "Well, they''re not ready yet. There are still materials I need Mori Sp. to acquire for me. For now, I can only improve the old fashioned way" Rei left the table and walked through the space time gate in the basement [Increasing your chakra again?] "Yeah. But also more" WEAVE! "Kage Bunshin no Jutsu5Shadow Clone Jutsu!" POOF! Four copies of him appeared in smoke [Training, but not on the same scale as Naruto''s huh?] "He needed a thousand clones to train because one, he''s an idiot. Two, he doesn''t share the same genetic advantages as myself. Three, my clones get things done in a quarter of the time it usually takes while I work on my chakra with the Ten-tails. Not a bad training method if I do say so myself" [Hmph!] "Now if you''ll excuse me, I need to get to work" As Rei started to train, Notitia spoke to itself...but Rei couldn''t hear it this time [What is it now?] [...CLIENT PROGRESSION RATE IS UNDER DESIRED PARAMETERS...] [I know] [...RECOMMEND NEW MEASURES...] [Hey! This is my job! There''s no need for that! Besides, from what I can tell...] [...] [He''ll be experiencing a new obstacle soon enough] 116. Vision For The Cloud Evening BZZZZZ! "Alright! That''s enough! Shut it off!" "On it!" In the lab provided by the Raikage, Dodai collaborated with several of his colleagues including; Mabui, Tekkan, Tenga, C, and their new partner, Tetsuo Mori A''s "inner circle" were once again working on the mysterious "network" project "Not bad, if I do say so myself" (Tetsuo) "Incredible...the connection is so easy to maintain now" (Tenga) "That only applies to the technological aspect. For the next part..." (Tekkan) CREAK! A young man wearing shinobi attire subtly entered the room "Guess that means it''s my turn" "Tango-dono. Glad you could join us" (Tekkan) "Apologies for the delay everyone, my squad and I just got back from a mission" (Tango) "It''s fine. For these tests, we''re asking enough of you as it is" (Dodai) "For the sake of the village, this is nothing. As a ninja of Kumogakure, I''m simply fulfilling my duty" (Tango) "Mm" (Dodai) "Are we ready?" (Tango) Mabui directed Tango to a chair in the middle of the room. It had several cables attached to it, all leading to different devices. One of which was a prototype battery Mori Sp. had provided for them "The tech is up to capacity, all the remains-" (Mabui) "Is the human aspect. In other words, me. That''s fine, this test has been long overdue" (Tango) "Power output is stable...connection is steady...no leakage whatsoever...we''re green! Ready whenever you are Tango-senpai!" (Tenga) Tango sat on the strange chair, closed his eyes, and focused. While the younger group began their tests, Dodai quietly approached and conversed with Tetsuo, thanking him for his help "You''ve thanked more than enough for over a year Dodai-dono" (Tetsuo) "It will never be enough. Because of you and your company, all of our hard work is finally coming to fruition. As a lifelong servant of Kumogakure, you have my sincerest gratitude" (Dodai) "The relationship I share with you and your superiors is one of mutual benefits. I''ve gained quite a sum myself, not to mention the other perks Raikage-dono promised me" (Tetsuo) When Tetsuo forged his agreement with them, A promised Mori Sp. all the power contracts he could strip from the council. The Daimy gave him tax-free land nearby for his company''s relocation. Unlike before, Mori Sp. was now less than a mile away from the village Now, Tetsuo owned several warehouses within Kumogakure for product distribution as Mori Sp. manufactured more than just energy equipment, just as "Developer R" or Rei planned. And though he still had taxes for the warehouses, the Raikage allowed him to pay at a reduced price This deal was nothing short of a business owner''s dream. If anything, Tetsuo wanted to thank them for their service and cooperation but maintained his composure "Tenga-kun has already been instructed on its use, so I doubt you''ll need my assistance for the rest" (Tetsuo) "You''re not staying? Don''t you want to see what happens?" (Dodai) "I have absolute faith in my device. If something went wrong, it''s not on my end. Besides, Sh is waiting outside for me. I have a meeting with your boss after all" (Tetsuo) "Absolute faith...that mysterious chief engineer of yours must be something special" (Dodai) "Like you would not believe. I''ll see you later, Dodai-dono" (Tetsuo) "Take care Tetsuo-dono..." (Dodai) Dodai stared at Tetsuo''s back as he leisurely walked out of the secret lab {Not so much as a hint this time either...} (Dodai) Though he respected his privacy, even an experienced shinobi like Dodai could barely contain his curiosity. The identity of Tetsuo''s enigmatic architect was a constant source of discussion among A''s inner circle. But while they were curious, they opted not to push things too far with their inquiries They needed Tetsuo far more than he needed them, and both parties were aware of it. Upsetting the "golden parachute" of a partner that showed on their doorstep with impeccable timing was last thing they desired Tetsuo on other hand, remained silent. "Developer R" was, for all intents and purposes, his "ace in the hole". Over the year, he received all kinds of revolutionary blueprints, schematics, and prototype inventions for his manufacturing company There wasn''t a single soul in the Land of Lightning that hadn''t heard of Mori Sp., nor what its done for the country. Everyone benefitted from the low-cost power it was providing. But that was all the more reason for Tetsuo not to lower his guard Mori Sp. was growing steadily...and even those outside the country were starting to notice CLEAK! Tetsuo closed the door behind him as his eyes met with his chief of security, Sh, who was patiently waiting outside for him. The latter''s subordinates were several feet away from him as well "So?" (Tetsuo) "We''re at the ready sir" (Sh) "Good, take me to A-dono''s office" (Tetsuo) "We''re moving out!" (Sh) With his bodyguards maintaining a protective circular formation around him, Tetsuo carefully made his way out of Dodai''s facility. On the streets, his group blended in with the crowd, doing their best as to not draw attention to themselves Less than fifteen minutes later, the group arrived at the government building of the village. Entering the now silent complex, they headed upstairs to the Raikage''s office, intent on meeting with him, and the Daimy "Alright, I''m going in. Wait for me here. You know the protocol" (Tetsuo) "If I don''t hear anything after one minute, enter the office" (Sh) "Mm" (Tetsuo) Tetsuo left the group to themselves as he went inside. Sh''s subordinates spoke for the first time since they left Dodai''s lab "It''s rather quiet today. I guess even shinobi don''t work late" "Hardly. The Raikage probably dismissed everyone for the night. This meeting is supposed to be private, so keep your mouths shut and stay on guard!" (Sh) "Sir!" ??? Inside the office Tetsuo was sitting on one of the two couches across from each other. Both A and the Daimy were sitting on the other "Thanks for taking my advice and putting seats in here" (Tetsuo) "Considering how much you complained about it the last time you were here, I didn''t have much of a choice" (A) "To be fair, it gets pretty dull in here when the only thing in sight is your desk and workout equipment. But on to the matter at hand, Tetsuo-dono, you may have done your job a little too well" (Daimy) "We''ve called you here to discuss further means of protection" (A) "I figured as much. My company''s notoriety has risen greatly over the last year, as is to be expected. How are the council members A-dono?" (Tetsuo) "Calling them pissed would be an understatement" (A) After using the "Hyuga Affair" as leverage, A took away the contracts of many businesses several council members either owned, or had ties to. This act, which was effectively robbing them, didn''t sit well with anyone But A didn''t care, stripping them of their power and influence was more than satisfying. Though he couldn''t take away their positions, he now had more leeway and influence compared to the past. And while most of them complained, there was little they could do. Mori Sp. performed above and beyond, reforming Kumogakure''s power grid into one centralized unit. Supplying more power within one year than their previous contractors could in the last decade Tetsuo perfectly filled the empty shoes left behind with far more efficiency, and at a much cheaper price. The minority of council members who did back the Raikage consistently used this in their supporting arguments for his decision And because none of A''s political opponents expected him to have such a wild card like Tetsuo, their backs were against the wall. There was no choice but to grin and bear it as A robbed them of their money and power "I can only assume some have reached out to you?" (Daimy) "Yup, trying to make up for their lost revenue. Obviously, I turned them all down" (Tetsuo) "Since they can''t buy you, they''ll without a doubt resort to next best thing" (Daimy) "Me being dead would be the next best thing for them, as I already anticipated" (Tetsuo) "Bringing along more men for security isn''t going to be enough" (A) "I''ve been fine so far, and I''ve already moved closer to the village, as per our previous agreement. All of my subordinates are people I trust, and they never leave my side" (Tetsuo) "That''s still-" (A) "Even if something does happen, your capable shinobi nearby will intervene" (Tetsuo) "All I''m saying is that we take extra steps to-!" (A) "We can discuss Tetsuo''s security measures later Raikage-dono" (Daimy) "!" (A) {"Later" huh? Ending the subject as to not upset me while leaving an excuse to bring it up later. Daimy-dono...you sly fox} (Tetsuo) A pressing Tetsuo for more security wasn''t just out of concern for his safety, it was to give him an in...within Mori Sp. Tetsuo kept their partnership at arms length, only allowing his own private security force to protect the company on the inside. With some compromise later, he allowed Kumo shinobi to aid in his protection, but none were allowed to set a single foot within his facility It was obvious the two leaders held interest in the inner workings of Mori Sp., especially after discovering the existence of his backer. Though Tetsuo tried his best, not even he could stop the spread of rumors pertaining to the genius engineer, "Developer R" "The ICF1Insulated Concrete Formshouses...quite clever of you for using three of our best Genin to demonstrate their usefulness" (A) "Hey, I had a debt to pay to team Tango. Plus, if you actually saw the poor state of Suzu''s home, you''d want to build her a new one too" (Tetsuo) "And yet, you still found a way to benefit from the situation. Guess I should say, ''as expected of an experienced merchant''. However, they''re without question a wonderful tool. Urban development is a pain when you live in a mountainous region like Kumogakure" (Daimy) "Right? The problem is...how do we convince everyone else?" (Tetsuo) "True, it''s not like everyone in the village is just going to get up, walk out of their homes, and let you tear down and rebuild just like that" (A) "But they''re essential for taking full advantage of the new power grid I''ve given you. Upgrades are going to be essential down the line, and the current housing will only make things difficult" (Tetsuo) "You did give us a time table of four years" (A) "Yeah, a year ago. Meaning, we have three years left before negative side effects within the grid''s structure begin to manifest themselves. Modernization is a must" (Tetsuo) Calling the structures of Kumogakure "old" would be putting it nicely. Though the new power grid designed by Rei was cutting edge, the village''s housing were ancient and traditional. Stretching all the way back to the era of the 1st Raikage Not to mention, many of them were built either inside the very mountains themselves, making them hard to reach. Or, suspended in mid-air like the very building these men were sitting in now. Over 83% of the village''s homes have remained the same since its founding And given this word''s current technological level, Rei knew they were completely unsuitable for modern technology. It was for this reason he used Suzu''s house as a testing ground "I may have a solution" (Daimy) "!" (Tetsuo & A) "While the benefits are clear as day, I''ve found in my long career that most people don''t respond to the obvious unless properly advertised" (Daimy) "With all due respect Daimy-dono, we''re talking about mass modernization. Construction work on a scale that effects everyone in the entire village. A simple ad campaign or something similar isn''t going to cut it" (Tetsuo) "Not to mention, convincing members of government. Even those that do support me are going to question it" (A) "Of course. I was thinking about something a little more...unorthodox" (Daimy) "Like what?" (A) "As you know, I''ve been away from the village for quite some time due to diplomatic relations. Doing my best to keep things peaceful between nations. Along the way, my subordinates and I have learned many nations are quite eager for a certain event to take place" (Daimy) "An event?" (Tetsuo) "Yes. No one''s ready for it now, as it requires cooperation from many from different nations. Plus, even after all this time, everyone is still feeling the effects from the last war. But I estimate we''ll have quite the event within the next two years" (Daimy) "Wait...are you suggesting-?!" (A) "Eh?" (Tetsuo) "We''ve haven''t had one in a long time. But my colleagues have estimated, if not outright planned for one to occur within the span of two years from now" (Daimy) "Hmm...that event was basically designed for advertisement. If we participate, perform well, and mention Mori Sp., we''re guaranteed support for this reworking of Kumo''s infrastructure" (A) "The first one in a long time. Now doubt it''ll be huge" (Daimy) "What? What event?!" (Tetsuo) A and the Daimy turned towards Tetsuo and, almost simultaneously, smiled. But what they said next... "Something that benefits us all..." (Daimy) "We''re talking about the..." (A) "?" (Tetsuo) Made his heart skip more than a simple beat "The Chunin Exams..." 117. Overture [1] The next morning "Sigh...!" [Tired already? I thought you were a morning person?] "I''m part tsutsuki, I don''t get tired so easily. Besides, I am a morning person" [Then what''s the prob-ohhh...I get it. You''re just frustrated since ya still haven''t figured out how this thing works] "No! I mean...I know I will eventually but, I''d like to know now" Because he knew Mabui wouldn''t be home, Rei decided it''d be safe to stay overnight at his secret lab. Continuing his research into useful tsutsuki technology, his work eventually took him back to the subject of Isshiki''s strange "Black Cubes" Devices capable of disrupting "chakra sensing" would undoubtedly prove useful. Unfortunately, the only one he possessed was in terrible condition. Rei couldn''t even be sure if it was unfinished or broken "Just look at this mess! As an engineer myself, I can only be offended by such shoddy craftsmanship! No wonder Isshiki hired Amado, that asshole was too lazy to do any work himself" [You killed him soooo...he''s not doing anything anymore. Sheesh! I forgot how impatient you are] "It''s the principal that bothers me. Engineer''s. We do have standards, and this is just sorry" [Since the other dimensions he frequently visited are off the table for now, there''s no point in stressing over it] "I know, I just...I just thought I could do something without Space-time ninjutsu like-" [Like what?] "..." Rei said no more. In truth, he hoped his "Kisshten1Auspicious Heavens"ability could circumvent the need for acquiring tsutsuki knowledge from other dimensions But this In''yton2Yin-Yang/Shadow & Light Stylepower could only replicate and/or alter materials he sent to the "White world". The strange "Black Gem" could produce an infinite amount, but it could not create materials it had yet to consume and scan Rei considered sending the unfinished Cube to that world, but even if he did, there''d be no way to repair it. Alteration meant nothing if he couldn''t comprehend how the tech works to begin with. Plus, it was the only prototype he had on hand And above all else, he could never allow Notitia to find out the true nature of this ability [Rei?] "It''s nothing...lemme get back to work" [About that, don''t you have a prior engagement to get to? You''re celebrating Samui''s little brother graduating from the academy] "Ah, I almost forgot about that. I''ve still got time though right? The party happens in the afternoon" [Yeah, and you haven''t had breakfast. You look like a mess after spending all night with these dusty machines, and you kinda stink] "Again, how does a disembodied voice know I stink? You said the same thing back when I used the Black Scroll for the first time" [Hmm...I guess you just stink that bad] "Up yours. Guess I''ll work on this stuff later" Wrapping things up here, Rei returned to his home via Mabui''s "traveling pots". Knocking on her room door, Rei realized Mabui still wasn''t back from her assignment {Maybe she''s with the Raikage on some assignment. Probably working on the "Network" project again. Oh well, more cake for me then} ??? After taking a shower, Rei changed into casual clothes before eating a late breakfast. Never one to linger, he left the house and made his way to Mariko''s foster home. It was not long after he noticed something peculiar via his chakra sensing...no one was there "Where are they? Hm!" (Rei) "REI!" The one who approached from behind and shouted was his teammate Tai "Where have you been? I stopped by your place last night and no one was there" (Tai) "I was...out. What''s going on?" (Rei) "There''s been a change of plan. We''re having the get together at Suzu''s" (Tai) "Something happen?" (Rei) "The foster home is getting turned into a ICF complex earlier than scheduled. My uncle told me something is going on with Mori Sp. and they''re moving all of their contracts ahead" (Tai) {I never told Tetsuo to do that...something must be up. I''ll contact him the next time I have some privacy} "No worries. Suzu''s new house is just as, if not even better than Mariko''s" (Tai) "Can''t argue with that" (Rei) DASH! The pair beamed through the village, making their way into poorest part of Kumogakure. Although they were already aware, the two Genin couldn''t help but take note of the out-of-place homes that were remade by Mori Sp. These brand new houses looked far to pristine to be located in such a slum "H-Hehe. They don''t fit in at all. You''d think this area would be the last to start remodeling" (Tai) "The poorest area was obviously the easiest to start with, and they all give the same message, Look at the brand new homes even we can afford!" {Tetsuo''s good at advertisement, it was wise to invest in him} (Rei) "Yeah, but I haven''t seen many willing to change, only a couple in the common and richer areas. The slums are the only ones with any noticeable difference" (Tai) "When it comes change, humans are always slow to adapt. Give it time, when people see how superior these homes are, the whole village will be covered with them" (Rei) "Yeah, you''re right about that. Good grief. As usual, it feels like I''m talking to an adult whenever we chat" (Tai) "Just your imagination" (Rei) "Yeah...right. Oh! We''re here" (Tai) TAK! The boys landed in front of a beautiful, isolated home with no neighbors. The team had finished rebuilding Suzu''s house quite some time ago...and it was a sight to behold The former wooden shack was now a white, two-story home equipped with beautiful windows and a red roof. A large basement for her pottery hobby, wider kitchen and dining area, bigger family shrine, and a well groomed garden in the back, courtesy of Tai "Man, I love looking at this place every time I see it" (Tai) "Things gained with hard work are always better. Come on, I can hear the little pyromaniac yelling in the back" (Rei) ??? At the same time elsewhere On an island north of Takigakure3Hidden Waterfall Village, a man sat quietly in front of a campfire with lunch cooking in a pot placed over it He was quite tall, had long spiky black hair, a well built body, and a noticeably large x-shaped scar on his face The sleeveless shirt he wore only exuded his muscles. A thick brown rope belt tied in a large knot behind his back, white pants and wooden geta sandles4Link. The bottom of his shirt bore the Kanji symbol "" for "Kin"5Gold "Umph! Another quiet day, not that I''m complaining. How are you doing Pochi?" SNORE! Sleeping next to him was a giant, yellow raccoon. Enormous in size, wrists wrapped in bandages, and a mark on it''s forehead with the same Kanji symbol the man wore on the bottom of his shirt, it was anything but normal {This big, lazy-!} "Hey! I''m talking to you!" SMACK! "AARRGGG!!" (Pochi) "Don''t you growl at me. It''s already past noon! Get your sh*t together ya lazy raccoon!" "Grrrrr...!" (Pochi) "We''re here for a reason. It''s time to do our rounds, let''s go!" "Rrrrggghh..." (Pochi) The man picked up an axe the size of a full grown adult with ease, demonstrating his great strength. Pochi begrudgingly followed as the pair traveled around the island, observing many strange animals along the way. Like Pochi, the majority of them were abnormally large Eventually, the came across a brawl between said creatures ROOOARRR!!! "!" (Pochi) "Ah damnit, the cheetahs are stirring things up with the hyenas again. Pochi, you wanna-" "Harumph!" (Pochi) "Yeah. Yeah. Less attitude and more work please" "..." (Pochi) "Hey. Don''t forget, we''re very close to a pit...you wanna take the chance all this noise might wake them up?" "!" (Pochi) "You and I both know how much they hate it when their sleep is disturbed. Get to work, I''m gonna patrol the parameter" Hearing his warning, Pochi charged in the middle of the fight, doing his best to break it up before the animals caused anymore destruction. The man in particular headed towards a shoreline "Nothing going on over here either, it''s very quiet today. Looks like we won''t be getting any-hm?" Just as he was about to relax, shapes could be seen at a distance. Taking out a telescope, he shuddered at the sight of several ships, armed to the brim with men. Their course, his island {What the hell?! How could that many ships make it past Takigakure''s checkpoints?! Could something have happened to that village?! Could it have been an attack from a foreign nation?} DASH! He bolted back to the fight between animals "POCHI! WRAP IT UP!" "Rgh?" (Pochi) "We got company!" "Wroo?!" (Pochi) TAK! One of the cheetahs took the opportunity to attack when Pochi was distracted "?!" (Pochi) "Hsh!6Crumbling Palm" The man stood in between them and with just one hand, sent the house-sized cheetah flying away. He then glared at the other animals while emitting a wave petrifying killing intent "You guys wanna go?" SHRIEK! They all fled, none of them daring to meet the challenge. Pochi lowered his head, allowing the man to ride him as they left for the center of the island "Get ready Pochi! I''m going to initiate the Terrarium protocol!" 118. Overture [2] Suzu''s backyard "WOOHOO!!!! To celebrate my ascendance to ninja, it''s time for a hot-blooded demonstration with my awesome Katon1Fire Style-!" WHACK! "OW!!" "Don''t even think about it! You''re not starting any fires today you little pyromaniac! Cool it!" "Geez sis! That hurt! And you say I''m hot-headed!" "Hahaha! Nice save Samui-san!" Several kids shouted in joy as a celebration took place. Team Tango, Mariko, her foster kids, Samui, and the one whose graduation they celebrated, her younger brother Atsui. Delicious food was on display with a big cake in the center as more guests arrived one after the other Rei was less concerned about the festivities, and more about the free food. Not hesitating to chow down as he watched everyone socialize and relax, fully enjoying each other''s company "Rei-kun!" "Hm?" "Long time no see! You''re looking well!" "Aren''t you-?" The ones approaching Rei were two guests, late to the party. One, an unfamiliar young man in his early 20''s. The other man was in his late 40''s that Rei was acquainted with...his academy teacher Osoi "Osoi-sensei. I almost didn''t recognize you" (Rei) "Haha! It''s not often this many shinobi gather together in casual clothes! Even my son and I are rarely seen out of our uniforms!" (Osoi) "Your son?" (Rei) "Ah, that''s right! Allow me to introduce you to my pride and joy. My son Musai" (Osoi) "Nice to meet you Rei. I''ve heard many great things about your squad" (Musai) "A pleasure" (Rei) Shaking his hand, Rei took note neither of them were wearing their standard shinobi attire, dressed in casual clothes like everyone else. Musai also shared his father''s habit of wearing scarfs, a dull green one unlike his father''s red scarf "Unlike me, he''s managed to rise to rank of Chunin. I couldn''t be more proud!" (Osoi) "Stop it Dad, it''s embarrassing" (Musai) "When did you take the Chunin exams?" (Rei) "About a year ago. Since there hasn''t been a collaborative exam since the last war, our village hosted its own private one" (Musai) "Emphasis on private. Hardly anyone knew about it" (Osoi) "Hmmm...Chunin exams..." (Rei) "That''s right, you''re getting close to that age, it''s natural you''d be curious. With what I''ve heard, I think you could become one now despite how young you are. Hahaha!" (Osoi) As Osoi sat down and reminisced with his former pupil, Musai left to greet the others "How''s work?" (Rei) "The academy is still the same, though not as chaotic as your year. But to be fair, your generation was a bit...special" (Osoi) "You mean the whole, Gifted Generation thing?" (Rei) "Ya know, it''s funny. Forget the students, not even we teachers were aware of what the upper brass were doing. I always had this lingering suspicion about that particular year''s batch of applicants" (Osoi) "The ridiculous number of strange kids applying at the same time would naturally catch anyone''s attention" (Rei) "Mm. You guys were certainly a crazy bunch" (Osoi) "That''s putting it lightly, considering all the trouble they were up to" (Rei) "You make it sound as if you weren''t. From what I remember, you were...are pretty wild yourself" (Osoi) "Huh? I am?" (Rei) {Ahhh...good lord. He''s not even aware of it} (Osoi) Osoi stared at Rei with a cumbersome look as he recalled his time at the academy. Though the latter was never one to start fights, he certainly finished them. With his one-track-mind for gaining strength, Rei didn''t care about anything else and kept to himself. But as he rose through the ranks, other students grew anxious "Cloud Academy" was a highly competitive ninja school. Naturally, the number one student would be a target. But whenever someone confronted Rei, he thoroughly put them in their place...if by "put them in their place" meant ruthlessly crushing them that is Unbeknownst to him, Rei earned quite the reputation for being something akin to a storm. Calm or chaotic, his mood could switch to either in a split second "With all the rumors I''ve heard about you lately, it''s obvious you''re still as eccentric as ever" (Osoi) "If you''re referring to the times I''ve defended myself in school, I''ll have you know, I always made the effort to not kill them. Everyone was breathing by the time I was done with them" (Rei) {Barely breathing, mind you} (Osoi) "Besides, they were the ones who always started fights with me. I simply dealt with situation accordingly. Instead of eccentric, I''m simply unique" (Rei) "H-Hehehe. Right. Unique" {Oh boy, his "symptoms" have gotten even worse} (Osoi) "Osoi-sensei" "?" (Rei & Osoi) "Oh! Tai and Suzu! Good to see you!" (Osoi) "Likewise" (Suzu) "You''re looking pretty good sensei. How''s school, the kids aren''t torturing you too much I hope?" (Tai) "Not as much as your generation" (Osoi) "What''s up?" (Rei) "The cake''s ready, but we don''t have a match. I''d thought it''d be best you light the candles instead of Atsui. He keeps volunteering to do it himself" (Tai) "That''s an awful idea" (Osoi) "Ditto. Samui-san can only hold him back for so long" (Suzu) "The last thing we need is him burning the cake...or the house" (Rei) Rei immediately followed Tai, leaving Suzu and Osoi to themselves "How are you Suzu? I mean, how are you really?" (Osoi) "..." (Suzu) Being her academy teacher, Osoi was obviously aware of her family heritage, and how its haunted her for years. The young girl before him has struggled to deal with the sins of her ancestors for the entire duration of her life Osoi was one of the few people who could look past her bloodline, treating her with nothing but patience, respect, and compassion. Naturally, he was concerned with adjustments to a shinobi team "I understand, but I''m okay sensei. I''ve been blessed to gain a squad that doesn''t care about my heritage" (Suzu) "Of course I know Rei, nor Tai would ever be bothered by such things. I just wanted to make sure the life of a shinobi hasn''t been too...overwhelming for you" (Osoi) "Granted, there are times when it''s hard to stay on my feet but...I''ve ample support now. Not that Mariko''s overbearing ways weren''t there to begin with" (Suzu) "You''re not wrong about that. Calling her overprotective would be an understatement" (Osoi) "Mm" (Suzu) "Well, I''m glad to hear you''re doing fine" (Osoi) Osoi stood up and gestured her to follow "Not that we''ve gotten the mellow stuff out of the way, how about we eat some cake?" (Osoi) "Yes. Let''s" (Suzu) ??? A tavern in Shimogakure2Hidden Frost Village One man sang in front of a crowd, dressed in a kimono robe. His appearance resembled that of a warrior, rather than an entertainer. His vocals were quiet, yet powerful, as if he was sharing a Haiku Only his voice could be heard, as everyone remained quiet. Too enamored with his performance to allow any distractions. After some time, he reached the end and shared his final lyrics "? The delicate plant, bends under the wasp''s weight Hunger births within the casket, the shadow moves The flower falls alone, the red snow is born Shinobi, in solitude. Ever concealed, crying silent tears ?" APPLAUSE! Finishing his performance, he was met with a standing ovation as he humbly thanked the crowd. Getting off stage, he entered the back and gathered his belongings. Being a traveling artist, he never stayed in one place for too long "Master Sabu!" "Hm?" "Before you go, here. Your pay" The manager of the establishment arrived with an envelope full of cash. But the one known as Sabu didn''t take it "The opportunity to share my art is all the payment I need. Thank you for allowing me to perform here" "I see. I also have something else for you. A letter arrived with your name on it" "For me? Are you sure? I''ve haven''t been here that long" "I thought so too. But it''s addressed specifically to you. Again, thank you for performances. And yes, you''re gonna take it" "Ah?! Hey!" The manager slipped Sabu''s pay in his hands along with the letter before dashing away "Good grief. He''s too nice for his own good. Now let''s see who-?!" The letter didn''t have any writing, just a single unrecognizable symbol engraved on it. However, Sabu seemed to realize what it meant and began to panic "Impossible! The island! Have Kintar and Pochi-?! What the hell happened?!" DASH! Sabu blasted out of the tavern! Moving at top speed out of the village "Have to get to Kumogakure...and find Killer B!" 119. Overture [3] After Atsui''s party All the guests had left while Rei and Tai stayed behind to help Suzu with the cleanup. The party had gone on for quite some time, extending from early afternoon well into the evening "Geez" (Rei) "?" (Tai & Suzu) "They were such a noisy bunch. Couldn''t they have just sat down and eat in peace?" (Rei) "Haha, true. Atsui was a little too enthusiastic about graduating" (Tai) "More like, he was ecstatic to find out his elemental affinity was the one he''d been hoping to get for years" (Suzu) "Poor Samui-san is gonna have her hands full" (Tai) "A hothead gets fire...what are the odds" (Rei) "That''s rich coming from a wild child like you" (Tai) "Osoi said something similar, but what exact part of me is wild?" (Rei) "Looking at your past actions...I don''t even know where to begin. The same could be said of Suzu" (Tai) "Really?" (Suzu) "I never noticed" (Rei) {These two-! They''re both messed up in the head!} (Tai) As the cleaning went on, another subject was brought up "Everyone was thankful for the event, so all racket was worth it I guess" (Suzu) "What do you mean?" (Rei) "Good grief. You know Rei, it''d be wise if ya actually tried something other than training" (Tai) "Huh?" (Rei) "He means, this party was a nice opportunity for everyone to unwind (Suzu) "You''re usually so astute, but not on stuff like this. Except for the foster kids, pretty much every single person there was a shinobi. But did you spot a single headband?" (Tai) "Hmm..." (Rei) The "Cloud Academy" graduation always provides an opportunity for R&R as all non-critical missions are put on hold. An unofficial holiday of sorts for the shinobi of the village Everyone present at the party was relaxed and wore casual clothes instead of shinobi attire. The event was one of the few times ninja such as them could actually unwind. Take a break from heartache and strife that typically comes with living the life of a ninja "Ah...!" (Rei) "Now he''s got it. Seriously man, learn to relax a little" (Tai) "I do relax, just not like them. My ears can only take so much" (Rei) "While I do prefer the quiet like you, this is an exception" (Suzu) "I wasn''t aware you were so close to Samui''s little brother" (Rei) "I''m not. But seeing the kids from the orphanage have fun like this...it''s a nice feeling" (Suzu) "Yeah, I know what you mean" (Tai) "..." (Rei) His interest was slightly piqued listening to her. Rei had always been under the impression they were of like mind, ever apathetic, only interacting when it''s necessary. But the girl before him wore an out-of-character smirk as she recalled the children playing around today Finishing the clean-up, Rei and Tai took their leave as Suzu saw them out "Well, our little vacation is over now" (Suzu) "Yup, it''s back to normal tomorrow. We''ll probably get a D-rank mission or something but stay ready anyway. I''ll be leaving first, later guys" (Tai) "Bye" (Suzu) ZIP! "And there he goes. Guess I better-!" (Rei) Just as he was about to mimic Tai and leave, Suzu unexpectedly tugged on his sleeve "What''s wrong?" (Rei) "How are you doing? Considering the subject we last spoke on" (Suzu) "Oh, yeah...it''s been weird, but I''ve managed. That funny feeling I get every time I use Doton1Earth Styleis still there. But no worries, I used to feel a similar sensation when I gained Katon2Fire Stylebut its gone now. With a little more time-" (Rei) "That''s not what I meant. Rei...for one second, stop thinking about training and Ninjutsu. How are you really doing?" (Suzu) "I don''t follow?" (Rei) "Sigh. About what Tai said, I agree with him. It''s important to take your time" (Suzu) "?" (Rei) "I used to think as you do, always training. Dedicating every hour, every second to getting stronger, believing it would be the key to getting what I want. Never allowing any so-called, distractions. To truly free myself from the chains of my predecessors" (Suzu) "And now?" (Rei) "Now I realize even if I became the strongest in the world, power alone won''t help me form real connections with others" (Suzu) "You say that despite having formed a connection with us" (Rei) "Because you reached out to me, just as with Mariko and the kids. I...I''ve never had the courage to take the leap all on my own. I just went with the flow. Granted I''ve changed...but not as much as I''d like" (Suzu) Suzu''s words made him recall the first time he took her and Tai to Akina''s diner, right after they failed Tango''s test. The trio promised to put their differences aside and work together as a true team. Not giving their complete trust at first, but opting to try She had wanted to change herself the most. To be more outgoing, and less guarded. But it''s never easy to change one''s nature, and due to the circumstances of her upbringing, she''s had to be on guard her entire life "It''s been three, almost four years since we made that promise to change ourselves. All that time, and I''ve barely shown any progress whatsoever" (Suzu) "You..." (Rei) "However, I haven''t given up yet" (Suzu) "What are you trying to tell me?" (Rei) "All I''m saying is, try to reach out some more. Though you''ve changed quite a bit, there are moments when you remind me of my old self. If there''s anything you need, it''s okay to talk to me or Tai" (Suzu) Memories and words occupied his head as he remembered another life, one that seemed like it was over a century ago "Knowledge helps you make a living in life, but wisdom helps you make a life..." (Rei) "What''s that?" (Suzu) "Oh! Uh...nothing. Just something an annoying acquaintance of mind once said. I''ll...take your advice to heart" (Rei) "Thank you. Goodnight Rei" (Suzu) "Goodnight Suzu" (Rei) DASH! Despite initially planning on visiting the library for more studying and research, his mind was too befuddled now to even consider such action. Clearly understanding the reason as to why, he quickly returned home and went to bed "Geez! My team or Mabui, why do they keep reminding me of...tch!" Even though he was enhanced, fatigue filled his entire body. Whether it was mental or physical stress, Rei was too tired to even care and just went to sleep "Sarah, Chris...haaah...damn it" ??? Hours later, well past midnight At Kumogakure''s northwestern gate, two guards were maintaining watch. The only thing they felt was boredom, as usually nothing ever occurs at their station. One of them even started to nod off "Hey! Wake up!" "Mm?! Ah, come on Senpai!" "You can count sheep when you get home" "Why not? I get paid to count em here. Besides, things have been pretty quiet for a while now. Hell, there''s hardly been any mission requests in the village" "That''s not a good thing man" The guard struggling to stay awake stretched as the other sighed in frustration at his idle behavior "For the love of-hm?" "What?" "I think there''s a...person there" "Really, I don''t see anything?" "..." RUSTLE! "?!" "Senpai!" "This is why you should always stay alert!" Hearing an unnatural sound, the two readied their weapons, prepared for anything when a single figure emerged from the shadows. Moving at a lively pace as it approached "YOU! HALT!" "IDENTIFY YOURSELF!" "Wait! Wait! Friendly!" "!" "Eh? An...old man?" "Wait a sec...aren''t you-?!" "You know this guy senpai?" The old man who arrived could barely speak, gasping for air after running continuously for quite a distance "I-I need to speak...with...Raikage-sama!" THUD! He shouted his last words before passing out "Whoa! Hold on! You think anyone can just show up at our gates and ask to speak with-!" "Shut up and help him up!" "Senpai? Why?" "This man is very important. Come on, give me a hand!" "A-Alright!" "Hang on master, we''ll personally take to you the Raikage" "Okay Senpai, just who the hell is this guy?" "This man is a long heralded master that taught many of our shinobi decades ago. He''s even trained Killer B-sama" "Huh?! Killer B-sama?! This guy?!" "That''s right" CREAK! After the senpai opened the gate, he helped his comrade carry the old man inside "His name is...Master Sabu" 120. Master Sabu’s Request The next morning Rei put on his "Developer R" disguise consisting of a polygraph-shaped silver mask and a hooded black robe. Deciding now would be a good time to contact Tetsuo and inquire into his recent change of plans When Tai informed him of Mori Sp.''s decision to speed up construction of ICF homes, his first thought was to make contact with Tetsuo as soon as humanly possible. Such news was something he preferred to hear from his partner, rather than a third party WEAVE! {Genjutsu Transmission!} ZSSST! After casting the projection-type Genjutsu, the present environment shifted. Altering until what was his room, became Tetsuo''s office. Tetsuo was alerted to his presence the moment he activated the technique, already ready and waiting "Developer R, I was going to make contact soon but you beat me to it. Do you have another schematic?" "Not today. I''m simply here to make sure everything is okay with the company. Mori Sp. is speeding things up after all" "Ah, you heard. I guess word travels fast" "Have the devices I created given you some kind of trouble?" "No. No. Not at all. It''s just certain events have forced me to change some plans. I wanted to talk to you about it as soon as I could" "Elaborate for me" Tetsuo went on to explain his current circumstances. How the council and other unknown parties have grown curious, carrying out investigations into his company. Putting even his own safety at risk "They''ve already started investigating the company. We knew it was only a matter of time before this would happen the moment you were given all of Kumogakure''s energy contracts. I trust you''ve taken measures to ensure your safety?" "Like you would not believe. I hardly ever leave the safety of my company building. Only when Mori Sp. becomes bigger, enough to fight these threats on its own, can I relax a little" "Only a little huh?" "Of course, a merchant must never truly let his guard down. Your name has also started to swirl amongst the masses as well" "I already know, but there''s no need to worry about me. However, I am curious...do you have any idea how this leak happened in the first place?" "Your designs are without a doubt, revolutionary. Accomplished scholars, scientists, engineers, businessmen, and even several politicians have a keen interest in your work. Even if I forcibly prevented employees from going home, I doubt it''d stop the spread of your name" "I guess it''s true what they say, Rumors are far more difficult to stop than a blade" "I-I assure you the company is still following strict guidelines when it comes to information security. All of your designs and inventions are safe. Even if one manages to escape with a blueprint or two, they''ll never be able to manufacture it completely without us" Tetsuo copied Kumogakure''s method of splitting tasks for one job. His engineers were moved into separate groups and given different tasks to complete whenever Rei would give him a blueprint or advice for a new product This was the best way to ensure no competitor could steal their merchandise. And by the time products made it to the public, the company would already be working on something new and/or better "That''s all I wanted to know Tetsuo, thank you" "My pleasure. Is there anything else, another device you''d like to build?" "I''ve something in the works but...not yet. I don''t want to overload Mori Sp. with new products. It hasn''t grown that big yet, I''ll contact you when it''s ready" {Hmm...what was once too big is now too small. I need to hurry with the company expansion before anyone else manages to catch up with us. The Land of Lightning is becoming too compact for Mori Sp. to operate} ZSSST! Rei ended transmission after hearing someone knock on his door {Is it nee-san?} Taking off his disguise, he opened the front door to find a familiar figure waiting for him "Dodai-ossan?" "I have told you repeatedly to drop the ossan, damn it. Come on, you and your team have been summoned" "...Okay" Though he had more questions, Rei could sense the hint of urgency in his tone and thus, refrained from asking anymore. Obediently following Dodai to the central office of the Raikage Arriving inside, Rei found Tai and Suzu waiting for him. But the presence of Toroi and a strange looking old man next to him is what caught his attention "Is this them?" "Yes Master Sabu. They''ll serve you well. I apologize we couldn''t get more Chunin or Jonin but-" (A) "You''ve already gone above and beyond Raikage-sama. Thank you" (Sabu) Sabu bowed with gratitude towards the Raikage before turning to the Genin "Alright you three, get ready. Mission briefing will be given along the way as there''s no time" (Sabu) "No time? No time for what?" (Rei) "Yeah, I''m confused. Who are you again?" (Tai) "Watch you mouth you lot! This is Master Sabu, an esteemed ninja that hails from our country. He''s trained many of our ninja decades ago, even my brother and I have received his wise tutelage" (A) "?!" (Team Tango) "Those are just my glory days he''s talking about. Now, I''m just an old enka singer who also happens to be a ninja. An...enka ninja if you will" (Sabu) A gestured to Toroi, the latter of whom nodded in response before speaking to the Genin "Sorry about this last minute call guys, but you''re the best we could muster" (Toroi) "Toroi-sama..." (Suzu) "This is a C-rank mission that will take place outside the country, Hikaru will be our escort. Also, there are two other Chunin that''ll join us, along with...Killer B-sama" (Toroi) "Eh?! B-sama?!" (Tai) "Now it''s getting interesting" (Rei) "Join us for what?" (Suzu) "There''s an island Kumogakure has heavy ties to, Master Sabu has a contact that oversees the wildlife there" (Toroi) "And?" (Tai) "My contact sent me a message that''s only meant to be used in emergencies. It''s possible the island is under attack" (Sabu) "This island you''re talking about...is it Genbu island?" (Rei) "No, but your experience on Genbu island is part of the reason why you were selected for this mission" (Toroi) "Our experience?" (Tai) "Yes, particularly with-!" (Toroi) CLAP! A clapped his hands, stopping their banter. Because time was of the essence, the explanation would have to wait. Asking if they''d accept this mission, the Genin replied in agreement. With that affirmation, there was nothing more to be said and he sent present party out "Come in" (A) "I''m surprised you didn''t go yourself, considering how important that island is to the village" It was the Daimy, waiting in the room next door for their conversation to end "It''s not my place but, is it okay to send them?" (Daimy) "I had no choice. They''re the best Genin in the village and there are no Chunin or Jonin I can afford to remove from their current posts so suddenly now. This mission demands more people" (A) "Three Chunin, three Genin, and including Sabu and B, three Jonin. Quite the group. And you''re right, we still don''t know what''s going on. It''s wise not to send an entire squadron until we verify the problem but...are you sure you still don''t wanna go?" (Daimy) "The last time this happened, was during the Hyuga Affair. If this is another plot to get me out of the village...well-" (A) "I get it, a chance to probe our hidden enemy" (Daimy) "If it even is them. Don''t worry, Team Tango had the best time when it came to the Genbu island test. They''ll be fine" (A) The Daimy took his leave, opening the door before sharing his final thoughts "A, I think we both know the animals on Genbu...can''t compare to the creatures in that place" (Daimy) "Yeah. I know..." (A) 121. The Island The Land of Lightning''s northwestern coastline Master Sabu and Toroi had taken Team Tango to a harbor. Meeting up with Hikaru, he led the group to his ship where several ninja were already waiting for them "Thanks for getting this together on such short notice Hikaru-dono" "It''s no trouble at all Master Sabu. I just wish I could''ve done more" "It''s more than enough, come on you three. As soon as you''re on board, we can take off. Our destination isn''t that far, so everyone will get briefed along the way" Once they were on the ship, Hikaru set sail. Heading to the west, outside their country''s borders. On deck, Rei found the familiar figures of Musai, Osoi''s son whom he just met yesterday. And Hikaru''s second-in-command, Funsui, the ninja Team Tango encountered during their first trip to Genbu Island Sabu stood at the tip of the bow, gathering everyone''s attention for an important message "Alright everyone, eyes up. The place we''re going to is a nameless island, home to aggressive wildlife. My contact there, Kintar, has done something I''d never thought he''d do...send an S.O.S." (Sabu) "This island is under attack? What kind of enemies will we be facing?" (Musai) "His message was brief, but according to him, it''s several troops of mercenaries. Though they haven''t breached the island yet" (Sabu) "Not yet? Considering the length of time since you got his message, how is that possible?" (Rei) Just as Sabu was about to respond, the doors to the captain''s cabin opened. Two men appeared, one was Killer B, and other was the Lightning Daimy''s righthand man Tekkan "Tekkan-san! What are you doing here?" (Tai) "I''m here to oversee diplomatic relations as we travel through foreign waters. Not to mention, our relationship with Takigakure1Hidden Waterfall Villageand the island in question" (Tekkan) "Right, Tekkan-dono. Why don''t you explain, considering you''re the one most versed in said subject" (Toroi) "Yes. The island you''re going to is under ownership of Takigakure, but is overseen by Kumogakure. This is possible through a certain aggreement between the two nations generations ago" (Tekkan) "Master Sabu mentioned this island is home to dangerous creatures, it sounds an awful lot like Genbu Island" (Tai) "I won''t say they don''t have a connection, but there are many differences...besides one of them being on the back of a giant turtle" (Tekkan) "The people of our land have protected Genbu for hundreds of years. But as time passed, the animals on the island began to grow. Eventually, certain wildlife became too powerful...and hostile. They had to be moved somewhere else" (Toroi) "That somewhere else being this island were visiting now" (Rei) The situation became more clear to Rei. Like a zoo, the animals growing on Genbu had to be isolated in order to avoid killing one another. The purpose of the island they were going to was hosting all the "bad" ones Because Team Tango held the best score for the Genbu island test, they were the obvious choice of Genin for this mission. Killer B was likely brought along for the same reason, as he was the most experienced with taming wild creatures Suzu interjected, as she still felt something was off with this situation "There''s one thing bothering me. If this island is ours, why is under Takigakure''s ownership?" (Suzu) "An astute question Suzu. The creatures on Genbu were not trained by shinobi, so it took much longer for them to grow and evolve into the massive beasts they are today. They became a real problem during the era of the 1st Raikage" (Sabu) "At that time, another event was taking a place as well. The very first Gokage2Five ShadowSummit. Specifically, The 1st Hokage handing out the Tailed Beasts. Can you remember what happened next?" (Tekkan) "Um. Uh...well..." (Tai) "The Sand already had the One-Tail and just asked for money and fertile land. The Leaf kept the strongest one, the Nine-Tails and other nations including us got two to keep the balance" (Suzu) "Correct! The Stone received the Four-Tails and Five-Tails, the Mist gained the Three-Tails and Six-Tails, and we the Cloud obtained the Two-Tails and-" (Tekkan) ? Eight Tails! Can''t ya see?! Dats me! The rappin'', Killer Bee! A Tailed Beast inside! Chillin'' with mah patna, we do it live! Ya know my might, ain''t no fight, we brighter than a light! Eight Tails and Killer Bee, a team to the highest degree, WHEEEE!!!! ? (Killer B) "..." (Everyone) "..." (Tekkan) "A nice rhythm, but you''re still lacking something B, I just can''t put my finger on it" (Sabu) "...I''ll give that one a 6.8 out of 10" (Rei) "?!" (Killer B) "Ahem! As I was saying, a total of eight Tailed Beasts were in the possession of the Five Great Nations, but what about the last one? Do you know how the Seven-Tails ended up in the hands of a nation not belonging to the Five?" (Tekkan) {Oh, I see there where this going} (Rei) Tekkan went on to explain the history of Kumogakure''s relationship with Takigakure. The Seven-Tails was the only Beast with the ability to fly, thus allowing it to remain out of the 1st Hokage''s grasp. Eventually, Kumo managed to corner it but were unsure of what to do next Keeping a third beast would disrupt the delicate power balance the nations had worked so hard to maintain. It was then problems on Genbu surfaced and the 1st Raikage needed a solution. He approached the newly formed nation and made a deal "In exchange for this Tailed Beast, please allow us access to your special island" "That was the deal the 1st made, and Takigakure accepted" (Tekkan) "Special island?" (Tai) "This island we''re going to is equipped a special barrier to prevent intrusion...or escape" (Sabu) "That''s why these enemies attacking the island now haven''t breached it yet, now I understand" (Rei) "Correct" (Sabu) "Considering Kumogakure is more than capable of doing the same thing, I can only assume we made this deal with Takigakure because-" (Funsui) "It''s a costly endeavor, to constantly maintain such a barrier for an extended period of time requires resources and personnel. Plus, they agreed not to charge us anything for it in exchange for the beast. We basically got a tax-free island, solved Genbu''s problem, and maintained peace. Not a bad deal if I do say so myself" (Tekkan) "So that''s why we need a politician like yourself for this mission" (Musai) With that, clarity emerged in the minds of everyone present. Except for Tekkan, Toroi, and Sabu, everyone else had received this mission at the last minute "Your mission isn''t to fight enemies, it''s to help Kintar and I placate these animals, that''s your priority. Once this task is done, then we can focus on identifying who exactly is responsible for this intrusion" (Sabu) WHISTLE! Hikaru whistled from the helm before making an announcement "We''re approaching our destination!" (Hikaru) The sight of a massive island could be seen in the distance. The Genin ran past Sabu to the tip of the deck in order to get a better view "Wow" (Suzu) "I know, unlike the one on Genbu''s back, it doesn''t look like a deathtrap for humans" (Tai) "Hahaha! Don''t let its beautiful appearance deceive you. The island on Genbu''s shell might as well be a vacation home compared to that place. I guarantee anything and everything there wants to kill you" (Sabu) "And that is exactly why I''ll be staying on the ship" (Tekkan) "Ah! That''s right, how could I have forgotten!" (Sabu) "Master Sabu?" (Tekkan) Sabu stood by the side of deck and faced everyone "While this island doesn''t have an official name, it does have a nickname given its secondary purpose for Kumogakure shinobi" (Sabu) "You never mentioned that" (Tekkan) "It has another purpose for serving our ninja?" (Funsui) "What are you talking about Master?" (Toroi) "Hehe, while I did say the island is home to feral creatures, I never implied they couldn''t be tamed...by shinobi" (Sabu) "...!" (Suzu) "Tamed by...you don''t mean for-?!" (Tai) "I figured as much, with all this talk of giant animals" (Rei) As the corners of his lips rose, Sabu continued with a bow "My fellow comrades, I humbly welcome you to...Summoning Island" 122. Kintarō MrProper The team from Kumogakure approached the island on the opposite side from the enemy invaders. It was then Hikaru abruptly stopped the ship a few kilometers away from the island "We''re stopping here?" (Toroi) "The island''s invisible barrier has been activated. Give me a moment so I can signal Kintar-dono" (Sabu) Several minutes prior to Sabu sending a flare in the air, a portion of the barrier opened. Sailing through, the barrier in question closed immediately after they entered. Once they arrived on the coastline, the overseer of the island came to greet them A man with large muscular build called Kintar, along with his giant raccoon partner Pochi, shook hands with Sabu before addressing the others "Welcome, friends of the Cloud. I am Kintar, and this is Pochi, we''re the ones who maintain equilibrium in this feral place. In other words, we ensure no species in this place hunts another to extinction" "I see, like a wildlife conservation" "That''s right, it''s been a while Toroi-dono, I haven''t seen you, Killer B, or Tekkan since the last...six years if I recall correctly" "Thank you for continuing your duties despite the ongoing war at the time" Kintar was a private contractor, not a resident of Kumogakure or the Land of Lightning. He had no obligation to help them, but out respect for his friendship with Sabu, he choose to stay anyway. Despite the fact the island was an easy target for foreign nations "I know you''ve already met B and Tekkan, but these Chunin here are Musai, Hikaru, and Funsui. And the young ones to my left are our finest Genin team. Designated Team Tango, they are Suzu, Rei Sano, and Tai Yotsuki respectively" (Toroi) "A pleasure to meet you all, now I suggest we move. Pochi and I haven''t been able to put all the animals away yet, we''ll head to my campsite. Follow me precisely and stay on the path. Pochi!" (Kintar) "I''ll be escorting Tekkan back to ship. Funsui, stay with them" (Hikaru) "Got it" (Funsui) ROAR! Pochi took point as the rest followed in a straight line "Your letter was brief, what exactly happened for you to initiate the Terrarium protocol of all things?" (Sabu) "I was unable to send another letter after the barrier was activated. Sigh, less than eighteen hours ago, a small armada of ships arrived on the western side of the island. But for whatever reason, the haven''t gotten closer...it''s almost as if they knew about the barrier" (Kintar) "Impossible. The barrier is invisible, and not many know of it existence in the first place. Are you sure they aren''t just probing from a distance?" (Toroi) "No, they''ve stopped just at the edge of the barrier, they know it''s there. Which is why I called for help. Anyone with such detailed intel and arrives with a force like that is a threat I take seriously" (Kintar) "Have you confirmed whether or not they''re ninja?" (Sabu) "Not yet" (Kintar) As speculation continued, Tai raised a question for them "Excuse me, what exactly is this Terrarium protocol you''re talking about?" (Tai) "Right, guess I should explain. In the event of an enemy intrusion, protocol dictates I call for reinforcements, activate the barrier, and direct all local wildlife into bunkers built beneath the island for their safety" (Kintar) "The creatures here are potential summoning partners for shinobi of our village after all. Such precious assets must be protected at all costs" (Toroi) "Everyone here was chosen due to their experience on dealing with abnormally large wildlife. Your objective is to protect them, not hurt them" (Sabu) "And the enemies?" (Musai) "Once I''ve accounted for all the animals, then we verify exactly where these intruders come from, and what they want" (Kintar) "If we discover the presence of shinobi, we contact Kumogakure immediately for reinforcements" (Toroi) {That would designate this mission as B-rank at least} (Suzu) "But they''re not gonna wait long, so I suggest we-TAI-KUN!" (Kintar) "?!" (Everyone) "DON''T MOVE!" (Kintar) "Uh! T-That sound is-!" (Tai) HISS! When the group halted to answer Tai''s question, a large snake took the opportunity to slither down a tree and approach Tai from above. The one in question did his best not to move as he could feel the serpent edge ever closer to his neck "...!" (Tai) "Don''t. Move." (Kintar) "What do we do? I know we''re supposed to protect them but-" (Toroi) "If push comes to shove, so be it. I''ll take care of this" (Kintar) "!" (Sabu) Before any of them could do anything, Rei casually approached Tai and stuck out his hand "Rei! What are you-?!" (Kintar) "Our mission is to protect these creatures" (Rei) Rei grabbed the snake beneath its head and casually placed it away from Tai. The latter of whom nearly fell to his knees with relief. Kintar instructed Pochi to carry out its job and add it to rest of the animals within the bunker "Huh, Pochi is quite effective for this task. I can see why you keep him around" (Rei) "Phew! Thanks Rei, I owe you big time. But why didn''t you kill it? It was gonna kill me!" (Tai) "Animals only lash out if they''re distressed or provoked, our new friend wasn''t looking to cause harm, it just thought you were apart of the tree" (Rei) "Right, I forgot how much of a snake lover you are. I just hope you never pick them over me in the future" (Tai) "Long as your use outweighs theirs, he won''t" (Suzu) "What she said" (Rei) "Jerks!" (Tai) "H-Hehe, let''s move on" (Toroi) As the group was on verge of arriving at his camp, Kintar gave a small glance at Rei. An action that didn''t escape Toroi''s notice "Not bad, right?" (Toroi) "A child that doesn''t even flinch at something like that is abnormal to say the least" (Kintar) "They''re some of our most gifted. I promise they''ll be of good use to you" (Toroi) "Mm. Oh! We''re almost at my camp, the center of the island" (Kintar) Kintar was reassured knowing the Genin Kumogakure sent weren''t going to be a burden Minutes later, the group arrived at his camp. At its edge, there was an entrance that led underground to the island bunker. Pochi had just emerged from it after dumping the snake Rei just caught Getting their bearings, Killer B was directed into the bunker and Kintar pulled out a map before addressing the group "Alright, I want to do this quiet, and right. Fortunately, Pochi and I are good at our jobs, as we''ve already rounded up most of the creatures on the island. Just a few stragglers remain, like the one Tai got acquainted with earlier" (Kintar) "I take it we''ll each hit different parts of the island?" (Toroi) Kintar pointed to the map "Yes, each group will require a sensor to detect them. I''ll leave team assignments to you, but we need to hit these four areas at once. Pochi and I count as a one team, and I know Master Sabu can handle himself...as for the rest-" (Kintar) "Since Rei-kun is sensor, Team Tango will remain as they are. Funsui is one as well, so Musai and I will go with him. What about containment?" (Toroi) "Right, I didn''t get chance to show you since I rushed away when you popped that flare" (Kintar) Kintar pulled large scrolls out of a pouch and handed one to each team "Once you''ve gathered all the animals in your respective areas, place these scrolls either above, or below them. They contain a Jikkan Ninjutsu1Space-Time Ninjutsuconnecting to a mark in the bunker for easy transportation. However, they''re a one-off so be absolutely sure you''re done before using them" (Kintar) {It''s just like nee-san''s transporting pots I use to travel back and forth from my lab} (Rei) "Let''s turn on our radios, channel 7" (Toroi) Since Tango wasn''t with them, they couldn''t use his Chakra Transmission to communicate telepathically via their chakra. The group would be doing this the old fashioned way "Okay, sound is good, channel is secure" (Funsui) "Remember, you''re not to hurt them under any circumstances. These animals will serve this, as well as future generations of Kumo-nin!" (Sabu) "Be at ease Master Sabu. I''m well versed in wide-ranged Kanashibari no Jutsu2Paralysis Jutsu. And with Toroi and Funsui''s help, we''ll make sure they don''t get a scratch" (Musai) "Kanashibari...that''s reassuring, and what of you Team Tango?" (Sabu) "Rei''s good with Genjutsu, Tai and I have a few tricks up our sleeves as well. Don''t worry about us" (Suzu) "What about Killer B-sama? I saw Master Sabu take him beneath the bunker a minute ago but-" (Musai) "B-dono will stay in the bunker to keep our friends in check. If they were to rampage, busting out of that place is a guarantee. Then you get dozens, if not hundreds of giant, hostile animals running amok on the island" (Kintar) "Gulp!" (Tai) "Plus, B can''t afford to go all out here. If he were to transform and enter his Tailed Beast State, he''d cause irreparable damage. Having him stay here at our base while keeping them calm and quiet is the best way to utilize his talents" (Sabu) "If it wasn''t for this, Raikage-sama wouldn''t have let him come along on this mission" (Toroi) "I see, that makes sense" (Musai) Suddenly recalling an important factor, Kintar caught everyone off guard as he shouted a final warning to the group as a whole "One more thing! If you encounter any large sand pits, STAY AWAY from them! And NEVER, EVER use Doton3Earth Stylenear them! Don''t ask me why, it would take too long to explain, just take my word for it!" (Kintar) "Huh?" (Funsui) "O-Okay..." (Musai) {No Doton, that shouldn''t hurt me too much...and I think Suzu''s alright. We should be fine} (Rei) CLAP! CLAP! "Okay then, time to cut the chatter! Our mission is clear and we''re on borrowed time people, let''s get this done with haste!" (Toroi) WHOOSH! And so, the four teams dashed in different directions towards their individual objectives respectively. Completely unaware of what the lurking enemies outside the island had in store for it...and them 123. The Twins Far from the west side of the island On the deck of a ship away from the impending attack were two men in masks. As the ones responsible for sending this small army of raiders, it was paramount the duo observe the situation to ensure their plans went smoothly They belonged to the mysterious shadow organization, the "Company", bearing the monikers "Arc" & "Balance" "As always Arc, I''m impressed at how easily it is for you to assemble a fighting force so quickly" "Thanks, but I can''t take all the credit. Most of them are idiots from Ishigakure1Hidden Rock Villageitching for a fight. I just pointed them in the right direction" "Hey! Don''t say that! I helped create that new village after all, insulting them is like insulting all the hard work I put in to making it" "Right. Right. Sorry, I forgot how sensitive you are" "Hmph! Is that any way to talk to a brother?" "Do you mean brother in the sense of comrades? Or in the sense that we''re actually brothers?" Arc chuckled at his remark, wondering if we was being sarcastic due to their circumstances "Smartass. It may have been a few second difference, but I''m still your older brother" "Considering we''re twins, I don''t think it counts. Since ma kicked the bucket and pa is who knows where, there''s no way to know for sure" "Ma beat the ever living shit out of me the most cause I was the elder brother, there''s your goddamn proof" "True, but I was the one who killed the evil bitch hag, sooooo..." "I recall we did that together as well" "Tsk! There''s no arguing with you Aniki2Big Brother! I''d say we should go find pa to confirm, but that old drunkard is probably dead in a ditch somewhere" "True. Even if we did, I''m sure-hm!" Before they could continue, a messenger hawk landed on the shoulder of the elder brother, Balance. Removing a parchment tied to the birds foot, he read the message "Aniki? What''s wrong?" "My spies have informed me the team from Kumogakure has just arrived on the other side of the island" "Finally! I was getting tired of waiting, let''s put on a good show. I''ll signal my agent on the ships. You gonna take off now?" "I''ll head back to Kusagakure3Hidden Grass Villagewhen the barrier''s been breached" "So little faith, relax man. Most of them are just average mercenaries from all over, but a couple of them are quite special if I do say so myself" "They better not be too powerful, we need the Kumo-nin to actually be capable of putting up a fight for this to work" "Hey, your spies told us hours ago that Jiton no Toroi4Toroi of the Magnet Styleand the Raikage''s younger brother were coming. For big players like those, naturally I had to think out of the box" "That''s-! Ugh! Alright, fine! We need to provide Kumogakure ample time to send reinforcements so there''s no point if the fight ends early. Just who are these special guys?" "One is a young prodigy from Iwagakure5Hidden Stone Villagethat stole Kinjutsu6Forbidden Jutsu. Along with him, there''s also a trio of terrorists-for-hire, all Kekkei Genkai7Bloodline Limitbearers straight from Ishigakure who...pfft!" "What''s so funny?" "This trio has a pair of rowdy twins as well. What are the odds right? Hahaha!" After Arc signaled his hidden agent, the armada of ships began to move towards the island barrier. Balance was preparing to leave as well when a peculiar question emerged in his head "You didn''t use your own name when you hired these guys right?" "Come on Aniki, I''m not a f**king amateur, of course not. Always be the middle man, that''s how you stay out of trouble. As it turns out, there was someone else who held interest in this island. Or rather, the creatures on it, a client from Amegakure8Hidden Rain Village" "The Rain? Was it the village leader Hanzo? I know he''s in the middle of a civil war right now but-" "That''s what I thought at first, but the conflict in his nation has caused him to become extremely paranoid. So I did a little digging and while I didn''t find out the name of the client, I was able to uncover the one who contacted me as per instructed. Heh, you''ll never guess who" "If I''m never gonna be able to guess, then just tell me you condescending jackass. Who?!" "Orochimaru" Balance almost tripped when he heard that name. The idea of his little brother dealing with a former partner of their organization, who double crossed them, if such an act was discovered by their peers...it''d lead to serious trouble "ARE YOU INSANE?! What do you think Sage will do once he finds out you''re dealing with that back-stabbing snake?!" "Nothing. All he cares about is the task being completed, not how I do it. Besides, Orochimaru only interacted with Red, Three, & Mountain, and we all wear masks. There''s no need to fear my identity being comprised" "Orochimaru may not have been an official member, but he was a partner that worked for us over an extended period of time. We did our best to keep him in the dark, but that doesn''t mean he knows nothing. Plus, interacting with a traitor is-!" "I think you''ve got the wrong idea Aniki, he technically never betrayed us" "?!" "As per our initial agreement, he completed his task and left. It was Sister Red''s fault for trying to confine him out of her insane lust for scientific breakthrough, that he resorted to such extreme measures to escape" Orochimaru was more of a captive, than member of the "Company". Fresh off his defection from Konoha, he was desperate for protection, which they provided. Arc knew and took advantage of this, as to not be labeled a traitor for making deals with him "You and your damn loopholes. One of these days, they''re gonna come back to bite you in the ass. And I won''t be able to bail you out like always" "Hey, we''re not some cult. All members joined for the pursuit of personal gain, our interests can only align for so long. We''re not sticking with these guys forever aniki" "Obviously...but who is Orochimaru with now?" "I don''t know, probably some new group or nation that''s agreed to protect his slithery ass. Long as I get paid, I could care less" "It always money with you" "A guy''s gotta eat, now it''s about time you get a move on. Kusagakure isn''t exactly close, and this whole charade will be worthless if you''re not where you need to be by the end of the day. Take the boat, a small gift for you" "You sure the path back is safe?" "If brother Scorpion is doing his job, Takigakure9Hidden Waterfall Villageshould be too occupied to notice you, the sea routes should be clear. But to be safe, I recommend not sailing to close to the coastline" Arc jumped off the ship and stood atop the water via his chakra "Don''t stay for too long! Just let Scorpion and Blade do their jobs!" "I know! Just go already aniki!" After giving his little brother a warning, Balance set sail and left the area. Arc remained where he was and stared at island, smiling. He was more than eager for the pure chaos set to envelope the island and its inhabitants "Now then, please do your best to survive for as long as you can...my dear Cloud ninja" 124. Breach! [1] MrProper Summoning Island The individual groups from Kumogakure had nearly finished the task of rounding up the local wildlife. Team Tango was the first to finish their area and opted to join the others. After scanning the island with his sensing, Rei decided the first person they should aid is Sabu Though the one in question was used to this kind of job, he was by himself and had the second largest group of creatures to secure. A rowdy gang of giant raccoons, not that different from Kintar''s partner, Pochi Using radios to inform him of their upcoming arrival, they bolted to his location. Wide as the island was, the team was fortunate they''d been sent to area near Sabu''s and managed to arrive at his location within the span of a few minutes "Oh, you guys got here in no time at all. And to finish your area so quickly, not to shabby" (Sabu) "We had it easy. How can we help Master Sabu?" (Suzu) "For starters you can...hold on-!" (Sabu) FWIP! BAM! Before he could finish, Sabu ducked, avoiding a swiping palm from striking his head. Countering with his giant axe, using the blunt end of the handle to knock the raccoon back. He was still in the midst of battle and had no time to talk. Picking up on this, Team Tango engaged without waiting for permission "Same as before guys!" (Tai) "Right!" (Rei & Suzu) "?!" (Sabu) TAK! WEAVE! Tai jumped in the air as Suzu and Rei formed hand seals, preparing to unleash their Ninjutsu "Doton: Taj Doryheki!1Earth Style: Multi Mud Wall" (Suzu) "Magen: Kakuran!2Demonic Illusion: Disturbance!" (Rei) RUMBLE! Several walls of earth emerged from the ground, enclosing the unruly mammals and preventing escape. Rei capitalized on the opportunity by hitting them Genjutsu as to halt their movements Tai, still in the air, used his arm bracers to summon small spheres wrapped in paper before throwing them at the raccoons. A strange colored smoke emerged after they exploded The raccoons found it more difficult to move as the strength departed from their bodies. One by one, they fell asleep on the ground "That gas...an anesthetic?" (Sabu) "More like, an anesthetic and sleeping gas cocktail I came up with" (Tai) "As per the mission parameters, only completely non-lethal means must be used for these creatures" (Rei) {Not bad at all. Ignoring the well conceived strategy, this team has demonstrated excellent team work and the ability to think on the fly. They''re already near Chunin Level...} (Sabu) "Rei! Are there anymore?" (Tai) "No, we''re done here" (Rei) Sabu threw the scroll Kintar gave him over the now downed animals. A Jutsu formula emerged from it, encasing them until... POOF! Their figures vanished in a cloud of smoke, sent to the underground bunker via Jikkan Ninjutsu3Space-Time Ninjutsu "Now what?" (Suzu) "From what I can tell, Kintar-san and Pochi are already done with their area, but Toroi-san''s group is having some trouble" (Rei) "Toroi-sama having trouble? Really?" (Suzu) "He''s not in danger or anything, but the group they''re dealing with is especially large. On top of that, they can''t use lethal means" (Rei) Sabu interjected and addressed the team "In that case, you three go back him up. Since you said Kintar-dono is done, he should be heading back to the center of the island, at the entrance to the above-ground entrance to the bunker" (Sabu) "You''re going to report to him in person?" (Suzu) "Yes, he''s too far away for the radios to reach. We can better coordinate our next strategy in person. Once the island is clear, we won''t have to worry about collateral damage when we engage the enemy. The barrier won''t last forever" (Sabu) "Then let''s get moving! Come on guys!" (Tai) DASH! Tai took off without even waiting for their response "Hey! You don''t even know where to go you idiot!" (Rei) "Excuse us, Master Sabu" (Suzu) "Be careful!" (Sabu) Rei chased after Tai as Suzu gave a departing bow to Sabu before doing the same {With that team, we should be done in no time. The problem is the group outside. It''s strange, shouldn''t Takigakure4Hidden Waterfall Villagehave acted by now? Such a large group illegally traveling along this close sea route would certainly not escape their attention. Could something have happened to that village?} (Sabu) ??? Tai moved with haste as Team Tango made they their way through the island "Tai! As the medical-nin, you''re not supposed to lead the group!" (Rei) "No time, I wanna get this done! Besides, I got a good look at Kintar-san''s map before we left, I know exactly where Toroi-sama''s group is!" (Tai) "That''s not the-ugh! Geez, why is he in such a hurry anyway?" (Rei) "It''s probably because of his family" (Suzu) "His family? O-Oh yeah, can''t believe I almost forgot about it...the Yotsuki Clan Selection" (Rei) Tai still had to deal with his family issues, particularly, the protection of his line''s position as Clan head. All the other clan heirs, his cousins, were off on their own respective pilgrimage''s. Performing honorable, meticulous deeds to earn favor for their eligibility to become the next head And while Tai wasn''t that eager to come along on this mission at first, once he found out how vital this island is to the village, his mood completely shifted in the opposite direction. A good performance here would certainly add to his stock Because their village hadn''t received many shinobi jobs in recent years, there wasn''t enough opportunity for him to gain outstanding achievements. As to not be the one to break his bloodline''s tradition of becoming Clan head, there''s no way he''d let this chance slip past him {I''m definitely gonna make sure we ace this mission!} (Tai) "Sigh!" (Rei) "?!" (Tai) WHOOSH! Rei dashed in front of Tai and spoke without turning around "I get why you''re eager, but don''t forget our primary purpose. As a ninja, you are to put personal feelings aside and focus only on the mission" (Rei) "...I know" (Tai) "..." (Suzu) "Okay then...this way!" (Rei) Because Toroi''s group was on the opposite side of the island from Sabu, it took them more time to arrive at their destination. But after a while, they reached their colleagues only to find Toroi holding the front. They were being attacked by a group of enormous Komodo dragons Musai was doing his best to slow them down with his wide range Kanashibari no Jutsu5Paralysis Jutsu. Funsui was protecting him with his Suiton6Water Stylewhile Toroi restrained the giant lizards with metal nets, via his Jiton7Magnet Style "Back-up''s here!" (Tai) "Just in time! You guys are a sight for sore eyes!" (Funsui) "I''ve got the ones over here, assist Musai and Funsui!" (Toroi) "Right!" (Team Tango) Repeating the very same formation they used in Sabu''s area, it wasn''t long before the situation took a turn for the better. Once the creatures here were properly placated, Toroi sent them to the bunker and everyone present took a breather Rei informed them of the situation, letting them know everyone''s task was completed "So we''re the last to finish...kinda leaves a bad taste in your mouth" (Musai) "Hey, we had the largest and most ferocious group. I expected we''d be last, don''t think too much on it. Senpai, shall we?" (Funsui) "Right, now that we''re done, let''s meet up with-?!" (Toroi) Before he could finish his sentence, something unsettling caught his attention. The now "former" invisible barrier covering the island suddenly became visible to the naked eye. And worse, cracks began to form on its surface "?!" (Everyone) "SHIT!" (Toroi) "Impossible! This barrier is almost as strong as the one on Genbu, and that one can hold a friggin Tailed Beast!" (Funsui) "But-! If it''s like the one on Genbu, shouldn''t it repair itself?!" (Musai) Everyone paused with trepidation, waiting for the cracks to repair themselves, but no such phenomenon occurred. They continued to form and spread from the bottom of the barrier. Once the cracks reached the very top... SHATTER!! The barrier was destroyed in its entirety "BREACH!" (Toroi) 125. Breach! [2] MrProper Seven minutes earlier An insurgent ship carrying the supposed heads of the attack, a trio of shinobi, were conversing about next steps. Two of this trio were twins and answered to the third member This group was the last to arrive, but even after taking the time to coordinate with the other insurgents and ships, they''d spent quite a while doing nothing but observation. The leader, being the cautious type, wanted to investigate every aspect of the island before making a move While the younger twin remained quiet, the impatient elder spoke to the leader "Our men have tried all they could and the barrier still hasn''t been breached. Shouldn''t we step up now?" "..." "Boss?" The leader didn''t even bother to face the elder twin, leaving his back to him. His choice to not even turn around and face him annoyed the elder twin, but he didn''t say anything else. Despite his feelings, he knew better than to question his leader The stoic individual put down his binoculars and faced his subordinates "It can''t be one point..." "Huh?" "The barrier encases the island as whole, like a sphere. Meaning, we can''t go under it" "When did you figure tha-" "Because of its structure, a single attack on one point is rendered useless, and the wide structure will disperse the force of wide range attacks. If we''re to break it, we need to strike it with not only significant force, but simultaneously in every conceivable angle" "In that case, why don''t I-" "No, let''s save our biggest assets for later. I need to prepare, use the kid I choose from Iwagakure1Hidden Stone Village" "You sure?" "..." "Right. Right. Sorry" "Once he''s done, pay him. He was only hired for this purpose anyway...if he were to join us, there''d be nothing left of the island. When the barrier is gone, send him on his way" The leader entered his cabin and shut the door "On that, we can agree. Come on little bro, let''s go" "Nii-san2Older Brother, I''ve never seen him in action, is he so capable?" "Normally, you''d think not, but this child is...unique" The twins hopped from boat to boat, landing on a small schooner located towards the back of the small fleet. Only a single child was present, fiddling with something resembling a doll "...that''s not it" "Hey" "It''s a discharge? No, that''s lame. It''s a...crash? Ugh! That''s even worse!" "Hello!" "It''s a bomb? Pop?" "..." "...It''s pop art? No, that''s not even my style anyway" "Hey, explosion kid! It''s time to work!" The boy stood up and clenched his fists "Explosion kid...explosion...yes. YES!!! THAT''S IT!!!" "Huh?" "Thanks, that''s just what I needed!" "Eh? Whatever. It''s time to work, we got a job for you. The barrier needs to get hit in every possible direction. That''s where you come in" The younger brother gave the boy a small bag of money "Half now, half when you''ve completed your task" "Got it" ??? Present time on the island The team from Kumogakure had just witnessed the barrier shatter completely. As the elder shinobi pondered as to how this happened, Rei came to a realization "Why isn''t it fixing itself?!" (Musai) "It''s not going to repair itself because it lacks a critical element that makes it different from the one on Genbu" (Rei) "What do you mean?" (Funsui) "Motoi-san told me Genbu is covered with a 36-layered Saisei Kekkai3Self-Repairing Barrier. If this one is truly of the same type, it makes sense why it''s not repairing" (Rei) "Because it lacks shinobi to power it constantly?" (Suzu) "Ah!" (Toroi) Hearing Rei''s words, Toroi remembered that unlike here, a barrier team was assembled for the sole purpose of keeping the one on Genbu active 24/7 But what concerned him even more was the fact the insurgents were capable of breaking the barrier in the first place. That meant only one thing... "Our enemies our shinobi" (Toroi) "?!" (Everyone) "Only shinobi could break it, that''s a fact. Meaning, our current mission has now gone from C-rank, to at least B-rank if not higher" (Toroi) {B-rank...that''s just what I need} (Rei) Toroi used his radio to inform Kintar and Sabu of the situation and devise a new plan Team Tango, Toroi, and Kintar would opt for a hit-and-run guerilla style of attack. Because the only thing of value on the island were the animals, it was obvious what they had to protect. This tactic was also perfect for delaying the enemy Killer B would continue his job, remaining under the bunker to prevent the animals from escaping and worsening the situation. Even though he was a power asset, the last thing they needed was him destroying the island with his Tailed Beast powers Funsui and Sabu would stay by the entrance to the bunker. Musai would head back to the boat on the east side of the island and request reinforcements. Because Tekkan, the Daimy''s assistant was present, the boat they sailed on was a diplomatic vessel. Equipped with a variety of useful effects...including several messenger hawks The Raikage had shinobi on stand-by in the event of an attack. Factoring in the distance between the island and the village, back-up would arrive in less than a hour. The group just had to hold the line long enough for them arrive "Musai, get going" (Toroi) "R-Right!" (Musai) DASH! "We have our assignments, maintain radio contact at all times! If the enemy becomes too much for you, retreat closer towards the bunker. Slowly make your way back to the center of the island, at Kintar-dono''s camp. Near the end, we''ll huddle up there and maintain our defense for as long as we can!" (Toroi) "What if one of us can''t make it back?" (Tai) "..." (Funsui) "Remember, our objective is to protect the bunker. As shinobi, we''re prepared for the inevitable fate that awaits us if we fail" (Toroi) "Oh...o-okay" (Tai) "But on a personal note, I want you all to do your best to survive. And I swear, no matter what it takes, I''ll do upmost to ensure that none of you die before me" (Toroi) "?!" (Team Tango) {Captain...} (Funsui) The group split up, heading to their assigned areas. Team Tango dashed through the island, but had yet to encounter any enemies. Rei could still sense most of them had not gone further than the shoreline "What are they waiting for?" (Rei) "Fear of the unknown? Maybe something like...traps?" (Tai) "You would think right? But this seems different, like they''re expecting some-?!" (Rei) In an instant, Rei detected chakra above them, floating high in the sky. When he looked upwards, he could spot a giant white creature resembling a bird "What''s that?!" (Rei) [REI! INCOMING!] {Notitia?!} Before he could question it, several smaller white figures emerged the creature above the skies and flew downwards. All them looked like smaller birds {Wait a sec...those birds are fake! I remember now! This is his-?!} (Rei) In the skies above, a blond-haired kid sat on top the fake bird and weaved a hand seal. With an eerie grin, he screamed with everything he could muster, all the way from his diaphragm "Art...my art is...art is...HAH!" {Deidara!} "GUYS! FIND COVER!" (Rei) "?!" (Tai & Suzu) BOOM!! A wave of explosions covered the entire island "...AN EXPLOSION!!!!" 126. Breach [3] MrProper But on another note, its come to my attention that some online user by the name of karaokipanda on webnovel.com is stealing my work and posting it as his/her own. Calling it "Naruto: Deception" and is even trying to make money off of it with patreon and payblocks. I''d like to thank user diablo93x for discovering this and letting me know. This has deeply saddened me as I don''t write this fanfic to make money. Yes, I do have a Ko-fi page, but that''s only for those who wish to generously donate to me. My novel is FREE to you all, for your enjoyment, to solely entertain and encourage you. If you can, try to spread the word so this horrible person doesn''t cheat others out of their hard earned money. Whether it''s through comments or reporting on webnovel.com, you''d be performing a great service. During these challenging times, the need for integrity is paramount. Thank you, and as always, please enjoy the chapter. The far east side of the island Musai had just landed on the boat the group from Kumogakure arrived in to inform Tekkan and Hikaru of the situation "Now that the barrier has been breached, we must call for help!" (Musai) "As per protocol, I''ve already sent a carrier bird to Raikage-sama. Reinforcements should arrive within the hour, I just hope they can hold out long enou-?!" (Tekkan) BOOOOM!! A second wave of explosions rocked the island! The aftershocks created turbulent winds that disturbed the ocean itself, nearly flipping the ship over! Hikaru quickly grabbed Tekkan and sent him below deck for his protection "Musai! It''s getting too dangerous here, I need to take Tekkan-dono away! If he gets captured-!" (Hikaru) "I know, get moving! I''m going to back up the others!" (Musai) "Good luck! Soon as I get him somewhere safe, I''ll return to join you, hopefully with back-up!" (Hikaru) Musai jumped off the ship as Hikaru reluctantly sailed away with Tekkan. He wanted to stay and fight more than anything, but he put his personal feelings aside for the bigger picture Logically, his decision was the correct one, Tekkan knew too much about the inner workings of the Land of Lightning and its shinobi capital, Kumogakure. If such intel was compromised by those of foul intent, it could potentially lead to irreparable repercussions for the country Under no circumstances could he allow Tekkan to be captured, even if it meant leaving his comrades behind {Please be safe, everyone!} (Hikaru) ??? Back on the island Despite the resulting explosions, most of the land remained intact. The forest was tall and strong, with only a few trees knocked over, its general appearance remained the same Beneath the ground, one shinobi was tunneling upwards, bursting through ground. Arriving back on the surface, there were two unconscious shinobi in his arms "COUGH! COUGH! That overzealous son of a-!" The shinobi, covered in dirt, was none other than Rei. After spotting Deidara in the sky, he immediately knew what was going to happen next. He burrowed beneath the surface with his Doton1Earth Styleto protect him and his team from the blast They had minimal injuries, just knocked out from the shocks and debris. Reacting with haste, Suzu assisted him with her Doton as well, layering the surface above them with Earth-style walls for protection. This was the sole reason the trio got off with minimal injury Seizing an opportunity, Rei decided to speak with his guide "Notitia!" [I''m here, I know what you wanna ask and the answer is no, I honestly had no idea Deidara would be here] "That''s not what I was going to ask, I know you couldn''t see him coming and this is before he appeared in the original story" Deidara, the terrorist and member of the rogue antagonist group, the Akatsuki. A self-proclaimed "artist" and user of the Bakuton2Explosion StyleKekkei Genkai with a thirst for the dramatic, his sudden appearance complicated things Notitia possessed all knowledge of the original story, but had the ability to observe every single location in the world at once. It could even check past events in places it had never been...but only when Rei used a lifeline [Most of Deidara''s movements before his debut were never known. Before he joined Akatsuki, he spent some time in his home nation of Iwagakure3Hidden Stone Villagebefore stealing forbidden jutsu] "That weird-ass technique that forms mouths all over the body?" [To be more accurate, it''s a Kinjutsu4Forbidden Jutsuallowing the user to infuse chakra into any kind of material. In his case, infusing his Bakuton chakra into the clay dolls he uses for his "art"] "Tsk! Art, my ass! He just a bombing maniac!" [After stealing this technique, he defected from his village to join terrorist cells from all over in order to continue advancing his jutsu. Though, he typically worked for Ishigakure5Hidden Rock Villagesince it''s a nation filled to the brim with similar troublemakers. It didn''t take long for Akatsuki to take notice of his talents and recruit him] "Ishigakure? That newly created nation resting between the Sand and Stone a couple of years ago? Now that I think about it, wasn''t it officially formed around the time of the armistice signing with Konoha-!" RUSTLE! Tai started to move about, seeing this as a sign his teammates were waking up, Rei quit talking to Notitia and approached "Hey, easy now. You took a bad hit to the head" "H-Huh? Rei?! What...what happened?! We were...!" "We got hit, I''ll go over the details later. Right now, I need you to focus and tend to Suzu. Can you do that?" "Eh? Suzu?! O-Okay, yeah. I can do that!" Tai was a bit shaken, but he managed to keep himself composed. Unlike the others, Tai had yet to experience participating in such a hostile environment Rei opted to maintain watch while Tai treated Suzu injuries {Despite how eager he was earlier for achievements, now he''s like this. He''s doing pretty well if he can still perform advanced skills like medical ninjutsu in this situation. This will serve well for his growth...} [Rei, I''m going to speak with you, but you don''t have to. Just use your index finger, one tap for yes, two for no. Understand?] TAP! [Good. I just want to inform you that Deidara has left the scene and returned to the enemy armada, their troops are now invading the island. You can sense it right?] TAP! [It doesn''t look like there are anymore characters we''re familiar with on those ships but remain cautious! If you end up killing Deidara, or any other main character, you''ll end up creating "Ripples"] Suzu was starting to come around [I''ll still keep an eye out and inform you of any important details. I recommend you continue the mission with your team as normal. Even without a lifeline, my range of observation isn''t that bad. Tekkan has already sent a message to Kumo, back up should arrive soon] {It''s range can reach that far, even without a lifeline? Another feature it''s failed to inform me of. I can never drop my guard around Notitia} "Ugh! My head!" "Welcome back Suzu!" (Tai) "Tai, what''s going on?" (Suzu) "It''s only been a few minutes since that last attack. At the last second, I brought us beneath the ground to avoid the blasts" (Rei) "I remember. I covered the surface with layers of earth for-" (Suzu) "We know, that saved our butts by the way. Nice job responding so efficiently, we would''ve been far more worse for wear had you not intervened!" (Tai) The boys helped her up and the group discussed next measures, using their radios to check on everyone else. Sabu, Funsui, and Kintar weren''t responding, but they managed to get ahold of Toroi BZZZ! "[He...Hello?!...Team Tango! It''s good to hear your voices! Is anyone hurt?!]" (Toroi) "We''re fine, just a bit roughed up! What''s the situation on your end?!" (Rei) "[I''ve already combated several intruders, but so far, no problems. These guys appear to be mercenaries hired by an unknown client to attack the island]" (Toroi) "Are they after the animals?" (Suzu) "[That''s the strange thing, it would appear some of them have different tasks. Some were hired just to attack the island, others were hired to abduct the animals, and a few were specifically targeting me in general]" (Toroi) "Wait! They knew you''d be here?!" (Tai) "[From the looks of it, yes. They even knew about Tekkan and Killer B-sama''s arrival beforehand. Fortunately, I told Hikaru to sail away with Tekkan in the event the barrier was breached. But I know what you''re thinking]" (Toroi) Rei quickly caught on to Toroi''s implications. For the perpetrator of this event to possess such classified intel implied a number of things for all of them...none of which were good "[We can dwell on the hypotheticals later, there''s a new problem now. Though the island is still intact, the secondary wave of explosions made a hole in the underground bunker]" (Toroi) "Did the animals escape?!" (Tai) "[B-sama managed to keep most of them in line but...a few managed to escape. Kintar-dono is already going after them, Funsui and Sabu went underground to seal the hole]" (Toroi) {That''s why we couldn''t reach them} (Rei) "[From what I can tell, some of these guys are shinobi, but most aren''t that skilled. Hardly any of them are Chunin level, and considering we''re short on hands, I''m giving you permission to engage them]" (Toroi) "Should we strive to capture them?" (Suzu) "[If the option is available, definitely. We need answers, but if push comes to shove and it looks like you''re in danger, don''t take the chance. You''re survival is more important, we must hold the line until reinforcements arrive. Rendering enemy combatants unable to fight is a win in itself. That''s your priority!]" (Toroi) "Alright!" (Tai) "Understood!" (Suzu) "[Kintar-dono is on the escapees but if you encounter any of them, try and get them to safety. Since we can''t use those scrolls anymore, things will be a tad bit more difficult. You can always call for help if it gets too-]" (Toroi) "We got it, you just handle your end" (Rei) "?!" (Tai & Suzu) Rei didn''t want to waste anymore time, the longer they remained idle, the higher the chance the enemy would reach the center of the island...and the entrance to the bunker "[...Okay then, you have your orders Team Tango. Let''s all strive to make it out of this alive!]" (Toroi) "Yes sir!" (Team Tango) Cutting the feed, Rei pointed in a different direction before informing the two he could sense enemies on approach. With no hesitation, the team moved out to combat the intruders It was their first fight against enemy shinobi in quite some time, but they moved forward regardless, unaware of what was in store for them... 127. Breach [4] MrProper The west side of the island While most of the raiders stormed the island, three remained behind. The very ones hired to lead this attack, a pair of twins and their superior. The elder twin was utterly stupefied as he observed Deidara''s second bombing run before yelling aloud "That stupid little shit!! He overdid it! I knew it''d be a bad idea to bring him along!" "The island is still intact nii-san, and the Kumo-nin should''ve moved most the creatures in the bunker we were told us about. Long as they''re safe, we can sill complete this job" "That''s if our client''s words can be trusted!" "Not the client, but the broker who gave us this job" "Whatever! I still think there''s something wrong with this whole situation, how the hell does he know so much about this place anyway?! Isn''t it supposed to be some big secret between Takigakure1Hidden Waterfall Villageand Kumogakure?" "..." "I just can''t shake this feeling there''s more to this job. I dare say, it reeks of a setup. We shouldn''t even-!" CREAK! The conversation between the twins abruptly came to an end as their leader emerged from the captain''s cabin. Ever silent, he simply walked past them and stared at the island "What happened?" "Well..." Not the chatting type, the younger left the talking to his older brother "Deidara got overzealous and decided to make ANOTHER bombing run, nearly obliterating the island in the process" "..." "Where is he now?" "I think he''s combating the island overseer" "I never told him to do that..." "Like I said, overzealous. Fortunately, the Kumo-nin managed to move nearly all the products beneath the bunker. Ah! Speaking of that, one our scouts radioed in and revealed the attack blew a hole in the bunker and several animals have escaped" "Where exactly?" "Don''t know. Before he could tell me, the line went dead. He was most likely taken out. What do you want to do?" The leader folded his arms and weighed his options, the twins eagerly awaited his response "If things have progressed so far, there''s no more reason for us to linger. Kumogakure''s reinforcements will arrive soon and we don''t want to be here when they do" "Yes! That means-!" "Mm. Let the others handle the tasks I assigned them, you two will act as saboteurs, disrupting the Kumo-nin already on the island" "Alright! Time for some action! Let''s go little bro!" BOOM! WHOOSH! The older twin blasted off the boat at frightening speed, shooting his way through the other boats and mercenaries. Despite them being allies, he nearly sent them all flying without a care in world "And he had the nerve to complain about Deidara...he''s just as destructive" "Um...sir?" "What is it?" The younger brother had yet to leave, hesitant to speak his concerns "Are you sure this job is okay?" "We wouldn''t be here if it wasn''t. In our line of work, sketchy jobs are the norm. I''ve already made contingencies in the event this job goes south" "Right, I''ll get moving then" "One more thing" "?" "If you and your brother encounter Jiton no Toroi2Toroi of the Magnet Style, run away. Even if it hurts your pride, you two aren''t a match for a shinobi of his caliber" "...I know, but I don''t think nii-san will accept it" "If you want him to live, convince him. The fact is, no one here other than I can go toe-to-toe with him. For obvious reasons when you consider my particular skillset" "..." "I''ve said all I need to, get moving" "Right..." DASH! {Here''s hoping they don''t get killed...but to think I''d be facing Toroi of all people. This is a golden opportunity to earn notoriety for our group, don''t screw it up you two!} ??? On the island Team Tango had already engaged several enemy cells, now on their sixth encounter WHACK! POW! "Uhack!" "Agh!" {Just a few more left here!} "YAH!" (Rei) WEAVE! "Fton: Shinkgyoku!3Wind Style: Vacuum Spheres" (Suzu) PHT! PHT! PHT! As usual, Rei acted as the vanguard, engaging the enemies from the front with his exceptional speed and Taijutsu. Suzu supporting him with mid-range wind style attacks, while Tai treated them Rei drew all attention towards himself and away from his team. But he had no trouble dealing with these adults who had yet to reach Chunin level. Combating ninja of their skill was easy enough, but nevertheless, he remained cautious {Magen: Kakuran!4Demonic Illusion: Disturbance} (Rei) "Eh?!" "Can''t...move...!" "He...cast Genjutsu...on this many people at once...with only a finger?!" "Heh! You''re up Suzu!" (Rei) "Mm! Fton: Shinkha!5Vacuum Wave" (Suzu) SWISH! CUT! Suzu released several waves of sharp wind, cutting her targets in various places "RGH!! F**king sharp!" "Someone deal with her!" Whenever it seemed like he was about to be overwhelmed with sheer numbers, he''d temporarily retreat and collaborate with Suzu, unleashing various combinations of Ninjutsu, Taijutsu, and/or Genjutsu. In short intervals, Tai consistently restored their stamina with his Medical Ninjutsu. This guerilla warfare strategy was the best way to conserve strength and continue fighting as they moved from one area to another {Hmph! You like using wind huh?! How about this then?!} "?!" (Suzu) "Careful!" (Tai) SCORCH! In order to deal with Suzu, one of the enemies unleashed fire style attack to overcome her wind, but Rei was too quick to respond {Suiton: Suidan!6Water Style: Water Bullet} (Rei) SPLOOSH! Rei erased the fire attack and blasted not only said attacker, but his compatriots as well. Sending them several feet away from him as his team "Well Tai? I''m ready to end this!" (Rei) "I''m ready! Suiton: Kiri Seigyo no Jutsu!7Water Style: Mist Control" (Tai) With the preparations complete, Tai used his signature original Jutsu to vaporize any kind of liquid and control mist. In this case, it was a poisonous mist that numbed the body Utilizing superb chakra control, Tai skillfully sent the mist towards his targets without harming Rei or Suzu in the process. One after another, their opponents began to lose strength, making it easier for Rei to neutralize them Eventually, there was only one left, but Rei didn''t knock him out "Interrogation time?" (Tai) "Yeah, none of others had any decent information. I''m hoping this one will, he was barking orders for this group after all" (Rei) "Go ahead, I''ll stand watch" (Suzu) "Thanks, this shouldn''t take long" (Rei) Rei placed the last remaining enemy under his Genjutsu, coercing him to confess everything he knew about this attack. He''d previously attempted this with other groups, only to learn each enemy cell had only been given a limited amount of intel The enemy cleverly followed strict guidelines, for the sake of information compartmentalization, a tactic Rei often employed as "Developer R" when it came to his inventions and Tetsuo Mori But now, the situation was reversed, a "shoe on the other foot" as it were...much to his annoyance "We...were hired to...attack..." "I already knew that. But WHO hired you?!" (Rei) "Don''t...uh...know..." "Then who might know?!" (Rei) "Ones...in charge" {I thought they were just a disorganized group of terrorists from various countries. Someone managed to unite them?} (Rei) "The three...took control...of the...operation...by force" "How?" (Rei) "They...very strong...all...Kekkei..." "?!" (Suzu) "Three Kekkei Genkai8Bloodline Limitusers?!" (Tai) "Who are they? Where are they from?!" (Rei) "Don''t know who...they''re from...Ishigakure9Hidden Rock Village" The team were taken aback at his answer, Rei in particular considering his "familial history" with said nation "Ishigakure? The newest shinobi nation, sandwiched between the Iwagakure10Hidden Stone Villageand Sunagakure11Hidden Sand Village?" (Tai) "That place is rumored to be a cornucopia of Hijutsu12Hidden Jutsu, Kinjutsu13Forbidden Jutsu, and Kekkei Genaki users. It''s rare to meet an entire squad of the latter, but it makes more sense if they''re all from that nation" (Suzu) "..." (Rei) "Rei? You okay?" (Suzu) "Oh! Y-Yeah, I''m fine" (Rei) "Bothered by them being from Ishigakure?" (Tai) "A little bit, but that''s not what''s bothering me" (Rei) "Huh? Why would them being from Ishigakure bother you?" (Suzu) "Oh that''s right, I don''t think we''ve told you. Rei''s mom wasn''t born in Kumogakure, she hails from that nation. Well, before it even was a nation anyway" (Tai) "Really? I had no idea..." (Suzu) "I never mentioned it because I don''t know much about her, she died during childbirth. I don''t know much besides her name, Moriko Sano" (Rei) "Ah! I''m sorry" (Suzu) "No worries, while I''ve been curious, it never really bothered me. It''s not some sensitive secret or anything" (Rei) The group went on the properly restrain the enemies they knocked out, before discussing their next course of action. The team had managed to take care of the invading groups on their side of the island Now, they had to choose between staying at their post, or leaving to help their comrades "Master Sabu and Funsui-senpai have sealed the breach in the bunker and returned to guarding the entrance above ground, Musai-san has rejoined them as well. Don''t think we have to worry about them" (Tai) "Kintar-dono told us he was re-capturing the animals who escaped after those waves of explosions, but that was several minutes ago" (Rei) "He should''ve contacted us by now. And Toroi-sama has been busy non-stop. So the question is..." (Suzu) "Do we stay here, do we help Kintar-dono...or do we help Toroi-sama?" (Tai) Three choices, but none of them could make an immediate decision. The course of action they decide on would determine the outcome of this mission, that knowledge carried a heavy weight But they knew there was no room for hesitation "Alright, how about we-" (Tai) "IF YOU GUYS CAN''T MAKE UP YOUR MINDS, HOW ABOUT WE DO IT FOR YOU!" "?!" (Team Tango) BAMF! BAMF! BAMF! "MOVE!" (Rei) Rei grabbed both Tai and Suzu''s arms before pushing his body to the limit, running at full speed. Dodging the unknown projectiles launched at them by a new enemy BOOM! BOOM! {The hell?! What did they throw to cause an explosion like that?! Was it a paper bomb?} (Rei) "Oh! OH! You actually dodged that! Nice! Finally, looks like we can have some fun!" "Nii-san, please stay focused" Rei observed the spot where they just stood, trying to uncover just what it was they were attacked with. As the dust settled, his team could see several craters with odd silver-colored spheres in the center "What...what are those?!" (Tai) "They look like metal? Stainless steel maybe?" (Rei) "Probably. But how did they-eh?! Guys! Look!" (Suzu) "?!" (Rei & Tai) Suzu pointed at the location of the restrained enemies they fought. Only now, there wasn''t a trace left of them as they were all reduced to nothing but deteriorating corpses with strange colored flames over them "When did they-?!" (Tai) "That attack just now, it was diversion!" (Rei) "So fast, we didn''t even realize-!" (Suzu) The two enemies revealed themselves to be twins, slightly older in age than Team Tango. Notitia whispered in Rei''s ears once more [Rei...be careful! These two, they''re-] "I know" (Rei) "Huh? Know what Rei?" (Tai) "These guys, they must be ones we were told about. The ones from Ishigakure" (Rei) "!" (Tai) "The ones leading this operation!" (Suzu) Hearing their words, the older twin couldn''t help but smile when addressing them "Well, saying the two of us are leading this operation is a bit of a stretch" "?!" (Team Tango) "Hello ninja of Kumogakure, my name is Etoro Konjiki. This is my younger brother Metoro. Nice to meet you!" (Etoro) The others were hesitant, as the man known as Etoro easily revealed information to them. Something a typical shinobi would never do, his nonchalant demeanor threw them off Realizing he was the talkative type, Rei stepped forth in response with a query of his own "How nice of you to introduce yourselves. Would you also be so inclined as to tell us who sent you here?" (Rei) "Hm? Hahaha! You''re funny, I like you! Ya know, I would tell you, but I honestly don''t know who hired us. Could be anyone, and your village DOES have a lot enemies after all. You''d probably figure it out before we could" (Etoro) "And...you guys aren''t in charge?" (Rei) "This merry band of marauders attacking your island are all from different groups, hired for the same purpose. Our boss just happened to take charge of them for efficiency" (Etoro) "So you got rid of the ones here not for keeping them quiet, but rather-" (Rei) "Fewer people, bigger cuts! Plain and simple, just how I like it!" (Etoro) Etoro''s confirmation started to shed some light on this situation. Rei gained more and more questions about this raid every time his team combated an enemy cell "Thank you for telling us. Though I can''t help as to wonder...why?" (Rei) "Why? Isn''t it obvious?" (Etoro) "?" (Rei) The air around Etoro and his brother changed, and a wide smile was born on the former''s face "Don''t think I''ll get in trouble spilling the beans...to the dead" (Etoro) "GUYS!" (Rei) "Right!" (Suzu) "I know!" (Tai) {Every since coming to this world, I''ve never had a feeling like this before!} (Rei) "Now...LET''S HAVE SOME FUN!!!!" 128. The Ishi Terrorists [1] MrProper On another note, the rolling blackouts in my area are over for now, so I should be able to continue writing in peace. But I''ll continue to back-up my chapters like a mad-man (Always back-up your stuff kids!) Also! I''ve recently come in contact with an old friend who just so happens to be pretty good at drawing. Now that the company he works for is allowing him to work remotely, he has more free time. And soon, he''ll have enough leeway to draw illustrations for this Fanfic! Having extra art for this story is just music to my ears. It''s not happening yet, but it will in the not-so-far future! Please look forward to it and enjoy the chapter! The northwestern side of the island Toroi just finished routing the marauders in his area. With no more enemies in sight, he tried contacting his allies. Sabu informed him of the situation at the bunker Learning they had the situation under control in their area, he thought it''d finally be safe to breathe easily. Only to receive a sudden radio call from none other than Kintar BZZZZ! "[Toroi-dono!]" "Kintar-dono! What happened?! Everyone lost contact with you!" "[My radio was damaged, had to...bzzz...temporary retreat to fix it!]" {Retreat?} "Are you in trouble?! What''s going on in your area?!" The last thing they knew of Kintar was his destination, he was set on recapturing the beasts that escape the bunker thanks to Deidara''s bombs. But everyone lost contact with him not long after he left "[bzzz...dealing with the bomber now, a long-range fighter staying out of my range, in the sky! I''m...bzzz...some trouble but never mind that! Listen! I couldn''t get to the escaped animals in time...bzzz...blocking my way!]" {Long range explosives...is it a Bakuton1Explosion Styleuser from Iwagakure2Hidden Stone Village? A member of their Explosion Corps perhaps? Looking at the type of destruction wrought here, those guys are the only ones who come to mind} Kintar was a close-range fighter. An opponent like Deidara, who could launch near endless explosive attacks with clay dolls from the sky itself, was the worst kind of opponent for someone like him The only thing he could is keep Deidara focused on him to ensure he doesn''t undergo another bombing run "Where are they?" "[That''s the problem, this punk is keeping me at bay while his allies round them up! If you''re still in the same area you were at the last time we talked, they''re probably half a mile east of your position. Can you get over there?!]" "Yeah, I''ll move out immediately!" "[Thanks, sorry for leaving this to you! But I can''t let this guy attempt another-Ah! He''s found me, gotta go!]" BZZZ! The line went dead. With nothing else to do here, Toroi surveyed the area one last time for left over enemies "Tekkan-dono and Hikaru have already left for reinforcements, and the bunker entrance is being protected by the others. I''ll deal with situation near Kintar before checking on Team Tango" "Well, we certainly can''t have that" "?!" STUP! Reacting to the unknown voice with haste, Toroi jumped several feet away before identifying the source. Only to discover a single figure leisurely approaching him from the bushes "Who are you?!" "It''s an honor to meet the famous Kumogakure shinobi, Jiton no Toroi3Toroi of the Magnet Style. I knew from the start this job would be unorthodox, but I never thought I''d be fighting you" "Thanks for the compliment, but I asked who you were" The stranger stopped walking and gave a small bow out of respect for Toroi "Though I''m leading this operation, I''m merely an insignificant soldier for hire, my name is Kajra" RUMBLE! The surrounding area began to shake, debris slowly started to move, along with something akin to black iron sand "Trying to pass as a mercenary? Bah! You''re nothing but a terrori-wait...did you just say Kajra? No way...are you-?!" "I''m especially thankful of your presence here, Toroi. I''ve always wanted to see how I''d fare...against a fellow Jiton user" More and more rumble to gather around Kajra, eventually beginning to form a massive shape "I''ve heard rumors of a terrorist operating near Sunagakure4Hidden Sand Villagewith a power like mine...so it was you" "A power like yours? Hmph!" "?" "NOT EVEN CLOSE" WEAVE! Forming hand seals, the rubble covered him and stood several meters tall before undergoing a change. "Jiton: Raijinga!5Magnet Style: Lightning God Self" {That size, it''s almost as big as Killer B-sama in his Tailed Beast State!} "What in the-?!" CRACKLE! Sparks emerged as the debris around him condensed and shifted until finally, the rubble transformed into a gigantic version of himself {He''s...using Raiton6Lightning Stylewith Jiton to absorb iron and any other magnetic mineral in the area, effectively expanding his body''s size. But to use Kekkei Genkai along with another nature transformation at the same time...even I can''t do that!} "This is tad bit bigger from those ridiculous oversized shuriken you favor, Toroi" "Kuh!" {This arrogant punk is mocking me!} "Let''s rap this up quickly, I have a schedule to keep" The magnetic giant composed of iron sand and other materials clenched its fist, positioning itself to strike Toroi. The latter of whom immediately summoned several large square-shaped shuriken "Jiton: Jakuh no Sjin!7Magnet Style: Conserving Bee Twin Blades" ZZZZUU!!! The shuriken Toroi summoned began to float around him as he prepared for battle Though Kajra couldn''t be seen within the massive golem modeled after himself, a small subtle smirk emerged on his face. Pleased to see Toroi taking him seriously "Good! Very good Toroi! Now we can see whose skill with Jiton is superior!" {Looks like I''m not gonna be able to help you anytime soon, Kintar-dono} ??? Another part of the island Team Tango, nor their opponents had yet to make a move. Both parties were distracted by the sight of Kajra''s massive automaton, its figure could be seen by everyone on the island "W-What in the hell is that?!" (Tai) "Some kind of...golem? Definitely not one created through the use of Doton8Earth Stylehowever" (Suzu) Rei expanded his senses towards the golem, or rather, the area around it. Scanning everything in the area until confirming what he suspected "Guys, Toroi is fighting that thing" (Rei) "?!" (Suzu & Tai) "Kintar-dono is preoccupied with that annoying bomber and the others are guarding the bunker at the center of the island. I don''t think I need to tell you what this means" (Rei) "Yeah" (Suzu) "Huh? Oh...Oh! Ugh! That''s just perfect..." (Tai) "Mhm" (Rei) It didn''t take a genius to get what Rei was saying. Everyone preoccupied with their tasks meant only one thing...Team Tango wouldn''t be receiving help anytime soon On the terrorists side, both Etoro and Metoro were watching the spectacle without a care in the world. As if the Kumogakure shinobi next to them were nothing but a mere distraction "Going all out so soon? You''d never guess from his earlier demeanor that he''d be so eager today" (Etoro) "..." (Metoro) "Right...it''s probably due to Toroi. Kajra''s been eager to have a go with that guy for some time. Whatever, let''s wrap this up so we can go watch" (Etoro) "...The usual?" (Metoro) "Yup, let''s go!" (Etoro) WEAVE! "?!" (Rei) Without warning, the twins unleashed their Ninjutsu. Figures appeared out of nowhere and the team suddenly found themselves surrounded by a countless number of clones "Careful guys, we don''t know what they''re capable of!" (Suzu) "Tai! Haze!" (Rei) "I know! {Suiton: Kiri Seigyo no Jutsu!9Water Style: Mist Control} (Tai) WOOOOO! "!" (Metoro) "Fog? Mist? Is it the Kirigakure no Jutsu10Hidden Mist Jutsu? No...that''s not it" (Etoro) The area was engulfed in two different unnaturally colored fogs. Tai manipulating one batch of poisonous mist to act as a make-shift barrier for the team, covering them in defensive fashion. The other, he sent towards the foes encircling the team The Genin faced the twins while arming themselves, silently stating they were ready for anything the latter could throw at them. Etoro, amused at their little provocation, decided to accept their challenge. The clones rushed at them {They took the bait!} (Tai) "Next up, Fireflies!" (Suzu) "On it, just like we practiced!" (Rei) WEAVE! "Katon: Homuranagase!11Fire Style: Blazing Meteors" (Rei) "Fton: Shinkgyoku!12Wind Style: Vacuum Spheres" (Suzu) BOOSH! SCORCH! Rei fired a barrage of small fire blasts in every direction, all amplified by Suzu sharp wind bullets. The pair skillfully took advantage of the different compositions between their nature transformations. But even more so... "Just a little more aaaaaannnd-" (Tai) "Huh?" (Etoro) "Bingo" (Tai) BOOM! BOOM! "?!" (Metoro) "What the f**k?!" (Etoro) The fire caused a violent reaction with the second batch of mist Tai sent outwards, causing various explosions in the area. Over the years, the young man had become more and more efficient with not only poisons, but nearly every element on the periodic table. Largely in part to the science Rei shared with him, he was a full blown chemist now, and his ninjutsu evolved in suit "Oh? That was a pretty sick combo, these kids aren''t half bad. What do you think little bro?" (Etoro) "..." (Metoro) "Tsk! You''re no fun" (Etoro) "..." (Metoro) "Yeah, yeah, I know. That mist is annoying, that''s why were using this method" (Etoro) With the explosions, Tai''s ignitable vapor vanished. Knowing they wouldn''t fall for the same trick twice, he sent the poisonous mist covering his team and spread it throughout the area But not before giving Rei and Suzu an antidote so it wouldn''t impede their fighting. Though he was confident he could control it without hitting them, he didn''t want to take the chance Rei, on other hand, felt something was off. Despite the barrage of attacks, he couldn''t "feel" any reactions from the clones {I thought they were shadow clones...could they be elemental like water or stone clones?} (Rei) BOOF! Just as things seemed to be going their way, the clones emerged from the smoke and directly charged at the team. Seemingly unaffected by the previous combo attack, nor from the poisonous mist which was currently covering the area, much to the shock of Tai "The hell?! Are they basic clones with no mass?" (Tai) "Hmph!" (Rei) WHOOSH! CLING! "Urgh!" (Rei) "Rei!" (Suzu) "I''m fine!" (Rei) Rei charged forward and lunged towards one of the clones with the kunai in his hand. The clone defended the attack with its own weapon, but strangely, Rei felt an abnormal amount of resistance from the blow. To the point his hand was trembling He backed off and rejoined his group, still trying to figure out what this technique was "Clones unaffected by our attacks...yet can strike us. What is this?!" (Rei) Etoro and Metoro stood in trees, the former in particular was enjoying the sight of Team Tango''s struggle. Metoro started to grow impatient and looked at his older brother "Alright already! I was just having some have fun" (Etoro) "End it..." (Metoro) "Fine...Let''s kick it up a notch!" (Etoro) Tai suddenly had a terrible feeling and yelled! "INCOMING!" (Tai) "?!" (Rei & Suzu) Etoro smiled and formed a hand seal. Soon after, every single clone around charged at the group "Let''s see how long these guys last" 129. The Ishi Terrorists [2] MrProper The clones charged at Team Tango, barely giving them a chance to breathe "Rei! Bodyguards!" (Suzu) "Right!" (Rei) WEAVE! RUMBLE! "Doton: Golem no Jutsu!1Earth Style: Golem Technique" (Rei & Suzu) As the clones rushed the team, Rei and Suzu weaved several hand seals before simultaneously placing their hands on the ground. Rock and stone gathered in place to form two large automatons "I''ll maintain control of them so you can fight unabated!" (Suzu) "Okay, let''s go!" (Rei) Rei charged forth with the golems in tow, doing everything in his power to prevent the clones from reaching his teammates. The latter of whom supported him with long range attacks CLANG! {So there is resistance, I guess they really are corporal clones. Though something still feels off, even when I give them a good hit, they don''t disappear. And every time I clash with them, I feel an abnormal level of physical feedback...just what is this?!} (Rei) When the fighting began, Rei assumed the strange sensation he felt was something along the lines of Genjutsu. After disturbing his chakra to break it, the strange phenomenon continued regardless, leading his team to deduce it was something else "Even the golems are having trouble...how are their clones so strong?" (Suzu) "Don''t worry, I''ll keep replenishing your chakra no matter how many show up!" (Tai) "Thanks" (Suzu) {Every time we clash, there''s this strange sensation that appears as quickly as it disappears. I wonder...} (Rei) But deep down, he still believed it was in someway related to Genjutsu, despite confirming the attacks they received were real. He had to solve this mystery quickly...or his team would pay the price ??? The northwestern side of the island BWOOM! "Agh! This is ridiculous!" The battle between Toroi and Kajra grew more intense by the second, the area around them was devastated within minutes of their fight. Toroi had no choice but to bear the brunt of it as his mission entailed protecting the island itself, he couldn''t allow Kajra''s rampage to spread But staying in one spot while dealing with an enormous giant of stone, iron, and other materials was easier said than done. He''d hoped this technique couldn''t be used for extended periods of time, and attempted to wear his opponent out RUMBLE! "Uh?! Again?!" However, Kajra showed no signs of slowing down, already positioning himself to strike Toroi again. The latter raised several large shuriken in the air with his Jiton2Magnet Styleto form a make-shift shield "Urg-! AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!" TWACK! Struggling with all his might, Toroi was still sent flying into a tree. Though his blades took most of the impact from the golem''s strike, he couldn''t protect himself completely "Augh! Okay, I''ll admit it...huff! I felt that one" The golem stood in place, the outer structure on its right shoulder began to shift and soon enough, Kajra emerged. Leaning on the side of its head with a smile on his face "Getting tired already old man? I can do this all day" "Old?! I''m still in my 30''s you little shit! I''m not tired, I sure as hell can do this all day!" "Hehe, I''m sure you''d like to believe that but, I meant it quite literally" "?" "I forgot to mention where the name of this technique originates from" WEAVE! BZZZ! Kajra formed hand seals and appeared to use a Raiton3Lightning StyleJutsu except, he didn''t attack Toroi. Rather, he called forth a charge from beneath the golem "What did you just-?" "This jutsu was initially unnamed and Raijinga4Lightning God Selfwas originally my nickname. My Raiton isn''t just to reinforce this golem''s materials, can you guess what else it does?" {He hasn''t slowed down...that lightning came from beneath...Uh?!} "No. F**cking. Way. That''s not possible..." "It''s funny, everyone usually says words like that until said impossible occurs in front of their very eyes" "..." "Through some experimentation, I discovered a groundbreaking method to utilize energy in minerals I crush from the ground below in place of my own chakra" Toroi immediately understood what he was getting at. Taking advantage of electromagnetic principles, this giant held together by the Raiton and Jiton nature transformations respectively, gathered energy from the very earth itself "Its giant footsteps crush rich minerals in the earth like graphite, with each massive step, causing electric discharge you take advantage of to strengthen its structure" "You guessed it, the more it moves around, the stronger it becomes. And because its form is modeled after me, it wasn''t long before my nickname, became this Jutsu''s name" "Jiton: Raijinga5Magnet Release: Lightning God Selfeh? What a pain in the ass" "Unfortunately, not many know of it, or myself for that matter. Maybe killing you with it can change that. Consider me sharing the history of my one-and-only original Ninjutsu as thanks for the future notoriety I''ll receive!" Kajra re-entered the golem, and prepared to continue his attack. Toroi stood up, his resolve unshaken, and prepared to meet his foe head on {He''s practically unstoppable, on the ground. Fortunately, we''re on an island. If I can force him to coastline, it should cut him off. Whoever runs out of gas last will win this fight!} CLAP! ZZZUUUU! The large, floating shuriken around Toroi assembled into a singular line, aimed straight at Kajra''s golem "Jiton Jakuh no Sjin: Hadan!6Magnet Style Conserving Bee Twin Blades: Rupture" "That''s the spirit. Let''s go, Jiton no Toroi7Toroi of the Magnet Style!" ??? Team Tango''s battle The fight was at a stalemate, neither side able to finish the other off. But unlike the Ishi terrorists, who let the strange clones fight while they kept their distance, the Genin started to feel taxed Rei charged in recklessly, desperate to figure out the secrets of this strange Jutsu "Rei! Your fighting is getting sloppy!" (Suzu) "I''ve almost figured it out, just need a little more-!" (Rei) "EH?!" (Tai & Suzu) "?!" (Metoro) "What the-?!" (Etoro) Just as the conflict nearly reached its peak, the present party was met with a violent shockwave! Nearly everyone lost their footing and tumbled to ground "An...earthquake?!" (Tai) "No. More like...aftershocks!" (Suzu) "Ugh! Aftershocks?! From wha-huh? Is that what I think it is?" (Rei) Picking himself up from the ground, an object nearby caught Rei''s eye, and soon after...he had a epiphany "You okay Suzu?!" (Tai) "Y-Yeah! I''m fine!" (Suzu) {That''s it! That''s how these twin assholes are pulling this off!} (Rei) "Damn it! What the hell was that?!" (Etoro) "Kajra is getting serious..." (Metoro) "Hm? Oh! The hell''s with boss?! Did he have to make it that big?!" (Etoro) "Toroi..." (Metoro) "Mm, makes sense. Alright, I''ve had my fun. I thought these guys could put up a better fight, but as usual I''m met with disappointment" (Etoro) Etoro increased the quantity of clones, intent on ending the fight. Rei simply smiled and instructed the others to stay back "Are you sure?" (Suzu) "Trust me, I got this" (Rei) DASH! "What''s he up to?" (Tai) "..." (Suzu) {Gotta time it just right!} (Rei) Rei charge towards the nearest clone, intercepting its attack. Just as their blades met, he weaved several hand seals at frightening speed {Magen: Kakuran!8Demonic Illusion: Disturbance} (Rei) CLANG!! "Rrgh!" (Metoro) "ARRGH!" (Etoro) "?!" (Suzu & Tai) Etoro and Metoro writhed in pain the moment after Rei attacked. The figures of the clones surrounding the team began to distort and vanish until only the two terrorist of Ishigakure9Hidden Rock Villageremained "Show''s over, dickheads" (Rei) "You little shit!" (Etoro) STUP! Rei retreated back to his teammates {They managed to dispel my Genjutsu so quickly...} (Rei) "Mind explaining to us common folk, o wild one?" (Tai) "Stop calling me wild, I''m creative" (Rei) "Only you think that" (Tai) "Whatever. Long story short, these guys have been using Genjutsu the whole time" (Rei) "But the clones-!" (Tai) "There were never corporal clones, but basic ones with no substance. A combination of clones and Genjutsu to be specific" (Rei) He went on to describe the exact intricacies of this strange Jutsu. The twins had combined basic clones with Genjutsu while launching their own attacks from the distance. Tricking the Kumo-nin into believing the clones were real Rei pointed to an object a few feet from them, a small steel ball "That''s the same thing they attacked us with earlier, only it''s a bit smaller" (Tai) "Of course, they''re smaller so we''d never notice. I only managed to find out when I was knocked over from the small quake earlier" (Rei) "Is...that how they got us with Genjutsu?" (Suzu) "Yup. It''s how even I, a frigging sensor-type ninja, didn''t notice our chakras being messed with. The attacks we felt from the clones were just us colliding with these things. But more than that, these things are coated with their chakra" (Rei) "Genjutsu works through connecting chakra via the five senses. So in this case...it was touch?" (Tai) "I think so, and to make things worse, they repeat the process. Putting us under Genjutsu and cancelling it with each attack, to prevent the victim from seeing through it" (Rei) {No wonder it took Rei so long to discover it} (Suzu) "Touch is, arguably, the most dangerous sense to be cast under Genjutsu with. Even compared to sight, or the other senses, its especially difficult to dispel illusions when one has direct physical contact with you" (Rei) "So...they put us under Genjutsu over and over again?" (Tai) "Every time you made physical contact with one of their attacks, yes" (Rei) Sensors could detect whenever one''s chakra was influenced by another, making them an excellent defense to fight off other Genjutsu users. But Etoro and Metoro managed to circumvent this by repeatedly casting and ending their Jutsu within seconds This loophole made it almost impossible to discover. Fortunately, luck was on Rei side as the fight between Toroi and Kajra gave him the opportunity to unravel the secret of this technique "Because they cancel it so quickly, there''s no time to detect any change in our chakras" (Suzu) "This method, along with clones and real attacks, fools the senses in the brain. Creating a sort of, anachronism within our minds, a weakness that even the best of us have trouble seeing through" (Rei) "Now I get it, when you clashed with clone again, you returned the favor to them" (Suzu) "Heh, that''s right" (Rei) "Oh! Genjutsu Gaeshi10Illusion Technique Reflection! I remember Tango-sensei pulling that on you almost two years ago" (Tai) "You know me, I''ll take whatever I can to improve" (Rei) "Sending their illusion back at them with interest. Not bad" (Suzu) "Since Genjutsu connects chakras, you were connected with them the moment you made contact...clever" (Tai) CLAP! CLAP! "?!" (Team Tango) Etoro stood in place clapping, and while he was smiling, he certainly wasn''t happy "Well done brats, really! That trick of ours has even been able to fool Djutsu11Eye Techniquesusers on certain occasions" (Etoro) "..." (Metoro) "You wanna go first?" (Etoro) "Mm..." (Metoro) Metoro stuck his hands out towards the Genin. Rei tensed up and raised his guard, prompting the others to do the same "Careful guys, despite how much of a pain it was for us, that Jutsu earlier was just child''s play for them!" (Tai) "Now they''re gonna come at us for real" (Suzu) "It doesn''t take a genius to know which is stronger here, don''t drop your guard!" (Rei) FIIIIIIIZZZ! A strange, near-transparent substance emerged from Metoro''s hands before shaping itself into the form of a ball "Is...is that a Suiton12Water Style?" (Rei) "I don''t think so. It looks like, glass?" (Tai) {...It''s not!} "REI! GET BEHIND ME!" (Suzu) "?!" (Rei) Metoro fired the two strange objects from his hands, Suzu reacted in time by placing the two golems she and Rei made earlier in defense of them BOOM! "AGGGH!!!" (Team Tango) ~Got you~ (Etoro) The stone automatons were reduced to rubble and the explosion from the impact blasted the entire team away. When they struggled to get up, the weapon Metoro used was on the ground was for all to see "Is that what I think it is?" (Rei) "A stainless steel ball, that''s what they were using earlier. But I thought they were weapons he was just summoning!" (Tai) "He clearly created them from nothing...which means only one thing" (Suzu) {To think my first encounter with it in this world would be here} (Rei) Etoro simply laughed aloud at the sight of Team Tango getting blasted away by his younger brother. He casually placed his arm on Metoro''s shoulder and bragged about him "What''s the matter guys? Haven''t you ever heard of the Kton13Steel Stylebefore?! HAHAHAHA!!!" (Etoro) "Kuh! Kekkei Genkai14Bloodline Limit..." (Rei) 130. Metoro Konjiki BAM! BAM! "Huff! Huff! DON''T STOP MOVING!" (Suzu) "Tsk...!" (Rei) "R-Right!" (Tai) The Genin were in a total frenzy! Dodging various attacks from the enemy, Metoro Konjiki. Desperate not to get hit, as suffering even one blow from his unorthodox Kekkei Genkai1Bloodline Limitcould have disastrous consequences {Steel Style? Seriously?! I''ve never heard of such a thing, even in the original story!} (Rei) "Kekkei Genkai...I''d forgotten just how absurd they are!" (Tai) "He can basically create any weapon he wants in an instant" (Suzu) "Not to mention the insane durability" (Tai) Tai glanced at the steel balls Metoro used to obliterate the two stone golems. Still awed with their destructive capabilities, but even more worrisome was the absurd structure Metoro was able to use his chakra to increase the density of his chakra-made weapons to incredible levels. And to make matters worse, the one in question was only the younger brother The elder twin, Etoro, had yet to perform any true significant action. Simply enjoying the "show" as it were "Let''s try Thunder!" (Tai) "Okay!" (Suzu & Rei) "!" (Metoro) The team spread out even further, unleashing their individual attacks "Katon: Endan2Fire Style: Flame Bullet!" "Fton: Shink Taigyoku3Wind Style: Great Vacuum Sphere!" "Suiton: Kiri Seigyo!4Water Style: Mist Control" BRRRRR!!!! SCORCH! "Hmph!" (Metoro) Rei launched a blast of fire, whose destructive capabilities were not only amplified by Suzu''s wide wind blast, but through the peculiar batch of combustible mist Tai released When the elements came into contact with one another, the chemical reaction caused a ear-shattering, deafening explosion. Engulfing said target, Metoro "Rei?" (Suzu) "...No, I can feel his chakra. He''s still alive" (Rei) "But maybe...hurt?" (Tai) "Tai. That''s a flag" (Suzu) As the dust settled, the only thing that could be seen was a large shield made of steel in front of Metoro. The latter of whom was completely unharmed "Kton: Hagane Tate5Steel Style: Steel Shield" (Metoro) "A shield of steel...figures. Sorry for making a flag guys...time to run?" (Tai) "...Yup" (Suzu) BOOF! BOOF! Rei threw smoke bombs on the ground, giving him and his team cover to get away. Metoro didn''t speak, but simply ran after them Etoro stood calm is place, hands on his head, smiling at the situation before him "I know you always enjoy a good hunt little bro but, if you take too long, I''ll have to join in..." (Etoro) The team made their way out of the area, looking for a place to hide, it was then Suzu made a suggestion "Guys. Let''s stop here" (Suzu) "Here? I still think we''re not far enough away from those crazy twins" (Tai) "Yes, this is a little close for comfort, but I remember this area of the island. There are several of the sand pits Kintar-san instructed us to avoid at all costs" (Suzu) "This place is fine, he''s going to find us eventually. The sooner we get a chance to catch our breath the better" (Rei) The group sat down in an area covered in vegetation, a perfect place to hide for the time being. Tai treated Suzu, who was low on chakra after her consistent use of supporting long-range ninjutsu Rei was in good condition as he primarily used Taijutsu nearly the whole time. Volunteering to keep watch as an excuse, he distanced himself from the others to have a "private" conversation "A little help here would be greatly appreciated Notitia" (Rei) Rei whispered quietly [Now this is a real pickle] "Yeah, no shit! What can you tell me about these guys? I don''t think there were in the original story, right?!" (Rei) [Obviously, they have no major influence, on the surface. It''s possible their actions could lead to some other event that might set a certain course, but there hasn''t been any sign of a ripple forming. So you''re safe for now...figuratively of course] "What can you tell me about their absurd powers?" (Rei) [Steel huh? First, let''s see what we know. Considering the nature of the element, and the fact that steel shield of his rose from the ground, it stands to reason one of the two elements needed to make it is Doton6Earth Style] "Wait! Wait! That doesn''t make any sense! There''s no other element for it to merge with that hasn''t already been taken. Earth & Water = Wood, Earth & Fire = Lava, Earth & Wind = Magnet, Earth & Lightning = Explosion. What else is there?" (Rei) [Yes, none of the Five basic nature transformations] "Five...are you suggesting he''s using either Yin or Yang? Granted, he and his brother are Genjutsu users, so they naturally have Inton7Yin/Shadow Stylebut..." Rei contemplated Notitia''s indications. While Inton does govern form, he hadn''t recalled any character using non-elemental nature transformations in conjunction with the basic five for creating Kekkei Genkai He didn''t rule out that is was impossible, but this was complete unknown territory for him. Naturally, he felt very uncomfortable about it [Chakra is very unpredictable, no one''s been able to completely unravel its mysteries. But on how to defeat him, errr...] "Sigh...you got nothing" (Rei) [Sorry, but he''s a real bad match for you. As we saw earlier, Katon, Suiton, Fton, and Doton are all but useless. Raiton8Lightning Stylemight work, but there''s no guarantee Steel has the same natural eversion to it as Earth. Above all, you''ve yet to gain that element and from what we''ve observed, it''ll be a long time before that happens] "...Yeah, you''re right" (Rei) In the past, Rei had constantly tested his new body to understand its full capabilities. After training hard to gain Suiton, he wrongfully assumed the other elements would be easy to gain after how effortless it was for him to learn Katon and Doton But soon enough, he realized the only reason Katon and Doton, the very same elements always accompanied with a strange sensation whenever he used them, was simply due to his natural affinity for them Notitia told him the original "Rei" had affinity for Katon, and after remaking his body and genes with tsutsuki alien DNA, this affinity expanded to Doton as well However, no matter how hard he tried, Fton and Raiton just didn''t seem viable. He eventually came to the conclusion that only one with the legendary Rinnegan9Sa?sra EyeDjutsu10Eye Techniquecould acquire all basic nature transformations with ease "No options but to run then?" (Rei) [For you? Yes. But not so for your teammates, Tai in particular] "Tai? What could he...oh! Now I get it" (Rei) [That''s right...poison] "Poison is his Achilles'' heel so to speak. His outward defenses are nigh unstoppable, but by the end of the day, he''s still a human being. Why the hell didn''t I think of that?" (Rei) ["Read between the lines", just like Tango always says buddy. Good luck, I''ll be here if you need it] "Right. Thanks" (Rei) Rei rejoined his group, formulating a new plan thanks to Notitia''s help. And after some light debate, the team came up with a solution to deal with the absurd being known as Metoro After leaving their position, it didn''t take long for the one in question to catch up. Quick to unleash his attacks while on the chase! "Kton: Hagane Hassha-tai11Steel Style: Steel Projectile!" (Metoro) BOFF! BOOM! "Geez! That destructive power is ridiculous!" (Tai) "Focus on what you need to do Tai...and keep moving!" (Rei) "Easier said than done! Do you have any idea how hard it is to mold this kind of chakra while running from HIM at the same time?!" (Tai) They spent the duration of the chase doing nothing but dodging and running, Rei and Suzu trying to buy all the time they could for Tai. The latter of whom was preoccupied with a "certain" task {What are they up to? I was actually having a hard time tracking them down and then they just, flee in the open...} (Metoro) As Metoro''s suspicions only grew, Tai told his teammates he was done at let them go on ahead "Leaving your Medical-nin behind?!" (Metoro) "DO IT TAI!" (REI) {Ninp: Dokugiri12Ninja Art: Poison Fog!} (Tai) POOOOOFFFF! A large, purple cloud emerged from Tai''s mouth, something far beyond the level of the mist he typically used. Set directly on a path to Metoro! {Poison fog?!} (Metoro) TUP! Metoro jumped away, desperate not to get caught in the purple fog, but Suzu wouldn''t let that happen "Fton: Reppsh13Wind Style: Gale Palm!" (Suzu) WOOOO!! Using the wind bursting from her hand, she spread the poison in Metoro''s direction engulfing him "Kuh! Damn you!" (Metoro) He fell to ground, unable to move. His body could no longer be seen within the fog. After anxiously waiting for over a minute, the team finally relaxed after realizing he was down for the count "Nice job Tai, I thought you were gonna use some mist again" (Suzu) "Huff...huff...! I thought about it but, I''ve already used most of my strongest batches. I had no choice but to make a poison out of chakra" (Tai) "I didn''t know you COULD make poison purely out of chakra" (Suzu) "The concept is a lot like Rei''s Endan14Flame Bullet. He doesn''t just shoot fire from his mouth, he makes oil, and ignites it with fire" (Tai) "Is that so?" (Suzu) "Well recently, I''ve mixed things up with chakra control and started using gas, rather than oil" (Rei) When Rei was hospitalized after the Team Mabui rescue mission, his friend and librarian Pyua stopped by to help with his training. Advising him on certain chakra control applications, he applied said info to his signature Katon Jutsu...the Flame Bullet technique Instead of using oil, he kneaded his chakra into an ignitable gas for a more powerful effect, chlorine trifluoride. Not to mention, the heavier the material made, the more chakra it costs. Oil always consumed too much in his opinion, albeit compared to gas After showing this to Tai, he opted to improve as well. The "Dokugiri" technique was one that involved combining ninjutsu, chemistry, and medical knowledge. Requiring fine chakra control and advanced ability in medical ninjutsu. "He converts the chakra in his body to exhale a special chemical. When it comes into contact with the air, it becomes a cloud of poison" (Rei) "I noticed it''s much faster to make than his usual vaporization mist techniques" (Suzu) "But it also consumes much more chakra than those. Which can be a pain, considering my chakra levels can''t even compare to yours or Rei''s. Phew! I''m beat!" (Tai) "Nice job, that''s one down. But now we gotta deal with the older brother" (Rei) They all sighed at the same time. They knew next to nothing of Etoro''s abilities, only that like Metoro, he too possessed a Kekkei Genkai. Not to mention how angry he''ll be once he finds out his brother was killed Though they knew there was no other option but to fight, as per their mission orders, none of them desired to "Alright, how bout we wait here, make him come to us. We set up some traps and restore our strength in the meantime" (Rei) "Works for me, my feet are killing me" (Tai) "I''ll get to work on the tra-" (Suzu) BONK! "?!" (Rei & Tai) Before either could realize, Suzu had been struck with a circular object at blinding speed. Though he lowered his guard, even Rei was to slow to react in time Suzu had been sent tumbling away, but she was still conscious, trying to breath after spitting out blood "U-Uhack!" (Suzu) "SUZU!" (Tai) "What the hell?! How did-uh! TAI!" (Rei) "Eh?!" (Tai) Emerging from the purple cloud was Metoro, gasping for air. But what caught their attention was the object on his lower mouth "That''s...a steel gas mask?! He can do that?! How does that even-?!" (Tai) "Haaah...haah...! That was a close one, I can barely stand...! Even with this makeshift mask, I still inhaled some of the poison. But not enough...to prevent me...FROM DOING THIS! Kton: Hagane Sandan15Steel Style: Steel Buckshot!" (Metoro) SCHKLIKT! He spat out a metal object, flying at them before suddenly bursting into smaller projectiles, with increased speed "Rei! You have to-!" (Suzu) "I know!" {This attack is like a blast from a shotgun!} (Rei) Knowing he couldn''t weave signs in time, he grabbed Suzu and Tai and with his incredible speed, dashed out the way. He only took a few hits, using his body to shield his team from the rest "Urgh!" (Rei) "You okay?!" (Suzu) "Fine, don''t worry about me! We need to finish him off before-!" (Rei) "BEFORE ME?" "?!" (Team Tango) TAK! Jumping up from the tree, was Etoro, landing on the ground between his brother and others "Nii-san..." (Metoro) "Sigh...good grief little bro. It''s not like you to lose your cool like that, get it together" (Etoro) "..." (Metoro) "Tsk!" (Rei) Much to his dismay, Rei had hoped they could finish off Metoro before his brother arrived. Knowing how strong they were, the last thing he wanted was to fight them both at the same time "Sorry kids, I gave you a chance but...you''ve missed your window of opportunity" (Etoro) 131. Etoro Konjiki "Huff...huff...ergh...!" (Metoro) "Hehehe! You okay little bro?" (Etoro) "Shut up..." (Metoro) "Hey, I''m not making fun of you, just surprised. I never would''ve guessed they''d push you so far..." (Etoro) "...They caught me off guard" (Metoro) "You shouldn''t have dropped it, and the poison...how functional are you?" (Etoro) "Ugh...I can still fight...I barely inhaled any of it. Though a prolonged fight might be a bit much in my current condition" (Metoro) Etoro ignored the Genin as he checked his brother''s condition. And though his actions were insulting, Tai took the opportunity to treat Suzu''s torso, still bruised from Metoro''s surprise attack Rei didn''t take his eyes off of the twins, paying very close attention to them, and their chakras "Now, how should we proceed?" (Etoro) "..." (Metoro) Tai helped Suzu up as Etoro finally faced the team. Wondering how he and his brother should handle this situation. It was rare sight for Etoro to see Metoro pushed to the brink like he was now, still skeptical of Team Tango''s potential {A medic that uses poison mist, a kunoichi skilled with Fton1Wind Styleand Doton2Earth Style. I doubt Metoro will drop his guard again, he can handle them. It''s the one with the short ponytail that bothers me...} (Etoro) "Nii-san?" (Metoro) "We''re doing the usual" (Etoro) "Going with that then?" (Metoro) "Yeah..." {That kid is a powerful Genjutsu user, along with skill in Doton and Katon3Fire Style, not to mention his Taijutsu...it''s best if I handle him} (Etoro) Though the twins whispered, Rei''s enhanced hearing could make out every word. Knowing something was coming, he asked Tai if he was done. The latter wanted to continue treating Suzu, but the girl in question claimed she was fine It was then he suddenly felt the change in charka within the twins, understanding they were about to attack {This feeling I''m getting from Etoro...it''s just like-?!} "SUZU! TAI! Waterfall!" (Rei) WEAVE!! "Kton: Hagane Hassha-tai4Steel Style: Steel Projectile!" "Yton: Kakudai Suru no Enringu5Lava Style: Expanding Flame Rings!" Metoro gathered more of his steel, molding it into a small ball when his brother... "?!" (Tai) "I knew it!" {That''s his Kekkei Genkai6Bloodline Limit!} (Rei) Etoro revealed himself to possess the Lava Style Kekkei Genkai, releasing what appeared to be an expanding ring of melting flames, sealing them inside the projectile Metoro was about to fire. The projectile began to change and spiral out of control! {They''re gonna-!} "LET''S MOVE!" (Suzu) "Right!" (Rei & Tai) BANG! {Here it comes!} (Tai) "Doton: Banri Doryheki7Earth Style: Great Mud Wall!" (Rei & Suzu) "Suiton: Suijinheki8Water Style: Water Wall!" (Rei & Tai) Coordinating with Suzu and Tai respectively, Rei aided the team with the formation of a large stone wall, accompanied by a flowing water barrier. This combination was one of their strongest defensive measures against fire related attacks "You think that''s gonna be enough?" (Etoro) The "flames" Etoro created and sealed within the projectile Metoro fired continued to build up energy before coming into contact with the Genin''s Jutsu SHING! "?!" (Rei) "See ya" (Etoro) BOOM! "UWAAAHHHH!!!!!" (Team Tango) The object in question exploded violently! Sending everything within the blast radius flying! ??? BOOOOM!!!! "Whoa...that''s some fine quality art if I do say so myself" "No! The island!" "What is it now?!" {Those guys sure know how to cause a racket} The explosion created by the Konjiki twins could be heard and felt by everyone on the island. The shockwave causing turbulent winds to spread everywhere, most thought it was Deidara making another bombing run Sabu and the other ninja guarding the bunker from the endless intruders only grew more restless. Knowing the location of the blast was near Team Tango''s position. But no one was able to help them now as Kintar was battling Deidara, and Toroi combated Kajra Fortunately, the reinforcements sailing to the island were only some miles away. Everything would eventually resolve itself if they could buy a little more time. But for Team Tango, the problem wasn''t buying time, it was trying to stay alive... ??? The blast site The area was completely devastated, barely any trace of greenery remained, the ground torched and burned. Rei struggled to get up, battered and disoriented, his ears still ringing from the blast "My...head...! That was...ugh!" (Rei) [Take it easy! Even for a genetically enhanced individual such as yourself, you''d be lying if you said you were, "okay"] "Notitia? Wh-What happened?" (Rei) [Rei, focus. You were attacked by those twins, their attack blasted away everything in the area. Even with the defensive measures your team took, you''re lucky to be alive right now] Rei surveyed the scene, looking for anyone nearby. More accurately, his teammates [They got blasted somewhere else, but their safety is unimportant. You''ve go bigger priorities right now. More specifically, your 8 o''clock] "?!" (Rei) Pulling himself together, Rei noticed a chakra signature approaching him from behind TAK! "Hm? Oh! Would you look at that, you survived after all!" "Etoro Konjiki...tsk!" (Rei) "I thought for sure you''d be dead" (Etoro) Rei faced Etoro and glared at him before speaking "You guys..." (Rei) "Hm?" (Etoro) "You cause a high-pressure shockwave that melts the steel projectile and explodes into a storm of flames. A high-pressure explosion capable of melting anything and creating fire storms" (Rei) "Hahahaha! You guessed it! I knew you guys were special, but you specifically. Rei, was it? You''re different from the others, otherwise, I would''ve felt safe letting Metoro deal with you" (Etoro) While Etoro spoke, Rei took the opportunity to find his friends. Expanding his senses to zero in on his teammates chakra signatures. After several seconds, he located them. The problem was the third chakra next to them {This chakra...now I get it. They split us up, Metoro''s fighting Tai and Suzu, while Etoro deals with me. That was their true purpose, and we fell for it...damn it!} (Rei) "Ya know, I''ve had this strange feeling every since I first saw you, a kind of familiar feeling" (Etoro) "The hell are you-?" (Rei) "Oh, don''t act all dense. Surely, you''ve felt it as well right?" (Etoro) "..." (Rei) "Thought so. Hehe! While I''m curious as to what it means, I''m a professional, and on the clock. So let''s wrap this up quickly!" (Etoro) WEAVE!! Etoro formed hand seals, the temperature in the area began to increase as strangely formed flames emerged around his hands [Remember Rei, his Kekkei Genkai is-!] "The Yton9Lava Styleyou''re using...it''s one of the purest forms of lava, the kind that comes directly out of a volcano. Something more akin to pure magma, than lava" (Rei) "...!" (Etoro) "Isn''t that right?!" (Rei) "...You managed to see through my technique after experiencing once...damn Rei. You continue to impress..." (Etoro) Etoro casually demonstrated his Ninjutsu. Proudly manipulating his Yton around him into to different shapes and sizes without a care in the world "Show-off" {It''s more like a liquid fire than lava} (Rei) "It''s lighter and easier to control than most Yton techniques, so until the time comes for you to die..." (Etoro) "Uh!" {Shunshin no Jutsu10Body Flicker Jutsu!} (Rei) "Do your best to entertain me!" (Etoro) Etoro began firing rings of magma at Rei, the latter using his speed to its fullest extent to evade. The attacks easily teared through whatever they came into contact with. Whether it was the trees, the earth, or even the steel Metoro left behind...nothing was safe Rei knew even getting grazed by one of his attacks would have fatal consequences. Pushing his chakra to the limit, he moved faster than the eye could see, surprising Etoro "What do we know?" (Rei) [His style relies more on its fire composition than earth. Like he said, it''s easier the manipulate than most Yton. And even if he can shape it, there''s still MANY limitations] "I''ve always wondered about that. Given what I''ve read in the manga, Lava style users never bother to apply much shape transformation" (Rei) [It''s mainly due to the overall nature of the substance itself. I''m sure a nerd like you can guess why] "...Lava exists in multiple states of matter at the same time. Mostly a solid and a liquid. So...because of its nature, it becomes very difficult to change its form?" (Rei) [Yup. Achieving a change in chakra form with a Kekkei Genkai is hard enough as it is. But to focus on maintaining its chaotic, ever-changing form while simultaneously trying shape it into what you want? That''s incredibly difficult to say the least] "But didn''t Hashirama Senju-?" (Rei) [The 1st Hokage11Fire Shadowwas an abnormal freak. Just like Naruto, he was a reincarnate of Hagoromo tsutsuki''s youngest son Asura. His Mokuton12Wood Stylecould only be used to its full potential by him. Not even Madara''s use of it can compare to his own, despite him being a reincarnate of one of Hagoromo''s son''s as well] "Mmmm...my only option is to strike Etoro when he least suspects it" (Rei) [Right. Fortunately, like most Yton, the attacks he''s firing don''t have much range on their own. Guess that''s why he required the assistance of Metoro''s "steel". Make an opening and take his annoying ass out!] ZIP! "Tch! Quit darting around you little-!" (Etoro) Rei continued dashing around, much to Etoro''s annoyance. Since he couldn''t land a hit on him, he decided stop his running all together. With himself as the epicenter, he released a wave of corrosive magma in the area BRRR!!! "AGH!!!" (Rei) "Gotcha!" (Etoro) POOF! "?!" (Etoro) Rei, who Etoro believed to have killed, disappeared in smoke "Kage Bunshin13Shadow Clone?!" (Etoro) "Katon..." {Behind!} "Shit-!" (Etoro) WEAVE! "Kary Endan14Fire Style: Fire Dragon Flame Bullet!" SCORCH! ROAR! Fire emerged from Rei''s mouth, forming into a serpent-like dragon, roaring and charging at Etoro. Leaving a trail of fire on its path, completely engulfing the young mercenary in flames! Rei tried to catch his breath "Huff...hah...!" (Rei) "AGGGH!!" {Of course he''s still alive. Figures} "Well...shit" (Rei) Etoro emerged from the flame, he arm slightly burnt from the attack. Veins appearing on his temple, eyes seething with rage, he wore a smile that clearly wasn''t a smile "Survived using Yton, he must''ve raised a wall of magma at the last minute...my attack wasn''t hot enough to breach his defenses" (Rei) {I know that technique...a pinpoint fire attack requiring high-level chakra control. For a kid his age to be able to use it to that extent...} (Etoro) {The Dragon Flame Bullet, currently the strongest jutsu in my arsenal if you exclude Kisshten15Auspicious Heavens, if even that didn''t work...} (Rei) The pair stared at each other, reevaluating their opponent''s capacity. Rei glanced around him, quick to notice the area was starting to look like one of a volcano [Rei, don''t let this fight drag on. While lava is typically limited to mid-range combat, the most dangerous aspect of it is to turn the terrain to their advantage. You may be able to dodge his attacks, but eventually there won''t be anywhere left to stand if this continues] Rei had already noticed, the reason he risked using a chakra-taxing technique like the "Fire Dragon Flame Bullet" was to end the battle as quickly as he could. He couldn''t afford a lengthy fight with Etoro...for various reasons The one in question also contemplated his next course of action as the two shinobi began to guess each others thoughts {I''m clearly the stronger of us, but he''s faster. Yton''s greatest weakness is its slow projectile speed, due to it being a heavy substance. He''s probably caught onto that, and intends to end this fight with his speed} (Etoro) What baffled Etoro about his opponent most of all was his intelligence. He was taken aback by this young child before him, as Rei spent every waking moment deciphering his methods and jutsu, looking for a way to beat him The two shinobi began to guess the others thoughts {If I buy enough time to turn this environment to my benefit, I win-} (Etoro) {That''s probably what he''s thinking, which is why I can''t let that happen. If fire and earth don''t work, I''ll have to try water. I don''t think he saw me using Suiton with Tai after Suzu and I put up that big stone wall-} (Rei) {Fortunately, I managed to see him using Suiton. Hard to believe he has three elements, but there''s no denying it, this kid''s a monster. The only reason he''s not using it is to catch me off guard-} (Etoro) {If he does know about it, he''ll know I''ll try to catch him by surprise. I''ll only have one shot, but that one shot-} (Rei) {Won''t be an ordinary Suiton. A regular one could never deal with this kind of magma, he knows I can''t make large amounts of it. He''ll try to beat me with quantity instead of quality} (Etoro) {It''ll be my strongest Suiton ever, but out of all my nature transformations, my weakest affinity is Suiton. If I use it I''ll-} (Rei) {End up using the rest of his chakra. He''s already short on breath, but the same could be said for me. Kekkei Genkai use far more chakra than the basic nature transformations} (Etoro) They faced each other and stood still, eying each other for even the slightest movement...a stand-off was taking place {Dragging this out...} {Ending this now...} ZWIP! {Is how I win!} (Rei & Etoro) 132. Similar, Not The Same MrProper Kumogakure A was sitting in his office, looking over some documents when heard a knock on the door. Permitting entry, the one in question was none other than Dodai, here to present his findings "Well?" "They should have boots on the island in fifteen. Tekkan-dono has already arrived safely and is resting in the Daimy-sama''s bureau, we no longer have to fear him getting taken prisoner" "The fact they didn''t even try to pursue suggests he was never the target to begin with. And considering the number of enemies reported, it''s definitely not for an individual assassination" It was blatantly obvious these terrorists were targeting the island''s animals. Stealing potential summoning partners for the next generation of Kumo shinobi was akin to striking at the heart of the village A in particular was frustrated. Though the village possessed Genbu, it didn''t imply losing "Summoning Island" wouldn''t be heavy loss. Not to mention the political backlash he''d receive, at a time when he couldn''t be more hostile with the council majority He was still outsourcing work to Mori Sp. while stripping government opposition of their resources. Dodai was also aware of this as both men heaved a heavy sigh "Dodai. Do we still not know why Takigakure1Hidden Waterfall Villagehasn''t gotten involved yet? I don''t want to think they were in on this but-" "I doubt it sir. All attempts to contact them have failed, and according to our scouts, it''s very likely they''re also under attack. Forgive me for not requesting permission prior but, I''ve already raised security in certain sections of the village for good measure" "No, if you hadn''t done it I''d be disappointed in you, good work. Haaaah...the hell is going on?" Calling the past several years "disorderly" wouldn''t do it justice. The "Hyuga affair", Yugito''s near Tailed Beast extraction, loss of contractors and trust with other nations, the treachery of the defector Futoi, and the overall economic damage from the last war These events picked up right after he replaced his late father as the Raikage. The more his "inner circle" learned, the more obvious it became some unknown enemy was orchestrating things to their disadvantage But after several years of investigation, the only thing learned was branches of the Fuma and Chinoike clans respectively were at their beck and call. Along with employed enforcers of various origins who went under the aliases like "Supervisor" and/or "Employee" So little information for a hostile enemy that could potentially wreak untold havoc. People began to suspect something was coming as strange activity around the village increased exponentially within the past year A knew full well this was the "calm", and the village was unprepared for the inevitable "storm". He leaned forward and held his head with grief, accidently knocking some papers off his desk "Ah! Damn it, I''m just out of it today. Dodai, could you give me a hand?" "Of course" As they cleaned up, Dodai picked up a file that caught his attention. A familiar name was written on it, "Keido Sano" "Um, sir? This is Kei''s file. Were you looking for something in particular?" "Ah, a little side project of mine. I wanted to learn more about him. More specifically, his wife. I never knew Keido myself, and I''ve been seeing his son a lot recently so..." "You wanted to gain a better grasp on his background. Makes sense, considering his cousin is your assistant. But Moriko Sano? Why are you looking into her?" "Information on her was incredibly vague, no matter how many files I went through. All I learned is Keido meeting her in the land now known as Ishigakure2Hidden Rock Village. He brought Moriko and her family here, marrying her later" "And...that was a bad thing?" "No, I just want to know why. I tried asking Mabui before sending her off with the reinforcements to the island, but she didn''t know much either" "Mabui''s related to Kei by blood, but she was far too young at the time to remember much about Moriko-san now" "For us to let strangers into our home so easily...that''s something my father never would''ve done lightly" Dodai chuckled as he recalled something, A growing curious at his reaction "Something funny?" "Nothing. It''s just crazy how much you and your father are alike Raikage-sama. Always putting the village at the forefront of your thoughts" "That''s a requirement for this job" "Heh! Lord 3rd allowed them entry for their heritage. We learned Moriko-san''s ancestry originated further west of Ishigakure, near the infamous place of Kaenzan3The Flaming Mountains" "A family living near that place?! Impossible! The area is famous for being uninhabitable to all forms of life!" The place called "Kaenzan" was believed by many to be the hottest location in the world. With temperatures so high, even the fiercest of desert animals struggled to survive Home to what is known as the "Eternally Burning Fire", splendid natural flames that seem to blaze all year long. Able to burn away anything they come into contact with To hear that a human family managed to not only survive, but thrive there, was nothing short of unthinkable for A "Your father and I thought the same thing, but after some investigation, we determined it was true. We theorized they had some special power, but we couldn''t confirm it as there was little to no information on their ancestry" "What caused them to migrate in the first place?" "Moriko-san''s ancestors were forced from their homes by invaders. The clan scattered throughout the world like the Chinoike, Kaguya, Uzumaki, or any other clan without proper backing from a shinobi nation. Their history lost to the point Moriko didn''t even know her clan''s surname" "How unfortunate, no wonder you couldn''t find anything" "All we confirmed is they possess an abnormal affinity for elements like fire, wind or earth...fire in particular" "It must be related to them being capable of surviving such a harsh environment like Kaenzan. Oh! Is that why Rei''s so talented with Katon4Fire Style?" "The jury''s still out on that one, many of his deceased family hadn''t displayed any special gifts. Hell, most of them weren''t fit to be shinobi at all. Though Moriko-san was very special" "Rei hasn''t demonstrated the same level of talent? Really? A genius like him?" "You can''t measure it like that. Rei-kun is special, but he worked his ass off to get where he was. Moriko-san had something more akin to...natural talent" "Rei''s only ten Dodai. He''s already closing in on his parents level, you can''t really compare him to his mom, an adult. Overall, you''re only talking in terms of affinities" "Of course sir, I''m merely stating Moriko-san had more of a...biological advantage than Rei-kun. As for the one in question, it would appear her gifts skipped his generation...though it''s still too early to tell" "I get it...we''re all at the mercy of our genes" "...Quite so" ??? Summoning Island Rei and Etoro''s fight had nearly reached its climax! The former doing his best to avoid the latter''s corrosive attacks. Circling around Etoro, never in the same spot for more than a second! "Cheh! He''s really f**king fast!" (Etoro) {Just a little more, I''ve almost kneaded the appropriate amount of chakra...