Island of Steel (2)

[Compulsory Mission - Patrol [D]

As part of the platoon deployed to defend the island of steel, a strategic location containing iron mines necessary for Kirigakure's supply of shuriken, kunai and swords, patrols on the island were deemed of utmost importance.

Task - Patrol around section 6 - path determined on the minimap (44%)

Rewards - 500 EXP, 1000 Ryô, +50 Reputation with the Steel Platoon, +50 Reputation with Sakutsu & Yukiko]

Protecting the island of steel was bound to be filled with risk. That's why each patrol was composed of three shinobi, one chunin and two genin. The high-risk zones were left for jonins to defend, and skirmishes had already broken out, the kumogakure being in a watch-and-strike approach.

The third shinobi war had not even broken out, yet everything pointed towards it. 

Sakutsu was young man, thirty of age, with beard and bandages covering his body. He was a chunin specializing in genjutsu and he happened to be a sensor too. Yukiko, on the other hand, was a medical jutsu specialist with over 100 missions completed. I was the true newbie in the squad, on paper at least.

Still, my flawless records over the past week had gained me a semblance of reputation. 

"You're saying you managed to master the water eagle jutsu at just nine?", Yikiko muttered in shock, having tried to learn the C-rank jutsu in the past, albeit without ever succeeding

"Well, you could say that, but I-"

"Sorry for interrupting- there are a group of shinobi ahead, five of them, all genins. Prepare for combat"

Yukiko froze in place, but quickly entered a stance of combat, her experience kicking in. Taking out a pair of kunai, she observed the surroundings. Sakutsu immediately rushed forwards with shuriken in hands, throwing them as he locked on a target who was waiting to ambush us.

I also noticed a glint of light under the moon, and used my strongest jutsu.

[Water Shuriken Jutsu - C-rank]

*SPLASH*

[You have dealt 216 points of damage]

[Critical strike]

[Level 19 Kumogakure Genin has been killed. You have earned 190 EXP]

[Island of Steel Quest [A] is in progress...]

[Your existence grows...]

"What the?", the kumogakure shouted in shock, seeing one of their own decapitated by the seemingly youngest genin targeted

"YOU WILL PAY", a bulky taijutsu specialist shouted, his hands covered in iron gloves. His black skin and blond hair made him look like a miniature version of the raikage, though his level indicated that he had just that in common - physical appearance, that is.

[Level 22 Kumogakure Genin - Relationship: Very Hostile]

The battlefield was the ideal place to train skills. Though he could probably one shot the taijutsu specialist with a [Water Eagle] jutsu, he wanted to test out all of his arsenal.

[Suiton no jutsu - Azure Stream [D]]

Taking a deep breath, he then spit out a highly-pressurized stream of water. His accuracy was a bit low, due to his proficiency in the skill being lower than 50, but he still hit the kumogakure taijutsu specialist in the thigh. 

[You have dealt 96 points of damage]

[You have inflicted bleeding ailment]

"This skill is amazing", Takeshi grinned with ecstasy, "I just need to breathe and the range is even higher than that of the water shuriken"

The Azure stream was a genin-level jutsu, yet its potential and lethality in the battle was actually higher. Although it dealt less damage, the speed of the projectile was much higher, making it much more likely to hit a target, whereas the water shuriken, even if enhanced with rotation, could be dodged by a nimble genin.

Without waiting any further, Takeshi spammed the skill.

[Suiton no jutsu - Azure Stream [D]]

Having adjusted the angle, the stream of water hit the charging taijutsu specialist straight in the heart. In disbelief, he fell on the ground, lifeless.

[You have dealt 96 points of damage]

[Level 22 Kumogakure Shinobi has been killed. You have earned 220 EXP]

Turning around, Takeshi realized that Yukiko had engaged with a swordsman specialist. Although she was defending well, bruises and cuts accumulated on her body, her face tainted in a crimson colour. 

Her opponent fared much better, not even panting from the interaction. 

[Suiton no jutsu - Azure Stream [D]]

[You have dealt 96 points of damage]

[You have dealt 48 points of damage]

Like a child having found a new toy, Takeshi immediately took a breath and spit more pressurized water, towards the swordsman. Although the angle also hit Yukiko's arm, it was worth it. Taken by surprise, the kumogakure changed targets and rushed towards Takeshi.

However, close combat had become Takeshi's dominant ground. 

[Haze Sword Art - 8th Form (Typhoon Slash)]

[You have dealt 312 points of damage]

[You have killed Level 28 Kumogakure Shinobi. You have earned 380 EXP]

As the body of the kenjutsu specialist fell on the ground, a deep silence fell onto the forest. Sakutsu, the chunin of the patrol squad, had also finished the skirmish on his side. As he came back, he looked at Takeshi in a new way. The kid was a monster.