Chapter 1: Deep Within Mist

[Pwn]

“Hmm?” Reisuke’s ears perked up at the sound of several loud booms, shaking his bedroom floor, and nearly collapsing everything he had on his drawer. Raising the upper half of his body while sitting slouched against the pillow at the head of his bed; Reisuke placed his hands upon his now bent knees, and deeply sighed. “Not again. This village just cannot seem to catch a break.” Lowering his neck, Reisuke began shaking his head.

It would be a lie to say he was not used to this when, in reality, he actually was. The Hidden Mist Village had been once known as the infamous ‘Bloody Mist’, and he was merely a tadpole at that time. That era would not last long as the Church of Latter-Day Rising Mist, and its newly inducted head, the Shodaime Mizukage, would take over, making living in the Hidden Mist Village a lot easier. Nobody, from the civilians to shinobi, had to concern themselves with anything.

Why? As long as they worshiped the church’s God, every problem would cease to exist. Reisuke was not religious, and was not falling for their fairy tale stories. It was apparent that he was right to keep his distance. If there was something going on, it was highly likely that the church and its members were involved. As a Yamanaka, and very capable sensor, Reisuke had an eerie feeling about everything going on. It was time for him to escape.

Moving his legs to the side of his bed, Reisuke would place his bare feet upon the floor. Attempting to stand, Reisuke could still feel trembles coming from outside. Reisuke’s first assumption would be that the enemy could be getting closer or, perhaps, even within the village. Hurriedly scurrying around the room and packing everything he needed into a bag, Reisuke slipped his sandals, placed the bag upon his back, and headed for the front door.

What Reisuke saw next simply blew his mind. People were scattered, running for their lives, some even dead from getting hit by debris. In the distance, the gate of the Hidden Mist Village had been torn asunder. That was all he could see amongst the thick smog filling the air, and, to be honest, it was all Reisuke wanted to see. That was not to say he was a coward, but Reisuke knew it was not wise to stick around.

Going in the opposite direction, Reisuke opted to take another route out of the village. It pained him to not be helpful, and come to the rescue of all those who needed him, but he was a genin. Reisuke may have had the heart and guts, but that would not be enough to prevent him from getting killed. Whomever it was causing the destruction would be killed in due time. It did not matter the reason; Reisuke wanted them dead.

Reaching the end of the Hidden Mist Village, Reisuke turned his head to take one more glance at the once glorious shinobi village. Facing the forest concealed by thick mist, Reisuke darted off. Reisuke knew it the back of his mind that he did not know where to go, but anywhere was better than the Hidden Mist Village. It even crossed his mind that he might have to leave the country. He would have to contemplate upon his next destination.

Coming to a stop, Reisuke sat upon a small rock, surrounded by thick, green bamboo sticks. Not a single crevice was amongst them, so nobody would be able to see Reisuke from behind. This was a spot that he frequently visits during his alone time. From what he has been told, this specific place resembles the Land of Grass. Looking into the sky, Reisuke would sigh. “Ugh! I really should have thought this out first.”

[Naitome]

---

"Tsuna, Mr. Tickles, Aloysius, Ralph..."

Naitome counted off, each blue object he passed in his fleeting escape gaining a name and a backstory. He wanted to intertwine their imaginary relationships, start drama. His feet broke the curl of dank waterways leading to the Spikelands, a natural moating of impossibly sturdy bamboo rising like pillars from a bog of brown grass. This area stretched for miles, and though away from the village, despite his efforts to return, more blue things met him this way then leading back home. The six-winged cerulean birds calling shrill to their mates, the crushed cases of 'portable oceans' women carried to paint their faces the tone of the sea, the berries that tangled saplings stained with their juice...near the corners of his eyes familiar blue markings seemed more brilliant in the dusk. He careened upwards, leaping. Ignoring the horde that fled their deaths at the walls behind them. The destruction still occurred. It defined them now.

His heel clicked atop a sturdy stalk, let him gain his balance. He would make his way over their obstructing rigidity, instead of through it, as others did. Each subsequent step was soundless, as Naitome tip-toed across the plant lengths reaching up, grasping for the black sky. He remained unseen, too momentary and quick to have his running shadow tracked by those around. When he came to a stop, in the thick of uncleared stems crowding stiff grass and mist, he looked first up, at the far-away-moon, then down, towards a shuffling that moved closer each second.

