A burst of laughter echos through the entire Ninja District coming from Shiru. He bangs his steel railing continuously with his palm and spit spewing out of his mouth.
"Finally!" He says, "you two idiots are going to entertain me. I was so bored watching this idiot swing his sword over and over. Hahaha."
"Shut up." Though his voice may not sound intimidating, Shiru can tell just from Koruto's expression that he will not mind killing him on the spot if he does not do what he says.
Koruto bends to open that black plastic removing what seems to doll heads and spreads them all around him and Kazuki.
"Imagine this as fellow ninjas who were killed in battle." Koruto says, "so use this as inspiration to attack me with the intent to kill me."
He throws the plastic towards Shiru. Koruto steps away from Kazuki standing in a pose to signal him to attack.
"I…I can't."
"Why?" Koruto ask.
"Looking at all this people, I can't not find any reason or anger to strike you."
Shiru interject.
"You just came out of nowhere with dolls and expect this idiot to strike you with anger. It seems you are one the same l-"
Koruto claps his hands. "You pass. The reason why I brought this things was simply to test your mental fortitude and you Kazuki have a strong mindset over like this for my eyes. Well done."
Koruto glances at Shiru who quickly pick up the dolls around the two placing them in the black plastic Koruto tossed at him.
"When you first came to me you wanted me to help you become strong. I chose not to ask why but today I wanna know."
"Because I wanna beat Nero."
"Is that so."
Kazuki picks up a sense of doubt in Koruto's eyes, even so he tells himself there is no point in telling Koruto the truth.
"…" He remains silence in a pensive look.
"Let's begin the next test." He returns to his stance to say, "this time fight me without losing the grip in your hand."
"What do you mean?!" His smile returns.
"Relax, I don't mean we should fight all out. You still not on my level anyway. Am simply trying to test out your strength and your sword skill that you have been training. All I will be doing is block your attack - just make sure you don't lose your grip on your hilt."
Kazuki turns his head in confusing.
"Why do I need to do that?!"
"I have picked up something about you Kazuki. For some odd reason you can't fight without an accoutrement by your side. Without it you are as weak as a bug no matter how much you train in hand to hand combat."
With no warning Kazuki lunges straight to Koruto like a tiger jumping to its prey. He lifts his sword above his head, before dropping it down like a hammer - landing directly on Koruto's forearm.
Shiru who is standing at the balcony gasp at the fact that Kazuki was able to strike Koruto that it created a smaller crater underneath him.
How's that ?!" His lips stretch to his ears. "I am now able to infuse my sacrbed with Sei so that it can have ten times more damage than before. And I don't have to worry about circulating Sei when I fight."
Kazuki backs away, dashing once more towards Koruto.
"A scarbed that can make my arm vibrate." Looking at his twitching forearm.
He moves out of the way of the attack - lifting his leg and letting it fly directly to Koruto's stomach. Fortunately Kazuki uses his scarbed as a shield and his leg as a break . In the moment he stops he tightly holds on to his sageo to-
"Stop!" Koruto raises his arms in surrender.
Kazuki halts.
"You've grown strong. You can rest."
"Wha…"
His sentence is cut short. Like a weight's been lifted of his shoulder, Kazuki falls to the ground.
"It seems you infused to much Sei into your sword that it has depleted your energy." He stares at the sheathed sword. " Or… That's not possible right? And even if, when?"
Koruto places his questions at the back of his mind and notice Kazuki is still holding on to his sword even though he is unconscious.
"Get strong. Me and you are going to have an amazing fight one day."
He picks up Kazuki's body, leaving Shiru who is still shocked at the display Kazuki just showed in front of him.
"N-no way."
It is true it's been six months since Kazuki began training with Koruto. Yet his gotten this strong so quickly. Shiru wonder to himself why.
The fact that Kazuki is able to infuse Sei in to an object is hard to do even for a Rank 2 ninja, but Kazuki is able to do it without to much trouble.
Not only that, his swordsmanship might be at the level of a Rank 3 ninja.
"But." A smile etches on his face.
He feels satisfied that at the very least he can criticizes his hand to hand ability.
"I hope he stays the way he is. Who will I make fun of if he becomes strong?"
***
Six kilometers further east from the headquarters of Yoshiro's Special Force.
In the middle of a dense forest lies a wide flat clearing. At it's center stands a city dominated by tall iron-black towers that scrape the sky. The wind howls around the the towers and rustling that surrounding trees, creating a constant sharp rush of air.
Lanterns swing on ropes that stretch to each tower casting flickering light over the stone path and metal surfaces.
Guarding this place are ninjas dressed in dark long sleeve military vest, black forearm guards, dark cargo pants and black military boots. All stationed in the twelve gates around the city.
