บท 18: Chapter Eighteen- Success.... Maybe?
"We should only be around three hours away from the encampment now" Ruko said but I was well aware of that fact.
We had just passed a specific rock formation that made bile rise in my throat. Slight signs of explosions remained at the sight and I remained tense for an hour after we passed. Yet, despite my hopes we weren't attacked.
I scoffed slightly as my eyes swirled and returned to a soft black. I guess it was too much to hope those Suna Anbu might show themselves in the same place. Though it was also possible we were just unlucky, but the way we were attacked seemed premeditated. As if they knew my old genin squad would pass through hours in advance.
We were bringing supplies to a war where they were quickly losing ground in. If I were them then I to would realize there only hope would be to try and outlast the Leaf army. So there first target had to be the supply lines but the fact remained that the village and military leaders should've expected that, sending something more than a fresh genin team.
Though the village was fighting a war on three fronts, meaning manpower was likely at an all time low.
In the lull of travel, I nearly tripped on my next jump between the trees, a rush of memories assaulted me. A single leaf with a centimeter cut, still not centered but closer. A slight adjustment and I caught back up with Ruko.
He looked at me weirdly before just shrugging it off as we continued forward. I'd lie if I said Koshu's jutsu didn't scar me, something deep in me had changed, which in and of itself was jarring.
I wouldn't say I made peace but I had accepted my parent's death. To have the wound ripped open….. Well, it left its mark. Still, it wasn't like I didn't have people waiting on me at home. Memories flew by in a stream of my last day in the village.
Dropping Mikoto off at the academy in the morning, her tearful goodbye and a cute pout that I didn't take the policeman job. I was thankful she respected my choice and didn't start an argument on my day of departure.
That little suicidal bastard Minato begging me for something to keep him busy, it seemed he completed water walking in three weeks, which was impressive despite the fact he had a smaller chakra pool which made the exercise easier.
I caved and gave him a few scrolls on the fireball jutsu and the academy three. Might have slipped in the body flicker jutsu as well, I had hoped that this might make the stupid child realize how much better prepared he could be instead of rushing off to war.
Though it was improper and 'slightly' illegal to give a 'civilian' knowledge I didn't give a damn about the rules. If I was questioned I'd just deny it.
As I was leaving the compound Koshu put his arm on my shoulder and told me he was proud of me. Might've teared up a little when he made me promise not to die out there.
And finally, a screaming idiot charged towards me before I reached the gates, how did he know I was leaving today? No clue but he must've bothered Lord Hiruzen about it.
Nawaki had his own way of seeing me off, trying to start a fight on the village's main road, and proceeding to call me a bastard. Then begrudgingly said goodbye while telling me to not die.
I channeled the will of my ancestors and told the tree hugger if anything he would die first, he'd probably walk right into a minefield. I chuckled still at the irony of my insult but it pissed him off so I counted it as a win. Still, I waved goodbye to the cursing Senju and headed to the gates.
But no amount of happy thoughts could wipe away that bastard's joyful smile as he used his explosion-release jutsu. But it did dim the rage and I was thankful for it all the same.
Roku and I twitched simultaneously as we jumped back, my sword was drawn in an instant while Ruko had his hands held in what I could guess was the beginning sign for a water jutsu.
A man appeared, around six foot tall, with short brown spiked hair and staff holstered across his back. I sighed as I noticed the leaf headband and small smile the man wore.
"Hello Rizen," I said as I sheathed my black sword in a smooth motion. The third Hokage's eldest son gave Ruko a respectful nod before he put his focus on me.
"Come along kid, Sakumo is waiting for us." Rizen said which caused me a slight surprise. 'Putting me to work already sensei?'
"Hopefully, I'll see you on the battlefield tokubetsu jonin sir" I said with a chuckle as I offered Ruko a handshake. The middle-aged shinobi seemed irked at my joke as he shook my hand.
