Demon Brothers

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As they neared the ominous puddle, Horyu's senses sharpened, not out of fear, but anticipation. He knew what was coming. The moment they were adjacent to the puddle, chaos erupted. Two figures, the Demon Brothers, burst forth, weapons gleaming with malice. Tazuna reeled in shock, the only one caught off guard.

Without hesitation, Horyu sprang into action. "Time to dance," he whispered to himself, drawing Chucky, his trusted katana. His movements were fluid, a lethal grace born of countless hours of practice.

Hinata and Shino followed suit, their expressions set in determined lines. Horyu's hands blurred into seals, channeling his chakra. "Fire Style: Big Fireball Jutsu!" he exclaimed, unleashing a torrent of flames. The attack forced one of the brothers to dodge, but Horyu was already a step ahead.

Utilizing his Ghost Mirage skill, he appeared next to the assailant, a specter of death. His sword was a flash of steel, mere inches from the man's throat. "No mercy," Horyu stated coldly, his voice devoid of emotion. The edge of his blade kissed the brother's skin, a deadly promise, then stabbed forward, eternally silencing the man.

He turned to see Hinata and Shino effectively controlling the other assailant. Horyu moved towards them, his bloodied sword shining ominously in the morning light. He swung the blade with a practiced ease, the Blade Dancer skill assisting his movements, killing the second brother, though it wasn't strictly necessary. Shino had already covered the enemy with a swarm of insects, and Hinata, her usual hesitation nowhere in sight, was attacking with a ferocity that belied her gentle demeanor. It seemed Shisui's Blood Test had taken root deeply within them; neither showed any apprehension about killing an enemy.

Horyu watched for a moment, his expression unreadable. "Not bad, Hinata, Shino," he commented dryly, cleaning his sword with a swift motion before sheathing it. "Looks like the insects and the Hyuga techniques are a deadly combo."

Shino, typically stoic, gave a slight nod, his insects already retreating from the now motionless body of their target. Hinata, breathing slightly heavier from the exertion, looked over at Horyu, her eyes showing a newfound confidence.

[Sub-Quest Completed:

–Eliminating the Demon Brothers:

Objective: Eliminate Gōzu and Meizu to send a clear message to Gato and other enemies.

Reward: +300 XP, High-Quality Ninja Tools (Enhanced Shuriken x 40, Steel Wire Traps x 5), +200 Reputation with Shisui Faction.

Sub-Quest Failed:

–Sparing the Demon Brothers:

Objective: Capture or incapacitate Gōzu and Meizu without lethal force.

Reward: +150 XP, Enhanced Reconnaissance Tools (Sensor Flares x 5, Chakra Suppression Cloak x 1), +100 Reputation with Gato's Faction.]

Kurenai, who had been observing silently, stepped forward. "You handled yourselves well," she said, her tone approving yet cautious. "But remember, every enemy we face is a potential source of information. We can't afford to be reckless but if possible, we should leave them alive."

Of course it was. Horyu killed them for that reason. He understood the nuances of the mission better than anyone. Kurenai, a master of illusions, would undoubtedly extract information from the duo if they were captured alive. And if she learned of Zabuza of the Mist lying in wait, the mission might got scrapped. Horyu wasn't about to let that happen. He needed this mission to proceed, though he was still piecing together how exactly to navigate the treacherous waters ahead.

Kurenai then eyed Horyu with a mix of surprise and concern. "Horyu, your … decisiveness was abrupt. Why not capture them for interrogation?"

Horyu shrugged, his expression betraying nothing of his internal calculations. "I noticed poison on their weapons, and didn't want to leave anything to luck, sensei. They could hurt our client or teammates. Also, enemies like these are small fry. Information they'd have is probably outdated or useless. Better to eliminate the threat swiftly."

Kurenai sighed, her gaze lingering on Horyu. "Perhaps. But we must consider all aspects of our mission. Each decision can have far-reaching consequences."

