Training in a foriegn land (Part Deux)

Maku had been sitting on the bench for a good amount of time at this point.  He had sat using his chakra senses to watch his friend Youka fight some other child.  It wasn’t very hard to maintain watch on them as both had very powerful chakra signatures.  They were clearly in the beginning of the battle and it seemed to be heating up.  He could only imagine that soon it would get even more intense.  Maku had considered stepping in and stopping the fight once and for all.  He didn’t want to bring on the wrath of the Hokage, or any of the ANBU.  The darkness that had befallen the area was hiding everything from sight.  It was clearly a good time to fight, but to anyone with chakra sensing abilities, or indeed ears would be able to hear or feel them fighting, especially if they continued to intensify the battle.  All the same, Maku didn’t want to get involved just yet.  If indeed the fight became life and death, then and only then would he enter the fray to put it to an end.  He knew with his Iron Maiden jutsu he would at least be able to stun them both, long enough to cool them both off and speak telepathically to Youka to get a handle on the situation.  He wasn’t sure how strong this other individual was, but based on what he was sensing from the boy, he was confident he could still ensnare him in the jutsu.  Seeing as he wasn’t sensing anything to intense just yet, Maku propped his feet up onto the bench and started to relax while watching the movement of the two men with his senses.  Of course he would not be able to see any specific movements or skills in use, but instead just watching the two chakras moving back and forth.  While sitting with his eyes closed and replacing he began to feel a pulling at his naval.  Almost like a hook had been used to grab a hold of his chakra and was attempting to pull him.  At first he attempted to stop it, not knowing where it was coming from.  His eyes snapping open, he looked around and realized he was probably being summoned by the crustaceans.  Once he came to this realization, he stopped his struggle and allowed him to be pulled through time and space.  In a poof of smoke he was gone from the bench.  His last thought was he hoped Youka didn’t die while he was gone, though he had complete confidence in the man.
 
                Appearing back in the cave that contained the two crab elders, he looked around.  He was surprised he was back here, after all he had already killed the kraken beast that they were so concerned with.  Perhaps there was another beast that needed dispatched, or maybe he had killed the wrong creature he wasn’t sure.  It was hard to judge the facial expressions on the two crabs, after all it was mostly just their hard exoskeleton faces.  SO they didn’t show emotions like humans do.  Sighing he walked forward to hear what they had to say to him.  Hopefully it was a comindment or something, maybe a reword he wasn’t sure.  Anything would be better than another mission.  Especially when he would rather be close by to watch Youka fighting, and be able to jump in if anything bad started to happen.  As he slowly walked he closed his eyes and opened up his chakra senses for a moment.  Besides the two in front of him, he could tell they were alone in the cave together.  The stalagmites and stalactites glow in whatever artificial light source the crustaceans were using to keep the cave lit.  The top of the cave gave off a slow drip, that was a metronome like sound, it was kind of relaxing in a way, and Maku thought it might be nice to nap in here.  Well except for it being so damp.  Walking up to the two elders he awaited there words, and bowed slightly to them.  It always was nice to show respect and as they were the two elders of this land, they were at the top of the food chain.  He heard the clicking from Loki the smaller elder, and then a response from Satsujin the warrior.  Still bowing, they continued to click and clack, obviously speaking to each other in their antive crab language.  Or maybe they were just trying to intimidate him.  It was always hard to tell with crabs.  Standing up straight he looked at the two elders, Loki standing on the head of Satsuijin both looking at him.  Well Satsujin was, Loki apperantly didn’t have yes, being one of the deep sea crabs.  He had some experience with them, using the Bafukani, but he knew Loki was infiniently more powerful than his summon.
 