"Yeah kid, don't die out there" He said as he disappeared in a swirl of leaves. 'Jeez, what's with everybody telling me not to die? I'm not that incapable as a shinobi'
"Where are we heading?" I asked as I jumped on the branch beside Rizen, he was giving me an odd look as he looked me up and down. 'Weirdo'
"Frontlines" Rizen said with a small frown as he disappeared in a swirl of leaves, I raised a hand as I did a half seal to quickly follow him.
"So what the hell happened to you kid, your chakra is massive. Well compared to what it was, maybe four times as much" RIzen asked as I caught up with him, I almost tripped at his unexpected question.
"Close range sensor, not very useful but it has its perks." Rizen explained as it gave me a few seconds to think of a reason.
"I created a rather ruthless training program to train my chakra control, under the constant strain my reserves skyrocketed" I explained to which Rizen turned to me in interest. "I wouldn't recommend it though," I said as I looked down at my hands, torn to shreds multiple times and covered in inches of callouses. Like that of an elderly man that worked in construction his whole life.
He seemed to think it over as we flickered over the landscape at a blistering pace. It gave me time to reflect and more importantly, choose my last trump card before returning to the battlefield. I'd manage to acquire two more perk points after all.
{Perk Shop}
[Fuinjutsu User Lvl 1- Begin to understand the eccentric art of sealing, increases your learning speed of fuinjutsu by 30%] Cost: 1PP
[Dual Affinity- Embrace a second elemental affinity onto yourself, it will unlock the element you are closest to] Cost: 3PP
[Kitsunes Child Lvl 1]- As a member of the Uchiha clan you have always leaned more toward the spiritual side of Chakra. This perk will push that affinity a step further, bolstering your learning speed as well as the power of your illusions. 15% boost to the learning speed and power of Genjutsu]
[Odin's Eye- You may have been born with eyes that gave you superior vision and a plethora of abilities. But with 'Odin's Eye' you will be able to glimpse into the secrets of your world and its people. New paths will open for you once you can truly 'see'.] Cost: 2PP
After my training under my uncle the 'kitsunes child' perk grabbed my attention, I learned three C-rank Uchiha Style genjutsu that only required eye contact, which made my eyes especially dangerous.
But if I were to choose one to buy the Odin's eye perk spoke to me on a different wavelength than the genjutsu perk. It sounded like an upgrade to my eyes and as a dojutsu user well…. It sounded like a match made in heaven.
Still, I wouldn't spend the points without checking all of my options.
{Perk List}
[Apprentice Chakra Control- All jutsu and ability costs are now reduced by 30%. You are now able to enhance yourself with Chakra, boosting your strength and speed at a cost.]
[Wing Nature- Boosts the learning speed, creation, and power of all wind-natured jutsus by 75%]
[Chakra Beast Lvl 2- Changes the multiplier for your chakra capacity. Instead of being 10x intelligence, it will be 25x your intelligence stat] Upgrade: 4PP
[Dexterous Shinobi Lvl 1- Use any jutsu of C-rank or lower jutsu with only a single hand] Upgrade: 2PP
'So two choices, upgrading dexterous shinobi or acquiring Odin's eye….' It was a hard decision but the fact remained that you had to know shape manipulation for most B-ranked ninjutsu and even basic nature transformation from A-rank and beyond.
I didn't have any more time to train, so I guess the choice was made before the debate began.
{Perk Acquired}
[Odin's Eye- You may have been born with eyes that gave you superior vision and a plethora of abilities. But with 'Odin's Eye' you will be able to glimpse into the secrets of your world and its people. New paths will open for you once you can truly 'see'.]
A slightly burning sensation forced me to close my right eye and disrupt my continued body flicker. But after the initial pain, I bounced off a branch and resumed the high-speed transportation technique.
I returned to Rizen's side after a few well-placed jumps and continued our blistering pace. As the trees began thinning and a few patches of sand appeared I knew we were getting close.
"Well, good job kid. You trained hard, so how about a friendly race?" Rizen asked childishly.
"The terms?" I responded as I turned to focus on the man, we came to a stop just as the trees disappeared and the desert began. Only for my eyes widened in slight disbelief as I observed the man fully, as there was a small scroll above his head.