A young man looked up at him. They would lock eyes, each ones gaze impossible to avoid for the other. Five meters above what he assumed was simply another frightened civilian, the Kirigakure shinobi dropped his right shoulder slightly, a barely noticeable motion betrayed by the sounds of Akuharu, and the nameless katana making an 'X' at his back as they clinked, steel on steel.

"Howdy! Are you lost?"

He asked directly, voice a barely contained stuttering of conflicted pitch, erupting like small explosions. His hands remained in the folds of his oversized white Kimono, which hung a bit, his feet providing counter pressure sufficient to buoy him, braced against parallel branches. He took easy notice of the stranger's movements, and thought about butterflies, their ugly insect faces. He grimaced.

"Are you running away?"

He asked later, noticing that while many could be seen moving away from the village, no one else had come this way, save for himself and the boy, and only one of them had taken a path that would conventionally make the traveler unseen, unapproachable. His eyes narrowed as he searched his new acquaintance's face from above, fingers gently folded beneath the magatama-adorned cloth.

---

[Pwn]

“Shit!” Reisuke’s initial reaction to the man would be a silent cursing within the confines of his mind. A man with peculiar markings winging his eyes stared intently into Reisuke’s own, quite frankly making him nervous. When it came to conversing with others, Reisuke fell extremely short of the stick. He really did not know how to go about making friends. That is why, for years, Reisuke has lived the majority of his life as a loner.

“Lost? Well, you see…” Within those few seconds, it would seem as if a million stressors plagued Reisuke’s thoughts. “What should I tell him? What if he does not believe me? No, what if he kills me?” Reisuke would gulped, but before he could retort, the man spoke once more. It is like, whomever this person was, knew what Reisuke was up to. Feeling discovered, with his purpose already revealed, Reisuke answered the man.

“I guess you could say I am running away.” Reisuke stood up, dusting his garments off, and bringing his face closer to the man’s face. “Or…you could say I am distancing myself from all of the commotion. I refuse to get involved in whatever is going on. If you came this way, I assume you do not want to be involved either. Am I right?” It was an educated guess, based upon his own reason for coming this way, but that’s all Reisuke could rely on at this point.

[Naitome]

---

The boy hesitated, an uncertainty unmistakable from such a vantage point. His answer carried vagaries, what Naitome had been trained to take as deception. He did not know what part of or to what extent he was being lied to, but he accepted that any answers from this point on would be directed, intentional. The boy concealed something. As he spoke, Naitome narrowed his focus.

The young man adjusted his clothing, brought his face closer to Naitome's own. There it is. A civilian wouldn't do that, they put as much distance as possible between themselves and all the reputably bloodthirsty Kiri-nin; members of the church treated them as apostates, not worthy of their divine presence. The boy would have to know that Naitome was a shinobi, the way he perched himself against the bamboo, between steps, weight-braced. How he'd approached silently, visibly startling his new acquaintance.

Though he'd brought himself closer, he hadn't reduced the five meter distance between them by more than a few feet. Naitome thought before responding, taking in the answer.

A shinobi, but not a Jonin because I'm the only Jonin kept near the village like this. Given his age, Jonin and Chunin are both unlikely, and since he didn't close the distance between us by a significant amount, or attempt to distance himself, he's probably not skilled enough to be a Chunin anyway.

"You're wrong!"

Naitome answered, happy, his voice peaking strangely in pitch.

"I was already a part of that commotion. I was at the wall when it fell, spoke to the fireshadow and his wings. But you...Genin...you refuse to be a part of it? On whose authority Blondie-sama?"

Naitome spoke energetically, keenly observant of the questionee, throwing his guess as to the boy's status out to see how he'd respond.

"And if you're running away Mr. Yellow Hair, well, that makes you a traitor, now doesn't it?"

His hands itched, anticipatory. His body compelling him into action that he would refuse, pending the boy's response.

What lies are next, nameless one?

---

[Pwn]

“I am wrong? Well, if he is not running away, he is probably a chūnin or jōnin. I have never seen him around, and I cannot seem to spot his headband. He is either with me or…” Reisuke would gulp again, wondering just who exactly this man was. With careful analyzation, Reisuke assumed the man was around his age. He was taller and, most likely, heavier, than Reisuke. Gazing into his empty red eyes, Reisuke could tell his man was a killer.

“So, he was a part of the commotion, and was there when the wall fell. That’s bad. What’s even worse is the Hokage, and their army, was present. What could the Hokage want with my village? Is the Mizukage alright? Ugh!” To be quite frank, it all confused Reisuke because all he wanted to do was avoid the situation at the gates, and it ended up finding its way to him. “Nobody gave me the authority to retreat, but the altercation seemed dire.”

