First Mission: Clans War - 6

Kouske: One more thing before we start, I have a question. This Eisaku, was he inside the diamyo's carriage?

[Enemy Shinobi]: No, Our diamyo is quite smart. She thought there might be shinobis hiding among the people. Maybe to gather information or to attack her. So there were two Hyugas inside the carriage. Using their Byakugan to look around.

Kouske: That means, those Hyuga shouldn't have known me. So how...

[Enemy Shinobi]: How did we identify you? After you ran away doing explosions. Some shinobi who were not seriously injured still gave chase. But they kept their distance. To them, because you were so dangerous, any information regarding you was important. For example, where are you going? They reached this town following your tracks and reported everything. We knew you were here but we did not know your face or whether you are hiding using Transformation Jutsu or whether you left. Your biggest mistake was to be among the crowd when the procession was passing.

Kouske: I was hiding my chakra and my chakra was at the same level as a civilian so how did the Hyuga find me?

[Enemy Shinobi]: Heh, What's the point of me answering?

Kouske: I am about to die anyway right? I need to know what mistakes I made. Just let a dead person know so that he can quench his curiosity.

[Enemy Shinobi]: HaHa, Your eyes are not that of a dying person. You plan to fight us right? Even if the odds are against you? Fine, I will let you know because I respect your courage. Although, your chakra was definitely of a civilian but which civilian would have a sealing tag on their body? To a Hyuga, who was watching, that was the most suspicious thing. Your next mistake, you did not use Transformation Jutsu and you were dining in the open area of the inn with your teammates. Eisaku was coincidentally assigned to investigate you and he saw your teammates' faces. Then he came back and reported. All the puzzle pieces were combined and a full picture was clear for us.

Kouske: I see. Using the sealing tag was a mistake but the biggest one was not to use the Transformation Jutsu.

[Thunder Rumbling]

Kouske: One last thing, No civilian's around here. am I right to assume that the diamyo arranged the free food and alcohol feast for her people specifically to lure them from here and to her castle. So that they do not die as collateral?

[Enemy Shinobi]: Fine, I will answer this one as well. Yeah, you are correct. It was to lure you as well. We were waiting for you. We thought you would turn up as a civilian, as our initial assumption was that you are here to assassinate the diamyo, but you did not come. We put something in the food and alcohol so that all the people would go to sleep.

Kouske: What a good plan indeed. I would like to commend you. One more last thing.....

Eisaku: WHAT THE FUCK? ARE YOU GUYS HERE TO CHAT? WE ARE HERE FOR A LIFE OR DEATH BATTLE.

Kouske: Tch....

[Enemy Shinobi]: He is right. Let's start.

[Thunder Rumbling]

As everyone got ready for the battle...

Kouske: WAIT, WAIT, WAIT! YOU SHOULD SERIOUSLY LISTEN RIGHT NOW! OTHERWISE, YOU MIGHT REGRET IT.

Everyone just ignored and jumped towards Kouske and his team. Some even released their Jutsus.

Kouske: I HAVE TAKEN YOUR DIAMYO HOSTAGE!

Kouske shouted but It was too late as some Jutsus were flying towards him and his team.

Kouske: DODGE EVERYONE!

Kouske and his teammates dodged, then gathered together on top of another building. Their enemies encircled them again.

[Thunder Rumbling]

The rain also got harder.

Kouske: I REPEAT, I HAVE TAKEN YOUR DIAMYO HOSTAGE!

[Enemy Shinobi]: You better not be lying.

Kouske: I am not.

…

[4 Mins ago]

As Kouske was asking his questions and getting his answers. He was also using his [Animal Mind Control Jutsu]. Specifically, he was using it to see through the eyes of some birds. He was doing it to see whether there were shinobi outside his sensing range or which route he could use for escaping. One of his Owls spotted a 16 year old girl and a 20s something woman. The 20s something woman was covering the girl with an umbrella and the girl was looking through the telescope towards the direction the fight was about to begin. Based on the clothes the girl was wearing and given that the girl knows about the fight that is about to go down, Kouske was under the suspicion that this girl might be the new diamyo. So the Owl flew close to them and sat on the diamyo's shoulder, freaking both of them out for a moment.