} (Rei) "Will you just die already?!" (Etoro) SPUTTER! Etoro increased the rate of magma rings he fired, eager to end the fight. Kekkai Genkai used a lot of energy, and his unique version of the Lava Style was far more chakra-taxing than the others Rei had launched attacks from all angles, forcing him to continue playing this game of "cat & mouse". Tiring him out in the process, as he intended FWIP! {Shuriken this time!} "Ugh! Like that''s gonna stop me!" (Etoro) SIZZLE! {He melted them into to nothing...what a pain. I''m running out of space to move, and this place is starting to look like the bottom of a volcano...I think enough time has passed} (Rei) "Ngh!" {Damn...I''m really getting tired! How is he still moving so fast when I covered nearly this entire area with lava?!} (Etoro) RUMBLE! "Huh?" (Etoro) Etoro started to feel tremors. {Am I that tired already? No, that''s not it...} (Etoro) What he thought was his feet nearly giving out from exhaustion was in fact the ground shaking CRACK! "Hm?" (Etoro) SPLOOSH! "GAAAHH!!!!" (Etoro) The ground beneath him split open! Revealing a torrent of water, blasting him upwards! Rei emerged from the ground short after Etoro, suspended in the air, caught sight of him and realized the one he''d been fighting was a clone. The real Rei was hiding deep beneath the ground, patiently kneading chakra for this attack {He used the clone to wear me down while preparing his final attack!} "A little water won''t stop-!"(Etoro) He tried to form another magma ring, but Rei wouldn''t allow it CLAP! "Suiton: Suishha5Water Style: Water Shockwave!" (Rei) The vortex of water that emerged from ground suspending Etoro in the air exploded from the top. Forming of a wave, blasting him away, covering the entire field In a matter of seconds, the area mirroring a volcano due to Etoro''s actions, now resembled that of a large lake. Heat from the area struck by magma began to bubble, the hot steam trying to escape, forming unique black bubbles that when cooled, almost resembled glass Rei had completely changed the terrain "Hah...haah...Now that''s a sight to behold. I haven''t observed to process of lava cooling and changing since my time in college" (Rei) THUD! Rei fell on his knee, spent from the jutsu he unleashed "Though it may resemble magma, it''s nowhere close to the actual thing. In the first place, magma above the ground is called lava, idiot" (Rei) While lava can potentially be around 2200 F, even certain flames can be much hotter. He also couldn''t produce it in mass quantities Rei picked up on this and realized Etoro''s jutsu was just an imitation of real magma. Lava kept hot with his Katon, at the price of his chakra It''s overall temperature was also nowhere close to the actual thing. If it were, even with the crazy amount of water Rei produced, it still wouldn''t be enough to stop it The technique itself was more "style over substance". Without proper assistance from another like his brother Metoro, there''s no way to bring out its full capabilities "Come on, I can do this...!" (Rei) Rei forced himself up and looked towards the opposite direction from where Etoro was blasted to. Expanding his senses to check on his team "Hmmm...damn it" {They''re at a stalemate...but Metoro''s starting to press them. Makes sense, despite being the younger twin, he''s the more troublesome one} (Rei) RUSTLE! "...Ugh!" {Guess I have to clean up here before I can leave} (Rei) "Huff...huff...!" "Stay down you idiot. I don''t have time to deal with the likes of you" (Rei) "It''s gonna take more than that...huff...to bring me down...hehe...!" Emerging from the trees was Etoro. Soaked, battered, fatigued, and above all...furious. But Rei wasn''t intimidated, only annoyed at his persistence "In my entire life...except for Kajra...no one has even beaten me this bad. He...hehehe...uhack!" "It''s amazing you''re still standing" {His breathing...I think more that one rib was broken. A shame, I''d hoped with the sheer force of the water, and the debris he went through, he''d be down for the count} (Rei) "Cough! Cough! I''m gonna end you brat!" (Etoro) "Big words. You lost, accept it" (Rei) "You think I can''t...continue?! F**K YOU!!" (Etoro) "You can''t beat me. Your jutsu is strong, but flawed. Without proper support from your brother, you can''t bring out its full killing potential" (Rei) "...!" (Etoro) "Your charka is almost depleted, you''re injured, hysterical, and very VERY stupid. Though that last one isn''t my fault" (Rei) "AAAGGGHHH!!! DIE!!!" (Etoro) WEAVE!! Etoro formed his hand seals and his "melting flames" started to gather, forming into massive makeshift pillar around him! "You dumbass!" (Rei) "RRRRGG!!!" (Etoro) "Crazy bastard!" (Rei) Rei tried to stop him when he stumbled to the ground "Ooof! Damn!" {I''ve used too much chakra, can''t even Shunshin6Body Flickernow!} (Rei) "Hehe...looks like the one who''s tired ain''t me! Hahaha!" (Etoro) "So you''re just gonna destroy the island?! What about your mission?!" (Rei) "F**K my mission! I don''t give a shit, AS LONG AS I GET TO KILL YOU!!!" (Etoro) {Shit! He''s completely lost it! With my current chakra, I can''t use Kisshten7Auspicious Heaven!} "Have to...run!" (Rei) Rei pulled himself up once more and was just about to leave when Etoro, who noticed this, spoke with ridicule "Don''t bother...you''ll never be able to get away from this blast!" (Etoro) "And your brother?!" (Rei) "Metoro''s Kton8Steel Stylewill protect him, though the same can''t be said for your friends. I would''ve done this sooner if my mission didn''t have me so concerned with the merchandise on this island" (Etoro) "Tsk!" (Rei) "But now, I just don''t give a shit. I''LL TURN YOU ALL TO ASH!" (Etoro) "YAAAAHHH!!" (Rei) DASH! Knowing he couldn''t evade, Rei tried to stop the user at the source. With all the strength he had left, he dashed towards Etoro, grasping his wrists Etoro struggled as he tried to free himself, the pair pushing their chakras to the brink! "You little shit! Rgh! Let go!" (Etoro) "Not...on your...worthless life! AGH!" (Rei) "Guh! How can you even stand in this hot pillar?!" (Etoro) "Rgh! RAAAAHHHH!" (Rei) Though he wasn''t burned, the heat from Etoro''s jutsu started to hurt. BWUURR!! "?!" {What the?!} (Etoro) Though Rei had yet to realize it, his chakra started to interact with Etoro''s. The latter''s "flames" became sporadic! Growing more and more unstable "N-Ngh!" (Rei) {This doesn''t make any sense! As the jutsu caster, I have some level of protection but, he should''ve burned already! How can he be okay inside this pillar...and our chakras are-?!} "Shit! YOU LITTLE BITCH...LET GO ALREADY!" (Etoro) "W-WOOOAAAAA!!!" (Rei) Energy built up as the flames around them grew more and more violent! {Is my chakra making his go out of control or something?!} (Etoro) "AAAAAAHHHHH!!!" {W-What''s...happening to me?! Is it...Kisshten again?!} (Rei) "DAAAMMMNNN IIITTTT!" (Etoro) SCREECH! The pressure between their chakra reached its peak, increasing the intensity between them until finally... "?!" (Rei) "NO!" (Etoro) BOOM! The explosion of conflicting energy blasted them away from one another, effectively ending Etoro''s jutsu. The one in question picked himself off the ground, only to met with utter shock at the sight before him "Y-You...impossible!" (Etoro) "..." (Rei) "Ha. Haha. Hahahaha! Well, that explains a lot! That familiar feeling I had at the start of our fight, how you could survive standing inside that pillar!" (Etoro) "..." (Rei) Much to his shock, Rei was emitting a strange fire around his body. Observing the phenomenon, a recollection of thoughts sprouted within his mind [It would appear "Rei''s" natural affinity is Fire, glad we tested it after your first body refinement. The "Black Scroll" is impressive] ''Out of all the elements to pick for my third...why did Kisshten pick Earth?'' ''Your Doton9Earth Stylehas improved at record pace'' ''It''s strange. I''m better with it than I am with my Suiton. It feels so natural to me'' ''I only gained Suiton with intense training. But whether it''s Katon or Doton, I always get this...funny feeling whenever I use them'' ["Rei Sano" was nothing but an average ninja with unremarkable genes who died young. But now that we''ve altered your body, everything''s changed] [You''re Neo-tsutsuki body may cause the "recessive", to become the "dominant". But everything still depends on you] ''Rei''s mom wasn''t born in Kumogakure, she hails from that nation. Well, before it even was a nation anyway'' "Hahaha! I knew we were similar! Rei, you''re just like me!" (Etoro) {Earth and Fire...I understand now} "Wrong Etoro Konjiki. We''re similar, not the same..." (Rei) "Hehe! Now I get why Kajra was so eager to combat Toroi, the thrill of fighting another gifted with the same powers!" (Etoro) "Hmph!" (Rei) The energy around Rei stabilized as he readied himself for his final confrontation with Etoro "You''re a Yton10Lava Styleuser!" 133. Turnabout [1] BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! "Hahaha! Run all you want! No one escapes my art!" "Hmph! That punk!" Kintar was in the midst of evading Deidara''s clay bombs, still at a disadvantage from his long range attacks. Oddly enough, he was no longer attempting to fight him, choosing only to run away While a hand-to-hand type ninja like him was a bad match for Deidara, it was out of character for the usual battle-hungry warrior Kintar was known for to flee from battle "HAH!" (Deidara) BOOM! "Ugh!" {Just a little more!} (Kintar) "?!" (Deidara) DASH! Kintar picked up the pace, much to the surprise of Deidara "Where''s he going? There''s no way he can get away while I''m flying in the air like this..." (Deidara) {Almost there!} (Kintar) ??? Elsewhere on the island SCORCH! "...!" "Rgh! Persistent bastard!" Etoro and Rei had brought their fight to the next level. The sudden emergence of the latter''s capacity for Yton1Lava Stylehad completely changed the equation With this new power, Rei didn''t have to jump around and worry about avoiding Etoro''s attacks "Will you just die already?!" (Etoro) "Hmph!" (Rei) WHACK! "Ooof! Agh! My nose-!" (Etoro) Rei''s combat grew more bold, forcing Etoro on the defensive. The one in question only grew more frustrated with this. Despite being the elder and more experienced, he was no match for Rei''s superior Taijutsu It wasn''t long after Notitia issued a warning [Rei, listen to me. You can''t let this drag on. While you may have awakened a new power, it''s precisely that...a "new" power. You have no experience when it comes to using Yton and your chakra is depleting fast] "Huff...huff...!" (Rei) [Kekkei Genkai2Bloodline Limitfunction very differently from regular nature transformations, and consume far more energy to boot. The only reason you''ve lasted this long is due to your abnormal level of control and reserves] {I know that...} (Rei) While this new power was a indeed a boon, Notitia had a point. Rei couldn''t handle a prolonged fight now, he couldn''t even use lava style properly. The best he could do now is use it to protect himself from other lava attacks like Etoro''s He needed time to practice and study it, time he didn''t have now [Reinforcements are almost here, just hold out until then!] ZWIP! "YAAH!" (Rei) {Stop blocking them you little shit!} (Etoro) Etoro''s fighting became sloppy, no longer caring about the chakra he wasted. He started throwing waves of magma rings, keeping the Taijutsu-focused Rei away from him But the longer they fought, the more Rei grew accustomed to his new power. No longer solely dodging, Etoro noticed Rei was actually using his own Yton to cancel out his attacks more and more Such an act was nothing short of an insult for a prideful ninja like Etoro. Since his childhood, he''s always been showered with words like "talented" or "genius" Now, a younger shinobi was giving him so much trouble...his ego wouldn''t allow him to accept it "Hm?" (Etoro) Rei held his right arm out and pushed his Shunshin3Body Flickerto its limit, seeking to bring Etoro down with his best Taijutsu. Or rather...his best Nintaijutsu4Ninja Body Techniques DASH! {Here he comes again!} "Let''s see how you handle this!" (Etoro) SIZZLE! Etoro gathered his "melting flames" and sent them towards the rapidly approaching Rei, narrowing them into a focused blast for precision! But Rei anticipated this, and with a raise of his left arm, focused his new power in the palm of his hand "He blocked it?!" (Etoro) "Got you..." (Rei) {Shit! Not enough time! Can''t-!} (Etoro) "Lariat!" (Rei) ??? Half a mile away from Rei and Etoro PHT! PHT! PHT! "Kton: Hagane Tate5Steel Style: Steel Shield!" CLING! "Tsk! Still can''t get past that annoying defense" Suzu and Tai were still being held at bay by Metoro. The former using her long range wind style attacks to maintain a safe distance, as his steel attacks were dangerously destructive But no matter how hard the pair tried, they could not break through his defenses. The sheer density of Metoro''s "steel" was too great for them to penetrate Tai knew the only way to beat him was with poison, but the problem was the mask he wore Whispering to Suzu "This isn''t gonna work, I can''t keep restoring your chakra like this" (Tai) "I know...which is why I have an answer. But I need your consent first..." (Suzu) "My-? Oh..." (Tai) "..." (Suzu) "Sigh. A do-or-die solution is it?" (Tai) "What do you say?" (Suzu) "If we don''t do it, we''re dead anyway. Tell me..." (Tai) {Ugh...I feel awful. I inhaled only a little and yet...} (Metoro) After being lightly poisoned from Tai, he continued wearing his makeshift gasmask protection. But the aftereffects from Tai''s first attack were starting to get worst Metoro was having trouble seeing, he felt like throwing up, and he even had trouble kneading chakra. It was just as he was going to attack again when... BOOM! The attention of everyone present was taken by an explosion of heat forming to the west of their area. While the Genin were contemplating what it was, Metoro immediately knew his older brother was in trouble {Nii-san...I can''t wait any longer!} "Kton..!" (Metoro) "Crap! Here comes another one!" (Tai) "Tai! You remember what to do?!" (Suzu) "Yeah, let''s go!" (Tai) Tai placed his hand on Suzu''s back as they opted to dodge the incoming attack {Have to wait for the perfect moment!} (Tai) "Hagane Hassha-tai6Steel Style: Steel Projectile!" (Metoro) BOFF! Metoro fashioned steel spheres in his hands before launching them. The objects moved at blinding speed, exploding the terrain they struck. Suzu moved, Tai right behind her {While his Kton is powerful, there''s always a gap he''s forced to make in between attacks} (Suzu) "Hmph!" (Metoro) BOFF! BOOM! {Most likely the result of his steel, it takes much longer to form. Probably due to its nature} (Tai) BOFF! {Meaning the time to strike-} (Suzu) "HAAAAH!" (Metoro) BOFF! BOFF! BOFF! {Is right after his next attack!} (Suzu & Tai) "Doton: Chidkaku7Earth Style: Mobile Core!" (Suzu) RUMBLE! "?!" (Metoro) The ground beneath Metoro suddenly elevated, raising him into the air {Hmph! Like that''s gonna stop-?!} (Metoro) "RRRRRAAAAAAHHH!" (Tai) Tai sent every ounce of chakra he had left into Suzu, allowing her to use her next technique "Fton: Daitoppa8Wind Style: Great Breakthrough!" (Suzu) WEAVE! WHOOSH! After forming the appropriate hand seals, Suzu unleashed a large, massive wave of wind chakra, blasting Metoro further into the air {So that''s it! The medic was supplying the girl with chakra, no wonder she could use these kind of techniques in rapid succession!} "Urgh...but this...won''t...stop me!" (Metoro) "Heh!" (Tai) "Obviously...now Tai!" (Suzu) "Phew! Right! Ninp: Dokugiri9Ninja Art: Poison Fog!" (Tai) Tai exhaled a dark-purple cloud of poison, the wind easily absorbing it, turning into a mini tornado of poison...with Metoro trapped in its center "Trying to poison me again...not likely! My mask can-!" (Metoro) "Your ability to make even a gas mask is impressive...but you''ve underestimated just how skilled Suzu is with her wind!" (Tai) "What?!" (Metoro) Suzu was an exceptional talent, largely in part to her heritage and iron will. Skilled with Fton, she mastered several advanced wind techniques by the time she was eight And now, the young lady of twelve years was capable of creating small vacuums, depriving fixed areas of oxygen. But the chakra necessary to perform it was steep, something she couldn''t do alone in her current condition Fortunately, Tai was present to assist her with his. As a medical ninja, he was naturally used to sharing chakra with others. Their combined teamwork was more than enough to circumvent this issue "Uhack! Can''t...!" (Metoro) Metoro grasped his throat as he struggled to breathe. The Genin knew they couldn''t remove his mask by force, the only way it would come off is if Metoro willingly took it off The pair gambled he''d risk the poison rather than dying from suffocation outright. Now, he was too panicked and tired to use ninjutsu as a means of escaping this situation As he became more desperate, he''d have no other choice but to breathe...or die {Come on...give up already!} (Tai) {We can''t keep this up!} (Suzu) But the Genin were at risk as well. If Metoro decided to wait it out, he''d be the victor. Even with Tai''s help, Suzu couldn''t maintain this modified wind technique forever Tension grew for everyone, as they questioned whose resolution was greater! {Ugh! Damn it! Damn it! DAMN IT!!!!} (Metoro) {That''s...! That''s it! Can''t...hold it!} (Suzu) BOOSH! The tornado burst and dissipated, the poison along with it! Tai and Suzu fell to their knees, but never taking their eyes off the fog After a few more rigid seconds of waiting, a figure''s silhouette could be seen in the smoke "Huff...looks like our resolve-" (Tai) THUD! "Ugh! Cough! Cough! GAH!" "-was stronger" (Suzu) It was Metoro...without his mask. Their gamble had paid off! The terrorist from Ishigakure10Hidden Rock Villagehad fallen to the ground, unable to continue! "Damn...cloud...scum!!!" (Metoro) "Yeah? Well, you just got your ass handed to you by so called, cloud scum. I wonder what that makes you, dummy" (Tai) "Kuh! I swear I''m gonna...kill...ugh...errg" (Metoro) "The poison''s already kicking in...he''s finished" (Tai) "Yeah. I''m gonna make a call" (Suzu) Despite their victory, Suzu was still worried about Rei. Opting to contact him via her radio BZZZT! "Rei! It''s Suzu! We''ve taken care of Metoro!" (Suzu) BZZZT! "Rei! Come in! Can you here me?!" (Suzu) BZZZT! "REI!" (Suzu) "[Agh! My delicate ears! Yes! Yes! I''m here, no need to shout. Nice job taking care of Metoro]" (Rei) "What about you?" (Tai) "Is Etoro still?" (Suzu) "[Etoro''s down for count, as one would expect when they take a full power Lariat to the neck]" (Rei) "You took him down?! On your own?!" (Tai) "As expected I guess..." (Suzu) "[His eye''s are rolled back, and he''s foaming in the mouth. Hehe, it kind of funny to watch]" (Rei) "Good grief. Still the same damn closet sadist, I was worried for nothing" (Tai) "Alright, can you bring Etoro here? We''d come to you but...it''s a tad difficult to move Metoro now" (Suzu) "[Poison?]" (Rei) "Poison" (Suzu) "[Alright. Soon as I''m done restraining him, I''ll be on my way]" (Rei) "Anything else happen to you while we were seperated?" (Tai) "[Yeah, you could say that. I''ll fill you in once this is done. I''m beat. Over and out]" (Rei) BZZZT! Rei cut the feed on his end and Suzu glanced at Metoro. Tai, wondering what she was thinking, inquired what exactly were her intentions "Now what?" (Suzu) "This. Doton: Sazareishi11Earth Style: Gravel" (Suzu) RUMBLE! After cutting the feed, Suzu used her earth style to upturn the earth around Metoro, condensing it around him, leaving the terrorist immobile and trapped "After we rendezvous with Rei, we''ll decide our next course of action. Back-up should also arrive soon" (Suzu) "You mean, the next person we should help?" (Tai) "Yeah. It''ll probably be..." (Suzu) ??? Another battleground on the island The present area was completely ravished, not a single trace of the former greenery was left standing. In the middle of the dust was the Kumo-nin Toroi. Many of his signature "magnetized" shuriken floating around him were now either damaged or broken Across from him was his opponent, leader of the Ishi terrorists, Kajra. He could now be visibly seen, his massive magnetic golem extensively damaged, though still operable Both shinobi were nearing their limits "Impressive. For a young man of your age to push me like this is unheard of" (Toroi) "Don''t...talk to me...like I''m some child! I can do this all day, old man!" (Kajra) Kajra raised his massive golem, missing its head, left arm, and parts of its torso. Despite being filled with holes and ruptures, Kajra was determined to fight to the end, but grew only more irritated when he noticed a wide grin on Toroi''s face Eager for recognition, he absolutely hated Toroi, who maintained a calm and somewhat smug demeanor throughout their entire fight "You''re right Kajra-kun" (Toroi) "?" (Kajra) "Compared to you, I am old. The time when the next generation replacing the previous one is coming soon" (Toroi) "Hmph! That''s what I said earlier, looks like you finally get it!" (Kajra) "But...with age, comes experience. And you are certainly lacking in that department" (Toroi) "Is that so? Because from the looks of it, I''m one blow away from turning you into a small, ugly stain on this f**king island" (Kajra) Toroi stood up and clasped his hands "Hmph! Read between the lines, brat. Doton: Retsudo Tensh12Earth Style: Rupturing Earth Palm!" (Toroi) SLAM! CRUMBLE! "What the hell?!" (Kajra) After slamming his hands on the ground, Toroi caused the footing beneath Kajra to collapse, knocking him and his golem downwards {How am I falling down?! We were on stable-?!} "This place is...!" (Kajra) "Gotcha" (Toroi) "How do you still have enough strength to-?!" (Kajra) "You think I didn''t? Please, I could''ve killed you a long time ago, but then I would''ve damaged the island in the process. Besides, who goes all out against a kid like you?" (Toroi) "YOU WERE TAKING IT EASY ON ME?!" (Kajra) His eyes filled with rage, this was the ultimate form of disrespect to him. But before he could say anything else, the golems falling speed increased Kajra looked around and discovered they were far from their original proving grounds. Realizing Toroi hadn''t been fighting with the purpose of taking his golem down, but rather, to move him towards the edge of a hilltop Their current location was the perfect spot on the island to send the golem down, a clear slippery slope leading straight into the coastline "How?!" (Kajra) "When you bragged about your Jiton13Magnet Stylegolem''s reliance on Raiton14Lightning Styleto fight infinitely, I already knew what to do" (Toroi) "YOU...YOU WERE PLANNING THIS FROM THE START?!" (Kajra) "Some advice for the future...never explain how your Ninjutsu works to the enemy. Ya cocky little shit" (Toroi) {No...! The ocean! Can''t stop...falling!} "Kuh! DAMN YOU!" (Kajra) The golem and Kajra tumbled down the hilltop until finally... SPLASH! ZZZZZZZZ! "GAAAAAHHHH!!!!!" (Kajra) ...it fell into the ocean. The electricity it gathered from the earth suddenly backfired, tearing apart the automaton into rumble. Electrifying Kajra in the process Toroi stood atop the edge of the hill and simply observed the event "Like I said...inexperienced" 134. Turnabout [2] The northern part of the island Kintar continued to trail throughout the island with haste, Deidara still in pursuit as he rained down his clay bombs. Dashing through the jungle, the fleeing shinobi encountered several mercenary cells along the way "Hey guys!" (Kintar) "What the?!" "Enjoy your parting gifts!" (Kintar) "Ah?! Move out of the way you idiots!" (Deidara) BLAM! "GAH!" "Shit!" (Deidara) "Hehe!" (Kintar) The mercenary cell was annihilated, unable to react in time to avoid the bomb. It didn''t take long for Deidara to figure out he had been played like a fiddle. A terrible idea sprouted as he glanced around, quickly realizing they must''ve circled the island several times by now He thought his bombs were keeping Kintar at bay, preventing him from interfering with the other mercenaries, but the latter tricked him into attacking his allies at various locations. Essentially doing Kintar''s job for him "Crap...how many colleagues did I end up blasting?!" (Deidara) "A natural outcome for an overzealous little shit like you!" (Kintar) "Kuh! Bastard...!" (Deidara) Deidara clenched his fist and bit his lip until it bled. Taking advantage of his so-called "art", the mere thought of it angered him. Enraged and insulted, he no longer cared about mission parameters and such, taking out out the rest of the "explosive clay" he had on hand. Set on initiating another bombing run "I''ll turn you into dust!" (Deidara) "Crap, here we go again-hm?!" {Oh...looks like they''re right on time} (Kintar) POOF! POOF! POOF! Using his abnormal "mouth-hands", Deidara created dozens of sculptures. With the flick of a hand seal, each one transformed into an bigger version, becoming fully autonomous But just as they were about to spread out and attack... ZZZST! "U-ugh! What...I can''t...!" (Deidara) ...Deidara''s body suddenly stopped listening to him. He was stuck in the air with the clay bird he flew on, unable to move so much as a finger. Following this, two figures emerged from forest and stood next to Kintar "Took you guys long enough, was patching a hole really that difficult?" (Kintar) "Hey, don''t blame us. Some mercenaries got past you and arrived at the gate, we had to deal with them" "While also working on the repairs by the way. In any case, you did a good job taking out the rest of his allies" "The brat hanging about in the sky did most of the work, I just led him by the nose. Although, I''m pretty sure there are a few remaining stragglers hanging about" (Kintar) It was Musai and Funsui, after finally securing the center of the island, they immediately moved to assist their comrades "What about Master Sabu?" (Kintar) "He''s heading towards the enemy cell who captured a batch of animals that escaped during the earlier bombing run" (Funsui) "But that was nearly twenty minutes ago, so it might be too late. In any case, I''m holding this kid at bay with my Kanashibari no Jutsu1Paralysis Jutsu, you know what to do Funsui" (Musai) "Mhm. I think we''ve all had enough of his explosions. I''ll take care of the rest" (Funsui) TUP! WEAVE! Funsui jumped in the air and made hand gestures, preparing to attack. His target, the remaining explosives currently flying around Deidara. Knowing what he was planning to do, despite not being able to move, Deidara sent the bombs on their way "Even under the effects of my jutsu, he can still control them?!" (Musai) "It''s still too late! Suiton: Amearare2Water Style: Rain Hail!" (Funsui) Clumps of water gathered around Funsui before shooting off like bullets, ripping apart Deidara''s bombs. Though, one of them managed to get past him, heading directly towards Musai and Kintar "Crap!" (Funsui) "I got it! Issen3Flash!" (Kintar) SHING! Kintar removed the giant axe from his back and flowed his chakra into it. With a single swing, a thin wave of energy emerged, slicing the bomb in two Though they were protected, the resulting explosion distracted Musai, loosening his grip on the paralysis jutsu. This gap was precisely the opportunity Deidara needed to break free and fly away "Damn it, he got away. Though looking at them closely, his bombs don''t pack as much force as I believed" (Kintar) "He''s still a young Bakuton4Explosion Styleuser, he''s yet to fully master his Kekkai Genkai5Bloodline Limit" (Musai) "That makes sense..." {His earlier bombing run didn''t manage to disturb them after all}" (Kintar) {That technique he used just now...it''s origins stem from the Samurai. Could Kintar-dono be a resident from the Land of Iron? Though why would a former samurai be all the way out here? Working for Kumogakure and using an axe no less...} (Musai) TAK! Funsui landed on the ground and apologized for letting one of Deidara''s attacks get past him. Kintar payed it no mind and opted they leave to assist the others Deidara was now exhausted from expending most of chakra as he flew away irritated. Along the way, he caught the sight of several ships docking on the eastern coastline. Back-up from Kumogakure had finally arrived Following Kajra''s instructions, he sent a flare in the air, signaling all of his colleagues. With his payment in hand and job accomplished, he had no more reason to stick around {Kumogakure...you are now officially on my list. One day, you''ll experience the true brilliance of my art!} (Deidara) ??? A western coastline Toroi had landed on the sea, intent of finding and apprehending Kajra. As he searched through the rubble of the destroyed golem, he found said terrorist battered and bruised Kajra glared at Toroi but struggled to move. Toroi responded by having his floating shuriken surround Kajra, silently telling him not to try anything. With much reluctance, he raised his hands and surrendered "Good boy" (Toroi) "F**k you..." (Kajra) "Watch the language" (Toroi) Toroi restrained and carried the unwilling young man back to the island, quickly meeting up with Kintar and the rest "Wow, you finished up quite nicely Toroi-sama" (Musai) "Yeah, this little shit gave me a lot of trouble. If we weren''t supposed to protect this island, things would''ve gone a lot smoother. Funsui, sitrep" (Toroi) "Sir. The breach in the bunker has been sealed, and the ones circling the entrance have been dealt with. Kintar-dono managed to deal with quite a few cells, but there are still several of them remaining on the island" (Funsui) "Master Sabu radioed me earlier, saying he was going after the animals that were kidnapped. For now, let''s focus on taking care of the stragglers and securing this-!" (Toroi) As he was about to finish his sentence, he eyes were drawn to the signal flare Deidara shot in the sky. Everyone else focused on where he eyes dwelled, including Kajra "Is that one of ours?" (Toroi) "...No" (Kintar) "Then it means it''s one of yours" (Toroi) Toroi turned to Kajra, the latter of whom said nothing and simply smiled with a smug expression "You can either tell me what it means...or...um...well I don''t really have the stones for interrogation" (Toroi) "No worries, I''ve got a friend who is. Whistle!" (Kintar) RUSTLE! After nearly a minute, responding to Kintar''s call, his giant raccoon partner Pochi emerged the bushes. Kintar had sent him out earlier to deal with enemy combatants while he diverted Deidara''s attention "Pochi, we''ve got a tight-lipped one. You know what to do" (Kintar) "Rrrrrr..." (Pochi) "?!" (Kajra) Pochi slowly approached Kajra, who was suspended in the air by a metal roped Toroi had magnetized and used to restrain him. Nearing his face, Pochi slowly opened his mouth, revealing sharp teeth that looked capable of chewing through anything "Okay! Okay! It''s signal flare to let everyone know enemy reinforcements have arrived!" (Kajra) "Enemy...looks like our back-up is finally hear. But why would you smile at that?" (Toroi) "..." (Kajra) "Pochi" (Kintar) "GROWL!" (Pochi) "I-It also means it''s time to use our final resort! We''re...cleaning up!" (Kajra) "What do you mean by, cleaning up?" (Toroi) "Several of our men were given bombs from our little, artist. In the event we see that signal, their orders are to plant them beneath the ground for later detonation" (Kajra) "What?!" (Kintar) "?!" (Kajra) Kintar grabbed Kajra''s collar and yelled at his face, easily intimidating him with his sudden aggressive behavior. Everyone else present also became startled with his actions "Plant them how?! Surely not with Doton6Earth Style?!" (Kintar) {Kintar-dono?} (Toroi) "What else? Though, I reckon most of them have been taken out by you" (Kajra) "...Tsk!" (Kintar) "Leaving no trace huh...I don''t see the point since Kumogakure already knows this island was under attack" (Musai) "We just do as we''re ordered" (Kajra) "And who exactly is ordering you?" (Funsui) "The hell should I know? For hiring people like us to do a job like this, do you really think anyone would be stupid enough to reveal their identity? Dumbass" (Kajra) Kajra''s smug attitude only irritated them even further. The only one who didn''t seem to care was Toroi, ignoring any snarky comments as he continued the interrogation "Well, the majority of the island is secure. Our areas were swiftly taken care of" (Toroi) "True, there were no traces left of enemies in our area, most of the island has already been secured" (Musai) "What about your precious little Genin near the east? Team...Tango was it?" (Kajra) Everyone turned to Kajra with surprise, wondering how exactly he knew not only where the Genin were, but their identities as well, despite having spent all his time on the island fighting Toroi During this entire ordeal, the enemy had a dangerously suspicious amount of intel on them. A fact that disturbed all of them, especially Toroi "What have you done?" (Toroi) Kajra smiled and coyly explained "Hehe! I sent two of my very best to keep them preoccupied. Even if by some miracle they were defeated, I placed far more cells in that area than others. How''s that for inexperienced? Toroi-san" (Kajra) "You little...!" (Funsui) "As if a few bombs could take this island out! Stop bluffing!" (Musai) "..." (Kintar) "We were well briefed on the details of this place, including its history. Particularly, what lies beneath. Isn''t that so, Kintar? Hahaha-" (Kajra) WHACK! "-Ooof?!" (Kajra) Pochi knocked Kajra out with a swipe of his giant paws. Kintar turned and faced the rest in panic "Shit!" (Kintar) "Kintar-dono?" (Funsui) "We need to find the others now! Musai-dono, please meet with our support and inform them of the situation, tell them to find Team Tango!" (Kintar) "U-Um...right!" (Musai) DASH! "Toroi-dono, the three of us will stick together and find Team Tango. As a sensor-nin, we''ll be relying on you Funsui-dono. We also can''t afford to let this kid out of your sight" (Kintar) "Damn straight. Though, what are you going to do? And why are you so nervous right now?" (Funsui) "Bombs above the surface don''t worry me as much as ones below. They could end up disturbing one of the many sand pits on the island" (Kintar) "You mentioned those before...but what''s so dangerous about them?" (Toroi) "..." (Kintar) "Kintar-dono?" (Toroi) "It''s not the pits I''m worried about...it''s what lies beneath them that scares me" (Kintar) "The truth is...there are certain creatures we couldn''t bring into the bunker. They''re in deep slumber now, but could awaken if met with significant force" (Kintar) "Underground force...that''s why you told never us never to use Doton near the sand pits" (Funsui) "What happens if these things get loose?" (Toroi) "They''ll destroy the island. We avoided putting them in the bunker for the safety of the other animals" (Kintar) "Their safety?! Isn''t the whole reason we have this place is because they''re too feral to be welcomed on Genbu? And you''re saying there''s something here than can threaten even them?" (Funsui) "Why didn''t you tell us earlier?" (Toroi) Kintar expression turned awkward as he hesitated to answer their queries. Funsui grew a little frustrated with his refusal to be more forthcoming. But Toroi appeared to have a look of understanding "Now I get. It''s not that you wouldn''t...rather you couldn''t. Right?" (Toroi) "!" (Funsui) "Yes...I didn''t tell you because I''m not authorized to do so, it''s a big secret for Kumogakure...and a disgrace" (Kintar) "What is it exactly?" (Toroi) "It''s..." (Kintar) 135. Turnabout [3] MrProper The island''s eastern side "Yton1Lava Style?! For real?!" "Apparently so" After rejoining his team, Rei conversed with Suzu and Tai while ensuring Etoro and Metoro Konjiki respectively, remained constrained and unconscious Spending the time recollecting on their battles, naturally the subject of him awakening his Kekkei Genkai2Bloodline Limitwas a hot topic "How exactly did it happen?" (Suzu) "My chakra and his connected via physical contact. The fight was getting pretty intense by then, and the proceeding reaction was very...violent" {My body still aches from the explosion} (Rei) "There''s still a lot we don''t know about Kekkei Genkai...or how they manifest" {Damn...I''m so jealous!} (Tai) "Motoi once told me it typically emerges when one undergoes significant physical and/or mental trauma. The former in my case?" (Rei) Resting to recover strength after a series of draining fights, the trio passed the time trying to figure out exactly how Rei came to be a Yton user. Tai brought up the subject of parents, particularly his mother, wondering if she had the same ability Rei denied this, stating she was noted only to have substantial skill with Katon3Fire Style. Suzu theorized this was due to her coming from Ishigakure4Hidden Rock Village, a land right next to the great nation of Iwagakure5Hidden Stone Village Iwagakure possessed a plentiful amount of those with Kekkei Genkai, many of whom were Yton users. One of her ancestors marrying such a user seemed to be the most reasonable conclusion in Rei''s mind "Kekkei Genkai are really tricky, easily skipping generations. Even if you''re a member of a prominent family, that doesn''t imply you''ll receive the same gifts" (Tai) "Skipping generations...you''re talking about recessive genes right?" (Rei) "It would make sense considering you don''t know of any family members that have the same power" (Suzu) "Hmmm..." (Rei) "Well, no worries. We won our battles, and you walk away with a bonus! That''s a win in my book" (Tai) "Yeah, if I knew how to control it. The best I can currently do is block other Yton attacks" (Rei) Rei recalled Notitia stating several years ago that the original "Rei" had no Kekkei Genkai, just moderate skill with Katon The cause for this new power, tsutsuki cells, the Black Scroll, his soul, Kisshten6Auspicious Heavens, Etoro Konjiki, or any other factor...he couldn''t find the answer "One step at a time. For now, let''s discuss next steps. Soon as we''ve recovered, we''ll take these two to the others, I''m sure our senpais would love to have a chat with them" (Suzu) "They''re not the only ones-?!" (Rei) "?" (Tai & Suzu) Rei immediately stood up from his spot, focusing on the direction behind him. Familiar with his role as a sensor-type ninja, the others knew something was wrong "What are you sensing?" (Tai) "Reinforcements have just arrived on the island" (Rei) "And that''s...a problem?" (Tai) "No. The group of enemy ninja edging towards us is the problem. But for some strange reason, they''ve stopped...standing in place?" (Rei) {Are they waiting to attack?} "Which direction?" (Suzu) "Several meters north of our location" (Rei) "North of our...oh?! I remember spotting several of the sand pits Kintar-san told us to avoid in that area!" (Suzu) "Are they planning to do something with it?!" (Tai) "I don''t know...and I don''t want to wait and find out" (Rei) Rei grabbed Etoro and Tai held Metoro as the group left to engage the enemy. Arriving on the scene not far from them, they remained in the bushes and observed the payed mercenaries digging Suzu noted one of them was carrying a large, white object, getting ready to plant it into the ground. When said object caught Rei''s attention, he instantly knew it was one of Deidara''s clay bombs {Is that a mine?! Can''t let them plant it!} "We have to stop them!" (Rei) "Eh?!" (Tai & Suzu) DASH! "What the-?!" (Tai) "Rei!" (Suzu) "HEY! THE ENEMY IS HERE!" The opponents before him were nothing compared to Etoro and Metoro, Rei had no trouble evading attacks as he blitzed towards the one holding the bomb Suzu attacked the others distracted by him while Tai prepared his Ninjutsu. Everything seemed to be going their way until... "S-Shit!" "Ah?! No! You dumbass!!" (Rei) The one holding the bomb panicked and threw it, sending it directly into the sandpit. Rei knew what was coming next and ran with all his might to grab Suzu and Tai. A light began to emerge from beneath... "What did I just-?" "Oh god..." "R-RUN!!!" BOOM! ...followed by a massive explosion! WOOOOO! Dust spread throughout the air, Rei could be seen covering his team. He successfully managed to get them out of harms way, and surprisingly, none of the mercenaries gained any fatalities {I''ve had enough f**cking explosions for one day!} (Rei) "All these close calls are bad for my heart" (Tai) "We''re ninja. Comes with the territory" (Suzu) "Does it though?! I feel Genin teams aren''t supposed to have as many exciting missions as us!" (Tai) "Heads up guys, they look pretty pissed" (Rei) The mercenaries picked themselves off the ground, all eyes focused on the Genin. Irritated for almost dying due to their actions, they drew their weapons and prepared to attack But before either side could make a move, the ground started to rumble "What the hell?" "Earthquake? Or...aftershocks?" "From what? The bomb?" "No, that''s not...HEY! BEHIND YOU!" "Huh?" SPHHHLT!! Before anyone could even react, one of the men was pierced from behind by what appeared to be a black blade protruding from the sand pit... "Uugh! H-Help...mueeee!!!!" No one dared to moved as the one who pleading for help was dragged beneath the surface. For several seconds that felt like an eternity, no one, including the Genin, moved so much as an inch Trying to understand what exactly just happened until someone finally broke the silence "Hey...what the hell just-?!" "How am I supposed to know?! We were told to plant the bombs and leave BEFORE detonating them!" "No. Shit! Shit! Shit!" "WHAT IN THE ACTUAL F**K?!" "I gotta...I gotta get out of here!" RUMBLE! SPHHHLT!! "GAH!" "?!" When another attempted to flee, the black object once again emerged from the ground, stabbing and dragging him beneath the surface. Everyone stood in place, quickly realizing whatever it was attacking them responded to movement "H-Hey...you guys saw that too right?" (Tai) "Yeah, it''s not a blade" (Suzu) "No way. Under the sharp object...it was definitely a metasoma! The thing attacking us is a-?!" (Rei) BLAM! The sandpit suddenly burst! Several large, dark figures followed suit and crawled out. Every could finally see what was attacking them "Well...shit!" (Rei) SCREEEE!!!! ??? "Giant...Scorpions?! Seriously?! That''s what I''m sensing right now?!" (Funsui) "I''m afraid so" (Kintar) "This island is just a bundle of fun..." (Funsui) "I don''t understand how they could be our village''s so-called shame as you put it earlier" (Toroi) The sensor-type ninja Funsui led Toroi and Kintar as they raced to Team Tango''s location while the latter explained what they were in for "Kumogakure didn''t start in the far east mountains of the continent. For a long time, your countrymen desired the lush fertile fields that Konoha now monopolizes" (Kintar) "But that was a long time ago, during the Warring States Period. Before the era of the 1st Raikage" (Funsui) "During that time, everyone was trying to come up with a magic bullet to win the war. And the people of the Land of Lightning began taking...drastic steps" (Kintar) "What does that have to do with these creatures, and this island?" (Funsui) "Drastic...Kintar-dono...you don''t mean-?!" (Toroi) "Yes...experimentation. On both humans and animals" (Kintar) Though the younger Funsui couldn''t even fathom the idea of his country committing such crude acts, the more experienced Toroi knew all too well what his people were capable of in times of desperation He thought back to the time Kumogakure began the practice of consuming flesh from Tailed Beasts to increase the powers of its troops. This Orochimaru-like behavior was something he could believe had occurred "One particular scientist of your country began to focus on the aftereffects chakra had on animals. Particularly, how they''re able to grow to such massive heights" (Kintar) "But why scorpions?" (Funsui) "During his experiments, he noticed scorpions exhibited very strong reactions. Growing up five times faster than other animals...along with a fierce aggression to all other life. The reason this place is so secret is because if word were to get out that your ancestors condoned this kind of work..." (Kintar) "Our very reputation would be tarnished to incredible levels. We may never get a single shinobi contract again" (Toroi) Kintar went on to explain about his long history with the previous Raikage. The 3rd trusted him enough to ask that he guard the island. Believing it better for an outsider like him know about this secret than risk rumors spreading in the village "The altered scorpions were uncontrollable, and Kumogakure had a hard time trying to kill them. So they opted to seal them somewhere else" (Kintar) "Why even bother making more if they were uncontrollable? And what happened to said scientist" (Toroi) "The head scientist left soon after, though no one knew his reasons. Some believed it was due to him getting ready for his first child, others say he was traumatized by his own work, some believe he was killed in order to keep the project under wraps as he was never seen or heard from again" (Kintar) "We lost all contact? Guess that''s why this project couldn''t continue if the one who pioneered it left" (Funsui) "As for the scorpions themselves, they were kept due to their potential war value, despite how uncontrollable they are" (Kintar) "?" (Toroi & Funsui) "You''ve yet to comprehend just how dangerous they are..." (Kintar) ??? "Katon: Kary Endan7Fire Style: Dragon Flame Bullet!" (Rei) "Fton: Shink Taigyoku8Wind Style: Giant Vacuum Bullet!" (Suzu) "Ninp: Dokugiri9Ninja Art: Poison Fog!" (Tai) SCORCH! BOOSH! Team Tango unleashed their respective Ninjutsu to stop the rapid scorpions, but to no avail. No matter what they did, the absurd arachnids didn''t appear to slow down at all "Are you kidding me?!" (Rei) "MOVE!" (Suzu) The scorpions were tearing everything apart! The ground, the forest, the people, they were completely erratic! Nothing seemed capable of stopping them. The scorpions took every attack thrown at them, without any signs of stopping! Anyone who tried to flee was immediately killed on the spot, forcing everyone to stay and fight a losing battle "Tsk!" (Suzu) "How?! How are they not hurt at all?!" (Tai) ??? "Their skins are insanely strong, comparable to steel. Nigh-invulnerable to most damage, they can survive not only extreme hot and cold temperatures, but even substances with low pH levels like acid. Go without food for years, survive underwater for months, acute senses to everything around them, immune to every fathomable poison..." (Kintar) "Sounds like a real handful...no wonder we couldn''t get rid of them" (Funsui) "Speaking of poison, to this very day...there''s no known remedy for the poison they produce. The smallest exposure is near-guaranteed fatal. And that''s not even half of what they''re capable of" (Kintar) "Geez!" (Funsui) "I can see the appeal now, just summon one in the middle of a battleground, and let it loose on the enemy" (Toroi) "That''s right, and for a time, it was effective. Foreign countries desperately tried to discover their origins, and how your predecessors managed to procure them. You guys did a real good job keeping a lid on things" (Kintar) Toroi glanced at the now knocked out Kajra in his custody. The one in question somehow displayed prior, in-depth knowledge of the island. Most likely from whoever hired him for this attack The more he learned, the more dreading thoughts Toroi had {So how does this kid...or rather his employer know about them? Could someone have leaked the intel...or do we have a traitor in our midst. I must report this to Raikage-sama as soon as possible!} (Toroi) "Guess that''s why we made so many of them" (Funsui) "Actually, your country only made a couple" (Kintar) "Huh?" (Funsui) "The main cause for shutting the project down was the discovery of their incredibly fast reproductive rate. The quantity of them grew too big to control, even after they were made genetically made infertile later" (Kintar) "So we placed them on this island where they couldn''t bother anyone else, waiting for them to die out" (Toroi) "Trying to kill them is incredibly difficult, risky, and always comes with casualties" (Kintar) They finally understood the true purpose of this island. Kumo thought it best just to let them die here than go to the trouble of losing more soldiers. Especially if you consider it was time of war, the last thing they needed was the loss of more soldiers Unfortunately, they underestimated how resilient these creatures were. Living to the age of nearly a century, only several of them had died since the era of the 4th Raikage "Why did we put the other animals here? I know they''re very feral but..." (Funsui) "Compared to the scorpions, the others might as well be docile. It didn''t take long for them realize who the real masters of this place were. My job here wasn''t just to protect them from themselves or outside threats, it was to keep them away from the sand pits" (Kintar) "No wonder you can maintain this island all by yourself" (Toroi) "Hehe, well don''t forget this helpful fellow" (Kintar) Kintar smiled and patted his partner Pochi, who was tailing right behind them "Fortunately, the scorpions typically never rise to the surface unless provoked. They''re nocturnal, and most of the island''s inhabitants are either asleep, or put in the bunker by me for protection" (Kintar) Toroi reached for the radio on his neck "But that''s precisely why the situation is bad. They''re angry enough as it is, they get even more crazy when someone wakes them during the day, like now" (Kintar) "Oh that''s cute, they''re cranky sleepers...sigh!" (Funsui) "Did you get all of that Musai?!" (Toroi) BZZZT! "[Only the important parts, relaying it to our back-up now. I''ve already rendezvous with them and we''re heading to the same location! The others are securing the island!]" (Musai) "Good! We''ll see you there!" (Toroi) "Funsui-dono! Let''s pick up the pace!" (Kintar) "Right! This way!" (Funsui) WHOOSH! {I pray the Genin can stay alive until then!} (Kintar) 136. Turnabout [4] MrProper "HIISSS!" "Haaa...haaa...urg! Damn it!" "I can''t...I can''t keep this up!" "You have to! Slowing down means death!" The disturbing hissing of the giant scorpions resounded in the ears of everyone present. A fitting noise to match the current scene, one filled with nothing but dread Nearly all of the enemy mercenaries had either been killed, or knocked unconscious, only a few stragglers remained "GAH!" "Ah, idiot! There''s no point in running!" With the terrain as their ally, none could escape these ravenous creatures. They moved too quickly, ambushed anyone who tried to run, and were somehow even faster when tunneling underground The team picked up on this first, focusing solely on avoiding attacks, especially the poisonous tails. Obvserving first hand how fast one could die from even the smallest exposure. They bid their time, hoping reinforcements would arrive swiftly {Damn it. I''m starting to get tired, I still haven''t fully recovered from my fight with Etoro. Not to mention Tai & Suzu...} (Rei) "How are your chakras? Does anyone need a little pick-me-up?" (Tai) "I''m fine...Suzu?" (Rei) "I''m not dead yet, but I''d welcome some help now" (Suzu) "I can sense them, our back-up is almost here. Just hold out a little longer, I''m gonna make some distractions" (Rei) As Rei formed a hand seal, Suzu stopped him before he could use his jutsu. Apparently, she already knew what he was thinking and advised against it "Don''t Rei, Kage Bunshin1Shadow Clonewill split your chakra, we need to conserve our strength" (Suzu) "..." (Rei) "Like you said, the reinforcements will be here soon, there''s no need to tempt fate. Tai still has the most chakra left out of all of us, long as he can still restore our stamina with his medical ninjutsu, we''re golden" (Suzu) "I''ll...haah...heal you guys as many times as it takes!" (Tai) "...Okay" (Rei) TREMBLE! The ground shook every time a scorpion moved, one of them set on killing the Genin as it charged. Not wasting any time, the team split up to divert its attention, Suzu stuck with Tai and Rei moved on his own Doing his best to stay alive, Notitia abruptly spoke to him [Ain''t this pickle, I''m surprised you haven''t run away yet] "Like I can in this situation" (Rei) [Can''t you?] "No! These things are abnormally fast for their size, and how the hell am I supposed to get out of here with Suzu and Tai?!" (Rei) [The key words being...Suzu and Tai. If it''s just you...] "...Are you suggesting I-?" (Rei) [The best course for you now is to leave them behind] "!" (Rei) Rei stopped in his tracks, contemplating the idea Notitia just placed in his mind. Its reasoning was sound, his overall priority is self-preservation. Staying behind, risking his life to save these "teammates" of his was illogical by all accounts But for some reason, the supposed "cynical scientist" couldn''t make the decision, hesitation gripped his entire body "HISSS!" "Head''s up!" (Tai) "Tsk!" (Rei) STUP! One of the scorpions homed in on Rei, attempting to catch him with its pincers. Even with his speed, he had a hard time dodging its quick strikes, accompanied by its even faster poisonous tail Diverting his attention for even a moment meant death, Rei understood this better than the others. But Notitia still spoke to him, ignoring his difficult circumstances [Back-up is on the way, but they initially arrived on the northern side of the island. With their current pace, it''s estimated they''ll be here in several minutes...but a lot can happen here in that amount of time] "..." (Rei) [Your chakra hasn''t fully recovered from the fight with Etoro Konjiki, and you can''t use the Shunshin no Jutsu2Body Flicker Jutsuforever. Eventually, you''ll exhaust what remaining power you have left...and death will soon follow] "..." (Rei) [But if you leave by yourself, you have a 93% chance of survival. With your speed, you''re more the capable of fleeing on your own...without any extra "baGGage"] {Did its voice just...crack?} (Rei) [wHy do you not flee? Have you forgotten your pRimary obJective?] {"primary objective"?} "Of course not, but as I said in the beginning, I''ll need powerful allies. Tai and Suzu are-!" (Rei) [aN irrelevant inVESTment, one that''s clearly FAiled if they need your help to get out of a situation like this. Why do you heSitate? The old you wouldn''t when it came to his goaLS] "...Shut up" (Rei) [The "pEOpLe" here, everyone of them are insignificant, just fICtional characters that don''t maTTer. They''re not reAl, and these two are just so-called "exTraS", completely wOrTHLesS] "Shut. Up." (Rei) [You''re trying to leave this worLd and get back to your own, anyone here who "diES" shouldn''t bOTher you] "I said, shut up" (Rei) [Unless...you''re growing aTTached to them? Is it because they rEminD you of-?] SCORCH! "GEE?!" "?!" (Suzu) "Wha-?! Rei, is that your-?!" (Tai) Heat and energy circled around Rei, gathering around his fists, which he clenched until they bled in anger! A small, red-colored steam formed from the blood quickly evaporating from the heat! Grinding his teeth, angered by Notitia''s words, he had enough. Raising his arms, he slammed them into ground with all of his might! "SHUT THE HELL UP!!" (Rei) SLAM! BOOM! The heat around his fists flowed into the ground, building up pressure beneath the surface before bursting everywhere, distorting all of the terrain. As if mini volcano''s were forming, several of them emerged under the scorpions and began erupting, spewing out molten rock at a rapid rate "Holy-!" (Tai) "This is Yton3Lava Style!" {Did he activate it instinctually?} (Suzu) The lava burst forth, enveloping all hostile creatures present! Fortunately, Rei managed to control it just enough to avoid harming his allies [An UNexpected result...] "Haaa...haaa...! Notitia...haa...later...you and I...will have words!" (Rei) [...] TAK! TAK! Tai and Suzu rejoined Rei and helped him up, the latter could barely stand after depleting nearly all of his remaining chakra "Nice job man! And you said you couldn''t control it!" (Tai) "I...can''t...haah! That was just a freak accident" (Rei) "Tai, I''ll hold him. You get to work on healing" (Suzu) "Right" (Tai) "Back-up is...almost here" (Rei) "Why worry about back-up? You''ve already taken care of-" (Tai) RUMBLE! "!" (Suzu) "...Seriously? These things just won''t quit!" (Tai) {Just what the hell are their bodies made of?} (Suzu) The scorpions were in pain, they weren''t dying. Their bodies were only slowed down by the lava, but slowly, they started to approach yet again. It wouldn''t be long before they reached the team Suzu left Rei to Tai as she stood in defense of them {Shit...I''m about to pass out...} {Rei) "Just focus on recovering, I''ll buy you some time" (Suzu) "Suzu...don''t. I can tell...you''re almost out of chakra too" {Even Tai has grown weary} (Rei) Tai tapped Rei''s shoulder and smiled, trying to hind the exhaustion that could clearly be seen on his face "Like you said, back-up''s almost here. We''ve got to do our part too" (Tai) "That''s right" (Suzu) "..." (Rei) RUSTLE! Several of the large creatures managed to get past the small eruptions, the Genin in their sights, they darted at full speed! "Here they come!" (Tai) {This''ll consume the last bit of chakra I have! But I have to try!} "Fton4Wind Style...!" (Suzu) "...!" (Rei) CRASH! "?!" (Team Tango) Just when things took a turn for the worst, a flash of light shot the ground between the two opposing forces, stopping everyone and/or thing in their tracks! "H-Huh?" (Suzu) "Was that lightning? Though...it''s not even the least bit cloudy today..." (Tai) "This chakra is-!" (Rei) ZWIP! TAK! A lone figure landed between them and rampaging arachnids "You''ve done enough, I''ll take it from here" "Ah!" (Tai) "Y-You''re-!" (Suzu) "You guys saved me before, it''d be awfully rude if I didn''t return the favor" ??? Northeast of the island''s center Toroi, Funsui, and Kintar had managed to rendezvous with Musai and Kumogakure''s reinforcements. Quickly informing them of situation as they bolted to Team Tango "Scorpions...experiments...no wonder anyone never comes here!" (Musai) "I certainly don''t wanna come back, let''s hurry up and rescue the kids so we leave this stupid island!" (Funsui) "Given the captain of our back-up has gone on ahead, it won''t be long" (Toroi) "I believe you''re underestimating how dangerous these creatures are Toroi-dono. What can one shinobi do against-?" (Kintar) Everyone present snickered together when they heard Kintar''s concerned query. Wondering what was so funny, he requested elaboration as Funsui began explaining "Don''t estimate her, she''s one of our village''s most powerful ninja. Even as a young child, her actions were fundamental for us in the last war" (Funsui) "I thought you said she was an office lady?" (Kintar) "Yes, but also more. Plus, her unique Ninjutsu is best suited to deal with these so-called, Nigh-indestructable experiments" (Musai) "I don''t follow? You lot do understand just how dense their exteriors are correct? What could possibly pierce through them?" (Kintar) Kintar was still at loss, wondering what they knew that he didn''t. Despite the situation, everyone except for him remained calm after hearing of the "captain" that arrived on the island After spending years in the place, he was solemnly convinced there was nothing adept enough to break these creatures, beings believed capable of withstanding blows from even the Tailed Beasts themselves "I may not be a man of science, but I don''t know of anything in this word that can handle it" (Toroi) "Handle...what?" (Kintar) "Hehe!" (Toroi) "..." (Kintar) "The speed of light" (Toroi) ??? "Coming all this way for us, you''re such a worrywart...nee-san" (Rei) "Mabui-san!" (Tai) "The others will be here soon! I''ll handle this, you three just stay where you are!" (Mabui) Rei''s cousin and guardian, it was Mabui who arrived to help! After being sent by the Raikage, she assembled a rescue squad in record time. Were it not for her, the reinforcements would never have arrived so quickly Mabui glanced at the Genin to see if anyone was gravely wounded before scanning the enemy in front of her {So these are the experiments I read about in the classified documents back home, they''re bigger than I imagined. No wonder the kids had such a hard time} (Mabui) "Mabui-san, don''t let them sting you! That poison is fatal!" (Tai) "Tai...it''s alright. Let her focus" (Rei) "Huh?" (Tai) "Don''t distract her" (Rei) {Ten, eleven, twelve...sixteen of them. Good thing I packed an extra set of "blades" before coming here} (Mabui) Mabui opened a scroll from the pouch on her back, laying it on the ground before placing her foot on it POOF! "?!" (Tai & Suzu) From out of the scroll, a stockpile of weapons appeared on top {I''ve never seen her in battle before, how exactly does she fight?} (Tai) {Spears, swords, all of them are pointed blades. What is she gonna use them for?} (Suzu) "Heh!" (Rei) "SCREEE!" "HISS!" {This should be enough} "Alright, you guys have bullied our Genin, my cousin quite a bit today. Don''t expect to get off easy" (Mabui) The remaining scorpions had managed to get past Rei''s "Lava", all of whom were moments from charging at the Kumo-nin again. Mabui remained unfazed, moving her hands WEAVE! "This is gonna hurt...a lot" {Tens no Jutsu5Ethereal Transmission Jutsu!} (Mabui) "Don''t blink guys, or you''ll miss it" (Rei) "?" (Suzu & Tai) ZIP! SHING! One by one, the weapons in front of her disappeared in a flash light. The scorpions, no longer waiting, charged at her in fury. But before they could even gain an inch, the entire space in front of her was enveloped in light as several bolts of lightning rained down from above RUMBLE! BOOM! "What the hell?!" (Tai) "What power!" (Suzu) The shockwave from the explosion knocked the kids off their feet. However, Mabui remained unaffected, stoically standing in place. Eyes forever forward, her serene expression was unflinching When the dust settled, the scorpions were no longer charging, many of them unable to move. What caught the Genin''s attention were the weapons on top of them, some lightly piercing through their incredibly dense flesh "W-Weren''t they invincible?" (Tai) "And how did those weapons end up on their backs? Jikkan Ninjutsu6Space-Time Ninjutsu?" (Suzu) "I don''t know how it works exactly, but nee-san can send anything from one place to another...at near the speed of light. A power unique to her alone" (Rei) "..." (Mabui) They still managed to get up, though obviously winded from the sheer force of Mabui attack. Even if their outer bodies were sturdy, significant impact would cause major internal damage "They really are tough. Looks like another wave is-huh?" (Mabui) "GEEE!" RUSTLE! CRACK! Just as Mabui was preparing to attack again, the giant predators dug underground, fleeing from the scene. Clearly recognizing the danger, the opted to longer fight, much to her surprise Mabui was under the impression these creatures were absolutely bloodthirsty, incapable of rational decisions "They...fled? For real?" (Rei) "That was...awesome" (Tai) {The power of an elite Jonin...this is the level I need to reach!} (Suzu) "I didn''t see that coming. Maybe domestication is a possibility after all?" {I should let Raikage-sama know when we return} (Mabui) Mabui turned and glanced at Rei, the latter of whom shook his head. Confirming to her with his senses if the scorpions had truly fed. Everyone could relax, the mission was finally over Tai and Suzu sat on the ground next to Rei, no longer possessing the strength to stand, the trio all heaved a sigh of relief "Phew! This was a mission was ridiculous!" (Tai) "Preaching to the choir on that one" (Rei) "Yup..." (Suzu) Mabui maintained vigilance, in case the enemy decided to return, acting as their guard. The other squads from Kumogakure had arrived several minutes later "So Rei..." (Mabui) "Hm?" (Rei) "How bout we have something other than grilled teriyaki tonight?" (Mabui) Rei smiled and finally relaxed before replying "Not a chance" (Rei) 137. Seed MrProper The eastern coastline The ninja of Kumogakure had rounded up the remaining insurgents hired to ransack the island. Everyone but Sabu and Killer B were present as they checked and accounted for every enemy captured, before planning their next course of action Mabui held a records book as the other colleagues lined up and brought the criminals to her, one by one, for proper identification "This guy is wanted for...petty theft, arson, not a heavy hitter. Got it marked, next!" (Mabui) "A kid called Kajra, AKA Raijinga1Lightning God Self, he''s a Jiton2Magnet Styleuser like me. Despite the flamboyant nickname, he was quite the handful" (Toroi) "Hmmm...I don''t see anyone under the name of Kajra...oh! Found him, under said flamboyant nickname. He''s got quite the bounty for his age, racked up a lot of trouble in Sunagakure3Hidden Sand Village" (Mabui) "The Sand...I have a feeling that''s his home country, given his name and Kekkei Genkai4Bloodline Limit. If he''s got beef with the current government, maybe that''s what caused him to become a terrorist" (Toroi) "Wouldn''t surprise me, considering how self-serving their current Daimy is. Still, for someone so young to trouble you...best we leave him unconscious" (Mabui) "Same could be said for those two" (Toroi) They both turned their attention to a knocked out Etoro and Metoro respectively. Because Mabui immediately left to rescue Team Tango, naturally she''d mark down the ones they captured first "Right. The infamous Konjiki Twins, the bingo book has them listed as demolition terrorists. Their responsible for a number bombings in the western side of the continent" (Mabui) "Given what the Genin told us about their Kekkei Genkai, it''s very likely they originated from Iwagakure5Hidden Stone Village, before migrating to Ishigakure6Hidden Rock Village" (Toroi) "That''s makes the most sense. But to catch them working together, all the way out here, it''s just..." (Mabui) "Off..." (Toroi) "What''s wrong?" "!" (Toroi & Mabui) The two were so focused on the mystery before them, they didn''t even realize the Genin had approached. After having some time to rest, they starting helping their colleagues round up the insurgents "Ah! Sorry guys, we''re just talking about these guys. They''re a bunch from all over the place, we can''t figure out who put them together" (Mabui) "Wouldn''t that be Kajra?" (Tai) "You''d think, but he was hired just like the rest of them. The one who orchestrated this is still in the wind" (Toroi) "What was that talk about the other nations? Something about Ishigakure?" (Rei) "Oh, well..." (Mabui) Since they worked so hard, she saw no reason to treat them like children and keep them in the dark. Mabui began to elaborate on her suspicions The newest shinobi nation of Ishigakure was sandwiched between Sunagakure and Iwagakure. It wasn''t impossible for these individual terrorists to meet and work together. However, the whole scenario itself is what bothered Mabui and Toroi the most Being the closest neighbors to each other, as two of the Five Great Shinobi Nations, there was much bad blood between the Sand and the Stone. For people of these nations to not fight, but even work together on an operation of such scale, anyone would have laughed at the idea Even more unsettling was the idea of Ishigakure not only gathering powerful, gifted shinobi like these into its nation, but getting them to work together. The one thing everyone else hoped wouldn''t happen If such a rowdy nation composed of rogues and mercs became organized and left to prosper, it''d become a massive threat to all others. Potentially threaten the power balance that''s delicate enough as it is They''ve cleary demonstrated not having any qualms about attacking other nations, and neither the Kazekage7Wind Shadownor Tsuchikage8Earth Shadowcan or will do anything about it "The Kazekage is busy handling the affairs of his own poor, declining nation. While the Tsuchikage is taking advantage of being one of Ishigakure closest neighbors. Constantly hiring their services for his country''s benefit" (Toroi) "Sigh. Because of the demilitarization agreement, he using them as a substitute for their lack of power. It makes sense in hindsight, his land isn''t very fertile...hell, it''s almost as bad as the Sand''s" (Mabui) "He probably thinks it''ll give the Stone a head start on economic, and military recovery" (Tai) "The wounds of the last war still sting..." (Suzu) {Tsuchikage...right now it should be noki. Doesn''t A accuse him of hiring Akatsuki repeatedly in the upcoming Five Kage Summit Arc? Deidara was here as well...all these points are leading up to something...} (Rei) Mabui pointed to the other Kumo-nin that came along with her, all of whom were in the process of interrogating each and every detainee "We''ve had no success, everyone here was hired to do a job by an unknown individual. A rich individual as they were not only payed up front, but quite handsomely to boot" (Mabui) "That was probably the whole point, someone with a grudge and means to attack you" "Master Sabu, and Killer B-sama as well! Does your presence here mean-?" (Kintar) Sabu shook his head in disappointment, after coming back with Killer B. Oddly enough, there was a small raccoon rested on the former''s shoulders "Killer B managed to protect the bunker from those who managed to get in but-" (Sabu) "WHEEEEE!!!!" (Killer B) "..." (Everyone) "Meh, 4 out of 10" (Rei) "?!" (Killer B) "...As I was saying, some of the insurgents managed to get away with several animals that escaped during the initial breach" (Sabu) "I...I see" (Mabui) {F**king Deidara again...that guy is annoying even when he''s not here} (Rei) "And that one in your arms is?" (Tai) "Fortunately, I managed to rescue most of them, thanks to this little fellow here. While I was moving through the forest, he managed to escape and guide me to the others who were captured" (Sabu) "We can send word at further checkpoints, maybe cut them off before-" (Musai) "I doubt it''ll do any good, they have quite the head start" (Sabu) "Damn it...!" (Toroi) Tai meekly raised his hand and asked if the mission was a failure. Though it didn''t show on their faces, both Rei and Suzu were worried if this was the case The adults easily guessed what was going on in their heads and told them this wasn''t the case. They had performed admirably, especially given the circumstances. The supposed C-rank mission easily reached the level of an A-rank FUM! FUM! "?!" (Team Tango) Near the coastline, another ship, far bigger than the others arrived. Hikaru, along with a full platoon of Kumo-nin were present as well "Ah, looks like the other ship is here. Hikaru-san is indeed fast" (Mabui) "So were not taking the insurgents with us..." (Rei) "Perceptive as usual cousin" (Mabui) "They''ll be transferred to the Blood Prison in Kusagakure9Hidden Grass Village, that place has an official bounty office to pay us quite a some for them" (Funsui) {Well, we could certainly use the cash. The village is still getting little job offers from the outside} (Rei) "Alright, you three are with me. Toroi-sama, Funsui-san, and Musai-san will oversee the transfer. Kintar-dono, has your mind changed after this incident?" (Mabui) "No, my debt to the late 3rd Raikage-sama is for life. Now that the barrier has been restored, I will continue my duties" (Kintar) "Phew, that''s a welcome relief. And what of you Master Sabu?" (Mabui) "I''ll return to my nomadic ways, though now I''ll have a little partner to keep me company, if Kumogakure doesn''t mind?" (Sabu) "Heh, Raikage-sama doesn''t micromanage, it''s fine. What''s his name anyway?" (Mabui) "Ponta. I have feeling he''s gonna be a good companion in the future" (Sabu) The new platoon arrived on the beach and began escorting the captives onto their ship, prepping them for transport to Kusagakure. Kintar spoke one last time to everyone "Team Tango, Toroi-dono, Funsui-dono, Musai-dono, it''s been a pleasure working with all of you. For all the assistance you''ve provided, I am forever in your debt" (Kintar) "We''re the ones who owe you, considering you''re taking care of this place for free" (Toroi) "Nevertheless, if you ever require the aid of an old retiree, just call" (Kintar) Mabui took Sabu, Killer B, and Team Tango as the others remained behind to finish the task at hand. It wasn''t long before the ship departed and everyone said their goodbyes. While the adults conversed, the Genin kept to themselves, recalling the events of the mission Though their battles ended in victory, there was still a lingering bittersweet, almost sour feeling leftover "Well...that uh...could''ve gone WAY better" (Tai) "They were practically our age and yet..." (Suzu) "Tango warned we weren''t the only gifted ones in the world...but I never imagined we''d encounter some this soon" (Rei) "We were VERY lucky to have survived" (Tai) "Yeah, if my Kekkei Genkai hadn''t awakened, there''d be nothing left of me" (Rei) Though Rei was feeling bad, Tai and Suzu felt worse. Being two years older than him, they were ashamed for struggling against an opponent when they had the advantage in numbers "My poison would''ve have been worthless if not for Suzu. And let''s not even talk about my confidence when it comes to facing Metoro in Taijutsu" (Tai) "My wind only worked in addition to your poison Tai, barely. Alone, BOTH of my elements would''ve been worthless. I always thought have two nature transformations as a kid would give me edge...shows what I know" (Suzu) "Sigh..." (All of them) While the team had undergone quite a few missions over the years, the majority of them took place in their own country. They rarely ventured out past its borders, the only other significant mission they had together was during the rescue of Mabui and her team The mission provided much clarity of what awaited them in the future, the bigger shinobi world. The trio felt as if their progress was too slow, wondering if their training methods weren''t enough...or if they were just inadequate "Don''t think like that!" (Mabui) "Like what?" (Rei) "Come on, it''s written over all of your faces. The fact is, there are a ton of Genin, many much older than you who''d be dead if they were in your situation. Not only did you survive, you came out victorious" (Mabui) "But the Konjiki Twins-" (Tai) "Are unconscious, hand-cuffed, and heading to prison defeated. You''re riding free, alive, and victorious...those guys are irrelevant. Be proud of yourselves for fulfilling your duty as Kumo ninja" (Mabui) "...That''s" (Suzu) "Sigh, good grief. If you''re still feeling raw about it...do something about it. Hell, I''ll even help!" (Mabui) "!" (Suzu) "You...have something in mind?" (Tai) "Oh yeah, Tango''s been keeping me informed of your progress. How bout we talk about the future?" (Mabui) "Yeah!" (Team Tango) ??? Several kilometers away from the island A man in his early twenties had observed the whole situation from a distance with his binoculars "That went even better than I''d hoped, Aniki10Big Brotherwas worried for nothing" It was the man known only as "Arc", member of the mysterious organization called the "Company". He had been present the whole time, monitoring all events that took place But his focus was now on a particular mercenary being loaded onto the ship, setting sail for Kusagakure''s "Blood Prison" "Now that the seed has been planted, it''s safe to say Phase Two is over, though it won''t be official until he arrives. Looks like my merry band will be having another meeting soon" CLINK! Arc put his binoculars away as he gathered his belongings, muttering to himself one last time before departing "Guess it''s time to meet Orochimaru" {Maybe I can find out why he, or whoever the hell he''s working with wanted those animals...} ZWIP! Vanishing from the scene, the rest of the mercenaries were on the ship set to take them away. Kintar was now the only human left on the island as Toroi and the others fulfilled their duties as escorts But unbeknownst to them, out of everyone present on the ship, there was someone who was exactly where he desired to be This individual, the very same one Arc had observed, was grinning... "Alright! Let''s get this show on the road!" (Funsui) ...as his eyes flashed red 138. Brazen Request MrProper So this and the next one will be chapters much longer than usual. As always, please enjoy! "Ngh...ahhhh! Ugh, morning already?" Rei was back home, rising from a long sleep. His team arrived in Kumogakure yesterday, Mabui and Sabu spared them the trouble of reporting to the Raikage, ordering the weary Genin to go home and rest There were no complaints on their end after the events on "Summoning Island". The trio felt as if they had just returned from a warzone, they hadn''t experienced a mission of such caliber in years CLINK! "Morning" "Ah, morning nee-san" Rei woke up to the smell of freshly made breakfast, Mabui had prepared everything for him. With no hesitation, he sat down and started eating without a care in the world "Since you''re here, can I assume you have time off?" (Rei) "A little, but I have to get back soon. Once you''ve finished eating, we''ll go meet the others" (Mabui) "Guess I better finish this quickly" (Rei) Normally, Mabui would have left over an hour ago, resuming her duties as the Raikage''s personal attendant. But the latter granted her time off, as she promised to help with Team Tango''s training Finishing breakfast, Rei got dressed and left with her. Arriving just outside the village''s walls, at a training grounds Mabui prepared in advance. Much to his surprise, it wasn''t just his team present, but a pair of shinobi he''d met before "HEY! Good to see you Rei" "Darui and...C? What are you guys doing here?" (Rei) "Mabui-senpai called for us, we''re to help with your training" (C) "You guys aren''t the only ones with a lot of leeway these days" (Darui) Rei was surprised, though he knew Genin of the village were getting less work, he hadn''t expected top Jonin like the ones before him would also be suffering from the lack of jobs the village received {Poor times affect us all} "I see, sorry to hear that" (Rei) "Ah, no worries. If things go smoothly, we may not have to worry about it in the near future" (Darui) "What do you mean?" (Tai) "Oh, just a little something we got planned soon-" (Darui) "Darui!" (Tango) "?" (The Genin) "Oh, my bad. Sorry guys, it''s on the hush hush" (Darui) "Whatever, let''s move on! We''re on borrowed time anyway" (Mabui) "Despite being my students, it''s shame I can''t spend as much time with them compared to the past" (Tango) Tango hadn''t been around lately to participate in missions with his students due to certain obligations for the "Network" project. His schedule only grew more hectic with Mori Sp. speeding things along "Alright, since final member isn''t here yet, we''ll save Rei for last. Sorry" (Tango) "By all means, I''m curious for what have in store for my teammates" (Rei) "Okay then, we''ll be doing this the same as our time with Killer B-sama. In other words-" (Tango) "We train under others while you periodically test us with live combat, right?" (Suzu) "Yes, but this time, each of you will have an individual trainer. Tai, you''re up first" (Tango) "Who am I paired wit-?" (Tai) Darui placed his hand on Tai''s shoulder, answering the question before he could ask. Mabui had personally brought Darui in for the sake of helping him "Tai, your ninjutsu is fine. In fact it''s a clever, if not downright brilliant application of utilizing physical material for long-range attacks. Perfect for a Medical-nin" (Mabui) "But...?" (Tai) "Your Taijutsu still needs work, or to be more precise, you''re physical traits. Are you guys wearing them?" (Mabui) The genin raised their hands simultaneously, revealing the equipped training bracelets on their hands and feet Tango gave them some time ago. The very same that glowed and increased in weight with each level gained Rei''s bracelets were fully lit up, with all six levels shining through the small red bulbs on them. Suzu had five, but Tai''s weren''t glowing at all for some unknown reason "Along with an increase in weight, those bracelets purposely disturb chakra to teach the wearer better control" (Tango) "The chakra control you possess is nearly on par with Rei''s, there''s no way you haven''t unlocked all six levels. Which means the reason you''re not using them is because..." (Mabui) "They get too heavy, to the point I can barely move. At best, I can handle the weight of level four, five on a good day, but there''s no way I can handle six" (Tai) "A medical-nin must always be the last member of their squad to get hurt. If no one can protect you, it''s up to you to avoid enemy attacks" (C) "Even with protection from Suzu, Metoro Konjiki kicked my ass. It took everything I had just to dodge his strikes, and it still wasn''t enough" (Tai) PAT! PAT! Darui chuckled as he encouraged Tai, patting him on the shoulder with a grin on his face "That''s what we''re here to fix. I''ve trained under 3rd Raikage, physical preparation is what I excel at" (Darui) "Moving on, Suzu. Compared to Genin in the same generation, your physical prowess is excellent, second only to Rei, and maybe Nemui. Chakra control is excellent, but there''s still room for improvement. Do you disagree?" (Mabui) "...No. After all it took to take down Metoro, there''s much I need to fix" (Suzu) "C will be helping you on that front. Being one of our best Medical-nin and Genjutsu users, he''s got a few tricks to spare" (Mabui) "All due respect, shouldn''t he be helping Rei? Considering they''re both Genjutsu users?" (Suzu) "I''ve already instructed Rei on the intricacies of Genjutsu. I was the one who taught him how to properly sense chakra years ago, he has nothing left to learn from me. Besides..." (C) "You''ll be rotating!" "?!" (Everyone) TAK! Appearing on the scene was Dodai, late to the gathering, largely in part to his duties "We''re swapping teachers Dodai-ossan?" (Rei) "Enough with ossan damn it. Yes. You guys, along with other Genin teams, will undergo a period of strict training with various instructors" (Dodai) "So it''s not just us getting special treatment" (Tai) "Correct. Due to the lack of missions, Raikage-sama wants to ensure the skill of Kumogakure''s next generation ninja stay sharp" (Dodai) "Well, that''s one of the reasons he''s doing this" (Darui) "Darui!" (C) "I know, I know" (Darui) "You''ll be meeting with your instructors bi-weekly, we still have our own duties after all. The Jonin captain, in this case Tango, will check on your progress regularly. A physical assessment test, in the manner of speaking" (Dodai) "It''s like I''m back at the academy, yay..." (Tai) "Once its complete, the captain will decide what does and doesn''t need to be fixed, before informing the other instructors so they can properly adjust your training to suit your special needs" (Dodai) Never one to waste time, Dodai took charge, sending the others on their way. Tai departed with Darui, Suzu with C, while Mabui and Tango left to resume their other duties. The only ones remaining were Rei and Dodai "What are my issues?" (Rei) "None. You''re perfect, to an abnormal degree" (Dodai) "Flattery will get you nowhere" (Rei) "You started off as a Genjutsu user with skill in Taijutsu. Now unmatched by most your age in both subjects. Your applications with nature transformations grew to incredible lengths in a short span of time, now wielding three of them" (Dodai) "To be fair, two of those are the result of my Kekkei Genkai1Bloodline Limit" {Amongst other things...} (Rei) "Incorrect, the relationship between them is synergetic. In order to awaken any elemental Kekkei Genkai, one must possess significant skill in the very elements combined to make it. You wouldn''t have been able to use Yton2Lava Styleif you weren''t well versed with Doton3Earth Styleand Katon4Fire Style" (Dodai) "Guess you can say that" (Rei) "Not to mention, you''ve learned Suiton5Water Styleall on your own. Three elements, at the age of ten!" (Dodai) "Well, I''ll be eleven years in a few months. More importantly, why did nee-san choose you to train me?" (Rei) "Let me show you" (Dodai) SPEW! Dodai released his Ninjutsu, spitting out a strange substance from his mouth. It didn''t take long to realize what this meant, why he was chosen to instruct him "Rubber..." {That''s right, Dodai''s a Yton user like me, he helps Naruto way later in the story} (Rei) "I''m here to help you master your Kekkei Genkai. Let''s get started" {I''ve got a job to do after all...} (Dodai) ??? The previous evening It was near midnight Within the Raikage''s office, A was hosting a meeting with several of his compatriots. Several familiar faces were present, members of his so-called "inner circle", meeting in secret once more Even the Lightning Daimy and his right-hand man Tekkan were present "Tenga, Tetsuo-dono, what''s our status?" (A) "Final tests have provided positive results. On its own, it works like a charm, but we''ve yet to attempt a fully scoped network" (Tenga) "I''d prefer we at least try to gain a working transmission over the entire village, with multiple points, before declaring it a success" (Tetsuo) "How long will that take?" (A) "Considering the number of units we''ll need, not to mention moving everything in secret...just over a year at least" (Tetsuo) "That''s quite some time but...it''s still within our timetable" (A) "You''ll barely have time before the exams. I don''t need to stress how important they are...this one especially" (Daimy) Ever since the "Hyuga Affair", the village has struggled. The Chunin Exams presented an opportunity for every village to advertise what it had to offer. If Kumogakure performed well, they could erase the foul mark branded upon them by the late head ninja''s actions But A also needed the Network project done, he''d invested so much into it already. Even if they performed well at the exams, the village would have a difficult time recovering if it remained unfinished The Cloud has always boasted having the best economy out of the Five Great Shinobi Nations, but after several years, even the wealthiest were starting to feel negative effects "It''s not ideal, but we don''t have a choice" (A) "I''ll have my end work overtime" (Tetsuo) "Much appreciated" (A) No one was sure what state the village would be in when the exams begin in fifteen months from now "...I''ve been meaning to discuss the Genin" (Daimy) "I''ve already compiled a list of candidates" (A) "About that, I''ve got some bad news from my meeting with the other Daimy''s. Iwagakure has subtly requested we only send one team to their exams" (Daimy) The whole room nearly burst in uproar, angered at Iwagakure''s arrogant and brazen request "Just because they were the ones selected to host the event doesn''t mean they can-!" (Dodai) "They are the host, that''s a fact. If we refuse, we don''t participate. The hard truth is, no one will have any complaints if it comes to that" (Daimy) "Tsk!" (C) "Was this official?" (Mabui) "No, an unofficial, but VERY blunt request" (Daimy) Many in the room were still upset, sensing this, Tekkan interjected. Speaking of the exam in detail, being the first collaborated one since the last war, it would be stupendous. Easily shaping up to be the biggest Chunin Exams in shinobi history Not just the Great Nations, but shinobi from nearly every village on the continent would participate. Sending their best ninja, ones with hidden jutsu and Kekkei Genkai from all corners, Iwagakure would become a temporary cornucopia of rare talents and hereditary gifts A wave of business owners, merchants, politicians, and others with a hefty amount of wealth and power wouldn''t miss it. Anyone who was anyone would be there. Even Tetsuo planned on going As the host of such an event, Iwagakure couldn''t afford any accidents. With Kumogakure''s soiled reputation for stealing Jutsu, they couldn''t afford to take any chances...but that''s only how it appeared on the surface In truth, they didn''t care, but saw an opportunity. Using this as a precedent to weaken the competition. It wasn''t just the cloud, every village was eager to attract attention from the wealthy and powerful No other village would stick up for them, as they shared the same views, everyone was rival. And though it was incredibly brazen, if not outright disrespectful, there was nothing the Daimy could do "We comply, or we don''t participate. It''s their home turf, and they can close the doors on us if they want to. Hell, if the 3rd Tsuchikage6Earth Shadowhad his way, he''d probably ban us entirely" (Daimy) "...This is wrong" (C) "Preachin'' to choir on that one" (Darui) "Enough, there''s nothing we can do. It only means we have to be extra careful when it comes to our selection, and preparation" (A) "You''re awfully calm about this...at the very least, I expected you to snap your desk in half" (Daimy) "Don''t tempt me, I''m doing my best to stay calm" (A) "Sir, I recommend my squad to participate in the exams" (Tango) "Those kids huh..." (A) A had several files on his desk, profiles of every Genin squad in the village, before pulling out the one on Team Tango "Several top candidates of our Gifted Generation. The majority of them are standard but, they''ve been on quite a few unorthodox missions with satisfying results..." (A) "They''re not the only ones. F''s team has proved themselves in the past year, there''s also the squad with that special Nemui kid, they''re no worse than Team Tango" (Dodai) "..." (Tango) "I''ve heard of other exceptional ones as well, like that nephew of the late Head Ninja in fact" (Daimy) "Seriously? You want a relative of the guy who put you in this situation to participate?" (Tetsuo) "I''m just laying out options, I''ve heard his ability is sound, and that''s the only thing we need to care about" (Daimy) "I won''t make a decision now, there''s much I need to examine, that we need to examine" (A) "In that case, I have a solution" (Mabui) "Do tell" (A) "Why don''t we place every active Genin squad under the same training regime Team Tango underwent at Unraiky7Valley of Clouds and Lightningwith Killer B-sama and C" (Mabui) "Unraiky...oh! I get it" (C) "Rotating instructors while the Jonin captain assesses their ability after each session" (A) "Since we don''t receive many missions as before, they''ll have plenty of free time. We can operate in various shifts, look after different squads, and the Jonin captains will report to both us and yourself on their ability" (Mabui) "Making it easier for enacting a proper selection, that''s perfect" (Tekkan) "Really? Is that necessary when the choice is so obvious?" (Tetsuo) "That''s not the point Tetsuo-dono" (Mabui) "?" (Tetsuo) "Even if it''s obvious, even if the best choice inevitably ends up going, I will maintain neutrality. As Raikage, I cannot be biased towards one for their relations, nor show favor to those I''m familiar with. I''ll have the process go on for about a year before making my choice" (A) "Just in time for the completion of the Network, smart...and fair" (Daimy) "That''s the idea, gives us leeway to focus on other matters, and every Genin gets a chance to prove themselves" (Mabui) "The selection is something we''ll discuss later, let''s focus on the present. There''s still much we nee-!" (A) CLINK! The office door abruptly opened, and a lone shinobi entered the room. It was Toroi, back from escorting the prisoners captured on Summoning Island to Kusagakure''s8Hidden Grass VillageBlood Prison "Oh! Toroi-dono, you''re back so soon. I expected you here tomorrow" (Daimy) "It is tomorrow, you''ve extended the meeting well past midnight. Thanks to the new engine on Hikaru''s ship, my colleagues and I were able to return in record time. Thanks Tetsuo-dono" (Toroi) "My pleasure, Mori Sp. is in service to this village after all" (Tetsuo) "I''d like to thank you again for your work on our most recent problem. I hate the fact our village''s history caused so much trouble for you" (A) "Technically, those giant arachnids aren''t apart of our history. Considering their conception occurred before Kumogakure was even a concept. Just a ragtag group of different clans, many now gone" (Dodai) "Is that right, I was always curious as to who exactly made them" (Toroi) "Some old scientist from the country, he supposedly left after his first daughter was born" (Dodai) "Oh yeah, I''ve heard about that story. People called him something...the Teacher? No, that''s not it--Wiseman, Hermit?" (Daimy) "That''s a chat for another day. Toroi, what news do you have for us?" (A) "Right, on my way back, I took the opportunity to determine the situation in Takigakure9Hidden Waterfall Village. The fact they didn''t even bother to check out the situation on the island continued to nag at me" (Toroi) "They do co-own it as part of our deal, I was wondering why they never showed up" (Darui) "Did they sell us out?" (Darui) "No, they''ve haven''t betrayed the deal, nor us. There was...an event in their village. An incursion of unknown assailants" (Toroi) A pratically jumped from his desk, shocked to learn there was someone bold enough to attack a village with a Tailed Beast in its possession. Everyone else was no better, contemplating what this meant. "This attack took place several hours prior to our arrival on the island" (Toroi) "What of the village?!" (Dodai) "The village is still standing from what I''ve heard. I couldn''t actually visit since all checkpoints leading to them were blocked" (Toroi) "Were they Fuma? Or Chinoike?" (Darui) "Darui..." (C) "What? We''re all thinking it" (Darui) "Sigh. No, this group had no name, no clan symbol, and left no trace. But I don''t think their objective was to bring the village down" (Toroi) "Considering the time it took place, it stands to reason they''re working with whoever sent the mercs to attack our island" (Mabui) "To keep them from aiding us, makes sense. But that wasn''t their only reason for the island attack, I have some bad news sir" (Toroi) "!" (Dodai) "Give it to me straight" (A) "It''s about their leader Hisen..." (Toroi) "Toroi?" (A) "...He''s been assassinated" (Toroi) ??? Present time After a draining session with Dodai, Rei returned home to catch his breath before departing to his secret lab. The former run-down facility had improved overtime from cleaning on his part. The new equipment he bought with money from Tetsuo didn''t hurt as well Among the new appliances were several large test tubes, many of which were as tall as house. All hooked up to machines, with strange-colored, bubbling liquids inside of them "Looks like it''ll be a while before they''re fully grown" [The small ones will probably be done sooner] "!" [What, surprised to see me?] "...No. And I cant see you in the first place" [Nice job getting the samples when no one was looking] "So you were watching..." [Always] Before Rei departed Summoning Island, he''d sent a Shadow Clone in secret to acquire several samples from the animals on the island, including DNA leftover from the scorpions Mabui drove away Witnessing the sheer power of the creatures living there sparked a desire within him. Rei deeply wanted that power for himself [I never imagined you were gonna make your own...what are these things?] "Snakes...albeit genetically enhanced. I''ve finally been able to replicate some of Isshiki''s tech. Specifically, the machines used to modify myself, thanks to resources from Tetsuo. However, it''ll be sometime before they''re actually useful" [I thought you were just gonna kidnap an animal or two] "After seeing how rowdy, disobedient, and mouthy they can be on both the island and Manga, it was best I have one that adheres to my will alone. I don''t need my summons to talk back, I need them to do as I say" [Fair enough] "And speaking of doing as I say-" [Ooooh, right. Ya know, I expected you to be angry with me] "Still am...but you can''t talk with someone if you''re yelling at them. And after what transpired yesterday, I reeaaaally wanna talk to you" [Haaah. Figured as much] "What happened? What was that change in behavior, your words, tone--hell, even your f**king voice was different. Time to come clean Notitia" [I''ll share as much as I can...if wE can] 139. Phase Three MrProper Rei''s laboratory "I''m sorry, could you repeat that? Because it sounded like you said I created a-" [Ripple. Yes, you heard right] As per Rei''s request, Notitia elaborated on its recent change in behavior. Starting with the bombshell that Rei created a "Ripple", a change in this world''s course Though he craved answers, this news was the last thing he wanted to hear "How the hell could I, on an island hardly anyone knows about, fighting nobodies, cause a ripple? And what does that have to do with your strange behavior?" [Everything. I''m your guide, that means whenever you endanger yourself or disrupt this world''s balance towards your detriment, the other reacts...sometimes violently] "The other, you mean your weird distorted voice that shows up whenever I use a Lifeline?" [Yes. Despite our differences, our end goal is to "guide" you towards successful completion of this...game. In the case of my other side, by any means necessary] "Fine. That''s not really an answer but I''ll take it...for now. But why did you anger me?" [To force a reaction. I''m sure you know what that means, after studying Kekkei Genkai1Bloodline Limitmanifestation] He recalled what Motoi told him about said subject. Unusual abilities in this world typically awaken through physical or mental trauma. Stress and dangerous situations Rei theorized there was some correlation to adrenaline, the release of bodily chemicals like endorphins could potentially cause physical changes within the human body [As we''ve discussed before, your modified body is a conclave of different resources, all fighting for dominance. By angering you in a situation that was becoming increasingly more dangerous, it might''ve caused a change in you...once again] "Like when I was pushed to the brink by the Fuma Clan years ago. But you didn''t know I was gonna awaken a Kekkei Genkai..." [No. We didn''t know what change would occur, we just knew it was your only chance. There''s no way you could''ve beaten Etoro Konjiki without it by yourself, or am I wrong?] "True. However, why are all of my reactions so different?" Various powers and abilities manifested over the years, but he could barely find a connection between them. How he could suddenly fight like a veteran shinobi, Kekkei Genkai, and other powers [Different reactions are a result of the different resources I just mentioned. Your Fire and Lava, a result of "Rei''s" body and soul, his heritage. Your rampage on the Fuma, a result Isshiki''s cells. Finally, your Inyton2Yin-Yang/Shadow & Light Style, likely the result of your foreign soul and experiments] "The first is human, the second is tsutsuki, and the third is what we tried to initially create...Neo-tsutsuki" [Now you understand. Even as just chakra, tsutsuki powers are very unpredictable. Ever notice how you suddenly fight so much better when you lose control? Their power, their cells, they all function like Karma] "?!" Fear lightly gripped his heart when he heard that word. Karma was the tsutsuki power to imprint their genetic code and reincarnate in the body of another. Similar to what Raymond did to the original Rei He''d always carried the thought that taking in Isshiki''s DNA could result in a similar effect. Though unlikely, that his rampages were the result of Isshiki from beyond the grave trying to take him over He was already dealing with the possibility "Rei" would return to take his body back as their souls were connected, hence his search for the legendary place, Rychid3Dragon Ground Cave The very place Orochimaru forged and perfected his Tensei Jutsu4Reincarnation Jutsu [Karma provides the host with all the parasitic tsutsuki''s combat abilities. They live for thousands of years, all that experience drilled into your body, any average person becomes a hardened warrior in an instant] {So that''s why my fighting is so much better whenever I use Kisshten5Auspicious Heavens} "Okay I get it, one day I''m going to have to find an appropriate balance. You still haven''t answered my first question, what about the Ripple?" [We don''t know] "Excuse me?" [We can identify a Ripple when it''s right in front of us, but whatever you did on that island will inevitably cause a chain of events that''ll change this story. Probably for the worse] "You''ve got to be shitting me..." [In our defense, you did tell us not to talk when you became upset] Rei fell on his chair, shaking his head in frustration. There was so much on his plate, and he didn''t even know where to start. Every time he received an answer, he ended up with more questions [We don''t know what these new Ripples may bring, or even when they''ll show up. Until we can identify them, when it comes to whatever training and/or prep you have planned...double your efforts] "Sigh...obviously" ??? The Land of Fire''s western border Two men in dark hoods were meeting right outside the border "You certainly took your time" "I was only late by a few minutes, chill. You nervous or something?" "Should I be comfortable standing here? Near the country that wants me dead the most?" "I promise to make this as quick as possible" POOF! A ritual circle appeared on the ground as the easy-going individual performed a summoning jutsu. Calling forth several gargantuan animals, all unconscious and restrained "Just as requested, suitable subjects for you, or rather your superior''s use" "Good, as the newest member of my organization, I did not want to fail my first task" "To keep your slithery ass from getting kicked out?" "Not how I''d put it but, yes. Thank you for the help Arc, I heard things were quite chaotic in the northern seas" "They were no-name mercenaries going up against the Cloud, of course there''d be an issue" "If you had participated, they wouldn''t have stood a chance. Couldn''t afford to get your hands dirty?" "Hardly. I am, and always will be the middle-man. Enjoy your new toys Orochimaru" SWISH! Arc left as quickly as he came. Orochimaru stood in silence, seemingly waiting for something before speaking again "Well? Will this be enough?" "Yes, it''ll do just fine" "Glad to hear it" A young woman emerged out of thin air, small paper materials floating around her "You wouldn''t mind telling me why our dear leader Pain needs these?" "Concerned about something?" "I''m a scientist, curiosity is second nature. But you don''t have to tell me if you don''t want to" "...Because you''ll eventually figure it out on your own, right?" "You could say that, but my gut is telling me I don''t need to care about something of this level. Now, if you''ll excuse me, my partner is standing by" "Mm. It''s best not to make that one wait, you know how much he hates it" "Indeed, a pleasure as always Konan-san" Right after Orochimaru left, the very space next to Konan began to swirl and a masked man emerged out of nowhere "Madara..." "Glad to see you''re putting that snake to work. Even if it''s obvious he''ll betray us, at least we can get some benefits before that happens. Also, from now on, please refer to me as Tobi" "No matter how he acts, long as his actions benefit Akatsuki, Pain won''t do anything" "That uncompromising attitude is what I like about him. Everything go smoothly?" "Yes, we''re getting ready to take full control of Amegakure6Hidden Rain Village" "For his final fight with Hanz, he''ll need the full Six Paths Jutsu, but since Nagato can''t walk..." "The Animal path is all that remains, a suitable candidate can be found anywhere" The one known as "Pain" was merely one of six corpses to be used for said "Six Paths Jutsu", controlled by the now crippled character Nagato Each puppet was host to one of six different abilities, dubbed as "Paths", tied to the unique Rinnegan7Sa?sra Eyeeye. All serving the singular purpose of enacting his will "Don''t chose the next one lightly. If he wants to take full advantage of the Rinnegan, there''s a certain level of compatibility needed to be taken into account" "Naturally, otherwise the missing spot for the Animal path would''ve been filled already. Most will crumble apart just from the sheer quantity of his chakra" "I just wanted to remind you. Now, I''ll take these animals to him, I can transport them faster" "Much appreciated" ZZZUUUUU! The one called Tobi reached out and distorted space, sucking in the captured animals into another dimension "If you still have trouble finding a suitable candidate, Zetsu can take that duty off your shoulders. Pain needs to be complete before Akatsuki steps out of the shadows" "Considering I''m devoting resources just to find Hanz, that''d be helpful. He''s gone underground" Tobi''s figure slowly began to distort as he teleported away, but not before issuing some final advice "I doubt he''ll lose, but I''m obligated to warn you about Hanz. Just because new paranoia has stopped him from honing his skills, he''s still a legendary ninja. Good luck" ZWUP! Konan was now alone, her body dissipating into countless folds of paper as she muttered in a quiet...yet hateful tone "You can only be a legend when you die. For us, Hanz of the Salamander has been a dead man for quite some time...he just doesn''t know it yet" ??? Unmarked territory Within an underground facility at an undisclosed location, members of the "Company" had gathered. All but the supposed leader known only by his alias "Sage" were present The twin members "Arc" and "Balance" were conversing quietly "I told you, it went off without a hitch, and we got paid a hefty sum" (Arc) "I still don''t like you working with that snake, if the others find out-" (Balance) "So what? No one''s here out of loyalty, we all agreed this merry band of ours was strictly for personal benefit" (Arc) "Unless an individual''s actions hindered us in any way. Many may not appreciate the idea" (Balance) Arc grew more and more frustrated with his brother''s council. He always hated it whenever Balance "nagged" at him "The boss ordered me to do what needed to be done on that island, I saw no harm making some extra cash in process. Plus, that job cost me some good mercenaries!" (Arc) "If things go according to plan, you''ll get them back. Besides, you were already compensated for any potential loss. Stop being so greedy, it''s gonna be the death of you" (Balance) "Cheh! I''m fine nii-san, you worry too much" (Arc) "You''re only alive because I worry so much. Especially since no one else is going to" (Balance) CLINK! The final member entered the room and gestured for everyone to take their seats around a large circular table. "Sage" had arrived, eager to start the meeting "Before I make the official announcement, I''d like to hear your reports. Brother Scorpion, Sister Blade, how were things in Takigakure8Hidden Waterfall Village?" (Sage) "No casualties on our end, everyone got away clean. I cleaned up and ensured no trace was left behind" (Blade) "Hisen has been assassinated" (Scorpion) "Whistle!" (Mountain) "Damn, to think the first person to get what they want here would be Scorpion. My money was on Blade, or Time" (Arc) "I take no pleasure in it..." (Scorpion) "Bullshit. You''ve been dying for payback on that village ever since you were kicked out" (Arc) "..." (Scorpion) "Then again, there''s nothing wrong with us here making a little extra, am I right?" (Arc) "Arc, shut up" (Balance) "Tsk!" (Arc) Though Arc seemed brazen, Balance knew he was hinting at his earlier point, everyone member had their own objectives. As long as the means didn''t effect the group in a negative, no one had the right to protest Arc making financial gain on the side Even if it was from one like Orochimaru...who betrayed and deserted them "Hey, he''s not wrong Balance, cut your brother some slack" (Three) "Did I ask for your goddamn opinion? Stick to your own greedy business, shitty old man" (Balance) "Why you-!" (Three) "Hahahahaha! He got you there Three!" (Mountain) Balance was simply trying to ensure his younger brother wouldn''t grow reckless, the latter of whom had a history of making rash decisions on the fly The last thing he believed Arc didn''t need was to end up like Three "Can we move on please? I''m on a schedule" (Time) "Oh gosh! Did you hear that everyone?! Time is on a schedule, stop the f**king press!" (Arc) "..." (Time) "The Jinchriki wasn''t present, so the Seven-Tails didn''t make an appearance" (Blade) "In other words, you couldn''t get it. Brother Arc, were you able to retrieve what Sister Red asked of you and Blade?" (Sage) Arc placed a large box on the table before opening it, revealing a small glass container within. Sliding it across the table towards "Red", who as always, sat right next to Sage She raised the glass in front of her face, and though Red tried to hide it on her face, everyone knew she was absolutely elated with this new sample "DNA from the Seven-Tails as per requested. Extracted straight from the very place Kumogakure aided Takigakure with its capture, Summoning island. Everyone was too busy to notice me" (Arc) "And the seed?" (Sage) Arc glanced towards his left, eying his older brother "Ah...that. I placed it, but whether or not it was firmly planted, I''d refer to a certain someone on that front" (Arc) "Brother Balance?" (Sage) "The seed, along with myself, have rooted positions within Kusagakure''s9Hidden Grass VillageHzuki-j10Demon Lantern Castle. Everything went off without a hitch. I''ve also secured a private space for Red to continue her work" (Balance) "Hmph! Hzuki-j...just call what it really is! The Blood Prison!" (Three) "With Hisen dead, his son Shibuki is set to take the reigns, albeit with support from the village elders" (Scorpion) "Takigakure''s struggling to get themselves back together, and Amegakure is still in the midst of a civil war, we can safely operate in Kusagakure without worrying about its neighbors. Nice job everyone, high fives all around" (Arc) "Excuse me..." The one who cut in was the newest member of the group, bearing the designation "Flow". He nervously stood up while addressing the table, reluctantly set on breaking the mood filled with gratification "You have something to add Brother Flow?" (Sage) "Yes. Some unsavory rumors have reached my ears, I fear we may have done our job a little too well" (Flow) "I don''t follow, you''re saying we did something wrong?" (Arc) "I''m not saying that, but according to rumors, Konoha has dispatched the Uchiha Clan to act as temporary guards for the prison" (Flow) "Huh?!" (Arc) "I haven''t heard anything of sort, and I''m working there" (Balance) "This news is very recent. I believe you may have hired too many mercenaries for this job Arc" (Flow) "I don''t follow, what do the number of mercenaries have to do with this?" (Arc) Kusagakure''s prison was already nearing its capacity, largely in part to the previous war. There were many war criminals who took advantage of the ensuing chaos during the time But in this new period of "peace", the number of criminals sent to prison had grown even further now that shinobi nations were finally restoring order to the lands Kusagakure was also trying regain its former strength. Diverting resources away from the prison, and more towards its village, mostly to prep the next generation of shinobi. They also wished to participate in the upcoming Chunin Exams, so the top brass went to its third neighbor Konoha The Leaf didn''t want to risk a prison break occurring right by their border, and the government was having issues with the Uchiha. This "Two birds, one stone" action would temporarily shove the tension aside and prevent a prison break from happening The Fire Daimy was also concerned and requested the Leaf Shinobi comply with this request. The majority of the ones who''d suffer lay in the Land of Fire itself, and not its capital Konoha "Konoha''s conflicting with its police force? What''s that about?" (Three) "The Uchiha were given self-governance after the Nine-Tails incident, but that decision came back to bite them. Conflicts over authority and territory have escalated somewhat" (Flow) "So they sent some of them away to distract them...to lighten the mood? That solution won''t last long, nor is it effective" (Three) "Obviously, they''re just buying time by diverting the clan''s responsibilities" (Flow) "Stretching them thin is it? You''d think they''d erase them altogether" (Mountain) "As usual, all brawn and no brain. A monkey has better cognitive function than you" (Red) "I''d say up yours, but I don''t do crazy" (Mountain) "They need the Uchiha to participate in the upcoming Chunin exams. Despite how the government feels about them, they''re still the Leaf''s strongest clan" (Flow) "Talk about being stuck between a rock and a hard place" (Time) "The final nail in coffin were the mercs, Kusagakure acknowledged the couldn''t maintain order in the prison while they were understaffed and asked for help" (Flow) Time held her head in frustration. As the one in charge of planning the Company''s activity, this new "complication" would inevitably become a wave of issues she''d have to deal with in the immediate future Balance felt the same, as he was the only member stationed within Kusagakure, his job just became all the more difficult with this news Flow delivered "Ugh! I''ll have to adjust our time table again! Balance, you need to find a way to get the Uchiha packing. If they stay or worse, discover the seed we planted, all of this will have been for nothing" (Time) "Haaah...on it. I''ll just add it to my already long list of things to do" (Balance) "It''s frustrating, but this is the first united exams in years. Everyone has a stake in the event. I tried using my connections and influence to slow it down as much as I could but-" (Three) "Despite your resources, there''s only so much you can do alone" (Sage) "The span between our renovation and the exams are gonna be pretty tight" (Time) "Well, what can I say everyone...my bad?" (Arc) If the much desired Chunin exams weren''t approaching, Kusagakure would never have resorted to asking another village for help. But they put their pride aside for the sake of the village''s future "It just goes to show how important the exams are to everyone. The sheer opportunity of them. Which is why Kumogakure won''t be participating in them, if we have our way" (Sage) "So we''re good then?" (Arc) "Arc..." (Balance) "No, I''d like to know as well. With this sample, I now have a part from every Tailed Beast. The completion of the Lift has been long overdue" (Red) Surprise struck Mountain when the large man heard Red''s words "Whoa, slow down. Did you say every beast? I thought we were still missing Sunagakure''s11Hidden Sand VillageOne-Tail?" (Moutain) "Hmph!" (Red) "Bitch, I asked you a question" (Mountain) "Ugh! And you guys say I''m the child!" (Arc) "You are" (Balance & Time) "Whatever. Mountain, Balance and I got that one a while ago" (Arc) "How the hell did you manage to do that?" (Mountain) "The 4th Kazekage12Wind Shadowmade his son the host for the beast. To teach him control, he''s put the boy under demanding training. All attempts resulted in failure, with the hostile beast emerging" (Balance) "Translation, he''s been mind f**king his own son to turn him into a weapon. Pfff! It''s been real twisted, with a side of funny. Getting a peace of the monster was easy enough" (Arc) "You''re so messed up" (Red) "Oh, hello pot, my name''s kettle. Have we met?" (Arc) {...He''ll never change} (Balance) "Idiot..." (Time) "Well that''s convenient to say the least. Guess we''re done here?" (Mountain) "Sage, we good?" (Arc) "..." (Blade) After ignoring most of their childish banter, Sage stood up. Unsettling everyone present with an uncharacteristic and disturbing grin on his seasoned face "Yes. Yes Arc, we''re good. Phase Three...has begun" (Sage) MrProper My writing style will also become subject to change as I start including POV (Point of view) chapters as well! The first chapter will be out soon (Not sure if I can get it out this week. If I can''t, it''ll probably be on Monday). Check out the Feed on my Ko-fi page for chapter progress messages if wanna stay updated! Thank you all for the support, I once again promise to deliver more chapters as quickly as I can. Take care and have a wonderful week! The Siege” Saga – 140. The Changing Few MrProper I''m starting this first chapter with a POV as well. Since I couldn''t make up my mind, I''ll be doing both narration and POV''s for the future! Special shoutout to user Oat for buying me a coffee! Please enjoy the chapter! "Haaah...haaah...!" "Don''t stop, you still have three more to go! Come on Tai, keep moving!" "Y-Yes!" Geez! I feel like we''re in some kind of boot camp! Tango-sensei arranged for my team and I to have a little "exercise", but since he''s on a mission, Samui-san volunteered to take his place. Who knew she was such a drill sergeant! Physical training obviously isn''t supposed to be easy, but come on! I''m wearing these damn bracelets at full power, and I''ve lost count of the laps we''ve run already...gimme a break "Keep it up buddy, just a little more!" "..." (Tai) We were training near the orphanage, and all the kids came to watch our training. Suzu and Rei had already finished, the latter of whom was sitting back relaxed. Or should I say, within the arms of Mariko-san as she happily embraced him from behind Why isn''t he tired?! Even Suzu at least broke a sweat, and yet-! He''s sitting there, drinking lemonade, and smugly smiling at--wait...that little sadist is getting off on my suffering damn it! "Come on Tai, we''re almost done!" "A-Agh! Okay!" (Tai) Even more insulting is Samui-san''s little brother Atsui, this kid is nearly keeping up with my pace. The little fire starter became a Genin not too long ago and was already training under his sister Though I''m wearing these heavy bracelets, it still hurts my pride when being compared to one even younger than Rei WHISTLE! "And done!" (Samui) Oh, thank god. The torture''s finally over! "Your time is much better than before, maybe we should up your regimen?" (Samui) "N-No! I''m good!" (Tai) "Are you sure????" (Rei) "Yes I''m sure...shut up Rei!" (Tai) "Pfff!" (Rei) I''ll get you back for this! "Okay, that concludes your physical training for the day. It''s about time for the next Jonin rotation, give me a sec" (Samui) "I wonder who''s gonna tutor us next?" (Rei) "Ugh, we''ve been doing this vigorous training for over a year now. My body''s about to break!" (Tai) "I still believe we should continue...in order to get approved for higher level missions" (Suzu) "You want more? Really?" (Tai) "It''s always good to rack up achievements" (Suzu) "Wouldn''t that benefit you the most?" (Rei) Ahhh...right. I''ve been trying to forget about the Selection ever since my cousins came back home. Half of my clan elders won''t shut up about their heirs, how "worthy" they are for my old man''s position I''d hoped my contribution on Summoning Island would''ve helped, but no such luck. Truth be told, even if my report was sugarcoated, I doubt it would''ve been enough considering in the end, we still required rescue Tango-sensei has upped our mission quota in the last few months, we''ve even done some B-ranks. They''re trying to be subtle, but my team is doing their best to help me...which I appreciate. I''ve got some good friends But the position of clan leader is something I still don''t want. Why can''t my stupid aunts and uncles see my dad staying in charge is the best thing for all of us?! Ugh...I miss the days where the only thing I worried about was my greenhouse! "Tai?" (Suzu) "Sigh! More experience wouldn''t hurt, but let''s worry about that later. Our next instructor should be here soon" (Tai) "Right. Mariko-nee...you mind letting go now?" (Rei) "Hm? Don''t wanna?" (Mariko) "..." (Rei) "Mariko..." (Suzu) Lucky...bastard "Enough Mariko, you have other duties. Karui and Omoi can only babysit those kids for so long" (Samui) "Wha-?! Hey, don''t drag me away! No! Rei-chan!" (Mariko) "Good grief Mariko, there''s no need to cry" (Suzu) And there they go, Samui really is forceful when she wants to be. I didn''t think anyone except Mabui-san could deal with her "You guys head to the field just outside the western gate! You know the one!" (Samui) Just when I had enough running, we''re already dashing towards somewhere else "Geez, she''s so clingy" (Rei) "It just shows how much she cares, I went through the same thing when I was living with her temporarily. Mariko''s overprotectiveness is why she''s the best foster mother" (Suzu) "Mm, can''t argue with that" (Rei) "Ahhhh! Don''t pretend you don''t like it Rei!" (Tai) "...What''s up your bum?" (Rei) Wow, this guy! This friggin'' guy! He actually has the nerve to ask! "I just don''t get it man. Why the hell are you so damn popular?!" (Tai) "Haaaa...here we go again" (Suzu) "Even the small town we visited on a mission last week, that young town mayor was practically spoiling you!" (Tai) "We did just save them from marauders, of course she was thankful" (Suzu) "Yeah, but how come she thanked us with handshakes, and Rei with candy, a fruit basket, and hugs?!" (Tai) "Mmm, that cantaloupe was delicious" (Rei) "Grrrr!" (Tai) "W-Well, we''re older than him by about two years. The youngest are usually treated the best wherever you go" (Suzu) "Can anyone tell?! He''s almost as tall as us!" (Tai) "Tai..." (Suzu) Seriously, this kid is growing like a weed! We''re both nearing fourteen, and this almost twelve year old is barely an inch shorter than us. How could she know he was younger?! No...there''s something going on here! It''s a conspiracy I tell you! "Well, you guys are certainly noisy today!" "?!" (The Genin) "Something happen?" "No, it''s just Tai being Tai" (Rei) "Toroi-sama, what brings you here?" (Suzu) Guess I ranted longer than I thought. Before realizing it, we were already standing on an open field, a familiar sight we''ve constantly used for training over the last year "Looks like we know who we''re sparring against today" (Tai) "!" (Suzu) "Sparring? Heh! Alright, let''s see what you can do!" (Toroi) As if I wasn''t sore enough ??? SPARK! "Don''t hesitate, it can still take more juice!" "Sir, it too dangerous to try on such a small-!" "I don''t care, the schematic isn''t wrong. Just do it!" "Tetsuo-san!" "What?! What is it now--oh! Sh. What''s wrong?" Another all nighter, it''s bad for my health but I just can''t help myself. Every time we receive a design from "Developer R", the construction and testing processes always take by breath away Even with all of my whiny engineers worrying about "safety" and whatnot, I''m still having a good time. "Fortune favors the bold", words to live by! "There''s been a call from Kumogakure" (Sh) "The Raikage?" (Tetsuo) "No, it''s directly from Dodai, Tenga''s waiting outside for you" (Sh) "!" (Tetsuo) It''s finally time! "Alright, listen up! I don''t care what it takes, if that thing isn''t fully charged and working by the time I get back, you''ll be scrubbing toilets for the rest of the month! In addition to your regular jobs!" (Tetsuo) "Agh!" "Oh, come on!" "Boss!" "Yeah, yeah! Save your whining for someone who cares!" (Tetsuo) "I''ve already prepared everything, we can leave whenever" (Sh) "Thanks! Let''s move" (Tetsuo) BZZZT! "I need the standard detail, the Company President is on route to the Cloud" (Sh) I haven''t even said anything and he''s already taking care of my escort. Damn, I so glad to have hired Sh. This guy''s work ethic goes above and beyond, I wish they had the same motivation CLINK! Oh? Right out of the front gate and I see Tenga with a smile wide enough to stretch across an entire ocean. I''ve never met anyone in my life that happy to see me They must''ve had good results in the village! "That grin better be for what I think it is" (Tetsuo) "Yes sir. We''re awaiting you to give the final checks so we can begin testing" (Tenga) "Hmm! Good! Let''s move!" (Tetsuo) "Standard formation men!" (Sh) "Sir!" I was having a good feeling this week, and now I know why! The "Network" project is almost ready to make its debut to the world, and Mori Sp. along with it! ??? The Land of Fire "Well, that is sight to behold. But can it really work?" "It is still unclear Danz-sama, but the Company certainly seems to think so" "You mean the scientist known as Red. Then again, I suppose it''s why they''re having a little field test in Kumogakure" I can barely control Orochimaru, I don''t need another eccentric running around. Still, Konoha''s not paying for anything, and I''ve curried favor with them by removing the Uchiha from Hzuki-j1Demon Lantern Castle "When will this so-called renovation take place?" "Red has just completed her work thanks to Orochimaru''s previous aid on the experiment. Balance is prepping the successful subjects for transport while Arc is moving with the Fuma Branch leader Nobuyuki" "The others?" "The others, including myself, were ordered not to participate. As for the Company''s enforcers, Mountain and Blade have been tasked with selecting and clearing a path directly through the Land of Lightning" "..." "I highly doubt anyone will make the connection to us" Just because you doubt, doesn''t imply it''s not within the realm of possibility. Konoha can''t afford an implication of this level now, right when we''re so close to the Chunin exams The top brass and I have spent much time preparing exceptional Genin to properly demonstrate our village''s prowess in the exams. I''ve even vouched for several individual''s myself "Sir?" "What is it?" "For the exams...have you considered using the asset you placed in the Uchiha Clan over two years ago?" "You mean Shin Uchiha? No. He''s certainly talented, and Orochimaru modified him perfectly but...I''m saving him for something else. That clan has become particularly rowdy recently...their use is nearing its end" {Is Danz-sama actually considering to-?!} "Regardless, now''s not the time to make a move" "Right, we''ll leave that to the Company. But as for Konoha?" "If the Leaf is to rise to the peak, we must possess the Lift before anyone else does. See to it the Company succeeds no matter what. Do you understand Ki--no, Brother Flow?" "Yes sir, no matter what it takes" "Good" "If that''s all, I should get back" "Mm" Even if the "renovation" fails, Kumogakure will still be weakened. They might not even be able to take part in the exams, which is more than fine with me. Either way, Konoha benefits The village with the best performing Genin will undoubtedly receive the most clients and jobs for both current, and next generation ninja. No matter what it takes, I will ensure the Leaf leads the next era! "No matter how much I have to bloody my hands..." 141. Diplomacy MrProper "COME ON!" "Fton: Shinkha1Wind Style: Vacuum Wave!" ZWIP! "Oh! Not bad execution! However..." {Jiton: Jakuh no Sjin2Magnet Style: Conserving Bee Twin Blades!} BOOSH! What the-?! "Phew! That was close, and sharp Suzu" Tsk! A shield of giant shuriken, Toroi-sama''s Jiton is a real pain to deal with. Fortunately, I''m not fighting him alone WEAVE! "Hm?!" (Toroi) Right on cue "Suiton: Hat3Water Style: Wave Surge!" SPLOOSH! "O-Ooof! Okay, that''s a bit tougher...!" (Toroi) Even with that defense, Toroi-sama can''t handle the sheer force of his water. I have to say, Tai''s progress with Suiton has really impressed me lately. He doesn''t just rely on that poisonous mist anymore Guess I can''t fall behind either! DASH! "Charging at me from opposite sides...trying to box me in?" (Toroi) "Ready Tai?!" (Suzu) "Yeah, let''s go!" (Tai) "Bring it!" {I thought it''d be Rei who''d team up with Suzu. But she''s charging at me with the medic? What are they up to...?} (Toroi) Just a little closer! "Heh!" (Toroi) BOOM! "Huh?!" (Tai) The bursting from below...he left a giant shuriken underground?! He can fly?! No, he''s standing on it. Though I''d say supporting his weight must require a hefty amount of chakra and control... "Flying on magnetized shuriken?! Not fair!" (Tai) "Hahaha! So close, yet so far! It''s nice trick I don''t use very often" (Toroi) "Rgh!" (Tai) "It''s okay Tai" (Suzu) "...Yeah, I know" (Tai) "?" (Toroi) The plan hasn''t changed "It''s not over yet" (Suzu) "What do you-? Eh?!" {Behind!} (Toroi) ZWISH! "Yton: Enringu4Lava Style: Flame Ring!" "Whoa! That''s dangerous Rei!" (Toroi) SIZZLE! {He destroyed my foothold--hm? Tai''s awfully far away but...where did Suzu go?!} (Toroi) Rei''s new power remains a spectacle no matter how many times I see it. That "Liquid Flame" he copied from Etoro forced Toroi-sama to abandon his foothold. And now that his magnetized shuriken have been melted away... WEAVE! "Above?!" {She must''ve used Fton to jump so high!} (Toroi) He''s just an easy target in the air! "Fton: Atsugai5Wind Style: Pressure Damage!" (Suzu) BOOSH! {Uh-oh} "Hmph!" (Toroi) BLAM! "Holy-!" (Rei) "Gah! Um...Suzu?! Wasn''t that a bit much?!" (Tai) Was it? "Slamming him into the ground with sheer wind pressure...he''s not-?" (Rei) "Oh crap! Toroi-sama! Are you okay?!" (Tai) He''s an elite Jonin, there''s no way that could''ve killed him...right? "COUGH! COUGH! I''m fine! Despite Suzu using my head to make a crater" (Toroi) "Phew...thank god!" (Tai) See, I knew he was alright. Still, to not have a scratch on him...how''d he manage that? "You sure you''re okay?" (Rei) "Pssh! Who do you think you''re talking to? Granted, you kids are skilled, but you''ve got a long way to go before I worry about training with you" (Toroi) "How''d we do?" (Rei) "Very good. But distancing yourselves to avoid getting struck by lava could give the enemy a chance to retaliate. And Rei, about your Yton..." (Toroi) "I know. It hasn''t..." (Rei) "?" (Tai) Something''s been going on with Rei recently. Particularly, with his Yton and its quality. Now that I think about it, said power has been kind of lack luster lately. Especially if you compare it to Etoro Konjiki''s He''s been pretty tightlipped, and whenever I ask if he''s alright, he''ll just tell me not to worry about it "Dodai-ossan said the same thing" (Rei) "Haaah, he doesn''t like being called ossan--hm? You find something interesting Tai?" (Toroi) "Y-Yeah. Is this black stuff how you managed to-?" (Tai) "Yup, I got the idea from Kajra" (Toroi) "Oh!" (Suzu) Now I get it, magnetized iron sand. He must''ve shielded himself at the last second... "Told you expanding your arsenal was a good idea!" "?!" (Team Tango) Well I''ll be, Osoi-sensei. I haven''t seen him in a while "Aren''t you glad I gave such helpful advice Toroi-san????" (Osoi) "Cheh, quit braggin Osoi" (Toroi) "Kekeke! Tai-kun, Suzu-san, Rei-kun...good to see you! You''ve all gotten bigger!" (Osoi) "Heh! It''s been a while" (Tai) "How have you been?" (Suzu) "Busy. SOOOO busy. Grooming up the next generation of Genin has been quite the handful. The number of applicants for Cloud Academy this year are at least four times more than your generation" (Osoi) Four times? If that''s true, there''s at least over a hundred students attempting to become shinobi this year. The village could never really brag about its population, so how...? "Did the Raikage issue some compulsory order or something?" (Rei) "Talk about dark humor Rei. There''s no way he''d force kids to do that!" (Tai) "You''d be surprised what people are capable of, especially when desperate" (Rei) "..." (Tai) It''s usually subtle, but there are times when I think Rei isn''t a kid at all. In fact, it''s almost as if he''s... "Now more than ever, Kumogakure needs shinobi" (Rei) "As always, you''re sharp as nail. You haven''t changed a bit Rei-kun" (Osoi) "Is our situation really that bad?" (Suzu) "No, not that bad, every applicant was willing to apply. Though Raikage-sama did publicly ask for more to step up. What Rei-kun is getting at is our move towards the new status quo" (Osoi) Status quo...of the village? Or everywhere? "For the last few years, shinobi nations have been more in a state of recovery than active duty" (Toroi) "Right, the lack of missions. Even we''re starting to feel the impact of it" (Suzu) Less missions means less pay, for all of us "The need for ninja has risen significantly" (Tai) "Correct. Hence, the upcoming Chunin Exams. People require shinobi service for a reason, we maintain the order of our lands, and everyone''s been too busy focusing on their own recovery than the protection of citizens...and wealthy benefactors" (Osoi) "But we can only rely on self-support for so long, right?" (Rei) The exams are a means of appealing to contributors and powerful people in need of shinobi. But they can''t do business in a land overrun by criminals taking advantage of our post-war fatigued states, they need the exams just as much as the shinobi villages do "So...we''re moving towards a new status quo?" (Tai) "Yes. As I taught you in school, Kumogakure prides itself on having the best economy of the Five Great Nations, largely in part to our small population" (Osoi) "If that''s true, why the sudden need for more military strength? Our economy''s good right?" (Tai) "You''re missing the point. When it comes to the subject at hand, what''s lost in seconds can take years to get back" (Rei) "In this case, a head start from the exams" (Osoi) "Whoever performs the best will reap the most rewards. More clients for us, means more profit for the village. In other words..." (Toroi) Hm? "The villages that perform the best in the exams...will get ahead of others in the years to come!" (Toroi & Osoi) "!" (Tai & Suzu) So that''s what he meant by "head start". To be a leader, one must always look not only at the present, but the future "Times are changing again, and once again, we must change along with it. Or risk getting left behind" (Osoi) "Uwah...this is why diplomacy and politics are not for me" {And why I don''t wanna be the next damn head of the Yotsuki clan!} (Tai) "Hahaha! It''s not a subject most enjoy. Hell, Toroi-san and I are getting ready to head out for a mission of similar make" (Osoi) Wait, what? "Huh?" (Rei) "Hold on, aren''t you training us today Toroi-sama?" (Suzu) "When did I say that?" (Toroi) "Eh?! But...that whole sparring session was-?!" (Tai) "I was interested in your growth, and you three were more than eager" (Toroi) "Then we did all of that for nothing?!" (Tai) "It wasn''t for nothing, just think about how much you guys entertained me. It''s your fault for preemptively assuming I was your trainer for today" (Toroi) "Sigh, figures" (Rei) "Read between the lines"...that''s one lesson I''m not sure we''ll master anytime soon "Good grief" (Suzu) "Argh! Dang it!" (Tai) "Haha! You kiddies chill out, I think Tango is coming to see you today!" (Osoi) We''re training with Tango-sensei again? "How''d you know he''s coming to see us?" (Tai) "I''m one of the few that''s been tasked with organizing the rotations for the Genin. Being a teacher for your generation made me an obvious pick" (Osoi) "Oh? So that means you keep track of the others. Tell us, how do we compare?" (Rei) "Hehe, so eager. Looking at it bluntly, there aren''t many that compare to you. Your old classmate Nemui-kun is a top contender..." (Osoi) Him? I knew he was talented but, his timid nature prevented me from finding out how skilled he really was. To think he compares to us... "Oh yeah, I can believe that" (Toroi) {Nemui, the kid Tai told us to avoid during our graduation exam. Didn''t Notitia talk about him too?} (Rei) "There are a still more. Rei, your old buddies on Team F have improved immensely in the recent months. In terms of skill in teamwork, they''re above even you three!" (Osoi) "Team F, that''s Kayui, Nurui, and...Yurui right? Didn''t they have to take another year because of us? When did you become friends with them Rei?" (Tai) "On a mission with Motoi. You know, the one I was on about two years ago" (Rei) Oh right, we were still working on my new house back then. Gosh, time flies so quickly "There''s a slew others like Tetsu Mikawa, Ashi Saiki, even the boys with Sekiei have garnered some attention" (Osoi) Geh! Sekiei...that''s the last name I wanted to hear "Wow, I''m surprised Sekiei is still a ninja after what happened" (Tai) "What do you mean?" (Rei) "Eh?" (Suzu) "You don''t remember what you and Suzu did to his team?" (Tai) "Should I?" (Rei) "You two completely destroyed them at graduation! I''d never seen someone so pitiful, the guy had peed his pants and cried! And don''t even get me started on the broken jaw!" (Tai) "Hmm...oh! Pssh! Tai, if remembered every idiot I beat up, there''d be no room in my head for studying" (Rei) "..." (Everyone) "Besides, Suzu did most of the work" (Rei) Maybe I overdid it a bit but...you certainly contributed your fair share Rei. Besides... "It''s not like they weren''t asking for it" (Suzu) "Bingo" (Rei) "Sigh! Like two peas in a pod. They''re never gonna change!" (Tai) "H-Haha...come on Toroi-san, the others are waiting for us" (Osoi) "Right. Thanks for the work-out guys!" (Toroi) "That was pretty mean Toroi-sama!" (Tai) "If you''re still feeling raw about it, I''ll treat you to lunch later!" (Toroi) "I''ll even join you. The three of you may have graduated, but there''s always something new to learn" (Osoi) "I''m always eager to learn something new" (Rei) "What he said" (Suzu) "Ditto! And that better be a good lunch!" (Tai) "Haha, my wallet isn''t THAT full! Later guys!" (Toroi) And there they go. Despite everything, it was nice of him to take it easy on us. We haven''t had much of a chance to test our skills with the lack of missions Guess Osoi-sensei was right...though it''s not visible, even our village is starting to decline. We have to work harder if we''re gonna contribute! "Phew. Good warm-up?" (Suzu) "Yeah, glad to see my Yton is working properly. Even so, I still have much to learn" (Rei) "One step at a time--hm?" (Suzu) "..." (Tai) "What''s wrong?" (Suzu) "Just...even considering the war''s aftereffects, we should still have more finances right? Did the upper brass lose a bunch of money or something?" (Tai) "..." (Rei) Now there''s a good question, how did our wealth drop so significantly in the last couple of years? {If I had to guess, it''s probably due to the "Network". I need to get it working soon so A doesn''t end up bankrupting Kumo. If not, Mori Sp. will suffer, meaning my private work will as well} (Rei) ??? Two hours ago Within the Raikage''s office, Toroi and Osoi had just entered the room. What stopped them from asking why they were summoned was the palpable tension in the air. Not only A, but even the Daimy was present, both of whom didn''t look happy in the slightest Osoi even felt like one of his students being called to the office for doing something wrong "S-Sir?" (Osoi) "Thank you for coming on such short notice. I''ve obviously called you for a mission, but as for the details and requester, he can elaborate further" (A) "If I may..." (Daimy) {What?!} (Toroi) {The Daimy-sama is requesting our services?!} (Osoi) "Approximately nine hours ago, my office intercepted leaked correspondence indicating Kusagakure6Hidden Grass Villageintends to no longer provide their services for countries on the eastern side of the continent" (Daimy) "Eastern side...us?!" (Toroi) "As for their services, can we assume you''re talking about incarceration?" (Osoi) "What the hell else is that tiny village even known for?" (A) "!" (Osoi) {Oh Shit. He''s mad, like REALLY mad} (Toroi) It was blatantly obvious how infuriated A was after receiving this intel "Well...do we know if this intel is even accurate? No offense Daimy-sama, but how did your office manage to find out before we did?" (Osoi) "You mean how non-shinobi acquired sensitive information on a shinobi village? Haaah, we didn''t" (Daimy) "It''s from a reliable source of ours who consistently works in tandem with office of the Daimy" (A) "I don''t know why they''ve decided to do this. Maybe they''re unsatisfied with how much the villages on our end pay them? Or perhaps they''ve received too many prisoners and reached full capacity" (Daimy) "Or maybe, they wish to take advantage of the few months before the exams to hinder potential competition. Kusagakure is one of the many villages attending the event" (A) "A-dono...it''s not just our village being singled out, you can''t say that''s the case" "You can''t prove it''s not!" (A) "Which is exactly why we need to discover what''s really going on. If we make such accusations without proof, it''ll come to back to bite us in the ass later!" (Daimy) "Right. Right. You''ve made it clear. We''ll handle it with diplomacy...strong-armed diplomacy if need be" (A) Osoi raised his hand as he inquired into their request "It''s fairly obvious this is going to require much negotiation, so why call us? Me specifically, I''m just an old Genin teacher" (Osoi) "True, but there are few shinobi in the village that understand foreign policy more than you, or am I wrong?" (A) "Well, maybe Rashii-san, but I see the point" (Osoi) The Daimy pointed to the map laying flat on A''s desk "Kusagakure''s Hzuki-j7Demon Lantern Castleis located away from the main village. While Raikage-dono and I head to their village for talks with their leaders, you two, along with others will head to the prison" (Daimy) "Once there, you''ll determine whether or not the warden plans to release prisoners our village delivered to them" (A) "Release them?!" (Toroi) Shock ran all over Toroi''s face, and for good reason. Kusagakure made most of its income by taking in prisoners villages didn''t want, for a fee. Criminals with inside knowledge of their village were obviously kept in their own prisons, but the majority went to Kusagakure Being shinobi villages, they obviously didn''t want to divert their own resources for criminals, sending them to Kusagkure was much cheaper and efficient To hear the warden would release criminals, it went against everything that village stood for...and prided themselves on "Officially, the warden works at the behest of the Kusagakure''s shinobi leader and Daimy" (A) "Off the record, he acts with total impunity within the prison. As Hzuki-j is so important, and his record is impeccable, no one really has the balls to mess with him" (Daimy) "You mean he''s willing to let criminals go if it means maintaining his perfect record of never letting a criminal escape?" (Toroi) "I''ve heard rumors those who''ve attempted to escape are either tortured or killed" (Osoi) "But Kusagakure has to protect their image as well. Everyone pays them to keep these criminals alive in jail. Word gets out they caused a massacre just to decrease capacity, the impact would be devastating" (Daimy) {Of course. If you''re just gonna kill them all, why are we even paying you?} (Toroi) "So...he makes a loophole by shortening their sentence, then releases them. Thus, nothing for other villages to complain about since no one pays them enough to have a say in exactly how they do their job" (Osoi) "Precisely" (Daimy) "Ugh! What a headache!" (Toroi) "Yeah, no shit!" (A) The Daimy put away the map and handed Toroi a letter "While A-dono and I are negotiating, you need to make it clear the warden isn''t releasing prisoners anytime soon. Buy us enough time to settle matters ourselves" (Daimy) "If the intel you received is accurate..." (Toroi) "Regardless of whether or not it''s accurate, we need to go there. Rumors of strange activity in the area have reached even my ears, ever since the Uchiha Clan left as temporary, stand-in security" (A) {Uchiha...} (Osoi) "You''re the only ones we can rely on now, will you heed the call?" (Daimy) Both Osoi and Toroi nodded in affirmation. The pair clearly understanding how important this mission was not only to village, but to the country...to the Land of Lightning itself "You ride out with the team we''ve selected for you in two hours. They''ll be waiting at Western Gate 10, don''t let us down" (A) "Yes sir!" (Toroi & Osoi) 142. Foreboding Feelings MrProper Just outside Kumogakure walls POW! "Ugh!" "Toroi-senpai did that?" (Tango) "Yeah, it was a nice session" (Rei) "Huh...how unlike him" (Tango) "Is it?" (Suzu) "He never had students, so I didn''t expect he''d do such a thing. Senpai typically does high-level missions like A or S-rank, meaning he almost never teams up with Genin, let alone train them" (Tango) Never teams up with Genin? But he''s going on a mission with Osoi? Albeit the guy is well-versed in shinobi lore enough to be a teacher, at the end of the day, he''s still a Genin "Guess he just likes us" (Rei) "Uh, guys? We''ve got more incoming" (Tai) "Right" (Tango & Rei) C-rank task right after sparring with Jiton no Toroi1Toroi of the Magnet Style. Least he''s making sure we''re not missing leg day "Rei! The left!" (Suzu) "I got it! Doton: Golem no Jutsu2Earth Style: Golem Technique!" (Rei) RUMBLE! "What the-?!" "Oh crap, look out!" BLAM! "GAH!" "Run away!" "It''s chasing us! It won''t sto-oof!" CRASH! "Here we go again. Anyone else getting a sense of dj vu, or is it just me?" (Tai) "Hey, we''re not supposed to kill them, remember?" (Rei) Plus, I really like sitting back to watch my golem do all the work for me "No, but I don''t think you ought to observe their suffering with such a gleeful look either" {Friggin closet sadist} (Tai) "A-Ahem. Suzu, how about you and I take care of any fleeing stragglers. Rei, stay with Tai" (Tango) "Mm" (Suzu) "Got it" (Rei) Tango decided on taking us for an actual mission than training session today. The village picked up some criminal activity near a local coast town towards the southeastern side of the country, edging very close to the sea More specifically, facing towards the isolated, island-chain nation that is Kirigakure3Hidden Mist Village. It didn''t pay much, but it''s not like I didn''t need the cash. Experiments don''t come cheap Hell, these days, I''m just grateful to receive a mission regardless of rank "Ah, here come some brave ones. They slipped past that sadistic golem of yours" (Tai) "Cute. Let''s deal with this" (Rei) "Right?" (Tai) KASHINK! What the? When did he start using a blade? "Ha!" (Tai) DASH! "Little shit!" "E-Eh?!" CLING! POW! And he knows how to use it too. I''ve only seen him do basic physical training, so who taught him to wield a sword so well? "Rei, any day now!" (Tai) Guess that answer will have to wait, got work to do WEAVE! CLAP! "Magen: Narakumi no Jutsu4Demonic Illusion: Hell Viewing Technique" (Rei) ZZUUUU! "Huh?! Argh, it burns! Why is my skin on fire?!" "W-What is this...M-M-Monster?!" "My legs! What happened to my le-AGH!" "HELP!! SOMEBODY!" Nice, control over my power has improved immensely. Casting multiple individuals within my illusions feels so easy now. I''ll have to ask Notitia how I compare to Itachi Uchiha "Geez! As usual, you''re making me feel bad for your opponents" (Tai) "Oh, they''re not in any danger" (Rei) "I hope so, because we''re not supposed to turn them into vegetables" (Tai) "When it comes to them, everything''s gonna be fine. Relax" (Rei) "You know, every time you tell me to relax, it''s usually never fine. Sigh, whatever...oh!" (Tai) TAK! TAK! "Cleaned up I see" (Suzu) "Nice job you two" (Tango) "Back already? Guess there weren''t that many of them" (Rei) "No. Your golem just did most of the work" (Suzu) "Are we done?" (Tai) "Yup, let''s prep these guys for transport" (Tango) "To the village?" (Rei) "Nope, we''re taking them to a bounty office parked next to this town. You guys saw it when we arrived earlier, it''s the one just a few meters right of the town entrance. Kuchiyose no Jutsu5Summoning Technique!" (Tango) WEAVE! POOF! A cart? Guess we''re wheeling them away from here. Personally, I think we should just let them walk "We''re on a schedule, let''s get a move on guys" (Tango) "Yes sir" (Tai & Suzu) RUMBLE! Yup, having a golem do the heavy lifting just makes my day. Why couldn''t I have this in my previous life? It''d make staff management a hell of a lot easier Still, something about this feels...off "Is that the rest?" (Tango) "Mhm, I think we''re done here" (Tai) "Good. Suzu, go inform the townsfolk nearby that we''ve taken care of these guys" (Tango) "Okay" (Suzu) ZWIP! "Rei, since your stone servant is so useful, put it to work" (Tango) "You read my mind, let''s get out of here" (Rei) RUMBLE! THUD! And just like that, we''re already hauling these losers away. I still have this off feeling, like I missed something important. Tango seems to be in a rush as well, and for raiders to attack a town with little to no value is... "Sensei, do you know where these guys came from? Considering they have a bounty on their heads" (Rei) "I was curious about that as well" (Tai) "They''re from the Land of Water, that''s pretty much all I know. Ah, we''re here. You two stay put, I''ll handle this" (Tango) "..." (Rei) "O-Okay" (Tai) Yeah, he''s definitely hiding something "What the heck was that about?" (Tai) "I don''t know. But I do have a question for you, about the blade on your hip" (Rei) "Ah. E-Ehehe, yeah. Just a hobby I picked up during my free time is all. Nothing special" (Tai) "Kenjutsu6Sword Techniquesas a hobby huh..." (Rei) "...Something like that" (Tai) Yeah, that''s some bullshit. Considering our crazy new training regime, I''ve barely had time to go to my lab. As if you can get that good with a blade on your spare time Ugh! Everyone''s been acting weird! Tai, Tango, even nee-san''s been acting more secretive than usual. Doing God knows what when I''m not around! And this mission... "That''s all of them" (Tango) "Right, standard as usual" "Thanks" (Tango) Something has been off from the moment we received it. A''s been gone before, but only when something was going on, and that behemoth of a man wasn''t there The Raikage is typically present whenever shinobi receive missions at the Mission Assignment Desk, but A was gone today. He wasn''t even in his personal office. Highly unusual "We''re done here, let''s go home" (Tango) After Tango collected the bounty, Suzu rejoined us as we headed back home. Along the way, I quietly asked for their thoughts on the matter and Suzu brought up Osoi''s mention of a diplomatic mission with Toroi "Maybe there''s an issue somewhere that requires Raikage-sama''s attention. Could explain why Tango-sensei is being so tight-lipped about it" (Tai) "We are just Genin after all" (Suzu) "Yeah..." (Rei) And that''s exactly why I can''t stay as such. Though I have Notitia, there isn''t enough information for keeping track of important world events. I need to rank up and gain more intel in preparation for the future...and what''s inevitably to come Speaking of prep, I should head to my lab and see how my other project is doing. I also need to contact Tetsuo ??? Kumogakure Outside one of the village''s western gates stood a small shinobi group. Two being Tango and Osoi, meeting some familiar faces "Funsui-san! Ronri-san! What are you doing here?" (Osoi) "Hey guys" (Funsui) "It''s an honor to be working with you, Toroi-sama" (Ronri) "Shouldn''t Hikaru''s two right-hand men be with him instead of here? Considering all the rumors of trouble on our country''s northern coastline" (Toroi) "We''ve already dealt with the majority of wannabe pirates and troublemakers over there. Just a few stragglers left, it''d be pretty embarrasin'' if my captain couldn''t handle that" (Funsui) {There''s been unusual activity all over in the recent months, but a significant amount near our village. It''s practically isolating us from the world, and now this mission...} (Osoi) "I take it you''ve already been briefed?" (Toroi) Funsui and Ronri took out papers detailing their assignment directly from the Raikage. Along with passes to get through various checkpoints on the journey to Kusagakure7Hidden Grass Village "Enough said" (Toroi) "We have a small boat waiting for you" (Funsui) "Boat? You don''t wish to travel on land?" (Toroi) "Normally, it wouldn''t be a problem, but we''re in a hurry. Raikage-sama is nearly ready to escort the Daimy-sama" (Funsui) "There are too many stops between us, and Kusagakure" (Ronri) Kumogakure was the most eastern shinobi village on the continent, rivaled only by Kirigakure. Kusagakure lay closer to west, one of three small shinobi villages sandwiched between three of the Five Great Shinobi Nations. The Lands of Fire, Wind, and Earth respectively In order to make it to their destination with haste, the team had no choice but to ignore the excessive amount of borders. Ronri took out a map and opted to sail along the continents northern coastline, bypassing most of the villages "We can dock at a beach near Takigakure8Hidden Waterfall Village, particularly, the western side of its land" (Funsui) "Once there, we''ll make a beeline south, arriving at the prison before the others make it to the village" (Ronri) "That''s means...we''ll only have to go through two or three checkpoints at most. Why didn''t I think of that?" (Osoi) {As usual, these two make it obvious why Hikaru favors them. They''re seaworthy warriors ready for war at anytime} (Toroi) "The boat we have is small, but fast, built for quick infiltration with small teams. Never thought we''d be using it for a diplomatic one" (Funsui) "Nor I, but we need to arrive at our destination before Raikage-sama and the Daimy-sama begin negotiating" (Ronri) "How long before arrive?" (Toroi) "A journey of this scale normally takes four to five days. But with my route, we can be there within thirty-nine hours at minimum, long before our leaders arrive at the village" (Ronri) With Ronri''s plan clearly seen as the most optimal, as the team captain, Toroi wasted no more time. Ordering Funsui to escort everyone to the boat waiting for them "We all know what''s at stake here, no mistakes!" (Toroi) "Understood!" (Everyone) It wasn''t long before the small team was off, heading to their intended target. Something still gnawing at him, Osoi couldn''t stop contemplating about the current situation. There was much he didn''t understand...which he hated more than anything else {Agh! Enough worrying! Come on Osoi, focus! You''ve got a job to do!} (Osoi) "Ronri, you see it?" (Funsui) "Yeah. Captain, it won''t be long before we reach our country''s border" (Ronri) "Alright! From this point forward, cut the chatter! Other villages and countries won''t take kindly to a covert team sailing so close to their lands!" (Toroi) But he knew random theories would only serve as a distraction and shifted his focus on the mission itself... "..." (Osoi) Completely unaware of what''s to come... 143. A Clan’s Destruction Early evening The night was still...to an eerie degree Under my orders, my squad hadn''t uttered a single word. After being dispatched to the Hzuki-j1Demon Lantern Castleby Raikage-sama, we kept quiet and stealthily made our way through the lands Our village''s reputation still wasn''t that great and others would frown upon the idea of a covert squad moving in the dark, with me, the infamous Jiton no Toroi2Toroi of the Magnet Styleat its head After sailing along a northern shoreline at Ronri''s behest, we arrived just west of Takigakure''s3Hidden Waterfall Villageborder. Traveling downwards south, quickly making our way into Kusagakure4Hidden Grass Villageterritory TAK! TAK! Damn it. It''s getting harder to see The forest is getting more and more thick the further we venture into their lands. Makes sense how close Kusagakure is to the Land of Fire An ambush would spell bad news as none of us are familiar with this territory. Osoi, being the well-educated man that he is, might know something...but his overall skill is still at Genin level TAP! "!" (Ronri & Funsui) "Hm? What is it?" (Toroi) "Over there" (Osoi) "Over...oh" (Toroi) Ah, there''s the Tenchi-ky5Heaven and Earth Bridge, right where Osoi said it''d be. I take it back, he''s proving to be the most useful out of all of us "Alright, we''re in Kusagakure territory now. We can break the silence, but I still prefer the quiet. Let''s pick up the pace!" (Toroi) "Right!" (Everyone) VWOOSH! Almost there ??? Kumogakure Team Tango had just returned to village, heading straight for the "mission assignment desk" within the government office "Well done on the mission, we left and returned in record time" (Tango) "Not the challenge I was looking for, maybe I should''ve worn my training bracelets" (Rei) "I thought the same" (Suzu) "And I think you two are completely craz-" (Tai) BUMP! "O-Ooof! Ah, hey!" (Tai) As the quartet arrived at the office, another shinobi bursting out of the office in a hurry, bumped into Tai "Sorry about that!" "Geez, where''s the fire?" (Tai) "...Let''s get inside" (Tango) "..." (Suzu) CLINK! "?!" (Tai & Suzu) "What in the-?!" (Rei) Upon opening the doors, the team was greeted with sight of every employee in a frenzy. Shouts, yells, along with all sorts of indistinct noises were all they could hear. Making it impossible to understand what anyone was saying Tango tried to pry for answers when he was abruptly stopped by fellow Jonin, and letter-bearer, F "I wouldn''t advice doing that Tango, those desk-managers won''t even bother to answer you unless it''s relevant to their work now" (F) "F-senpai, what in the world is going on? We just got back from a mission and-" (Tango) "Do you have a report on paper?" (F) "Um...yes?" (Tango) "Then put in that box over there, and meet me outside so I can explain what''s happened. It''s best we don''t get in someone''s way" (F) Without even a chance to respond, F had marched right out the building with the Genin in tow. Tango did as advised and quickly followed suit CLINK! "Alright, what''s this about senpai?" (Tango) "You guys just came from a mission right? And correct me if I''m wrong, but I''m willing to wager it was located near our south, maybe southeastern coastline? Perhaps dealing with some rogues, thieves, or other individuals of similar malcontent" (F) "How''d you-?" (Tai) "It''s because various other teams, including mine have undergone, or are undergoing the same" (F) "Where are these people coming from? How could so many criminals just show up in our country at the same time?" (Tango) F''s expression turned serious after sighing "From what I''ve gathered, they all hail from the Land of Water" (F) {The Land of...where Kirigakure6Hidden Mist Villageis? Oh. Oh no...I don''t like where this going} (Rei) "As for what''s caused them to arrive here, it''s due to a sudden increase in shinobi patrols within that isolated archipelago of a country. The Kiri-nin are moving about with a vengeance, hunting down any rogue criminal...or Kekkei Genkai7Bloodline Limituser they can find" (F) "What?!" (Suzu) "Hunting them down...I could understand the criminals but-!" (Tai) {No. No. No. No. Please don''t let this be what I think it is...!"} (Rei) "Why hunt down people with special powers?! People like that are always huge assets to countries, and to just indiscriminately kill them...that''s just crazy!" (Tango) "I know, just the rumors of what''s been going on make me to tremble. Though it''s nickname hadn''t circulated very far, it won''t be long before most civilians start calling that village Chigiri no Sato8"Village of the Bloody Mist"" (F) "I knew Kekkei Genkai users were already treated as second-class citizens in that country due to new prejudice after the last war...but to think they''d start purging them" (Tango) {Discrimination and racism are the same no matter what world you''re in...} (Rei) "...Being treated terribly due to heritage" (Suzu) {Suzu...} (Tai) "..." (Tango) "From what I''ve gathered, a clan with said Kekkei Genkai decided to rebel against Kirigakure. Obviously they were wiped out, and after that-" (F) "The hunt for other potential threats began with a vengeance. Sigh. The only thing worse than being hunted by a shinobi village...is being hunted by an angry shinobi village" (Tango) "Most thieves and criminals housed there quickly understood it wasn''t safe to stay for the time being and fled. Looking to do their business elsewhere" (F) "And with us being the closest neighbor, they''ve started arriving in mass on our shores. Fantastic" (Tai) "We''ve already contacted that village and they''ve promised to pay reparations for their actions. Hence, the chaos going on in the office. On the bright side, the recent influx of missions will do us good" (F) "On the bad side, our land now has more problems than ever" (Rei) "H-Hehe...right" (F) F awkwardly scratched his head when the cynic Rei pointed out the reality of the situation. The Land of Lightning, and its shinobi capital Kumogakure, now had a whole new slew of issues to deal with And while these marauders could never threaten the village as a whole, the many small towns and people living within the country itself were now at risk If the kumo-nin stretched themselves out too far, it could leave them vulnerable to other shinobi nations. Fighting another war was the last thing they wanted "Those reparations better be good" (Suzu) "From what I''ve heard, they are. Even if they know they''re in the wrong, Kirigakure''s being awfully generous...to a disturbing degree. I can''t imagine another nation giving us that much money. The Mizukage''s9Water Shadowbeen making some odd decisions ever since the end of the last war" (F) {Because he''s secretly under Akatsuki''s...no, Tobi''s control} (Rei) "What''s Raikage-sama''s opinion?" (Suzu) "Let me know when you find out, Raikage-sama has left the village on a diplomatic voyage with the Daimy-sama" (F) "?!" (Rei & Tai) {Could this be what Osoi-sensei and Tango-sama were talking about?} (Suzu) "Diplomatic voyage. To...Kiri?" (Tango) "No, somewhere else. However, no one knows where. Dodai-sama might, but I''d doubt he''d tell you. Hell, he might not even be able to make time for you today. There was something important going on with Tenga-san he needed to oversee" (F) {Dodai and Tenga, it must be-} (Tango) {The "Network" project. The time has finally come, I need to call Tetsuo} (Rei) "Whatever the reason, it must''ve been important as Raikage-sama''s group is traveling along a Noble Road to arrive at their intended destination promptly" (F) "Noble Road...!" (Suzu) "Those...they remind me of the timesaver paths Shimogakure10Hidden Frost Villagemakes a profit on" (Tai) So-called "Noble Roads" were travel routes all over the main continent for the exclusive use of Daimy''s. They pass through almost no checkpoints and are heavily guarded by soldiers not loyal to any shinobi nation Trespassers among these routes are immediately met with lethal force and those lucky enough to get away are placed at the top of the Bingo Book. With bounties high enough to attract any and every soldier of fortune, not to mention the shinobi villages themselves It''s for this reason there are few foolish enough to illegally use these passages "I''ve heard using those are quite expensive" (Rei) "Yup, straight out the the Daimy''s pocket, so whatever they''re doing is of the utmost importance" (F) "So much going on all at once, and our leader''s not even here" (Tango) "It happened right after he left, talk about crappy timing" (F) {Crappy timing. Maybe...} (Tango) "In any case, I need to get back. My team''s been called for another mission" (F) "Ah! Before you go! Can you tell us which clan rebelled against Kirigakure?" (Rei) "Rei?" (Suzu) "Hmmm. If memory serves me right, I believe they were called...the Kaguya Clan" (F) "..." (Rei) "?" (F) {SHIT!!