Horyu rolled his eyes discreetly. 'Consequences, schmonsequences,' he thought cynically. Aloud, he said, "I will take your teachings to heart, Sensei. I acted without thinking to protect my teammates."

Tazuna, who had been watching the exchange with a mix of fear and awe, finally found his voice. "You kids are something else. Are all Konoha ninja like this?"

Kurenai offered a reassuring smile. "Only the best, Tazuna-san. Now, let's keep moving. We can't afford any more delays."

The group resumed their journey, the tension from the earlier encounter with the Demon Brothers slowly dissipating into the morning air. Horyu, walking a few steps behind Kurenai, was lost in his own thoughts. The upcoming encounter with Zabuza Momochi and his apprentice Haku loomed in his mind, a puzzle with multiple outcomes and equally varied consequences. The choices were stark: kill or spare them in the first and second confrontations, and later, either aid the development of Wave Country or seize resources for Shisui's mission.

"I'll see when it comes to that," Horyu thought in his mind, "I'm not even sure if we can take down Zabuza." He knew the shinobi world was unpredictable, and while his System provided quests and rewards, it offered no guarantees.

They traveled in silence, each member of the team lost in their thoughts. The atmosphere was thick with anticipation and unspoken concerns. As they arrived at the sea, a small boat bobbed gently in the water, waiting to take them to Wave Country. The boat was manned by a local who, despite the risks, had agreed to assist Tazuna.

The journey across the water was uneventful, but the tension was palpable. Tazuna seemed anxious, his eyes scanning the horizon as if expecting trouble at any moment. Hinata and Shino were quiet, their focus inward as they mentally prepared for the mission. Kurenai, ever vigilant, kept a watchful eye on their surroundings.

Horyu, however, seemed almost relaxed. His eyes occasionally flickered to his system interface, noting the red dot that represented Zabuza Momochi and the grey one indicating Haku. 'Zabuza and Haku, already nearby. This won't be a walk in the park,' he mused silently.

As they disembarked on the shores of Wave Country, the village slowly came into view. Horyu's expression remained unreadable, but inside, he was calculating every possible move.

He started to analyze the battle in his mind. The anime had depicted Kakashi being forced into a Water Prison after a brief skirmish with Zabuza, highlighting Zabuza's cunning and strength. Could Kurenai hold her own as Kakashi did? Horyu had his doubts. Kurenai, a master of Genjutsu, didn't have the same physical prowess as Kakashi. But Zabuza had a weakness against Genjutsu, something Kakashi exploited using his Sharingan to create the illusion of precognition. Horyu's plan was to deploy Genjutsu before Zabuza even made his move, controlling the situation from the outset. Yet, he was aware that his skill in Genjutsu, though formidable, wasn't on par with Kakashi's, let alone Kurenai's.

The alternative was riskier. If he acted as bait, it could provide Kurenai with an opening to trap Zabuza in a Genjutsu. But facing Zabuza directly was a gamble; any slip-up could result in Horyu being cleaved in two by Zabuza's massive sword. Then there was the Water Prison Jutsu – not inherently fatal to their team, as Shino's insects could consume the chakra, Hinata could sever it, and Horyu himself had means to disrupt it. However, Zabuza wouldn't just stand by idly.

As Horyu weighed his options, Hinata's gasp broke his train of thought. Her Byakugan had spotted Zabuza, revealing a chakra level that dwarfed the Demon Brothers'. "E-enemy," she stuttered, her voice laced with apprehension.

Instantly, Kurenai adopted a defensive stance, and Horyu realized his time for planning was over. Now was the moment to act. He scanned the surroundings, noting the dense mist that was beginning to envelop them – Zabuza's signature cover.

As he heard a wind whistling, Horyu's instincts kicked in. "DUCK!" he shouted, pushing Tazuna to the ground. The others quickly followed suit, barely evading the massive sword that cleaved through the air where they had just been standing. The sword embedded itself into a nearby tree, standing as a grim reminder of the close call.

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