Hikari: My, I was afraid for a moment. Isn't this owl cute Akira?

[Servant Akira]: Hikari-sama, It is. But it is wild so I would suggest you do not touch it. More like, please get it off your shoulder and send it away.

Here the "Hikari-sama" confirmed it for Kouske and he sent a few more birds. Another owl, a pigeon and a crow came flying. All the birds had the paper bomb tied to one of their feet through a string. They landed close to both. After paying attention to the paper bombs and seeing more birds, both had a feeling of dread.

Owl-1: Hello there, You must be Hikari-sama, the new diamyo.

Owl-2: I am the shinobi that your shinobis have encircled.

Pigeon: If you know anything about me then you should know I am quite good with explosions.

Crow: Each of these birds has a quite powerful paper bomb attached. If you want to live then I suggest that you stop your shinobis right now.

Hikari: Akira, do we have a shinobi around to send as a messenger?

[Servant Akira]: We sent all the shinobis for the attack.

Hikari: Then please hurry up and go call a servant. Send them as fast as you can and stop the shinobis from attacking our guest here.

[Servant Akira]: I will leave and do so.

As Akira was about to leave….

Owl-1: You better hurry, I will try to convince your shinobis that I have you as a hostage, but if they attack, then I might just blow the diamyo to sky high.

Hearing this both Akira and Hikari started sweating.

Hikari: Akira, take a servant and you go with it. The shinobis might not believe a random servant but they will believe you. HURRY!

Akira left in a hurry.

Owl-1: Tch....Your shinobis stopped talking. They are about to attack. Pray that they listen.

Hikari started sweating more.

[Hikari-inner-thought: OH NO! WHY DID I HAD TO COME AND SEE THE FIGHT? IF MY SHINOBIS DO NOT LISTEN, AND HE THINKS THAT HE WILL DIE, THEN HE REALLY WILL BLOW ME UP.]

…

[Back to Kouske]

[Thunder Rumbling]

A crow came flying and landed on the shoulder of the enemy shinobi talking to Kouske.

[Enemy Shinobi]: WHAT THE.....

He was about to attack it...

Kouske: STOP! THAT IS MY CROW. NOTICE THE PAPER BOMB ON ITS FOOT.

[Enemy Shinobi]: YOU!!!

Kouske: As you can see, I have birds with paper bombs attached. Right now 4 of those are sitting on your diamyo. If you attack then BOOM! your diamyo will explode.

[Enemy Shinobi]: YOU BASTARD! I GAVE YOU RESPECT AND ANSWERED YOUR QUESTIONS.

Kouske: I AM ALSO GIVING YOU RESPECT AND THAT IS THE REASON I HAVE NOT EXPLODED ALL OF YOU WITH MY BIRDS. I HAVE 64 BIRDS IN TOTAL. WANNA SEE HOW BIG OF EXPLOSIONS I CAN MAKE YOU WAR MANIAC?

All the shinobis around now believed him and stopped. Some were even sweating. From what they heard, these explosions are bigger than the normal ones. So 64 explosions will kill all of them.

Kouske: CLEAN YOUR EARS AND LISTEN YOU DIP SHITS! I HAVE GOT YOUR DIAMYO AND EVEN YOU AS MY HOSTAGE. IF EVEN ONE OF YOU MAKES ANY MOVEMENT, I MEAN ANY, AS EVEN MOVING A FINGER, THEN YOU WILL HAVE EXPLOSIONS AS YOUR LAST MEAL.

[Thunder Rumbling]

As Kouske spoke, they noticed in the light of the lightning that several birds were flying close and were only 2 meters above all of them now.

[Enemy Shinobi-2]: YOU WILL ALSO DIE THEN!