“Mr. Yellow Hair? My hair is blond, thank you very much. Who does this guy think he is? If he thinks I’m a traitor, then there is no mistake about it. This guy is definitely a Hidden Mist shinobi, just like me.” Reisuke began to smile, becoming a lot calmer at the thought of this guy being on his side. Instead of being hostile, Reisuke figure he could provide his services to his obvious superior. “I am not running away. I was simply seeking refuge.”

Reisuke started walking closer toward the man, raising his arms in the air as he did so. Once he reached about one meter way, which was roughly three feet, Reisuke kneeled down on the ground, and placed his hands and head done. As a sign of respect, Reisuke bowed. “My name is Reisuke, and I am a Hidden Mist genin. It would be an honor to serve you.” Reisuke’s eyes were closed. The man could accept his offer or kill him now.

[Naitome]

---

To study and be studied in turn; there was a clear change in the boy's demeanor, a peculiarity centered around his recollection of events. Though he'd just been told that Reisuke was running away, by Reisuke himself, he was now near instantly after told that he was not. A look of 'my mouth is full of bees' covered Naitome's face in lapses between listening and licking the corners of his sharpest teeth. How deep then was the young one's loyalty submerged, if he shied away from contact, offered fealty to whomever he approached. If he still possesses fear.

Naitome's right foot, unaltered by chakra, set in motion at the moment of the boy's bowing would lash out, releasing him from his berth amongst the spikeland growth. As the boy's head reached towards the ground, Naitome would land, both his hands swung overhead only to crash back down, a double-fisted pummeling, a single strike made with two limbs. The blow was aimed to crack the boy over the back of the head, but lightly, a thumping more test than attempted murder. If it connected, the swift assault would merely mush the boy's face into the dirt, and less than a meter away now, Naitome would draw Akuharu from his back. The removal of the scythe from its chain trap was like an afterthought, occurred just as rapidly as he'd fallen from above, and if it's unsheathing was not interrupted by counter-attack, would sit in the Jonin's palm, balanced against the subtle curve of his fingers. He did not attack in this moment, however, would only observe the young mist genin who had relaxed in his assessment of the threat, and given such an opportunity, his opening, almost as if he welcomed death.

"Serve me? But my little Blondie, how do I know that you're capable of serving me? How do you know?"

If allowed to continue, he would do so, a slower and more deliberate physical blow being aimed to clip the young man's chin as/if his head rose from its bed of dead bamboo clippings. It was a kick, left leg a wavering of joint and bone set to dig into Reisuke's lower jaw, but not powerful enough to do anything more than flip him, partially, onto his haunches a few hapless inches back. Akuharu twirled as the kick was delivered, his hands clenching and unclenching unnoticeably, ready to respond in an instant.

"Prove yourself, beach-bunny. Show me what type of servant I can acquire with your services. If you win, I'll tell you secret things and let you burn some leaves with me. If you lose..."

He would add if possible, face aglow in the purest joy. The thrill of a battle beginning.

"...you die!"

A flaring of chakra from within₁. A re-tightening grip 'round Akuharu's width, a kneading of intent. How would his potential ally react, and could he? The time entire, he did not look away from the Genin, would seek to know each motion and non-motion of the fledgling body adapt to its new positions.

---

SPOILER: Click to show

{Notes}
1. Unknown technique prepped.

[Pwn]

“I wonder what he plans to do next.” There was a brief moment of silence that seemed to last several minutes after Reisuke bowed and closed his eyes. Reisuke intended to open his eyes, and gaze up at the man but before he could do so, the man had already given his response. Unbeknownst to Reisuke was the man’s arms and fist about to pummel him. As Reisuke got hit, his face would be pushed into the dirt below.

“What the heck was that for!?” Reisuke pondered while spitting remnants of dirt from his mouth, and brushing off his now slightly dirtied face. Standing upon his feet, only a meter away from the man, Reisuke would notice that the man was now wielding a large scythe. Despite not wanting to fight, being a peaceful individual himself, Reisuke used his right hand to reach for a tanto located in his back pouch.

“How do I know? That is simple…” Before Reisuke could continue his response, the man aimed to deliver a slower and more deliberate physical blow, aimed at Reisuke’s chin. It would be a left kick directed toward Reisuke’s lower jaw. Leaning his head up and stepping back about six inches, the kick would continue upward, missing Reisuke’s chin. Removing his tanto, Reisuke would horizontally slash at the man the man’s left leg.

