Manzo walked down the street. He had used a transformation jutsu in order to hide himself. He now looked like an average academy student. He had an image in his mind that he wanted to present to the people he was meeting. This was not just a chance to walk down shady streets with the chance to find some muggers, which now that he thought about it would be an interesting way to catch criminals, this was a personal mission for him. He was tracking his cousin. A process that he knew would not be quick.
Manzo had started this when he happened across an academy student that suddenly had awakened the Sharingan. Under normal circumstances this would not have stood out but Manzo had been looking for it. The student had come from a wealthy merchant family that throughout the entire history of the village, none of that family had joined the academy. This student had been the first generation to want to become a shinobi and it showed in his studies. The student had been in danger of failing out, even with a tutor. Then one day the Sharingan had been activated and with its abilities the student had managed to pull themselves out of the bottom of the class.
All it took was a few minutes in a private room with a masked ANBU applying a little pressure to the student and Manzo had the entire story. The student's family while disappointed that the student was going into the academy they were still proud and like most families with lots of money, when a problem arose that needed to be fixed they would throw money at it. The student had undergone an illegal operation and when they awoke they found the power of their newfound eyes. Manzo might have been able to get more information but the problem he found was like most rich and privileged the student felt that the new eyes were owed to them.
While Manzo was disgusted with the student he knew that if he arrested the child and family there would be noisy waves and his quarry would have vanished, at least from this lead. So at least for now Manzo needed to go after the bigger target and let the smaller one run free. It was that lead that had led Manzo to walk down a shady street in Crater City. As he turned into the dilapidated bar he really wondered if he would be thrown out for looking too young, he did only look about ten years old. Surprising no one seemed to even blink an eye that he entered the building.
Sitting down at the bar he waited for the bartender to come over. It took a while but eventually she did.
”Well don’t you look a little young to be in here, what can I do for you sweety?”
Manzo looked around the room nervously, before leaning into the bartender so only she could hear him. ” I have a friend from the academy that came here and walked away with.. Improvements. I want what he got.” It was an act that he needed to sell for this character.
”Sugar I don’t know what you talking about, students don't’ normally come in here and we don't’ serve anything that would improve them if they did. What we serve comes in liquid form.” she said pointing to the bottles.
”Please you have to help” he said his voice becoming a bit more desperate and a bit louder ”this is my last chance before I am kicked out. I can pay.” He opened his money pouch letting the gleam of his Yen hit the light.
The bartender was about to speak up when one of the men at the bar spoke for her. ”I am not sure about her, but I have a friend that might be able to help you.” The bartender looked over at the man that only a few moments before looked to be very deep into his cups, now looked far too sober. There would be only a few reason why he would want to act that he was drunker than he was. Manoz hoped that this was a good sign for him.
”REALLY? Manzo asked, far to enthusiastic for his own good, but his next question was a bit more skeptical. ”How much is this going to cost me?”
”Nothing from me, from my friend that is between the two of you. I am just here to make introductions.”
”Sugar I am sure you are fine in the academy without this, just go train some more and keep your money” The bartender tried, unsuccessfully to persuade Manzo from listening to the pretend drunk
Manzo got off his stool and looked at the pretend drunk ”Let's go, I have exam coming up and I want every advantage I can get for it.“ He wanted to give the impression he had more money and eagerness than sense.
”Calm down. We can go but it is a bit of a walk“ The man said with an evil smile on his face.
Together they walked out of the bar. Slightly they walked down the street, Manzo following closely behind, wanting to keep the impression he had laid out. This was a recruiter for his cousins organization. They weren’t known for being the most intelligent but that didn’t they were stupid. Fortunately the pretend drunk was not much of a talker as he led Manzo away from the village.
Eventually Manzo found they had entered the Forest of Death.
Interesting it seems that it always comes back to this place, it was here where I first started down this path. But it makes sense. It is a great place to hide. Manzo thought to himself.
”Are you sure this is the right way. I was told no one comes out this way.“ Manzo asked.
”This is the best place to hide, after all we need to make sure the ANBU don’t stop us. They believe that the all the power should stay with who currently has it, we fight to redistribute it.“ he said painting the picture that they were the good ones by killing children and selling their gifts to those that could pay.
As they walked through the Forest of Death Manzo counted his blessings that no creatures attacked them. He wasn’t confident in his guides fighting abilities and if fought it would blow his cover to early.
Eventually they came to a simple cabin in the woods. As they entered they found a man working at a lab table.
”It seems we have another customer.” The man at the table said without looking up. As he turned around Manzo could see some of the family resemblance to his parents. This was yet another one of his cousins. How many more were there?
”Yes, I heard that you had ways to make me stronger, or unlock hidden abilities in me?“
”Well we can’t unlock it within you but we have the ability to take that which others have had too much of and give it to those that have nothing.” He sounded so sure of himself, if Manzo hadn’t heard a vastly different speech from his first meeting with family then he might have believed it.
