213 Close Brush With a Monster
The wooden chamber is not well-ventilated, but the seals from before work their 'magic' here. The stale surrounding is replaced through the ground using chakra. Despite being archaic, seals act like a program—know the correct seals, and you may never need to mold your chakra for an aggressive jutsu. Similar seals adorned Tsunade's and Kai's labs, releasing the build-up of various chemicals when used at the compound's training ground.
It's always nice to know the how and the why. But his gaze is positively attracted to the only intriguing object in this chamber.
It's not the two red saucers in the front to light oiled wicks for illumination.
It's not the tapestry on the two sides of the wall that depicts… anything. It's art, after all. For all Kai knows, it could be the prophecy for the end of time.
Between the two tapestries and behind the evenly placed saucers is a somewhat rectangular tablet with its top two sides smoothened into roundish curves. On the tablet is a short passage.
—Seeking stability, one god was divided into yin and yang, these opposing two together obtain all things in creation.
The guidance transcends space and time. A tablet for my beloved descendants.—
Kai thins his lips and deactivates his sharingan. The markings on the tablets disappear.
It's not like the words are painted on the stone tablet. No. They are carved. So, for them to disappear like this…
'Seals.'
Kai licks his lips excitedly.
Instead of using his sharingan since the stone tablet responds to a certain level of the kekkei genkai differently, Kai settled to take the measured way. He has hours before he needs to meet with his team so he can put in the work.
'I could sense with my sharingan that there are more layers I can peel. So, it should be safe to assume that each level of sharingan produces different results from the stone tablet. One tomoe, two tomoes, three tomoes, and the legendary Mangekyo Sharingan that Mikoto and the records in the Uchiha Library mentioned. But it is interesting how seals respond to Kekkei Genkai. Of course, I can confirm that they aren't noting the blood flowing in my veins, but the chakra lacing my right eye and brain using the [Chimera Cursed Seal].'
His mind cooked all sorts of possibilities.
'There are many seals that are based on blood. Summoning jutsu is one of the most prominent examples of it.' As he muses, he begins inspecting the stone tablet in various ways. It felt like a stone to physical touch even with using regular chakra. However, the material of the stone is not molded based on an Earth Jutsu when Kai tried it.
If the stone tablet broke, things would have been troublesome.
'The material's composition is extraordinarily dense. The barest hints of seals are the gravitational ones. They are similar to the seals Mito-sama inscribed on my chakra mesh shirt, but… archaic. However, they are not inefficient. If anything, the current notes of Uzumaki seals would have failed to keep this tablet on any surface except flat ground since it is unbearably heavy. Meaning: these seals are not inefficient as I believed earlier. They were developed with a different mindset.'
He soon encountered the first issue of the night.
The seal around the stone tablet is rigidly protected. The problem did not stem from the seal itself. All of them seem to fall under [Indra's Tritya Panth]. So, this is a skill issue.
Not time like the present.
Kai starts deciphering the stone tablet's first and simplest defense that would reveal the words he read earlier. Something about a god and guidance for the descendants.
He treated the stone tablet gently. He dedicated himself to peeling its mystery layer by layer without feeling impatient.
He strokes the rock-hard surface with a curious look.
The pristine white stone seems to possess a glow of its own.
After a few minutes, the six clones in the Shikkotsu Forest teleport here. Katsuyu's surprised squeak makes others smile.
'I'm gonna bang this mystery out in a group!'
Not the best manner to think… but then again, it works.
Other clones don't enter their sage transformations. Instead, they pick a seal each and start grinding it right away.
His previous grind felt relatively cumbersome. Only one clone worked one skill, but since he has the option to quicken the grind, he will take the approach without any shame!
---
While Kai enjoys his impromptu date with the mysteries of seal tonight, an ordinary event occurs in the Land of Earth.
Yes, ordinary.
It's a sight of blood and fire. Houses on fire, old family members murdered. Loud pleas from the rest fill the smoke-filled hell as several men and women can be seen fighting the bandits. It's a losing battle. The village is overrun by scheming bandits to claim the remaining members as slaves. Slaves will fill the market most prominent in the Land of Earth for one reason.