“I really did not want to fight you, but if I must prove myself, then so be it.” Reisuke was not willing to do; at least not here and now. Facing the man and gazing deep into his eyes once more, Reisuke’s entire demeanor had changed. Sure, he did not like to do battle, but he was far from afraid to clash. Pointing his tanto at the man, Reisuke would further distance himself by stepping back six more inches, given him and the man two meters between each other.

[Naitome]

---

A successful blow, the double-fisted strike thudding against the boy's head, forcing his face into the dirt.

Then he stood. His demeanor changed. His face took on a look of conflict, of forced action. Perhaps this Reisuke had a stronger will than he had let on, and Naitome felt a small pang of appreciation. His foot was launched as intended, sought out the familiar crunch of smashing facial bone after the Genin's drawing of a small peculiar blade, missed, continued skyward even as a slashing motion was made. The thunk of his favored double-scythe hitting the dirt behind him could be heard at the same time that Reisuke's tanto began its sweeping path towards Naitome's leg. He had braced his weight against Akuharu, flipped his right leg into the air to cover the path of the left leg, would kick with the newly risen limb using his right arm to hold himself in the air on his pole arm. He spun, eyes tracking each precise movement.

His left foot would kick₁ up on the flat of the boy's still-swinging blade just as the slashing bit a thin red line into the fat of Naitome's calf. A spatter of blood, but the short-sword would no doubt be rocketed towards the clouds, a few small wedges sectioned out of the bamboo above as it flew. It would come back down, somewhere, at some time, eventually. But much much later.

"Delicious..."

Naitome called as he landed near immediately after, Reisuke backing up a bit, though now assuredly without one of his troublesome blades. He bent his foot up to his face, licked the decidedly minor wound dripping dots of blood, then sat down abruptly, letting go of Akuharu. It fell behind him but he did not care, chakra rising₂, sucking loudly at the wound, hoping more blood would leak out.

He would stare at Reisuke, beyond thrilled.

"MORE!"

He screamed, a look of wildness overtaking him.

J...aaa...

---

SPOILER: Click to show

{Notes}
1. Golden Thunder Power (On Tanto)
2. Unknown Technique Prep

[Pwn]

“What is wrong with this dude? And just why is he licking his blood?” Reisuke could not help but wonder about the man he was facing; taking into consideration that this man could possibly be a psychopath with nothing more than the intent to kill him. Yet, the man sat upon the ground, even releasing his weapon as if intentionally dropping his defense. Reisuke was not too fond of being intimidated. He was a proud genin, ready to prove himself to the man.

“Alright. You want more!?” Running toward the right in a circle away from the bamboo wall, while keeping the same distance from the man, Reisuke reached his right hand into his pouch, and grabbed a shuriken. Although there was a thin lining between them, Reisuke was not afraid to make his next move. Flinging his right arm forth, the shuriken would begin to spin directly toward the center of the man’s neck.

“How do you like that!?” Watching his shuriken spin at the man, Reisuke’s running would come to a halt. Immediately after would Reisuke take on a unique formation; one never seen by anybody before. Stretching both of his arms all the way out and wiggling his fingers, Reisuke stuck his tongue out and winked at the man. Reisuke wanted to show the man that he could be just as weird as him, but all he could do is hope that it would work.

1. Prep
2. Prep

[Naitome]

---

Shiiii...

The blood. Flowing past sharpened fang, heady and intoxicating, bitter. It centered him, a bit, drowned out the sounds of Reisuke's responding but drawing his focus to the sluggish plodding this Genin must have thought was a run. The gold slits of Naitome's eyes followed the boy as he curled rightward, distancing himself from the nearest fist-width stalks made wall.

He saw the boy's hands move, into hidden places, retrieving hidden things. His prey tossed something glinting, held out his hands, seemingly mocked Naitome's own oddity.

"Scrawny pathetic worm-filled weakling cowardly shit-sucking snot smear..."

Obscenities gurgle-chewed, hateful.

Naitome had already reached back, simultaneously grabbed Akuharu and launched it towards the boy as of it were an oddly shaped boomerang, a curved chucking, swerving easily into the path of the Shuriken that should have found his own throat. The much heavier weapon would intercept the projectile -including the spider-web like coating its path through fractured sunlight seemed to grant it- far before it was anywhere near its original target and carry it towards Reisuke's back.