”Of course something like takes capital so we accept donations for our services. Do you have a donation for us. I do believe we have a new Sharingan for you.” Manzo wondered what poor person had met upon his cursed family and lost their life just for their eyes. All so they could make money. Or was there a darker reason for his family doing this? He had read up on his family and learned they had tried to stage a coup long ago. Perhaps this was a way to undermine the village. Take the bloodline abilities from the strongest and give it to the weakest members of the village. It would be a slow process but it would a way to weaken the village from the inside. Not only would it weaken it but those that had gotten stronger would be indebted to the Tarantsu family for making them stronger.
The more Manzo thought about it the more sense it made. He knew the shinobi of the Tarantsu clan had a bit of superior complex. This was a win win situation for them. They got to get rich by making the village weaker.
”You can really give me the Sharringan?“ Manzo asked, hope slipping into this voice as he opened his coin purse. It was strange to sound excited about something he would never want. His hatred for his adopted family was so great he might have carved out his own eyes if he somehow developed it. It didn't’ help that fire seemed to be associated with everyone that used it. He wasn’t sure which he hated more, fire or those accursed eyes.
”Of course and it looks like your donation would be just enough. Now just come over here and lay down.”
”On that note I will leave you two, I am going to head back.” Manzo’s guide said.
Manzo mentally cursed, he did not want them to separate, both would need to be arrested and brought in. His guide would be no more use to him after this. He would use his newly found cousin to find the next link in the chain. As his guide walked out the door Manzo acted. His hands flashed while his cousins back was turned. The earth began to pile upon his guide as if he had developed his own gravitational pull trapping him up to his mouth, preventing him from being able to move or speak.
Slightly Manzo sunk into the ground. He was not known for using ninjutsu but there was times when it was simply to useful to pass up. This was one of those times.
”What? Where did you go?” His cousin started to look around frantically until he started to sink into the ground himself. Manzo was quickly pulling him in the ground binding him within the earth.
Once he was bound and Manzo was convinced he wasn’t going to go anywhere. He revelled himself out of the ground, transformation jutsu lifted and his ape ANBU mask on his face. Squatting down he looked at his cousin.
”It turns out I really don’t need your help with a Sharingan but I will need your help with something else. I want you to tell me all about your operation and where I can find the rest of your comrades.“ Manzo was not ready to admit he knew they were family. Some things were best to hold back on. ”But don’t worry I am not going to kill you here. I am going to take you back to the prison for the offical interview and “ The look on his cousin's face was priceless as he watched his world come crashing down around him.
With his two new prisoners contained, Manzo started to look around the cabin to see what he needed to take with him now and what he could come back later for. Anything he left now might not be here when he came back. He needed to move quickly unsure when anyone else would be coming to this cabin.
Manzo had hoped that his cousin that left him with the nasty scar on his arm would have been here, they had a score to settle. But that just meant that he would have to work twice as hard to find him.
[WC: 2006]
[MFT]
Manzo had started this when he happened across an academy student that suddenly had awakened the Sharingan. Under normal circumstances this would not have stood out but Manzo had been looking for it. The student had come from a wealthy merchant family that throughout the entire history of the village, none of that family had joined the academy. This student had been the first generation to want to become a shinobi and it showed in his studies. The student had been in danger of failing out, even with a tutor. Then one day the Sharingan had been activated and with its abilities the student had managed to pull themselves out of the bottom of the class.
All it took was a few minutes in a private room with a masked ANBU applying a little pressure to the student and Manzo had the entire story. The student's family while disappointed that the student was going into the academy they were still proud and like most families with lots of money, when a problem arose that needed to be fixed they would throw money at it. The student had undergone an illegal operation and when they awoke they found the power of their newfound eyes. Manzo might have been able to get more information but the problem he found was like most rich and privileged the student felt that the new eyes were owed to them.
While Manzo was disgusted with the student he knew that if he arrested the child and family there would be noisy waves and his quarry would have vanished, at least from this lead. So at least for now Manzo needed to go after the bigger target and let the smaller one run free. It was that lead that had led Manzo to walk down a shady street in Crater City. As he turned into the dilapidated bar he really wondered if he would be thrown out for looking too young, he did only look about ten years old. Surprising no one seemed to even blink an eye that he entered the building.
Sitting down at the bar he waited for the bartender to come over. It took a while but eventually she did.
”Well don’t you look a little young to be in here, what can I do for you sweety?”
Manzo looked around the room nervously, before leaning into the bartender so only she could hear him. ” I have a friend from the academy that came here and walked away with.. Improvements. I want what he got.” It was an act that he needed to sell for this character.
”Sugar I don’t know what you talking about, students don't’ normally come in here and we don't’ serve anything that would improve them if they did. What we serve comes in liquid form.” she said pointing to the bottles.
”Please you have to help” he said his voice becoming a bit more desperate and a bit louder ”this is my last chance before I am kicked out. I can pay.” He opened his money pouch letting the gleam of his Yen hit the light.
The bartender was about to speak up when one of the men at the bar spoke for her. ”I am not sure about her, but I have a friend that might be able to help you.” The bartender looked over at the man that only a few moments before looked to be very deep into his cups, now looked far too sober. There would be only a few reason why he would want to act that he was drunker than he was. Manoz hoped that this was a good sign for him.
