Pov: Ryū
"Hey you-" A root agent calls out to me as jolt up from the support beam I am marking.
...
"Hi" I respond totally cool.
He caught me off guard- my hearing is not like it was, do I need to activate these bombs already? They can provide cover for me as I escape but they haven't gained enough natural energy to destroy the pce.
I only have two points of mana left to use personally as well- I slowly reach into my bag and hold my wires.
"Have you seen the door guard? He hasn't reported in yet and its thirty seconds past his report time" He asks me.
I know that guy- he has a hole in his head and I dumped him in the river.
"No- should I stop my inspection and search for him?" I ask.
"Yes- sorry for distracting you from your duties but Danzo-sama has ordered us to not leave and keep an eye out for funny business" He states.
...
"I see-" *SLASH!* With impressive speed I slice at his throat and blood spurts wildly across the room.
Too casual- this base is on to me, I look around the room and think for a moment.
Old fashioned way it is- it is why I purchased these emergency supplies.
I reach into one of my pouches and grab a handful of explosive tags- immediately I start pcing them around my bombs and without waiting I blitz out of the room and slide past a few root ninja.
*BOOOOOM!*
They are distracted by the explosive and I swing by multiple points of interest to pce these bombs as I head for the exit.
*Slide* *Zzzz* *Woooosh!*
I pce a bomb on the door for good measure and explode my bombs.
*BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMM!!!!!!!*
I crack my knuckles and run away immediately- if any ninja survived with an earth jutsu I have to get out of here.
I leave the small ravine entrance and jump out to the forest above before sprinting with burst breathing.
*Woooooosh!* *Woooosh!* *Wooooosh!*
Three sudden bursts of speed one after the other, almost like a flicker but with more control and no chakra needed at all.
I just finished the st base so luckily I won't have to attempt to enter high alert bases in the nd of fire, it is also great to find out that Lord Third had been eliminating bases slowly over time and I only had to cover the four that were left hidden.
...
I should get back to Konoha and start teaching my disciples stuff as well- after I get them started I will also find some low level challenges and obtain some skills to teach them... I cannot have my students be weak after all.
That means I need to quickly dip back to the hidden cave and grab some flesh to make runes with.
Lets make this as quick as possible.
---
-One day before Kakazu arrives-
Pov: Kenzo
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Quest complete: Use the same Challenge scroll over one thousand times!
Reward: Custom Challenge scroll.
------
Haaaaaa- Haaaaa- Haaaa-
Okay... I managed four new limbs for a few minutes that time- if I try and let my subconscious take over again it would be easier... but I have yet to learn how to focus on shifting without focusing fully on it.
I rub my shoulder bde and think for a moment.
Jun said that my techniques were off compared to how I fight- I need to be ever changing 'like a river' while maintaining an advantage over an enemy.
Basically not letting them adapt to me while I perfect my various shapes against them, slowly understanding what makes a good shape against them and using variations of it.
I finished his homework and have just been adding on my own study sessions, if I can just use multiple limbs I could have so many shifts shaped and ready to burst in each one.
But I think my limit is two separate limbs with full function for now- as little as it is that's still great for me.
Jun is probably going to be surprised I beat his flowing river homework already seeing as he thought I would take up to two months on it.
...
I did- well I spent much more time in the box so he isn't wrong.
Kakazu arrives tomorrow... and Ryū just left so I know he is good- but Shuzo is... well lets face it, Shuzo learnt massages and is probably having a holiday.
...?
Wait- custom challenge scroll? How do I use this?
------
To use:
Hold and think about a person you know- and how many there are, the more detail about the terrain and people the better.
------
Thanks.
...
Who do I want to challenge? Probably someone more on my level right? Or perhaps above it?
Hmmm... I am going to choose- Lee's sensei.
He is perfectly horrifying when it comes to taijutsu and a master at the craft is exactly what I need to hone my skills against.
Will I die thousands of times? Yes.
Will I improve? Maybe.
Lets find out-
'Might Gai, in the Konoha stadium'
I focus and picture every detail I can while the scroll glows dimly... and the brightly after a few moments.
I open my eyes and see him across from me, Gai himself smirks and flickers forward at me.
