10 Chapter 10

We sat on the roof of a building near the west gate and had lunch.

My teriyaki was soured by the knowledge that I would probably have to kill some people soon.

We then went on our way, Minato waved at the guards as we passed.

…

The bandits were a team of 6 men at academy graduate level, the scroll said that they had been hopping the border between the land of grass and the land of fire, raping and pillaging, doing what immoral people with a little power do.

Currently they were in our territory so it was our problem.

Our trip was slated to take a full day, so we would arrive at night set up camp, and start our hunt for the bandits.

I was plagued with thought's, I wasn't upset that I would have to take life's, I've known that since I first decided to be a ninja.

It was no surprise.

I was unsure of what I would feel when I took a life.

Would I like it?

Would I hate it?

Would it even phase me?

I didn't know and that bothered me.

…

We arrived near the three-way border between the lands of Rain Grass and Fire.

We set up camp, sadly this camp had no fire, nor were we allowed to set up tents.

…

I had a crappy sleep.

I got up and started doing my stretches, Minato and Kakashi got up earlier than me.

Minato was off doing something and Kakashi was eating an unappetizing looking ration bar.

…

I finished my stretches and also ate a ration bar.

Minato conveniently arrived when I was chewing on my last bit of ration bar.

"Ok, I found our bandits."

I hmmed and made a get on with it gesture.

"They set up a temporary camp and look like there going to move it soon."

"So, should get them now?"

Kakashi chimed in.

Minato nodded and gestured for us to follow as he walked away.

Alrighty, time to pop my murder cherry.

…

I sat in a tree staring at the bandit camp with my Byakugan.

There were six bandits.

Three were sitting around a fire cooking some meat on sticks, 2 were keeping watch, and the last with the most chakra was sleeping off some wounds in his tent.

Wounded enemies are the best enemies.

In a low voice I relayed what I saw to the rest of the team who were also sitting in the same tree.

I watched one of the bandits around the fire drop the meat he was cooking but pick it up and eat it anyway…

I made a disgusted face.

What a filthy animal.

"What did you see Shiro?"

"Nothing Sensei."

Minato had a grim face.

I think there's a misunderstanding here…

…

I was made to scout some more while Minato and Kakashi came up with a plan, it was decided that Minato and I would run at them from the front and Kakashi would sneak up and throw a kunai with an explosive tag on it at the leader's tent.

And then we would go from there.

Any plans with explosions are bound to be good plans.

I gave Kakashi who came up with the idea a thumbs up.

…

Minato and I were sitting in a tree above one of the scouts.

Kakashi was on the other side of the camp doing the same.

We were waiting for the Signal.

…

BOOM!

That was hopefully the sound of their strongest perishing in an explosion.

The scout below us looked towards the camp.

I activated Chikaku no kyōka and slowed my perception as much as possible, and I jumped off the tree and directed my fall towards the distracted scout.

I pulled my right leg back and activated All For One.

I continued to fall.

And fall…

…

And fall…

…

I slowed my perception way too much…

…

Eventually I was within kicking distance and I brought my foot down onto the back of his head…

And his head exploded though thankfully mostly away from me.

I landed then lessened Chikaku no kyōka, closed my eyes and took a deep breath in…

…

And out…

…

When I opened my eyes, the world was still in slow motion, Minato was among the group sitting at the fire, and Kakashi was still out of sight.

I didn't feel any different after killing the scout.

Though that might change when the battle dies down…

…

I closed my eyes a second time, and I opened them again with my Byakugan active.

Kakashi was up in a tree staring at his dead scout, Minato was surrounded by dead body's and the leader's burnt corpse was covered in the wreckage of the tent.

A very successful ambush.

I completely stopped Chikaku no kyōka and deactivated my Byakugan.

…

I still wasn't sure how I felt…

We were seated at our camp, away from the smell of blood and burnt flesh.

I felt dirty and wanted a shower.

…

We sat in silence for another couple of minutes until Minato gave the order to pack it up so we could leave.

…

We all packed quickly and set off, I wanted a shower, Kakashi might have wanted to seek comfort in his father, and I couldn't guess Minato's thoughts.

Though he probably wanted to get back to Konoha as well.

…

We made it back a while after the sun had set.

Kakashi tried to break from the team but Minato stopped him, he told him that we had a two-week break and told him that he could talk to him if he ever needed anything.

Kakashi nodded and left

…

Minato and I were watching Kakashi go, I turned to him and told him I was going home and tried to make a break for it as well, hoping to get to my shower as fast as possible and wash whatever dirtiness I was feeling away.

…

Minato caught me and threw me over his shoulder.

"Sensei…"

He Hummed at me.

"Can you let me go?"