} (Rei) 144. Advent MrProper No! No! No! By my estimate, the timing for their destruction is all wrong! The Kaguya Clan shouldn''t attempt a coup until at least half a year later! "Everything okay?" (F) "Huh? Y-Yeah, just trying to take it all in" (Rei) "..." (Suzu) Is this the "Ripple" Notitia claimed I caused on Summoning Island? But that doesn''t make sense, how could my actions there-?! "Oh! I almost forgot, Tai!" (F) "Y-Yeah?" (Tai) "Kiyoi-san stopped by earlier, he was looking for you" (F) "My uncle? Why?" (Tai) "I don''t know, but it had something to do with Ganj-sama. You should probably go home" (F) "!" (Tai) "Tai''s father?" (Suzu) CRASH! "?!" (Team Tango) "Uh-oh, things aren''t getting any better in there. I''ll see you guys later" (F) "Thanks senpai" (Tango) CLINK! F re-entered the building, leaving us to process this news. I sure as hell ain''t taking it well. Fortunately, Tango decided to give everyone some time off and send the team home to clear our heads He''s gonna stay and see if he could help with the situation inside, not that I''d stop him "For your dad to be mentioned...is this what I think it''s about?" (Suzu) "Probably" (Tai) Damn it! I better get back to the lab STUP! STUP! "Leaving already?" (Suzu) "You heard Sensei, we''re to go home. I''ve got stuff to do anyways" (Rei) "In that case, care to meet up at Mariko''s tomorrow? Yugito-sama and Samui-san will be there as well" (Suzu) "Eh?" (Tai) Yugito? She''ll be there...? "...Okay, see you tomorrow" (Rei) "Alright, bye guys" (Suzu) ZWSSH! "There she goes, guess I''ll see you tomorrow-" (Tai) "Talk it out with Ganj" (Rei) "!" (Tai) "I think we both know this is about the Yotsuki Clan''s Selection. I know he''s hard man to converse with, but you should make your point clear" (Rei) "Whether I want to be the next clan head or not. You think he''ll just accept my decision?" (Tai) "How should I know? It''s not like he''s my dad" (Rei) "Ugh! You''re ridiculously unhelpful. As an Yotsuki, I have a duty to my clan" (Tai) "Pssh! Your duty is to yourself, your clan be damned" (Rei) "Hey!" (Tai) "I don''t mean any offense by it, that''s just my honest opinion when it comes to...well, everything" (Rei) "What...?" (Tai) "Say what you want, do what you want, love who you want, protect who you want, and never...never...ever..." (Rei) "?" (Tai) "Put up with someone''s bullshit" (Rei) "Sigh. And here I thought you were going for something more poetic and elegant. I''m leaving before you convince me to do something I''ll undoubtedly regret. See ya tomorrow" (Tai) ZWSSH! And then there was one. Now, onto stuff that''s actually relevant...my issues "Notitia..." (Rei) [I know, I know. We got some major shit to discuss] "Damn straight" (Rei) ??? Elsewhere The Raikage and Daimy traveled by boat through the continent, opposite of Team Toroi, they began their journey in the southern sea rather than north Once they returned to the coast, the group traveled down a narrow river path stretching throughout the west side of the central continent Sailing through the nation known as the Land of Rivers, sandwiched between the Land''s of Fire and Wind respectively. This was a so-called "Noble Road" meant for the exclusive use of a Daimy "..." "Are you wondering if Toroi-dono and the others have made it to the prison?" (Daimy) "..." "A-dono!" (Daimy) "W-What?! What is it?!" (A) "Geez, the least you could do is respond. This trip is long, and it''s not like they''re the talkative types" (Daimy) "Ah, right..." (A) Accompanying them as their guards were four dark hooded, robe-wearing ANBU ninja. Quiet and still, these experienced shinobi had been silent for the entire journey to Kusagakure1Hidden Grass Village "Sorry, what was the question?" (A) "I asked, are you thinking about Toroi and his team?" (Daimy) "No, Kumogakure. I don''t prefer being away from the village, especially for circumstances like this" (A) "Quite the overprotective worrywart aren''t you?" (Daimy) "It''s my job to be. And this fancy, expensive boat of yours isn''t doing anything to calm my nerves" (A) "It''s a vessel designed for traveling amongst these routes, and truth be told, you''re always tightly wound. People don''t call you Kikanb no A2Unruly Afor nothing" (Daimy) "Ugh! I hate that nickname" (A) "Hahaha! See, now your loosening up. You can''t expect meetings like this to be successful when you''re stressed. You need to be calm, relaxed, the world of politics is no joke" (Daimy) {If only it were that simple, but I can''t shake off this feeling of mine} (A) The Daimy retrieved an old parchment detailing the original agreement between the two villages. Along with papers and letters from other countries located in the east who''d also suffer from their recent decision Kumogakure wasn''t the only one targeted after all. The two leaders hoped this would serve as leverage in upcoming discussion "Alright, if you''re gonna be serious for this whole ride, why don''t we discuss our political strategy? Toroi''s group is keeping the warden busy to prevent Kusagakure from making any premature moves" (Daimy) "I know, but can we reach an agreement in time? Toroi can''t stall forever" (A) "How long have you known me? You think I can''t handle something of this degree in a short amount of time?" (Daimy) "...Father always did praise your skills as a politician. Compliments from him are something I''ve never taken lightly" (A) "Good to know. But what concerns me is they probably know this. There''s no way they could stop accepting prisoners from the entire eastern side of the continent. Not without major consequence anyway...so why?" (Daimy) "Why make such a bad, provoking decision?" (A) "...Yes" (Daimy) {It feels like Kusagakure isn''t the one behind this} "Hey, you don''t think Konoha could have something to do with this? Considering the Land of Fire is right next to their country..." (A) "As I''ve stated before, speculation without proof won''t do us any good. False accusations can lead to a myriad of problems we don''t need, and my gut is telling me the Leaf isn''t behind this" (Daimy) {You obviously don''t know of their old fox who thrives in darkness. I wouldn''t put it pass Root to try something like this} (A) "Overall, that village has every right to end their services with us at any time, that''s what they''ll inevitably use in talks with us. Our job is to convince them of how terrible an idea this would be" (Daimy) "And how do you plan on doing that?" (A) "Well..." (Daimy) The pair conversed for quite some time as the ship sailed north, passing the River country''s capital of Tanigakure3Hidden Valley Village, as it entered southern Kusagakure lands "I don''t like this fog..." (A) "Southern Kusagakure gets foggy this time of year. Means we''re getting close to the shinobi village" (Daimy) "It''s been a while since I''ve been this far from home, I''m unfamiliar with the territory" (A) "Oh? How long ago was that?" (Daimy) "During the last war, when B and I were almost killed by Konoha''s Fourth Hok-!" (A) "Hm? What''s wrong? What are you looking at-eh? Who''s that?" (Daimy) Just as they were about to reach their destination, a lone figure emerged from fog as it stood in their path "Here at last..." KASHINK! "!" (A) The unknown individual unsheathed the sword on her hip as she waited for the boat. Her appearance becoming more clear the closer they approached, the party from Kumogakure could see a mask with the symbol for... "We got trouble! Daimy, stay behind me!" (A) "R-Right!" {Who in the world could be so brazen?!} (Daimy) ...Blade ??? Kusagakure Territory "We''re finally here" "Ugh, the place is even more disturbing than I believed" "Focus Funsui" {Look at the sheer size of it...hard to believe they''ve reached maximum capacity} Toroi''s squad had just arrived outside of Kusagakure''s Hzuki-j4Demon Lantern Castle, dead set on meeting with the warden. The man in question could see the group from his office within the tall central tower But he wasn''t alone, two individuals were present as well. One of whom wore a mask with the symbol for "Balance". He''d managed to infiltrate the prison quite some time ago, working his way up to the position of Head Officer The other individual was dressed in standard prison clothing, nothing special about him except for the fact he possessed odd, glowing red eyes "They''re...here..." "We have eyes, dumbass" "Right on time, Flow really came through. Alright Ky, you know what to do" (Balance) "Hmph! Alright you nitwit, listen carefully" (Ky) Despite how rude they were, the warden was completely absentminded. Never speaking unless spoken to, obediently listening to every word the one called Ky whispered to him "Do you understand?" (Ky) "Y-Y-Yes..." "I don''t like that stutter of his, fix it. We''re trying to ensure he passes for normal" (Balance) "He may be a puppet, but he''s a puppet with a will. I can''t do anything about his resistance, plus they''ve brought a sensor-type with them. If I increase my influence, it''ll disturb his chakra, they''ll pick up on it" (Ky) "They''ll also pick up on that strange behavior if you don''t do something about it. This isn''t just some random ninja, this is Jiton no Toroi5Toroi of the Magnet Style" (Balance) Ky grew more irritable as Balance continued to question his overall skill level with Genjutsu, something he and his family heavily prided themselves on "You wanted a puppet, you got one. Don''t ask for the impossible" (Ky) "I thought you Chinoike were good at Genjutsu?" (Balance) "Cheh! We are..." (Ky) "Huh. Guess your Ketsurygan6Blood Dragon Eyedoesn''t really compare to the Uchiha''s Sharingan7Copy Wheel Eye" (Balance) "...Excuse me?" (Ky) "Or am I mistaken?" (Balance) "We''re ten times better! Don''t you ever compare us to that shit cla-AGH!" (Ky) Stopped mid-sentence, Ky struggled to breath as Balance grabbed him by the throat, easily holding the young man in the air with one arm. He moved faster than the eye could see, catching the Djutsu8Eye Techniquesuser off guard And despite all the noise, the warden simply stood in place, facing the window like a lifeless doll "Don''t you ever...talk to me like that" (Balance) "I am the leader of the Chinoike! R-Release me-!" (Ky) CLENCH! "URGH!" (Ky) "Nu-uh. No talking...just listening" (Balance) {Bastard! Can''t. Breath!} (Ky) "I, nor my associates could give a shit about your clan''s vendettas or feelings. You were nothing before we came along, a scattered group of outcasts living in a poisonous valley literally named Hell. Killing each other to the brink of extinction, like savages" (Balance) "Aggh!" (Ky) "How else could someone as stupid as you lead the last remnants of your clan? You need us, we don''t need you, recognize that. My organization always honors its agreements, so you don''t need to ask questions...you just need to do whatever the f**k I tell you" (Balance) "K-Kuh!" (Ky) "Do you understand? A simple nod will suffice" (Balance) "Mhm! Mhm!" (Ky) THUD! Balance let go of his throat, letting him fall to the ground as he desperately gasped for air "Cough! Cough! Uhack! A-Ahhhh!" (Ky) "I understand how you might be frustrated after we had you stay in a place like this for over a year. But you agreed to the plan when we opted to plant you here" (Balance) "U-Ugh!" (Ky) Ky was planted amongst the many mercenaries Arc sent to attack Summoning Island. A seed, meant to infiltrate the prison and help Balance take control of the prison. Giving the member "Red" an ample amount of "test subjects" for her experiments Being the leader of his clan members, he volunteered for the job. But after spending so much time in this horrible place, his patience had worn thin, but the Company grew deaf ears to his complaints The moment he agreed to work with them, he and his clan no longer had any freedom whatsoever "Now. You will instruct our dear warden to meet those Kumo-nin at the gate, then escort them here, to this very office. His behavior will be normal, they won''t suspect a thing, and once they''re inside...I don''t need to go further do I?" (Balance) "N-No..." (Ky) "No...what?" (Balance) "...No sir" (Ky) PAT! PAT! Balance chuckled as he patted Ky''s head, practically mocking him as if he were a child being scolded before making his way out of the office "F**cking lunatic!" (Ky) Thinking he wouldn''t hear, Ky cursed him under his breath "Ya know, my brother and I are used to working in groups, something we learned at an early age. Our business was an inheritance after all" (Balance) "W-What? What are you talkin-" (Ky) "And when it comes bad apples, my brother and I always had different means of dealing with them. He''d work that bad apple to the bone, break their spirit, getting the most out of them while teaching respect. A trait he got from our shitty parents" (Balance) "...I don''t understa-" (Ky) "We both hated them, but I hated them so much more. I vowed to be better than they ever were...after we killed them that is" (Balance) "GULP!" (Ky) "And in that moment of...glee, I learned a valuable lesson. Sometimes, you just have to accept the inevitable" (Balance) "E-Eh?" (Ky) "Sometimes, you really can''t teach an errant dog new tricks. Sometimes, you have to put it down. No matter how hard, or what you may lose, you just have to go through with it. And with that, comes a question for you" (Balance) ZWIP! "Heek?!" (Ky) "Are you a loyal dog? Or..." (Balance) Balance suddenly appeared in front of Ky, his masked-covered face barely an inch away from the latter. Silently watching as Ky''s face, previously holding a hateful expression, became one of fear With teeth chattering and sweat forming, he''d already wet his pants, and for the few seconds of silence that felt like an eternity...he never blinked once "...an errant one?" (Balance) "A-A-Ahhhh! L-Loyal! I''m a loyal dog! Whatever you say!" (Ky) "..." (Balance) "Hiek! I-I-I''ll do it! I''ll do it!" (Ky) "..." (Balance) "There won''t be any problems, I swear on family''s name! N-No, on my life!" (Ky) Ky prostrated on the floor, he eyes facing the ground as he begged for forgiveness. He stayed in that position for almost five minutes before cautiously raising his head. Only to discover Balance had already left Not wanting to tempt fate, he immediately went to work, issuing his commands to the warden before sending him outside to meet the Kumo-nin "Hmph" Unbeknownst to him, Balance was still present, watching him from the shadows. And while none could see it behind that mask, he was smiling "Good dog..." 145. Wonted Progress MrProper To make it up to you guys, I''m gonna try and release the next chapter today, if not early tomorrow. Please enjoy! "Are you in Kumogakure yet?" "We just walked through the gates now. Several engineers of mine have also tagged along, it''s finally time R-dono" "It''s been long overdue. Tetsuo...do you know if the village is properly ready for you?" "Once we confirm Dodai-dono has forged a proper layout for us to work with, we''ll begin the first test" Still in his lab, Rei was quick to begin his "work" when he received a sudden call from Tetsuo Mori via Genjutsu Tsshin1Illusion Technique Transmission Changing into his "Developer R" disguise consisting of both dark pants and shirt, along with a hoodie-equipped black jacket. Completed by a silver polygon mask, Rei activated his projection-type Genjutsu, eager to have a talk with Mori Sp.''s President "Good...haaah" "Hm?" {I can''t see behind that strange mask but...did he just sigh? Could I have upset him with this sudden call?} "..." "U-Um?" "Yes? What''s wrong?" "I...I was going to ask you that, are you not happy? I''d think the completion of the Network project would be something to celebrate, considering the rewards we''ll reap from it" "Oh, you haven''t done anything wrong. It''s something else" Rei was pleased with the news, the hard work he''d undergone in secret over the years was finally going to pay off. From Tetsuo''s perspective, achieving this mysterious feat was apparently a ground-breaking achievement...but Rei thought otherwise From his otherworldly 21st century mind, he believed progress was too slow. Thanks to the world''s current level of technology, the project''s completion is taking place years longer than Rei desired While he surmised this might happen, irritation grew after recalling he was almost twelve. Naruto was close to starting his journey as a Ninja. "Part 1" was only a few years away from starting, and despite his recent growth, Rei was still unsatisfied Not to mention the recent new he received from F... "Apologies Tetsuo, I''m just dealing with some new problems on my end" {Ahh. I did call at a bad time} "Is there anything I can do to help?" "I''ll contact you when the need arises" "I look forward to speaking with you again. Ending the transmission" CRACKLE! "Sigh...this mask is so damn stuffy. It''s amazing how Tobi put up with it for as long as he did" To be prepared for this story''s so-called "Climax", he required resources, intel, protection for the main cast, and able allies. The "Network" project was for the latter ??? Kusagakure2Hidden Grass Village "Wow. This is the famous, or rather, infamous Blood Prison. It''s even creepier up close" "I''d refrain from issuing such comments around the guards Funsui-kun. To you as well, Ronri-kun, Toroi-san" "Hm? You know something we don''t?" (Funsui) "Funsui, listen to Osoi-sensei" (Ronri) "He''s quite knowledgeable when it comes to foreign relations, how else could a Genin be assigned to this mission" (Toroi) "AHEM!" "!" (Toroi, Funsui, & Ronri) "Referring to Hzuki-j3Demon Lantern Castleby that nickname is what Kusa-nin would call...a derogative" (Osoi) Osoi gestured towards the prison, specifically, its massive structure. Pointing out the sheer amount effort required not only to build such a massive incarceration facility, but to maintain it Unlike the Five Great Shinobi Nations, the smaller nations had far less to work with. In order to avoid being swallowed up by the bigger ones, they had prove their worth. Seeking specialized work, something they could do better than anyone else Just like Yugakure''s4Hidden Steam Villagehot springs and tourist attractions for the wealthy, or Shimogakure''s5Hidden Frost Villagenavigation services through its ever-changing, treacherous, snowy paths...Kusagakure offered a prison system for every nation to use at its convenience Which made it all the more strange to Osoi as he tried to ascertain why they''d not only cease their services to Kumogakure, but to the entire eastern side of the continent "These people pride themselves on their work, just like everyone else. And we''re trying to get on their good side" (Osoi) "Which means, watch what you say. We''re on their turf, and definitely not welcome. I''ll handle most of the talks with the warden, only speak when you''re spoken to. Got it?" (Toroi) "Right" (Ronri) "Alright! I get it!" (Funsui) "Heh, good. Funsui, keep your senses sharp. Let me know if you feel anything off" (Toroi) {This whole place feels off...} (Funsui) "Ronri, I want your eyes & ears everywhere, understand?" (Toroi) "Already on it..." (Ronri) "?!" (Osoi) WEAVE! {Ninp: Tokage no Me6Ninja Art: Lizard''s Eye!} (Ronri) Numerous small lizards emerged from the pouch on Ronri''s back before proceeding to infiltrate the prison "Is that his-?" (Osoi) "Ronri worked with J before me, and they picked up the hobby of raising messenger lizards, but he''s taken it to another level. By connecting chakra within the optic nerves and eardrums, he shares the eyes and ears of his lizards" (Funsui) "Lizards can''t hear as well as humans, so the sound he gets isn''t that great" (Toroi) "Oh..." (Osoi) "Fortunately, he can read lips. Which definitely comes in handy during battles at sea" (Funsui) {Right. I almost forgot both Funsui and Ronri are the righthand men to Hikaru, Kumo''s best ship captain} (Osoi) "...We''re good to go" (Ronri) CREAK! "Just in time, they''re opening the doors for us" (Funsui) "Hm?" (Toroi) Much to their surprise, the warden himself was waiting at the gate "What the-? The warden is greeting us personally?" (Osoi) "I thought we weren''t welcome?" (Funsui) "..." (Ronri) "Alright everyone, follow my lead" (Toroi) ??? Rei''s lab "I need to move things along. Now, where were we?" BURBLE! BURBLE! I spent a lot of money on these vats, fortunately Tetsuo procured them for a bundle. He gave me tons of them, in various sizes, ranging from a chair to the height of a small house But the price of the vats don''t compare to what their containing now. The bubbling, liquified nutrients and mutagens I''m using to grow these specimens cost me a f**king fortune! I even snuck into a black market I discovered a while back, just to get it at a cheaper price, and I still blew through most of my money! [They''ve grown quite a bit since I last saw them] "Glad my investments are actually worth a damn" Hmm...the growth rates between each one started at various levels...but it looks I''ve successfully managed to map their genomes. Experimentation will be all the easier now [That big one over there looks ready to go] "It will be, once I''ve verified it''s under my control, I''ll make the contract" Thanks to information from Notitia, I figured out how Orochimaru and Kabuto got their "Pets" to act obedient. Well, with the exception of that giant snake Manda "Moving on..." [Yes. The Kaguya Clan''s destruction. The result is...well...it''s about when you first came here, not just Summoning Island] "Enlighten me" [As once explained, "Ripples" are distortions in this world created by an "Outsider" like you. Echoing throughout Space-time as the predetermined course you''re familiar with gets off track. But the one I picked up on the Island...it''s not connected to this event] "It has to be, you said I created one a year ago" [And that you did, but we''ve yet to feel its effects. This one related to the Kaguya Clan...it''s likely the result of one, or many created some time ago. There are too many to count] Too many to count?! How many Ripples have I caused?! And why the hell haven''t you informed of this sooner?! [I know what you''re thinking, and even if you were told, there was nothing either of us could do about it. Think back to the time you came here, your arrival in this world. What was the first thing you did?] "I...I was in the hospital. My dad-err...Keido, just died on the table. I also met Mabui and Dodai for the first time" [Yes, but that''s not else...] "Wait. Are you hinting at my talk with the 3rd Raikage?" [Exactly. You, a variable within this "System", conversed with a powerful and influential figure] That''s...! [You really think things wouldn''t change?] "SIGH!" No...no I knew. I just na?vely hoped it wouldn''t be the case. I was creating Ripples even back then... [Every step you take, every word you say, every action...distorts this world. Even with the lingering influence of its creator at work, the author...trying to keep things on course is an impossibility. Because of you, this world is now similar, not the same as the one you knew] "No matter how hard I try, even if I isolated myself on some faraway land, things would still change? You told me this at the beginning of my journey, but at the time I-" [Didn''t trust anything I had to say] Do I look like Naruto to you? Of course I wouldn''t trust anything a stranger like you had to say. Shit, I still don''t [You believed it was possible to keep things as they are if you played your cards right. Sorry, but that will never be the case no matter what you do] "..." Case. In. F**king. Point... [...The good news is most ripples you make cause only minor discrepancies, incapable of forming major effects. But some random action you took in the past has caused something, or someone to go off course...in a major way] That''s what I figured, and we won''t know until it''s right in front of us. For the sake of the Climax, all I can do is work to ensure Sasuke Uchiha, Naruto, and the rest of his allies stay alive and strong For them to win, Kumogakure must be thriving by the time all Five Great Shinobi Nations rally together for the upcoming Fourth Shinobi World War against Madara and Akatsuki "Alright, I''ve heard enough. No matter what comes, I''ll just have to deal with it. However, strengthening my resources, influence, and intel wouldn''t hurt in preparation for future events" [I wouldn''t tell you not to, becoming a Chunin in the upcoming exams will give you far more authority, meaning more leeway. Do your best to ensure your team is selected to participate] "Will do, is there anything else?" [...You know what we really need to discuss] "..." Goddamnit. Again with this? "We''ve had this discussion already..." [You''ve been stagnate since, but it cAN''t gO oN. And now that Isshiki''s powers are starting to manifest-] "I still don''t have them yet" [...Really? No signs of his unique power, Sukunahikona7Small Man of Renownor Daikokuten8Great Black Heaven?] "Did you not hear me? I said no. Just my physical strength and Genjutsu have abnormally grown, as you surmised would happen over a year ago" [...] Shit. Notitia''s starting to grow suspicious. Honestly, it''s surprising it hasn''t happened sooner. I''ve been real lucky considering this thing still isn''t aware of Kisshten''s9Auspicious Heavenstrue nature All it knows is that I possess an "unknown power" of In''yton10Yin-Yang/Shadow & Light Stylerelation "In the first place, I''m not so ready to get rid of the rest of him now that I''ve received, albeit a declining version of Lava Style" [Stop procrastinating. You know that was only a freak accident. Your unknown power acted to save your life, it was never permanent. Especially now that they''ve been activated. Face reality Raymond] "Tsk!" [Besides, we''ve already come up with another solution to get it back at a later time. "Part 1" is right around the corner, if you haven''t stabilized by then you''ll...!] "I know. I know damn it! Shut up already..." [...Why the real hesitation? What''s actually bothering you?] It''s not something I can choose so easily, dumbass "..." ["Rei" or Isshiki...your body''s internal struggle is nearing it''s end] "SCOFFS!" [You can no longer delay. Whether you want it or not, your body''s final evolution is coming] 146. Fork in the Road MrProper I made it, barely! This one might be a little rough around the edges, but it''s here! And I''m almost done with the next one. Should be out soon! Blackouts in the cold winter suck...but they got nothing on me! One year ago "Haaah! Haaah! Cough!" [Rei. You''ve been in your lab for almost an hour. It''s clearly not working. Why don''t we get real here and-] "One more time! Yton1Lava Style!" SPEW! SIZZLE! "...Aaahhh!" [-face reality. Only a single lava blast, and not a very big one. Completely no good, then it''s as we''ve feared. Your Yton is clearly declining] "U-Urgh!" W-Why?! Wh-What''s happening to me?! After all that training with Dodai, plus my control, it should be far greater than this! If I increase the power output, I''ll gain a bigger result, but that defeats the whole point! "Damn it...what is wrong with me?!" [You should know, given what you''ve been told about your body in the past] "I''ve told you already, I didn''t use Kissh-um...my weird Yin-Yang power on Summoning Island. In the first place, how could Yin-Yang temporarily awaken a Kekkei Genkai2Bloodline Limit?" [Whatta ya mean how? How could it not? It''s friggin Yin-Yang Style, aka. the big daddy of all nature transformations? All natures branch off from this, plus "Rei" had the genetic potential for Lava Style thanks to his heritage] Big daddy? This thing is so weird...and lame "Again, I didn''t use that power-!" [Consciously] "Are you suggesting it activated on its own?" ...No way. That''s...impossible? [Would it really be the first time your power has taken control? Remember what I said happened the first time your tsutsuki cells awakened? The words that came out of your mouth when "Neo-Rei" used Suiton3Water Styleand Katon4Fire Style] "This fire...this water...is disgusting. I never fully understood that" [At that time, "Rei''s" genetic material had dominated the body, and the tsutsuki cells HATED it] Even at a cellular level, they abhor "inferior" human dna and chakra huh? "I''m surprised how petty my alien DNA is..." [From then on, they began eliminating "Rei''s" cells, the rate increasing every time you use that power. Making you more and more tsutsuki. Do you understand now?] "Hmm..." "Lava" and "Earth" came from Rei''s DNA...activated by Kisshten5Auspicious Heavens, which can act on its own. During my fight with Etoro, it decided the best way for me to survive was Yton? I...guess it makes sense? It was the only way to combat him with the limited chakra I had left "Rei''s" ancestors migrated from Kaenzan6The Flaming Mountainsto Ishigakure7Hidden Rock Village,which is right next to Iwagakure8Hidden Stone Village, the nation with the highest amount of Yton users It stands to reason he''d have at least one ancestor with that power who''d pass on his or her genes. Kisshten must''ve activated the dormant, recessive cells within this body at a critical moment... ... ... ... That''s insane! Not just the fact it can do that...but it knew HOW to do that! On it''s own! "I''m starting to feel like a driver with no hands on the steering wheel. My alien DNA doesn''t like the resurgence of Rei''s chakra, and is once again eliminating it" [Hence your Yton''s decline. Your alien DNA is seeking out these reactivated "Yton" genes and replacing them] Holy shit...does that mean what I think it-?! "Notitia! Rei''s power, despite it now disappearing again, temporarily brought some of his chakra back by activating the last of his remaining cells...does that mean we were-?!" [Yes] "Seriously?!" [This whole time...we''ve assumed wrongly, your unique power has a different origin from your tsutsuki DNA. Which begs the question...how in the hell did you acquire Yin-Yang Style? The most powerful element] "..." [Whether you believe me or not, I wasn''t the one who sent you here. My existence began when you arrived, with one directive implanted within, guiding you] "!" [Considering Yin-Yang''s nature governs creation & destruction, it''s possible that I was created with this power. It also stands to reason whatever entity created me, used the same power to send you here. Perhaps...some of said power latched onto you when it happened?] "U-Uhhhh" [With the Doton you raised under Rei''s power fading, Yton has followed in suit. However, the other two should be fine considering you nutured them with alien chakra instead of Rei''s. And it''s not like this is the first its happened, remember?] "Yeah..." The first time I went berserk, it consumed the chakra I nurtured, Rei''s chakra. Afterwards, I had to retrain my water and fire elements, though it didn''t take very long. Hell, it was even easier...better So the same process is happening once again, but since Isshiki never had Earth or Lava Style, they''re going away for now Every time this body undergoes a change, a cycle of breaking down and rebuilding... Why does that sound familiar? [Don''t worry, once you''ve acquired the Kekkei Mora9Bloodline Encompassingfrom Kaguya, you''ll have dominion over all. Forget Lava, you''ll possess all elements!] "That IS our planned endgame" I''m not worried about it, most elements are useless towards many antagonists after all. Plenty who can either nullify or absorb Jutsu start popping up like crazy towards the end [Bonus, since your body is more akin to Isshiki, your Inton10Yin/Shadow Styleand physical strength have grown again. Maybe more of his powers will begin manifesting as well?] I wonder if they already have... Kisshten copies and, albeit limited, alters inorganic matter in a dimension where time doesn''t flow... Sukunahikona11Small Man of Renownshrinks/alters inorganic matter... Daikokuten12Great Black Heavenstores matter in a dimension where time doesn''t flow... Kisshten is Yin-Yang in nature. Yin-Yang is the most unknown, powerful, and unpredictable... Have I been instinctively, subconsciously using Isshiki''s powers in conjunction with this mysterious nature transformation? "..." [What you need to do is focus on speeding up this process] Wait...what did you say? "Speeding up? I thought I was to become a so-called Neo-tsutsuki, something superior to both man and alien alike? That was your big pitch" [Yes, but we can''t do that long as your body''s resources are still having constant slap fights. Once it''s stabilized, your foreign soul will take in all remnants of both Isshiki and Rei, like a sponge. And from it...birth something new] "Something new being...?" [Chakra. You''ll no longer be using Rei''s or Isshiki''s chakra for battle, but your own, "Raymond''s" chakra. Remember, the sage of six-er...Hagoromo spread chakra to others, and chakra is passed on from generation to generation, from soul to soul] But my soul didn''t originate from this worl-Ohhh...I get it "Since I''m foreign, I never received such a gift. I never had chakra of my own, I''ve just been going back and forth from using either Rei''s or Isshiki''s" ["Back and forth" being the key words. This whole scenario has to end before your growth becomes completely stunted. I''m pretty sure you don''t want any more freakouts] Well, unless it saves my life [First, we''ll have your soul consume the rest of Rei''s chakra like ingredients, all the while Isshiki''s cells replace the rest of his. Then, we do the same to Isshiki''s chakra through-] "Bodily Activation via Senjutsu13Sage Techniquesat Rychid14Dragon Ground Cave. The natural energy will cause a reaction within the body. Acting as a catalyst for my final evolution" [Yes, and while you''re there...] "I''ll acquire the very same Tensei Jutsu15Reincarnation TechniquesOrochimaru based his Forbidden techniques on, in order to protect my soul against any more incidents" [Two birds, one stone. Creation of the perFecT being. You worked that out yourself, eh?] "Did you think I''ve just been sitting on my ass during this strange journey?" [...No, wE didn''t expect you to] Like I''d believe you without proof, I''ve learned to live my life under the proverb "Trust, but verify". There was no way in hell I''d ever do something so dangerous unless I was sure Still, it''s comforting to know this thing was actually telling the truth. Despite it being crazy, reckless, and outright Naruto levels of stupid...this plan might actually work But... "I''m in no rush to lose the rest of my human side Notitia. God knows what''ll happen to me if all of Isshiki''s cells take over. Am I gonna grow a horn or something? Plus, I''m still not ready to enter Rychi Cave" [We did make modifications to ensure your outward appearance wouldn''t undergo drastic changes whenever your evolution progressed. You won''t grow a horn...probably] "First of all, what we''re doing has never been done before. You can''t guarantee jack shit. Second, even if my appearance doesn''t change, what about my mental state? Will my personality permanently change? Like whenever I let my...power take control?" [...I can''t answer that] "Whether you can''t or won''t is irrelevant, because overall...you don''t know! I''m not speeding anything along" [You can''t takE the chance. Your pRogreSS must not sloW dOWn] Here it is again. Every time I talk about "taking things slow" with my training, Notitia''s "other" side starts popping up. Why is this thing in such rush to get me strong? What''s it agenda? [ReI...] You may not be lying, but you''re still hiding things. But moving at my own pace seems to get a reaction, if I keep it up, maybe this thing will slip and I''ll learn something new Something it doesn''t want me to know... "I''ll take care of it in time" ??? Present time [That was over a year ago. You''re barely human now anyway, why do you hesitate?] "I''m not, I''m being careful. I died and came to this world, and while I occasionally believe in second chances, never a third. Don''t you ever assume anyone gets to gamble with my life but me" [...] Eventually, I''ll solve this mystery, find out what you''re hiding, along with who or whatever sent me here. And make damn well sure I''m sent back [...Fine. You''ve clearly made up your mind] "Glad you get it" [Then may I ask, what is the plan for the time being?] "What else? More training. My control has improved now that I''m more alien, it''s almost time for the Black Scroll''s third lock. I''ll also work on my basic elements, losing Yton doesn''t hurt much as I came to this world without any cheats anyway" [Oh? That''s a "glass half full" outlook I didn''t expect from a cynic like you. Miserable bastard] "Again, up yours. Besides, it''s not completely gone yet, only when my power activates again and my tsutsuki cells respond in kind. Until then, lava''s still in the cards" Gives me time to come up with an excuse for the others when it finally does go though [It won''t be permanent. Hell, forget Kaguya, it might come back on its own once you evolve] "..." [...] "..." [...Can''t blame a disembodied voice for trying. And it''s not like I was lying] "Whatever, lemme focus. I need to get back to training" Have to ensure Kisshten doesn''t activate on its own, ever again... 147. Everything is wrong… Kusagakure1Hidden Grass Village The warden of Hzuki-j2Demon Lantern Castlehad just met with Toroi''s squad to personally escort them Much to their surprise "On behalf my village and squad, I apologize for the sudden visit Mura-dono" "It is alright. We''ve been expecting you, Toroi-dono" (Mura) "You...were?" (Toroi) "Yes. We''re almost to my office. Please...follow me" (Mura) As Toroi continued to probe Mura for information, Osoi observed in silence. Focusing on every word Mura muttered, keeping constant track of his facial expressions With something gnawing at him, Funsui whispered to Ronri "Hey, Ronri. Does that guy seem...off?" (Funsui) "I think anyone working in this place would be, off. What are you getting at?" (Ronri) "I don''t know, I just can''t put my finger on it" (Funsui) "Did you scan him?" (Ronri) "From the moment we arrived. I...don''t think he''s under a Genjutsu but...there''s this lingering feeling. I just can''t put my finger on it" (Funsui) "Well, until you have an answer, don''t bug me. Walking while maintaining this technique isn''t exactly easy" (Ronri) Ronri''s small messenger lizards had infiltrated the prison, as he utilized his unique Ninjutsu to share senses with them. Toroi wanted to be sure Kusagakure wouldn''t try anything while the warden kept them occupied {Hmm...so far, so good. Activity is normal, the guards are doing their jobs. Everything seems to be okay. Though, I thought there''d be more of them for a prison of this size} (Ronri) "Here we are, please come inside" (Mura) "This is a nice office, very spacious" (Toroi) {No guards with him. I doubt they''d trust us that much to leave their warden unattended with foreign shinobi. And yet...} (Osoi) "Thank you very much" (Mura) Mura took a seat as his desk and gestured for Toroi to sit in front of him. As the latter complied, Osoi stood behind him while Funsui and Ronri remained by the door "Once again, I''d like to say we''re here on behalf of both our Lightning Daimy-sama and Raikage-sama respectively. This matter is in regards to..." (Toroi) {No abnormal chakra in sight. But...I can feel chakra signatures popping up out of nowhere. As if they''re passing through something, could this place have barrier here?} "Now that I''m standing still, any requests?" (Ronri) "The northwestern area" (Funsui) "On it..." (Ronri) Closing his eyes, he doubled his efforts and directed one of his lizards "See anything?" (Funsui) "It isn''t there yet, but nothing appears to be out of the...wait. There are a lot empty prison cells" (Ronri) "What? How many?" (Funsui) "Too many. I take it back, something''s wrong" {Could they have already moved the prisoners?} (Ronri) FLICK! WEAVE! Ronri put his hands behind his back, secretly forming hand seals. Increasing the power of his technique. The small creature moved with haste as it passed several prison cell blocks {A small corridor, with guards coming out of it. This must be what Funsui was talking about} "Hm?!" (Ronri) {Oh, I don''t like that look} (Funsui) "Funsui, I need you to focus on the chakra signature by one of my lizards. Particularly, an isolated one in the area you mentioned" (Ronri) "Right, as if keeping track of the humans wasn''t hard enough, now I gotta worry about lizards. Haah, fine. Gimme a sec" (Funsui) "Be quick about it..." (Ronri) FLIP! "As you can see on this document, our village leaders are currently in discussion as we speak. However, it doesn''t mean we''re issuing any demands or whatnot" (Toroi) "Mmm...okay..." (Mura) {Barely a reaction, after hearing how prideful he was, it''s hard to believe he hasn''t reacted yet} (Osoi) {Perhaps he''s considering his options?} (Toroi) "..." (Mura) GRUNT! "I''ve memorized the chakra signature, where you going with this Ronri?" (Funsui) "I can see some guards putting a prisoner on a gurney. They''re taking him to the location you mentioned. I can see a suspicious gate leading downwards" (Ronri) "So I was right, there is a barrier. Will your technique still work?" (Funsui) "I don''t know, but my lizards aren''t stupid. If the connection is cut, they''ll either retreat or hide. Stay focused on my lizard" (Ronri) "Haaaah...hope this works" (Funsui) "Hope we don''t get caught" (Ronri) "That to" (Funsui) ??? Kumogakure "Tetsuo-dono! Like this?!" "A little higher, but exercise caution! Without that cooling system, this whole endeavor will have been for naught!" (Tetsuo) "Thank god you''re here, the various trips you''ve made in recent months have sped up production significantly" "Happy to oblige Dodai-dono" (Tetsuo) Within a facility A provided to Dodai and his division for work, Tetsuo Mori arrived with his bodyguard Sh and several engineers. His entourage went to work putting together the finalized generator for the "Network" project The Daimy''s assistant Tekkan and his shinobi guard Tenga were also present, the former not missing a single detail of their work for future reference "It''s a bit smaller than I expected" "That''s the whole point Tenga-kun. This is just the first prototype, with time, Mori Sp. will manufacture advanced power sources. Built smarter, smaller, and far more efficient" (Tetsuo) "If another village wanted a generator of this output, it''d have to be built at least six times bigger" (Dodai) "Ehhh...more like four times, but you get the idea" (Tetsuo) "Amazing..." {If the Daimy''s had that, our communication system capabilities could reach new heights} (Tekkan) "It''s a nice feeling isn''t it, knowing we got our money''s worth" (Tenga) "DAMN STRAIGHT!" (Dodai, Tekkan, Tetsuo) "H-Hehe..." (Tenga) AHEM! "Won''t be long now. We just have to make sure everything goes right with other branches before we start" (Tetsuo) "How long will that take?" (Tekkan) "Boys!" (Tetsuo) "Sir. Given our work, along with the current rate of progress of Dodai-dono''s division members at the other locations, we estimate approximately 31 hours" "Well, looks like we''re gonna be here for a while" (Tetsuo) "Tekkan-dono, will you be staying?" (Dodai) "As if I''d leave. There''s no way I''m missing this" (Tekkan) Getting his answer, Dodai walked towards his office door "Then the next thing on my list is getting the coffee" (Dodai) "Now we''re talking" (Tetsuo) "Heh! One moment, we''ve got the best flavor in all of Kumogakure ready and waiting" (Dodai) {Almost there, R-dono} (Tetsuo) ??? Hzuki-j Everything is wrong... I''m acting like it''s not, but it is. In this office, I''m here, I''m speaking, I''m working and yet...everything is wrong. Ronri''s no doubt scouted out this entire prison with his lizards. But he, nor Funsui have signaled me Osoi continues to advise and interject only when needed. But the person before me, the warden Mura, it''s like he''s not even here. I''ve explained what Kumo wants, even provoked him a couple of times, and still... "That is acceptable. We haven''t released any prisoners" (Mura) "But isn''t the prison up to capacity? We heard rumors this is why your village has opted to end its services for the east" (Toroi) "We''re...fine. There''s nothing for you to worry about" (Mura) Everything is wrong... It''s like I''m speaking to a dead man...I can''t do anything drastic here. This feeling has gripped my heart. I feel worthless, hopeless...I don''t know what I''m doing anymore I don''t like this. I don''t like this at all. Please, Ronri, Funsui, anyone...do something I shouldn''t stay, I won''t stay, I can''t stay...I have to go. I don''t know why, but we have to go. Duty keeps me down, like an anchor, keeping me on this chair Legs aren''t moving... I talk, and I talk, and I talk, and I talk...I know I''m talking! All I''m doing is talking! It''s like I''m not even here, as if my soul has left my body Everything is wrong... {What in our ancestor''s name...is this?!} (Ronri) "What''s wrong?" (Funsui) "My lizard found this secret bunker, with tons of people...prisoners inside. I can''t make out what they''re doing to the convicts. What is that stuff?" (Ronri) "What kind of...stuff?" (Funsui) "I don''t know...I''m seeing a bunch of, pills? Medicine for the prisoners? It''s dark, and there''s a lot of blood on the floor. Wait..." (Ronri) "The hell?! Is it some kind of maximum holding cell? Like a solitary confinement wing?" (Funsui) "No...this is illegal. We have to tell the captain-! Wait, I see two people...different. They''re wearing masks with...words on them. Red, and...Ba-Balance?" (Ronri) {Red? Balance? The hell is that about?} (Funsui) "Uh?!" {Shit! It was seen! That one in the mask...he''s-!} (Ronri) ZING! "Urgh!" {My lizard was killed!} (Ronri) "Ronri?!" (Funsui) "I was caught...ugh! We need to leave now!" (Ronri) "Captain! It''s a trap!" (Funsui) "?!" (Toroi & Osoi) Everything is wrong...Everything is wrong...Everything is wrong... "T-T-T-T-Trap?" (Mura) SLICE! "Captain we-eh?!" (Osoi) {Did he just cut himself?! And from his wound-?!} (Ronri) "He''s under a Genjutsu!!" (Toroi) "The door''s been sealed!" (Ronri) "What?!" (Funsui) Everything is wrong...Everything is wrong... GURGLE! "What the f**k?!" {Huh? This feeling...his chakra is-!} (Funsui) "His body''s expanding, what''s that stuff covering him?!" (Ronri) {There''s no mistaking this feeling...!}"It''s a bomb!" (Funsui) "U-UUGAHHPP...T-T-TRA-PPPPP" (Mura) "?!" (Osoi & Ronri) WEAVE! "Suiton3Water Style...!" (Funsui) "Shit! Jiton: Jakuh no Sjin4Magnet Style: Conserving Bee Twin Blades...!" (Toroi) {Musai...forgive me...} (Osoi) Yes... "TTTTRRRRR...AAAAAA...PPP!!!!!!" (Mura) "Oh god..." (Funsui) "NOOOOOO!" (Ronri) BOOM! Everything...is wrong 148. Dysfunctional Kusagakure1Hidden Grass Village The hidden bunker built inside Hzuki-j2Demon Lantern Castle, two members of the "Company" continued to nonchalantly converse despite the ongoing, deafening noise The prison alarm had consistently rung as a result of the powerful explosion from Mura''s office "Huh. It went off without a hitch, wouldn''t you say Red?" "I wasn''t doubting you, but your little lapdog. An incompetent like Ky doesn''t leave me with much faith" (Red) "True, but he''s still leading what''s left of the Chinoike Clan. Though, mostly because its last leader had enough of the internal bickering and left" (Balance) "That guy...En Oyashiro right? I''d prefer he take the lead for this job. You think Ky can guide his clan for Kumo''s renovation?" (Red) "Who cares? This is Sage''s personal endeavor, not mine. Whether the renovation succeeds or not, all that matters is getting sufficient data from this test of yours" (Balance) "Speaking of the Lift, are you ready for transport?" (Red) "Mountain just messaged me. Arc is transporting the Fuma along with their leader Nobuyuki. I''ll take the fodder here and rendezvous with them outside Kumo to-" (Balance) STUP! The pairs conversation was interrupted by the sudden arrival of Ky, the current Chinoike Clan leader "My task has been completed" (Ky) "Oh really? Is it safe to assume the Kumo-nin have been dealt with?" (Balance) "I discovered several bodies, most of them unrecognizable but..." (Ky) "Lemme guess, not everyone was accounted for right?" (Balance) "..." (Ky) "Sigh. Just go meet up with your clan. For your sake, they better have completed their task" (Balance) DASH! "I thought you didn''t care if this job failed?" (Red) "I don''t. I just like scolding rebellious dogs" (Balance) {You and Arc really are twins...} (Red) "Alright, I better get going. Despite the horrid location, it''s been nice working with you Red" (Balance) "Wait. Before you go, there are few more materials you can take" (Red) "Only you would refer to human beings as such, and I''m pretty sure we''ve loaded up all the inmates on our ship" (Balance) "Not the ones in solitary confinement. It was quite a surprise, as we''ve both met said subjects before" (Red) "People you and I know...now you''ve got me curious. Who is it?" (Balance) "Heh! Follow me" (Red) ??? Kumogakure Sigh. Coming back to the clan home always makes me nervous. The household is gigantic as ever, with small castles, expensive gardens, and hallways like a maze, it wouldn''t surprise me if someone got lost in here "Uncle Kiyoi, do you know what he''s gonna say?" "Nope" "Seriously? Not even a hint?" "You should know how cryptic my brother can be. Ganj''s always been stoic to say the least" Yup. That I do know. Oh crap, we''re already here. Damn it! Couldn''t you have walked a bit slower?! It''s late, maybe he''d get tired and go to sleep! Then I wouldn''t have to meet with him! SLIDE! Uwaah...these shji3Japanese Sliding Doormake this place look so antique "In you go" "Right" "Unfortunately, I can''t stay. I''ll see you later" CLOSE! This room is too big for just two people, makes me feel like I''m on trial. Ah! And there''s even a judge...or maybe executioner. Depending how terrified his presence makes you feel Yet, it always amazes me how someone so big and tall can partake in calligraphy with such grace and finesse "You sure took your time" This is how we''re doing things? Me talking to your back this whole time? Though, talking to you face-to-face is debatably worse "Apologies father, I was delayed after returning from an assignment. The Mission Assignment Desk is-" "I''m aware of the chaos going on over there, that''s not why I called you. Sit" "Yes..." "I''ve been hearing about your squad as of late, specifically, its performance" "My frie-erm...my squad, Team Tango has been at the forefront of various unorthodox missions. Reaching difficulties high as A-rank, most of which have been successfully completed" "Successful. Isn''t that the truth..." "?" You''d think looking at him with his back turned towards you wouldn''t be intimidating, but you''d be wrong "Um?" "My position in the village grants me access to assignment records" "Y-Yes. I''m aware" "Team Tango''s mission success rate is near three hundred percent higher than most Genin in the village. There are few your age who can boast the same claim" "Exactly. That''s what I was-" "I said few, not all" "..." PLOP! He finally put the brush down, and now that he''s actually facing me I...ugh! I can''t help being shaken. Muscles protruding through his clothes, almost as if they''re too small The visible parts of his body detailed how toned he was, not a single hint of excess fat. Various scars, indicating a long life of battle. The gray kimono he wore only helped exude his insane strength Yet, his short brown hair that was neatly slicked back reminded me just how meticulous he was. A keen mind hid behind that figure of strength and vigor What the hell is it with Kumogakure and buff guys?! "AHEM" "Ah!" "Do I have your attention?" "Of course, please continue father!" When someone like you sits down so close, it''s hard to imagine anyone would ignore you! "Tell me something. Those high-rank missions your squad completed. Did you accomplish such feats alone?" "Um...no...not all of them. But-" FLAP! "This file...your mission on Summoning Island. It says you took down a Kton4Steel Styleuser with the aid of your teammate?" "Yes sir, it was a very difficult fight" "I''ll bet...I believe the Konjiki Twins are a subject I''ve come across before, very impressive" "Thank you" "However-" Here it comes... "You''ve been a Genin for several years, almost five to be exact. Your elder cousins could''ve racked up three times the amount of achievements given such time" "Yeah. When you''re on the front line, and not the back where a medic like myself lays, that''s obvious" "Fair enough. Speaking on that front, how''s your skill coming along in that regard? I''m happy you''ve found a practical use for that greenhouse of yours. I was beginning to think my money was wasted" "...I''d never allow that to happen" Okay. I know I''m in no position to complain, after you bought me an entire house so I could avoid all the family drama. Along with a greenhouse for my personal gardening hobby...but come on I know you didn''t have to put it like that "Using Suiton5Water Styleto vaporize poisonous oils into mist. That''s a very clever application of said nature transformation" "Thank you. I''ve expanded my arsenal for various effects as well. Strictly for versatility" "Oh?" "I''ve never stopped training. Recently, I''ve also begun efforts of honing my skills with the swor-" "What about your medical ninjutsu?" "Huh?" "You''re the medic of the squad, their lives are literally in your hands. Do you feel confident you could save their lives in any given situa-?" "Yes!" "!" I''ll never let my friends die "Alright, but what if spending the time to save one meant jeopardizing the mission?" "?!" "Could you do it? Could you weigh one life for the mission? The mission which, like any, could prove vital to the village and in turn...its people" "I''m a medical-nin, my primary purpose is to preserve the lives of my squad" "Your primary purpose is to Kumogakure. In that situation, the one vs the many...what choice would you make? Do you even know?" "...I" "Sigh..." TAP! Why''s he getting up? "If you can''t even answer such a question...never mind. We''re done here, that''s all for today" "E-Eh?" "It''s late, you should turn in for the night. Leave me to my writing" "...Alright" STEP! I''m having a hard time opening this shji. It feels like all the energy within me has vanished. That look on his face when I couldn''t answer... An expression composed of nothing but...disappointment SLIDE! "Son..." What do you want now? "Yes?" "You don''t need to concern yourself with the Selection" "!" For real?! Then I won''t have to worry about you losing your position anymore...awesome! I''d hate for the wrong heir to take over! There''s only a few of my cousins I actually like "Okay. I won''t-" "I have no expectations for you to become clan head" "..." "There''s no need for you to worry about any of the Yotsuki Clan''s affairs from this point onwards" "..." "Just do whatever it is you want to do. Continue being a ninja or not, it''s of no concern to me" CLENCH! "Now go" "Yes...sir..." SLIDE! CLOSE! "Hah...haha! Wow..." "Just do whatever it is you want to do" eh? Finally decided to get rid of your burden after all...damn it! The one time I honestly believed you and I could actually be father and son...! "It always sucks whenever I come here..." I have to get out of this place before the urge to burn it to the ground wins over my common sense. Hopefully I don''t run into another jerk in this stupid- "Hm? Guys look" "At wha-oh! Hey Akio, isn''t that-?" "Hahaha! Well, if isn''t our Clan head''s little embarrassment. Been well little cousin?" "..." That''s just my crappy luck, three of my cousins I''d sell for a garden hose bump into me when I''m in no mood to talk with anyone. This friggin day! "What? Not even a hi? How have you been? Nothing for your dear cousins?" "Hey guys..." "Hmph!" "That''s it? Just, Hey guys? Your manners haven''t improved at all, a shame for being heir to the...current Clan Head" "What are the two of us? Thin air?" You have no idea how much I wish it were so Most of my cousins are somewhat tolerable, but these two...the thin one with brown slicked-back hair and creepy squinty eyes is Souta. The big, bald muscle head to his left, with a face that makes you want to know the exact number of brain cells left in his head is Hiroto "I''ll give you a chance to start over with a proper greeting" Ugh! Some idiot, presumably his father, instilled Souta with the belief he''s always the smartest guy in the room. In reality, he''s a spoiled, annoying prick/grammar whore who can''t stop correcting the speech of others "Sorry cousins. I''d love to stay, but I''ve things to do. So I''m gonna bolt" "I have to go is what you mean" "..." See what I mean?! This pretentious ass just can''t help himself! "Come on! We just returned from our duties on the border. Stay a while, let''s reminisce like old times!" "Honestly, must you be so loud Hiroto? My eardrums ring every time you speak" "Bah! You''re too delicate Souta!" "Reminisce" huh? The Yotsuki Clan isn''t just famous for its loyalty to the village, but its Kenjutsu6Sword Techniques. When we were younger, Hiroto would drag me into the clan dojo and "instructed" me on the ways of the sword I was pretty much a test dummy whenever my parents were away. Akio and Souta would also jump in occasionally to, "help out". And their shitty parents only encouraged it, a means of suppressing the competition But I never worried about him, nor Souta. An overconfident moron, and the other with a brain filled with nothing but swords, muscles, and meat...both of them are far too stupid to be a threat Rei met these two during a visit once. For the entire time, he referred to them as Nimrod #1 & #2, Hehehe! "Enough you two" "Ah!" "Sorry Aniki7Honorable term for elder brother or superior" He finally spoke. The pretty boy in the center with long, black hair, no wasted movement, and eyes that never miss a beat The one, the only one of my cousins that makes my skin crawl is... "Please little cousin, stay. I would like to speak with you. Rumors of Team Tango have reached even my ears" "!" "Oh-hoh!" "Aniki is expressing interest. How rare" "Let''s catch up, Tai" Akio...I knew coming here today was a bad idea 149. The Hard Decision MrProper And in that nanosecond of hype, I gained the strength to finish this chapter early. So, here it is. I''m gonna sleep forever now. Enjoy the chapter Hzuki-j1Demon Lantern Castle "Only when I''m finally about to leave this place do I remember how large it is" "Mm. Still hard to believe you put up with this for as long as you did Balance" I could say the same of you, miss mad scientist. When it comes to research, I doubt even laying in a heaping pile of shit is beneath you Then again, the same is true for Three when it comes to money...and Arc has unfortunately picked up this undesirable trait "Ky''s explosion sure made a mess" "What''d you expect. Mura''s office was in the tallest tower, an explosion of that magnitude would easily send debris everywhere" "Even if they''re still alive in there, we''re gonna have to move all this metal crap to get inside the ward" "I''ve got it" "Eh?" TAP! "Haaah..." Why are you putting your hand on the-? ZIZZ! "?!" "This isn''t much for us to worry about" How the f**k-?! The metal is melting?! ZIZZLE! No...no, that''s not...it''s disintegrating? This isn''t something like a Yton2Lava Styleor Futton3Vapour Style. Hell, I''m pretty sure it''s not even a nature transformation, but a result of her "experiments" But how the hell is she doing that...? "Let''s go, they''re just up ahead" "...Right" CLINK! CLINK! As our footsteps resounded along the metal flooring, the memories of this place I didn''t want to recall are coming right back to me The solitary confinement ward...I never liked coming to this area during my tenure here. It wasn''t the eerie vibe, the darkness, or even the putrid smell that bothered me It was the idea... "Just over here Balance" "Mm..." The idea of my brother and I imprisoned like this, wasting away our precious years...our lives. Both of us have done time before, and after experiencing it once, desire to never go through it again "Wait a sec, these guys are-?!" "Because Kumo couldn''t get anything out of them, it was easy for Brother Flow to transfer this group to the prison" "Ahahaha! Nice!" "I normally don''t believe in second chances. However..." "Yeah, I get you. The more the merrier, right?" "Mm. I doubt you need me for anything else, so I''ll take my leave. Have fun, Balance" It''s been around five years since I''ve laid eyes on this group of idiots. Normally I''d let them rot here for their past failure, but they were the first mercenary band my brother and I hired You always have a soft spot for your first... CLINK! CLINK! "Huh?!" "Who''s there?!" "Alright! Listen up assholes, it''s time for an early parole!" "Wha-?!" "Who are you?!" "I''m the one who''s giving you a chance at freedom, but it doesn''t come without cost! You''re at a crossroads, and it''s probably the only chance you''ll get to avoid a shitty life!" "?!" "Wait a sec..." "Hm? Ohhh...you''re here too. Perfect!" "I know that voice..." "Hey Itsuki! Like time no see...though ya can''t see me behind this giant metal door" "BALANCE! YOU...!" No matter happens from now on... "Can''t believe the maniac with a the flaming sword got his ass handed to him by-!" "You son of a bitch! That mission...wasn''t as simple as you led us to believe! You set me, ALL of us up!" "You''re the leader man, it''s your job to prepare for unexpected variables. Also, I''m glad you didn''t talk. Though, you''d obviously be dead if you did" "...I know you''re not as petty as your brother. I take it you''ve got a job for me and my group?" "You guys will participate in a teensy little operation against the village who put you through such heartache. Succeed, and you''ll walk away with more power, money, and freedom than you''ve ever had" No matter what I or my brother do... "You really expect us to believe you can give us that? What happened to warden?" "First, I don''t give a shit what you believe, this is a take it or leave it offer. Second, the warden and his men are dead...mostly" "You''d think we''d leave with you? Someone we can''t trust?" "Why the f**k would you willingly stay in this dump?" "..." No one... "Let''s stop wasting time pretending you''re not gonna say yes. There''s no negotiating, no bargaining...I either leave you to rot in here, or I release you and in return-" "We do this job for you..." "And the only rule you have to follow for a short time is to do whatever I say" "Whatever you say...there had better be a f**cking time limit to that" "I just said for a short time dumbass..." And I mean no one... "It''s simple, you break this rule, you die slow...and painful. Everyone inside! Your leader has ten seconds to give me an answer before I leave!" "!" "Boss...there''s no choice to make" "Shut up! You don''t even know if we can trust him! It because we took a job from him and his brother that we''ve been in this mess to begin with!" "It''s worth the risk! Anything''s better than staying here! Do you think another opportunity like this will come along soon?!" "Boss! Can we even trust him?!" "Hell no! However, I don''t want to stay here any longer. Do you?" "..." "Plus, if he really has killed the staff here, we''ll all starve to death before Kusagakure4Hidden Grass Villageeven realizes what happened" "T-That''s..." "We accept, Balance" Will ever... "Congratulations. Your worthless lives now have...some worth" "Condescending little shit..." CLACK! SHINK! "The doors, he really did open them..." "We''re finally out...! "The prison is a mess, maybe the warden really is dead...!" "What''s next, Balance?" "Glad you''re on board Itsuki. You and your merry band of misfits will follow me first and-" "Don''t call us that" "!" "Even we have our pride" Take from us again! "Heh! Fair enough. Please follow me..." "..." "Oni Garrison..." ??? The Land of Lightning SHINK! FWIP! "GAH!" "UHAGG!" "Wh-Who are you people?!" Near the border of the Lightning country, the shinobi guards were under siege. These unknown assailants arrived at night, so quick and precise, nearly half of them were silenced before anyone knew what was happening "While I do not bare you, your clan, nor your village personal grievance...my people''s future comes before all else. Your deaths provide us...opportunity" "You''re killing us for something like-" SLICE! "Which is why I will ensure none of you feel a thing as you pass on to the next world..." THUD! The majority of men at this checkpoint had been killed. Two Kumo-nin hid behind debris of the now destroyed premise "Lieutenant, the captain''s dead! What do we-?!" "You return and report this to the Clan Head! Ganj-sama is sure to send reinforcements before the village can act!" "What about you?! You can''t expect me to leave you here and flee like a cowar-?!" "That''s exactly what you''re gonna do. I''ll buy you some time, now run...!" "Kuh! Damn it!" STEP! "Hey! You damn marauders!" "!" "I''ll show you what happens when-!" FWIP! ZWISH! "GAH!" "Wha-?!" Before he could even understand what just happened, the subordinate he just sent away was impaled from behind with a giant shuriken. The throwing star was thrown so inhumanly fast, he couldn''t even react as flew right past him "H-How? How can someone...?" "No witnesses...no survivors" "W-Wait...don''t I know-?" The leader of this assault stepped out of the shadows, into the moonlight, and his face became visible "That face...and those weapons..." "..." "You guys are members of the Fuma Cla-" FWIP! SHINK! "A-Ah..." "Make peace with your god" THUD! In an instant, the lieutenant was killed by the mysterious man. And a moment after, his fellow assailants gathered around him "Nobuyuki-sama. What of the rest?" "No witnesses...no survivors, just as our partners requested. However, the Yotsuki Clan has never wronged us, nor our ancestors . Make it quick and painless" "Sir!" ZWISH! Nobuyuki''s men vanished as quickly as they came. Seeking out any remaining shinobi to kill. The stoic leader stood in place as he gazed towards the direction of the country''s capital...Kumogakure Turning a deaf ear towards the screams of the slain... "Everlasting peace only lasts...until the next war" ??? Elsewhere "Damn it! We have to-!" "No!" CLUTCH! "Ugh! Le-Let me go. I need to help them!" "You need to shut up and do as I say!" Several meters away from the ongoing massacre, two battered Kumo-nin were hiding in secret "We barely survived that explosion in the prison! We''re in no condition to fight!" "You expect me to leave our comrades to die?!" "Yes!" "You''d abandon-!" SMACK! "Ooof!" He was punched to the ground by his colleague before he could protest anymore "You think I don''t feel the same as you? Right now, I''m fighting the urge to charge over there and help them" "Then why don''t we-?!" "Aside from the obvious con of dying pointlessly, I can look at the bigger picture. We''ve already lost so much...but we''ll lose a whole lot more if you and I don''t get to Kumogakure before the enemy does!" "Kuh! I-I know that...! I know that Damn it! F**K!" "We''ll have our chance at retribution, but our home comes first...the hard decision comes first" "..." "Now...are you with me?" The man offered his hand to the friend he just punched. The latter of whom, after hesitating, took it with much frustration "Let''s go" "Good. Because every second we waste means less time for our village to prepare. Things are going to be hard enough with Raikage-sama being away now" "I got it! Sheesh! Let''s move before you punch me again. Damn...you hit hard!" "Well..." A somber feeling enveloped them as they fled the scene. The cries of fellow comrades dying pierced wracked their hearts with guilt and grief Nevertheless, the pair continued onwards... "You''re pretty damn stubborn" 150. Tomoe Yotsuki MrProper Next Morning "YAWN!" "What was that? Are the kids wearing you out already?" "No. I can handle the little gang of brats" "They prefer being called Kumo''s Thundercloud Unit. Imagine, Kumogakure having a shinobi squad with such a goofy name! Hahaha!" "Heh! Don''t jinx it. It''s almost time for most of them to start at the Academy" Karui and Omoi only have a few months before they begin their first year "Not to mention, they''re living with you of all people. It''s obvious they''ll excel faster than their peers" "Fair enough, but you still haven''t answered my question" "It''s nothing, just spent all night training again..." SLAM! "?!" "I''ve told you time and again Suzu, that''s bad for your health..." Uh-oh...she''s mad "I promise I won''t do it again?" WHACK! "Agh!" "Don''t make promises you have no intention of keeping!" She usually so childish, I''d forgotten how strict she can be. Her light demeanor makes everyone forget about her past as a former ANBU captain Well, she''s only strict to the kids, me, and Tai...when it comes to Rei, she becomes completely unhinged and clingy "Hmm..." Speaking of which, where are those two anyway? We promised to meet here for the picnic today "I''m still not done cooking. I need you to help Karui and Omoi watch over the kids" "On it, I''m heading outside" "Thanks" CLICK! "DOGPILE!" "?!" "Agh! No! Absolutely not! No climbing! My back really hurts right now!" "Old man! Old man!" "The closet perv has no stamina, you''re lame!" "Who taught you those words?!" "That''s why you''ll never get a girlfriend!" "YOU BRATS! Stop saying that whenever you see me!" This isn''t what I expected to see once I opened the door... "I was beginning to think you''d forgotten about today" (Suzu) "Suzu-nee!" "H-Hey Suzu" "Eh?! Tai. You...!" (Suzu) "H-Haha..." (Tai) Just as I was relieved he finally showed up for today, my feelings took a sour turn at the sight his face, bearing gauze bandages on both cheeks. Along with a thin wrap around his left wrist His clothes are ruffled as well... "Karui, Omoi, please take the kids, I need to talk to Tai" (Suzu) "S-Sure..." {Uh-oh...she looks mad. Did Tai-nii do something to anger her? Is she gonna kill him? Then get arrested, sent to jail?! Then Mariko-neesan would bust her out, and inevitably force us all to live a life on run?!} (Omoi) "Come on guys, you can play over there, Mariko-neesan''s almost done cooking!" (Karui) "Awww!" "Fine" Now that the kids are gone... "Okay...you. Spill. Now." "It just a few scrapes, don''t worry" "I can tell. What I want to know is how you got them" It must have something to do with- "Is it related to your clan?" "Sigh. I went home to see my dad" Knew it "And?" "Our meeting went as well as I''d thought it go. On my way out, I ran into some of my cousins. That''s when things...escalated" ??? Last night CLACK! "SEIAA!!!" "U-Urgh!" "You''ll never beat me with such sloppy footwork!" After being dragged into the family dojo by my three cousins. Souta and Hiroto happily watched from the sidelines while Akio "instructed" me like usual Further resistance only meant more pushback from them, so I decided to just "take the plunge" and endure it. If I took a few hits, he''d eventually get bored and leave like always "Here comes the next one!" "Sigh" Akio''s skill in Kenjutsu1Sword Techniqueswas more proficient than ever. Plus, it was while since I practiced with bokken2Wooden sword used for practicing Kenjutsu However... ZWISH! "Ah?!" "He almost got you, Akio" "What are you doing Aniki? Get serious!" TAK! TAK! "Tsk!" {Quit prancing around you little-!} I improved as well, far beyond either of our expectations. Thanks to the training we''ve undergone over the last year, my Taijutsu has improved by leaps and bounds The sword strikes that were practically invisible to me when I was younger, I could actually dodge now "Hmph! YAH!" {Geez, just let me go home already...} But Akio just wouldn''t let me go without hitting me at least once. His pride could never accept the fact I''d grown so much stronger this quickly "...Heh!" "Kuh! You...!" His usual calm demeanor began breaking down in frustration, something that almost never happened. Unlike the others, Akio was always the sharp one, never loosing his calm Many in the clan believed he''d be the likely candidate to win our "Selection" "Is that all, Akio?" "Hmph!" I''ll admit, seeing him like this put a smile on my face. I actually started fighting back, no longer sticking to defense. As more time passed, an idea blossomed in my mind... {Maybe I can beat him now...} "..." ZIP! {I got behind him! Now I''ll-!} "Oh Hiroto, here it comes..." "Yup, it''s over for the little brat" Yeah... "Ssuuu..." "H-Hm?" "Kukuku!" "I love this part..." That was a real, na?ve...if not outright stupid idea... "Kumo-ry: Uragiri3Cloud Style: Back Slice...!" ZZUUUUUWWIIIP!!! "U-Uhack!" "Aaaaand, it''s over..." THUD! Before I knew, my ass was on the floor {I thought I had the edge, but it was all just a trap. He spun around on purpose, leading me in to attack from behind so he could counter} "And here''s the final blow, Tai" "Uh!?" BAMF! {He''s already moving in for another hit! Crap, I can''t-!} CLAP! CLAP! "?!" "Eh?!" "Will you lot settle down?" Just as Akio was about to knock me into a coma, the sudden appearance of the Clan Head''s wife stopped everyone in their place That''s right, my mother showed up {Damn it, why''d she have to intervene now? I was this close to putting this brat in his place!} "People are trying to sleep. It''s far too late at night to be doing this" Her subtle voice was a contradicting mix of soothing calm and absolute authority. All eyes focused on her. Then again, anyone else would do the same when gazing upon a woman in such a beautiful kimono, looking young enough to be my older sister "What brought this on?" "Apologies for the disturbance, Tomoe-sama. We cousins hadn''t see each other in quite a while and thought it''d be nice to exchange a few pointers" (Akio) "Is that right?" (Tomoe) "As the older cousin, I have an obligation to teach my younger family" (Akio) "Teach is it? It''s a nice sentiment, but..." (Tomoe) "Hm?" {What''s she pointing at-?!} (Akio) {What the hell?! Impossible!} (Souta) {Tai, he actually managed to...!} (Hiroto) "It''s not just my son that''s lacking" (Tomoe) "Haaa...haaa...!" {Got ya...} (Tai) {He cut me...the instant before I struck?!} (Akio) "Right near the neck, if you had been using real blades..." (Tomoe) "..." (Akio) "I think it''s admirable of you, wanting to help your fellow peers. However, all of you have a long way to go before you''re even remotely qualified to instruct another in the ways of the sword" (Tomoe) "U-Ugh! Please...excuse us for the night" (Akio) "Aniki..." (Hiroto) "Come on Hiroto, we''re done here" (Souta) I''ll be honest, having your mom save your ass, in this kind of situation...you can''t imagine anything more humiliating. But seeing her put those jerks in their place made me happy Despite her gentle appearance, she''s earned herself a reputation. There''s no one in the clan foolish enough to provoke her SLIDE! "I almost forgot to tell you" (Tomoe) "?" (Akio, Hiroto, & Souta) "Unlike you three, who''ve had years of study and practice, Tai has only recently picked up the sword. His daily profession is being a Medical-nin" (Tomoe) "?!" (Akio) "Eh?!" (Souta) {What?! That pipsqueak is...!} (Hiroto) "Being struck so close to the head, by one of such profession...it''d be best if you stuck to your own training, rather than worry about others. Do you understand?" (Tomoe) "GULP!" (Hiroto) {She hasn''t even turned around yet, I can''t stop shaking!} (Souta) "I''ll take that...under consideration...Tomoe...-sama" (Akio) SLIDE! I swear, that moment before he closed the sliding door, I could hear his blood pressure rising. I had to fight from smiling "..." "Umm...mom?" "That was a sorry display" "I know, my Kenjutsu needs some work, but I''m-!" "I wasn''t talking about your proficiency with the blade, your current rate of progress is more than adequate" "Then...what''s the problem?" "Near the end, you let your ego get to you. That counter was timed correctly, but Akio still struck you. On the battlefield, arrogance leads to death" Mother was far more tolerable than dad. Every criticism she gave was constructive, a means of helping me improve. And though she hid it, I knew she cared about my well being However, it wouldn''t hurt if she cared just a tad bit more, maybe she would''ve intervened earlier "Okay then! It''s settled!" "Huh?" "Instead of those three, hm...how did Rei-chan put it the last time he was here?" "Nimrods?" "Exactly, instead of those nimrods, it''s best you seek instruction elsewhere. Goodness, that child always makes me smile. You should bring him here more!" "Mom..." Seriously! Why the hell is that guy so popular with older women?! Even my mother?! I CANNOT let him come to my home anymore! Sorry, getting off track. Akio didn''t hurt me much, the real reason I got these marks is from... "It''s best if you train under me instead. Here, pick up your bokken, I''ll take this one" "We''re gonna train right now?!" "Of course, I can''t have my own son fighting so sloppy in the future" Ya see, most of the time, my mom is stoic, calm, and cool. But there are times when enthusiasm takes over. Those moments being her times in battle, training me...and Rei "You may leave with a few bruises, but you''re a Medical-nin, so there''s nothing to fret over" "That''s not how it-!" "Do your best not to get knocked out son!" "That won''t happen if you just take it easy on me!" {Or better yet, let''s not do this at all!} "Then there''d be no point to this, silly" Just when I thought I was free from a beating, she dashed my hopes entirely. With a smile as bright as the sun, mom came swinging at me violently "Get ready Tai!" "Oh crap!!" "SEI!!" This was just another reason why I don''t like visiting home... 151. Lull MrProper Present Time "And that''s what happened, Akio only got me once. All these other marks are from my mother''s instruction" "..." "What?" "You kind of went off the rails towards the end. Specifically, when Rei was mentioned" "So you understand then?! How abnormally popular he is, with women especially?!" "Not really. Rei is just Rei to me?" "DAMN IT!! AM I THE ONLY ONE WHO SEES IT?!" Mariko may spoil him a bit, but that''s just her TAK! "See what?" "Whoa?! Don''t just land right in front of me like that!" And the one in question finally showed up "What''s with all the bruises? Did your mom kick your ass again?" (Rei) "Don''t put it like that!" (Tai) "I thought you were gonna ask why he was yelling" (Suzu) "Nah, he always being weird about something. I just tune it out most of the time. Hey pincushion, tell your mom I said hi" (Rei) "Not a chance in hell! Damn pretty boy!" (Tai) "That''s fine, I''ll just say hi in person" (Rei) "Nnnngghh!!!" (Tai) I see that smirk, Rei "What happened to you? You look pretty roughed up yourself" (Suzu) "Oh, this? Nah, I was just doing some extra training" (Rei) Overnight training. Bird of feather really do flock together "Along with some side projects I''ve been working on" {One my "Pets" is ready for a...test run} (Rei) "Oh? That raises an eyebrow" (Tai) "The only thing my curiosity is fixed on is resting at your hip" (Rei) "Hm?" (Tai) Nice way to change the subject, mysterious as ever. What''s he looking at anyway...oh. That small blade on Tai''s hip "Ah, you mean this?" (Tai) "You suddenly started using Kenjutsu1Sword Techniqueson that last mission of ours, of course I was curious" (Rei) "I''ve been wondering about that as well" (Suzu) KASHINK! "Here, take a good look at it" (Tai) Oh my...wow... "I may not be a swords expert, but even I can tell this is premium quality" (Suzu) "Is it a...what''s the word? Tanto2Short Sword? Like the kind Samui-nee uses?" (Rei) Speaking of her, where is she? Samui-san and Yugito-sama should''ve been here already. I hope something hasn''t come up, the kids were really looking forward to today "No, it''s a Wakizashi3Side Sword...part of a matching set. Mom gave me this" (Tai) "Asking the obvious, where''s the other half?" (Rei) "It''s an old family tradition. When a child of my clan progresses, he or she is given two swords. First, from the mother, a Wakizashi. Later, from the father, a Katana. The first blade is to signify the start of the journey" (Tai) "To become a swordsman?" (Suzu) "No. To become an adult" (Tai) "Which means the Katana is meant to signify the end?" (Rei) "Not quite. After you''re awarded a second blade, you must continue to hone your skills. Only when proper harmony between the two blades is achieved are you considered an elder of the clan. That''s when you''re allowed to be apart of Clan meetings, when your voice has sway...when you have true authority" (Tai) "Everything''s starting to make sense now. And as for that second blade..." (Rei) "Yeah..." (Tai) Now I get it. The reason he''s been so down lately is due to the rocky relationship between him and his father. Can''t say that I blame him I doubt Ganj will be giving him a sword anytime soon "That''s crazy, an entire clan full of dual wielding adults" (Rei) "That would be crazy, if everyone was. The blades are typically ceremonial in nature, decorative. Many of my clan just place them on pedestals. Sticking to their own fighting styles" (Tai) Right, at the end of the day, we''re all ninja "However, my parents value this tradition the most. This blade mom left me isn''t just for looks, it''s very special. Made with materials hailing from the Samurai country...The Land of Iron itself" (Tai) "Materials...so it''s a chakra blade then?" (Rei) "Yup. It absorbs and adapts to my chakra like a sponge. Chakra Flow is so easy with it" (Tai) Just like the training bracelets Tango-sensei gave us "This blade is expensive, and my mother made it herself. Though I never liked wielding the sword, I couldn''t just disregard the effort she made to help me" (Tai) "That''s why, after all this time, you''ve begun practicing Kenjutsu" (Suzu) "Bingo" (Tai) {The Land of Iron, going there would help my studies in the relations between matter and chakra. Since I can''t visit another tsutsuki dimension yet, it could give me a much needed boost in my Ninja Tech research} (Rei) "Phew!" (Tai) "!" (Suzu) "No worries. I haven''t even mastered the first blade yet, the second is a long ways off" (Tai) {My research from last night, when it comes to the tech created by Amado for Isshiki, the same conclusion kept coming up. Passing up such power would be a huge waste} (Rei) "That''s a nice way to look at things" (Suzu) "Right? Who knows, I''m actually starting to get the hang of it. Swordsman might be in my future after all" (Tai) "It certainly wouldn''t hurt" (Suzu) "Come on, let''s get back to others, we''ve a picnic to prepare. I know you must hungry right now, Rei. Rei?" (Tai) {Especially now that Isshiki''s cells are almost done overriding "Rei''s". It''s only a matter of time before this body undergoes another "Reset". I need to prepare for the Chunin Exams. There''s also the Black Scroll''s third lock...} (Rei) "Rei!" (Tai) "Hm? You say something?" (Rei) "Aren''t you hungry?" (Suzu) "More like, when is he not hungry? Let''s go man, this little backyard picnic isn''t going start on its own" (Tai) "Heh, true" {There''s a lot on my plate, but I''ll focus on it after I''m done with this. Speaking of today, wasn''t nee-san coming as well? Where is she?} (Rei) ??? Kumogakure''s Intelligence Division After Tetsuo, and his chief of security Sh spent the night in Dodai''s lab, the former went to work finalizing the generator needed for the "Network" His engineers, along with aid from Tenga helped speed things up "Boss, how''s it looking?" (Sh) "We''re pretty much done, all that''s needed now is Tango-kun at the center" (Tetsuo) CLINK! As the calibration continued, Dodai entered the room after attending to other affairs "Tenga-kun? You''re still here? Shouldn''t you be with-?" (Dodai) "I know, I''m Tekkan-san''s bodyguard. He wanted me here, helping out Tetsuo-dono. No need to worry, things are covered in the Daimy''s Intelligence Bureau" (Tenga) "While the Daimy-sama isn''t here, his right hand is picking up the slack. That''s a relief" (Dodai) With the Daimy away, Tekkan was the leading authority for his office. This is the first time in years Tenga has been away from Tekkan for this long "We have instant communication between here and the bureau thanks to the installed transmission screens. However, they might as well be ancient compared to what we''re making now" (Tenga) SPARK! SPARK! "Plus they can only be used a few times a day! {Phew! It''s finally hooked up} (Tetsuo) "Tetsuo-dono! Are we finally ready to begin?" (Dodai) "We had to place men in various locations throughout the village. Picture them as nodes, connecting one after the other, supporting the overall link for the system" (Tetsuo) "His engineers are collaborating with your men. Once they''re in place, we can-" (Tenga) CLACK! CLACK! "?!" "Who doing that?! Don''t you know this is a private-!" (Dodai) "Dodai-sama! There''s been an incident! You must come with me now!" "Tango?! What are you-? Where have you been, we''ve been waiting for you!" (Tetsuo) "I''m sorry, there''s no time. Everyone, even you Tetsuo-dono, please come with me. Tekkan is already waiting for us" (Tango) ??? The Yotsuki Clan A married couple were sitting across from one another as they quietly sipped tea. The husband periodically glanced at his wife, seemingly waiting for something Tired of his hesitation, the wife broke the silence "What is it you want to say?" "I saw a blade on his hip last night, was that you?" "Who else could it have been? Is there a problem?" "He never acknowledged his participation in the Selection. But now that he''s accepted his first blade from you, others will start speculating..." CLAK! The wife placed her tea cup on the table and stared back at her husband. Clearly unamused at his statement "From what he told me last night, you''ve already decided he''ll have nothing to do with clan affairs. And now you''re whining to me about following tradition?" "Look...I wasn''t trying to be harsh, I only meant-" "Are you so embarrassed by him? Does your son bring you such shame?" "Stop twisting my words. You know how I feel better than anyone" "Yes, but he doesn''t. You''re quite terrible at expressing yourself, it''s your worst quality. Honestly, why can''t father and son be more open and honest with one another..." "He shouldn''t have to bear the bur-" SLIDE! The door to their room was violently swung open! Rushing in, a servant bowed before them "What is the meaning of this?" "Forgive this abrupt intrusion, but I must inform you...we''ve lost contact from one our Phases!" "?!" "How?!" "They''re gone Ganj-sama, Tomoe-sama" SLAM! The head of clan, Ganj, stood up after slamming his fist on the table, easily breaking it in half! "Which phase?!" "I-It''s, New Moon sir...all of it. The entire outermost line has gone dark!" "Husband...are we-?" "Yes, Tomoe. You! Relay my words to Kiyoi! Have the next section remain on standby. The second will retreat back to the first. And have them all prepare!" "With Raikage-sama and the Daimy-sama gone...I need to inform Dodai and discuss next steps. We may have to coordinate with Moroi" "Go, I''ll meet up with you later" "Be safe, Ganj" "Always" After Tomoe left, the servant presented a query to Ganj before leaving "Sir? What should I tell them to prepare for?" "Isn''t is obvious?" KASHINK! Ganj removed his favored sword, set on a shrine, placing it on his hip "For war" 152. Somber News MrProper I promise to continue my work while always striving to be better. No matter what anyone says or does to discourage me from doing otherwise. I hope you''re having a lovely week, and please enjoy the chapter! Kumogakure''s General Hospital "What in the hell-?!" "..." Tango had led Dodai and company to a heavily guarded hospital wing. All were met with the surprising sight of several familiar faces including Tekkan, Darui, Musai, F, and C What drew their full attention were the two patients C was tending to "My god...those wounds" (Tetsuo) "Ronri, Funsui...what happened?!" (Dodai) "U-Ugh, that voice. Is that you Dodai?" (Funsui) "What are talking about, of course it''s me-!" (Dodai) TAP! TAP! "Dodai...Funsui has lost all sight in his left eye, he''s still heavily disoriented" (Darui) "?!" (Dodai) "Allow me...haah...to explain" (Ronri) "Save your strength, just because I said you weren''t in the red doesn''t mean I''m done treating you" (C) "I''m fine. Sir, as you know, my squad was dispatched in secret to the Hzuki-j1Demon Lantern Castlein Kusagakure2Hidden Grass Village. Mainly, to keep the warden occupied while our leaders entered negotiation" (Ronri) {That''s right, I heard rumors Kusagakure was ending its incarceration services for the eastern villages} (Sh) "When we arrived, we were greeted with open arms. But something felt off, and Toroi-sama had me secretly investigate the prison only to discover a hidden facility built within" (Ronri) "What was inside?" (Dodai) "I wasn''t able to make it out...haaah...but it was clearly some form of human experimentation, enacted on the prisoners themselves" (Ronri) "Kusagakure was doing such things under our noses?!" (Dodai) "No. Whoever it was, they''re not affiliated with that village. This unknown group managed to secretly take control of the prison, for who knows how long" (Ronri) "How can you be sure?" (Tekkan) "Because the warden was under their control. Turned into a puppet via Genjutsu...and a bomb" (Ronri) "A bomb?! Does that mean-?!" (Musai) "He self-destructed right in front us, and in the process...urgh!" (Ronri) Knowing he had trouble, Musai finished for him. With a face devoid of all joy, he relayed the somber news... "Both Toroi-sama and my fath--Osoi...they''re dead" (Musai) THUD! Dodai slumped against the wall in shock once he heard this. Everyone present trembled, thinking of what this shocking ordeal meant...and what''s to come Toroi was a famous shinobi known by many in the village, and now said shinobi had been killed, a fact most had trouble coming to terms with "W-We only managed to survive due to being the furthest away from the blast. The unknown group responsible...they took nearly every single criminal and left" (Ronri) "..." No one was else was speaking, so Tetsuo decided to interject "Is there anything else you can tell us?" (Tetsuo) "Y-Yes. The one who controlled the warden, I managed to get a glimpse at his face. He''s definitely a member of the Chinoike Clan" (Ronri) "The Chinoike...they''re back!" (F) "We''ve haven''t seen them since that incident with Team Mabui several years ago" (Darui) {Chinoike...incident?} (Tetsuo) "It wasn''t just them. After we made it across the border, we spotted a checkpoint of ours under attack" (Funsui) "I told you not to talk, you need to-" (C) "Please, let him finish" CREAK! Everyone was startled with the sudden appearance of Tai''s mother "Tomoe-sama. Since you''re here, I take it this checkpoint is...?" (F) "We passed a checkpoint operated by the Yotsuki under siege during the night. They came out of nowhere, emerging from the shadows, cutting down our comrades one after the other" (Ronri) "We...wanted to help. God, we wanted to but-!" (Funsui) A tear fell from Funsui''s right eye, recalling the gruesome moment he witnessed his allies dying. Overwhelmed with guilt for not doing anything about it Tomoe approached the injured man on the hospital bed, grasping his hand as she smiled "You''ve done well, choosing to relay this information for the good of the village. We Yotsuki pride ourselves on our duty as this country''s shield. There is nothing for you to fell ashamed about" (Tomoe) "Yes...thank you Tomoe-sama" (Funsui) Seeing his longtime friend in such an emotionally fragile state, Ronri couldn''t help but feel sad. Trying to focus, he continued his story "The ones responsible for this, it''s the Fma clan, working at the behest of someone else. Likely the same unknown individuals responsible the prison break" (Ronri) "That hidden branch of the Fma again! The ones who worked with the Chinoike before...this was a coordinated attack. Which means-!" (Tango) "Ah!" (Tekkan) "Yes, we can assume the news of Kusagakure ending its service in the east was a lie. A means of luring Raikage-sama and the Daimy-sama out of the village and country" (Dodai) "Impossible. That intel came straight from-!" (Tekkan) Tekkan couldn''t believe it. The intel detailing Kusagakure''s supposed plans came from one of the Daimy''s most trusted sources. Everyone was thinking the same thing. This news implied one of two things... They were either betrayed, or this unknown group had far more influence and power than no one present cared to believe "What about the boss?!" (Darui) "You honestly think Raikage-sama is in danger?" (C) "We can''t be sure!" (Darui) "Darui. There''s no way..." (C) {He''s alright. He''s the Raikage. Nothing can...} (Dodai) "One more thing. The one leading the Fma...it''s Nobuyuki the Brave" (Ronri) "Nobuyuki Fma?! Impossible, countless people witnessed him being killed by the 3rd Tsuchikage''s3Earth ShadowJinton4Particle Styleduring the 3rd Shinobi World War!" (F) "I know, but I heard them talk...and I''d recognize his face anywhere. That infamous terrorist was notorious for mass casualties" (Ronri) {Even he''s involved with this?!} (Dodai) "Un. Real." (Darui) After relaying everything he knew, C laid him down and ordered him to rest. Tomoe got out the way and let the Medical-nin do his job, facing everyone else "I''ve also come to inform you that the Crescent has fallen. My husband has already moved out. I''m here to coordinate with you" (Tomoe) "Already?! Then this means-!" (Dodai) "Yes, Ganj has already come to the same conclusion" (Tomoe) "No..." (Dodai) "Kumogakure is under siege" (Tomoe) The whole room went quiet, most present were in denial. The one thing none had wanted to experience again had returned War was upon them... "..." (Dodai) "Um, if all the prisoners were taken...does that mean...this unknown enemy plans to..." (Tetsuo) "Yes, it stands to reason they''re planning to attack with a force comprised not only of the Chinoike and Fma, but incarcerated mercenaries, rogue-nin, terrorists, and other criminals of differing variety" (Tomoe) "A makeshift army..." (Tango) "Hailing from almost every shinobi nation in the world..." (F) "My God...is this really happening?" (Tekkan) "I feel like I''m stuck in a dream...or nightmare" (Darui) "Then you better wake the hell up, because we''ve got work to do" (Tango) C raised his hand "How do we even know they''ll be able to command such a callous force? One hastily put together at the last minute" (C) "One, we don''t even know how long they''ve been in the prison. They could''ve been planning this for years...whoever they are. Two, after everything that''s happened, you really want to take that chance?" (Tango) "..." (C) "Not to mention, our leaders aren''t here" (F) "Speaking of that Dodai, with the Daimy-sama and Raikage-sama gone, you''re now the leading authority for Kumogakure" (Tomoe) "So it''s come to this..." (Dodai) "What our move senpai?" (Tango) "Haaaaa..." (Dodai) SLAP! SLAP! Dodai popped his own cheeks before gathering his resolve "F! Escort Tetsuo-dono back to the lab. Raikage-sama relocated my division closer to the government office for better coordination. It''s one of the most secured locations in the village, we can use it for a headquarters" (Dodai) "Yes sir! Tetsuo-dono, Sh-dono, please come with me" (F) "O-Of course!" {Is this really happening?!} (Tetsuo) "Tango! Go with them, Tetsuo''s gonna need you for the project" (Dodai) "Figures. This is gonna be one hell of a test run!" (Tango) CREAK! "C, stay at the hospital. I have a feeling the capacity is gonna increase!" (Dodai) "I know where I''m needed. I''ll arrange for staff to prepare. We''ll also need to tighten security around the building!" (C) "Darui!" (Dodai) "I''ll handle it!" (Darui) "Musai! Send the call. I want every available shinobi at headquarters to begin coordinating our next move" (Dodai) "Sniff! Yes sir!" (Musai) "Remember! Headquarters is at my division!" (Dodai) "Dodai-dono..." (Tekkan) "Tekkan-dono, return to the Daimy Intelligence Bureau. It''s heavily guarded, and a perfect place for you to remain safe. Please try to get into contact with the Daimy-sama if you can. Tenga! Does Tetsuo still need you?" (Dodai) "No, we''ve finished our work. He can take things from here" (Tenga) "Then stay with Tekkan and resume your original duties" (Dodai) "Right. Let''s go Tekkan-san" (Tenga) "Yes!" (Tekkan) The group exited the room, leaving C to his patients "Tomoe-sama, please come with me. I''ll have Moroi called in as well" (Dodai) "I was just about to suggest that" (Tomoe) "We''ll begin first steps at my Intelligence Division" (Dodai) 153. Give Thanks MrProper Enjoy the chapter everyone! Mariko''s Foster Home "HAH!" "EYAAHH!" "Less yelling, more fighting" SWSH! "O-Oof!" "Agh!" "At this rate, your stomachs are gonna be full on dirt than food" "Haaa...you''re too fast!" "Yeah! Rei-nii! Quit dodging!" "That''d defeat the whole point of this Karui" With Mariko almost done cooking, Suzu suggested Rei keep the kids entertained while she and Tai begin setting the table. Though reluctant at first, his interest was piqued when the eldest of the foster children, Karui and Omoi, asked to spar with him Rei knew these two were destined to be the apprentices of Killer B. Being characters from the original story, he naturally kept them under observation Obliging their request, they sparred as the other, much younger children watched in glee "Let''s go again!" (Karui) "Right!" (Omoi) Rei also wanted to test how strong he was. Especially after he underwent multiple sessions of draining the Ten-Tails chakra yesterday. His current chakra levels were higher than they''ve ever been, nearly reaching Jonin levels All in preparation to break the next lock on the Black Scroll. Now that his body''s rate of evolving was increasing, chakra control was even easier now He was fully confident he could the break the third lock {No issues so far...I feel like my capabilities have grown immensely. However...} (Rei) "Now!" (Karui) "Right!" (Omoi) ZWP! The pair unleashed a barrage of attacks from both sides, trying their best to knock Rei off balance. But the latter''s exceptional speed was too great for the soon-to-be academy students "Wrong..." (Rei) "Huh?" (Omoi & Karui) FWAP! With barely any effort, he flipped them on their respective backsides "...Again" (Rei) "Ah!" (Karui) "Ow!" (Omoi) The match was finished in barely over a minute, neither challenger landing a single blow on Rei. The other children crowded around the Genin, enlivened by his performance Rei gestured for them to sit, presenting a question for Karui and Omoi "Do you know what you did wrong?" (Rei) "Um...our teamwork?" (Omoi) "Tactics?" (Karui) "Nope. Your first mistake was made before that, challenging me. This might come off as a bit arrogant but, it was very na?ve to think you could beat ME of all people in Taijutsu" (Rei) "Sigh. I knew it from the start...you''re way too fast Rei-nii!" (Karui) "I could''ve sworn we saw afterimages" (Omoi) "What I mean is, you mustn''t run in blind. You have to think, calculate, anticipate, choose your battles wisely before engaging. Never rush in blind" (Rei) "Oh! Is this what you guys...um...that thing you always say?" (Omoi) "?" "Yup. Read between the lines" (Rei) Rei had all the children stand and line up before demonstrating some safe fighting moves to study and practice. Tai and Suzu observed from the side "Shouldn''t that be Tango-sensei''s line?" (Tai) "It''s a good one, meant to be shared" (Suzu) "True. And Rei seems as fit as ever" (Tai) "You think so?" (Suzu) "?" {What''s with her? Lookin so serious all of a sudden...} (Tai) {Forgetting Lava, even his Earth is...} (Suzu) Suzu recalled their previous sparring match with Toroi, along with the latter''s ambiguous comment towards Rei''s supposed Yton1Lava Style. She noticed his proficiency with said power had not only failed to improve in the past year, but even began to decline Rei was still hiding the fact his body was now more alien than ever. His "tsutsuki" DNA violently reacting every time he used his In''yton2Yin-Yang/Shadow & Light Style-focused ability, Kisshten3Auspicious Heavens "Tai, has Rei''s fighting style...changed?" (Suzu) "Hmmm. More like, he regressed rather than progressed?" (Tai) "What?" (Suzu) "Oh right, you don''t know since we never interacted much in school. During our early days, Rei had trouble accessing any of the five basic nature transformations. It''s why he''s so Taijutsu focused" (Tai) "Also skilled in Genjutsu as well" (Suzu) "True. True. His connection with Inton4Yin/Shadow Styleis potent, and with no element at his fingertips, he needed an edge. But that all changed when he suddenly demonstrated the ability to use Fire" (Tai) "Right, his mother''s ancestry" (Suzu) "Rei told me a while ago that he''s decided to, go back to basics. Since he always excels it''s hard to tell, but I think he''s realized since gaining an element, he''s neglected his other skills" (Tai) "Hmm. Maybe..." (Suzu) "Now that I think about it, he told me his plans only days after our mission on Summoning Island" (Tai) "..." (Suzu) Unbeknownst to them, Rei''s enhanced hearing picked up nearly every word they uttered {It''s getting harder and harder to hide what''s really going on with me, and they''re not getting any duller} (Rei) Unlike his Katon5Fire Styleand Suiton6Water Style, Rei''s Doton7Earth Stylewas nurtured from his human chakra. After his body "reset" from his first reaction during Team Mabui''s rescue, he retrained the two elements to new levels However his Earth, along with Lava, originated from "Rei''s" chakra and cells. Both of which were being replaced by his alien side, hence their decline But losing a nature transformation was unheard of. People might even begin investigations into him, which was the last thing he wanted. His current dilemma, conjuring up an excuse for when the inevitable came, was quite the headache. Even his own team is beginning to notice...and he''s running out of excuses CLINK! "Okay! Let''s start!" "Mariko-san, we''re good?" (Suzu) "Yeah, come inside and give me a hand. The rest of you, take your seats!" (Mariko) "Alright! I''m starving!" "This is gonna be great!" "Rei-nii! Rei-nii! Sit next to me!" "No me!" CLINK! While Tai and Rei kept watch over the children in the backyard, Suzu reentered the house to see Mariko taking pots of hot food off the stove "Suzu, take out those bowls and plates for me. Let''s fill them up" "What happened to the small hibachi8Traditional heating device for foodyou always used?" "Broken, a long time ago. We''re not exactly swimming in money" "Right. Orphanage..." "And that was years ago! When you were living with us. I''m surprised you can remember, you were still just a baby back then" "Feels like yesterday to me..." Suzu was orphaned at an early age. The girl, too young to take care of herself, was placed under Mariko''s care. But once the girl entered the academy, she was legally allowed to stay at her family home "I still think it was too soon for you leave. Yes, your home''s been remodeled thanks to Mori Sp., but my doors are still open" "More like, thanks to you, the kids, and my team" "Hehe, plenty to be thankful for. I''m happy you''ve found a good team...no...a good family" "You''ll always be my family Mariko, I''ve just added some new members to it" "Wow. You trying to make me cry? It was hard to imagine you''d let anyone get so close to you. To show such concern for others besides us...it brings a smile to my face" "Gratitude. That''s all there is to it. I''ve been blessed to receive friends able to look past my heinous family origins, to see me for who I truly am. If it means keeping them safe...there''s no price I wouldn''t pay" THUMP! THUMP! The back door was opened "You guys done, because I don''t think I can keep them from waiting any longer. They''re all, Rei especially, super hungry right now" (Tai) "Pffft! Okay, we''re coming!" (Mariko) "Right behind you" (Suzu) "Something good happen? That''s a nice grin on your face" (Tai) "Hehe! Maybe..." (Suzu) Suzu and Mariko went to work placing the food and everyone sat impatiently around the table. Just as they were about to eat, Mariko requested everyone to clap their hands together Closing her eyes as she offered a prayer "Ancestors, we thank you for this plentiful bounty, we thank you for our health, we thank you for our freedom and joy. Please continue to watch over not only our family, but all who are in need of more love and blessings in their lives. Help us keep our hearts pure and humble, and renew our spirits with vigor. May all feel what we are so lucky to today" (Mariko) "Itadakimasu!" (Everyone) "Let''s eat!" (Mariko) ??? Another district in Kumogakure Calm. Serene...just how these meatbags like it "R...R..." This day is like any other, people tending to their own business. So nonchalant, so uncaring, so...ignorant "R...Re...Renn" It''s always astounding, all this time watching them, to see how quick they are to stagnate. To remain unchanged, quick to let others do the "changing" for them. Striving to improve, only a select few possess this drive "Ooo...vaatt..." Be it this world, or another, humans will have a million problems over their heads and still...! "Reno..aaationnn" They never act unless said problems directly affects them. It''s so amusing, every time I...we see it "vaa...ttiioooon" Oh! That''s it! That''s been the answer this whole time! "...tioo...ation" It''s so easy! That''s the key to getting people to do what you want. That''s how We can get him to do what we want! Especially now that he''s grown even more suspicious... "nooooo...vation..." All they...no...he really needs is a little... "RENNNNOOOVATIIIOOONNN!!!!!" BOOM! pUSh... MrProper Happy holidays everyone! 154. It Begins MrProper Please enjoy the chapter! Several minutes ago "Over here?!" "No! Not over there! IT HAS TO BE OVER THERE!" "Jeez! Be more specific!" "More like, use your damn brain!" RUSTLE! RUSTLE! The entirety of staff within Kumogakure''s Intelligence Division was in a frenzy. Just minutes after receiving news of an impending attack, Dodai immediately issued commands to his subordinates His team bolted around as they rearranged the facility to serve as a proper nerve center in preparation for the village''s counterattack "Where''s Dodai-sama?! I have a report!" "Back there! In the other room!" "Thanks!" Dodai was assuring Tetsuo and his bodyguard Sh of the situation, while also encouraging him to finish his work. Knowing their "project" would become a huge asset if it worked "It will work, I just need you to-!" "I''m sorry Dodai-dono, but you can''t guarantee me that. Even if the system, along with its extensions are operative, how exactly will you coordinate the initial process?" "Tango, he''ll direct the others" (Dodai) "You want our best pilot to set things up?! Without a pipeline back to the central hub...are you trying to fry his brain?! He''s still our best candidate for running this thing!" (Tetsuo) "I know it''s a lot to handle, especially without the Network''s help, but there''s no other option. We can''t just calmly set up the extensions in the middle of a warzone" (Dodai) "So you expect the enemy will breach the village?" (Sh) "...All scenarios are being considered, and the other staff will be preoccupied doing-" (Dodai) CLINK! "Dodai-sama!" "What?! I''m in the middle of something!" (Dodai) "Apologies sir! But Musai has sent out the call" "He''s faster than I expected" (Dodai) "It''s only a matter of time before this place is packed with shinobi, all of whom will be awaiting instruction. You''re needed in issuing orders" "Fine! Have every ninja that arrives remain in our main testing area. Tomoe-sama is already working with the others there, it''s our largest room anyway. I''ll brief everyone in a moment" (Dodai) "Sir!" "And call Tango, I''ve got a job for him!" (Dodai) CLINK! "Now where was I...ahem! Tango has been working for me ever since he became a Genin. I know his capabilities more than anyone else" (Dodai) "What you''re asking him to do...just pulling it off would be extremely stupendous" (Tetsuo) "Yes, yes it is. But I believe he can handle it" (Dodai) "...I-I''m sorry. I cannot, in good conscience condone this" (Tetsuo) "I figured as much, that''s why I like you Tetsuo-dono. Unlike your fellow businessmen, you have integrity. Which only makes this more difficult for me to say" (Dodai) "What?" (Tetsuo) "The village is most likely surrounded at the moment, and anyone who attempts to flee will probably be killed. Do you understand what I''m saying?" (Dodai) "Wha-?!" (Tetsuo) TAP! "!" (Tetsuo & Dodai) Sh placed one hand on the sword at his hip, glaring at Dodai as he spoke in a slow and chilling tone "Are you threatening my boss?" (Sh) "H-Hey! What are you doing Sh?!" (Tetsuo) "...I''m not threatening, merely stating a fact. I just received some new intel, things are far worse than they seem. Tekkan finally came through after contacting Kusagakure''s1Hidden Grass VillageDaimy via their broadcasting system" (Dodai) {Right. I forgot all the Daimy''s have a, albeit highly limited, system of communication for their use only} (Tetsuo) "..." (Sh) "How bad?" (Tetsuo) "It''s-" (Dodai) CLINK! "SIR!" "Oh, for crying out loud! What is it now?!" (Dodai) "There''s been an explosion-no, MULTIPLE explosions sighted in various locations around the village!" "?!" (Sh & Tetsuo) "How?! They couldn''t have breached our defenses, let alone, the village walls yet! Tomoe-sama would''ve informed me! Did the enemy plant bombs of some kind?!" (Dodai) "In a matter of speaking, yes. But the bombs are-!" Dodai instantly recalled the reports from Funsui and Ronri of their time in Hzuki-j2Demon Lantern Castle It took only a moment for him to realize what was happening "Damn Chinoike! To our very own citizens...HOW DARE YOU!" (Dodai) {Dodai...} (Tetsuo) "Exploding Humans..." ??? Mariko''s Orphanage "Hey, did you guys hear that?" "Hear what Rei-nii? I didn''t hear anything" "Don''t talk with your mouth full Karui. To answer that question Rei-chan, this place is located quite far from the central part of the village" "..." (Rei) You guys may not have been able to, but I certainly did. My enhanced hearing has been picking up some odd sounds over a minute ago. They almost sound like- [Hey, hate to interrupt your nice meal, but we have a problem. A "Ripple" has been detected] "?!" (Rei) Now?! What could possibly-?! [You can hear them right? Those sounds, they''re explosions. Our "sight" is limited when we''re not in "Support Mode", but "Lifelines" are a precious resource] Better whisper "Your point?" (Rei) [The point is, I can''t tell exactly why it''s happening right now. But you might wanna start moving now. The village is clearly under siege] KLANK! "?!" (Everyone) "Tai, Suzu, Mariko-nee...can I talk to you guys in private?" (Rei) "?" (Tai) {That look...something''s wrong} (Suzu) "...Sure. Everyone, keep eating" (Mariko) SHUP! This should be far enough away from the kids "What''s wrong?" (Suzu) "I want you all to stay calm and listen carefully to what I have to say. Can you do that for me?" (Rei) "Okay, now you''re making me nervous" (Tai) "This may be hard to believe but...right now, at this very moment, Kumogakure is being attacked" (Rei) "?!" (Tai & Suzu) "..." (Mariko) "Those sounds I started hearing a minute ago, they''re explosions. I suspect it''s only a matter of time before the call is initiated" (Rei) "HOW-! Um...how can you be sure?" (Tai) "Have you forgotten how good his senses are?" (Suzu) "Well, no...but-" (Tai) "We''ll know in the next minute if he''s right or not. But just in case, I''ll prep the children for travel to one of the evacuation centers" (Mariko) "You believe him just like that? Not to say I don''t trust you Rei but, are you absolutely sure?" (Tai) If Notitia isn''t jerking me around... "Rei?" (Suzu) "Honestly, I hope I''m wrong but-" (Rei) HRRRRNNNNNNGG!! "!" (Suzu) "Crap" (Tai) Agh! Forgot how loud that damn alarm is! "We better take the kids-!" (Suzu) "No, Suzu. I said I''ll do it" (Mariko) "Mariko-san!" (Suzu) "Unlike myself, you three haven''t retired as shinobi. You have your responsibilities to the village, mine are to these children. Our paths are split" (Mariko) "But-!" (Suzu) "We know where we have to go, but be careful nonetheless" (Rei) "Rei..." (Suzu) Though she''s very good at hiding it, I suspect Mariko-nee is stronger than all three of us combined. Suzu did mention her former job was being an ANBU captain She''ll have no trouble protecting the children as they evacuate "Thank you Rei-chan. But worry about yourselves first, I''ll be pretty mad if any of you don''t come back in one piece" (Mariko) "Yes, I''ll make sure nothing happens to them" (Suzu) "That''s a good attitude. OKAY everyone, you all heard alarm! You know what that means, and what we have to do! Our party will have to wait..." (Mariko) What a shame, I''m still kinda hungry. And that food was really good "Whoa. Whoa. You''ll be protecting the both of us? Since when did we become helpless kittens?" (Tai) "Well, you''re the medic, so I have to watch after you. As for Rei, we wouldn''t want Mariko-san freaking out" (Suzu) "Sigh...!" (Rei) Yeah, if I get so much as a scratch, Mariko will get even more clingy than she already is! "So what now?" (Tai) "You know the protocol, we convene at the Intelligence Division" (Suzu) "We may be able to find out what those explosions were. I still find it hard to believe any enemy could get this far, past our country''s defense" (Rei) Well...except for Akatsuki, Tobi, and Madara Uchiha. But even with a "Ripple", I doubt it''s them, especially this soon. I know for a fact Sanshuo no Hanz3Hanz of the Salamanderisn''t dead yet Only with his passing can Tobi''s pawn and Rinnegan4Sa?sra Eyewielder Nagato create Akatsuki "Maybe some spies got in? With all the defenses outside the village, it''s still hard to think a large force could..." (Suzu) "Yeah..." {Did something happen with my clan?} (Tai) Tobi''s associates are powerful, and the "Ripple" could be an early infiltration from their end, but again...its highly unlikely. The only ones I could think of that might be able to do this are that crazy immortal duo They captured Yugito in the original timeline at a much later date. Hidan and that bastard Kakuzu...wait, huh? Why am I so angry all of sudden when I thought about them? "We can''t see anything from here" (Suzu) "We''ll get answers when we arrive at our intended destination. Let''s go, I''ll take point" (Rei) "Right!" (Suzu & Tai) ZWSH! Haaaa...it never ends 155. No Good Deed… MrProper Intelligence Division "Wow, almost every shinobi in the village is here" "Yeah, I just wish they''d shut up. All the noise is giving me a headache" "Tai, Rei...look. Someone''s coming" CHATTER! "SETTLE DOWN! Dodai-sama has something to say!" Including Team Tango, the reigning majority of Kumogakure''s ninja had arrived within the facility, restless for the lack of answers. With the earlier explosions, many held foreboding thoughts of war. Others remained in denial, rejecting the possibility outright Only a few minutes had passed after the room was filled, and people were already yelling SLAM! Following the crashing sound of a door being violently opened, everyone went silent, Dodai had entered the room. Standing atop a podium with a face that practically screamed "stern", he addressed the large crowd of shinobi "I''m not going to mince my words. As of approximately 32 hours ago, Kumogakure has been under siege. We are now officially at war..." Just as the yelling was about resume, Dodai held out his hand to stop them. Elaborating on the situation, identifying the perpetrators behind this incident...the Chinoike and Fuma clans respectively "The Fuma? Suzu, Rei...didn''t we fight them during the Team Mabui rescue mission?" "Yeah, we did. Though I was knocked out for most of it. Oh! Rei, didn''t you say their partner was..." "The Chinoike...I confirmed who they were after my mission with Motoi a few years back" WHISTLE! "Dodai-sama! What of the explosions in the village?! Did the enemy manage to get inside already?!" "Sigh...The Chinoike have used their unique ability to manipulate blood, turning citizens into living, exploding humans" "How could they do that when they''re not even in the village?! Does this mean any of us could be a bomb?!" "Or any of our family and friends?!" Despite the expected, panicked reactions, Dodai demeanor remained undisturbed as he answered each question thrown his way "This awful ninjutsu appears to be Time-delayed in nature, only activating after a set period of time. Once the Genjutsu kicks in, the victim cuts their bodies, starting the technique. Blood flows out from the open wound and inflates the individual, until finally...they explode. At out evacuation centers, every individual is thoroughly inspected before allowed entry" "So that''s why we given a slight cut when we arrived here...glad I''m not a bomb" "Don''t worry Tai, if you were, I''d make sure to kick you away from Suzu and myself" "Dick" CLAP! CLAP! "We''ve confirmed reports indicating the only ones affected are our countrymen who originally dwelled from outside the village. The ones we let in after the recent influx of marauder attacks on our country''s southern border. I''m sure you''re all aware of what happened with the recent string of missions" "All that chaos at the Mission Assignment Desk yesterday..." "Plus F''s speculation, was it all just a..." {The southern border...the marauders who fled from the Land of Water...after the Kaguya Clan''s early destruction. Could this be the "Ripple"?!} "What are your thoughts? Rei?" {Someone or something caused them to rebel early, Kirigakure1Hidden Mist Villagewiped them out. As a result, prejudice towards Kekkei Genkai2Bloodline Limitusers reaches an all time high. The Kiri-nin begin a sweep of the entire country, forcing people with special powers, and criminals to flee. Most of them arriving to nearest country...us} "Rei, what''s wrong-?" "The Chinoike influenced the people who lost their homes in the countryside to those marauders before we took them in. Turning them into living bombs, who just strolled right through our gates...a trojan horse" "Eh?!" "Wait, are you insinuating this was all some plot to-?!" "No good deed..." "...Unbelievable" {I get the Chinoike holding a grudge against us, but what does the Fuma get out of this-hm?! MOM?!} CLINK! Much to Tai''s surprise, two more individuals entered the room, one of whom was none other than his very mother, Tomoe Yotsuki. "Isn''t that your mom Tai? What''s she doing here?" "I don''t recognize that guy behind her" A tall shinobi with light-brown hair and a bristling moustache strolled behind Tomoe. He had a peculiar overbite, with his front teeth being more noticeable than the rest. A red cape was tied behind his standard shinobi attire "That''s Moroi, he''s the captain of the Kumo Barrier Team. B-sama''s best friend Motoi used to work for him" "Barrier team...I thought your family handled security for the village" "Security for outside the village. Inside, various squads handle that. Moroi''s is one of them. His squad is stationed closest to the village walls. Thus, he often comes into contact with my family" {I remember now. Both Motoi & Moroi are eventually transferred to Genbu Island. To oversee the protection and confinement of the remaining Jinchriki from Madara and Akatsuki. Right before the upcoming 4th Shinobi World War} "So, he''s friends with your family?" "Not quite Suzu. The Yotsuki clan is very...um...proud with their duty. Typically, we don''t like receiving help from others when it comes to the protection of our country. This has caused others to claim we''re attempting to expand our influence and grasp more power" "Considering your clan controls all security outside the village..." "I know. I know. The result is obvious" "Tai, what do you really think?" "With my father on top, not a chance in hell. He''s VERY traditional, a power grab isn''t his style" "No wonder you''re so worried he might be replaced soon. The next head might have different ideas" "Thanks for the grim reminder Rei. Still, I''m genuinely surprised my mom is working with Moroi now. I wonder what they''re gonna say..." With grace, she joined Dodai on the podium. Having a notorious reputation as a swordswoman, along with being the wife of the Yotsuki Clan head, there were few Kumo-nin who didn''t know of her The shinobi once again grew restless with her presence, as everyone knew it meant something has happened with security on their borders After a light pause, she slowly split her beautiful red lips and broke the silence "Hello everyone, I wish we were here under better circumstances. Unfortunately, I''m here to inform you that as of an hour ago, the fourth phase, New Moon...has fallen" ??? Outside Kumogakure SLICE! "GAH!" "Bastard!" "How dare y-!" SHING! "Eh?" THUD! "H-His head is-!" Ganj Yotsuki, head of the Yotsuki Clan, and Tai''s father was maintaining a line of defense against the invading Fuma clan. Prior to his arrival, many present were in the process of being slaughtered by the enemies ruthless onslaught. PIERCE! "Damn...you...!" "Your death, is of your own design" "Heh! Uhack! I hope...Nobuyuki-sama...gives you the same message..." THUD! "Ganj-sama!" {Amazing, his sword strikes were so fast...they''re practically invisible!} "This section of the third phase is taken care of, what''s next?" "There''s more trouble near both ends of this phase, north and south. We believe the enemy has caught wind of your appearance and are attempting to divide your attention" "Makes sense, I can''t be in two places at once..." "Sir? " "I''ll head down south towards the coastline. That place is probably having the most trouble. You lot remain here and hold this position" DASH! "What of the northern side sir?!" "My wife will definitely handle it!" Several kilometers away, two masked figures had observed the entire ordeal "Well hot damn, I thought sister Blade was good with a sword but-" "As expected of the Yotsuki head, he can turn a human body into sashimi in a second" "By the way Balance, what''s your strategy for the others? Even if the Raikage isn''t here, there''s still the two Jinchriki" Balance pointed in a direction towards the village, or rather, past the village. But Mountain remained clueless as to what exactly he was specifying "The Raikage''s younger brother is currently at Unraiky3Valley of Clouds and Lightning. By the time he receives word of the attack, plus factoring in the distance between the village and there, we''ll have already achieved our objective" "And the other one?" "The blue cat is currently being entertained by the Chinoike on that giant turtle" "I thought the Chinoike infiltrated the village already?" "Some of them did, the rest were sent to keep the Two-tails occupied" Mountain remained skeptical. Despite its size, he knew Genbu island was notorious for being difficult to find, let alone breach. The behemoth of a man was also aware Balance came here directly from the prison, he had no opportunity to get a team on the island For this operation, he was tasked with selecting and clearing various paths from Kusagakure4Hidden Grass Villageto Kumogakure. Mountain kept track of everyone''s movements "Your expression makes you easy to read. To answer your question, I didn''t send them" "You didn''t? Then who could have...oh...ohhhh" "And I think he''s got it" "Hehe, your brother, I thought he wasn''t supposed to be on this mission?" Mountain said coyly For such an important step in the Company''s ambition, their leader Sage wouldn''t tolerate any deviation from the original plan. Mountain tried to vex Balance on the possibility he may be punished, but the latter didn''t seem to care "You know us, Arc and I have never been one for rules. Plus, he''s the best when it comes to infiltration by sea. He just dropped off the Chinoike and left, no one saw him" "Well, it''s welcome help" "Shit, if we''re gonna talk about deviation from our duties, why the hell are you here now? After getting us here, you were supposed to back up Blade. She is fighting the Raikage right now" "No problem Balance, there''s a reason she was picked over me and brother Scorpion to be the Company''s top enforcer. She won''t go down easy" It couldn''t be seen behind the mask, but Balance smiled as he realized something just now "But if she does, that gives you an opportunity to take her place, now doesn''t it?" "!" "Survival of the fittest", the Company was no exception towards this simple truth. Despite being allies, each member constantly sought to one up the other Mountain had already known Arc broke the rules by intervening in this mission, at his brother''s behest no doubt. He''d hoped it would give him leverage over the twins, but to avail But if that wasn''t upsetting enough, he now discerned it was mistake to meet Balance in person. As the clever spymaster not only worked out what he was planning, but gained leverage to be used against him "I''ll...leave you to it. Sister Blade needs my help" "Yeah, I''ll bet. Better hop to it then. It''s a looooong walk from here. Hehehe" "!" CLACK! Behind his mask, Mountain grit his teeth as he departed "Truly. There''s no honor amongst scoundrels" Balance removed his mask and placed a cigarette in his mouth before lighting it Fffffff! COUGH! "Trying to get the better of me? Only in your dreams...f**king meathead" 156. Goes Unpunished MrProper "New Moon was breached?!" "The Fourth Phase. Gone..." "That hasn''t happened since...how big of a force are we dealing with?!" "This can''t be just the Chinoike and Fuma...!" Unrest began to spread after Tomoe Yotsuki made her announcement. While the eldest mused over the ramifications, the majority of younger ninja were clueless as to what this news meant Never one to hide his curiosity, Rei asked the closet person who''d have answers "Hey Tai, what''s this New Moon thing your mom''s talking about?" "Sigh. My clan maintains four hidden layers of defense around the village, labeled after different phases of the moon. We''re called Yotsuki1Night Moonafter all" "I remember when you showed us your clan''s symbol. A giant moon with clouds in front of it" Suzu recalling the first time she invited them into her home "Mm. The four layers starting from the outermost one; New Moon, First Quarter, Third Quarter, Full Moon. The adults are freaking out because no one has managed to break through the New Moon since the 2nd Shinobi World War" "I''m gonna go out on a limb here and guess your clan didn''t name these layers of defense just because your surname has moon in it" "No Rei, it''s because of Kumogakure''s unique position. It''s a village built both within, and on top of mountains. The terrain amongst the northeast leading to Unraiky2Valley of Clouds and Lightningis so rocky and unstable, it makes building facilities and watch posts impossible" "Now I get it. Each layer of defense is not a full circle, there are gaps in some of them" "Now that you mention it, the order of phases seemed off. Third quarter is supposed to be after Full moon, not before" "This system of my clan was established long ago, when astronomy wasn''t a heavily explored subject. Our clan was formed on the day of a Lunar eclipse, and in the process, our ancestors got the order of the phases wrong. Heck, New Moon is supposed to be the first phase of the moon, yet it''s designated as the fourth" "The order is in reverse from the village" Suzu added "They''re mainly labeled for their shape. The closest and last layer of defense against invaders, Full moon. It''s the only layer that encompasses a complete circle of defense around the village. Due to the disorderly terrain, the others are broken circles, each resembling a different phase of the moon cycle" {This world is really on point when it comes to names, and how they define...well, everything} "Listen! We''re not done!" yelled Dodai as he continued to placate the crowd "I know it''s a lot to take in so suddenly, but as shinobi, this is your duty. My husband has already left to defend the First Quarter" Tomoe continued Dodai had his subordinates pull down a giant map of the village for everyone to see, conveying their current situation, along with reported enemy movements "Ganj-sama has already ordered all soldiers from Third Quarter to retreat back and reinforce Full Moon" "But First Quarter is stretched thin, and he can''t be everywhere at once. My husband is leading a set a troops down south to defend the coastline from any potential invasion by sea. There have already been reports of suspicious individuals in that direction" "That''s where you come in! Under no circumstances can we allow the enemy to breach Full Moon. Effective immediately, I''m ordering all Chnin and Jnin to combat the incoming force before they reach said phase" One of the many shinobi crowd rose his hand "Sir! What of the village itself? Isn''t it possible the Chinoike have infiltrated our walls, hidden amongst the countrymen we took in recently?" The ninja had a point Despite Dodai''s best efforts to root out the hidden enemy, none of his men had anything significant to report once they began evacuating the populace sometime earlier Even now, these contemptible saboteurs continued to reign down destruction within the village "Senpai?" "Go ahead" Dodai gestured for Moroi to step forward after the latter requested to speak "That''s where my squad comes in. As many of you know, we specialize in all forms of barriers, including detection. As we speak, my subordinates are forming several barriers of like nature around the village in its entirety" "The Chinoike have a distinct chakra, the moment they use their Kekkei Genkai3Bloodline Limit, the Ketsurygan4Blood Dragon Eye..." "My squad will notice and apprehend said invaders" Dodai once again pointed to the giant map of the village, specifying certain areas within "All Genin shall proceed in Support-type roles such as: This may be a war, but our main priority is the protection of the people. No one gets a break today" {Support jobs, figures. We are just Genin. And since I''m not that keen on participating in a war, I''ve got nothing to complain about} Rei thought "We''ve already assigned several Genin to work in the rooms next door. As soon as we''re done here, you lot will enter said rooms, receive your orders...and move out!" CLAP! A figure set apart from the crowd, leaning against a wall gathered everyone''s attention. Not that it was hard to notice him, bearing a large and muscular build, he towered over many. Wearing his forehead protector as a bandanna, he spoke with a burly tone "You are...Tajiki right?" "Yes sir. Dodai-sama, you''ve been talking all this time about invaders and the Yotsuki barricades being breached, and there''s obviously more to discuss but...aren''t you forgetting one crucial detail?" "And that would be?" "Where is Raikage-sama?" "!" That was one subject Dodai was unsure he should share now. He needed to keep morale up and everyone focused "All due respect, for an event like this, he''d normally be the one to brief us. Yet, I haven''t even seen him once, did he already leave for the battlefield?" Dodai sighed upon receiving Tajiki''s understandable query. He wanted to keep the nervous crowd from coming apart "...Raikage-sama and the Daimy-sama, along with a squad led by Toroi-san, left for Kusagakure5Hidden Grass Villageon a mission of vital importance. However...we''ve now come to understand the entire ordeal was nothing but a ruse to get our leaders out of the country" "!" "Kusagakure. Was it about those rumors of them closing down Hzuki-j6Demon Lantern Castlefor the east?" "Wait. A ruse?" "Someone planned this?" {Dodai-san, it''d be best if you told them now} thought Tomoe as she nodded in affirmation to Dodai "Two of his squad returned to the village to inform of us of this attack, as the Chinoike had long infiltrated and taken control of the prison. The warden himself was turned into an exploding human. As result, both ninja Osoi and Toroi-san...have passed" CLAMOR! The reaction upon hearing news of Jiton no Toroi''s7Toroi of the Magnet Styledeath went as Dodai suspected Even Team Tango grew uncomfortable...Rei especially "No way...! We had just-!" whispered Suzu as she covered her mouth in shock "We had talked to them barely over a day ago...we were gonna train together again. Toroi-sama, Osoi-sensei..." {Toroi. In the end, he still died. Is this what Notitia called "remnant influence" of the author? The Story''s original plotline getting back on course after I...disordered things?} But the bad news didn''t stop there. Dodai spoke once more "The Daimy''s bureau has already attempted contact with Kusagakure. Unfortunately, the connection was cut prematurely. We suspect the enemy outside has blocked all outside communication. There was enough time to learn they hadn''t receive news of our leaders arrival. Leading us to believe Raikage-sama and Daimy-sama are under attack...they may even be dead" ROARING! The room was consumed with uproar, though the majority had enough sense not to act out violently, there was more than enough yelling. Rei feared the possibility of A actually dying. The 4th Raikage''s death would naturally cause no end of problems The shinobi in charge attempted to appease everyone present, but to no avail {I knew I shouldn''t have told them, it only served to make things worse...} As the yelling intensified, Tomoe grew more and more irritated. Though her facial expression appeared serene, she was boiling on the inside. The sight of such unruly behavior from her fellow shinobi...only served to infuriate her STEP! Unable to endure it any longer, Tomoe strolled past Dodai "Eh?! Tomoe-sama?!" {Oh no, is Mom gonna-?!} KASHINK! ZWWIIIP!! "?!" Within barely a second, Tomoe both unsheathed and sheathed her sword, performing something akin to Iaid8Martial Art related to quickly drawing the sword. Despite not cutting anything, the sheer force of her sword slice caused a short turbulent wind inside the room, drawing everyone''s attention to the front The room went completely silent, as if the uproar that occurred seconds ago never happened at all... "Tai. Your mom is...impressive" "Thanks Rei" "Maybe I really should hang out with her some more" "You''d better keep your distance if you know what''s good for you!" Tai threateningly whispered "Rei, stop messing with Tai" "He makes it too easy Suzu" {This little...!} Tomoe spoke in a calm, commanding tone as she asked a single question "What were you told the moment you received your headband?" "E-Eh?" "What did she say?" She spoke once more "I''ll ask again. What were you told, when you received your headband?" "..." "You''re no longer children, but ninja! You''ve just been informed our village is under attack, and the first thing you do is panic like children?! I''ve never been so embarrassed to be a shinobi of this village!" Silence permeated as the ones who screamed and panicked held their heads down in shame. Even with the insults, none dare to retort Fully understanding how shameful their behavior was, especially in the presence of younger Genin. Many of whom remained calm and alert "There''s much that''s happened, and so suddenly as well. So much we don''t know about this situation. However, what is known besides the ignorant fools outside who believe they can take down our home, which has stood for over a century, is the identity of our current commander. This man standing behind me!" Tomoe turned towards Dodai, using her expression as a means of urging him to speak. A hint he quickly picked up on before stepping forward "I know I''m not your first choice. Hell, I wouldn''t pick me either...but here I am. And I intend to follow through my duty. The same duty each and everyone of you pledged to follow when you graduated from the academy. The very same academy our now fallen comrade Osoi used to teach at" Osoi''s son Musai was also present, shedding a tear upon hearing this man honor his now deceased father "Despite everything that''s happened, I''m not scared. No. No I''m...I''m pissed. And not just pissed, I''m royally pissed off! These bastards come out of nowhere, and think they can just kill our friends and family, just like that?! NO! You shouldn''t fear them, they should fear you! Fear, what we''re gonna do to them for their transgressions! Fear, that we''re gonna pay them pack ten-no, a hundred fold!" "B-But what of Raikage-sama?!" "What about him? You think he''s dead? Bullshit! As if that hardheaded man would die so easily! Raikage-sama will be back before you know it, and then, the only thing you''ll need to be afraid of is his wrath for neglecting your duties!" "W-We know what we''re supposed to do but..." "Without a qualified leader to-" "That''s..." "The Fuma and other unknown enemies are currently besieging our home from the outside. And! There are Chinoike running amok inside our home, turning people-YOUR people into bombs! Destroying everything we hold dear!" "..." Dodai had no speech planned, he was completely inexperienced as a commander, the thought "What the hell am I doing here?!" consistently echoed inside his mind An attendant or right-hand to the Raikages...in his entire career as as a shinobi, that''s all he''s ever been "What should you really be doing right now?!" Opting instead to speak from the heart, hoping his simple honest passion would light a spark "You think Raikage-sama''s gonna accept you letting the village fall because you were...what? Scared? Terrified?!" Vigor began to return... "Are you a bunch of frightened rabbits?!" Morale was rising... "NO!" The crowd began yelling in unison "Is that how our ancestors behaved when they fought, bled, and died for our home?!" "NO!" "Is this village filled with nothing but cowards?!" "NO!" "Well if that''s not what you are...!" Dodai pointed directly at the crowd "THEN WHO THE HELL ARE YOU?!" With their sprits renewed, they answered "SHINOBI OF THE CLOUD!" 157. The Risk Is… MrProper But I''m no quitter, and this novel ain''t stopping until the epilogue! I''ll do my best to keep the releases consistent this month! Please enjoy this chapter! Outside Kumogakure The individual known only to the world as "Balance" sat alone on a grassy hilltop. Despite the ongoing war, the clashing of blades, and the chilling wails of death...he remained as nonchalant as ever Calmly smoking a cigar as if he were sitting on the porch of his house "This spot is gonna get noisy soon" "Sigh. Just when I finally thought I''d be getting some alone time" "What? You''re saying I''m bad company Balance?" "Oh, it''s you Red. Thought it was...never mind. What''s up? I thought you''d be getting a closer look by now" "I would be, but I''ve noticed the test sub-I mean, the inmates have yet to be sent into battle. I can''t gather accurate data if they don''t even bother to use the Lift now can I? Care to elaborate?" She took it upon herself to sit next to him before taking off her mask. There was no need for secrets between them as Red, being Sage''s right-hand, was primed to the identities of every senior member Balance was the Company''s Spymaster, possessing informants in every single country on the continent. He was no less informed to member secrets than she was. Feeling at peace as he continued smoking with his mask off "Relax, you know how skilled Nobuyuki is at running interference. He''s been surveying this village for a while, and with inside intel from Flow...everything''s gone the way he said it would. I think it''s safe to say he''s got this figured out eight ways to Sunday" "Is that so? You punched through the fourth line of defense yes, but remember, each...what did Flow say they called it?" "Phase?" "Right. In the direction towards Kumo, each one is more powerful than the next. And now, Ganj Yotsuki has reinforced the first and toughest Phase, with the second one" "Again, it''s all part of the plan. Truth be told, things would''ve been pretty difficult, but everything changed when you gave me that nice little surprise back at the prison" "Surprise? Wait, do you mean-?" "Mhm. Those guys..." ??? Inside the village With the Chinoike running around rampant, creating "exploding humans" everywhere, along with its already unstable mountainous structure...the village had more than its fair share of property damage The numerous collapsed buildings, businesses, and homes portrayed an image ruin, loss, and time...taking its inevitable toll. However, the village as a whole still stood tall...for now "H-Help! Someone! W-W-We...urgh! We''re stuck!" "H-Honey..." "Ah!" "Take...the kids first" "Whoa! Whoa! J-Just hold on! Do your best to stay awake! Help is coming, I promise!" {Someone...please get here!} Within a typically, heavily populated area, several families remained trapped under rubble. Victims of the explosions caused by these heinous invaders could be found everywhere TAK! TAK! TAK! "A-AH! Who-?!" "It''s okay! We''re here to help!" {Shinobi? Oh, thank goodness-wait...kids? What are they gonna do?} the man judged as he observed the three children wearing shinobi attire WEAVE! "I''ll take care of the debris" {Doton: Chidkaku1Earth Style: Mobile Core} "I''m sensing quite a few of them, I''ll handle the extra hands" {Kage Bunshin no Jutsu2Shadow Clone Jutsu} POOF! Team Tango had been assigned to this district. In record time, they''d already managed to clear out the majority of civilians within the area in need of help. Rei''s acute senses allowed them to complete their task with much efficiency RUMBLE! "Stay calm and don''t rush! We''ll guide you all out one at a time!" Suzu exclaimed as she directed the people Using her Earth Style, Suzu carefully lifted the debris as Rei''s clones swiftly moved to rescue those in danger. Leaving them with Tai as he tended to those in need of medical attention "Tai? Any in critical condition?" "None so far, but I''ll let you know if otherwise...Captain Suzu" "Don''t make fun, I''m no captain" "Says the girl who wasted no time taking charge of our little operation. Quite remarkably if I do say so myself, you''re a born leader" "..." The moment they left HQ, Suzu was quick to take the reins. Formulating a well structured, if not outright methodical plan of action to complete their operation as fast as humanly possible Though typically one to remain quiet and hide her emotions, she caught her teammates off guard with this unexpected and sudden enthusiasm. Rei and Tai didn''t even bother to question it, following the young girl as if it were natural "Alright people, line up! I don''t care how small the wound is, you look hurt, you get treated by me!" {You''re not bad yourself Tai} thought Suzu as she subtly smirked at Tai After several minutes of careful coordination by everyone present, the once "on the brink" family was now safe from harm "T-Thank you. I never imagined Genin would be the ones to-" "If you want to thank us, check if anyone''s missing. I''d prefer we not leave anyone behind" "R-Right! Of course!" TAP! "Hm?" Leaving Tai to his work, Suzu sought to speak with Rei in private "What''s up Suzu? If you''re wondering if any are Chinoike, I already checked their chakra signatures. They''re far too weak to be nin-" "That''s not it. With everyone here, we''ve cleared out the last area in this district. Once Tai is finished treating everyone, we can head out. The problem is-" "The group is far larger than we anticipated, I know. Getting them out safely is gonna get tricky if we run into the enemy. Luck has been on our side since no Chinoike have yet to attack us but...I''d prefer we don''t push it" "Even with your clones, the nearest evac center is several klicks3Kilometersnorth from here, and this group doesn''t look ready for long trip" "I thought there was a center not far from here. Wait...was it the one reported to have already been...?" Suzu nodded her head in affirmation, refraining from letting the families they just rescued overhear any bad news "Well, so much for good luck" Many Genin teams were deployed to this area due to the fact the evac center nearby had long been destroyed before any had the chance to use it With no help, and nowhere to go, the populace of this area had suffered immensely "AHEM!" "!" "Tai, you''re already done?" "Yup, only minor injuries to report. It''s amazing all the elderly managed to survive in that collapsed building with nothing but a few scrapes. But walking is going to be a problem" "Sorry Rei, but it looks like you''ll be working overtime" "I figured. It''s not like we can call for help anyway. Let''s get work. You two get them prepped" "Right" "On it" While Suzu informed the group of next steps, Rei gathered his chakra {Even with my current stamina, I''m not Naruto. I won''t be able to maintain this stronger version of the Shadow Clone Jutsu for too long, but I should have enough chakra to get everyone to our destination} "Taj Kage Bunshin no Jutsu4Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu!" POOF! POOF! POOF! ??? Kumo''s HQ "Sir! The southeastern ward has been compromised!" "Damn it, send a squad from the western side over there intercept!" "Yes!" "Someone get me a status report on the northern area!" After sending everyone out, Dodai was stuck in the Intelligence Division to run operations both within and out of the village. But things only grew more difficult the more he understood their situation "Sir, we can''t contact the general hospital!" "Isn''t that why you have legs?! It''s right across from this building. If you can''t call the place, RUN TO IT!" "Y-Yes sir!" "Damn it! Radio is still down...why has my elite intelligence unit failed to figure out how these nobodies have blocked all forms of communication?!" No one had an answer. Along with the Chinoike''s sabotage, radio communication remained inoperable. Even the tech belonging to the Daimy''s Bureau, their transmitting devices were useless. Making it even harder for Dodai to do his job They weren''t just one, but several steps behind these troublesome foes "Still no news on our other wards, we still haven''t pinned down the Chinoike...and why the hell aren''t these supplies on route to the front yet?!" "Sir! We just received word from the center in central districts, evacuation has been completed!" "Finally! Some good news! The Genin know to return here once they''ve completed their tasks. Be ready for new assignments!" "Right!" "Come on everyone! As adults, don''t you think it''s shameful to be outdone by the kids?! Get it together!" "YES SIR!" everyone responded in unison After issuing more orders, Dodai left the central command center and entered the room next door CLINK! "How''s it looking?!" "We''re almost done, Tango is getting prepped" Inside, Tetsuo Mori was hard at work, calibrating a large mechanical device housed in the room''s center. His bodyguard Sh, along with a slew of assistants aided him in his endeavor "What''s keeping Tango?" "One, a proper health check to ensure he''s ready for this. Two, we''ve yet to acquire appropriate head measurements. This device has yet to be piloted after all" said Tetsuo in an annoyed tone "Is everything alright?" "No, it''s not! Call me old fashioned, but testing potential brain-killing equipment on a colleague makes me uncomfortable. I''m one of the few merchants in this world who actually has a conscience!" "Sorry, I can''t imagine how much pressure this is for you" "Sigh...whatever. I just wish we had more time, this would''ve been so much easier. Besides, with all the yelling I''ve heard, you need this done. It''s just...the pressure riding on us" "So many lives may live or die...depending on how well we perform. Believe me, I get it" "I''ll get it done Dodai" CLINK! "You mean, we''ll get it done Tetsuo-dono" Tango greeted the pair with smile as he burst in the room. His bright outlook took them both by surprise "Tango! You''re finished?" "Mhm. Let''s begin preparations, the Network isn''t gonna start by itself!" "You''re in a chipper mood, despite the situation. Something you know that I don''t?" Dodai questioned "About the central district, I actually got the news before you did. My squad was deployed in that area, and they got it done in no time at all" "Wait, you got the news? Tango, did you use your Chakra Transmission Jutsu?! I specifically told you not to expend anymore chakra before we test this!" yelled a worried Tetsuo Tango remained oblivious to his concerns and continued sharing his thoughts "I had to fight from laughing when I heard how freaked out the guards at the evac center were once they saw Rei and his many clones enter the facility. All the while carrying numerous people on their backs, hahaha!" "Pfff!" Dodai couldn''t stop from giggling "This isn''t funny! Tango, Dodai...the risk is-!" "Completely worth it. Since my students are risking their lives, busting their asses outside. There''s no reason for me not to do the same" "Damn straight. He''s clearly made up his mind Tetsuo-dono" "Haaaa...fine. Don''t blame me if your fry your brain. Sh! It''s time!" "We''re all plugged up over here sir" Tango sat in front of the large device, crossing his legs and weaving hand seals. Tetsuo''s assistants began attaching several plugs to the headset Sh placed on top of his head Tetsuo began final checks "How''s our prep?!" "All bases are covered, he''s hooked up, readings are stable. Boss, you''re the trigger" "..." Waiting for a final signal of affirmation, Tetsuo shot glance at Dodai. Understanding what''s a stake, the latter procrastinated a bit before nodding in affirmation "Well..." CLICK! "Here''s hoping we don''t blow ourselves up" 158. Open Grounds MrProper "RAAAAHH!!!" BUZZUZZUZ! "..." In the Land of Rivers, the Raikage combated the mysterious attacker known only by the symbol on her mask, "Blade". The Daimy remained on the sidelines as an observer, guarded by the four ANBU who accompanied the two leaders on their journey to Kusagakure1Hidden Grass Village. A had ordered them to encircle the important man while he fought this abnormally troublesome foe "SEI!!" FWAP! BOOM! "..." "Tch! This little-!" "..." {How the hell is she doing that?!} The Raikage thought after attempting to finish Blade off with his fist, destroying the terrain in the process The strange masked woman flawlessly dodged all of A''s attacks. Which considering the latter''s body was completely clad in lightning, made her even more strange BUZZUZZ! Utilizing his infamous "Raiton no Yoroi2Lighting Style Armour" technique, the powerful man failed to understand how a power that enhanced his speed and reaction time to such inhuman heights, couldn''t enable him to strike her down SLICE! "Kuh!" "..." {Straight for the neck...this damn woman is...!} Worse, Blade spared no effort at all. Always aiming for A''s vital areas, with the clear intent of dealing a fatal blow. Fortunately, the sheer power of his lightning cloak protected him from most of her sword strikes But with every swing, Blade''s sword only increased in its intensity, edging ever closer to penetrating his defenses "..." {No one since "Konoha''s Yellow Flash" has managed to give me this much trouble...but how is she moving so fast? Is it some kind of technique, or is her "Shunshin no Jutsu3Body Flicker Jutsu" really so great...?} Her abnormal abilities, silence, strange chakra, and overall ravenous bloodlust...everything about this woman disturbed A, to the point it made his skin crawl As if he wasn''t fighting a person at all. He''d occasionally wonder if he was under someone''s Genjutsu, but he checked again and again. Everything taking place was indeed real... {How about this!} "Hah!" FWAP! "...!" Attempting to catch her off guard, A temporarily increased the speed of his last attack, nearly landing a blow to her head. More significantly, he didn''t miss the sudden change in her conduct "Hmm..." "..." {She may hide it behind that mask, but that last attack definitely rattled her-Ah!} "..." {Now I understand what''s going on...!} He abruptly yelled at the masked attacker "Wretch! You think I can''t see what you''re doing?! Trying to separate me from the Daimy, leading me away from my comrades! No...no that''s not it...!" "..." "You''re buying time. Why? Is it that you don''t want us to reach our destination-?!" CLANK! Blade took the initiative to strike for the first time since the start of the fight. From the beginning, she did nothing but dodge and counter A swiftly blocked her sword with the large, golden vambraces on his wrists {Struck a nerve did I?!} "Heh!" "..." He realized her true intent, Blade wasn''t fighting to kill him. Rather to keep him here...and away from Kumogakure {Some bastard is making a move on my home, which means this entire ordeal...} From the arranging of his thoughts, clarity was born. He quickly understood the situation with Kusagakure was nothing more than a hoax to get him out of the village GRIT! "You piece of..." "!" A clenched his teeth, not fearful for his village, but angry for it. The thought of someone being so bold to attack, and leave only one person to keep him at bay...to say it "offended" him would be a gross understatement RIZZZZ! "?!" "You guys underestimate me that much eh? To think the day would come when one can believe a single opponent is enough to stop the Raikage. I don''t think anyone has ever insulted not me to such a degree" The combed back, white hair atop his head began to stand as A suddenly raised the potency of his lightning chakra. Veins were visible as his face resembled that of an angry "Oni4Demon from Japanese folklore", completely filled with wrath "I know the rational choice is to take the Daimy and flee, and I''m willing to bet you won''t be able to catch me. However..." "..." "I''m not what some people would consider to be a...rational person" RUMBLE! The ground began to crack from the sheer force of his chakra, which many have claimed to be comparable to that of a Tailed Beast! "I''ve made up my mind. I''m going to kill you quickly, head home...and kill every single fool stupid enough to believe it''s okay to disrespect the very thing my predecessors and I have fought to protect" "..." KASHINK! Blade readied her weapon, intent on taking everything A had offer "You think that little knife can save you now?!" "I-I-I...t..." "!" The masked woman spoke for the first time since the beginning of their confrontation. With a voice that smooth, subtle...and cold "It is...sufficient" "!" "..." "Hmph! Sufficient eh?" CRACK! The snapping sound from A''s large, strong neck could be heard by everyone present as he casually moved his head around, cracking it BOOM! With a single gesture, the ground under his feet exploded after he charged directly at Blade! "DON''T UNDERESTIMATE THE RAIKAGE!!!" ??? The Company member "Blade" wasn''t the only one demonstrating adept skill with a sword this evening SHINK! STAB! "Guh!" "ARGH!" At a watch post located downwards south outside Kumogakure, Ganj Yotsuki wasted no time cutting down every marauder who dared to attack his clan''s border security "This area is almost cleared out..." A barren ground, filled with naught but blades, bodies, and blood...this was all that remained of the invading Fma once he sheathed the two swords on his hip Leading his clan, the group surveyed the location to ensure it had indeed been properly secured. After several minutes of inspection, one of his subordinates issued a report "Ganj-sama, the area has been cleared. A few of the surviving stragglers were hunted down before they could escape to the sea. Shall we return to the front?" "Hmm..." "Ganj-sama?" "...No" "Eh?" "We''re not doing that" "S-Sir? The first phase, New Moon was already destroyed. Shouldn''t we-?" "This layer we''re currently defending is the most stretched out of the four. If they got past the last one, they''ll inevitably breach this one" "Then why are we here? If they''re going to breach it, shouldn''t we head back to the final layer?" The moment Ganj learned of the first layer, of "New Moon''s" destruction, he immediately ordered the third layer, "Third Quarter", to retreat back and reinforce the fourth and final one closest to the village, "Full Moon" Both he and his wife would remain to defend the second layer, "First Quarter" "You don''t get it, I told them to retreat back to give us a clear battleground" "H-Huh?" "By having Third Quarter retreat, the Fma will no longer be able to perform these clandestine-like surprise attacks. Largely in part to the wide, open ground between the second and last layers" "So...that''s when we make our counter attack? Then us being here is to..." "Defend the coastline. My wife has already deployed to the northern end, while we remain at the southern one. Mainly to prevent any from slipping past our defenses via the sea" "And with the treacherous terrain at the back of the village, none will be able to get the drop on us...!" "Unraiky5Valley of Clouds and Lightningalready has Killer B-dono over there, this strategy ensures Kumogakure has no blind spots. As long as we continue to do our jobs" "Yes sir!" As his men resumed their duties, Ganj turned towards the sea and pondered worriedly "B-dono''s absence is expected, getting from Unraiky to the village will take some time, but Yugito Nii should''ve been here by now...what the hell is going on?" ??? "Amazing, it''s going just as he predicted. Ganj moved the third line back faster than we anticipated" "Told you. Nobuyuki Fma is many things if not meticulous when it comes to plans. With this, the incursion will take place on open grounds, you''ll be able to observe all you want" "Very impressive. I''ll be able to acquire valuable data once the real fighting begins" "A scientist''s work is never done I see" The Company members under the aliases "Balance" and "Red" remained in the same position they were at the moment the fighting started. Observing the spectacle without a care in the world "However, the Fma have yet to penetrate the area he''s defending. The attacks at sea failed" "Of course they did, we planned it that way. I may not be as war savvy as Nobuyuki, but even I know Kumogakure wouldn''t be stupid enough to leave such an open door past their defenses unguarded. The purpose of the attacks is to keep the Yotsuki clan preoccupied. Our main fighting force that punches through the middle will be..." "My-ahem! Our test subjects" "Ganj already realized this, and sought to give the other Kumo-nin a chance to launch a proper counter attack" "But the Chinoike inside the village..." "That clan split tasks, sending most of its members to the island with the cat. The ones that snuck inside the village are merely running interference to provide us enough time to prep our main force, they won''t be able to maintain it for long. Especially once the evacuation of the people is completed" "So everything from this point has been nothing but a delay tactic?" Balance nodded his head in affirmation as he wore a sinister smile. Clearly pleased that everything was proceeding as planned, if not even better Keeping both Ganj and Tomoe Yotsuki off the board was nothing short of a bonus. The hard work and investments he''s put in over the years have payed off "I''ve performed my duty to perfection. If there was anyone who should questioned, it''d be you. We''ve yet to determine whether or not your precious Lift project was worth all this effort" "Hmph" "..." Yes. The only area of concern was Red. Balance was merely the opening move, but it was Red''s work that served as the linchpin to this operation known only as Kumogakure''s "Renovation" "My research has never failed us before, and this was made with Orochimaru''s assistance" "Red. Even for plotting scum like us...Orochimaru is never a good reference to use" "It will work" "I certainly hope so, because I''m gonna be pretty pissed if all my time at Hzuki-j6Demon Lantern Castlewas for nothing" "..." Balance''s eyes slowly turned towards Red, filled with obvious killing intent. The man was clearly threatening her, yet she remained stoic while issuing a calm response "As soon as they break the second line, you will see Balance" "...Well, that''s gonna happen any second now" "How do you know?" "There''s a reason I favor the Oni Garrison more than the others" "Those losers who were bested by a bunch of kids five years ago? Flow told me you might need that group when he transferred them to prison, but I fail to see what''s so special about them" "They failed because the job we gave them didn''t suit their...special skills" "By all means, elaborate" "Well, they-!" RING! Before he could continue, an alarm clock he previously set began ringing next to him "What''s that for?" "Hehe, just watch the spectacle" "Huh?" "Sister Time likes to think she''s the most punctual but..." "?" BOOOOOM! With no warning at all, a massive explosion could be seen miles away! The shockwaves from the blast were felt even from their current position. The following turbulent winds nearly blew the pair backwards Seconds afterwards, the army of inmates Balance had brought from the Blood Prison stormed through land. And just like with "New Moon", the second layer of Yotsuki defense, "First Quarter"... "?!" "She''s got nothing on me...HAHAHA!!" Was breached 159. Make Your Peace Minutes Earlier Within one of Kumogakure''s evacuation centers, Rei and his squad had escorted several civilians to safety. Once there, they began aiding the present staff before returning to headquarters for new orders "Tai-kun, there''s a couple of elders with some bad scrapes, and our most of medical ninja here are working on other critical cases. Could you take a look at them before your team leaves?" asked one of the staff "Guys?" Tai looked to his team for their seal of approval, questioning with his eyes if there was enough time "Go ahead. Rei and I will head outside and plot our next course of travel back to command" Suzu replied "Okay then. Please show me the patients" "This way" Following Tai''s departure, the remaining duo exited the facility, surveying the area for any hostiles present. Rei kept his senses sharp while Suzu kneaded her chakra in preparation for an enemy attack Several minutes of quiet scouting later... "This area cleared, and fortunately we can make a beeline directly to command" "Right, let''s go back and get Ta-?!" Rei turned around mid sentence and withdrew a Kunai from his pouch. Quick on the uptake, Suzu followed in suit, understanding he picked up on a new chakra signature "How many?" "A lot...I think they''re civilians. A bunch of signatures all bunched up together in a line, heading straight for the center. But that''s the problem. Ya know, considering..." "...Yeah" They were very suspicious, and for good reason. For such a large group of civilians to navigate through the village so easily during an attack of this scale is nothing short of impossible Which meant one of two things. Either they were incredibly lucky...or more likely, it''s the enemy suppressing their chakra to fool any sensor-nin TAK! TAK! TAK! "..." Sounds of numerous footsteps grew louder the closer they approached. Rei and Suzu remained hidden and alert, blades gripped tight in hand as they readied themselves for a fight TAK! TAK! "Oh! There it is! We''ve found it!" "We''re almost home free!" A cluster of casually dressed individuals arrived from around the corner, gleeful at the sight of the evacuation center {What the? They really are civilians?} Rei pondered "But how could they get here?" "Gimme me a sec to ask" "Eh?! Rei! You''re breaking protocol...again!" STUP! Not waiting for Suzu, Rei moved from his position, landing right in front of the group. After startling the already nervous crowd, Rei began throwing queries their way, confirming they were indeed citizens of the village "...But how did you get here?" "A friendly group of good samaritans helped and directed us before leaving for different evacuation center" "Were they shinobi?" "N-No, I don''t think so. They weren''t wearing the same outfit as you, and they were much younger. Though, there was a young woman directing them" "You''re saying kids younger than me saved you? All directed by a woman?" "They were very efficient, enough for me to believe at first they were ninja. They called themselves something too...repeatedly as a matter of fact. Very boastful this lot. I believe it was, The Thundercloud Unit?" {Mariko and the kids?!} thought Suzu The girl was surprised Mariko allowed them to play an active role in this conflict. While they''ve been trained by Mariko in preparation for the academy, children were still children {Since Mariko is with them, I guess they''ll be alright?} She put this thought in the back of her head and focused on the present, observing Rei''s conversation with the man acting as the leader of the group "Pffft!" {That name is so wrong} "I-I''m sorry? Does that mean something to you?" "Ahem, it''s nothing. You''re clear to enter the facility. Once inside, please quickly find a space to sit down. Preferably, out of the staff''s way. Everyone is busy working" "R-Right. Come on guys, let''s get off the streets!" STUP! After the civilians left, Suzu jumped down and landed next to Rei "That was a risk, they could''ve been the enemy in disguise" "That''s why I placed some under my Genjutsu before talking to them" "For probing their chakras?" "There''s no way I''m walking in blind before determining whether or not they''re shinobi" "Still a risk..." "You know, there''s something different about you..." "Huh?" "This worrisome behavior of yours, it reminds me of Mariko-nee. You''ve never shown this anxious side whenever we were in the field. What''s going on with you?" Suzu crossed her arms and closed her eyes...before facing Rei again "We''re all changing, day by day. Look at yourself, I''d say you''ve changed a lot since the day we met. You''ve also become more outgoing" "You still haven''t answered my question" To her, both Tai and Suzu were no longer just colleagues. Overtime, they''d grown to become something closer, even more than just teammates, akin to her relationship with Mariko and the foster children. "You''re the so-called prodigy. Try and figure out where this newfound concern of mine is coming from" Suzu said with a smug smirk "?" "Come on, let''s go and get Tai. He should be done by now-" BOOOOOM! "?!" "What the hell?!" The carefree mood between the two was suddenly interrupted by the sound and sight of a massive explosion from outside the village "What happened Rei?!" "Trouble..." ??? Present Time The massive explosion didn''t escape anyone''s notice, including Ganj Yotsuki whom maintained his position on the southern coastline "That location..." {Is it where I think it is?} "Ganj-sama!" "Go! Give me confirmation!" "Sir!" SWSH! The shinobi saluting the Yotsuki Clan head dashed away, racing towards a vantage point before pulling out a pair of binoculars. With great haste, he desperately searched for the explosion''s origin point, despite the massive cloud of smoke and fire obscuring his vision Ganj waited for answer with no cracks in his somber demeanor, unlike his anxious subordinates "...No" "WELL?!" "It''s First Quarter! The second layer of defense...the phase has been breached! And I think there''s...yes! There''s an army storming through!" "The enemy''s main force has finally revealed itself..." The ones responsible for this attack had resorted to nothing but guerrilla tactics and sabotage since the beginning But now, they''ve finally begun to fight in the open {Shit, I never would''ve expected it''d be breached so quickly! How the hell did they-?!} "Sir, should we...?" Ganj kept to his thoughts before responding, no one daring to disturb him "..." "No, we''ve been over this. Like the northern coast my wife is protecting, this area is too important to ignore. You lot stay here, I''ll head out alone" "By yourself? Sir, with all due respect, taking on an army is..." "I don''t need to beat them, just stall them" "!" Kumogakure needed as much time as possible. Even at this moment, Dodai worked like a madman, rearranging shinobi teams in preparation for the coming conflict at their door "Message some of our men near the blast site to do the same" "Yes sir, I''ll-?!" FWIP! Out of nowhere, a massive shuriken flew directly at Ganj {Another attack. But only one?