                Locking eyes with Satsujin, the elder began to speak. “We thought you killed the Kraken best, but we and you were wrong.  Nothing has changed.  What you killed was an ancient beast named Konley,   He was a beast that we did not care for, so we are stil pleased but the problem still remains.  Your mission for the continue use of our services is the dispatch of the kraken, and after that you will be free to go.”  In his mind Maku sighed again.  This wasn’t what he wanted to be doing on this day.  He wanted to be sitting on a bench watching two chakra blobs move in his mind.  Not going out and trying to kill some monster.  But alas this was what he was charged with so this was what he was going to do.  “Very well masters, I will once again go out and attempt to find this creature though, I was unable to locate the beast on my last visit.  I tried to sense him, but nothing could be found, do you have any new evidence I could use to find the monster.  It might speed things up after all.  And any weaknesses the beast may or may not have.  I would just like to know what I am getting into.”  Maku attempted to remain polite though he was kind of feeling short tempered.  Once again this was not what he wanted to be doing at this very moment.  He awaited a response, hoping to have more information to go on this go around.  “The beast should be in the original area we sent you to.  As for weaknesses we stil have no such leads.  We want you to go there and do the deed.  It is up to you to figure out the rest.”  The crab was clearly not pleased with what had been Maku’s tone.  Sensing this Maku quickly dismissed himself and headed off towards the same island he had been at the last time he was there.  He jogged rather quickly to the place he had last set up camp, and remade his camp.  He wanted to relax for at least an hour.  Everytime he had been summoned he had a case of severe nausea that he didn’t want to let the creatures onto.  After he would lay down for a bit he would begin searching for the monster and attempt to put an end to its life.
 
                After he had rested, he stood and began walking the island.  If the creature was indeed a kraken, the concern was that he would have to enter the water.  He was confident he could enter the water but the concern was that he would drown.  Looking at the ground as he walked he was examining for tracks in the sand.  Nothing was really seen at all.  He passed the remains of the creature that he had already killed.  It was already nothing more than a skeleton.  Clearly the inhabitants didn’t leave anything to waste around here.  Had it been the kraken or just rat.  He wasn’t sure at all.  Though his examinations of the rest of the island didn’t reveal anything of intrest or anything that even remotely helped.  Thinking his best option would be to utilize his chakra senses again maybe it would be the difference in this search.  Taking up a seat on the beach, in about waste deep water he began to relax and start focusing, opening his mind so that he would be able to feel the different chakra signatures.  There was nothing at all for several minutes.  However instead of just giving up and moving on, he allowed time to pass.  Working harder, he tried to extend the range of his senses.  He had mastered a range of approximately 50 meters.  Now though he was trying to double it, if he could get to 100 meters maybe hed have the depth to find the monster.  And once he found it it would only be a matter of time before he shifted from discovery to slaying the beast, to getting back to relaxing on a Konoha bench.  Focusing harder and harder, he got farther and farther with his senses.  He knew he was at about the 100 meter mark when he felt a shudder go through his spine.  He had found the beast.  It was huge though with a small chakra signature.  He hadn’t exactly worked out how he as going to kill it yet, and it was a monster.  Probablly 100 to 200 feet long, judging by how spread out the single chakra signature was.  Its width he wasn’t sure of yet, but it was proportional making it to be a huge beast, if not one of the biggest he had ever seen.
 
                A light rain had begun to fall from the sky, and the sound of thunder could be heard in the distance.  It was all a bit ominous, especially based on what he had just sensed, and the nature of what he was about to try to do.  AS the rain got heavier and heavier, Maku could already see streaks of light through his eye lids.  Clearly the storm was moving in quicker than he had imagined.  It had already been dark when Maku had arrived, being night time and all.  But now it was ridicoulus.  Without the lightning Maku was practically blind in the night.  With no stars and no city lights, it was dark as pitch.  This would only make the fight with the beast that much more dangerous.  But alas he had to try.  The first task would be to get the beast to come to the surface, so he could actually get an attempt of an attack on the beast.  He ran through several scenerios that would achieve this feet , but he still wasn’t sure which route to go.  He also assumed that he would need some sort of backup to get this monster killed.  Once again he wasn’t sure how so.  He was going to first attempt to get its attention though.  If it did try to kill the crabs constantly maybe if he just splashed in the water some he could get it to rise up, at least to get a good look at the beast.  Standing and drawing his blade, he began to walk into the water a little deeper, and splash.  He felt kind of stupid to be honest with himself.  He looked like a toddler in a pool, to his minds eyes.  Though he did this with his eyes closed, and senses open.  Trying to watch the chakra of the beast he wanted to be warned if it got to close to him without his noticing.  However, just as he was thinking his a tentacle grabbed his ankle and pulled him under water.  It was a quick snag, the beast was so large he hadn’t seen its tentacle. The air was escaping his lungs, and he needed to resurface.  He had been in the middle of exhaling when he was forced under, so he didn’t have much air in his lungs.  Taking his blade he gave it a hard stab, and body flickered out of the water at a speed of 220, escaping the beasts reach for at least the time being.
 
