Chapter 44: Land of Demons
---
Sorry for another break, I kept meaning to upload but...
Anyways, we reached 311k Views and ~950 collections! Thank you all so much!
---
Kurenai walked towards me, a scroll in either hand. Tossing them to me, I placed one in my vest before removing the equipment from the other.
The longsword, shortswords, kunai, naginata, and more were stored inside, and I smiled at the amount of weapons we got.
Taking the sheath of my chokuto off my back, I replaced it with the longsword, pursing my lips as I noticed the difference in weight and length.
"Do either of you want anything from this?"
I looked up, seeing Anko and Kurenai shake their heads.
I replaced everything into the scroll, before looking over at the unconscious archer.
"Anko, carry her. We're going to backtrack to their camp, and take their supplies."
Nodding, she scooped the girl up before following behind Kurenai and I.
It was only a few minuted back, and when we crossed the small gap, I looked over their camp. The tents were still their, and I could see just one person pacing around the camp.
I quickly went through the signs for Wind Bullet, sending it towards the mans head. I watched in interest as it pierced his skull, and he fell to the ground with a thud.
Entering the camp, I looked over to Anko. Seeing her flick her tongue out, I breathed a sigh of relief when she nodded at me, indicating that she couldn't sense anyone nearby.
Dropping the girl to the ground, Anko sat beside her. "I'll keep watch, so go ahead."
Kurenai and I split off, rummaging through the tents.
I found very little, just some more blankets, some nutrient pellets, and a few spare kunai.
Quickly placing everything in a free scroll, I took down two of the tents before placing them in a scroll as well.
"They had very little..."
Turning, I saw Kurenai placing a tent in her own scroll. Nodding, I sighed.
"I guess they really were the remnants of Kagero Village. These mountains are so isolated, so they would have dealt in goods instead of Ryo. Well, whatever. Let's wake the girl up and see what she knows."
I looked towards Anko, smiling when I saw her cleaning her nails with a kunai.
Making my way over, I took out a senbon before kicking the girl in the stomach.
Grunting, her eyes flickered open. Blinking a few times, she finally focused her eyes, looking up at me.
I crouched, smiling at her as I watched her eyes swell with fear.
Looking around, she started struggling against the ropes, before freezing when I lightly pricked her throat with the senbon.
"So, this is how this is going to go. You tell me everything you know about the Land of Demons, and I kill you quick."
I continued smiling down at her, before chuckling at her response.
"Why would I tell you anything bitch?!"
Moving the senbon down, I inserted it into her chest, sliding it towards her heart.
She gasped in pain, and I slid it back out, saying "You will talk, because I happen to have access to many, many different poisons. I always wondered what would happen if I injected Snakeroot directly into someone's heart..."
Seeing my smile, she shivered, her eyes shining with a deep fear.
"Fine... fine..."
I inwardly sighed, feeling a little bad for the girl. She did no wrong; she was too young to have participated in the Wars. Yet, because of her birth, and because her group, she had to die.
However, outwardly I kept smiling.
Taking a deep breath, she said "The forests are thick, with the smallest of the trees reaching a dozen some odd feet wide. Various herbs and mushrooms grow there, and the animals are much larger and deadlier than in the East. Chakra is more abundant, but as such the animals are mainly chakra beasts."
"What about the tribes?"
Looking at Anko, the girl shook her head, saying "We avoided them. They are... primitive. They use metals, but they have yet to be able to create more than one stationary settlement. As such, they tend to be territorial, and from what we saw, they worshipped Chakra. However, we never got close to them, especially after we watched them sacrifice a family to appease the Chakra Beasts..."
I sighed, looking between Anko and Kurenai. It seemed like the Land of Demons would be a very stressful place. All the more reason to retire when I get home...
Looking down at the girl, I gave her a small smile before pricking her with the senbon.
Watching as she slipped into unconsciousness again, I quickly slit her throat, allowing her to pass quietly.
"That was all things we already knew... Hah, let's try to avoid these people, study them from afar if we can."
Kurenai nodded, saying "I would rather not fight an entire tribe living in a Chakra rich environment."
"Well, pack up. Let's start moving again. We'll camp at the edge of the mountains if we can't find the outpost..."
~~~
As the hours dragged on, we eventually made it down the mountains, looking over a lush sea of green. It was a quick change from rocky hills to thick forest, and I looked around the edge of the trees, observing the wildlife as it roamed around.
Every animal I saw was slightly larger than normal, with the many rabbits I saw being nearly double their normal size.
There were dozens of large birds in the sky, moving around quickly as they hunted.
Looking away from the forests, I tried to see if I could locate the outpost. From what I remembered, it was somewhere on the border of the Land of Mountains and Demons, so it should be...
"Over there. That looks like it could be it..."
Following Kurenai's arm, I saw a small building nestled into the side of the mountains.
I nodded at her, before moving towards it.
As we neared, I noticed that it looked decrepit, the walls blackened and littered with holes.
It was a small building, roughly the size of my old apartment. There were no windows, and the area around the building was overgrown.
Drawing my new longsword, I silently approached the building, motioning for Anko and Kurenai to check the surroundings.
I walked towards the door, which was slightly opened. Pushing it open with the blade, I watched as a rock fell from above, cracking open the wooden floor.
I peered into the room, however I couldn't see anything in the darkness.
I waited for Anko to finish her sweep, before saying "Send a snake inside."
Nodding, she summoned a snake, hissing at it.
We watched as it slithered inside. Kurenai joined us shortly after, shaking her head.
Moments passed, and the snake slithered back out, hissing at Anko.
"No one's inside."
Nodding, I opened the door again, before entering.
Looking around, I was about to say something when Anko summoned a small flame.
We looked around the empty room.
The walls were covered in marks and symbols, and the room only had a table and a few chairs in the corner, which had a large layer of dust covering them.
There were no other doors, no entrances anywhere.
"So... should we stay here for the night? The dust on the floor is untouched, so unless they have Particle Style, this place has been empty for a while..."
Hearing Anko, I nodded, saying "Just for today. We make our way into the forest tomorrow..."
---
Short, I know, but I wanted to get something out, and have more planned for the next chapter. After all, past this point is pure mania...
Anyways, again, thanks so much for 300K views! Thats so cool! I hope you all keep enjoying my work!
---