Island of steel (3)

"Let's get back...So much activity in the sixth section means that Kumogakure has become much more aggressive. We must alert the higher-ups", Sakutsu said in a firm voice.

[Sakutsu Hikimore - Level 42 Kirigakure Chunin

Relationship status: Good]

Though his current rank and strength indicated that Sakutsu was still far from the jonin realm, Sakutsu had been a competent leader and reacted promptly as per the rules of the kumogakure shinobi book. Furthermore, after taking down three kumogakure genin, Sakutsu's relationship had reached "good" status.

[Yukiko Anata - Level 20 Kirigakure Genin

Relationship status: Neutral]

Despite having been injured by the Azure Stream jutsu, Yukiko did not take it personally, understanding that it was part of warfare.

The group quickly retreated to the settlement. The gruesome sight of impeding war could be seen. No, it was not even war yet injured bodies piled up in tents, some were covered in bandages, and as for the unscathed ones, they had this look of remorse, or regret, or both.

"CHUNIN SAKUTSU REPORTING ON SECTION 6 PATROL, SIR"

"You can rest", the old man Otuka said.

Unlike his crazy-like attitude at the academy, Otuka had regained a semblance of his prime. His body was protected in a samurai-type armour, his sword on his waist at all times, and a rare clarity shining in his eyes. Next to him stood a couple of jonins, trusted forces that had been analysing reports for days and adapting their routes, limiting casualties by the steady stream of kumogakure forces that had been thrown at them.

Taking the scroll, Otuka only took a second to glance at Takeshi, nodding in approval seeing he was not injured, before returning to his duties. 

'It seems like the war is going worse than anticipated, for the old man to become so serious'

After delivering the scroll, Yukiko asked: "What are we to do, now?"

Sakutsu's trembling hands did not escape Takeshi's sight. Now that the battle had passed and the responsibilities off his shoulders, it seemed like adrenaline was decreasing in his body, his brain slowly interpreting the recent events.

"Go, rest. You performed well in the last battle, especially you, young Takeshi. Despite the rumours, your age is not to be underestimated. You can be proud of you", Sakutsu said before parting ways.

Yakiko turned her head and similarly bowed: "Thank you for helping me out in the fight too, even if I was hit by your jutsu. I know it was the right call to do"

Just like that, Takeshi was left alone with his thoughts, in the middle of the settlement.

'So this is war, huh...', he thought

When people called him 'monster' at the academy, he had never thought of it as anything noteworthy. The 'silver demon', inherited by his skin colour and his bullying attitude for the sake of completing a quest, had been all an act.

However, he felt strangely peaceful.

There was no remorse.

There was no sadness in the act of killing those kumogakure genins.

He had simply been out there, and maybe in his eyes, he was not seeing them as real humans. He was in the world of Naruto after all. Everything felt like a dream, a game even. He knew it was not, but for some reason, he did not display the symptoms of a remoresful shinobi.

Maybe he was a monster after all.

'Argh, I don't want to think about it anymore...I should have forty eight hours before the next patrol missions, and they are going to become increasingly more dangerous. Let's train. I am strong in long-range combat thanks to the Azure Stream [D] jutsu, strong mid-range jutsu thanks to my shurikenjutsu mastery, and my forte lies in close-range jutsu. Displaying strong long-range jutsu can lead enemy shinobi to target me close-range, allowing me to take them by surprise', he analysed, before deciding to train his long-range jutsu.

As a gamer, he needed to spam his skills to become stronger. It did not matter if it took 1000, 2000 or 3000 jutsu to level up. He would do it nevertheless.