Will of Fire Burns Brightly

Conflicted.

There was no better word to describe how Chusei felt about his first escort mission. On one hand he was excited. This was his first out of village experience in over ten years. The amount he remembered about his last village were so meager. He couldn't find the nerve to call them memories. Seeing the same things for another year would probably drive his sanity over a cliff. It was a miracle he was able to hold out for so long. He needed a "field trip" more than every other genin in the reserves.

Then on the other hand.

There was the leering fact that they were essentially being thrown into the open world, with little practical understanding. He was just barely capable of defending himself, but Konoha found it fit for him to defend four different people. Sure he invaded the minds of both Nagisa and Kobaru during spars to adopt their behavior in combat. However, that knowledge did not qualify him to be their source of back up.

The chunin who gave them their mission details, sensed the looming concerns coming from the group. Still the man did nothing to alleviate it. They just gave them a route description and a return date. The bastard didn't even offer a pat on the back or an encouraging statement.

Chusei would very much like to know, how the Hokage settled on taking these emotionless people. With a task as delicate as guiding the minds of children. There was something wrong with every adult shinobi. Chusei could attest to that, and Nohara-sensei confirmed it every time he gathered the class.

He already counted a small continent worth of red flags, but he was admittedly excited about it.

So much so that he woke himself up several hours before sunrise. And no matter how hard he tried. He couldn't put himself back to sleep. By the time he finally decided to give up. He had counted enough sheep to line the borders of fire country and spent more time pretending to sleep, than actually doing it.

He didn't favor what would come with his insomnia. He would rather slam his forehead against a wall until his skull caved in. Than to face the greatest enemy he ever came across.

Silence.

He hated it with an unreasonable amount of passion. The barracks were always too quiet for his liking. It brought with it an air of depression that he didn't have the mindset to address.

It was one of his goals to one day purchase a condo near the red light district, where silence was almost extinct. Homes in that area didn't cost much either. But on genin wages he'd have to do nothing but save for eight years. So any money left over from utility bills and necessary equipment, were immediately stashed away.

He'd probably cut the eight year wait down by half, if he maintained his funds from before the Nine Tails attacked. Considering that he had no estate all the money he saved in the bank were pushed into the community effort. Back then he hoped that they focused on rebuilding the orphanage instead of resizing the barracks. He could never be angry about it, but his situation would have to be dire for him to invest in a financial institution ever again.

Until his mattress would do well as a safe.

In the dark of his apartment. Chusei found himself sitting on the floor. His legs folded neatly under his body and his eyes held shut. He turned his focus inward. Kneading, then stretching his chakra simultaneously. At further distances. He would have to put more effort into connecting with his links. The preparation was arguably the hardest part of basic sensing. Chakra was already hard to move as it was. Difficulty evolved when one had to both shape and tune their energy simultaneously. If they didn't then connection would be dull and inaccurate. Or if he really messed up. The feedback would result in a pulsing headache that grew the longer he held his chakra in place.

Even after over a year of developing and using his technique. There was still plenty he didn't know about it himself. Luckily alone time at home always motivated him to practice. Anything to distract himself from the lack of background noise.

It was how he mistakenly learned a C-rank technique in the first place. Sure the move didn't take much intelligence to do. As long as you learned the seals. Your chakra would automatically react in accordance. Even with the lowest of skill. It could still go horribly wrong. He didn't have to be formally educated to know. That if the user did not line the throat, mouth and lips in a layer of chakra. Or timed the exhale properly. They would accidentally set themselves on fire or blow their own head off.

One wrong move in the technique and it would quickly turn fatal.

It was partially why he didn't want to pass the information to the other two. He already tutored Kobaru into learning the academy three. Which the boy expanded on with his unique understanding. Seeing what he could do with a bullet made out of fire was an underlying interest. Chusei would be happy if all three could use the technique, but it wasn't worth the risk. The two of them could wait until they stumbled across a scroll that had enough details.

Chusei pressed his chakra down into several thin whips and forced them outward through the village. Within thirty seconds he had enveloped the entire village. The first time he tried linking chakra from this distance. He performed a pulse that scrambled the radar of every active sensor within a mile radius. He remembered the way his actions attracted the blonde clan from the West End. They snooped around the barracks for days trying to find the source. That pulse eventually lead to the discovery that if he kept his chakra thin enough. Then it would be too insignificant to garner the attention of others.

