A Lead

The next day Rei woke up fairly early and got back on the beaten path. While on his journey he took time to train as well following a sort of loop. Rei continued to walk down the dirt path for the next hour without seeing another person or structure. "I've been walking for hours but I still haven't managed to see a single person. I guess our village really was in a secluded location."

After another ten minutes of walking, Rei finally spotted something in the distance. "Huh?" Looking in the distance he saw a medium-sized town. However, despite its size, it looked slightly run down and had an oppressive atmosphere. Walking into the town from the entrance Rei could already feel eyes lock onto him.

While the normal citizen's simply kept their heads down when walking around there were others who simply watched him. 'Well, this place is depressing. Guess I won't be staying here.' Though it was strange to see a boy walking around with a Katana and dirtied clothes it was by far not the strangest thing that people have seen in this world filled with ninja.

Rei continued to walk through the town avoiding running into people on the way something caught his attention. "Hey old man, we're back!" A small run-down building with a large wooden sign saying 'Sakana Shack' plastered over the door. Kicking down the wooden door five men holding weapons began to ransack the place.

"Hey, we let you go yesterday cause you said you would have the money you owe us. But from the looks of things, you still don't have it." Looking at the old man who was on his knees watching the men destroy the interior of his place. Listening to the supposed leader of the men the old man yelled at him. "Dam you bastards! The only reason you're still around here is that the Leaf Shinobi hasn't arrived yet!"

As this scene occurred soon a crowd appeared outside of the restaurant with a bunch of people shaking their heads. Whispering to one another Rei listened in on their conversations while watching everything take place. "I thought the mayor had sent a request to the Hidden Leaf to send Ninja here to deal with the bandits a week ago."

Shaking his head slightly the other man whispered back. "Ya, but they won't arrive here in time. I heard the bandits are already preparing to skip town." Sighing Rei took a breath before turning around. He was planning on ignoring what was happening and leaving it up to the town's guards or police force. But hearing no one would come to save the old man his conscience kicked in.

'Father would have stepped in right away and I guess this is a good chance to test my strength.' Making up his mind Rei made his way through the crowd causing people to look down at him in confusion. "Hey what's that kid doing?" One by one people began speaking up attracting one of the bandit's attention.

"Eh, a kid?" Walking up to Rei who was approaching the restaurant the bandit sneered seeing Rei had a sword. "What are you trying to be a hero? Don't think I'm intimidated just because you have a sword kid." Placing his head on Rei's head he laughed out loud. "I bet you can't even swing that thing around."

It was with that remark that Rei tightened his fist and attacked. In one swift movement, Rei lowered his posture while pulling back his fist. 'Ikkotsu.' The moment the bandit's vision shook as something entered his stomach. The next second the bandit was launched off the ground flying through the air.

Inside the restaurant unaware of what was going on the bandits were surprised when they saw one of their comrades fly through the restaurant window. "What the hell!" Landing on his back the bandit crashed to the wooden floor as everyone looked at Rei in shock. "Did that kid do that?"

"But that's impossible unless he's a Ninja?"

"You mean he's a Genin?"

Everyone came up with their own theories but Rei ignored them. "How about you guys leave the old man alone and you can still leave this Town before the Leaf Shinobi show up." Hearing Rei the other bandits looked at one another before walking out of the restaurant. "You think this is some kind of joke. I'm here on official business and I don't have time to babysit you."

The old man in the restaurant seemed stunned as he watched Rei face down the remaining four bandits. "Welp I warned you." Shen grabbed onto Ryujin Jakka's grip but didn't remove it from its sheath. Instead, he simply held Ryujin Jakka sheath and all while facing the bandits. "What?" One of the bandits looked at Rei in confusion.

"Does he really think he can beat us using a sheathed sword." Suddenly one of the bandits rushed towards Rei. Drawing a large iron blade from his back it was obvious he was planning to kill Rei. "Crap that kid is dead!" Watching Rei stand there everyone had thought Rei would be cut in half by the bandit. The old man specifically yelled out to Rei. "Watch out!"

Moving faster than the bandit, Rei swung Ryujin Jakka at the side of the bandit's head. If Rei wasn't careful he would have fractured the bandit's skull but even when he tried to hold back the bandit lost teeth. Falling sideways the bandit's head hit the ground first and then was followed up by the rest of his body.

"Grrr!" The leader of the group of bandits ground his teeth as he looked back at the other bandits who were hesitant and in shock. "Stop standing there like a bunch of idiots! He's just one kid even if he's a ninja there's three of you!" Hearing their boss the other bandits steadied themselves and charged at Rei all at once with their weapons ready.