} "Hmph!" CLING! Barely a foot away from him, Ganj sliced the flying star in half within a split second. Everyone remained on guard, but for some reason, there was no follow up attack WHISTLE! "Well? Is my swordsmanship so scary? I thought you''d come out by now" TAK! The attacker revealed himself, clapping his hands in admiration for Ganj''s skills "Sorry about that, I was just blown away by your technique. The Yotsuki Clan has been blessed with talented individuals" "You don''t know the half of it..." The attacker was dressed in black shinobi attire with large shuriken tied to his back. Unusual purple eyes, along with light green colored hair tied in a ponytail. A notable, horizontal scar across his forehead With one hand across his chest, he bowed in a respectful manner towards Ganj "It is an honor to meet you, 17th Head of the Yotsuki Clan, Ganj Yotsuki. I am Nobuyuki Fma, of the true Fma clan" "Figures, only someone like you would brew such destruction. Daring to attack my clan and village...the title of Nobuyuki the Brave suits you well" said Ganj with a clear, hostile tone The Yotsuki head had long been eager to find the ones responsible for this attack. Many of his clan had already died thanks to the stealthy attacks Nobuyuki and his clan carried out since the start of this incursion It had been a long time since he was this angry "Sir, we''ll assist-" "Stay where you are, he''s mine. You''ll just get in my way" "..." "Besides, you have your own problems to deal with" he uttered before gesturing towards the coastline Several Fma members emerged from the sea, preparing to attack. It was clear Nobuyuki had come to retake this vital location, striving to gain an advantage for his side CLAMOR! "You heard the clan head!" "Let''s go! This area must be protected!" Quick as a wink, the once quiet area erupted with war. Ganj and Nobuyuki remained oblivious to it, with weapons in hand, never taking their eyes off one another The two leaders conversed while also searching for the smallest opening to exploit "From what I know, the Fma Clan shouldn''t bear a grudge so deep against Kumogakure...they''d go this far in ensuring its downfall" "Of course not, that''d be the Chinoike Clan" "Then why are you doing this?" "It''s nothing personal, but the fall of your country provides an opportunity for my clan and I" "What do you mean by-?" "Apologies, but I''ve a job to do...let''s skip straight to the killing, shall we?" "Sigh..." KASHINK! The air shifted around them as Ganj withdrew the second blade on his hip "Anger...good. I wouldn''t settle for anything less" "I doubt we have the same gods but, I hope you''ve made peace with yours. Because I''ll be sending you to them..." "..." "You son of a bitch" 160. A Demon’s True Worth MrProper "See? Told you they''d come through" "How could that group-?" "Like I said, you don''t give the them enough credit" Exhilaration greeted "Balance" upon witnessing the handy work of the "Oni Garrison". A skeptical Red watched in disbelief, still in doubt of the group whom failed so miserably in the past, against a squad of children no less But no matter how many times she looked, the truth was they''d successfully managed to break Kumogakure''s second line of defense. Balance couldn''t help but chuckle at Red''s stupefied face "Kekeke!" "Explain Balance" "Hehe, so demanding. Itsuki and his Oni Garrison are one of the best clandestine units my little brother put under his payroll. The only reason they failed the last job we--you gave them was due to their particular skillset" "You''re saying we gave them the wrong mission?" "They''re better suited for silent infiltration and sabotage, rather than direct combat. Do I really need to go further?" Balance was right, the last mission the group undertook for the "Company" involved taking several people hostage, securing a facility too large for their small group, all in broad daylight. Their leader Itsuki, with his flaming sword, is probably the only one suited for direct combat "No wonder Arc was so irritable after he heard what had happened to them" "I think anyone who finds out their resources were used without permission would get as angry as he did" "We offered suitable compensation, but even five years later, he''s still complaining about it" "That may suffice for the rest of you, but for Arc and I..." The Company had employed the Oni Garrison without informing Arc, the latter of whom would have never sent them on such an incompatible mission. He certainly let his dissatisfaction on this overstep known to the Company While his brother Balance worked as a spymaster, owning a network of informants throughout the continent, Arc preferred a more "direct" approach when it came to work. Managing groups of defectors, bandits, rouge-nin, and mercenaries. He had an army at his beck and call Leading such a rowdy society, one''s reputation was everything, and his took a heavy blow once word got out that one of his favored mercenary groups failed so miserably "Money is worthless compared to your name, in our world at least. Taking a payoff would only make him look like a cheap punk. As the one who handles all the Company''s external support, how could Arc not be irritated?" "..." "Regardless, we can now move on to the next step. Our main force, the inmates, can approach the village head on. As I''ve previously instructed, once the fighting begins, they''ll activate the LIFT." "It can''t be that simple. I know Nobuyuki Fma will keep Ganj Yotsuki preoccupied at the southern coastline. And the latter''s wife, Tomoe Yotsuki is busy defending the northern one, but..." "By now, the Eight-tails has probably received a call for help at Unraiky1Valley of Clouds and Lightning. But by the time he gets here, we''ll have long acquired what we want. Plus, the Raikage and Daimy are being delayed by Blade" "..." "We''ve kept the north and south coastlines busy because this test of ours needs to be conducted out in the open. These extra steps ensures a full frontal assault, perfect for gathering data. Relax Red" "We still haven''t received word about the cat. How is the squad you sent there doing?" "I had my dog send the rest of his clan to that location" "Ky''s people are powerful but, considering who they''re up against..." "Their primary objective there is the same as the coastlines, keeping the enemy preoccupied" "..." "But...yeah. It''s probably going as well as you''d expect..." ??? Genbu Island "ROOOOAAARRRR!!!!" "Here it comes!" BOOM! Upon the gigantic turtle known as Genbu, a ferocious fight took place with Yugito Nii at its center. The reigning majority of the invading Chinoike were stationed here to keep Kumogakure''s second Jinchriki from participating in the battle at home The young woman had already assumed the form of the beast within. Transformed into a massive cat formed of blue fire, with heterochromatic eyes, the right being yellow and the left being green SWIPE! CRUNCH! "Be careful of her claws!" "Shit, that''s another one down!" "Don''t dwell on our losses, use the blood of the fallen!" "TOGETHER NOW!" "Hijutsu: Chi Shigure2Hidden Jutsu: Blood Shower!" the Chinoike yelled in unison SISSSS! SHINK! "?!" With their Kekkei Genkai3Bloodline LimitDjutsu4Eye Techniquesknown as the Ketsuryugan5Blood Dragon Eye, the Chinoike attackers gathered the blood of their fallen, transforming it into blades before throwing them at Yugito "TOGETHER NOW!" "Launch all of them, maximum rate of fire!" "Die you damn monster!" Rather than just blood, their true ability was to control any liquid with high concentrations of iron. The more dead bodies around, the more ammunition they had But Yugito was quick on the uptake, gathering flames in her mouth before... "WHOOO!" "Eh?!" {Byen Hka6Cat Flame Roaring Fire!} BOOSH! SCORCH! ...Releasing a single large fireball from her large mouth, doing away with the blood attacks and burning several more enemies in the process "URGH! My skin!!! It''s so hot, h-how could she?!" "Wasn''t she supposed to be Kumo''s Jinchriki that couldn''t control the monster in her?!" "I-I-It''s more than enough...for the likes of you" replied Yugito with a distorted voice due to her current form She''d initially came to the island to resume her training. Unlike Killer B, she''d yet to gain full mastery of her Tailed Beast, the two-tails. While this fact was known by most, that never implied she had no control whatsoever ZWIP! "Cocky monster! You''ll pay for this!" "That''d be you" "Eh?" FWAP! "Wha-AGH!" One of the Chinoike attempted get the drop on Yugito from behind, only to be struck by another ninja "Idiot! I told you to pay attention to the others!" Despite being outnumbered by the Chinoike...Yugito wasn''t alone "Just a few more left ladies" "Time to end this!" Her old teammates Mabui and Samui had initially accompanied her to help with training. This attack took place only minutes after they entered the temple built at the center of the island, hidden behind a waterfall. Both, just as surprised as Yugito by the sudden intrusion The trio of Kunoichi7Female Ninjawasted no time in the disposal of these assailants. Themselves eager to repay the debt they received from this clan years ago when they were captured "Mabui! There''s more coming from the left, be careful of their eyes!" Samui warned "Like hell I''m falling for the same trick again, my Ninjutsu prep is already complete!" {Tens no Jutsu8Ethereal Transmission Jutsu!} FLASH! "Huh? What did she just do?" "What happened to all those weapons in front of her?" "I don''t know, they just vanished in that ligh-" SHING! FWIP! Using her unique Ninjutsu to transfer matter at the speed of light, Mabui had several blades rain down on the Chinoike, faster than the eye could see. Her technique was so powerful, it riddled the temple ceiling with holes "UGH!" "There''s too many, can''t-!" "Uhack...impossible...!" BAM! SCORCH! "RAAAAHHH!!" Yugito yelled as she burned the remaining enemies into cinder "Just three...we fell to just three bitc-!" SLICE! "Watch your mouth" Samui muttered in a cold tone after silencing the final assailant "That''s the last of them. Oh no, Raikage-sama''s going to be very upset once he finds out about the damage I''ve inflicted on this sacred place" WOOOO! ZUZUZUZU! Yugito undid her transformation, returning to her human form "I think we bigger priorities right now Mabui" "Right, I clearly heard one of them state they were here to keep us busy. Which means..." "Something is happening to village, let''s get out of here" CLANK! Once they confirmed the Chinoike had indeed been finished off, the trio exited the temple to the island. But it was shock, rather than comrades who greeted them once they were outside "My god..." "No" "...Those bastards, shoulda took my time tearing them apart" Yugito said, gritting her teeth The scene resembled one straight out of a horror movie. The temple guards dead, bodies blown to pieces, and blood everywhere "Cool your head Yugito, we''ll have plenty of time to mourn later. Mabui, since Raikage-sama and the Daimy-sama are away, you''ll have to send a message to Dodai. At this time of day, I believe he should still be in the Intelligence Division" "Right, give me moment, I need to prepare my Ninjutsu again. Can you head to the front of the island and give new orders to Genbu? We need him swim back to the village" "I''m never sure if this ancient turtle can even hear us, but I''ll try. I really don''t want to swim all the way home. Be right back" said a departing Samui Though they wanted to return home immediately, Genbu was still a ways off from the village. It''d be some time before everyone would arrive on shore {Normally, I''d just use one of my summoning pots and transport the three of us there, but for some reason, my stash has run out. I don''t think I''ve used that much...} "Could it have been Rei?" she whispered "What was that?" "Hm? O-Oh, it''s nothing Yugito" "..." "Sigh..." "...I''m worried about Rei too" "!" "I owe a great deal to him and his team after our rescue. Plus, I''ve grown quite fond of those kids. We''ll keep them safe Mabui" "Right. I...we have to" {Please stay safe little cousin, I''ll be home soon!} 161. Stagnant MrProper TAK! TAK! TAK! "Almost at HQ, but that still doesn''t mean you should drop your guard!" "Right...!" Rei and his team ran through the village, eager to get back to headquarters and determine the source of the massive explosion they witnessed earlier. In spite of their haste, they still moved with caution, maintaining a watchful eye on the surroundings. Many Chinoike infiltrators still wreaked havoc inside the village with "Exploding Humans" Due to the collapse of several buildings, the team had to find another around the debris and head through a neighborhood that''d yet to be cleared, hampering their progress Along the way, Rei had second thoughts once discerning their location, the now unrecognizable area reminded him of something important STUP! "!" "Rei? Why are you stopping?" "...Guys, let''s go this way" Rei said as he pointed towards an eerie looking path "You wanna go that way? Are you for real right now? We''re almost at our-!" "Okay, let''s go" "Suzu?!" "Even if when we make it to HQ, we''ll just be dispatched to another area again. There''s no point in fretting over it Tai" ZWSH! Without even waiting for a response, Rei and Suzu dashed ahead in a new direction as Tai anxiously followed in reluctance. Though his team was curious to his intentions, after spending years with him, they both knew Rei wasn''t the type to share his inner thoughts {I was right, this is the same area. Can''t believe they managed to inflict so much damage for me of all people not to recognize it...} thought Rei After several minutes of running, even his team realized where he was heading. The tattered buildings were what''s left of the former commercial district they often frequented prior to completing a mission Rei''s destination became obvious to Suzu and Tai. The pair glanced at each before smirking, realizing what, or rather whom Rei was concerned for {He''s really mellowed out since I first met him} Tai thought "Uh?! Trouble, the enemy is over there!" Rei yelled "You can sense it, how many?!" "Just one but, she''s in danger!" "Then go on ahead, we''ll back you up!" BOOM! DASH! Being the fastest, Rei blasted towards his intended target, a half destroyed diner. Right outside the front door, a young lady was under attack by a Chinoike Clan member It was the team''s old friend Akina, waitress of her family-owned "Sake & Yaki" diner Rei frequented every since he came to this world "Stay...back!" "Oh, don''t fret young one, I''m not going to kill you" said the Chinoike attacker His red-eyed Ketsurygan1Blood Dragon Eyebeamed at Akina, this heinous man was attempting to turn her into another exploding human. He''d already paralyzed her with his Djutsu2Eye Techniques "So...one...help...!" "You''ll die much later. But it won''t be without purpos-GUOH!!!" WHAM! "How about you die now...for my purpose!" yelled Rei after delivering a highspeed kick to the man''s face TAP! WEAVE! Immediately after sending him tumbling away, Rei ran to Akina. Placing one hand on her shoulder, and forming a hand seal with the other "Release!" "Bwah! Cough! Cough! Ah! That was...!" "It''s okay, just breathe. Kanashibari Genjutsu3Temporary Paralysis Illusion Techniqueson a non-shinobi can be quite intense. It''ll wear off in a few" TAK! TAK! Suzu and Tai swiftly caught up, the latter checking on Akina as the former kept a watchful eye on the enemy who slowly got up. His clothes ruffled, dirt and dust in the shape of Rei''s footprint spread across his face "Nice kick, fast as usual" Suzu stated as she smirked at the enemies ridiculous appearance "Still not enough to take him down. You ready for this?" "As I''ll ever be. Tai, stay with Akina!" "Got it, I''m on support!" RUSTLE! "Good, ones with stronger chakras. I''ll be able to make even stronger explosions with you" ??? On the northern battlefront, the Yotsuki clan maintained a stalemate with the Fma, despite the latter outnumbering the defense No, what really kept them at bay was... SHING! BLURCH! "A-A-AHHH!" "Damn it, another one?!" "His head...it just came right off!" Since first reaching the shore, the Fma had been under the assault of raining arrows, with perfect aim. Each and everyone never missed a target, flying right through their necks Packed with an impossible amount of force, heads rolled all over the field "Take cover where you can find it! Make it if you have to!" "Hey! Doton4Earth Styleusers at the front!" "We got it, Doton: Banri Doryheki5Earth Style: Great Mud Wall!" SPEW! RUMBLE! Several Fma lined up and spat mud from their mouths. The dirt solidified into several, stretched-out pillars of earth. Growing upwards from the ground before combining into a single, sturdy defensive wall "Take cover!" "Okay, we''ve got some leeway now" "Let''s reorganize and come up with another means of atta-" BOOM! BLURCH! An arrow easily burst through their defense, destroying the wall and decapitating another target "S-Shit! How?! How could they see-?!" "Sticking together is no good. Scatter!" "Give her too many targets to follow at once!" ZWSH! ZWSH! ZWSH! They all dashed in different directions, engaging the Yotsuki clan in various areas across the northern front. One particular member grit his teeth after spotting several of his deceased comrades "Kuh...! We''ve lost so many...that bitch!" "Who?!" "Over there, the one with the bow and arrows!" Pointing to the top of hill in front of the coastline, a woman clad in a white and black armored kimino led the Yotsuki clan. With a short sword on one side of her hip, and a quiver on her other, she unleashed her arrows at inhuman speeds "Tomoe Yotsuki, wife of the Yotsuki clan head, Ganj Yotsuki" "Why don''t we just take her down first?! Or even better, use her as a hostage?!" "And end up like those poor fools about to try?" "Eh?" A group of Fma managed to slip past the defense and encircle Tomoe. But just as they began their attack, she withdrew the small blade on her hip, making a 360 swipe in the air... ZWIP! FWOOSH! "H-Huh?" "Tsk! Idiots..." THUD! THUD! THUD! One after the other, heads rolled "W-W-What just happened...?" "The Yotsuki are full of swordsman, did you really think getting closer would help?" "But she didn''t even touch them!" "It''s the same as those ridiculous arrows, she''s using an insanely powerful Fton6Wind Style. With chakra flow, it increases their range, force, speed, and overall power to new heights. As for those guys just now, I can only assume she did the same with her sword, extending its reach in an instant" {They were still several feet from her, and she decapitated all of them in an instant. That level skill and chakra control is just...!} "Tomoe Yotsuki, also known as The Beheader...never one one to take lightly. Skilled in both long and short range, she has no blind spots. Heh, what do you expect from the wife of the shinobi even the The Land of Iron''s samurai respect?" "..." SHINK! Sheathing her blade, Tomoe resumed her assault, firing bullet-like arrows at any and every enemy unfortunate enough to catch her eye "Shouldn''t we retreat? We weren''t even supposed to be here this long!" "Stick to the plan, Nobuyuki-sama won''t fail. We just have to wait for the signal, then we make our counter attack" "...Okay" "Damn it, isn''t it long past time for those inmates to use it?! This is why you don''t work with scum!" ??? I don''t see things like you do... "Balance..." "..." "Now?" "Again, you''re so impatient Red. You gotta learn to take things slow, to really appreciate what''s happening" I don''t see things like they do. Hell, I don''t even see things like HE does... "You''ve stalled long enough" "Procrastination, you say? Is that what you think I''m doing Red?" "You''re the one who can''t appreciate what this means. Not only for the Company, but for the world. The status quo is..." "Ugh, again with the same speech!" Even for a being as I, dreams still come. Desires still come. More importantly, I have passion. The passion to strive, to take, to reach out, despite how stagnant I''ve been forced to become... "Balance..." "Fine, I''ll radio Itsuki. Guess even you can be whiner" "Just do it. We should''ve checked if our radios still worked despite the interference we''re giving Kumo" "Sigh! Shut up already, I''m doing it!" It''s amazing how the only absolute in this...in every universe, is time... BZZZT! "Come in Itsuki...come in you idiot" {Just as immature as your brother} "Come in...Itsuki. Don''t pretend you''re not there you little f**k...or I''ll kill you" It just erodes everything. Not just matter or energy, but our very spirits. Custom, tradition, guidelines, morals, vanity... They just fade away, and so easily. And once they''re gone, you look back and think... "[I''m here Balance, the hell do ya want now?]" "First off, you and your Oni Garrison did a great job on that explosion and breach. Second..." "Why did I even care about that stuff?" It''s only an obstacle. Imagine how far one could go if you threw it all away. I''m sad to say I''ve remained stagnant for quite some time, letting these things hold me back... So with that in mind, I''ve decided...if he doesn''t want to play by my rules, why should I keep them at at all? "[Wait. You mean...is it time?!]" "Kukuku...yes" I''ve waited long enough, and while I could wait a little more...I nO lonGer wANt to "Instruct the inmates..." "..." "Have them use the Lift" "[!]" "Do it. Now." "[...Okay]" BZZZT!! This is aLL your fault, for getting tOO attatchED to these worthleSS meatbagS. Which is wHy, as of today... wE''ll takE them fRom you becausE... You''ve bEcome like me, likE us... Ever so staGnant... UnacceptaBLE... "Alright Red" "What?" "Let''s finally see if we got our money''s worth" "..." No maTTer whaT happENs today... No maTTer whaT you''ve Lost today... No maTTer whoM you''ve Lost today... "The world will never be the same after today" "...We finally agree on something" This is aLL your fault... Raymond 162. LIFT MrProper "Move!" "Right!" THK! THK! "Urg! Stop moving around you little-!" Team Tango''s battle with the Chinoike infiltrator neared its end. Fortunately, the older man wasn''t amongst the strongest of his clan. Only possessing somewhat, above average skill in Genjutsu, and other modest attacks utilizing his family''s unique blood manipulation ability "This guy is really annoying...you''re up Rei" "Got it" {Katon: Endan1Fire Style: Flame Bullet!} Rei launched a large fire blast, incinerated the "blades" of blood the man launched at them TAK! Tai rejoined the group after moving Akina to a safe location away from the fighting "Just finished treating her injuries, she''ll be fine. Anything I should know before engaging?" asked Tai "Don''t look in his eyes. Contrary to all the blood attacks, the Chinoike specialize in Genjutsu via Djutsu2Eye Techniques" "You two stick together. If he gets you, the other can disrupt your chakra flow and free you from his influence" Rei suggested "Right, Genjutsu is your specialty. You could probably go toe-to-toe with him in that area" {Against this loser, sure. But the ridiculously powerful upcoming enemies in the future...not even close. Sigh, can''t let myself get distracted, have to deal with this guy and get back to HQ--Oh. Those might help} "Guys, I may have something to deal with him" "In that case, we''ll run interference for you. Let''s go Tai!" "Way ahead of you!" POOF! Using the red, weapon-summoning wrist bands Rei gifted him and Suzu several years back, Tai summoned two glass vials of chemicals he''d previously concocted before throwing them at the ground, shattering near the enemy {What is that stuff? Poison or something?!} "Tch!" WEAVE! {Suiton: Kiri Seigyo no Jutsu3Water Style: Mist Control!} Under the influence of his chakra, the liquids Tai released vaporized in an instant, chasing after the fleeing Chinoike in a cloud of mist "Like that slow thing will ever touch me, dumbass!" "We''ll see who''s dumb in a sec. Suzu, if you''d be so kind?" "Mhm" {Fton: Reppsh4Wind Style: Gale Palm} BOOSH! Using wind style as a spurring factor, Suzu blasted the mist right towards the intended target, increasing it''s speed and spread. The poisonous vapor enveloped the man, causing him to cough and gasp for air as he struggled to breathe Suzu wore a satisfied look, but Tai''s attention was focused on something else... "U-Ugh! Damn Kumo imps...I''ll kill you...!" "Heads up Tai! He''s not done yet!" Suzu warned "I know..." {His eyes...I wasn''t expecting that kind of chemical reaction. My poison isn''t supposed to...wait. Could it be...?} SPLOOSH! With the last of his strength, the man gathered all the blood in the area, elevating himself to a higher position and away from the vapor. Attempting to catch his breath before retaliating "I''m going make a air current upwards. Tai, it''ll help if you direct the mist as well" "Oh, there''s no need for that Suzu" "What?" ZWIP! "Now I''ll pay you shits back in full for-!" "Too late for that" "Huh?!" STAB! STAB! STAB! "GAH!" Before he could respond, Rei had appeared behind the man suspended in the air, stabbing him with several Black Rods. The very same chakra-draining weapons favored by the now deceased Isshiki. Rei had unsatisfactory results using them in the past, largely in part to his lacking Isshiki''s unique jutsu that shrunk matter {It''s hard to utilize these awkwardly shaped stakes as weapons in close combat. Kunai and shuriken were always better. No wonder Isshiki only used them in collaboration with Sukunahikona5Small Man of Renown} "Agh! What''s going on?! Can''t...my chakra!!" "Hmph!" WHACK! POW! "Ooof!" "Still. Their quite handy for sneak attacks" Rei delivered several blows to his torso, shin, and face. The man was paralyzed from the rods, unable to fight back as the young man''s abnormally powerful blows bombarded his body "GAH! "Ah! No! I forgot we''re still in the air!" CRACK! THUD! Underestimating his strength, Rei knocked him out as his body fell to ground, breaking his neck in the process He died instantly {Well...shit} "Rei..." "..." "We were supposed to take him alive for questioning..." "I never anticipated he''d be that weak. Though it makes sense, considering his group has avoided direct confrontations this whole time" Though rare, it was a honest mistake on his part. Never petty enough to not admit his own faults, he apologized to Suzu. Tai remained oblivious to their banter, spending his time examining the dead body. He was particularly focused on the eyes "Hmm. The cornea is more irritated than I presumed...maybe I can take advantage of it?" Akina came out of hiding and joined the the group "Akina-san, are you okay?" Suzu asked "Sigh...I''m better than the shop at least" "What about the other employees? I know your older brother is the head chef that owns the place but..." Rei added "I was picking up vegetables elsewhere for restocking when the evacuation began. Akiko-niisan6Suffix for older brother, along with some assistant cooks on our payroll, were probably escorted away. I was already heading back this direction when the chaos took place..." "And then you were ambushed, thank God Rei sensed your chakra" "Yes...I''m still alive. But everything else is..." "..." Though she tried to hide it on her face, Suzu and Rei could tell she was hurting inside. Her family business had crumbled to nothing, on top of being almost killed, and she was still unsure if her brother had managed to get to an evac center safely "We wouldn''t let these guys do anything to you. And this area in particular was the last to get hit when the incursion began, I''m sure Akiko-san is fine" "Are you sure Suzu?" "Positive. He''s probably going crazy in a evac center worrying about you" "H-Haha, yeah...of course he is!" "This area has been cleared, and the nearest center isn''t too far from here. I''ll have my clone escort you there" {Kage Bunshin7Shadow Clone!} WEAVE! POOF! Rei''s clone held Akina''s hand before escorting her away. The young lady expressed her gratitude for the team''s help "Thank you for helping me, next time you''re here, dinner''s on the house!" "Don''t say that me, you might just go bankrupt!" Rei quipped "And...she''s gone. Hm? Tai! What are you doing?" The pair turned around to see Tai fiddling with the deceased Chinoike''s body "Guys...we need to take this body!" "Excuse me? What are planning Tai?" "I figured it out Suzu!" "Figured what out?" "Their weakness! I can do it, I can force all the hidden Chinoike saboteurs out of the shadows! Come on! Help me carry him, we''re gonna need Dodai-sama''s help!" "Alright, but tell us how exactly you''ll-Uh?!!!" "Rei?!" Rei suddenly clutched his chest, a dark and intense feeling enveloped his mind "What''s wrong?! Is there another enemy nearby?!" "No! That''s not it...the battlefield! The enemy has...what is this twisted chakra I''m feeling?!" ??? Minutes Earlier BOOM! BANG! BOOSH! Outside the village walls, Kumogakure''s shinobi maintained a stalemate with the army of escaped inmates from Hzuki-j8Demon Lantern Castle. At the start of the battle, the war had been in favor of the village. HQ naturally expected this once they identified the enemy, clearly understanding brute force is nothing in the face of regimented military, especially on their home turf "Keep up the pressure! Another barrage of blades!" "Protect the supply chain!!" "Don''t let these bastards take another step towards our home!!!" The Kumo-nin stood their ground amongst the outer defensive line known as "Third Quarter", releasing waves upon waves of weapons "They''re still coming!" "Are they trying to kill themselves?" But what perplexed them the most was how much the inmates did not care about the obvious disadvantage they had. The entire force continued running towards the line It was completely suicidal "Keep charging, we''re almost there!" "Soon as we get close, soon as we get close! Kekeke!" No matter how many of them fell, they just didn''t care "So many of their allies are dying, and they just run right over them..." "What''d you expect? They''re criminals, don''t expect them to have sympathy!" "Nor should you have sympathy for them! Prepare another wave!" "Sir!" One of the commanding officers was about to issue another coordinated attack when the enemy abruptly stopped "H-Huh?" "The hell? Why are they...?" "They stopped. Did reality finally hit them?" On the field, the leader of the Oni Garrison known as Itsuki addressed the inmates "I just received word! Everyone! Use the Lift!" CLAMOR! The inmates turned into crazed crowd, screaming with joy and anticipation "Finally...I hadn''t taken in one in so long!!!!" "N-N-Need it...I-I-I-I need it. WHERE IS IT?!" "I want it...I want it...I want it...!" {Ugh! They''ve become even more twisted. That woman, Red or whatever the hell her name is...she''s got some real f**ked up hobbies...} Itsuki thought, repulsed at the crowd''s behavior "Here it is, finally! It''s opened, the seal is off!!!" "I can take it!" "YESSSS!!!" One after the other, the inmates pulled a small box from their pockets with paper seal placed on top of them. Balance arranged for these seals in order to prevent them from taking it''s contents prematurely But now, said member of the "Company" had unilaterally released them "Mine! All mine!" "Hehehehe!" "It''s beautiful, it''s so damn beautiful! Weeks without having one in that prison was too cruel of a punishment!" Within the small boxed was ordinary-looking small, round, white pill. Almost simultaneously, the inmates consumed the odd commodity as Itsuki fled the scene, taking his men along with him "Hmph! Damn junkies...enjoy your time being their test subjects" Ituski muttered WOOOOOO... "..." Silence Back at the defensive line, the Kumo-nin observed from the distance, wondering what the enemy was waiting for. But the unsettling silence taking place was instantly replaced by the sudden beast-like roars of the inmates "WOOOOAAHHHH!!!!" The all screamed, resuming their march with a ferocious, savage candor about them. Emitting a strange, red-colored aura around them, eyes completely white, and their minds devoid of any intelligence "That chakra is..." "What...the hell?" Despite being unable to comprehend the cause of this sudden change...even the dullest of Kumo-nin present could tell what was going in their heads with one look at their faces It was pure madness... "W-What''s wrong with them...?" "FIRE!!!" "Stop them now!!" FWIP! FWIP! PIERCE! The inmates were once again bombarded with blades, but this time...they didn''t stop "Do they not feel pain anymore?!" "They''ve gone berserk!" With boundless strength, the inmates neared the defensive line in no time at all "CHARGE!" "We must not let them get past us!" "TO WAR!" The two main, opposing forces had finally clashed up close for the first time since the start of this siege ??? Genbu Island "AGH!" "Yugito?!" Team Mabui were at the tip of the island turtle, anxious to get back home when out of nowhere, Yugito clenched her stomach. Falling to her knees in pain "What''s wrong, were you hurt in that fight earlier?" "No...that''s not it. I just had this horrible feeling and..." "And what?" "My tailed beast, the two-tails, it''s very upset for some reason. I''ve never felt this kind of rage from it before" Samui wondered if something was wrong with her seal, in fear of the beast getting loose. Yugito quickly denied this claim prior to getting up and pointing toward the village "What do you see?" Samui asked "Not what I see, what I feel. There...there''s something in that direction, towards the village. Something...sinister" "..." "But that''s not what''s the most upsetting about it" "Then what is it?" Mabui impatiently asked "..." "It''s...me" "?" Samui and Mabui were at a loss toward her response, unable to grasp at what she was hinting at "Wanna be a little more clear than that? I think I''ve had my fill of cryptic one-liners for the day" Mabui said sarcastically "Sorry, lemme be more specific" She stepped forward, eying the direction towards the village before facing her teammates again "This sinister feeling I''m getting from the village, it''s source..." "Oh...don''t say it" "It''s me..." 163. Game Changer "RAAAHHHH!!!!!" "FIGHT!!" In little over ten minutes, the former serene, grassy plains separating the two opposing forces transformed into a scene of carnage. Various Ninjutsu thrown back and forth, blades clinging, consistent explosions, and blood spreading everywhere as the casualties continued to grow In spite of these horrific factors, there was still something even worse... "RRRGGHHH!!!" "Tch!" "Push them back, we cannot let them get past this line!!" The strange "Lift" pill consumed by the inmates threw them into a mad frenzy, causing any circumstance outside the fight to be seen as irrelevant in their now berserk minds. Regardless of wounds received, deaths on their side, nor the force of Kumogakure''s shinobi, they cared naught for it If anything, the more death there was throughout the battlegrounds, the worse things seemed to be... WOOOO!!! "That strange aura around them is only increasing in power. What kind of chakra is that?!" "F! Look out!" "Eh?!" "AAHHH!!" A particular location on the field, the Jonin F had struggled to hold his ground. The inmates seemed to target the strongest of shinobi first, going in the order of Jonin to lower ranking Chunin One of said berserkers managed to get the drop of F prior to the screaming warning from one of his comrades "...Crap!" "Kanashibari no Jutsu1Temporary Paralysis Jutsu!" "RRRGHH!! AAAHHH!!" "Wha?! Who did that just now-?!" yelled F as glanced around To his surprise, the individual responsible for stopping the attacker in his place was none other Musai, son of the now deceased Osoi who had perished alongside Jiton no Toroi2Toroi of the Magnet Style {Of course, I''d almost forgotten how skilled Musai was with paralysis jutsu!} "Thanks Musai!" "If you wanna thank me--urgh! Hurry up and finish that guy off! He''s ridiculously strong, I can''t hold him forever!" Musai warned "Way ahead of you!" SLICE! THUD! Not wasting Musai''s good will, F swung the blade in his hand with all his might, slitting the man''s throat. Once the enemy bled out in front of him, he gathered the still living comrades present and regrouped with Musai "Alright, we vastly outnumber them but, I''m sure you''ve all noticed..." "Huff...huff...yeah. The more we kill..." "Yeah..." "We need to spread the word. The way to beat them is sticking to group attacks. Never engage them one on one, it''s not so different than fighting a member of the Uchiha Clan" "Understood" everyone responded in unison "You lot, spread the word down our defensive line. Musai, you''re with me!" "Alright F, lead the way" ??? "Oh...OH!!" "..." Not too far from the battle, the Company members who were at the center of this heinous plan, Red and Balance, moved in for a closer look. Red became elated at the results of her "work" She was practically bouncing in joy, but Balance sat on the ground sluggishly, clearly unamused at the sight "Wonderful. Wonderful! This is even better than I''d anticipated!" "Uh-huh. Fan-friggin-tastic..." "Sorry, am I boring you Balance?" Red asked with an irritable tone Though never one to show much emotion, Red held great pride in her skills. The development of the "Lift" was solely her design, albeit with some assistance from a former colleague She expected a modicum of appreciation from Balance at least, but the latter remained disinterested "I''ve gotten used to your crazy, so you''re boring most of the time. However, that''s not what''s bothering me now" "Then please share, what exactly do you find so dissatisfying about this?" RUSTLE! Balance got up, walked right past her, and gestured towards the battlefield "It''s this. This! All of this time, prep, and work. Everything, all the bullshit I''ve had to put up with for the last five years was just so you could make a mere performance enhancer? Are you f**king with me?!" "Disappointing Balance. I knew your idiot brother lacked vision, but I never imagined you, the spymaster did as well" "Don''t get smart with me little girl, I will drag you to hell" His voice went completely cold "..." Balance had been worked to the bone in recent years, largely in part to this little project. Forced to sacrifice resources, people, and his precious time. Absurd requests from the Company were hurled at him left and right, all the while annoyed at the sight of Red having the time of her life as she continued her favored research The years had been work for him, but nothing short of a vacation for the twisted scientist of the Company. Even when she wore a mask, Balance could tell she''d been full of smiles for the past five years "I believe I told you there would be a reckoning if the end result didn''t satisfy me, did I not?" "Calm down Balance. You really think Sage would''ve set me up with Orochimaru himself to make a simple Tailed Beast Drug? That idea has been reused consistently ever since the discovery of the nine beasts" "...What are you hinting at?" "Tell me, what do those pretty eyes of yours see?" Red said as she pointed towards the field, the enhanced inmates in particular "Hmph!" Balance glanced at the battle, still unimpressed "Now that Ituski and his Oni Garrison have left, all I see is a gathering of fools. Enhanced fools with no thoughts, no sense of self, just a lust for carnage. Hardly an impressive feat" "You''re still looking at the surface, look deeper Balance" "Hmm...huh? Wait, are they getting even...stronger? That weird red aura around them is increasing..." "But that can''t be all? What''s causing their power to increase even more? What are you not seeing?" Red coyly stated while smiling "..." "Come on, you can do it" "Don''t patronize me, I''ll kill yo-oh! Huh. So that''s the answer is it? With each death, the living are..." "Brilliant right?" Balance finally realized, with the death of every inmate, the others still alive would get stronger, and more ferocious. Red went on the clarify what made this pill so amazing was that once taken, it linked the chakras of every other user present When one died, the deceased''s chakra would be split and shared amongst the rest, increasing their power "How does that even work?" "The idea initially came from Flow. During his tenure inside Kumo, he''d come to discover that project of the Raikage''s. Experimenting on the effects chakra signals and whatnot. You know, the one called the Network or something, but that''s irrelevant. What''s key is that each set of pills I concoct are unique, meaning, we''re the only ones who can make it" "And this batch has linked the inmates together. The more Kumogakure kills, the harder it becomes to defeat them?" "Correct. As for the boost in power itself, all the credit goes to Orochimaru. That guy has always been obsessed with the 1st Hokage and the Tailed Beasts. We needed his knowhow in order form its foundation" "All the specimens you''ve had the Board gather for you all this time..." "The pill itself is comprised of materials collected from all nine beasts. In different percentages however, the two-tails taking most of it" {Everything you''ve had us steal in the past decade...it was for this} Balance instantly realized "Only Orochimaru could manufacture a binding agent capable of holding all of it together. My job was to ensure it wouldn''t kill the user immediately. The only ones known to have survived such powers were Kumo''s Futatsu no Hikari3Two Lights" In order to remain discreet, the Company only issued certain orders and requests. Maintaining strict confidentiality in order to preserve the secrecy of the organization. This extended to the top "Board" members, including Balance Hence, the reason he lacked so much information on the "Lift". What he''d already learned about it was acquired by his own means, being the authority on spying, intel was his currency But even Balance couldn''t hide his shock as Red continued to share the intricate details of this abnormal drug''s creation "So? What do you think? Not so boring now is it?" "..." "What? Are you still feeling...unsatisfied?" teased Red Balance turned around and faced her "No. But I have one more question" "By all means, shoot" "What happens to the shared chakra when all of them have perished?" "!" "You said the chakra is linked, with set destinations. And what if they don''t all die? I know this drug doesn''t last forever. When it wears out...where exactly does said chakra go?" "..." Red went silent, the smug smirk on her face disappeared as she stared back at Balance. No trace of emotion could be seen as she hesitated to answer Balance attentively studied her facial expressions and body language, attempting to uncover what she was hiding "Well?" "Apologies Balance. That answer...I can''t give it to you yet. Not until the Company is ready to begin its true purpose" "..." "This is all I can say" "...That''s fine" "Thank you for your understanding. Let''s continue our observation, I still wish to gather more data" "Right" {Even if you don''t tell, I''ll figure it out on my own. In the end, it''s every man for himself} 164. O-Onions?! MrProper Happy Holidays! Kumogakure''s Intelligence Division Within Kumo''s temporary command center, the mission desk for evacuation assistance was overrun. Genin were still coming and going, receiving new orders for different locations around the village There was even a Genin squad working with the staff at the desk "Team F reporting! District 23 has been safely evacuated" "Good work" "We''re ready for our next area" "Here, District 7 is in dire need of aid" "Sir? We were just at 23" "And?" "Um...well, since we know the terrain, shouldn''t we be sent somewhere closer. I can see on the map, the 19th is in need of help" "That area is one of the worst of the worst. No way we''re sending Genin there. Head to your assigned location" "Sir! Let''s go guys!" "Right!" That''s how it normally went, even the Genin hardly had time to rest. Once inside, they received orders, left to evacuate a zone, then returned for another. Nearly every Genin squad in the village was hard at work SLAM! "?!" "You! Where''s Dodai?!" "H-He''s still in the command center!" "Thanks. You three, this way!" A particular Genin team came storming in with a high-ranking Jonin at its head. Charging through area before entering the command center "H-hey Hiroshi. Those three Genin, were they...?" "Yeah" Back at the assignment desk, the Genin assistants organizing files for the adults in the back murmured to one another "Come on, let''s go tell him." "Right, no way in hell I''m missing out on this opportunity" ??? Inside the central command center... "Dodai-sama, we''re getting reports of push back on the northern coastline. The same phenomenon from the front line is also occurring in that area!" "The Fma there are out of control, we don''t know how long Tomoe-sama can hold out!" "The battle between Nobuyuki Fma and Ganj-sama has shown no signs of slowing down!" "The Chinoike saboteurs are ramping up their attacks in the eastern district!" "What the hell is this?!" {Things were quieting down a second ago, we''d finally gained our bearings since this incident began!} At the Intelligence Division HQ, Dodai had received numerous reports of enemy combatants entering a so-called "Berserk State". Almost simultaneously, Chinoike attacks increased exponentially, putting even more pressure on the village He''d long been ready to begin the mysterious "Network" project, but couldn''t take the chance with the enemy still lingering inside the village "There is something seriously wrong here!" "I know sir, this strange power of the enemy is-" "No, not that! Can''t you feel it? Everything is just...off!" For Dodai, this strategy felt all too convenient... CLANK! "Dodai!" "Hm?! Oh, it''s you" It was none other than Moroi, captain of the Kumo Barrier Team, who barged into command center. His team currently maintained a detection barrier around the entire village, hoping to catch the hidden Chinoike Unfortunately, the enemy suppressed their chakras, performing short guerrilla attacks by turning people into bombs, before disappearing once again. There simply wasn''t enough time to mobilize and intercept the enemy before they escaped They''ve only managed to catch a small number so far "The news you bring...good or bad?" asked Dodai with a weary tone "It''s just not working Dodai, by the time a squad gets to the intended target''s destination, said target will have already fled" "Bad news it is then..." "Not necessarily" "?" WHISTLE! CLANK! After Moroi whistled, three Genin entered the room, all of whom were holding a dead body "You guys? Wait...did you three actually manage to take down a-?!" "Heh, I couldn''t believe either, yet there it is" THMP! The Genin squad that arrived was none other than Team Tango, dropping the deceased Chinoike member who almost killed Akina on the table in front of Dodai They lined up, side to side before Moroi spoke again "They ran into this guy on their way back to HQ. And as fate would have it, the same time I came here to issue my report. But that wasn''t the most interesting part of their journey here" "Excuse me?" "Tai, tell Dodai what you just told me" Moroi said as he gestured for the young man to step forward Tai was a bit hesitant at first, but managed to speak out after getting some encouragement from Rei and Suzu. Standing at attention with his arms behind him, he presented his findings "D-Dodai-sama. Most don''t know, but I''m a Medical-nin who also specializes in poisons, particularly poison mist" "I know, I''ve gone over all the reports for Genin in the village" {Largely in part for selecting the team to represent us in the upcoming Chunin Exams} "Yes. I employed the same tactics during our fight with the man before you. However, hitting him with my mist yielded an unexpected reaction. Specifically his eyes, which are the focal point of his clan''s Kekkei Genkai1Bloodline Limit" "Oh? What kind of reaction?" POOF! TINK! Using his armbands, Tai summoned a glass vial of his favored poison before vaporizing it with his jutsu, exposing it to the dead body in front of them Waiting for a certain, chemical reaction "Hm?! His eyes are...!" "This is my newest batch of poison. Notice how, even being deceased, this man''s eyes react to it?" "What did you do?" "This brand of poison contains a synthesized variant of syn-propanethial-s-oxide, an organic sulfuric acid commonly found in-" "Onions!" "Exactly. But this variant I''ve created...I can use it to specifically target the Chinoike within the village" "We''ve determined this sensitivity is specific to their unique Ketsurygan2Blood Dragon Eyeeye. It won''t stop them, but it will single them out" said Moroi It didn''t take a genius to figure out what Tai was suggesting. And Moroi had a point, this solution could solve one of their major problems right now If the Chinoike were dealt with, it''d give them the leeway to focus solely on the invading force outside the village "Okay, this plan seems utterly ridiculous...but I''m desperate now. So, say I were to agree to it, do you have enough for the village?" "We stopped by his greenhouse before arriving here. By my calculations, we have enough to blanket the entire village three times over. The only problem is how we''ll disperse it" Rei stated "I can''t control my mist to cover the entire village, I''m going to need some help" "Not to mention, our overall coordination with Moroi-san''s barrier team, and the squads sent to engage. This has to be done with precise timing, which is going to be especially difficult with no long range communication thanks to the enemy''s radio interference" Suzu added "..." Everyone waited for a response, but Dodai remained silent. Quietly pondering as solution came to mind. Eventually, the eyes of everyone in the room were focused on him To many, it had been the longest minute in their lives "I''ve got it. Rei & Suzu, report back to assignment desk. There are still areas that need evac and we''re short on staff as it is" "Just us two?" "Can you function as a two-man unit?" The pair glanced at Tai, asking with their eyes if he was okay with splitting up. The young man simply nodded, assuring them it''d be alright "We can, Rei and I will be just fine" Suzu said "Tai, you''re with me, I may have something that can put this crazy plan of yours into action" "Sir!" "Moroi, can I count on your support?" "Naturally. You''ll have what you need from me Dodai" "Good, I''ll meet you and Tai in the room behind me. There''s something I want to show you" "I''ll go on ahead then" CLANK! Moroi left the room, and Dodai was just about to follow in suit before addressing the present staff, all of whom were gazing at Dodai with anticipation "The hell are you all staring at, we''ve got a job to do!" "YES SIR!" "Tai, come meet us in here once you''re finished" "Ah! T-Thank you sir!" Dodai gave the team time to say farewell as they split up CLANK! Tai saw his team out to the Evac assignment desk to receive new orders. Exiting the building before breaking the silence "Looks like this is it..." "For today Tai. When you''re done here, the adults will take care of the rest. The second this conflict is over, we''ll get something nice to eat" "Pfft! Of course the only thing on your mind is food Rei" "Like I always say, priorities" "Still, I don''t like us separating" said an uncharacteristically anxious Suzu "Hoh, what''s this? Did we just get glance at Suzu''s softer side?" Tai teased "Tai" "Hey, I''m gonna be working in here, one of the most guarded places in the village now. If there''s anyone who should worry, it''s me. You guys will out on the field" "Hey, it''s not like you can''t join us when you''re done" Rei said "I''m still not sure about that. The hospital next door is need of more assistance, so they might assign me there once we''re done" "Ah...we might not see each other until after this is over" The trio went silent again, despite having strong resolve, they all felt safest when moving together. Even Rei, who typically treated this world as a fantasy, became somewhat uneasy "My mo--um...a person close to me once said, if you''re strong enough to part ways, you''ll be met with an even better reunion" said Rei "!" "Let''s get this done so things can''t get back to what we weirdos consider normal, alright?" "And here I was, teasing Suzu for showing a softer side" "Ah, shut up Tai" "Tehehe" giggled Suzu "Be safe you two" "Always" "See ya later Tai" With no other options, the team bid their farewells before splitting up. Rei and Suzu heading towards the inner parts of the village as Tai reentered the building ??? As Tai made his way to the room Dodai instructed him to enter, his mind was too preoccupied to notice the figures behind the assignment desk Three young men in particular, with two of them reporting to the one seemingly in charge "And...they''re gone" "So...did you manage to do it?" "Yup, those two are heading straight for district 19. Swapped for number 43" "And no one will be able to trace it back to us?" "This ongoing chaos ensures that''ll never happen" "And we just handed out 43 to another squad. It''s too late for anyone to find out what we did" "CHUCKLE!" The one in charge couldn''t hold back from laughing "Well done Mikage, Hiroshi. I''ve been waiting to pay those two back for a long time" "You''re not the only one boss" "And we''ve eliminated more competition, the team set to be selected for the upcoming Chunin Exams. Raikage still hasn''t made his decision" "Of course that meat-headed oaf hasn''t. My uncle would''ve never allowed this mess to happen in the first place" "HEY!" "?!" The three were startled at the yell of the Jonin at the desk, wondering what was taking his "helpers" so long in the back "Mikage, Hiroshi! Get over here!" "We''re coming sir, some...papers got mixed up in the back! We were just cleaning up is all!" lied Hiroshi "Well hurry up, more teams are coming in!" "PHEW!" "Our work is never done" "You guys go, we still have a job to do after all. The Jonin looking after me will also be back in a sec" "Okay" "See ya later boss" CREAK! As Mikage and Hiroshi left, another Jonin entered the room "Hey Sekiei, I need those documents I asked for earlier. Have you finished the task I gave you?" "Here they are, all accounted for" "Great! You''re quick and efficient, I''ll be sure to report your initiative to the higher-ups when this is over. Any problems while I was gone?" "Oh no. In fact, I''d just finished..." "Hm?" The young man wore a smile as big as the moon "Tying up some loose ends" 165. Stray Dog MrProper Night had come, and with it, a starry sky SWISH! CLANG! On Kumogakure''s southern coastline, two ninja had reached the climax of their fight. One, unleashing endless waves of shuriken together with his unique Ninjutsu. The other was dual-wielding swordsman attempting to close the distance between them in hopes of ending the fight Leader of the invading Fma clan, Nobuyuki Fma... Leader of the defender Yotsuki clan, Ganj Yotsuki... "Huff...huff...!" {You''d think this guy would be tired after slicing so many into pieces} "..." {Just how many shuriken does he have? I''ve lost count of the ones thrown} Neither seemed to let up "Hmph!" FLING! WEAVE! "?!" Nobuyuki threw two more blades before forming hand seals {Shuriken Kage Bunshin no Jutsu1Shuriken Shadow Clone Jutsu!} FWIP! FWIP! FWIP! In an instant, the two became four, then eight, sixteen...multiplying until their numbers rose to the hundreds. All hurdling towards Ganj at dangerous speeds {This technique was invented by the "Professor". If he''s using jutsu from the 3rd Hokage''s arsenal, I guess he really is who he claims to be. The Fma are in even worse shape than I thought} "You''re really disappointing...Nobuyuki Fma" "What?" After sheathing his blades, Ganj patiently waiting for the shuriken to reach him. Once they were no more than two feet from him... "WOOAAAAH!!! SLICE! SLICE! SHING! He unleashed his swords, swinging them at insane speeds! His arms moved so fast, afterimages were all Nobuyuki could see as he blocked each and every shuriken "...Seriously?" Nobuyuki gawked "Haaah..." Once the last one was taken care of, Ganj took a deep breath before resuming his initial stance. All the while glaring at his opponent, as if he were a predator in the wild, spotting his prey {This is even worse than I thought, if the battle continues like this I''ll...!} "Like I said, pathetic" "Excuse me?" a vexed Nobuyuki responded "A creature of the Land of Fire, banished from his clan due to his insatiable lust for war. Now living the life of a stray dog, stealing all the weapons and/or jutsu you can find. Offering your services to any scum who required them. No purpose whatsoever" "..." "During the Second Shinobi World War, the body count you racked up was nigh-unsurpassable" "I served my former homeland proudly, my clan eliminated any intruder who dared to cross its borders. In hindsight, we''re not so different from you Yotsuki" "Not so different...you say?" "Huh?" SHING! BOOSH! "?!" "Don''t you dare compare yourselves to my noble family...!" At his remark, Ganj emotionless face became one of pure wrath. Swinging his sword with such force, the air around him became unsettled But Nobuyuki wasn''t intimidated, he simply smirked at his response, coyly asking if he struck a nerve "The majority of your kills were from ordinary people! You execute your captives, target innocent bystanders, break every conceivable rule of engagement!" "Every war has its casualties Ganj-san..." "You once destroyed a peaceful village due to a unreliable tip that a single shinobi had infiltrated it. Not just the men, but the women and children. Did you know how happy your home country was when they believed the Sannin2Legendary Three Ninja Jiraiya had finished you off?" "Bwuhaha! Faking my death so well it fooled the likes of him? That was one of my crowning achievements! Besides, it''s not like I got out of that fight unscathed" Nobuyuki said as he pointed toward the horizontal scar on his forehead Ganj''s displeasure at his lack of guilt or remorse only grew every time he opened his mouth "Besides, it''s not as if Kumogakure doesn''t have that kind of blood on its hands. Every village maintains the illusion of upholding honor and principle, when in truth...they''re constantly looking for ways to one-up the other from the shadows. Save your hypocritical bullshit for someone who gives a damn" POOF! CLINK! Nobuyuki summoned more shuriken as he prepared for another long-ranged assault "Shinobi are merely tools in a system, ones who keep peace and stability in the lands. A fool like you who clings to such antique ways will always get left behind" "Sigh..." "I see the world for what it truly is, and I know if there were no more than two powers left in this world, someone is gonna need someone dead. I''m simply fulfilling my role" "True, but I''m not Kumogakure. What stands before you isn''t a village, but a man, one who has grown weary of war and conflict. One who seeks to make this world a little more bright...by taking a so-called tool like you out of it" "Yeah, now that''s the spirit" VWOOOOO... A cold wind blew through the air There was no more to be said. Ganj had offered Nobuyuki every chance to surrender, but to no avail. He once again sheathed the two swords on his hip In spite of the dark, cloudy night upon them, the pair scanned each other for even the slightest opening to exploit. Refraining from moving even an inch, they were no different than statues One minute had passed... Two minutes had passed... Three minutes had passed... VWOOOO... BLAM! {What?!} Unexpectedly, it was Nobuyuki, and not Ganj who moved first. Blasting the ground beneath his feet as he charged directly at Ganj. The latter of whom was caught off guard at this decision to close the gap, given he was long-range fighter, Ganj couldn''t understand why Nobuyuki decided to approach "HERE I COME!!" "..." Did he lose his nerve? Maybe he made a mistake? Has he underestimated me? Does he have a secret weapon? Or maybe he''s been pretending all this time, and he really is a close-range fighter... In a matter of seconds, countless theories surged in his mind as he sharpened his perception to the absolute limit. Observing everything with his eyes, taking in every bit of information available. Footsteps, current distance, air resistance, how many seconds before he was in range, the number shuriken he was carrying "Time to end this Ganj-san!!" {This won''t do, I can''t rely on the basics this time. I need something more...} "Unorthodox" "Hm?" "This ends...when the moon guides my soul" A white light shined off of Ganj''s swords "He''s unsheathed his blades..." {I thought he was gonna try that crazy Iaid3Martial Art related to quickly drawing the swordof his again} "..." "No matter" {Once I get close enough, I''ll multiple all the shuriken I have in an instant, leaving no path of escape. I''ve seen his skill, he''s fast, but there''s no stopping that many attacks at once} "..." {Almost there} "..." {Just a few more inches...can''t get too close!} "..." {NOW!!} POOF! POOF! POOF! POOF! POOF! Nobuyuki created countless duplicated shuriken as he stopped just outside of Ganj''s range, sending waves of metal his way "..." {He''s still not doing anything, I expected the slashing to start already. Hmph, it doesn''t matter. Whether or not he''s given up is a irrelevant, I''m still gonna kill him} "DIE!" SHING! "!" A moment was all it took for Nobuyuki to bury the figure in front of him with his signature weapons "Hah...hah...!" {Shit...I''ve used up so much chakra today} VWOOOO... {I don''t hear anything but the wind...} "He...heh...hehe...!" No longer sensing anymore resistance, Nobuyuki yelled in triumph after confirming his opponent''s defeat "Hahaha! That''s what happen to fools who endorse worthless ideologies like peace and equality. You get lazy and your skills wither! Given all the rumors surrounding you, I''d thought you''d put up more of a fight. How...what did you call it? Oh yeah, pathetic!" Nobuyuki turned his attention towards the shoreline. The coast was still engulfed in battle between the opposing forces he and Ganj had brought with them. Even at a distance, Nobuyuki could tell his men were at a disadvantage They were already outnumbered as he sent the majority of his clan to the northern shoreline, using greater numbers to compensate for his lack of aid there CRACK! Snapping his neck, he took a breath to relax before leisurely strolling towards the shore "I''ll wrap things up here, then join the northern area. Tomoe Yotsuki is probably giving my men a whirlwind of trouble. Honestly, the Company hasn''t paid me enough for this shit" "The Company?" "WHAT?!" SWISH! SLICE! SLICE! SLICE! "Uuuu...GUAHH!!" "..." "I-I-Impossible. You...were finished...!" THUD! Out of nowhere, the supposed dead Ganj struck Nobuyuki from behind, delivering numerous slashes in the chest area. He was sent tumbling to the ground, leaving a trail of blood in the process "H-How? Was it a-?" "Clone? Correct. The most basic of Bunshin Jutsu4Clone Techniques, a non-corporal clone of myself. No mass, nor density...just an image" "B-But...when did you do it?" "When the moon guided my soul" "?!" Even with an enigmatic response, Nobuyuki understood what he meant. The moment Ganj withdrew his blades, he reflected the light from the moon. Obscuring Nobuyuki''s vision for barely a second, he switched positions with a clone, waiting to strike when at the precise moment {He swapped positions...in that instant?!} "We''re called the Yotsuki5Night Moonfor a reason" "Y-You...!!!" "You referred to my style as, antique. To the ignorant, a style resembling the old samurai may appear so, but you''ve forgotten one crucial detail" "Wha-AGH! Huff...what?!" "No matter the style or weapon, at the end of the day...I''ll always be a shinobi. All you saw was an old swordsman, belittling my skill so much you practically forgot I''m a ninja, that was the moment you lost. Man could recognize this...but never a stray dog" "Kuh!!! BASTARD!! Uhack!" Nobuyuki roared THUD! Nobuyuki tried to move in an misguided attempt to attack, only to fall to ground once more. Ganj cautiously approached the downed Fma, pointing his Katana towards him There was much he wanted know about Nobuyuki''s employers, hence the extra care he took in order to avoid killing him. Ganj had every intent of capturing him But Nobuyuki had long since realized this... "Now. You''re going to tell everything you know about this...Company" "Puh! Go f**k yourself!" Nobuyuki bluntly stated after spitting at him "If you cooperate, it may stand to ease your punishment. Especially if I vouch for you. Don''t cooperate, I hand you over to interrogation...you don''t want that" "Hmph! I have a better idea...!" Using what little strength he had left, Nobuyuki sat up on his knees and removed his vest, revealing a diverse amount of paper bombs attached to his body "?!" "How bout you die with me!!!" CRACKLE! {No time, he''s already ignited them!} "Lunatic!" "HAAAAHH!!!" "Tch!" BWOOOM! Nobuyuki''s figure vanished in an explosion of fire as Ganj barely managed to get away in time. Keeping an eye on the epicenter, he cursed aloud upon discovering only body parts were what remained of the Fma-nin And with them, any clues as to the identity of the orchestrators behind this incident in Kumogakure "Damn it" Though not the end he desired, Ganj understood there was nothing more he could do. With no hesitation, he joined his comrades battling on the shore, yearning to put the conflict in this area to an end ??? Near the Land of Grass, the local landscape had transformed into a scene of destruction. Trees knocked over, various potholes, certain greenery on fire, rubble everywhere...it was as if a war had taken place ZUZUZZZU!! At its epicenter were two figures. One on the ground with sword in hand, the other standing above with his fist driven right through the former''s stomach...all the while clad in electricity "..." "It''s over" This was the result of the battle between the "Company" member known as "Blade", and the 4th Raikage, A "U-Uhagk!" "Hmph!" CRUNCH! A removed his hand from Blade, opting to check on the Lightning Daimy he spent so much time protecting. During the fight, Blade took the opportunity to attack him and his ANBU guards, which only made it easier to keep A preoccupied Unfortunately for her, she''d clearly underestimated the Raikage''s strength. The moment he pushed his "Cloak of Lightning" to higher levels, it wasn''t long before the behemoth of a man made quick work of her "Raikage-sama! Is...is it done?" "Yes...she''s dead" "She? Do we know who she was? Or who sent her?" "No. I gazed upon a disfigured face once the mask was removed. I have no idea who she is, and I''ve memorized every single person in the Bingo Book. This person...is an unknown" They had no answers as to what to this all meant. A was annoyed at the enemy''s exceptional skill when it came to keeping their identity a secret. The Daimy believed there was still more to learn here, but A advised against it They''d already been compromised, and it was obvious Blade had only attacked to prevent A from returning to Kumogakure. Their biggest priority now was getting back home A ordered the four ANBU to remain behind and secure this location while he took the Daimy back to Kumogakure "P-Please don''t run too fast Raikage-dono" "No time for that! If you''re gonna hurl, aim your head away from me!" "Oh, come o-ONNNNNNNN!!!!!!" BOOM! DASH! With no time to waste, A bolted from the scene, making a beeline back home "It''s been a while since I was this angry" "E-EH?!" CLENCH! A gripped his fist until they bled, gritting his teeth, this entire situation only angered him the more he thought about it "It won''t even take day to get home!" ??? Away from the battle site, another figure with a large build that nearly rivaled A''s watched the Raikage flee the scene. He''d been observing the spectacle since its beginning "Well, Blade certainly held her own for quite some time. Very impressive" The cloaked figure wore a mask bearing the symbol for "Mountain". He was initially ordered to return and back up Blade after clearing a path in the continent for the inmates from Hzuki-j6Demon Lantern Castleto Kumogakure...but the devious man simply stood back and let his colleague fall at the hands of A "That takes care of one problem, but dealing with Balance is gonna be tricky" Just as Balance suspected, Mountain had betrayed Blade, hoping to move up in ranks within the "Company". With the latter gone, the position for the organization''s top enforcer had been made available, just as he hoped "Maybe bringing back her body will serve as proof" ZWSH! Jumping down, he landed right in front of the ANBU "?!" "Halt!" "Identify yourself!" CHUCKLE! Mountain simply giggled at the four men in front of him, relishing at how easy his machinations were progressing "Well done handling my colleague, I''m surprised she didn''t kill you, even with the Raikage hounding her. Dealing with you four and him would''ve been impossible. But if it''s just you-!" STAB! "Ooof!" The moment Mountain muttered the word "colleague", the ANBU immediately knew he was an enemy. One of them moving in for the kill, stabbing him from behind "Hey!" "Don''t worry, he''s still alive. Now we can quest-UGH!!" "Eh?!" "What the-?!" Despite receiving a vital blow, Mountain remained unaffected, grabbing the ANBU who attacked him by the head. Hoisting him in mid air "You know, it''s polite to let people finish their sentences" "What are you-?!" CRUNCH! SPLAT! "Ah!" "NO!" With no remorse, Mountain crushed the head of the one in his grasp, popping it like a grape! "Then again, I''ve never been that polite" "Y-You son of a!" "Engage! Engage!" KASHINK! ZWSH! "Hehe, it''s been a while since I''ve had a good workout" The remaining ANBU withdrew their weapons, assuming a formation before dashing straight at Mountain "I hope you three can at least make this entertaining" 166. Kyō MrProper The climax of this arc is near, and with it, the conclusion! Major changes coming up as I work overtime to get this done! Please enjoy this extra long chapter! RUMBLE! "W-Who are-?!" "It''s okay. You''re safe now" At another one of Kumogakure''s districts, several civilians were in the midst of being rescued, many of whom were pulled from the rubble of collapsed buildings "Please watch your step as you join the others" "R-Right. Thank you" Rei and Suzu, now separated from Tai, had reached their newly assigned district to aid in record time. Beginning rescue efforts the moment they arrived The location was far more damaged than either of them anticipated, without a doubt, the worst area they''ve been to since the start of the siege "I did another sweep, but I think that''s everyone. What do your senses have to say?" "I also can''t sense any stragglers, I believe we''ve rescued all that we could. We still have one more spot to cover, but it''s quite a ways from here. There are too many people to leave behind now" "Right, you should begin escorting them now. Do you have enough chakra?" "No worries Suzu. Even without Tai , I''m pretty sure I can manage" {Taj Kage Bunshin no Jutsu1Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu} One Rei confirmed with his senses there were no more bystanders to be rescued, he performed the forbidden form of the Shadow Clone Jutsu once again. Suzu held doubts as to whether or not he should use it with their Medical-nin absent, as Tai would normally restore their stamina with his Ninjutsu Using a technique notorious for depleting chakra to the point the user''s life could be in danger was a risky move. Nevertheless, the Genin couldn''t afford to dawdle POOF! POOF! POOF! "Eh?! What''s happening?!" The anxious crowd of civilians became restless with the sudden burst of smoke surrounding them. Once Rei''s clones emerged, they addressed the crowd, asking for their cooperation in order to hasten the journey to the nearest evac center After a minute had passed, the clones escorted the group away as the original Rei departed with Suzu. This process was their most efficient means of securing the area ZWSH! ZWSH! They dashed along rooftops as Suzu reexamined their orders "What''s next?" "We''ve got two more areas to survey before we can declare this district''s evacuation has been completed. Still, these order seem a bit strange" "How so?" "It feels as if they''ve given us the wrong district as this location has too many spots for a squad of two to handle. Then again, many are aware of your skill with clones. I''m probably just overthinking it" "What do you think we''ll be assigned to next once this task is completed? I know Genin aren''t being sent to the front, but I don''t like the idea of sitting around and doing nothing while the adults fight" "What do you expect Rei? We''re Genin. Legally, we''re considered adults the moment we get a headband, but our elders still consider us to be children" "Mmmm...I don''t like it" {I hate variables} Being treated as a child was something he could cope with, Rei had learned to ignore such things after his first year in this world No, what he didn''t like was leaving things to chance. This entire event is an unknown to him, being an engineer, he was naturally molded to expect the unpredictable...but that never implied it got under his skin Especially now that his life depended on everything he said and did, Rei wanted to wrap things up as quickly as possible. Everything that''s occurred recently gave him bad vibes he couldn''t shake off Foreboding feelings which only increased during his tenure in this area. As if someone was holding a blade to his throat... TING! "Hm? Suzu, 2 o''clock...I can feel a chakra signature about 17 meters from our position" "Enemy or civilian?" "It''s pretty weak, but given the creepy feeling...it''s probably the enemy suppressing their chakra" "Alright, let''s find an alternate route" "Too late for that. Whoever it is, they''re already aware of our presence and heading in our direction. They''ll probably be here soon" "Tsk! We''re only authorized to engage when there''s no other option. Let''s retreat and report to the nearest Chunin or-!" ZWIP! "Smart move. Funny to see a militaristic nation like this care so much about its soldiers. Time changes much now doesn''t it?" Out of nowhere, a black-haired man with red eyes stood right behind them. Completely dressed in white, arms folded, his demeanor was calm and casual "?!" TAK! TAK! Rattled by his sudden appearance, the duo jumped away instantly {The hell?! I barely noticed him!} a startled Rei thought {This guy...he''s different than the last one we fought} "I''d say it''s a pleasure, but to be honest, I''m never happy to meet Kumo-nin. My name is Ky, leader of the Chinoike" "...!" "Not good...!" "With the introductions out of the way, please show me what Genin of the cloud are capable of" ??? "W-What is this?!" "Welcome Tai-kun, Moroi-dono. This...is our golden parachute" Back at headquarters... Dodai had taken both Tai, and the "Kumo Barrier Team" captain Moroi, into his personal lab. Once inside, they were met with the sight of a strange machine "This is...!" "Takes your breath away, doesn''t it" Words like complex, sophisticated, and abstract came to mind upon gazing at the eye-catching device "Dodai...what the hell is this?" Moroi asked CLANK! Just as he did, two figures entered the room "The culmination of hard work, dedication, a lot of bullshit...and a brand new company" "This is the Network" "Huh? Tango-sensei?! And that person next to you...Tetsuo-san?!" Tai shouted in surprise "Hey Tai, this isn''t how I pictured our next meeting would be, but we''re out of time..." Tango awkwardly said "I''ve done what I can Dodai! The nodes around the village have been finalized and all preliminary systems have been checked. Soon as you give the go ahead, Tango plugs in again, and the device starts charging" Tetsuo stated "Before we begin, I must inform you two of a new development" Dodai shared the intricate details of Tai''s plan to rout out the Chinoike causing chaos within the village. How coordination between him and Moroi''s teams were crucial. Reiterating there was no room for error, and the "Network" being a critical element to ensure success He also brought up concerns about potential interference from the drug-enhanced inmates outside the village. The abnormal fractioning of chakra between them was a complete unknown... {The hell? A pill that splits chakra like that...this kind of technology is just like-!} Tetsuo kept his thoughts to himself "Just when things couldn''t get any weirder...now what Dodai? Should I plug in now?" "Not yet Tango. Tai-kun here needs to finish synthesizing his drug to oust the Chinoike. How long will it take?" "J-Just a few minutes. I''ve already gathered most of the ingredients from my greenhouse. But there''s still the matter of dispersal, we need help..." Tai stressed the gravity of this problem "There are several members of my squad skilled in Fton2Wind Style, they''ll be able to help. But Dodai, this needs to be done simultaneously. How does this...machine help us coordinate such a massive undertaking?" Dodai smirked before standing in front of the machine "Tango, why don''t we show them?" "Yes sir. I''ll-" BANG! A subordinate of Dodai''s burst in the room, saluting everyone before speaking aloud "Dodai-sama, there''s been a development!" "Ah shit. What''s happened now?!" "We just received a message from Team Mabui. The Chinoike infiltrated Genbu Island!" "It can''t be!" {The barrier is supposed to keep it hidden! How''d they know where to look?! Was there a mole?!} Dangerous thoughts bloomed in Moroi''s mind "What of the Team?! Is Yugito alright?!" Dodai anxiously asked "Haha! Not to worry, all hostiles have been eliminated!" Everyone breathed a sigh of relief at the news their comrades and Jinchriki are well "That''s great. Rei can rest easy knowing his cousin is alright. I can assume they''re on their way here?" Tango asked "Even better, they''re already on the battlefield. As we speak, Team Mabui has begun coordinating with other squads on the front. One our vulnerable supply chains has already been cleared of enemies" "What about Genbu?" "Ganj-sama has defeated Nobuyuki Fma in combat and secured the southern coastline. Team Mabui set Genbu at the shore there, Ganj-sama''s team are remaining on guard" "As expected of my old man I guess..." Tai said dejectedly "Excellent! Finally, some good news! We''ve been long overdue!" Dodai smiled for the first time since this incident began. Things had consistently gone from bad to worse as the conflict dragged on. With renewed vigor, he resolved himself not to be left behind "Alright you guys, we have to finish off the intruders within before clearing up the riff raff outside! Here''s what we''re going to do!" Issuing new orders to the present company, everyone moved to their assigned tasks. After years of secrecy and heartache, it was finally time to use the Network ??? Elsewhere... BOOM! "Keh!" "You alright?!" "I''m fine, just don''t look at his eyes!" Rei and Suzu were on defensive. Despite their exceptional abilities, they struggled against the Chinoike leader, Ky THK! THK! THK! "Here comes another wave! Don''t let them touch you!" Suzu warned "Damn it, there''s almost no room to dodge!" Spears of blood flew in the air, clearly intent on impaling the Genin. They spared no effort to avoid them at all cost THK! "Whoa!" "Too close...keep moving!" The scariest aspect of a Chinoike''s Ketsurygan3Blood Dragon Eyewasn''t the ability to control liquids with high concentrations of iron...but to infect the victim with user''s chakra This power not only made it easier to influence another with Genjutsu, but to control the very blood within a person''s body. Transforming one''s body at will, or turning them into an "exploding human" Ky''s blood blades were completely doused in his chakra, all it took was a single cut on the skin, and the chances of survival were slim at best Moreover... "Huff...this guy, he''s on a whole other level than the last Chinoike we fought...!" a weary Suzu stressed "We''ve fought shinobi stronger than us before" "Yes but...this...he''s...it''s not the same Rei!" "...ugh!" {She''s right. This isn''t...} Team Tango had fought their fair share of difficult battles, the kind most would never expect them to come out on top. Elder Genin and Chunin, or the flame wielding swordsman leading the "Oni Garrison" from nearly five years ago who edged towards the rank of Jonin...but Ky was far worse than the rest "Hah...haaah...!" "..." "Is that all you two can do? You can''t even make me get serious" A truly powerful shinobi stood before them, well versed in the art of war. And while Rei and Suzu were as skilled as ever...it was only compared to those nearing their age {Damn it...I''m racking my brain, but I can''t see any way of winning!} Rei grew frustrated Ky was superior to them in nearly every way. Ninjutsu, Genjutsu, even his Taijutsu prowess surpassed Rei''s, he could easily deal with latter''s infamous speed. This was the first time in his life he faced an enemy at the level of a high-ranked Jonin Sure, he''s certainly sparred with them on occasion, but practice and the real thing were entirely different "Suzu, back me up. We''ll stick to long range attacks as we retreat" Rei whispered "Ready whenever you are" WEAVE! "Going on offense? About time" Ky mocked {Fton: Toppa4Wind Style: Breakthrough!} {Katon: Endan5Fire Style: Flame Bullet!} VWOOSH! BOFF! Taking advantage of their elemental properties, Rei unleashed a blast of fire as Suzu amplified it with her wind style attack. Unleashing a powerful torrent of flames, propelling directly towards Ky "Oh please. HAAAH!" SWISH! With the swipe of his hand, Ky manipulated his "blood" with chakra to act a shield, fending off the attack. Emerging from the flames unscathed, he noticed the Genin were no longer present {The flames were just a smokescreen to obscure my vision while they retreat. Smart...but not smart enough} DASH! Several meters away, Rei and Suzu desperately ran to the nearest location they were aware of hosting elder shinobi. Members of the Moroi''s barrier team were stationed in various locations throughout the village Ky was too much of an opponent to deal with by themselves "Suzu! Over there! I can still sense their chakra!" "I see them! HEY!" TAK! TAK! The team touched down behind of two adults in shinobi attire before sharing their findings "Excuse us, but we must report! We''ve confirmed the presence of a powerful Chinoike member located several klicks east from our current position" "He''s very powerful, you might want to inform HQ and have them send a squad to deal with him" "..." Oddly enough, the shinobi did not respond. The quiet only unsettled the two, Suzu asked Rei for confirmation with her eyes, but he affirmed they were indeed Kumo-nin "Sirs, did you not hear what we said?" "We''ve located an enemy..." Still no response, Rei cautiously approached the back of one. Grabbing his shoulder, he turned the man around only for them to discover he was in a daze "Rreeenn...o-o...v-v-v..aaatttt...iioo...nnnnn!" the man stuttered "SUZU!" Rei screamed "OKAY!" {Doton6Earth Style...!} "Yton7Lava Style!" The Genin immediately understood what was going on the moment they saw the faces of the shinobi. They''d long been turned into an "exploding humans", set to activate whenever an unsuspecting victim interacted with them! GURGLE! The forms of the shinobi began to change and bloat as blood oozed from their bodies, it''s color becoming darker as is it puffed up, covering and swallowing everything. The increasing frequency of the disturbing substance pulses clearly indicating an explosion was nigh! BOOM! ??? "Check your corners! DO NOT break formation!" "Hey! Watch your left Tajiki!" "I got it F! You and Musai take care of that side!" At the front lines, the battle had only intensified. With more inmates killed, the remaining living ones would only become stronger thanks to the unique functions of the so-called "LIFT" pill Just when a group would triumph over an opponent, a more powerful one would arrive to replace them "Samui, I''m heading in that direction. Can you and Mabui handle this area?" "We got it Yugito, but don''t stray too far" Samui said "Don''t forget, I can''t use my Tens no Jutsu8Ethereal Transmission Jutsuinstantaneously! It requires time and prep to use, I won''t be able to provide support if you''re darting around all over the place!" Mabui warned "Got it! I''ll be back" said a departing Yugito Team Mabui had been moving from one location to the next, aiding different squads along the front lines as the battles became increasingly more troublesome "With Ganj-sama guarding the southern front, and his wife Tomoe is cleaning up the north, this battle is nearing its end" "I know. Thanks to them, we can focus our efforts here" "But? Something''s still bothering you Mabui..." Samui curiously asked "It''s just a bad feeling I''m having. Like we''ve overlooked something vital...but I can''t place my finger on it" "If you can''t figure out, put if off for later. Yugito and I need you cool and calm, with your attention on what''s in front of us" "Right, let''s go!" ZWSH! The two young women engaged another enemy as Mabui kept her worrying thoughts to herself {Please be safe Rei...} ??? "...Cough! Uhack!" "U-Urgh! Agh!" "Rei...you okay?" "My arm''s a little messed up, but I''ll be okay" {My body is already healing} In order to the avoid the explosive trap, Suzu used her earth style to create a hole in the ground, lowering the two beneath the surface. Rei attempted to corrode the explosive with Lava in efforts to weaken the blast {Goddamn it. At this point, it''s completely useless} an annoyed Rei thought His Earth and Lava styles were originally awakened though activation of the recessive genes within his human DNA via Kisshten9Auspicious Heavens. But every time he used the In''yton10Yin-Yang/Shadow & Light Stylepower, his parasitic tsutsuki cells would end up stimulated and devour even more of his human cells As a result, the chakra natures he nurtured with "Rei''s" chakra would weaken. Hence, his hesitancy to use the trump card-like ability now, with a powerful foe right at his doorstep TING! "Huh? Oh no...!" "He''s coming...isn''t he? You can sense him" "At this rate, he''ll be here in little over a minute. If I had to guess, he''s probably layered this entire area with traps, like the one we just experienced, prior to our arrival" Suzu glared upwards, removing a kunai from her pouch after checking her body for wounds. Anyone could easily guess what she was thinking "Did you hit your head in that explosion? We need to run" Rei rationally reasoned "From what you''ve said, there''s nowhere to run. We''ll probably just end up setting off another trap. And Ky is much stronger than us, I doubt we could outrun him. He only let us go last time so we could set off his trap" "So we fight and most likely die?" "You have a better idea?" "Sigh...no. Fine! But if we''re going to do this, let''s at least be smart about it" POOF! Rei called forth several items from the summoning tags on his red wristbands "Those are-!" "I trust you haven''t forgotten how to use this?" Rei coyly remarked The duo rose to their feet and smiled at each other "...Heh, nope!" "Okay then..." Suzu reassuring Rei as she placed her hand on his shoulder, before speaking once more... "Alright Rei..." "Hm?" "Let''s take care of this red-eyed asshole" 167. Fear MrProper Fear It can be many things. The cause of a problem, or the means to avoid one. For the life I''ve lived, it''s usually the former... BANG! "Aahh!" Callous acts are present no matter where you go. Regardless of age, nationality, or religion...there''s always going to be at least one unreasonable, cruel individual Whether you stand out in a good or bad way, they''ll find you "Gotcha!" "Bwuhahaha! Score!" "Nice shot!" Being unique isn''t always a good thing "That''s what you get, freak!" "Sigh...my hair" Honestly...despite what I''ve just said, who raises a child to believe its funny throwing eggs at a little girl? "That''s what you get!" "I told you what would happen if you came to my playground again!" "It''s not even yours..." "What did you say to me?!" Fear, it''s a very basic instinct. The others are only following the leader since he''s the biggest of them, he''d probably single them out if they didn''t listen As for the leader himself, the one he was scared of is me...due to where I come from SHOVE! "Ooof!" "That''s what happens when you talk me like that!" Honestly, I don''t even remember feeling hurt when he pushed me, he was just that weak. I was living with Mariko at her foster home back then, so I had prior training I could''ve easily kicked the crap out of them all, but even at that age, I knew what would happen if I did such a thing Yes...I had to grow up quickly... "Hm?" RUSTLE! PAT! PAT! "My clothes are dirty now" "Did I say you could get up?!" "I don''t need your permission. Leave me alone" If I had beaten them up, they''d start crying and whine to their parents. Once it was known I fought back, everything would suddenly and unfairly become my fault, and then I wouldn''t be able to come here again without trouble Mariko would definitely stand up for me, and there aren''t many who can stand up to her...but I didn''t want to cause any problems for her I''ve always hated others having to deal with my baggage "And where do you think you''re going?!" "Somewhere I don''t have to hear your stupid voice, or see your stupid face" "Rrrgh...! You little freak of nature!" It sucks we can''t choose where we''re born, or in my case, who we''re born to VWOOO! "Stop" "!" "Hiek...!" VWOOO! See? Just a simple release of chakra with a side of bloodlust, and they went their pants. Nothing like a little fear to keep the ignorant in check Still, I didn''t get the result I wanted "Hic...hic...!" "Oh great, that''s perfect. Start crying" Because I stooped to this child''s level, using fear to get what I want, my isolation only got worse. I proved him right, my heritage and advanced ability alienated me from everyone else "M-M-Monster!! "..." I never came back to that stupid playground since... ??? STUP! "Phew! Finally out of there" "Sorry about that Rei" "No worries, our guest should be here right about..." TAK! "Now" "I see, you made a hole in the ground to avoid the blast. I presume with Doton1Earth Style?" Ky asked after landed several feet from us "Why don''t you come over here and find out?" "Really? It''ll be snowy day in hell when I let children provoke me" "I didn''t know it snowed in hell. Then again, with all the dead Chinoike lying around, your clan would know better than I" "..." Wow. Just wow Gotta give Rei credit, he knows how to get under your skin "Hm? Something I said? Cat got your tounge?" "It would''ve been quick, but now...I''m gonna kill you. Slow...and painful" SPLOOSH! Uh-oh. That''s A LOT of blood gathering around him. He''s getting serious now. I''m not even a sensor-type, and I can feel his immense chakra! "Rei, I know you were gonna provoke him but...maybe you overdid it?" I whispered in secret "If he''s angry, he''s sloppy. Regardless, you and I both reasoned this was never gonna be easy" "Yeah, that''s fair" "You remember what to do?" "Of course, let''s get this over with" KASHINK! And here come the hundred blades of blood. Honestly, I''d consider it embarrassing if you need THAT much to take out two Genin kids "This is gonna hurt. I''d say I''m sorry, but I''m not" "Yup, I definitely got under this guy''s skin" "Sigh. I''m fast, but my speed isn''t much compared to yours" "Long as you don''t look at his eyes, you''ll be fine. Just don''t get cut by his blood attacks" Yes...he''s a Djutsu2Eye Techniqueuser like the Uchiha. The whole premise of his attacks is to infect us with his chakra, placing us under his control via Genjutsu Fighting against someone you can''t even look at is ridiculous "Here he comes!" "Right, I''ll try and repel as many as I can!" "No matter how small, every bit helps!" Rei shouted as he charged at Ky "Phew. Fton: Shinkgyoku3Wind Style: Vacuum Spheres..." PHT! PHT! "Cheh!" Nice, I can actually stop the blood attacks with my technique. It requires more control than power, so I need focus. I won''t be able to move around much when using it Fortunately... "How annoying. I''ll take care of the girl fir-?!" "HAH!" CLANG! "Using a staff to make up for your small stature?" "Better than using those ridiculously overblown attacks of yours. Is someone overcompensating for something?" "Hmph!" Sure Rei, make the incredibly strong and dangerous enemy in front of you even more angry. That''ll surely turn out great for us down the line Still, it''s been forever since he used that black staff, Rei''s going all out for this. At least now I can support him while he prevents Ky from unleashing torrents of blood blades PHT! FWAP! BAM! "Sei!" "Ngh...!" Again, wow Rei''s been using various chakra natures in recent years, I''d forgotten how much I enjoyed watching him fight. The Kakuran Taijutsu4Disturbance Body Techniqueshe picked up from Killer B-sama only added to his fighting style His strikes were strong, fast, and precise yet, his body expressed refined grace and elegance. With such unpredictable movements throwing Ky off, he practically has the fight completely under his control This must''ve been what he meant during our last training session when he said, "I''m going back to basics" "Stop bouncing around you little-!" BLAM! "Ngh...!" {Not just fast, his strength is far too great for one so young. The blows are actually heavy...he hits like an adult. And that stupid girl keeps preventing me from using blood} "Hup!" THWACK! "So annoying. Sigh...!" {I wanted to conserve my strength for later battles, but I have no choice now} "!" WEAVE! GURGLE! Ky''s ignoring me and focusing solely on Rei with that "blood"...just as we predicted. It''s almost time to put our plan into action... "Uh-oh..." {It''s even harder for me dodge at close range. Can''t afford to get hit before he uses Genjutsu} ZWP! PIERCE! "You''re fast boy..." "...!" GRAB! "Rei!" "But not fast enough" Ky smugly said as he grabbed Rei by his throat "Ugh!" "Tsk! Fto-!" "Ah. Ah. Don''t even think about girl, or I''ll snap his neck" That''s just perfect... "Y-You...!" "Boy, everything about you is impressive. Though I was distracted by your friend, you still managed to give me trouble. Genin...no, you''re already at Chunin level. Given the opportunity, you''d make it to Jonin in record time" That''s it, keep talking... "Unfortunately, you must pay for the sins of your ancestors. And I will be the one to carry out this justice" "Taking your baggage out on a generation of people who''ve never even met you...urgh! That''s what you call justice?" "Yes. What Kumogakure did to my clan occurred decades ago, but my family and I have payed for it to this day. No more" A little more Rei... "Just as our children have suffered...so, too, will the Cloud''s" "That''s...crap!" "Yes, people will think little of me after this is over. They''ll think I''m a fool, a hypocrite, and a monster. A stain on my legacy, but honestly..." "Hm?!" Here it comes! "I stopped caring about what people thought of me a long time ago" Ky uttered as his eyes glowed red, pulling Rei into their view "!" {Genjutsu: Ketsurygan5Illusion Technique: Blood Dragon Eye!} ??? -Journal Log: First day at the academy The entire affair was stereotypical. In an effort to identify the ones with and without family backing, kids started asking for surnames. It was obvious I''d be singled out, but I never imagined it''d happen the moment I entered the room. I couldn''t get to my seat because some idiot and his two stooges were going around "Interrogating" everyone His pompous attitude made it clear, he''s a spoiled brat from a spoiled family. He started yapping when I shoved my way to a seat, but I can''t even remember what he said...not that it matters Sitting towards the back, there was no one next me except two kids on the opposite side. Oddly enough, they didn''t seem to care about my lack of belonging to a powerful clan They''re probably from some incredible family that''s too big to even notice my existence. Whatever, anyone who doesn''t harass me is a boon, I''ll take someone ignoring me over that any day I doubt we''ll be interacting much -Journal Log: Weeks in the academy Osoi-sensei had us undertake a history lesson with an elder Jonin. He was a wise old man named Rashii who looked like someone''s great-grandfather. The things he must''ve seen, I''ll be honest, it got my attention The history and founding of this nation was something I''ve always enjoyed studying. But to actually hear it from someone who was alive during the era of the 1st Raikage is an entirely different experience Things were going terrific until one of the kids brought up the subject of the Kin-Gin Brothers6Gold & Silver Brothers. No one else caught on, but he was basically declaring "I know what you are" to me I don''t think I''ll be sleeping well tonight... -Journal Log: Months in the academy Just who is this "Rei" kid that sits by me?! I always thought my "heritage" would give me an edge, but we were matched in a sparring session by Osoi-sensei today None of the other kids could keep up with me, or were too afraid of me, but Rei...I could barely handle him! Even more strange, he offered me his hand after knocking me down and just walked away Is he unaware of my background? I don''t think my eyes came off him once when we returned to class. I didn''t even care about the other lessons, I just watched him and the one next to him His...friend? I think they''re friends...the talkative guy who always sat next to him...he''s called Tai or something -Journal Log: Over a year and half in Rrggh! I just can''t seem to come out on top! No matter how many times I try, Rei always wins. Don''t get me wrong, this isn''t about pride, rising to the top guarantees I graduate. My need to become a shinobi surpasses that of anyone here and yet...! The way he looks at me whenever we fight, it''s like he doesn''t even care. Looking down at everyone else, like an adult being forced to play with children Which is ridiculous considering he''s the youngest kid in the entire school! Agh! So annoying! I''ll show you! -Journal Log: Two years Things are moving forward, no one bothers me anymore. I think they took the hint after seeing me fight. Oddly enough, everyone''s going after Rei instead of me...I actually feel bad for some of them. That guy is ruthless... With our tenure here nearing its end, the competitive drive has never been higher. Makes sense going after the #1 student I''m still trying to beat him, with no success. Looking back, he never complained whenever I challenged him during practice. He always accepted every request without complaint. You''d think he''d be annoyed but...the more we spar, the less I understand about him His face never contained malice, but no joy either, devoid of any emotion whatsoever. Like everything was just a troublesome chore, behaving as if he was too tired to cared for who I am. At least, that''s what appears on the surface But I can tell...he has passion and drive, a fierce fire that directs his course. He desire to become a ninja is no different than... -Journal Log: Almost Three Years Graduation was...interesting. Sekiei and his cronies decided to gang up on me, hurling every insult they could think of. Despite how ignorant they are, put together, I was having some serious trouble But out of nowhere, Rei showed up and just looked at me, but didn''t say much. Rather, his eyes spoke more, asking "You just gonna sit there and take it? From these losers?". He moved so calmly, like wind, dodging everything they threw at him. He was basically toying with them, buying time for me recover and finish them off. And after some..."cathartic" release on their faces, I passed! I''m a ninja now! -Journal Log: About a year later Fate can be very funny. Because of the last war, Genin squad assembly was delayed due to the lack of Jonin captains. That drowsy kid Nemui was suddenly transferred to another team, and I was his replacement. Now I''m teamed up with Rei and Tai Yeah...it was kind of awkward at first. More so after our disastrous first mission on Genbu Island. But Rei suddenly shows up at my door step the next day with Tai, before the Sun even rose, and takes us to his so-called "Third favorite spot" in the village...a diner Then, he just opens up about himself. Telling us about his family, his goals, even his hobbies...prior to asking us to do the same. Tai stepped up first, I had no idea he was heir to one of the most powerful families in the village...the Yotsuki Clan itself! Seeing them share, it really made me take a look at myself. I always talk about moving forward, but I still haven''t done anything significant besides becoming a Genin. I wanted to change...so I shared my history with them Yup, the whole deal. My relationship with the Kin-Gin brothers, the traitorous "Kinkaku Force" most of my family members were apart of, even my embarrassing desire to pick a surname for myself I have to admit, opening up, it was like a weight was lifted off my shoulders. Mariko knew about my past and accepted me, but we never really talked about it Having people, friends to share this with...it''s changed my whole world -Journal Log: I''ve lost track of time Okay, it''s been a while since I''ve written one of these...but maybe that''s for the best. This log has been my only sense of comfort since I always believed there was no one who could ever understand me But with Team Tango, I have those who not only do, but even care for me. Not just friends, but family. I mean come on, Rei got everyone to literally build a new house for me! We''ve gone on mission after mission, training together, fighting together, uplifting each other every step of the way. In the process, I''ve learned they too have considerable "weight" on their shoulders Tai''s family has been having even more drama than usual lately. I wish there was something I could do to help ... You know...looking back at some of my past entries, it''s easy to see how conceited the old me used to be. Throwing around baseless assumptions, that I needed this more than anyone else. Everyone has their own struggles, issues, some have it even worse than me Which is why...I''ve decided. It''s time to stop complaining about the have nots. Instead, I''m going to be grateful for what life has blessed me with. Good health, a home, Mariko and the kids...my team That''s a nice way to live my life. One no longer dictated by fear I''m proud to say there''s nothing I wouldn''t do to keep them safe ??? "This is..." "My Genjutsu world, it''s over boy" "Ky..." "Take pride in the fact a child young as you forced me to get serious. Don''t worry, while our children suffered at the hands of your ancestors, I''ll make this quick" GURGLE! "Urgh!" {A world comprised of nothing but a red sea, a drowning illusion where I can''t move. Okay...yeah. I always wanted to spar with another Djutsu user in Genjutsu, but I never imagined it''d be this hard. Seriously, people with weird-ass eyes in this world are stupidly overpowered! I know its fake, but it feels so real...thank god I made preparations beforehand} "...You resist. I thought you were a Taijutsu expert, but Genjutsu seems to be your real forte" "Heh! I almost forgot about it myself" "Still" "Ugh!" GURGLE! "It''s not enough. Don''t fight it, things will only get worse" "For me? Or you?" "Huh?" POOF! Ky yelled in shock as the "Rei" before him disappeared along with his Genjutsu, now he was back in reality "A clone! That''s why it didn''t work. Then where''s the real-?!" CLANK! CLANK! "What the hell? A metal...bottle?" BANG! "AGH!" ??? Minutes ago "But Rei, how are you going to get him to drop his guard?" "The best time, it''s always when the opponent believes he''s won, especially the arrogant ones. Ky''s had multiple opportunities to kill us, but he''s clearly reserving his strength for other battles" He doesn''t think we''re worth his time. Truth be told, we aren''t. But... "He''s a Djutsu user, Genjutsu is the specialty of the Chinoike, just like the Uchiha. He''ll definitely try to finish us off with his eyes. Sure, it''s a little risky-" "It''s very risky. I don''t like you giving him more chances to kill you" "It''s all we''ve got. I''ll use a clone if that makes you feel better" It doesn''t "Once it disappears, that''s when you use it-" "And afterwards, we go on offense, I know. It''s bold but..." "I''m tired, we can''t run, and he''s stronger than both of us" "..." "Hey, this plan worked well the last time we used this" Last time we were knocked out cold, and injured...plus we had more. This time, there''s only one shot. We screw up, we''re dead "This is the best I''ve got. But I''m open to suggestions if you have something better" "Sigh...let''s go" "Alright" ??? "Hmph!" With nothing to lose, I charged at Ky. Right behind me was the real Rei, emerging from the hole I previously used to avoid the explosive trap Ky set. The "Rei" he fought this entire time had been a clone I have to say, it was real nerve wracking. If he''d been hit and vanished, or had his memories read through Ky''s eyes, the whole plan would''ve been for naught. I couldn''t have pulled it off, thank god he specializes in Taijutsu and Genjutsu "AGHH! MY EYES!!!!" "That''s gotta sting" "I wouldn''t know, I was in the hole" When the clone vanished, I tossed a tool made by the Mori Sp. company. The very same smoke-flash bomb we used to rescue Yugito-sama years ago. The weapon has a wide range, hence the reason I''ve kept my distance throughout the fight Sound and light come out in waves, and at close range, with his eyes...I can''t even imagine the pain he''s going through ZWIP! WEAVE! {Katon: Kary Endan7Fire Style: Fire Dragon Flame Bullet!} Rei unleashed the most powerful fire-based Ninjutsu in his arsenal. Taking the shape of a serpent dragon, the pin-point attack shot straight at its intended target At the same time, I mustered all the wind chakra I could to increase its potency "H-Huh?!" SCORCH! BOOM! The flaming dragon struck right at his chest, blasting him through several buildings before finally crashing within one. The structure then collapsed on top of him, burying him under rubble That wasn''t what I was going for, but it''s welcome all the same "Haah...phew!" "Huff...huff...! Rei?" "Yeah Yeah. Gimme a sec..." Forming a hand seal, Rei sought to determine whether or not Ky had been taken care of with his senses. I doubt many could survive an attack like that, but I''m still just a "frog in a well" "..." After several uneasy seconds of waiting, he smiled after confirming Ky''s chakra signature was indeed gone We''d triumphed over the leader of the Chinoike clan...I still can''t believe it THUD! The two us fell on our butts, exhausted and relieved "What can I say, watching the building collapse on him was brilliant. Was that your idea?" "Not at all Suzu. Just good old fashioned luck, something you and I are overdue for" "Heh..." "Pffft!" "Bwuahahaha!" I think this is the first time we''ve laughed together like this. It might even be the only time either of us have laughed like this. What''s curious is that I wasn''t afraid the entire time. I know that seems a little ridiculous to say now, but it''s true Fighting Ky wasn''t what scared me... "Alright, let''s get out of here" "Mm. We need to inform HQ of the traps Ky set throughout this district" "Dodai-ossan is gonna love this. Once he hears the leader of the Chinoike has been taken care of, he might just do a backflip" "More like, he''ll be skeptical upon hearing that two Genin beat him. I still can''t believe it. Also, he doesn''t like being called ossan8Honorific that addresses one of middle or old age/i.e. "Uncle", he''s not that old" "He''s close enough, and I call him that because his reaction is hilarious every time" "I''m starting to see what Tai says about you being a closet sadist" "His reactions are even funnier" "Case. In. Point." After some playful jokes, we stayed there a little longer before leaving. I was just about to take the lead when Rei grabbed my shoulder. He wanted to show me something he took from Ky It was a round, seamless white pill "Is that...?!" "I''d assume so. The mystery drug reported to be in use on the front. He had a full bag of them, my clone swiped one and threw it away right before he grabbed it by the throat" "According to our intelligence, they''re called the LIFT" Talk about sticky fingers Rei suggested we bring it back to HQ. Since it''s working in cohesion with the hospital next to it, the staff there may be able to find out this thing''s true nature More importantly, create a countermeasure that could end this small war PHT!! With our next objective in sight, the two of us took our...took our...too...h-huh? What''s...happening? I can''t...I can''t feel my...I''m...falling...can''t move. I''m so tired all of sudden. Eyes...heavy... Rei''s trying to say something as he reaches out to me...but I can''t hear what he saying His expression...I''ve never seen him so...hurt. What''s wrong Rei? Is...someone hurting you? Who is it? I''ll...take care of them... Oh...Oh. I think I know...Oh no. This...this reminds me of what I''m really...really afraid of... N-Not me...It''s never been me...I thought it was...but it wasn''t...me... It''s them...what I fear most... Is losing them... 168. SCREW THAT! MrProper You can''t do this! [...Your reaction is...typical...] This "game" was supposed to be fair! Any interposition beyond Raymond Parker''s initial inception wasn''t supposed to be acknowledged! [...We have kept our end of the bargain. There has been no interference from our end since his journey began...] You expect me to believe such a blatant lie?! Then how do you explain-?! [..."Ripples" will take care of themselves. Have you forgotten about the "Lingering Will" that governs this domain?...] ?! [...This event was not our doing. But we did foresee it...and we acknowledge its arrival...] Son of a...! [...The "rules" have not been broken. Claiming we did simply because events have moved in our favor is juvenile...] Cheh! Oh! That''s right, he can still use that! [...We know what you''re contemplating, and we advise against it. This event is meant to repair a Ripple. Extending it by saving an insignificant entity is-...] "Insignificant entity?" Is that what you thought when you took everything from me? [...Raymond will not save her...] You don''t know shit. About me, Raymond, or humanity as a whole. Raymond...you think he''s like you, but you''re wrong [...The "resonance" begs to differ...] Neither of "you" understand why he ended up in his current situation. How he came here [...Hubris brought him to our attention...] Wrong. Something you could never comprehend brought him here [...Any further debate is a non-starter. As neither can interfere, the final decision remains in Raymond''s hands. Not letting nature take its course will have disastrous consequences...] F**k off... [...You''ve been warned...] Hmph! This isn''t over yet! He''ll never choose you over me! ??? "SUZU!" I never saw it coming... "Hey! Hey! Stay awake! Don''t you dare go to sleep!" "..." "Come on...!" This amount of blood...she''s lost so much. Too much for this amount, was an organ hit? Artery? Shit! Despite what I know, Tai''s the medic of our squad, how the hell am I supposed to-?! No. No. No. No. That won''t do at all, I can''t panic now Okay. Stop shaking. Breathe. Focus! "You''re going to be okay. If you can hear me, do whatever you can to stay awake!" The wound went straight from her back, right through her lower abdomen. What did it hit? The Liver? Intestines? Stomach? Spleen? Pancreas? Maybe her bladder? Ah shit! Idiot! I''m putting the cart before the horse! First thing''s first, have to keep the pressure on to prevent any more blood loss... POOF! WRAP! So glad I decided to rip off Sasuke with these summoning wristbands. This cloth should slow down the bleeding, wish I had more to offer. If only there wasn''t a limit to its storage With Isshiki''s Daikokuten1Great Black Heavenpower, I''d have my own private dimension to host an infinite amount of materials "The medical supplies I have on hand are insufficient, they''ll only prolong her life a little. Shit, I should''ve invested more in pharmaceuticals than machines" Seriously, this could''ve been me. Can''t believe I let my guard down like that! It was just so fast...what the hell?! I still don''t know what hit her, I couldn''t even see it. Aren''t I supposed to be fast?! I completely failed to react! Where the hell did it come from anyway?! RUMBLE! "Who-?! No...how?!" My mind was still coping with Suzu''s current condition, so I was not ready for what happened next "Uuuuuhhhh..." Ky had emerged from the rubble, his entire body looked like charcoal, hair missing Now I understand, most of the blood here isn''t Suzu''s, it''s from him. He must''ve sent a concentrated blast at us...like a bullet from a sniper rifle But how is he even standing in that state? It''s like watching a zombie rise from the grave GURGLE! "What...the f**k?" That "blood" of his was entering his body, his skin started bubbling. My god...he''s actually regenerating! "AAAAAARERRGGHGHG!!!!" "He''s still alive?!" "GAAAAHHH!!!" That blood... Is he a vampire or something?! No, don''t be ridiculous Raymond. He controls blood, or rather, iron enriched matter. He could be forcing his body to undergo rapid mitosis. Stimulating his white blood cells to replicate at a rapid pace It''s insane, but this is an insane world. When I think about, doesn''t the future 5th Hokage Tsunade have a similar power? Yeah, not just her, Saiseijutsu2Regeneration Techniquesgets popular with a lot people down the line "Uhack!" "Suzu!" Damn it, now''s not the time to think about that! I have to get her out of here, someplace where she can get treated. But where? This entire area is covered with human traps, and the only clear path is too far from here... Plus, I doubt I could outrun Ky while carrying Suzu [Quite the pickle you''re in] "Notitia?!" [Look, I don''t want to tell you this, but my "other" is advising you retreat. You can''t win, nor can you save her. Furthermore, saving her could spell trouble down the line] "Ah?! Screw that! If that''s all you''ve come to say, beat it!" [That was, but I''m curious. Since when did her life mean so much?] "Huh? What are you-?" [You were in a similar position back on Summoning Island. You and your team was almost killed, and you had a chance to flee, to save yourself...but you chose to stay with them] Really? This again? "There was still leeway for the three of us to survive. I told you, my team is an investment, one that will help me down the line" [This situation is entirely different. You know no one''s coming to save you like Mabui did last time] You think I don''t know that? "You''re distracting me, hurry up and say what you have to say Notitia!" [I just want to know why this bothers you now. Remember, these individuals are just characters in a book, and not just that. In your eyes, they''re not even "Canon". Just fodder in the background no one would ever notice] "..." [So why? Why do you risk your life for them now? You''d never have done so when you first arrived. Have you forgotten your primary objective? This life you live now is literally a "second chance" most would kill to get] "..." [This question isn''t from the "other", it''s from me, the one you know as "Notitia". Your guide, and as your guide, the current course is ill-advised] "...Can I give you an answer later?" [...] "..." [Fine] "Thanks, now how about you focus on helping me now" [About that, you better move your ass. I stick with what I said, there only two options. You either leave Suzu behind and live...or stay and take your chances with Ky and his friends] "We can still...wait. His friends?" [Can''t you sense them? Wow, you really are out of it. Look. You''re in even deeper shit than you realized] "?!" TAK! TAK! TAK! SHIT! Reinforcements from Ky''s clan, now I have even more to deal with!! ??? "Ky-sama, are you alright?!" "Huff...huff...hah...I will be. When I kill those two" {Those two gave him that much trouble?} "Why are you three here? None of us were meant to meet out in the open like this until the mission was over" "There''s been a development. We''ve confirmed sightings of the Two-tails Jinchriki on the battlefield" "Wha-?!" "It''s safe to assume the team sent to the island..." No! With them gone, and the losses we''ve taken here...that''s almost half our entire clan! F**K! If I knew this would happen, I''d never have worked with "them"...! "Rrrrggg. HMPH!" STOMP! CRACK! "?!" "Ky-sama!" {He stomped his foot once, and the ground cracked like an egg!} "Hm? The Genin are gone...that Taijutsu kid must''ve fled with the girl just now. They won''t get far..." If those two report what they saw here to their allies, things will only get more difficult for the rest "Sir, please leave this area to us" "Excuse me?" "We need you at the front...to end this. Before we lose anymore of our clan" "..." "We all knew what we signed up for, please don''t let our brethren''s sacrifices be for nothing" It''s unfair when you put it like that, but they''re right. This conflict has gone on long enough. Fortunately, I still have the Lift, there''s also the other users, plenty of them have died...and let''s not forget this land has been "soaked" well Truth be told, I should''ve left for the front over an hour ago "Fine. But make sure they die, and don''t underestimate them. They''re stronger than they look, they''ll become troublesome foes if allowed to grow" "Of course. For the clan..." "And only the clan..." ??? Goddamn it! Think! I''m supposed to be a genius! Why can''t I figure this out? I''ve stopped the bleeding and stitched up the wound! [It''s most likely Ky''s chakra] "His chakra--ah! Duh! He used blood to attack, and it went right through her" Chakra from the attack infected her. Even now, it''s moving within Suzu''s body like a virus [Once it''s strong enough, the chakra puts the victim under control of the user via Genjutsu. Since Ky has set his to automatically turn anyone it infects into a "exploding human"...] Damn. Now I get what the problem is... "Suzu''s chakra is trying to fight it off, but it''s a losing battle. The physical wound isn''t the issue, the weapon used to do this is the source of her declining state" [Correct] If it''s something like that, then there really is nothing I can do...chakra affecting others on the cellular level is beyond what I can handle with the supplies I have on hand Every move I take is simply a delaying tactic. Sigh, her fever is getting worse, and her pulse is completely erratic At this rate... TING! "Crap! The enemy chakra, they''re on the move, it won''t be long before they find us! Notitia!" [I know. But, isn''t it strange? Normally, the process should''ve completed by now, the only reason I can guess as to why it hasn''t is due to her considerable chakra] Wait, what? "Her chakra is that strong?" [Compared to a modified alien-human hybrid like you, not really. But they''re pretty strong for a human, abnormally so. In fact, she''s not lagging much behind you] "..." [Her abnormal chakra reserves are fighting off Ky''s, but she won''t last forever] It must be due to her heritage...Kinkaku and Ginkaku, they''re related to the Sage of Six Paths. Right...the Nine-tails swallowed them whole in their misguided attempt to capture it They fed off his flesh to stay alive and became pseudo-jinchriki once it regurgitated them, gaining incredible chakra in the process... Tailed Beast flesh...Bloodline...Hagoromo tsutsuki... Powerful chakra... [Your logic of protecting her on the premise she''d be a powerful ally for the future is sound. Still, not enough to risk your life to such-] THAT''S IT!!! "I''ve got it!" [I advise you refrain from yelling as to not alert the enemy. And got what? Why are you digging through your belongings?] "I''m looking for it" [For what?] RUSTLE! Come on, my belongings got jumbled up in the chaos, please still be here--GOT IT! "This!" [That''s...oh...oh man. Seriously?! That''s your plan?!] Damn straight "If I can''t save her, maybe this thing can..." [You do remember what the report from HQ said right? The side effects, how they all went berserk?] It''s a sound argument, but I''m out of options. I''m exhausted, the enemy is on their way...and I can''t save her as I am now "You got any better ideas?" [...] "This is the only option" [Door number 3 is it?] "Yup" [Ignoring the low odds of success, have you considered she''ll turn on you for this? She''s spent so much time trying to free herself from the sins of her ancestors...and now you''re going to make her just like them] "If she lives to complain about it, she still lives" [Very well. I''ll leave you to it, the choice and consequences are yours...but here''s some advice. On the off chance this does work, go to your lab. Not just for the "Third Lock", but I''m pretty sure your little "Pet Project" is done] "!" [Good luck] "...Thanks" That was some good advice considering... Hmm...maybe it isn''t Notitia I have to worry about. But that "other" side, the one behind its creation...this entire ordeal is forcing me to give up even more of my humanity Seems all too convenient when you look at this entire ordeal... "..." Agh! Can''t think about that now! Have to clear my mind, focus...my chakra has to be settled in order for this to work "..." That''s it...don''t think about the battle... The Chinoike... The "LIFT"... My human DNA... Suzu... None of it matters now... Be empty... "Haaaaa..." Kisshten3Auspicious Heavens... 169. The Network MrProper As the current conflict within Kumogakure neared its climax, the reigning majority of its citizens were successfully moved to the various evac centers situated in each district Largely in part to the brave efforts of the village Genin "Alright, can you three help those elders over there? Find them a place to sit down" "Got it Mariko" "Be subtle about it, everyone''s nervous enough as it is. We don''t wish to rile them up...that means you Omoi" "Yes. My mouth is sealed" At one such facility, Mariko and her foster children had been working non-stop to aid their fellow villagers. Doing whatever it took to keep everybody calm, attending to any who required help They even aided shinobi in their evacuation efforts on their way to the center. Escorting people who didn''t know where to go, helping the injured, or those too afraid to travel in the chaos "Mariko" "Hm? What is it Karui?" "They''ll be fine right? Nothing''s going to happen right?" "This facility is built to withstand much worse, our family will be-?!" Karui, along with several other kids gathered together, all of whom stared at the doors leading outside. Mariko could easily guess what they were worried about She called the other foster kids to come closer as she bent down and gave a reassuring smile "Don''t worry. Those three will be fine, I promise. Once this over, we''ll resume our picnic with them" "..." CHATTER! Some time later, restlessness returned amongst the crowd of civilians when several shinobi staff began exiting the building in orderly fashion "What''s going on? Why are they leaving?" Karui asked "Oh, that...heh heh heh...don''t worry. It''s good they''re leaving" "Eh? Why?" "The fact they are means only one thing..." "?" "It signals the end of the evacuation. Now, it''s time to go on offense..." ??? Back at the intelligence division, Tai and Dodai were on the building''s rooftop with Moroi. Members of the latter''s Barrier squad were present as well "Nodes are active, the light is green. Your sensei is ready, what about you Tai?!" "My solution is also ready for dispersal Dodai-sama! Moroi-san!" "My team is ready to coordinate with other squads! Dodai, we''ll begin at your leisure!" WEAVE! Tai sat cross-legged as he formed the appropriate hand seals, pushing his chakra to the limit. Moroi''s subordinates stood next to various canisters placed along the confines of the roof. "Oxide bombs", containing the agitating agent Tai developed to counter the Ketsurygan1Dragon Blood Eye They weren''t alone. There were squads placed on locations throughout the village, all remaining on standby "On Tango''s signal only!" Dodai yelled, holding his hand up as he prepared to signal the others "..." "Execute!" {Suiton: Kiri Seigyo no Jutsu2Water Style: Mist Control!} At Dodai''s word, Tai activated his original, signature Ninjutsu. Vaporizing the chemicals within the canisters FIZZ! "It''s airborne and ready to travel. Time to bring it out Dodai-sama!" Tai shouted Dodai signaled a subordinate, who promptly trailed downstairs, making his way to the basement room where Tetsuo and Tango awaited. The latter of whom was still strapped to a mechanical device No longer wasting anymore time, Tetsuo flipped a switch, activating the device. Engines began churning, accompanied by rattling sounds and sparks of electricity Despite being right under it, Tango remained calm as he performed his Ninjutsu {Chakra Transmission!} ??? Back on the roof, the skittish group eagerly waited until... ?Dodai-sama, the connection is stable, I''ve already connected with the other squads. I can issue orders whenever? "?!" ...Tango''s voice reached their minds "Tango-sensei!" "So this is Charka Transmission...it''s my first time experiencing it. Quite handy, my barrier team would like this..." "Good! Now let''s see if it holds. Moroi, begin!" Dodai commanded "On it. Fton3Wind Styleusers at the ready!" ?Information has come in from the scouts, fortunately this building is right by the epicenter of the village? "We built it next to the Raikage''s governmental office for that exact purpose! No need to state the office Tango! Continue!" ?Understood. Our first confirmed sighting is in the southeastern most area of District 4? "You heard him, send it out!" Moroi yelled to members of his squad "Yes sir!" ?Next. We''ve detected a saboteur in the northern area of District 25...oh! Just received word, a squad is already engaging. Next up...? The wind style users sent Tai''s chemical mist away as Tango coordinated with other squads of similar skill in different locations. Allowing the concoction to be properly dispersed It took a moment for the shinobi to get used to it, but in no time at all, Tango began working in cohesion with several squads throughout the village Tai was flabbergasted at the sight of so many different ninja cooperating in unison, all while being so far away from one another. Using his invention to root out the hidden Chinoike saboteurs "This is the Network...amazing" Tai muttered "What''s amazing is all the effort it took to make this happen. I''ve been working on this with Raikage-sama for quite some time" "It is an impressive feat...but Dodai. Hasn''t this already been done before? Doesn''t the Yamanaka Clan of Konoha posses secret Ninjutsu producing the same effect?" Moroi asked "That''s where you''re wrong, the Network is far more than just a simple communication''s hub" Dodai went on to elaborate the differences between this, and the Yamanaka. How the Network doesn''t require the need to have a sensor-type ninja at its core Tango was not a sensor, but the machine he''s connected to temporarily increases his chakra sensitivity, turning him into psuedo-sensor "A machine that turns people into sensors?!" CLANK! "Not quite! What Dodai-dono said is an oversimplification" "?!" "Back so soon Merchant-san?" Moroi coyly asked Tetsuo had arrived on the rooftop. With the Network online, there was no reason for him to get in the way of the staff who managed to get a handle on things downstairs "Every user of chakra--no, every living being can feel chakra, sensors are simply more attune to it. This device temporarily boost the area of the human brain housing Spiritual Energy. Bringing said, sixth sense to heightened levels" "Is that safe?" "It sure as hell should be with all the safety tests we had. This project had numerous delays to ensure we wouldn''t fry the user''s brain. Our research has determined prolonged use for over 36 hours is unhealthy" Dodai added "This is just a prototype, there''s plenty of room for improvement Dodai-dono" "I would certainly hope so. However Tai, sensing chakra isn''t it''s primary function" "Huh?" "Unlike the Yamanaka, this device doesn''t just telepathically send thoughts to others...but chakra itself. As we speak, there are several shinobi in the basement below us sending their chakra into the central hub. Once sent, Tango disperses it to those in need, reinvigorating your troops" Tetsuo elaborated "There have been variations of the concept before...but Tetsuo-dono has managed to create a true connection between electricity and chakra" "!" At this revelation, Tai recalled a conversation he had several years ago {Energy and chakra, working together...didn''t Rei mention something like that before? Going on about Chakra being "the power to connect"} "How is he micromanaging so many tasks at once? You''d think issuing commands and sharing chakra on such a scale, even the strongest of human mind''s would..." Moroi asked "That was the main issue to get over, fortunately, I have one hell of an architect. The new-age batteries reduce energy consumption significantly, solving a large portion of the process. Keeping his Spiritual energy and mind unburdened" Everyone present knew the main source of spiritual energy was located in the brain. Realizing the device used electricity as a substitute to avoid overloading Tango''s mind A feat that never would''ve been possible without the designs Rei, as Developer R, came up with for Tetsuo and Mori Sp. "This is just the prototype, but eventually...my company we''ll be able to manufacture hubs small enough for ninja to carry in their pockets" "Even more, we''ll be able to send more than thoughts and chakra. We''re planning to push this wide-range connection even further. Can you either of you guess as to what?" Dodai smugly asked "...Um" "..." Seeing as the two couldn''t figure it out, Dodai pointed towards the direction of the mist "Wait, you mean-?!" "Ninjutsu?!" "Quite so. Someday, we''ll be able to send pre-kneaded chakra from one individual to another. Think about it Tai. The ability to apply Medical Ninjutsu to anyone, regardless of distance...with no contact whatsoever" Both Tai and Moroi thought about the implications of such an achievement, what it meant for the shinobi world as a whole. There were many who could achieve similar feats with methodical, natural ninjutsu But this machine allowed anyone to reach such heights with hardly any need for training...and this device was merely a prototype Rei''s invention would change shinobi warfare forever... "This project has been an ambition of ours for some time. God knows the amount of money and resources we''ve put into it. Were it not for Tetsuo-dono, this never would''ve been possible..." ?Dodai-sama!? "What is it?!" ?There''s a new chakra signature, it''s just entered the village from the north!? "Whose is it?! Friend or foe?!" ?It''s...? ??? KATA! KATA! "Hey, you see that? Over there?" "What? It''s just smoke" "Is it? There''s something off about its color" Two Chinoike members situated in the village sprinted through a district, in search of any survivors to execute. The pair had already wrought quite the amount of property damage in the area Clouds of ash flew everywhere thanks to the ruins left in their path. But their destructive actions were put on hold when one of them noticed a shroud of mist spreading above the village "Come, we''ve a job to complete. Don''t get distracted" "Don''t brush me off like that! I''m just saying-?!" "Hm?! Who''s there?!" TAK! TAK! A single figure''s silhouette could be seen as it emerged from the dust "Who''s that? A civilian?" "Wait. Is he...bouncing?" ?Yeah, yeah! I''m here to shine! Sup ya fools, it''s about damn time! O Lordy Lord, the hero is back! Straight out the Unraiky4Valley of Clouds and Lightningdungeons of rap!? ?Chinoike came bleedin'', Fma came throwin''! The village be yellin''! I came runnin''! Beyond the walls of strife, life is defined Thinkin'' of revenge, when I''m in a Kumogakure state of mind? ?Doing all this mess, took some real nerve! So why don''t you sit down, yer bout to get served!? ?Felt something whack, my boy Tango gave the bits! Y''all made a Tailed Beast drug? WHAT THE SHIT?!? ?Crazy, amazing, great, like an Ox No, No. I ain''t the damn fox!? ?I can''t take your Sabotage, y''all moving like evil mice Hidden in the shadows, fool, ya fools! I''ll cut you right!? ?There''s no future for you, I ain''t doing this by the books! I''m ruthless as hell, but I got some fine-ass looks! Recipe for the day? What am I gonna cook? Oh? I know! How bout some invading crooks!? "WHEEEEEEEE!!!!!" 170. Thin Line "I''m never gonna get used to this feeling" I probably say that every time I come to this timeless dimension of white, and it''s true, this place weirds me out. Whatever, at least I can finally relax Time to figure out how this little pill works Come, Black Gem ZWIP! Soon as I call, you come zipping over. Obedient as always, this round thing is starting to remind me of pets Okay, I need you to carefully analyze this pill. Tell m--er, I forgot you can''t talk...um...please show me what it''s made of. It''s composition, structure, functions, any information you can provide will be of service ZWIP! SWALLOW! ?! Geez! I asked you to work, but you didn''t have to eat it right out of my hand. Thought I was gonna lose my fingers for a second there! Though, considering this "me" isn''t the true me, just a manifestation of my consciousness while my body waits in the real world... ZWIP! BLEEP! Hm? Now that is interesting. I said "show me", but I didn''t know you could create holographic images in midair A diagram of the pill, this DNA isn''t human. Wait, haven''t I seen this genome before? ZWIP! I have? When did I--wait... No way...this is from a Tailed Beast! And not just one...oh no...you''ve got to be kidding me. Someone out there has their hands on the genes of all nine beasts?! H-How--I mean, I know how. It''s obviously a "Ripple" but...how''d they get it?! Acquiring Tailed beast DNA from just one of them isn''t like grocery shopping! Who the f**k are these people?! ZWIP! BLEEP! There''s more?! A seal formula? I''m not an expert when it comes Finjutsu1Sealing Techniques, but I recognize a transfer pattern when I see one This must be how the deceased, LIFT user''s chakra is divided and shared amongst the living ones Impressive. This kind of work--huh? Wireless shared and divided chakra? ... ... ... SON OF A BITCH! THAT''S MINE!!! Some asshole out there stole my work!!! This concept is a messed up version of my updated design for the Network!! How in the hell did they get-?! ZWIP! ZWIP... Yeah, yeah, I''m fine. Someone out there needs a boot up their ass, is all I''m saying I''ll worry about that later. For now, I must ensure Suzu''s body can adjust to it. Here. Breakdown this blood I took from her, she''s descended from the Sage of Six Paths, so try to isolate the strand relating to Hagogromo The better I understand it, the more likely this crazy plan is to work ZWIP! BLEEP! Okay...everything seems normal. Oh, there it is...this tiny, miniscule strand even modern scientists couldn''t find unless they knew what to look for. Amazing how even the smallest piece of tsutsuki DNA makes such a difference Back to the pill, the first thing I have to do is disconnect it from the others. Since each batch of LIFT pills are most likely connected, Suzu doesn''t need any additional side effects Hey! Remove that formula, leave no trace! ZWIP! Second, the pill is made with various ratios of the Tailed Beasts. This part, I sense something familiar...Yugito? ZWIP! ZWIP! Yeah, I forgot you took chakra from her the first time you rampaged with my body. Safe to say it''s from the Two-Tails, and...it makes up most of the pill Although...it''s unstable. The pill needs to be equally proportional, perfectly balanced. All nine beasts together...whoever made this was essentially trying to recreate Kaguya tsutsuki But their work is shoddy, incomplete. Hmph! As expected of copycats, they couldn''t come up with a good idea if it bit em'' in the ass-! ZWIP... Okay, okay! I know I''m being petty...back on track Black Gem, balance out the nine Tailed Beast ingredients of the pill, I want them all equally matched to the nearest decimal point! And remove any impurities you find as well! If I''m doing this, it sure as hell won''t be half-assed ZWIP! ZWIP! ... Nicely done. Watching you work never gets old... Now...the most important part...I need you to show me the stabilizing agent. My work on that factor...it''ll determine whether or not Suzu survives ZWIP! BLEEP! ... ... I don''t recognize this...ah crap The work on everything prior was something I could understand...but this...it''s like one person worked on the pill, lazily stopped halfway, and gave the reigns to someone else And still, it works somehow...I know consuming flesh from just a single beast likely leads to one''s end . Whoever created this...it must''ve been a means to prevent instant death upon consumption Forget who gathered the ingredients, I wanna know who the hell came up with a binding agent like this. This kind of science shouldn''t even be a concept in this world...yet Whatever it is, the chemical doesn''t even exist in my original world...goddamn absurd manga logic! ZWIP! ZWIP! ZWIP! Hm? What''s up? That? Hmmm...yeah, I see what you mean. I may not understand what it is, but it''s function is familiar. It practically mimics polysaccharides, almost like carbohydrates in sweets Maintaining a strict molecular bond between the differing ingredients for better performance... In which case, I can improve upon it. Since I''ve already had you scan nearly every element on the periodic table I could find in this world...let''s make it ever better Black gem...make the bonds even tighter, but not too much, this''ll all be pointless if she can''t even consume the pill ZWIP! ... ... Yes. That''s the best--all I can do ZWIP! No, we''re not done yet. There''s still a big glaring issue ZWIP? Sigh...! The moment I leave here, time will resume, and Kisshten will begin "recreating" this LIFT pill in my hand. The alien part of me will inevitably react to the Yin-Yang chakra I used to make it I need you to protect my remaining human DNA before the rest of those cells are devoured and replaced ZWIP! Thanks. Also, if we do happen to survive this- ZWIP?! Sorry. When we make it through this, I have another task I''m gonna be too tired to complete alone, my mind is weary enough as it is List carefully. The moment I can move after giving Suzu this thing... ??? KATA! KATA! "Over there, I can see them!" "Finally! How''d he get so far with an injured teammate?" Three Chinoike clan members, appearing to be in their late-teens, sprinted across collapsed buildings. The structures Ky was blasted through by Rei and Suzu earlier The very same group whom convinced their leader to leave for the front, offering to eliminate any remaining hostiles in his place. Despite Rei''s early retreat, it didn''t take long for them to find and hone in on his position As they approached, a peculiar display caught the attention of one "Hey, do you see that? What''s that Genin doing?" "Who cares. Ky-sama injured one earlier, he''s probably performing first aid. Not that it matters anymore" "Let''s get this done fast so we can join Ky-sama on the front!" DASH! The trio increased their pace It became clear as day the majority of village citizens had been evacuated. The Chinoike''s main purpose was to wreak havoc within, thereby diverting Kumogakure''s attention between them, and the enemies outside Despite having the element surprise, intel, unorthodox assets, and even the Raikage missing...Kumogakure was still one of the Five Great Shinobi Nations Even if it possessed the smallest population of the five, its regimented military force was certainly not to be underestimated Only fools and lunatics would believe otherwise... "We''re closing in! Remember what Ky-sama said, don''t underestimate them!" "Yeah, yeah...he probably just let his guard down since they''re kids" "I''ll take the lead!" "Got it, we''ll cover you!" Turning people into explosives with the Ketsurygan2Blood Dragon Eyewas their main form of sabotage, they couldn''t do much damage without any more, "ammunition" It was time for the enemy to proceed with the final phase of this heinous siege "Ketsury Tsume3Blood Dragon Nail!" ??? That''s it Suzu, swallow the pill. It''s the only way we''ll stay alive TING! "N-Ngh!" Agh! Damn it! The chakra consumption of Kisshten is no joke. I just hope there''s enough to protect my human cells before the alien ones settle down I feel like I''m about to pass out...! PHT! PHT! "?!" Crap! More blood blades! Suzu can''t be interrupted...but I can''t risk using more...ah shit! No choice now! WEAVE! "Suiton: Suijinheki4Water Style: Water Wall!" SPLOOSH! "Rgh!" "Hahaha! What a pathetic display, you call that defense?!" I-I don''t... have enough chakra...! The water barrier...it''s going to break! CRASH! No! Too fast! BAM! "GAH!" "Got em!" "Nice!" THUD! "He''s down. End it quickly so we can leave!" "U-Uhack...!" S-Shit! My remaining chakra is in use, my tsutsuki side still hasn''t settled down from my...use of Kisshten "Hm, this girl is already dead?" "?!" "Ky-sama''s work finally took its toll. She died before turning into an exploding human. What a waste" W-What?! No...no no no no no...Suzu''s chakra...I can''t sense it. I CAN''T SENSE IT! This wasn''t supposed to...my work was enough! There''s no way she...no way she...! Ugh! Eyes are...heavy... Damn it. I''m so tired. Hard to...hard to sta...stay...a...wake "Hmph!" BUBBLE! "I hate you Kumo-nin, but I''ll make this quick. A clean shot of blood to the head, you won''t feel a thing" Blood on his...fingers...he''s gonna...kill me. So dark...can''t stay...don''t... ...ot yet...I''m not...ready ... "?" "He passed out" "Well...a painless death is the greatest mercy we can give to these Kumo basta-" ZWSH! "H-Huh? What was that noise?" "Hm? Hey! Where''d the girl go?" "What do you mean? There''s no way a corpse could just get up and-" STUP! "LOOK OUT!" "?!" POW! "Gah!" "The hell?! Hey! Are you alright?!" "Urgh! My nose...I think she broke it! Wait...w-wasn''t she dead?!" VWOOOO!! "Uh?! Her chakra...it so abnormal...and strong. It''s actually visible!" "And that color...!" {How is this happening?!} "You won''t...hurt him. Rei. Won''t let...you...anyone...my friend...family...!" "Huh? What''s she saying?" "Did she lose it?" "Who cares?! Attack!" VWOOO! "Will never let...ergh...you...!" "?!" "HURT HIM!!!!" 171. Ascension [1] MrProper "W-What in the...?!" "Don''t waste any time, attack!" "R-Right!" VWOOOO! The air shifted and swirled as powerful chakra gathered with Suzu at its center. Energy condensing to the point it became visible to the naked eye. A rare phenomenon that only occurred in cases of ridiculously high-leveled chakra manipulation and/or quantity The Chinoike trio pondered if this was reality or a Genjutsu... "Is...is that even possible?" "The color of her chakra...it''s so pure..." "And...bright! Eh?! Her hair is-?!" Suzu began undergoing a physical change. Her figure remained the same, with one exception. Her once raven-black hair, now conditioned into a bright, snowy-white color...the chakra around her also assumed this color The maturing 13-year-old girl was already considered by many to be quite the beauty. Flawless fair skin lacking even the slightest of blemishes, emerald-green eyes, along with an enchantingly graceful and well balanced physique These distinct traits, paired with her current changes, granted Suzu an almost otherworldly appearance...like gazing upon a delicate fairy in the snow "Haaaa..." CRACK! "?!" "Here she comes!" But the girl before them, snapping her knuckles, was anything but..."delicate" ZWIP! THWAK! "Get ready. She''s about to-GUOH?!" "Huh?!" In barely an instant, Suzu drove her fist into the jaw of the one furthest away from her. Still covered in white chakra, she stood over the downed man before delivering a barrage of punches. Pummeling the man into the very Earth itself as the ground split under him due to sheer force "Shit, my eyes couldn''t even follow!" "Tsk! Come on!" "O-Okay..!" FWIP! FWIP! Strength, speed, agility, endurance, dexterity...she''d been enhanced in every conceivable way. When the beaten man''s allies, still too afraid to get close, attempted to stop her with shuriken...the throwing stars bounced right off her Her white aura acted similar to the infamous "Tailed Beast Cloak" used by Jinchriki, a dense shroud of chakra acting as a shield against any outside force Be it a lack of awareness, or the feebleness of their previous attack, Suzu didn''t even notice the shuriken. Continuing her assault on the man before her, almost as if she bared some form of grudge... "H-Hey...if we don''t do something, he''s gonna-!" "I know, don''t hold back!" SHING! GURGLE! Activating their respective Ketsurygan1Blood Dragon Eye, the pair gathered blood into the form of small senbon needles, sending them at Suzu from above It was only after they unleashed this "red rain-looking" attack that Suzu finally turned her attention away from the man she was beating. Streaking from her position, spanning a wide range as she dodged their ceaseless attacks before stopping The two men were flabbergasted... "...!" "No way, that was our fastest...! What the hell is she?!" "Calm down" The leader of the trio did his best to keep his partner focused. With one of them already down, he knew losing another ally would lead to certain death Opting to observe Suzu''s every action, looking for any weakness he could find, all the while trying to comprehend her abnormal transformation Soon after, something caught his eye "Hey...look behind her. See that?" "H-Huh? What? I don''t see...oh...OH!" "Hehe! Yeah...that could work, wouldn''t you agree?" While Suzu seemed to be in a trance, she still held enough sanity to distinguish between friend and foe. Standing in front of a now unconscious Rei, refusing to let anyone get near him. The latter drained of his remaining energy prior to his use of Kisshten2Auspicious Heavens When the pair unleashed their last attack, Suzu grabbed Rei with haste and moved him to safety. Despite her current mental state, protecting him seemed to be her number one priority Her choice of who to target was dependent on whoever attacked him. The man she pummeled had previously struck Rei before trying to finish him off This attempt on her teammate''s life had set her off... "She didn''t move to protect herself...she moved to protect her teammate. That''s how we win!" "Yes, but one of us still needs distract her. I can''t keep up with her movements, but you..." the younger one said as he glanced towards the leader He was still shaken from observing the beating his ally had taken, now buried in the ground...unmoving. He didn''t want to say it, but the man was no longer breathing The leader knew what the he implied, and though he disliked the idea, he understood this plan had to work for him to survive. Gritting his teeth, he angrily agreed to be the bait before subtly threating his comrade not to fail VWOOO! Wind picked up as the opposing sides glared at one another. Sweat ran, throats dried, and skin shook with anticipation as the weighty pressure of her chakra unsettled them any further Her calm, unflinching demeanor was the worst for them. They way she stared at them, as if looking at someone about to die, got under their skin the most Being the eldest of those present, the leader grew irritated that a girl, so much younger than he, could look at them in such a way...as if looking at ants Eventually, his temper flared up until he couldn''t take it anymore, throwing caution to the wind! GURGLE! "Ketsury Yari3Blood Dragon Spear!" yelled the leader "Let''s go!" The younger one dashed away, leaving Suzu to his partner BOFF! BOFF! The leader formed spears out of blood. Slower than the senbon from earlier, the power they held proved to be quite formidable. Enough to tear apart anything they struck, clearly seen from the ones Suzu dodged Still a question of whether or not she was conscious of her actions, Suzu utilized her wind style. Now stronger thanks to her new power, the air blasts she fired were potent enough to offset the man''s attacks She quickly closed the distance "Kuh...!" And in no time at all, the girl had reached striking distance when... "STOP RIGHT THERE!" "?!" "Heh...took you long enough!" the elder man mused in relief The younger man had Rei in his hands, holding a kunai blade to the boy''s throat. Suzu stopped in her tracks prior to glaring at the shameless person He payed her attitude no mind before issuing his demands "Unless you want me open your friend''s throat, back away from my colleague and get on your knees!" "..." "Don''t make me repeat myself!" his yelling intensified as he pressed the blade even closer to Rei''s neck Suzu maintained her silence. Walking away from the one she was about to hit, slowly proceeding towards the one holding Rei hostage. After several steps, she stopped, standing on a spot equally distant from both men The younger one became satisfied as the powerful girl seemingly complied with his demands. The elder Chinoke remained tense after almost being struck by her "Good! Now, get on your knees! And be quick about it!" "..." When he finally began to loosen his guard... CRACK! BOOM! "AAAHHH?!" "IMPOSSIBLE! THOSE ARE--?!" The ground under the one holding Rei hostage suddenly burst before he was hoisted in mid air, completely immobilized! "UGH!" "That chakra...how can she do that?!" Suzu had somehow manifested a large, ethereal arm from the chakra covering her body! "What the hell is this?!" screamed the young Chinoike {The girl must''ve sent that "Chakra arm" beneath the surface when she stopped walking! I couldn''t see it travel underground with all this rubble in the way!} "She wasn''t complying, just getting close enough until he was in her range...wait? Range?" CRACK! "Don''t tell me...!" BOOM! Another arm rose from the ground, grabbing the other Chinoike! "Ugh! Shit...!" {Not just him, she moved until both of us were within her radius of attack. She stopped in a position with her situated right between the two of us! And we fell for it, goddamn it!} "Haaaaa..." Taking another deep breath, Suzu raised her right hand, palm open as the chakra arms hoisted the two men even further into the air! "H-H-Hiek!!" "W-Wait! We surrender! We surrender! Don''t do it!" "..." She said nothing, her right hand still in an open palm... "I-I-I''m sorry...sniff...please...!" the younger Chinoike began crying for mercy, tears and snot falling in an unsightly manner "We...we can give you intel! Y-Yeah! You guys obviously want to know who orchestrated this right?! Don''t kill us, and we''ll tell you!" "Tha-Tha-Tha-That''s true. There''s so much about this you don''t know!" The pair continued to bargain...desperately thinking of something, anything that could save them! But Suzu stared at them silently with no change in her expression Her right hand still in an open palm... "You''re making a mistake!" "Are you really going to throw away this opportunity?!" "You..." Suzu spoke for the first time since the fight began "?!" "You hurt him..." "N-No..." GRIP! Suzu clenched her palm, and with this action, the giant chakra arms did the same. The fists contracted, crushing them from every conceivable angle until they were nothing, killing them instantly SPLATTER! Their bodies burst into pieces, scattering around the area like rain Suzu shot a small glance towards the direction of the front lines where the main battle for the village took place...before turning her attention to Rei, who was still out cold "Protect...you" ??? "You! Get me an update on our antibiotic supply!" "Right away!" "Why is this hallway still occupied?! I told you to clear it out! We need clear paths in order to transport people to the other wards!" "Y-Yes sir! I''ll get right on it!" "C-sama!" "Sigh! What now?!" CLAMMOR! "We''ve got another one! Multiple cuts on his lower torso!" "Move him to the ward upstairs. Give him some penicillin, DO NOT let the wounds get infected!" "Doctor! There''s a shortage of our saline solution!" "Isn''t that what HQ next door is for?! Send someone to Dodai, ask for more! Otherwise, we''re gonna run out of IV''s!!" "Y-Yes sir!" Describing the inner workings of the general hospital as "chaotic" would be in poor taste Were it not for C, a Letter Bearer who along with his partner Darui, was a handpicked personal guard of the Raikage...the place would''ve fallen apart already But with this siege enduring all the way into the night, he was starting to feel the pressure. Countless Kumogakure lives were riding on his shoulders tonight "I saw plenty of Dextrose lying around on my way up here, it works just as well for IV''s" "Hm? Yeah, that''ll work just--wait, Tai?! You were supposed to be here a while ago! I needed more medical-nin''s for the supply chain towards the front!" "Yeah, sorry about that. Dodai-sama kept me busy working on...you know what" Tai said apologetically Intricate details pertaining to the "Network" were still a highly guarded secret. Dodai took a big risk revealing its existence to a Genin like Tai He warned the young man of incredibly harsh consequences should his tongue slip and he divulge any classified information towards those not privy to its secrets Fortunately, Dodai informed Tai that C had long been made aware of the project before sending him to the hospital "Sigh, of course. You''re here now, and there''s a squad on standby downstairs. They''re set to bring first aid equipment to the front. Someone qualified enough to understand what''s what will speed up their distribution upon rival" "Right, I just had a question if you don''t mind me asking. Have you seen Rei or Suzu? Tango-sensei can''t seem to locate them" "...Tango''s using that device for the first time, and on large a scale, it''ll be a while before he''s used to it. It''s difficult to zero-in on a single chakra signature amongst thousands. Hell, I told Rei the same thing when I taught him how to sense chakra" "Oh...o-okay. Guess I''ll be on my-" BOOSH! VWOOM! "What the-?!" "Is the hospital under attack?!" Out of nowhere, a sudden burst of wind wracked the hospital, with nearly every single window forced open. All following the intense shaking of the earth from beneath the hospital floor As if a meteor landed on the ground right outside the building! "Nobody panic!!" "No running, stay calm! It''s not an attack!" C ordered the guards to keep everyone composed, many of whom believed the enemy had reached the hospital. With Darui now gone, there was no one else coordinating the guards Tai volunteered to go out and see what it was, moving alongside the shinobi exiting the building. Upon coming outside, the first thing that caught their attention was a streak of light soaring through the night sky, heading towards the front lines "What the heck? A...shooting star?" "No...I don''t think so. Too low of an altitude" "Hey! Look!" But what they found next only gave them more questions than answers. Or rather...whom "Wha-?! Who is that?" "A Genin?" "Um...please let me have a loo--NO WAY?!" Tai yelled in surprise "Eh? Do you know this kid?" "He''s my teammate! Rei! What happened?! Where''s Suzu?! How did you end up in such a-?!" To his surprise, Tai found Rei lying unconscious in a small crater right outside the hospital doors. Running to his friend, he immediately checked for injuries "He''s a bit banged up, but why isn''t he conscious? This amount of injuries wouldn''t be enough to keep him down" "We''ll figure it out later. Move kid, I''ll carry him inside" "R-Right..." The older shinobi picked him up, bringing him to a hospital bed. Quickly calling for medics to take a look at him Tai wanted to go in help, but C insisted he leave it to the adults, stressing he had another job to complete. Somewhat unsatisfied, he did as he was told and left with the other squad heading for the supply chain outside the village walls "Please take care of him C-senpai!" Tai pleaded as he left "Naturally!" {Mabui will murder me if something bad happens to him under my watch...} The moment Tai could no longer be seen, C entered the room Rei was just put in. Placing both arms above the boy''s chest, he performed the Medical Ninja''s signature Shsen Jutsu4Mystical Palm Technique ZUUUU! Chakra flowed from C''s hands directly into Rei''s body, not only reenergizing him, but giving C a thorough understanding of his current physical condition "Hmm...mostly bruises. A rib is somewhat out of place, but I can easily fix it. The main problem is his chakra network, the energy flowing through it is completely erratic. As if all the chakra in his body is focusing on a singular location" C glanced at his unconscious face "What the hell is happening to you?" 172. Ascension [2] "URGH! The f**k is this?! It burns!!" "My eyes...I can hardly see straight!!!" Elsewhere in the village, the cloud of altered oxide specifically designed to target Chinoike proved to be more than effective. Created by Tai, directed by Moroi''s team, one by one...the saboteurs were forced out of hiding With Tango coordinated the squads via the Network, functioning as a cohesive unit became easy for the isolated groups. Other Kumo-nin outside of Moroi''s command began joining the efforts, engaging the enemy, putting an end to their terrorist acts "Laser Circus!" PHT! PHT! PHT! PHT! PHT! PHT! "Oooof!" "GAH!" "Urgh!" Darui had left his post at the hospital to aid his allies in rooting out these marauders. Unleashing his unique Kekkei Genkai1Bloodline Limit, the Ranton2Gale Style, he bolted through the village while firing beams of light at each and every enemy he encountered Showing no mercy towards those who brought so much death and destruction to his home. Other shinobi became enlivened at his valor, admirably following his example while showing no fear But the one truly at the "tip of the spear" when it came to their counterattack was none other than... ?Eight Tails, dat''s me! Y''all know who it is, da rappin Killer Bee! Ya know my blades, skill don''t fade, the Chinoike been made!? ?I strike like BAM! Move aside fam! I''m so fly...Goddamn!? ?I''m rolling in deez streets, all "holier than thou"! Boom! Bam! Bop! Badabop Boomp...POW!? ?Too cool, no time for school, I freakin'' rule! Get ready to face the music! Fool, ya fool!? "WHEEEEE!!!" "I still barely understand what he''s saying...but the message is clear! Come on you lot, back up B-sama! I want this district cleared!" "Darui-sama! There''s a squad northeast of here in need of assistance!" "Got it...Tango!" ?I''ll lead you there? After Tango informed him of the situation, Killer B rushed to central command, snagging away Darui from his post at the general hospital next door. Though reluctant to have him go, C assured Darui they''d be fine without him With that, the two quickly took charge of the situation. Securing the village in the process, at a frightening pace. It was only a matter of time before the entire village was secure ??? Kumogakure forces progressed further amongst the front lines, they were finally pushing the enemy back. As the conflict advanced, the drugged-enhanced berserkers inevitably felt the pressure from the village''s regimented military The cloud ninja were becoming more organized, creating supply lines with Genin assistance, sending medical aid, and receiving support from the Network Moving with perfect unity, squads separated the "LIFT" using criminals, singling each individual out as they were too dangerous to engage in groups Only squads of the strongest shinobi did otherwise... "Keep it up, we''re gaining the advantage" "Don''t let fear stop you! Just look at those three!" BOOM! The women of Team Mabui were especially diligent in their efforts, eliminating most of these troublesome foes. Samui stayed with Mabui, acting as a guard while the latter prepared her long-ranged Transportation Ninjutsu Yugito had spent the majority of this battle in her "Tailed Beast Mode", now returned to her human form. Opting to conserve her remaining energy before suffering total exhaustion Such a transformation consumed much energy, mostly when prolonged for extended periods of time. But even without her powerful transformation... "His3Flying Claw!" SLICE!! "GAH!" ...her skill was still one to be reckoned with Yugito specialized in quick, close-quarters combat. Using chakra to increase the growth and durability of the nails on her hands and feet, using them as blades "D-Damn you...bitch! Uhhhh..." THUD! "Nice Yugito!" "Thanks Samui!" Yugito said after eliminating another inmate "Mabui! This one''s down, let''s regroup before that reaction occurs!" "Huff...huff...right!" Even with the LIFT''s unique effect of dispensing chakra from the deceased to the living users present, the chaotic situation seemed to be getting under control... ??? "Huh...kind of a shabby end" "What''d you expect? The LIFT''s enhancing effect is starting to wear off. Split chakra from weaklings won''t do much good when given to another weakling" "Sigh...! Goddamn it..." Atop the very same hill untouched by the ongoing conflict, the Company members Red and Balance still hadn''t moved much from their initial position. Ensuring they never missed a single moment of this twisted "Field Test" they helped orchestrate Now nearing its end, with the winning odds clearly in Kumogakure''s favor, Red felt a little let down. While the LIFT was still a prototype, and many of the inmates from Hzkui-j weren''t that skilled...she''d hoped for more "Don''t be so down. They lasted WAY longer than either of us believed" "Balance, that''s not the point. The reaction was supposed to be...bigger! If the Company is going to move forward, we''re going to need something far more potent" "It ain''t over, till it''s over. Look. My dog just made it to the field. And boy...does he look pissed. Kekeke!" "Your...dog? Oh, you mean him. Hmmm, I guess it wouldn''t hurt to see what effects the LIFT manifests within his body" ??? Back at the front, F continued rescue efforts for the wounded. He, along with a small squad were removing the injured from the battlefield and bringing them away from the frontline, closer to the supply chain near the village walls "F-sensei!" "Hm? Tai-kun! What in the world are doing here?! Genin aren''t supposed to be-" "After assisting Dodai-sama, I was reassigned to the hospital next door. C-senpai ordered me and other Genin to come here and bring supplies. There''s a shortage of staff..." "I see...just make sure you keep your distance from the fight" F glanced at the battlefield, relieved the conflict was nearing its end. Tai timidly asked if he received word from the north and southern fronts F easily deduced what the young man wanted. Tai''s parents were stationed at those very locations, and reports from them were scarce. Dodai had to put his trust in the Yotsuki clan to defend the two key points while he focused on the village itself Tai knew his father had long since defeated Nobuyuki Fma, but he was unaware of whether or not the enemy had returned to retake the location. That, coupled with no news from the northern coastline his mother protected, anxiety naturally ran through his mind "There''s no need to worry, as you can see, this horrible ordeal will be behind us soon" "Yes...finally" "The only thing I''m worrying about now is how to explain all of this to Raikage-sama. He''s gonna lose it once he sees all the damage, hahaha!" "Pfft! I certainly don''t want to be the one to tell him" {That''s it kid, chin up. I doubt we have to worry about Tomoe or Ganj...} As F made a little banter to cheer Tai up, the boy''s attention turned elsewhere. A figure in white walking towards the village caught his eye Holding nothing but a small bag in hand "Hey F-sensei, is that guy with us? He''s just walking" "Huh? What guy?" "Over there, do you see him?" Tai said as he pointed towards the approaching figure outside the field The man continued his casual pace, like one walking down a sidewalk at night, uncaring for the circumstances around him. After several minutes of walking, he stopped and faced the village He did nothing else but stare at Kumogakure, performing no other action for over a minute until opening the bag in his hand. In the process, his eyes turned red Once F saw this, along with the bag''s contents pouring into the man''s other hand, he realized what this person was planning before screaming The bag was full of LIFT pills... "NEW ENEMY CONTACT!" F yelled with all his might, pointing towards the newcomer "E-Eh? Who? Wait, don''t I know that guy?" "Yeah, he''s in the Bingo Book. That''s the Chinoike leader...! It''s Ky! He''s here!!" Ky ignored their yells as he swallowed the pills, and a moment after... BOOM! VWOOOO! "Ngh! ARGH! GAAAH!" {Shit, too late!} F deeply lamented not warning everyone sooner "AAAAAAAGGGHH!!!" F knew chakra was split amongst the pill takers, and many on the enemy side were killed. Ky wouldn''t just receive a boost in power from the pills themselves...but from the other users as well "What the hell is he doing?!" "All of that energy is pouring into him...is he gonna explode?!" Incredible chakra burst from his very being, so much he felt like he was gonna die! But he didn''t care. On his way here, he discovered his clan casualty number was far higher than he feared. Over two-thirds of his clan had perished tonight... At first, he felt a great swirl of pity for this great loss. His heart was heavy, wracked with grief, but soon replaced by hatred. Hatred, for Kumogakure, for the Land of Lightning and its people This spiteful fury provided the necessary strength to maintain his sanity upon receiving these new, inhuman powers "Haaaa...phew!" VWOOOO! The immense charka finally settled! "Now...it''s time to clear old debts, Kumogakure" All of sudden, the battle came to a halt. Everyone, even the inmates, all eyes were on Ky as his absurdly powerful and disturbing chakra could be felt throughout the front line in it''s entirety "H-Hey, Mabui. You do realize what this--?" "Yeah, I know Samui" {This chakra...it''s like standing in front of Yugito in her Tailed Beast State!} "How could he control it...?!" Yugito was in disbelief As a Jinchriki, she of all people knew how hard it was to control the power of a Tailed Beast No longer waiting, Ky raised his hands WEAVE! "KETSURY SHTEN4Blood Dragon Ascension!!" 173. Third Lock MrProper "AAAAGHHH!!" "Tango!!" "I''m alright, I''m alright! Urgh! That was...too much! Tetsuo-dono, I think we''re gonna have to install a better inhibitor on this thing. At least to make sure the user''s senses aren''t overwhelmed by a powerful chakra signature" "R-Right, I''ll um...I''ll get on that the next time I''m back at my company. Wait, powerful chakra...?" "Yeah, we''ve got a new problem. I need you to call in Dodai-sama" Understanding something troublesome had occurred, Tetsuo did as Tango asked. Fetching Dodai from the central command room, bringing him back inside the room housing the Network''s main hub "Dodai-sama, someone with inhumanly powerful chakra has arrived on the battlefield...and I''m not talking about our Jinchriki" "The LIFT?" "Not just that, reports are coming in, the leader of the Chinoike arrived on the front. He''s unleashed an absurd amount of blood torrents...they''re tearing everything apart! Tango went on about Ky''s reckless use of the LIFT, consuming several pills at once. Stressing that the terrible situation quickly grew worse by the minute "Just when we were finally getting a handle on things, he goes and does this. Sigh! "I''ve issued commands to keep the normal troops focused on the inmates, we''ll have our best focus on Ky. Soon as Killer B-sama is finished in the village, he''ll head there. With him and Yugito-sama...two Jinchriki might give us an edge" Tango suggested "Two? Dodai-dono, I''m not a ninja...but is Ky really so much of a threat now?" Tetsuo asked "It''s not that simple Tetsuo. What makes these dangerous performance enhancers so terrifying is whom they''re given to" "I don''t follow..." Dodai elaborated the LIFT in the hands of a high Jonin-level shinboi like Ky is many times worse than a bunch of no name inmates with average combat proficiency From their observation, they knew the pill alone provided a boost in strength and chakra, and Ky took several of them at once Coupled with the fact their forces, including Yugito, were exhausted from over a day of non-stop fighting... "I get that, but he''s just one man. I mean, how much--er...blood, can he have?" "Long ago, our Daimy used the Uchiha Clan to exile his clan out of the Land of Lightning, they eventually found themselves forced to dwell in the Jigokudani1Valley of Hell. His Djutsu2Eye Techniqueallows for the control of iron-enriched liquids. The river there is full of the stuff, his clan surely brought plenty with them for this operation" "...And, there''s all the dead bodies on the field. I''ve instructed some soldiers to remove as many deceased from the battle as they can" Tango added "Thanks, their technique always works better with fresh blood" "O-Oh no...forget the pills, the chakra he''ll receive from the other LIFT users...now that he''s connected with them-!" Tetsuo realized "Now you get it; His exceptional skill, shared & boosted chakra, ample supply of blood, ocular Genjutsu, and above all else...a burning hatred for us. He might be able to go toe-to-toe with a Tailed Beast now. He''s not the first person I''ve seen done so" {Right. The late 3rd Raikage was infamous for doing so...