For sensors it would be like having hair in your food. More often than not. You wouldn't realize it was there until it was in your mouth.

He shuffled through all the links that he'd made in the last year. Most were still active. His chakra remaining dormant in their system until he found a reason to use it. Some people did something with their chakra that caused his connection to dissolve. He himself hadn't figured out how to stop it. Kobaru would erase the foreign energy every other day. Forcing Chusei to forge a link every time they met.

He tried watching to understand what was being done to evict him, but his research came back as naught. It wasn't something he could just ask though. He was already invading everyone's privacy by not telling them that they were a part of his complex network of chakra.

He filed through the barracks and found Nagisa. She was still asleep. Disappointingly. She was dreaming of training. Keeping her place as the worst person to link with. The girl had proven to have one of two things on her mind whenever he tracked her. Either she was on about a way to improve herself or enjoying a bout of silent self-degradation. Which she used to motivate herself. She never spent much time on her introspection so he never imposed.

He moved through the other apartments and found their new teammate. Who was also dreaming. But of things that were moving too fast for Chusei to understand. He remained in the boy's thoughts for awhile. Judging him... As he was yet to figure out how someone could just shatter a first impression like the way this kid did a few hours before. He didn't even give a reason to redeem himself. Just left them to stew in their indifference to his prejudice.

They all assumed that he was a good, fun-loving boy. Pulled into the life of soldiers due to the bare minimum requirements he possessed. Looking to toil through years of service and one day die in servitude. To repay the village that gave them their purpose. In their line of work. Dying in the field was exactly what would happen, and the young boy knew this. As he stated proudly that his drive was to one day fight Kumo in war. To take one cloud-nin life before he ended his own.

From that moment. Chusei knew that he would have to use all the power he had. All the power that he could ever accumulate. To ensure this boy didn't rise to any administrative position in Konoha. The last thing they needed was a war hawk with actual influence. Not even as a jonin. That would risk giving him a genin cell.

Ironically he had a more diverse mindscape than Nagisa. Which honestly wasn't saying much. If the girl's mind was a color it would probably be a mix of brown and grey.

He reached out to his link that went passed Ichiraku. Passed the shopping district. Passed Konoha Military Police. Passed the theatres. Into the forest and along a dirt track. Into a clearing on the Museigen property. Where Kobaru was already throwing clones and kunai at tree trunks. As to why they lived isolated from the rest of the populous, not even Kobaru seemed to know.

The younger boy said that throwing was his weakest area. Having barely trained his technique during the academy. However, from the sense of accomplishment racing through the link with every toss. He was just being modest. A trait that Chusei would be more than happy to wipe from the boy's personality. In his book. Two loud mouths were always better than one.

Kobaru was also very focused. Having an unending well of persistence. He could probably run for days on broken legs. Always trying to learn something to boost his repertoire. The only difference between him and their blue haired friend. Was that he was capable of living in the present like a normal person. He wasn't consumed by his goal or preoccupied by his methods. A clear sign that he wasn't a psychopath waiting for his chance to make his presence known.

Even with his shortcomings. The cat-eyed genin was someone he would like to serve with for the rest of his career. If only to help the boy accomplish his goal. He always took the will of fire statements with a grain of salt during his academy days. He could never really connect with the idea of having precious people in the village. There were individuals that he enjoyed being around, but he could never imagine himself hauling ass at the frontline for them. He already believed that he owed the village and understood his place in their ever growing labor force. He didn't need anything else to keep him around. He couldn't allow any deeper attachment than what came naturally to him.

His pessimism eventually eroded. The village unknowingly gave him two people who genuinely cared about his well being. Not just another hand to aid in their silent scheming. The first person to not get paid to keep him around. He knew that he was mostly avoided in his earlier days for his lack of educational grace. But his point remained. He was accepted by individuals and he was more than willing to pay them back in blood.

Will of Fire burns brightly.

The only problem was that the people he wanted to protect. Had a better chance fighting for themselves.

XxX

Chusei was the last to arrive at the gate. He wasn't late, but he would be hard pressed to get there before his other teammates.

The two youngest were locked in an unspoken competition to see who could get anywhere first. Before today they were at a draw of thirteen each. According to Nagisa, she arrived a minute and a half before the black haired genin.

