Chapter 13

"Was that good enough?"

Deep and Shallow cuts formed in the earth as well as the mountain sides.

Odin was left silent at the spectacle.

"

Good enough... Damn cocky brat. Your skills are barely possible, it's ok, there's always room to improve."

Though he wouldn't admit it, Odin was feeling prideful in the seedling he managed to snatch up.

'Back when I watched their mission's, the kid probably sensed me and held back; if I had known he was more talented than he let on, I wouldn't have wasted so much time and forced him to leave Uzushiogakure sooner.'

"Keep this in mind, kid. Just because you have just as much chakra as a tailed beast doesn't make you as strong as one. Their chakra is definitely stronger than your own, and there are monsters out there who could take that chakra on."

Shinku nodded at Odins advice with a slight grin. The thought of facing a tailed beast or any of the 'monsters' ignited the man's interest.

"Now, since you barely passed, I guess we should give you alias. Can't have you running around with your identity on full display, especially if you end up an enemy to a nation."

Saying this, Odin fell into deep thought over an alias to identity Shinku. 'Kitsune has Lang since been taken, even if he has a Kitsune mask. Hmm...'

Shinku soon moved to sit cross-legged a few feet in front of Odin. Minutes passed, and Odin looked like he finally came up with a great alias.

"Shinku! Your alias will be Shinku, meaning Crimson. Huh, how about that? Your eyes, they're a crimson red, and as far as I've seen, you always leave earth painted in blood."

Odin grinned stupidly, still unaware of the man's name.

"Sigh. Nah, let's keep it simple instead." Shinku palmed his mask at the old man's suggestion.

"Oh. Do you not like it? Then you make one since you're so talented."

'I can feel your envy.' "OK. What about Shin, meaning True, or Shō, meaning Extinguish."

"Decent... It's not as great as Shinku, but it's still decent. Alright, i'll compromise and shorten the name I wanted to give, we can go with Shin."

"So, tell me, Shin. What are your goals and dreams? Why did you accept my invitation? And what is it that drives you?"

Shinku sat in silence as he turned his gaze toward the moon. Extending his hand out, he mimicked the act of grasping it in his palm.

'What drives me?'

"Keeping it short, my goal is to find answers as to who I am and why I lost my memories. I don't really have a dream, not yet, at least. What drives me, as you have sensed, I'm strong, but there are others who are stronger.

In this world, there's Bijuu, who can be called the strongest power. There are supposed 'monsters' who can face a tailed beast. And then there are gods.

I may be strong, but the thought of losing to any of them makes me move forward every day as I try and grow stronger."

'That, and Akame said I can only find the answers when I'm stronger. She never said how strong.'

"I see. The path you walk is the path to power. For some, the path can be breeze, but for others, it can be a bloody path. You can step upon others to reach your goal or carry the weight of a world on your shoulders. Only time will tell which path is for you."

Odin scratched his chin, unsure how else he could respond to the kid. He was already well passed the limits of training, both physically and spirituality, leaving him unsure of just what kind of strength would satisfy him.

"Is this it for the initiation?"

"Yes. The initiation is complete, and I believe I understand just what kind of person you are. Tomorrow, you'll head out on your first assignment. Get some rest in the hideout, or roam the village.

And do something about your hair. It's too obvious and a dead giveaway about your identity."

Odin said as he soon body flickered away, leaving Shinku in the valley alone.

"What's strong with my hair?"

Shinku pulled a strand of hair in front of him before releasing it.

'Is puffy hair really not that common?'

Standing up, Shinku grabbed his belongings and recloathed himself before making his way back to the inner village.

Why rush when he could enjoy the scenic view of nature all around him until his eventual arrival in the inner parts of Yugakure.

As he made his way through the streets, Shinku noticed some shops closing up for the night, and the villagers started heading home.

'Sigh. Roam the village? You knew they would be closing up anyways so I'd be forced to just head back to the tower.'

Sighing. Shinku headed back to the tower, only coming to a stop when he noticed a back alley filled with voices and eliminated by red lights.

"Hmm?"

Heading down the alley, Shinku was soon surprised by the number of shops open and the number of people.

"Heh, looks like the nights still youg for some folks."

Bypassing all the women who called out to him, trying to gain his attention, Shinku came to a stop outside a bath house.

'Well... I didn't get to bathe for a few days, so I might as well.'

***

???

"Please, no! NO! Don't! Stop!"

A man's pained shouts filled his dimly lit bedroom.

But there was no stop to his suffering or cries.

The bones in his hands were crushed and turned to powder, while his legs were broken. His shin bones were tearing through his flesh, while his knees were shattered, and his thigh bones were snapped.

Ribs caved in, and organs were already failing, yet the man held onto life.

"I...'m... so... sorry..." After several hours of torture and his wailing, the man could no longer hold on as he was exhausted and on the verge of death.

"I never asked for a sorry. This is just what I was commissioned to do, nothing personal."

Another man's voice soon came as he placed his gloved fingers on the mans bottom and top teeth as he tore the man's head jaw off with unbelievable strength.

"Was that good enough for you, ma'am?" The man asked as he turned toward the corner of the room where a woman sat with her legs crossed and the shadows hiding her waist up.

"Yes, you did a marvelous job, Kamish."

The woman said as an owl soon flew into the room with a scroll attached to its back.

"Hmm. What does that baboon want now?" The owl soon landed on the man's shoulder as he stepped into the moonlight, revealing a plain white mask."

Kamish read the letter briefly before burning it.

'Looks like that senile old man Odin brought another damn child into our organization, let alone an unknown Uzumaki.'

The man held out his hand and caught a sack of Ryo from his contractor as he body flickered outside the building before heading off.

***

"So here we are..."

"I don't see why I have to accept you?"

"Sigh. At least try and act like you like me, Akame."

"There's no point. Just leave me alone."

It's now been two weeks since Shinku left Uzu, yet both Akahana and Akame were barely able to hold a conversation without one wanting to beat the other senseless.

"At least listen to what I have to say for one moment. How can you say you love him when you won't even attempt to follow up on his request?"

The two women were currently in Akame's living room while her mother was out with Eto.

"Because it's you! We grew up together, and I once called you my friend. But you turned your back on me one day and never spoke to me again!"

Akame shouted as she pulled Akahana in by her collar.

"Dumb bitch. Think. You began running off for 'missions' and left me all alone. If you really wanted to talk, you could have come to me, I was always running the shop with my parents till they passed, but you never even came by." Akahana gritted her teeth and headbutted Akame, knocking her onto her butt.

"Ugh!"

Akame held her head in pain as she moved to get back on her feet, ignoring the hand Akahana offered her as she thought about kicking the older woman in the stomach.

"Hukk... hu-blarg!"

Just as the thought crossed Akame's mind, Akahana grasped her stomach and began vomiting. Rushing to the back door, Akahana released several mouthfuls of lunch.

Akame's eyes trembled as she stared at her old friend in shock and anger.

"What the hell..."

__________________________________

Chapter End