} "Gulp...!" "Ky has become a monster..." ??? "Mmm...mmmmm! Ugh! Ha...haaa...SUZU!!!" W-What did I just feel-?! W-Where? Wait. Is this...? RUSTLE! "Ugh...the last thing I remember...Notitia!!" [You rang?] "How did I get in this hospital bed?" [Makes sense you don''t remember, you were out like a light. The abridged version is, your crazy plan worked. Suzu went nuts, killed the enemies, then "dropped" you off at the hospital before heading to the front line] "Hm? Wait...it worked?! She killed all of them? Alone?!" [Oh ho ho ho ho, yeah. In fact, it reminded me of the time you went berserk years ago. Suzu even manifested chakra arms!] For real? I never intended for her to get that powerful It must be her compatible DNA, her cells adapted to the LIFT far more than I initially hypothesized. To manifest chakra arms of all things, she''s basically a pseudo-Jinchriki at this point I may have put more effort in studying her bloodline for further experiments... "Fascinating...but on to more important things" [Like what?] If my last act with Kisshten3Auspicious Heavensworked, my body should be...where''s a mirror when you need one? "Sigh...! Notitia, how''s my appearance? Do I seem different to you?" [You don''t have any scars if that''s what you''re worried about. Hell, you couldn''t even get them considering your body heals rapidly] "Phew!" That''s a relief to hear- [However, you''ve undergone a change again. The physical trauma you received must''ve caused you to use that mysterious In''yton4Yin-Yang/Shadow & Light Stylepower again. You''re over 80% tsutsuki at this point] "That much?!" Such a percentage...ugh! That''s far more than I desired...fan-f**king-tastic. Who knows what''s gonna happen if I lose the rest of my humanity "Haaaaa...unbelievable" [...] Well, guess I should just be happy my remaining human cells are protected now. With Kisshten''s Yin-Yang chakra covering the rest, it should be safe to use the ability again Still, I can''t overdue it. Who knows how my body will react...speaking of which? CLENCH! "Yeah...I feel stronger, in every considerable way. My chakra is even easier to control now, just what I should expect with this body being more tsutsuki...more alien. However, I''ve lost something as well" [You mean?] "Yeah. They''re gone..." [So...we were right in our prediction for the next time your body...changed] When I fought Etoro Konjiki, I instinctively used Yin-Yang Style to save myself. It in turn activated recessive cells stemming from "Rei''s" maternal ancestry, allowing me to neutralize his Lava attacks The same thing happened when I was buried under rubble on my secret mission with Motoi and Team F, boosting my affinity for Earth Style to dig my way out of there But now that said human cells had been completely replaced with alien DNA... "My affinity with the Earth and Lava Styles are pretty much non-existent..." [More of "Rei''s" weaker human chakra is gone. You can still retrain Earth to even greater heights, but Lava is...] "It''s not a heavy loss, my lava affinity was already deteriorating. One of my end goals is to obtain the Kekkei Mra5Bloodline Encompassingremember? I''ll have all elements when that happens" I recently went "back to basics" with my training in preparation for this scenario Taijutsu and Genjutsu were my original specialty after all. I''ve been too focused on nature transformations in recent years, my training has gotten sloppy Guess I was just so happy this formerly hopeless body began to change, I let the excitement go to my head In hindsight, that''s always been one of problems... "Overall, I still have Fire and Water Style" [That''s a nice "glass half-full" outlook. And here I was ready for you to start bitching, you''ve grown a lot Raymond] "And you''re still the same annoying jackass you''ve always been" [Hehe, by the way...what next on the agenda?] I guess the Black Scroll would be next. Now that I''m more alien, my chakra control has improved leaps and bounds. The logical choice is breaking the third lock But... "Why are you asking?" [Because Ky''s on the front] "So? It''s one guy against Kumogakure as a whole" Truth be told, the only reason the enemy lasted this long was due to Kumo focusing its efforts on evacuation, rather than combat No way these idiots were gonna take down a great shinobi nation of such caliber alone [Normally I''d agree, but Ky consumed a shit ton of LIFT pills and went berserk, not to mention Suzu is heading straight for him] "H-Huh?" [She''s not in full control of her actions. At best, she recognizes friend and foe but...she killed those guys because they hurt you. Ky was one of the last people she saw attacking you, naturally she''s targeting him now. But even with her new power, I doubt she can fight him and win] The sinister feeling that woke me from my sleep...it''s from him?! "Tell me that sooner!" TAP! POOF! Thank god I ensured the scroll could always be summoned with these bracelets of mine [Remember to stay calm. The scroll''s "Bodily Purification" practice is no different than operating on yourself. You''re just using chakra instead of scalpels] Yes, I need a calm mind if I want to break the "Kanji Lock". Once it''s open, the new instructions will show which parts of the body I apply the "Method" to First, gather chakra in my fingertips, they''ll act as the "lockpicks" as I run them along the seal Concentrate! WOOOOO! "...!" [Oh my...wow. The lock is more intricate than I thought, but the way you''re controlling chakra now is just...wow] Took the words right out of my mouth Come on, come on... ... ... CLICK! "Ah!" [?!] "...Holy shit" No way...did I really? [You opened it already? It''s only been minutes...how much has your body grown?!] Let''s open this up and see what I have to...hm? What? H-How? This might be...a bit much "..." [Rei, are you listening? This new change could potentially lead to a whole new myriad of possibilities. I''m getting excited just thinking about it...!] "..." [Rei? What''s wrong? Is there something on the scroll bothering you? What''s it showing?] "..." [Hmm...it doesn''t designate which area of the body you''re supposed to-] "It does. Look harder" [Look at what? I don''t see...wait...seriously? There''s no way a human could do that!] "Mhmm" I''m starting see why the 3rd Raikage stopped half-way after opening the third lock. Even that man couldn''t complete this absurd practice. No wonder the damn lock was so easy to break this time...Sigh! [Not good...] "Looking back on the last two levels, this somewhat makes sense" The first one; purified my blood and organs, bettering my immune system... The second; reinforced my bones and muscles, increasing my strength and speed... But this time... "Strengthening my skin. Along with a complete overhaul of my central nervous system? That''s insane..." [So the 3rd improved his skin with this, but stopped at the nervous system? If it''s too dangerous for even him, I cannot approve of this. Messing with all of your nerves is...no way] Since it''s safe to use now...maybe Kisshten again? Though, I''ve never used it twice in one day... "I wonder..." [Rei...don''t do it. The brain is a central role in controlling most bodily functions, messing with the nerves connected...it''s a stupid thing to do. You could be crippled forever...or worse] But I can''t afford for the village...my investment to fall [You''re on borrowed time! This isn''t something you rush!] And then there''s Suzu...her worth as a test subject has grown exponentially [Put aside the scroll for now. There''s still that other pet project of yours. The DNA you spliced from the creatures on Summoning Island has paid off. Just sneak out of the hospital and head to your lab] That "project" is indeed useful, but alone, not enough... [Rei? Wait a minute...] "..." [You''ve ignored every goddamn thing I just said, didn''t you? You''re still gonna go through with it] "Now who''s the one bitching? I''m in a hospital, if things go wrong, there''s plenty of doctors to help. I''ve already made a bunch of reckless decisions today...why stop now?" [Argh! You insane, ponytailed moron! Why do I have to put up with this stubborn, son of a...!] "I like my thin ponytail...jerk" [Whatever, I''ll leave to save you from any more distractions. You''ll need all the concentration you can get. For all our sakes, try not to die] "Phew...! Okay..." Have to gather every ounce of energy in my body Unlike the last two, this third practice is meant to focus on all areas...at the same time WEAVE! Let''s begin... "Hmph!" CRACKLE! BRRRNG! RUMBLE! "UGH! UHACK! RRRRAAAHHH!" Shit! Forgot how painful this is! No...it''s even worse! My insides...everything is shifting and moving!!! "RRRRGGGGH!! Huff...huff...huff...!" But I can''t stop! Can''t stop! If I do, I''ll die!!! "K-KUH! Focus...focu--NGH!!!" Everything! My skin, my brain, my eyes! Every inch of my body...it''s like I''m on fire. So hot...SO DAMN HOT!!! I''M BURNING!!! I''M BURNING INSIDE!!!! "GAAAAAHHHHH!!!!!!" No No No No No No No No No!!!!! I take it back! This was a mistake! I don''t...I don''t want...this...but...I can''t stop...I''m trapped!!!! I CAN''T EVEN USE KISSHTEN?!?!?!?! "URGH!" "Hey! We''ve got problems in here!" yelled one of the nurses outside the room "What happened?!" "I don''t know, the patient here suddenly spasmed. He''s undergoing convulsions!" "Heart rate is through the roof! Someone sedate him!" Don''t pass out! Don''t pass out! Don''t pass out! Don''t pass out! Don''t pass out! Don''t pass out! Don''t pass out! Don''t pass out! Don''t pass out...! DON''T PASS OUT!!!! VWOOOO... "Eh? What just...he stopped?" "I don''t understand...it didn''t look like the sedatives were working? Will someone get C-senpai in here?!" Oh...it''s gone. Thank God...yes. The pain...it''s...it''s...finally over Shit...gonna pass out...not again THUD! "Ah! Hey! Boy! Stay with us!" "His chakra is dangerously low. Focus on restoring his reserves!" "Senpai!" Have to get up and join...my team... ??? "This way, they''re trying to go around us! Souta, Hiroto! " "Let team up with the others ahead and-!" ZWISH! "Akio nii-sama! Shuriken!" "Hm?!" FWIP! PIERCE! "Huh? It burst into pieces?" "Look! That arrow-! Nii-sama, over there!!" "Huh?" "It''s Tomoe-sama!" "Tsk! Come on you two!" {The last thing I wanted was to be saved by the likes of her. What a blunder!} "A-Ah?! Wait! Come on Souta!" "I-I''m coming!" DASH! "Hehe! Even the three nimrods are trying their best..." At the northern coastline, the Fma still present were giving Tomoe and the Yotsuki a fair share of trouble. The clan head''s wife had been their guardian angle, supporting everyone with her bow and arrows Unfortunately, like the inmates, the present Fma had also taken the LIFT. And being an organized force, they were much more of threat, despite their smaller numbers {They''re persistent...and powerful. However, none of them are acting recklessly. No longer fighting to win} "Hmph!" Tomoe perceived as she fired another arrow FWIP! "Kuh, persistent bastard!" "Heh! Now you''re dea-!" PIERCE! "--Ggk!" "Nice! Many thanks Tomoe-sama!" "Watch your corners! They excel at striking from blind spots!" Tomoe advised "Y-Yes!" {This is nothing more than a delay tactic to keep us here. We''re winning, but it''s taking too long. They''d probably retreat if we had more of an edge. Something to put the pressure on-} "Oh! Speak of the devil" Tomoe looked up towards the sky, though hard to see during the night, this figure didn''t escape the sight of the eagle-eyed archer BOOM! "?!" "What the hell-?! What happened?!" "Was that ours?!" The figure crashed down in the middle of the battlefield, landing right on top of the beach. Sand flying everywhere, it took several seconds before the identity of the interloper could be seen Tomoe jumped down from her elevated position, landing right beside the new arrival Soon, all eyes were focused on them as the individual''s appearance became visible "About time you showed up" Tomoe said One side became ecstatic, the other had panicked "Yeah, sorry about that. Could you look after this one for me?" The newcomer said as he pointed downwards "You...oh no. The Daimy?! His eyes are rolled back and his mouth is foaming...what did you do?!" "He couldn''t handle travelling so fast, and there was no time anyway" "This is why you''re called Unruly. No tact whatsoever. Sigh! I''ll look after him, you just do what you do best" VWOOOO! Emerging from the dust, a man with a large muscular build emerged with an expression resembling an Asura... "Tsk! This is not good!" "Why is he even here? How is even here?!" "I know, wasn''t he supposed to be dead?!" ...One of pure wrath "Please clean things up for us...Raikage-sama" CRACK! "?!" His entire being burst with electricity, the intense vibrations of chakra were felt by everyone "Time to cut loose!" 174. Gifted Reunion MrProper "Keep your distance!" "There''s another one on the right!" "MOVE!" BLAM! The front lines became racked with even more explosions! The enhanced army of inmates from Hzuki-j1Demon Lantern Castlewere the least of Kumogakure''s problems Ky was completely out of control. Amidst digesting several LIFT pills, his chakra neared Tailed Beast levels! Shortly thereafter, he took control of every ounce of blood on the field. Along with the iron-enriched water he brought from Jigokudani2Valley of Hell, a large pool of red liquid spread over the terrain "Here! Leftovers from the hell you exiled my clan to...CHOKE ON IT!" Ky scream vengefully Utilizing his most powerful Ketsurygan3Blood Dragon Eyebased jutsu, torrents of so-called "Blood Dragons" emerged from the spreading pool, attacking every Kumo-nin guarding the village walls Each entity was massive in size, possessing enough strength to shatter stone, all the while being incredibly difficult to avoid with their exceptional speed "Yugito! Can you-?!" "I can''t Mabui! Even if I hadn''t used up most of my chakra today, it''s still too dangerous!" "Tsk! That crazy son of a...!" Yugito had been fighting all day, and then some. Having undergone her "Tailed Beast Mode" twice, once during the ambush on Genbu Island, and the other at her initial arrival on the front In the last hour, she''d been trying to conserve her strength for another transformation...but Yugito still wasn''t ready yet "You aren''t safe...NONE OF YOU ARE SAFE!!" Ky screamed his lungs out in fury Even worse for the cloud ninja, Ky still held enough sanity to fight strategically. Whenever a dragon head bit a target, it released steam from its body, creating a "fog" in the area, hampering everyone''s vision He also remained near the village walls in the event he had to fight a Jinchriki. If either Yugito or Killer B were to unleash a powerful attack, the village would surely suffer He''d long studied Kumogakure''s unique structure in preparation for this day. A village built in, on, and surrounded by mountains. Structures both up and downhill, a significant strike on its foundation would inevitably cause a domino effect The unbalanced environment was its greatest strength and weakness... ??? "Haaaa..." [Rei...] Okay...um... That was quite an unsightly display earlier...I haven''t felt this embarrassed of myself in a while "Haaaa...mmm...haaaa..." Bliss...the best way to describe what I''m feeling now Not the word you''d expect coming to mind after the torturous hell I just experienced. I''d never felt such pain in this life, or my last one Well. Physical pain that is... "Mmmm...haaaah..." This breathing exercise is really helping, I''m starting to feel much better That''s it...breathe in the air. It''s the essence of life. In through the nose...and out through the mouth. This is how I restore harmony to my body [You done with your weird, guru meditation?] "Haaaa..." The moment I woke up after undergoing my third "Bodily Purification", I snuck out of the hospital and headed straight to my lab. My body was severely drained of chakra and I needed a recharge So I entered the barren wasteland of a dimension housing the Ten-tails. Nothing but silence and a dark clouded sky to keep me company "What''s so weird about it? It''s a standard shinobi exercise for stabilizing chakra" [It''s not weird. You being this calm is what''s freaking me out] Meditation is an effective training method for one''s physical energy, perfect for calming rampant chakra After taking more chakra from the beast, I sat down cross legged on the roof of the Ten-Tails cage, taking slow breaths as I slowed my heartrate. Isshiki''s protruding wall of carvings symbolizing different members of his clan right next to me "And here I thought you came to congratulate me" [For being a lunatic?] What I''ve accomplished is something even the 3rd Raikage only half-completed [How do you feel now? Your central nervous system is-] "Beyond perfect. My synapses are firing at an accelerated rate. I already had speed and power, but now, my reflexes are on an entirely new level" Just by focusing, the world seems to slow down whenever I want it to. Vision and other senses have improved immensely. With total enhanced, kinetic visual acuity [Excellent. If what you''ve told me is accurate, you''re comparable to a Djutsu4Eye Techniqueuser. Maybe even better?] "!" That''s right, there were several characters with incredible "vision" Our current Raikage, and the late 4th Hokage both had nerve transmission and reaction speed surpassing even the Uchiha''s Sharingan5Copy Wheel Eye Now I have as wel--wait...isn''t this perfect for fighting Ky now? ... "No...that isn''t the correct word" [Correct word?] Convenient... Every single time I use this thing Whenever I''ve broken one of the four "locks", the new "perks" always grant me a very specific edge for whatever problem I''m dealing with at the time [Rei?] "The Black Scroll...who the hell created this thing? Do you know Notitia?" [Nope. It''s history is too mysterious and old. I might be able to figure it out if you use a Lifeline] "..." I wonder...Darui said Kumogakure''s ancestors "discovered" this thing. Meaning they didn''t "create" it... [You still have three available. Do you want use one now?] "...No. They''re too important" If this thing has a history, that means I can trace it. It''ll just take a little more time RUSTLE! [Hm? You''re getting up already? I take it''s time to leave?] "Yup. I''ve loitered around enough. I''m done recharging my chakra with the Ten-Tails. My reserves are bigger than ever" [I noticed, that meditation really did help. Your current levels are now 40% higher than Naruto''s during his early career as a Ninja] ZUUUU... Waltzing through the strange sounding, space-time torii gate nearby, I left the barren dimension. Reentering my lab''s basement... "Now, time to get bac--huh? Oh...crap. I knew I forgot something" [?] ...to only now realize upon getting back to the lab that I already used the last of Mabui''s traveling pots in my stash to get here in the first place Great, now how am I gonna get back in time? [Psst! Rei! Your left] "Hm? My left--oh. That''s what you''re getting at..." One of many giant vats containing my other "project". I''ve been working on it ever since my departure from Summoning Island over a year ago. Spent quite a bit of money on the growing process, but now it looks done However... "You think it''s safe to use them?" [If you can''t trust them now, the project can already be considered a failure. Might as well find out, right?] True. I still have the seal formula for traveling. It can serve as a proper substitute for the pot The marker at home should still work... "Okay..." [Okay?] "Ky did try to kill me. Be rude if I didn''t return the favor" ??? "Our only option is to get closer! We need a precision strike on him!" "F, even we could get past all that blood, just fighting Ky isn''t exactly a cakewalk in his current state!" In a trench near the supply chain towards the village walls, F attempted to put forward a new strategy with his allies. Gathering as many as he could, away from the expanding blood pool F opted to ignore the blood constructs and move straight for Ky himself, but a familiar Genin voiced his objection "I know it''s not my place F-sensei, but that won''t work!" "Hey, when we want the opinion of a Genin, we''ll ask for-!" "Quiet! What do you mean Tai?" F asked after silencing another Chunin Tai pointed towards the field, in the direction of Ky, who was in the midst of being attacked by several ninja "HAAH!" "All together now! Maintain formation!" "Don''t give him a chance to escape!" WEAVE! With a wave of is hands, Ky formed the necessary hand seals as his unusual eyes glowed bright red {Genjutsu: Ketsurygan6Illusion Technique: Blood Dragon Eye!} "Uh?!" "A-Ah...eh?!" "Can''t...move!" THUD! THUD! With merely a glance, the attacking ninja fell to the ground. Ky managed to placate them with his visual prowess. But even more disturbing, the ninja soon rose to their feet like puppets, devoid of any sense of self Each taking a kunai from their holsters before lightly cutting themselves "W-What the hell is he making them--?!" F questioned aloud as he watched the horrid spectacle "HEY! YOU GUYS TAKE COVER!" Tai screamed to their allies still fighting near Ky Blood oozed from the cuts of the shinobi under Ky''s illusion, puffing up and engulfing their bodies Their forms expanding until... BOOM! "AAAAAHHHHHH!!!" ...they exploded. The resulting blasts sent every person near them flying away! "Damn it! He turned them into-?!" "Exploding humans, F-sensei. I witnessed the spectacle many times during the evacuation. The Chinoike first place the victim under genjutsu, infecting them with their chakra, and with the slightest of cuts on their skin...boom" "What a horrid Ninjutsu..." "GULP!" The other Chunin next to them swallowed their saliva. Had F done as them and ignored Tai''s advice, they''d have ended up like the ones who just died "Far as I know, the only way to counter is if you have someone with exceptional skill in Genjutsu" "Right, it''s caused by the Chinoike''s chakra" "There''s still another problem. You see what''s left of their bodies?" "...Yeah, I see it" Ky hadn''t just been observing, but taking the initiative to fight. Each death, each "Exploding Human" only added more blood to field. The more blood around, the more ammunition for him to use Close or long range, he''d covered all his bases "We need a powerful Genjutsu user, but the best one I know is C, and he can''t leave his post at the hospital. There''s also the need for someone to run interference on those weird blood creatures" F noted The other ninja began voicing their opinions "They keep regenerating even after we strike one down. And the steam they create only makes things more difficult. But he remains unhindered thanks to his eyes" "He can move freely in this fog. Whoever''s gonna keep them busy while said Genjutsu user takes on Ky will have to be powerful...very powerful" "One capable of dealing massive amounts of destruction, like Raikage-sama" "HQ already informed us he''s finishing off the Fma clan at the northern coastline. Even with his speed, it''ll still take some time before Raikage-sama arrives" "Yugito-sama is exhuasted, and Killer B-sama is still purging the saboteurs within the village, alongside Darui" As they pondered, F tapped Tai''s shoulder "Tango told me what you did at HQ, the creation of those oxide bombs was very well done. I wanted ask if you still have that weapon on you?" "I do, but there''s not much of it. You think it''ll help with this situation?" Tai asked skeptically "Yes, with the proper support, we might be able to take him down" TAK! TAK! TAK! "You need a hand with that?" "?!" In an abrupt manner, Team Mabui had landed right outside the trench. The kunoichi trio wasted no time as they jumped in for cover "Finally, a spot to cool down. I told Mabui and Yugito we should''ve retreated already, but they''re more stubborn than me" "Speak for yourself Samui, I was just trying to stay alive" "Phew! Got tired of fighting those blood things. They just don''t let up. F, you got a plan?" Yugito asked With the clearing of his throat, F gathered everyone''s attention to suggest a new strategy "Since you three are here, I was thinking we get Tai close enough to use his poison to hinder Ky''s-" "NEW CONTACT!" "Eh?! Now what?!" Before F could finish his sentence, a Chunin on watch in the trench spotted a glowing figure approaching the battlefield from the sky "What the hell is that? A meteor...or a shooting star?" "Wait, I''ve seen that thing before" Tai remarked "You have? In the village? What is it Tai?" F hurriedly asked RUSTLE Tai stood up and squinted his eyes, trying to get a better view of the object "I don''t know what it is, but I saw it when we found Rei unconscious outside the hospital" "Found him unconscious where?!" Mabui exclaimed in surprise of Tai''s comment "It''s okay, it''s okay...your cousin is fine! Just passed out, C-senpai is looking after him!" "Hey! Look!" CRASH! The object crashed in the middle of field, right in front of the expanding blood pool. As the dust cleared, it became obvious a person had arrived, cloaked in powerful chakra "Wait, that chakra...is it Killer B-sama? Or...Raikage-sama?" Samui asked "I''m not...sure. That doesn''t look like B''s, and Raikage-sama''s lightning cloak is different" Yugito answered VWOOOOO! The present wind suddenly increased in speed as the individual''s appearance became visible "Yugito''s right, that person is too short to be Killer B-sama or Raikage-sama" Mabui stated "Don''t tell me it''s a new enemy?" "I don''t think so? Wait...don''t I know that person?" "How could she have such chakra?" "...Huh? It can''t be...NO WAY?!" "SUZU!" Tai yelled with glee upon realizing his friend was alright Yes. It was none other than Suzu who arrived, still in her new form due to the LIFT Rei "altered" with Kisshten7Auspicious Heavens "..." Remaining dead silent, the girl ignored everything else as she glared directly at Ky. Oddly enough, she held a near-dead member of his clan by the throat The new white chakra and hair made Suzu somewhat unrecognizable at first, but as her teammate, Tai knew who she was the moment he could see her With more seconds of observation, some of the others in the trench familiar with girl came to understand this was indeed the Suzu they knew, though she had undergone some major changes since they last met THUD! Finding her intended target, she dropped the beaten Chinoike member in her grasp, tossing him aside like garbage. An act that only served to infuriate an already enraged Ky even further "You again..." Ky snarled "..." {What happened? How did she change so much?} "Hm?!" DASH! Clearly not in the mood for chit chat, Suzu blasted the ground from under her foot, dashing towards Ky with clear killing intent. The young girl still was in a daze since her transformation. But her primary objective remained the same... Eliminating the ones who harmed Rei "Hmph! I doubt you could even touch me, brat!!" GURGLE! With a flick of his wrist, Ky manifested more creatures from the blood pool spreading on the ground. The blood constructs sped right through the field, knocking away inmates and Kumo-nin alike as they bolted right at Suzu Despite the newfound power, even Ky acknowledged the girl before him was now a threat. Completely different from their previous encounter... The one in question continued to charge forward, uncaring for the "dragon heads" in her path "Tch! Suzu!" "Tai wait?! Think before you act!" "But F-sensei!" "I think it''s pretty obvious where this new power of hers came from. With that said, we can''t be sure she won''t attack you!" They managed to surmise Suzu gained her new power through the LIFT. But that only made F more cautious, he''d seen what happened to the inmates. Nearly all of them went berserk upon consumption, many struggling to hold their sanity No one knew what was happening to Suzu now, nor what she would do if one of them approached TAK! But Tai still jumped out of the trench to help her... "TAI!" "She dropped Rei off at the hospital in that state. If she has enough sense of mind to do that, she can distinguish between friend or foe! Besides, she''s fighting to help everyone! I can''t abandon my friend!" "Ugh...that little idiot! There''s still much we don''t--wait, where are you three going?!" F yelled as Team Mabui followed suit and left the trench "Sorry, but they''re Rei''s friends. I can''t let anything happen to them" Mabui affirmed "I''m a Jinchriki myself, there''s no way I''ll hesitate to help Suzu just because of some strange power" Mabui and Yugito took off first, with Samui issuing an apology to F "Sorry F, but I think it''s pretty uncool to sit around while my teammates fight" "Even you Samui-san?! Come on! Sigh...!" "S-Sir? What do we do now? Should we follow?" "And leave this area complete open to attack. Absolutely not. I''ll contact command and inform them of the new--?!" TAK! As he spoke, another shinobi landed on ground right next to the trench. The newcomer looked down at F "Looks like I just missed them. A shame, I would''ve preferred we move as a group. Oh well, even with this steam fog, I can still catch up in time" "Eh?! Y-You''re...but they just said you were in-!!" "Good seeing you again F. Let''s talk more when this is over" "W-Wait a sec...!" DASH! The individual left as quickly as he came, heading towards Suzu and rest ??? Team Mabui ran after Tai, all of whom struggled to catch up with Suzu. Avoiding the blood dragons on their way, doing everything they could to avoid getting bitten by them Suzu on the other hand... "What the hell?!" "Who''s that girl?! I don''t remember us having a kunoichi like that?! ZUZUZU! In no time at all, attention of the battlefield focused on her as she manifested large, white chakra arms "What the?! Samui, how can she do that despite not being a-?!" "I''m not sure Mabui. Some old documents I''ve read on the Kin-Gin Brothers suggest they could do the same but...!" "This scale...those traitors don''t even come close! She''s not even a Jinchriki?!" Yugito said in surprise The bright, ethereal arms curled into fists as they struck every dragon head in her path "Tsk. As if it''d be that easy!" Ky yelled as he moved {Fton: Shinkha8Wind Style: Vacuum Wave} PFOO! VWOO! Suzu took a deep breath and spun her head as she exhaled. Compressing the released air into a thin blade, slicing apart every obstruction at least thirty meters within her eyesight Ky managed to dodge at the last second, but the construct he stood on was sliced apart "Amazing..." Though Team Mabui was delayed, Tai had almost managed to catch up to Suzu. Completely flabbergasted at her performance, this new power had increased the strength of her Ninjutsu several fold. Suzu''s wind style had never been so strong "Hmph! Just a brat, don''t you get it yet?! My constructs won''t stop until one of us is dead!!" Ky screamed as his eyes shined again {Not again, what''s he gonna-?!} "Ah! Suzu! Move!" "...!" BOOM! Utilizing his Ketsurygan, Ky launched another dragon from beneath the surface, knocking Suzu high in the air. Not letting up, Ky sent the head right at the girl as she plummeted towards the ground "Like hell!" {Suiton: Hmatsu Rappa9Water Style: Wild Bubble Wave!} FWP! SPLOOSH! As the dragon head ventured to consume the girl whole, Tai weaved several hand seals before spitting out a considerable amount of foam-like bubbles, washing away any traces of blood from his teammate Possessing the mindset of a chemist, he quickly deduced how to counter blood attacks of the Chinoike clan "Cheh! Another brat to get on my nerves. That foam is a pain!" SPLISH! SPLISH! Running along the wet ground, Tai grabbed his friend and retreated several feet away from Ky "Suzu, are you alright?!" "Uhhhh...T-Tai...ugh...urgh!" "Yes, yes! It''s me, it''s your friend Tai!" {Thank heavens, she recognizes me. I knew she would!} "Tai...I...! Don''t know...urgh...how long I can keep this form! The more chakra I use, the more my sense of self returns" "Isn''t that good?" "No. The fact I can even form sentences means it''s probably going away soon" GURGLE! "?!" {Another attack already, bastard''s not letting up! It''s too wide for my Suiton...can''t get away!} "Tai, get out of here! I''ll--agh! My head...!" Not giving them a chance to catch their breath, Ky unleashed a torrent of blood in their direction "Now you''re dea-?!" ZWIP! Just as things seemed their darkest, someone else had managed to grab both Tai and Suzu, carrying them safely out of danger at incredible speeds! {Who just...?!} "A-A-Ahh! R-R-R...!" {R? Raikage-sama? No, it''s...!} "R-REI!!" Suzu cried out Rei arrived in the nick of time, managing to move both of his squad mates in the blink of an eye! "Glad to see you''re okay...both of you. Loving the new look Suzu" "Rei, what are you doing here?! Shouldn''t you be in the hospital?" "Yeah. Doctors will let me out tomorrow" "Tomorrow huh?" Rei approached the tattering Suzu and placed his right index and middle fingers on her forehead {Her chakra is still a bit unstable, it''s my fault. This kind of thing takes time, but she had to rush into battle immediately to protect me. It''s a testament to her willpower she''s still standing at all} "What are you doing?" "Giving Suzu some help. She''s not used to her new chakra, it''s very difficult to manage. Fortunately, I accel at chakra control" After scanning her body, he connected his chakra with Suzu''s, helping her regain control of this strange new power "U-Uhhh...Rei, Tai" "Aaaaaand, she''s back! I was getting worried" "I''m sorry...for the trouble" "You saved my life, I''m the one who should be saying that. You need help getting up?" Suzu shook her head and stood up her own, smiling at her two friends Team Tango had finally reunited, taking the moment to catch their breath before Ky attacked again "I love touching reunions as much as the next guy, but that lunatic is charging right at us!" Tai pointed out "Not to worry, I think maintaining this new form for a little longer isn''t too difficult" "It''s okay Suzu, you''re not the only one with new tricks" "?" CRASH! Ky landed right in front the team, standing atop one of his "dragon heads". There were others rising from the expanding blood pool on the ground as well, surrounding him in a protective formation "You too? Figures you both didn''t die. Which means those three of my clan are probably dead... I''ve lost so many in this operation. F**K! THIS DAY JUST KEEPS GETTING WORSE!!" "Don''t speak too soon asshole, the night''s not over yet. I''m about to ruin your whole goddamn career..." Rei callously remarked "You''ve got something in mind?" Tai asked "Don''t I always. You guys got my back?" "!" His teammates glanced at one another before smirking at him "Don''t we always?" Tai and Suzu said simultaneously "That''s what I like to hear. As usual, I''ll be the vanguard!" CHOMP! Rei bit his thumb until it lightly bled before slamming his hand on the ground. A seal formula instantly emerged following this action Looking directly at Ky, he smiled before muttering... "Kuchiyose no Jutsu10Summoning Technique..." 175. Imugi MrProper On the front lines of Kumogakure''s battle with the Chinoike leader Ky and his allies... "Samui! You got it?!" "Of course!" {Suiton: Suidanha1Water Style: Water Severing Wave!} SPLOOSH! SLICE! Kneading chakra in her stomach, Samui spat out a pressurized stream of water, slicing apart another one of Ky''s "Dragon head" blood constructs "It''s down for now. Samui, help those men get away before it reconstitutes! Yugito and I will handle other ones!" "I''m on it!" As Team Mabui was in the midst of following Tai, they couldn''t help but stop along the way to help their fellow shinobi under attack "There are still a few straggling inmates we have to deal with, but things are turning in our favor. Thanks to F''s coordination, we''re now removing the deceased off the field with far more efficiency" "Good. Less blood for Ky to use" "How are you doing Yugito?" "I''m hanging in there Mabui. What concerns me is how long the effects of those drugs he took will last" "True, you''d think micromanaging all of these blood fabrications would''ve long pushed him to the brink. But no such luck, he''s still as rampant as ever" {True...but he''s clearly more deranged} Yugito noticed Ky actions were becoming more sporadic, unpredictable, and crazed. The company member known as "Red" created the LIFT, with its composition composed of all the Tailed Beasts The highest ratio being the Two-Tails, Yugito could feel the chakra emanating from his body more clearly than anyone else. The "creeped out" feeling she had only increased in its intensity, the more time passed "Come on. Let''s finish things here and catch up with--Eh?!" ZWSH! It was then Mabui became startled at the sight of her younger cousin zipping right past them. The young man moving at incredible speeds, effortlessly avoiding each and every dragon head in his way He moved so quick, she could barely get a word in before he reunited with his team "U-Um...was that who I think it was Mabui?" a flabbergasted Yugito asked "I...yes. That was Rei" "Impressive. I heard he was fast, but I never thought that fast..." "Yeah. You and me both..." {I''ve never seen him move like that. Just now, it was like watching...} TAK! Samui had landed next to them after helping another squad. Pressed on relaying new intel she just received "Tango just called in from HQ, with some good news" "We''re long overdue for it" "The north has been completely secured and Raikage-sama will be here soon. Along with Tomoe Yotsuki and her clan, this battle is almost over" "Ah...that''s music, I can''t wait! To be honest, two Tailed Beast transformations back-to-back, plus non-stop fighting has taken its toll on me. The end of this fight couldn''t come sooner" "Don''t relax yet. It won''t end until that man is put down--?!" Speaking of the man in question, their conversation was cut short when the sight of Ky preparing to attack Team Tango caught Mabui''s eye "REI!!" Mabui screamed, bursting in sprint as she desperately sought to reach her cousin Samui and Yugito were quick to follow suit before Rei''s next action caused them all to stop in their tracks "H-Huh? The silhouette...is that what I think it is?" "Did he just perform...the Kuchiyose no Jutsu2Summoning Technique?" Samui curiously asked Mabui "I guess so. He''s just full of surprises today..." ??? POOF! Smoke burst forth from Rei''s hand the instant he utilized his new Summoning Jutsu. Enveloping everything Ky''s red Ketsurygan3Blood Dragon Eyeeyes could see as the figures of Team Tango vanished "A-Agh..." Ky, still somewhat intoxicated from his drugged power-up struggled to keep his sanity, grasping his aching forehead. The LIFT pills he haphazardly consumed kept his body in a constant state of pain It took every ounce of will power he could muster to stay in control {This awful sensation in my brain is getting worse...have to end this soon!} Soon enough, a large shadow emerged from the smoke "W-What in the? Is this a joke?" Ky was stupefied at the figure in front of him Tai and Suzu were at a loss for words as well, now standing with Rei several feet in the air atop the entity he just summoned. Trying to figure out just how, when, and where did he acquire such a creature "R-Rei...what is this?" Tai nervously asked "The many, many, many fruits of my labor" "That''s really not the answer I was looking for..." "Wow. It gives off a terrifying feeling and yet...I still think it''s one of the most beautiful things I''ve ever seen" Suzu was mesmerized "I know what you mean..." Rei muttered as he stared at the creature below him He carried a nostalgic, melancholy air about him before recalling a certain conversation he had with Notitia. Discussing a sensitive topic the very day he decided the name of the very "project" responsible for his summoning''s creation... ??? Over a year ago After overworking himself in his lab, Rei rose from his desk. Waking up from a long dream, feeling woeful. Notitia asked what was wrong, and after minutes of silent hesitation, he sat back down This was one of the rare moments when Rei, or rather Raymond opened up to Notitia about himself "You know about my past life. My father''s work forced our family to travel all over Asia and Europe. I spent the majority of my childhood in hotels and RV''s" [I know, it drove a wedge between your parents. Your mother wanted to settle down as she could see what your father could not...that their child was growing up] "Yeah, but I never hated it. My mother was a very spiritual person, proud of her Indonesian roots. Always going on about the Sa?sra, stressing the importance of our lives on Earth. How I should strive to expand my mind, take in new experiences, choosing the preferred way to utilized what little time I had left. Teaching me to hold fast to my beliefs, but to respect others as well" [Amelia was a free spirited woman who encouraged peace, right? Compared to Grant''s mindset...it''s amazing how they managed to have a kid. Guess opposites really do attract] "Pfft! Yeah, exactly" [But you dealt with it for quite some time. Your mother''s influence?] "Mm. She taught me that to truly respect others, you had to understand them. Everywhere we went, every country, she''d have me study everything about them. A lot to put on a child, but it just came natural to me, I think I wanted it more than she did. Learning different languages, history, religion, mythology, culture...it was never a struggle for me" [A natural gifted child. Then what was it, if not a struggle?] "Guess you could call it...a gift in itself. One I''d proudly give to any person I held dear. I tried to do the same for Sarah and Chris but...that didn''t end well" [But you tried...] "Yes, yes I did. Huh. I just thought of the perfect name for this project" [Oh?] "I''d often read to Chris before tucking him in when I lived with him and Sarah. I remember one of his favorites, a story I picked up during my time in South Korea" [Which one are you thinking about?] "The serpent who failed to become a dragon" There once was a snake, who lived a life of arrogance. He was scary, deadly, and his poison was feared by all the animals in the forest. None would approach, but he cared little for having friends, choosing to dominate the animals. Fashioning himself as king, until one day, a hawk who heard the crying pleas of the scared animals came swooping down to put an end to his reign. It''s ability to fly gave it an edge, and the snake was banished from the forest. Now humiliated, he once again strove to be powerful, to have his revenge. Knowing he couldn''t beat the hawk as he was, he decided to train. Understanding the only way to for him to win, is if he could fly as well. He fought, and hunted the deadliest of creatures outside the forest. Consuming their flesh and growing. Again, and again, and again until he grew to stupendous heights. His body now stretched to the very heavens themselves, but he still remained unsatisfied. For he had failed to become a creature who could fly Days became months, months became years, years became decades. He continued to fight the predators waiting outside the forest. But after so much time, in spite of how powerful he became, he still couldn''t fly. Growing frustrated, he threw caution to the wind and decided to confront the hawk. Reentering the forest for the first time in years, only to discover the hawk had long since passed away. And with the hawk gone, the other animals had migrated elsewhere, in fear of the snake''s inevitable return...and retribution The forest was finally his, but none would come. For his name had spread throughout the world, talks of the terrifying creature who consumed all in his path He remained in his forest, his prize, but now...it was no longer pride that filled him. It was sorrow, for he had realized just how alone he truly was, and for the first time in his arrogant life...he shed tears. Regretful for his past actions, apologetic for the way he callously treated others Hubris, his only reward And so he remained, alone in his empty kingdom. This fearsome serpent, no longer snake, but neither dragon. The ones who feared him had a different name... [Considering you want to name the project after it. What was he called then?] "They called him..." ??? "Imugi" Rei stood proudly with his surprised teammates on the head of the giant creature Body length nearing 80ft , when "standing" upright, it eclipsed the height of a two-story house Massive sharp fangs befitting an apex predator, thin irises of pale yellow with black sclerae that gazed into your soul And a spiky-scaly body of crimson red...matching the current blood-soaked surroundings via Ky''s handy work "It''s nowhere near Sannin4Legendary Three Ninjasize when it comes to Summoned animals, but I can work with this" Rei mused "What is this thing Rei? Dragon?! Snake?!" Tai asked "Ehhhh...it''s still up for debate. Relax Tai, I''m sure it won''t eat you...probably" "Probably?!" "Relax, I''m 100% certain it won''t do that" "I-If you say so" "Well, more like 86% percent" "Are you messing with me right now?!" "Maybe a little, my stock has dropped a bit since we''ve been separated" "You damn closet sadist!! I''m not a toy for your amusement!" ZWOOSH! "Focus guys, he''s headed our way!" Suzu warned Ky laughed maniacally as he charged forth with his giant blood construct. Amused at the irony of Rei''s summoning, a living creature that basically mirrored his own technique "You summon that to deal with my blood dragons? Heh...hehe...hahahaha! Now that''s funny!" FWIP! Tai weaved hand seals, preparing another foam-based water style Ninjutsu to counter him. But there was no way he could cover such a wide range "I need more time guys!" Tai requested "Focus chakra in your feet to hold on!" Rei yelled to his teammates RUSTLE!! Rei''s serpent suddenly slithered out of the way at frightening speeds. Distancing itself, and the Genin it was carrying away from Ky''s torrent of blood attacks Surprising both them, and the Chinoike leader {That thing...it''s quite quick for its size. Faster than my attacks?!} "W-Whoa...in the blink of an eye" "You said it Suzu..." {I didn''t think it''d be this powerful. I''ll have to reassess my investments} "My Suiton''s ready guys, I can unleash it whenever!" {I can feel my connection with it...it''s completely obedient. Glad to see my research is finally paying off} "Those blood creations will block any attack we throw at them!" Tai pointed out "In that case, let''s make some noise!" "You wanna use Thunder? At close range?" "Yeah, I''m feeling very optimistic right now. Let''s go!" "At close range, that might work..." Suzu contemplated None of them had a better plan, and with Suzu''s new power set to run out soon, they understood there was little time. Upon seeing their heads nod in affirmation, Rei sent commands to his newest ally "HISS!" RUMBLE! Following suit, the red serpent darted in Ky''s direction, tearing apart the very Earth beneath it with every gesture. Zipping across the field as it dodged every long range attack it could Tai once again used his water style, spitting out blasts of foam to hold back the "blood". Suzu, still in her new form, called forth ethereal arms from the white chakra flowing all over her body to attack. Rei used his fire style to act in their defense as well They felt unstoppable, it seemed as if nothing could stand in their way "N-Ngh...! Agh! Damn brats!" {M-My head...!} Ky still had a difficult time, the aching pain in his head wouldn''t cease. The mostly, unknown side effects from the LIFT were certainly nothing to scoff at Forgetting his battle with Team Tango, he still had to divert his focus on controlling the dragon heads keeping the rest of Kumogakure''s forces at bay. Were it not for this factor, his fight with these Genin would be going much smoother However, he didn''t care, opting to fight through the pain. He''d lost so much today, so many of the Chinoike clan to his hated enemy...he had no intentions of quitting now But just as Ky prepared to attack again... BOOM! SPLASH! "W-What?!" ...With stupendous levels of strength and dexterity, Rei''s serpent had basically torn right through the liquid dragons defending him. Seemingly oblivious in their attempts to stop it, it easily destroyed their forms, turning them back into puddles of red water {What is that thing made of?! Those dragon heads can easily shatter Earth, and it doesn''t even have a scrat--wait...WHERE ARE THOSE GENIN?!} "Uh?!" Frantically shaking his head in search of the enemy, the growing shadow on the ground made him realize they''d jumped in the air right before Rei''s summon broke through his defenses WEAVE! ZWSH! With a wave of their hands, the trio performed their individual hand seals as they descended from above "Together now!" {Katon: Endan5Fire Style: Flame Bullet!} "I''m with you!" {Fton: Shink Taigyoku6Wind Style: Great Vacuum Sphere!} "Please work!" {Suiton: Kiri Seigyo7Water Style: Mist Control!} Tai unleashed his signature Ninjutsu, controlling vapor stemmed from his concocted oils. Sent forth alongside a powerful combination of fire and wind blasts from Rei and Suzu respectively This collaborated attack of three created a chemical reaction around Ky... "S-Shit..!" BOOOOM!! ...enveloping him in a massive, ear-shattering explosion MrPrope 176. Overdose VWOOOOO!! Nearly all on the field could feel the wind picking up after the violent explosion. The sheer noise from the combined attack they dealt Ky garnered everyone''s attention towards the area With Suzu''s shining white hair and chakra, the strange colored mist forming on Tai''s hands, and Rei''s unusual summoning they were now standing on...Team Tango quickly became the focal point of the conflict "Hey, does anyone know who those Genin are? The ones riding on that...dragon?!" "I...recognize one of them, the son of the Yotsuki clan head" "And the one who summoned it, he''s Keido Sano''s..." "Mabui''s cousin? I thought that was him" "I''m more interested in the girl who''s glowing. I thought she was our Jinchriki" "N-No...Yugito-sama''s fighting over there" "They''re Team Tango I believe..." CLAMOR! Soon enough, gossip spread amongst the soldiers, mostly the ones seated safely behind the supply chain. As the blood pool bearing dragon heads continued to spread, more and more shinobi retreated away from the field At F''s suggestion, the battle against Ky''s Ketsurygan1Blood Dragon Eye-based Ninjutsu and the other remaining inmates became a long-ranged one. He opted for the best method to avoid any more casualties now that the conflict was nearing its end The blood creatures reformed themselves no matter how many times they were destroyed. F understood fighting them would be endless. There also weren''t many Kumo-nin stationed here, with many of them spread in various locations like the coastlines, and within the village itself With the Raikage, along with other reinforcements on the way, nearly every Kumo-nin present knew the conclusion was coming soon "We''re almost there..." F muttered ??? "What do you think you''re doing?!" "What does is look like, I''m gonna get her!" "We''re not supposed to intervene under any circumstances!" At another location overlooking the conflict, Balance was in a tense standoff with his fellow "Company" member Red. The latter of whom was set on disobeying orders and rushing to the battlefield "Tch...fool! You don''t understand! That girl isn''t Yugito Nii, yet to posses such chakra only proves it''s a result of the LIFT!" "And that''s reason enough for you to break protocol and try to take her?! Red, have you gone stupid?!" "Argh! I''m surrounded by uneducated idiots! Can''t you feel it?! Or better yet, just use those eyes of yours! The reaction taking place within her is completely different from anything I''ve ever seen. Years of experimenting inside Hzuki-j2Demon Lantern Castle, and there''s never been a reaction like this!" The only thing more rare than Balance displaying shock on his usually calm face, was Red, who''d completely lost her composure. She practically drooled from her mouth the moment Suzu arrived on the field, completely captivated by the abilities she''d demonstrated None of the other test subjects she worked on in the Blood Prison had managed to exhibit such stable chakra after taking the LIFT, a problem she consistently struggled to rectify "Increasing stability, via decreasing the negative side effects. The very task Sage assigned me was to solve was this conundrum. The pill isn''t useful if it damages the mind afterwards!" "..." "Plus, she''s even manifested chakra arms! Just like a Jinchriki! Her very existence proves the worth of my work!" Balance sighed and closed his eyes, mulling over what to do next. Under no circumstances could he allow Red to interfere, "Board members" were never to compromise their identities, especially during a joint operation such as this If Red was seen, he''d inevitably get into trouble as well. Without question if he allowed the Company''s top researcher to captured or killed under his watch. The only reason he was still here was to watch after her "Our purpose is to gather data, that''s it" "We can gather more if we take her now! Isn''t that why we started this little field test in the first place?!" "Haaaaa...if you want to go that badly, I won''t stop you. That is, if you''re not afraid of pissing Sage off?" "T-That''s...!" Balance had found the appropriate words for dealing with Red. If there was one thing she did fear, it was incurring the wrath of their leader He gave explicit orders not to intervene no matter what happens once the inmates took the pills. If she were to not only disobey orders, but end up seen by a members of Kumogakure''s military, maybe even the Raikage who''d be there soon...there''s no telling what might happen With this revelation, the blood left her head as reason returned to her. Finally understanding how foolish she was acting, no better than a child throwing a tantrum "...Goddamn it!" With a much indignation, she grit her teeth and sat down. Balance sighed and followed suit, sitting right next to her "You''re not the only one who''s curious, but let''s not put the cart before the horse. The fight isn''t over yet" "What are talking about? Ky was just blown to bits" "Heh! Is that what you think? Just sit back and watch. The battle is about to reach its climax. Hell, you might even be more interested in him, than the girl once this is over" "Ky...hm" {True. Anyone else would''ve long since perished after taking so many pills at once. Yet, he fights like a Jinchriki--no...he''s above that. Yes, he''s almost like a...} ??? VWOOOOO! Dirt, ash, and small droplets of red liquid were carried by the turbulent draft in the area. The trio remained on guard atop the head of Rei''s Imugi as he confirmed Ky''s chakra had yet to disappear Soon enough, a familiar voice resounded in their minds... ?You three have certainly done a lot today? "Who just...?!" "Eh?!" "Tango-sensei...Chakra transmission is it?" ?Astute as always? {The "Network" has also performed well. All my efforts are finally paying off, no wonder I''m in such a good mood today} Rei smirked with pride upon looking at his work "If you''re calling us with that...are you nearby somewhere?" Suzu glanced around in search of her sensei ?No, I''m still at HQ. There''s a lot I''m not a liberty to say, just assume I can reach anyone in Kumogakure today. That''ll make things easier, right now, you three have a job to do? "No kidding. Can I assume you have something in mind?" ?Expand your senses, someone smart as you can guess what I''ll suggest? "O-kay...?" {My senses? Is there something I shou--?!} TING! The moment he expanded his range, Rei could feel a familiar chakra signature headed towards the field "This chakra...the lightning geezer finally showed up. About time" ?Haaaa. Rei, please don''t refer to Raikage-sama in such a manner. And in his defense, he did have to undergo a literal cross-country from the other side of the continent? "It''s not just him...hmmmm" Rei informed his teammates of the news, Tai was especially elated when he heard his mother was fine and currently en route. Tango also informed them that Killer B and Darui had finished their sweep of the village, the remaining Chinoike saboteurs had been dealt with Moroi''s barrier squad was now in the process of ensuring crucial districts remained secure ?The only thing left to tidy up is the area where you''re at. Normally, Genin would never be allowed to engage such an enemy, expect some serious reprimand for disobeying orders by stepping on the battlefield? "But????" Rei immaturely pushed for more ?Haaaa...but, according to reports coming in, the damage you inflict on Ky disrupts his control of the spreading blood pool. Those regenerating "dragon heads" become unstable with every blow. You attacking him will keep our casualties to a minimum? "So we''re to by time until Raikage-sama arrives?" Suzu understood what Tango struggled to request of his students Putting them in danger, when he wasn''t there, was the last thing Tango desired as their Jonin captain. But the other skilled shinobi present were preoccupied with other matters It was already difficult to navigate through the steam fog generated by the blood creatures. Ky stuck to guerilla tactics, never remaining in the same spot for too long. His means of combating an already military force with superior numbers With most exhausted from over a day of non-stop fighting against the LIFT-taking inmates, Team Tango cornering him was too valuable a chance to pass up Even Team Mabui ended up drawn in a fight with another group of drug users. Every second the Genin bought, meant another life saved "No problem, we''ve got this" Rei smiled ??!? "Just focus on your task sensei, we''ll be fine. I''m sure there are plenty of other squads in need of your attention. Especially now with our radios down" Tai recalled how chaotic things were when he was stationed at the hospital "I''m not the same as I once was. I won''t let anything happen to Rei, or Tai" Suzu affirmed her resolve to protect her friends "And I''ve still got some tricks as well" {Or rather, my new pet does} ?...If you''re talking like that, then I suppose you''ll be fine. Team Mabui is there as well, so I shouldn''t worry too much. To support you, I''ll be sending you three chakra from HQ? "You can do that? How in the-" "Don''t bother Tai, it''s probably another thing he can''t talk about now" {Good to know that feature is up and running too} ?Indeed. Feel free to go all out, don''t worry about your reserves? "But sensei, your attention will be-" ?Who do you think you''re talking to? I was the youngest shinobi ever to be invited into the Intelligence Division, promoted to Jonin at early age. You think I can''t handle a little multi-tasking of the mind? Don''t underestimate your sensei? "Heh...true" "We''ve all got a job to do" "Be safe sensei" ?That''s my line Suzu. Stay alive as you buy time for backup. And fight knowing that even when we''re apart, as your sensei, I''m always supporting you three? Tango disconnected from them, tending to issues elsewhere. But not before established a steady connection of chakra from HQ. Several shinobi stationed in the room next to his were sending their chakra into the central hub he was attached to. This team was part of a larger, rotating group that constantly fed chakra into the system for Tango to distribute In no time at all, the team was reinvigorated. The energy they received refreshed their spirits, even Suzu felt the powerful energies within her body were beginning to harmonize "Well, if he''s working so hard, far be it from me to fall behind" Rei turned his attention towards the sight in front of him. On his right, Suzu readied herself, increasing the magnitude of the white chakra around her. On his left was Tai, who with subtle grace... KASHINK! ...unsheathed the ceremonial blade on his hip, the very same Wakizashi3Side Swordhe received from his mother, Tomoe "Rrrrrrrr...RAAAAAHH!!!" ZWOOSH! With a savage roar of his lungs, Ky blasted away the fog of ash that around him. Just as Rei believed, he had indeed survived, but his body was now seared with burn wounds. The white kimino he wore was in tatters, as was the rest of his body This, coupled with unsteady chakra from the LIFT, and his crazed expression, gave off an impression of pure insanity "H-Heh...hehehe...ahhhhh. Wow. Hahaha, everything went to shit the moment I met those bastards. After I''m done here, I''ll be sure to pay them back in full" {Them? Who''s he talking about? The ones who gave him those weird pills?} "Ugh! Uhack!" THUD! Ky fell to his knees, coughing up blood. Though their combo attack was strong, Tai deduced it wasn''t the cause for his current condition "The paranoia, agitation, intense sweating, rapid breathing, and the clutching of his chest..." "Tai? Are you saying-?" "I believe so Suzu...he''s in the process of overdosing" "Didn''t your mother teach you medicine isn''t meant to used so carelessly?" Rei mocked him "Over...dose? No. No no no no no no..." Ky shook his head, talking gibberish "?" FWIP! "I HAVEN''T HAD MY FILL YET!!!!" he raised his arms, and elated expression on his face suiting a true mad man The Genin waited for whatever he had planned but... "H-Huh?" WOOOO... ...the sound of the wind blowing was all they could hear. Nothing happened, Ky just stood there with his hands in the air, still grinning with bulging eyes "He''s...lost it. The guy belongs in an asylum" Tai mused, appalled by his new behavior "It must be a side effect of the..." Suzu clenched her fist, worried the same thing might happen to her. Sensing her fears, Rei tapped her shoulder, giving her assurance that she''d be alright Stressing he found no abnormalities after checking her chakra when he first arrived on the battle field But just as she was about to thank him... "HAHAHA!" BOOSH! Ky''s body erupted in red energy! "The hell?! His chakra just skyrocketed out of nowhere! How did he-?!" "WOOOOAAAAHHHH!!!!" BOOSH! "?!" "It happened again!" Another eruption of chakra burst forth again! His power increasing several fold! Rei frantically used his senses to scan every fiber of Kyo''s chakra signature. Desperately trying to figure out how this was happening {How is he doing that?! Chakra doesn''t just come from nowhere!} "Tsk!" {Fton: Shinkgyoku4Wind Style: Vacuum Spheres!} PHT! PHT! Suzu spat out compressed bullets of air in an attempt to stop Ky but... "?!" ZSSH! Her attacks fizzled out into nothing as a shield of red liquid emerged from the ground, defending him This new erupting red energy had strengthened his Djutsu5Eye Techniquesto new heights. His Ketsurygan was stronger than ever "Cheh! Crazy bastard!" WEAVE! Rei formed a hand seal, widening the range of his senses. It was only then did he understand what was happening "You son of a--guys! We have to stop him now!" "?!" SWISH! With no words at all, the red serpent carrying them moved according to Rei''s will, tearing the surface as it charged at Ky "You wanna fill us in?!" "There are chakra signatures disappearing all over the front! When he raised his hands...his blood fabrications must''ve started killing!" "Our allies are dying?!" "No, it''s not them he''s targeting..." "Then who--oh. Oh my god...!" The two finally understood what Ky had done. His "dragon heads" had stopped targeting Kumogakure ninja. Switching to their new targets... The makeshift army of inmates from the Blood Prison! BOOSH!! "Ugh! Another burst of red energy!" "His power''s still increasing!" The LIFT functioned not only by enhancing, but dividing and spreading chakra to other users. That is...whenever another user died. By killing his supposed allies, Ky took every ounce of chakra they had left He was literally feasting on their lives... "HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!" 177. Tricks MrProper Months ago "Hmmm...progression is a little slow for my taste. I may have to readjust the timetable before it''s usable" [Speeding things along isn''t always healthy. Especially for matters of this nature] Rei had overtaxed himself, not just his work on the "IMUGI" project, but secretly aiding Tetsuo for construction of the "Network". Living dual lives as "Rei Sano" and "Developer R" had become distasteful lately. Although, this displeasure mostly stemmed from his frustration at the lack of results he was getting Now, he was going over notes and reports he''s filed since returning from his treacherous mission on the appropriately named, Summoning Island "Controlling nature itself eh? True, I''ve long accepted science being unable to provide all the answers. However..." [What?] "I''d expected to gain more than I have now" BURBLE! Rei stood in front of several large glass tanks filled with bubbling liquid. Each one housing a growing "Imugi" inside, yet their different growth rates annoyed him. Said creatures were the fruits of his labor after acquiring many DNA samples from the island Implementing a process similar to the remodeling of his own body, he broke down genomes and isolated exceptional traits for enhancement "Things are moving far too slow. There''s got to be some kind of stimulant or something out there I can use to hasten their progress. If Orochimaru could do it like you said, I should be able to as well" [Orochimaru never used DNA from creatures like the ones you met. Plus, he had DNA from his favorite pet, Manda. Even if you exclude Genbu and the Tailed Beasts, he''s one of the biggest summons in the world, eclipsing even Gamabunta and Katsuyu. It should go without saying, things will be different] "And Kabuto also provided his expertise, haaaa...damn it. If my fight with the Konjiki Twins proved anything, it''s that I''m still not ready to move forward in the shinobi world" His recent struggles, coupled with the ever approaching deadline for the start of Naruto''s journey, Rei had been feeling the pressure. He wanted more strength, more power, more...assets "Speaking of Orochimaru, there''s some info I need you to give me Notitia. Pertaining to one of his former associates" [By "former associate", I can only assume it''s someone from Akatsuki? Which pair? Itachi & Kisame, Hidan & Kakuzu...?] "I know enough about the first two, and I care little for that wired bastard Kakuzu, or his idiot partner" [Whoa. Did I strike a nerve or something?] "Ah...um, no. Sorry" {Again...why am I so angry every time I think about Hidan and Kakuzu? The latter in particular, it''s like I wanna strangle someone with my bare hands whenever I hear that name...} [So? Who is it?] "H-Hm? Oh...uhhh, it''s Pain--er, Nagato...or whatever the hell you want to call him. One of his unique Rikud no Jutsu1Six Paths Techniquepowers in particular" [Oho! Now I get what you want. You''ve grown an interest in that have you? Sure, I can tell you everything, and it won''t even cost you a Lifeline] "Good to hear. Let''s get to work" ??? "GIVE ME MORE! I''M STILL HUNGRY!!!!!!" "Feast on this you crazy bastard!!" "HISS!" Rei''s summoned "pet" crashed into the very spot Ky stood, but after rising from the crater it made, the team found nothing, not a trace of madman in the center "He''s gone, where did he-?!" "Over there, he''s running towards the field! To kill more inmates most likely" "I''m on it!" Rei commanded his serpent to follow, carrying the team on its head Due to Ky''s chakra being scattered everywhere due to the large blood pool he created, Rei had a difficult time tracing his chakra. It was as if there were several "Ky''s" all over the place {With that pulsing chakra of his spreading, it''s just like a Jamming Jutsu!} "Agh, so annoying!" DASH! Ky slinked behind another inmate fighting a squad of ninja before getting his attention "Hello!" "Huh?" PIERCE! "And goodbye!" After looking the man in the eye with his Ketsurygan2Blood Dragon Eye, he drove his hand right through the man''s chest, killing him instantly "G-Guhack!" "What are you...aren''t you allies?!" "With this trash? Don''t insult me! HAHAHAHA!" Once the inmate was dead, the lunatic moved on to his next target, but not before leaving something behind for the Kumo-nin! "The hell is he do--oh no...!" "Get away! Take cover!" Just before stabbing him, Ky placed the inmate under his Djutsu3Eye Technique. Upon receiving the fatal wound, the process for converting him into an Exploding Human had already begun The blood oozing from the injury continued to swell, enveloping the body until finally... BOOM! "Aaaagh!!" "Gah!" The body became a explosive blasting away everyone in it''s radius! And just like whenever one of Ky''s "dragon head''s" was destroyed, the same occurrence, an emerging burst of steam, took place It blanketed the area like a fog, making it even harder to track him! "HAHAHA!" He repeated the process again and again, killing each and every inmate Ky''s appetite couldn''t be satiated, the horrid, gluttonous thirst for power completely overwhelmed him. He was no longer the tempered, collected leader of the Chinoike clan anymore Now...he was nothing more than a mindless beast of burden "Agh! I can''t see a thing in this steam fog! Rei, are you getting anything?!" "No, his chakra is all over the place! By the time I lock on, he''s already gone, with an Exploding Human left in his place!" {Even with my new "friend", I can''t find him. All because of this stupid blood!} Team Tango tried to pick up on his trail, with no such luck. Rei''s "Imugi" possessed enhanced senses, but his scent had spread everywhere thanks to blood scattered all over the field "I''ll handle it" "Eh?!" Rei and Tai were both started when Suzu suddenly jumped off the red serpent ZWSH! But she didn''t fall to the ground, rather, she ascended higher...seemingly hovering in the air! "Wait a sec?! Suzu can FLY now?!" "Well, it''s more like she''s using her Fton4Wind Styleto control air pressure. Creating unnatural updrafts of wind, elevating her higher in the sky. Though, I reckon that otherworldly chakra of hers is contributing a lot as well" "...You''re such a nerd" "As I recall, Tomoe favors my intelligence?" "YOU STAY AWAY FROM MY MOM!" "That''s gonna be difficult considering she''ll be here soon" "N-Ngh! Y-Y-Y-YOU...!" ZWSH! Suzu soared through the air until she had a bird''s eye view of the area "I still can''t find him with that shroud of steam covering the area. In that case--HAH!" Pushing her chakra even further, the aura covering her body became even brighter. Rays of white light shined everywhere, illuminating the entire field "H-Huh? What in the world...?" "Where is this light coming from?" "The enemy...I can finally see them!" "It''s that girl again, she''s clearing the way for us! Let''s go!" Kumogakure''s forces went on a fierce counter attack after erupting in cheers for Suzu''s aid Ky''s advantage for being the only one who could navigate in the fog, thanks to his eyes, vanished the moment Suzu unveiled everything with her chakra The Kumo-nin finally had a clear view of the liquid entities constantly ambushing them "Fton: Taifikka5Wind Style: Supreme Typhoon!" VWOOSH! Utilizing her wind style even further, she created a turbulent gale that swept away the steam, finally clearing the field. With Ky''s location revealed, her work was done Floating consumed quite the amount of chakra, so she subtly released her technique, casually descending towards the ground. Poised on rejoining the team once her feet were on the ground ??? "She did it Rei! I can see him, eight o''clock!" "On it..." "HISS!" With their objective in sight, the serpent blasted through the field. And in a matter of seconds... "T-Tsk...!" WHACK! ...it had reached its intended target, issuing another attack. With a whipping its scaly tail, the large creature smacked Ky into a nearby boulder. The sheer impact upon collision was enough to shatter stone Knowing Suzu''s wind-based jutsu had yet to cease, Rei decided to seize the opportunity "Hmph! You''re not getting off that easy!" {You know what to do...} "HISS!" "W-What the-?! Are you serious?!" SCORCH! A powerful stream of burning flames came bursting out, but to Tai''s surprise, it''s source wasn''t from Rei, but the beast they were standing on! Following Rei''s commands, the Imugi opened it''s mouth, spewing a blaze that instantly expanded in size and intensity thanks to the wind, incinerating the rubble Ky was blasted into The location struck instantly turned into a scene straight out of hell, with everything on fire "It even breathes fire?! This thing really is a dragon! And a little warning next time Rei!" The force of the resulting blast nearly knocked Tai off the serpent "You never heard of animals using nature transformation?" {Took a lot of work to figure that one out} "But, but, but! It''s a friggin'' dragon man! Ah, by the way, is...is he dead?" "Haaaaa...Tai. In the future, please avoid setting off flags like that, otherwise..." BOOM! The madman blasted out of the debris, landing in front the Genin and their giant, scaly servant "That happens" "...My bad" TAK! Suzu finally managed to catch up to them, landing right next to Rei on top of the Imugi''s head "I think everyone saw what just happened. It is a dragon..." Suzu noted "Right? I thought so!" "It''s not a dra--!" BOOSH! "Hehehehe!" Ky chuckled in awe at the power that just erupted from his body {Damn it, even though we stopped his killing spree, he''s still absorbed quite a bit of chakra from the ones he killed} Red energy swirled around him, increasing his strength even further. The new dragon heads of blood he created to protect him increased in size, becoming even stronger than before. The other ones spread throughout the field had changed as well, resuming their attack Now, they targeted everyone, both inmates and Kumo-nin alike "Ketsury Tensei6Blood Dragon Rebirth!" Still possessing enough sanity to remember hand seals, he activated his Hiden Jutsu7Secret Jutsu, manipulating the blood around him. Coating his body with it, his burns and wounds began to miraculously heal {That''s the same power he used after Suzu and I blasted him during our previous encounter...} "Hey Tai, do you think...?" "Yeah, I do..." As a Medical-nin, Tai confirmed Rei''s hypothesis, Ky had indeed utilized his blood manipulating power to stimulate mitosis. Forcing cells to divide rapidly and repair any damage Noting such a technique would shorten his life. The little regard for his own safety only made the Genin realize the foe before them had become even more dangerous "Nnnnnn...GO!" With a wave of his hands, he created another blood dragon possessing eight heads, sending it to strike the Imugi "They''re so much faster now! No time to dodge guys!" "Rei, your summoning''s in troub-!" "It''s fine Suzu" "W-What...?" Rei calmly folded his arms and watched in anticipation. Not a single trace of fear could be found on his face, even as Ky charged at them atop his blood creation in a truly psychotic manner His compatriots frantically tried to guess as to why Rei hadn''t ordered his summoning to move "Just watch guys, this is where things get fun" 178. Tai’s Genius MrProper So I dedicated this chapter to him, read carefully, and you''ll find a hint as to what he did for his experiment! And as always, please enjoy the chapter! In a matter of seconds, Ky''s Ketsurygan1Blood Dragon EyeNinjutsu acutely struck Rei''s serpent! Oddly enough, the summoned creature made no attempts to dodge, obeying its master''s orders. The latter in question merely smiled, acting as if they weren''t being attacked at all, much to his team''s confusion It was soon after something inconceivable had taken place... RIP!! "NOW YOU ALL DI--eh...?" Ky''s jaw dropped "H-Huh?" Suzu''s reaction was no better The large red creature had miraculously split apart, completely dividing in two! "What just--?!" Just as Tai intended to ask how this could be, the phenomenon repeated itself again, and again, and again! With each attack, the artificially-created serpent split in two! None muttered a word, completely dumbfounded at the spectacle transpiring before their eyes. Eventually, there were eight "Imugis" to combat Ky''s hydra-shaped fabrication of red water "Zfuku Kuchiyose no Jutsu2Amplification Summoning Technique" "Zfu--what?" Tai was clueless to origins of said Ninjutsu "I''ve never heard of...how''d you do it?" Suzu couldn''t take her eyes away "Well..." Rei went on about the origins of the incredible technique, how old and rare it truly was. The Ninjutsu allowed a summoned creature to replicate every time someone attacked it But successfully applying said technique required great skill. Plus, the number of times it could replicate also depended on the quality of the summoned creature. Not even Rei knew how many times his new "pet" could split apart Despite revealing this knowledge, he deliberately left out key details, such as the knowledge of future events being his sole means to acquire this power. For it was his observation of Nagato, the true face behind Akatsuki''s proxy leader Pain, that he learned of the technique Deeming it useful for his project, Notitia provided all information pertaining to Pain''s Rinnegan3Sa?sra Eye-based "Six Paths of Pain" Ninjutsu. Nagato, being paraplegic, controlled six corpses to act as his will, each bearing a different ability The one designated as the Animal Path utilized the very same Amplification Technique "It''s impressive, but I still think it''s a little cold to let it get hit on purpose" "Relax Suzu, its body is incredibly durable. I doubt such attacks would even scratch" {I spliced DNA from those experimental scorpions on Summoning Island. Though not possessing the same level of dexterity, its scales can easily stop blades} "HISS!!" Without warning, every Imugi besides the one they stood on attacked Ky and his blood creature. Overwhelming him with powerful, relentless attacks. When they weren''t biting or tearing his blood-based Ninjutsu, they released streams of fire from their mouths But Ky''s Ninjutsu simply reconstituted itself over and over again "Rei...If a single dragon is that tough as you say, can you spare one for me?" grasping his chin, Tai juggled an idea "I can, but what are you planning to do?" Tai removed a scroll from his pouch "What''s in that?" "Some things I acquired when Dodai-sama had me working. Remember our first encounter with a Chinoike member? After seeing those eyes for the first time, a few ideas sprouted in my mind, but I didn''t have a chance to test them all. HQ needed my bombs to route out the other saboteurs..." "And...?" "Well, I successfully made them, but in the process...there was plenty of leftover materials. It''s a long shot, but I may have a something that could put an end to this" ??? The limited batch of Kumogakure forces on the front steadily made progress. After F successfully organized a small campaign to move the inmates out of Ky''s reach, squads began neutralizing them one by one They couldn''t afford for any them do die yet, as their deaths only served to make Ky stronger. Suzu clearing the steam fog earlier increased visibility, making their jobs all the more easy But said entities formed from Ky''s Ketsury Shten4Blood Dragon Ascensiontechnique were still a problem. Now even stronger thanks to chakra he took from killing other LIFT users, they blocked the way for many. Preventing most from assisting Team Tango BOOSH! Finally recovering some strength, Yugito''s figure erupted with energy, transforming her into a smaller type of Tailed Beast Mode. This Version 2 form took on an appearance of a dark red, nearly black layer of chakra mimicking her beast A miniature Two-tails best defined her now... "Nekozume5Cat Claw!" Yugito blasted from the ground, striking a batch of dragon heads with her "claws" "They''re cornered Mabui! You got it?!" "I''m ready! Stand clear!" Mabui warned after her team assisted in halting another batch WEAVE! With the forming of hand seals, several weapons she placed in front of her were engulfed in waves of light, vanishing without a trace until... "Tens no Jutsu6Ethereal Transmission Jutsu!" CLANG! ...another wave, reminiscent of lightning, sent them hurdling down at her intended target, destroying the fabrications in her sight. Reducing them into red puddles "Haaah...huff...huff...!" Mabui almost fell to her knees before Samui took her arm, placing it over the shoulder as she helped her friend stand "Are you alright? It was never meant to used in such a violent manner" Samui noted "I''m...fine" Mabui knew what Samui was hinting at better than anyone. Her signature Ninjutsu wasn''t for combat. It took far too much time to prepare, and she only had one shot. If the target were to move right before she used it, it would inevitably miss Along with substantial chakra consumption, the support-type technique was ill-suited for drawn out conflicts such as this. Mabui had nearly burned through most of her reserves GURGLE! "Oh no...get back Yugito!" "Right!" "Not again...there''s just no end!" Mabui grit her teeth in frustration The figure she had just destroyed began reconstituting, much to her chagrin. In seconds, the powerful entity was back to normal, poised to resume its attack "Here it comes!" "No other choice, it''s risky in my current state, but I''m gonna do a full transforma--?!" BOOOOM! Just as Yugito attempted to transform again, a giant red serpent arrived abruptly, shattering the blood construct once more. But what surprised Team Mabui was the addition of Rei and Tai, standing on its head "Who...?!" "Tai, Rei?! What are you doing?!" Yugito asked after undoing her transformation, returning to human form "Saving you from the looks of it!" The pair jumped down, letting their scaly ally continue to thrash the blood creature, preventing it from fully regenerating Upon seeing her cousin, Mabui separated from Samui. Carefully examining his body for injuries. After confirming he was alright, she raised her arm... WHACK! "Ow! What the--?!" "You dolt!" ...and smacked him on the head "You jump into the middle of a warzone, AFTER sneaking out of the hospital, to engage the leader of the Chinoike Clan?!" "Agh...forgot how hard you hit! And in my defense, it wasn''t my first encounter with him! Besides, I was feeling fine, and I had something that could help everyone" Rei retorted, meekly pointing to his summoned creature "That brings me to my next point, what the hell is that thing?! Where the hell did you get that thing?! Some kind of...dragon?!" "Aha! I knew it was dragon!" Tai gigged from watching Rei get scolded "Shut up, Tai. And get to work" "Yeah, yeah!" POOF! Moving aside, Tai stood near the red puddle being smashed by the Imugi, summoning several metal canisters from a scroll he placed on the ground "I don''t wanna say you''ve done something completely absurd, because every damn time I do, you take it as a personal challenge! Why can''t you...can''t you...huff...huff...!" "Whoa, whoa! Nee-san!" Rei caught the weary young woman as she nearly fell from exhaustion "Ugh...damn it. I''ve used too much chakra today, I can''t even see straight...let alone yell at you right now" "I''ll accept any punishment later. For now, Tai has a plan to--?!" Mabui wrapped her arms around Rei, hugging him as she shed a tear "Don''t you know how much you make me worry? It wouldn''t hurt if you were a little more sensitive to these things" "...Sorry" "Hmph! You''re not sorry. I bet it won''t be long before you...do something like this...again. You brat...uhhhhh" She finally fainted Samui took her from Rei''s arms, informing him that ever since they encountered an ambush on Genbu Island, her mind held nothing but thoughts and fears of his safety Now that she finally saw him up close since the siege began, it was as if all the stress and anxiety in her body vanished "I''ll take her to supply chain where our medics are waiting" "...Thanks, I appreciate it" "Yugito, stay with them" "Was already planning on it" ZWIP! After Samui dashed away with Mabui, Yugito tapped Rei''s shoulder "So? What''s this I hear about a plan?" "You''ll have to defer to my colleague on that matter. Tai?" "Just a sec, I have to try it out first!" {Suiton: Mizurappa7Water Style: Wild Water Waves!} SPLOOSH! After opening the metal canisters, Tai spat out a small jet of water. Upon splashing his target, the blood began to distort, and to the surprise of the pair watching...ceased regenerating "What just...huh?" Yugito was dumbstruck, the creatures she''d been struggling with were destroyed so easily "Okay. You. Explain. Now." Tai went on about his time at headquarters, Dodai supplied him with a slew of ingredients to make his bombs tailored for the Chinoike. But one key element he lacked was hydrogen. Fortunately, it was the Intelligence Division they used for a makeshift HQ, which just so happened to house the lab for energy research Resting inside were a batch of the old liquid batteries the village previously used before partnering with Tetsuo Mori. And with them, giant tubes of sea water "Now I get it, you''ve performed that kind of science project" Rei recalled a concept he fiddled with in his previous life "I knew you''d get it. Everything I required was already there" Tai had placed sea water in a tube, along with carbon electrodes normally used for the batteries, before electrifying it with help from several Raiton8Lightning Styleusers present The electrical currents split the water into gases, one of those being hydrogen "That''s ingenious, really Tai. But...how does hydrogen help us?" Yugito wondered "It doesn''t. The gas in the container isn''t hydrogen. It''s actually-" "Chlorine gas, right?" Rei already uncovered what Tai had done "?!" "You''ll naturally acquire more than one gas when undergoing an experiment like that. But chlorine gas is very dangerous, that is...unless you have someone who can control vapors and fumes with chakra...right Tai?" "Hehe! I''m too modest to boast" Releasing chlorine gas, controlling it through chakra, and mixing it with Water Style. The elements merged to form a customized sodium hypochlorite. Combining Chemistry and Ninjutsu, this was Tai''s specialty The Ketsurygan didn''t control blood, but iron-enriched substances. His chemically modified solution acted as a glorified bleach, targeting the very thing Ky utilizes with his eyes, rendering them useless But to end this troublesome Ninjutsu, they must be broken down first. The "dragon heads" were encased by a layer of protective chakra, their source of strength Rei deduced they temporarily divert the chakra protecting them for healing whenever their forms are destroyed. Only after being reduced to a puddle, do they reconstitute...this was the key window for Tai''s solution to work "This time, I was lucky. But I won''t be able to control the gases and unleash my Suiton at the same time. I need another Suiton user to help while I focus on controlling these dangerous fumes. Even now, I''m keeping the gas from spreading" {It''s a relief HQ is sending me a steady supply of chakra to help, gotta thank Tango-sensei later} "And that second person is...?" "It''s me, Yu-nee. Tai and I will ride on my new pet as it escorts us through the field. Our combined Suiton will prevent these things from coming back, but we''ll need your--everyone''s help to destroy them" "...Alright. I''ll be the spear while you three--wait...where''s Suzu?" she shook her head, looking for their missing teammate "She and Rei are fighting with seven more of his summoned dragons. Keeping Ky occupied so he doesn''t sew more chaos" "Rei has SEVEN more of these...things?! Where they heck did you find--wait. H-Hold on, she and...but Rei''s right here?" "The me you see in front of you is a clone. The original is with Suzu" Seeing how Mabui had reacted, he didn''t want to worry her further by revealing the "real" him was still fighting Ky Whether it him becoming more sentimental, or some kind of influence from the body he possessed, his older cousin remained the sole person he had trouble dealing with in this world TING! {Hm? This chakra is...!} "Pfff...! Haha!" "?" Yugito and Tai looked at Rei with confusion as he abruptly laughed "Tai, this crazy plan of yours just might work out after all" TAK! TAK! TAK! Another group of shinobi landed on the ground to greet them, some with familiar faces that were most welcome {Ah?!} {No way...!} "I take it you guys heard everything you needed to?" "Yeah..." RIZZZZ! His body buzzing with electricity, the Raikage had finally arrived on the front lines! And at his side, a squad of shinobi straight from the Yotsuki clan, with Tomoe leading them "Mom! You''re here!" "Raikage-sama!" A, after glancing around, simply walked past them as his eyes beamed towards Ky, who was in the midst of his battle with Suzu and Rei. Without even bothering to turn around, he spoke to the clone "Can you and Suzu hold on long enough?" Every fiber of his being wanted to go over there, and drive his fist directly into Ky''s face. But even he knew killing the Chinoike leader would be difficult with the latter''s chakra now at levels even higher than his own Furthermore, the expanding blood pool spawning numerous "dragon heads" needed to be dealt with. Otherwise, their casualties would continue to rise Even at this very moment, the pool continued to grow, edging ever closer towards the village walls. It''ll be inside Kumogakure before long The LIFT was a troublesome equalizer... "I just said so, didn''t I? You''ve got bigger priorities, so there''s no use standing there like an idiot" "R-Rei?! You can''t talk to him like--oof!" Tai tried to warn Rei before Tomoe patted him on the back "Nonsense Tai, this is war, Rei''s got the right idea. Now is the time to shut up and act" "As usual Tomoe-san, you and I are of like mind. It couldn''t have been easy rushing over her from the north, but we''re all grateful" "It''s worth it if I get to see you Rei-chan. You and your squad have performed admirably" Tomoe broke her stern demeanor the instant Rei spoke to her, merrily smiling in response {H-H-Hm?!} Tai''s eyes were glued at the pair upon noticing his mom acting so joyfully "When this awful mess is finally taken care of, you should come over" "I do so enjoy your tea ceremonies, I''ll definitely drop by" {HMMMMMMM?!} During their banter, Tai caught the sight of Rei sneaking a glance at him, wearing a clearly mocking smile {Y-Y-Y-YOU LITTLE...!!} "Raikage-sama, my clan and I will clear they way for my son. Feel free to act as you see fit" Being the natural leader she was, Tomoe quickly took charge of situation, taking Yugito along with her clan members as they split up, targeting various patches of the blood pool Though he had some words for Rei, Tai begrudgingly put them aside as he picked up his gas-filled canister. The red "Imugi" inched closer to the boys, acting as a mount, presenting its head for them to ride on Accepting the invitation, Tai hopped on, waiting for Rei to do the same A turned around, facing the young man "That''s one hell of summon. I''ve never seen anything like it before. Yours?" "Obviously" "And the other seven fighting with the real you and Suzu?" "Mhm" "In that case...I''ll end things here quickly" "We''ll do our part and buy you enough time. B will be here soon enough" Rei said as he jumped on the serpent''s head "Hmph! You know we have much to discuss once this is over..." "..." {I figured as much} BOOM!! The ground blew up from his feet as A bolted away, moving faster than the eye could see. Already locating his first prey... "Lightning Straight!" BLAM! ...piercing right through it with his fist "Wow...and I thought you were fast" "I am" "He wasn''t kidding, this might end in no time at all..." "Only if you and I do our part. You ready?" "As I''ll ever be, let''s get this over with so we can go home and nap forever..." "I''ll drink to that" {Though I''m still not allowed to in this young body} ??? ZWIP! ZWIP! "Come on, move it!" "We''re almost at the rendezvous!" Further west of the continent, a group of shinobi moved in the dark, hidden under the cover of night. Fleeing with haste from the Land of Lightning, each carrying a large Shuriken on their backs, for they were members of the Fma clan These shinobi were apart of the very squad responsible for attacking the northern coastline by the country''s border. After hours of struggle with Tomoe "The Beheader" Yotsuki, their defeat became assured when the Raikage arrived The leader of Kumogakure came with a vengeance, and combined with the Yotsuki, it wasn''t long before the order to retreat was issued "Ugh...it''s hard to concentrate. Can''t believe I''m having trouble running through a mere forest" "What do you expect? It''s still a large unknown..." In order to survive, they had no choice but to take the LIFT pills provided to them by their employers. Though initially hesitant at first, desperation rose when their numbers began to dwindle Over a day of fighting, negative effects naturally manifested "Damn...feel like I''m gonna throw up" "If you''re gonna, run behind me! I''m not getting your lunch all over my--?!" FWP! THK! Without warning, a small shuriken emerged flying from the shadows. Lodged in a tree right in front of their path, thrown with the clear intention of stopping them, but not attacking them "Defensive positions!" "Contact! Ten o''clock!" "You, come out!!" VWOOO! The evening wind was tense, and with blades in hand, the Fma waited for the stranger to reveal himself. As he feebly stepped into the moonlight, he muttered words "Unlike the unworthy, the true warrior embraces the fray..." "Uh?! Our code...can it be...?" "Quiet!" "Captain, if you''ll..." In response to the stranger, the captain of the group stepped forward "For it is they, that truly remain victorious..." "Only then, can we remain faithful, to our truest selves" At the final phrase, the two spoke in unison The man revealed his face, beaten and injured, tattered clothes, and an open wound still bleeding. The others were overjoyed after chancing upon a clanmate, and not just any clanmate, but their leader himself It was the supposedly deceased, Nobuyuki Fma... "You lot, patch him up quickly!" "Yes sir!" "Nobuyuki-sama, please sit down" The men immediately attended to his wounds, sitting him down, back against a tree. As they worked, the captain had the others maintain watch while he questioned Nobuyuki "How are you here? Word was you''d been killed by Ganj Yotsuki" "I almost was, but this isn''t the first time I faked my death. My suicidal explosion was a ruse. Though I had to take that pill at the last second in order to survive, switching places with a Kage Bunshin9Shadow Clone" "And with no trace of your body, Kumogakure believes you dead. That''ll come in handy later. And what of the rest? Most on my side managed to get away safely" "I took some losses on my side, but we''re still okay. By all accounts, our job has been complete. The others are already back with the rest, having received our payment and making a name for ourselves, I''d say this has gone rather we--eh?" Nobuyuki''s attention was taken away at what appeared to be a white butterfly. Shortly after, another one appeared And another, and another, and another until an entire horde of them flew over the group, blanketing the sky. Without warning, a subtle, honeyed voice spoke aloud... "What an interesting conversation you''re having" "?!" ...but none could pinpoint its origin "Who said that?! I can''t see them, these bugs are in the way!" "This isn''t a normal swarm, stay on guard!" "Is it Kumogakure?! Did they track us down?!" {These aren''t bugs. They''re...paper?} Nobuyuki realized after catching one A woman wearing a black cloak with red clouds emerged from the numerous sheets of paper, her body seemingly made of them "May I join in?" 179. Red Night MrProper CRASH! A violent skirmish of red transpired! Suzu and Rei''s fight with Ky increased in it''s intensity. The Chinoike leader had his eight-headed blood beast maintain a consistent barrages of attacks. Keeping seven of the heads on offense while he remained in the back, standing on top of the eighth Rei responded in kind with the seven "Imugis" that split apart from the original, but ensured it didn''t split again He still didn''t know how many times it could divide, and with the possibility his Shadow clone might require said ability with the one he sent with Tai, the risk was too great His work with the young, medical Genin was just as important as the battle with Ky {Katon: Homuranagase1Fire Style: Blazing Meteors!} BRRR! BRRR! BRRR! Ordering the Imugi he stood on to elevate him higher, Rei sent forth droves of small fireballs from above, trying to knock his opponent off balance with numerous attacks at different angles But Ky simply let his Ninjutsu do all the work as the dragon heads swirled in formation, protecting him from harm "Tsk!" "HAHAHAHA! TRY HARDER BOY!" "Already did, jackass" Rei glanced upwards, eying his partner descending from above ZWSH! "What?!" "HAH!" ZUZUZUZU! Forming more chakra arms, a relentless barrage of giant, white, rapid-fire ethereal fists descended from above. With ample ferocity, the young girl repeatedly pummeled the fabrications acting in Ky''s defense! "WOOOOAAAAAH!!!" "Cheh! Uppity little bitch! DON''T UNDERESTIMATE ME!" Raising his hands, he kneaded vast amounts of chakra Spending his energy to increase their restoration rate, attempting to push the girl back. Matching fists with blood, each one struggling to overcome the other as the force between them produced shockwaves {Holy...she''s just like Kaguya tsutsuki} With this new development, the mysterious, voiceless entity familiar to Rei offered its advice [Think twice about charging in to attack. The expansion of force and chakra colliding between them is reaching its limit. One of them is gonna give...and soon] "What are you getting at?" [Truth be told, he''s an opponent the current you can''t defeat, regards of your recent improvements. And that''s reigned true prior to him taking those strange pills. Now, even A might not be able to beat him] "Huh?" {The hell is this thing saying?} [Look at it objectively. The only reason you''ve lasted this long is due to him devoting 50% of his attention elsewhere, controlling that expanding blood pool. He was already a high Jonin-level shinobi, and now his chakra is comparable to a Tailed Beast] Rei remained skeptical. Given what he knew about A, and what he''s seen, he wholeheartedly believed the Raikage wouldn''t lose. Predicting he might have some trouble with him...but never defeated However, after some consideration, he realized A wasn''t at full strength. Surmising whatever battles he had prior to his arrival on the field took its toll. The same could be said for everyone else after fighting here for over 24 hours. Even Yugito couldn''t take on her full Tailed Beast form And while his allies have been wearing themselves out, Ky''s power has only soared higher... [The chakra HQ supplies isn''t limitless. Even with support from the Network, there''s no way Suzu can keep that up. She may be fighting like Kaguya, but she sure as hell isn''t her] "Then what do you suggest?" [Once Tai and your clone finish their task, the Raikage will come here. If you haven''t weakened Ky enough by then, who knows what will happen. His mind is unstable because of the drugs, lean on that, and his power should fall] "We''re forcing him to use as much chakra from the LIFT as we can, but if you have something that can expedite it, feel free to share!" [I don''t, but you do. Good luck] "Wait, Notitia! Haaaa...goddamn it" {Something that forces him to use up his chakra...remove his chakra...drain his...OH!!} Rolling back his sleeve, Rei tapped the summoning seal on his red wristband POOF!!! CLANG! "These will do just fine. Time to put my new reflexes to work" ??? Elsewhere... "Nezumi Kedama2Mouse Hairball!" BRRRR!! Yugito moved through the field, blasting every fabrication the blood pool spawned with blasts of blue, mouse shaped fireballs "It''s done, you got it boys?!" After destroying another one, she shouted back to the ones trailing behind her.. "Suiton: Kiri Seigyo no Jutsu3Water Style: Mist Control!" "Suiton: Suirydan no Jutsu4Water Style: Water Dragon Bullet!" VWOOOO! SPLOOSH! Standing on his giant red serpent, Rei''s Shadow Clone supported Tai, as the latter cautiously manipulated fumes of altered chlorine gas in order to avoid harming his allies The clone spat out a geyser of water mimicking a dragon, mixing it with Tai''s gas, the chemical reaction gave it a yellowish-green hue as it struck the "dragon head" in the midst of recovery. Its reconstitution was permanently neutralized thanks to their combined attack Tai''s plan worked, the blood pool shrunk with every red liquid entity taken down. Soon enough, the field would be cleared of Ky''s Ninjutsu "Yu-nee! We''re moving on to the next area!" "Got it, there are only a few inmates left!" Yugito dashed away, preparing to assist the Raikage in clearing out the remaining stragglers still trying to breach the village walls. Rei scanned the area, searching for the next location as he spotted Tomoe fighting The Yotsuki Clan''s first lady delivered volleys of her signature chakra-enhanced arrows, decapitating each blood dragon with impossible levels of force and power With her around, progress increased exponentially {Her Chakra Flow is impressive as always. Forget retraining my Earth affinity, maybe I should just go with Wind, like her?} "Rei...are you staring at my mom?" "Alright, let''s move. Tomoe needs me--er, us to help her" "You didn''t answer my question..." "Let''s go!" "Don''t brush me off!" ??? Returning to the fight with Ky "RAAAAAAHH" Screaming from the top of her lungs, Suzu pushed herself to the limit! BAM! BAM! BAM! Never-ending attacks! Suzu continued on in her campaign, still empowered by her new form. She and the Imugis kept the "blood hydra" preoccupied, giving Rei himself a chance to get in close to strike Ky In his hands... CLANG! "HAH!" "Tsk! What the hell are those?! You think I''m a vampire or something?!" "To be honest, a little bit!!" ...Black rods he constructed from studying the leftover tsutsuki technology in Isshiki''s, or rather, his lab. The very same stake-shaped weapons capable of draining chakra from their victims The perfect tool Notitia hinted at to weaken Ky, whose body is now filled to the brim with absurd performance enhancers "Hmph!" "Ugh...stop darting around...!" {This brat''s even faster than the last time we fought!} "Heh..." {Even better than I''d hoped!} After his third "Body Purification", Rei''s new central nervous system fired electric signals at impossible rates. His ability to react, memorize, deduce, process, and analyze information rivaled, if not surpassed that of modern Djutsu5Eye Techniquesusers Using his new gift, the movements that were previously too fast to keep up with could now be avoided. Even with his insane chakra, Rei proved to be more than a match for Ky in close quarters combat {Right there!} PIERCE! "Urgh!" Ky yelled in pain after Rei successfully manage to stab him "That''s one, how many more until you resemble a pincushion?" {Ow...why does this hurt so much?! I couldn''t have used up THAT much chakra ye--?! My blood pool...it''s fading away!} "Y-You...were stalling...this whole time!" "Tch! So much for keeping it a secret" Though irritated Ky managed to figure it out despite his current mental state, Rei didn''t care. For his Shadow Clone had just vanished, and with that, all experience and information from it immediately transferred to him. He knew the rest had nearly completed their work, only the inmates remained Tai and the eighth Imugi he rode on were already on their way back, and soon, reinforcements would follow. The battle''s conclusion was here at last "Since you figured that out, you should have enough brain cells to know you''ve failed. Give up!" "Hmph! LIKE HELL!" Ky screamed after taking out a Kunai BOOM! "Uh?! What the--?!" Suzu was thrown off as the blood beings she fought suddenly blew up, turning into puddles {Shit, that doesn''t look like the face of someone ready to quit...!} "I''ll give up when I''m dead on the ground!" The Imugis and Suzu rejoined Rei, ready for anything SLICE! Without warning, Ky slit his wrists. The leftover red liquid from his Ninjutsu that just burst flowed into the open wounds His body underwent convulsions, going back and forth from expanding and shrinking as the muscles under his skin shifted in all kinds of disturbing ways "Since he can control his own cells, it shouldn''t come to shock us if he change his form as well" His figure had transformed completely, far more bulkier and toned "Hehehe...Ketsueki Henge no Jutsu6Blood Transformation Technique" {It''s just as Notitia warned, now that he''s no longer micromanaging his chakra elsewhere, he''s become even more dangerous} RUMBLE! "HEY!" In no time, Tai had returned with Rei''s eighth Imugi, tearing the ground "Tai? Did you do it?!" Suzu asked in anticipation "Heh, it''s all done, the blood pool is gone! Raikage-sama and the rest are cleaning up, he''ll be here soon enou--WHOA! Holy shit, when did Ky get so ripped?!" "No time for an explanation, just assume his threat level has increased again!" Rei warned as he raised his hand CRUNCH! With this gesture, the eight Imugis reunified into one body, albeit keeping their individual heads separate. Resembling the hydra fabrication of blood Suzu fought earlier "HISS!!" And with deep breaths... "Take cover!" "Wait, what?! I just got here--OOF!" Suzu grabbed Tai before he could react The summoned creature breathed fire from all eight of its heads...simultaneously! Enveloping Ky in a sea of flames, the sheer scale of the attack was beyond Rei''s current capabilities However... "E-E-Erggghh...! Is that the best you can do? A little heat?!" "What a monster...he''s still heading towards us. This is the worst day ever..." "Not even close Tai!" Standing in flames, his body undergoing a constant, repetitive process of healing. This factor didn''t escape Rei''s notice, as he could sense Ky''s chakra fluctuating every time he received a serious injury {His chakra was already unstable, and he''s burned through quite a bit of it. If I continue to push, it might leave an opening for...} "Yeah, that''ll work!" "What''s that?!" "Guys, light him up! Just like our Thunder combo!" "In that case, I''m going all out! Here, take this antidote!" Tai said before tossing a vile "Thanks--Uck! Uhack! Damn it Tai! That tastes awful!" Rei darted away "Just be glad I had some on me!" With unwavering trust in him, Rei''s teammates nodded to each other before splitting up, prepping to unleash their respective Ninjutsu. Rei''s "serpents" continued to slow down Ky with a continuous stream of fire WEAVE! After reaching a safe distance, the speed of Tai and Suzu''s hand movements when forming seals were the fastest they''ve ever been! Skittishly waiting for the precise moment to strike Meanwhile, Ky continued to push through the fire "Cheh! Impressive. I''ve never seen Genin gifted as you three. But something of this level isn''t enough. YOU WON''T STOP...!" ZWSH! ZWSH! When he could finally see something other than flames, the sight of Suzu and Tai in the air gave him an instinctual sense of dread "...me?" He didn''t know what they were planning, he just knew he had to stop them. "Ninp: Dokugiri7Ninja Art: Poison Mist!" "Fton: Daitoppa8Wind Style: Great Breakthrough!" But it was already too late... VWOOOSH! Suzu gathered every ounce of chakra she had left in her body, compressing it in her stomach before breathing out. The power of the technique was amplified thanks to her new form, comparable to a small tempest! Tai didn''t lag behind either. Taking advantage of his Medical Ninjutsu and fine knowledge of chemistry, he utilized his chakra to create a specialized chemical in his stomach that upon spitting out, immediately vaporized into a dark cloud once in contact with the air The dual Ninjutsu''s reaction with the fire... "K-Kuh...!" BOOOOOOOOOM!!!! ...resulted in their biggest explosion yet! The thunderous, deafening, and vicious outburst of power ruptured the very surface of the Earth. The shockwaves were felt by everyone, even those beyond the village walls! A fiery, poisonous blast so immense, many veteran shinobi would remain doubtful if they were told a trio of Genin caused it! "A-Ahh. Y-Yeah...huff...wheeze! That''s it. I''m done for the day...ugh!" Tai muttered his last words before passing out Creating, rather than manipulating matter with chakra cost quite a toll. His reserves were never much compared to his teammates, but this act pushed him past the tipping point ZUZUZU! Suzu''s white hair had returned to its original raven-black color. The white aura faded away from her body as the strange transformation she''d undergone had finally been undone The last attack carried all that was left of her remaining chakra "U-Ugh! Can''t...!" Suzu struggled to stand, but to no avail {Rei. Have to...help him! Get up!} ??? At the center of the scorched blast site GURGLE! CRUNCH! "Urrrgghas...aaggghh...uuuughaahh!!" Ky''s body had become grotesque in the process of recovering. A process that was now flawed due to the damage, drugs, and overall mental trauma suffered "Saiseijutsu9Regeneration Techniques" were not only incredibly rare, but consumed a stupendous amount of power to function properly. With his reserves failing, his technique followed in kind "A-A-Almost...hea...healed. Just have to--!" "Nuh-uh. That sure as hell ain''t happening" {Shunshin no Jutsu10Body Flicker Jutsu!} CLANG! With stakes in hand, Rei channeled what little remained of his chakra, pushing his speed to the limit. Stabbing the vulnerable man before him in several places with his specialized weapons Ky couldn''t even counter as the fire and poison contributed in no small part to hindering his movements {Great. These...er, you know what? I''ll call them "Disruption rods", like the cubes I''m STILL trying to make. Yes, they''re working quite well, but his regeneration is still ongoing...} "At this point Ky, you really should quit while you''re ahead" "U-Ugh! You''re a fool, thinking this could stop me. Bringing yourself in close...it''s the biggest mistake of your life!" THUMP! Despite being impaled multiple times, Ky stomped the ground, getting back on his feet! The sheer amount of chakra he still possessed allowed him to barely fight off the chakra-draining effects of Rei''s weapons "Wow, you really do look like a pincushion" Rei chuckled in mockery "I''ll kill you! I''ll kill you! I''LL KILL YOU ALL!" "Nah, don''t think so. The closer I am, the easier this is for me" Rei pointed his finger "H-Huh?" "Here goes the last of my chakra...!" {Magen: Kakuran11Demonic Illusion: Disturbance!} "?!" ??? WHOOSH! "A-AH?! W-Where?!" Without a moment''s notice, Ky found himself in a remote canyon. A valley of sorts, filled with a putrid smell. Oddly enough, his form returned to its original state, his clothes fresh, hair unburnt, and sanity intact "Wait, this is the Land of Steam, and I''m in...!" "Jigokudani12Valley of Hell, I believe?" Sitting on elevated position was Rei, who also appeared strangely unmarked from their fight "I see now...Genjutsu. You''ve got some sour taste, bringing me here" "Right. This is where the Uchiha sent you after our Daimy hired them. What an awful place" "You say that, and yet you''ve gone to the trouble to replicate every bad aspect of it. The smell, taste, and touch...just to make me remember" {Just need a few more seconds to decipher this illusion} The iron-enriched water flowing through the valley was red. Along with the unhealthy temperature, dangerous geography, and foul-smelling steam fog, this place was no different than a toxic wasteland Completely unsuitable for living "Oh no, I''m not doing this. You are. We''re in your head Ky, and its filled with nothing of this. Hatred for being forced to live in this shithole" "Then allow me to alleviate you!" {Ketsurygan13Blood Dragon Eye!} "..." With a yell, Ky''s eyes turned as red as blood, but... "U-Uh?" "Something wrong? You''re kinda young to be having performance issues" ...Nothing had changed, Rei simply sat where he was, nonchalant as he could be {Why?! I''ve "seen" through this with my eyes. Things should be under my control!} "Many make light of Genjutsu''s potential, and I can''t blame them. It''s incredibly difficult to learn, requiring the finest levels of chakra control, and very tricky to apply in direct combat. But I know the truth..." "W-What?" Since the start of his journey, Rei has studied and compiled every aspect of chakra, jutsu, weapons, and knowledge he could find. All in efforts to discover the most potent power to acquire. And every time, he research brought him back to one person...Kaguya tsutsuki The supposed final antagonist of the "Story", her most powerful Jutsu was the infamous, Infinite Tsukuyomi. To those lacking a Rinnegan14Sa?sra Eye, it''s an unstoppable Genjutsu capable of putting the entire world under her control Knowing this, along with other potent implementations of Inton15Yin/Shadow Styleundoubtedly headed his way in the near future, Rei devoted countless hours to strengthening his own skill in the field "My Genjutsu is subtle, and elegant. It''s the only one I use, and it''s different every time I cast it. My colleague C taught me Genjutsu is always at its best when it''s original" "Excuse me? Are you saying a child like you managed to-" "My illusion changes every second it''s active. Altering and shifting depending on our minds. Look, we''re already somewhere else" "?!" WHOOSH! Without warning, the scene changed to a forest Rei had been to before. The very same area his team journeyed to during their rescue of Team Mabui several years ago "Huh? I was never in this part of the woods. Which means this is one of yours...so I was right. You guys were involved in that incident...exactly how long have you been planning this attack?" "This...this can''t be happening. I should have control over...all of this! My eyes should--!" "True, I''ve found Djutsu to be incredibly unfair considering you can literally see chakra. Your eyes make it easier to decode it, and that was a real pickle to get over. But all problems have solutions, and this is mine. Though it wasn''t usable until you sent me to the hospital" "A...a consistent evolving Genjutsu...impossible" The changes of the Genjutsu''s structure were ridiculously fast. By the time Ky''s eyes had decrypted the inner workings of it, the illusion would change again And though his unique eyes could "see" it happening, didn''t mean he could knead chakra fast enough to stop it in time, the change was too quick "It''s still imperfect, a couple of kinks in need of fixing, but I think it''s pretty cool. What about you?" Rei''s senses and new nervous system gave him the means of reacting to even the smallest changes in chakra. At speeds beyond that of the eyes. His sensitivity to chakra was greater than ever! Combined with his abnormal skill in the manipulation of chakra, his tsutsuki side playing a large role in this, granted him inhuman levels skill in Genjutsu! His years of research that''d truly paid off Whenever he detected his illusion at risk of being taken over or broken, he changed its overall structure. This act would force the opposition to start all over again. To knead chakra so fast and complex...Ky knew to be impossible, for no human mind could be capable of such a thing. Unfortunately for him, Rei''s body and mind...were completely out of the norm WHOOSH!! The scene changed again, they were now just outside of Kumogakure "Ah. This must be right before you attacked. Or perhaps, a scouting mission?" "No...no no no no. This isn''t--!" "It is Ky. Your forces have been defeated, and now you''re under my control" {Have to make him give up. The weaker his will, the easier it is to read his thoughts. Still have to find out who orchestrated this} Rei could tell Ky''s brain had suffered serious damage, concluding it stemmed from the pills he took. It was only a matter of time before he became a vegetable. The longer this took, the more likely whatever information he held would be lost Even at this moment, his mind was deteriorating... "This...this isn''t right! This isn''t fair! YOU! ALL OF KUMOGAKURE! IT SHOULD BE YOU WHO SUFFERS! YOU ALL HAVE--!" "And what do you base that on?" "?!" "Yes, your ancestors were wronged. But not by me, or anyone else of my village. The long dead Daimy''s wife was the one responsible for your unfair banishment thanks to her jealousy of your ancestor, his second wife. Truly, polygamy is a mess, but the Daimy''s first wife payed for her crimes when the truth was revealed, along with her whole family. Our current Daimy isn''t blood related to any of them!" "Ugh!" "And that was the Daimy, Kumo wasn''t a concept then, and even if it was, we''d STILL have nothing to do with it. They hired the Uchiha Clan of the Leaf to banish you. And said ones involved are long dead. This all happened during the Warring States Period, nearly a century ago" "You don''t know shit. You don''t know shit!!" "During your entire time in that hellhole, did your family not stop to think about fleeing elsewhere? The opportunity must''ve come as time passed and you were forgotten" "That''s not...we were-!" "Many villages would''ve been thrilled to take in a clan with a Kekkei Genkai16Bloodline Limit, regardless of rumors surrounding them. Or even better, you could''ve started anew. Why didn''t you?" "We couldn''t just get up and...!" The scene around them continued to change, but now the images were incomprehensible. An assembly of Ky''s broken, declining memories, now hurdled into one Rei knew Ky''s mind was almost gone, but could feel his defenses weakening. A little more, and he''d be able to extract the information he sought "You kill our people, who''ve done you no wrong, and then claim you''re the victims? I mean seriously, turning innocent people into f**king bombs? That''s pretty twisted" "They''re not innocent! None of you are innocent!" "Haaaa...you haven''t heard a single word I''ve said. A gathering of fools is what you are, blinded by hatred, and too stupid to even think for yourselves. Like rabid beasts" "F**K YOU! "Which is fitting, considering you ended up fighting each other to death, literally endangering yourselves to near extinction. Maybe that''s why you never left, because deep down, you all know the truth..." "DON''T YOU SAY IT!!!" "That the only thing you are..." "SHUT THE HELL UP!" "Is a pack of violent...murderous...stupid...bloody-eyed..." "RRRRGGGGGG! GET OUT OF MY HEAD!!!!" "Animals..." "AAARRRGHGHGHGHG!!!!!!" CRACK! {Now!} The flashing images of memories around them began to break like glass. The deterioration of the LIFT had increased in its spread. His mind was falling apart But Rei succeeded in breaking Ky''s will, now speedily taking whatever information he could with him "GO TO HELLLLL!!!!!!" {He''s going with the nuclear option?!} "Shit...without a mind to control...the illusion will--!" ??? THUD! "GAH!" Rei fell to his knees upon jumping out of Ky''s dying mind Much to his shock, the one in question had begun the process of turning himself into an "Exploding Human"! {I can feel his massive chakra swelling in one location, this''ll be different from anything we''ve ever encountered...!} "W-W-We''re...notttttt...an-an-an...imals. We...ar-ar-are...HU...MANS!!!" His eyes bled profusely, the process of his body swelling was about to begin, as the energy within him had almost reached its peak! "URRGGH!" "Tai always did say my mouth was going to be the death of me. Fortunately, I never listen to him...and plan ahead" TING! {This chakra is...heh! They''re right on cue} "Yoooou d-d-die...NOW!!" "Hmmm...I don''t wanna" "?!" ZWSH! ZWSH! Just as his anger grew at Rei''s uncaring dismissal of his threats, the appearance of two muscular arms came into view "Goodbye Ky" Yes. Two arms. The last thing Ky of the Chinoike clan had laid eyes upon... CRUNCH! "DOUBLE LARIAT!!" ...was the Raikage and his brother, Killer B...closelining him! Their arms moved in opposite directions as they performed their signature tag-team technique. Moving at ridiculous speeds, the brothers created a "scissoring effect", causing Ky''s head to fly from his body THUD! His body fell to ground, no longer in the midst of detonating. All the chakra he possessed had vanished without a trace. Whether a result of the LIFT, or his untimely demise...none could say But they did know this Siege which lasted for almost two nights, with Ky''s death, had finally come to end Rei successfully protected his, as he''d put it, "investment". Kumogakure had emerged victorious "I told you to quit while you''re ahea-aaahhhh. Yeah, that joke is in terrible taste" 180. Results MrProper At an undisclosed location The clandestine organization known only as the "Company" held another meeting between its ten, highest ranking staff. The so-called "Board" members And while the meeting had already started, three of its members, "Flow", "Blade", and "Mountain" were missing. The leader known as "Sage" preferred not to wait, eager to hear what happened in Kumogakure "So the village didn''t fall?" Balance was the first person Sage questioned "No sir. There was significant damage and casualties on their side, but the overall structure itself remains intact" Sitting to the left of Balance was his younger brother Arc, who never believed taking down a great shinobi nation would work out. Not with the meager force they sent out He''d been forced to go along with their plans per the same agreement each member made upon joining the Company. For a childish one such as him, Arc naturally seized the opportunity to say, "Told you so" "Keke! Sorry Sage, but that''s what you''d expect from one of the big 5" quipped Arc in his usual flippant tone "While it''s disappointing, the overall objective was achieved. If what sister Red claimed is accurate" "It is brother Sage. Thanks to the stolen plans from Kumo, the LIFT acts as grid, splitting chakra from the users. That, in addition to boosting overall quantities of Chakra. Since each set is unique, replication will be next to impossible if stolen" Red explained as she read the clip board with her notes in hand "Oh, terrific! We now have a monopoly on a drug that turns your brain into mush! Great job Red" "Arc, this was a field test. Considering this plan hinged on Red''s expertise, I expected things to go much worse. I never would''ve imagined those idiots we busted out of prison could do so much damage" Ignoring the brothers sarcastic comments, Red read aloud more of the data recorded during her observation of the attack "Negative effects began to manifest after hours of use, but the test subjects still maintained the capacity for fighting. We already discovered it impaired cognitive function from our tests in Hzuki-j1Demon Lantern Castle. There are certain steps we can take to reduce these...issues" "Excellent. I want the next trial version ready for testing as soon as possible. Brother Three, we''ll need you to arrange another testing site, now that the Blood Prison is no longer a viable option" "There are several facilities I can arrange in the Land of Valleys, with no shortage of test subjects. However, I still request to have at least a modicum level of oversight" "Cause if word gets out that inhumane tests are being conducted under watch, your ass in on the line. Right, old man?" "...I''m simply asking for discretion Arc. And for you to consider keeping silent whenever I see your stupid face" CLANK! "?!" "And look who''s here..." The juvenile bickering was put to a halt with the appearance of Mountain. The large, masked man entered the room, carrying a body in his arms But what made the group almost jump out of their seats, was the person he carried in his arms...the one known as "Blade" "What the f**k?!" Arc yelled aloud "Mountain...you!!" "She was killed by the Raikage, brother Three. I had to eliminate several ANBU members just to retrieve her corpse" All were surprised to find one of their own was killed, that is... "Explain. As I recall, you were supposed to be with her when she-?" {So this fat bastard actually did it.} ...except for Balance. Who''d long been aware of his plan since they separated when the inmates arrived at Kumogakure. Because he wore a mask, no one could see Mountain staring at Balance, in fear he''d spill the beans But oddly enough, Balance hadn''t said a word "Because the Daimy left on a Noble Road, his group''s journey through the Land of Rivers went quicker than anticipated. Blade had no choice but to engage earlier that we planned. We all knew the Raikage had to be occupied for this to even work, if they had reached Kusagakure2Hidden Grass Village, the whole charade would''ve failed" "Noble roads...the exclusive travel paths for the Daimy. When it came to estimating the timing, could it be our notorious manager of the Company''s plans messed up?" Arc coyly glanced at "Time" "The only thing I''ll mess up is you, if I ever hear such bullshit come out of your mouth again. Not even Balance will be able to save you from my wrath" Time''s voice went hoarse WHACK! "Ow! The f**k?!" "Stop provoking people you moron. Apologies Time, he didn''t mean anything by it" Balance said after hitting his younger brother on the head "Enough. We expected variables, and we adjusted out timetable as best we could. Even with this loss, I''d still call this a win" Sage pacified the others, stating despite the "unexpected", almost everything went as planned. They''d managed to create something that could tip the balance of power in the world With the LIFT in their hands, even a small shinobi nation had the potential to combat a larger ones. In time, the miraculous pill would be perfected, and on the market. A weapon every shinobi village, mercenary group, rogue-nin, and any other person capable of holding a weapon will desire...with them controlling every part of it The Company was in the midst of replacing the old Jinchriki-focused system that kept the delicate power balance. With this invention, the group would soon become one of the most dangerous, and powerful organizations in the world "Our ascendancy will be complete once the LIFT is perfected. Only then can our REAL objective begin. But now is the time to lay low, with that event on the horizon, every village on the continent will be vigilant" "Sir, if you want it completed sooner, I highly recommend we--!" "I told you before sister Red, the answer is no. Balance''s report informed me about your...outburst during the mission. You almost compromised yourself" "That reaction was--!" CLAP! CLAP! Arc clapped his hands, stopping them from continuing any further. While he, and the others new details about the battle, there were still details that had yet to be omitted Balance elaborated further... "Haaa...there was a, surprise during the operation. One particular Kumogakure Kunoichi took the LIFT. But her reaction was unlike anything we''d ever seen" "You...you''re kidding. W-Was she stable?" Three asked in shock "Very. Her chakra was different, the girl didn''t appear to suffer the common negative side effects, and she fought like a Jinchriki. I had to use my eyes just to confirm she wasn''t Yugito Nii! Her body even transformed, her hair changing color" "And here I thought you were gonna talk about Ky. I thought Red wanted to study his body, considering how long he lasted after overdosing on pills" Arc noted BAM! Red slammed her clipboard on the round table "Exactly! That girl looked barely over fifteen, and became that powerful! Ky was older, possessing far more chakra, but the Amped effect of the pill produced far better results in the girl. If we can get our hands on her, we can uncover everything we need to perfect the LIFT!" "You wanna abduct some girl from Kumogakure, the very same village we JUST attacked, who''s probably keeping a close watch on her? Right now? You''re either insane, stupid...or both" "Arc, shut the f**k up!" "She was also accompanied by abnormal companions as well. One utilized a ninjutsu I''d never seen before, being the key reason for Ky''s defeat. And the other one summoned strange creatures resembling...dragons" Balance''s last comment caught everyone off guard. The sheer ridiculousness of someone using mythical creatures like dragons...some of them thought he was telling a joke "Haaa...Balance isn''t lying, I was sitting right next to him when I saw it" Red confirmed his claim "Brother Scorpion, you''re more versed in summoned animals than anyone else here. Do you know something about it?" Sage inquired "I''d have to see them first, but this world is filled with so-called rare creatures outside the norm. Even our associate Danz utilizes a creature of similar uniqueness" Scorpion elaborated before returning to his silence "Agh, who cares about pets! Whatever that girl possesses, the key to the LIFT lays within her body, at least give me some intel on her! Where the hell is Flow anyway?! He should be--?!" Her outburst was put to a halt with Sage''s abrupt gesture of standing up. The room followed with complete silence, even Red sat back down without protest "For the first time, we now have confirmation the enemy is aware of our existence. Security in Kumogakure is at an all time high, everyone''s most likely being investigated. I ordered Flow to cease operations in the village and flee, he currently in deep cover, the risk of meeting us now was too great" {Then it''s too risky to begin installing some of my own spies within. A shame, it''s always bugged me of how little information I receive from that corner of the world} As a spymaster, Balance was dismayed at this situation Red bit her lip in frustration, knowing there was nothing she could say to retort. Not that she had the brass to back talk the leader of the Company in front of everyone As usual, her "scientific curiosity" got the better of her "Mountain. With Blade gone, you will now assume the responsibility of being the Company''s top enforcer. And various resources will be made available to you" "Thank you sir" Mountain bowed in appreciation, secretly grinning behind his mask "I''ll say it again, no one is to act until I call for another meeting. Especially in the months ahead. Good day" With his orders clear, Sage departed from room, and everyone else quickly followed suit. After seeing his brother off, Balance was about to take his leave, until Red confronted him "You! Why did you tell him about-?!" "About what? You almost jeopardizing everything? I just saved your sorry ass. I mean, did you truly think Sage won''t toss you aside if you continue to act out like this? Don''t assume your special connection with him will save you" "How the hell do you-?!" "I''m a spy, and an informant. Information is my currency, and I''m f**king rich right now. Make no mistake, all of us are just as expendable as Blade. And to be honest, the spoiled brat routine is getting old" "Hmph...!" "And now, you owe me. I''ll expect you to pay me back. Unless you''d like me to tell Sage about what you did with Orochimaru" "A-Ah?! Bastard!" Completely outwitted, Red said no more before walking away Balance, on the other hand, turned his eyes towards someone else "And speaking of owing me...hey Mountain!" "Uh?! Balance...what do you--?" "Spare me the bullshit, you know exactly what I want. You set up Blade so you could have her position, it was obvious. I kept my mouth shut about your treachery, and now...I own you" "..." "Ky--I mean, my dog died in this recent operation, leaving quite a gap in my heart. I''ve been wanting something to fill it. So from this point forward, if I call, you come. Do you understand?" "...Yes" Mountain clenched his fist until his hand turned red, desperately holding back his anger TAP! TAP! Balance patted his shoulder after hearing his response, taking his leave before speaking one last time, in a tone that couldn''t be more mocking if he tried "Good boy" CLANK! Once the spy left the room, Mountain was the only one who remained inside. He stared at the door for over a minute, not moving a muscle, his eyes burning in anger Turning around, he approached the round table in the center of the room, and leaned on it After taking a deep breath... "RAAAAH!" CRASH! ...he slammed his fist, destroying the table! The impact from his flare-up was enough to blow away everything around him! "I''ll kill you. I swear to the Gods I''m gonna kill you!!" ??? "Wow, you took care of them quickly!" "I wouldn''t have mind if you two had helped me-eh? Zetsu, where''s your other half?" In a forest just west of the Land of Steam, the Akatsuki member Konan had finished off a batch of Fma clan ninja escaping from Kumogakure Once her task was complete, the enigmatic, mutated spy of the group emerged from the ground, his lower torso still beneath the surface But for some reason, the "Black" half of his bipolar-shaped body was noticeably absent, leaving him with half a face "He''s zeroing in on Hanz''s location as we speak. It won''t be long until we find him" "In that case, I should go. I''ve already completed the task Tobi left for me" "And with that, it''s now my turn" CRACKLE! With a wave of his only hand, several clones of him emerged from the ground. Each one picking up the dead Fma Konan left in her wake Noticing the expression on her face that practically screamed, "what are you doing?", Zetsu explained before she even had the chance to ask "Since we''ve yet to start hunting the Tailed Beasts, Tobi wants to test the extraction rate of the Ged Maz. After all, if we target a Jinchriki, their village will no doubt retaliate. Once the extraction starts, it mustn''t be stopped. The speed of us placing the beast within the Finz3Sealing Statue, is just as important as sealing it" "And because these men have taken a so-called, Tailed Beast drug, you''d like to test it out on them" "Yup. I think it''ll be okay regardless, but Tobi and my other half are such worrywarts. Everything has to checked, there can be no lack of oversight, they consistently remind me. Ugh! They really need to loosen up and take a break or something" Konan glanced at the bodies, scanning each one until her eyes stopped at a particular fallen soldier "In that case, I''ll leave you to it. But I want to take that one with me" "Knock yourself out, just means less work for me. Though I am curious, what makes that one so special?" "This is Nobuyuki Fma, a terrorist noted for always having a heavy civilian casualty rate. He''s supposed to be dead after a fight with Jiraiya, but apparently, he just faked his death. That horizontal scar on his forehead made him instantly recognizable" "So what? You wanna collect the bounty or something? I suggest you run it by our new treasurer, that guy goes crazy when it comes to money" FLUTTER! Konan''s body dissembled into paper, shaping into origami-like butterflies. They swarmed over Nobuyuki''s dead body, lifting him up for her to transport "Pain still hasn''t acquired a body strong enough to handle his chakra for the Animal Path. Now that it''s time to eliminate Hanz, I wish to ensure he''s fully prepared for battle" "True, Hanz of the Salamander isn''t an opponent to scoff at. I''ll see you later" "Mm" The young woman''s figure vanished, following her departure, Zetsu continued collecting the bodies as he muttered to himself "Still...a friggin'' Tailed Beast drug? Man, humans sure are fun!" MrProper But now, we move on to the next, even CRAZIER arc in the story! That''s right, it''s the one y''all know I had to do eventually! THE CHUNIN EXAMS ARC IS COMING!! LOOK FORWARD TO IT! The Chunin Exams” Saga – 181. Hidden Agenda MrProper Look forward to the future! VWOOOO... "Ah, the air feels nice" "Uh-huh..." After all the chaos a few days ago, it''s nice I finally get the luxury of relaxing in bed. Well, a hospital bed. Mabui forced me to come here and get checked. She''s been coming back and forth whenever possible, but being the Raikage''s aid, there''s a lot on her plate C reprimanded me for breaking out of the hospital, and now there''s a shinobi posted outside our door Speaking of "our", because the hospital is up to capacity due to recent events, I''m stuck with a roommate...and he''s a noisy one "You need to relax, take in the cool breeze" "No matter how nice the air is, it doesn''t change my opinion Rei" Tai being here is probably why it''s none other than his uncle, Kiyoi, that was tasked with guarding us outside the door "It''s nothing. Stop overthinking things" "Overthinking things? Really? When the evidence is right in front of us?" "Haaaa..." He laid on a bed next to mine, also wearing blue hospital scrubs. Since he was found unconscious, they placed him in here as well. Though I doubt he still needs to stay after several days of rest, he only had minor injuries As for the reason he''s complaining, it''s due to the numerous visitors we''ve had. Particularly, the gifts they left behind... "Just look at them all! Did an artist show up while I slept and create a scene around you?!" "I don''t have THAT many gifts. It just looks like it compared to yours" "Is that supposed to make me feel better?!" I admit, there were quite a few who came to see me. My librarian friend Pyua managed to drop by, Samui and Yugito tagged along with Mabui during one of her regular visits Akina even showed up with some food, fresh from the grill of her brother, Akiko. I''ve never talked to him much, but I''ll thank him once I''m out of here. Though their restaurant, the "Sake & Yaki" was destroyed, the sibling duo were hard at work delivering meals to those in need. I admit, their actions were somewhat inspiring Mariko and the foster kids payed me a visit as well. The former in question went crazy once she saw me laying in bed, it took Heaven and Earth just to get her to stop hugging me and crying...geez! Guess I should be grateful so many people care. After all, I wouldn''t wanna end up like the one next to me... "Look at my tiny little pile! One of them even comes with insults! Akio and the others sent it personally!" "The three nimrods? Haven''t seen them in a while. At least they bothered to send you a gift. And hey! You also got a fruit basket from your mom, so...win?" "You got one from her as well...a much BETTER one" Honestly, I think it''s because she knows my appetite is much bigger than yours. I could tell him that, but it''s more fun letting him think there''s something going on between me and her Although, mentally speaking, I''m the one who''s older. And she is quite the beau--no no no no! I''m not going down that train of thought! "Look Tai, I''m the younger one, and the younger ones always get spoiled more. You''ll be fourteen in a month, I''m just eleven" "Pssh! You''ll be twelve in a few days, not really a big gap in age. You''re barely two years younger than me, or Suz--ah...sorry" "...Don''t worry about it" And que the awkward silence The other reason we''re still here is because of Suzu. Once the conflict was over, Kumo followed quarantine procedures because of her new LIFT-based powers. Despite the pill being a large unknown, the others who took it went berserk C and the Raikage also had no shortage of questions, practically putting me under interrogation. The pill I gave her, my summons, and the state of my body... I couldn''t tell them most of the "issues" were worked out with Kisshten1Auspicious Heavens. Instead, chalking it up to heritage being the reason for her unique reaction to it. Due to that, they couldn''t afford to take any chances. I have no idea where she is now Truth be told, they''re keeping the situation very tight-lipped. Once the battle was over, the enemies still alive were moved to an undisclosed location During my debriefing, there was no path to get away by lying, so I told the truth, albeit with a few missing details I had to be very careful since A questioned me with C, a sensor-nin, which basically made him a human polygraph. I''ve been wrapped up in too many events, if they weren''t already suspicious of me before, these guys definitely have their eyes on me now TING! "?!" "...You''re making that, ''I''ve detected a new chakra signature'' look. Who is it now?" Huh...speak of the devil, the guy shows up again. With "associates" no less CREAK! As the door swung open, Tai yelped like a rabbit at the sight of the giant man entering the room "R-Raikage-sama!" "What do you want now...?" "R-Rei?! Again?! You can''t speak to him like that!" Tai whispered to me in panic Honestly, he''s not the boogieman. You don''t have to be afraid of him so much At his side were his two exclusive bodyguards. Darui, and the one who scolded me yesterday, C. Mabui was also here, grabbing a seat by my bed before asking how I was doing Just as I tried to speak, A held his hand up to stop me, telling us to wait until "everyone" arrived. I asked who, but he simply folded his arms and stood in silence "You know what''s going on?" "Nope, and asking wouldn''t get me anywhere, right nee-san?" "Sorry guys, you''ll just have to wait. However, what happens next will be one of the most important moments of your lives" "O-Our lives? Just what does that-?" "Let me guess, are the ones coming apart of your...secret club?" Before Tai could fret any further, I decided to probe Mabui For a moment, her typically serene demeanor burst into surprise, but just as quickly returned to normal. Mabui knows how shrewd I can be. With all the times she''s been gone, or leaving in the middle of the night, it wasn''t much of a surprise I''d catch on Plus, there was that one time Pyua helped me deduce the true identity of Team Mabui''s attacker, being a Chinoike. I ended up bursting into the Raikage''s office the night I came back from my mission with Motoi And speaking of Motoi... CREAK! "Ah! Tango-sensei! Dodai-sama, Motoi-san too, and...the Daimy-sama?!" "Darui, you know what to do" "Yes sir" As the guest list grew, Darui ordered the staff outside to clear the floor. I''m starting to get why such a large space was given to the two of us, a perfect place to accommodate a sizeable party Following the Daimy and his assistant Tekkan, Tetsuo and his chief of security Sh arrived as well. Once the floor was cleared, Kiyoi entered the room, shutting the door behind him before nodding to A "Welcome to my inner circle. A group tasked with investigating several acts of sabotage related to Kumogakure. This group carries out my will in secret, furthering other projects I have, such as the Network. Tango, I trust you''ve already briefed them?" "Sir. Right after the conflict was over. Though Tai was already aware due to his work with Dodai-san" Tango responded with a light bow Considering I oversaw and perfected it under my "alter ego", I was less interested in that project, compared to this so-called "inner circle" "Kiyoi..." "Right. My broth--um, the Clan head came into conflict with the Fma leader Nobuyuki. As they fought, his opponent let slip an organization known as the Company paid them to do this" The "Company"? These assholes were the ones responsible for all that shit days ago? I''ve never heard of them, which probably means Notitia won''t have any solid leads I hate to say it, but they''re probably the result of a Ripple "What about this doping pill, this so-called...LIFT?" The Daimy inquired "We believe they''re responsible for its creation as well. There wasn''t much else discovered besides a name before relaying this information to Dodai-dono" "We''ve done our investigation, though nothing has yet to turn up. I know it''s only been a few days, but members of the Intelligence Division already believe they won''t get anywhere with just that" "Tsk! So we''re back to square one" Darui clicked his tongue, can''t say I blame him, this is so annoying There were no pills left for anyone to study as every enemy who possessed one made sure to consume it, it shouldn''t be a surprise we''re all stumped This mysterious group knows how to cover their tracks... "U-Um. I understand it''s a big problem, but what does this have to do with us, a squad of Genin?" "As it turns out...your squad has been involved with this group the most" Dodai confirmed my guess "Mabui, if you would" At A''s order, nee-san took out several documents, taping them to the wall opposite the door for all to see. Looking at them closely, I can see mission report statements and financial statements The hell? There are even psych profiles--ah! Hey! Even one for me?! They were keeping an eye on me! Looks like it started right after the Team Mabui rescue mission, when "Neo-Rei" took control for the first time. Thought I got away clean, but they suspected it was me who killed all the Fma from the start All of these incidents, I knew my squad had too many chaotic missions to be normal. Although, nothing really qualifies as "normal" for shinobi, but still... Notitia was right, my mere presence in this world causes all kinds of reactions. Whatever I did or said...this attack...and all the innocent people who were either hurt or killed, it''s my fault--no... No one is responsible for the actions of others, you didn''t make those men carry out the attack. Whether this event is canon or not doesn''t matter...! Besides, these "people" are just characters in a story, they''re not even rea--huh? Why can''t I say it...? "As you can see, we''ve noted various oddities in the last five years, but our research says it goes back even further than that" "Some of them seem random, we can''t determine motive, or how they correlate to the others. Many aren''t just the experiences of Team Tango, there''s strange circumstance all over. This intel comes from multiple squads" Multiple squads, yes. However, our team just so happens to have an abnormally high amount "events" that most likely connect to this "Company" A''s probably picked up on this fact and decided now is the best time to bring us into his secretive "inner circle", even if we are just "Genin". In reality, an excuse to keep a closer eye on us...or just me I wonder... "Rei? You shouldn''t be up yet" Mabui tries to get me back in bed but... "I''m fine. Hmmmm...this one" "?" I can tell there''s more than one connection. Yeah, if you look closer... "Hey Kiyoi! The Oni Garrison we fought years ago showed up during the siege, right?" "U-Uh, yes. They punched a hole in one my clan''s Phases, our outer layers of defense around the village. They cleared the path for the inmates to the frontlines" "Our mission at Tetsuo-san''s first company, fighting that group isn''t something I''d forget Rei. I''m still annoyed those guys are now free. All that effort we took to put them away...but where''s the correlation?" "Simple Tai...sabotage. Dodai, how did the incident happen in the first place?" "Someone...altered orders to have our initial split plans arranged at his location, but those were our initial plans. And they failed to get them" "But they did confirm you were hiding something, correct?" "Ah! That''s right, the Network was a closely guarded secret...not many knew about it, it was rumor at best during the time!" "And look at these; You see these events are unrelated. However, consistent coincidence becomes evidence" "That was one of Osoi-sensei''s favorite quotes in school..." Tai got sentimental, though I can''t blame him Osoi was one of few guys I actually liked. Besides Pyua, he always provided me with whatever information I needed. His mind was a treasure trove of shinobi knowledge, and now he''s dead...such a waste The Daimy approached the wall "I remember the ordeal on Summoning Island most of all, both Takigakure3Hidden Waterfall Villageand Kumo were played. Their leader, Hisen, was assassinated while you fought on the island" "That''s why Takigakure didn''t show up to help us...it makes sense now Rei" "Mhm..." That island was co-owned by our nations. A partnership in return for us helping them catch the Seven-tails there...hold on. The LIFT is made of materials from all nine Tailed Beasts... It''s possible some of its residual DNA was left over. Was that whole fight not just to overload the Blood Prison... But to acquire samples as well?! "Ahem! Concerning my mission with Sano-kun..." Motoi spoke out for the first time since his initial arrival, affirming another assumption I''ve held since the start of my confinement in this hospital "The absurd levels of engineering to make such a pill, it''s the kind someone like Orochimaru is capable of. He fled Konoha and found this Company, offering his services in return for protection. But they didn''t want to let him go, so he double-crossed them...by using us to set in motion his escape" "Konoha is too damn soft. That village failed to finish him off, and now we''re paying for it. Cheh!" A started complaining Can''t really judge him for getting angry so much when he constantly has to deal with this kind of shit. Konoha is the only village without a task force for hunting rogue-nin Being a Kage may seem like fun, but overall, it''s an annoying desk job Still...I''d reckon Orochimaru is probably with Akatsuki by now. That is, until he screws them over too. That guy really is a treacherous "snake"...reminds me of Alec "Considering the army consisted of inmates, they probably used the Blood Prison for testing. Ya know, an amble amount of...test subjects" Tetsuo looked ready to barf after saying that Tekkan informed everyone "We still haven''t been able to contact Kusagakure''s4Hidden Grass Villageupper brass. Being completely taken advantage of without even knowing, the village must be in total anarchy now" "Tekkan...have you considered the possibility they''re in league with this group?" "Accusations without proof can come back to bite you in the ass Darui-kun. Besides, whether Kusagakure is a victim or not is irrelevant, our only concern should be us" Oh! That''s why work on the pill looked so unfinished when I altered it for Suzu. Since Orochimaru pretty much yeeted himself out of the project, they had someone else finish its conception The question is...who the hell was it? "They used the prison to develop the drug after Orochimaru left, then used Kumogakure as a testing grounds to verify practical applications" "What?!" Everyone shouted in rage after Tetsuo suggested this hidden enemy used us as a means of testing some drug. Even Mabui looked upset. Surprisingly, A was holding it in. I thought for sure he was gonna punch a whole in the wall Something he really shouldn''t be famous for... But the dots line up. Wait... "Is it possible they orchestrated the early destruction of the Kaguya clan?" When I raised this question, the anger in their hearts turned to shock. Wrestling with the thought this group was far more influential than any of us initially believed Not just at Kusagakure, but to have such widespread influence across the continent, even reaching a distant, overseas archipelago nation like Kirigakure5Hidden Mist Village, was unprecedented. How the hell have I not heard of these people yet?! Surprisingly, the Daimy already considered the possibility before any of us. Expressing his recent concern over reports his assistant Tekkan gathered earlier Looks like he wasn''t just hiding in the bureau office during the attack "Kirigakure''s response to the Kaguya Clan threw the Land of Water into chaos. Many criminals laying dormant fled the country, heading towards the nearest one...us. Forcing many of our countrymen from their homes...and into the village. The Chinoike saboteurs traveled along this group in secret, and then...!" "That''s enough Tekkan, I don''t think they need to hear anymore" the Daimy interjected before Tekkan could say anymore For good reason, the air was getting tense. The more they learned, the angrier everyone became. When all of these horrid events it came to light, being the result of a singular group... Everything, all the death and destruction...the loss of friends and family God only knows how I''d react... Before things got even more awkward, Tetsuo raised his hand "Ah, apologies Tetsuo-dono. We didn''t mean to-!" "It''s fine Dodai-dono, I''m pretty angry myself, considering how I was used as well. My life was almost destroyed by these people, all for the sake of making a drug. But I''m not the only one upset...my partner is well" "Wait...you''re partner? Do you mean the one who created...?!" "He goes by Developer R. A bit of an introvert, I was contacted out concern for recent events. Since we''re sharing, you should at least be inclined to hear his name. He also has a message for you" Two days ago, I saw a window of opportunity when Tai left for an x-ray in another room Transforming into my "Developer R" disguise, I contacted Tetsuo via Genjutsu Transmission. Giving him permission to finally talk about me to Kumogakure Since I needed answers, I figured offering something in return to them would help my case. The offering being my "name" {"Developer R", never heard of him. Hmmm...I mustn''t use my status as Raikage to force him out, that''ll just drive him off. We can''t afford to lose such a valuable asset, his work literally saved the entire village. In which case...} A glanced at Dodai {Raikage-sama wants me to investigate him in secret now that we have a name, but I''ll have to be careful. Somehow, this person is aware of such intrepid details, despite not being here. If he discovers I''m searching for him...} "Tetsuo-dono, what message does--er, Developer R-dono have for us?" It feels weird having everyone talk about me when I''m right here "It pertains to the plans of the Network he updated for your division, Dodai-dono. The new model my company created that you see today..." Tetsuo circled the conversation back towards the subject of the LIFT. There was a certain question I needed answered... "This so-called LIFT''s function is very similar to our work. Though to be honest, it''s more of a twisted perversion of the principle the Network is based on" "How so?" Tai inquired "Developer R''s device allows for long-range chakra sharing, beyond just connecting thoughts. Perfect for aiding an ally in need. The LIFT grotesquely shreds the connected chakra, stealing it from the deceased. Plus, the supposed chakra they have is probably connected to a central hub of their own. Which begs the question, where the hell did the power Ky take go once he died? And for what purpose?" "You mean...all that chakra they produced...can still be used?! Then the inmates we captured...we thought the pill lost its effects when their boosted chakra vanished...but it just went somewhere else?!" Darui nearly jumped in surprise So he was interrogating the enemies, I thought it was Dodai "Raikage-sama, if this type of weapon gets out...it''ll be a disaster! Many will go crazy for this!" Mabui''s concern was warranted The delicate "power balance" of the Five Great Shinobi Nations would crumble if smaller villages and other groups managed to get ahold of such an asset. However, I already shared my thoughts of this with Tetsuo prior And his response was... "It still has its disadvantages. A large number of people is required. Although, they tried to circumvent this somewhat by making it a Tailed Beast booster...probably Orochimaru''s initial job. However, just a few users isn''t enough. You need a large number to produce the result we saw yesterday" They''ll also need a significant amount of power before taking the pills, ordinary civilians won''t cut it. The pill is a multiplier, so amplifying average chakra reserves from regular people won''t do you much good Probably why they used inmates from the Blood prison, most of them were rogue-nin. Gaining an accurate ratio of the amped power, most likely the whole purpose of their little "field test"... And you guys let this happen, for f**k''s sake! "This was a shitty lack of oversight on your part old man. This Company would''ve never been able to do this if their spies hadn''t stolen Developer R''s updated plans for your project" "Rei. Language...and respect!" "Yeah, yeah..." Sorry "nee-san", but I''m pissed I put my foot, and a shit ton of money into the Network. Working my ass to the bone, and these guys just let its leak to someone else! I''m gonna have to readjust so many of my future plans! Goddamn it! Just thinking about it pisses me off! This "Company" is now at the top of my shit list, right over Orochimaru! "Tetsuo-dono, I take it this is what...Developer R is upset about?" "To say he less than happy, would be an understatement Tekkan-dono" Yeah, a real f**king understatement! "Though, the same could be said of me. My associates and I were put in danger once more, because of, as Rei-kun put it...a lack of oversight. When we first agreed on our partnership, I shared my fears you''d make the same mistake...again" "Then..." "Fortunately for you all, my partner and I are more angry at this Company than you. So for now, our partnership remains. But if this happens again..." Dodai was about to reassure Tetsuo before A stopped him, and for good reason. Tetsuo and I cared little for words, but actions. I''m living in Kumogakure, but if they become more trouble than they''re worth, I may considering leaving At least now, these guys are more motivated than ever to prove their worth. It should be easier getting additional resources from them Considering how well my tech performed, I''ve been thinking of new ways to apply more advanced science to my advantage When it came to uncovering the "Company''s" hidden agenda, we all continued sharing our thoughts and theories for a little longer, before moving on to the next subject "We can speculate all day, but it doesn''t change the fact we''ve been ten steps behind for years. Fighting an enemy we never knew existed. Dodai, your intelligence division need a major overhaul" "This matter has already been discussed Tetsuo-dono, Raikage-sama already has a plan for this. What we need to discuss now is further steps. Which brings us to you...Team Tango" Finally, this is where things get interesting... 182. Nicknames? Great… MrProper CREAK! As the subject of our conversation turned towards my team, Tai''s uncle, Kiyoi opened the door. Five individuals strolled inside, four of them were probably Jonin, given the scale of chakra I sensed from them However, it was the identity of the fifth person they "escorted"...that bothered Tai and I the most "Suzu?!" "Nee-san, what is the meaning of this?" my tone, hoarse and cold Mabui became unsettled for a moment, for I had never spoken to her in such a manner I admit to not having "adequate" control of my emotions, in this life or my last, but anyone would get irked upon discovering their teammate brought before them...restrained by a straightjacket She looked like a prisoner. Suzu''s "attire", equipped with several sealing tags, most likely to prevent the kneading of chakra. After delivering her, they left the room, taking Kiyoi''s place as guards outside The man in question closed the door just before I unintentionally... CLANK! "Rei" "!" ...crushed the metal bar attached to the bed with my enhanced strength. Before continuing any further, Mabui casually placed her hand on top of mine, calming me down I''ve embarrassingly let my emotions get the better of me lately, but Suzu is a hefty investment. I can''t afford anything happening to her yet, especially when there''s much I can learn from DNA she carries "Listen first" "...Fine" I let go of the bar, leaving it bent out of shape "I''m sure our esteemed Raikage has good reason for this...right?" I spoke with subtlety, and aggression. Not that I could back it up "Hmph! That tone doesn''t have a hint of respect" A brushed off my disrespect, knowing I was no different than a cat trying to intimidate a tiger Per me signaling him with a nod, Tai got off his bed and checked on Suzu, asking if she was alright. She nodded quietly and told us not to worry Though reluctant, he sat back down at his uncle''s suggestion "My apologies...I''ll be careful from now on" "I doubt a precocious brat like you cares about chain of command. Regardless, we have an...offer for you three, but there''s something we need to explain first" The Daimy stepped forward and stood next to A before speaking "After recent events, your team has been the subject of debate amongst the higher ups. Particularly, the Jonin captains" "Debate? For what exactly?" "For you to be selected as our sole representatives in the upcoming Chunin Exams" We went googly eyed for a moment when those words came out of the Daimy''s mouth. I know for the past year, each Genin squad has been undergoing different training and assignments with a rotating shift of various captains It was all for picking a team, which means this "debate" is probably about... "Others wish to put forth their own squads to represent the country, but your recent performance in the siege has caused a rift in the decision making" Make sense I guess. Though few, there are some Genin here skilled enough for me to notice. Like Team F, or that drowsy kid Nemui, and all the others older than me There''s no age limit for a Genin, even adults regularly participate in the exams. Hell, Osoi was still one despite being an old man Tai raised his hand "Raikage-sama, you can''t just pick one? Or better yet, send multiple teams" "I would if I could, but our reputation took a nosedive due to the Hyuga Affair. In the years following, many patrons who regularly hired us cut ties, entrusting employment to other villages" "Yes, the late Head Ninja''s actions have not only hurt you, but the Land of Lightning overall. Hence, the reason I''m involved in these matters, which are typically under shinobi jurisdiction alone" That''s right, the countries in this world are run by the Daimy''s. Ninja have villages designated as capitals, and oversee military affairs. Normally, the Daimy shouldn''t even have a say when it comes shinobi related matters like the exams A clicked his tongue at what he had to say next "Worse off, the Land of Earth has taken advantage of this by unofficially requesting we send one team" "Wha-?! That''s bull!" "They''re the host for this years exams, and while they can''t force us to comply, they can threaten to close the exams. That''s something we don''t want, and none will stick up for us" A lamented at this situation Hehehe, those sneaky bastards. I''m kinda impressed by the sheer gall it took just to make such a underhanded demand "The first multi-country exams since the last war. Countless people of wealth and power will be present. It''s been something we Daimy''s have worked on behind the scenes, and looks to be the biggest Chunin Exams in history. They''re not gonna stop it just because one country is treated unfairly behind the scenes" "A chance to not only redeem our lost honor, but gain boons by impressing potential clients...wealthy ones. Whoever comes out on top, their village will take the lead for years to come" In short, competition will be fierce. The other countries know this, and will undoubtedly send their best. But if that''s the case, there''s a high chance key players from the "main cast" could appear A golden opportunity to ensure the prevention of more "Ripples" by keeping them on their preset course. Not to mention, promoting Mori Sp. means more revenue to further other projects Nice, I like where this is going "Which brings us to you. You''re the obvious number one pick, and normally, this wouldn''t be up for debate. But those opposed have used your current conditions to further their arguments. Tai!" "Y-Yes, Raikage-sama! "We know you''ve burned through most of your stock of herbs and ingredients when you made those bombs for Dodai. But you''re out of materials now, and our trade has been temporarily halted due to our state of alert. Does this not decrease your capabilities?" "T-That''s...correct" Yeah, I''d almost forgotten Tai''s greenhouse was emptied on our way back to HQ. After we saved Akina from being turned into an "exploding human" by that Chinoike asshole Without his poison, his combat ability is significantly lower "Rei, as we discussed days before, C''s medical reports state you no longer possess the Yton1Lava Style, you claimed is was a result of your initial encounter with Ky..." "Yeah...that''s right" "..." Losing a Kekkei Genkai2Bloodline Limitwas unheard of, naturally, there were many suspicious of me. This was the hardest truth I had to get past during my earlier debriefing Fortunately, said powers were rare and difficult to understand. The abilities of the Chinoike...just as much. My spasms during the third "Purification" were recorded by hospital staff, allowing me to spin the story of "Ky''s ability to control blood cells destroyed me from the inside" I''d already proven Suzu and I engaged him prior to our rematch on the frontlines, and I mean, I''m not "technically" lying...right? Ky could indeed use his "eyes" and "blood" to harm people from inside their bodies...like a poison And me using Yin-Yang Style, thereby triggering my alien cells was a result of my first fight with him. In order to get past C''s senses, I lied by telling the truth...some of it that is "And the most debated subject of you three, Suzu. Your reaction to the LIFT is different than any other reported. The effects on the inmates wore off, but your change seems to be permanent. Even now, the power is laying dormant within you. As the investigation continued, the details of your heritage was brought up and--" "Now wait just a minute!" "?!" To all of our surprise, it was Tai who erupted in defense of our teammate "Are they seriously questioning her loyalty because of familial relations?! When she literally helped save everyone during the attack?!" "He beat me to the punch, but Tai and I are of like mind. Suzu''s reaction to the pill is completely different. Unlike the others who went berserk, she maintained the ability to discern between friend and foe, even dropping me off at this very hospital" "Guys..." "!" "Raikage-sama isn''t finished, don''t worry, I''m fine" Suzu gave us a reassuring smirk, thankful for our protests in defense of her A continued on, stating the problem wasn''t her loyalty, it was the state of her body. The power she has is a large unknown, Suzu''s basically a pseudo-jinchriki at this point, likely due to her bloodline Even with my "alterations", the power within her is a large unknown. I, not even Notitia knows what''ll become of her in the future. Her potential is edging towards even my own This power of hers had to be kept a secret "If word gets out Kumo has another shinobi with Tailed Beast power..." "Ah...the power balance" "It''ll draw unnecessary trouble" I finally realized the true problem Even if the LIFT circulates, the effects are only temporary. The ability to create permanent warriors nearly on par with Jinchriki lays within her. It''s something that could easily start wars Damn it. If I knew that, I would''ve made adjustments Even with my reserves, Kisshten3Auspicious Heavensconsumes an absurd amount of chakra. But "Scanning & Copying" matter with it costs more than simply "Altering" it It was a desperate situation at the time, I was hurt and worn out from fighting Ky, and Suzu was dying. There was no choice but the latter, but now I can''t reproduce the pill again. The only way is if I can get my hands on another My Yin-Yang modification of the pill Suzu took payed in no small contribution to her new powers. So even if someone gets ahold of her DNA, none "should" be able to reproduce the same effects, but...this world has an annoying way of proving me wrong C lessened our concerns "Make no mistake, we consider her to be a valuable asset. That straightjacket she''s wearing is strictly to ensure Suzu''s new power doesn''t harm her body" "I still can''t control it, Tango-sensei and C-san have helped me cope since you two were admitted to the hospital" she added "So I yelled for nothing...my bad" Tai sat back down in embarrassment I turned my head away as well after spotting Suzu still smiling at us in gratitude. Mabui had fun teasing me after that The Daimy face went stern for the first time since this "meeting" began "This decision is ultimately the Raikage''s, we''re simply reminding you of how important these exams are, to all of us. If you believe this team is in no condition to participate, as a true patriot to your country, I suggest handing over the reigns to another team" A said what we were waiting to hear "With all these factors, I''ll ask again...are you willing to bear the burden? You''ll be carrying Kumogakure''s, no--our entire country''s future on your shoulders, there''s no shame in admitting you can''t do it" No pressure or anything. Tai and Suzu showed some hesitancy, but my mind''s already made up. This opportunity is too important to pass up. Though prepared to go without them, I''d prefer to work with a team I''m used to I also hate cheesy dialogue, but they need a little "motivation" "I performed just fine without my former Kekkei Genkai, my answer is obviously yes. Tai and Suzu can handle anything thrown at them, we''ll do just fine. I have complete faith in my squad" They looked at me in bewilderment...so easy. Does everyone in this world responds to such clich lines? No wonder Naruto can literally make friends with anyone What did Chris always call it? The "Talk no Jutsu"? Seriously, If I ever have to fight Naruto, I better remember to wear earplugs... "Um..." Tai was the first to get the message "I-I''m confident I can manufacture more poison. Even if I can''t, it''s not my only skill. Plus, I''m the medical-nin of the team, I have responsibilities to them" "Suzu?" Everyone turned there attention towards her, the biggest unknown Suzu didn''t say anything. Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath before... RIP! "?!" ...tearing the straightjacket clean off, breaking the seals to boot! For a brief moment, I could see the ends of her hair turn white...is she already getting a handle of her power?! That''s...she''s a real genius! "I promised myself I''d let nothing happen to my teammates. If they''re going, I''m going. While I can''t control it yet, rest assured, I''ll never allow this power to hurt them...nor my home" Tai and I got off our beds and stood next to her. Saying nothing more, side by side, eyes full of resolution. The room was quiet for a while as the others turned their attention to A, who''d yet to issue his reply After unfolding his arms, he glanced at the Daimy, who smirked and nodded in response. There was no need to hear his answer, for the decision was obvious, everyone knew what to do next "It''s decided then, Team Tango will represent Kumogakure and the Land of Lightning in this year''s upcoming Chunin exams. There are several steps we need to take under consideration in the short time we have" They went on about our preparation, as we barely have three months before the exams begin. We were granted several boons, any Chunin or Jonin would be made available for whatever help we required. With purchases of standard shinobi gear at no charge, and complete exemptions from all missions, we were practically royalty now It''s only until the exams, but it''ll come in handy, there''s much I need to do. Soon as I''m out of here, I''ll make a stop at my lab. Though I no longer have any of Mabui''s pots, my new "pets" have already proven to be a suitable transport with the Reverse Summoning Jutsu A arranged for Suzu to undergo training under Yugito and Killer B, she needs to keep that power in check. Motoi''s gonna take her to Genbu Island, meaning Tai and I probably won''t see her much in the upcoming months Kiyoi announced he''s temporarily assumed some of Tomoe''s responsibilities, giving her free reign to oversee Tai''s Kenjutsu4Sword Techniquestraining. His physical abilities always lagged too much behind Suzu and I. Hopefully, she can rectify that C offered a suggestion to A "Let''s not announce who we''ve picked, our search for spies isn''t over yet. It''s best we have them stay out of the public eye" "Mm, good idea. Their participation will undoubtedly put a target on their backs, and there''s already an ample amount of notoriety to go around" "Indeed A-dono, the whole village STILL won''t shut up about the Shaman, the Star, & the Dragon" quoted the Daimy "?" "H-Huh? The what now?" "What is that, a children''s book?" At our confusion, everyone else started giggling, even A broke his typical stern expression and smiled at me...smugly. Honestly, I felt very uncomfortable when he did that I don''t get it, what''s so funny? And why am I suddenly having a looming sense of dread? "You know you''ve made it in life as a shinobi when the people give you a nickname" Mabui said as she patted my shoulder "Who has a nickna--wait, don''t tell me...?!" "You guys didn''t notice since you were so busy fighting, but the monikers started spreading amongst our forces" Darui started pointing at us, one at a time First up... "Shaman..." "Ehhhh, so lame. That''s definitely not my first pick. Because I use mist and vapors? Aren''t shaman''s supposed to see the future?" "You''re thinking of soothsayers Tai" "Not helping Rei" Next was Suzu "Star..." "Hmm, considering how bright my chakra was...it''s appropriate. A bit flamboyant though..." "You did fly in the sky too" "I can''t fly Tai, it was more like accelerating in the air, followed by a slow descent" And finally... "Dragon..." "Because of my summons? The people of the Cloud are real imaginative" don''t think I''ve ever sounded so sarcastic in my life "Told ya they look like em'', and you did use some dragon-themed jutsu on the field, it works for you...pfft!" "Is it that funny? I''ll remember to ask Tomoe-san the next time we have tea together" "Jerk! Damn casanova!" "Well...anything''s better than a nickname like the Unruly, right Raikage?" When I said that, nearly everyone had to fight from laughing. Even the Daimy giggled a bit "Hmph! If you have energy to joke around, your stay at this hospital shouldn''t be long. Hurry up and get out so someone who''s actually in need of this room can use it!" He slammed the door open on his way out, I may have touched a nerve. Everyone else proceeded to leave, Mabui asked me once again if I needed anything before taking off Tango gave us some words of wisdom before departing, reminding us he''ll be working at Dodai''s department if we needed to find him Soon enough, it was just us three left in the room 183. Fresh Start MrProper When the door closed, Suzu immediately turned to me "How are you really doing Rei? Losing a Kekkei Genkai-" "Has been discussed to death, I''m fine. It was never that great anyway" "..." She still held a face of concern, doubting my casual response towards the subject But seriously, I''m feeling great As time passed, the Yin-Yang chakra I instinctively used to change this body''s recessive traits began to wear off. Notitia and I knew Lava Style would make its way out eventually Besides, I''ve always found its performance to be lacking, chakra-costly, and far too many weaknesses to boot. My time is precious, and I didn''t want to waste it on training a nature transformation ill-suited for me Hell, I think my body is better without it. My chakra is so much more stable and easy to control know. I STILL haven''t tested its full capabilities yet "If anything, I''m more concerned with your state. How do you feel right now? Any abnormalities or residual side effects? Uncomfortable pain?" "No, the doctors already checked me, I''m fine. I feel great actually, almost like I''ve been...reborn. You giving me that pill saved my life, all I need now is little more control" "...Good to hear" Tai tilted his head "You seem awfully chipper, more so than usual. Don''t think Rei and I have ever seen you smile so much, something we should know?" "Heh. Well..." Suzu approached the room window, gazing at the entire village outside. She stood there undisturbed, almost tranquil as she breathed in the fresh air. Bathing in the warm, bright sunlight only illuminated her flawless, fair skin Watching her reminded me of something Tai said earlier, I really do keep forgetting my teammates are two years older than me, almost fourteen She no longer looked like a little girl, but rather, a young woman... "Remember when we ventured together to Akina''s diner for first time? When we talked about ourselves, what our goals were?" "That''s feels like a lifetime ago" Or in my case, two "That takes me back. I wanted to prove myself to my family, Rei simply wanted to get stronger, and you..." It''s easy to forget it wasn''t just The Kin-Gin Brothers1"The Gold & Silver Brothers", other members of her family were apart of their "Kinkaku Force"...all of whom betrayed Kumogakure Suzu''s had to carry a lot of crap on her shoulders over the years...something no one her age should have to deal with "Do you feel like you''ve achieved that goal? Restoring your family''s-?" "Honor? No...that means nothing to me now. I thought it''s what I wanted, but now I know...it''s not what I needed" "?" "The past doesn''t matter, only now. Heh, looking back, it''s easy to see how foolishly desperate I was trying to gain everyone''s approval. The truth is, the only approval I should''ve been concerned with is my own. How one feels about oneself is far more important than what others feel about you" Wow, she really has changed, just what the hell did that pill do? This new conduct is unsettling me quite a bit. The girl who showed little emotion and gave fewer words was gone...now replaced by one more outspoken and bright The means for dealing with her insecurities...choosing not to remain completely dependent on those around her. Not changing herself for the acceptance of others around her, but for herself This epiphany has led her to make a very respectable...admirable decision She''s the opposite of Naruto... "Then...what about your feelings towards the village?" Tai cautiously inquired "Hehehe! Don''t misunderstand Tai, I''m a Kumogakure kunoichi. I''ll still serve the village, but no longer because I need to. Rather, because I want to. This is my home after all. I''m just...having a fresh start" "Speaking of that, are you no longer going to choose a surname for yourself?" "Nope. That decision was wrong. Just me desperately trying to change myself, by distancing myself away from my origins...my family. Like I said, it doesn''t matter anymore. I''m fine with just being plain Suzu...flaws and all" There''s nothing "plain" about you... "Problems aren''t solved by running away from them...huh. I really oughta start taking my own advice" "It''s alright Tai. We''re all still a work in progress" Truer words have never been spoken "And the ones who still remain afraid of you because of your heritage and power?" Suzu turned away from the window and faced us, casually leaning against the wall with arms folded "I can''t dictate their fears Rei, only my own, but it doesn''t change how I feel. Hating them for such a stupid reason is corrosive, and unhealthy to be honest. I''d rather feel like this..." "Like what?" "Hmph..." "?" Chuckling at our question, she waltzed right past us and approached the other end of the room. Turning the doorknob, she looked at us with one of the most widest smiles I''d ever lay eyes upon "Like whenever I''m with the two of you" "?!" "..." CREAK! With the opening of the door, our eyes were greeted with the sight of Motoi and Kiyoi, the pair still patiently waiting outside for us "I''m ready Motoi-san, let''s go" "Good. Hikaru-san is set to take us to Genbu Island on his ship" "Tai! Get your ass in gear! You''ve slacked off enough in this hospital, let''s go!" Kiyoi yelled "Seriously uncle?! Can''t I have a few more days to relax before I''m put through hell?!" "Sure, if that''s how you feel, stay here then. However, the next person to pick you up won''t be me, it''ll be Tomoe-sama. If you''re willing to let her come all the way over just to get your lazy ass outta bed...well, who knows how she''ll react. If you still wanna take the risk-" "Aaaaand, I''m ready to go now! Rei, Suzu, I''ll see ya later!" "Mm. Train hard Tai. And Rei, please take your recovery seriously, don''t push yourself too much" Truth be told, I''m already back to normal. The enhanced recovery took care my injuries within hours of Siege''s end. I''ve only stayed here for as long as I have to keep up appearances "Again, I''m okay" "Rei..." "Haaaa...fine. I promise not to overdo it" Much... "Good to hear. See you three months" "See ya" CREAK! And with the locking of this door, I finally have the room to myself! This place was a little too noisy for my taste. With more privacy, I can now focus on the important stuff "Time for some new schematics" ??? Office of the Raikage Excluding Motoi and Kiyoi, the rest of the group who''d just visited Team Tango in the hospital were conversing with A in his office Mabui read off more reports detailing Kumogakure''s current status "...northern and western areas remain largely untouched, with the latter taking more damage, but nothing major. The east will take longer to fix, but the worst is the southern area, the Chinoike hit that area the hardest. We''ll have to temporarily shave off parts of the wall if we''re to begin reconstruction" "What of the central districts?" "While the majority of civilians made it to safety, property damage has reached an all time high. Countless houses and buildings lay in ruin. Even days later, we''re still picking up debris" "Boss, rescue efforts remain constant for those who trapped under rubble. I''m doing my best to coordinate, but I''m no miracle worker" Darui stated "Dodai, have your department step up their support for Darui" "I''ll have Tango get on it. He''s already back at the Intelligence Division, aiding in our reorganization. However, I''d still like to point out we can''t begin large-scale repairs. Hell, we can''t even host a funeral as we''ve yet to confirm the precise numbers of deceased..." CRACK! The snapping of A''s knuckles resounded in the room. The village leader tried his best to contain the rightful anger boiling inside. His own people had suffered quite an ordeal, and some still were More than anything, he wanted to storm out of the village, hunt down the mysterious "Company" responsible, and wring their necks until heads started popping off Sensing this fury, Tetsuo interjected in an attempt to alleviate his stress "Mori Sp. is more than willing to aid in reconstruction. As we''ve discussed two years ago, our ICF2Isolated Concrete Formshouses are far more suitable to run the new power grid we''re building together" "While that is appreciated Tetsuo-dono, as it is, Kumogakure cannot provide your company sufficient funds for such a request" said the Daimy "No to worry, we''re willing to charge you at a devalued price" "Seriously?! I-Is...I mean...can you afford to do that?!" Tekkan burst out in surprise upon hearing this generous offer "It may hurt a bit...but the returns from the new power grid should be enough for us to fight through the pain. We''re all in this together right?" The Daimy and A glanced at each other before nodding "That is most welcome, we can discuss a proper fee at a later date. Moving on...Mabui?" "Yes. Those who''ve lost their homes have remained in our evac centers for shelter, we also have camps outside. As for the hospital, you''d have to defer to my colleague here" Mabui gestured to C "The health center has been stressed to capacity, so we''ve extended treatment for non-critical patients outside the building. There are numerous tents placed in the back. I''d like to request more Medical-nin to compensate for the lack of staff, young Genin who can perform basic treatment are ideal. I do not wish to take away too many from Darui''s Search & Rescue efforts" "Granted. Next?" Dodai stepped forward with a report in his hands "Sir. We''ve already begun extreme vetting in search for spies and saboteurs. Nothing has turned up so far, but we''ve just begun. Some of my subordinates suggest bringing in the refugees we invited prior to this attack. The ones who fled their homes due to marauders hailing from The Land of Water" "You wish to interrogate the countrymen? Absolutely not. I may have little say for matters inside the village, but those people who live outside Kumogakure are under my jurisdiction" The Daimy fervently objected to this suggestion "I understand your concern Daimy-sama, but the Chinoike snuck into the village using those people. This Company caused chaos in Kirigakure3Hidden Mist Villagefor the sole purpose of getting them inside" "Spies aren''t good for any of us..." Mabui added "..." Sensing his superior''s hesitation, Tekkan subtly whispered into his ear. Implying that even if the refugees are not spies, they may have overheard some form of intel vital to their investigation "...You may question them, with respect. DO NOT treat them like suspects. I''ll only consider interrogation AFTER you''ve vetted your people first" "Thank you sir. Speaking of our own, Raikage-sama" "?" "We''re getting some resistance from those at the higher-ranks, many are providing excuses or outright refusing to comply" "Is that so?" "Yes sir, it''s been an annoying issue. And I don''t have the authority to-?!" CRASH! "Eh?!" "!" "Raikage-sama?!" Without warning, A snapped his desk in half with only his fist! The sheer impact of the blow shattered the floor under him, all the while cracking the large glass wall behind him! Everyone remained quiet as he grabbed the yellow hat symbolizing the position of the Raikage. Placing it on his head before issuing his orders "Dodai! From this point forward, you speak with my authority! Anyone who misses or refuses to be questioned will be seen as a traitor, and treated as such! The ONLY reason for any of them to not comply is if they''re either dead or dying!" "Y-Yes sir!" "Darui, contact Moroi! Have him send some of his squad to aid in your efforts!" "Got it boss" "C, feel free to send out as many requisition orders for the hospital as you want!" "Thank you Raikage-sama, that''ll help immensely" "Tetsuo-dono, we''ve already arranged for safe transport back to your company" "Much appreciated, come along Sh, we''ve got work to do" "Understood" One by one, each participant of this confidential "meeting" departed the office. Leaving only A, Mabui, the Daimy, and his right-hand man, Tekkan "Daimy-dono, follow me. It''s time for another assembly of the council. Mabui, I want all high-ranked shinobi and elders to be present, make it happen" "Of course, Raikage-sama" Mabui said "Right to business then, A-dono?" "Indeed..." "I won''t stop until this supposed Company is dead in the ground..." 184. To Each Their Own [1] MrProper Why? "Gah!" "Don''t retreat you wimp!" "How can I not when you''re coming at me like that?!" CLATTER! "Your sword swings are too weak! Come on!" "K-Kuh!" Just why? What did I do in the past for me to suffer like this?! "Footwork is completely wrong! Do you even understand the word, spacing?! Doesn''t the academy teach Akido?!" "It does! And my stance looks fine to me!!" "Then your eyesight is just as shitty!!" When uncle Kiyoi brought me home two days ago, I held expectations of being welcomed with a normal training regime along side my mother. Ya know, the clich kind where the student forms a new bond with their teacher, furthering the relationship between them Something my mom and I could really bond over, considering I''ve never been too keen on learning Kenjutsu1Sword Techniquesin the first place That was very na?ve of me... WHACK! "Agh!" "And down again...should''ve put you through my training hell before sending you to the academy" "What''s with that awful name?! Are you trying to kill your son?!" Why me?! Seriously! You''d think the achievement I racked up during the siege would earn me a little praise! But as soon as I got home, mom dragged my ass to the dojo, gave me a Bokken2Wooden practice sword used for Kendo, and proceeded to beat me up with it! "We''re not done Tai, get up!" "Ugh...can you tell me again why we''re doing this?" Come on mom, you''re supposed to be the fun parent! Or at least the one I prefer! "Haaaa...idiot. What''s your profession?" "A-Agh! Huff...huff...! Medical-nin" "Exactly. The medic of a squad must always be the last to get injured. While it''s a rule created by a Sannin3Three Legendary Ninjaof Konoha, Tsunade, it''s a tactic only the foolish would ignore" ''Don''t need you to tell me that mom. Pretty much everyone who''s ever studied Medical Ninjutsu has heard her name, what''s the point of telling me now? Get to the damn point!'' If I had the courage to talk back to her like that, she''d probably kill me... "You''ve picked up the sword much later than your cousins, yet your skill isn''t half bad, that''s proof you have talent. But without proper training, it''s worthless" "You call this...proper?" "...Wanna get hit again?" "Shutting up now" Scary...!! "Medics are never supposed to get hit. Your teammates only job is to engage the enemy, the medic stays back and protects themselves. If you get hurt, it''s not Rei or Suzu''s fault, it''s yours" "...I know" "Here, put these on" "?" Mom picked up a box she''d previously laid on the floor prior to our..."sparring". Inside was some kind of mask and...my training bracelets from sensei? "Tango told me you purposely avoided Level 6 because their weight was too heavy. That lousy excuse won''t work for me" "What do you want me to do?" "From now on, until your departure to the Land of Earth, you''ll wear these during our sessions...all of them set to max" "Isn''t this a little extreme?" "Extreme is what you''re gonna need if I''m to get you ready for the exams in this short span of time!" Crap. My arms are gonna fall off at this rate! "I''m not teaching you fighting techniques, I''m teaching how to stay alive. Your physical condition is lagging too far behind your teammates. I''m only focusing on improving your physical capabilities and chakra reserves" "My chakra isn''t much compared to them, but overall, it''s not that bad right? Besides, Rei and Suzu are completely out of the norm" "The exam will inevitably be packed with participants who are, out of the norm! Geniuses, gifted, freaks, and all manner of abnormal shinobi are set to compete against you. I refuse to allow my own son to drag his feet!" "Hmph...I don''t drag my feet" I muttered under my breath "There''s no time to teach you our family''s techniques. All I can do, is help you establish better fundamentals and improve your weak-ass stamina" "Weak-ass"...wow When she goes into "instructor mode", her personality does a complete 180 "Our regimen will include sparring, weight training, jogging, and other forms of exercise. We''re also changing your diet, I''ve noticed you eat very little protein. Now that I think about it, all you ever eat is greenery. No wonder you hardly gain weight, you trying to be a vegetarian or something? "No, I just like really like vegetables" Carrot & Daikon Namasu being my favorite. Mmm, yummy...I could really go for some right now "Well you better develop a taste for meat, because you''ll be eating that non-stop in the months ahead" "Haaaa...yes ma''am" "One more thing. Every session, I''ll be increasing the speed and intensity of my attacks. Whenever you fail to block or avoid my strikes, I''ll respond with another, even heavier blow" WHY?! "This is child abuse!" "Please, you''re almost fourteen" "That''s not the point! "Let me tell you something, and this is true for all mothers. When our child is young, they''re our precious baby. But when they get older, they''re that fool walking around the house, not paying rent" "N-Ngh...!" Granted, I spent most of my childhood in another home away from here, and the family drama. Though I guess you and dad had to pay for that as well... But still...! "You really are trying to kill me! How am I supposed to dodge while wearing these heavy things?!" "You better figure it out, cause I''m telling not telling. There''s no point in giving you all the answers" "HAH?!" "That''s also part of your training. With each break, you''ll practice medical ninjutsu by healing yourself. During your free time, you can work on your poisons, oils, vapors, and whatnot. Got it, Shaman?" Oh, so now you''re making fun of that new nickname I got?! You''ve been hanging around Rei too much! "And this mask is for-?" "Protecting your face. I didn''t carry you in my belly for nine months, and put up with all the shit in between, just to ruin the fairly nice mug I spent so much time making" "Fairly nice"...guess I''ll take it "Your concern for your progeny is touching as ever, mother..." "Oh, grow some thicker skin" "Grrr...!" CLACK! Uh-oh, she''s raising her sword arm again...! "With that in mind, my precious baby...do your best not to die?" "Don''t say something so horrible with such a bright smile!!" "Here I come!!" "K-Kuh...!" Again...WHY ME?!?!?!?! ??? "Phew..." I''d long forgotten how treacherous this hike was. Coming here again takes me back to Tango-sensei''s test...it was such a disaster. Now I''m here, and they aren''t... Feels like it''s been ages since I''ve stepped on Genbu Island "Suzu, we''ve almost reached the Falls of Truth. Killer B-sama is busy placating animals on the other side of the island, so he''s not available yet. Many of them grew restless as a result of recent events" "I see..." I heard Genbu was beached during the Siege for quite some time...most of the creatures here are used to the giant turtle remaining on the sea "I understand Motoi-san, I''ll wait as long as I need to" "Yugito-sama arrived yesterday and is ready to begin teaching you. She was quite eager for this" "Really?" "Indeed" Trekking through the island for a bit longer, we eventually made it to our destination. Reaching a familiar waterfall, with nothing but trees surrounding it, completed by a platform at its base This area always felt different than the rest of the island. Quiet and calm, like a safe zone from the typical chaos that envelopes the island, the atmosphere brimming with tranquility...putting all who ventured here at peace "Welcome to Genbu Island Suzu. Or should I say, welcome back?" "Ah!" And sitting on the platform in meditation was none other than the woman I looked forward to seeing the most "Yugito-sama!" "Thanks for bringing her here Motoi. I''ll handle the rest now, better I start before B arrives and confuses her with more of his incessant rapping" "H-Haha, I understand. Do your best Suzu. If you need anything, you know where I''m stationed" "Yes. Thank you Motoi-san" ZWSH! As Motoi dashed away, Yugito-sama... TAP! "?!" "Relax. Getting tense won''t help you here" ...placed her hand on my shoulder before I even realized she was there. So fast... "That power inside of you, I can feel it. It functions slightly different than the shared power between a Jinchriki and their Tailed Beast. There''s no ego behind that power, it''s just pure energy" "Does that mean it''ll be easier to control?" "Pfft! Hardly! Controlling chakra many times greater than your own is never easy. When hosts and beasts work together, the latter''s aid in controlling the power is fundamental. But you, you''ll have to control both your own power, and this new one...all alone" "Figured I was too optimistic..." "What you''ll be doing here is even harder than writing with both hands at the same time" I''d na?vely thought it''d be easier after hearing the stories of Kinkaku and Ginkaku. But now that I think about it, reports detailed they only transformed when consumed with rage. Usually in the event one of them witnessed the other getting hurt They transformed with the chakra of the Nine-tails purely out of instinct, not control "The hard work hasn''t even begun, but if you''re looking for a place to start. I recommend sitting down over there" "Yugito-sama?" "There''s more to the place than meets the eye. Sit down, and let the waterfall do its job" "The job being...?" "Simple. Becoming the mirror which reflects your true self" That doesn''t sound very simple, but I doubt she''ll say anymore. There''s little time until the exams, and even less time to dawdle... "Ready?" "Mm!" Wait for me guys, I''ll return better than ever! 185. To Each Their Own [2] MrProper PHEW! DOUBLE CHAPTER DAY! I managed to do it on my old laptop. We''ll be moving forward with these chapters, and more POV''s, including those from other villages! Some familiar faces will be showing up soon, it''s going to be crazy! Stay Tuned "Do your best Suzu..." ZWSH! "Yo!!" "And here he is, thought you''d still be fighting B" "? My girl, my friend, my favorite hellcat! Ya know B-sama never done in, that shit be whack!! ?" "Sigh..." The serenity of this place always goes out the window whenever you, or your brother show up here "WHEE-!" WHACK! "-Ooomph!" "Quiet! Suzu''s on the first trial" "? Whatcha talking bout Yu? The girl''s already through? ?" "What are y--Eh?" The hell, she''s standing up already? I didn''t think she''d fail so soon to overcome her hatred in the mind space. I know she''s had a tough childhood but, she seemed so bright whenever Rei and Tai were around... Oh well, I''ll just have comfort her on this first attempt. B and I are her only support while she''s here "Don''t feel down Suzu, you can try as many times as you like. This is only the first step" TAP! "What is it B? Can''t you see I''m trying to console-" "Yugito-sama, I wish you''d warned me sitting here would force me to fight a mental battle against my inner darkness" "Eh?! W-Wait, Suzu...did you manage-?!" "Hehe. It wasn''t that hard, I''ve been facing my inner demons for years. And I''ve already gone over the whole, the person I wish to be from now on with my friends. Doing it again would be redundant" "..." "They trust me completely, so I''m going to believe in that version of me...the one they trust" No freaking way!!! Me--no...even B had to try multiple times before passing that test! And she did on her first try?! "Unbelievable..." "? Quit gawking Yugito, we gotta job to do! This badass is in the zone, a clear goal to pursue! Ay Suzu, starting now, we ya masta''s! Better be ready, lest you gonna die fasta ?! " "I actually understood you that time, B-sama" Something even more unbelievable "B''s right, no point in wasting time, follow me" "Right" "? Ayo! Let''s go! ?" We made our way through the waterfall, entering the hidden temple built by Kumogakure''s ancestors. A place specifically designed for the training Jinchriki to control their Tailed Beasts The perfect place for this young lady to master her new power "Hm? Yugito-sama, B-sama, are we skipping that room?" "? Two rooms in this temple, both equally makes one tremble! ?" "The first room, the one with a statue of the Two-tails, is designed to keep a beast locked up in the event a Jinchriki loses control. But since you don''t have one, there''s no need for us to enter it. B and I figured the other room suits you best" "The other being...?" "Over here" Passing a series of broken statues with missing heads, we arrived at another door with a sculpture of the Eight-Tails. B gave Suzu the "honor" of reaching for the switch inside its mouth Going on about how those with impure hearts will have their heads chopped off "? Careful, the spirits of our ancestors be watchin Can''t run, can''t hide, can''t stop em'' from judgin! ? ? Heart gotta be pure, without a hint of hate! Break this rule, and it''s checkmate! ? ? Ya head be rollin, I be screaming! Yugito hit the ceiling! Oh, mah lord, the wait for what happens next...IT''s GOT ME-! ?" "B..." CLICK! Before he could finish, she stuck her head into the statue and opened the door, much to his disappointment. Does this girl have no fear at all? Though I''m ashamed to admit it, B managed to prank me during my first stay in this place "Shall we?" "If it stops B from playing around" "? This blows. Y''all ruined my flow... ?" CREAK! "It''s completely blank. How big is this space?" "Big enough to house more than one Tailed Beast, so there''s plenty of leeway to train" B and I unofficially claimed these temple rooms. The one with the Two-Tails statue being mine, it''s been a while since I''ve entered this room. The other reason I always trained in "mine" was due to imperfect control of my beast Unlike B, I''m still at risk when it comes to having it go rampant Yes, the "disposable" host... "Yugito-sama?" "Hm? O-Oh, sorry" "You still haven''t told me the purpose of this room" "Right. Like I said, the one we passed is used to seal beasts that go out of control. The one we''re in now, also dubbed as the Chakra Isolation Chamber, does exactly that. Blocking out all foreign chakra, noise, and any other form of distraction" "...It sounds like a perfect place to train" "Compared to other room, it''s not as resilient, but it''s more than enough to contain your power. While we''re here, you''ll train with either B or me. During that time, we want you to try fighting us in that new form of yours" "Is that safe?" "Don''t underestimate us kid, no matter what happens, B or I alone can handle anything you throw at us. Raikage-sama wouldn''t have approved of this if he thought otherwise" " ? No room for hesitation, time to bust out the transformations! ? " In order to find out exactly what we''re dealing with, in the short time we have, we have to take the kid gloves off "Okay. But I still don''t know how to trigger it yet" "The source is the LIFT. A Tailed Beast drug. We can use our Tailed Beast chakra to cause resonance, that''s our best bet for bringing it out. Hmm...what exactly are we gonna call it?" "Huh?" "Your new form with the white hair and chakra, what should we name it? It''s your power, do you have any ideas?" "Well..." ??? Why the hell is HE here? KLONK! "Ooof!" "Too slow Rei! Try again!!" "Slow compared to your ridiculous speed!" Ugh! My head is more important than your entire existence! "Raikage, don''t you have something more important to do?!" "More important than helping one of our representatives for the Chunin exams? Whose performance could potentially decide the fate of Kumogakure for years to come?" "It''s only at times like these do you make valid points" Goddamn it... Just as the hospital released me, I left its door eager to begin creating some new Ninja Tech in preparation for the upcoming exams. Only to have my expectations shattered at the sight of A waiting right outside I didn''t even have time to ask why he suddenly decided to do this before he forcibly dragged me to an empty space on the outskirts of the village. Only offering a single sentence, "Do your best to avoid my fists" before he started swinging BZZT! "No time to rest!" "Tch! Shunshin no Jutsu1Body Flicker Technique!" ZWIP! ZWIP! He fast enough without his "Cloak of Lightning", and yet he feels the need to use it on me. This is NOT how I thought I''d be spending my twelfth birthday! A''s been holding back his blows, so he doesn''t seriously hurt me, opting to only strike empty palms...but getting hit with electric hands still stings like a mother! But what frustrates me the most is...! BAM! "U-Ugh...!" "Again, you''re doing it wrong Rei" "Haaaa...haaa...doing what wrong?!" "Cut the bullshit kid" "...Excuse me?" "You claimed the loss of your Kekkei Genkai2Bloodline Limitwas a result of Ky''s powers. You may have fooled the others, but I know that''s a lie" "..." "Tell me, how far have you progressed with the Black Scroll?" "You...!" Guess he''s not as slow as I initially gave him credit for... "Heh, you figured it out. You act like a musclehead most of the time, I never would''ve guessed you''d be the first to see right through me. You really can''t judge a book by its cover" "I wasn''t sure at first, this sparring revealed the truth. You still haven''t answered my question" "Haaa...I''ve completed all of the third Body Purification" "!" That''s a proper surprised face, makes sense, I guess. Hell, anyone who knows of the scroll would be shocked upon discovering a kid as young as I managed to get so far The 3rd Raikage, who went the farthest, only managed half of the third "method" "My father once spoke of it. This means...your central nervous system is..." "Yes. But it doesn''t seem that great considering I''ve yet to dodge a single strike from you" "Rei. Why do you think we Raikage coat ourselves in Raiton3Lightning Stylechakra, despite practicing the methods found within the Black Scroll?" "I''m sure you''ll tell me" "The technique brings out the best our bodies are physically capable of, allowing us to go past our limits. Along with the added bonus of Raiton''s offensive and defensive properties" It''s a little similar to Might Guy''s Hachimon4Eight GatesTechnique, but with electricity "But in truth, their crutches...but you already knew that, right?" "Yeah..." The Jutsu is powerful, but it consumes a ton of chakra. Plus, it''s easy to get dependent on it, to the point it becomes a burden. If you rely on a technique to fight all the time, your overall skill will fall A knows this and only uses his lightning cloak on the strongest of opponents "The technique was initially created for those who failed to complete the four methods of the Black Scroll. A means of replicating the effects each purification grants. From increased strength, speed, and dexterity...to heightened senses and reactions. But it''s just a pale imitation compared to the real thing" "You say that, but I''ve yet to avoid a single blow from you this entire time" "But you can see me, can''t you?" "Well...yes, but-" "None expected a kid your age would, or even could, progress so far in its use. It was meant for someone with an older, stronger body. You''ve perfected the methods, but your young, small stature cannot take full advantage of its effects" I suspected as much My physical abilities are insane...compared to those my age. But whenever I need to keep up with adults like A, or Ky...I''m always burning through chakra to not lag behind "You''ve completed the third method, meaning your reactions should be faster than mine. Which, like the 4th Hokage, are even faster than those with a Djutsu5Eye Technique, such as the Chinoike or Uchiha" "Though he''s dead, I''m pretty sure the 4th Hokage had faster reactions than you" "Hmph, brat! The point is you, a twelve-year old, possesses nerve transmission speed greater than I, even at full power. By all accounts, I shouldn''t even be able to touch you. So why can I?" "I get it. My body can''t keep up with my reactions. Knowing when an attack is coming is meaningless, unless I''m physically capable of avoiding it. I need to strengthen my body. I was already planning on doing so" "Oh?" I''ve already decided to refocus efforts on improving my base strengths...my foundation Taijutsu and Genjutsu were always my forte. The majority of my time for the next three months will be used on improving these two factors more than anything else When it comes to Ninja Tech, I''ll draw up schematics, but Mori Sp. is gonna do the building. My investments are finally paying off, so why stop now? The suggestion I secretly passed to Tetsuo, replacing damaged housing in Kumogakure with ICF6Isolated Concrete Formshousing, will increase our revenue exponentially As for my nature transformations, it''s better not to waste time working on a third one with barely three months before the exams. Even with my body, gaining a new affinity on par with those I already have will take some time. Focusing on improving the ones I already have, my Katon7Fire Styleand Suiton8Water Style, is good enough for now "Since you understand that, there''s no need to continue any further. You''re smart enough to handle your own training, and I''m busy enough as it is" "If you wanted to get the point across, you just had to say so. I''ve got prep to do..." "But then I wouldn''t get the chance to smack you around a bit" "..." "Heh, don''t screw up on the exams. See ya later" ZWSH! "..." This irritating feeling of defeat...is this how Tai feels all the time? Karma? Maybe I should stop messing with him... "Pfft! Naaaah!" 186. To Each Their Own [3] MrProper As the ever fleeting days passed, the world easily proved none were exempt in enacting meticulous preparation for the upcoming Chunin Exams. Being delayed for almost two years, both the desire and need for the event had reached unforeseen heights throughout the continent Villages spent their resources supporting Genin set to participate, as such, missions met a sudden downtrend. Each leader convening with their respective council members, engaging in talks. Merchants and businessmen alike increased their activity, earning as much revenue as possible in hopes of gaining a spot at the event The wealthiest and most powerful would be present to witness this contest, the first multi-country exam in years. For the "worker bees" seeking profit, these patrons were no different than honey. Only those who stood at the peak could seize this rare chance to spread their influence for future profits Within the shinobi village currently standing as the strongest, Konohagakure1Hidden Leaf Village, a secret meeting was being held in an empty room with a wooden floor. Major talks were taking place among the top brass inside... "...Are there no more who wish recommend any Genin for the Chunin exams?" MURMUR... The leader of the village, the 3rd Hokage2Fire Shadow, Hiruzen Sarutobi, addressed a group of Konoha Jonin inside the private room. The man in question sat behind a desk, all three members of his council seated next to him Two of said members were teammates from his former squad, "Team Tobirama". The name derived from the now deceased 2nd Hokage, Tobirama Senju, they wore robes of similar design to Hiruzen''s To his left sat Homura Mitokado, a bearded man with green glasses and grey hair exemplifying his old age. To his right, Koharu Utatane, her hair pulled back in a twin bun tied a hair pin with two dangling pearls attached to its end And sitting farthest to the right, next to Koharu, was the leader of the ANBU subdivision known as "ROOT". Dressed in a black robe, the right arm hidden by the robe, the right side of his face covered in bandages, an "x-shaped" scar on his chin, and short black hair The one known as "Shinobi no Yami3The Darkness of the Shinobi", the childhood friend and personal rival of Hiruzen...Danz Shimura "As many already know, Genin who''ve carried out eight or more formal missions are qualified to take the exams" Homura reiterated "Formal missions aren''t exclusive. One of our general rules states a Genin that''s completed twice the amount of the former also meets the requirements to participate. Even if they were nothing but D-rank missions" Koharu added Discussions continued for a while longer as more and more Jonin put forth their personal recommendations. The elders were pleased to find so many candidates, pleased by the potential of next generation Konoha ninja, for it was these ninja who''d shape the future of the village {Ridiculous. The candidates so far...none of them are special. All nobodies, without even a hint of exceptional talent. I wouldn''t even put them in ROOT...} While three of them held appeased thoughts, Danz remained completely unsatisfied at the roster of Genin, finding their skill mediocre. Unamused at the idea they''d be sending these ninja to what''s potentially, the most important Chunin Exams in history His impatience grew even further as the meeting continued, but he held it in, refusing to mutter a single word "While it''s typically suggested to enlist an entire squad, there''s no need to follow this notion" "A squad member not up to par will only prove to be detrimental to others" Once it was deemed no one else had any more candidates, the Hokage called the gathering to a close and dismissed the Jonin. After giving bows of respect to the venerable elders, the ninja departed the room one by one Eventually, only the Hokage and council remained "We''ll have much to sort through in the days ahead. The number and identification of ninja we''ll be sending to The Land of Earth must be sent prior to their arrival" "We''ll also need to contact our Daimy. There''s still the matter of security for the VIPs intent on watching the spectacle" "Koharu, Homura, don''t forget we still need consent from the Genin themselves before any of that can happen. As Hokage, I can''t cut any corners, we''re literally sending our future to a foreign nation we were at war with not so long ago" "At least we agree on one thing, Hiruzen" Danz spoke for the first time since the meeting began Sensing the irritation in his tone, the Hokage sighed before asking what bothered him so "Even if every single Genin on this list agrees to go, they''re not up to par" "Danz, these reports say otherwise. Many have partaken in numerous perilous missions. Hell, most are only Genin because there hasn''t been a chance of promotion" Homura stated after looking through the papers on the desk "Indeed, that flippant attitude towards our loyal ninja is unacceptable" Kohara rebuked "I''m simply being realistic. My intel informs me other villages are sending, what can only be described as, ''little monsters''. They''re also not in small number, so adding average talent in high quantities isn''t sufficient" "..." None of them could refute his claims. Though usually not on the same page with him, victory in this even was something they all desired. Not just for themselves, but for the sake of the village. And while Hiruzen would never denounce his own people, a part of him felt the entourage they had was somewhat...lackluster "Alright old friend, what do you propose?" "I have a candidate I''d like to put forward-" "As we previously discussed, we can''t send a young member from ROOT" As the host for this exam, Iwagakure4Hidden Stone Villagewould verify the Shinobi registration number of each and every foreigner who entered its walls. Though certain nations like the isolated and introverted Kirigakure5Hidden Mist Villagerefrained from using such a system, having other means for officially verifying identification Members of Danz''s covert-ops division carried none, for obvious reasons "Not to worry, as this one is not a member of my division. Rather, he''s a member of that troublesome clan" "!" "...You want to send one of them? Out of all of us here, you''ve been the most vocal when it comes to a lack of trust. Why the sudden change of heart?" "It''s not sudden Homura, I''ve had my eye on this one for quite some time. I can assure you his loyalties lie with Konohagakure as a whole, not just his clan" "Even if he''s loyal, it doesn''t change the fact if this person comes out on top, as a member of that clan, their influence will only continue to rise. Something we don''t need, now more than ever" Koharu noted "They''ve been eager to put one of their own in a place of authority, in efforts of attaining an in to upper branches of government. Think about it Hiruzen, throwing them a bone would encourage...peace" "..." Danz''s mannerisms, tone, and words were no different than a temptation of the devil. But nevertheless, Hiruzen opted to hear him out "We can''t afford to lose..." "Hiruzen!" "You can''t be serious!" Koharu and Homura voiced their skepticism, but the Hokage''s mind was already made up. Realizing this, the ends of his lips rose in the most subtle of fashions "I am. Danz...make the arrangements" "You''ll have his file by the end of the day" ??? With their meeting at its end, Danz was the first to depart. Leaving the building, he leisurely strolled through the village. His pace, so calm and cold, any average citizen would hardly notice him Eventually, he arrived at a large shrine with a massive red Torii gate at the entrance. Waiting there was a young boy, his back turned towards the gate as he quietly stared at the shrine Danz waltzed further before standing right beside him, neither making eye contact with one another "It''s done, you''ll be participating in the exams" "I don''t have a squad. My team is no more" "Irrelevant. A Genin who got himself killed being reckless, and another kunoichi who quit due to the shock, they''d only hold you back if they were here. Your improved performance as a solo Genin is proof enough of that" "..." "Did I strike a nerve?" "...No" "Then why the hesitation? Your numerous requests for promotion have not gone unnoticed. You''d already be a Chunin if your clan hadn''t been sent to assist Kusagakure6Hidden Grass Villagein running the Blood Prison two years ago" The young man''s expression remained unflinching, his face lacking a single trace of emotion as he continued to gaze at the shrine before them As Danz scanned him as a means of ascertaining what the young man was thinking, he decided to issue a riddle he typically asked to young recruits for ROOT "Tell me, if you were in a hostile situation with ten men, and nine of them are healthy, but one is very sick...too sick to save. What would you do?" "..." The young boy turned around, abruptly heading towards the entrance as he prepared to leave. But just as reached the Torii gate, he gave his answer to Danz without even granting him the courtesy of turning around "Since the tenth would die anyway..." "Hm?" "...I''d kill him to end his suffering...and prevent the others from becoming infected" Danz smiled, clearly pleased with the boy''s cold, yet rational answer "The mediocre batch of Konoha Genin the Hokage is sending will be advised not to make things...too difficult for you. Even so, I''m now convinced you won''t have any problems either way" "..." ??? The boy departed the area, seemingly uncaring for Danz''s thoughts or approval. The latter in question remained where he stood, refraining from moving even a single muscle VWOOOO! The wind suddenly picked up, and the rustling of tree branches could be heard "...I expected you here days ago" "Apologies Danz-sama, the Siege in Kumogakure was far more chaotic than initially anticipated. I knew I should''ve left earlier" Without warning, a cloaked figure wearing a mask appeared out of thin air, remaining in the shadows of the shrine. Staying out of sight from any potential witness "You can send your report later, but it''s good you''ve remained. I need you to stay with the Company just a little while longer" "If I may be so bold, I''ve already obtained what you wanted. What else could you ask of me?" "Recent events have gone in our favor, but a wise man always prepares for...complications" "Has something happened here? Could it be...problems with the mole Orochimaru gave us? Is that why you were meeting with that boy?" "No, Shin Uchiha is still doing his job. There''s no way I''d send him to the exams. The young one you saw here is sufficient enough, wouldn''t you agree?" "..." {Indeed. I wasn''t sure at first but...I think he managed to sense my presence. No wonder he took so long to leave. He must''ve, rightfully, assumed I was one of Danz''s men upon his arrival. Impressive} "Besides the LIFT, there''s one more thing I need you to steal from the Company before you--well..." "Understood. What do you require, Danz-sama?" "Listen carefully...Flow" 187. To Each Their Own [4] MrProper As the ninja villages throughout the continent dealt with their own concerns pertaining to the Chunin Exams, shinobi from the Land of Wind had various problems of their own Within the country''s shinobi capital village Sunagakure1Hidden Sand Village, the 4th Kazekage2Wind ShadowRasa was in meeting with his own council. The leader of the village sat with twelve other members around a circular table, all conversing in private conference Or rather...arguing "Our main concern should be recovery of the village itself, not revealing our ninjutsu to the enemy in some grandiose tournament! Many of our people remain in poverty" "We mustn''t take it so lightly. The village needs to stand out, now more than ever. More clients and patrons, means more jobs and revenue! Suna already had the weakest fighting strength of the Five Great Shinobi Nations before the last war, now''s the chance to change that!" "The damage we took in the last war hasn''t vanished yet. We''re STILL recovering from it! If we''re still licking our wounds by then-" "Everyone is still licking their wounds from the war, and you''re completely disregarding the progress we''ve made! The recent expansion of the village perimeter along with the discovery of our newest gold mine will take care of the rest" "Meanwhile, our military strength has dwindled. We''ve only grown weaker in the years. That, along with our recent failure of apprehending one our greatest ninja puppeteers, Akasuna no Sasori3Sasori of the Red Sand, should tell us all what we need most" "U-Ugh!" "His atrocious acts of making weapons from living people, so-called Human Puppets went on for so long without any of us knowing. Not to mention his assassination of the late 3rd Kazekage...we need more talented ninja!" "Look! No one''s in a condition to start another war, we should continue to focus on economic growth. Have you even tried to consider our impoverished state is the reason our military is in such bad shape?" {It''s like I''m in a damn loop, going back and forth, over and over again...} Rasa thought as the talks continued to annoy him This debate had been going on for almost an hour, and there seemed to be no resolution in sight. With the council split between focusing on economic, or military recovery Being a nation situated on a barren desert with constant, turbulent winds, their situation has never been easy. The only reason other nations would seek to conquer it is for the various gold mines located beneath its surface However, the Chunin exams presented an opportunity to earn more revenue by attracting patrons eager to hire them for shinobi services CLAP! "?!" To prevent even more pointless yelling, Rasa clapped his hands, gathering everyone''s attention in the process "It''s obvious we''re still divided on these two subjects, but both are equally important. The only decision we need to make is which do we focus on the most now" Rasa presented his query as a means of encouraging cooperation "With the exams occurring so soon...I think it''s important to send a sufficient number of our Genin" "There''s hardly many we can send..." "We had an opportunity to form a positive relationship with the new nation that sits between us and Iwagakure4Hidden Stone Village" "If you''re referring to Ishigakure5Hidden Rock Village, there was no choice. That land is filled with nothing but low-life criminals, rogue-nin, and mercenaries. Hell, it was the first place we decided to look for Sasori when he defected" "I know but...look at what Iwa has done with them. They''ve established a decent relationship with that nation, and now, Ishi is practically apart of them. The Tsuchikage6Earth Shadowhas gained a substantial source of muscle to hire for cheap. Giving him leeway to divert resources towards his village recovery. They''re slowly, but surely catching up to us" "Now that they''re a legitimate nation, I have no doubt some of them we''ll be present in the exams, aiding their new best friend that is Iwagakure" "True, but they''ll regret that down the line. Solely relying on outside help for an extended period of time will only come back to bite them in the ass. Military strength is one of Iwa''s strongest assets, and it''ll suffer as a result. And with it, their reputation for being trustworthy" Rasa unflinchingly stated "But sir..." "Though we''ve found a new gold mine recently, it''s the first discovered in years. And while we hate to say it, the fact is, they''re becoming depleted. Our miners estimate they''ll run dry within the next decade if we cannot find more" Another concern of Rasa''s was the recent lack of mines near his village. Gold trade was one of Suna''s primary sources of income, further decline would result in a major blow towards the village''s foundation, something that could take years to get back...if the other villages don''t seize the opportunity to attack them Faced with problems on both sides, he decided to end this back-and-forth talk. Every second they had was precious, for his village constantly lived on the edge RUSTLE! "Sir!" "Kazekage-sama...!" Rasa stood up from his chair and shared his final thoughts "We need more options, more leeway, and we need to participate in the exams. I''m diverting our emergency funds to the Mining Department. As for the Genin, see that they''re ready for the exams. I''ve already received permission from Chiyo-sama to grant our young, aspiring puppeteers access to Sasori''s workshop" "?!" "Kazekage-sama, please wait! Such a thing is far too-!" "I''ve made my choice, that''ll be all" Without waiting for a response, Rasa left the room, leaving everyone flabbergasted at his actions ??? Rasa bolted towards his office located on another floor, ignoring the present staff who''d call out to him. Upon arriving upstairs, he went inside, shut the door, sat down at his desk...and breathed one of the heaviest sighs in his entire life For years, there''d been nothing but back-breaking problems thrown his way, and his stress was beginning to pile up KNOCK! KNOCK! "Who is it?!" "It''s Baki, sir" {Finally someone I can talk to} "Come in" Entering the room was none other than one of Rasa''s most trusted Jonin. The man known as Baki wore the standard Suna-shinobi attire with red tattoos on his right cheek, and a turban covering the left side of his face "I take it the meeting didn''t go so well" "That''s one way to put it, but the bottom line is, we''ll be sending numerous squads to the exams" "I figured as much. Unfortunately sir, what you want from me isn''t going to be feasible. Even if we ignored him clearly being too young, your son is in no condition to fight after that recent...failure" "Sigh...I figured as much. Looks like Yashamaru was right, Gaara should''ve never been made Jinchriki of the One-Tail" In attempt to teach his son control, Rasa sent his right-hand man, and brother-in-law, to combat his son. With the intended purpose of pushing him to the brink, as a means of overcoming strife and struggle But the experiment only ended in failure, with Yashamaru''s death. Breaking Gaara down even further, he''d never been more mentally unstable. In the village''s eyes, he was now a lost cause as a host Yashamaru always despised Rasa for not only making his nephew a host, but sealing the beast while his sister was in the midst of giving birth, killing her in the process It was only with his death that Yashamaru''s concerns proved to be true... "We need strong Genin to particpate, no matter the cost Baki. If we don''t succeed, our idiot of a Daimy will-!" "I''m aware sir. All the Chunin and Jonin are beginning to feel it" Since the end of the last war, their Daimy has been opting out of requesting shinobi services from Sunagakure. Embarrassing the village by requesting foreign work, even from nations Suna had been at war with not so long ago The Wind Daimy was known for being hedonistic and frugal, and his outsourcing of jobs to other nations was the biggest disgrace and insult for them Despite being angered himself, Rasa has been doing his best to keep things calm, placating his subordinates however he could. But the people were growing more and more irritated with the incompetent Daimy''s actions {If we don''t perform well enough, who knows what we''ll happen in the future} Rasa dreaded "Sir" "Baki, with Yashamaru gone, I''m going to need a replacement. Once my two sons and daughter graduate from the academy, they''ll be assigned under your command. You''re the only one I trust to stand at my side" "Kazekage-sama, I will not disappoint you!" Baki said as he kneeled to the ground, bowing his head in respect "For now, continue your efforts in training them. And have the other Jonin find any promising Genin you can, regardless of age. I want them prepped and ready in the months ahead. I don''t care what kind of weapon or Jutsu it takes, I don''t even care how ruthlessly you train them...methods and rules are irrelevant!" "Y-Yes sir..." "Speaking of which, Yra and Mukade. Because they were stationed at the mines, their promotion was delayed" "It was?! I thought they were already Chunin!" "They were going to be, but it''s not official on paper yet, that''s a lucky break. Tell them they''ll be promoted regardless, but we need the pair to act as Genin for a little while longer. Also, do you have any recommendations for a third member?" "I could probably place someone like Sajin or Tsubusa with those two!" "That''s perfect. Hell, just send them both regardless. Three-man teams aren''t a requirement to participate. See to the preparations as fast as humanly possible. If anyone questions you, tell them you speak with my authority" "I''ll begin at once sir!" Baki said as he bolted out the door CREAK! Once Baki left the room, Rasa could finally be left to his thoughts. The lone Kazekage thought about the village''s situation, his thoughts consistently circling back to the Daimy every single time Putting these facts in his head, dissatisfaction and anger only increased. Dark, malevolent thoughts bloomed as he continued to see the political leader of the Land of Wind as a key problem for their village A problem that, if Sunagakure and its people were to thrive, must be dealt with...one way or another "I will protect this village at any cost. No matter I have to cross or eliminate, even if it means shaking hands with the devil..." 188. To Each Their Own [5] MrProper The Land of Water... An archipelago nation composed of over a hundred islands in various shapes and sizes. All nearly blanketed in a dense mist, hence the appropriate name of its shinobi capital, Kirigakure1Hidden Mist Village "...Sir! The numbers are-!" "Good enough. These recommended Genin are all I''m sending to the Land of Earth" "Against the sheer quantity of shinobi that''ll be attending the event, I don''t see how they can achieve victory!" "We don''t need to achieve victory" "?!" This shouting match took place inside the governmental building of the village leader, and 4th Mizukage2Water Shadow, Yagura Karatachi. His small stature would cause most to mistake him as a child despite the fact he wasn''t only the village leader, but the Jinchriki of the Three-Tails Right now, this "esteemed" young man was in the midst of addressing complaints brought to him by one of Kirigakure''s most prominent Jonin, a man named Ao "Mizukage-sama...I don''t understand. Why are you not more concerned about this?" "Why should I be? The only nations who really need this are the ones relying on contract work from outside clients. We''ve never done so, right Ao?" "That''s...true, but-!" Yagura was correct Kirigakure is infamously known for being an introverted, secretive nation with little, to no foreign policy. The country is completely isolated and self-sufficient, making it the only one out of the Five Great Shinobi Nations that doesn''t rely on the Chunin exams for gaining esteem Ao''s concerns lied with their reputation itself, as poor performance on their end might convince others Kirigakure is still hurting from the previous war. Potentially enticing those who''ve considered making moves in the Land of Water Not to mention the various, negative rumors that have spread about them... "Since there''s nothing else, this meeting is adjourned" "If I may!" "You may take your leave Ao" "But sir-!" Ao abruptly rose from kneeling and tried to approach Yagura KASHINK! Out of nowhere, several ANBU appeared with swords drawn, preventing Ao from taking another step! Two even held their blades to his throat, shocking the Jonin veteran "...!" {To go so far...Mizukage-sama!} Ao stood still in trepidation, sweat forming as he didn''t even dare to gulp. The ANBU remained silent, but their intentions were made clear with the sheer amount of Killing Intent they released After several more tense seconds passed, Yagura raised his hand, gesturing them to stand down. The masked shinobi obeyed, disappearing into the shadows "You may take your leave, now" Yagura coldly ordered, his face missing any conceivable trace of emotion "Y-Yes sir..." "I''ve had my fair share of meetings. On your way out, tell the others waiting I''m done for the day" he took his leave without warning, uncaring for Ao''s pleas THUMP! The moment Yagura left, Ao fell to his knees wheezing, desperate to catch his breath. While expecting some resistance, he never imagined the ANBU would take such drastic actions The idea of him being killed where he stood...wasn''t an impossibility "...Damn it" ??? Yagura made his way out of the office, entering a channel of corridors leading to a private room for his exclusive use. Upon his arrival, he simply stood in place, almost like statue "That seemed pretty annoying. I''d hate to have your job" Without warning, a voice emerged from nowhere CHURN!! The very ground in front of him began to shift as a plant-like humanoid protruded from the surface. The Akatsuki spy Zetsu had made his appearance, his "Black" and "White" halves seemingly reunited as well "Pain and Konan...have completed their task...Sanshuo no Hanz3Hanz of the Salamanderis dead. All that''s left is to assume...full control of...Amegakure4Hidden Rain Village" Black Zetsu stated "About time if you ask me! It was such a pain to find him, that guy was remarkably skilled at playing Hide-and-Seek! There are few who CAN hide from us...except for you" WOOO... The air within the room shifted, and a masked figure emerged from the shadows. His face-covering was equipped with a single eyehole, revealing he possessed the Uchiha Sharingan "Thanks for the news, I''ve been annoyingly preoccupied as of late when it comes to controlling my...puppet" "Hey Madara, why don''t you just extract the Tailed beast from the Mizukage and be done with this whole charade? Running Kirigakure by placing its leader under Genjutsu was fun at first, but now it''s starting to get tedious" "Call him...Tobi" Black Zetsu reminded his other half "Being in a place of power has its advantages, and taking the beast will kill him. Access to everything this village possesses will come in handy, the resources I''ve already stolen from it will aid us in Akatsuki''s rise" Madara, or "Tobi" has been siphoning money from the village in secret, amongst other things, and sending them to Pain. Aiding his efforts in building a new covert organization to suit his ultimate goal In order to hide such treachery, Tobi has turned the village upside down, filling it with bloodthirsty shinobi who only obey his--"Yagura''s" commands. For those who don''t, the ones who oppose his reign, he''s taken the liberty to "remove" them from the equation The Jinchriki Mizukage had tragically become an unwilling pawn shortly after the end of the Third Shinobi World War "But you''re right, it''s getting tiresome playing leader in this place" "Speaking of...keeping up appearances. I happen to agree...with that...Jonin from earlier. The amount you''re sending...isn''t enough" "...If that''s what you think, I''ll just send some random squad. Kiri doesn''t use Ninja Registration ID''s...maybe I''ll just temporarily demote some Chunin to participate. There''s also the Oni Kydai5Demon Brotherswho are still Genin, but Zabuza is awfully protective of them" Tobi placed his hand on his chin, deliberating next steps "What do you want us to do? Are we to return to Pain and Konan?" "...No" "No?" "The extraction of Tailed Beast chakra from those Fma who attacked Kumogakure was far too slow, days passed before I was finished. If it''s that slow, just how long do you think it''ll take to extract the real thing?" Tobi, and Akatsuki''s main goal was the acquisition of all nine Tailed Beasts, using their "Gedo Mazo6Demonic Statue of the Outer path"as a vessel...but it was still a strenuous task To acquire the beast, an equal or greater amount of chakra to the energy within the seal of the host was required. A hurdle which typically meant days of concentration and focus. And the less people present, naturally a slower extraction In addition, Jinchriki were the ultimate weapons for the villages. The moment they were captured, the moment they were attacked...their village would inevitably respond with extreme prejudice These extractions had to be carried out as quickly and covertly as possible "We need more members, powerful members if we''re to move forward. Akatsuki isn''t ready to step out of the shadows yet" "There''s Orochimaru. Plus, Sasori and Kakuzu?" White Zetsu stated "No... I want more. Zetsu, keep an eye on things here" "What will you...be doing?" "I''m going to pay a visit to Pain. It''s time for Akatsuki to expand" ??? "What?! He left?!" "He can''t just do that, even if he''s the Mizukage!" "Look, I''m just as disappointed, but staying here and shouting won''t do you any good. You''d best leave" {For your safety...} Ao did as he was ordered and dispersed the line waiting outside. All of them poised to talk with their Mizukage about numerous issues pertaining to the village. Many were unsatisfied, but eventually did as they were asked and departed Though finding this task unfavorable, he proved himself a loyal soldier to Kirigakure "...Mizukage-sama" he still felt disheartened, lowering his head in disappointment... "Ao!" "?!" "What happened?! Did Mizukage-sama hear what you had to say? Did he change his mind?" His solitude was soon interrupted with the appearance of another ninja. A Kunoichi with hair to her shoulders, wearing the standard Kiri-nin attire She''d been waiting outside for some time, eager to learn what became of the meeting between Ao and the Mizukage "He heard, but remained adamant with his decision. We may have an increase in Genin sent, but I doubt it''ll be much" "Wha-?!" "And before you say anything, just know it''s out of my hands. Storming in there won''t help, trust me" Ao said, touching his neck on the very spot a blade was resting on not too long ago The Kunoichi was at a loss. A renowned ninja in his own right, she, nor many others had ever seen such look of fear on Ao''s face. Realizing the futility of the situation, her demeanor went downwards Seeing this, Ao sat on a bench nearby, inviting her to join him "Ao...how did we get here?" "You''ll need to be more specific than that" "Well...the Mizukage. Yagura-sama, he was completely different during the war. And now, he''s become cold, distant, and...ruthless" "You''re referring to the aftermath of the Kaguya Clan, aren''t you..." "Mm..." The village had long since picked up the name "Chigiri no Sato7Bloody Mist Village" when the practice of Academy students being forced to kill their classmates to graduate was introduced. That, amongst other heinous acts becoming common only further indicated Kirigakure''s declining morality It was only after the Kaguya rebellion, when the village swept the country of others with unique abilities, such as those with Kekkei Genkai8Bloodline Limit, did the nickname spread to other nations of the main continent "Corruption has become widespread, those in charge cannot be trusted, bribed officials are everywhere, and even our Daimy has become irrelevant. Stripped of all power, his office is useless. He won''t even try doing anything, it''s obvious what''ll happen if he tries..." "Not to mention the constant defectors and betrayals" "That''s why I hoped someone like you, Ao, a person positioned in the high ranks of our Hunter-nin could..." "You, who comes from a better family than I, would probably have better luck. Today, I was firmly instructed as to where my TRUE place lies within the ANBU. Yagura-sama, perhaps the war changed him, or maybe he was always this way? Or was it this very ruthlessness that got us through the last war...I have none of the answers" "I just don''t know what to do...our homeland is dying. And no one seems to care. Ao, what do we do?" Ao stood up from the bench and stretched a bit "I''m going to head home, maybe get a bite to eat along the way" "This is serious! We should-!" Ao raised his index finger to his lip, gesturing the young woman to remain silent "I feel the same as you, but now isn''t the time. After the meeting I had, let''s just say laying low wouldn''t be a bad idea right now" "..." "You know what, I think it''d be a great idea for you to depart to the Land of Earth when the Chunin exams begin. Cool your head" "Though it helps us with bonus jobs for our ninja, I''m not really interested in a grandiose tournament with its viewers being nothing but rich snobs, and cutthroat businessmen" "Don''t say that, it''ll be good for you. Think about it, when''s the last time you went to a foreign country for something other than a mission, or war?" "I--well..." "Hahaha! That''s what I thought! Now go on, a young lady like you shouldn''t be out so late, if you catch my drift" "...Understood. See you later Ao" ZWSH! The young Kunoichi departed from the scene, as Ao wanted. These days, talking back to the leader of the village typically meant they''d "disappear" the next day For her safety, he thought it best she shouldn''t converse with him right after being admonished by the Mizukage. And once she was no longer in sight, Ao made his way home as well, never dropping his guard for an instant {To think the day would come when I have to do this just to get home, inside my own damn village...} TAK! Ao jumped on top of a roof and took a final glance at his home, viewing the whole village A single tear dropped from his eye... "Kirigakure...you really are dying" 189. To Each Their Own [6] MrProper "There''s so many...can we please get these documents organized?!" "What of the villages further east? Have we heard anything from them?!" "There news of another new VIP! A major investor from the Land of Valleys is interested in the exams, and he''s bringing others along with him!" Inside a building housed at the the center of Iwagakure1Hidden Stone Village, a meeting composed of the villages top officials took place. The entire room was covered in dark blue tiles, floor included. A cleanly paved, rectangular stone desk place at its center These ten men sitting at the desk hosted a discussion pertaining towards the preparations for the Chunin exams, set to take place within their very walls. Even with months ahead, a great load of work was still required For it remained paramount they keep the notable public figures, set on attending, pleased and content during their stay Iwagakure''s reputation as hosts was on the line... "This really is what people are already calling it, a Chunin exam for the ages..." "One more?! At this point, we''ll need to expand the very arena itself if there''s going be enough seats...!" "Forget the arena, what about the Canyon?! Is there any word from Kitsuchi yet?!" "Don''t worry about that horrid place, it''ll take care of itself. Right now, the arena is our main concern!" "We''ve already spread so much, there''s no space left. Don''t forget, we need the protective barrier to function properly for the audience" Four sat across another four on the long sides of the rectangular table, opposite of one another. The Earth Daimy sat alone on the short side of the table, opposite of the village leader, the 3rd Tsuchikage2Earth Shadow...an elderly man known to the world as "Rytenbin no noki"3noki of Both Scales "I don''t see further expansion as a possiblility..." "Unless we rebuild it, and the surrounding infrastructure entirely..." niki suggested "Tsuchikage-sama! Such an overhaul...the price alone will be-!" "Substantial. I''m aware, nor more than anyone else at this table. However, what we need to discern is the importance between the costs, and the event itself. Otherwise, why are we even here in the first place?" "T-That is..." Most wouldn''t think one bearing an appearance resembling noki''s could command such respect An old man of small stature, thick white and eyebrows, a bulbus-like nose, and a bald head. Dressed in standard Iwa-nin attire, but accompanied by a split green coat divided into four sections with yellow trimmings, and a red collar This attachment appeared to signify nobility and rank, for other important officials at the table wore clothing of similar design "I grow weary of this inane prattle between you all, just give me an answer already. Can we do it, or not?" "Um..." "Our restoration is still ongoing, sir" "It''s not that we can''t do it, but if we put our all into this and fail to impress enough patrons..." "It''ll be years before we can recover what we''ve lost" Iwagakure was nation built upon harsh terrain, its framework composed of the surrounding rock and stone, with numerous tall towers constructed from the terrain, suiting the village name While the rocky mountain ranges that surround the village provide a natural stronghold they pride themselves on, the majority of land itself is non-fertile. Wide-scale farming is next to impossible in this land, as such, there''s always a shortage of produce yearlong That, combined with a high population 2nd only to Konohagakure4Hidden Leaf Village, their economy was always in flux. As the costs for the exams grew, the more frustrated these group of men became For the military-focused Iwagakure, the village heavily relied on shinobi work for financial support. It was for this reason they typically went to war with their neighbors in the Lands of Wind and Fire respectively. Usually the latter for its fertile land founded by the 1st Hokage5Fire Shadow and sole wielder of the Mokuton6Wood Style...Hashirama Senju Hence the debating and intense desire to display goodwill for the rich patrons visiting in the months to come "I can help cover the costs..." The Daimy offered "Quite generous of you, but your overall funds...do they not come from-?" noki asked as he tried to ascertain his intentions "Haaa...logistics. They''re always a pain in the ass, aren''t they? Nevertheless, my predecessors and I have accumulated a sizeable fund taken from taxes payed by those who dwell outside this village, our fellow countrymen I oversee" "Daimy-sama! Have you been skimming-?!" One of the councilmen poised to make an accusation "Don''t imply things that aren''t true. This hedge fund was agreed upon long before the creation of this very village, meant only to be used for the benefit of the Land of Stone. It''s a small amount anyway, just 0.7% of the taxes I take" "And since its accumulated..." "The current amount is more than enough for exams. My only question is, what do you want in return?" noki inquired Though apart of the same country, Daimy''s and Shinobi villages were separate leaders of different domains, each looking after their own interests. The relationship was somewhat, symbiotic in nature, though possessing plenty of room for conflict noki knew this generous offer the Stone Daimy made wouldn''t be free "It''s nothing much, just you overlooking my previous overstep involving the Cloud" "H-Huh?" {The Cloud?} {What''s Kumogakure have to do with this?} "That? Heh! Too afraid to be in my debt?" "We''ve been friends for a long time Tsuchikage, I know how scary your temper can be" "Pfft! Hahahaha!" Everyone else remained clueless as they watched these two old veterans playfully banter with one another Some time ago, the Earth Daimy had unofficially requested of the Lightning Daimy that Kumogakure only send one shinobi squad to Iwagakure. This "request" sat upon the grounds they''d cause an international disaster, similar to their previous transgression, the Hyga Incident In truth, it was simply a means of weakening the competition. Normally, the Tsuchikage cared little for behind-the-scenes dealings between Daimy, but this matter involved shinobi, and the Earth Daimy acted without his permission nor consent Kages and village leaders were always looking for a means to one-up their respective Daimy''s, and noki would be no exception. The Earth Daimy was hoping to put this matter to rest by relying on the old friendship he held with the Tsuchikage "..." "It''s forgotten, long as our relationship remains the same, regardless of the exam results" "...That''s fine by me, old friend" {Clever old fox} "Glad to hear it" CLAMOR! Everyone else began whispering amongst themselves {Nice! Well played noki-sama!} {Tsuchikage-sama has guaranteed the Daimy won''t outsource shinobi work if we perform badly!} {Phew! I hate politics!} The others were pleased with noki''s negotiations. Now there was less to fear if their shinobi gave a lackluster performance, granting them leeway when it came to budgets and economic recovery for the future "Let''s move on to the next subject, our participants. We''ve already gone through a majority of them, but does anyone here have any...unique recommendations?" noki wondered "Well, there are several...I''m thinking about this one. A young one called Sagan, showing promise as a potential sensor-type" "That''ll definitely come in handy. Anyone else?" "There''s a promising Genin named Ittan who demonstrates a calm and collective demeanor even in the most dire of circumstances. His prowess in Ninjutsu involving Nature Transformation is quite impressive for his age" "Excellent. Either place them as a two-man squad, or find another team in need of numbers. Next?" After several more candidates were put forth, silence blanketed the room...until one of the elders decided to cautiously raise his hand. Himself unsure of what he was about to suggest "I know this is going to spark debate, but have you considered sending some of the potential candidates for the Demolition Unit?" "Whoa whoa whoa! Are you feeling okay?!" "They''d be an asset..." "Asset? My ass! That team was created for a reason, we needed a place to put our most unstable shinobi. A squad that focuses solely on chaotic destruction, practically every single member is a lunatic" "Well...what about Deidara? His official transfer into the unit was just approved not too long ago. Bonus, he''s still a Genin, and will certainly prove to be useful in eliminating the competition" "Deidara?! He''s a textbook example of that damn unit! Even when we forgave his transgression for learning our village''s Kinjutsu7Forbidden Techniques, the little bastard showed no remorse! Going on about, how his ascetic views as an artist demanded he take it!" CLAP! "?!" noki clapped his hands Stopping the banter before anymore arguing went on, ordering his colleagues to put said matter on hold. Feeling only he needed to oversee the matter of whether or not Deidara performs in the exams Knowing this meeting had completed its primary purpose, there was no point in proceeding any further. Ordering them to complete the testing grounds and arena for the event posthaste, using whatever resources they could spare After issuing his final commands and tasks to those present, the Tsuchikage adjourned the meeting. Sending the others away while he departed the room with the Daimy ??? CREAK! The two venerable leaders made their way to the top of the tower-shaped building, the office of the Tsuchikage their primary destination. As they moved, the Daimy couldn''t help but stare at noki, who was levitating along the way "That never ceases to amaze me, the ability to fly" "I''m simply decreasing my overall weight with Doton8Earth Style, so it''s more like floating" "Simply, eh?" "Come in, there''s one more thing I''d like to discuss with you" The floating old man invited the feudal lord inside his office, gesturing him to sit on the chair placed in front of his desk KLACK! noki locked the door before proceeding to take a seat as well "So what''s this about?" "It''s about our previous discussion, the one we had months ago" "Ah...that" "When it comes to help, I''ve heard you''ve gotten real cozy with our newest neighbors in Ishigakure9Hidden Rock Village" "No more than you, old friend. Since the shinobi over there move strictly for contract work, they care little for the exams. Are you thinking of hiring some help?" "I''d like for them to participate, but I want to make sure no one else knows we''ve reached out to them" "Most of them are rowdy rogues, many with criminal records. Although, I can think of one squad fitting the criteria. While they were incarcerated, that incident with the Blood Prison will make it impossible for anyone to find, let alone prove they''re criminals" "The prison break...I remember. Considering what they''ve done, I''d prefer not to have them. But we need every advantage we can muster, even if it means relying on outside help" "Then...shall I make the call?" "...Do it" MrPrope 190. The Day Before MrProper Kumogakure Office of the Raikage The best ship captain of the village, Hikaru, spoke with village leader. The latter himself accompanied by his favorite guards, C and Darui, discussing matters involving the Chunin exams, along with the safety of several valuable assets to the village, and country The quartet went over a plan they''d previously formed... "As discussed weeks ago, my ship will sail through the northern coastline before docking not at the Land of Earth''s coastline, but its eastern neighbor, Takigakure1Hidden Waterfall Village. From there, the team will travel on foot" "Hikaru, why can''t you take the southern route? With security at its highest across the continent, isn''t it less likely someone makes a move on our Genin?" "It''s na?ve to think like that Darui. Look here, while that sea line has more checkpoints, we''ll still have to travel a ways east as we travel down to get on it. Providing any enemy who wishes to sabotage us with wide window of opportunity to attack" "Still..." "Plus, Kirigakure2Hidden Mist Villagemonitors most of the area preceding that route. Going south is practically begging to get attacked" "And since we can reach the northern one faster..." Months passed since the Siege, the exams were right around the corner. Being the savvy ship captain he was, Hikaru considered every conceivable route by boat in order to safely escort Team Tango to Iwagakure3Hidden Stone Village Being the most prominent exams in history, meant they''d inevitably be the most violent. In truth, battle would begin long before the event even started. Numerous villages had already made attempts to hinder others by any means possible Everyone in the room knew this... "I''m surprised Takigakure agreed to this. I mean, we have close ties thanks to Summoning Island, but we''re still competing against one another for this" C remarked "We didn''t ask Takigakure for this. The port we''re headed to may dwell in that country, but it''s a public one, with very little shinobi oversight. I doubt they''ll even know when we arrive" "That makes me feel a little better..." "That village has it''s own problems to worry about" Darui noted "What do you mean?" "I have it on good authority they''ve yet to fully recover the assassination of their former village head, Hisen. And while his son has been installed as leader, he''s still only a child. The elders serve as advisers, taking the most of the burdens as they continue to groom him" "The affairs of another village are irrelevant now, I''m more concerned about us. Speaking of which-" "Yes, Raikage-sama. There''s also Tetsuo Mori''s request to travel along with us..." A place welcoming business owners, merchants, and the wealthy...there wasn''t a chance Tetsuo would or could pass up such a chance to spread the name of Mori Sp. Seeing as he''s now an integral part of village''s foundation, largely in part to the new energy grid supporting Kumogakure, for him to journey towards a foreign nation naturally sparked some debate "Since most of the big wigs arrive during the third and final part of the exam, we can send him with a different ship at a later date. It''d be wise to consider putting Tetsuo-dono in disguise and use public transportation" "Forget him, what are we going to do about your transport Raikage-sama? If our team makes it to the finals, you must make an appearance in Iwagakure" Darui mentioned "We should assume every party departing our country is being observed, the same meticulous care we''re placing on Team Tango must be given to both you, and Tetsuo-dono" C asserted "Speaking of them, how are they doing? They depart tomorrow right?" A asked "Well, from last I heard..." ??? Amegakure4Hidden Rain Village Endless rain blanketed the village Amidst the tallest tower of the small, impoverished, yet highly industrialized nation, top members of the shadowy group known as Akatsuki reveled at the sight before them "The remaining stragglers have been dealt with, without Hanz, the previous government fell apart easily" "...Is that so?" "We''ve done it Pain" "Done what exactly?" "...The village is finally in our hands. Is this not what we wanted all this time?" "Not even close, we desire absolute peace, and not just for our nation. Even if we have the village now, we''re not inviolable, we mustn''t let settling the score with Hanz blind us from the truth. Never forget Konan, this is just the beginning" The top member of Akatsuki had finally taken full control of the government, ever since their successful coup months ago. After the Akatsuki spy Zetsu located the former village leader, the civil war quickly came to an end In the past months, Pain began solidifying his reign, running the village from the shadows while Konan eliminated Hanz''s leftover supporters and loyalists "Of course...now the hard work begins, speaking of which-" "What is it?" "The Chunin Exams...should we send forth our own teams?" "I want to say no, but the exams are always an excellent opportunity to scout potential recruits for our new Akatsuki. I agree with Madara in that we need more members. Plus, we may even receive intel on Jinchriki" The pair wanted all eyes off Amegakure while they proceeded with their true goal. This meant maintaining the lie that civil war was still ongoing in the country It was fortuitous to say the least that Hanz became so paranoid in the years prior to his death. Establishing a system that completely closed off the nation to others, every single individual who entered was vetted, and security remained at an all-time high Pain spent most of his recent free time adopting said system for his own personal use, getting used to the inner working of running the nation. It suited his typical clandestine actions as the public leader of Akatsuki Konan acted as his proxy, directly interacting with the shinobi and villagers, enacting his will when and where ever he deemed necessary She considered sending Genin squads to another nation might tip someone off, but to Pain, the chance was too great to ignore "Send those you can trust to remain silent, and don''t send too many" "Two or three teams should suffice. Once I''m done, we can discuss that other matter with Madara" ??? WOOOOO...! Mild wind blew through a forest in the middle of nowhere. A place none would bother mentioning, and it was for this reason, two individuals decided to convene in secret One of them, shorter in stature, was the first to break silence "I''m surprised to see you so soon..." "For an event like the Chunin exams, how can one not get a little excited" "More like, you''re excited seeing all of that potential gather in one location, Iwagakure is practically doing our job for us" "And then some" RUSTLE! One of the shadowy figures stepped into the light, revealing the black wardrobe decorated in red clouds, signifying his status as a member of Akatsuki But unlike Pain and Konan, this one was far less...loyal "Your partner has been asking questions about you. He really wants to kill you, I mean, now more than ever" "You''d think someone who experiments on people almost as much as I do would be easy to get along with...shows what I know. That cranky puppeteer is no different than any of the other lunatics in our merry band" "Present company included?" "Cute. On another note, did you bring what I asked for?" The shorter individual handed a scroll over to the Akatsuki member "Intel on the Kumogakure attack, despite doing everything to keep it quiet, they''re calling it the Siege. As you guessed, the Company was responsible...and they were able to continue your work" "Mmm...indeed. I''ve always found Red to be quite the scientist, guess I shouldn''t be surprised she''d complete the LIFT. Though, judging from your report, there are still a couple of kinks to work out" "Should I stick with observing them?" "No. I want you at the exams, that takes priority. I''ve yet to decide on a potential partner for that plan, and our window is only getting shorter as the days go by" "And after?" WOOOO...! The wind picked up once more, the Akatsuki member turned around, prepping to re-enter the shadows "You heard about the Fma right? That branch who broke off from the main clan in the Land of Fire. How they mysteriously vanished after participating in the Siege with the Chinoike?" "What about them?" "They were situated next to Land of Steam, and now that they''re gone, there''s so much...free space" "Ah!" "I won''t be in Akatsuki forever, and I''m tired of relying on others for my protection" The younger individual smiled once he understood what the other was hinting at "It''s a perfect place for building a base" "Or a village" "!" "Keke. I''ll see you at the exams" ZWSH! He vanished without a trace. The one left present bowed his head and sneered in a sinister manner, clearly exhibiting he was no less twisted than his superior "The cards are already in our hands...Orochimaru-sama" 191. It’s Time MrProper "That should do it..." The deepest section of an obscure laboratory in the middle of nowhere, a familiar young man was in the midst of putting on his Kumogakure shinobi attire RUSTLE... [Problems?] "U-Urgh...! Come on, you son of a-!" But he seemed to be having some trouble with it... "D-Damn it...it''s so much tighter now" [You''ve grown somewhat since you''ve started training here, in addition to your recent change in weight, it''s natural they won''t fit] "Ugh! You make it sound as if I''ve gotten fat" [In a way, you have. Hurry it up, fatass!] "It''s muscle. I''ve bulked up, you nitwit" [The boat is set to depart in little over an hour from now. I know they''ll wait for you, but it''s rude to make them] "Since when did you care about manners?" [Since when did you NOT care about manners?] "Smart-ass...whatever, I''ve finished with my prep, done all I possibly could in the last three months, no need to procrastinate" [Looking forward to seeing your results] "Yeah. I bet you are..." ??? "Hmph!" "..." KLACK! KLACK! Two swordsman, dressed head-to-toe in heavy protective gear sparred with bokken1Wooden sword used for practiceon the wooden floor of a well kept dojo The taller individual bombarded the shorter one with a barrage of fierce sword swings, each one splitting the very air with nothing but sheer speed It didn''t take an expert to know getting hit by even one of these sharp-sounding strikes would be very...detrimental "Don''t drop your shoulders, I don''t care if you''re exhausted! A loose shoulder means a loose guard, which gets your head chopped off!" "K-Kuh!" {You''ll probably kill me before that happens!} "Such actions only reveal vulnerability to the enemy, which they''ll exploit! You think the competition is gonna go easy on you?!" "I''m pretty sure nobody will challenge me as much as you..." Amazingly, the defending sword wielder managed to flawlessly dodge nearly every swift swing, and successfully parried the unavoidable ones In spite of the complaining, through his continued strenuous efforts, he remained untouched "Much better, you''re no longer crying like a wuss!" "Whose fault do think that is?!" "Since this is our final training session before the exams, I''m going all out!!" "And how the hell am I gonna make it to the boat if your sword turns me into a lump of flesh?! I''m supposed to leave soon!" "You talking back to me?!" "H-Hiii!" "Good! That''s a nice screech! Means you still have enough energy to fight!" "Wait wait wait! NOT AGAIN! MOM!!!" "If you can''t even dodge these, going to the exams is suicide! Don''t worry Tai, I''ll make sure you''re still able to walk by the time this is over!!" {This demon of a mother!!!!!!!} ??? Atop Genbu Island BOOM! "CAW! CAW!" Explosions of white energy burst on the island, frightening away every bird and animal nearby. The area itself riddled with stupidly large craters and broken trees In this vacant spot of the forest grown on Genbu''s shell, a gargantuan tortoise, a particular Jinchriki sat in observation, measuring the mettle of the one responsible for the blasts "...Still not perfect yet. One more time!" "Hold it Suzu! I believe that''s quite enough destruction for one day. Any further, and Genbu himself will actually start to feel it" "Haaa...Haaa...yes. Yugito-sama, how''d I do?" The now 14-year-old girl had spent the last three months on this island, striving to master her new Tailed Beast-based powers as a result of the altered LIFT drug Rei gave her In the past months, she had matured somewhat. Suzu''s skin was more fair and healthy than ever, her dark hair grew a bit longer, with the bangs partly covering her emerald eyes Kumogakure''s famed Jinchriki, Yugito Nii and Killer B, served as proficient mentors towards guiding her in this endeavor. The latter of whom was recently ordered by his brother to return to Unraiky2Valley of Clouds and Lightning, leaving the last of week of training to Yugito alone "You''ve done well. Long as you maintain control of your emotions, there shouldn''t be any need to worry about you entering that state subconsciously" "So I can go to the exams?" "Well, yes. However, when it comes to controlling your new powers..." Yugito pointed to the destruction left in Suzu''s wake "Ah...right" The entire area was completely destroyed, not a single trace of the former vegetation which spread everywhere, the ground paved out in its entirety "The goal of this exercise was to use your new powers without obliterating everything in sight" "..." "Don''t look so down, had I not already given my seal of approval to Raikage-sama...Genbu wouldn''t be swimming towards our northern docks" "Ah!" Suzu''s face immediately brightened, overjoyed her efforts over the last three months were not in vain. Before Yugito continued on with her evaluation, the attention of these two kunoichi was taken by the sound of loud howl "WUUUUUU!!!!!" "?!" "Heh! That would be Genbu letting us know we''re about to dock. Go get your gear, Tango and that sailor have most likely been waiting on the boat for a while" "Yes! Thank you very much Yugito-sama!" ZWSH! As the young girl dashed away, Yugito''s happy expression turned stern the moment Suzu''s figure fell out of her sight "Be careful Suzu, that power is far more dangerous than B and I initially believed. If you let it get out of control..." ??? "Phew...when are they getting here?" "Just be patient, they''ll be here" Waiting at a shipyard, Kumogakure''s best ship captain Hikaru sat across from Tango on the deck of ship, smoking a cigar. The ship itself was not his usual one, but a new model gifted to him by the village. A fresh paint job, high quality materials, with a long and narrow shape...any average sailor could easily guess this was a vessel meant for speed, not comfort "I like this ship, it''s much better than your old, slow one" "Hey! Don''t say that! This thing may look clean, but my beautiful queen of a ship is the most seaworthy than any in this entire damn shipyard! Built to last and take all the hits thrown her way" "Yeah...but does she have something like that?" Tango pointed towards an area of the ship "Hm?" Tango''s attention had be drawn to a particular part for quite some time now...the engine attached on the ship''s stern "The new engine on the rear...it''s from Mori Sp. right?" "Psh! Yeah, that company has been busy lately" As Mori Sp.''s influence rose to new lengths within the village, curiosity about the inner workings of the corporation amongst high level shinobi, like Tango, only grew further Naturally, his interest was piqued when he spotted the company logo on the ship engine "While the design is impressive, don''t get caught in all the glamor. That outboard engine may deliver better fuel economy, but unlike the inboard one on my ship, it has a lot of limitations" "Such as?" "For starters, maneuvering is difficult, corrosion is more than likely to occur, and it can''t be completely tilted out of water. In truth, it''s more suited for small fishing boats, not long sea trips. The only reason we''re using it now is because we need to arrive at our destination quickly" "Are we in danger?" "For this trip, we''ll be in danger, regardless of which vessel we sail on...but don''t fret. If I can''t get you to where you need to go...I don''t deserve my current reputation" "...There''s much to consider. I''m glad you''re our ship captain" "Thanks. I''m just being a critic. All-in-all, it''s not a half bad engine, quite revolutionary as a matter of fact. It was just a bad choice of implementation, putting such an engine on this type of ship, and not my own" "Why didn''t you?" "I would''ve if I could, but it wasn''t up to me. It''s why I''m so irritated, the decision of what ship we''re to sail on was left to the top brass, I barely had any say" Tango was at a loss for words with Hikaru''s latest remark "You didn''t get to choose? The best ship captain in this village?" "These Chunin Exams are extremely important, naturally the higher-ups just had to get involved. Raikage-sama wanted to leave everything to me, but his hands were tied" {True. If it were any other matter, none could object to his decision. But everyone had a stake in these exams, even with everything that''s happened as of late, I can''t see the council budging on this matter} "Oh look! Think I can see one of the kids..." "Hm?" In the distance, one of Tango''s students wearily made his way to the ship. It was none other Tai, who like Suzu, was now of 14 years. He''d grown a bit in height, his brown spiky hair was trimmed a bit, revealing his dark blue eyes As he reached the ship, the two adults were at a loss for words at his appearance. While he was dressed in his shinobi attire, the clothes were completely battered "Damn kid, you look like you went through a trash compactor" Hikaru quipped upon looking down at the kid from the deck of the ship "Hikaru..." "Right right, sorry" "Are you okay? What happened?" Tai hesitated for a bit before saying anything. He then lifted his head and spoke, demonstrating his voice had finally cracked, the overall tone no longer resembling a child, but a young man Puberty had finally arrived on his doorstep... "Short answer is, I went through hell, and now I''m ready for the exams. Don''t. Ask. Anymore" {Ah...Tomoe must''ve trained him} Hikaru and Tango looked at each other before having the same thought TAK! "?!" As Tai prepared to jump on the ship, another figure landed nearby. Just like the young man, dressed in shinobi attire, while carrying a travel bag over her shoulder "Room for one more?" "Suzu! Finally! A female that isn''t trying to kill me!" "H-Huh?" "Never mind, good to see you!" "Likewise Tai...um, what exactly happened for you to look like-?" "DON''T ASK...please" {It must''ve been Tomoe-san again...better not mention this subject for the rest of the trip} Suzu realized Tango looked on proudly at the girl, for her arrival meant she succeeded in her training {Looks like she did well, just as I thought she would} "Hey girl! Glad you could make it! You kids grab your things and climb on" Hikaru greeted her with casual wave before heading to the back of the ship, set on running final checks The two got onboard the ship, placing their single duffle bags aside as they sat down. Due to the shape of the ship, there was no lower deck for private quarters "How''d you get here anyway?" Tango inquired "Genbu docked on the other side of the port, past those large buildings. Once it was safe, I jumped off the island and ran straight here" "I didn''t even notice. You''d think he''d be easy to see for being the largest turtle--creature, on the planet" Tai remarked "It just goes to show why he''s still around, he''s good a hiding" CLINK! "Well Hikaru?" "We''re good to go. Got enough food and water to last a month, engine has been checked, fuel supply checked, emergency supplies checked...I''m just waiting for you to give the final word Tango" "Alright, soon as Rei is here, we''ll set sail--" "Wow, the engine turned out much better than I imagined. Well done Tetsuo..." "WHO?!" "EH?!" "What the hell-?!" Without warning, the voice of the final member of Team Tango was heard from behind Hikaru. Rei had arrived, casually studying the engine provided by Mori Sp. In truth, it was he who sent this design to Tetsuo Mori months prior, but hadn''t expected the businessman would finish its conception so quickly. This revelation had pleased him greatly "Alright, shall we take off now--hm?" After getting a good look at his work, Rei turned around, greeted with sight of surprise on everyone''s faces "W-W-When did you-? Were you here the whole time?" "Of course not Hikaru-san, I just arrived about a minute ago" {Just now? Impossible! Are you telling me this 12-year-old managed to get passed a Jonin unnoticed?!} Tango was dumbfounded {He''s become even more of a monster than he already was...} Tai lamented "Tai, you..." "Yeah?" "Wow...Tomoe beat your ass eight ways to Sunday. Pffft!" Rei tried to hold in his laughter upon seeing Tai''s battered state "YOU!!!! DON''T PHRASE IT LIKE THAT!" {Just when I was getting happy to see him!} "Haaa...good grief. Glad to know you haven''t changed Rei" Suzu smugly remarked With their banter, the mood suddenly lightened from everyone''s prior shock at Rei''s arrival. Suzu wondered if he did it on purpose, or if he just wanted to mess with Tai...or both The Genin sat down as Tango stood up, preparing to address everyone "Alright, we''re on a schedule, and the event isn''t gonna wait for us, so I''ll make this quick. Anything can happen in these exams, now is your last chance to back out. There''s no shame in waiting to try later and--" "Now you''re the one wasting time Tango" Hikaru interjected When Tango turned to him, the latter pointed towards the Genin. As he took a closer look, he could see faces filled with not just resolve, but boundless strength It was in this moment he understood they were no longer the children he''d always look after, but fellow shinobi. There was no need to tell them the stakes, for they already knew what could happen to them...and didn''t care They were dead set on heading to the Chunin Exams "Heh...sorry about that. CAPTAIN!" "Yes sir!" "Set sail...to the Land of Earth!" 192. Sea Outing MrProper GLOSH-GLOSH! It''s been a while since I''ve felt the nice sensation of sitting on a boat as it skids through the water True, there was my mission to "Summoning Island", amongst others, but this is an entirely different feeling altogether. It''s so quiet and calm, giving one a sense peace, brings me back to my previous life when my parents and I sailed to Taiwan...best summer ever Or at least it would''ve been, if they didn''t end our trip by arguing with one another... "Ahhhhh!!!" "Whoa?! What''s with the sudden yelling?!" Speaking of making a racket... "Ugh...are we in the Land of Earth yet? My stomach is doing its best to make me suffer!" "Hahaha! We''ve all been there Tai. Suck it up!" "Ohhhh...I miss your old ship Hikaru-senpai. It was nice, big, and calm. This one bounces constantly--oh, oh no...think I''m gonna-!" "OFF the ship Tai, not ON" "R-Right. Uwegh!" And cue the hurling Honestly, I''m surprised he didn''t do it sooner, considering how green his face appeared during our initial departure. The boat we''re on is traveling at breakneck speed, albeit compared to most ships in this world Thanks in no small part to the new engine I designed "Okay, I know it''s kind of late, considering we already took off...but its best we go over some ground rules" "Whoa whoa! Tango, you wanna tell them now?" "Better now than later Hikaru, contrary to current circumstances, this isn''t a vacation" "Tsk! I never get breaks. But I agree with your point, we''re about to pass the borders of the Land of Lightning, into foreign territory" And here I thought we could enjoy this trip in peace before getting right down to business. Though in hindsight, considering my track record for attracting drama, it''s best to stay alert Only when Tai finally stopped puking up his lunch did Tango give us the rundown "As you know, this is the sole team from Kumogakure, thanks in no small part of that conniving Earth Daimy. And being the singular team from one of the Five Great Shinobi Nations, you''ll likely be the first targeted by the competition" "We all knew the score Tango-sensei. Forget about this boat from hell--urgh! Iwagakure1Hidden Stone Villageis looking less and less enjoyable" "Wrong. I haven''t even gotten to Iwagakure yet, I''m talking about now. You think the enemy''s gonna sit and wait until we arrive at our destination?" Ah shit, I know where this going "You''re expecting attacks sensei?" "As should you, Suzu. Raikage-sama and other upper brass already have reason the believe each and every voyager departing our village has been under foreign observation within the past month or so" "In other words, look out for the cheaters attempting to mess with us outside of the exams" "Cheaters...identifying them by that term means you''re still thinking na?vely, Tai" Tango folded his arms, wearing a solemn expression "E-Eh?" "Not just the exams, every moment during our stay there could potentially put us in danger, with each side trying to one-up the other. Saboteurs, assassins, deception...the ideal battleground for shinobi. I was so wrapped in my training on Genbu Island, I''d forgotten this simple truth of shinobi...it''s not cheating if you don''t get caught" " Suzu accurately noted "Precisely. Soon as we cross that border, our battle has already begun" Jeez. No pressure or anything. Tango really loves his cryptic one-liners "What exactly is our plan?" I asked "We have several ships ahead of us on standby, ready to depart when we arrive, in efforts to throw off the enemy. Several squads on foot have combed and swept the coastline by us" "That''s why you''re on the boat from hell. It''s not perfect, but it''s fast, hard to spot, and most of all...quiet" Hikaru added That''ll only ensure our safety for a little bit, assuming it works... "The real problem is what comes next. We''ll be all on our own, and I''d like to cover our tracks as much as possible, which is why we''re not docking at the Land of Earth. We''ll meet an old friend at a location he''s readied for us near Takigakure2Hidden Waterfall Village" "An old friend?" "He was previously stationed in Yugakure3Hidden Steam Village, but was transferred to Takigakure some time ago" "Yugakure? Who do we know that''s over--wait...you mean Karai?" "Heh! You guessed it Tai" Oh yeah, there was a guy like that. Didn''t we meet him during our mission to rescue Yugito? Feels like forever ago "Why is he over there?" "I''m not entirely sure, but I suspect it''s-" "We''re leaving the border!" Hikaru abruptly shouted "Tango-sensei, shouldn''t we change into casual clothes? You know...to blend in. Or wear cloaks?" Tai whispered "It won''t matter. There''s no way regular civilians would be riding on a high-end ship like this, and cloaks only draw more suspicion. Like I said, every ship leaving our country is under watch" "If we''re spotted in this kind of stealth ship, it''ll definitely be someone who''s looking to make trouble for us. Now cut the chatter, until I say otherwise, don''t make a sound!" Hikaru ordered RRRRRR! The sounds of various engines erupted in the atmosphere Once we neared the border, the ships Tango claimed were in waiting for us took off. Ranging from small fishing boats to large ships, it was almost as if an entire fleet was present That ridiculous Raikage really pulled out all the stops for us, makes me wonder how long it took to arrange this WAHMP! With a sharp a turn, Hikaru elegantly navigated us into the crowd, like a single fish joining a school. Even on a vessel such as this, his skill as a captain is not to be underestimated. I''m always impressed by him whenever he operates the helm of a ship None of us muttered a single word as we sailed, not that I was complaining. I always prefer peace and quiet, as opposed to loud noise Our vessel traveled alongside the other ships for sometime, passing Yugakure, and reaching the Land of Fire''s northern sea. Along the way, various ships broke off the makeshift fleet as a means of throwing off any potential pursuers, or provoking other nations Eventually, we followed in suit, breaking away from the others "Okay, we''re safe for now" Hikaru declared "Phew! That was a tense half a day...!" "Compared to the months of Tomoe kicking your ass?" "BITE ME!" Hehehe! The plan had worked, and now our group had entered Takigakure waters. It wouldn''t be long before we reached Karai, and Iwagakure soon afterwards That''s when the real struggle begins... "Things are going quite well, wouldn''t you say?" Hikaru said to Tango once the latter opted to speak with him in private "Yeah, a little too well if you ask me" "You think our little plan wasn''t enough? Remember, it wasn''t just the northern coastline, we sent a decoy ship with another fleet down south as well" "Maybe I''m overthinking it, but I just can''t shake this bad feeling of mine" "If something does happen, we''ll deal with it. I told you, no matter what happens, I''ll have you and your team arrive at our destination" While I chatted with Tai and Suzu, the adults "gossip" didn''t slip my enhanced hearing Tango has a habit of being overly cautious, but it''s that meticulous nature of his that''s kept us alive in times of crisis. I just really hope the world can cut me a break this one- "CONTACT! Unknown ship off the port bow!" "?!" "Haaaa..." You know something? "Taking evasive maneuvers! Strap yourselves in, things are gonna get bumpy!" "The three of you, stay down!" "O-Okay!" I really hate this stupid world... 193. Pirates? Can''t we ever just go somewhere without being wrapped up in some kind of bullshit? Just once? Is that really too much to ask?! BOOM! SPLASH! "Hikaru! Their ship''s equipped with a ballista! One shot from those bolts and-!" "Shut up, I know! Let me focus!" I hate this stupid world...with a passion. Seriously, if I live long enough to become as powerful as an actual tsutsuki powerhouse, I might just destroy the whole damn thing out of pure spite "Damn it! I knew this was too easy!" "You can say I told you so later Tango!" "Sensei! What should we-?!" "You three are not to act unless I tell you! Hikaru, punch it!" "Already on it!" KLANK! RRRRRRR!!!! "O-Ooof! "Whoa!" This thing is even faster than I thought! Bravo Tetsuo As for the assholes on that rusty-looking ship chasing us, I wasn''t able to sense them, which means they''ve suppressed their chakra. But with our ship, they''ll have trouble keeping up with us , and we''ve enough fuel to last- TING! "Hm?!" "Rei? What is it?" Oh no...this chakra is-! "Hikaru! I''m sensing another batch of chakra headed in our direction! At least two dozen of them...10 o''clock!" "How could there be so many here?! I know for a fact this route isn''t typically used by pirates, hardly anyone ever comes through here!" "Wait...does that mean-?!" Tai guessed correctly "They were waiting for us, who the hell tipped them off?!" "We can discuss the matter later, for now, we need to avoid them! What''s our course captain?!" "We can head to the right and sail around them, but the area in that direction is known to be full of rocks and debris that could tear this ship apart. What do you want to do Tango?!" "..." A tough decision We might be able to get away, but heading in that direction could be exactly what these people are aiming for. Another group might be hiding in that direction, waiting to attack Judging from their chakra and appearance, it''s unlikely they''re shinobi, and we could fight our way through. But if that''s the case, it implies someone hired them, and said clients could be watching us from elsewhere The possibility this entire ordeal is some "dog and pony" show in efforts to uncover whatever trump cards we may have...is not low What it''s gonna be Tango? "...Damn it. Sail to the right Hikaru, we''ll just have to risk it" "Got it. Everyone, brace yourselves!" "Rei, Suzu, Tai...I''m pretty sure you know why I''ve made such a decision. From this point forward, if it comes to it, leave the fighting to me. Unless Hikaru and I have been taken out, you''re not engage under any circumstances. Understood?" "Yes!" Tai and Suzu answered in concert "..." Hikaru sailed further north, taking the long away as our pursuers continued to bombard us with bolts half the size of the ship. Fortunately, our captain operates like a professional racer, we''ve yet to get struck even once Not to mention his smooth navigation through the stacks sticking out of the water. Those behind us are gonna end up with holes in their hulls if they keep chasing. That''s probably what Hikaru is aiming for Regardless, once we''re in a more public venue, closer to Takigakure1Hidden Waterfall Village, they''ll probably break off their pursuit Tango observed our rear through his monocular, trying to get a good glimpse of these guys "Any clues yet Sensei?" Tai eagerly wondered "No. On paper, they appear to be pirates. However, their coordination and disregard for the damage their ship is enduring, just to follow us through this area, indicates they''re more than meets the eye" "So they might me ninja in disguise...now what?" "Once we get through this last checkpoint, we''re home free. Look, some of them have already started to break off" Hikaru noted He was right, the ships following us began slowing down. These guys must''ve realized the futility of following this swift boat, there was no way they could catch us "Jerks...I hope they drown. Scaring us like that" "This is just the start. In the days ahead, we''ll be acquainted with many people you''ll want to drown" "Yay. You''re the glass half empty guy as usual Rei. When are you gonna be a people person?" "I was Tai, then the so-called people ruined it. I''m just being realistic, since we''ll be risking our lives considerably in these exams" "I guess. Still, it''s a good thing we didn''t have to fight now" Our crew could finally breathe easy after passing this last checkpoint. Reaching a public, Takigakure dock near the Land of Earth The area wasn''t filled with many ships, but there were plenty of food stalls in the area. Mmm...some of it doesn''t smell half bad "Tango...do you see him?" "Give me sec Hikaru. Hmmm...there! All the way to right! I can see Karai, the one dressed in the brown cloak" "Alright, I''m setting us down" SPLASH! POOF! Once we docked, the ship disappeared in a cloud of smoke after Hikaru sealed it into a scroll. Since the raft is a prototype of Kumogakure and Mori Sp.''s finest technology, Hikaru was under strict orders to prevent it from being stolen Immediately after, we approached Karai. He hadn''t changed much over the years. Same spiky, tan-colored hair with a streak of orange on the left side "Karai..." "Nuh-uh, not here. Follow me" "...Okay" Yup, hasn''t changed a bit ??? "They knew you were coming? You''re absolutely sure?" "Positive. They were even equipped with high-end ballistae, perfect for taking out small boats like ours. If Hikaru hadn''t been our captain..." "I get it...from this point forward, we should assume our plans have been compromised. Even the hotel booked for you is no longer an option" After sneaking away from the dock, Karai brought us to a hideout inside a cave he built during his tenure in this foreign land. Apparently, A sent the young infiltrator to come here right after the incident on "Summoning Island" Since the marauders were from Ishigakure2Hidden Rock Village, the Raikage wanted to ascertain the true nature behind the newest shinobi nation to greet this world. Including its beneficial, yet controversial relationship with a great nation like Iwagakure3Hidden Stone Village Hence, he ordered Karai''s transfer to a port near the Land of Earth''s border, perfect for meeting us "I''m still hesitating on whether or not it''s safe to enter Iwagakure''s walls" Tango remarked "Shinobi entering a foreign nation is never safe, but I can make things easier for you" "How? Especially this late in the game?" "For how long have you known me? My line of work has taught me to always plan for...redundancies" He removed a map from his pouch, and withdrew several outfits from the trunk by the wall "In the event something like this would happen, I went ahead and purchased a hotel reservation at a location you can trust is likely to not have trouble. Remember, that old fence-sitter of a Tsuchikage4Earth Shadowhas to maintain the appearance of everything being under control and safe, or the wealthy patrons set on attending the event will back out. NOBODY wants that" "I see...according the map, it''s within walking distance of a governmental office, near the center of the village" "Yup. A police branch operates in that place as well. Just keep your heads down, and you''ll be fine. Now, as for getting there unnoticed by those intent on seeing you never attend the exams...I''ve taken care of that too" "Can I assume that''s what the outfits are for?" don''t keep us in suspense "You guessed it Rei. There''s a local diplomat who wishes to see the event. He was initially set to arrive later, but I managed to change his schedule in secret, don''t ask me how" "Nice" I need more allies like him "These outfits are the same attire his guards wear. You lot will enter his caravan and travel along with him, but remember to separate from them upon arrival. Since Iwa is checking everyone''s I.D.''s upon entry, it''s best not to be in disguise" "Good man. You''ve gone above and beyond" "I aim to please" You most certainly have. This''ll make traveling all the easier, and none of us will have to risk revealing our skills to others. Finally, we can catch a damn break! "When do we leave?" "He''s scheduled to depart in less than an hour from now, about a half klick southwest from our position. Hurry up and get dressed, they ain''t gonna wait on you" "Got it, you heard the man!" "Yes sir!" RUSTLE! As we Genin left the cave to get dressed in private, the three men kept to themselves, but I didn''t miss a single word "Thanks for everything Karai" "Nah, thank you, for allowing me to finally put my skills to work. These kind of details are typically eventless, and the last two years have been boring as hell. Anymore sitting around, and I''ll turn into an old man" "Well, if there''s nothing else, I''m gonna head back to Kumogakure" "By yourself Hikaru? Are you sure that''s safe, considering what just happened?" "Like Karai, I move better alone, and these kind of trips are the norm for me. It''s also important to inform Raikage-sama of a potential leak, considering our location was compromised" "Yes, I agree with him on that point Tango. Judging from your description of their weapons, appearance, and behavior...I can say with full confidence those pirates weren''t pirates. And given the fact they were waiting for you...I might want to doublecheck my operation as well" Karai assessed "Can you try and find out who it was?" "Not a problem, though it may take some time" I wonder...who has the resources and means of pulling off something like this? My money was on Iwa, but they''ve already tipped their hand enough with this whole, "one team only" deal. Any more overreach will only serve to make the situation even MORE tense than it already is Unless...that''s what whoever hired those people was aiming for Someone looking to stir the pot, create conflict. Though I have no real proof to support this theory...agh! I''m lacking far too much intel! This is why I''m always one step behind whenever something unexpected happens...! Haaaa...whatever, I''ll figure it out later. What''s important now is the exams Gotta stay focused on that "Sensei! We''re ready!" "Okay, lets move out! Thanks guys, I appreciate everything you''ve done" Karai rolled up the map in front of him before handing it to Tango "Hang on to this Tango. I''ve detailed escape routes, obscure spots, and areas of interest you might find useful in the event of an emergency" "Thanks. I owe you a meal when this is over" "I''ll hold you to it, I''ve already been given authorization to head home after this" Hikaru patted each of us on the head as he said his goodbyes "It''s always good to see you guys. Do our village proud! Once the exams are over, I''ll bring you back on a ship Tai won''t puke on" "Gee...thanks a bunch Hikaru-san" "Kekeke!" "Alright, my team will head out first. See you soon!" Tango waved goodbye as we left the cave ??? Now down to just the four of us, we moved through the forests of Takigakure undetected, stealthily infiltrating the caravan run by the diplomat Karai mentioned Apparently, he''s the acting Daimy of an obscure nation called the Land of Flowers, located further south of here, with old ties to the Land of Earth. An ideal choice on Karai''s part, as it made passing the border into said territory all the easier Continuing onward, the environment began to change. I''d never been to this country, so the only thing I know about it, is what I''ve heard from Notitia, or studied within Kumogakure''s library TAP! "?" After tapping Tango on the arm, I gestured to my forehead, prompting him to utilize his "Chakra Transmission Jutsu", syncing our team telepathically Once he glanced around to confirm none were looking, Tango complied and performed the necessary hand seals to activate his signature Ninjutsu ?Okay, it''s safe. What do you wanna know Rei?? ?Sensei...you''ve been here before right? What can you tell us about this place?? ?As you can see, it''s a desolate, rocky country. It''s borders run along a harsh mountain range, as such, there''s very little communication with other countries. Giving them a form of isolation second only to Kirigakure5Hidden Mist Village? WOOOOO! The wind started to pick up the more we progressed through this rugged country ?With all this crap blowing in my eyes, I can understand why no one wants to come here!? ?Careful Tai. The northern wind passes over these mountains, carrying dust and pebbles from the to the surrounding countries. Cover your mouth, don''t let it get in your throat? I remember Pyua-nee mentioning something that. A famous natural phenomenon called "Gan''u"6"Rock Rain", turbulent drafts carrying rocks along the outer edge of the country ?Most of this place is barren, but from I''ve heard, there used to be bustling metropolis towards the rear of the village...but it''s no more? ?What happened to it?? ?Who knows? Money''s on war...but I''m not sure. Considering this village is overpopulated, you''d think another, industrialized city full of business would help their economic situation. The whole history behind it is strange to say the least...? That''s not ominous at all, always with the cryptic one-liners Tango. You''re probably jinxing us ?Uwah...this land is completely desolate, as expected of Sunagakure''s7Hidden Sand villageneighbor? Tai mused ?The whole country isn''t entirely barren. There''s a couple of forests here and there, most of them closer to its border with the Land of Fire. Though I suspect the reason by the fertility in those areas is likely due to the 1st Hokage8Fire Shadow, Hashirama Senju? ?Right. His famous Kekkei Genkai9Bloodline LimitNinjutsu, the Mokuton10Wood Style? Suzu added Wood Style...now that piques my interest I''ve long considered the possibilities of his DNA in my hands for years. With the lab and my knowledge, there''s no telling what I could do. Unfortunately, it isn''t easy acquiring. As of this moment, the only people who have access to it are Orochimaru, and Tobi I thought about capturing one of Zetsu''s clones, since their basically made of Hashirama''s genes...but how often does a random shinobi from Kumogakure run into one of those things? ?Heads up guys, it''s time to ditch this troop? ?Wait...is that-?? Tai squinted his eyes, trying to get a better view at the structure in the distance ?Bingo...? Getting closer, the image in the distance became visible. What appeared to be a mountain, was in the fact constructed walls for a village, composed entirely of stone Heh! As expected of the Earth nation "My students, welcome to Iwagakure..." 194. Iwagakure MrProper Once the Daimy from the Land of Flowers and his caravan approached Iwagakure''s1Hidden Stone Villagewalls, our team separated from the group, finding a spot to hide Two groups from different countries travelling together was naturally suspicious during these tense, post-war times. After all, it wasn''t that long ago when we were all trying to kill one another during the last shinobi world war "Agh...this spot is uncomfortable" Tai complained "Just grin and bear it. They''re almost through the entrance" I reminded him Hanging back on a slope located just over two kilometers from the village, remaining in cover, Suzu and I were about to get up and take the lead towards the gates after the last of them entered the village when- GRIP! GRIP! "!" "Not yet" Tango grabbed our shoulders, holding us back "Let''s wait a bit longer" "..." Right. Going in the moment right after they did would be too much of a coincidence. Still, going through the trouble of taking all these extra steps, just to enter the place safely...we really are in hostile territory With a little more waiting, Tango finally gave us the okay to move. Upon our arrival, the gate guards didn''t even try to hide their disapproval of us entering their village. But they eventually let us in after deliberately being slow about it Once inside, it was hard not get lost at the sights before us. Excluding Tango, this was first time we''ve been inside a Great Shinobi Village that wasn''t Kumogakure "Woah...look at the stalls, the homes, the buildings. EVERYTHING is made of rock and stone. Check it out, they''re even selling rock candy" Tai exclaimed "It''s actually just a treat composed of sweets, from large sugar crystals. Oh! There''s even a pottery store. I''d like to study their methods for my own use if we have time" Even the usually quiet Suzu couldn''t help but become invested "Towers everywhere...did they create them with Doton2Earth Style? I wonder what the architect was thinking when this village was created" Even I have interests outside of tech and food CLAP! "?!" "Alright you three, that''s enough. This isn''t a vacation, lets get to the hotel Karai so graciously reserved for us" Tango snapped us out of our daze Waltzing through this place, I couldn''t help but admire how these people have managed to survive here Along the way, I''ve barely glimpsed even the slightest sign of vegetation. And the food stall prices for produce were set at ridiculous rates Likely a result of the unsettling terrain they''ve had to deal with for centuries "We''re here. Take a mental note of this location, memorize every conceivable route, consider various scenarios and solutions in the event of a disaster" Tango advised The place Karai booked wasn''t too shabby. Just as he promised, too near a public area for someone to start a scene. I was particularly pleased with the hotel room itself once we checked in An open wide space, filled with enough room to host at least ten people, let alone the four of us. A mini fridge on the side wall, and due to the hotel''s elevated location, we had a window view of the entire village While I was scoping out the room, Suzu couldn''t help but point out the lack of occupants on this floor of the hotel "Karai booked this entire floor the explicit purpose of hosting our allies" Tango answered "Allies? I thought we were the only ones from Kumogakure here?" I asked "Sorry Rei, let me clarify some things. As you already know, the Chunin Exams are unique depending on the village hosting, but all keep to the same standards. Do you know what they are?" "It''s separated into three distinct tests. The first is to test us mentally, and the second is physical..." Suzu corrected answered Mentally and physically...in other words, Yin and Yang... "And of what of third--um...Tai!" "E-Eh?! Um...if I''m correct sensei, the third acts as a competition that not only tests both, but--er, is executed in a way that fully demonstrates contestant abilities towards spectators" Tai haphazardly answered "Correct. These new shared Chunin Exams are to improve relations between nations who were at war not so long ago, present promising ninja to clients, and provide business opportunities and gambling" According to what Notitia told me, this is first major multi-country Chunin Exams. Before the 3rd Shinobi World War, the villages typically kept Chunin promotion to themselves. The only time shinobi would journey from one nation to another for this, would be if their respective villages were already allies The last war was bad enough that hardly anyone profited from it, prompting the rich and powerful to finally get up off their spoiled, lazy asses and do something about it In response, nearly every Daimy went to work coming up with something to encourage peace and trade between nations once the conflict came to end. Their answer was this But these exams...their timing is off. This event should''ve occurred almost two years ago, being delayed repeatedly for a variety of reasons. Which means only one thing... The "Ripples" are getting worse "..." "Even with these requirements, each exam is unique, so knowledge of old exams can''t help much. But to answer your previous question Rei, it''s the third and final exam that gives us the right to bring other VIPs from our home, into this village. Assuming you make it to the final round, Raikage-sama and the Daimy-sama, along with a slew of Kumo-nin will join us at this residence, hence every single room on this floor has been booked in advance" "So any ninja of the Five Great Shinobi Nations who makes it to last round, their respective Kage will naturally come to represent whichever village they hail from?" Suzu inquired "Not just the Five nations, but any village leader or head ninja will arrive as well. It also provides us privacy for the first and second exams during our stay here" Tango responded "In other words, we can turn this place into our territory, which definitely comes in handy if others looking to up their odds of success consider conducting...foul play" I implied "Bingo. Right on the money as usual Rei" Karai and Kumogakure have completely covered their basis to ensure safe conditions during our tenure here. Just when I was considering the need to carry out some "extra curricular" activities in secret It''s nice when competent people are in your corner "With that out of the way, let me lay out some ground rules. You''re not to leave this hotel under any circumstances, especially without my permission. That means you Rei, no rule breaking" "Yeah yeah" "I''m serious, even now, it''d be wise to assume someone is targeting your life. When we leave for the exam location, we''ll move quick and quiet. No stops, no detours, no exceptions" "Sensei? Is it gonna be like this the entire time? I mean come on, we''re in another great shinobi village for the first time..." Tai asked "...If you wanna see the sights that bad, you''d better make it to the final round. Because only when this floor is filled with ninja from our village will it be slightly more safe for you to tour this place" "Seriously?" "Tai, I don''t even want you to eat any food besides what we''ve brought here ourselves. I even brought a mini rice cooker and grill for the explicit purpose of avoiding potential poisoned meals" Wow, Tango went all out for this. It''s always funny to think the best way to be a ninja, is to be the best cheater "I think we''ll be okay" I uttered "You just jinxed yourself Rei" Tai remarked "No. You just jinxed me Tai. If I get poisoned, I''m gonna kick your ass as bad as Tomoe does" "You''re so petty! And again, stop putting it like that. She TRAINED me!" "Yeah. By kicking your ass" "N-Ngh!!!" Tango raised his hand, urging us to focus on the larger issue at hand, that being our security "Gotta do all of this just to have some fun...maybe I should''ve remained a civilian" Tai sighed heavily as he slumped on a wall Tango sat down on the Tatami3A traditional, Japanese type of floor mat and gestured for us to join him. After picking personal spots and placing our baggage down, he took out the map of Iwagakure Karai gave him at his hideout Knowing our first exam was tomorrow afternoon, he wasted no time going over specific details to help ensure our success. Along with disclosing safe routes and emergency protocols for us to follow Before we knew it, night had come, and our esteemed instructor ordered us to get some rest. Settling in my sleeping bag, I was sandwiched between Tai and Suzu About to catch some shuteye too, before noticing Tango place some sort of paper on the door, amongst other areas in the room "It''s probably some sort of Kanchi Kekkai4Sensing BarrierNinjutsu utilizing those paper tags to alert us of any...uninvited guests" Suzu explained when she noticed my curious gaze "Since when were you so well versed in Kekkai Ninjutsu5Barrier Techniques?" "I spent the last three months on Genbu, remember? Captain Moroi and his barrier team remained there the entire time. Motoi used to member, and introduced me to some of his old friends" "They taught you their techniques?" "No, there was no time. I was mainly focused on my training with Killer B-sama and Yugito-sama. I only had a chance to learn a little about the stand principles of-" "Cut the chatter, and go to sleep" Tango interjected "I''ll tell you later Rei, good night" "Good night" The others drifted off to sleep while Tango remained ready and alert. Fully intending on staying awake all night long, he''s one thing if not dedicated What''s really surprising is the fact Tai and Suzu can sleep so soundly, thought they''d be more nervous. Then again, it''s only the first exam tomorrow. Compared to what I''ve heard of the other exams, it can hardly be called a crucible, no point in getting nervous Now that I''m finally here, the sheer weight of what to expect finally hit me. The thought of my actions here would change not only myself, or my village...but everything What a pain in the ass... 195. The Third Lifeline MrProper My team and I departed our hotel at eleven, exactly one hour before the Chunin Exams begin. Waltzing through the streets of Iwagakure1Hidden Stone Villagetogether, Tango remained ever vigilant at the front, with Suzu in tow Tai and I strolled behind them, moving side by side while speaking in private. Or rather, he listened to me grumble... "This sucks..." "Rei...get it together man, we''re almost at the building" Tai groaned after looking at my sour face "Come on Tai" I''m so irritable right now "You can''t honestly believe it wasn''t a crappy night" "I''m not denying it, but...priorities. My mind, like yours, should only be focused on what''s to come" Why am I feeling this way? It isn''t because of the first exam...though it''ll naturally have its own share of bullshit problems for me to fret over later No. My issue is with that goddamn hotel. I didn''t notice at first since we just got back from what seemed like an endless, treacherous journey. All of us were on "full alert" for a while, even prior to our arrival here It was only after I relaxed did I finally realize it... "This place is hot as hell...!" it felt as if the sun was punching me in the face "Keep it down. And what''d you expect? Considering the environment" "Ugh..." "Just be glad we didn''t come here during the summer" Tai was right, considering one of this country''s closet neighbors is situated atop a blazing hot dessert I thought pre-exam jitters were the cause for my sleep deficiency, it took a minute to realize the blistering heat in this stony village is what kept me from getting a good night sleep And messing with my sleep is one of the few pet peeves that''ll make me want to rip someone''s head off "Wow Rei. Now I know what you''re like when you wake up cranky...aren''t you supposed to be the calm & cool type?" "Tai, you should know by now that I''ve never been such. I''m more of the, mess with me and I''ll slit your throat, type" "You... scare me. Reminds me of mom" "Hehe. Yes...we do get along SO well, now don''t we" My smile returned "The hell is that supposed to mean?! And why are you grinning now?! How often do you hang out with my her?!" "Hehehe! Think I''ll keep that to myself. Thanks for cheering me up buddy" "Messing with me is what brings you happiness?! You''re the worst type of friend!" That reaction of his never gets old But seriously, I need to speed up modernization in this stupid-ass world, it''s crappy conditions aren''t gonna cut it for me in the future. Mental note, design new air conditioning system for Tetsuo to manufacture...on a MASS scale Soon, there will be an even greater need for revenue, due to the new projects I''ve devised in the recent months... "That''s enough boys, we''re here" Tango silenced us the moment we arrived "So this is it huh?" Tai couldn''t take his eyes off the building Suzu''s wordplay was as stoic as usual "Thought it''d be more...extravagant" Now she fits the definition of the "calm & cool" type The structure itself was of simple design, little more than three stories. According to Tango, it used to be the Iwagakure shinobi academy before they built another, improved version at a location far away from here For good reason too, this facility doesn''t seem big enough to host all of the participants, let alone an entire school "Enough dawdling, let''s get your registration over with" Tango wasted no time, being the first to enter the building The four of us were greeted by the sole person inside, an Iwagakure kunochi acting as a receptionist. The floors, walls, and even her desk were made out of beautifully paved stone of various types "Please provide your numbers" The Genin and I presented our Shinobi identification numbers per the woman''s request. Upon confirming our identities, she directed us down a narrow hallway towards our left. Complying with her words, we did as instructed and stopped before a pair of closed doors It was at this moment, reality really sunk in. The doors represented the point of no return, that last chance to back out is now. The three of us turned around and faced our Sensei one last time... Folding his arms, he spoke with optimism "You''ve long since prepared for this day, and I''ve already said what I need to. My students are tough, they don''t need words of encouragement...but I''ll make you a nice promise anyway" "?" "Once you ace these exams with flying colors, I''ll personally treat you. Not as students, but as equal colleagues" Tango grinned from ear to ear Upon seeing his eyes lacking any trace of doubt in us, Suzu and Tai were reassured. There were no more words said, and we entered the waiting room for the examinees, getting our last glimpse of Tango as the twin doors slowly shut SLAM! "This is..." Suzu remained vigilant "That''s a lot more than I expected" Tai treaded carefully "It''s not the number I''m concerned with..." And I was looking for specific individuals Inside, there were shinobi of numerous nations scattered everywhere. My senses could pick up over two hundred chakra signatures easy, and this still wasn''t everyone...damn Attire, headbands, demeanor, the room became a cornucopia of cultures, trepidation, and a thirst for blood "Hey, let''s hurry up and find a place to sit in solitude. Think it''s best we keep our interactions with these guys to a minimum" Suzu suggested "Right behind you. Hm? Rei? What are you looking for?" Tai asked as he noticed me glancing around in search of my true objective "E-Eh? Oh...it''s nothing" "Well, come on. Don''t lag behind" "Right" Damn it, there are so many people, that I can''t find "them"! Did I arrive here too early? Tai and Suzu were saying something, but I couldn''t really hear as my thoughts were on something else. A foreboding sensation that''s bothered me since the day I discovered how much of things had..."changed" Yes...that conversation between Notitia and I ??? Some time ago While carrying out a bit of physical preparation within my lab, an idea bloomed in the back of my mind...and it wasn''t a pleasant one For the previous weeks, I couldn''t help but become distracted at the revelation my actions may have caused the creation of this supposed, "Company", a clandestine organization that seems hellbent on makin my life more difficult Even worse, Notitia claimed it couldn''t help much, even with a Lifeline. Whoever these people are, their actions and presence seem to be very similar to mine. According to Notitia, they don''t "belong" in this world''s course anymore than I do Still...it doesn''t mean I can''t get some answers for the approaching trials headed my way. And with that... "Notitia..." [What''s up?] "Haaaa...I want to use a Lifeline" [...CONFIRMED...] [...NOW INITIATING LIFELINE CLIENT REQUEST...] I''m always hesitant whenever I do this. Not just Notitia''s sudden change of speech or the "creeped out" feeling I get, but with this one, I''ll have used three out of my five Only two more remain... [...PLEASE PRESENT A QUERY...] "I want to know what I should expect in the upcoming Chunin exams, more importantly, what I can do to prevent more Ripples from being created" [...REQUEST CONFIRMED...] [...PROCESSING...] [...ASSESSING OUTLINE...] [...FACTORING CLIENT VARIABLES...] "Client variables"? Is is referring to me, and what effects I''ll cause? [...ITERATION COMPLETE...] [...SWITCHING BACK TO CENTRAL FIGURE...] "..." [Okay...that wasn''t fun at all] "Did your so-called other provide you with a sufficient answer to my request?" [Yes and no] It''s always enigmatic responses with this thing [We have an answer, but it''s not one you''d prefer. Our "sight" is expanded whenever a Lifeline is used, and there''s much we can see in this world, but the inevitable conclusion is that no matter what you do, the world has been permanently set off its initial course] "That''s what I was afraid of" [But you can still mitigate some of the damage] Bad news before the good, it''s like ripping off a band aid. It sucks Notitia can''t remain so "prim & proper" like this all the time, instead of only during a Lifeline use "Explain" [There are several candidates in the Chunin exams that must remain alive if you are to avoid major alterations. Due to recent events altering the date of the exams, there are many who are..."off schedule"] "...Meaning there are those who are taking this exam either too early...or too late?" [Correct. Whether they pass or not isn''t much of an issue, as another opportunity will remain later down the line] "But? Come on, there''s always a but with you" [There is one particular subject that must proceed no matter of what, or the Ripples you face now will pale in comparison to the ones created should this person fail or die] There''s always a catch... "Give me names..." ??? Present time My squad sat by one of the waiting room''s corners in solitude. Tai and Suzu chatted while I memorized the faces of every single person in the room. After some time, I began to spot my primary "persons of interest" "Those twins in the back...their Kirigakure2Hidden Mist Villageheadbands confirms it, it the Oni Kydai3Demon Brothers" I continued whispering to myself The personal guards of Zabuza, and one of Naruto''s first, true shinobi opponents "That Iwa-nin...I''m pretty sure that''s Akatsuchi" A favored, personal guard of the 3rd Tsuchikage4Earth Shadow. Pretty sure I don''t have to worry about him passing, as I do him dying "Over there, more Konoha-nin" Those two were personal gate guards, and worked with the 3rd Hokage''s5Fire Shadowson, Asuma Sarutobi. Kotetsu Hagane and Izumo Kaimizuki...according to Notitia, they''re early for their Chunin promotion Likely a result of how grandiose this event has become, the Hokage probably threw a bunch of ninja from Konohagakure6Hidden Leaf Villagejust to up the chances of victory, just as everyone else did "Hm?! W-Wait a sec...is that-?!" "What did you say, I didn''t hear you?" Tai asked in response to my little outburst "N-No...it''s nothing. Don''t mind me" "?" What the hell is HE doing here?! "Iruka Umino..." Though his presence isn''t that great down the road, his actions do leave a massive impact on Naruto, the most important person in this world! Crap, I have to make sure nothing happens to him...if he fails, or god forbid dies...I''m completely screwed! Who are those guys next to him? His squad? I don''t recognize the one wearing his headband in a bandana-style, but the other scrawny, pale-lookin one next to him... "Isn''t he that scrub Naruto almost killed?" Yeah...the one who tricked the kid into stealing the "Scroll of Seals" from the village. Naruto learned how to use shadow clones from it....what was his nam--oh! Mizuki. A traitor and overall asshole jealous of his childhood friend Iruka. Though I''d like to punch him in the face, he also plays integral role down the line Haaaa...I might as well just focus on ensuring that whole squad passes "Who else..." I continued my "scouting", memorizing the chakra signatures of any relevant people present. As time passed, more and more people entered, some I did and didn''t recognize. But I remembered their faces, so I''ll run it by Notitia later Still... "Where''s the most important one? I don''t see-?! Ah! There he is..." "You noticed something?" Suzu asked "Yup, keep an eye on that one" Flawlessly blending into the surroundings, as if he were an assassin. His short stature resembled my own, but it makes sense considering the short age gap between him and I... Black hair pulled back in a low ponytail like mine, hair bangs hanging down to his chin. Wearing a short-sleeved black shirt with his clan''s symbol of a red and white fan on the back, white bandages around his ankles and wrists, along with tan-colored pants and black sandals A standard shinobi weapons pouch above his rear end and a shuriken holster tied to his right thigh. A short sword sheathed within a holster strappedon his back. And a Konohagakure headband with a black band over his forehead He''s the most important person here... "Do you know that small kid?" "Who is he Rei?" The pair couldn''t hide their curiosity at the individual I''d taken an interest in "Itachi...Uchiha..." 196. First Exam, Begin! MrProper Two months ago "Wait wait wait! Itachi Uchiha?! Why would that guy be-?! He should''ve already taken his exams a while ago--ah...shit. Agh, damn Ripples...!" [Quite so. As for the reason, I''m sure you recall the overloading of Kusagakure''s1Hidden Grass Village notorious "Blood Prison"] "Because of what we did on Summoning Island. There were too many mercenaries to take back to the village for interrogation, so Toroi sent the rest to the prison. After that, Kusagakure needed help maintaining the prison and reached out to it''s neighbor, the Land of Fire" [In response to Kusa''s request, the Fire Daimy went to Konohagakure2Hidden Leaf Village for aid. It''s top brass replied by sending the acting police force for Konoha, the Uchiha clan to aid in the prison''s security. The clan''s responsibilities became even more expanded, and as a result, Itachi''s promotion to Chunin was delayed...thus his acceptance into the ANBU. This "error" has set various events in motion as well, including the Siege] "It''s one bad thing after another..." [In truth, it was merely a ploy by the Konoha elders to keep the clan they''ve been having trouble with...preoccupied] "Wait...does all of this mean the prison break caused by the Company was planned to proceed earlier?" [Perhaps...but there''s little, to no validation in support of your speculations] "Still...there might be a clue there, something I can use to uncover their true identities and goals" [The ones who caused the Siege had to wait until the Uchiha overstayed their welcome and returned full control of the prison to the Kusagakure] "Tension between the Uchiha and Konoha is in all likelihood higher than ever, but if Itachi''s path is completely diverged...maybe I can--" [You can''t save them from destruction] "?!" [While the concept of mitigating the damage is feasible, the task''s completion is demanding to say the least. In addition, it''ll all be for naught if Itachi''s altered course derails the coming future] "..." [He was supposed to be a Chunin at ten, and now like you, he''s twelve years old. Itachi must be put back on course if you''re to control these ongoing distortions to the original timeline. It''s easy to forget he''s only two months older than "Rei"] "I''m well aware, since I''ve been using him to keep track of the world''s progress. He made his debut in the Manga around the age of seventeen or eighteen, so it''s safe to say I have little over five years until Part 1 begins" [Your window for progression is shortening each day. And your due date is subject to change, given all the alterations that have already transpired. However, it''s still most likely true, the moment you turn seventeen is when the true "game" begins...] "That''s when I''ll have to divert nearly all my time and energy into looking after the two most crucial characters, Naruto and Sasuke..." [Correct] "..." [Has your Lifeline request been properly fulfilled?] "Yes...it has. I now know what to do. Thanks Notitia, I''ll call upon you again once your recovery from this Lifeline is completed" [...CONFIRMED...] [...NOW ENDING SUPPORT MODE...] "I''ve got a lot of work ahead of me..." ??? Present Time "The number keeps getting bigger...just how many are coming?" Tai wondered as he stared at the doors of the waiting room "As many as it takes. Don''t focus on them, but rather the clock. The moment the dial hits twelve, the exams will begin and anyone who''s yet to arrive will have to wait until next year" Suzu calmly replied {No wonder there were so many attempts to slow us down. Had we been delayed at sea, this event would''ve been missed all together. Even with all the extra steps taken by Kumogakure in ensuring our arrival...it was still a close call} Tai recalled their previous attackers posing as pirates There were probably numerous squads who came under attack during their journey to Iwagakure3Hidden Stone Village But while the pair chatted, Rei''s attention was glued on one of his primary objectives, Itachi. Committing his, as well as other important individual''s, chakra signatures to memory. Whether he succeeded in his purpose or not, it was likely he''d interact with said relevant "characters" very frequently in the future The air in the room grew more and more tense as the minutes went by, as one should expect when shinobi of different nations in this high amount, gather together in an enclosed space...which only grew tighter as more candidates arrived Like Rei, others began staring, sizing up the competition. Some took it a step further, outright glaring at those who hailed from lands that didn''t have a good impression of {At this rate, a fight''s gonna break out. What time is it-!} Just as Rei finished his thought... SLAM! "?!" "Alright...I believe that''s enough waiting for one day!" An Iwagakure shinobi came bursting out of the other set of twin doors opposite the entrance within the waiting room A brawny man with a tall figure. Dark-colored eyes and hair along with a shaved face, nothing but a ''five o''clock shadow'' remaining. Rei immediately recognized him upon spotting his bulbous nose, reminiscent of the 3rd and current Tsuchikage4Earth Shadow, noki Rei whispered to himself "Future commander of the Allied Shinobi Forces Second Division, son of noki, and father to the future 4th Tsuchikage, Kurotsuchi..." "You can call me Kitsuchi! I''ll be acting as head proctor for this years Chunin Exams!" His burly voice roared throughout the room, easily grabbing the full attention of everyone present. This loud man before them exuded a strong presence that reminded Rei of the Raikage {Great...another shouting muscle head} Rei mused "Participants! This way!" Kitsuchi commanded as if it were natural for everyone to comply But everyone did, following him through the doors he just burst through, down a lengthy hallway. In no time at all, the waiting room filled with hundreds of participants...was empty The large batch of Genin found themselves inside a large classroom upon arriving at their destination Bearing resemblance to Rei''s old "Cloud Academy" class, the room was built with long horizontal desks placed in rows that elevated upwards from the teacher''s area of room {Everything''s made out of stone as well, with papers and pencils on the desks...a written exam, just as I thought} Rei surmised "Huh? What are those large doors on the wall behind the teacher''s desk?" Tai quietly questioned "No clue...let''s wait for now" Suzu suggested Kitsuchi gestured for everyone to take a seat wherever they liked, waiting at the front of the class. Team Tango grabbed a spot on the edge of a row, with Rei situated between his teammates Once the individual teams were seated, he addressed the group once more "First off, I''d like to welcome you all to this years Chunin Exams. Many of us have waited for this day for a long time, know that you''re not representing just yourselves, but your respective villages. How you conduct yourselves here will reflect on your homes, never forget that" Upon receiving these words, many displayed various reactions. Some took it quite seriously, others already knew the stakes, and a small few didn''t seem to care at all Most were eager to simply flip over the test paper lying in front of them and begin writing {Hehe, what a bunch of precocious brats} Sensing the impatience of many, Kitsuchi smiled and obliged the itch so many desired to scratch "With that out of the way, allow to clarify what will be your...First Exam" 197. New Challenges MrProper The testing room was completely silent, the only sound heard was the head proctor''s, Kitsuchi''s burly voice None wished to miss a single detail of the exam rules, and the man himself stated he''d only explain them once. Anyone who missed a vital clue or a particular point would be out of luck "What lies before you now is a written exam containing a set number of questions. You''ve thirty minutes to finish it, along with the other half of the exam" Kitsuchi explained "What do you mean by other?" asked a genin as he raised his hand "Exactly what it means, the First Exam is composed of two different parts. Once you''ve completed the papers in front of you, you''ll begin the second part of the test. Which awaits you past these doors behind me" "And what is the second part exactly?" "Kekeke...once inside, you''ll find out" Kitsuchi teased with a ominous grin Many starting gossiping amongst themselves in response to this revelation Countless theories spread amongst crowd as the examinees tried to ascertain exactly what they''d expect upon entering the two large doors situated behind Kitsuchi {Shit...I thought it was strange when I didn''t spot any sentinels! There''s no one here to monitor us for cheating during the test. This won''t be like the one I read about in the Manga!} Even Rei held worrisome thoughts of his own... "I''ll give you a hint. After the first ten minutes, if you really wanna pass, I highly recommend you and your squad be finished with those papers. As long as those exams sheets have even one answer filled, you''re qualified to waltz through one of these doors. However, be prepared to risk everything you hold dear" "Proctor. About those doors...do they offer the same test? Or are they different?" "I''ll leave that up to your imagination" CLAMOR! The crowd grew even more agitated, and frustrated at Kitsuchi''s ambiguity, but the latter cared little for the glares of dissatisfaction from this group he considered to be...a bunch of ignorant whelps Casually continuing with his explanation "One last thing! Choice will always remain in your hands. The choice to take the exam, the choice to progress further, or the choice to get up and go back the way you came. After all, there''s always next year" Eyes shifted left and right as those present wondered which door they should pick. Some silently regretted coming here, reflecting upon their initial arrival at the front desk... For each and every squad present that registered, had also signed a death waiver A few got up from their seats and left the room, giving up on going any further. Believing life was far more important than "honor and glory" {So many have remained...hundreds of them. Waiting any longer isn''t going get anywhere, it''s time to start} Kitsuchi understood Once the noise came to end, Kitsuchi took out a stop watch and instructed everyone to begin once gave his approval Rei whispered to his team "Guys, just focus on answering what you can. If there''s a problem you''re having trouble with, ignore it. We''ll leave together" Tai and Suzu nodded subtly nodded in response "And...BEGIN!!" FLAP! FLAP! FLAP! One by one, the sound of papers flipping over echoed in the room, everyone went to work, frantically filling out as many "answer boxes" on the written test as they could The pressure was easily felt, the sound of Kitsuchi''s stop-watch ticking only reminded them of what little time they had. In order to succeed, every minute, every second, every moment was invaluable But not all were intimidated... {Though complicated for some, I can easily finish this in less than five minutes. Still, ''Only one answer is necessary''...they''re not putting much emphasis on the written exam...but that could be trap in itself. He said it''d be best we finish before ten minutes pass to gain an advantage during the second part...} Rei glanced at the doors In this world, there''s always a hidden meaning. The crucial factor this engineer from another world committed to his memory the moment he began his journey Answering question after question, he compartmentalized and focused on what he could do now, rather than dwell on the unknown {That should do it. Strange, most of these questions leaned towards a scientific edge, than a ninja one...though the line between both is very thin. Oh...looks like Tai and Suzu have finished as well, nice, only six minutes have passed since we began. We''ve plenty of time for the unknown second part} "It looks like some of the others have already left" Tai noted "Yeah, let''s get a move on" Suzu was the first to leave her seat The trio got up and left their exam sheets at the desk in front of Kitsuchi, the man in question directed them to choose of the two doors to enter Both were completely identical, but they knew there was no time to waste on deciding. After a moment of deliberation, Team Tango entered the door on the right, leaving the room ??? The team scampered along a narrow hallway that continued to descend downwards, "At this point, we''re definitely several feet underground. What exactly is this other part of test?" Rei wondered "No clue, but I think I can see a door!" Suzu exclaimed "Let''s go!" CREAK! After checking for any booby traps, Tai opened the door "H-Huh...? What is this? Where is everybody?" "Somethings off..." "You''re right. There were more than few who left before us, and went through the same door, how are we the only ones here?" The Genin found themselves inside a small white cubic room, nearly empty. The only thing inside was a metal desk and what appeared to be an oxygen tank with a single rebreather mask attached to it by a rubber tube On the ceiling, light shined through two window-shaped openings fastened with metal bars, suitable for a prison cell window Before they could elaborate further, a voice that sounded like a recording emerged from above, outside the room "[Welcome to the final part of your exam. To pass this test, the objective is simple...escape this room within the remaining allotted time. NOTE, use of Ninjutsu is ill advised]" "H-Huh? That''s it? Easy, we''ll just leave the way we-?! What the hell?!" "What''s wrong Tai?! What--ah!" "Shit...they got us" Turning around, they were met with shock upon discovering the door leading inside had seemingly disappeared, as if it was never there to begin with Now, Team Tango was trapped inside with no way out "Okay, they said allotted time, and Kitsuchi stated the entire exam had a thirty minute time frame. We finished the first part in six minutes, and it''s been about two and half since we''ve arrived. Now, how do we get out. Suggestions?" Rei asked "Let''s try the ceiling. Those two barred openings on the ceiling might work if climb up and cut them with blades" Tai readied himself to run upwards on the wall, and reach the window "Hold on, that seems a little too obvious for--TAI!" It was too late for Rei to say anything, as Tai already began running, but when he tried to scale the wall... "See, piece of cak--huh? W-Whoa! OH CRAP!" BAM! He fell right off, landing on his head "O-Owww! That freaking hurt...what the hell?!" "Are you alright?" Suzu helped him up Rei walked past them and placed his right hand on the wall, closing his eyes while concentrating {This chakra...so that''s it} "Guys! This wall--no, this room...it''s made from minerals unique to the Land of Earth. Even more, I can feel Tai''s chakra pulsing through the wall" "E-Eh? Why would my chakra be inside the wall?" "When you tried to scale it with chakra, the wall reacted to the energy you kneaded within your feet, disturbing the adhesive effect, hence you falling off. Be careful using chakra from this point onwards, who knows what''ll happen" "What?! How is that fair?!" "Guess this is what they meant by avoiding the use of Ninjutsu. We''re probably not supposed to escape through the barred windows on the ceiling right? When you think about it, that solution is too obvious" Suzu accurately perceived "Right. It wouldn''t make sense to make a test about escaping, and then place the exit in plain view. It doesn''t make any sense" "So that means...the exit in this room is somewhere else. And with this strange material everywhere...Ninjutsu isn''t on the table" Tai managed to grasp the room''s true nature "Let''s search this room. Tai study that desk in the corner, there''s definitely a reason why it was placed there" Suzu advised "On it...oof! Wow!" "What?" "It''s just--I thought this desk might be for climbing or something but...it''s insanely heavy. Dense too, hold on a sec" Tai took out a kunai from his pouch and struck the desk, but when he did... CLANK! "?!" "Well damn. It''s really tough" ...the kunai blade shattered into pieces the instant it came into contact "An extremely sturdy desk, an oxygen tank, and a room with no doors that also reacts to chakra in strange ways...and we''re supposed to escape? We''re definitely not in the academy anymore" Tai mused The pair continued to survey the room, searching every nook and cranny available Rei, still standing where he was, placed his other free hand on the wall in an attempt to cautiously study any reactions it might have with his own chakra Despite the situation, he couldn''t hold back his scientific curiosity for this material, as it was unlike anything he''s ever encountered since arriving in this world {As expected of the Land of Earth. The unique structure of the wall material really does have a unique reaction whenever chakra comes into contact with it. I''m not even trying, and I can feel the surface becoming...warmer?