Kouske: YOU IDIOT! ALL OF YOU GATHERED HERE TOGETHER TO KILL ME, ARE YOU NOT? YOU PROBABLY ARE NOT DEMENTED RIGHT? DO YOU HAVE ALZHEIMER, NO I MEAN FORGETFUL DISEASE? YOU DID NOT GATHERED TOGETHER TO HAVE A LATE NIGHT PARTY. YOU ENCIRCLED ME, (Kouske points at himself) ME, YOU GUYS (Kouske points at enemy shinobi), TO KILL ME (Kouske points at himself again). SO IF I COULD BLOW EVERYONE UP WITH ME THEN WHY AM I NOT GONNA DO THAT BEFORE I DIE? TELL ME YOU BASTARDS.

[Enemy Shinobi-3]: He is telling the truth. I would also blow my enemy with me if I knew I would die.

[Enemy Shinobi-4]: So what do we do?

[Enemy Shinobi-5]: Ah, guys, the rain is getting in my eyes. I want to move my hand and wipe some water but he said not to move even a finger.

Kouske: HEY YOU!

Kouske asked the shinobi that wanted to wipe his face of rain water.

[Enemy Shinobi-5]: YE...YES!

Kouske: You can move only one hand and only one finger to wipe the rain from your eyes. Also, do it slowly. If you made any sudden movement then BOOM! UNDERSTOOD?

[Enemy Shinobi-5]: YE..YES SIR! TH..THANK YOU VERY MUCH SIR!

[Enemy Shinobi-4]: I..I ALSO NEED TO DO THAT SIR!

[Enemy Shinobi-3]: ME AS WELL!

Kouske: You guys will do it in the order you asked. Remember, One hand, One finger, Slowly. REPEAT AFTER ME!

[Every Shinobi except the first one]: ONE HAND, ONE FINGER, SLOWLY!

Kouske: GOOD!

[Enemy Shinobi]: SHUT UP! WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU GUYS DOING? DO YOU NOT UNDERSTAND THE SITUATION? HEY YOU, KID, I WILL SEND ONE PERSON TO CONFIRM ABOUT THE DIAMYO. WE CAN ONLY NEGOTIATE AFTER THAT.

Kouske: You don't need to. Your diamyo already sent someone who is on her way. She will be here any moment now.

All the birds that were flying landed, all of them landing on the shoulders of all the enemy shinobis. 14 on the building and 20 hidden. The one that seemed like the leader and answered Kouske's question already had one on his shoulder. The rest doubled down and took the other shoulder. All the shinobis now had at least one bird on their shoulder.

[Enemy Shinobi]: YOU!! ARE YOU GOING BACK ON YOUR WORDS?

Kouske: NO I AM NOT. I AM IN THE BLAST RADIUS AS WELL DIP SHIT. THE BIRDS ARE TIRED, THEY HAVE BEEN FLYING FOR A WHILE.

[Enemy Shinobi]: AND THEY JUST HAPPENED TO LAND ON MY SHINOBIS?

Kouske: I CAN NOT TAKE ANY CHANCES. ASK ALL OF YOUR SHINOBIS WHO ARE HIDING AS WELL TO COME ON ROOFTOPS. RIGHT NOW!

[Enemy Shinobi]: YOU BASTARD! YOU JUST ADMITTED THAT YOU HAD THESE BIRDS LAND ON US. EVERYONE, DO AS HE SAYS FOR NOW.

Even the shinobis hidden got on the rooftops. Everyone became quiet and were waiting. It was like that for 3 more mins. Shinobis were taking turns to slowly move their hand and one finger to wipe some rain water.

Kouske: So what were you guys planning to do after killing me?

[Enemy Shinobi]: Wha..What? You are the first person to ask something like that.

Aiko: Kouske, have you lost your mind?

Emi: Kouske, are you having one of your psychotic attacks?

Kouske: SHUT UP! I am just curious. Tell me what were you guys going to do after killing me and my teammates.

[Enemy Shinobi-2]: Nothing actually. If our allies were injured or dead then either bury the dead or take the injured to infirmary.

[Enemy Shinobi-3]: Yeah.

Kouske: Ahuh, not a fun thing to do after taking down an enemy I would say.