Though the boy's circular jaunt had carried him a full four meters away from Naitome, the Jonin had not remained sitting, even though he would have liked to. As his right hand released Akuharu, his leg dropped and he rolled slightly forward onto both heels, leaping into the air at the moment the flung double-scythe would be only a foot or two away from its target's spine.

The chakra he'd previously gathered would aid him soon enough, as he focused on the Genin amidst the walls of thick bamboo around them, his own body rising through mid-air. Their surroundings were almost weapons in their own right...that is, if they could somehow gain the right power.

Far above them all, Reisuke's tanto twirled up towards the cloud.

---

SPOILER: Click to show

{Notes}
Technique Set Up Prep.

[Pwn]

“A counter!? Not surprising.” Reisuke, although not a maven battler, figured the man would go on the defensive against his shuriken. Everything was going exactly how Reisuke expected it to; according to the plan. Reisuke did not possess the slightest humor when it came to making a jeering out of individuals. There was not a single wasted maneuver that Reisuke would make when it came to clashing with another shinobi.

As the man gripped and released his scythe into an aerial assault, Reisuke continued his rightward circular motion, his distance being four meters away from the man. Moving with him was his fingers; in different directions, yet intricately enough to be considered a pattern. Reisuke would stop again, this time north of the man, standing upon the path he used to get to the bamboo forest.

Watching the scythe intercept the first shuriken and wire, getting tangled during contact, Reisuke guided his second shuriken and wire. When the man tried to make his leap, Reisuke would wrap the wire around his legs until the shuriken lodged itself into either calf. Another gesture would allow Reisuke to pull the scythe under the man who had made it to the sky, and was focusing his attention on him.

“Maybe this’ll slow you down.” Reisuke tugged the wire, hopefully wrapped around the man’s lower legs, with the intent of bringing him down upon the scythe. If the man did not break the restraints around his legs, he would find himself without legs. Reisuke did everything in his power to not kill the man as he was not the type of person to murder. However, Reisuke could still offer his services to the man, even if he was crippled.

1. Shadow Shuriken Technique
2. Manipulated Shuriken Technique

[Naitome]

---

Check.

As the scythe had been thrown so that it would be only a few feet away from Reisuke's back by the time Naitome's leap was performed, the cheap 20 feet of wire that quickly wound about and tangled 'round the center of Akuharu's handle would be pulled taut as it flew closer to the boy (4 meters of said wire needed to bridge the distance between them alone) especially if he also sought to wrap the rest of the wire around both of Naitome's legs. Since the Jonin had been watching the boy the entire time, and was previously aware of the first shuriken's glinting while it's travel path was interrupted by his scythe, it took very little effort for him to notice the second shuriken, as well as it's accompanying wire act.

"Boo!"

As the wire attempted to touch his leg, several sounds occurred. A barely noticeable click as his wrist-mounted Kakkou blade extended. A dull pop as the wire was revealed to have tangled itself around a puff of smoke, soon revealing Akuharu in Naitome's place. A secondary puff as a light popping deposited Naitome a foot and a half away from Reisuke's back, taking his scythe's place. A sharp snap as the taut line of the ninja wire was pulled even tighter and sliced through simply by a flick of Naitome's wrist, which the first shuriken -previously entangling his scythe- had wrapped around as they'd exchanged positions. The Kawarimi₁ itself was basic but as each sound occurred on top of one another, one rapid ball of 'things happening', Naitome knew the boy's dull reflexes couldnt keep up.

---iiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnnn-

Behind Reisuke near instantaneously, the wire snapped and it's tension lost, Naitome reached forward, so close that the chakra fueled snakes₂bursting from the sleeve of his Kakkou bearing arm would have no trouble ensnaring him in their grasp. Six shot out, two snaking around each of his hands, maws opened, ready to inject his clans venom into the boy's veins fang to wrist. These would prevent any more wire shenanigans along with the creation of any pesky Handseals.

The final two snakes would attempt to constrict the boy's throat and eyes/ears respectively, seeking to cut him off from his already diminished senses. In the mad scramble for advantage, the Kage-Hebi's ever vigilant eyes would remain on the boy, hoping Reisuke would take the bait and copy his own body-switching, setting him up for the final flaring chakra₃ act of their little exercise.

"But Blondie-sama, I'm already slowing myself down."

He responded, licking his own teeth.

High above, Reisuke's spinning tanto reached the peak of its rise, and was recaptured by gravity, beginning its fall back towards the pair, pushed gently off its original course by the wind.