} DRIP! "Hm? Did someone hear that? It sounded like--ah!" "These twisted bastards..." "W-Wait...you mean they''re actually gonna-?!" "It''s exactly so Tai" SPLOOSH! As if things couldn''t be worse, water started to flow from the openings on the ceiling "At this rate, this entire room will be filled water in no time..." 198. New Problems "Nuh-uh! NO! This isn''t-!" Tai started rambling frantically "Uhhh...Tai, you okay there buddy?" "No, absolutely not Rei! HELL NO! I did not put up with months of mom beating my ass just so I could drown!" "So you''re finally saying it out loud" SPLASH! "Boys, focus. Room flooding with water?" Suzu interjected, her mind on the important matter at hand For the the water in the room had just spread to ever corner of the floor, now starting to rise. While Rei and Tai continued to look around for clues, Suzu had an epiphany Recalling the hints given to them at the start of the exam... "Kitsuchi said it''s in everyone''s interest to enter this testing area before ten of the thirty minutes given to us had passed. Giving the timing, it''s safe to assume the water was set to drop after ten minutes, any other team who took too long on the written part would have a much more difficult time. But his earlier message implies-" Suzu deduced Kitsuchi''s true intentions "There is a way to escape this place...!" Tai exclaimed in relief "The first and second exams tests the mind and body respectively, Tango drilled that into our heads. We''re still technically in the first one, and with this strange, chakra-reacting wall...we''re probably not supposed to break out with brute strength" Rei realized "Soooooo...we solve this with our heads? Okay, anyone got any ideas? Since we don''t know whether or not it''s safe to use chakra in this strange room, how do we get out here?" "Given the rate of water flowing, it''s unlikely to fill up the room before our remaining twenty minutes pass. So swimming to the top after we''ve been submerged isn''t a practical idea" noted Suzu after peeking at the barred openings on the ceiling "You''re right, and there''s no guarantee we''d be able to cut through those bars" Suzu studied the oxygen tank and glanced at the ceiling, before making her way to the stainless metal desk on the corner of the room. Compiling her thoughts as she tried to unravel their current conundrum {There''s only one rebreather mask...but this is a test for teams} "Hm? Suzu, what''s up? Did you figure out something?" "Yes, I may have. Guys, why would they give us only one mask for a team?" "Ah--um, well...huh. I have no clue" "Simple. It''s a tactic to get us to turn on each other" Rei unequivocally answered "For real?!" "Haaaa...I knew it" Suzu sighed {This kind strategy reminds me of Kakashi''s Bell Test} "Hmm...hey guys. I don''t think it''s for breathing under water. That tanks serves another purpose than trying to test our teamwork" Rei suggested "Rei, Tai, what about the written test? The questions themselves...could there be some hint or clue?" "Each one was related in someway to ninja, but I noticed many of them were based in chemistry...very advanced chemistry. Some geometry, and integrated problems based on unpredictability...questions that most Genin wouldn''t even be able to answer" "The only reason we managed to get through it is due to the intense teachings our Gifted Generation underwent at Cloud Academy" "You''re right, the whole time, I did feel like we were back in school with Osoi-sensei. And those particular questions..." Tai recalled {That''s right, the relations between chakra and matter is the best way to sum it up. And now here I am, studying this wall and how it reacts to mine...that can''t be a coincidence} Rei gained some insight "I may have theory. Rei, can you strike that desk for me please? There''s something I''d like to confirm" Suzu requested "Hit that?" He glanced at the desk, having a little hesitancy for her request Rei remembered the kunai Tai used to strike it, and how it shattered into pieces. But sounds of the flooding room continuing to rise forced him to set aside his fears, as he already found himself walking towards it At this point in time, the water had reached his ankles {Well...in for a penny} "HAAH!" SLAM! KLONK! The clanging noise of his powerful fist striking the desk echoed in the room. Suzu and Tai approached to see the result once he lifted his hand, only to find the desk held a dent no greater than several inches "Holy...okay. This thing is even stronger than I thought" Rei skittishly stated as he felt his hand tremble "I''m sorry, I clearly underestimated how dense it was. Here, let me see" Suzu apologetically stated as she held his hand, checking for signs of injury "Damn...my kunai barely did a thing, and you managed to dent it. Hey Rei, how hard did you strike it?" "I didn''t go all out, and I refrained from using my chakra but...certainly enough that I''m surprised my fists did so little" {For a Taijutsu-focused ninja of Rei''s caliber being unable to break this, completely absurd. An oxygen tank, a nigh-indestructible desk, a ceiling with two barred openings on top for the water to enter, topped by walls that react and disrupt chakra...where''s the connection?} Suzu contemplated the true nature of this test "I struck the wall earlier, but it wasn''t as dense. There must be a reason, a purpose for the desk being here, same with the tank. We solve that, we solve this--!" SPLOOSH! Without warning, the rate of water dropping from ceiling increased "What the-?!" "Stay calm, it''s a scheme to make us loose our cool! Focus on the task at hand" Rei advised "We''ve already tested the walls, the ceiling isn''t an option, but you were able to dent the table, which is even more dense than the wall. The only way I see us getting out of here is by breaking out with a significant amount of force" Suzu determined "But it''s too dangerous to use chakra remember? How are we going to..." Tai stumbled mid-sentence after becoming distracted by something "This kind of shinobi exercise typically involves ascertaining some hidden meaning" "At a time like this, Tango-sensei would probably say something like, Read between the lines" Suzu mused "Heh! True...hm? Hey Tai! We boring you here?" "A-Ah! No..! It''s just...um...I''ve got this idea. It''s reckless, dangerous, and really really stupid but-" Rei and Suzu looked at each other, with the former nonchalantly shrugging his shoulders in approval. Suzu smirked and gestured for him to continue "Okay. Rei, out of everything here, which would you say has the weakest density?" "That''d be...hmm...I''d say the floor. The walls, ceiling, and desk were quite strong. Although, I didn''t strike the tank, for obvious reasons" "Yes! You didn''t want to risk it exploding, right?!" "Y-Yeah...where you going with this?" SPLISH! Tai placed his hand in the water and tapped the floor, knocking on it with his knuckles several times. After, he waltzed towards the walls and began kneading chakra near it "When we use chakra near this material, it reacts in unique ways. For example, these walls tend to get warmer when chakra is used on them" "Get to the point please, it''s starting to get hot" "Sorry. I think we''re supposed to blow ourselves out here...by using that oxygen tank" Upon hearing Tai''s idea, the pair stared at their teammate with dubious expressions. Even wondering if the pressure got to him, hence the irrational thoughts "I know that look, but hear me out. You said it yourself, the oxygen mask isn''t meant for breathing under water. But it''ll serve as a sufficient explosive, one that doesn''t use chakra" "Okay okay, I can see the appeal. But before you get any more creative ideas mister Shaman, first question, how do you expect us to survive said explosion?" "Well...I''ve haven''t gotten that far yet" Tai timidly said as he scratched the back of his head with an awkward smile "You haven''t gotten--wow, amazing Tai. Maybe Tomoe beat you up a little too much" "It''s a stupid idea...but maybe stupid is what we need now" Suzu remarked Tai and Rei turned to her in shock, for neither of them expected Suzu to condone such a rash, hasty plan. The latter was about to question her mental state when the young lady pointed towards a particular object in the room The sturdy desk that seemed unbreakable... "What do you think?" she questioned "It''s insane but...that might work" "The desk? Granted, it could take Rei''s fist, but an explosion...I don''t know. I was hoping for something more..." "It was your crazy plan Tai, so if we die, I''m gonna kill you" "It''s my fault now?! What I proposed was just a suggestion, not a plan! And that last comment doesn''t even make sense?!" Tai quickly became remorseful for sharing his hasty thoughts with the team. Dreading what''s to come in trepidation as he watched Suzu move the desk while Rei adjusted the pressure valve on the oxygen tank Suzu flipped the four-legged desk over, placed it in a corner, with the table top acting as a makeshift shield, facing the oxygen tank...which stood on the opposite end of the room "The prep''s been taken care of, all we need to do is heat the cylinders on it. Which shouldn''t be a problem thanks to the chakra-reacting material within these walls. Maybe this really is what we were supposed to do after all" "Let''s start flowing our chakra. Hey Tai, you might wanna get behind the table with us, instead of trembling there like an idiot" Rei casually advised "W-Whoa whoa whoa! I-I''m coming...! Don''t do it yet!" Tai ran to other end, jumping behind cover of the table After sticking his head out from the corner, he glanced at the tank one last time before speaking again "Guys...are we sure this is the only option? I mean, what if the table doesn''t hold or, the explosion deprives us of air?" "We''ll be out of air if we let this water rise, and we''re running out of time. We didn''t come all this way to fail, and since ninjutsu isn''t really an option, this is the only method I can think of" assured Suzu "No point in chickening out over something like this, we''ll survive" {I mean, I definitely will but...} "Haaaa...I have a feeling my whole life is gonna be filled with crap like this. Alright, I''m in" Tai reluctantly agreed The trio, after coming to a decision, placed their hands on the wall, flowing chakra on its surface...the strange materials began to react. Growing warmer and warmer, the heat spread across the room, eventually reaching the spot the tank leaned on The pressure inside of it had already reached it''s peak due to Rei''s adjustments on the pressure valve, all that remained was waiting for the high-pressurized tank to get hot enough Only then would it finally... {I can hear it...!} "Huddle up! And keep your heads down!" Rei warned "Okay!" "Ancestors...protect me!" BOOOOM! 199. Contemplation MrProper Basically, the end of a month is when things typically get crazy for me. But I''m back, and I''ve more chapters on the way. Thank you for patience, understanding, and support. Especially those in the comment section! >; ) (If you''d like to know the status of the next chapter, check out my Ko-fi page!) Please enjoy this chapter that I''ve rushed out like hell! BOOOOM! Soon as the oxygen tank reached critical pressure, combined with the heat from the chakra-sensitive wall, the metal cylinder exploded with tremendous force! Team Tango remained huddled together, heads down behind the near impenetrable desk, just hoping to stay alive after setting the tank off Tai screamed, struggling to hold on as the relentless vibrations caused his body to tremble. Rei intervened in response, holding both of his teammates, ensuring they didn''t sway too much "AAAAAAHHH CRAP!!!! I KNEW THIS WAS A BAD IDEA!!!!!" "HOLD ON!!! DON''T MOVE NO MATTER WHAT!!!!" CRACK! "Hm?!" "Uh-oh..." The floor beneath them began to crumble at its center, eventually breaking completely. Causing the water, rubble, and Genin to fall towards unknown depths {So the exit really was under us...!} "Stick your landing carefully, don''t fall on your heads!" Rei was the first to gather his bearings "R-Right!" "Okay!" Tai and Suzu followed his example TAK! TAK! Despite the unorthodox, if not outright wild means, the team managed to land safely on solid ground...albeit somewhat ungracefully. Each of them taking a moment to sit down and catch their breath after the dangerous ordeal While the boys were checking for any injuries, Suzu looked upwards, only to discover the room they blew up was one of many suspended above them. Like chandelier lamps hanging from a ceiling, moving in a "sliding puzzle" fashion "What in the world...?!" "If I were to guess, I''d say they''re controlling each one with Doton1Earth Style. It must be how the door disappeared when this part of the test began" Suzu spelled out the sight to Tai "So that''s why we didn''t run into any of the teams that went ahead of us! Talk about elaborate...now what do we do? The message said we''d pass after escaping right? Does this mean...we''re finished?" Rei was the first the stand up "Probably, but the exams have already proven to be annoying enough as it is, let''s not get our hopes up too-?!" POOF! Without warning, a cloud of smoke erupted in front of the Genin, prompting the three to prepare for a fight {Damn it, me and my stupid mouth! I don''t recognize this chakra...} "Stay on your toes!" "..." "...Huh? Are you...?" A single individual emerged from the smoke, dressed in Iwagakure shinobi attire, unfamiliar to all them, even Rei. An appearance putting him in his early-to-mid twenties, he had thick and burly features, dark-colored eyes, and a bald head covered by his shinobi headband worn as a bandana "I am Chseki, one of the many sub-proctors for this exam" "..." "Um..." The blunt Iwa-nin known as Chseki merely stood tall frowning with his arms folded, making the team uncomfortable with his sour look and rude demeanor. He clearly lacked any positive feelings for these ninja from a foreign country Nevertheless, he proceeded with his duties... "In case you''re still wondering, you''ve successfully passed this first exam" "Alright!" Tai jumped in exhilaration "Just like that?" Rei was still skeptical "Yes. The fact you escaped the room reveals you''ve understood what you needed to from the first half" "Ah! The questions on...!" {Now I get it. The written test''s true purpose was providing hints on escaping, but not just that...} Rei realized "The goal of this was to find two distinct qualities within those worthy of becoming Chunin; the first was to gauge your ability to gather information from even the faintest of clues. The written part held hints towards solving the problem you faced in the room above you" "Okay... What about the second?" "To test your mindset through even the most dire of circumstances. How you conduct yourself in hostile situations can determine whether or not you succeed or fail a mission. This type of split-second decision-making the three of you implemented to escape is what Chunin do on a daily basis!" Chseki''s voice abruptly went stern as he lectured the team "While I can''t deny the pressure got to me a bit...our team goes through this kind of crap regularly. There''s no denying it...we''ve definitely been cursed by someone" Tai muttered under his breath Rei heaved a sigh of relief "At least we passed, that''s all I really care about" "And intact too. They certainly didn''t make it easy with that strange room" Suzu began to relax Observing their positive outlook on recent events, Chseki''s mouth went upwards, giving them a grin filled with nothing but foul intent "I''ll tell you something else. The truth is, the material of the room only works against chakra adhesion. Ninjutsu could''ve gotten you outta there easy" "?!" "Wha--but the warning clearly told us we weren''t allowed to use Ninjutsu!" Tai protested with this treatment "Wrong. I believe the message said using it was, ill-advised" Chseki continued smiling at them in a mocking fashion Upon learning this, Tai ranted in hi s thoughts {You mean to tell me we could''ve blasted through at any time?! These twisted jerks are so irritating!} Rei and Suzu were seemingly no better, annoyed with this revelation, and Chseki''s pompous attitude didn''t make it better. They had just risked their lives to get out no more than a few minutes ago And now this Iwa-nin was blatantly smiling in front of them, clearly satisfied with the looks of fatigue on their faces "Had you not let fear, or uncertainty of the unknown slow you down, you could''ve easily blasted through the floor. Others already realized this, and broke out, though not many" {I really want to punch this guy...} Rei seriously considered doing it BOOM! "!" "Eh?! Another room had burst, and with it, a Genin squad. Understanding he wasted too much time making fun of them, Chseki delivered his final words before departing to address the next team "Take what you''ve experienced today and learn from it. Or don''t, whether you little Kumo shits live or die, I could honestly care less. The exit is that way, your teacher should be waiting, now get out!" ??? The genin remained where they were, as the frowned at the sub proctor leaving to address other squad "You call that a lesson? What a shitty one" "Let''s hope we never see that bastard agai--hey! Suzu!" "This is the type of behavior you should expect when coming to a foreign nation during these times. Just ignore it and focus on the task at hand" Not wanting to stay any longer, Suzu went on ahead to exit Tai and Rei quickly followed behind, entering a hallway of stairs that lead upwards. Only now did they realize the reason for the building''s initial miniscule look, for the crucial facilities were placed underground After a few minutes of walking, the group arrived at another door. Going through, they found themselves inside another waiting room. Several teams who completed the exam before them were conversing with their respective Jonin captains "Do you see Tango-sensei? Cause I don''t" "I can sense his chakra, he''s right outside the building. Come on, lets get out of here" CREAK! Rei was more the eager to leave, but after exiting the room, they waltzed down the hallway only to meet some familiar faces... "Uh?! This chakra is-?!" "Rei? What''s wrong?" "It can''t be...!" ...unpleasant faces "LOOK WHO IT IS! Long time no see, ya f*ckin'' brats!" an abrasive voice addressed them from the left "No way...how are you guys here?!" To their dismay, it was none other than the infamous criminals, the "Konjiki Twins" who met their eyes! Including Rei, the trio were at a loss for words, flabbergasted at the sudden surprise. Tai even wondered if he was hallucinating But the twins weren''t alone, accompanied by their leader Kajra. The group which caused them so much trouble in the past, the "Ishi Terrorists", had reunited once again Staying true to his talkative reputation, Etoro Konjiki was the only one who spoke to them as he brashly caught Team Tango off guard "What the hell are you criminals doing here?!" Tai yelled "Whoa whoa, do you see any criminals here? Cause I don''t. What about you Metoro, Kajra, do you see any criminals here?" Etoro couldn''t stop from giggling "Whatever. I''m going on ahead, don''t waste too much time with these brats" uninterested with Etoro''s performance, Kajra left the area first Tai was about to unsheathe the Wakizashi2Side Sword blade on his hip when Suzu grabbed his shoulder, shaking her head in effort to dissuade him from acting hastily. The girl knew Etoro was clearly provoking them For she, like Rei, was far more curious than battle-hungry "Again, I don''t know what you mean. But if you''re talking about hypotheticals, I could go on about a certain prison break, which erased all evidence of a certain group''s wrong-doings" "!" "Now I get it. Since you were already processed, your files were scrubbed" When shinobi criminals are processed into the Hzuki-j3Demon Lantern Castle and their bounties handed out, along with a set period of time in incarceration, their file is eventually removed from the Bingo Book when deemed a non-threat. Although it depends on the degree of the criminal act, as some never have their names removed The Ishi Terrorists were just hitting their stride when they were defeated on "Summoning Island" by Kumo forces including the late Toroi. Kids, only a few years older than Team Tango themselves. Most hadn''t heard of them, and their bounty wasn''t even large The only known records of their criminal activity, besides the ones in Kumogakure, dwelled within the Blood Prison. Records that were destroyed during the "Company''s" break out in preparation for the "Siege" Tai cared little for this truth "So what! I send one message back to my village, and you bastards go straight back to-!" "I wouldn''t recommend that, poison mist brat" "What do you say to me?!" Tai''s irritation only grew "Sorry, wrong words. Lemme try again, shitty-ass swordsman from a shitty-ass clan, does that work better?" Etoro couldn''t be more condescending if he tried "I gonna hack that cocky grin off your face, you son of a bit-!" Rei whispered in Tai''s ear in order to calm him down "Tai, Summoning Island is a secret, one Kumogakure would prefer to keep, hence it can''t make a public accusation without revealing it''s existence. And since they attacked us there, an island that we officially don''t own instead of our village, it could all just be bottled down as simply...a minor skirmish between ninja on the northern outskirts of the continent" Etoro smirked after seeing Tai''s surprised face at Rei''s explanation. For all intents and purposes, these terrorists who caused them and the village no small amount of grief, they managed to get away clean TINK! TINK! "Even more so, take a look at this" Etoro took out an item from his pocket "That''s...a headband?!" "Ishigakure4Hidden Rock Villageis now an official shinobi village welcomed by the Five Great Shinobi Nations, and since we''ve rejoined ours, we''re legally allowed to participate in the exams" Metoro spoke for the first time "?!" "N-No way...!" Etoro and Metoro shoved their way past the team, exiting the building first. But not before the former issued some last words for the trio "We''ll be seeing each other a lot in the coming days. And after the treatment you''ve given us..." Etoro smiled like a Cheshire cat {Damn it...just when things couldn''t be more complicated for me!} "We fully intend on making your lives a living hell" 200. Sticking It Out MrProper After an unpleasant encounter with old enemies, the Kumogakure team departed the facility hosting the first exam, finding their teacher waiting patiently for them outside "Sensei!! You won''t believe what just-!" "Keep your voice down Tai, I know" "?!" Tango placed his right index finger on his lips, gesturing them to remain silent. The Jonin wanted to avoid making a scene, as the group currently occupied a very public area Saying no more, the reunited team left the area, making a beeline for their hotel It was only after they arrived that Tai resumed his yelling "There''s got to be something we can do, for those criminals to roam around free after what they did, what they were apart of is just-!" Tai stomped his feet in protest as Tango took a seat "Sit down Tai. Whether or not you can accept it is irrelevant. You three, along with the village, can''t do anything about this...complicated situation" "I take it from your words, do you happen to know something?" Rei hinted Tai wasn''t the only one annoyed, as seeing these enemies again only reminded Rei of the problems he faced. In the original timeline, Ishigakure1Hidden Rock Villagenever evolved from the rowdy land of mercs and rouges, into an organized, shinobi nation In fact, he never even considered the possibility, due to the location being nothing more than a barren wasteland filled with rare Kekkei Genkai2Bloodline Limit and Hijutsu3Hidden Jutsu users. Yet, someone had managed to put the place under their thumb...clearly indicating another troublesome "Ripple" had been formed This new factor would undoubtedly cause a whole new slew of problems for him to solve in the future... {Considering their unaware part in its plan, could the "Company" be responsible for this? Maybe Ishigakure is where they''re based...I should ask Notitia when it wakes up} Tango sighed before walking to the door, double-checking to ensure the conversation remained private. Once he verified the hallway floor was clear, he shut the sliding doors and sat back down "While you were at the exam, I received new intel from one of Karai''s informants. After the prison break, those brats from Ishigakure returned to their native land" "So that''s where they''ve been, no wonder we didn''t spot them during the Siege. However, that doesn''t explain how they can be here, walking about without a care in the world" Rei''s desire for information outgrew everyone''s "Haaaa...here''s the troublesome part. During the attack on Summoning Island, they worked as mercenaries hired by an unknown client, presumably the Company. Now that they''ve returned home as official shinobi, Ishigakure has claimed it be nothing but a simple skirmish between nations" "That''s bullshit!" Tai yelled again, but his complaints were put to rest with Suzu''s following words "Not necessarily. While Kumo maintains the location, the island itself is officially owned by Takigakure4Hidden Waterfall Village, Kumogakure was never attacked by them" "!" Tai knew what this meant Skirmishes between shinobi who randomly meet occur all the time, and Ishigakure could spin the story as such Even if Kumogakure had enough time to convince Takigakure to issue a warrant for their arrest, there''s no way the Daimys and other leaders would accept it during the Chunin Exams. They might even accuse Kumogakure of attempting to fix the competition in its favor Such an act now could easily be considered..."overreach" Tango went on with his new intel "The reason I know this, is due to a newly discovered relationship between Ishigakure, and Iwagakure5Hidden Stone Village" "How does the village we''re staying in now fit into this?" Tai grumbled in annoyance The others held their heads in frustration. With every detail muttered, the situation only seemed to look more grim CLAP! Tango patted his hands together, eager to move the conversation along "Okay students, pop quiz on geography. The great lands of Fire, Wind, and Earth maintain a three-way deadlock on the western side of the continent. The smaller villages of Ishigakure, Amegakure6Hidden Rain Village, and Kusagakure7Hidden Grass Village are sandwiched in the middle. Though the smaller villages remain neighbors, each one also sits between two of these three great nations. Can you tell me which ones?" "That''s easy sensei. Grass sits between Earth and Fire, but it''s closer the latter. Rain is next to Wind and Fire, though a part of it stretched north to Earth after gaining more territory in the last war. And Rocks...ah shit! Ishigakure dwells on the borders of Wind and Earth" Tai cursed at his realization "Exactly. That fence sitter noki has been cozying up to Ishigakure, receiving their services at an affordable price, aiding Iwagakure''s economic recovery. The Tsuchikage most likely hired ninja from Ishigakure to help weed out the competition, targeting anyone who isn''t from his village" "Which means not only the Ishi Terrorists, we''ll have to worry about other professionals from their native homeland. Amazing..." Rei was exasperated "They''d give up first place in this event for a mere job?" "I don''t think it''s that simple Tai" Rei turned to Tango, suggesting he clarify "Yes. The reason Ishigakure managed to become a full fledged nation was in no small part to the Tsuchikage. This is how they formed their close relationship" It didn''t take long for the Genin to understand In exchange for building them up into a real nation, Ishigakure agreed to help Iwagakure win at all costs. Even if they get second place, it''s still second place in the biggest Chunin exams in history. No matter what, they''d benefit "AGH! Again, this is bullshit!" Tai yelled "Not how I''d put it, but Iwagakure has clearly abused their status as hosts for the exams" Suzu added {Ditto. I''ll have to readjust my plans. Tetsuo''s gonna have to work double time if he''s to complete that for me...} Rei reevaluated his own schemes for the Chunin Exams "Sensei, is there really nothing we can do besides, sticking it out?" Much to their dismay, Tango shut down any and all complaints for this situation. Kumogakure''s hands were tied, and even if they weren''t, it''s already too late The disadvantages only seemed to pile up the longer they were here "This is a new complication. And with Genin from four of the five great nations as their likely targets, there''s a high chance you''ll be the first they seek out. Though, I believe we made it clear to you three from the start this wouldn''t be easy" "Haaa...great" "Do you have any good news?" Tango rummaged through his belongings, revealing a grocery bag filled with food he picked up during the first exam. Presenting it to his students as he awkwardly scratched his head "...I got grilled teriyaki for you? I wanted to celebrate you guys passing the first exam" "Oh, for f*cks sake!!" Tai fell on his back in defeat, covering his face with his hands "Bad timing Tango-sensei" Suzu sighed "Yeah...can''t believe I''m saying this, but I''m in no mood for food" Rei slumped against a wall "H-Haha...sorry" The air remained awkward sometime after that, but eventually they decided to eat Discussing their strategy for the Second Exam awaiting them tomorrow. Fully aware this one, as opposed to the first exam, would test their bodies far more than their minds. Things were about to get physical Before long, evening had come, and the trio went to bed...but found difficulty in finding sleep ??? Elsewhere... "You drive a hard bargain" "As I recall, we''ve yet to begin the actual bargaining. My stance hasn''t changed" Within the confines of an obscure office inside Iwagakure''s main governmental building, two individuals of prominent statuses sat across from one another on opposite couches "Daimy-dono, surely you understand there''s nothing to gain from dissolving the agreement between our countries?" "My constituents in the Land of Flowers are of different mind" It was none other than the same feudal lord Team Tango secretly traveled together with at Karai''s behest. The diplomat initially planned on attending the Chunin exams at a later date, but correspondence from Iwagakure forced him to depart before the event''s third and final round even began This young, portly, aspiring man was the current assistant to the Earth Daimy. Known to his fellow peers as Danj, he held a reputation for greedily acquiring whatever he desired, no matter how much he dirtied his hands, along with holding a low opinion of shinobi overall "The Lands of Flowers and Stone respectively, have always worked well together in the past. We''ve protected your nation for generations, and in turn, you''ve supplied us with produce" "Yes Danj-dono, that''s how its always been" "Then with all due respect, why have we''ve heard reports that your nation is planning on opting out of this agreement?" "Hmph..." The Flower Daimy remained silent at the subtle accusation, but his actions and calm demeanor clearly affirmed the validity of said rumors SLAM! Now having confirmed the truth, Danj''s polite attitude had all but vanished. Veins appeared on his temple, eyes turned red, and he slammed his fist on the table separating them Danj attempted to intimidate him, taking advantage of the fact there were no guards present in the room...as this meeting was not to be on record "Even in the most difficult of times, have we not defended your nation?! What sort of behavior warrants this kind of betrayal?!" His voice went hoarse with furry, particularly at the Daimy remaining unfazed "Betrayal? Funny... isn''t that a world better suiting you lot? After all, if there''s one thing the 3rd Shinobi World War proved, it''s that the Land of Earth doesn''t keep its promises" "How dare you!" Danj clenched his fists, doing his best to refrain from jumping at the Daimy "Starting with the larger five nations attempting to impose their will on the smaller ones, all-war broke out. Arrogance, like the type you''re demonstrating now is the reason behind such poor governance" "K-Kuh...!" "Your nation promised to protect us, but when Konoha''s Yellow Flash eliminated over a thousand Iwa-nin alone, you retreated. Abandoning us, who dwelled near the Land of Fire''s border" After the destruction of Kannabi Bridge in the last war, Konohagakure8Hidden Leaf Village successfully managed to cut off Iwagakure''s supply chain, effectively crippling them. This act by the 4th Hokage''s9Fire Shadow squad effectively led to the end of the war But not before the Land of Flowers was invaded by the shinobi of the Leaf. Danj knew this, but quietly hoped the Flower Daimy wouldn''t bring it up "I thank heavens every day for Konoha''s mercy, for they had treated us without prejudice, despite our then status as an ally of their enemy. Even giving us back control of our village with little to no reparations once the war ceased" "Our then status..." "That''s right, then. Now, we see no benefit to aid one who''s likely to betray us again whenever strife knocks on their door. This meeting is over" The Daimyo stood up and proceeded to exit the room Danj finally cooled his head and pleaded with the influential man from the Land of Flowers "What can we do to make amends?" "Makes amends eh?" "You wouldn''t have met me if there wasn''t something we could offer your country" Iwagakure would undoubtedly suffer a heavy loss if their partnership with the Land of Flowers ended. For a poorly fertile land such as theirs, any food gained was invaluable, and the Flower country was famous for its abundant fields Sensing his desperation, the Daimy let go of the door knob and faced Danj one last time "Heh. You know, I''ve heard about you, and your beliefs. How Daimy''s and diplomats shouldn''t answer to shinobi, and that they should be allowed to wage war whenever they want" "These lands were ours, and remain ours! It is by our grace the shinobi have been allowed to form villages at all" "Wrong. The only reason they don''t kill us all and take our wealth, lands, and property is because managing entire countries is too difficult...the task alone would dangerously stretch their military. They didn''t need our permission to make villages, but simply asked as a matter of formality. Each day, their numbers grow, along with their walls in turn, hence the reason many fools like yourself get happy whenever they wage war with one another" "Which is why we must keep them in check if we''re to-!" "You''re under the impression that the power which comes with being a Daimy is theirs, but it''s not...it belongs to the people. Remember, Kages are rare, but Daimys are expendable. Any half-assed idiot can be politician" "Ugh...!" "So...if you want to please us, it looks like you''ll need to rely on those shinobi you believe are, beneath you" "W-What?" The Daimy chuckled upon gazing at Danj''s stupefied expression "I didn''t just come here to sightsee, my country is looking for next village to hire for protection" "Wait... you mean--?!" "You want us back? Then it''s simple...win the Chunin exams" After muttering the absolute last thing Danj wanted to hear, the Flower Daimy departed the room, leaving the assistant to his own thoughts Danj anxiously paced back and forth, trying to come up with a solution. Though this meeting wasn''t on record, the Earth Daimy had tasked him with getting in the Flower country''s good graces A task that has just become infinitely more difficult... "Shit, there''s no other choice!!" Running towards his desk, he pulled out a map of the village, along with several other documents. After minutes of studying them, he had a sudden epiphany "If I recall, Kitsuchi is hosting the second exam...there. Heh...hehehe...yes, YES! That''ll do just fine! Even if we have to cheat...no--it won''t matter if we don''t get caught. Yeah...hahaha! a sinister grin bloomed on his plump face Organizing his thoughts, he faced the window, glancing at the sight of the stone village "It''s time to rig the game..." 201. Second Exam, Begin! MrProper (Check out the bottom! There''s something I''d like to run by you guys!) The Next Morning Waking up from a long sleep, Team Tango rose as the sun did, early in the morning. Their sensei having already prepared a healthy, warm meal, all in preparation for what was to come next. For today marked the next step in their journey towards becoming Chunin The four gathered around a small dining table, quietly eating, only the ticking sound of the clock on the wall was heard Sensing the apprehension, Tango tried to lighten the mood "We''ve gone over everything we need to, but I''ll answer any remaining questions you might have to the best of my ability" The Genin trio ceased moving in response to his words. They''d spent all night going over contingencies and plans for any and every conceivable scenario they might face. Especially after yesterday''s revelation of the "Ishi Terrorist''s" participation in these exams, along with their clear intent of targeting them "Sensei, I know there''s nothing we can do about Ishigakure1Hidden Rock Village, I''ve accepted that. My only concern is foul play, considering they''ve grown quite close to the host of this year''s exam, Iwagakure2Hidden Stone Village" Compared to his anger from before, Tai was far more composed this morning He''d thought long and hard over the night, trying to come up with a means for Kumogakure to subvert this new arrangement between the hidden Stone and Rock Tango shot down his hopes "As we discussed before, it''s not cheating if you don''t get caught, there''s nothing we can do. My message has yet to reach Raikage-sama, so for now, we''ll grin and bear it. Besides, my mind''s preoccupied with something else..." "If it''s not about Ishigakure, does it have to do with the state of the exams? Considering what we told you yesterday" "Sharp as always Rei" If there was one thing that surprised Tango, it was how "hands-on" their first trial was. The basis of the Chunin exam''s three individual tests were derived from the formation of chakra; The first tested one''s mind, representing Yin and Mental Energy The second appraised the body, representing Yang and Physical Energy The third and final exam assessed both, measuring one''s balance of the two. For it is the combination of both that chakra is formed, which is the foundation of shinobi "The fact they put you through such an ordeal during the first exam...we must throw away any preconceptions we had before coming here" Tango was blunt and honest While the Genin remained unwavering for the hardship to come, the increasing stakes only added more pressure. They''d already journeyed here knowing the future of Kumogakure depended on them, but the difficulty only seemed to grow {He''s right. I thought we''d just be cheating on a written test, like Naruto''s first exam. It''s become apparent my knowledge of the future isn''t going to help much} Rei kept his thoughts to himself, and resumed eating Tango smiled in assurance "Dwelling on ordeals isn''t gonna help. Besides, we all knew this wasn''t going to be easy. Hell, many back home still believe the village should''ve sent an older, more experienced team. But Raikage-sama wouldn''t have chosen us if he didn''t think we could hack it. So quit worrying about stuff that doesn''t matter now and eat" "Yes!" "Mm!" Tai and Suzu complied, following Rei in finishing their breakfast Once they finished, the group performed a last-minute supply check before departing the hotel. Tango led the squad to the assigned location Iwagakure provided him the moment they passed the first exam Waltzing through town before arriving at the most northwestern side of the village''s walls. Several shinobi squads of various nations had long arrived, eager to begin While Tai checked out the competition, Rei''s attention was drawn towards something else, which wasn''t missed by Suzu "What''s caught your eye?" "The design of the wall gate here differs from all the others I''ve seen since coming here" Rei noted This area of the Iwagakure''s walls was noticeably greater in height, as compared to the rest. The gate itself made of beautifully decorated stone, yet covered in numerous signs of damage. From scratches, to missing paint gaping holes, it had clearly been through its fair share of strife Tango stopped walking, letting the Genin go ahead of him "Unfortunately, neither I, nor Karai know much as this area is one of the most heavily guarded spots in the village. Also, this is as far as I go" "!" "Jonin captains aren''t supposed to be here, as this is your test. Remember, all you can do is rely on your minds and resolve. But most of all, each other. You''re only as strong as the person next to you. Stick together, keep each other safe, and do your best" "What of you Sensei?" Tai wondered, more anxious now that their sensei was leaving "I have to make preparations for Raikage-sama. Any team that passes the second exam is allowed to bring their respective village leader, who in turn can bring as many bodyguards as they like. You make it through this, and we''ll have more Kumo-nin here, giving us more leeway" {True. Things have been a little too tense for my taste. I''d like to at least check out what this place has to offer before we return home. After all, what''s the point of coming all the way to Iwagakure if we just stay in a hotel the entire time? Heh, this might be the one time I''ll actually be glad to see the Raikage} Rei was dissatisfied with the current status quo Always eager to widen his knowledge of the world, Iwagakure was the first Great Shinobi Nation Rei stepped foot in besides Kumogakure. There was much he could learn, but had yet to get a chance due to the possibility of sabotage by another team After the second exam ends, the real VIP''s would arrive in spades. With so many important people attending, all eyes would be on the village, which makes it a horrible time for someone to stir things up Tango finally faced the opposite direction, but issued some final words of advice as he walked away "One more thing, keep your interactions with those here to a minimum, if not at all. We purposely came here only a few minutes before the test begins just to avoid any potential conflicts with others" The crowd continued to grow and grow, numerous candidates eager to begin the next exam. In spite of the eliminations during the first, there were still hundreds of Genin hailing from all over Much to Rei''s surprise, he didn''t expect, nor desire this many to be present. More competition meant more problems "May fortune favor you three" Tango patted each of his students on their heads, giving them a encouraging smile. With nothing more to say, he began his departure from the area. The trio stood in place, refusing to take their eyes off of him until they could no longer see his figure "Guys, over there" Suzu spotted an obscure spot in the shade, an ideal location for them to wait unnoticed, until the proctors arrived. Once they sat down, Tai voiced his thoughts aloud "I wonder what these Iwa jerks are gonna make us do this time" "No clue, but with our luck, it''ll probably be annoying. Especially if you consider that" Rei pointed to several words plastered on the large gate for all to see. Not a message, but a warning... "Those who venture here seek only one thing...decay" ??? After half an hour of waiting, the head proctor Kitsuchi arrived with a group of his shinobi colleagues in tow With his appearance, every team ceased chatting, focusing all of their attention towards the large, burly man as he strutted towards the large gate door. Some were irritated with him for arriving late, not that he cared for their opinion {Doton: Chidkaku3Earth Style: Mobile Core!} RUMBLE! With a seamless use of Earth Style, Kitsuchi raised the ground below, elevating his position so all could see and hear him. Rising until the ominous warning on the door was right behind him He took a deep breath before shouting at the crowd "Alright you brats, shut up and listen! I''m only gonna say this once, and no, I won''t be answering any questions!!" {Is it too much to ask they just write things down? That''s the problem with muscle heads} Rei mused to himself "Behind this gate lies one of the most treacherous locations within this entire country...Rengoku no Kykoku4Purgatory''s Canyon, and you''ll soon learn why" The boys of Team Tango frowned upon receiving these words... "Ugh...that''s just what we need. More cryptic one-liners" "It''s like you''re reading my mind Tai" "Nah Rei, I''m just getting tired from all the bullshit thrown our way" {Preaching to the choir on that one...} "Rei, Tai, focus. Something''s happening!" CREAK! The other Iwa-nin proceeded to open the large gate, opening the way outside the village walls. Once opened, the Genin were greeted with the sight of a wide wooden barricade that stretched for miles in an arc-shaped fashion opposite Iwagakure. Countless doors were place at various locations the further one would venture down either ends "The rules of this exam is simple. You''re to journey through the lands that await you beyond this wooden barricade, locate, and enter the primary objective. What the objective is, what it looks like, where it is...you''ll have none of these answers. Which begs the question, how do you find it? The answer, is with these..." Kitsuchi revealed two distinct items and displayed them for the crowd to see His left hand held a white compass, which happened to be missing it''s most vital component. Said part was in fact, held by his right hand, a black needle "Each of you will be randomly given one of two set items, a compass, or a needle. When combined, they''ll lead you towards the primary objective. In other words, you''re to track down another team with the part you need, take it from them, and arrive at your destination. And before you even consider it, this is the only way to succeed, as it is fundamentally IMPOSSIBLE to get there without a complete compass" {Survival test eh? At least THIS exam is a bit like Naruto''s. Glad to know my preparation and work with Notitia wasn''t for nothing} "The time limit is 240 hours. If you''re not where you need to be in ten days, you fail. Also, say you decide to chicken out and tag along with another squad from your village, you''ll still fail as a complete compass is required to pass. You cannot quit during the test. Once it''s over, your Jonin captains are permitted to enter and search for you...though I doubt they''ll find your bodies in this place that consumes all" The Kumo group huddled together and shared their thoughts "If both are required to locate and enter, perhaps those items function as some sort of key?" Suzu considered all possibilities Tai ceased his thoughts of shortcuts "Which means tampering with it is a no-go. And since following another team won''t help much, it''s best we find a squad with the appropriate piece as soon as possible, before rushing towards the goal" "Agreed. The longer we''re out, the worse our chances. We should also decide who is to hold the items" Rei wanted this done quickly and quietly As various teams mumbled to themselves, Kitsuchi''s colleagues waltzed through the gates and individually stationed themselves at different locations along the long wooden barricade The head proctor continued briefing the Genin crowd "As for survival, water and food, everything you need is in this canyon. Be advised, besides enemy teams, anything and everything will try to kill you. If your stomach starts to hurt, remember this simple truth, eat or be eaten!" CLAMOR! Some of the shinobi voiced their grievances, complaining about this absurd and unfair trial that awaited them Kitsuchi ignored their protests, presenting his counterargument for them to quit if they believed it was too dangerous, as there was no turning back once they proceeded past the open gate behind him Stepping through was no different than signing a death waver. By doing so, one acknowledges the danger and consequences. He waited for a few minutes, giving those uncertain time to opt out, though not many did "This place is old, cruel, and pure... it reveals truth. Iwagakure once held aspirations of economic growth, we created several industrial facilities varying from mining, to farming, excavating minerals, and forging factories. All were fruitless endeavors, as true to its nature, the Canyon swallowed everything. Resources, facilities, people...and dreams" Kitsuchi turned melancholy, as if he recalled something sorrowful Some grew somewhat anxious at Kitsuchi''s cryptic warnings, others dismissed... and Rei outright ridiculed them {I''d chalk that up to bad choices by your dumb government, rather than supernatural superstition, but what the hell do I know? This stupid-ass world has an annoying habit of proving me wrong...} "With the explanation out of the way, let''s begin!" Kitsuchi had the crowd line up in single file. As each squad walked through, they were given a paper with a number, indicating which door was theirs, along the stretched out wooden barricade. Either left or right, the length of the line shortened rather quickly Eventually, Team Tango received a paper slip directing them to go down the left side, stopping at gate number 32. An Iwa shinobi awaited them with a sealed package that contained either a compass, or a needle. Once they received it, the sub-proctor explained the door in front of them would automatically unlock once the exam begins, before making his departure Now alone to themselves, the team said no more, instead speaking with their eyes. Though none were nearby, they decided not to open the package in order to preserve the anonymity of the "piece" they were given Rei kept all of his senses sharp as his teammates glued their eyes to the door. About ten more minutes passed when... BRRRRRRR!!!!! A loud horn echoed in the air, and with it, the door in front of them abruptly unlocked! No longer hesitating, the team burst through, venturing into "Purgatory''s Canyon"! "Let the games begin..." MrProper With recent chatter, I''ve learned some prefer I return to script style, with names in parentheses to identify who''s talking. With this new arc, the number of characters talking and interacting with one another is going to increase exponentially, so it''s a very good idea. It also makes things easier for me. On other hand, there are those who hate script style. Some have even been very--er, "strongly vocal" about their distaste for it So with that in mind, I''ll be doing a poll for it. Emails, along with comments on this site and my Ko-fi page will also be taken under consideration for what I decide to do next Thank you all for continuing to be the best support any growing fan-fic author could ask for. We''re about to kick it to another level!! Poll below 202. Hannya [1] MrProper For Iwagakure''s1Hidden Stone Village, Rengoku no Kykoku2"Purgatory''s Canyon", claiming its landscape as wide would be a gross understatement The moment Team Tango rushed out from their gate, each member couldn''t help becoming distracted at the sheer magnitude, the scale of the site they''d just entered... {Now I get why we were given ten days, this place is like the Grand Canyon. I can''t even begin to guess the amount of kilometers this place covers} (Rei) The scene was composed of arid terrain at various elevated heights, with countless boulders, plateaus, and mountains. Completed with occasional greenery, a multitude of dunes, and bodies of water and rocky formations After trailing for some time, the group found a formation of rocks to take cover in, for it wasn''t just the enemy teams they had to worry about... "RRrrrrrr..." {What in the hell-?!} (Tai) {That''s...pretty big. Even more so, it''s suppressing its chakra?!} (Rei) THOMP! THOMP! After lingering for a moment, a bobcat the size of a building had passed them by! Incredibly large, its legs shook the very ground with each step taken! The denizens within this place spared no effort in making their presence known. Gargantuan fauna could easily be found anywhere one ventured, all with the clear intent of attacking whatever came across them With a new perspective after this recent encounter, the team decided not to proceed any further until they discussed next steps "So much for getting this done quick. I can''t believe that thing knew how to suppress its chakra!" (Tai) "We should assume everything can from this point forwards" (Suzu) "In other words, it''s no longer a viable option to rely solely on my chakra sensing...just perfect" (Rei) "Hey Rei, can''t you summon your weird dragon to handle the wildlife? Or better yet, let''s ride on it. Sure as hell beats walking" (Tai) It had been a several hours since the exam began. Coupled with the harsh terrain and blistering heat from the sun, it became easy to grow weary. Tai''s stamina, while exceptional, trailed behind his two peers As one would expect from the squad''s medical ninja "This is only the second exam, I don''t want to show that card yet. Besides, riding on a massive serpent, out in the open is practically begging for someone to attack us" "We could hide in its mouth..." (Tai) "You mean the mouth that breathes fire AND has poisonous fangs?" (Suzu) "...Fair enough" (Tai) "We''d be safe inside it''s mouth Suzu, but to be honest, I''d like for us to stick with the standard V-formation...with me at the tip" (Rei) Rei went on about his desire to keep their abilities a secret There was still one more exam after this one, and secrecy pertaining to their abilities was paramount. He opted to handle most of the fighting with his exceptional physical abilities, while the others remained on support "I''m not asking you to refrain from helping in a fight, but only rely on your specialties when push comes to shove" (Rei) "So I''m not to use my poison?" (Tai) "If we can manage it, I''d prefer you don''t even reveal you''re a medical-nin" (Rei) "That''s why you wish to be at the front, as Taijutsu isn''t anything too out of the norm, right?" (Suzu) "Yup. You should do the same while protecting Tai. Your nature transformation prowess is incredible, but I haven''t forgotten how skilled you are in hand-to-hand combat" (Rei) "Got it. What about progressing further? The sun will be down in about two hours, we need to find the...piece as soon as possible. Despite having ten days, the more time we waste, the odds grow less and less in our favor" (Suzu) Suzu almost stumbled on her words when mentioning the two items necessary to reach their objective The item they received from the sub-proctor at the gate entrance, was revealed to be the white compass, hence the item they required was the black needle Tai suggested they never state aloud which piece they possessed, along with who carried it, in the event of someone else spying on them {Looks like I''ll be using my basic five senses for this one...what a pain} "You guys ready to move?" (Rei) "Yes, I''ve rested enough, and staying here won''t do us any good" (Suzu) "E-Eh? Are you sure? Isn''t that...feline still out there?" (Tai) "We can avoid it by moving in the opposite direction. Let''s go" (Suzu) Though reluctant, Tai followed the others outside, matching his pace with them as they bolted towards the nearest location, a small batch of trees next to a hilltop, a nice-looking grove to catch some shade Upon arriving... "Phew! Safe!" (Tai) "Alright, let''s get to higher ground and-?! Ngh!" (Rei) "W-What?!" (Suzu) "I-I-I can''t...move!!" (Tai) ...the team was immobilized just a few feet away from the grove {Genjutsu?! No...nor is it a Paralysis Jutsu either} "P-Poison?" (Rei) "No, that''s not it!" (Tai) "You''re right. We''ve fallen into a Kekkai Hjin3Barrier Method Formation, a sort of trap ninjutsu. It uses--ugh...special tags, which I assume were placed around this spot. A certain ninjutsu was activated when we stepped in it" (Suzu) "What sort of of Ninjutsu?" (Tai) "Any kind. The barrier merely itself acts as the activation upon detection, but the properties within can be whatever the user designates. It could be set to trigger paper bombs, alert someone, or in this case..." (Suzu) "A Finjutsu4Sealing Technique...they used the Kekkai Hjin to activate this seal that''s holding us now" {A seal within a barrier, layered Ninjutsu...not bad} (Rei) "Just started, and we''re already captured...not a great start guys" (Tai) "Surrender..." "?!" (Team Tango) "Surrender the piece...give...present it...surrender...surrender...surrender...give...give...give...piece..." Ominous voices reverberated around them, inhuman voices. Rei used his senses in attempt to locate the source, and while it failed, he was able to confirm it wasn''t an illusion "This has to be the Utsusemi no Jutsu5Empty Cicada Shell Technique, whoever set this trap is hiding their voices with a type of, long-range ventriloquism" (Tai) {Doesn''t matter where they are if we can''t move} (Rei) "Surrender...surrender...surrender...surrender...surrender...surrender...!" "Ugh! So annoying! How the hell are we supposed to surrender if we can''t move, you idiots!" (Tai) "They can''t step in, otherwise they''ll wind up trapped as well. They''ll wait until we tire before moving in" {Might be time to use that...but I have to wait for the right time} (Suzu) {They''re not attacking from a distance due to the uncertainty of an ace up our sleeves, or the possibility another team might be lying in wait to strike the moment they reveal themselves} Suzu and Rei signaled each other with their eyes before the latter abruptly yelled "Screw this...ugh! I''ll just...force their...HAND!" (Rei) "?!" (Suzu & Tai) Rei pushed his strength to the limit, fighting the effects of the sealing barrier. Despite feeling like he suddenly weighed several tons, he managed to take a step As he moved forward, his actions forced whoever created this trap to act... TAK! TAK! TAK! Three figures revealed themselves from the hilltop, jumping down, but remaining outside the barrier''s range as they stood at a higher position {Who the hell are these guys...I don''t recognize their attire at all} (Rei) {Those masks, could they be from...?} (Suzu) These new enemies were dressed in cloaks from neck-to-toe, completed with Hannya6Envious Demon-style masks. Two were large, burly individuals who seemed to follow the third, a long-haired woman Their leader stepped forward and spoke "Surrender your piece, and we''ll let you go" "You expect us to believe that?" (Rei) "We could just kill you from here" "If you could, you would''ve done so already" "We just didn''t want to ruin our precious trap in the event you had the wrong one. But since you insist on remaining defiant..." WEAVE! SLAM! With the rapid forming of hand seals, the three masked ninja slammed their hands on the ground, and shouted simultaneously! "Doton: Ganseki Kuzushi7Earth Style: Rock Collapse!" CRUMBLE! "SUZU! 11 o''clock, seven meters from us!" (Rei) "Understood!" Suzu managed to roll back her left sleeve, revealing a paper tag with a jutsu formula printed on it. Slapping it with her right arm, she shouted from the depths of her lungs! "Finjutsu: Kai8Sealing Technique: Release!" (Suzu) BOOSH! FLING! The armband glowed, and with this momentary light, it erased the effects of the trap on Suzu. The girl then threw a shuriken at the direction Rei specified, destroying one of the special tags maintaining the trap With the effects weakened, she rushed to grab her teammates, barely hauling them out of the trap, and into the group of trees nearby. Just in time to avoid the falling boulders! The masked female stomped her feet in anger {No! That boy wasn''t trying to escape, he was just moving forward in attempts to locating one the barrier tags for the girl! And he tricked us into revealing ourselves too...!} "Damn it!" Now free, and irritated, Rei hurled several kunai from the pouch tied behind his waist. Each one equipped with paper bombs, he aimed for the foothold beneath the enemies "Shit! Everybody mov-!" BOOM! With the resulting explosion, the masked team was blasted straight off the hill! Violently plummeting towards the ground, landing right in front of Team Tango "Argh! Y-You little...!" "Time for some payback, assholes..." (Rei) 203. Hannya [2] "You two stay back, I''ll handle this!" (Rei) WEAVE! As the Hannya mask-wearing ninja got up from the ground, Rei formed a hand seal before dashing straight at them, promptly fulfilling his role as the vanguard of Team Tango "Yori! He''s coming!" "Then stop talking, and start moving your hands!" (Yori) The female leader of the enemy squad named Yori ordered the two male members to engage first "Suiton: Teppdama1Water Style: Gunshot!" SPLOOSH! The pair unleashed a water style attack in the form of small liquid bullets at Rei, who in response, tapped his red summoning wristbands, summoning several shuriken to throw With his inhuman speed and reactions, it was child''s play for him to intercept each water blast with his blades "He''s fast--ah! Look out you two!" (Yori) "Too slow..!" (Rei) GWOK! POW! "O-Ooof!" "Uhack!" Giving them no time to think, Rei delivered a swift series of kicks, knocking them down before charging straight at Yori {Those tags on his wrists...a Kaif no Jutsu2Unsealing Technique? They must be linked to another scroll or something. Likely containing a multitude of weapons...clever. If we can''t beat him with quantity then...} "Doton: Ganchs3Earth Style: Rock Pillar Spears!" (Yori) {Beneath?!} (Rei) THOK! THOK! Spiky pillars of stone rose from the ground, directed at Rei, forcing him to jump upwards to avoid being impaled...exactly what Yori desired {Gotcha!} "Doton: Deiteimu4Bottomless Mud Hole!" (Yori) "Rei, look out!" (Tai) "What?!" (Rei) Tai''s warning came to late, as before Rei realized, Yori had utilized her Earth style to change his landing spot into a sinking mud pit! Unable to move in mid-air, his landed right on top of it, submerging his body all the way to his shoulders...completely binding him "Now I don''t have to worry about you zipping around anymore. Okay, the others! Come on out! Or your friend gets buried alive!" (Yori) "Tch!" (Suzu) "Don''t even think about you two!" (Rei) "B-But...!" (Tai) Yori''s teammates whom Rei struck got back on their feet, and with kunai in hand, rejoined her "You''re willing to die for this exam? It''s over, you understand? We trapped you lot even before you waltzed into that barrier" (Yori) "Urgh! The hell--is that supposed to mean?!" (Rei) Yori pointed towards a formation of rocks in the distance, the very same the team stayed in after encountering the giant bobcat. Looking at it from this angle, Rei released it seemed very unnatural As if it placed there my human hands "I see. That''s the bobcat''s personal hunting ground. You set up a place of rest most would use after spotting that creature. Then, they''d inevitably head to nearest safe location...here, into your trap" (Rei) "Exactly. We set this up a while ago, but we''ve had nothing but bad luck, for none had the piece we needed. So we left them alone...for the bobcat" (Yori) "Now that is twisted" (Tai) "That is strategy. You spoiled brats from the great nations would never understand the struggles of us smaller countries" (Yori) Suzu stuck her head out from the behind the trees she and Tai were hiding behind at Rei''s behest "Those masks...I knew it was familiar. You three hail from the Hayashi no Kuni5Land of Woods" (Suzu) {Sounds familiar, where I have heard that name before?} (Rei) "Much as I''d love to go over my home''s noble history, we''re on a bit of a clock. I''ve issued my demands, now give us your piece, or this kid drowns in mud..." (Yori) "..." (Suzu & Tai) "?" (Yori) To her confusion, Rei''s teammates stopped talking, standing as still as statues. Showing no traces of emotion or fear at the kunoichi''s6Female Ninja threats. Yori''s teammates glanced at each other, also clueless at Team Tango''s unexpected response {Do they really not care if he dies?} "I''m serious! Either surrender, or he''s done!" (Yori) "Nah...that description fits you more" "Hm?! Who said tha--uh?!" (Yori) CRACKLE! CRACKLE! Without warning, a voice emerged out of nowhere as Yori and her teammates were bombarded with painful headaches. Soon after, the very scene before them began to distort and warp Team Tango''s figures began twisting and vanishing... "H-Huh? Wait...what just-?!" "Oh no..." "He got...me?!" (Yori) The Hayashi-nin found themselves seemingly trapped together in the very same sinking mud pit Yori created earlier for Rei. The latter of whom was now standing over them just outside of it, with his teammates next to him "You guys sure talk a lot when you believe you''re winning" (Tai) "I''ll say, nice job" (Suzu) "Thanks" (Rei) {There''s no mistaking it...!} "Genjutsu?! Since when?!" (Yori) "Since the start. Right after Rei blasted you off the cliff, the moment the fight began" (Tai) {When we got up from the ground, the moment he formed a hand seal...the entire fight was nothing but an illusion?!} (Yori) "I wanted to enjoy the show more, but things got tricky when you started burying yourself in mud. Can''t get intel if you die from asphyxia due to submersion" (Rei) "But thanks to that, we were able to confirm what we needed after searching these" (Tai) "Ah! Hey give those back!!" (Yori) The items in Tai''s hands were none other than the Hayashi-nin''s shinobi pouches, confiscated from them once they fell under Rei''s Genjutsu. While he focused on maintaining the illusion, Suzu and Tai searched their belongings, looking for the piece they possessed Only after confirming they too possessed several White compasses did they decide to end the battle, as there was no purpose in fighting any longer "We''ve gotten what we needed, so we''ll take our leave. Thanks for the extra supplies" (Rei) "W-Wait! You''re just gonna take our stuff and leave us here?!" (Yori) "Isn''t that the primary purpose of this test?" {Jacking other people''s shit and leaving them to die...?} (Rei) "Urgh! I meant, leaving us in this pit!" (Yori) "Ohhhh...now I get what you mean" (Rei) {He''s clearly acting oblivious on purpose to mess with them...he''ll never change} (Tai) When the other two Hayashi-nin saw Rei and others turn around and begin to take their leave, they shouted in protest...or rather, desperation "Hold on! Where are you going?!" "You can''t just-!" "Can''t what? Leave you here, as you''ve left so many others to die? Just so you can turn around and try to kill us like as did to the others" (Rei) "K-Kuh! Ruthless bastards!" (Yori) "Ruthless? You mean like you?" (Suzu) "Don''t look at us like that, you lost, accept it. If we were the same, you''d be dead. Instead, we''re leaving you with some of the food and water and--oh yeah, not killing you. You''re welcome" (Rei) WOOOO! The wind picked up at Rei''s response. With nothing more to say, the team turned around "KUMOGAKURE BASTARDS!!!!! YOU''LL PAY!!!" (Yori) "Yori-san..." "D-Damn it! I can''t believe we fell for--eh? T-T-That''s...!" As the Kumo-nin left, Yori continued to scream at their departing figures in rage. Unbeknownst to her, all of the shouting attracted another interested party... "S-Shit! It''s here!" "No no no no no!" "Hurry up and move you idiots! We have get out of this before-! (Yori) The massive bobcat stared at them hungrily "Rrrrr...RAAAAAAHH!!!" {I''m definitely gonna pay those punks back ten fold for this!} (Yori) ??? A ways off from their previous location, Team Tango safely entered new territory. Along the way, Tai continued rummaging through the pouches of the Hayashi ninja "That was interesting, but unfortunately we got the wrong piece. Those guys really did have nothing but bad luck if all they got were compasses. What do you want to do with them?" (Tai) "We already have one, how many are in that bag?" (Suzu) "Five...meaning those guys killed fifteen people at least" (Tai) "..." (Suzu) {Just goes to show how sympathy will get you killed in this kind of life...} (Rei) Tai gulped upon finally understanding the competition was playing for keeps Rei was also grateful to Suzu for her quick actions. For this could''ve been their fate earlier if she hadn''t managed to get them out of the trap barrier the enemy created It was fortuitous the location she trained on for the past three months, Genbu Island, was monitored by the Kumo Barrier Team, who went out their way to provide some tips on the subject at Motoi''s behest {I''m definitely gonna increase my studies on barriers and seals when I get back to Kumo} (Rei) "Along with what we have, that''s six, so each of us can hold on to two. In the event we''re outmatched and need to bargain, it''ll come in handy" (Suzu) "And holding on to more means decreasing the chances of candidates making it to third roun-" (Tai) "GUYS!" (Rei) TAK! At Rei''s warning, the trio took cover. With his enhanced senses, he managed to pick up traces of a confrontation occurring nearby. The only question was... "Do we check it out, or not?" (Rei) "Hmmm...it''s a risk but..." (Tai) "Yeah. Though we''ve had our fair share of encounters, there''s no telling how soon the next would come" (Suzu) Barely ten days left, within a canyon bigger than a great shinobi village. And even with the hundreds of participants, there was only one key item per squad Every encounter was an opportunity "Alright, I''ll take point. Stay close to me" "Got it" (Tai & Suzu) The team went on ahead, all the while scoping out the surrounding landscape. The terrain began to change, no longer an area filled with nature, but ruined infrastructure The lack of modern appearances easily indicated how old it was "Look at all of this architecture. What it must''ve cost to make this place...now we know what head proctor was talking about" (Suzu) "Despite its nature, this place suits a small town, rather than a factory. It''s massive, definitely stretching for miles. How many people must''ve worked here...my mind''s getting exhausted just thinking about it" (Tai) "With all the rusted metal and pipes everywhere, you''d think we''re in Amegakure7Hidden Rain Village" {Just what we''re they trying to build here?} (Rei) BOOM! "?!" (The Team) Gawking would have to wait as the sound of fighting nearby interrupted their study of the location. With cautious haste, the Genin jumped from building to building, before grabbing a bird''s eye view of a fight inside the floor of another building Carefully poking their heads out of a broken window as to not get spotted, each of them pulled out a monocular to scan the area below, discovering a three-way battle between shinobi of different origins "I recognize the squad on the left, they''re Sunagakure8Hidden Sand Villageshinobi" (Tai) "Look, the second group are wearing Hannya masks, more Hayashi-nin. A bunch of them, I count at least twenty. Their teams must''ve gotten together for efficiency" (Suzu) "Great. That''s all we, the only team from Kumogakure, needs. Village Genin teaming up is only gonna bite us in the ass later...Sigh!" (Tai) "Wait, they''re not just fighting the Suna-nin. Half the group is fighting...one person?!" (Suzu) {One guy? Is it Itachi?!} (Rei) Rei blatantly stuck his head out, but frowned in disappointment. The one fighting alone had not been Itachi Uchiha, but a young man of unknown origin, wearing attire not belonging to any nation he was aware of Using his lens, he scanned the him in attempts to discern his background He had white hair down to his neck and dark purple eyes. Wearing a tan kimono shirt tied by a belt, along with black trousers and wristbands, but no shinobi head band "I have no idea who that last person is..." (Rei) "It won''t matter if we sit here and let them go at it. Once they''re tired from fighting, we can swoop in and take them all down" (Tai) "That''s quite the bold plan for you, what''s up?" (Rei) "I just wanna get out of this place. The sooner, the better" (Tai) "It''s also quite risky. Though Rei''s an excellent sensor, others could still be hiding in this area with the same intention. Exposing ourselves may potentially do more harm than good" (Suzu) {We also don''t know how strong that mystery guy is, considering he''s WINNING against all those Wood ninja. Who the hell is that guy?!} "Alright, we''ll chill out here and wait before making a final decsio-?!" {This chakra! No way...it''s him again?!} (Rei) "Rei?" (Suzu) "GUYS! GET OUT NOW!!" (Rei) ??? When the team considered their next course of action, another interloper was prepping to take the center stage "For a number of that size...yes...the first level of chakra should be fine, hm" Soaring through the skies on what appeared to be a bird, he chuckled while look down at the group of shinobi fighting in the ruined factory complex After counting how many there were, he decided to act, throwing white objects generated from his hands towards the group before forming a hand seal "Get ready to experience the sublimation...!" BOOM! The white objects he threw abruptly detonated over all over the site, forming a giant ray of light and smoke in their wake. The young man raised both of his hands in glee And with a wide smile, he yelled straight from his diaphragm in fervor "Art is...AN EXPLOSION!!!!" 204. Deadlock BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! The site within the massive rundown factory became riddled with flashy explosions! The destructive, self-proclaimed "artist" flying on his creation beamed with pride. Eager to get a better look at his work, his clay bird flew in lower, only for him to discover a small number of the conflicting ninja were down "Cheh! What a failure! But that''s on me...I wasn''t passionate enough with this latest work" As the dust settled, the survivors rose the rubble, many of them turning their attention towards the little bomber above. One of which was Team Tango, who were blasted out from the upper floors, landing straight in the middle of the fight Suzu helped the boys up before Tai went to work checking for injuries. Rei glared upwards... {Deidara...again. I swear, one more time...and damn the Ripples! I''m gonna tear that f**king Michael B*y fan''s head off!} "Sigh! Tai, status?" (Rei) "No major injuries, just a few scrapes, we''re good but..." (Tai) "Yeah...things just got more complicated" (Suzu) RUSTLE! The masked squads of ninja from Hayashi no Kuni1Land of Woods who teamed up, the team from Sunagakure2Hidden Sand Village, and the mysterious white-haired teenager of unknown origins...all of them were know aware of Team Tango''s presence The Suna-nin whispered to themselves... "Hey Yra, what should we do? Things went out of hand when that weird guy showed up, and now another team..." "Take it as a boon. We were already in trouble when those Hayashi-nin ambushed us. We''re still breathing because that guy showed up and disrupted things. But you''re right, this is getting too complicated. Mukade, Tsubasa, on my signal...we retreat" (Yra) "Gotcha... Tsubasa, we''ll need your sight to plot a course" (Mukade) "I''m ready whenever" (Tsubasa) Though they weren''t talking, the Hayashi ninja were somehow able to communicate with one another. A feat Rei noticed upon spotting their sudden body language {The chakra from the wood ninja isn''t impressive, but Deidara''s gonna be a problem. He''ll remain out of our range and strike from above. The Suna-nin...I''m not sure, but what concerns me is that guy...his chakra isn''t anything to scoff at} (Rei) "He''s on the move!" (Suzu) ZWISH! As if responding to Rei''s fears, the white-haired young man zipped in front of a Hayashi ninja, directing his fist towards his head, and when they made contact CRUNCH!! "?!" (Everyone) "Hehe...there are so many bugs everywhere, and I didn''t bring my swatter" In bad taste, the mysterious ninja mocked everyone after killing Hayashi ninja with a single blow! Everyone paused in trepidation at seeing the masked man''s detached head tumble on the ground {Are you serious?! One punch was all it took to do that?! I''m not even sure if Rei can do that! This is bad...who the hell is this guy?!} (Tai) {Uh-oh...he just lit the fuse!} (Rei) After a moment, shock turned to anger, and the dead man''s comrades charged at the man in rage! Taking advantage of this, the Sunagakure ninja fled the scene. Team Tango desperately wished to do the same, but their path was blocked by the battle Three of the Hayashi ninja didn''t forget about them and directed their blades towards the Kumo genin "Rei!" (Suzu) "I know, stay back!" {Shunshin no Jutsu3Body Flicker Technique!} (Rei) ZWIP! "Hm?!" Without holding back, he appeared behind the attacking trio, kicking the left one on the head, thereby throwing him into the other two. The wood ninja were sent tumbling away to side, but Rei didn''t let up, delivering a series of merciless punches on the downed ninja until they fell unconscious Tai and Suzu were somewhat startled at how brutal he was this time, but understood the need for his actions, as the true danger was still to come "Hey...you''re not too shabby" "..." {Great, now WE''VE got his attention} (Rei) In the short span of time it took Rei to neutralize that small group, the white haired ninja managed to massacre the rest of the Hayashi ninja, turning the scene into one of horror, with blood and body parts scattered everywhere Tai had to fight from hurling at the man''s brutality, who was now casually hoisting the last one by the neck with one arm "If I''m not mistaken, you guys are from--um, Kumogakure right? Looks like that village has some talent, maybe you can make this interesting" SNAP! THUD! Bored with the fodder before him, he snapped the neck of the man in his arm before tossing him aside like a rag doll. Now waltzing towards Team Tango in anticipation for his next challenge "Guys, remember what I said about holding back?" (Rei) "Y-Yeah?" (Tai) "Forget it. If you don''t wanna die, get ready to go all out" (Rei) CRACK! The floor broke under his feet as the eager ninja prepped to charge at the team when... VWOOOOO! "?!" (Team Tango) "What the...?" More white clay figures rained down! Deidara had finished constructing his next batch of animated explosives, dropping numerous ones in the shape of small birds at the group "FEEL MY ART!!!!" (Deidara) "Not again...!" (Rei) "What a pest!" "KATSU!!" (Deidara) BOOM! ??? Several weeks ago "Whattya want old man?" "That''s Tsuchikage-sama4Earth Shadow to you, Bakuton5Explosion Style brat" (noki) After a meeting with his council concerning the Chunin exams, the 3rd Tsuchikage called in the youngest candidate for Iwagakure''s6Hidden Stone Village"Demolition Unit" to his office "I''m having you participate in the upcoming exams" (noki) "Eh?! I refuse to do something so troublesome!" (Deidara) "Troublesome? Considering all the attention it gets, I''d think an artist like yourself would desire to participate more than anything?" (noki) "Yeah, you would think that" (Deidara) Veins began to pop on noki''s temple in response to this young man''s flippant attitude towards his superior {This little shit...if I didn''t need you for this...} "Please...clarify" (noki) "I''m a growing, aspiring artist who''s yet to reach his prime. My creations aren''t ready for the public eye, I''ve yet to complete my work. What kind of artist shows off incomplete art?!" (Deidara) "I...see..." (noki) "So with that, you''ll excuse me. My time is precious...there''s so much I''ve to discover with these hands!" (Deidara) "Speaking of that Kinjutsu7Forbidden Jutsu you stole, we''re willing to grant you leniency for your transgression, IF you take part in the exams. Or, you can refuse and face the consequences. Your call" (noki) "K-Kuh!" {Shit...he''s mad!} (Deidara) In Iwagakure, or any shinobi nation, stealing Kinjutsu warranted the highest of punishments. Deidara knew this, and already held a fear for noki''s wrath. Despite his appearance of a small old man, Deidara has long since witnessed first-hand of what this Tsuchikage was capable of He held no desire to lose this Kinjutsu, the power to infuse chakra within objects, via forming small mouths on the hands...it was indispensable for his Ninjutsu overall Caving into the pressure, he reluctantly agreed to noki''s request "...Fine. I just have to win?" (Deidara) "Nope. You don''t have to make it to the third round" (noki) "What? Then what do you want me to do?" (Deidara) "Thin out the competition. The second exam is the perfect opportunity to help our own. And it''s in that canyon, a perfect location for someone of your, particular set of skills. You can cover great distances with ease, and attack from above" (noki) "..." (Deidara) "Once the second exam ends, you''re free to go, and you can keep the Kinjutsu as well. Be advised, you''re not to target any Iwagakure ninja...and stray away from Ishigakure8Hidden Rock Villageninja as well. Our new allies are helping us, so don''t harm them" (noki) "..." (Deidara) "Huh?" (noki) Deidara stayed silent with his head down, his shoulders seemed to be trembling "What wrong? Don''t tell me you''re having complaints at this incredibly generous offer I''m throwing your way. I had to convince the top brass we could still use you. I''ll be disappointed if you prove my efforts were for nothi-!?" (noki) "ALRIGHT!!!" (Deidara) "?!" (noki) "What you''re saying is, I can use a bunch a people I''ve never even met or care about in the least to test my art?!" (Deidara) "That''s--um, not what I said. And there''s something very wrong with the way you put it" (noki) "Okay! You got yourself a deal noki-ossan9Honorific for one of elder years! I''m off!" (Deidara) Deidara celebrated like kid at a candy store, his face holding a smile brighter than the sun, the young man was muttering some very twisted words with a childlike innocence Hearing everything he deemed necessary, the young ninja bolted out of the office, without even waiting for noki''s consent "E-Eh?! Wait just a--remember not to harm our own! Deidaraaaa--and he''s gone. Sigh. He''s gonna be a real pain in the ass when he''s older" ??? Present time Deidara upped the detonation power with his latest attack. The bombing created a chain a reaction, resulting in the structures collapsing one after the other, no different than a stack of dominos His explosives completely decimated the factory, leaving nothing but ruined metal in his wake "Yes. Art truly is an explosion, hm. With that out of the way, I ought to move on to the next area. There were a lot of Konohagakure10Hidden Leaf Village ninja who passed the first exam, I''ll make them my next target, hm" {Plus I''m running low on chakra...} (Deidara) Finally satisfied with his work, Deidara began his departure from the area. Even for him, fighting any longer with his depleted reserves would spell trouble And his latest act had already showed signs of attracting attention from others... RUMBLE! BOOSH! "Cough! Cough! Ugh! Rei, Tai, can you hear me?! Where are you?!" (Suzu) Blasting out of the debris with her Wind Style, Suzu yelled aloud out of concern for her teammates. Hastily glancing around for any sign of their survival "Hel--p...!" "?!" (Suzu) As the dust settled, the environment became more clear for her, and a figure''s silhouette could be spotted in the distance. None other than Tai, pinned down by what remains of a shattered wall "O-Over here!" (Tai) "Hang on, I''ll get you out!" {Doton: Golem no Jutsu11Earth Style: Golem Technique!} (Suzu) CRUMBLE! In need of some extra "muscle", Suzu spat out rocks from her mouth, which formed into an eight-foot, humanoid automaton of stone. With it''s strength, lifting the rubble off of Tai was simple The young lady swiftly moved to pull him away and help him on his feet "Thanks for the help, thought I was a goner" (Tai) "Same...we should''ve been more aware of that bomber. Though, it doesn''t really matter anymore, now that''s he''s fled the area" (Suzu) "Yeah. Hey...his attacks were awfully familiar. Was he the same one who...?" (Tai) "Most likely..." (Suzu) They both held the same thought, recalling their terrible time on "Summoning Island", it was hard to forget the maniacal bomber who destroyed the location''s protective barrier Not to mention hounding the island overseer, Kintar, the young man had remained as infuriating as ever "To think even that guy is here, the Chunin exams continues not to disappoint in the crazy factor. Rei''s definitely gonna have some words for--OH! REI! He''s the one who pushed me out of the way when--!" (Tai) BONK! BONK! "?!" (Suzu & Tai) Suzu immediately turned towards the source of the noise, identifying a massive pile of metal pipes and wreckage. With no hesitation, she ran towards it and screamed in distress "Rei! Is that you?!" (Suzu) WOOOOO! No response... "Rei!" (Suzu) "Come on man...this isn''t funny! Answer us!" (Tai) CLANK! "?!" (Suzu & Tai) "Uhack! You really think...haaa...haaa...I''d mess with you right now Tai?" "Ohhh!" (Tai) "...Thank heavens" (Suzu) Though faint, the sound of their team mate emerged from underneath the destroyed area. While attempting to move his teammates out of harm''s way, Rei ended up buried alive by the remains of the factory However, he managed to avoid getting impaled and crushed by positioning his body in the appropriate position and spot. Quick thinking and speed allowed him to cheat death once again... "I wouldn''t put it past you buddy. Hang on, we''ll get you out of this. Suzu" (Tai) "Mm" (Suzu) "No! Don''t!" (Rei) Suzu resumed control of her golem, bringing it over to help when Rei abruptly shouted in protest "What''s wrong?!" (Tai) "This debris here is unstable, if it collapses, I''m dead. I''ll have to get out on my own" (Rei) "How exactly are you gonna do that?" (Suzu) "There''s a crawlspace I can see that may lead me out. If I''m careful and lucky, I should be able to make it out of here" "Should? That does NOT inspire confidence, there must be something we can do to help. If you''re worrying about us, don''t, that guy with the insane strength left. We''re all alone here" (Tai) {It''s not like I''m concerned about that...if you two characters die, I can''t pass the exam. Still...} (Rei) Rei closed his eyes, trying to confirm with his senses if what Tai claimed was actually true {This is...!} "Guys...don''t panic and listen to me very carefully" (Rei) "...How many?" (Suzu) "A LOT. Heading this way, all the noise attracted some unwarranted attention. That white-haired guy is already outside fighting. It won''t be long before this place turns into a battlefield...again" {That settles it...I''m definitely gonna kill Deidara!} (Rei) "Then we need to hurry and get you out!" (Suzu) "Yeah!" (Tai) As if they knew exactly what plan Rei was going to suggest next, Tai and Suzu attempted to act before he could say anymore, but it was too late... "No. You need to leave me behind" (Rei) 205. Splitting Up MrProper "Absolutely not Rei!" (Suzu & Tai) "Wow, you two are in sync" (Rei) "Not... The time man!" (Tai) Suzu and Tai, especially the former, vehemently refused Rei''s suggestion to leave him under rubble while they made their escape. Suzu commanded her stone golem to continue digging carefully when... CRASH! "Uh?!" (Suzu & Tai) {The drama outside escalated rather quickly, I''m picking up at least over two dozen chakra signatures...} "You hear that?! There''s no debating this, now go!" (Rei) "Tsk!" (Suzu) {That last one was very close... just a few meters from this location} "..." (Tai) The sounds of fighting grew louder with every passing second, but Suzu continued digging, adamantly unwilling to leave Rei behind "Suzu... we have to go" Tai was the first to cave in and make the rational decision, placing his hand on her shoulder "..." The girl ignored him and continued to dig "Suzu..!" (Tai) BOOM! Another explosion echoed in the air as signs of fighting edged even closer, it was obvious they were out of time "There''s nothing you can do..." (Tai) "Haaa... Damn it!" (Suzu) Suzu bit her lip in frustration as she slammed her fist into the ground "Listen, DO NOT come back here, and don''t bother looking for me" (Rei) "?!" (Suzu & Tai) "If you want to help me, continue on with the exam. Find a Black Needle, get to the objective, that should be your only priority. I''ll do the same and meet you there, we can''t pass if the whole team doesn''t make it" (Rei) CRASH! {Damn it, a squad''s coming to this area...!} "Now leave! Someone''s coming... run towards 8 o''clock, and don''t look back!!" (Rei) "We got it! Come on Suzu!" (Tai) {We''ll reach the location as a team, not apart!}"Just stay alive Rei, you hear me! We''ll see each other again, I swear!" (Suzu) "Just hurry!" (Rei) SWISH! SWISH! With great reluctance, Rei''s teammates departed just moments before another squad arrived. The entire location overall was full of battle, akin to an active warzone! Eventually making it into the factory, the Genin grabbed cover from anywhere they could find it. Fighting from the shadows, remaining unseen as a true shinobi should, while striking from nowhere... {At the rate I''m going, it''ll be forever before I''m out. Hell, I don''t even know if there is a way out...} "Sigh! What I''d give to be a Kton1Steel Style user. Damn it, I can''t see a thing... Katon!2Fire Style" (Rei) Rei created a small, match-like flame from the tip of his index finger to act as his lamp With only one path available, he entered the crawlspace and moved in the opposite direction of his fleeing teammates, slowly slinking through metal, taking no chances as the rubble would completely crush him "Over here! I swear there were shinobi in this direction!" {Crap. Since I''m buried deep underneath, they shouldn''t be able to see the light...but I''ll lower the flame just to be safe} (Rei) "The only thing I see are these body parts scattered everywhere. Geez! What kind of monster would do this?" "Who cares. Let''s look around and see if any of them have what we need" These Genin, like many others, decided on a more... practical approach. Sneaking past the conflicting squads both in and outside the ruined factory. Looking for alternative means to acquire the key items for the exam This squad, now waltzing above a buried Rei, searched the bodies of the very same masked Hayashi ninja torn to shreds by the white-haired young man of unknown origins "Ugh! This is so gross! Think I saw an eyeball...uwaah!" "Hmmm...ah shit! Another damn compass! That''s all we''ve been getting since the start! Are we cursed or something?!" "It''s just the first day, it''d be miracle if we succeeded so quickly. Come on, the sun''s already down, night is lethal here. We''ll form a perimeter here and wait for the conflict to end, it''s far too dangerous to go out now" "If we''re lucky, one of the squads out there will have the piece we need" {Just great. Now if I move, I''ll risk them hearing me. Thank God I picked up that special tsutsuki trait, or I''d be in deep shit now. Honestly, Notitia''s gonna rub this in my face later...} (Rei) BOOM! CLANK! "?!" "Enemy attack! Get ready!" {Ah... Shit! Some jackass disturbed the top! Gotta move!} (Rei) With no time to lose, Rei damned the consequences and crawled as fast as he could! Using his only light source, the flame on his hand as a guide However... RUSTLE! TINK! {SHIT!!} (Rei) "What?!" "Hey! There''s someone else, underneath us!!" "Move! I''ll take care of it!!" {No, No, No, No, No! Not good! Come on Raymond, MOVE! You didn''t get this far to die under some rundown factory, that''s just insulting!!!} (Rei) FWIP! THOK! One of the Genin threw a kunai with a paper tag tied to its end and after a few seconds... {That sound...} "Oh...YOU ASSHOLES!!!!!!!" (Rei) BOOM! The paper bomb ignited, rupturing what was left of the structure above Rei! Metal pipes and scraps tumbled down, collapsing the space around him "...F**king hell" (Rei) Looking upwards, the last thing he saw was debris descending his way just before everything went black... "Hey...do you see anything?! We got other company to worry about!" "No, just a giant gaping hole. Strange, I thought there''d be a body..." "Worry about that later, we''ve got work to do!" "Got it!" ZWISH! The Genin left to fight their sudden attackers, but oddly enough... There was no trace of Rei... ??? Months earlier "N-No...this can''t be right. That experiment was to make me the best... like him" [Wrong. Our goal was to set you on the path of becoming the strongest] Just prior to using his third Lifeline for intel on the Chunin exams, Rei had another issue to tackle with Notitia, concerning a topic several years in the making... "The strongest is without question, Isshiki tsutsuki, albeit at his peak. I only agreed to modifying myself after you guaranteed a way to get to his level for this f**king game. Now you''re saying the cells in my body have mutated into something else-?!" [Yell all you like, but the results in front of you will be the same, no matter how many times you test your blood] "Urgh!" Following the events of the Siege, Rei decided to run a check-up on his body''s condition. He''d suffered much physical trauma during the event, including self-inflicted from the Black Scroll''s third purification. In addition towards his reckless use of In''yton3Yin-Yang/Shadow & Light Stylevia Kisshten4Auspicious Heavens, there was much that concerned him Utilizing the new medical equipment installed in his lab, courtesy of Mori Sp., Rei ran several blood tests to determine the status of his tsutsuki cells...only to discover their rate of progression had proceeded faster than predicted In spite of his attempt to protect the last of his human DNA with Yin-Yang chakra, the alien side of him had done its work during his time in the hospital He was now 100% tsutsuki... {I''ve held this thought, or rather, the fear of Isshiki''s soul coming back to take over. Considering I incorporated his essence with that giant centrifuge-like device of his...} "Notitia... clarify. If his cells have completely taken over, why do I feel the same? I mean, we made modifications to ensure my appearance doesn''t change much for anonymity but..." [You''re mistake is assuming that machine functions like Karma. It''s a device meant to give his candidates a better chance at adapting to the Karma seal, by forcibly converting their genome, but every child died. You killed him during a time he lacked the proper technical expertise] "He didn''t have knowledge like mine, that''s why it worked for me... but even if I''m a mutated version of him, shouldn''t I have received a massive boost in power regardless?!" Aside from his new and improved nervous system from the Black scroll''s methods, the lack of major change bothered him greatly. Feeling his strength as inadequate for his age. Comparing himself to ninja like Shisui and Itachi Uchiha, or others with bloodline gifts Even more so, he held new misgivings for the odd power known as Kisshten. Since returning from the hospital, Rei has been unable to use it since his last attempt, altering a LIFT pill to save Suzu This only reminded him of what a complete unknown it was, and whether or not it was even safe to use it... [Sigh! Calm the hell down. Even without a Djutsu5Eye Technique, you really are a fool if you can''t see the boons...] "Excuse me?" [EVERY tsutsuki gained their unique visual prowess and powers via the chakra fruit sprouted from a Ten-Tails after draining a planet of life. It''s how they update themselves and evolve] "I know that. Are you suggesting I need to eat one if I''m to-?" [No, idiot! You''ll NEVER have to do that] "?!" [Whether or not you have the same powers as Isshiki is irrelevant. Can you not see how blessed you are? Those aliens required planets to drain, and fruit to eat. It''s taken them thousands of years to get to where they are now, and they''re STILL fated to fall by the hands of mere humans] {Mere humans?} [But you? You''ll never have to do that. With training alone, growth is infinite...you literally have no limits. Whether its draining chakra from a Ten-Tails, or consuming a chakra fruit, you''ll never have to live like them... as a parasite] Rei recalled what he learned about the tsutsuki years ago, the day he first stepped foot into this lab. These aliens were constantly on the hunt for more power, a desire that could easily be attributed to an addiction...the "tsutsuki Will" Kaguya tsutsuki''s grotesque form prior to losing her chakra was a prime example of her clan''s obsession...and hubris [Your mutated genome is unique, there is not a single creature that resembles you. As I stated years ago, not human, not tsutsuki...you''re more] "...This was the plan you came up with. I''m now your so-called, Neo-tsutsuki?" [That''s just a name we came up with, neither of us know what your evolution entails. Hell, just think about what you already have. Like, how in the world did you acquire the In''yton? For the record, that''s a power exclusive to Kaguya''s bloodline] {That''s what I''d like to know... though it doesn''t matter now since it''s not working right} [We have now clue what kind of being you''ll become, but honestly--hehe, I can''t wait to find out!] "..." [Don''t fuss over not being like Isshiki, that guy died a pathetic death. With your gifts and mind, you''ll become stronger, better than he ever was. Just keep pROgressing, that''s all you''ll ever need to worry about. Speaking of which--] {There it goes again... why is it so obsessed with my improvement?} "Alright, alright... you''ve made your point. Let''s move on to the next subject, the Lifeline, there''s lot I''d like to know about the upcoming exams" [Hold on... now that you''re completely alien, you should at least have the basic traits of an tsutsuki. The fact you escaped from the hospital, undetected, proves you can already suppress your chakra like them] "I thought breaking out of the second most guarded location during the Siege was far too easy. But I didn''t know tsutsuki could do that AND use Ninjutsu..." [Exactly my point, there''s a lot they''re capable of...] "Since I never knew--or rather, you never told me about their ability to hide their chakra signature..." [H-Hehehe... my bad] "Sigh! Refresh me on said subject, and DO NOT leave anything out this time" [Okay okay... You already know unlike humans, they naturally manipulate chakra flawlessly. I''m sure you''ve no longer felt the need to practice chakra control anymore] {That''s why my Ninjutsu against Ky was so much stronger. I attributed it to the third purification, but it looks like I was wrong...again} "Go on..." [Their bodies are much stronger with powerful lifeforces, they breathe in space, fly at insane speeds, reincarnation via a Karma seal, and... Oh! Let''s not forget my favorite!] "Your favorite being...?" ??? Present time "UWAH!!!" THUD! "Oooof! A-Agh! Owwwww...!" Elsewhere... Rei had fallen right on his face. Confused and shaken due to his unexpected survival. He patted himself all over, checking for wounds, and confirming if what happened was reality Pinching his cheek just to be sure someone hadn''t trapped him within a Genjutsu "This is real...wait? Where the hell am I?" Rising to his feet, the young man found himself in the middle of nowhere. Not a trace of the previous industrial surroundings the old factory displayed. He''d somehow arrived in a completely new environment "What the hell, I know its night, but I don''t recognize this area at all..." WOOOO! "Hm? What''s that weird noise--oh...shit. Holy shit, did I actually...?!" Rei raised his head towards the source of the loud, churning sound stemming from above, only to become dumbfounded once more at the phenomenon before him... "That''s right, Notitia''s favorite aspect of the tsutsuki clan..." VWINNNN! The air above him was twisted and disturbed, like a tear in the world itself, a black circular hole floated over him! "Jikkan Ninjutsu6Space-Time Techniques..." 206. Originality MrProper "I''m seeing it with my own eyes... and it still seems unreal, all things considered" VWN! WOOOOO! Rei opened and closed his eyes again and again, just to be sure what just transpired was reality... A black, swirling portal hanged from above... a "Tear" in the very air itself! Somehow, he''d managed to access the tsutsuki clan''s natural ability to use Jikkan Ninjutsu1Space-Time Techniques, teleporting away from the uncanny fate of being crushed under metal debris "That''s one hell of a Dues Ex Machina... good to know I''m entirely out of luck yet" In the past, Rei used the Reverse Summoning Technique to travel back-and-forth from his lab, via Mabui''s transmission pots or his "Imugi", but to actually SEE it for the first time... his thoughts were mixed The Genin with an engineer''s soul mostly focused on his now, fully tsutsuki body, and the particular traits it would exhibit in the future. However, he couldn''t help but reminisce about his old life... "Amazing... I''ve spent countless hours studying the concept of Einstein-Rosen Bridges in college, and now, one looms over my head. Not through scientific achievement, but the natural absurdity that comes with a fantasy world... what a f**king joke" WOOOOO! The wind picked up as the canyon glowed with the light of the moon, and with it, a complex heart... As a scientist who rose, fell, and rose again... Raymond Parker spent his entire life struggling for achievements and acknowledgement in a diverse and challenging society. Now, the challenges thought to be nothing short of impossible in his old world, were child''s play in this one due to the omni-functional power known as "Chakra" With a bit of technical expertise and out-of-the-box thinking, anything was possible. And as he continued his new life here, Raymond continued to question what all of his previous sweat, effort, and sacrifice was for... if it meant anything at all SLAP! SLAP! But seeing the bigger picture, he just as quickly tossed the negative feelings aside. Slapping his cheeks twice, snapping himself out of his melancholy Continuing on as "Rei Sano" "Alright, enough moping around. I''ve got other things to worry about, starting with figuring out exactly where the hell I teleported to..." VWN! As if responding to his new outlook, the portal above vanished without a trace Rei held out his hand in attempt to make another, but to no avail. He still had no idea as to how it worked, as with most abilities the tsutsuki carry... it''s inner functions remained a mystery {Can''t use it, oh well. Guess I should be glad it didn''t drop me outside the country or something. But I''m a ways off. There are plenty of Chakra signatures I don''t recognize... and I can''t pinpoint Tai or Suzu''s. Which means they''re either hiding, or the distance between us is greater than the radius of Kumogakure''s walls} "Shit. I''ve underestimated just how gigantic this place is... fitting it''s called Rengoku no Kykoku2Purgatory''s Canyon" ZWISH! Rei proceeded to dash through the terrain, looking for a place to lay low and rethink his strategy Eventually coming across a giant split between two mountains, with an entrenched river at the bottom. Eager to claim this spot for himself, he jumped down to the river bed, scoping out the area before determining the location to be safe spot for rest Every minute was precious, and night was already here. Rei wasted no time placing traps all over the area. "Phew! I think that''s enough... Team F would be proud" With his work complete, he sat down with his back against a boulder situated near the river "Okay... let''s compartmentalize. I''ve arrived at a random location with no clue as to exactly where I am, got separated from my team, and with barely nine days before this exam ends. Strong as I am, taking on a squad alone isn''t wise" {If that white-haired kid proved anything, it''s that this world is filled with ridiculously overpowered children. Wish I knew who he was. Notitia might be able to help, but that''s not an option now} Notitia always behaved strangely whenever Rei used a Lifeline, followed with long absence. But for his most recent one, the formless entity has sporadically left and returned every now and then For some reason, this behavior only grew worse with each Lifeline used, a trend that didn''t escape Rei''s notice... {My Taijutsu & Genjutsu can help, and while I''m definitely not a master, I do know enough Finjutsu3Sealing Techniques to mark this location in case I need to hop back to my lab with Reverse Summoning. Though that risks me revealing the Imugi, a trump card I''d like to keep hidden until the final exam} WOOOOO! PITTER-PATTER! The wind picked up once more, and with it, drops of water descended. In what seemed like an instant, the previous starry sky was covered with dark-grey clouds, followed by loud booming sounds of thunder and flashes of lighting "Oh great, NOW it''s raining!!" SPLASH! Rei wandered around, looking for a good place to hide from the rain, but quickly learned his efforts were fruitless. Already drenched, the sight of the clouds reminded him of his home village Alongside a particular topic his cousin went over with him... ??? Months Ago "Hold on Mabui-nee, what exactly is wrong with my decision?" "Everything. Your Kekkei Genkai4Bloodline Limitmight be gone, but that element''s affinity was only weakened, you just need to raise it up again" "You make it sound so simple, Sigh! We barely have two months before I depart to Iwagakure5Hidden Stone Village . Don''t you think it''s more wise to focus on what I still have, rather than what I lost during the Siege?" Returning home from a day of training, Mabui treated him to warm dinner. However, the mood took a turn for the worst when Mabui raised a question regarding the progress with his third element...Earth Rei stated he held no plans related to said element, rather, he opted to focus on improving the abilities that remained unaffected after his latest use of In''yton6Yin-Yang/Shadow & Light Style Mabui believed this decision not to acquire, or reacquire a third element, something most shinobi fail to do, was foolhardy {Sigh... it sucks not being able to tell my truth sometimes} (Rei) Initially, "Rei" was never even capable of using Earth or Lava Style, as clarified by Notitia many years ago. It was an inadvertent use of Yin-Yang Style, that transformed latent, recessive genes...into dominant ones But now, said human cells were replaced by tsutsuki ones, and his affinity with Earth had become nearly as bad as his affinity with the Wind and Lightning elements Rei wanted to explain, but keeping the secrets of his body was paramount "Look, I know you want to make the most of your time but, that applies to anyone else" (Mabui) "Why am I the exception?" Rei asked in frustration as he put his third empty plate aside {He''s already done with another plate...geez!} "Isn''t it obvious? All it took was one look at your reaction at the hospital" "Now you''ve lost me" "What''s happened to you is unprecedented, trauma to your nervous system and chakra network, losing a Kekkei Genkai. If it were anyone else, they''d inevitably fall into despair, but you? You just shrugged it off and focused on what you can still do. The sheer level of maturity and resolve is rare even in adults" {Well, the "Trauma" was just my third purification, and I knew Lava and Earth were going away the next time I used Kisshten7Auspicious Heavensso...} "If you know that, why are you trying to put even more on my plate...figuratively speaking of course" (Rei) "Because I know you. Unlike most, you can handle it" (Mabui) {Damn it...I hate it how she can see right through me. Hell, she probably knows I''m still withholding facts about what''s happened to me} (Rei) The biggest reason as to why Rei wasn''t eager to venture into this element was due to his personal fighting style As the vanguard of Team Tango, he typically blitzed his opponents with swift attacks ranging from fists to fire blasts. Earth Style''s strengths lies in defensive or supplementary tactics; such as raising walls of earth, burrowing underground, and turning the terrain into one''s advantage Granted, he''s explored some of its offensive capabilities like the Golem Jutsu, but Rei came to the conclusion he could achieve similar results with clones. In addition, his Fire and Water elements offensive capabilities were far more potent Out of all the five basic nature transformations, he favored Earth the least... "You''re a ninja, which means you''re an adult. So I can''t force you to do anything, I''m simply advising you to shelve off a miniscule fraction of your training schedule into increasing your affinity with it" (Mabui) {You say you can''t force me to do something, when you''re inevitably gonna force me to do something...} (Rei) "...I know what you''re thinking kid" (Mabui) {Is she physic?!} (Rei) "No, I''m not physic, I just know you. Besides... You''re going to the Land of Earth, don''t you think being able to achieve a change in the nature of Earth would be a boon?" "!" "Besides, when have I have ever been wrong?" "N-Ngh...! Urgh! Fine! I''ll do it, but don''t expect much!" Rei couldn''t counter argue...as usual when it comes to his cousin Mabui smiled at his reaction, knowing she''d managed to break through his stubborn streak. The only person in Kumogakure who could do such a thing was her, which irritated him to no end Sometimes, it was hard for him to discern which one was the adult "Now... would you like some more?" Mabui asked smugly "... Yes" Rei unfolded his arms and held out his plate, asking for more food with a pouting look "Yes... what?" "Haaaa... Yes please" "Pffft! That''s more like it" ??? Present Time "Damn it... she''s definitely gonna rub this in my face when she finds out. How does she always get under my skin?!" The rate of rainfall continued to increase, and his clothes only grew more wet, he had to get out of this bad weather. Rei moved away from the river, placing his hand on the bottom of the two mountains that entrenched it With the closing of his eyes, he recalled the last words Mabui said to him that day... "Don''t just use what you''ve read in a library, rather, experiment with it. You''ve got good memory, but hardly any imagination! Ninjutsu, science, etc... it''s all the same. Studying any art always begins with imitation, but mastery ends with originality I applied the same when creating my Tens no Jutsu8Heavenly Tranfer Technique... Learn, then co-opt!" "Truth be told, the only original thing I''ve created since coming to this world is my Genjutsu, and the Imugi. Years of training, learning nothing but pre-set Ninjutsu... Damn it, I f**king hate it when she''s right...!" FUMFUM! FUMFUM! The thunder continued to roar, and with, even more rain came pouring down! {The Earth element... In hindsight, a master can do pretty much anything with it. Composition, weight, position, density, hardness... one can control all of this with the proper skill} After a few seconds of kneading his chakra... WEAVE! "Doton9Earth Style!" CRACK! CRUMBLE! ...The terrain in front of him began to shift and change! Pebbles flew all over the place as the earth shifted upwards until he removed his hand "Hmph! Originality eh? It''s still my least favorite element, but I''ll make it work for now..." CLATTER! Utilizing pure, custom shape transformation... Rei successfully managed to created a small cavern for cover from this stormy night! "I don''t wanna say it but... thanks for the advice, nee-san" 207. The New Norm… Again MrProper RUMBLE! CRACKLE! "Geez... That''s some bad weather" It was long past midnight, stretching into morning in Iwagakure''s1Hidden Stone Village "Rengoku no Kykoku2Purgatory''s Canyon", the first day of the second exam had passed... only nine days remained After forging a small cave for shelter, Rei created a small fire to keep himself warm during the unrelenting storm. Even past four o''clock in the morning, the bad weather persisted, with no trace of sunlight in sight... but no matter what, he refrained from falling asleep Still a battleground, sneak attacks while the sun was down were expected, as he already laced the area with traps {This reminds me of pulling all-nighters at work...} Though it was logical decision, a part of him felt regret at separating from his team. Wondering if the decision to send Tai and Suzu away was made in haste. After all, having allies keep watch while one rests remained fundamental for this survival-focused exam "Hmm...this cave isn''t half decent. While Doton3Earth Styleis my least favorite, I can''t deny it''s usefulness in this type of environment. Not to mention..." CLENCH! Rei closed his eyes and held his arm out. Making a fist, he examined the circulation of energy within his Chakra Network "Everything''s flowing so much smoother now, I really am a complete alien, albeit mutated a bit. Achieving a change in chakra form and nature is so much easier. With my tsutsuki cells now serving as the sole base for my affinities, the result is far more potent compared to being at least... partly human" Rei now possessed the inherent trait all tsutsuki, their natural, absolute flawless control of physical and spiritual energy Unlike humans, he''d never have to bother with training his control and manipulation of Chakra ever again. As such, he managed to raise the affinity of his Earth element in the short span of two months prior to coming here An inconceivable feat that would only be accomplished by either a shinobi capable of training with the time-saving, Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu, or a Rinnegan4Sa?sra Eyewielder However... {I hate the fact Notitia got one over me. I know it was for saving Suzu, but if I hadn''t used my In''yton5Yin-Yang/Shadow & Light Style, my tsutsuki cells wouldn''t have been stimulated and consume the rest of my human DNA. In the end, it''s "other" side managed to get what it wanted, only God knows what''ll happen to me next} While satisfied with the boost in power, said growth was exactly what Notitia desired. He didn''t know the details, but the voiceless entity had some kind of "plan" for him Ever since the betrayal from one of his closest and oldest friends, Raymond Parker abided cynicism, never believing in a "free meal". It was blatantly obvious Notitia aided him for a specific purpose And considering whoever brought him here, was ruthless enough to remove the soul of a three-year old child, just to grant him body... whatever it had in store definitely wasn''t ideal... {I''ll have to rethink by plans for the future. Since it thinks I should find the Rychid6Dragon Ground Cave, perhaps a hint lies there} "Regardless, I''ll just have to accept the fact it won the first battle, but the war isn''t over yet. There are still things I can--" CREAK! {My trip wires...!} "Tch!" He immediately put out the fire in front of him. Along with the traps he placed, Rei had set up a makeshift "network" of small wires throughout the area. All the lines traced back inside the cave, tied into the ring-like pommel on the ends of several Kunai All set up to alert him whenever someone ventured into his "area" {Judging from the vibration of the wires...I''d say two--no, three people. I can''t sense them, which means...} "With all this rain from the thunder storm, relying on hearing and smell won''t do me much good... gotta get creative for this" Eyeing the cave''s entrance for a moment, Rei threw away the idea of leaving that way. Instead, he moved in the opposite direction, reaching out towards the cave wall TAP! "They probably think someone is here and doing the same as them, suppressing their chakra... I''ll use that to my advantage" WEAVE! Rei''s hands began forming seals... ??? Just outside the cave Three Genin hailing from Kirigakure7Hidden Mist Village stared down at the entrance to Rei''s cave within the trench. Even in the rain, the laid on their bellies, situated atop the mountain opposite the one he chose to build his little "hideout" None of them taking their eyes off of it for even a second "Kussaku, can you sense anything?" "Mmm... sorry Unmo, but no. However, there''s no mistaking the light we saw earlier, it was definitely a camp fire. Plus, there was only one shadow" (Kussaku) "Your the best sensor-nin I know of back home, the person inside must be hiding their chakra, but that also means they can''t use Ninjutsu while doing so. There''s no way out except the entrance, we can wait it out" (Unmo) The one called "Unmo" smiled at what he perceived to be a fortuitous circumstance. Finding a ninja alone in this canyon was a rare opportunity too great to ignore "How are we gonna approach this?" (Kussaku) "Like the usual. I''ll go in first, while you and Kiri back me up. If we''re lucky, this person will have the piece we need" (Unmo) "Are you sure? I just finished treating the injury that kid from Konohagakure8Hidden Leaf Villagegave you" (Kiri) As if he ate something foul, Unmo''s face instantly turned sour as the team''s medic voiced his concerns "Cheh! It''s just a scratch. As if someone from that trash village is gonna do me in! He just caught me off guard!" (Unmo) {He''s letting his distaste for that village cloud his judgement. We had a real chance earlier with that squad from Sunagakure9Hidden Sand Village, but just one sight of a Konoha-nin, and he loses it} (Kussaku) "If you say so..." (Kiri) "Whatever. It''s not a subject I like discussing..." (Unmo) ZUZUZU! "Are you sure? I''d like to hear about this supposed, leaf ninja" "?!" (Unmo, Kiri, Kussaku) Without warning, Rei appeared behind the Kirigakure team, casually revealing his presence without a care in the world The team turned around in haste, weapons already drawn. His jump-scare abruptly raised their tension, as they wondered how he got the drop on them so easily When Unmo finally turned his eyes away from Rei face, he discovered his feet and ankles were somehow phased into the ground "That''s... Doton?" (Unmo) "Here another one for you" {Doton: Sazareishi10Earth Style: Gravel!} (Rei) CRUMBLE! The ground converged, upturning around the trio before condensing and trapping them. Practically taking the shape of an oddly large anthill "Ugh! Damn!" (Kussaku) "Now I get it, you used the Doch Eigyo no Jutsu11Underground Projection Fish Technique, didn''t you?!" (Kiri) "Eh? It has a name? I was just experimenting. Since you were staring at my cave so much, I figured it''d be wise to quietly sneak past you from beneath the surface. Thanks for the info" (Rei) The Earth style technique Rei used in the past to travel under the surface was the standard, "Moguragakure no Jutsu12Hiding Like a Mole Technique". Though it allowed the user to turn the ground into to find sand and dig around like a mole, it was noisy and produced small tremors an enemy could pick up on Rei decided to take the concept further via a new change in Chakra form, unintentionally using an entirely different Ninjutsu in the process {The way it allows me to phase through the ground, it''s perfect for stealth. Though this one only works on Earth, it''s kind of like Zetsu''s ability, moving through any type of surface. As nee-san put it, originality. I can probably take the concept even further with the nature transformations I ACTUALLY favor. I''ve already got some ideas for Katon13Fire Style...} (Rei) As he grew more excited about new possibilities... the immobilized Kirigakure ninja were at a loss, particularly the sensor of the squad, Kussaku "I thought you were staying alert for chakra signatures in the area?!" (Unmo) "I-I was...! I don''t understand how he could use that Jutsu and keep his chakra hidden! Even now, while he''s standing in front of us, I can''t feel his chakra, almost like a ghost!" (Kussaku) "!" {Ghost...} (Kiri) "That doesn''t make any sense, how could a Genin--?!" (Unmo) "The 2nd Tsuchikage14Earth Shadow" (Kiri) "?!" (Unmo & Kussaku) "Known as the Mujin15Null-Man, he was so skilled at controlling his chakra, he could utilize his camouflaging ninjutsu while suppressing his chakra at the same time..." (Kiri) "Wait wait wait, Kiri! Are you implying this kid can achieve feats similar to a Kage?! That''s...!" (Unmo) Not only feats similar to a Kage, his mutated body was far above that. Rei knew a sensor-nin was looking for him, hence he took advantage of the situation by concealing his chakra signature, knowing they''d never expect he could still use ninjutsu while doing so And like mouse to a mousetrap, they didn''t take their eyes off the cave entrance, making it even easier to get the drop on them Upon picking up their whispering with his enhanced hearing, he couldn''t help but smile {Camouflage eh? Even more food for thought. Pfft! All these new options make me feel like a kid at a candy store!} (Rei) "Unbelievable..." (Kussaku) "Tsk!" {Just have to...get my hands a little loose, without him noticing. Then I can...!} (Unmo) WOOOOO! "Hm? Oh! Would you look at that, the weather is clearing up. The sun should be rising soon, and since I''ve more important things to do, it''s time to put an end to this" (Rei) TAK! KASHINK! "?!" (Unmo, Kussaku, Kiri) Rei slowly approached the team, withdrawing a kunai blade from his holster. Knowing this location was compromised, he no longer held any desire to stay, but not before unveiling the "piece" this team possessed Only with a complete compass could he make it to the mysterious, "Primary Objective". His curiosity was also piqued at the mention of a Leaf ninja "I''ve got some questions for you three, but before that, surrender your exam item" (Rei) "Hmph! This is the only thing I''m giving you...!" (Unmo) CRACKLE! "!" (Kussaku) "H-Hey! Unmo, don''t use that so close to us--!!" (Kiri) "Raiton: Raigeki16Lightning Style: Lightning Strike!" (Unmo) BZAPP!! ZWISH! Electricity gathered and converged around Unmo''s fist as he punched his way out of the rock constriction. Freeing his team in the process before aiming his attack at Rei, the latter whom swiftly dashed away, widening the distance between them "Raiton beats Doton, hehehe!" (Unmo) "He''s from Kumogakure, you really think he doesn''t know that? Ugh... my fingers are tingling from that attack Unmo! I keep telling you not to do that so close to us!" (Kussaku) "At least we''re free now" (Kiri) "Haaa...I haven''t really fought anyone in the past months due to training" CRACK! Rei put his kunai away before snapping his knuckles. As hand-to-hand combat was his specialty, he decided to end this with his fists "Try not to make this too easy for me..." (Rei) 208. Solo Fight MrProper Iwagakure1Hidden Stone Village {It should be around here somewhere...} While his students were fighting for their lives in the second phase of the Chunin exams, Tango refrained from merely sitting around in wait for results. Undergoing a particular mission of his own, he covertly roamed the streets in casual clothing, hiding his identity as a Kumogakure Jonin While being the only Kumo ninja here, his comrade and spy Karai arranged for a proxy to send him intel on the current situation. Now on his way to a "drop" left for him in an inconspicuous alley... RUSTLE! "Ah! Found it..." Placed inside a building wall behind a removeable stone slab, lied a scroll containing Karai''s most recent report FWAP! Glancing around once more for witnesses, he opened the scroll containing a message written in code. Tango immediately went to work, deciphering it as fast as he could {So I was right... this explains Ishigakure''s2Hidden Rock Village involvement. Iwagakure is having them target every other village Genin for the second and third exams. Hmmm...our Daimy will be here soon. What else...notes on a--"reconstruction" for the... Just what the hell are they building?} Due to the report being assembled in haste, the code''s message remained broken and inconsistent. Frustratingly akin to a puzzle, Tango spent most of his time putting the blank spots together The majority of it contained information on Iwagakure''s recent "changes" to the Chunin exams, particularly the commodities too big to keep secret, such as alterations to the arena set for the third and final part of the exam "Given the number of VIPs on the way, there''s gonna be a big audience, so changes are expected. I''m more concerned with the second exam..." RUSTLE! Tango unrolled the scroll even further, deciphering the rest of the message. Only when he finished its contents did he clench the paper in anger... {Compasses and...! Those lousy... So that''s why they chose that location for the second exam! Their Genin have no doubt been informed beforehand...this is clearly an unfair advantage!} SCORCH! After tossing the scroll aside, it abruptly caught fire, set by Karai to burn until message was nothing but ash. Tango promptly left the alley, leaving everything as it was, ensuring no one caught on to his actions Putting his skills to work, he subtly blended in with the local populace already up this early in the morning. Making his way back to the hotel, his thoughts focused on his students... "Those kids should be able to figure it out, but making it through that ridiculous canyon, that''s another story. No matter what, they mustn''t split up..." ??? Rengoku no Kykoku3Purgatory''s Canyon The Genin team from Kirigakure4Hidden Mist Village poised to fight Rei moved into formation, with the medic known as Kiri situated behind his two teammates, Kussaku and Unmo. The latter of whom maintained a charge of electricity on his fist Eager to end this before sunrise, Rei was more than ready to fight, smugly goading them to attack "I''m on a tight schedule, let''s go already" (Rei) "Cocky jerk... It won''t be so easy this time! Ready Kussaku?!" (Unmo) "Anytime!" (Kussaku) "In that case, I''m moving out!" (Unmo) CRACKLE! Unmo dashed ahead, increasing the intensity of his Raiton5Lightning StyleNinjutsu. As Rei prepared to intercept, Kussaku made his move "Suiton: Mizurappa6Water Style: Wild Water Wave!" (Kussaku) SPLOOSH! Kussaku spat out a stream of water in Rei''s direction. Unmo jumped just as it was about to him, before placing his hand on it, adding his own technique in the process "Raiton: Kangekiha7Lightning Style: Wave of Inspiration!" (Unmo) {I get it. Make me think you''re gonna strike me, when your true aim is a combo attack. Smart, but your methods are rudimentary} (Rei) ZWIP! ZWIP! Opting to return their Ninjutsu with Taijutsu, Rei zipped around with incredible speed, easily dodging their attack. Running forwards, he already had his target in sight...! "What the?!" (Unmo) "So fast...uh?! Kussaku! He''s coming!" (Kiri) "K-Kuh!" (Kussaku) BLAM! Maneuvering around Unmo, he stopped in front of Kussaku, delivering a powerful palm strike to the sensor-nin''s torso! "Uhack! A-Agh!" (Kussaku) "O-Oooof!!" (Kiri) Struck with such high level force, Kussaku threw up on impact as Rei violently sent the Genin flying right at Kiri! The medic didn''t even have time to react as Kussaku''s head collided with his own, knocking them both out in one fell swoop! Unmo stood completely stupefied at what had just occurred, his squad was taken down, and no more than a few seconds had passed since the battle begun! "That''s...urgh! You''re gonna pay for that you little shi-UGH!" {W-What? I-I can''t move...!} (Unmo) "I told you, I''m on a tight schedule. Now... sleep" (Rei) "U-UH?!" (Unmo) THUD!! At Rei''s command, Unmo fell over like a motionless puppet, powerless under the former''s formidable Genjutsu {Took them down in less than a minute, wow. I haven''t had much chance to test my ability in the last three months since all I did was train. Maybe I was too cautious during our fight at the factory...} "No, there''s no such thing. The white-haired guy was dangerous, plus Deidara being there only complicated things" (Rei) POOF! Taking out a scroll from his pouch, he unsealed some ropes for practical use, tying the downed team to a boulder nearby. Once his work was complete, he searched them, but failed to find anything of value {Did someone take their "piece" already?} "Ugh, screw this! I''ll just ask them directly" (Rei) WEAVE! Utilizing his Genjutsu once more, he interrogated all three Genin at the same time "Now tell me, what item did you receive at the start of this exam?" (Rei) "C-C-Com...pass" (Unmo) {Again?! That''s all I''ve received since the start of this test! There''s definitely a pattern I''m not seeing...} "Tsk...when you first entered the exam gate, after moving towards the wooden barricade that hosted the gates, which direction were you directed towards. Left, or right?" (Rei) "L-Left..." (Kiri) {Just like us} "What was your gate number?!" (Rei) "Twen...ty f-four" (Kussaku) {An even number, left side, white compass... just like my team. Did they place all teams with an even number on the left, and the odd on the right? Compasses on the left, Black Needles on the right...} "But I don''t think that''s all there is to it..." (Rei) WOOOOO! The wind blew as Rei pondered, arms folded, eyes closed as he gathered his thoughts in attempt to unravel the machinations of this test Soon enough, he gained an epiphany... "OH! Son of a bitch, of course! I was so focused on finding a needle, I forgot the true purpose of the second exam..." (Rei) Hundreds upon hundreds of examinees from everywhere took part in what was considered, the biggest Chunin Exams in shinobi history. No matter the village, the second test is always designed to weed out the competition, and shrink numbers by at least half "They split the teams down the middle, and placed us all on opposite ends of the canyon! That''s why...!" (Rei) Half of hundreds of Genin is still a hefty number, too big for the final exam, which was meant for entertainment. Enjoying shinobi fights was a form of entertainment, but none wanted to spend the entire day watching them fight The upper brass of Iwagakure knew this, and opted for a better solution to eliminate more examinees. The teams were set up to first encounter those who lacked the item they required, but forcing them to fight regardless Along with the harsh environment, these extra steps ensured there''d be plenty of eliminations. Rei surmised this to be the reason all of his first opponents held the same piece as his team, while also considering the possibility Iwagakure reduced the overall number of Needles given as well "Forget 50% of the participants, it''ll be amazing if 25% managed to pass. My chances decrease the longer this goes on. If I want a Needle, I''ll have to venture further into the canyon, and I''m willing to bet that''s where the most dangerous creatures in this place thrive... F**king beautiful" (Rei) He heaved a downhearted sigh, and for good reason. The odds were already against him, but now... he had to hope Tai and Suzu caught on and succeed in getting a Needle as well. One cannot pass this exam without their team Rei moved his focus towards his captives again... {Given this team has a compass, it''s safe to say I didn''t teleport too far from the starting point} "Have you discovered anyone with a Black Needle?" (Rei) "Y-Yes..." (Unmo) "You have?! Where?!" (Rei) "Several klicks...east of here. Konoha genin... alone" (Kussaku) {A lone Genin from Konoha. Could it be Itachi?} (Rei) He touched his chin, wondering whether or not it was safe to go. Interacting with crucial "Characters" towards this world''s plot meant a high chance of creating "Ripples" More distortions in the world''s original "plot" would only create more problems for him "How did you meet him?" (Rei) "We discovered him...fighting with other ninja from...K-Kirigakure. Decided to help them...but got hurt in the process" (Unmo) "How many other ninja from your village?" (Rei) "T-Two. They''re still... chasing the ninja" (Kiri) Rei raised an eyebrow in confusion after hearing their latest response {The absolute prodigy, Itachi Uchiha...running? From just two Mist ninja? That doesn''t make any sense} "What did this Leaf ninja look like? His name?" (Rei) "Don''t know... name" (Kussaku) "Short, dark brown hair in a...p-ponytail... Scar... on his nose" (Kiri) "Scar? That description, that sounds very familiar... No. There''s no way... but it--no, I shouldn''t deny the possibility...! SHIT!!!!" (Rei) ZWISH! Rei dashed towards the east, leaving the incapacitated team behind Blasting through the canyon like a bullet, he utilized his inhuman speed without a single trace of stealth or subtlety, throwing caution to the wind in desperation to find this anonymous Leaf ninja! {If it really is him, and something happens, this world''s gonna be permanently thrown off course!!} (Rei) 209. Solo Fight [2] Atop a mountain in this proving grounds for the Chunin exams, a particular Genin hailing from Konohagakure1Hidden Leaf Village had just finished dispatching an Iwagakure2Hidden Stone VillageGenin squad singlehandedly RUSTLE! Upon searching their unconscious bodies, he retrieved the exam "item" they were given... a Black Needle {It''s as I suspected, the examinees with the highest number needles hail from this nation. Iwagakure likely arranged this to increase their Genin''s odds of passing} CLICK! Removing a White Compass from his pouch, he combined the items together, and soon enough...the device set him on the proper course for locating the "Primary Objective" But the moment he began his departure... WOOOOO! "Huh? A sandstorm? No... that''s not it" ...The sight of erupting dust clouds in the distance caught his attention SHING! The boy''s eyes turned red with an unusual pattern, increasing the capabilities of his eyesight "Yes...there''s chakra at the tip of it. Someone''s creating those clouds...by running? Just who in the world...no. It doesn''t matter for now, I''ve got my own issues to attend with" ZWISH! Focusing on what''s most important now, he left for the primary objective...But not before issuing one last glance at the person running, committing the individual''s chakra signature to memory for the future {Who was that person?} ??? "Damn it, Damn it, Damn it, Damn it! Where the hell are they?!" Blitzing through the canyon like a torpedo, Rei frantically searched the area with the face of a madman, uncaring towards revealing his location to potential enemies in the process. None of it mattered the moment the Kirigakure3Hidden Mist Villageteam he defeated earlier revealed two more from their village were in pursuit of a Konoha ninja Judging from their description, this ninja of the Leaf may fit the critque of a titular "character" fundamental towards the path of the world''s original timeline. Under no circumstances could allow this person to be injured or worse...killed Hastily expanding his senses as far as they could go, scanning for every conceivable chakra signature around him "Shit! Nothing but animals! I can''t sense them at--!" TING! {YES!! Three of them, with two chasing one, that has to be them!!} SKIRRRRR!!!! Skidding his feet like tires on asphalt, he temporarily slowed down in order to change directions before speeding up again. And as one would expect, his brazen action ended up attracting the attention of enemy squads! Several Genin on his path revealed themselves, attempting to block his path, eager to find out which exam item he held "Alright! We got another one!" "Hahaha, only one? This is too easy!" "Get ready guys here he comes! Seriously, what kind of idiot runs around like a--?!" "GET THE F**K OUT OF MY WAY!!!" (Rei) BOOSH! CRASH!!! Treating everything in his way as nothing but fodder, Rei blasted past them with such speed, they weren''t even able to turn around before getting blown away by the sheer force of wind and dust that followed "Ugh! Uhack! What the hell?! I can''t see!" "Cough! Cough! Think I got dirt in my mouth..!" "Who the hell was that guy?!" "Don''t know! All I saw was a blur, couldn''t even make out which village he was from! Geez!!" ZWISH!!! Continuing on his path, he bolted through the canyon until finally... "Yes...think I can see...dear God, I was right! It is him!" (Rei) His objective was finally in sight. The Konoha ninja he desperately needed to protect had been cornered by two ninja of Kirigakure! "Time to bust out some of B''s moves..." ??? "Tsk! You guys just won''t quit!!" As the team previously defeated by Rei stated, a Konoha Genin of modest height. With dark brown hair tied in a short ponytail, completed with a scar over his nose Said Genin had found himself cornered, his back against a patch of elevated landscape {How the heck were they able to find me so easily?!} The Leaf ninja wondered These two Kirigakure ninja appeared to be twins, both with shoulder-length brown hair. Wearing rebreather masks covering the bottom half of their faces. With a black cloak covering most of their bodies, the only other piece of clothing one could see was their camouflage-patterned pants The only traits to differentiate the pair were the noticeably large metal gauntlets with claws. One, who had a single horn attached his headband, wore his weapon on the right arm. The other had two horns, with a gauntlet fastened on his left Along with the odd appearance and eerie vibe they emitted, it was obvious these ninja weren''t ordinary Genin The one with two horns was the first to speak... "Nii-san, let me do it. This stupid kid has gotten on my nerves with all the damn running" "Hold it Meizu, don''t forget what he did to that other team. Underestimate him a your peril" "Don''t compare me to those weaklings who fell for such an obvious trap! I''ve got this!!" (Meizu) DASH! The younger twin brother, eager to put an end to this game of "cat and mouse", charged at the Leaf Genin! Intending on running his clawed gauntlet straight through the young man! "K-Kuh!" "Now you''re dea-" (Meizu) "LARIAT!" "-eh?" (Meizu) BLAM!! "Meizu!!" His brother shouted in concern "-AAAAAAAGH!" Inches away from landing a deadly strike, an arm abruptly appeared before Meizu''s upper chest, blasting him several feet away into a nearby tree Rei had indeed arrived in time... "Phew! It''s been a while since I''ve used that move, glad to know I still got it" (Rei) "What just--who the heck are you? And, why did you save...?" "You. Name." (Rei) "H-Huh?" "NAME" (Rei) "U-Uhhh...it''s Iruka. Iruka Umino" Hearing his, Rei turned his back to him, exhaling the deepest breath he''d ever let out since coming to this world. Expressing relief at quite literally, dodging a bullet with his decision to follow up on a hunch For the one in question was none other than Iruka Umino, ninja of Konoha, and father figure to this world''s "protagonist"...Naruto Uzumaki. As his actions in the future would serve as the foundation for Naruto''s path, his role, albeit however small...remained crucial Rei knew for a fact a stupendous amount of "Ripples" would form if something terrible happened to him {Oh thank god! If I hadn''t met those guys from earlier...just thinking about it makes me shiver!!} (Rei) "U-Um...excuse me?" (Iruka) "Don''t worry about why I''m helping you, just be glad I did. Now, it''s time to deal with these idiots. Hm?" (Rei) RUMBLE! To Rei''s surprise, Meizu managed to pick himself up after the attack he just received. His brother remained silent and ever vigilant, never taking his eye of the newcomer "B-Bastard... I don''t know who are, and I don''t care. After what you just did, I''m gonna rip out your intestines and strangle you to death with em''!" (Meizu) "Calm down Meizu" "But Gzu-!" (Meizu) "Yeah Meizu, calm down. Think I hit you so hard, your brain must be backwards. You can''t strangle someone to death with their intestines, the act of ripping them out alone would kill them...dumbass" (Rei) {Wow... this guy doesn''t mince his words} (Iruka) If his face wasn''t covered, everyone present would be able to see the veins popping on Meizu''s temple. With the previous attack, and now being verbally mocked, he''d nearly gone red in anger His brother Gzu remained calm and assessed the situation. He had no clue how powerful this Genin from Kumogakure was, but seeing as he managed to catch them both off guard, he didn''t take any chances "Meizu. Let''s the do the usual" (Gzu) "Cheh! Fine!" (Meizu) {Wait a sec... these guys seem familiar. Where have I...?} (Rei) WEAVE! The twins raised their hands, forming hand seals before striking a distinct pose. With one hand to their chests and the other raised above their heads, both resembling the shinobi "Seal of Confrontation" {Uh-oh. That stance...it''s just as before} "Hey! Whoever you are, heads up! They''re about to-!" (Iruka) "Well I''ll be damned, it is them" (Rei) "What?!" (Iruka) "Kirigakure no Jutsu4Hidden Mist Technique" (Gzu & Meizu) {Future rogue-nin of Kirigakure, and loyal followers of Zabuza Momochi, one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist. The first enemy ninja Naruto and his team face. Minor, yet crucial "characters" I also can''t take a chance on killing...} (Rei) WOOOOO! The former clear surroundings were suddenly blanketed by a heavily thick fog, reducing visibility to almost zero, Gzu and Meizu''s figures were enveloped in the mist, completely erasing their figures {Not again...!} (Iruka) "The Demon Brothers" (Rei) 210. Iruka Umino "Huh... this is gonna be tricky. Maybe we should''ve ran when had the chance, what do you think Iruka?" "Obviously! But it''s too late--wait, why are you talking to me so casually?!" (Iruka) VWOOOOO! The "Demon Brother''s" presence had vanished completely, not a trace of them in sight. With their Hidden Mist Jutsu, neither Rei nor Iruka could see a thing {Can''t sense their chakra, can''t hear them, can''t see them, hell...I can''t even smell them. Since their loyal followers of Zabuza Momochi, it''s natural they''d trained in "that"...} "Hm?!" (Rei) FLING! As Rei tried to find a safe way to get Iruka and himself out of this situation, the Mist ninja didn''t to give him time to think. Hurling several kunai blades towards the oddly formed pair "Uh?!" (Iruka) "Hmph!" (Rei) CLANG! CLANG! Though catching Iruka off guard, Rei managed to react in time. Withdrawing his kunai from its holster, he swiftly deflected each and every blade sent their way {If I didn''t have my enhanced reactions...I''d have lost an eye at least. They specifically targeted our vital spots... now you punks are starting to piss me off} (Rei) "Just how are they moving--no, finding us so easily, despite all this mist covering everything?" (Iruka) "Simple. It''s Silent Killing" (Rei) "?!" The technique every member belonging to the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist has mastered, "Silent Killing" An infamous method of assassination while leaving no trace of the kill in action. As the user moves without a trace, the strike cannot be anticipated or defended against. One''s throat could be slit before they even realize it happened For a ninja like Rei, who relied so heavily on his senses, users of this technique were the worst type of opponent for him... {Any large scale attack is just a waste of chakra, my Imugi wouldn''t be able to find them, I could run away, but not while carrying Iruka. In that case, there''s only one option...} "Hey Iruka, I propose an alliance" (Rei) "Excuse me?" (Iruka) "You know beating them by yourself is impossible. But together, you might just make out of this situation alive" (Rei) "..." (Iruka) "Think it about all you want, but think fast. Because those guys don''t seem like the type to wait, and neither do I. I want an answer now, yes or no?" (Rei) "A-Ah...Yes! I''ll work you...um--what was your name again?" (Iruka) "You''ll find out in the third exam, so don''t worry about it. Now, here''s what I need you to do..." (Rei) ??? "Meizu...you hear that? They''re on the move" (Gzu) "Yeah, yeah..." {I''ll run my claws through that guy''s chest the moment he within range} (Meizu) While this Mist Ninjutsu was indeed fearsome, the same affects applied to the users as well. The sight of the Demon Brothers was just as bad as their opponents. Instead, they relied on hearing to navigate through the fog, picking up even the faintest of sounds as a means to move around TAK! TAK! TAK! TAK! "Mm?" (Meizu) {Judging from the rate of movement, the intensity of the sound, the vibrations on the ground... it''s has to be the Leaf Ninja. Yet...he''s running straight into the mist after fleeing for so long? Something isn''t right} "Meizu..." (Gzu) "I know, it''s wrong. They''re obviously up to something..." (Meizu) "I''m not interested in traps. Looks like you''re gonna get what you want after all, let''s ignore the bait and go straight for the Kumo ninja" (Gzu) "Nice! After you nii-san" (Meizu) {Good grief, he sure is eager} (Gzu) ZWISH! ZWISH! Avoiding what clearly presented itself as a trap, the twins ignored Iruka and made a beeline for the one who''d yet to move, Rei. Somehow moving through the fog, without creating a single sound, they demonstrated their prowess with Silent Killing to its full potential "The sound of his breathing... our two o''clock. Strange...why isn''t he moving? Perhaps fear of the unknown has forced him to remain overly cautious?" (Gzu) "Doesn''t matter, we''ve got him now. Let''s use the chain" (Meizu) "Understood, but stay alert" (Gzu) CLINK! A compartment on their metal gauntlets opened, and a retractable chain with its links shaped like shuriken fell out! With masterful control, the pair guided the shuriken chain and wrapped it around their target Once in place, they pulled with full strength, and their target''s figure contorted in an uncomfortable way, shredding Rei to ribbons "It''s over!" (Meizu) "Hmph!" (Gzu) Or rather, that''s what the brothers believed... POOF! CLUNK! "What?!" (Meizu) "Substitution!!" (Gzu) Expecting to find a torn corpse, all that remained was a wooden log ripped to pieces. And along with his deception, Rei left them a parting gift in the form of a paper tag A paper tag that began to burn... {PAPER BOMB!!} "Get back Meizu!" (Gzu) "S-Shit!!" (Meizu) BOOOM!! ??? "Not my best work, but I like it" (Rei) "Wow, that actually worked" {To think he could use the Kage Bunshin no Jutsu1Shadow Clone Technique and Henge no Jutsu2Transformation Technique in tandem so flawlessly...} (Iruka) FLAP! As the explosion went off, Rei and Iruka had revealed themselves. The latter had removed a cloak with the same color and pattern matching the nearby rocky surroundings The individual who the Kiri-nin perceived as bait was none other than Rei''s clone transformed into Iruka. For the real ones had hidden themselves via Iruka''s technique during the entire ordeal... "Wow. I remember practicing this in my academy, what a throwback. Does anyone really use the Kakuremino no Jutsu3Cloak of Invisibility Technique anymore?" (Rei) "Hey! You have to respect the fundamentals, and it worked didn''t it?" (Iruka) "True, true" {Only this guy of all people could utilize such a standard skill so efficiently in real battle...} (Rei) Iruka Umino was a shinobi with no particular skill, rather, he demonstrated proficiency in all forms of basic ninja skills. These qualities would inevitably set on the path into becoming a distinguished teacher at Konohagakure''s Shinobi Academy Where''d he eventually meet and guide the "main cast", especially the story''s titular character, Naruto Uzumaki... RUSTLE! {That sound!} "Iruka! They''re already getting back on their feet. We should go!" (Rei) "Do you know the way?!" (Iruka) "Away from the explosion, duh! Now move your ass!" (Rei) TAK! TAK! With no time to spare, the pair made their escape. While the two Kiri-nin were hardly a danger to him, he still couldn''t afford to leave until Iruka was completely out of danger. Had he been alone, Rei would''ve long since taken the fight directly to them {Geez! They really overdid it with their Jutsu! Just how much of the area did they blanket with it?!} (Rei) "I think it''s finally clearing, we''re almost out!" (Iruka) Trailing through the mist, they eventually made it out of the fog, but Mist twins were hot on their trail. Unwilling to let their quarry escape, the brothers connected their shuriken chains together! Meizu then charged ahead of his brother before thrusting his arm forward, and with every fiber of being... CLING! "WAAAAAAHHH!!!!" (Meizu) "?!" (Rei & Iruka) ...Hurled his brother Gzu in the air, sending him flying in the direction of the fleeing Genin! {Are you kidding me?!} (Iruka) "Can''t you assholes just give it a rest already?!" (Rei) "HAH!" (Gzu) FWIP! Not even giving them time to weave hand seals, Gzu pulled out a scroll, unsealing dozens upon dozens of shuriken! From being small enough to fit in one''s hand, to as big as a tree trunk, the shuriken were of various shapes and sizes! In no time at all, the sky above Rei and Iruka was covered with blades, all hurdling towards them! {Think! Doton4Earth Style maybe? No, not enough time to cover such a range, nor any guarantee Iruka would be safe. Suiton''s5Water Styleuseless, and Katon6Fire Style...how is fire supposed to--wait, fighting fire with...!} "Here goes everything!!" (Rei) TAP! POOF! With no less than a moment to spare, Rei pushed his reactions to the limit, removing the Unsealing tags on his red wristbands. Mimicking Gzu''s actions, he unsealed every weapon stored within! "E-Eh?!" (Iruka) "What?!" (Gzu) "Don''t stop running, I''ll cover you!" (Rei) KLANG! KLANG! KLANG! Fighting "Fire with Fire" as it were, he went to work deflecting any blades that managed to get through. Which only grew harder as Iruka moved slower than he did, but Rei wouldn''t let up no matter what! But neither did his opponent! "As if it''s going to be so easy!!" (Gzu) CHING! ZWIP! "?!" (Rei) Gzu detached his end of the shuriken chain from his brother before flinging it past Rei, releasing the shuriken attached to it as they flew in Iruka''s direction {Damn it...no other choice!} "Iruka! Head down!" (Rei) "R-Right!" (Iruka) SLASH! Rei switched places with Iruka, protecting him from harm as he deflected Gzu''s last ditch effort to stop. Nearly coming out unscathed with only a small scratch on his right shoulder "Tsk! Hmph!" (Iruka) "?!" (Gzu) BOF! BOF! BOF! "Cough, cough! Ugh...damn it" (Gzu) Not one to sit around, Iruka had tossed several smoke bombs in his pursuers path before moving with Rei. The cloud of smoke gave them the opportunity to finally lose the Demon Brothers "Cheh! They got away" Meizu caught up to his brother "I may have nicked one of them but... come on, we''re leaving" (Gzu) "Huh? You''re just gonna let them go?" (Meizu) "This chase has gone on far too long, don''t forget our objective. Besides, the Leaf Genin''s squad is still looking for him. We didn''t come all the way to this God forsaken land just to fail our mission on accounts of some petty beef" (Gzu) "N-Ngh...! Haaaa...fine! But next time, we do things my way. Damn it, my cloak''s completely ruined because of that brat from Kumogakure! If I ever see either of them again...!" (Meizu) Tossing his torn cloak aside, Meizu reluctantly gave up his desire to pursue them, persuaded by his more rational brother, the twins fled the area. With Gzu giving one last glance in the direction of the fleeing Genin... {If I really did get them, you definitely won''t be seeing them again, dear brother} (Gzu) 211. Earnest "Haaa...Haaa...Haaa... T-That was...!" "I know, FAR too close for comfort" After settling down in a secure location, Rei and Iruka took a moment to catch their breath. The latter fell on his bottom gasping for air, clenching his chest in amazement for making it out his previous predicament in one piece. Rei, with plenty of energy to spare, remained on watch for any potential enemies Finally calming down, Iruka shot a glance at his unexpected savior. Still vigilant towards the Genin from Kumogakure who''d yet to reveal his name, let alone why he''d go to such lengths to aid him But while observing him, the sight of his ripped clothes, as a result of Rei protecting him from the Demon Brother''s attack, prompted him to politely express his gratitude "H-Hey. Um...thanks for helping me. I probably would''ve been dead were it not for you" (Iruka) "No need. As I told you before, I only attacked those guys because I didn''t like them, no need to think too hard about it" (Rei) {If it were solely for that reason, you wouldn''t have gone to the trouble of protecting me, let alone... escorting me to safety} "Where do we go from here?" (Iruka) "..." (Rei) Eager to break the ice, Iruka outright asked what this younger Genin wanted of him. Was he an enemy, friend, did he want his exam item? He had none of these answers... In response, Rei reached into his pouch and took out one of the numerous "White Compasses" he acquired during his tenure within "Rengoku no Kykuku1Purgatory''s Canyon" {A compass! That''s just what my team and I...! Oh no, that also means...!} "U-Ugh!" (Iruka) Iruka tried to get up as Rei approached, his legs still wobbling from everything he''s recently been through. Before Rei''s arrival, the Kiri ninja had pursued him for several hours straight, Iruka was well beyond his limits But unexpectedly, Rei merely sat him back down and told him to save his strength before holding out his compass to him "W-Wait...are you, giving me your compass? Why would you do that?" (Iruka) "Because I want to" (Rei) "Do you not understand?!" (Iruka) RUSTLE! Completely flabbergasted at the Kumo-nin''s actions, he responded in kind by doing something a participant in this exam should never do Iruka revealed his exam piece to another opponent. A small "Black Needle" the size of his palm, exactly what Rei required in order to pass the exam "Heh. You really are a good guy" (Rei) "E-Eh?! W-Wah...hey!" (Iruka) Rei casually tossed the white compass in hand to a flustered Iruka Prior to fleeing from the enemy, Rei already managed to confirm which piece Iruka possessed without him even realizing it. As such, it was always his plan to give him one of the compasses in his possession. The sooner the Leaf ninja passed this test, the sooner he''d be out of harms way But a part of him was pleased upon witnessing Iruka''s honest intent, for most would keep their piece hidden. Though cynical by nature, Rei knew how to appreciate honesty and goodwill A light smirk grew on his face as he thought about the Leaf ninja''s future relationship with Naruto Uzumaki {Naruto probably learned to be earnest from him, no wonder they share such a strong bond} "Keep it, after all, I have plenty" (Rei) "W-What the?!" (Iruka) Rei gave him a small peak at the amount of compasses he''s already managed to collect {At least over half a dozen, each one represents a team he''s fought... this kid''s is definitely younger than me, and yet-?!} "Ha...hahaha! Wow, I really don''t belong here" (Iruka) "What makes you say that?" (Rei) "Things have been going bad for me from the get-go. Separated from my team, pursued and beaten by other squads, and now rescued by a younger kid... so pathetic" (Iruka) More than anything, Iruka was embarrassed at his recent performance. Having a younger kid get hurt while protecting him was a huge blow to his pride His modest eyes were downcast {I''m the older one... mentally speaking of course} "For the record, the guys chasing us were older than you" (Rei) "Huh?" (Iruka) "Not just them, Genin of all ages are participating in this exam. Think I even saw some guys in their 40''s sitting around in the waiting room before we took the first exam. An exam which many of them failed, but not you" (Rei) "H-However..." (Iruka) "Sigh...! Refrain from letting failure consume you. Instead, let it be a guide towards success. The more you fail, the more you learn, that''s when success arrives at your door...as long as you stay consistent, and earnest" (Rei) "..." (Iruka) "Make no mistake Iruka, you belong here, and you''re going to pass this test" (Rei) "!" (Iruka) Iruka clenched the two pieces in his hands, Rei''s words clearing reaching him on some level, his demeanor shifted into a more positive outlook...just as Rei desired Knowing where his team waited for him, there was no need to stay here any longer. Iruka stood up and gave a light bow in appreciation for all Rei had done for him. Having rested long enough, it was time to reunite with his squad, but he didn''t say goodbye. For he knew they''d meet again, during the final exam "Ya know something..." (Iruka) "Hm?" (Rei) "You''re kind of cool..." (Iruka) "Kind of? Please...I''m f**king awesome" (Rei) "Hahaha!" (Iruka) ZWISH!! With that swift departure, Rei was finally alone to himself, but still kept an eye on Iruka''s chakra signature. Waiting until he could sense him rendezvous with his squad Only when he felt him moving as a unit with two more individuals did he finally feel at ease "Alright. With that mess taken care of, I can focus on myself" (Rei) TAP! TAP! Touching his wrists, he confirmed his suspicions {Nothing...the contents within the seals on my wrists have been completely emptied. The Kuchiyose: Raik Kenka2Summoning: Lightning Flash Blade Creationis pretty much useless now, then again...} The technique he used to store quick-throwing weapons, namely shuriken, was a Finjutsu3Sealing Techniquehe researched with the help of his friend and librarian, Pyua Now, he was alone in the canyon, and his only remaining supplies dwelled within the shinobi pouch on his rear "I''ve been holding back this entire time to refrain from showing my abilities before the final exam...but this strategy also makes things harder for me here. The second day is almost over, I''ll have to move at night to make up for lost time, Sigh...damn it! No sleep for me tonight, just great" ??? Several miles from Rei''s location... "H-Haha...sorry for the trouble guys. I promise not to scout ahead too far the next time" "Just where the hell were you Iruka?! You have any idea what Dango and I had to go through while you were-?!" "Give it rest Mizuki. What matters is that he made it back to us in one piece, and with a completed compass no less. This is cause for celebration" (Dango) After Iruka reunited with his allies Mizuki and Dango, the team made a beeline for the "Primary Objective" once the former revealed his completed compass, courtesy of Rei However, Mizuki blatantly expressed his skepticism at their supposed, serendipitous reunion "That''s my point, Dango! He''s gone for an entire day, and now he shows up out of nowhere, and with the item we need? That''s way too suspicious..." (Mizuki) "We''ve already confirmed he isn''t an enemy in disguise, and it doesn''t matter how he got one...what matters is that he did. Don''t dwell on it too much...we''ve got to focus on getting out of the hellish place!" (Dango) "Right!" (Iruka) "Cheh!" {As usual, Iruka''s the one who''s always favored! It''s always been like this, ever since our days in the academy...just what the hell makes him so special anyway?!} (Mizuki) Iruka merely laughed off Mizuki''s attitude, but Dango showed some concern about the group''s unity. This team wasn''t your typical Genin squad, but rather a makeshift one, formed for the sole purpose of attending this year''s Chunin Exams As with other villages, Konohagakure4Hidden Leaf Village did everything it could possibly do in order to increase it''s odds of coming out on top. These particular three were only assembled simply because they were in the same class during their tenure in the Shinobi Academy {Mizuki''s always been jealous of Iruka... I''d hoped he''d grow out of it by now. Let''s just hope this doesn''t impact our mission in a negative way. We just have to keep it together long enough, and then we''re home free} "Let''s pick up the pace!" (Dango) "Right behind you. The longer we stay out here, the more likely we''re to catch someone''s eye" (Iruka) "..." (Mizuki) "Precisely...move out!" (Dango) ZWISH! ZWISH! {I won''t fall behind...!} (Mizuki) ??? "Well? What about them?" "Let''s see now...Mizuki, Iruka Umino, Dango Mitsuki. Nothing particularly special about the first two, the latter is noted to have some skill in reconnaissance, but as I said...completely ordinary" Unbeknownst to Iruka and his team, they had indeed been noticed by others. A shinobi squad wearing headbands supposedly signifying their origins from Konoha as well, this anonymous team observed the local surroundings on an elevated position, atop a mountain The one who appeared to be in charge stood in front of the others, he''d been surveying this location for quite some time, uninterested in going after other squads. Rather, their objective was something else entirely... "We''re looking for those completely out of the norm, not trash like them" "Hey, don''t be so mean. Everyone has their redeeming qualities. The first to underestimate their opponent is the first to get killed, you understand?" "Hmph! Don''t lecture me like some child..." {Think you''re so great just because our Lord is paying more attention to you...damn four-eyes!} FWIP! The leading individual with glasses retrieved a deck of cards from his pocket, all of which were blank on one side, carrying the symbol for "Shinobi" on the back. After plucking out three, he poured his chakra into the blank cards until images and text appeared, detailing the personal information of each member in Iruka''s team "Your Info Cards again? Can''t you just memorize that stuff?" "You two don''t understand just how much work our lord puts on my shoulders, there''s a lot to remember. Now, it''s about time you two fan out to test the next candidates" "We know..." ZWISH! ZWISH! While clearly showing their displeasure at being ordered by one who was basically their "Kouhai5Protg/Junior. Opposite of "Senpai"", they complied nonetheless. Vanishing from the scene as they prepared for the next Genin team to pass this location The glasses-wearing individual in charge pulled out a compass, completed with a needle, and smiled. Then, with a tight clench of his fist... CRUNCH! ...Crushed it into nothing! "And with that, the odds of passing this test for everyone just decreased even more. At least we''ve verified in order to pass, one must traverse through this particular area... a perfect proving grounds to acquire results" TICK! CLINK! After adjusting and cleaning his glasses, he sat down as if he were in picnic, completely oblivious towards the treacherous terrain around him "Let''s hope someone interesting comes along...for Orochimaru-sama''s sake..." 212. Deeper into the Abyss MrProper Somewhere within the endless place known as Rengoku no Kykoku1Purgatory''s Canyon, a sole Genin stood over three others, all of whom were currently beaten and unconscious. Searching their belongings, he frowned in disappointment after discovering they lacked the exam item he required "Sigh...another lost cause. Still, I''ll keep this White Compass out of your hands. Better luck next year" Three days had passed after ending his temporary partnership with Iruka, and with barely five left, Rei decided to take the risk and venture deeper into the Canyon Thanks to hints from the Leaf Genin''s retelling of his experience here, he had a general idea of where he was {Damn it...the first Iwagakure2Hidden Stone Villageteam I meet in days, and they don''t have what I need. The odds are getting worse, and I''m running out of time...} "Need to speed things--haaa...huh? What''s wrong with me?" Stumbling on his words, Rei had been feeling irritable as of late Not only was he down on luck, his recent performance in the midst of battle had been somewhat...lackluster. Whether it due to a lack of sleep, his relentless hunt, mental fatigue, fears of his team''s status, or mere desperation...the pressure was clearly on Since staying here any longer was pointless, he left the battered team to themselves, searching for the nearest chakra signature available TING! {Gotcha...!} Locating his target, he made a beeline for the next Genin squad With the use of his abnormal physical abilities, Rei spanned the range of several kilometers within a matter of minutes. Arriving at an entrenched river sandwiched between numerous mountains, similar to the one he discovered after his first inadvertent use of "Jikkan Ninjutsu3Space-Time Techniques" "There they are--hm? The symbol on those headbands, these guys belong to..." (Rei) Keeping to the shadows, he classified them as shinobi hailing from the smaller nation of Takigakure4Hidden Waterfall Village, but decided not to engage just yet. Opting instead to listen in on their conversation in hopes of discerning exactly which "Piece" they possessed "H-Hey Agara, are you sure it was good idea to travel along this trench?" "Would you have preferred we fight against those Sunagakure5Hidden Sand Villageninja? You saw what those guys were capable of" (Agara) {The one with the small crop of spiky black hair seems to be in charge, this "Agara" is most likely holding the item. But what''s this about shinobi from the Sand village?} (Rei) "Look , I know you guys are worried, but I honestly couldn''t think of any alternatives in that situation. If you have any suggestions, I''m more than willing to comply" (Agara) "A-Ah, uhm..." "I...don''t know" "Exactly, now let''s go" (Agara) {Ugh! This is getting nowhere! Whatever, I''ll speed things along my way...} Growing impatient, Rei began forming hand seals Agara''s compatriots awkwardly fumbled on their words as neither of them could issue a reasonable response Knowing his teammates timid personalities, he tapped their shoulders in reassurance, indicating he wasn''t upset with them. This team had been down on their luck, with one terrible encounter after another, this place quickly lived up to it''s name Unfortunately, their troubles were not over... {Suiton: Suirydan6Water Style: Water Dragon Bullet!