I shift little bck bone spikes across my body and force his hands to stay clear- *SLAM!* *BOOOOOM!*
A pain in my gut screeches to my brain and I blink myself back into the cave.
...
He swapped his punch for a kick and the thick soles of his shoes managed to take my bone thorns with ease...
I suppose I have someone very strong to be my sparring partner for quite some time- with this I could be better than what Jun expects ten times over.
I smile and re-enter the challenge scroll.
---
Pov: Shuzo
"... you know for a massage this feels like something akin to an interrogation" The old man says with an awkward cough.
"My apologies for these two- if you feel uncomfortable I will elevate your package to B-rank for free, I feel terribly sorry to make you feel worse during a massage" I apologise calmly.
"Oh no, I don't mean that- I was just curious about the attention is all" The old man chuckles lightly as I upgrade his experience.
...
I look at the other two who intently watch what I do and sigh as they take notes.
"I don't think anyone has developed massages this much... especially with how much time one would need to dedicate in order to make them as effective as high ranking medical jutsu... its odd" Shizune mumbles to herself.
"Very odd- watch how he uses the chakra points in his elbow, its like the lighting's way of using medical chakra, but the application is like the nd of fire's" Tsunade mumbles with her.
These two have been travelling with me for a very short time and I am already annoyed with them- the constant drinking, attempted gambling, investigations on how I do things and the questions surrounding my background- which doesn't exist at all.
At least Shizune knows some decorum, whatever happened to Lady Tsunade changed her completely from rumour and textbooks.
...
Although she weirdly becomes so much brighter when talking about medical jutsu and how odd mine is.
It seems she really does love medicine.
I smile at the thought and complete my massage.
"I am afraid that's all the time you have for today sir" I smile warmly and the man slowly gets up off the table and stretches.
"Feeling ten times better already! Please whenever you come by again knock on my door- I will surely house you lot again!" He ughs as he moves his body in ways he probably couldn't and hasn't moved for a while.
"Thank you for your hospitality, I will make sure to stop by whenever I am in town" I smile and he chuckles a little.
We leave his house and start walking down the street, after this town the big walk to Tanzaku will happen- and then by tomorrow we should be able to see it.
I will then stay for a week or so and then leave for stone and travel to it's many pces- just soaking in the many towns.
...
I might leave the nd of fire to st considering I have to drop by every month and that I have lived in it for quite some time.
With transportation I might be quicker to destinations as well, the least amount of time I want to spend in a new town is only one week.
"Will you be so kind as to use the palm technique next time?" Shizune asks politely.
"Yeah sure, I will cover the cost of what they don't buy- perhaps we will go seek out someone who needs it" I add.
They nod their heads as we continue on.
---
-Kakazu arrives soon!-
Pov: Kenzo
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Obtained skill through your own efforts!
------
I wake up from the trance of constant training I was in and listen to the horrid pain in my head.
Oh.
Right.
------
Kenzo Skills:
Unyielding Stare: E×D×C×B×A×S×K×
Word- Truth: E×D×C×B?A?S?K?
Kenzo Deflection Jutsu: E×D×C×B×A×S×K?
Lockpicking: E×D×C×B?A?S?K?
Ancient Hearing: E×D×C×B?A?S?K?
Improv Taijutsu: E×D?C?B?A?S?K?
------
I wipe my tired eyes and think about my recent trainings.
I haven't seen much improving, especially when the opponent is way out of my league- however it is nice to see that the system recognizes my improvements.
Improv? Probably because I 'yes and' my opponents with my shifting, always switching up my tactics to fit them and always changing every other moment to keep them on their toes.
I see that my shifting was underutilized heavily now... just making a tail and cws was nothing but stupidity and on top of that my genjutsu was always carrying me while now they are at equal pace.
Funny that- my genjutsu was and is still just a lesser blessing and hard work while my full blessing was holding me back.
I rub my eyes and yawn a little as I look around, maybe spending two and half days constantly training was a bad idea- I am very tired and Kakazu is bound to show up at any point in time today.
...
Perhaps it's best I get some rest now and have him wake me up when he gets here- or hopefully he will arrive ter today and I will be better rested.