Inside the towers are about 160 floors from top to bottom. At the first 108 floor are for training rooms, the following 21 rooms are lounging with 4 beds in it. The remaining floors are medical labs clinics.
That is where Liabis currently stationed where she is laying on top of a white sheet. She rips the IV drip from her and looks on some of the injured patients.
A tall women with a white cloak and a small golden bracelet on her wrist-walks up to her. Lia immediately sit on the edge of the bed upright.
"If it isn't my cute Princess." She says with a meek voice.
Lia turns her eyes away from her to add,
"Miss Zennyo." Speaks under her teeth.
"It would seem you still need a few bone structuring." She adds, "On the upside you have healed up quickly."
"Yes." Her cheeks brightens up. "It's thanks to you Miss Zennyo."
Zennyo holds on to Lia's face softly padding her with Lia closing her eyes.
"You can be let go if you are ready to be discharged."
Lia opens her eyes.
"Is that so?!" Her eyes finally stare at Zennyo. "I can finally return to the academy before the exams are finished!"
Zennyo chuckles, "That won't be possible anymore my dear Princess."
"Meaning?" Confusion written on her face.
"After revealing you have a demonic ability, you have met the qualification to join the Special Force. No is not an option." She holds Lia's shoulder. "If you're wondering who made that decision, you have to speak with my father."
"But…" Zennyo interrupts her.
"Princess, I know you are not the type to do anything risky unless you are positive you can handle the consequences." She let's go of Lia's shoulder.
"This has been apprant since I met you for the first time. Whatever the reason you chose to use your Demonic Ability tell me was it worth it?"
Lia tilts her head downwards and a empty void fills her eyes.
"Tell me was it worth it Princess?" Her voice have slight sternness to it.
"No." Lia respond.
"Now why…" Lia cuts her out.
"How did they figure out that I used my Demonic Ability? No one can track it with their eyes even if they saw me using it."
Zennyo stares at her contemplating weather she should tell her what's on her mind right now.
"Though it will be pointless for me to tell you how." She sighs. "I will explain my observation of that day."
"That day?"
"During the CLAN COUNCIL MEETING."
***
The CLAN COUNCIL MEETING, a meeting hosted by the six main clans of the the Shinwa State.
Not all members of that specific clan can attend, only their current clan leader.
The meetings can occur at random depending on if the situation that is about to be discussed can impact the Shinwa State in a positive or negative way.
The main clans that attend the Clan Council Meeting are the Tatsu Clan, Hein Clan, Kōshin Clan, Higuma Clan, Shōshen Clan and the Uma Clan.
There is however one exception to who attends the meeting. This is the Tatsu Clan, which never attend the meeting unless the topic that is going to be discussed is about the financial status of the Shinwa State.
And like any other meeting only five clan leaders attended.
The date that was chosen for the meeting was on the second day of the academy tournament exam.
For the first time my father (Master Ryukishi) decided to take me as the Konari, since my older brother went out for a mission.
***
To be honest, I was not thrilled to be around that bald-beer belly father of mine. We arrived in the capital and immediately headed to the Shogun Castle going through the Merchant District and to the Shogun District.
Since you have known me you know that am always busy here in the labs. So it was my very first time meeting the damiyos.
The first one I met on that day was Damiyo Kōshin who had an undercut haircut with a blue color on the sides and light blue eyes that made my heart skip a beat. I will not lie, his very cute.
The second one we came across was Damiyo Higuma. His buzz cut and black jet eyes gave him a intimidating look, but his excessive clothing with a a bear print on them made it easy for me to look at him.
We proceeded to enter the meeting room where a round brown table and five chairs around it stood in the center. Where light was concentrated in.
As we entered the room us Konaris were given a mask to wear. The three Damiyos that were present at that time all sat down until the most important person in the room came alongside him was Damiyo Shōshen.
Her pink hair really stood out from the whole room.
The Shogun with his swooping fringe with golden short sides and grey eyes sat down and everyone following after.
To be honest, I don't ever want to experience the type of pressure that was inside that room. It was like standing Infront of monsters battling it out with their Sei.
"And I thought that it would be the last time seeing you here baldie after what you did." Damiyo Kōshin said breaking the ice.
My father simply looked at the Shogun like he wanted him to say something to Damiyo Kōshin.
"Aww," Damiyo Kōshin adds, "seems like the baldie has finally grown."
Everyone in the room could not help but hold in their laughter - including me. When he turned his furious eyes at me I became even more delighted.
Just as he was about to retaliate the Shogun coughed.
"Thank you all for coming." Leaning forward on his chair. "As you know the academy tournament is currently taking place and I wanna go watch it before it ends. So without wasting time let's begin the meeting."
TBC.
NEXT CHAPTER: PRELUDE 24