He would never be given a reason as to why they felt the need to get there a half hour before the due time. So he did his best not to ask.

After five minutes of waiting the client arrived. He introduced himself then they were off towards the first shinobi outpost on their route. The chunin who gave them the mission. Estimated that with two hour walks and thirty minute breaks. The team should be there by sunset of the first day. Even if they managed to lose track of time it was still a five day journey at most.

The outpost served as satellites for Konoha. They were camps made up entirely of chunin and experienced genin. All residing there in wait to dispatch to the border at the sound of an alarm. Due to the current political climate no one could enter the Land of Fire without an outpost knowing. It was how they kept the fighting at their doorsteps for almost three generations.

He was excited about that too. They would spend at least a night at the outpost. With people who had unique experiences and most importantly. Unique chakra.

Mr. Hayazuki, the client, was a tall man. Almost as tall as Nohara-sensei, but several years younger. He was the kind of person you wouldn't pick a fight with unless it was a life or death situation. The only thing on his person was a pack that he strapped tightly to his back. He held his body in a rigid manner. Not too far from how Nagisa liked to keep her frame straight. When he introduced himself his voice was deep and seemed to cut through all other sounds.

Crowning the tower of a man. Was dark hair. Left to grow long but incredibly unkempt. Even Kobaru took better care of his mane. Having his mother spend time combing his hair and styling it into a low hanging ponytail. Proving that shinobi could have better hygiene than an aristocrat. He had a full beard which he applied the same energy to when it came to grooming. His eyes were dark and barely opened. As he settled for a half-lidded stare.

Features that didn't apply to any of the nobles they saw in the academy's history books. There was a better chance of this man being nomadic than of actual royalty. And if he was why were they going to The Land of Hot Water? With only four genin guarding him. Chusei needed answers.

And apparently he wasn't going to get them until he asked.

All the excitement of the mission was gone by the time they took their first break. Their client had nothing to say to them since they met him at the gate. He just kept to himself and kept walking. Considering that the client was the one to set the mood for these kinds of missions. Chusei was forced to face his enemy a second time for the day.

Silence.

This was greatly underwhelming. He was expecting the aristocrat to be a talkative waste of space. Like they were described in the stories he heard at the orphanage. Belting off about how their jobs are immoral and how children their age. Usually played or were still seeking an education. Not escorting the rich through dangerous lands.

Instead they got a level headed individual who ensured that the trip went as smooth as possible. He kept on track. Didn't need to take random bathroom breaks. Even though his legs were buckling under the long trek. He never sought to complain about his fatigue. They just kept going until they had a scheduled stop.

On their second break when they stopped for lunch. His lips finally made the decision to revolt against the unjust treatment. So two minutes into the meal. He allowed them to utter their first words for almost five hours.

"So... what do you do for a living?" Chusei asked straightening his frame. In a pitiful attempt to mirror Nagisa's normal behavior. She was always composed and exuded a more professional tone than he did. Maybe it would make the man feel more comfortable.

The client didn't even look up from his box of rice. His facial expression was neutral. Seemingly unaware that a question was asked.

"I put myself in high risk situations for minimum wage," thankfully Kobaru replied with a small smile. Even matching Chusei's tone. It was done mostly to mock the older boy, but it was appreciated, "What about you good sir?"

"Me? Well, I am what people call an overachieving underachiever," he grinned already forgetting that he was trying to be more professional, "thank you for sharing, but I was actually asking... um Mr. Hayazaki."

Half-lidded eyes turned to Chusei preceding a deep nasal sigh. 

"You're a talkative one, aren't you?" He placed the bowl on the grass and straightened his legs out in front. They were all sitting in a clearing near to the dirt road. It had a stream nearby and as per the Chunin. This was an abandoned bandit camp turned rest place.

When he heard abandoned. He was prepared to see a broken area. Not a well graded clearing like the one they were in.

He took a deep breath through his nose, then sighed once more, "I am a member of the daimyo's court and an artifact connoisseur. But an author and journalist by notable profession. I found it safe to assume that my type of literature would not entertain the likes of child assassins. So I spared you the boredom of my ideas."

"Well, you couldn't be more wrong," Chusei scoffed then pointed at his two friends with his chopsticks, "Kobaru and Nagisa here... just so happened to be the biggest readers in all of Konoha."