[Enemy Shinobi-2]: It is sad kid. I do not know how long you have been on the battlefield but...It breaks my heart every time....(starts crying)

[Enemy Shinobi-3]: Don't....(also starts crying)...They died as shinobi...(continues crying)

[Kouske-inner-thought: This is starting to feel like group therapy.]

[Enemy Shinobi]: SHUT UP ALL OF YOU! Hey kid, is anyone even coming? I think you are stalling. If so, I might just attack you and be done with it.

[Enemy Shinobi-2]: Captain you can't. Just because you have already lost your wife and child does not mean everyone is the same.

[Enemy Shinobi-3]: He is right. Just get married to that civilian servant who you stalk sometimes.

Kouske: OH! I would like to hear about that.

[Enemy Shinobi-2]: Yeah, so there is this civilian servant that has taken care of the captain ever since his wife and child died....

[Enemy Shinobi]: SHUT UP! HUFF HUFF. HE IS OUR ENEMY. WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING?

The captain was really angry right now. He was taking big breaths and trying to control his anger.

Kouske: Oh come on, we are in a stalemate anyway. Might as well share some stories.

[Enemy Shinobi-4]: I have got one but frankly it is about me not having the strength to confess to a girl I like.

[Thunder Rumbling]

Kouske: Oh that would be a good one to share. How about this? Let's all move slowly in a building and sit in a circle and share some stories.

[Enemy Shinobi]: YOU SHUT UP AS WELL! WHAT KIND OF ENEMY ARE YOU ANYWAY? HUFF HUFF.

Finally, a carriage came running in and stopped. Akira came out of the carriage.

Akira: EVERYONE STOP! NO ONE ATTACKS THEM. THIS IS AN ORDER OF HIKARI-SAMA. I REPEAT NO ONE ATTACKS THEM. THIS IS AN ORDER OF HIKARI-SAMA.

Kouske: See, I told you I wasn't stalling.

[Enemy Shinobi]: Hmph.

Akira turned towards Kouske's group, which was on a roof.

Akira: Dear guests, I think we started on the wrong foot. How about you join me in this carriage and I can take you to meet Hikari-sama. We will prepare a feast for you and talk while eating.

Kouske: YOU! go back and tell your diamyo to come here to talk. I am not going to her castle and definitely not eating any food that might have sleeping drugs or poison in it.

Akira: WHA..WHAT! No we won't poison you.

Kouske: OH SHUT UP! I can not trust you guys. I am gonna stand here in this rain with my new friends and we are gonna share some stories. I am already drenched and in a bad mood so FUCKING GO BACK AND TELL YOUR FUCKING DIAMYO THAT IF SHE DOES NOT WAN'T TO GET BLOWN THEN COME HERE. I WANT TO BE DONE WITH THE NEGOTIATION AND GO HOME ALREADY. HEY YOU!

Kouske pointed towards the shinobi who wanted to share his story about not having the courage to confess to the girl he likes.

[Enemy Shinobi-4]: M..ME?

Kouske: YES YOU! SHARE YOUR FUCKING STORY. ALL OF THIS TENSION IN THE AIR IS KILLING ME. AND YOU! YOUR NAME WAS AKIRA RIGHT? FUCKING GO AND TELL YOUR DIAMYO TO COME SOON. IF SHE DOES NOT COME BY THE TIME THIS PERSON FINISHES HIS LOVE STORY THEN I JUST MIGHT BLOW MYSELF UP WITH EVERYONE.

Akira: Wh..Why would you blow yourself up with us as well? Also, love story? What is happening here?

Kouske: SHUT UP! IT IS MY DECISION WHO I BLOW UP AND WHO I GET BLOWN UP WITH. IT IS MY RIGHT. SO SHUT UP AND DELIVER MY MESSAGE. AS FOR THE ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION, I AM CRAZY AND I AM HAVING ONE OF MY CRAZY MOMENTS. THAT IS WHY YOU HAVEN'T MET ANYONE LIKE ME OR HAVE HEARD OF A THREAT LIKE MINE. AND YOU! Now start your story and let's see why a shinobi who has the strength to look death in the eye, does not have the strength to confess. After that, maybe we can hear your captain's story and help him with his love life as well.

