Kenshin rose to the pecking of a bird at his window. The little apartment he had to his own was filtering light from the newly risen sun. At first, Kenshin just stayed in bed, eye open.
‘No need to get up.’ He thought until the bird kept pecking.
Groaning slightly, he ended up staggering to the window. As soon as saw the bird, he shook his head. It was a messenger bird. And he had a message. He opened the window and took the scroll. As soon the scroll left bird’s leg, the bird was off.
Kenshin read the scroll quickly and sighed. It looked like they were short on shinobi to lead missions for the new genin so they were requesting him. They asked him because they knew he was free that day. Of course they knew he was free, he had taken vacation time!
Grumbling, he packed his gear for a mission, not that they had included what they were doing just to meet at the phoenix gate.
As he left, he glanced briefly of the picture he had of his former squad mates. It caused him to pause for just a second before the door clicked shut.
At the gate, he saw 3 genin and the person who had sent the scroll to him.
“Kenshin good to see you. Now about this mission…”
It did not take long to explain the situation. The Genin were to travel to the Land of Stone to deliver a small item, a locket. Since Kenshin was form Stone, it made sense to send me. That was their entire justification as to get me out of my vacation.
He was given the scroll detailing all of the information of the mission including where to turn in the locket. Upon closer inspection it was in the shape of a crescent moon and made of what looked like black opal. Kenshin turned to the genin.
“I am Yuu Kenshin, your squad leader. Since this is your mission, one of you must carry it. I am here to supervise. Who will take it?”
At this point, Kenshin looked at his charges. It was an all-male team. All three were looking excited but nervous.
“The name is Ichi. I’ll take it” said the lankiest one of the bunch. “I am the unofficial group leader of this group! Nice to meet you Kenshin-sensei!”
“He assumes.” Said the one to his right “Sota here, sir.”
“And Kani is my name.” the one on his left piped up.
“Nice to meet you all. I will give it to Ichi unless no one has any objections.” With no disagreement, Ichi pocketed it. “Ok then. We should be heading out. Luckily, we can follow the main road for the most part but after a while we will need to take a path through the forest. From there, it is more open area until we get to Stone. We have 5 days to get this here so we should keep a medium pace. Are you ready for your first adventure?”
They nodded enthusiastically and took off ahead. Kenshin looked back at the person who had delivered the mission and scowled as he smiled. Kenshin took off after them, catching up in no time. It was the principle of it!
For 2 days they traveled at a good pace, talking little. They were on edge and it seemed like an eternity ago he was on his first mission. That mission had been to help a neighbor find her cat. He smiled at that.
As they stepped off the road, they had to be careful as the forest was full of animals that would quickly injure them. Sure enough, Kani did accidentally grab a snake instead of a vine. He fell but did not get bit. Kenshin had killed the snake with a well-placed kunai as it opened its mouth to bite. Kani thanked him profusely and they were more aware of where they were jumping to in the future.
For the next few days, the traveling was quick and light. Kenshin showed the boys some basic fighting styles and training exercises. The boys shared village gossip, including stuff about him such as he was a hard teacher. They laughed and bonded with ease.
On the 4th day, they crossed over the border to Stone and continued on their way to the village. It was here that Kenshin started to get nervous. As they passed through the arid area, Kenshin felt like eyes were on him at all times. Were they being followed? Not even Kenshin could sense that. Instead he chatted with the boys to ease them and himself. Just a simple mission. Get it done and get back. No need to linger. He did pick up the pace a little which made the genin complain but he silenced them with a look.
As the sun set and camp was being made, that was when there was a scurry of movement. Kenshin saw it and deliberately did not react. Instead, he walked over to the the small fire they had and looked at the genin.
“We are being followed. Someone is here and we need to leave. There is a small cave nearby run to that. On my mark. GO” Kenshin whispered to them before he shouted the last word.
And in a flash, they scattered. Kenshin threw a smoke bomb for extra measure. Still, he could sense more than see a few people following them. They were staying far enough away to avoid an attack thrown in their direction but close enough that he knew if he turned around they would pounce.
Several minutes later, Kenshin found his way to the opening of the cave. As he landed, he heard a small cry. He looked around to see Ichi on the ground, crawling his way, blood flowing down his face.
“Kenshin. Help….” Was all he said before he passed out.
Above the boy, a man appeared, Shaved head and with a strike through his headband. A missing from Stone. He held a kunai and was looking at Kenshin.
“Traitor to stone!” He shouted. “You left our people to starve and rot to serve a new country. Well it is payback.” He said even as he kicked the boy. The boy did not move.
Kenshin gritted his teeth, a growl coming to his lips.
