Chapter 17 : White in Black
2 months later
It has been 2 months since I had a fight with Kyoichi and left the Hyuga Compound for a family estate. It is also there where I took the first life of a human being; I felt nothing for my first kill. It is like it is in my genes to kill another person. Nonetheless, he was a bandit, so this makes it easier to accept the fact that I killed a person.
And the remaining days went by like that; killing, pillaging, and training had become the definition of the new normal for me. There is always someone who desires wealth but doesn't have the power to achieve it, and the result of that is being killed by us.
But there are always a few in this mob of people that are different from the rest of the population; they have a mind that can control other people's opinions and make them their supporters. A large mob is not dangerous enough, but a single person who can change the opinions of the masses and make them rebels is most dangerous for our current family structure.
Our task this time is to search for him and eliminate him. He was a family person once, but his family was killed by one of the nobel families in our estate, and since then he has been brooding for revenge. I can empathise with him, but his steps are taking too much toll on the local population. Which is determinal for the clan, as these people are required for trading and food.
This person has also contracted some local rogue ninjas by promising them great wealth, and because of this, one of the elders (my father) of the Hyuga clan himself has to come for him. The Hyuga clan can't put more resources on local rogues, and that is why, to minimise the resources and time, they put an elder on the field, and my father consented to it.
My task during this time was to eliminate this guy—a complex task with my blindness. I am sure that my father has already found the location of that guy and can finish him, but he wants me to perform this task.
The next two months were gruelling and time-consuming. From finding clues to verifying them without anyone finding out, thinning out those rogue ninjas, and demoralising the support of this guy, it was very time-consuming.
At last, it was not in vain, as the support for this guy is almost nonexistent now; he is forgotten in the waves of time, and the only thing remaining is to kill him. It was not very difficult, as he was not a ninja, but I still felt bad for his fate.
The rewards during this month were also not in vain, as I have perfected my chakra control, modified my limited jutsu's to the different surroundings, and even managed to make many adaptations of my new jutsu.
Tomorrow we are going to return to our clan, and a week later we are going to the tournament. I am quite curious to see how the people from earth organised this event and even managed to do so without alerting the thunder punishment of the creator.
2 weeks later
A week has passed since the incident with that local rogue, and it is time for our clan to start moving to the venue of the 11th tournament. This venue is located on an island near the Kingdom of Wind and is an important location for those associations and guilds. This island also consists of the headquarters of all the major institutions in the world.
All the major families, guilds, and associations have certain quotas for participation; there are also local population quotas for each city in which locals have a chance to get these quotas. Many different families from different lands, such as Hozuki Clan from the land of water, which Suigetsu belongs to, and Yotsuki Clan from the land of lightning, where the killer bee is from, will also be attending this competition.
Now that the financial power of the world is controlled by nobles and daimyos, the reputation of a clan or guild is of utmost importance, and this tournament is a chance for any group to increase its reputation. Everyone is fighting tooth and nail for it.
As this matter continues, the other side of my yogic practice is also almost entering a new stage, as I can awaken my Sushma nadi at any time. But I am waiting for the competition to get over so I can begin this project, as adapting to the rise of power may take some time.
The journey to the venue comprises a 100-kilometre run from the clan grounds to a nearby local sea port, where we were joined by the Kaguya clan, and from there we both took a boat to the island. Our team consists of 3 elders, 10 contestants, and 5 observers, while the Kaguya clan team consists of 2 elders, 10 contestants, and no observers.
Both of our clans have been close friends for generations, and we are the only major clan that has an alliance with the Kaguya clan. I want to remind you that this generation of the Kaguya clan is not at all bloodthirsty and maniacal. They are just a normal clan with normal experience. The elders of each team consist of a total of two kage-level combats and five elite Jonin-level combats, which is enough to wipe out a normal middle-level family.
