Chapter 11: Back to the village

"Do you know that feeling you get when you're not hungry yet you're desiring a cheesecake?

Craving.

After hearing what the missing-nin had said about the Uchiha clan techniques, he felt temptation. He knew it was the real deal. The seal of Gluttony seemed to realize how awesome those techniques were, and now it was demanding Kuzo to take them.

A huge amount of chakra was being released at once, putting Kuzo in top shape.

"You're quite monstrous, aren't you? Stop this then." The rogue shinobi grabbed a series of kunais and threw them at Kuzo, who easily dodged by tilting his head and body to the side.

Suddenly, he noticed something.

A series of strings were surrounding him. They were attached to the kunais, which were being controlled by the missing nin.

Realizing that he would be trapped if he didn't move, Kuzo unleashed a series of hand seals.

<< Earth Style: Earth boulder jutsu >>

An earth boulder rose from the ground and flew toward his foe, forcing him to jump high.

Kuzo wasn't done.

<<Fire release: Fire bird jutsu>>

A circle of fire appeared around his feet. From it, rose a few red flame balls that took the shape similar to a bird. All headed toward the man from every direction.

The man loosened his grip on the strings as he kicked the fire birds.

Because he was far from reaching his chakra limits, Kuzo used one more jutsu. Earth wall jutsu. As he put his hand on the ground, an earth wall rose, forcing the strings around him to raise away. He then slipped away from them before releasing the water bomb jutsu.

The mimic Chunin breathed a fireball, stopping Kuzo's jutsu.

As he landed on the ground, he gazed at Kuzo. "Seriously. How large is your chakra reserve? Forget it, how many chakra affinities do you have?"

Kuzo just displayed fire, earth, water, and lightning.

"Why should I answer you?" Kuzo said as he dashed forward. The missing nin brought his hands up to guard himself. Kuzo landed a fist on his foe's hands, forcing the latter to fly a few meters in the air.

You know, the physical power of five genins is likely to be higher than the physical power of one Chunin. Still, the latter could defeat the formers for one reason: the genins didn't have their force combined.

Kuzo, who had the power of more than ten genins and a full gang of muggers, was at an advantage here.

But strength wasn't the thing to determine the winners. Martial arts were moves that were created by the weak to defeat those who were stronger than them.

He dashed after the Chunin, who fought back and kicked. Kuzo, who had sparred with his Chunin brother, knew how to deal with the blows and parried them.

When Kuzo grabbed a kunai wrapped in an explosive tag, the battle was about to end. His opponent tried to escape and run away, but Kuzo caught up to him in no time. Kuzo used lightning shuriken to wrap his kunai with lightning and threw it at his foe's leg, taking him down. The explosive tag exploded, severing the shinobi's legs. Kuzo then used the earth boulder jutsu to end up the life of the missing nin.

When he was sure that his opponent couldn't move, he went to him and grabbed the scroll. Then he put his hand on the Chunin's body and grabbed the spirit-like matter out of the body, all getting absorbed by the seal. New power, a bigger chakra reserve, and new jutsus joined his arsenal.

<<Fire Ball Jutsu>>

<<Phoenix Flower Jutsu>>

<<Shuriken… >>

Kuzo moved his fingers. He could feel that new memories were entering his muscles, and a new series of jutsus entered his arsenal.

Finally, some B-rank jutsus. You know, B-rank usually is mastered by Chunin and Jonin.

Since he still had plenty of chakra, Kuzo weaved a few hand signs. He was unable to contain his excitement. He took a deep breath and then spat a large fireball in a random direction. A large fireball left his mouth, destroying trees in its way.

Kuzo took a deep breath. He then thought. 'No wonder that earth wall didn't stand a chance against this jutsu, and it came from this Chunin, who didn't have that much chakra.

Kuzo put the scroll in his pocket; then, he scanned the body for some money. He took the rogue ninja's weapons, strings, and everything he thought would be worth money.

"And now, it's time to leave.' Kuzo then walked backward, holding a couple of kunais in his hand. He threw them. The kunais bent and met before hitting a tree.

Surely, the Uchiha clan's throwing skills were on another league.

Too bad that he got their jutsu from a mimic, not a true deal.

But again, the real deals in the Uchiha clans that left alive are the last things he wanted to meet.

Itachi, Obito. He'll run a hundred miles away if he had to fight anyone of them.

-x-X-x-

Once he reached the village, it was night. Kuzo was quite exhausted from traveling and the lack of sleep. But he couldn't rest yet.

When he reached the Hokage's mansion, he was permitted to enter the report.

Kuzo handed the scroll to the Hokage and reported the mission.

Seeing that the old man was awake at this time to receive reports, Kuzo couldn't help but think about how busy the life of a kage was.

After hearing what Kuzo had to say, the Hokage lit a pipe and started smoking. After a deep breath, he talked.

"I see. But you made a mistake, Kuzo-kun."

"What is it, Lord 3rd."

"You've engaged in a direct battle while your mission was to retrieve the scroll, which ended up causing casualties." The Hokage said.

Despite Kuzo agreeing with this logic, he didn't believe it was the case. But he just lowered his head and nodded.

"Do you have another say in the matter?"

"No, Hokage-sama. I didn't find a chance to avoid a direct conflict, and I was detected by the missing nin's seal before I even get a chance to plan. But it's my mistake that the inn was blown up."

"Not totally." The Hokage sighed. "You were strategically correct and even eliminated the weakest of the group first. Not your fault that he used detection seals. He hadn't hesitated to blow up the inn despite his comrades being there. By killing such a person, you've saved more potential lives than it had been wasted."

"But…" Kuzo was quite confused. Not his fault but his fault.

The Hokage could see through him. He smiled gently and said.

"It's not your fault. Mistakes are always on the table; never forget that. Learn from them and earn experience, the kind of experience that would raise you to be a splendid shinobi."

So it's not like he was being scolded. He was being told to learn and think about what could be done better and what could be avoided.

"Oh, I get it." Kuzo nodded. "Thank you."

"You can leave for now." The Hokage said.

Kuzo left then for his home, thinking that he may soon end up becoming the strongest in their household. He would have all the glory in Konoha, and maybe the whole ninja world. He then would start his own clan, and he might even consider starting a polygamous relationship, all for the sake of giving Konoha a strong army that has his genes. After all, he got the bloodlines of those who he killed. He shook his head. The last thing he wanted to have an erection while on his way home.

'I wonder now if someone was reading my mind through some jutsu, what would their reaction be?'

He thought as he stood at his doorsteps.

A chilly feeling came from his back.

Kuzo quickly turned his head.

A man in an Anbu mask was staring at him. From his attire, one could tell that he's a part of this village.

Kuzo's heart started beating louder and louder. Anbu members are likely jonin and above. He would have no chance if he fought them.

"Who are you, and why are you staring at me?" Kuzo asked the masked man.

"Our lord is inviting you."

"Lord 3rd?"

"Lord Danzo." Said the masked man, then he vanished.

At that moment, Kuzo remembered who Danzo was.

'Holy shit! Danzo is a shit, but not Holy. Holy fuck!'"