“First we will kill this boy and next we will kill you. Men, att…”
The word was ripped from his mouth as a large grey wolf tore his throat out. Kenshin had summoned Ezo if there were more of them. After he did so, Ezo picked up the boy as gently as he could with his mouth and ran to Kenshin. At the commotion, the other 2 appeared at the entrance of the cave covered in scratches and bruises. They were barely standing.
“Go into the cave. I will stay here.”
They tried to protest but the wolf growled at them as he walked past to deposit Ichi in the cave.
As this was happening, Kenin was counting the men and women appearing. 10. 20. 30. Well this was a problem.
Kenshin waited for Ezo to come back and as the wolf surveyed the men, he howled and with a poof, a white wolf/dog hybrid appeared. Eiki assessed the situation and too growled.
Another man stepped out from the group “Give up Kenshin.” He said and Kenshin squinted at him and felt his jaw hit the floor.
It was his cousin… what was his name. Jiamon. Jiamon Yuu. He was Kenshin’s height and holding a spear. With a short mane of golden hair, he looked like a lion.
“Cousin, you betrayed our family and all of Stone you will not leave here alive. You are outnumbered. Give up!” he shouted.
“If you think I would give up, then you never listened to a single teaching of our family. Words are wind. Come fight me.”
Jiamon scowled and motioned people to start attacking.
It was a bloody scene. Kenshin blurred around the battlefield his fists flying as he laid into the enemy. His gauntlets were coated in a layer of fine diamonds which slashed likes swords in the setting sun. His canine allies were doing well working together to take down scores of men but they kept coming. After what felt like hours, Eiki fell and poofed out. Ezo roared and attacked with an even stronger bite as Kenshin summoned his remaining canine, except little Satu. He was too young. He had to fight, to live. To protect. That is why he trained. Was it all for nothing?
Night was truly among them when Kenshin took a knee. His canines were gone long ago and his chakra was almost out. He kept fighting but his punches grew weaker and weaker. He was shoved onto the ground by a group of them and was pinned underneath bodies and feet.
Jiamon approached him and dug his spear into Kenshin’s right hand. He grunted with pain.
“Now we are going to drag out those sniveling boys and kill them. Then kill you. No one will save you.”
“I will” said a small voice and Satu the puppy was there standing between the rogue ninja and the cave entrance.
“No… go…” Kenshin said before a man kicked Satu. He whimpered but jumped at the attacker only to be kicked by a second man. “Stop. Leave him alone.” Kenshin said but still he was pinned. Finally, finally, he poofed away but Kesnhin saw where there was dog blood where he had been. Rage roared in Kenshin’s body.
He saw the men enter and drag out the genin one by one, throwing them together. They huddled against each other and over Ichi’s prone body crying silently.
“Once a failure, always a failure right Kenshin? Like your squad so long ago. You failed them then and you fail this little squad. You are worthless which is even worse than a traitor. Watch them die.”
Kesnhin watched as swords were raised and horrible memories flooded his mind in an instant. Bandits killing his squad one by one. A neck cut, a head surrounded by water and suffocated. Their pleas filled the air and mixed with present day as the boys cried and shrieked for Kenshin to save them.
It was a subtle thing to loose what self-restraint you have. Anyone knows that he body defends itself. You cannot willingly bite your fingers off. Self-preservation protects our body as much as armor does. In that instance, Kenshin did not care if he died. Truly, he was beyond reason and he was ready to give it his all. It was like something clicked and suddenly chakra flowed through him as if he had never used any. In one lurch, Kenshin was up and moving the bodies of the men that had retrained him went flying 10 feet in all directions. Kenshin appeared before the executioners and in a half second, they were all on the ground dead at his feet. Kenshin looked at his arms. They were hot and steaming. Literally steaming.
Jiamon recovered first
“KILL HIM!” He shouted and as the words ended, he charged as well, spear lofted high.
Kenshin does not remember making it to the Village Hidden in the Stones or being in the hospital for a few days. He remembers moving faster than he ever did and that his very bones and muscles seemed to strain at each movement. Like his body was moving past his own limits. After a few more days at the hospital, he was ready to go. The genin were fine and their mission was completed. They visited Kenshin every day at the hospital. A ninja from leaf appeared to take the boys back but they refused. They were returning with Kenshin. Kenshin turned away as they made that proclamation.
Kenshin gave the news that his cousin was dead to his family and they did not react much. Apparently, he had fallen from graces years ago. Before long, Kenshin was heading back to Leaf and was paid his part of the mission plus some. The boys cried a little parting ways and Kenshin told them that if they ever needed help, to tell him. After that day, Kenshin found that he could push past his limits. He would be utterly exhausted and sometimes on of his limbs ached but he trained all the same as he always did, knowing that there were tougher enemies out there and that he would have to face them. For Leaf, for the Hokage, for himself, and for the future, he would fight until he could no longer stand. And even then, he would fight sitting down.
