Chapter 27: Target

"Pl-pleaase don't kill us," A man was begging on the ground in front her.

She watched as tears stream from his face, as the hesitation grew within her.

She watched as the man lunged towards her with a face of hatred as he took advantage of her moment of hesitation.

Yet her body readily reacted as she was trained to do since she unlocked her chakra.

Her blade cut through the man as if he was a piece of paper.

She watched as the blood from her blade dripped down towards the hilt feeling the warmth of the blood as it covered her hand.

She was taken out of her moment of shock as a shrill scream of desperation resounded as a woman crawled towards the man.

She tried to cover the wound though the blood continued to overflow.

"Susumu…, wake up," the woman shaked her husband, "don't leave me…don't leave me."

A girl stood there uncertain of the action she had taken, she had just taken someone's life.

Her hands trembled as she felt her stomach churn, yet she raised her blade as a hand was placed on her shoulder.

Just as quick as she had drawn her blade she had also lowered it as she saw the hand belonged to an Old man with a cross scar on his temple, Chikao.

"Young Miss, I understand the first time is always the hardest, leave the rest to me," comforted Chikao as he raised his blade.

'Must eliminate every source of future trouble.'

"You monsters," was the last thing she heard when she turned her back. 

She was outside where another ninja of the Karatachi Clan was waiting.

The cold rain woke her up, she closed her eyes as she stood still.

Just a moment later Chikao exited the house as his eyes landed on the young miss of the Karatachi Clan. 

His eyes quickly wander towards the clouds overhead, 'hmph that Endo Clan's Kekkei Genkai is quite useful though not as great as ours.'

"We have to keep moving." Ena nodded her mind unfocused.

She remembered the sound of the collision of blades, the sound of flesh being sliced and torn, the shrill screams that resounded the compound.

The cold hard rain that poured over her skin.

She remembered the foul stench of throwing up once she realized she was standing in a sea of corpses.

Ena awoke from her sleep as she emptied the content of her stomach, gasping for air, her bed sheets were soaked.

As she regained her bearing, she couldn't help but feel that she was weak compared to her brother.

She gazed through the window as the moonlight streamed in as the clouds passed the moon.

Most nights were cloudy, filled with mist. Now with the Kekkei Genkai of the Endo Clansmen they had better weather and a natural weather barrier that secluded their compound.

'It's all thanks to my brother, all because of him. But what have I accomplished?," her thoughts trailed before her fists clenched in determination.

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A middle aged man with numerous scars adorning his prominent muscles was currently seated in a meeting house.

In front of him there were two individuals.

A man wearing dark red armor, and the man to his right was wearing dark blue armor.

"Hahaha, Jinsei I'm sorry I couldn't arrive earlier so many clans wanted to speak with them so I was a bit delayed. I hope you can forgive me."

Though not visible, Jinsei was quite displeased with how Hashirama carried himself.

These individuals were prominent in the Land of Fire many could recognize them even those from foreign elemental land could. 

Yet here the Senju Clan Leader was having a boisterous attitude, not taking this meeting seriously since he had arrived.

The man hadn't even addressed him by his title instead calling his name as if they had been friends for years.

'How long has it been?'

Jinsei had sent word to the Senju Clan that he wished to have a meeting with the Senju Clan Leader, Hashirama. 

That was a year ago

Jinsei knew the Hatake Clan wasn't that prominent; they had no ambition to expand their influence; they simply kept what they had.

Yet for them to take a year to respond to his request he couldn't but think just where is their place in Konoha?

Hashima, perhaps noticing Jinsei staying quiet, decided to cut off his rambling, "So Jinsei tell me what did you want to meet us about?"

"I just wanted to hear from you in your words what does the Hatake Clan mean to you?"

Hashirama without missing a beat replies, "I see you guys as a family, after all Konoha will be a gathering of numerous clans bringing peace to the Land of Fire."

"Then what about those outside of the Land of Fire?"

Hashirama was momentarily stunned before smiling, "They can also joined Konoha" 

At those words Jinsei could only mentally shake his head.

The man in front of him gave him strong feelings of oppression, yet his attitude didn't befit his strength.

It was possible that because of his strength he could act and think the way he does, but that's only if he's here.

'What would happen if he wasn't here?'

Thinking that he couldn't help but gaze over to Tobirama, but his cold red eyes bore through him, although the oppression from Tobirama wasn't as strong as Hashirama it was still there.

The brother's were strong but for how long?

That boy was younger than them, even if that boy doesn't grow as stronger than Hashirama, he would still live longer than him.

There was still Madara from the Uchiha Clan though he is aware that the Man hasn't won against Hashirama once, who is to say that he won't the next time?

So many variables yet the man in front takes no heed to them. 

He's strong. Yes, but I can't follow a man who doesn't plan ahead.

Jinsei continued attending them, asking about what would be next after founding Konoha, yet the man in front of him has only ever thought about forming Konoha. 

He had never thought about what's next.

Hashirama looking out the window decided to end the meeting, "Jinsei, it's been awhile since we got here, it's a shame but I will have to leave. 

There are still other clans that wish to meet with me."