                He had moved back onto the beach and was watching hoping the beast would pop out of the water.  However this all seemed to no avail.  The monster was apparently satisfied with being underwater, and was going to do its best to stay there.   After several moments, he realized the monster was not going to surface.  Clearly the beast was of an aquatic nature and would not come near to the beach.  It would just want to stay safe in the water, and probably couldn’t live on the surface anyway.  Maku sat back down and considered what his next move would be.  He thought if he had some back up he could probably do something, but not by himself against this large beast.  His first thought would be to contact the crab races, but he didn’t want to travel out onto the water at this point.  If the beast was still, there then it would grab him as he was running back to the coast. And it wouldn’t do to die in such a way at all.  Because of this he dedcided to summon the Bafukani and then send him back to get reinforcements.  Pulling his left ring finger across the sharp edge of the blade, he drew blood.  He then summoned the bafukani to be on top of his head and informed him of the situation, telepathically.  As soon as he was done thinking it to the summon, it disappeared in a puff of smoke.  He knew it would go and tell the others of what was going on.  They would then either send him back, or come on their own, he wasn’t sure which.  Well until they got there he might as well relax.  Walking over to a tree he sat under the rough foliage to avoid being soaked.  He was sure theyt would be here soon, they were quick moving creatures when they needed to be.  And if this monster had been causing them all these problems then they would especially like to arrive to end the threat that this beast had been causing them.  Closing his eyes, he let himself doze for a few moments.  There was nothing more he could do until they got here.  Once that happened he would discuss strategies with them and get this thing going.
 
                It didn’t take too long before a couple creatures had arrived.  Sinjetsu and Loki, as well as the Bafukani had all arrived.  It didn’t seem like that was enough, but all the same it would probably be enough.  Those two hadn’t become the most respected elders for nothing after all.  Standing to attention, he watched as they walked up to him.  The Bafukani leaped off of Sinjetsu and onto Maku’s head, instantly infusing him with his chakra.  Maku already felt himself grow stronger faster and tougher all at the same time.  It was a nice thing to have this creature on his head.  Feeling so much stronger was very nice, and he also knew his genjutsu would gain a boost as well, should he go to use it.  Standing he awaited to hear their plans from Sinjetsu.  “Boy, good work finidng this creature, however I am disappointed you could not kill it yourself.  All the same we are here now to eliminate the beast.  Please take a position on the b each and activate a powerful genjutsu to ensnare the beast.  Myself and Loki will then kill it ourselves.  Bafukani tells us you have some skill in Genjutsu, so it shouldn’t be beyond your abilities.  Now quickly take your position and perform.”  Maku listened and obeyed.  He wasn’t going to deny this plan after all, it seemed to be the best option.  He was a genjutsu kind of ninja after all.  Walking towards the beach he took a seat in the water and pulled out his harmonica.  He was already soaked from the rain, so what did it matter if he got a little more wet.  Beginning to play a tune, he made it kinda jazzy.  After all why not just have fun with it.  Sure he might be eaten by a giant fish at any moment, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t do it while playing a fun song, and a smile in his heart.  He chuckled a bit at his own wit, which hurt his tune.  Refocusing he began playing with vigor and started funneling his chakra into the musical notes.  He would use the Iron Maiden jutsu and keep it paralyzed.  This would give the others the time to get down into the deep and kill the monster.  Taking his chakra infusion to the next level, he pushed out the jutsu and had it begin, ducking even further he placed the harmonica in the water, so the water would carry the tune.  This would do two things, cause the beast to come towards him and cause it to hear it. 
 