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MFT 2121
‘No need to get up.’ He thought until the bird kept pecking.
Groaning slightly, he ended up staggering to the window. As soon as saw the bird, he shook his head. It was a messenger bird. And he had a message. He opened the window and took the scroll. As soon the scroll left bird’s leg, the bird was off.
Kenshin read the scroll quickly and sighed. It looked like they were short on shinobi to lead missions for the new genin so they were requesting him. They asked him because they knew he was free that day. Of course they knew he was free, he had taken vacation time!
Grumbling, he packed his gear for a mission, not that they had included what they were doing just to meet at the phoenix gate.
As he left, he glanced briefly of the picture he had of his former squad mates. It caused him to pause for just a second before the door clicked shut.
At the gate, he saw 3 genin and the person who had sent the scroll to him.
“Kenshin good to see you. Now about this mission…”
It did not take long to explain the situation. The Genin were to travel to the Land of Stone to deliver a small item, a locket. Since Kenshin was form Stone, it made sense to send me. That was their entire justification as to get me out of my vacation.
He was given the scroll detailing all of the information of the mission including where to turn in the locket. Upon closer inspection it was in the shape of a crescent moon and made of what looked like black opal. Kenshin turned to the genin.
“I am Yuu Kenshin, your squad leader. Since this is your mission, one of you must carry it. I am here to supervise. Who will take it?”
At this point, Kenshin looked at his charges. It was an all-male team. All three were looking excited but nervous.
“The name is Ichi. I’ll take it” said the lankiest one of the bunch. “I am the unofficial group leader of this group! Nice to meet you Kenshin-sensei!”
“He assumes.” Said the one to his right “Sota here, sir.”
“And Kani is my name.” the one on his left piped up.
“Nice to meet you all. I will give it to Ichi unless no one has any objections.” With no disagreement, Ichi pocketed it. “Ok then. We should be heading out. Luckily, we can follow the main road for the most part but after a while we will need to take a path through the forest. From there, it is more open area until we get to Stone. We have 5 days to get this here so we should keep a medium pace. Are you ready for your first adventure?”
They nodded enthusiastically and took off ahead. Kenshin looked back at the person who had delivered the mission and scowled as he smiled. Kenshin took off after them, catching up in no time. It was the principle of it!
For 2 days they traveled at a good pace, talking little. They were on edge and it seemed like an eternity ago he was on his first mission. That mission had been to help a neighbor find her cat. He smiled at that.
As they stepped off the road, they had to be careful as the forest was full of animals that would quickly injure them. Sure enough, Kani did accidentally grab a snake instead of a vine. He fell but did not get bit. Kenshin had killed the snake with a well-placed kunai as it opened its mouth to bite. Kani thanked him profusely and they were more aware of where they were jumping to in the future.
For the next few days, the traveling was quick and light. Kenshin showed the boys some basic fighting styles and training exercises. The boys shared village gossip, including stuff about him such as he was a hard teacher. They laughed and bonded with ease.
On the 4th day, they crossed over the border to Stone and continued on their way to the village. It was here that Kenshin started to get nervous. As they passed through the arid area, Kenshin felt like eyes were on him at all times. Were they being followed? Not even Kenshin could sense that. Instead he chatted with the boys to ease them and himself. Just a simple mission. Get it done and get back. No need to linger. He did pick up the pace a little which made the genin complain but he silenced them with a look.
As the sun set and camp was being made, that was when there was a scurry of movement. Kenshin saw it and deliberately did not react. Instead, he walked over to the the small fire they had and looked at the genin.
“We are being followed. Someone is here and we need to leave. There is a small cave nearby run to that. On my mark. GO” Kenshin whispered to them before he shouted the last word.
And in a flash, they scattered. Kenshin threw a smoke bomb for extra measure. Still, he could sense more than see a few people following them. They were staying far enough away to avoid an attack thrown in their direction but close enough that he knew if he turned around they would pounce.
Several minutes later, Kenshin found his way to the opening of the cave. As he landed, he heard a small cry. He looked around to see Ichi on the ground, crawling his way, blood flowing down his face.
“Kenshin. Help….” Was all he said before he passed out.
Above the boy, a man appeared, Shaved head and with a strike through his headband. A missing from Stone. He held a kunai and was looking at Kenshin.
“Traitor to stone!” He shouted. “You left our people to starve and rot to serve a new country. Well it is payback.” He said even as he kicked the boy. The boy did not move.
Kenshin gritted his teeth, a growl coming to his lips.
“First we will kill this boy and next we will kill you. Men, att…”
The word was ripped from his mouth as a large grey wolf tore his throat out. Kenshin had summoned Ezo if there were more of them. After he did so, Ezo picked up the boy as gently as he could with his mouth and ran to Kenshin. At the commotion, the other 2 appeared at the entrance of the cave covered in scratches and bruises. They were barely standing.