…

"I'm taking you to my place Shiro."

…

"Umm, why is that?"

…

"Kushina wants to see you."

I don't think I have a choice in the matter…

"I have to shower."

I thought about kneeing him in the chest but realized that it wouldn't help me escape.

"That all right ill let you use mine."

…

We arrived at Minato's apartment.

Kushina met us at the door and pushed me into the bathroom telling me I need to wash.

I agree I do need to wash.

And so, wash I did.

…

I felt less dirty now that I had a shower.

But still dirty.

I got dressed, left the bathroom, and was immediately accosted.

Kushina grabbed me and brought me to the living room and sat on the couch.

Kushina sat me in Infront of her and proceeded to play with my hair.

I enjoyed the feeling of fingers running through my hair and fell asleep.

…

I woke around midday feeling very hungry and with my hair in one big braid.

No one was home so I gathered my things and Shunshined home.

…

Now home I took a second shower and got into a new jumpsuit.

I went into my room and prepared to hibernate for a couple of days and not leave.

…

I used my time in hibernation to think about my feelings.

And still wasn't much closer to putting it into words.

…

I didn't feel happy or upset at the bandit's deaths…

I felt nothing.

Indifferent maybe?

Apathy is what they call it.

I felt apathetic towards the bandits and their deaths.

I don't know what I should have felt, but surely it shouldn't be apathy.

….

Two days had passed and I came out of my room.

I was upset by my lack of care for the bandits but that showed that I at least felt something.

I figured that hiding in my house wouldn't solve anything and prepared to get back into the swing of things.

...

I was in the third training ground fighting two of my clones.

And when I say fighting, I mean avoiding All For One punches.

…

After being beaten by my clones I dispelled them and created one more to take their place.

I sent this one to Gail's house and that's where he would stay, well I train with the second level of the gravity seal.

I realized that I didn't like having the seal active all the time.

It made me feel vulnerable.

So, I decided that the seal would only be used for training.

...

I was halfway home when my clone dispersed.

Gai and my clone had done some of Gai's academy work before the clone left to bother Kakashi.

And by bother, I mean the clone went to check ok Kakashi.

Kakashi didn't like being checked on…

So, he sucker-punched my clone.

Will he be more insulted that I didn't come my self?

…

I was finally home.

I had just entered my home and was met with my mother.

"Hello mother."

I sent her a nod with my greeting

"Hello and Happy Birthday Shiro"

What?

"Thanks mother."

I forgot about my birthday…

"Here is your present from me."

I was handed a box.

"Thanks!"

I tried to add some enthusiasm to my voice.

I opened the box and was met with an old and thin book.

"So, what's this?"

I flipped through the pages to get a vague idea of what it was.

"The book contains details on Byakugan techniques used by your great-great-grandfather."

I got the gist of it the same moment she said it.

"Hmm, what's in it?"

I raised an eyebrow at her.

She raised hers back.

"You can read it and find out."

Sigh...

"Thanks, I'm going to bed, I'll see you tomorrow."

I heard a sigh behind me.

"Happy Birthday Shiro, and goodnight."

…

Six eh?

Time flies…

…

After a shower I was sitting in my room reading the book I just got.

The book again went over the common uses and weaknesses of the Byakugan.

Nothing new.

The book went over the Byakugan telescopic vision and ability to see through solid objects.

…

The book went on about the ability to magnify and zoom.

Finally, some gold.

Though it only mentioned seeing tiny insects…

So, I'm not going to be able to see cells…

The Byakugan also has the ability to detect things through their body heat.

So, infrared vision?

The book finally goes on about the Byakugan's usefulness in speed reading and being used to read books from a distance.

Copying books with the Byakugan sounds good.

Too bad I didn't know about this when I was in Yugakure…

There were probably some useful books I could have nabbed…

…

So, some new stuff that I should have known but didn't…

So now I have to train my Byakugan more so I can nab books and scrolls in the future…

Am I ever going to have the time to learn any Lightning jutsu?

…

I was in the public library under a Henge testing out my Byakugan's speed/distance reading.

I was seated in the Genin section of the library and trying to read stuff in the Chunin section.

And I was met with great success.

It was extremely easy.

if I combined this with Kokoro no kyōka I'd be a book stealing machine...

…

I was distracted by an errant thought…

In Konoha they have barriers to keep the Byakugan from seeing inside some buildings…

But once I'm inside can I use my Byakugan to read from whatever books and scrolls that are in the building…

That would be a dumb flaw.

But it would also be understandable if that was the case.

Why would one go through extra measures to blind a friendly clan inside a building that is already protected against casual snooping…

Perhaps I can get a look at the scroll of seals, something to try out in any case.