The Daimyo of Earth is a man feared for his lust for slaves. At least, that's what is known to others. The slaves sent to his castle are never seen again. In fact, one rumor, in particular, has grown more popular amongst the citizens of the Land of Earth—the slaves are not used to satiate the Daimyo's lust for flesh. They are used by the shinobi employed by the Daimyo!
Shinobi-kind is not a stranger to the citizens. Especially when specialized uniforms and head protectors set the shinobi-kind out from the general masses.
The bandits struck when the hunters of the village were away. Instead of killing everyone, they only killed the elderly. The children and youths screamed in wild abandon, but the bandits were precise. They struck such spots that sent the kids unconscious right away. Even the athletic ones who ran away to inform their hunters were caught. Housewives, farmers, and traders—any able-bodied men and women under a reasonable age were captured quickly.
The hunters were no better!
No one aside from the elderly was killed.
"Let go of me!" One of the hunters who regained consciousness snarls, but a swift strike to his temple silences him the next second.
Swift and efficient.
While the bandits brandished crude weaponry, their experience almost felt godly!
"Shh, it will be alright," A boy whispers to his sister. His eyes are laced with fear, but he hugs his month-old sister inside a wooden cupboard.
"There you are!" A loud voice booms as the entrance of the wooden cupboard is ripped open. The gently babbling infant cries out loud as the boy grits his teeth and turns around. He would rather die than let anyone hurt his sister!
But the reality is often cruel.
His body falls limp due to a chop on his neck as the tall, bandaged man picks the boy with one hand and gently pats the top of the infant's head. His hand exudes a green glow as the baby stops bawling.
He picks up the baby more gently with his other hand. Walking out of the destroyed house, he looks at his companion silently.
The female companion takes the infant from his arm and brings the baby to the only safe structure where other babies can be seen sleeping peacefully.
Other bandits can be seen scanning their surroundings. They look for other survivors.
"It will be alright, Miss Shiro Akane," A girl hugs a bundle of white fur in her hands and whispers comfortingly. The small rabbit in her hand stays in her hands quietly. Her ruby-red eyes betray nothing. It's as if the rabbit is the only pillar of support for the light-blue-haired girl. The girl's frail body trembles continuously.
*Creeeaaakkkkk*
The almost shattered entrance to her family's house creaks open. Her elder sister is gone. Her grandparents are dead, and she is scared. Stony steps fill the charred surroundings as the girl bites her bottom lip in a whimper and tears up unconsciously.
"There you are."
An indifferent voice calls her as the orange-haired man with a conflicted look stands in front of a fallen table.
He can see the shuddering spiky blue tresses of his mission. His heart shudders equally. He feels revolted by what he has done today… by the assignments he performed a few times. But it also allowed him to understand a small aspect of the war from the other side.
He was once the trembling child beyond the half-destroyed table.
He is on the other side now.
Yet, the splintered table cannot be fixed. The damages he caused cannot be rectified. The lives reaped will not return.
"It's alright," the man whispers. His hand stretches out, and the child behind the table trembles further.
What this man and the girl failed to notice was the glimmering ruby eyes of the rabbit. Her fur bristles softly, and a wave of warmth steadies the girl in HER embrace. A hungry, predatory emotion fills her red pupils as she changes. Instincts take over as concentric rings emerge in her ruby eyes.
The girl stops sobbing as the man reaching for the table stops in his tracks before turning around and exiting the destroyed hut.
"This residence is clear."
His calm voice echoes, and the girl almost squeaks in surprise.
But the rabbit closes her eyes weakly and nuzzles against the girl's embrace.
Whatever intelligence that resurfaced in her gaze recedes again. It slumbers and awaits to grow more powerful.
Eventually.
However, the scent of war and conflict is hard to bear for her. She tries to save whoever she can in her current state. Some are lost. Some aren't.
This bittersweet experience does not break her.
She vowed then.
Nothing will ever spoil her innocence again.
{A/N: Enters Kaidog.}
---
"Team Leader?"
"Come in."
Yahiko enters the tent built in hiding on the border shared by the Land of Earth and Wind. His gaze falls on the table in front of their Team Leader—Manabu Shimura. Or, Owl. The documents set sparsely on the table are the funding they earned by selling off the slaves not long ago.