"Yeah, and I like reading fantasy stuff too," the genin nationalist added with a small smile.

The man stared at the boy, "My writings are of historical fiction. I believe fantasy books are the resulting drabbles of man-children" he turned to the youngest in the circle then smiled, "Kobaru? What is your last name?"

"Museigen," Chusei responded on his behalf ignoring the glare that was coming from the other boy.

"Museigen shinobi in times of peace? I see you have adopted the more aggressive approach to your family's business," Mr. Hayazuki smiled then shook his head. He didn't know why but Chusei couldn't stop his hand from sliding to his left thigh. Hovering over his kunai pouch in wait of approval. He didn't feel threatened by the man, but that didn't mean there was no danger. If it did come to blows the more mature individual had the size advantage.

Well size would be an advantage until Nagisa cut him off.

"Sorry," the man apologized picking up on the slight change in everyone's posture, "Once you've met one mortician in the Land of Fire. You've met them all," that statement didn't help ease the tension, but he continued speaking unfazed by their shift in comfort, "It's your eyes by the way. The slit pupil and black hair. Your family has the most consistent genes I've ever seen in my life."

"Wait so it came from your father's side of the family?" Chusei chuckled in an attempt to get the others to relax. It still didn't work. They were already in gear. Judging by their uneasiness before the mission even started. They were etching for a reason to fight. He'd have a better chance putting a mosquito to sleep than getting them to retract, "So what are your books about?"

"I'm quite glad you asked," he plastered his face with a wider smile, but his body remained stiff, "it's about the northern continent."

"You've been to the north?"

"No but I have retrieved manuscripts that were smuggled away from the Land of Lightning. They have continuous contact with the people of the north," he kept his enthusiasm, "A land with history richer than ours. With samurai clad in metal from head to toe. Wielding katana two times as wide and four inches shorter. There, the soldiers were all muscular adults who had the strength of twelve rhinos. Armies lead by their kings. Where Kags and hidden villages refuse to exist."

Chusei sat staring at the man for a while. Mr. Hayazuki was clearly excited about the projects that he published, but he was definitely preaching at the wrong person. The last time Chusei picked up a book. He ended up judging every move the main character made before the second chapter. He had grown used to the written legends of Konoha's many heroes. So, he wasn't going to be interested in the stories of another culture kinds for a long time. If ever.

Nagisa raised her hand and was immediately granted permission to speak, "Do we not have samurai dressed in metal here in Fire Country?"

"Yes but-" he began but was quickly stopped when Nagisa held up her hand.

"Are you saying that the only thing that's different to the Elemental Continent and The Continent of Hope. Is that we have different katana and employ lower requirements for our soldiers?" She asked her tone was consistent, but they could all tell she was being condescending.

The man turned his attention to the sky and scratched his chin, "I thought this was a topic that would piqued the interest of shinobi."

"The more you know," Chusei chuckled then placed his empty bowl on the grass, "We spent a lot of time in the library lately and we haven't seen anything with your name on it. Do people even... you know. Read your stuff?"

"Yes, but for some reason it doesn't do well in this country," came the response as he continued his staring at the clouds. He allowed it to hang in the air as the others continued eating, "The lesser nations are where my books are really popular.

"One of my better selling ones in Rain is a book called Eyes of the Beholder. It's a story of a boy who knew no limits. One who eradicated centuries worth of family history in one night. All on the whim of dissatisfaction.

"The story begins with a child from the Northern continent. A boy who had everything that the world could offer. Natural talent and a great sense of loyalty. All matched with a proud family looking to regain their fame as village elite. He was destined to one day rise in the ranks of his village's army and eventually lead them. Even at a young age he was favored to take on the role of supreme leader. Putting his older and more experienced cousin out of favor with the elders. So, they taught him how to lead his people. How to make decisions for the greater good. How to differentiate between selfishness and selflessness. How to progress without prejudice. How to be the revolutionary leader that his family needed him to be.

"After years of being groomed as heir to his village's leadership. Years of doing nothing but throwing himself into his training to one day acquire the highest position known to his peers. Years of molding himself into the ultimate machine that would reinstate his family's superiority. His clan. The very people who watched him every step of the way. Cast him aside. Why? Because he became an unprofitable investment.

