Towards The Official Evaulation

Akuma, Asaka and Hitogoroshi set off with the guards to the official evaluation site. 

"Just a warning kiddo", the captain spoke. "Just because I recommended you doesn't mean you'll get the job. They might just reject you 'cause of your skill."

Akuma was well aware of that. He had to impress the examiners as much as he had the guards - but he was certain he could.

Upon arrival, the captain was handed an application to fill out for Akuma.

"Yo, I meant to ask, what's your name?"

"Akuma Kuro"

"Black Devil?" The captain wasn't all that surprised. Given his personality, the name suited him. "Wow, these are some random questions."

The captain began filling out the form.

"Affiliation? Do I put the Kuro clan? Do they even count? Ah, whatever", the captain remained lax while filling out the form.

"Y'know", the captain continued. "I would've expected more skills from the Kuro clan. Three just isn't enough."

"Yeah. Weren't they like the second strongest at some point?", a guard added.

"Well", Hitogoroshi injected, commanding attention. "There were many more skills that were lost when the clan fell. The three are just the ones I could teach him."

"Who are you, anyway?" The captain didn't want to sound rude, but couldn't help it. He had no clue who this old man was, riding with them.

"I am Hitogoroshi Eitos, Akuma's teacher, and the clan's guard. I'm in charge of safeguarding, teaching and developing the clan's remaining skills"

"Are you actually part of the clan?" The captain couldn't help himself.

"No." The captain worried he would leave it at that. "I'm just part of the household staff."

"So, you don't have the curse", the knew where he was going.

"No", Hitogoroshi once again resumed his silence.

"Maybe he would have been better", one of the guards whispered quietly- but not nearly quietly enough. 

His sarcasm had been heard.

Akuma's dark brown bloodshot eyes shot in the guard's direction and he froze, like a rat caught by a snake's gaze. 

Akuma may have been rather short and skinny, but that didn't make him any less intimidating.

"Oh, look." The captain tried to break the silence. "It asks what your goal is. To become the saikyo, right? That'll go down well." The captain chuckled and Akuma's gaze moved to him. Never before had the captain felt so much fear. Like staring into the eyes of the devil. 

The captain awkwardly cowered away, towards the desk, where he handed in the form.

"Head over to the waiting area."

...

The examiner stood in an empty courtyard, surrounded by concrete, as the guard approached. 

"Got any candidates today?", the nature of this question showed how short they were on recruits, but the examiner was still in the mood to be picky. 

"Only two", the guard replied.

"Go on then!" the examiner snapped. "Who are they?"

The guard went to pass the forms to the examiner, but had them snatched from him first.