"You broke the rules, did you not?" One of the surviving and acknowledged Shimura Clan's shinobis looks at the boy. His stony onyx eyes observe the orange-haired youth, who nods calmly.
"I did. I imagined seeing a blue-haired child in one of the residences and imagined my childhood friend. In my guilt, I used my real voice to console her."
Manabu Shimura narrows his eyes and remarks critically, "Which makes the act of using transformation jutsu useless. Out of 9 genins and chunins selected for this program, only you continue to give in to compassion."
While Yahiko awaits the usual grill, Manabu shocks Yahiko by exhaling softly and muttering, "I'm transferring you to the second team in exchange for one Hitsu Yamanaka."
Yahiko chews his lips in frustration but doesn't try to naively argue against the decision.
This is not the academy.
It's an Anbu Initiative.
"You will fall under rat's commands once he meets us two days later. That will be all. Fall back to your duties."
"Yes."
Yahiko leaves the tent as Manabu grumbles under his breath.
If possible, he wanted Yahiko to remain under his leadership.
The initiative was divided into three teams by Hiruzen before setting out for similar tasks which involved attempts at weakening Land of Earth and Wind in some moderate manners to get the young shinobis used to their duties. Of them, Yahiko's physical performance has been stellar. If the youth promotes to the ranks of a chunin, he will be one of the top chunins without any rare kekkei genkai or hiden.
But Yahiko is struggling with his moral compass.
'Not that I don't understand,' Manabu sighs deeply. There is a reason why he is still in service after Danzo's actions came to light.
He carries the will of fire brighter than others, and the Hokage acknowledged that. That is why he, too, struggles to curb Yahiko's morality.
'I hope Rat knows what to do. The exchange of the members is left to three leaders, so it won't reflect poorly in my records… oh, who am I kidding? It will. Lord Third must have set the team like this in the first place for a reason.'
Manabu looks at the paperwork.
'The slaves are marked and sold. The fuin seals should help us develop a more intricate knowledge of how Iwa incorporates their slaves. But that's left to the barrier team to operate from the village. However, the chances of these slaves making it to Iwa is small. Hmm, the infants are already carried away by other members of Anbu. They'll find an orphanage for them in Konoha.'
Most orphans don't end up being exemplary Shinobi, but there has been an upward trend of orphans being more motivated. Konoha is more than willing to use these methods. It's either this or killing infants since they do not fetch an acceptable price, and any 'sane' individual understands that the kids from the initiative did not need to go through that ceremony.
As Manabu buries himself in the logistics, Yahiko returns to his spot in the cave and keeps a cautious lookout.
'Boss… did all this before meeting us three, huh.' He feels his heart quiver. It is more intense than he could have ever expected. Tsunade, Kai, their teachers in the Senju Compound, Lord Third, and other heroes of the village…
They all have done this and more, haven't they?
This is nothing compared to killing 'evil' bandits as a C-ranked mission.
No…
A shinobi's duty threatens to shatter his soul.
But in this struggle of morality, true grey flickers within him.
'It is either letting our loved ones die to another's mechanisms or doing all it takes to protect them… Konoha has survived for a reason. If I had Boss' strength and experience, I could have claimed to end all war. But right now, I'm a clown with unhealthy ambitions.'
The youth smiles bitterly. Kakashi's and Anya's faces flicker in his mind.
'Anya planned to become a nurse. And Kakashi… I hope he doesn't fall short when I return!'
Yes, this is hard. But this will not break him. He survived being a victim of war, and as much as it churns his stomach, he is the opposite now. But this is the price of his strength. He needs to find a way suited only to him on this path or become strong enough to forge his own.
His ambition did not fall. Only his innocence did.
***
Alternate Title: A God Divided in Two; The Mysterious Stone Tablet; Let the Grind Begin; The Bandits?; Shiro's a Monster; The Scared Girl; A Vow to Remain True and Pure; A Vow to Remain Strong; Experiencing the Other Side; Works of an Initiative; Shattered Innocence; From Owl to Rat; Vestiges of Will of Fire; Will of Blood and Fire
***
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