---

SPOILER: Click to show

{Notes}
1. Kawirimi
2. Hidden Shadow Snake Hands
3. Unknown Prep

[Pwn]

“What!?” Reisuke appeared visibly shocked to find out that the man had replaced himself with his scythe. It was a meager academy technique, one Reisuke learned during his days at the academy, but it was very effective. Acknowledging the puff of smoke ahead of him, and noticing the man nowhere to be found, Reisuke knew he had to think fast. Immediately kneeling down, with his hands pressed firmly against the ground, Reisuke quickly pushed his body forward.

Unbeknownst to Reisuke, the man had initiated a slithering snake assault, but he had other intentions. His body rolled once before he landed on his feet, grabbing the scythe with his left hand, Reisuke would simultaneously turn and stand to face the man. Watching the snakes slide across the ground, having missed their target, Reisuke would slice them apart as they leaped toward him in an attempt to bite and poison him.

“Can you read my mind or something?” Reisuke would inquire, wondering how the man knew he wanted to slow him down. Flinging the scythe toward the bamboo wall to his right, it would be wedged into its wooden exterior. “Or maybe I could read his mind.” Reisuke brought his hands together, performing three hand seals. “I think it is time we finish our little game. What do you think, Hebi Otoko?” Reisuke was not good with nicknames, but ‘snake man’ would have to do.

1. Prep

[Naitome]

---

Ouch, ouch, ouch, ouch, ouch-ouch.

In the landscape of his mind, Naitome mourned in empathy at the deaths of each precious pet, hacked apart as Reisuke rolled out of their assault.

Faster than he looks. He thought, immediately after followed by the thought of a giant fish tank full of red noodles. He shook his head, scanning their small battlefield, Akuharu in the boy's hands only long enough to bring quick work to the branching serpents before being discarded into the enclosing bark.

Tw-w-w-w-w-w-w-aunkkkk.

While the double scythe twirled in his prey's grasp, Naitome used the moment their blades moved past Reisuke's eyes to let a burst of chakra at his feet carry him forward₁, the distraction making his body seem to suddenly appear a few meters away. He'd approached the rear of the bamboo, and waiting only until just after the thrown blade's entry, his foot crashed the dense wood directly behind its impacted mass, kicking the entire scythe free of its hold in a downward diagonal shucking that left it sunk into the complicated earth a meter in front of him. He wasn't very far from Reisuke now, mere handfuls of feet, and walked slowly towards his embedded scythe.

What was he doing, this Reisuke? Naitome watched the boy perform a configuration of Handseals he had never seen, and stopped walking, hand nary an inch from making contact with Akuharu's handle. He stood, dumbfounded, letting Reisuke complete his mannerisms out of curiosity alone. Was the boy trying to trick him? To make him think he was performing a technique when he really wasn't? The three symbols he performed...did he think Naitome would fall for such foolishness.

"Hebi-otoko? Interesssssssssssting."

He called back, without advancing, standing directly in front of his foe, forked tongue extended grotesquely.

The tanto still fell, tapped softly by the impossibly tall falling stalk of bamboo Naitome had kicked, pushing it slightly ahead of him in its downwards travel.

---

SPOILER: Click to show

{Notes}
1. Shunshin

[Pwn]

“Well, that is surprising. He seems to like his name. Unfortunately, Hebi Otoko is not his real name. I need to figure out his real name. I guess that will be the first thing I found out.” Reisuke, still holding the final hand seal to the technique he was preparing, contemplated what he should do first. The technique Reisuke was about to use was concealed by secrecy, and only capable of being taught to those who are members of the prestigious Yamanaka clan.

“Look at him. It is like he knows. Like he wants me to know more about him. Ever since I first glanced into his eyes, I knew there was something about him. On the outside, he seems very much like a psychopathic killer. However, on the inside, he has to be more reserved. During our fight, all he did was carefully outmaneuver me. Scratch him being a chūnin; this guy is definitely a jōnin.” Reisuke’s empty gaze lasted for less than a second, but his thoughts felt eternal.

“Art of the Valetine!” With Hebi Otoko only a handful of feet away from Reisuke, he was within the perfect range to get hit by a perfect technique. It would happen so fast that Hebi Otoko would probably not be able to register what is happening. Reisuke’s body would drop to the ground, lifeless and without motion, and his spirit would shoot forth toward Hebi Otoko, aiming straight for his chest. The moment contact was made, it would all be over.

1. Mind Body Switch Technique