Akira was flabbergasted. Then the shinobi in question started his love story. Only then it dawned on her that the enemy was not joking. He was really gonna hear the love story of a shinobi while he waits for the diamyo. She realised finally...

[Akira-inner-thought: OUR ENEMY IS A LUNATIC!!!!]

She then got on the carriage to get the diamyo here as fast as she could.

…

Aiko and Emi were quiet most of the time, while the shinobi started his love story and Kouske was busy listening to it. Everyone of their enemy could not move so they started listening to it as well.

Aiko: Emi nee-san, I am not sure what is happening here? (Aiko whispers)

Emi: I am not sure as well. (Emi whispers)

Aiko then noticed that Kouske's left hand was behind his back and he was giving cryptic signals to them through it.

Kouske's Signals: When...diamyo....come....we...leave....if...fight....start....I...shout...orders

After 10 mins, the carriage came back. The shinobi was still telling his story.

[Enemy Shinobi-4]: So she has this civilian guy friend and as both are servants, I fear they are already more than just friends. I also fear that they might have already done the deed.

Kouske: Are you sure that she likes him more than you?

The diamyo came out of the carriage with birds on her. She was drenched because she was standing still in the place where birds landed on her without the umbrella.

[Enemy Shinobi-4]: I am not sure.

Kouske: First confirm that. I think she is more interested in you as you are a proper shinobi in the clan and have high status and the other guy is a servant like her. Oh diamyo, you came at the right moment. So, friend we'll continue this another time if fate permits. I now have to talk to your diamyo.

[Kouske-inner-thought: Who am I kidding? This guy is a lost cause. He is a shinobi and does have high status but the other guy is with the girl 24/7. They have definitely done the deed. The girl is good to this guy because either she is really a good girl and a good friend or she is a slut and just wants to use this guy to get out of being a servant. He is also a shinobi, so if he dies, his money becomes hers. Well not my problem any way.]

Hikari: What is happening here Akira?

Akira: Hikari-sama it is difficult to explain.

Kouske: So diamyo, listen, I am gonna take you hostage and that is the only solution for all of us. As, If I say I just wanna leave, you guys won't let me do that fearing I will blow you up after I am a distance away. Also, I can't leave unless either my birds stay or I have insurance. I definitely can not take any of the shinobi as a hostage so you will be my hostage.

Hikari: What if you take me with you and after we are at a distance you blow up my shinobis?

[Kouske-inner-thought: DAMN! she is smart. I was actually going for that.]

Kouske: Hmmm, How about this? Take Tsuchimikado out and both you and Tsuchimikado will come with us. If Tsuchimikado is with us then you both can sign some kind of treaty and that way we'll follow the treaty because we are Tsuchimikado's shinobis.

Hikari: I am not foolish enough to trust him. He will definitely double cross me the moment he is safe. He will order you to blow everyone up so that he can wipe off his defeat.

[Kouske-inner-thought: She definitely knows Tsuchimikado. He will definitely do that.]

Kouske: What if I give you my word that you can come with me as a hostage and I won't blow everyone up?

Hikari: I can't trust your words.

Kouske: Hmm...So what do you suggest?

Hikari: Listen, there is no way I am freeing Tsuchimikado. Also, I need insurance as well if I want to go with you so that you won't blow everyone up. Let's do this. One of your teammates can leave and the rest will stay in the castle.

Kouske: I can agree to that but my birds will be with everyone here. Like they are right now. Even you. That way you can surround me with shinobi to make sure I don't do something and I can have you with my birds to make sure you don't do something. How is that?

Hikari: I can agree to that. Ask one of your teammates to leave and you can inform your respective clans. Your clans need to give me ransom to take the rest with you.

Kouske: I think you misunderstood, you are my hostage. I am not yours.

Hikari: I think right now, We are both holding each other hostage.

[Kouske-inner-thought: Looks like negotiations are not working. Hmm, Maybe I do need to blow things up.]