} (Rei) SPLOOSH! "?!" Remaining in cover, Rei, who was fed up with waiting... unleashed his Ninjutsu. Before the Taki Genin could even react, a massive dragon serpent was born from the river next to them "Enemy attack! Does anybody see them?!" "No! They must be keeping to the shadows!" "To control a construct like this means they HAVE to be nearby...watch your corners!" (Agara) ROAR!! "Here it comes!" Readying themselves the best they could, the team defended against the gigantic liquid construct as it lunged at them from above! Being a Genin team of average skill, they lacked the means of stopping Rei''s attack "Cheh! How bout this!" FLING! One of the Genin tossed a kunai with a paper bomb attached to it, straight into the serpents mouth. As it detonated, the head was completely blown to smithereens. In response, Rei poured even more chakra into his technique. With the nearby water source, it reformed itself in a matter of seconds before resuming its attack {It''s taking a bit more chakra than I''d prefer...} Rei surmised as he studied his handiwork. The ninja from Takigakure were nothing more than guinea pigs to him. Fodder to test his own capabilities "Don''t bother with the dragon! This area gives any Suiton user the advantage! There''s only one way we get out of this! You understand?!" (Agara) "Yes!" "We''re right behind you!" Seeing the larger picture, Agara recommended they attempt to find the Jutsu-caster while avoiding the dragon. They had an obvious tactical disadvantage considering none of them were Water Style users, finding and stopping Rei was their only option However, there was no way he''d give them the chance "Crap! It''s blocked our way out!" "I can''t find the one responsible! What should we do Agara?!" The Water dragon forced them into a narrow area within the trench, cutting off any routes of escape. Understanding their path was blocked, Agara knew there was only one solution left for them! "Jump!" (Agara) WOOSH! In a split-second decision, Agara grabbed his teammates and jumped with all his strength, barely dodging the attack as it passed right under them "Tsk! This isn''t working! Alright, let''s split up and try to divert it''s attention. We may be able to-?!" (Agara) WHISTLE! "Agara!" "Huh?!" (Agara) "Enemy contact! Four o''clock!" Before they could do anything else, the undisguised whistling nearby grabbed their attention. Rei had revealed himself, calm as he could be, weaving a single hand seal Agara, like his team, was confused. He knew Rei was the attacker, but couldn''t understand why the Kumogakure Genin had revealed himself so blatantly "Aaaaaand...nighty-night" (Rei) "What is he-?!" (Agara) But the answer came whether he wanted it or not... ZUNNN! "U-Uh?!" {W-What?} (Agara) {I can''t...move! Is this...!} {Getting drowsy...can''t stay...a...wake...} THUD! THUD! THUD! All three were placed under Rei''s Genjutsu, as the dragon was merely a distraction. Simply meant to get them into the proper position for him to cast the illusion. Unable to move a single muscle, the trio fell into the small river Rei stood tall with his victory as the air picked up. Within the span of a minute, he managed to subdue their entire team... VWOOOOO...! "W-Whoa... that''s gotta be a new record" He couldn''t help but be impressed with himself While achieving a change in chakra natures had improved as of late, the elements demonstrating the greatest progression were not of the basic five, but the non-elemental ones... Inton7Yin/Shadow Style and Yton8Yang/Light Style respectively "Even on multiple individuals, Genjutsu''s so much easier to use now, and my physical capabilities have grown immensely. Days of nonstop running with no rest, and I still managed to take down so many teams all on my own...amazing" TAK! SPLASH! Rei picked up the unconscious team before the river carried them downstream. All the while, recalling the fights he''s undertaken since the exam''s start His recent, improved performance with his elemental powers wasn''t a result of simple affinity, but his alien-like manipulation of chakra, an unattainable height for ordinary humans... "My initial affinities were only for Yin and Yang, Isshiki''s side. And Rei''s side--well... Fire, Water, and Earth just can''t compare..." He assuredly clenched his fist He''d yet to fully explore what his body, now completely akin to Isshiki tsutsuki''s, was capable of With every team he fought in the canyon, he chose a different way of combat in order to learn more about himself There were some things he couldn''t discover on his own, experience in the field of battle was always the best teacher. Even at this very moment, he grew stronger...becoming a more efficient shinobi "Now that I''ve compared Yin and Yang to the other three, it''s obvious that expanding my Taijutsu and Genjutsu, along with any other non-elemental Ninjutsu... should be my sole focus. I should probably invest my time into studying Finjutsu9Sealing Techniques next" Always one to look towards the future, the boy with a soul of an accomplished engineer thought about the powerful opponents he''d inevitably encounter in the future After all, in little under five years, the main "Plot" would commence... "Okay... Time to che-e-Eh? O-Ooof!" {The hell? I must''ve...really pushed myself if I''m already out breath. It''s easy to forget even I have limits, gotta be careful in the future. This body, no matter how alien, is still only twelve years old} Knowing he couldn''t afford to contemplate all day, he moved on to next steps Searching the team he defeated with trepidation, Rei hoped his efforts would finally pay off after being forced to fend for himself in this terrible place. The other two Genin held nothing of use, so Rei finally turned to Agara "...O-Ow! What the-?!" Rummaging through the standard shinobi pouch on his waist, he found nothing of value...until a sharp sensation greeted his fingers as he pricked himself with something. Believing it to be another Kunai, he pulled the object out And as he did... "YES!! ABOUT DAMN TIME!" ...Rei held a dark pointy object in his hand After days of searching and fighting, he finally managed to acquire a Black Needle! "PHEW! I really want to celebrate so much right now, but I''ll save that for when I''m out of this damned hellhole. Let''s hope this stupid thing works..." CLICK! BUZZ! "Wait. Why won''t it...what the hell?" After combining the two necessary items, the needle merely span around than point towards the "Primary Objective". At first, he feared it was broken, but keeping his calm, he studied the device carefully. Eventually discovering the pieces were made of a unique material {These devices are composed of similar material to the locked room of the first exam} "In other words..." BOF! Rei kneaded his chakra into the completed compass, and soon enough, the needle ceased spinning randomly "I was right, this thing''s material is chakra-reactant, just as before, albeit it''s reaction is very different. Fascinating..." VWOOOO! With the wind picking up even more, Rei jumped out of the trench. Observing the landscape reminded him of what Tango taught his team during their initial journey to the Land of Earth. This country of stone possessed mineral elements of unique quality and makeup, to the point Iwagakure based it''s very culture around it Even with knowledge of the world''s "Plot", it struck Rei that there was still much which remained a mystery to him. Carrying an innovative persona, new scientific ideas bloomed in his mind, but he tossed such thoughts aside for now It was finally time to leave the canyon, and hopefully, his team would be waiting for him 213. Ghosts MrProper STOMP! STOMP! STOMP! "Hahaha! Hungry little bastards aren''t ya?!" ROAR! Trailing through the canyon with his new, completed compass, Rei''s travels had been anything but smooth. The further in he ventured, the worst things became. While not having encountered any enemy teams as of late, the local wildlife was more than willing to accommodate his arrival Believing he travelled with stealth and subtlety, a pack of abnormally large bobcats decided to prove him wrong as they began pursuing him. All rivaling a car in size, their speed nearly matched his own! "Wow! This is actually turning out to be a challenge, thanks for the exercise guys!" GROWL! "Okay okay, I get it. Not fond of a little small talk. In that case..." SKIR! ZWISH! With a sharp turn, Rei jumped away, creating some distance between him and the hungry pack before weaving a hand seal, prepping to place them all under his control with Genjutsu "Let''s end this little meet-and-greet here--eh?" {Enemy ninja? No... hold on...} Just as he was about to activate his technique, what appeared to be a man standing on a perch of a mountain caught his eye. The individual was not dressed like your standard shinobi, wearing baggy pants, no shirt, and a long overcoat Rei had seen this person before, the very same day he "changed"... TAK! "Isshiki tsutsuki?!" Rei yelled as he stopped in his tracks The very same tsutsuki he killed and used to alter himself, somehow alive, stood before him! Stopping to get a better view, he readied himself for whatever came next, but Isshiki merely stared at him, not moving a muscle... {This isn''t an illusion! There''s no way he can be alive, I took extra steps to ensure it! Karma disappears the moment the tsutsuki who placed them reincarnates in another vessel. Which is exactly what happened when I forced him to reincarnate in Jigen''s body} "Why--How are you here?!" Rei demanded an answer But Isshiki looked onwards, ignoring his words "K-Kuh! Bastard... SAY SOMETHING!" After screaming from the top of his lungs, Isshiki finally moved, completely unsettling an already nervous Rei. His right arm rose ever slowly, and for what seemed like an eternity, he pointed straight in the Genin''s direction {What''s he doing...?} Rei couldn''t make head or tails of his actions "Inferior creature" "H-Huh?" RAWR! "Uh?!" {CRAP!} Without warning, one of the bobcats managed to catch up to the distracted Rei, nearly biting his head off in the process! "Ugh, I would''ve been dead had I not been... wait, where the hell is he?!" He shouted while frantically turning his head in search for Isshiki, now completely gone from his sight No other chakra signature remained "Did... did Isshiki just save me? No way..." Rei wondered if what he saw was real, or a hallucination as he considered whether or not Isshiki was pointing at him, or towards the bobcat who just attacked him from behind in warning RAWL! "Hm? Alright, now I''m pissed. Time for you all to take a LONG nap!" {Magen: Kakuran1Demonic Illusion: Disturbance!} THUD! THUD! THUD! One by one, the predators fell on their sides, immobilized from the technique. With the current threat neutralized, Rei turned to the spot Isshiki had stood, trying to make sense of what he saw "Maybe... I''ve been out here took long. Need to find a place to rest, and clear my head. There''s still time to get to the objective" ??? CHOMP! "Ugh... Damn it! Again with this shit?! I''m not your lunch, you''re mine!!" Continuing his travels, Rei discovered what seemed to be a quiet lake untouched by man. He''d been moving for quite some time, so finding a place to wash off and relax, to clear his weary mind after spending days here without a shower...was nothing short of a Godsend to him Unfortunately, his hopes were soon dashed the moment he was within reaching distance to it SPLOOSH! "Argh...! Will. You. Just. QUIT IT?!" Crocodiles the size of buildings had burst from the lake, nearly devouring him in the process! Now trapped in the middle of the area, for the past ten minutes, Rei had done nothing but dodge, punch, and kick these scaly foes "Cheh! Overgrown geckos! I JUST WANTED TO COOL OFF FOR ONE G**DAMN MINUTE!!" (Rei) CRASH! Be it on land or lake, they moved with speed and silence, never muttering a sound until Rei was between their jaws... like true predators. Fortunately, his inhuman speed was enough to avoid them Even more astonishing than their size, was the sheer number of them. Rei had placed several under Genjutsu to fight for him, but with every one defeated, more and more arrived to take their place {Just how deep does this lake go?!} (Rei) But that wasn''t all they had in store for him... GURGLE! "Huh? N-No f**king way...?!" (Rei) Some of them began gurgling water in their large, stretched jaws before... SPLOOSH! "Suiton2Water Style?! You gotta be kidding me!" (Rei) These creatures were capable of wielding chakra! Bombarding the Kumogakure Genin with blasts of concentrated water! But as shocking as it may be, there was another spectacle that caught his attention For the ones who fell under his control, once subdued, the other crocodiles would seemingly break them out of his illusion! {Disruption of another''s chakra flow...they can even perform the Genjutsu: Kai3Illusion Technique Release?! They''re smart enough to do that?! What the hell kind of place is this damn canyon?!} (Rei) SPLASH! {They''re even switching tactics, coming at me from different angles. No other choice then, I wanted to keep this a secret in case someone else was watching but...} Irritated beyond belief, he''d reached his boiling point CHOMP! Biting his thumb, Rei slammed his hand on the water "Kuchiyose no Jutsu4Summoning Technique!" POOF! Hell bent on evening the odds, Rei called forth the creature responsible for his nickname, "The Dragon" "HISS!" "Kill em..." (Rei) CRASH! BITE! At his command, his "Imugi" attacked with fury, striking every other living creature in sight. With it''s genetically enhanced strength and dexterity, the hardness of its scales, biting and tearing the giant crocodiles into to chunks of fleshy meat was a simple matter. Even more so, thanks to the unique Zfuku Kuchiyose no Jutsu5Amplification Summoning Technique applied to it, the creature would split apart into individual Imugi''s... all with the same capabilities In a matter of minutes, the once tranquil looking location became a scene of blood and horror, but Rei didn''t care, casually ignoring the violence as he took off his clothes... bathing in a quiet corner of the lake untouched by violence "Once you''re done with them, bring one over and heat it up for me! I''m hungry, and it''s been forever since I''ve had Thai food!" CRUNCH! SCORCH! Eventually, the echoing sounds of slaughter subsided, the Imugi''s had finished off the enemy. Now working together, they managed to extract a chunk of meat bigger than his room, before heating it with their fire breath Though not as he would''ve done it, he was grateful all the same, and ordered them to eat all they want "Go ahead and grab some meat for yourself..." The Imugi''s seemed hesitant to leave. For some reason, they seemed to exhibit a peculiar concern for Rei, as if they knew something about him that he didn''t... "I''m fine, you don''t have to worry about me. Now leave me to the meal you''ve so graciously provided" RUMBLE! The Imugi''s eventually left to eat as well Much of the revenue Rei acquired from his work with Tetsuo Mori went towards feeding his pet project. There was no way he''d miss an opportunity to save a little cash with this "free meal" in front of him {They even drained a lot of the blood, just how in the hell... they''re a whole lot smarter than I realized} After picking at it a bit, Rei began eating "Mmm... it sucks I didn''t bring any other ingredients, then I could''ve made a kebab. Sigh... it''s moments like this where I wish I could use Isshiki''s Sukunahikona6Small Man of Renown and Daikokuten7Great Black Heaven. Then I could store anything I''d like in my own private dimension, like all that crocodile meat...huh?" Rei put his clothes on in response to a figure approaching in the distance. He couldn''t make out who it was, but he recognized the attire, similar to his own...it was Kumogakure attire "Heh...hehe! Yes! Finally! Some good fortune! They''re here...!" Knowing his team was the only one from his village in this exam, his mood turned for the better at the thought of reuniting with them However... {Huh? There''s only one? Don''t tell me...did Tai and Suzu get separated?!} Only a full team could pass the exam, his teammates splitting up remained one of the many fears that kept him up during his solo tenure in the canyon. Less than five days remained before the exam''s time limit was up "Sigh! That''s only gonna complicate things...honestly, they had one job! Just goes to show, I can only trust myself to do what needs to be done--huh?" His ranting was put to a pause when the Kumogakure ninja''s appearance became visible But he never expected what came next. The sight itself caused him to question his very sanity...! "No...no no no! What is wrong with me?! Why am I seeing... that''s impossible! You can''t be here!" He frantically checked his chakra for signs of tampering, verifying whether or not someone had placed him under an illusion He checked, and checked, and checked...over and over again. But no matter how many times he tried, he couldn''t find anything wrong. The figure before him was still there. He was still there Standing in front of him now, it was neither Tai or Suzu, but rather... "R-R-Rei..." Not a clone, a transformed enemy, or an Illusion! Another "him", or rather, the original owner of the body he currently inhabited... Rei Sano was here! "First Isshiki, now you?! What do you want?!" "Let it go..." {He spoke!} "Here to take your body back?!" "Let it go..." The boy refused to answer any of Raymond''s questions, but continued waltzing towards him His mind befuddled, he acted without caution and ordered the Imugi to attack. But for some reason, they couldn''t hear him. Despite their connection via chakra, his summoned creature would not act "Let it go..." "D-Damn it! Let what go?! Your body?! If could, and go back home, I would!" WEAVE! Raymond took matters into his own hands as he formed seals, shockingly discovering his ability to knead chakra was not working for some unknown reason! As of this moment, he couldn''t use Ninjutsu or Genjutsu! KASHINK! He removed a kunai from the holster on his right leg "Shit...SHIT! I don''t know how you''re doing this, and I don''t care! If chakra doesn''t work, I''ll do this the old fashioned way--UHACK!!!" Stopped mid sentence, "Rei Sano" grabbed him by the throat and hoisted him in the air! "U-URGH!" "Let it go...!" Clenching the arm, Raymond desperately tried to free himself while simultaneously gasping for air. For the more he struggled, the tighter the grip Without warning, the clear sky became cloudy and dark, bombarding sounds of thunder accompanied by flashes of lighting erupted in the atmosphere "LET IT GO...!" "?!" {The f**k is happening right now?!!} "Rei Sano''s" face had turned hollow, his eyes went completely black as pure darkness emerged from behind him in the form of tiny strands. Consuming his body before making their way towards a captive Raymond "N-No...this can''t be how it...how I-!" He screamed in defiance, unaccepting of this situation! His efforts were fruitless as his body went limp upon being consumed by darkness All he saw was pitch black, not a single trace of light remained... "YOU HAVE TO LET IT GO...Raymond Parker" 214. The Fourth Memory MrProper Another Time The area within a small, quiet neighborhood became livened with stars. The bright full moon shined like a diamond in the night sky. In this isolated cul-de-sac, two young men sat on the porch outside their house as they stared at the clear sky hosting a blanket of stars which spread endlessly The younger one listened acutely to the elder as he identified each and every constellation they could find, taking down notes with his small, paper notepad. Every now and then, the older one would quiz the younger to see if he payed attention... "So Chris, can you tell me how many constellations are apart of the Western Zodiac?" "Heh, easy. There are twelve! Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius...um, Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces!" In response to the young man''s answer, the older one shook his head in disproval with a smug look on his face "Eh?! No way! You specifically said there are twelve earlier! And...Zodiac! Twelve is often associated with that word, Ray!" (Chris) "It''s actually thirteen, astrologers simply use the twelve to make predictions. The last one is Ophiuchus, but it wasn''t listed when these constellations were marked due to the difference in position of stars from centuries ago, as opposed to our present" (Raymond) "Tsk! Dang it!" "Remember... the sun, moon and planets generally move along a set path through the sky. If you wanna pass your written test on Monday, you have to include this crucial detail. Each constellation dwells in different locations throughout this path and--hm... Do you even remember the name?" "The...uhh, Ecliptic!" "See, you have been paying attention. Good to know!" "It would''ve been easier if not for all your trick questions! Be honest, you get off on messing with people, you sadist!" "Only when you make it so easy Chris" Raymond shrugged his shoulders Chris pouted at being made fun of by his older cousin, but Raymond continued teasing him for a little longer before the two resumed their study of the stars in preparation for an upcoming astrology test "Seriously though, my middle school never even had an astrology class. Isn''t that the kind of stuff you worry about when you go to college?" "It''s a private school but, this is a new generation. In other words... you''re old now! Hahaha!" "I''m still in my twenties!" "Twenty-nine doesn''t really count" "S-So what?! Being in your thirties doesn''t count as old!" "Whatever you say... gramps. O-Ooof!" Raymond placed Chris'' head in an armlock before grinding his knuckles on the boy''s head in retaliation for his smart remarks regarding his age. The pair continued to play around for quite some time before the door behind them was opened from the inside "Aren''t you supposed to be teaching him Ray?" "Hm? Oh, hey Sarah. I am teaching him... respect, that is!" "U-Urgh! R-Respect... for my elders?" SMACK! Chris'' older sister, and now legal guardian, Sarah had come to invite the boys inside for dinner. After popping his younger cousin on the head for latest smug comment, the trio reentered the house and sat together at their dinner table. Sarah had prepared a big feast in celebration of Raymond''s visit. Something which hadn''t occurred much is recent days due to the nature of his work Eyeing the dinner''s contents, Raymond couldn''t help but tilt his head in confusion at Sarah''s peculiar choice for tonight''s cuisine. Recognizing his perplexity, she answered the question he''d yet to ask "It''s Greek" "It''s a lot" (Raymond) "One of Chris'' other classes is currently covering the topic of Greece and it''s people, comparing then and now. Fun fact, in Greek Sunday tradition, there''s no such thing as...too much, when it comes to the amount of food served" (Sarah) "We''re not Greek, and it''s Friday" (Raymond) "Doesn''t mean we can celebrate their traditions. Besides, didn''t you live in Greece for a period of time during your childhood travels?" (Chris) "Only for a little bit. My parents and I spent most of our time in eastern Asia than Africa, despite the latter being my father''s home continent" (Raymond) "Eh? Why''s that? From what I''ve heard, you guys traveled all over the place" (Chris) "We did, but dear old dad required top-of-the line facilities to conduct his energy research. And mom was a genetic virologist from Asia, she had plenty of connections to aid him in his endeavors. Heh, it''s actually how they met and got married in the first place" (Raymond) "Oh? Given the nature you aunt Amelia''s work, it stands to reason you were born in a lab. Oh! What if you''re some kind of science experiment grown in a vat! Straight out of a horror movie!" (Chris) "Okay, first of all, virologists study infectious diseases. Second, if that were true, my first victim would definitely be a certain smart-mouthed brat! Third, I''m no more abnormal than your sister. Just look at all of her ex''s. It''s no coincidence they all fled town after they broke up" (Raymond) "W-Wha-?!" (Sarah) "Oh yeah... forgot about that" (Chris) KASHINK! Sarah frowned at the two gossiping boys in annoyance before holding up her kitchen knife in a threatening manner. Ending their banter in an instant, the young woman ordered them to start eating as she did not want the well-prepared food to get cold Digging into the meal, none of them seemed to notice how quickly time had passed, as the family had too much fun enjoying each other''s company. Only when their bellies were filled with warm food did they finally slow down and relax "But seriously, with all the stuff you''ve been doing as of late, it''s amazing no one''s put you in a looney bin yet" (Chris) "Looney bin? Please... have you seen my resume? It''s basically a well written essay detailing that I''m, as you kids say, alpha as fu-" (Raymond) "Ray! Language! And of course there are those who''ve considered putting him away Chris. I can vouch for that" (Sarah) "Hmph!" (Raymond) Raymond went on about brilliance often being associated with madness. Going over several famous scientists in history and how they received derogative nicknames like crackpot, lunatic, & mad. All the while reiterating that history always celebrates them for their achievements This was his current goal, to be next out-of-the-norm pioneer who sends society into a new status quo, forwarding scientific progress with his new-age ambient energy research That is, until a certain goal of his is taken care of first. Or rather, a certain "grudge"... "In fact, since we''re eating Greek food, how could I not mention Democritus?" (Raymond) "Him again?" (Sarah) "D-Demo--what now?" (Chris) "Democritus, an ancient Greek philosopher famous for his work on atomic theory. He elaborated on particles and atoms, and their place in our universe" (Sarah) Smiling with pride at Sarah''s explanation, Raymond was pleased by how she proved his point of scientists being remembered in history "He was also referred to as the Laughing philosopher, due do to his chuckling wherever and whenever he was, even when it wasn''t appropriate. A completely bizarre weirdo, just like your cousin here" (Sarah) "And just like that, the magic is gone. Don''t listen your sister Chris, she has no sense humor, that''s why she''s still single" (Raymond) "Keep bringing that up, and I''ll cut it off..." (Sarah) Raymond cleared his throat before continuing "Moving on, he laughed all the time because he emphasized being cheerful, no matter what life sent your way. He wasn''t crazy, merely, misunderstood. Some food for thought whenever your class covers more of ancient Greece, just saying" (Raymond) "Speaking of that, it''s about time you went off to bed Chris. I want you ready and alert for what comes on Monday" (Sarah) "Oh come on sis, it''s only Friday. I''ve got the entire weekend to prepare for exams next week" (Chris) "Which is exactly why you need rest. How can you expect to retain anything learned with a groggy mind? Now go on, I''ll exempt you from cleaning the dishes just for today" (Sarah) "Sigh... at least there''s a silver lining. Fine! Good night you two!" (Chris) "Good night!" (Raymond & Sarah) ??? After Sarah sent away her brother, she immediately went to cleaning the table. Raymond volunteered to help, standing next to her in front of the sink He washed the dishes, and she dried them "Hehe! When was the last time you and I did dish duty together?" (Sarah) "Phew...wow. At least over a decade ago. Just goes to show I really need to swing by more often" (Raymond) "So you DO understand, that''s nice. I was worried I''d have to keep dropping hints all night before you caught on. When it comes to the little things, you can be real dense, like one of those comic book characters Chris is always reading about" "Again, for the millionth time, they''re called MANGA! That''s what makes them Japanese!" "Geez, you and him are so touchy whenever I get that wrong. I thought it was Manhua?" "That''s Chinese. Good grief, the fact you can''t appreciate a man''s passion is exactly why you can''t get a boyfri-" KASHINK! Sarah reached for another kitchen knife nearby "No matter how many of them you put away, there''s always one whenever I need it" (Sarah) "...Fair enough" {How can she smile, yet not smile at the same time? Guess that''s what happens when you''re single for as long as-} SHINK! "Are you thinking about something rude?" (Sarah) {Psychic?!} (Raymond) "Haaaa... you''re real easy to read. On a serious note, how long can you stay with us this time?" "A-Ahem! I have to be on a plane tomorrow evening, and the airport is over 85 miles away from here... it''s best I take off just after noon. Fortunately, traffic won''t be heading in the same direction" "That''s a shame, Chris was having so much fun with you. Plus, there''s much you can teach him, far more than I" CLINK! Sarah put down the last of the dishes before tossing Raymond a towel to help her wipe off the large dining table just outside the kitchen "Don''t sell yourself short, I''ve always said it''s waste you don''t work with me. I could use someone of your talents to launch the new Limelight Labs" (Raymond) "Wasn''t it you who recommended I get my degree in psychology, instead of an engineering one?" (Sarah) "I only said that at the time because I was broke and neck-deep in student debt, a job in H.R. management is good money. But now, I actually have money, I''m still offering to pay off the mortgage on this house" "I''d rather debate you in Quantitative vs Qualitative Methodologies in Business Application before letting you pay off my house. Worry about your own property before concerning yourself with mine" "See, the fact you even CAN debate me in such a subject is exactly why you should work for my company. You''d be be a huge asset to the team" Raymond egged her on with enthusiasm Upon hearing his last sentence, however, Sarah frowned and placed her towel away. Now done with cleaning, she invited him to sit down in the dining room before moving the topic into more... serious territory "When you say team, does that mean you''ve finally started hiring people?" (Sarah) "That''s...! Ugh..." (Raymond) "Yeah, I thought not... Ray, you can''t have a company like the one you''re planning with no employees. Shutting yourself out to everyone, trust is necessary to maintaining such a complex machine" "That''s why I''m asking you, someone I can trust to help" "I''m not the only one, what about Patricia Myers? She''s Hector''s little sister, God rest his soul. I''ve seen her record, she''s an accomplished woman who''d be more than a welcomed asset for your company" "I''ve considered it but..." "But what? Are you saying she can''t be trusted? Or is it that her presence reminds you of what happened?" "..." "Tell me, are you still looking for Alec?" "?!" At her remark, the room went dead silent Raymond''s eyes nearly burst out of their sockets as he never expected Sarah to state something so bold. She of all people knew how much of a sensitive subject it was to him, completely catching him off guard "Oh my God, you are! After all the talks we had, you getting back on your feet, rebuilding your company from scratch... haven''t you learned to let it go?" (Sarah) "Let go? Are you serious right now?" (Raymond) "Ray, I want to see that son of bitch''s head on a pike just as much as you do. What I''d give to be alone with him in a room, even if it''s just for a minute, when I recall what he put you through... I think about it to an unhealthy degree. But you managed to overcome it, and now, you''re one of the most respected scientists in the country, soon the world! After putting the ''Vitalis Foundation'' company he sold it to completely out of business, you got your father''s stolen research back. You won" "I won? As long as he''s still out there, I-!" "?!" Raymond stood from the couch and held his forehead, thinking about what bothered him more than anything concerning the current topic "The research he stole is more than just data, it''s my legacy. All of this, the ambient energy project, it didn''t start with me" (Raymond) "I know, it started with you and Hector-" (Sarah) "It started with my parents! Everything, all the travel, struggle, heartbreak, and fighting we went through from even before I was born had started this. This thing, it''s A PART of me, it''s not a stretch to say it''s the reason I was born! My parents died because of this! And that man--no, that animal tried to take it from me... just for money?! He tried to ERASE me... I''ll never forgive him...!" "I''d never ask you to, never! I simply wish you wouldn''t obsess over it, this isn''t good for your mental health, I--we worry about you. I had to use Chris'' education and him missing you as an excuse just to make you visit us for the first time in months" "So?" "So, I shouldn''t have to guilt-trip you into visiting your family! This kind of behavior is no different than what aunt Amelia went through with your uncle Grant, can''t you see you''re turning into your father?!" "!" "A-Ah...sorry" Realizing they both went too far, the pair sat back down on the couch without muttering a word a brief period of time. Stuttered awkwardly at one another, trying to rectify the situation Eventually, Sarah couldn''t take it anymore and broke the silence... "You weren''t around when my Mom and Dad began to split apart. They lost track of their true priorities, just like what you''re doing now, and it TORE them apart. I refuse to let that happen again to someone I care about" (Sarah) "Sarah..." (Raymond) "Haaa... but I know, asking you stop is also unfair. If I were in your shoes, it''s not improbable to believe I wouldn''t devote my time into hunting that bastard down" "Except if it were you, he''d already be shish kebab by now..." "Hehehe! Yeah, that''s true!" BZZZZ! The phone in Raymond''s pocket began to vibrate "Work again?" (Sarah) "...Something like that" (Raymond) "I see..." Noticing her look of disappointment when he took it out, he placed the phone away before speaking once more "Sigh... I''m sorry. You''re right, I can''t keep putting work before what matters. It''s just, the reason why I''m acting like this is because... it has to MEAN something. The research, if it''s gone, then what was it all for? Everything I''ve--we''ve endured. Me, Hector, this family... we''re all connected to it in some way. That''s why I can''t let-" (Raymond) "You''ve got to stop trying to solve everything on your own" (Sarah) "I know. Believe me, I know" (Raymond) "That''s what my Dad tried to do after mom left, and it broke him. I can''t watch that again, Chris and I can''t--we just can''t go through it again" "...Have you talked to him lately?" "I call when I get the chance, however, he''s still having some episodes in the center" Raymond apologetically lowered his head to Sarah, feeling guilty for his consistent absence from his cousin''s lives due to his own personal endeavors "It''s fine, Chris is gonna graduate high school in less than a year, he''s already on track to receiving a scholarship from Berkley. He told me he wants to be a full-stack developer, just like you when you first started college" (Sarah) "Haven''t you told him how boring programming can be? He''s definitely gonna hold a grudge once he finds out the hard way" (Raymond) "You''re the one who influenced him, not me" "Pffff...!" "Ku..." The pair began laughing together, as if the gloomy mood earlier had never manifested at all "But he''s a smart kid, must get it from you" (Raymond) "Don''t pretend like you haven''t influenced him in a positive way" (Sarah) "Glad to know I did something right. Seriously though, despite everything, I''m really glad I came here today" "That''s what family''s for, I''m just getting tired of reminding you... ya big dummy" After clearing the air between them, Raymond rose up from the couch and returned to the kitchen. Taking the lid off the trashcan "What are you doing?" (Sarah) "I just thought, remote work isn''t as bad as on-site, and I''ve got my laptop with me. A video call with the person I''m scheduled to converse with tomorrow is just as good" (Raymond) "Wait, are you saying...?!" "Plus, I''m REALLY worried about Chris'' exams. He knows the basic western zodiac constellations, but the fancy schmancy private school you placed him in is making the poor boy memorize all 88 constellations for his test. Figured it''s best I stick around for the weekend so he doesn''t fail his exam" "You were just saying he was smart like us no less than a minute ago" "That''s the past, what''s important is the present. Come on, I''m doing my best to come with an excuse to show you guys how much I value our time together. Now, while I take out the trash, why don''t you take out a tub of Rocky Road and we binge-watch some stuff for the rest of the night" "...How do you know I have Rocky Road?" "Oh please, like YOU wouldn''t. Be right back" "Hahaha! I''ll get the bowls! But you''re cleaning them when we''re done!" "Wow, you''re such a tyrant! And Chris calls ME the sadist!" ??? CREAK! After putting the trash in the can situated on the side of the house, Raymond glanced around to make sure no one nearby was watching. Confirming the coast was clear, he pulled out his cell phone and redialed the caller who tried contacting him during his conversation with Sarah BRRRR...! "Ah, finally you called back. I was getting tired of waiting!" "That''s my line Desmond. I''ve payed you quite a sum, and your results have been, for better or lack of words, shitty. You better have something if you went to the trouble of contacting me on an un-encrypted phone after I specifically told you not to f**king do that" (Raymond) "W-W-Whoa...easy buddy! Must''ve called at the wrong time, but it''s worth it. I finally got a lead, a REAL one" (Desmond) "And? Don''t keep me in suspense. Have you found them?" "Hector Myers'' lying ex-wife, she wasn''t hard to find. But the other one... he changed his last name, which only made it all the more difficult to track him down. Even more so considering he''s been chilling out across the pond" CLENCH! Raymond gripped in his phone, nearly bending it out of shape at Desmond''s last comment. He''d been waiting a long time to receive this information "He''s in Britain?" "Yes sir. After bouncing around all over the place, he''s finally settled down. Living under the last name Corbyn. He''s got a nice pad in Birmingham, been there for a while" "Wait, pad? You mean to tell me he''s lived on the grid for a period of time? Not off?" "That''s typically implied when one has a address" "And it still took you that long to find him, with me keeping you on a payroll?" "...I mean... it wasn''t THAT long" "Oh, for f**k''s sake. Be it you, or my family, I can''t rely on anyone but myself! Whatever, I''m heading to those locations. If they''re not there, or if you tell anyone about this, the next person I visit is you..." "M-My lips are sealed. I-I can assure you this latest intel checks out. You won''t regre-" CLICK! Raymond ended the call before Desmond could even finish his sentence "Ray!" "!" "Get in here! This Ice cream gonna melt! The trash can''t be that heavy!" With the shouting of his cousin, he fixed his face, returning his expression into one of calm "Don''t start without me!" (Raymond) "Then you better hurry, cause it''s sooooo tempting!" (Sarah) "Hang on, I''m coming!" Raymond maintained his fa?ade for the rest of night, and weekend. All the while keeping his dark ambitions to himself {I''m coming for you...Alec!} 215. Adrift MrProper "Agh! My head...and what was--Hm?" {What''s this sensation on in hand?} "Uhack! H-Hik...bastard! LET GO!" "W-Who the hell are you?!" After passing out without warning, Rei suddenly regained consciousness in an unknown location. Completely alone, his "Imugi" nowhere in sight. Even more strange, another Genin was on his knees before him, with his neck tightly gripped by Rei''s right hand! "U-Uhh...w-wha...where am--?!" (Rei) "Hold on Yoroi! I''m coming!" "Eh?!" {The hell, elongated arms?!} (Rei) BAM! After letting go of one denoted as "Yoroi", Rei quickly jumped away from the attack another shinobi had launched from behind, with impossibly out-stretched arms spanning several feet no less! Yoroi''s comrade managed to grab and pull him away, widening the distance between them "What in the hell, the last thing I remember was eating some crocodile, and then--the f**k?!" Glancing around to gain his bearings, Rei finally noticed the numerous collapsed teams of Genin dispersed throughout the area. The only ones still standing were the two he just engaged. Both wearing glasses as they glared at him in trepidation, their headbands identifying them as ninja hailing from Konohagakure1Hidden Leaf Village But the states of the ones collapsed were what truly caught his attention. Bruised and bloody, some were even dead! As if they''d experienced hell... yet this also felt familiar to him {Different area, woke up fighting someone, bodies in awful states, and headache more painful than some of my absolute WORST hangovers. Shit, here we go again...} "It doesn''t look like I killed anyone important, but still, this kind of slaughter on these--oh man, think I''m gonna...HAUMPF!" (Rei) Despite feeling like he was about to lose his lunch, this wasn''t the first time Rei had woken up to horrific scenes of brutality For this occurred every time his increasingly odd Kisshten2Auspicious Heavensability would activate on its own, and the solely dubbed "Neo-Rei", would take over and fight to ensure his survival...no matter how violent the means or methods Yet somehow, he had no memories of what transpired this time. In the past, even when he was under, he could still recall everything that happened when he surrendered control...this was a first for him {I haven''t been able to use Kisshten since that incident with Suzu and the LIFT, and now it''s reappeared again? Why? Plus those visions of Isshiki and the original "Rei Sano" prior to passing out...} "Urgh! That hurts!" (Rei) Rei clasped his head in pain, still disoriented from his current condition, he felt excruciating pain pulse from his forehead. He was in such agony, it wouldn''t be much of a surprise if he passed out again Even worse than his suffering, Yoroi and his teammate saw an opportunity, for they hadn''t taken their eyes off of him the entire time, carefully observing each and every mannerism he made The pair whispered back and forth to determine the next appropriate course of action "Misumi... did you notice?" (Yoroi) "Yeah, he''s no longer behaving like a brutal killing machine... maybe fighting all those Genin squads singlehandedly finally took its toll. The only question now is..." (Misumi) "Do we act on this chance, or follow through with Kabuto and the plan?" (Yoroi) Yoroi and Misumi were not typical Konoha Genin, but spies who, along with Kabuto Yakushi... served the S-rank rouge-nin Orochimaru! Their purpose for being here wasn''t to pass the Chunin exams, but to search and identify worthy "candidates" that may prove useful for their lord and master. In other words, seek out exceptionally talented Genin, and Rei had clearly proven his worth... But neither of them knew what this boy was planning to do next And so, the options were laid bare... do they attempt to flee while potentially leaving themselves vulnerable to attack? Or fight it out, and risk killing a considerably rare talent hard to find? Despite this land now filled by promising shinobi hailing from all over the world, a powerful young Genin with a strong body like his was perfect for Orochimaru''s...disturbing tastes "Let''s neutralize him" (Misumi) "You sure? It''s taken forever to find a good fit, just to have you snap his neck" (Yoroi) "Relax, we''ll go with your Ninjutsu instead of mine. You''re always boasting about it, and granted, it''s perfect for this kind of situation. He was just strangling you earlier, don''t pretend like you wouldn''t want some payback" (Misumi) "Hmph! Not making matters personal is what being a professional is all about" (Yoroi) TAK! TAK! At the sight of them running, the ninja pair began their counterattack against Rei! "Great! My chakra''s already depleted enough as is, and now there''s no time to even think! Screw it...!" {Doton3Earth Style...?! W-What?! The chakra isn''t-?!} (Rei) "Wide open!" {Nan no Kaiz4Soft Physique Modification!} (Misumi) "?!" (Rei) POW! Misumi utilized his unique Ninjutsu enabling him to utilize his body as if were made of rubber, stretching his left arm to deliver the first the strike! Rei had no choice but to block with his arms as his ability to knead chakra into one of the five elemental natures was unresponsive! {Did this body undergo "Recursion" again? No...I don''t that''s--I can feel it. Something''s...no, someone''s blocking me. This feeling...is it him again?!} "Cheh! Looks like I''m doing this the hard way!" (Rei) "Misumi! Give me a door!" (Yoroi) "On it!" (Misumi) "Tsk! So annoying!" (Rei) Misumi followed up with another attack, controlling the field with his outstretched limbs and surrounding Rei in the process The Kumogakure Genin relied solely on Taijutsu, but his fists lacked their usual vigor. Not just mentally, but even physically exhausted, the best he could do was dodge as Misumi''s body slithered around in all directions! {I was right, he''s different now, this is too easy!} "Should''ve ran when you had the chance! Now it''s Game...!" (Misumi) "Ah?!" {Shit!} (Rei) "Gotcha!" (Yoroi) "...OVER!" (Misumi) THWP! Misumi pulled all of his limbs spread around the area, now wrapped around the boy''s entire body, he managed to completely restrain Rei! "R-Rgh! Hey, I know I''m handsome, but I''d prefer if a woman got this close to me than a guy!" (Rei) "Heh, I''d save the jokes for later..." (Misumi) CLENCH! Fulfilling his role, Misumi made sure to keep Rei bound for Yoroi to make his move. As chakra formed on his fingertips, he swiftly grabbed Rei''s head as he proceeded to drain the very chakra from his body! Within seconds, Rei grew even more tired, losing all feeling as he slowly went limp! {This is...!} "U-Ugh...you assholes..." (Rei) "And there''s another one down, should we take him with us?" (Yoroi) "Hmm... I''m not sure that''s a good idea. We were only supposed to mark them, nothing more. There are too many eyes on this event, let''s just focus on the task at hand" (Misumi) "Right, this kid doesn''t have much chakra left anyway. Won''t be long until he''s drained dry, can''t believe it was this easy when you take into account everything he did earlier" (Yoroi) "It was foolish to take on all of these teams alone, he bit off more than he could chew, but remain cautious nonetheless. This exam is almost over, the sooner we''re out of this shitty country, the better" (Misumi) "Relax, I''m almost done...huh? What was that?" (Yoroi) "Something wrong?" (Misumi) "Y-Yeah...the flow of chakra just changed. The suction...it''s stopping? Uh...no, it''s not--REVERSING?!" (Yoroi) GRIP! As if waiting for the right moment, Rei freed his right arm from Misumi''s grip and grabbed Yoroi''s "?!" (Yoroi & Misumi) "Thanks, I really needed a little pick-me-up..." (Rei) Turning the tables, Rei pushed his chakra control to the limit, stealing every ounce of chakra left in Yoroi''s body until he collapsed! Misumi let go of Rei and backed away in surprise "That''s one down" (Rei) "You took advantage of his technique?! How?!" (Misumi) "Only chakra can affect chakra, dumbass. In order to steal mine, he had to connect his first, but the idiot forgot the link works both ways. Like playing tug-of-war, what determines the winner is control, and nobody on this planet can beat me in that" {With more chakra in my system, I start to feel better, I wonder...} (Rei) "Damn you!" {Impossible! That rate of consumption, barely ten seconds had passed for him to not only regain his stolen chakra, but to take all of Yoroi''s as well?!} (Misumi) CRACK! Feeling a little better, Rei started stretching a little to get back in shape. His muscles were still extremely sore, and while his headache had reduced in intensity thanks to refilling his chakra reserves, it still made its presence known He didn''t know how long this would last, deciding not to give Misumi anymore time to think as he bolted right at him... "Keh! You impudent brat!" (Misumi) {Nope, you''re not going anywhere...!} "Hmph!" (Rei) FZZT! "Uh...this is-?!" {Kanishibari no Genjutsu5Temporary Paralysis Illusion Technique?!} (Misumi) {I knew it! Every time this happens, my connection to the five natures changes, but my Inton6Yin/Shadow Style and Yton7Yang/Light Styleimprove. Is it because Kisshten is a In''yton8Yin-Yang/Shadow & Light Style-related ability?} "Clench your teeth, cause this is gonna--oh wait, you can''t move. Haha, oh well!" (Rei) {W-Wait...!} (Misumi) POW! POW! POW! Rei delivered a series of devastating blows upon Misumi''s body, making the most of what little stamina he had left! After almost a minute, the Konoha-nin passed out from the barrage of fists and kicks, his body full of bruises and several cracked or broken bones as it fell to the ground...completely lifeless "Hmph! You should thank me. With so many bones damaged, you''ll be able to use that weird technique much more effectively" {Now that I think about, haven''t I seen that before. Where have I-?} (Rei) "U-Uhhhh..." (Misumi) Though he couldn''t recognize their faces, the two defeated individuals reminded him of something from the Manga. Looking back at Misumi''s fighting style, it was clearly reminiscent of someone else''s... "They way he fights, the way he moves, the way he...SLITHERS! Of course, it was so f**king obvious!" {Orochimaru! These two are spies for that snake bastard! I couldn''t remember these scrubs since they''re poised to get taken out early in the story. Wait, wasn''t the third member of their team-?!} (Rei) ZWIP! ZWIP! Rei immediately scanned the area for anyone else in haste, using all of his senses at once, fearing the infamous third member of their team would show up... {Where are you...Kabuto Yakushi!} (Rei) Orochimaru''s right-hand man, Akatsuki infiltrator, Medical genius, and super spy...he knew fighting Kabuto here was a non-starter. Despite recovering a little, Rei''s body was still a wreck to say the least "No...whether he''s here or not, I can''t take that chance. Even if I could win, just think about the potential Ripples created through interacting with such a titular person--no, a freak like him. I should leave, God knows how much time has been lost, I don''t even know what day it is..." (Rei) After making a quick examination of the fallen ninja, he was relieved to discover no one "important" had perished as a result of him losing control again. Knowing Kabuto could be nearby watching, or waiting to strike, he wasted no time getting out of dodge. Pleased his completed "compass" was still intact, he resumed his journey towards the "primary objective" There was still much he didn''t know, how many had passed already, where his team was, how long was he under... but Rei compartmentalized nonetheless, instead focusing on what he could do at the moment "Despite everything that''s happened, what transpired before I passed out, Isshiki and Rei... I think I finally know how to get the answers I seek. The mystery of this ever-changing body, Notitia, and it''s other side... but I can''t do it now. Have to get out of this canyon first, then...it''ll be time for the fourth Lifeline and my meeting with him" ??? Back at the site Rei had just demolished, an ashen haired, pony-tailed boy wearing glasses emerged from the shadows, smiling as he glanced in the direction of the fleeing Kumo-nin "Now that...that was impressive. Even after erasing my body odor and suppressing my chakra, he still caught on to my presence. There are few capable of doing that. Not to mention...all of this" As Rei accurately feared, Kabuto Yakushi had indeed been waiting in the shadows. However, regardless of his status, Kabuto never had any intention of entering the fight. His mission was simple observation, nothing more, nothing less FLICK! POOF! Removing one of his unique, Ninja Info Cards from his pocket, he poured his chakra until images formed on it''s surface. This was none other than the card detailing all of Rei''s performance information "Inhuman physical capabilities, perfect chakra control, sensory skills, and even high Jonin-leveled Genjutsu... the number of candidates here rivaling him... I could count with one hand. Still it''s a bit too early to come to a decision. Now, if you''re quite through taking your nap, we''re done here" (Kabuto) While reviewing Rei''s information, Kabuto took it upon himself to treat his "teammates", waking them up in the process "U-Urgh..." (Yoroi) "K-Kabuto...what''s going on? Wait-!" (Misumi) "The Kumo Genin has left, under suspicions that someone else was hiding nearby. Count yourselves lucky, we''re done here" (Kabuto) "D-Done?! Now hold on, we can still-?!" (Misumi) Misumi froze in horror as Kabuto gave him one of the most sinister glares he''d ever seen. Clearly signifying which one of them was in command of this operation "There''s less than thirty two hours before this exam comes to a conclusion. All the worthy candidates, we''ve got them down. As for the status of Iwagakure, I''ll report to our lord myself. Now help Yoroi up and follow, we''re leaving" (Kabuto) "K-Kuh! Understood..." (Misumi) TAK! TAK! TAK! The trio of spies fled the scene, vanishing without a trace as they began the journey to leave the canyon. Kabuto thought back on Rei''s performance "Given his ragged breathing, sweat, increased body temperature, and mannerisms... he was clearly suffering from an affliction prior to his arrival. Either some kind of physical trauma, poison, or mental fatigue, and yet... he managed to fight and kill so many" (Kabuto) "?!" (Yoroi & Misumi) Kabuto chuckled while contemplating the future... {Since Orochimaru-sama is personally coming to this exam, I wonder what his reaction to the finals will be? Hehe, I can''t wait for the Third round. With these Genin, I know it''s gonna be sight to see!} (Kabuto) 216. Material MrProper "OOMPF! U-UGAAAH!" SPLATTER! After battling Kabuto Yakushi''s teammates, Rei fled the area, continuing to let his "compass" guide him. Having already traveled several kilometers, his sprinting was put to halt when a sudden pain struck his stomach. Locating a large boulder to provide some shade from the blistering heat of the sun, Rei began to vomit Oddly enough, it wasn''t food that came out, but a strange black substance... "This stuff, it''s the same as the time I completed my first physical purification with the Black Scroll. Which means I''m barfing impurities right now, but at such a level...it has to be poison. Cheh! If I see those two again, damn the consequences, I''m gonna...!" Easily putting two and two together, Rei confirmed the attack he received from the "Demon Brothers" as a result of defending Iruka Umino, was in fact a poisonous one Due to the effects of the Black scroll''s first lock, Rei''s immune system had reached entirely new levels. Any foreign factors would immediately be targeted and dispatched by his white blood cells. However, this feature, along with others required chakra to work properly At the moment, he was dangerously low from not only his most recent fight, but all the other unknown confrontations that took place when he lost consciousness, and "Neo-Rei" took control "Now I know why I can''t knead chakra properly, the energy is being diverted to fight off this...urgh--annoyingly persistent poison! Sigh...those Mist assholes must''ve really wanted me dead hu--uhack! Honestly, I''m getting sick of worrying about this Ripple shit!" SPLATTER! Despite everything Raymond Parker acquired during his tenure in this supposed, "fictional" world, his greatest asset has always been the knowledge of the future. While he was free to let them form, it meant throwing the "plot" off course, thereby causing him to lose this advantage His new life as "Rei Sano" could also end up potentially compromised, but after this recent debacle, his patience had nearly reached its limit. For years, he''d spent more time worrying about the timeline than improving his abilities...which got him into his fair share of trouble and grief TING! "Uh?!" {Oh, that''s just perfect!} Unfortunately, his troubles were nowhere near over... {How many? 1, 2 , 3...10, 11 chakra signatures?! That''s an odd number, and why are they headed in my direction?!} ZWISH! His rest would have to wait, for new enemies were hot on his trail! Rei took off at full speed, knowing he had no time to think about the situation. Being outnumbered and weakened, this was not a fight he could win in his current state Left, Right, Left, Right...his feet kept moving! Despite his legs feeling like jelly, they continued to push off the ground, carrying him forward! A normal human would''ve collapsed from total exhaustion at this point FLING! BOOSH! "?!" (Rei) Annoyed with chasing him, the enemy teams began launching a series of long-ranged attacks. Blades and ninjutsu, all launched at the Genin from Kumogakure, who continued to weave and dodge everything thrown at him! But even mountains fall overtime, and Rei''s stamina wasn''t getting any better. His speed started to drop, and the gap between them shortened until he eventually tripped and fell to the ground "D-Damn it... this isn''t good!" (Rei) "Didn''t expect to run into you so soon! You''re not looking so good, Kumo bastard!" {These guys...they''re from Amegakure1Hidden Rain Village, Kusagakure2Hidden Grass Village, and...some smaller villages I don''t recognize. None of them are from the "Big 5"} "Who the hell are gu-Ooof!" (Rei) BAM! At Rei''s confused attitude, a tall male wearing a headband indicating his allegiance to Amegakure stepped forward. Appearing to be the one leading the group, he proceeded to kick an already downed Rei in the stomach, sending him tumbling away. The others giggled and laughed in amusement, and satisfaction "Don''t pretend you don''t know what you did! There''s probably not a single person in this damn canyon who hasn''t heard about some Kumogakure ninja randomly brutalizing every squad in sight!" "?!" (Rei) "There was only one squad from your treacherous village that arrived in this exam, everyone knows about it. The perpetrator was male, traveling alone, and wore his headband on his neck as opposed to the forehead..." "The most recent attacks were around this area, don''t pretend it wasn''t you!" "Son of a bitch, my brother was one of your victims! Forget the exams, I don''t even know if he''ll be able to continue as a ninja!" {F**k! How much damage did I do?! How long was I out?!} (Rei) Yells and screams of anger reverberated from the mix-matched group, all calling for retribution! Genin from villages who should be against each other in this exam, had banded together into a single unit, through a bond of hatred...for the sole purpose of hunting down Rei BAM! Kicking Rei away again, the one in charge raised his had to silence them. He then addressed the crowd in a self-grandiose manner "We, who hail from the smaller villages, have all suffered by you arrogant ones of the so-called, Greater nations. This kind of arrogance is just what we should all expect from a ninja like him, who hails straight out of the five!" CLAMOR! The others began shouting in agreement as this Genin addressed them {Great. Now I have to listen to some clich monologue from a background character, someone please kill me now. Who knows, maybe that''s how I finally get out of this stupid manga...} (Rei) Despite everything, Rei was only concerned with himself and how he could escape this current predicament. Subtly scoping out the area with his eyes to see if there was anything he could use. His chakra was nearly depleted, all of the running used up all the energy he received from his battle with Kabuto''s teammate, Yoroi The Ame-nin removed a kunai from the holster on his leg before holding it to Rei''s neck. The latter disgusted with the twisted look of glee practically shining on his face "You don''t get to die an easy death. You''re going to be the first to help us in this exam, that is... helping us send a message to the bigger nations! The message being, we''re no longer putting up with your unjust dominance anymore" "Pfft!" (Rei) "?!" "HAHAHAHA!!" (Rei) Expecting him to tremble in fear or plead for mercy, everyone was thrown off when Rei suddenly burst out laughing. Attitude, demeanor, and even his expression indicated he couldn''t care less about their feelings. Which he blatantly reiterated after telling them the truth straight from his mouth. Going on about how... He didn''t care about their grudges... He didn''t care about their dreams... He didn''t care about their villages... He didn''t care about their past or future... He didn''t care about their families or friends... He didn''t even care about their very existence... And as for why? "Because you lot aren''t people. Hell, you''re not even characters! You''re just f**king mobs! Background images! I shouldn''t care, I won''t care, I don''t care! The mission, MY mission, should be the only thing that matters! AND YET!" (Rei) "?!" TAK! CLING! The Genin from Amegakure was caught off guard when Rei grabbed the hand holding the kunai and pulled it closer to his neck! "W-What are you-?!" "WHY? Why do I feel concern, if not outright guilt for some of the things I''ve done while I was out for the--cheh! YOU! How many days are left in this exam?! How much time?!" Rei screamed as he pointed to another in the crowd "U-Umm...about twenty one hours?" The Genin timidly replied "Right, over four days of God knows what acts of cruelty I''ve committed! I shouldn''t concern myself with an exam where ninja are EXPECTED to try and kill one another! I definitely shouldn''t let that bother me, and yet, I''m feeling SYMPATHY?!?! TOWARDS ALL THOSE SCRUBS?! WHAT THE F**K?!" (Rei) Rei was on a complete rant as he used his one free hand to clasp his head in confusion. Whether it was the situation, poison, stress, or irritation at the Ame Genin''s monologuing... he was having a complete meltdown! "And YOU guys! You stand here bitching about being stepped on, but don''t act like you''ve never done the same! How many other villages did you have to abuse or destroy until yours were formed! Everything has to be built on something, especially shinobi villages! You''re nothing but a bunch of whiners who can''t even find the balls to take on an actual team! Seriously, eleven vs one?! F**K OFF!" (Rei) "!" In that moment, everyone simultaneously forgot their anger, remaining flabbergasted in silence as Rei continued his self-discovering rant... "Have I actually come to care about this crappy world...bullshit! As if! So please, before I turn into a total sap, or get brain cancer from another one of this idiot''s shitty, hypocritical speeches...just end it for me! Because death would be a mercy at this point! As for anything else, my response is, I JUST DON''T GIVE A F**K...in case you had any doubts" (Rei) VWOOOOO... "..." (Everyone) "..." (Rei) Aside from the wind, the only sound heard was the thudding of Rei, who willingly fell on his back. Arms spread wide open, not showing any signs of resistance as he gestured for them to hurry up and do what they came here to do While everyone else showed hesitancy, the leader of the group tightened his grip on the blade in his hand. In truth, he was actually afraid of the ninja hailing from the "Five Great Shinobi Nations", just as Rei believed. Choosing to use the smaller nations distaste for them as a means of creating a larger group in order to survive and pass this exam Backing out now would prove Rei''s point, and the groups unity would fall apart. If they all turned on one another, his team, which only consisted of two...would have the least chances of survival "Tsk! You really know how to run your mouth! Fine! I''ll do you a favor and end it!" KASHINK! Withdrawing another blade, he lunged at Rei in anger with the clear intent of killing him. The target in question didn''t even bother to move, instead, his thoughts were focused on something else as this moment in time seemed to slow down to a crawl {Sigh...in truth, I''m the one who''s full of shit. Mabui--no, nee-san, my team, and various others I''ve met in Kumogakure. They''re all important to me, whether this is all just an illusion, a work of fiction, these people are material...not characters. I wish I could''ve shown them how I truly felt, in this world and the last, if I''d just been more trusting, more caring...things might''ve been different. I''ve made the same mistakes twice...} "Hehe, wow...that poison is really making me delirious" (Rei) "Die you ba-GUOH?!" BOOSH! WOOO! Out of nowhere, a violent burst of wind met the area, blasting the Genin from Amegakure away! "What?" (Rei) "Huh?! What just happen-EH?!" VWOOO! There was no time to react as a dust cloud enveloped the entire area, knocking everyone else off their toes "What in the world is going on? Ooof!" Rei wondered as someone abruptly grabbed and carried him away! When the dust settled, there were two figures standing between him, and the group of enemy Genin. Both of whom were wearing similar attire to his. When his vision cleared, he almost couldn''t believe what he was seeing, even considering the poison in his system was causing him to hallucinate...! "Hey man, long time no see! You look like road kill!" "Don''t just stand there looking at him, get to work, I''ll handle the rest" After several days in the treacherous lands of Rengoku no Kykoku3Purgatory''s Canyon, Rei had finally been reunited with his teammates! Tai and Suzu had arrived! "Heh...hehe...hahaha! Guess this is the universe giving me a third chance, HAHAHA!" (Rei) "Whoa, have you lost it?" (Tai) "Nah, just glad to see my...friends" (Rei) "?!" (Suzu) "Yeah...you''ve definitely lost it" (Tai) 217. Material [2] MrProper "Get going Suzu, I''ve got this!" (Tai) "Mm, be right back" With a light response, Suzu angrily blasted off the ground, practically flying at the hastily-made unit of Genin from various villages. Intent on paying them back for the disservice they bestowed to Rei {Geez. One look at what these guys were doing to Rei was all it took to set her off. Forget buying me some time, it''ll be a wonder if they''re still breathing when she''s done with them} "Rei, sit still, you''re not looking so good..." (Tai) "Move at your leisure doctor-san" (Rei) TAP! Tai placed his hands on Rei''s back, prepping to treat him with his Medical Ninjutsu. As one well versed in both treating and utilizing toxins, he could tell at a moment''s glance his teammate had been afflicted by some unknown type of poison {Hmmm...his forehead''s temperature obviously indicates a fever, but the rest of his body is cold as ice} "Rei, how do you feel right now?" (Tai) "Tired--no...sleepy above all else, but I don''t feel the effects from the poison if that''s what your asking" (Rei) "Nothing? Not even pain?" (Tai) Rei shook his head in affirmation, which only served to further puzzle an already confused Tai. In order to treat him, he had to determine exactly what type of poison was circulating through his system first, but his diagnosis took longer than he preferred {"Can''t feel anything", "getting sleepy", profuse sweating, and his heart rate...it''s beginning to drop to dangerous levels. Scanning him now...I can tell there''s not much poison in his system. Did he get rid of some prior to our arrival?} "Hold on, think I''ve got just what you need" (Tai) RUSTLE! Tai removed the standard shinobi pouch on his back, placing it down in front of him before rummaging through it. He took out several combipen autoinjectors and a device Rei just happened to recognize "W-Whoa...surely you''re not gonna-?!" (Rei) "Yup. Sorry buddy, but there''s no other choice. On the bright side, you''ll live to pay back whoever did this to you" (Tai) "You...You''re enjoying this!" (Rei) "Maybe a little...it''s rare when I get the chance to mess with you" (Tai) "Is this some kind of karma?" (Rei) ??? While the boys stayed back, Suzu''s confrontation with this enemy group was heating up! "Here she comes!" "It''s only a single kunoichi, relax!" SLAM! {Doton: Retsudo Tensh1Earth Style: Tearing Earth Turning Palm!} (Suzu) Throwing her hands to the ground, Suzu broke the very ground under the group, shifting it into various elevations in the process. More than anything, the young lady wanted this group to stay within in her eyesight If they managed to split up and go after her teammates, the situation would be all the more difficult to control "Pfff, big deal! All you did was shake us up a little!" Another belligerent Genin from Amegakure2Hidden Rain Village yelled in a mocking tone, clearly implying how unimpressed he was with Suzu''s opening move "..." (Suzu) "Hmph! I''ll shred you into nothing!" FLING! Irritated with this girl, who already rendered his squad member unconscious, the very same young Genin that lead this group... he was first to strike back. Hurling several shuriken at Suzu while encouraging the others to follow in suit In order to protect her teammates, she had no intentions of even letting them weave hand seals, let alone...retaliate! {Fton: Reppsh3Wind Style: Gale Palm!} (Suzu) BOOSH! FLICK! With the raising of her arm, she released a gale of compressed air, bouncing the spinning blades right back at the group, injuring some of them in the process! But she wasn''t done yet... {Can''t give them a chance to breathe...!} "Doton: Tjinb4Earth Style: Fighting Blade Rod!" (Suzu) CRUMBLE! BAM! Pillars of stone rose from beneath, protruding in all sorts of unpredictable directions. The Genin, who couldn''t even keep up with the girl''s Ninjutsu speed, were violently blasted into the air! "WHAAA?! UWOAH!" "To use a Doton of this level so quickly... How can she-?!" "Ah! Her first move was...!" {With the ground already loose and malleable thanks to her first attack, the scale of this one was increased dramatically...that''s why she-!} "D-Damn it...!" WEAVE! "Incoming!" Just as some of the Genin discerned the true nature behind her attacks, Suzu had already prepared the next one, now that they were right where she wanted them! "The next time you think about having fun with a Genin from Kumogakure, especially one of MY teammates...DON''T!" {Fton: Shink Taigyoku5Wind Style: Giant Vacuum Bullet!} (Suzu) HEAVE! BOOSH! With an incredibly deep breath, Suzu''s final attack was released from her mouth in the form of a massive ball of compressed wind! "AGGGH!" "No No No No...can''t move!!" "DAMN IT! I knew we shouldn''t have teamed up with you losers!" "GO TO HELL!" Not even giving them the chance to land on their feet after her previous Earth-based attack launched them in the air, they were literally sent flying away until their figures were no longer in sight "Wind and Earth attacks in quick succession, at this level... is she a monster?! GAH!" The last of the Genin was swept away by the turbulent gale Once they were all gone, Suzu finally calmed down, breathing a little easier after ensuring Rei was safe... "Anyone who even tries to hurt those I care about will never have a happy ending..." ??? "Well damn... when''s she''s mad, she''s almost as violent as Rei. Speaking of whom...CLEAR!!" (Tai) While Suzu was fighting, Rei had fell unconscious, unable to stay awake any longer with his depleted chakra reserves Tai had remarkably managed to jumpstart his heart with what appeared to be a miniature defibrillator. The two leads attached to it were already placed on Rei''s chest BZZZT! CRACKLE! "UOMM?! HGNN!! (Rei) "Aaaaaand...he''s alive! Here, drink this!" Tai gave Rei a brew of medicine to drink that was distilled in record time while he was under After hurling up more black "impurities", Rei snatched the drink his teammate provided for him, already in desperate to need to drink something for his throat was unbearably dry and parched "Guoh...uhack! Ugh! Seriously, you can leave me to die next time!" {I never imagined the emergency field-med device I designed for Tetsuo to manufacture would have it''s first test on me! I feel like crap!} (Rei) "I gave you a carefully made cocktail mix of hydrocortisone, epinephrine, and other medicines to counteract the poison and keep your heart pumping. Then, with a quick jolt from this device Mori Sp. so graciously provided for the exams, and you live to continue your reign of tyranny for another day. You''re welcome" (Tai) "Haaaa...haaa... You''re lucky I''m too disoriented to punch you--wait...Epinephrine? You mean adrenaline? Granted, I was tired from running so long but-" (Rei) "You were more than just tired. Seriously! Whoever made this poison is even more sadistic than you!" (Tai) "We should move" Finished with the enemy, Suzu advised the boys to hurry, for every second out in the open put them at risk "!" (Rei) "Agreed. Gimme a hand" (Tai) TAK! TAK! With his team helping him get back on his feet, Rei traveled with his arms over their shoulders as the team moved away from the area, eventually discovering an obscure shady spot next to a hill Suzu kept watch for any more potential hostiles lying in wait to attack as Tai applied his Medicial Ninjutsu. He could focus on getting Rei back into fighting shape now that he was no longer in critical danger As they worked, Rei gave his teammates a quick rundown of everything he went through while they were separated, at their request But instead of sharing his story, what he really wanted to know was... "Again, what do you mean by sadistic?" (Rei) "Hm? Oh right, the poison. You wanna know why you haven''t noticed the effects of the poison until now? It''s because along with it, a modified narcotic was mixed in" (Tai) "Narcotic? Is he still in danger?!" (Suzu) "No, it functions more like a painkiller, which normally wouldn''t be bad, unless mixed with this particular, slow-acting poison. It cruelly numbs the victim''s senses to ensure the effects are never discovered. I assume as time goes on, the victim becomes more and more tired before subtly loosing basic motor function, including the ability to properly knead chakra. Once total exhaustion occurs, they fall unconscious, and the heart eventually just...stops" (Tai) "Unconscious..." (Rei) "Whoever receives this poison literally works themselves to death..." (Suzu) "Yes. Whoever made this had the clear intention of watching their target die...slowly. Honestly, there''s no shortage of sick and deranged people in this world" (Tai) {And because of that shit...Kisshten6Auspicious Heavens was activated and now my body has once again undergone "recursion". Until my chakra is restored, I can''t accurately discern how much I''ve "changed" again...} (Rei) "Hold on...Rei already passed out, and woke up again...isn''t that what you said?" (Suzu) "H-Hm?! Oh...uh yeah. After I woke up, I fought some guys before heading here, where those jerks you defeated found me" (Rei) Thanks to Rei''s enhancements, the best any form of poison could do was slow him down. But all the trouble he went through as result of him protecting Iruka Umino still left him very unsatisfied...and upset "If I ever see those Kiri asswipes again...I''m gonna-!" (Rei) "Wait, so those guys were from Kirigakure7Hidden Mist Village, not Ishigakure8Hidden Rock Village?" Tai exclaimed in surprise "Uh...Y-Yeah. Why were you expecting Ishigakure?" (Rei) At his query, Tai and Suzu looked at each other with disconcertment, confusing Rei all the more. Now that he finally had a moment to breathe, Rei finally decided to change topics onto to more concerning matters "Just what the hell happened to you guys while I was gone? And how did you find me?" (Rei) "It certainly wasn''t sunshine and rainbows after we separated. But if I were pick a place to start, it''d be our first enemy encounter...with that ridiculous Uchiha" 218. Whatcha Been Up To? Going back in time to over a week ago "There''s no more time, it''s coming down!" "Damn it...!" BOOM! CRASH! Destruction reigned everywhere! "Keep moving! We''re not out of the woods yet!" Tai and Suzu fled the abandoned factory which had become nothing short of a warzone between Genin. If the second phase of this year''s Chunin Exam''s proved to be anything, it was certainly chaotic to an absurd degree! The clanging of metal and bombarding explosions of battle served as clear indications of the factory''s destruction. Areas of the massive, aged superstructure collapsed one after other like dominos, creating a massive cloud of dust and ash which instantly enveloped the location Fortunately, it provided the perfect cover for the Kumogakure Genin pair to escape THUD! THUD! Upon discovering an isolated river free from enemy combatants, the two fell on their bottoms, tired from all the running. Normally, one would be happy after escaping such a dangerous situation, but all they felt was unease Unease...for their third teammate who was left behind "We''ll rest here for a little longer before resuming our escape. Given the number of teams I spotted, we shouldn''t consider this distance as safe" (Tai) "Escape? What are you talking about? Soon as I''ve regained my strength, I''m heading back for Rei" Suzu irritably stated "Suzu...given the scale of the building, and the position he was in before we left...you might want to consider the possibility-" (Tai) "No Tai. Just. DON''T. There''s no way Rei, of all people, would die from something like that" (Suzu) "...Regardless of what''s true, and what''s not, he explicitly told us not to go back for him, remember? Going on about meeting up with us at the Primary Objective. That''s what we, as shinobi, should do...stay on mission" (Tai) Suzu bit her lip in frustration, as the young kunoichi wanted nothing the more than to fight her way back into the hostile location and find her teammate. But Tai''s logic was sound, the location was too dangerous, and would likely remain so for quite some time. Their best option was to continue with the exam, take an enemy team''s "Black Needle", and meet up with Rei "Sigh... unbelievable" Eventually relenting, she choose to stick with the most logical decision, albeit very displeased "I''m out of my depth here, so I can only do what I think is best for all of us. Are you with me?" (Tai) "Yeah... It''s just..." (Suzu) "I know Suzu. I wanna go back and look for him too..." (Tai) After resting for another half an hour, they continued their departure from the area ??? Day 4 {Fton: Shinkgyoku1Wind Style: Vacuum Spheres!} PHT! PHT! PHT! PHT! "OWWW! "AGH!" THUD! "That''s another team down, nicely done. Let''s see what they''ve got..." Tai happily exclaimed as he began rummaging through their belongings With a man down, frontal assaults against full squads wasn''t ideal. Instead, they went for more of a "Guerrilla" approach, launching irregular ambushes at various locations, never staying in one spot for too long. These tactics ensured their status remained under the radar and allowed them to gather intelligence at the same time The latter especially for a new problem arose in the days they traversed this harsh canyon since their separation from Rei... "Aaaand, I think I found something. No wait--its...haaaaa, damn it..." (Tai) "Again?" (Suzu) "Mhm. Nothing but White Compasses for several days straight. I''m starting to wonder if we''re in a Genjutsu" (Tai) "Considering how many times Rei used you as a guinea pig to test his illusions, you''d know if we were under someone''s influence more than I" (Suzu) "Cheh! Now I''m not starting to miss him! But on a serious note, it would appear your initial theory checks out" (Tai) Suzu accurately surmised days ago the exam proctors intentionally placed those with Compasses and Needles on opposite ends of the Canyon before the exam began. A means of forcing the participants to travel deeper into treacherous terrain... "We''ll have to widen our net, because this isn''t working. You may not like it, but there''s no other choice, we have to venture into more dangerous territories if we''re to have any chance of acquiring a Needle. I''m pretty Rei has already unraveled this truth and is moving to do the same" (Suzu) "Considering how smart that guy is, you''re probably right. Okay, in that case, let''s-?!" (Tai) "!" (Suzu) KASHINK! His expression saying all that she needed to hear, Suzu span around, withdrawing the kunai blade from the holster on her right leg. A single individual arrived, slowly making his way towards the incomplete team from Kumogakure "That headband, this one''s from Konohagakure2Hidden Leaf Village, enemy contact! Stay behind me Tai, I''m gonna gauge his ability with long-ranged attacks" (Suzu) "Got it! I''ll get my Ninjutsu ready just in case!" (Tai) ZWISH! WEAVE! {Fton: Shinkha3Wind Style: Vacuum Wave!} Suzu dashed forward, taking the now absent Rei''s place on the team as the vanguard, forming several hand seals in record time to boot! With a deep breath, air gathered in her mouth before she span her head in a rotating direction. Spitting it out in the form of a single, compressed blade of wind covering a wide range! However... "Uh?! Suzu! INCOMING!" (Tai) "?!" (Suzu) BOFF! SCORCH! ...This new enemy had tricks of his own. For no less than two seconds after Suzu released her attack, he''d sent a large blast of fire her way, now amplified by the very Wind-natured attack she''d just released! "Crap! Can''t dodge in time-!" (Suzu) {Suiton: Suijinheki4Water Style: Water Wall!} (Tai) SPLOOSH! With quick thinking and prior prep, Tai timely managed to create a protective barrier of water in front of Suzu. The resulting clash of elemental techniques created an instant fog of steam. Suzu hastily retreated backwards, reuniting with Tai as they both remained on guard, back-to-back "Thanks for the assist, but this new guy is..." (Suzu) "Yeah. Clearly different from what we''ve faced so far. We''re finally moving out fodder territory, now the real geniuses are showing up...!" (Tai) "About that... I''m pretty sure this one hails from Konohagakure''s Uchiha Clan" (Suzu) "Eh?! You serious?!" (Tai) "Yes. His appropriate response to my Fton was far too quick for a normal human being...but someone that can read and visibly see chakra with a Sharingan5Copy Wheel Eye is another story...wouldn''t you say?" (Suzu) "Hmmm...you might be right. Pretty sure I spotted a hint of red just prior to his Katon6Fire Style" {The Uchiha are renowned for their Fire-related Ninjutsu. Just great, fighting someone from that clan of geniuses was the last thing I wanted to do} (Tai) CLAP! "What are you doing?" (Tai) "Getting rid of this fog. Unlike us, he can see his opponent, there''s no reason to give him a tactical advantage. Hmph!" With a light gesture, Suzu blew away the steam fog, but Uchiha was nowhere to be found "Where''d he go?! I don''t see him!" (Tai) "I''ve lost visual contact, don''t think he left either!" {At times like this, Rei''s sensing would come in handy. I''ve underestimated just how much we rely on him...!} (Suzu) WOOOOOO! {Hm?! A change in the air?} "Ah! Tai! Above us!" (Suzu) "I see him!" Tai took out a kunai as he spotted the young Uchiha descend from above "Wide open! Bad decision!" {If Wind won''t work, let''s try Earth!} Suzu clasped her hands once again in attempts to stop the Uchiha But just as she was about to attack... CLINK! "Hm?! Tai?! What are you-?!" (Suzu) "..." (Tai) ...Tai held the very same kunai in his hand to her throat, restraining her in the process! TAK! "It''s over" said the Uchiha as he landed right in front of them "Genjutsu! When did-? Uh?!" {Right. Tai said he, spotted a hint of red, meaning he looked right at his Sharingan eye! Damn...! He must''ve planted a suggestion in that brief window!} (Suzu) "You''re next. By the time you wake up, I''ll be long gone" "Kuh!" (Suzu) SHING! With the wide opening his eyes, he placed Suzu under his Djutsu7Eye Technique, causing her to lose nearly all control of her motor functions {Paralysis Genjutsu! Can''t...Move...!} "!" (Suzu) RUSTLE! The Uchiha searched their pouches, trying to identify their exam piece. Eventually pulling out one of the White Compasses they acquired during their tenure in the Canyon. Despite being restrained, Suzu could see the look of disappointment on his face, realizing the item he found, was not the one he desired {I was told not to use it but...I don''t know what he''ll do now that he has no more use for us!} (Suzu) {Another one... there''s something I''m not seeing. There also haven''t been any signs of Iwagakure8Hidden Stone Village Genin since I started here...} {Focus...breathe...bring it all out...from the center. And then...} (Suzu) "A different ratio of distributed exam items...in other words...foul play" "N-Ngh!" {LET IT FLOW!} (Suzu) "Hm?!" BOOM! A massive torrent of energy burst from Suzu''s body! The Uchiha jumped away in bewilderment, now in the dark for this sudden emergence of power was completely unprecedented! The one in question freed herself from Tai''s grasp before grabbing his shoulder with one hand, and forming a hand seal with the other "Genjutsu: Kai9Illusion Technique: Release!" (Suzu) "U-Uhhh!" Tai fell on his knees. His mind befuddled after being released from the Uchiha''s Genjutsu Suzu returned her focus to the enemy, still building up more and more power as the tips of her shoulder length, raven-black hair began to turn white! {What kind of chakra is this? I''ve never seen anything like it before, so pure and bright...and powerful} "S-Suzu? What happened to the--EH?! Y-You...!" (Tai) "I''ll explain later, just be ready!" (Suzu) "No. That''s quite enough" "?!" (Tai & Suzu) FWIP! POOF! The Uchiha removed a smoke bomb from his pouch and threw it on the ground, obstructing their sight once again. When the smoke cleared, he''d vanished as quickly as he came! "He''s...gone?" (Tai) "...We didn''t have the piece he needed, fighting us served no purpose. And in the face of someone with an unknown power...fighting them alone isn''t the wisest decision" (Suzu) "You sound like you knew he''d do that-AGH! My head hurts like hell!" (Tai) "I planned on it. From his actions, I could tell he was smart enough to realize this wasn''t a favorable position for him...he''s a reasonable person" (Suzu) "My head begs to differ..." (Tai) "He had plenty of opportunities to kill or harm us when were under his influence. Instead, he simply looked for the exam item. Exceptional intelligence and battle instincts...he kind of reminds me of Rei" (Suzu) "If by similar, you mean they both give out nasty, migraine-inducing illusions, then yes. They are definitely similar" (Tai) WOOOOO! Suzu ceased raising her chakra, calming the powerful energy surging within her. Tai was keen to raise a few questions about it, but decided now wasn''t the ideal time "Urgh! Come on, all this noise will undoubtedly attract someone''s attention. We''ll talk about our next move elsewhere" (Tai) "I''ll take point, stay close" (Suzu) "Ready whenever you are" (Tai) ZWISH! ZWISH! The duo dashed away from the open battle zone, knowing they''d been in one place for too long. As they got further away, Suzu glanced back one last time... {That guy was dangerous...I hope Rei doesn''t encounter him anytime soon} 219. Whatcha Been Up To? [2] MrProper "Haaa...haaaa...I think we''re in the clear for now" "I''ll keep watch nonetheless, so take this time recover. As our medic, we can''t have you getting tired" "Thanks...phew!" After a nerve wrecking fight with a powerful member of Konohagakure''s1Hidden Leaf Village infamous Uchiha Clan, Suzu decided to dig out a small cave situated far from the area with her Ninjutsu for them to hide in. Midnight had come, but they knew the darkness consuming the canyon would only serve to entice the competition Too risky to set a campfire, all Tai could rely on to stay warm was his clothes. The stars and moon in the night sky were their only source of light. Suzu remained as stoic as ever, for the girl had not even blinked, let alone move while keeping watch Only the chirping sound of crickets could be heard, that is... until Tai finally decided to break the silence "Hey Suzu... about that power you used earlier... " (Tai) "Yugito-sama and Killer B-sama helped me gain proper control. It origins may come from the LIFT drug, but you don''t have to worry about me going berserk" (Suzu) "O-Oh! No, I''m not worried about that...! After what you did during the Siege, I''ve got nothing but faith in you. What I''m concerned with, is other potential side effects that power might have, from a medical perspective of course. Call it a concern or habit, my job to make sure members of my team are in peak physical condition" (Tai) Suzu finally turned around and faced Tai, staring at him for what seemed like hours, hesitant to discuss the particularly sensitive subject. Eventually, she sat down right in front of him before sharing her experience on "Genbu Island" during the last three months "The best way describe the current me would be the same classification as my ancestors, as a pseudo-jinchriki. The LIFT, which contains tailed beast chakra, is really no different than-" (Suzu) "The flesh of the Nine-tails Kinkaku and Ginkaku consumed when the beast swallowed them whole many years ago. What surprises me is the power within you remained potent to such a degree. Considering the pill''s effects were only temporary on the others" (Tai) "Because of my body''s structure, which is unique as the Kin-Gin brothers, it had more of a stable, permanent effect on me. Just as a Tailed Beast dwells within it''s host, the chakra from the LIFT has merged with my own, and remains deep inside my chakra network. Even when I''m not using it, Yugito-sama confirmed my base power to be at least three times stronger, prior to the change" (Suzu) {Three times?! Her reserves were already impressive, but if that''s true...her chakra levels now might even rival, if not surpass Rei''s!} "Um...How much when you ARE using it?" (Tai) "...We were careful not to take it too far during my training, as to avoid the possibility of me going berserk or dying like the others who consumed the pill, so I can''t give an accurate estimate. But..." (Suzu) "Gulp..." (Tai) "At my current level of control, I can temporarily increase my strength up seven levels. Though Killer B-sama says that''s nowhere near the limit of my new power" (Suzu) Tai was completed flabbergasted at this revelation... Suzu''s state, the organization known as the Company, and their hand in the LIFT''s creation... Most of this information was classified. The Raikage managed to keep most of the details a secret after the Siege took place. For if word got out this young lady''s body held the key to creating ninja with Tailed Beast powers, war breaking out would be an inevitability Unlike the other LIFT takers who were connected to a mysterious network of chakra, Suzu was an exception, free from any foreign influence. Even with Rei''s alteration of the pill he gave her, the process would never have worked were it not for how special she was. The last of her bloodline, no one else in the world possessed the same physical attributes "I may have made a mistake..." Suzu began to brood on her recent actions "You mean using it to save us from that Uchiha?" (Tai) "I only used a miniscule fraction of it to free us from his Djutsu2Eye Techniques, but his eyes can see chakra. It was only an instant, but he might''ve caught on to-" (Suzu) "Don''t worry about it" (Tai) "?" (Suzu) "He doesn''t know what he saw. Being a potential heir to the Yotsuki Clan, you tend to hear things. There are tons of people out there with special chakra, not just you. Plus, barely a minute had passed before he took off, we''ll be fine..." Sensing the trepidation on her face, Tai offered words of encouragement to soothe his teammates worries Suzu bowed her head in appreciation for his kind words. Soon enough, all the worry had indeed left her body, and she finally began to feel sleepy The pair took turns keeping watch all night, getting as much rest as possible until morning came ??? Day 7 With renewed vigor, the pair decided to utilize a new strategy to acquire a "Black Needle" to complete their "White Compass". Thanks to a hint gained from the Uchiha''s words, they proceeded to untouched areas within canyon. Now on top of a mountain range that stretched for miles, heading towards one of it''s edges as Suzu spotted the next "objective" Their targets now switched to... "Found one! I''ll go first!" (Suzu) "Right behind you!" (Tai) TAK! TAK! ...Genin teams hailing from Iwagakure3Hidden Stone Village "Hm? Ah...Hey!" "Another enemy team''s headed our way!" "Wha-?! Crap!" HEAVE! VWOOOOO! {Fton: Shink Taigyoku4Wind Style: Giant Vacuum Bullet!} With a deep breath, Suzu exhaled a massive, crushing sphere of compressed air The Iwagakure team stopped in their tracks, moving in proper formation to prepare for her attack. Slamming their hands on the ground in sync, the team raised a sturdy wall of stone to receive the massive wind blast BOOOOSH! CRACK! On contact, the barrier of Earth fell to pieces, but served its purpose in protecting them "U-Ugh...!" "That''s a lot of power. These guys aren''t amateurs--hm? Wait a minute...that attire is-! Oh...OH SHIT! Guys! They''re from Kumogakure!" "Eh?! Then are they the ones responsible for--oh no! We gotta slow her down!" {What are they talking about?} (Suzu) CLOMP! CLOMP! Her feet still moving, Suzu wanted to close the distance between them after obliterating their defensive shield. Already readying her next jutsu as the Iwa genin retaliated in unison! "Doton: Dorykatsu5Earth Style: Earth Flow Divide!" CRUMBLE! BOOM! The ground was torn apart, perfectly split from right under the young Kunoichi from Kumogakure. Her quick pace was stopped, and the Iwa-nin beamed with pride upon witnessing the girl, now trapped in the chasm they created Each taking out their blades as they slowly strolled forth with caution {That''s it... a little more...} (Suzu) "Despite all the rumors, the Rengoku no Bakemon6Purgatory''s Monster was very unimpressive if you fall for a simple move like this" "Very lackluster..." "H-Huh? The who?" {There it is... I can see it} (Suzu) "In all honesty, I suppose this canyon would cause people to exaggerate" "All this talk about evil apparitions, monsters, and dragons is the last thing I wanna hear, this place keeps me on edge enough as is" "Dragons? No way..." (Suzu) "In any case, if hand over your exam item, we''ll let you go" VWOOOO! While the Iwa Genin issued their threats, an unnatural fog formed above their heads. At this sight, Suzu smiled and gave her response "I''ve got some questions, so leave one of them awake" (Suzu) "Ah? We''re not here to answer your...answer your...your...you--" "T-The hell? Why can''t I see...straight. Uhhh...I feel kinda...funny..." "What''s the matter with you guys?" ZWISH! SLAM! Suddenly entering a daze, two of them fell to the ground completely disoriented, unable to make sense of what was happening before falling asleep. Suzu blasted out of the ground and violently pinned the last one to ground! "Very well executed, you''re getting faster" (Suzu) "U-Urgh! What the hell are you saying?!" "Not you...him" (Suzu) "What?!" TAK! "Practice makes perfect. Now, what did you wanna ask this--HEY! These guys got a Needle! Awesome!" exclaimed Tai as he revealed himself Proper to the standard tactics of a medical-nin, he made sure to stay back when the fighting began. Utilizing his uniquely poisonous, vaporized Ninjutsu to assist his teammate from a distance "Good to know. Now, you... What was that talk about a Dragon?" (Suzu) "..." "You also reacted very strongly at our attires, not out of a grudge between different countrymen...but something recent. Your friends also mentioned monsters and apparitions as well. Care to share?" (Tai) "The only thing I''m sharing is...this!" The restrained genin flipped his middle finger at them, despite Suzu keeping his arm in a lock "..." (Suzu) "Haaaa...shouldn''t have done that. May God be with you..." (Tai) "E-Eh? WHOA!! OW!" Suzu effortlessly lifted the rebelling captive with a single arm, dragging the defiant Genin towards the cliff''s edge before dangling him upside down. When she demanded he quit wasting her time and talk, he snorted at her threat. Fully confident he could survive the fall, even if he was tied up But the girl wasn''t counting on the fall to kill him... SPLISH! "Ugh! Upack! Agh! What the hell was that?!" "What I''ve just thrown on you is a modified perfume, which in liquid form...is far more concentrated. It gives off a scent that attracts...well, see for yourself" Tai said as he pointed downwards As the Genin moved his head to look, the former smug on his face was immediately replaced with fear. For what awaited him at the bottom of the cliff was a den of abnormally large bobcats! "Y-You wouldn''t..." "I already have. What you''ve been covered with contains no small amount civet oil, giving you a musky smell the noses of those...cats down there couldn''t possibly miss" "Isn''t that the same thing you covered yourself with because you thought the pheromones it had would attract wome-?" (Suzu) "MOVING ON! Let me tell you something about this girl. Right now she, who''s easily holding a guy like you that''s probably over twice her weight...with one arm mind you, she''s just as violent as another friend of mine. Even I don''t know what she''ll do" (Tai) "K-Kuh...!" "Do you really want to die in the most brutal of ways because...huh, I don''t even know why you''re not cooperating right now. Are you just mad that you lost to us, or do you have a grudge against people from Kumogakure?" (Tai) "You guys from the Cloud are crazy! One wearing your attire was spotted not far from here, attacking every team in sight, going completely ballistic! We heard he brutalized dozens of people!" "Brutalizing...that''s gotta be-!" (Tai) "Yeah!" (Suzu) Tai and Suzu looked at each other in relief. The latter casually ignoring the stories of horror her captive shared while joyfully feeling relief after finally confirming Rei was alive and well "Who told you this?" (Tai) "It was...urgh...um..." "Cat got your tongue? That''s odd, we haven''t dropped you yet?" (Suzu) "Ishigakure7Hidden Rock Village, okay! It was intel from some Ishigakure ninja! They''re...haaaa, they''re helping out participants from our village. The relationship between our two countries grew exponentially in recent days!" {That''s also gotta be the reason we haven''t seen many Iwagakure Genin, most of them have likely passed this exam already} (Tai) "Tell us everything, and be quick about it!" (Suzu) "O-Okay! Just don''t drop me!" 220. The Apparition MrProper Present Time "You guys just couldn''t resist coming after me, even when I told you to head for the objective" {They managed to get a completed "Compass" all their own...just as I thought they would. Heh...} (Rei) "After making him talk, we made a beeline for your most recent sighting where along the way, we ran into your dragons" (Suzu) "Really?" (Rei) "Yeah. The very same ones surrounding by the remains of a nest of crocodiles. Seriously, the scene of sheer carnage, those summoned creatures are definitely YOURS" (Tai) "Good thing too. We asked them where you were, and they used their tails to point us in the right direction before disappearing. They''re far more intelligent and reasonable than I believed them to be" (Suzu) "Well I''ll be..." {Since they weren''t around when I awoke from losing control again, I assumed the summoning was over and they returned to my lab} (Rei) "After that, we ran into more and more ninja from other villages, but most of them were from Ishigakure1Hidden Rock Village, all with similar stories about the Rengoku no Bakemon2Purgatory''s Monster. Many of them beaten to a bloody pulp, you literally left a trail of human breadcrumbs" (Tai) {That''s "Neo-Rei" for you, not a single trace of mercy. Still...} "Ugh! Great, ANOTHER nickname! That''s just what I need! Haaaa... Speaking of Ishigakure, did you happen to run into them?" (Rei) The duo shook their heads in unison Knowing Rei was talking about Metoro and Etoro Konjiki, along with their superior, Kajra. The "Ishi Terrorists", opponents they''d never forget. It was just over two years since they had their very first battle with Kekkei Genkai3Bloodline Limitusers After being confronted by them prior to the first exam''s completion, they expected to have already run into them by now. And yet, with less than a day before the exam''s ending, there was not trace of them in sight... "...No, we haven''t" (Suzu) "It''s been on the back of my mind, and we had some close calls with those hailing from the same nation as they, but no one has seen or heard of them since the start of the exam...and that concerns me" Tai took his hands off Rei''s shoulders, now done with his medical treatment RUSTLE! Rei stood up, clasped his hands, and scanned his body for any abnormalities. His stamina was restored, and thus his chakra, though something felt different... "You okay?" (Suzu) "Y-Yeah, Tai did a great job as usual. It''s just...I feel little different. Not bad or strange but...more, um--I can''t put it into words...comfortable?" (Rei) "I noticed your chakra felt a little different when I was healing you. Perhaps the physical trauma as a result of poisoning put your body through more stress than you thought?" (Tai) {Truth be told, poison shouldn''t be able to hurt me THAT much thanks to my first Physical Purification via the "Black Scroll". And with Kisshten''s4Auspicious Heavens reemergence, I get the feeling--no. I know what this is...} "I''m gonna have a long talk with him once this exam is over" (Rei) "Who?" (Tai) "Hm? Oh--uh, it''s nothing. I''m fine, thank you for your help" (Rei) "My pleasure" (Tai) "..." (Suzu) Following a bit more catch up and deliberation, the team decided to proceed towards the so-called "Primary Objective". The exam''s end was nearing, there was no room for procrastination "Pffft!" (Rei) "?" (Tai & Suzu) "So Tai, about that perfume you made in hopes of eliminating your single status" (Rei) "!" (Tai) "It''s being used...kukuku...for all the wrong reasons...buhahaha!!" (Rei) "Bastard! I cannot believe I actually missed you!" (Tai) Time until the exam''s end, twenty hours... ??? VWOOOO! "At such a scale, my Fton5Wind Style won''t help much...!" (Suzu) "Gah...pleh! Gross...I keep tasting dirt! Cover your faces!" (Tai) "Damn it...I f**king hate this stupid place!" (Rei) Venturing even deeper to the canyon''s center, at the direction of their compass, the now reunited Team Tango was led straight into a massive dust storm! "Try and stick together! If you get separated, I''ll find your chakra signature!" Yelled Rei as the environment quickly reduced their visibility to near zero "Don''t forget, we''re not alone out here!" (Tai) Prior to their arrival, Rei had started to get a feel for his readjusted body, now changed as a result of his latest "recursion". Unexpectedly, his physical parameters and overall chakra capacity had grown even further However... "Rei! Somethings wrong!" (Suzu) "I was just about to say the same thing!" (Rei) His new perks didn''t seem to help much with this latest challenge The team huddled together, glancing at their two completed compasses within the treacherous storm. With every step closer, the needle seemed to move and change. Fearing they were running in circles, it was time for something different CHURRRRR... As the team tried to figure out what to do, something beneath the surface grew closer and closer... "I don''t think it''s broken, and we''re not under someone''s influence...right Rei?" (Tai) "Yes. Your chakra signatures, like mine, are completely stable. No sign of fluctuations whatsoever...which can only mean one thing" (Rei) "Our target is...moving" (Suzu) BOOSH! A mysterious figure burst from the ground out of blue, lunging straight at the team! Suzu grabbed Tai and jumped in the opposite direction of Rei, who managed to avoid the sudden attack without much effort! "You guys okay?!" {That thing is-!} (Rei) "We''re fine!" (Suzu) CLICK! CLICK! "Awww... so you guys did realize. I was hoping to finally catch someone off guard, luck is just not on my side today" With the attack, a newcomer introduced himself to the team "That headband... a ninja from Sunagakure6Hidden Sand Village. That confirms my suspicions, the object he sent our way was none other than a..." (Suzu) "!" (Tai & Rei) "That''s right. Hello ninja of Kumogakure, my name is Jun''ya. And this, is my friend and partner..." (Jun''ya) The Suna Genin known as "Jun''ya" was covered head to toe in black robes, a ghutrah covering his head and mouth, only his blue eyes were visible Next to him, his personal weapon of choice... CLICK! CLICK! "The Orange Centipede" (Jun''ya) A brownish-orange mechanical device taking the shape of a centipede the size of a fully grown Golden Retriever. It''s parts clicked and clacked with every single movement, countless mechanical legs, all controlled via small-scale strings of chakra transmitted from Jun''ya''s fingertips One look at it made the Kumo Genin internally question just how many hidden weapons it possessed "Guess we now know what the Apparition those guys from Ishigakure mentioned is..." (Suzu) "Careful guys, puppeteers are famous for using poison..." (Tai) "Puppets...my first time seeing one in person. Gotta admit, my curiosity is piqued" (Rei) "I''m more than willing to enlighten you, in exchange for that nice compass in your hand. We''re all running low on time after all" (Jun''ya) Since they had two, the team took the Suna-nin''s offer under consideration. Not out of fear for this opponent, but the urgent need to arrive at their destination as soon as possible. Traveling to this location, even at their top speed, took several hours They also didn''t know the full extent of his abilities, nor if he had comrades hiding nearby. The time limit was almost here, and they still hadn''t located the "Primary Objective" "Suzu, I need you to find the target. I''ll deal with this guy firs-" Whispered Rei "You wanna separate again? After all the trouble we to find you?" (Tai) "Relax. I''m gonna get this guy''s attention, you guys take off, and I''ll follow your chakra. On my signal..." (Rei) TAK! "Have you made up your minds?" Jun''ya asked while taking another step forward "...Yes, we have. Fighting you isn''t worth the trouble at this critical time" (Rei) "Good, I''m glad we can come to an understanding" Jun''ya held out his hand FLING! After giving a light nod to his teammates, Rei tossed his compass to Jun''ya. When the latter caught it, he smiled and lifted his free hand, forming several strange finger movements BOOSH! "Uh?!" (Rei) "Heh, sorry. But I prefer to thin the competition while I can!" (Jun''ya) More puppets blasted from the ground, encircling the team, and cutting off their routes of escape "What the-?! How can he--, I''ve never heard of someone controlling so many-!" (Tai) "No Tai, look. Unlike the first one, they don''t have heads, and that one even has a tail. We''re not dealing with multiple puppets, we''re dealing with..." (Suzu) "One...that splits" (Rei) "Kukuku...bingo. My original creation can separate its body into to eighteen different parts. From head to tail" (Jun''ya) {Now I get it, he was buying time while the parts dug through the ground, getting into position before surrounding us} (Rei) CLICK! CLACK! One by one, each part opened up several of their respective contraptions as Jun''ya prepared to attack "?!" (Tai) "It''s truly nothing personal, but I REALLY need to win this thing for my village" {Orenjihigi: Satsurin7Orange Secret Technique: Murder Wheel!} (Jun''ya) "I won''t take it personally..." said Rei as he formed a quick hand seal BOOM! "A-AGH!" (Jun''ya) "...if you don''t take that personally" (Rei) The compass Rei gave him had violently exploded on his side! Knocking the young puppet master out cold! All the other puppets fell down, devoid of any visible function "Ahhhhh! Rei! What did you do?! Putting a Paper Bomb on the-" (Tai) "Chill man, remember we had two completed ones. We''ll use our remaining one to find the target--speaking of which...Suzu?" (Rei) The boys looked to Suzu, kneeling on the ground with her hands down and eyes closed. While Rei was stalling, the girl had managed to pick up on his earlier hint, beginning her search. While not an accomplished sensor as Rei, she had other means of finding the seemingly moving objective By touching the ground with her finger, she was able to detect the presence and location of targets in the surrounding area. A skill Yugito taught during her time on Genbu Soon enough, Suzu finally had an answer for them "It''s massive, and on the move! We need to go!" (Suzu) "Okay, let''s stick to formation and--Rei? What are you doing?" (Tai) "What''s it look like? I''m robbing this sucker, he''s got to have something interesting on him. Cheh! Did someone take his exam item already? Maybe that''s why he targeted us...oh?" Rei combed the Suna Genin''s belongings, finding nothing of value except a worn out book "What''s that?" (Tai) "Ummm...I think it''s guide on puppetry? Puppet Theater, by Monzaemon Chikamatsu. I have no idea who this guy is..." (Rei) "Monzaemon Chikamatsu was the inventor of puppet arts. Formerly an entertainer for wealthy lords and any other clients with cash to spend, he eventually saw its potential in the shinobi world. Demonstrating brilliant innovation by transforming a simple hobby, into a unique and deadly form of combat passed down for generations within Sunagakure" (Suzu) "!" (Rei & Tai) "If that book was truly written by him, hold on to it. Even if you''re not intending to become a puppeteer, its value shouldn''t be underestimated" (Suzu) The two boys stared at her for almost a minute, recalling the fact this girl was a true genius with a mind like a library. Lightly blushing in embarrassment by their admiration, she decided to move out first, with Tai quickly following in suit Rei glanced at the book in his hand once more before putting it in his pouch and taking off ZWISH! "Puppetry huh? I''ve got a few ideas, but I''ll save them for later. Time to finally leave this hellhole..." 221. Purgatory’s End MrProper P.S. This chapter was a bit rushed, if you spot any spelling errors, lemme know in the comment section. Please and thank you >; ) ! Within the massive dust storm located in the center of "Rengoku no Kykoku1Purgatory''s Canyon", the sounds of battle echoed through the area. Only a few hours remained until the end, distress had reached new heights At one particular battlefront... BLAM! "GUOH! AGH!" "And down...I''m done on my end, how bout you guys?!" {Is it just me, or did this big guy seem tougher?} SLICE! VWOOO! The quick sounds of a small blade moving, and the unnatural gushing wind reverberated in the storm! "Done here. All this wind makes it even easier for my Ninjutsu..." "I''m good too! Have to admit, it''s nice to actually put my sword skills to work. As the medic, I almost never get chance to get close and personal during fights" "Right. Wouldn''t want all that time of your mom beating your ass goin to waste" "Up yours Rei!" Team Tango neutralized another in a long list of teams lying in ambush. Many participants who failed to acquire a completed compass during the first nine days decided to stalk others to this location. Attempting a last ditch effort to steal one during this final day... "Alright...let''s pick up the pace!" (Rei) "You''re feeling energetic...thought you be tired after everything. I still feel like you should sit and let me treat you some more" (Tai) "I''ll take it after we pass the exam" {Besides...I''m feeling very good right now. Don''t think I''ve ever felt so comfortable with this body since the start of my journey in this world} (Rei) "Guys! Look!" While the boys bantered, something managed to catch Suzu''s eye "What in the-?!" (Tai) "How the hell could we miss something so obvious...?" (Rei) The raging winds carrying dirt and stone could not hide its appearance when one was close enough Stretching several feet in the air... A massive, decorated pagoda tower, with sets of hanging chchin2Traditional Japanese Lantern placed on every floor...the team couldn''t fathom why the colorful building was oddly placed in this desolate location, or how they hadn''t even noticed it until now It was so unexpected, Rei double-checked the team''s chakra signatures just to verify whether or not it was an illusion. But the tower was here, it was real, and above all else... "IT''S MOVING!" (Tai) "?!" (Rei & Suzu) "I don''t know how or why, but that thing is moving!" (Tai) "The compass is... That''s got to be the objective, LET''S GO!" (Suzu) TING! {This chakra...!} "Heads up! I''m picking up several chakra signatures between us and it!" (Rei) Moving through the storm of dust brought them into another battlefield! Upon discovering the mysterious tower was none other than the "Primary Objective" for the exam, many decided to remain near it, waiting for those with the "piece" they required. Approaching the structure with these riled up shinobi staking it out practically demanded to get attacked But as time passed, desperation grew, which resulted in the now chaotic scene laying before Team Tango... "I don''t get it? They''re here, so why fight like barbaric animals for a compass?!" (Tai) "Kitsuchi said we couldn''t pass unless we had a completed compass, with a FULL team. As I suspected, it does more than merely direct you to the--Uh?! Here they come! Rei, are you feeling up to this?!" (Suzu) "Yup! I''m dying to stretch my legs!" Yelled Rei as he blasted towards the enemy at full speed! Soon enough, Team Tango was dragged into the fighting as well, for a squad hailing from hailing from Konohagakure3Hidden Leaf Village was the first to spot them. As the vanguard of his squad, ensuring the enemy failed to get anywhere near his allies was Rei''s duty And as the Genin from Kumogakure delivered his first blow... POW! "E-Eh?" (Rei) {So fast?!} (Tai & Suzu) ...he sent the ninja tumbling away with one punch "Wha...how the hell did this-GUOH!" "Son of a b-GRF?!" "Um...Sorry? I''m in a hurry" Rei offered his apologies after dispensing the Genin team in a matter of seconds TAK! TAK! His teammates caught up with as he stared at his fist, still in disbelief at the sheer level of power he had just demonstrated "Wow man...Where the hell did THAT come from?!" (Tai) "No clue...guess I''m still readjusting after...waking up" {I was just aiming to disorient the guy, not send him flying...} (Rei) "Well, you''ll have another chance to get back in shape. More are coming" (Suzu) Despite taking down a team, the fighting within this stark location only seemed to grow worse. Suzu surmised the reigning majority most likely had no clue as to which exam item each team possessed. Instead opting to randomly attack every other team in sight, hoping to get lucky It struck the team at how much these Genin from other villages wanted to win, what these exams meant to them. However, their desire to win was no less than the ones before them, and as such, Suzu was the first to suggest another attack "Let''s do the usual" (Suzu) "You mean Fireflies?" (Rei) "It''s a good opportunity to see where you''re at" (Suzu) "Fair enough..." (Rei) WEAVE! ZWISH! Forming hand seals with Suzu, the pair, now standing side-by-side, jumped forward with Tai remaining behind them in tow. After the necessary chakra gathered in their stomachs, Suzu and Rei exhaled their techniques! "Fton: Shinkgyoku4Wind Style: Vacuum Spheres!" (Suzu) "Katon: Homuranagase5Fire Style: Blazing Meteors-EH?!" {What the-?!} (Rei) VWOOO! BOFF! "?!" (Tai) Following Suzu''s release of compressed air bullets, Rei was set on discharging a simple volley of small fire blasts to complement her technique. Their goal, enacting temporary crowd control in order to provide a clear path towards the tower What caught them, or rather, Rei off guard was... BOFF! BOFF! BOOOOM! ...The power of his attack being far stronger than he initially intended! "...Too much energy" (Suzu) "H-Hey... not THAT much!" (Tai) "H-Hold on...that wasn''t on purpose! Holy shit, the sheer force nearly made me backflip!" {What the hell... even my Katon got stronger?!} (Rei) What were intended to be small fireballs, were in fact, burning blasts the size of cars! And with the added amplification of Suzu''s wind technique, the entire area became riddled with violent explosions. The destruction was so intense, the yells of conflict were soon replaced with screams of terror... "Ah man...this ain''t right. You''re overly violent even when you''re not trying to be Rei..." (Tai) "Yeah... I''ll admit. It''s pretty messed up this time" (Rei) {Is it really that bad?} (Suzu) As Team Tango ran to the objective, a small feeling of guilt emerged in the boys while glancing at the ones they simply wished to scare away, now burnt and/or passed out on the ground But with the goal in sight, there was no time for stopping, and soon enough...they arrived on the moving platform situated directly under the pagoda tower TAK! TAK! TAK! {I can feel a strange chakra underneath the tower...but nothing inside? Strange...} (Rei) "We''re here...Ooof! It really is moving! But what is this?" (Tai) "Doors...not only on the front, but all over the pagoda. Not a single side lacks them. The only question now is how do we get in...and which one do we go through?" (Suzu) "I think that answer is right in front us. Look" Rei pointed at the front door on the bottom While the others thought his suggestion was too obvious, Rei took the completed compass and lodged it into a small opening in the center of the door. Prior to inserting the device, the needle on the compass began to spin rapidly as various locks on the door opened automatically "W-Wow, you could see that tiny little slab from all the way over there?" (Tai) "Great eyesight" (Suzu) "Thanks...let''s get inside" {I could never see THAT far and well...my eyesight has improved again. I need to properly test how much has "changed" within me when I get the chance} (Rei) With much trepidation, the team cautiously entered the tower, taking their compass from the door once they were inside. Once the entrance closed on its own, the Genin were greeted by a large, empty, white room reminiscent of the testing room during the first exam...though this one was far larger in scale The only other object inside was a four foot stone slab protruding from the ground located in the exact center of the room. Just as with the door, it too held an obvious spot on the top to house a completed compass "S-Should we...? I mean it worked the first time but..." (Tai) "We don''t know what''ll happen...or if there''s something else we''re missing" (Rei) CLICK! CLATTER! Not waiting for them, Suzu placed the compass into the stone slab "!" (Rei & Tai) "Just following Rei''s example. Whatever comes our way...I know we can handle it. Besides, my feet are starting to hurt..." (Suzu) BUZZ! CLUNK! With her quick decision, strange sounds resembling the Earth churning erupted all over the room "This sensation...!" (Rei) "A-Are we...is this room moving?!" (Tai) The stone slab sunk back into the ground, taking the compass with it! Before they could decide what to do next, the wall opposite the front door split wide open, with a cloud of smoke bursting from it! The team remained on guard for anything after spotting a lone figure emerging from the opening and walking towards them "About time...I was beginning to think you''d never get here" "That voice...ha...hahaha!" (Tai) "Tango-sensei...!" (Suzu) It was none other than their Jonin captain, the entirety of Team Tango had finally reunited Instantly realizing what was happening, Rei decided to sit down and relax. Seeing the bewildered expressions on his teammates faces, he chuckled before patting the spots on his left and right respectively, gesturing them to sit down beside him Seeing his students here, Tango couldn''t help but smile with pride... "Looks like Rei''s the first to get it, no surprise there. Regardless, I''d still like to say..." (Tango) "?" (Suzu & Tai) "Heh...!" (Rei) "Rei, Tai, Suzu...congratulations on passing the second exam" (Tango) 222. Persistence "Congratulations on passing the second exam" With the subtle muttering of these words, it was as if this very moment in time had frozen for the Genin from Kumogakure Ragged clothes, bandages for injuries, dust and dirt everywhere, circles beginning to form under the eyes... Their appearances from spending ten days within the terrible "Rengoku no Kykoku1Purgatory''s Canyon" clearly portrayed the kind of grating experience anyone would receive after spending so much time in a place obviously not meant for humans "So that''s why you had us sit..." (Tai) "Mm. The moment we could finally breathe easy with our guards down...it''s been long overdue" (Rei) "Definitely..." (Suzu) ?I wouldn''t get to comfy just yet? (Tango) "?!" (Rei, Suzu, & Tai) Just as they were set on finally "letting their hair down", Tango abruptly connected their thoughts together via his "Chakra Transmission" technique ?Careful... maintain a casual composure... assume they are watching us? (Tango) The eyes of the Genin wandered around the room at their sensei''s warning, making sure no movement was too suspicious For them, it was easy to forget that despite the latest victory, they were still in foreign territory. Iwagakure2Hidden Stone Village made the rules here, and at this moment, Team Tango stood inside a tower under the complete control of a nation barely able to be considered as..."friendly" ?What''s going on Sensei?? (Tai) ?Before I answer that, I have a question of my own. Tell me, did the "Piece" required for you to pass happen to come from a Genin squad hailing from either Iwagakure or Ishigakure3Hidden Rock Village?? (Tango) ?...? (Rei, Suzu & Tai) ?Judging from the lack of surprise, I take it you managed to grasp the truth...good. Saves me the trouble of explaining things? (Tango) Being the host for this year''s Chunin Exams, Iwagakure would naturally do everything in its power to grant Genin from their village an unfair advantage The team had long since caught on to the gapping ratio between compass and needle. Those with the latter had a higher chance of passing, and the proctors made sure a majority of Genin from Iwagakure started off with one As for Ishigakure, Tango''s comment caused them to recall their encounter with the "Ishi Terrorists" after the first exam... Iwagakure had indeed allied with its newest neighbor. The small, ragtag nation sandwiched between the Lands of Earth and Wind respectively, had offered its services to Iwagakure...aiding the village in winning the exams by any means necessary ?I''d complain about foul play but...I can''t say with full honesty that we wouldn''t do the exact same thing were Kumogakure in Iwagakure''s position...as would any other village? (Tai) ?That''s the kind of pragmatic response I''d expect from Rei, not you Tai. Very good, you''re starting to read between the lines? (Tango) ?No room for naivete in this life, you either adapt...or you die? (Tai) Rei and Suzu nodded their heads in agreement, thinking about their past experiences and hurdles which brought them to this strange point in shinobi life Sensing their growth, Tango smirked before shrugging his shoulders as he continued... ?There''s more I''d like to discuss, about this behind-the-scenes deal amongst other things...but I''ll save that for later. Too many eyes on us, and with this exam set to end soon, it''s best you stay focused on the task at hand? (Tango) ?Over? Isn''t there several hours left until the exam''s end? Did we get the time wrong?? (Tai) ?The exam ends when the ten days are up, or when all completed compasses have returned to this pagoda tower? (Tango) ?Right...you can''t pass without one so, most of the guys fighting outside have already failed? (Suzu) ZZP! Tango cut the telepathic communication "Eventually, this weird place is gonna shift and change again, and the 3rd Tsuchikage4Earth Shadow himself will address the winners of this stage" (Tango) "What do we do now?" (Tai) "We''ll talk about your experience in the canyon when we''re back at our hotel so... take a break, you''ve certainly earned it" (Tango) THUD! Tai immediately fell on his back, breathing excessively as he took every second he could to regain his strength. Out of the trio, he had the weakest stamina. Suzu, still sitting, remained quiet while waiting patiently for what came next. However, Rei got back up, noticing several words on the wall that caught his eye "Tango... what are those words up there? I don''t recognize the language" (Rei) "Hm? Ah...that''s old tongue from the Land of Earth, prior to Iwagakure''s conception. VERY old. As for its meaning, an old mantra of sorts they''ve kept for generations" (Tango) "Do you know what it means?" (Suzu) "Given what I''ve heard and know, I believe it translates to... Strength. A river cuts through a rock, not because of it''s power, but it''s persistence. A final note given towards those who venture to Purgatory, and survive" (Tango) "Eh?! So...all that shit...haaa...haaa...was to teach us a lesson in persistence?! I''d hate to see what their lessons in pain are!" (Tai) "Pain..." (Rei) "Hahaha! No worries, their teachings got nothing on us! I''ve just real nice to you so far!" (Tango) "Geez!" (Tai) "You seem to know much about their culture, sensei" (Suzu) "I did fight in the last war, which wasn''t too long ago. You know that I always preach about respecting your opponents, therefore you''ll never underestimate them. Iwagakure was a tough opponent during the 3rd Shinobi World War, so naturally, I studied them thoroughly" (Tango) {Right. I almost forgot Tango-sensei has always been apart of the Intelligence Division} (Tai) "Keep that lesson in mind as you proceed to the next stage" (Tango) Despite the advice from his sensei, Rei''s mind dwelled elsewhere Tai''s words had set him on a train of thought he couldn''t ignore. Specifically, on the word..."Pain" and the leader of the antagonist group Akatsuki who adopted said word as his name... {Akatsuki publicly started off as small mercenary group that took any job for a cheap price, and had perfect results practically every time} (Rei) "Rei" (Tai) {Iwagakure happened to be the one who hired them the most, and Ishigakure is a land filled with mercenaries, rogue-nin, and a crazy amount of Hijutsu5Hidden Jutsu and Kekkei Genkai6Bloodline Limit wielders} (Rei) "Helloooooo..." (Tai) {Not to mention, the "Company" employed the Ishi Terrorists and others from their nation for the attack on "Summoning Island" years ago, all in preparation for the "Siege". That cannot be a coincidence...} (Rei) "Dragon-san..." (Tai) {Plus, there''s Orochimaru and his hand in this, along with his connection to the LIFT''s creation and-} (Rei) "Rei!" (Tai) "WHAT?!" Irritated his train of thought was interrupted, Rei yelled abruptly, only to find he team staring at him with perplexity. The walls on the far side of the room had opened, signifying one thing "It''s time to leave..." (Tai) "Ah..." (Rei) "..." (Suzu) Slightly embarrassed by his uncharacteristic outburst, Rei obediently followed them out of the room, keeping quiet the entire time as the team found themselves in an even bigger white space The other contestants who managed to pass and their respective teachers were present as well. Tango instructed them to keep interactions with others to a minimum as the head proctor, Kitsuchi, ordered the present Genin to line up "Cheh...I''d hoped they fail. Figures those jerks would be here. Most of the ones here are either Iwa or Ishi-nin" said Tai with much disdain after spotting the "Ishi Terrorists" at one corner of the room "Those Kirigakure7Hidden Mist Village assholes who poisoned me are here as well" (Rei) "Leave it at that, now''s not the time for a fight" (Suzu) The Jonin captains stood on the side as 3rd Tsuchikage made his appearance. The old man known as noki took his time as he strolled to the front, his two guards behind him as he joined Kitsuchi Being another signature "individual" from the Manga, Rei kept his eye on him for a moment, before scanning the chakra signatures of every single person within the room Committing each and everyone to his memory for the future "W-Wow...THAT''s the 3rd Tsuchikage? From all I''ve heard of him, I thought he''d be--well..." Tai whispered to his team "One with more prestige? Don''t let his appearance fool you, that tiny old man is powerful" {I''m more concerned with the others here. No surprise, Itachi Uchiha managed to pass, as did Iruka thanks to my help. A LOT of people are here, mostly stone ninja...I wonder how they''re going to-} (Rei) "No matter how powerful, he still looks a fragile old man about to fall apart..." (Tai) "Guys, quiet. They''re about to speak" (Suzu) STOMP! Kitsuchi stepped forward with much bluster, puffing up his burly chest as he shouted at the top of his lungs "Listen up you punks! As of this moment, the second exam has ended! Through away any and all thoughts of the losers remaining outside! Even if you know them personally, it''ll be up to their sensei''s if they can escape Purgatory! Now, we''ll move to next steps!" (Kitsuchi) {I can already tell, this is where things are gonna get crazy...} (Rei) 223. Arrangements MrProper "First off, I''d like to offer you all my congratulations on passing the second exam. Not an easy feat it is, surviving Purgatory, but you did...and now only the worthy stand before me. From here, Kitsuchi and I will explain next steps for the final exam" (noki) "Listen up! First and foremost, the next phase will not commence until one month from now! That''s right, you lot will have thirty days to prepare for your finals" (Kitsuchi) The Genin audience responded with clamoring, many expecting and ready to begin the next test now. Even with Iwagakure''s1Hidden Stone Village measures to reduce the overall number of participants, the initial amount began in the hundreds Sensing the bewilderment from everyone, Kitsuchi and noki continued their explanation about the upcoming phase... "Everyone who came here should understand the purpose of the final exam. For shinobi villages to showcase their most talented shinobi as representatives to promote their village''s efficiency" (Kitsuchi) "The moment this tower''s doors had closed, messages were sent out to your respective Daimy''s and village heads. Correspondence detailing the first exam''s written scores, those who failed or passed the second exam, and the schedule for the final exam. Obviously, executing such a wide range of summons cannot be done in a day, thus the month long break" (noki) {So Raikage-sama will probably know in a few days... Good. Being the only Kumo-nin in a foreign village has constantly kept me on edge...} (Suzu) {From the looks of it, we''re not having preliminaries. But then...how do they expect the final to go? Despite "thinning the herd", there are still dozens of Genin here...} (Rei) Kitsuchi spelled out the break''s secondary purpose, to give the present participants here, a satisfactory period of preparation. Many had clashed in the Canyon, revealing their techniques, strategies, and fighting styles Now was the time for them to, for better or lack of words... update their arsenals "These measure are for the sole purpose of ensuring impartiality and fairness..." (Kitsuchi) {Hmph... impartiality and fairness my ass} (Tai) {What a load of bullshit. Granted, I''d probably do the same, but still...the sheer audacity of these guys. I can see how noki would end up in business with a f**ked up mercenary group like Akatsuki} (Rei) noki''s lecture about the exams remained ongoing, alluding to its history and significance. All the while sharing as few details as possible about the final exam. Despite all the talking, the only facts the audience could take away from the Tsuchikage was the final exam being held in a "unique" tournament form THUD! RUMBLE! As if waiting for him to finish, the building abruptly began to shake, almost as if something had just collided with it "Oh! Looks like we''re here. Kitsuchi, I''ll leave the rest to you" (noki) "Yes sir. Ahem! With that, this exam is officially over. Please make your way out of the building. Your respective sensei''s will guide you...dismissed!" (Kitsuchi) ??? "Huh...didn''t see that coming" (Tai) "Really? Considering Genbu and the entire ISLAND on his back, you''d think we of all people here would be the first to catch on " (Rei) "Fair point" (Tai) After exiting the pagoda, everyone unexpectedly found themselves out of the canyon...and back in Iwagakure It was revealed that under the pagoda tower dwelled an impossibly sized gopher. Entrusted with moving the tower through the canyon for generations, away from the rabid beasts the village could not control However, there was no time to admire the creature, the clock for the next phase was already ticking. With much haste, Tango escorted the team back to their hotel Along the way, the Kumo Genin trio couldn''t help but notice the streets of Iwagakure were drastically different than ten days ago "It''s not just shinobi who benefit from the exams. This is an opportunity for merchants of every possible variety to make a profit. In the next thirty days, this village will continue to host more and more foreigners with cash to spend, and an eagerness to observe your performance" (Tango) "You''re right...look guys. I can even recognize some from different nations. These guys wasted no time getting here" (Tai) "Had to book a reservation I guess. Soon enough, this place is gonna meet its capacity in occupants" (Rei) "Speaking of occupants, we''re back. Hurry inside, there''s much we need to discuss" Tango said as he gestured his students to run upstairs TING! {Hm? I know this chakra...!} "Tango...he''s already here?" (Rei) "?" (Tai & Suzu) "Can''t hide anything from you, as usual. Truth be told, he arrived about three days ago, but hadn''t officially entered the village until today. This was the only way he could bring all of these...guards with him" (Tango) SLIDE! "HAHAHA! WELL DONE!" "?!" (Rei, Suzu, & Tai) "Excellent job you three! I haven''t been this happy in a while!" Unexpectedly, a man burst from the room next to theirs and hugged the students with much enthusiasm. It was none other than the Land of Lightning''s Daimy! He had finally arrived in the Land of Earth! Eventually letting go, he patted each of them on the head with great pride and joy "D-Daimy-sama?!" (Tai) "Come in! Come in! I''ll explain later, but first, I''ve got some friends you might wish to see!" (Daimy) "Hey guys! You kiddies keep getting bigger!" The Daimy wasn''t only the surprise, after being forcibly dragged into his room, they were greeted by several Chunin and Jonin from Kumogakure. Some of whom they were already familiar with "Funsui! Ronri!" (Tai) "What are you guys doing here? Shouldn''t you be with Hikaru?" (Rei) Along with the Daimy''s surprising entrance, the team was surprised to see the two right-hand men to Hikaru, Kumogakure''s best ship captain, here in their hotel. After suffering serious injuries, during the bombing in Hzuki-j with the now deceased Toroi and Osoi, the pair had been placed on recuperative leave The laidback Funsui had lost all sight in his left eye, now wearing a eyepatch to cover it. The stern Ronri suffered several burns on his left torso, arm, and neck "Forget Hikaru, is it okay for you to be on your feet?" Suzu shared her concerns after gazing at their scarred figures "Heh! If I stayed in bed any longer, I''d go crazy! Granted, my eyesight''s not what it used to be, but I''ve already adjusted. The moment the captain acknowledged I could still serve under him, I went straight back to work. Besides, this eyepatch now makes me look the part of one who regularly battles at sea, kekekeke!" (Funsui) "Not as I would put it, but we''re of like mind. If I''m breathing, I''m working, no questions asked. Now, as for how we''re here now, the story went like this..." (Ronri) The Daimy had left not long after Team Tango''s departure from Kumogakure. As this event was not only the biggest Chunin exams in history, but the first multi-country one to take place after the 3rd Shinobi World War Trust went a long way, and everyone was on edge. It didn''t take a genius to know Iwagakure would only allow participants for the first and second exams, and their teachers, to enter and stay in the village Just two to three days prior from today, the Daimy had arrived just outside of Iwagakure, settling in a obscure town a few kilometers southeast of the village. And while being a diplomat with an invitation, he decided to wait before entering the village. As for why, it was to bring this batch of shinobi from Kumogakure with him As long as a Genin squad made it to the third round, their leaders and important officials were allowed to take lodge in the village "But the results just came out, how did you know we passed?" (Tai) "We didn''t" (Ronri) "Huh?" (Tai) "We had faith you would. And not just us, everyone back home is moving with the assumption you guys would pass the first and second exams...even Raikage-sama" (Funsui) "!" (Tai) "Everyone..." Suzu smiled while thinking about her home, and those she knew were waiting for her "Hmph... guess that stubborn old man hasn''t gone completely senile yet" (Rei) "R-Rei... you''ve got to stop talking about him in such a manner. He''s not even that old" (Tai) "Your passing served as a nice loophole to bring in back-up on the premise they were here to guard the Daimy. But now, we can work on making this hotel our territory. Since we already booked all the rooms, and the manager is in fact, one of Karai''s contacts...anyone else who comes here can be treated as an enemy" (Tango) "This place has become a nice little fortress for us. And soon, more will be on the way. Tetsuo Mori himself should arrive within the week. He''s already accepted our offer to stay in this hotel with us" (Daimy) {As I asked him to. And while it''s great to worry less about those who seek to sabotage us during this month long break, there''s still one thing on my mind...} "This place is great and all, but where are we supposed to train?" (Rei) "!" (Daimy & Tango) Keeping their techniques a secret was paramount. The hotel was never an option, and practicing inside the village was a non-starter, they needed a safe and secure location to focus on improvement With his reasonable query, the adults merely smiled at one another "We already have a solution for that, but before we get to that...there''s other matters we need to discuss" (Tango) "Such as?" (Suzu) "Many things concerning protocols. What you can, and still CANNOT do during your stay here" (Ronri) {Figures as much. There are plenty of people who want us, the competition, out of the picture. But I have stuff to do, mainly concerning as to what''s happening inside me right now} "New strategy then?" (Rei) "Yup. Let''s get to work..." (Tango) 224. I F*cking Hate Politics! MrProper An hour and a half in, the entourage from the Land of Lightning quietly listened as Tango shared his most recent solo experience within Iwagakure''s1Hidden Stone Village walls. Being an accomplished intelligence officer, there''s no way he''d sit still in foreign territory with little, to no intel For the past ten days, while the Genin were stuck in "Purgatory", their sensei had been occupied with investigations into the village''s inner workings. More specifically, the most troubling news being Iwagakure''s dealings, and newfound partnership, with the newest nation to greet the continent... Ishigakure2Hidden Rock Village With aid from his comrade and spy Karai, his goal wasn''t as difficult as he expected... "Thanks to the regular drops from Karai''s agents stationed in this country, I''ve learned quite a few things of unsettling nature. The deal between the Stone and Rock goes even deeper than we imagined" (Tango) "We know the smaller nation of Ishigakure has agreed to aid Iwa-nin in this exam, all in exchange for assistance in furthering the financial and economic growth of their young and small nation. My assistant Tekkan had discovered many of Iwgakure''s jobs set on being given to Ishigakure in the near future. What we''ve yet to figure out is why the Tsuchikage3Earth Shadow would dare to do such a thing, and how his elders could even condone it" (Daimy) "Small sacrifice for a potentially powerful ally? Maybe Ishigakure has something the Tsuchikage wants? The small nation IS a cornucopia of rare Ninjutsu and shinobi with unique abilities" (Funsui) "A means of increasing their military might... it''s unlikely Funsui. Even with the last war, Iwagakure possesses a powerful military, it''s only weakness is it''s poor economy as a result of overpopulation and the harsh terrain" (Ronri) "Speaking of that, I forgot to mention, there''s someone else we need you to look into, Daimy-sama" (Tango) "Oh?" (Daimy) {That''s right, there was that "other" feudal lord...} (Suzu) Tango went on to elucidate the final chapter of his team''s journey to Iwagakure and the Earth country As the sea routes grew increasingly dangerous, the fact they were being targeted became more and more obvious, thus they opted for a new means of traversing through the foreign country Arriving on land, Karai had set them up to travel in secret with a Daimy hailing from the Land of Flowers. At the time, it struck all of them that one of the first guests the Tsuchikage invited, was none other than a lord from a small nation sandwiched between the Land''s of Earth and Fire respectively Why did this country get preferential treatment? How could they be allowed to bring so many troops with them, that it made slipping in with their group all the easier? What could a nation that was so small, it couldn''t be found on most maps, possibly have to offer...especially towards one of the Great Five Shinobi Nations? Nothing about it made sense, which unsettled Tango even further... "I don''t have an answer, but then again...I''m not a politician" (Tango) "Indeed. I believe I have an answer. In the last two or three years, Konohagakure4Hidden Leaf Village has moved up to accepting most of their ninja requests. Something that was once a near, evenly divided ratio between the Sand, Stone, and Leaf... has considerably ended up in the latter''s favor" (Daimy) "Well...the Sand is farthest Great Nation away from them. But still..." (Funsui) "Considering the country dwells closer to the Stone than the others, it seems rather risky to do such a thing?" (Ronri) "It would be, were it not for the last war" (Daimy) {Uh-oh. I don''t like where this is going...} (Tai) "The Flower country is one of the few heavily fertile lands on the Western side of the Continent. Most of their finances originates from selling produce to the Lands of Wind and Earth. Namely, Sunagakure5Hidden Sand Village and Iwagakure" "I''m sensing a but coming..." (Rei) "But after the destruction of the Kannabi Bridge, Iwagakure''s supply chain was caught off by Konohagakure forces, and it became all the more difficult to hold their territory in the area. Sunagakure was also too far and weakened to do anything about it. And because the Flower country wasn''t too far from the location..." (Daimy) "They were abandoned by the Stone and Sand, left at the mercy of the Leaf" (Suzu) "Mercy is putting it lightly. Konoha was more than lenient, for they helped rebuild the nation that, like so many others, suffered from a war they didn''t ask for...all waged by the Big Five. And with this new fortuitous relationship between them and the Leaf, the Land of Flowers prospered to degree it had never experienced before" (Daimy) "Sigh...now I get it. Sunagakure gave up but... Iwagakure''s basically trying to get it''s old girlfriend back after making the dumbass decision of dumping her. And the girlfriend is basically saying; you want me, earn me...these exams are like a proving ground for Iwagakure to demonstrate it can properly support the small country" (Rei) "Hence their intense desire to win, making them desperate enough to cheat so boldly, and even issue a request for another nation to help. Not to mention, if trade of produce resumes between them, it''ll make supporting Ishigakure all the more feasible" (Suzu) "Kumogakure is already hostile with Ishigakure after they demonstrated their support for the terrorists who attacked Summoning Island. If this deal comes to pass, they could potentially grow into a powerful threat, allied with Iwagakure...another nation we still have issues with" (Ronri) "Perfect! And THAT means the participants from the Stone and Rock are gonna do EVERYTHING conceivable to beat out the competition. Ugh!" (Tai) "I f*cking hate politics...!" (Rei) Everyone sighed at the same time with Rei''s last remark, all having the same feelings of frustration Literally everything was on the line for these nations, who''d already proven they were more than willing to use any foul means to win the popular event Team Tango in particular, felt as if the targets on their backs had become even bigger. The expectations on their shoulders was too much to placed on mere Genin students Many in the room had no doubt someone would try something before the final exam began. Tango and the ninja who arrived alongside the Daimy, when it came to protecting the Genin as they prepared for the final exam, would have be even more vigilant than they realized An entire month by themselves...in such a hostile territory CLAP! CLAP! Snapping everyone out of a grim mood, the ever laidback Funsui suggested they change the subject and move on to more pressing matters Regardless of Iwagakure''s political ambitions, this year''s Chunin Exams were vital to everyone, including Kumogakure. Under the table deals, sabotage, and all matter of cheating were to be expected As Funsui reminded them that none of this should come as a surprise, they all compartmentalized, focusing on what they could do now "We should discuss the conditions for Team Tango during this thirty day period, wouldn''t you say?" (Funsui) "That''s right, I''d like to know where and how we''ll prepare. I mean--it''s obvious we''re not gonna be training in a hotel...right?" (Tai) "We''ve secured a location several klicks southeast of here, it''s nice and barren. Along with being obscure, several of our colleagues are already there and waiting. We''ll maintain watch while Tango works with each of you" (Ronri) "Not just Tango, every Kumo Chunin and Jonin here is willing to offer there aid, we''re all in this together...Kumogakure will always have your back, kekeke!" stated Funsui with a carefree smile As if the sour mood earlier had never occurred, a new feeling of motivation greeted the entire group. The Genin were eager to begin their training... "I''ll also continue probing for any batch of intel I can provide. I''ve heard rumors of last minute changes to the exam site. These politicians and other Daimy can be quite talkative with a little flattery... and alcohol" (Daimy) "Wow, you sure you chose the right profession Daimy-sama? You sound less like a politician, and more like a shinobi" (Tango) "That''s probably why I''m so damn good at this crappy job...now off with you. This hotel is crowded enough as it is" (Daimy) "Yes sir! Okay guys, let''s move out! Ronri, keep your eyes open, both within and outside the village walls!" (Tango) "Understood!" (Ronri) With a little more prep, the adults left an ample amount of guards for the Daimy before departing the hotel, Rei and his team being protected in the center Every second from now, till the commencement of the final exam, mattered more than anything else Now was the time to grow... 225. Inadequate MrProper The companions from Kumogakure kept a watchful eye of their surroundings as they exited Iwagakure''s1Hidden Stone Village walls, making their way to a barren site just a few kilometers from the village Ronri activated his "Ninp: Tokage no Me2Ninja Art: Lizard''s Eye" technique, co-opting the sight of several, summoned lizards. Small, unnoticeable, and scattered both in and outside the village for obvious security purposes. This setup was hardly any different than a modern day security system Eventually, the group rendezvous with even more Kumo-nin who''d traveled alongside the Lightning Daimy, but remained at the makeshift training sight in anticipation for the Genin''s arrival. Once the site was confirmed to be secure and free of any onlookers, the Chunin and Jonin left Team Tango to themselves, maintaining a circular wall of security around the location "Alright, I don''t want to waste time, so let''s get to work. Pop question! In regards to preparations for the final exams, I''d like for one of you to tell me...what do you think we can all expect once the exam begins?" (Tango) "There were at least over sixty people at the end of the last test" (Suzu) "Which means what?" (Tango) "Being hosts for this prominent event, Iwagakure clearly understands the bigger the number, the less ideal" (Suzu) "The whole point is appealing towards the rich and prosperous. So here''s my second question... why would they leave that many contestants without bothering to eliminate a few more with preliminaries?" (Tango) "How exactly will they carry out the final exam?" Fresh from just passing the Second exam, this question was still on everyone''s mind Buttering up influential individuals was the base standard, which meant keeping things interesting...entertainment was a must No one, especially a large amount of VIP''s, desire to spend an entire day watching a bunch of Genin fight, hence the reason those who''ve hosted a Chunin Exam, employed a bracket tournament-style event for their final exam "They were annoyingly vague. I''m willing to bet it''s in someway related to them scheming to gain an unfair edge...again" (Tai) "I''m not so sure. This exam will be public, the Gokage3Five Shadows and other shinobi village leaders will be watching every moment like a hawk. Despite the looming desperation, they''d be crazy to try something... though with our luck, I wouldn''t rule anything out" (Rei) "After hearing everything you''ve said about the exams, we should remain cautious. The Stone has pushed its luck enough as it is, that old fence-sitter noki isn''t stupid enough to pull something now... but someone else might" (Tango) VWOOOOO!!! Just as they were poised to speculate some more, the sudden breeze of wind snapped them out of their contemplation. Tango decided to move on to other subjects Regardless of what would happen, they''d inevitably have to prepare for every conceivable scenario, which meant coming up with countless contingencies... "First up, Suzu. I received a letter from Raikage-sama. After informing him of my, now accurate suspicions of Iwagakure''s backhand actions, he''s hand a change of heart..." (Tango) "You mean...?" (Suzu) "The restriction for using that power has been lifted. Be sure to make one hell of a show. You''ll spend the next month continuing the training you started with Yugito-sama and Killer B-sama on Genbu Island. Just try not to go too crazy here, we don''t wish to attract any unnecessary eyes" (Tango) "...It''s still a risk. I thought revealing what I am could lead to future problems" (Suzu) "You''ll be in a tournament surrounded by dozens of individuals with strange powers. If there was ever a time to use it, it''d be now. Besides, as long as no one knows exactly where the source of your ascended state comes from, we''re in the clear" (Tango) Suzu''s body held the secret for creating a perfected, Psuedo-Jinchriki. Naturally, she had reservations about using said power in such a public venue. If even one person managed discern what she truly was, the fallout would be disastrous Knowing where her fears lie, Tango reassured the young lady... "Raikage-sama is only saying to use it as a last resort, not to go crazy with it. Hell, if we''re lucky, you won''t have to use it at all" (Tango) {Pssh! With our track record...that''s HIGHLY unlikely} "Suzu, it''s okay to forfeit" (Rei) "Right. Thanks Rei" (Suzu) "We''ll spend the majority of your time determining the exact difference in power of your base, and transformed states. Only then, can we enact a proper training regimen for you" (Tango) "...Understood" (Suzu) Tango turned his head to the next one in line... "Tai. We don''t know what to expect, but it''s likely you''ll be forced into a situation without support from Rei and Suzu. Thanks the Earth Daimy, we''re the only Kumo team participating... and due to your particular team role..." (Tango) "I''ll be forced to go against the basic principles of a Medical-nin...fighting on the front lines, without support" (Tai) "Poisonous, vaporized mist isn''t going to be enough this time. We''ll have to heavily rely on the swordsmanship you received from your family. During this month, I''ll be practicing with you in direct Taijutsu-based combat, as you''re the one who''s lacks the most experience when it comes to direct fights" (Tango) "Got it..." (Tai) "Fortunately, along with being a fellow Suiton4Water Style user, Funsui is well versed in the art of Kenjutsu5Sword Techniques, so get used to seeing his face a lot" (Tango) "R-Right, I''ll do my best" (Tai) "Relax, it''s not like you''ll be fighting Tomoe. Although, seeing your mom beat you up again does sound entertaining" (Rei) "One of these days...I''m just gonna cut you" (Tai) "Ahem! Given what you''ve told me of your experience during the Second exam, this is the best I could come up with on such short notice. As we train, there may be room for adaption and change, but for now, we''ll go with this..." (Tango) Suzu and Tai nodded their heads in affirmation. Firm resolve filled their beings as these Genin were willing and ready to do whatever it takes to succeed Unlike his students, however...Tango stared at Rei with a concerned expression "Rei...as for you, I guess we''ll-?!" (Tango) The one in question raised his hand, stopping his sensei mid sentence "I already have something in mind. If I need help, I''ll call you" (Rei) "Okay... I''m sorry for my lack of-" (Tango) "You''ve gone above and beyond for me, don''t worry about it. Just take this as a sign of one beginning to leave the nest" (Rei) "?!" (Tai & Suzu) RUSTLE! Rei rose from the ground and moved away from the others. After finding the ideal spot, he sat down and crossed his legs, demonstrating a meditative pose "U-Um... Tango-sensei? What about his training?" (Tai) "Sigh... I really am inadequate" (Tango) "Sensei..." (Suzu) "Rei is...he''s always been abnormal. Since day one, I had a clear plan for each of you, but he blew right through all of them at record time and now... it''s gotten to the point where I hardly have anything left to teach him. The fact I can''t do much to help now, at such an important juncture, goes to show how much of a failed teacher I am..." Tango''s face was somewhat gloomy as his mood became downhearted "..." (Tai) "Is that so..." (Suzu) "?" (Tango & Tai) Suzu stepped forward, staring at Rei for a moment before turning around again. Standing in front of Tango, she offered an uncharacteristically bright smile, much to his confusion "Rei''s the type of person that''ll take anything he deems useful, and utilize it to the best of its ability. But he''s never been an unfilial person. He always valued the contributions of those who''ve aided him in his growth...which includes you Sensei" (Suzu) "!" (Tango) "There''s no way he''ll ever deem you as...inadequate. Neither will Tai and I, and nor should you" (Suzu) "Suzu..." (Tango) "True. Take all the times that sadist experimented on me with his Genjutsu. There''s a reason he works so hard to keep me around" (Tai) "Pffft! Well...let''s hope he doesn''t value me as much as he does you, Tai" (Tango) "Good grief...time to go to work. We''ll leave him to...whatever the hell he''s doing" (Tai) "Right? There'' no point in worrying about him" (Suzu) "Says the girl who couldn''t stop freaking out every second we were separated from him in the canyon" Tai lightly teased his teammate "..." (Suzu) SMACK! "OW!" (Tai) "Rei''s right...that is fun" (Suzu) "Oh god...he''s infected you too!" (Tai) "Hahaha! What wonderful students I''ve been blessed with...! {I''ll do whatever it takes to make sure you''re ready!} (Tango) While the three of them were boisterous and eager to begin, Rei had remained silent this whole time. His eyes closed, the boy was locked in a deep trance, and the world around him seemed to be...nonexistent {It''s finally time to end this annoying "cycle". Come to me..."Rei Sano" and... Isshiki tsutsuki...!} (Rei) 226. Meld MrProper "N-Ngh...! Agh! My head feels like it''s about to split open!" Holding back his screams as to not alert his companions, Rei had remained in his meditative state for the last hour His goal...to expedite the merging of chakras within his very body. The pain-inducing visions of Isshiki tsutsuki and the original "Rei Sano" he experienced in "Rengoku no Kykoku1Purgatory''s Canyon", along with everything else he''d learned and experienced so far, led the Genin carrying the soul an engineer to one, single acknowledgement... Now that his body had completed its cellular transformation into a full alien-human hybrid, the two chakras in his body had finally begun to merge into one... {I can feel the pull...it feels so comfortable, yet painful at the same time! What is this...this contradiction? Like something else is trying to interfere with me...} (Rei) However, he knew his very being was still unstable...and an unknown. Tired of his body''s unpredictability, he sought to set things straight once and for all, which meant using the ability that consistently put his body through a repetitive cycle of change...Kisshten2Auspicious Heavens {That feeling again...this is it!} "Rgh!" ZUZUZUZU! Struggling for some time, his efforts were finally rewarded as the familiar, yet odd sensation of being dragged into the strange world of white had enveloped him. Things remained dark for a moment, and when he opened his eyes, he found himself in the mysterious mental space... But things we''re not the same... "H-Huh? What the-? Wait a sec, I can-?!" Catching him completely off guard, Raymond was shocked upon discovering he''d regained the ability to speak in this world, something he could never do before. And just as he started to wrap his mind around the new change... "Oh my God... What the hell is going on?! What are those?!" ...What was formerly an empty space with nothing but a black gem, had now hosted countless lights in the distance, many of them taking a rotating elliptical shape, irregular in nature...like small galaxies "They''re all...what caused this to happen? Me? I can''t even call them to my location" Raymond, who typically controlled everything in this white world, found that he couldn''t call these strange lights to him. No interference could me made, as if his white world was detached from all the others Rei tried reaching out to them, but the abrupt sensation of an unknown force had pulled him back, throwing him away "Ooof! W-Who-?!" "Please don''t go near those, especially after all the trouble we--I''ve gone through to hide you from them" "W-Why are you here--no, I guess I shouldn''t be THAT surprised, considering our unique relationship. Just wanna check, this isn''t another hallucination right?" "Nope. But whether or not you can refer to any of this is as real...it all depends on perspective" Things continued grow more and more uncanny, for once again, the original owner of the body, "Rei Sano" had stood before Raymond. Like a mirror of him, not at the age of three when his body was taken over, but the same age as the now reborn Raymond of twelve years "Is that right...shows what I know" (Raymond) "Gotta say, you''re not acting as shocked as I expected you''d be" (Rei) "Considering everything I''ve been through and know, should I be?" Raymond retorted before turning his attention towards the strange phenomenon in this strange world "Pfff! Hahaha! Fair point! Then again, you always were so quick when it came to things like this" (Rei) "Yeah...but never to the things that matter most" (Raymond) "Well that''s funny" (Rei) ZWIP! "What is-GUOH?!" (Raymond) "It''s funny because I was just about to say the same thing...body snatcher" (Rei) Raymond soon regretted taking his eyes off of Rei, who suddenly grabbed the former by the throat! Hoisting him up before slamming him down, Raymond was swiftly kicked several feet away, with such a level of force... he even struggled to breathe! "Cough! Cough! Urgh!" (Raymond) "Yup! That''s how it feels for anyone who gets punched by you. Makes you think eh?!" (Rei) "T-Tch! And here I thought we could have a meaningful conversation. Can''t believe I almost thought you accepted losing your body... I really am getting more na?ve" (Raymond) "Who would be cool with that? Along with the body snatching, I''ve also had to watch you fumble about, doing damage to MY world." (Rei) "It''s not like it was me who forced your soul out...agh!" (Raymond) "True. But you''re the one I can punch right now" (Rei) "You little shit...!" (Raymond) "Calling me that...it''s kind of redundant, wouldn''t you say?" (Rei) Rei''s face couldn''t be any more colder if he tried, staring right into Raymond''s eyes as the latter struggled to get back on his feet {Can''t believe I took THAT much damage in such a short exchange, how is he so strong?!} (Raymond) "Truth be told, I wasn''t expecting our meeting to come this quickly, despite my initial efforts. You''ve continued to surpass expectations Raymond, it truly is fortuitous..." (Rei) "The hell are you saying?!" (Raymond) "Now...show me all of this wasn''t for nothing!" (Rei) BOOM! Cracks in the white space emerged as Rei and Raymond blasted off the floor with inhumanly swift movements too fast for the naked eye! Following the sudden dashing, the pair exchanged blow after blow! Neither managed to gain the upper hand on the other. Kicks, punches, blades, even Nintaijutsu3Ninja Body Techniques...they were perfectly matched What frustrated Raymond the most was that the boy before him... didn''t even appear to be trying TAK! "So annoying...!" Opting for a new approach, Raymond gained some distance before moving on to pure Ninjutsu instead {Katon: Endan4Fire Style: Flame Bullet!} (Raymond) "Oh please, and here I thought you were smart!" {Suiton: Suidan5Water Style: Water Bullet!} (Rei) BOOSH! As the opposing techniques met, Raymond moved out of the way, knowing he was already at an elemental disadvantage with this clash of Ninjutsu "Cheh!" (Raymond) "My appearance and fighting matched yours, did you really think we couldn''t use the same Jutsu?" (Rei) "It had crossed my mind but-" (Raymond) "You wanted to confirm before making any moves. I get it, you''re not like Naruto Uzumaki, rushing in blind like a moron doesn''t suit you. However-" (Rei) {He knows about Naruto...then it''s safe to assume he knows everything I''ve said and done since my arrival in this world. Maybe even beyond that...just like-!} (Raymond) "Too much hesitation always leads to disaster! Despite everything that''s happened to you over the years, fear dictates all of your actions! Dumbass!" {Suiton: Bakusui Shha6Water Style: Exploding Water Shock Wave!} (Rei) SPLOOSH! "This much water in an area with none?!" (Raymond) An ever-increasing amount of water droplets formed the air, forming into a massive wave reaching several feet in the air, with Rei standing on top! "Have you forgotten?! This body is, albeit slightly different... tsutsuki now! Think, Dumbass! Those guys don''t train! Compared to humans, chakra manipulation is as natural as breathing to them! Rather than being surprised, you should doing the same! Come on, Raymond...BE BETTER!" Rei screamed with boundless frustration, impatience, and anger {Only one way out of this!} "Hmph! What is with you?!" (Raymond) Knowing the boy was trying to cut off his routes of escape from either side, he focused all the chakra in his body towards his legs, jumping over the attack. "Great, with that out of the way, I''m gonna have to try something else" (Raymond) "No way I''m just gonna sit here and let that happen..." (Rei) "Uh?!" (Raymond) BAM! Raymond evasion was short lived, however, for Rei met him in the air. With an elegant turn of his body, Rei delivered a swift roundhouse kick to Raymond''s torso, putting him back in the attack''s path "AGH!!" (Raymond) "Tsk! You''re pissing me off...! How am I supposed to-?!" (Rei) The massive tsunami-like water Ninjutsu struck the confused engineer with violent force, blasting him even further away. Once he was no longer under the crippling force of the attack... ZWIP! "!" (Raymond) ...Rei closed the distance in an instant, standing right of in front of the now downed Raymond, with a look of disappointment on his face "Please... I need you to be better!" (Rei) "..." (Raymond) "Considering your options, why did you attack with Katon? You should''ve stuck with Suiton! After all, your latest recursion in that canyon has-!" (Rei) "I''m aware. I just wanted to confirm my suspicions" (Raymond) "Oh? Your suspicions being...? (Rei) "That all manner of Ninjutsu could still be used...in this reality you''ve made for me" (Raymond) "...!" (Rei) CRACK! The white dimension continued to break apart... "Well...did I pass?" (Raymond) "Heh...Hehehe! YES! That''s the kind of intelligence I want to see! When did you figure it out?" With his answer, Rei''s demeanor had made a complete 180, with joy blooming on his face "The moment the world cracked from the start of the fight. I was in a similar position with Ky... when he was under MY Genjutsu7Illusionary Techniques" (Raymond) "Oh yeah...that did happen. It gets so trippy in this place, you tend to forget about the important stuff" (Rei) "Not to mention, your frustration whenever I wasn''t performing up to par. You were so obvious, you might as well have the word, teacher, plastered on your face" (Raymond) "Hahahahaha!" (Rei) CRACK! CRACK!! "Now, don''t you think it''s time to end this farce?" (Raymond) "Yeah, I suppose you''re right. You have been patient" (Rei) "Considering your situation, I''d say, not as much as you" (Raymond) "Haha...damn straight" (Rei) SHATTER! Like a mirror breaking, the surroundings continued breaking into pieces until the entire area reverted to its original state {Those..."galaxies" are still here, but everything has returned to normal. Crazy to think one can use illusions in a place like this. I can''t speak with my mouth anymore...} [That''s right, things are back to normal, or what passes as normal in this place] {That voice...as I suspected. Rei... You really did have some ties to it...} [Yes...but not the kind you''re likely thinking about] Raymond stood up, his body devoid of all injuries and battle. Rei was the same, but now his body had become ethereal, with no mass. His form slightly distorted as if he were...a ghost [Are you ready? Because I''m low on time] {You said the same to me when I first came here, but fine. All I care about now are answers. Right now, I don''t care whether you go by "Rei" or "Notitia"... I want a real explanation this time} [...] {Tell me... Why am I here?} 227. Auspicious MrProper P.S. Still stuck with my phone to write these (Apologies in advance for any errors >