Chapter 24 - Birth of the Quicksword

Aito stayed silent for a long time, he thought over the words that Ernie said to him.

"Your idea does sound promising, but how will you find other clans that have the same mindset as you. If you haven't noticed, every clan has an enemy and if they are in the same place then they are bound to fight each other. There is no escaping that. But, I do admit that we are stronger together than we are apart."

Aito told Ernie.

"That can be solved in many ways. One is to have a small council of clans to judge those type of matters. They'll decide on what punishment should be handed out. Another idea is to have the clans settle it in a friendly match, the winner decides the losers punishment. All is fine as long as it is not death or banishment. Only the council or the village leader can decide on those matters."

Ernie explained.

"I will need to talk this over with my clan members."

With that, Aito turned and walked over to the remaining Sodachi clan members. He started telling them about what Ernie told him. The Sodachi clan members were a bit skeptical at first, but given their situation they did not have much of a choice.

They needed a new home.

Not everyone was on the same side for this plan as a few elders that were left voiced their opinion of just taking the land for themselves. Aito however told them they were not thieves and it would be dishonorable. They would be stabbing their savior in the back if they betrayed him. This was not something the Sodachi clan wanted to be known for.

Given Aito's new position of power, the few elders that had this idea shut up but each of them had a small grin on their face. Whether it was because they had something else up their sleeve or due to the fact that Aito still had a righteous nature had yet to be seen.

Ernie told the girls about what he told Aito, but they already had a feeling something like this might happen.

"Be careful, people in power usually like to stay in power."

Hina warned Ernie.

Ernie agreed and nodded his head. He understood that perfectly.

Over the next few days, their entire group made it back to where Ernie was planning on creating his village. It took them awhile due to their exhausted bodies and the injured shinobi.

Once they arrived, the Sodachi clan members eyes grew wide.

"Take any spot you want and build up your new clan home, eventually there will be more clans here that will do the same."

Ernie told them.

"Are you sure this is what you want?"

Aito asked Ernie in a whisper.

Ernie smiled but said nothing.

"Don't forget, your father had an agreement with me and I expect you to hold it."

Aito was not expecting Ernie to say that but he nodded his head.

Soon, all the capable Sodachi clan members got to work, cutting trees moving stone or creating earth walls. They were building their clan again.

As all this was going on, Ernie was inside his own small stone hut with Hina and Himari.

"What are we going to do now?"

Hina asked.

"We still need more experience so we'll work as wandering mercenaries for a year or so while also building up the village. There is a long way to go. If we want to survive, we'll need more than just a few shinobi to help us do that. We'll need people to craft us weapons, and armors. We also need a place where people can go to buy or learn various techniques as well. And above all else, we'd need to open up a ninja academy."

Ernie told the girls.

"Ninja academy? What is that?"

Himari asked him.

Ernie forgot, this wasn't the time when clans send their children to school to learn about the world and have an older more skilled ninja guide them. He knew they had academies in the Naruto world, but he didn't know what they exactly did there besides learn.

"Basically a place for the young to go and learn. They can ask questions and be guided by a more skilled shinobi."

"That sounds great! But, who are you going to find to teach them?"

Ernie laughed.

"All in time Hina, we are in no rush. It'll take us years to build up the village, it won't take a single day. For now, our main objective for this week is to come up with currency that can be used in the village by all the people. What did your clan use?"

Ernie asked the girls.

"We didn't use any sort of currency, since we were all family we just traded what we needed for something another family member needed."

Hina replied.

"What about the people outside your clan?"

"Same thing. If they had something we wanted, we traded for it. Only the bigger clans used a form of currency."

Himari told Ernie.

Ernie sighed, these two would be useless in this situation.

"Guess i'll need to talk to Yui or Aito about this."

Seeing Ernie about to get up, Hina grabbed his arm.

"Wait. What about our clan?"

Hina asked him.

"Oh right. Wait, what about it?"

Ernie asked as he was confused by what she meant?

"Well, for one we are only three, we need more clan members. But, that can come later…"

Hina said with a slight blush.

"But, we need a clan saying, something that defines our clan and our members can say proudly. We also need a fighting style, techniques and most importantly a clan emblem."

Hina told him.

Ernie nodded and sat back down.

"Something for that the Asagao clan can be proud to say huh? I'm drawing blanks right now, but as for a fighting style… what do you two feel more comfortable with? Long range, or fighting up close? I personally like fighting up close with others."

"I like to keep my distance, it's easier for me that way. I feel I have more control over the battle that way."

Hina said as she opened one of her hand fans.

"I'm like you, beating people up close and personal is exciting. Gets your heart pumping, and you can really hear their bones break!"

Himari grinned as she spoke.

Ernie listened to both girls and closed his eyes. He started to picture people he hasn't seen in a while since he came to this place. In his head, he could also see his former self from One Piece.

A cool man who moves swiftly in battle, cutting down his opponents before they could even see his blade move. Dashing through his enemies with ease, and infusing his blade with holy fire to attack at a distance.

Those skills he mastered, the battles he fought and the movements of his body.

Ernie recalled it all, and he felt like his body was capable of doing those movements.

[Host has unlocked memories of experience, would you like to retrieve?]

Ernie nodded his head.

[Unlocking memories…]

[Importing skills…]

[Error… converting skills…]

[Skills imported!]

[Unbelievable achievement! A man who forgets where he came from and the experiences that brought him to where he is today, isn't much of a man. Not forgetting yourself, you've gained enlightenment and some skills were transplanted into your body. This is an unbelievable achievement that not many will be able to achieve, and due to this you've gained 20 attribute points.]

Ernie felt his body feel lighter and warm on the inside.

As he opened his eyes, they seemed to contain some light.

"Our clan will be the masters of the Quicksword style."

Ernie told them.

To them, Ernie felt a bit different than before. His eyes were clearer, and he seemed to have this powerful aura around him. At first, they found it chilling but after a while, it calmed down. Still, it made the two of them feel protected.

Even though he did not do anything, Hina and Himari knew something changed within Ernie.

"Quicksword style?"

They asked in Unison.