“Go into the cave. I will stay here.”
They tried to protest but the wolf growled at them as he walked past to deposit Ichi in the cave.
As this was happening, Kenin was counting the men and women appearing. 10. 20. 30. Well this was a problem.
Kenshin waited for Ezo to come back and as the wolf surveyed the men, he howled and with a poof, a white wolf/dog hybrid appeared. Eiki assessed the situation and too growled.
Another man stepped out from the group “Give up Kenshin.” He said and Kenshin squinted at him and felt his jaw hit the floor.
It was his cousin… what was his name. Jiamon. Jiamon Yuu. He was Kenshin’s height and holding a spear. With a short mane of golden hair, he looked like a lion.
“Cousin, you betrayed our family and all of Stone you will not leave here alive. You are outnumbered. Give up!” he shouted.
“If you think I would give up, then you never listened to a single teaching of our family. Words are wind. Come fight me.”
Jiamon scowled and motioned people to start attacking.
It was a bloody scene. Kenshin blurred around the battlefield his fists flying as he laid into the enemy. His gauntlets were coated in a layer of fine diamonds which slashed likes swords in the setting sun. His canine allies were doing well working together to take down scores of men but they kept coming. After what felt like hours, Eiki fell and poofed out. Ezo roared and attacked with an even stronger bite as Kenshin summoned his remaining canine, except little Satu. He was too young. He had to fight, to live. To protect. That is why he trained. Was it all for nothing?
Night was truly among them when Kenshin took a knee. His canines were gone long ago and his chakra was almost out. He kept fighting but his punches grew weaker and weaker. He was shoved onto the ground by a group of them and was pinned underneath bodies and feet.
Jiamon approached him and dug his spear into Kenshin’s right hand. He grunted with pain.
“Now we are going to drag out those sniveling boys and kill them. Then kill you. No one will save you.”
“I will” said a small voice and Satu the puppy was there standing between the rogue ninja and the cave entrance.
“No… go…” Kenshin said before a man kicked Satu. He whimpered but jumped at the attacker only to be kicked by a second man. “Stop. Leave him alone.” Kenshin said but still he was pinned. Finally, finally, he poofed away but Kesnhin saw where there was dog blood where he had been. Rage roared in Kenshin’s body.
He saw the men enter and drag out the genin one by one, throwing them together. They huddled against each other and over Ichi’s prone body crying silently.
“Once a failure, always a failure right Kenshin? Like your squad so long ago. You failed them then and you fail this little squad. You are worthless which is even worse than a traitor. Watch them die.”
Kesnhin watched as swords were raised and horrible memories flooded his mind in an instant. Bandits killing his squad one by one. A neck cut, a head surrounded by water and suffocated. Their pleas filled the air and mixed with present day as the boys cried and shrieked for Kenshin to save them.
It was a subtle thing to loose what self-restraint you have. Anyone knows that he body defends itself. You cannot willingly bite your fingers off. Self-preservation protects our body as much as armor does. In that instance, Kenshin did not care if he died. Truly, he was beyond reason and he was ready to give it his all. It was like something clicked and suddenly chakra flowed through him as if he had never used any. In one lurch, Kenshin was up and moving the bodies of the men that had retrained him went flying 10 feet in all directions. Kenshin appeared before the executioners and in a half second, they were all on the ground dead at his feet. Kenshin looked at his arms. They were hot and steaming. Literally steaming.
Jiamon recovered first
“KILL HIM!” He shouted and as the words ended, he charged as well, spear lofted high.
Kenshin does not remember making it to the Village Hidden in the Stones or being in the hospital for a few days. He remembers moving faster than he ever did and that his very bones and muscles seemed to strain at each movement. Like his body was moving past his own limits. After a few more days at the hospital, he was ready to go. The genin were fine and their mission was completed. They visited Kenshin every day at the hospital. A ninja from leaf appeared to take the boys back but they refused. They were returning with Kenshin. Kenshin turned away as they made that proclamation.
Kenshin gave the news that his cousin was dead to his family and they did not react much. Apparently, he had fallen from graces years ago. Before long, Kenshin was heading back to Leaf and was paid his part of the mission plus some. The boys cried a little parting ways and Kenshin told them that if they ever needed help, to tell him. After that day, Kenshin found that he could push past his limits. He would be utterly exhausted and sometimes on of his limbs ached but he trained all the same as he always did, knowing that there were tougher enemies out there and that he would have to face them. For Leaf, for the Hokage, for himself, and for the future, he would fight until he could no longer stand. And even then, he would fight sitting down.
Topic entered and left
MFT 2121