"On his twelfth birthday he was diagnosed with an incurable disease. One that would see him die before he was able to realize the clan's goal. So, they did what any proud family would do. Invest in the next best thing. His cousin was once again given favor. This time even the village leader at the time saw his skill and acknowledged the boy as his true successor. Going as far as stating that he was the finest product of the family in decades and the clan agreed.

"Naturally the boy was angry. He never received praise from their village leader. No one outside of his family saw him as a once in a generation gift. So, this anger eventually evolved into hatred. And on a day when they were all alone. When his pride was put before blood. He performed an art forbidden by his people. A rule they took more seriously than any other. Under a pitch-black sky. The young boy gave into his primal instincts and murdered his clan's new heir. Then tore his right eye from the socket of the limp frame. This was to be his trophy. To get back at him for not seeing his superiority.

"A week later when the unrest peaked. He presented the ball of white and red to his clan. Using it as a sign that even in sickness he had surpassed the power of their new heir. He demanded that they give him the position that worked his entire life towards.

"The clan elders, his parents. They were all disappointed. As any family would be. They shunned his actions and passed his birthright off to his younger brother. Upon reflection he realized his loss. Deciding that they too, were never going to see his obvious superiority no matter how hard he worked to overcome his illness. Even though he proved to them many times that he was the strongest for generations.

"So, on a night not too different from when he took the life of his cousin. He called upon his forbidden arts once more. Dancing through the dark of his clan compound. Armed with only a katana. He proved to everyone in the family that even with his illness he was the greatest of their bloodline.

"In all of half hour. He used his skills to parade through his district. Taking the lives of everyone that was there that night. Painting their walls in rich red splashes of blood. One bight was all it took for him to single handedly wipe his family off the face of the earth. Then in true aggressive fashion regretted nothing. He collected several trophies that night. Keeping all those eyes as a sign. One to remind him that whatever his goal may be. No matter how difficult. There was no one that could stop him from achieving his goal."

He paused then looked down at Kobaru, "Not even those of his blood. That had the same eyes."

He had everyone's attention by the time he was done with his summary. It showed clearly on the genin's face. Kobaru for one was sitting with his eyes wide and jaw hanging open. In a display that commanded no respect.

Chusei was intrigued as well, because it appeared to have no morals tied to actions of the character. It wasn't common to come across literature in the Land of Fire that sought to justify immoral goals. Even the last book he read. Outlined friendship as the drive. Once again pushing Konoha's ideology. Something that even the most antisocial person would eventually come to terms with.

Never had he heard of a character that purged simply because he lost respect for his heritage. This was beyond what he was used to. Something that he could invest several days into deciphering.

Thankfully days of inspection wasn't necessary when you had a someone capable of thinking everything on your behalf.

Nagisa raised her hand again, "excuse me, but the story does not appear to be complete. You specifically stated that he killed who was on the compound that night. What happened to those people who weren't? Do they seek revenge? It isn't compelling to end the story where you left it."

"Well as an author my goal is to get people to read what I write," he smiled, "and for only two hundred fifty ryo you can acquire a copy of my scroll to find out what happens next."

Nagisa whipped her head around at Chusei, who immediately caught on to what was being implied.

"Seriously?" He asked cocking his eyebrows and twisting his lips to show his disgust, "you're wasting my generosity on this?" She nodded confidently, "you might as well buy a jar of air while you're at it," he rummaged through his backpack and tossed his wallet at the girl. Then he turned to the others, "anyone else wanna invest in foreign fiction?"

Kobaru raised his hand and was just as quickly granted permission to speak by the man, "Do you have any artifacts from The Land of Whirlpools."

"Where?" Chusei asked making no attempts to display his confusion.

"It depends," Mr. Hayazuki replied as he tore open his bag to retrieve his story scroll, "if you're looking for a anything on the Uzumaki I have more than anyone else in all the major countries. If it's the Arashi then I have as much as everyone else. Which is none." The younger boy swore under his breath at what Chusei assumed to be dissatisfying news. Then the man continued, "If you want anything on that side of your family, you'd need to find one of them. And trust me I've tried."

"That side?" Kobaru asked narrowing his eyes in the way he did when he wanted to appear intimidating. It never worked before, and it wasn't working then.

"Alright team!" Chusei announced shooting into a stance. Realizing that if the man continued to say anything they'd be sitting there for the rest of the day, "six hours until sunset. Let's get moving."