Request

After 3 months of training hard I had gotten to a point were it was increasingly difficult to become better at using a sword.

I had gotten everything I could get from my teacher. While I haven't gotten overly close to him, or formed an actually meaningful relationship, I appreciated what he taught me.

I not only went from learning basic movements to having a mastery over advanced styles of swordplay, but he also made an effort to guide me to the best of his abilities and sparred often with me, so I could get a handle on how to use the things I've learnt in a fight.

He also taught me his personal movement techniques, in which he would tap his feet in certain intervals, release chakra inside his legs in a specific pattern and also use wind manipulation to boost his speed.

While I learnt it, I like using my chakra bursts more, since it seemed easier and more natural.

I did learn everything I could during this time and also personalised some specific things to my liking, I was told, that to further improve I would have to specialise in something.

My teacher Ken for example focused on aggressive speed. He would rush his opponents and force them into a corner, where he could take them down with not only his speed but also immense skill in general.

That however was just one aspect one could focus on. I could match him in speed with nothing but my physical ability and a bit of chakra control.

Others may focus on strength, agility, pure skill etc. While it often times depends on the body type one has, certain aspects would simply be trained more than others, since some people can't be totally balanced. Whether that be due to their talent, shorter lifespan, preference or whatever.

I was also told that in the past there used to be people that focused on concepts like adaptability, sharpness, domination or similar things. It seemed similar to intent or something.

While concentrating on these concepts during meditation, training, spars, real fights and also life and death situations, they would flow into the way people fought and some gained some sort of insight supposedly. While they were only legends, it did somewhat make sense.

I decided to try to be as balanced as possible. I knew I had a long life ahead of me and there was nothing holding me back for becoming the best at everything. I did however want to explore more possibilities with my space manipulation, not just for general techniques like teleportation etc. but also incorporating it with my sword style, like I did with my space blade.

'I can devour and steal anything I want from other people, there is no one that can stop me from becoming the strongest there is!'

With my official training done, I just had to work on improving my sword style even more. That could only be done over time but I was in no rush either way.

Sitting in front of my teacher, it was time to ask for his request. If it was within the realm of possibility, I would certainly not go back on what was promised.

"Haha so it seems it's time I tell you what I wanted from you. Your learning and comprehension speed is truly monstrous. Others could have taken over 20 years to get where you got in a manner of a few months.

*sigh*

Okay, for you to understand this, you'd need to know that I used to be a part of a sort of clan. While the majority was related by blood, the clan started a few hundred years ago because of our specific set of movement techniques descending from ancient samurai.

While it may not seem that special to you, in battles it can be a truly frightening advantage. The people in the clan that could utilise this technique declined rapidly over the years until the clan naturally dissolved.

Afterwards I went to travel around the world with my wife and son. By that time I was the only one left alive who could utilise this specific technique since everyone who learned it took a vow to not teach an outsider, as did I, so it simply started dying out.

While I sometimes went to work as a mercenary, my family stayed in different towns. On one such of my trips my family was captured by Konoha Anbu. The kidnappers demanded I hand over my techniques in exchange for my wife and son.

I broke my vow and did as I was told, but after I completed my end of the deal, my family was still killed in cold blood in front of me. Before I could even properly comprehend what happened, I was bombarded with ninjutsu by over 15 anbu. It took me everything to escape and since then I vowed to take revenge on the ones responsible.

I want to destroy everything they ever held dear. Their family, their friends, their village, everything that's dear to them. I want to make them despair before I kill them!

It had always been on my mind since then, but since I was never strong enough by myself, my revenge had always been nothing but a pipe dream. That is until you showed up.

I want to ask you to help me to bring Konoha down."

I listened closely and contemplated my answer. 'Even if I could destroy Konoha in one go, it currently brings me no benefit. They have all the first Hokages accomplishments in wood style, Tobiramas created jutsu and insights, Uzumaki fuinjutsu and so many kinjutsu in general.'

"While I do sympathise with your situation, what you are asking for is too much and you know that as well. I of course can't be certain, but the leaders who ordered the anbu must've been in the upper echelon of Konoha, meaning the third Hokage, Danzo Shimura, Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado.

I am fine with helping you get to Danzo, and eradicating his own root organisation, but that's it. You would have to fight him by yourself and I keep his subordinates preoccupied, whether you can kill him or not is your problem. That's as far as am willing to go.

Also this can't be done for another 4 years, since I have plans for some people that are currently connected to Danzo."

I spoke with finality and made it clear that I wouldn't budge on this, and he reluctantly accepted.

"Very well. While it's not exactly what I had imagined, it's still good that I can get some form of revenge either way."

I nodded and asked: "So what are you going to do in the meantime?"

He just chuckled and grinned a bit, saying: "Heheh I will live like I always did. Stay here, surrounded by peace and nature until it's time."

Again I gave him a nod and said: "Good, I will know where to find you then. I will prepare to leave by tomorrow, I have my own training to finish and plans in motion, so I will come get you when I am ready." I smiled a bit and added: "Don't die until then old man."

We chatted a bit longer until I started my meditation and mentally made my plans for what I was going to do next.