                It seemed to work swimmingly, pun on purpose.  The beast did indeed start swimming towards him, and Maku could tell when it hit the sound waves, because it immediately froze.  It would see itself in a giant metal coffin, being squeezed to death and in intense pain.  He saw Sinjetsu rushing forward to take out the beast.  He hoped it would go fast, Maku was already running low on air being forced to do this all underwater.  He could probably hold out for another couple seconds.  But it seemed to be enough. Sinjetsu with Loki had made it to the best in record time, and had pierced it through the brain with his spear.  Killing it instantly.  It floated for a minute before it vanished in a poof of smoke.  So the creature had been a summon itself.  This was worrying to Maku, as that meant another ninja should be around her somewhere.  Pulling his head from the water he looked around.  The ninja was most likely on this island, but where.  He threw out his sense, but came up empty.  Purhaps the ninja was suppressing his chakra so no one would be able to find him.  This seemed like a plausible thing.  He begin sprinting across the island in search, and it was long until he found the other ninja. He had left Sinjetsu and Loki behind in his attempt to finish this off quickly.  It wouldn’t do, this ninja was hear for nepharious purposes and needed to be killed.  Nothing good would come of a ninja who was killing anothers summoning creature.  The man had noticed him and stood up glaring back at Maku who still had the Bafukani resting on his head.  The man was slightly taller than Maku, in his priest guise.  He had jet black hair and violet eyes, similar to what Maku looked like in his real shape.  The man was also fat, and had a red sweaty face.  He wore a ninja outfit that clearly was to tight for him, and had obviously been on the island for awhile if one judged by the state of his atirre, and hair.  After a moment, Maku realized why he looked so familiar.
 
                The man was his uncle.  The same man that had given Maku his huge start in the ways of genjutsu when his father passed.  What cold he be doing here.  And for what reasons, it just didn’t make any sense.  “What are you doing here, Unlce?”  He questioned quizzically, he was so confused he had no idea what was going on.  In an instant the man was in front of him.  Clearly his girth didn’t have any relationship to his speed.  With a palm to the chest Maku felt himself flying backwards.  He flew into a tree and had the breath knocked out of him.  If it wasn’t for the bafukani he might have been knocked out, due to the hit.  In another instant the man was there again ready to strike again.  This time however, Maku was ready for him, and body flickered away.  At a speed of 220, he was behind the man and launched a powerful punch to the mans lower spine, throwing his whole body into it.  The man grunted as the strike connected, and knocked him onto the ground.  Spinning on his heels, he drew his blad and brought it back down into the back of the mans right patella going straight through the bone.  The man screamed in pain, but before much had even been yelled, Maku also used the palm of his hand to strike the man on the back of the neck, causing him to loose consciousness in an instant.  Drawing the blade from the man’s leg, and wiped it on the man’s robes.  He then placed it back in its sheath located on the small of his back.  He then tied the man up and reported to Satsujin and Loki.  “this man is actually a relative of mine.  I am not sure if he recognized me or not, as I normally look different than this.”  He was truthful because with the Bafukani on his head it would know if he lied, so their was no reason to even try to be deceptive.  “I will question him when he awakes, and depending on his answer kill him or let him go.  I will then report off to you, is this acceptable?”  He stated all of this in a matter of fact way.  He wasn’t to concerned the crabs had always been good about letting him do what he needed to do so he didn’t see why this time shouldn’t be any different. 
 