While thinking about these things, our boat sailed off, and after a few days of an odorous journey to the sea, we were near the port. When we arrived at the port, we were greeted by a large number of ships. Some of the ships were large while others were small, but all ships have one thing in common: they all have the logos of their guilds or consortiums on them.
It took a while for our boat to dock on the island, and while the island officials were communicating with elders of both clans, our group of children was observing the port. The clamouring of the merchants, the members of different guilds, and the arrival of other families. So much was happening, and this scene almost blinded all of us. I, due to being blind, cannot comprehend this scene as everything is black and white in my view, but my other senses are informing me about this island.
The scents of the salty sea breeze and the mixture of various fragrances from different people in the marketplace hit me. The air was filled with the bustling sounds of merchants bargaining, ship crews unloading cargo, and people from different lands conversing in a large number of languages.
The elders concluded their discussions, and we disembarked the boats. The island was vast and diverse, accommodating various terrains and climates. The journey to the tournament venue was a mix of traversing bustling urban areas, serene landscapes, and occasionally crossing paths with other groups headed for the competition.
As we moved forward, we encountered other ninja families, each with its own unique flair and distinctive symbols. I saw the Uchiha clan and the Yotsuki clan quarrelling. I also saw the Kurama and Sarutobi clans having a good time. There was also the trademark red hair of the Uzumaki clan near the sealing association and the Hatake clan near the weapons shop. So many customs and so many symbols make my head spin.
While I was thinking about these things, our group continued to move forward with our luggage, and we reached a motel after checking in. We were instructed to rest for the night so we could visit this place tomorrow, and we had to avoid fights as the island restricted the fights. So we departed for our rooms for the night.
The next morning, me and our group started to explore the island, curious to experience the unique offerings of this place. The island had a charm of its own; I could see various guild buildings, various shops, and various monuments. Overall, this city was an architectural masterpiece that can be compared to the most beautiful city in the modern world.
Our exploration took us through the marketplace, where merchants from various regions displayed exotic wares. Colourful fabrics, rare herbs, and peculiar artefacts adorned the stalls. The chatter of negotiations and the haggling between buyers and sellers created a rare, lively atmosphere that was hard to find in the ninja world.
We strolled through the training grounds, where ninja from different clans engaged in friendly sparring matches. Different jutsu's were launched here and there, different martial styles were discussed, and the sounds could be heard of cheering and cursing.
As we ventured deeper into the heart of the island, we discovered the central arena, a colossal structure that would host the battles of the 11th ninja tournament. Banners of different clans and guilds fluttered in the wind, showcasing the grandeur of the tournament.
As the days passed, we continued our preparations for the tournament. The elders engaged in strategic meetings, discussing potential opponents and tactics. The contestants, including myself, underwent rigorous training sessions, honing our skills and refining our jutsu.
The tournament drew near, and the excitement in the air intensified. The island buzzed with activity as ninja families, guilds, and associations finalised their preparations. Banners and symbols adorned every corner, creating a visual spectacle that mirrored the diversity of the ninja world.
During my stay on the island, I noticed various peculiar things. First, there was a lot more population of ninjas in this city. For example, in the local population, for every 10 citizens, there is one ninja. You should know that in the future, in Konoha, it will be 1 ninja for every 100 citizens, which means that the amount is 10 times more. Second, there are favourable conditions for the various unemployed ninjas, and the guilds are open to the local population. Third, the knowledge of chakra and jutsu's is much more obtainable here.
There are a large number of guilds for every big or small occupation. There is even a guild for building pillows, and the strangest part of this all is that the most powerful guild is the plant guild. It is accepted in the whole ninja world that the plant guild is the most powerful guild in the world. It's like there is no contender for the plant guild, and every decision is like a command. There are also weapons guilds, clothing guilds, etc. And the method of admission in these guilds is strange, as all the guilds are instructed to take their members only from the local population, and not a signal person should belong to any family, group, or other guild.
But overall, this city is like a white pearl in a necklace of black beads, unique and full of charms, always attracting people like moths to be lost in this new world.