Hashirama raised his hand to shake Jinsei's, "I'm glad I was able to answer your questions I hope I was able to ease your concerns, I hope to see at Konoha."

Jinsei watched as Hashirama and Tobirama left the Hatake compound, his mind stirring over their conversation.

His thoughts broken sensing the individual next to him,

"So have you made your decision?"

Jinsei gazed at his father's figure, as let out a sigh, "I have. I'm going to gather our clan for a meeting."

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As Jinsei issued a command to his guards to gather the clansmen for a clan meeting, 

Hashirama and Tobirama were quickly heading to their next destination.

Tobirama couldn't help but feel that the meeting was odd.

The Hatake Clan Leader seemed interested in Konoha, after all he seemed to want to know the next steps after the founding of Konoha.

Yet his attitude, his gaze didn't show that he was enthusiastic but rather it showed that he was judging his brother's answers.

'But what was there to judge? Was he planning on not joining if he didn't like Hashirama's answers? 

Was he skeptical whether Hashirama could form Konoha? No that can't be it as his brother's strength started to gain renown in the shinobi world. 

His strength ensured that Konoha would form so even if doubted he could simply accept on the surface and on the off chance Konoha didn't form he could simply act as if he had never agreed in the first place. 

That was the safe option.

What other options were there? The Uchiha…' That thought caused Tobirama to grimace with disgust.

However he quickly eliminated the thought after all Hashirama planned had already shared that Konoha would involve the Uchiha.

Tobirama was against the idea but eventually accepted.

If the Uchiha and the Senju agreed to come together to form a village then the others had no choice but to submit.

They had no choice, they already avoided the Uchiha and Senju on a regular basis, now that the two had teamed up what else could they do?

'So what was Hatake Clan Leader thinking….could it be that he's planning on leaving the Land of Fire? 

No the Land of Fire was the most prosperous amongst the lands the….wait, that question what was it?' 

Tobirama paused, trying to recall the early conversation.

Hashirama, noticing his brother's pause quickly stopped, "Tobirama what's wrong."

"What about those outside the Land of Fire."

Hashirama was perplexed by his brother's words so he asked, "What about them?" 

Tobirama gaze into his brother's eyes, "I believe there are others forming the village brother," his gaze solemn.

Hashirama simply smiled, "So there are other like minded individuals, maybe I could invite them to our village in the future."

Tobirama simply gazed at Hashirama, "I hope so too brother, I hope so too."

"Come brother, we still need to arrive at the other clan."

Tobirama looked at the sky lost in his thoughts though he eventually moved, tossing those thoughts away.

Hashirama is strong enough to stop any future problems.

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It's been three months since Ritsu razed the Matsui and Hara Clan compound to the ground.

The past three months have been spent trying to locate any notable clans to take under his wing.

Yet Ritsu was met with disappointment.

Currently Ritsu was with Kaz and Riku as they were walking on a vast plain.

They were traveling to the nearest town in the Land of Hot Water.

It wasn't long till they had arrived at the nearest one.

As the Land of Hot Water was infertile with various hot springs along with some patches of fertile ground mostly to the north of their territory.

Since the land was mixed between infertile and fertile land there were years where the harvest wasn't very good for some towns, while the towns known to have good harvest every year were sometimes the prime target for raiding.

Just like this town, the farm fields were half harvested and the rest of the field were burnt.

It was obvious that bandits waited till the town was halfway through their harvest to attack.

The houses were mostly intact, some dead bodies were strewn about but what caught Ritsu's attention were traces of chakra and some arrows here and there.

'Shinobi's posing as bandits?

They must really be struggling if they had to pose as bandits.'

Ritsu wanted to gather more information but the villagers didn't pay them any heed as they were wary of them.

Although Ritsu assured them that they meant no harm to the villagers, they continued to be wary. 

Seeing that he wasn't getting anywhere he decided to simply trail these bandits and find out why they decided to raid the town.

Perhaps he would make them his subordinate willingly or not.

But as the group of three tracked the group of bandits down at first it was simple trails with minimum track covering.

Allowing them gain massive distance towards their target.

But as they got closer and closer traps were laid out, the trail was thinning.

None of the three were skilled at tracking but they kept at it for a day and half and just when they decided that it was loss cause, Ritsu pulled back Riku.

Riku was confused why Ritsu pulled him back before Ritsu got down on the ground and swiped his finger across the ground.

Just as he did, a launch of three sticks were flown right by where Ritsu had swiped his finger.

If Ritsu was a common person and not a shinobi then he wouldn't have noticed the trap.

Even if he was an experienced hunter or assassin dedicated to their craft.

It wasn't because the threads of the traps were thin but rather it was made of a thin amount of chakra. 

Those people would have no way to sense the trap.

A thread of chakra that managed to persist for how long?

A day? If it was so then how did they do it? Chakra that leaves your body tends to dissipate easily as it was seemingly absorbed by the environment.

Ritsu couldn't help but smirk as he found his next target.

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I apologize for not posting last week but everything converged onto that week so I was rushing through the chapter and just as I was about to post I decided that I didn't like it, so I redid it. I ended up writing something completely different than what I had but I felt it was necessary to write about this. I'll trying and make up last weeks chapter once I'm in spring break.