Of course, none of their attacks even managed to land and the sounds of their yells were replaced with screams. Starting with the first one Rei smacked him upside the head once and then once in the leg causing him to fall to the ground almost immediately.

Following this pattern the sound of something hard hitting skin rang out as everyone watching shuddered as this boy who looked no older than a twelve-year-old knocked them all out cold.

Watching all of his men fall to the ground the bandit leader began to sweat as Rei put Ryujin Jakka back in its place by his side. As he did so Ryujin Jakka spoke to him. "I would prefer if don't use me in such a manner." In response, Rei spoke to him silently. 'Well, I didn't want to kill them. Just needed to teach them a lesson.'

It was as Rei was talking to Ryujin Jakka that the bandit leader yelled at him. "Dam kid don't underestimate me!" Suddenly the bandit leader put his hands together and began to weave different hand signs. "Wind Style: Wind Torpedo Jutsu!" Sucking in a large amount of air into his lungs as Rei turned his attention to the bandit leader.

After sucking in all the air around the bandit leader shot the air out. Exiting his mouth all at once a nearly invisible ball of air flew towards Rei while kicking up a trail of dust as it glided across the ground. In response, Rei raised two of his fingers towards the bandit leader and spoke. "Hado #4: Byakurai." As electricity traveled up Rei's arms to his fingers a bolt of blue lightning shot forward.

Clashing with the wind torpedo for a moment it didn't take long for the Hado spell to pierce the low ranking Jutsu. Not having time to dodge the bandit leader was struck head-on as a strong course of electricity was sent through his entire body. After having his body overloaded by electricity the bandit leader's body fell to the ground. 'I guess using it without the incantation makes it nonlethal.' Remembering that for the future Rei lowered his arm.

"He… He actually beat them all." The crowd surrounding the area were stunned to the point no one was making a sound. Ignoring them however Rei walked into the old man's restaurant. "You alright?" The old man woke up from his daze and stood up before nodding his head. "Uh yes. I mean thank you, young man! I don't know how I could repay you."

Hearing him Rei thought about his words for a moment. "Actually there are a few things you could help me out with." After the initial fight, Rei along with the help from the villagers tied up the bandits.

Once the bandits were secured Rei asked the old man for three things. The first being food since he had not eaten for over two days. Along with that he also asked for a little bit of money so he could buy new clothes.

And lastly, he asked for information. "Huh?" Sitting on a stool next inside the restaurant Rei had already finished eating the food the old man gave to him. On the other hand, the old man who was behind a bar looking at Rei seemed surprised.

"So you're looking for someone named Orochimaru? Well, I have heard of him." Listening to the old man carefully Rei's face quickly turned more serious and solemn. "Really?"

Feeling slightly startled from the chill coming from Rei's gaze the old man nodded. "Ya, when you run a place like this for long enough you hear plenty of things. Apparently he is or was one of the Legendary Sannin."

"What are the Legendary Sannin?" Never hearing of them before Rei asked curiously. The old man seemed stunned by the question before answering. "Huh and here I thought kids your age already knew about stories like this. Well in the Second War there was a group of powerful Leaf Shinobi.

All in total there were three of them and together with their accomplishments, they were granted the title of 'Sannin'. However, I have heard that that Orochimaru fellow had defected from the leaf so no one actually knows where he is."

Hearing that last part Rei sighed. 'And here I thought I had a lead.' Watching Rei the old man thought back and remembered something. "Oh, right recently there have been some rumors floating around. Apparently one of the Legendary Sannin had left the Leaf Village not soon after the war.

However lately there have been rumors that one of them has been showing a lot in towns near Tanzaku. I may not know where this Orochimaru guy is but if I had to guess that person would." Finally getting a clue Rei's eyes lit up as he got off the tall stole. 'So I should check towns around Tanzaku huh.'

"Alright, thanks for the help old man." Thanking the old man for the help Rei left the restaurant. Looking around it was getting slightly late and the streets were pretty much clear with only a few people walking around. It was then that Rei spotted four people walking towards him.

One of them was a tall man smoking a cigarette with olive-colored skin, black shaggy hair and a black beard. Walking in front of him were three kids who seemed to be around age. Of course the one thing Rei focused on the most was the fact they were all wearing headbands they all had on them.

'That's the Hidden Leaf Village's symbol if I remember correctly.'