[Rizen Sarutobi. Lvl 33 {Fire}]
"Hmmm, if you win I'll show you a B-rank wind ninjutsu that doesn't require shape or nature transformation." Rizen said with a small smirk, I could tell he was conning me but a chance at a jutsu like that was almost too good to pass up.
"And if I lose?" I asked.
"Well, hm I guess I can't be too mean to my junior. Let's just say you'll treat the whole squad to barbeque when we return to the village?" Rizen bet to my surprise, it was actually not that bad so I quickly agreed.
"The line hasn't moved but an outpost has been built with earth ninjutsu in the same area. We now have a strong foothold in Suna due to Russo's absence." Rizen explained as he made sure I knew where the finish line was.
"Sounds good but Rizen, you have a fire affinity right?" I asked curiously, if my guess was right Odin's eye may be exceedingly useful. He seemed genuinely surprised at my question but answered with a nod nonetheless.
He counted off from three as we blasted off.
One hour later
I would lie if I said I wasn't beginning to tire, constantly using the body flicker jutsu wasn't only taxing on my reserves but also the body. Pushing yourself forward with bursts of chakra was the most simple application of the jutsu, but your body still had to move.
Rizen and I were currently neck and neck but it seemed like the guy could still kick it up a notch. It was a predetermined conclusion that he would wait until the last leg before breaking the tie. Still, I wouldn't lie if I said this wasn't more than a childish game, but I was prideful and I hated losing. Not to mention extremely greedy and hungry for strength. A B-rank jutsu that I could actually use without a few years of training?
I need to think of how to speed up, there were set limits built into the body flicker jutsu. An initial burst of chakra was fired from four tenketsu, two behind the knees and two on the shoulder blades. There was only so much chakra that could be used before you risked damaging your tenketsu. Real mastering of the body flicker came from continued use, increasing the stress that those specific chakra points could take.
No, trying to push the inner workings of the jutsu wouldn't work, either I would burn out a chakra point or I would completely lose control.
'But what if I used the initial burst of speed, then canceled the jutsu, then re-cast the jutsu? The initial inertia would continue building and building. But I would need a way to not control that speed. Surely my eyes could predetermine where and when I needed to reengage the jutsu. It would be like hopping, at an insane speed. But with my new eyes...…' I debated internally with myself as I could finally see a vague shape standing in the distance, it was at that moment that a smirking Rizen started pulling ahead.
'Fuck it, there's surely medics at the encampment' It was decided then as I activated my Sharingan, just as I touched the ground I flickered at an angle. A vague silhouette of myself appeared a few feet in front of me as I canceled the jutsu. I watched my future shadow in interest as it touched the ground. I soon followed.
Before I even touched the ground the hand at my side twitched as the jutsu was activated, then again, and again. After seven shaky jumps, I got a feel for it in the eighth. I was again next to Rizen who turned his head so slowly I felt that something was off. I waited as his shocked eyes met mine, I offered him a two-finger salute as I went for the ninth continuous flicker.
And in that moment I flew past Rizen, but I didn't stop there and continued to push until I caught up with the vague silhouette my sharingan showed.
I instinctively knew this was my limit, any faster and my eyes just couldn't keep up. In the next jump, I activated the flicker but didn't end it prematurely, twenty continuous flickers were my eyes limit, and I needed to slow down to keep a pace to where my eyes could track. But if I timed it right I could theoretically ride this 'top speed'. 'What should I call this version of the body flicker? Maybe the Continuous flicker?'
I turned around to check on Rizen only to see a vague silhouette behind me, about a kilometer away. I smirked at my impromptu victory and turned back to my destination preparing for another flicker.
'Oh god dammit!' I screamed in my mind as I was a few feet away from a stone wall. My eye's told me it was already too late so after the last flicker, I jumped and hundled into a cannonball. Blasting threw the outpost's defense as if they were paper. It would've been nice to try and explain myself but after I hit a third 'wall' maybe? I lost consciousness.
(Other updates: A Tale Of Asterious -2 new chapters. Skyrim-The Man In backround-1 chapter tomorrow)
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