---
-Two hours ter-
Pov: Kakazu
*Step* *Step*
I walk into the hideout and gaze within, looking around I see that destruction has been caused here, luckily for my new partner they decided to at least clean up after themselves.
Speaking of.
I gaze downwards at the other end of the cave and lower my gaze to meet his sleeping form.
He looks rough.
Tch- I expected better than my st partner but this will have to do.
I drop my recent 'bounty' on the floor and sit at one of the edges of the cave, my scheduled rest is in one hour but I will move it to now.
I have to at least try and get along with this one, the Akatsuki will not like it if I kill another member.
Then again, my previous partners never really where cut for the job.
I suppose that's why I am still allowed in this organisation.
I will give him four hours and then we move out to the nearest bounty house.
I unpack my bag and grab three of my old Akatsuki robes, I was told that he can make anything fit so this is what he is getting.
I chuck his new belongings over to his side and I watch his body react to it- in an instant he wakes up and grabs the cloaks as if ready to strangle them.
Good- even when dead tired he can respond to sudden attacks.
"You have four hours left, I will leave with or without you by that time" I state.
"My name is Kenzo, my apologies for keeping you here but I appreciate the extra time" He nods and looks at the robes.
"Kakazu. Now sleep" I mutter and he gets up to put the robes on.
...
He looks like a toddler trying on an adults clothes like that- *Stretch* *Snap!* *Crack!*
And just like that his body contorts and shifts from small to great.
No longer a child I would mistake this brat for a veteran ninja dedicated to taijutsu- his body has shifted into an entirely new weight css.
Interesting... so that's what he can do.
I watch him lower the cloak to his waist and tie it there, allowing for his upper body to be less restrained- if he is like me he will be throwing that cloak away at the start of every fight to use his body.
He ys back down with the cloak on and starts to rest again.
Hm.
---
-Sometime ter-
Pov: Kenzo
Me and Kakazu walk side by side with donning our Akatsuki cloaks, we travel along the dirt road and skirt around any oncoming carts or carriages.
He has just expined to me our current pns and I am thinking on what my next move should be-
"So after the bounty house we will be heading to the nd of lightning? Then the meeting in two weeks which is on the border of Rain" I nod my head as I understand our schedule.
"So... the rule of us sticking together is that... bendable?" I ask.
"No" He states.
"Right- cool, cool... I just thought we could earn more and then meet up after each bounty to check on each other" I say as I fiddle with my ring.
...
"Fine" He says simply.
"Good- great, of course I will stick around for the first month so you can properly evaluate me" I nod my head.
...
Not much of a talker, should probably stay silent instead of messing with him- I was warned about his anger from Kisame.
...
I will say it is nice being my proper size and all, almost taller than my partner here- bigger muscles so his clothes fit nicely, I repced my shirt with a singlet like his so we kind of match styles.
My gloves had to be resized but that was nothing- right now my entire body feels like its been let out of a very tight shoe and can breathe.
With my improv taijutsu, shifting and genjutsu on top of the infiltration and interrogation abilities I should be very capable of warming up to the Akatsuki.
First I just have to survive until the meeting in two weeks.
Then from there I will have to find a method of communication or ability to speak with Ryū, get him any info I find and then he can use it to our advantage.
I will need to start eliminating members of the Akatsuki without myself being found out as the killer among the group.
Especially before any of the beast hunting begins- maybe I can offer my services as an infiltrator and try to buy some time?
...
Its inevitable that some will die isn't it? There is nothing I can do to stop them without being able to stop the other deaths.
As long as Naruto is left for st I can bear with it- but if he is in any danger than Naruto is being forced to adopt an overprotective raven that will watch over him at all times!
...
Ryū is the key to stopping half of them- I just need Ryū to position himself in certain pces anticipating the moves of the Akatsuki and stop any murder.
The more beasts they obtain the harder it will be for me to retreat and take back what I have supported.
"You owe me money for those clothes" Kakazu says and I blink.
"Of course, I have my stash here actually- take out what you need" I say and pass him one of my pouches that contains four scrolls containing money bundles.
...