                “Very well, if he had anything to do with this creature, kill him.  Anything else, kill him.  I can see no way around it.  He is here against my wishes, his murder is set in stone.”  The Satsujin spoke this in a matter of fact way.  He clearly had no regard for the humans life.  But he was titled the Murder Crab for a reason.  Maku didn’t mind.  This man had tried to kill him, and he was confident this man was the person they had been looking for.  He watched as the two crabs went away.  Bafukani sat on his head the whole time.  Possibly he was there to make sure the deed was done, or maybe just so Maku would be stronger, they had formed a good bond after all.  Walking up to the man, he sat infront of him and waited for the man to wake up.  It was around 15 or 20 minutes when he began to stir.  As soon as his eyes snapped open, he looked into Maku’s eyes and initiated a genjutsu.  Maku found himself in a world of perpetual nightmares, but before anything happened, Maku flexed his chakra and dispersed the jutsu.  His uncle was no longer his superior, or even his equal for that matter.  This fat man that sat in front of him was nothing more than a stupid ninja that had attacked a much stronger opponent.  Maku didn’t allow the man a second attempt.  He intiated the Mind Razer, which only required Maku to be able to see his opponent.  Instantly a blue light ripped thorugh the man mind and heart, thus giving off the powerful illusion of cutting off the mans chakra flow.  Clearly he started struggling trying to do something, but he couldn’t.  He even tried tog enjutsu release, judging on what Maku sensed, but it didn’t work.  Maku was to powerful for him now.  “You can stop that now, your finished Uncle.”  With that Maku released the transformation technique, appearing for the first time in the ast month to be himself.  A smaller sized boy of 11, with raven hair and violet eyes.  His uncles eyes brightened, so apperantly he hadn’t known it was Maku.  A very intresting development.  It seems that Maku had always over estimated his uncles prowess.  The man began to speak and Maku listened.
 
                “How dare you boy, release me!”  The man snarled, he was raving clearly not the calm demeanor of a man he once knew.  Maku spoke to him next.  “Why are you here, and why do you mess with my friends, I warn you if you give answers that don’t match ill be required to kill you.”  He tried to say this with concern, but he failed, it was simply said matter of factly.  In truth he didn’t want to kill his uncle but he didn’t mind it.  This man was not the one he once knew, and he needed the crabs, he didn’t need his uncle.  It was only logical.  “How dare you, I am here on  mission, I am set to kill these crabs to weaken some stupid genin who is overstepping his reach.”  This struck Maku as ominous.  SO someone wanted him dead, and they were using his uncle to do it.  Clearly he would have to watch his back in the future.  He wondered what kind of enemy he could have made.  Perhaps a Taki nin who resented him leaving the village.  He wasn’t sure.  “Uncle, that genin is me, and your answers make me sad.  I will kill you now, I really have no choice.  But wont you tell me who did it, who charged you with this task?”  Maku asked him, he was sad he had to kill his uncle.  He sighed, sad about the deed he was about to do/ his uncles face looked shocked, scared and sad all at the same time.  “I don’t think so boy, if it is you then I will kill you now!”  With that the man began struggling, clearly trying to initiate more genjutsu, or some kind of jutsu, however it didn’t work.  His uncle was raving, what had happened with him.  He had not been attached to his uncle but this was not how he wanted to remember him.  At least the last time he left him stranded, it was to make him stronger.  Drawing his blade faster than the fat man could see, he sliced his throat.  The man died with a surprised look on his face, falling faceforward and bleeding out into the sand.  Maku checked him, but he had no items.  As soon as the man was dead, Maku spied several smokes raise from the water.  Clearly he had had more than one summon in the water, and they had been coming in to attack.  Maku had done the right thing.
 
                Maku looked inwardly to see his feelings.  He noted that he wasn’t hurting emotionally in any way.  He had found the deed necessary, so it was alright to kill.  Maku didn’t mind death he had decided, as long as it had a purpose.  Arbitrary deaths and pain were not something he could perform, though he wouldn’t mind if others felt the need.  But if it was a necessary pain or death then he could get behind it just fine.  Returning to the elder cave, he reported to Satsujin and Loki.  Once his reprt was given they thanked him and sent him back.  He reappered on the bench in Konoha.  Not much had changed.  He felt out for Youka and that other boy, he was through waiting for Youka to end the fight on his own.  Standing he was prepared to end the fight, taking Youka with him.  Their time was over in Konoha, nothing more to be gained, if there ever was anything.  The moment the Hokage greated them was the moment this had become a lost endeavor.  Jogging forward, Maku prepared to grab his friend and get the hell out of this town.


(Word count = 4628.  23 stat points, 46 jp, trained second level chakra senses.)

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