”REALLY? Manzo asked, far to enthusiastic for his own good, but his next question was a bit more skeptical. ”How much is this going to cost me?”
”Nothing from me, from my friend that is between the two of you. I am just here to make introductions.”
”Sugar I am sure you are fine in the academy without this, just go train some more and keep your money” The bartender tried, unsuccessfully to persuade Manzo from listening to the pretend drunk
Manzo got off his stool and looked at the pretend drunk ”Let's go, I have exam coming up and I want every advantage I can get for it.“ He wanted to give the impression he had more money and eagerness than sense.
”Calm down. We can go but it is a bit of a walk“ The man said with an evil smile on his face.
Together they walked out of the bar. Slightly they walked down the street, Manzo following closely behind, wanting to keep the impression he had laid out. This was a recruiter for his cousins organization. They weren’t known for being the most intelligent but that didn’t they were stupid. Fortunately the pretend drunk was not much of a talker as he led Manzo away from the village.
Eventually Manzo found they had entered the Forest of Death.
Interesting it seems that it always comes back to this place, it was here where I first started down this path. But it makes sense. It is a great place to hide. Manzo thought to himself.
”Are you sure this is the right way. I was told no one comes out this way.“ Manzo asked.
”This is the best place to hide, after all we need to make sure the ANBU don’t stop us. They believe that the all the power should stay with who currently has it, we fight to redistribute it.“ he said painting the picture that they were the good ones by killing children and selling their gifts to those that could pay.
As they walked through the Forest of Death Manzo counted his blessings that no creatures attacked them. He wasn’t confident in his guides fighting abilities and if fought it would blow his cover to early.
Eventually they came to a simple cabin in the woods. As they entered they found a man working at a lab table.
”It seems we have another customer.” The man at the table said without looking up. As he turned around Manzo could see some of the family resemblance to his parents. This was yet another one of his cousins. How many more were there?
”Yes, I heard that you had ways to make me stronger, or unlock hidden abilities in me?“
”Well we can’t unlock it within you but we have the ability to take that which others have had too much of and give it to those that have nothing.” He sounded so sure of himself, if Manzo hadn’t heard a vastly different speech from his first meeting with family then he might have believed it.
”Of course something like takes capital so we accept donations for our services. Do you have a donation for us. I do believe we have a new Sharingan for you.” Manzo wondered what poor person had met upon his cursed family and lost their life just for their eyes. All so they could make money. Or was there a darker reason for his family doing this? He had read up on his family and learned they had tried to stage a coup long ago. Perhaps this was a way to undermine the village. Take the bloodline abilities from the strongest and give it to the weakest members of the village. It would be a slow process but it would a way to weaken the village from the inside. Not only would it weaken it but those that had gotten stronger would be indebted to the Tarantsu family for making them stronger.
The more Manzo thought about it the more sense it made. He knew the shinobi of the Tarantsu clan had a bit of superior complex. This was a win win situation for them. They got to get rich by making the village weaker.
”You can really give me the Sharringan?“ Manzo asked, hope slipping into this voice as he opened his coin purse. It was strange to sound excited about something he would never want. His hatred for his adopted family was so great he might have carved out his own eyes if he somehow developed it. It didn't’ help that fire seemed to be associated with everyone that used it. He wasn’t sure which he hated more, fire or those accursed eyes.
”Of course and it looks like your donation would be just enough. Now just come over here and lay down.”
”On that note I will leave you two, I am going to head back.” Manzo’s guide said.
Manzo mentally cursed, he did not want them to separate, both would need to be arrested and brought in. His guide would be no more use to him after this. He would use his newly found cousin to find the next link in the chain. As his guide walked out the door Manzo acted. His hands flashed while his cousins back was turned. The earth began to pile upon his guide as if he had developed his own gravitational pull trapping him up to his mouth, preventing him from being able to move or speak.
Slightly Manzo sunk into the ground. He was not known for using ninjutsu but there was times when it was simply to useful to pass up. This was one of those times.
”What? Where did you go?” His cousin started to look around frantically until he started to sink into the ground himself. Manzo was quickly pulling him in the ground binding him within the earth.
Once he was bound and Manzo was convinced he wasn’t going to go anywhere. He revelled himself out of the ground, transformation jutsu lifted and his ape ANBU mask on his face. Squatting down he looked at his cousin.
”It turns out I really don’t need your help with a Sharingan but I will need your help with something else. I want you to tell me all about your operation and where I can find the rest of your comrades.“ Manzo was not ready to admit he knew they were family. Some things were best to hold back on. ”But don’t worry I am not going to kill you here. I am going to take you back to the prison for the offical interview and “ The look on his cousin's face was priceless as he watched his world come crashing down around him.
With his two new prisoners contained, Manzo started to look around the cabin to see what he needed to take with him now and what he could come back later for. Anything he left now might not be here when he came back. He needed to move quickly unsure when anyone else would be coming to this cabin.
Manzo had hoped that his cousin that left him with the nasty scar on his arm would have been here, they had a score to settle. But that just meant that he would have to work twice as hard to find him.
[WC: 2006]
[MFT]