"Good- you will live" Kakazu states and hands me back the pouch with only one scroll missing.
So he is fair with money and not just greedy, unexpected from a man that Kisame described as 'money hungry'.
I will take anything good I can get- a partner who is fair and lenient with me if I don't cross any lines is just what I am need of.
Now- what to do with my rogue self? Should I seek him out considering that he has abandoned any idea of helping us with useful skills or should I just ignore him?
I understand why I did it- and I understand that I will inevitably let him go... but all I can see happening is another set of skills like mine.
Misshaped and unused- wrong choices and terrible compatibility, maybe he will stick to a theme as he does have all of our memories... and maybe he will try and make use of odd skills like I used to do.
------
Quest!
Remove Tsunade Senju's fear of blood!
24% completed!
------
Something that Ryū must be up to... Tsunade? oh- the sannin.
...
That's it! I can communicate what is happening by using the system- Ryū will be alerted to any major events and I can surely get him pointed in any direction that I want just by having him seek me out due to a quest!
Perfect- this Akatsuki business is surely to be riddled with quests and bountiful rewards!
"Stop- someone is following us" Kakazu says and I stop losing focus.
I look around but see nothing.
And no one sees me.
"What do you mean? I cannot see them" I say and scan the surrounding nds harder than before.
...
"Look closer, not around or down but above" Kakazu says and I look up to see a small dot in the sky.
It is slowly getting bigger.
...
And bigger.
"Who is that..?" I ask aloud.
"No idea- congratutions for finding a test of your strength so quickly" Kakazu narrows his eyes as he steps back.
I walk off the road and into the green grassy nds filled with nothing, a pin of emptiness.
*Sm!*
Dust rises up as the figure nds in the middle of the field and a burst of wind follows him- dispersing the dust and dirt.
"Monster! So that caravan was right- you are around these parts! I will have your head for killing my brother!!!" He screams loudly and I tilt my head confused.
Scanning him I see that he is a rogue sand shinobi, probably a jonin and considering his angry appearance he has been tracking me for a while.
"You might have to expin- I don't think I killed your brother" I say.
"Don't lie! I watched you burst through that stadium! And I will watch you burn!!!" He yells and bursts forward with some intense speed.
*Sm!*
He punches my gut in a superman pose as he uses wind to propel himself forward- before twisting rapidly and kicking down.
*Crash!*
My arms block the kick and I retaliate by creating a third arm below my left one and shifting its hand into a bone spear end.
*Swish!* *Swoosh!-* *Ssh!*
I stab forward three times but he backs off with intense bursts of speed.
"Rogue sand ninja- Jonin- titled: Wind Cannon, a taijutsu master, probably a few good bounties on him... I will check my books and find the best buyer" Kakazu comments as I take away my arm and swing forth a tail give to catch him off guard.
*Woosh!* *Sm!* *Crack*
He dodges the tail and bursts through my defence with ease- smming his fist into my side I hear bones crack.
...
But not mine.
"Wha-" The ninja opens his eyes with shock as he jumps back and holds his shaking hands.
I developed my skeleton a little after might gai beat it into dust multiple times.
Now for the fun part.
"What- what are you...?" The man looks up and with terror in his eyes he meets mine.
I crouch down and lower my body... I push my legs back and slide them across the grass as I stare down the enemy.
"Wait- no-" *Wooosh!* He flies backwards trying to flee and not meet my gaze.
*BOOOM* *Wooooooosh!*
I jump with all nine points of my strength and shifting dedicating my entire body to flying forward.
He is fast.
I am stronger.
My arm shifts into a cw and I grip his shoulder as we tumble to the ground- I shift my other arm into a bde and peirce his other hand into the dirt.
As I hold him in pce I stare him down.
...
Sorry man... I know you are grieving but Kakazu is watching my every move- you were unlucky today.
I shift an arm out of my shoulder and grip his throat- *THUNK* A muffled thunk is heard as a bone bde ejects from my palm and into his neck.
...
I get up and throw him over my shoulder, as I walk up to Kakazu he seems to have already decided on another location to stop by and sell this guys head.
This is the work I signed up for...
Shuzo deserves the break.
---
Thanks for reading! :)
