2 Days before the academy tournament. A few kilometers east of the capital city of Sora. Close to the rigorous steep mountains that separate the sora region and the Hein region.
The gentle breeze whispers past him carrying the scent of damp earth. Kaito adjust his long black cloak, covering himslef from the breeze that is colliding with his face.
'Dammit.' Is the only word fluttering in his head right now. Even if when he was just a rank 1 ninja who used to travel pass this region as well as train in it, he can not get used to it's climate.
None the less he has to continue climbing this steep mountain. Minutes go by with him finally reaching the destination he has been heading.
Infront of him is a talus cave, around it are boulders and a buddha tag that is on the ground of it's entrance.
"Will, this will be tricky." He mummers to himself.
For sometime he looks to his right and left back and forth. For an instant he notice something, but brushes it off as his imagination.
He strolls to the entrance. His hand reaches to hold the tag. Suddenly touching the tag, a spark of electricity covers his entire body.
Unfortunately the electricity only floats around him and not even contacting a string of his hair. He slowly closes his eyes, ripping the tag from the ground.
"Wow, guess I was wrong. Wonder who placed it here. Can't be the captain." With a smile on his face he walks forth into the talus cave.
The darkness swallows him up, within it is the sound of dripping water, each footsteps echos throughout the cave. He pauses senesinia flicker of shadows dancing around him.
Kaito hops to the top of the cave, pulling out a kunai from his cloak and tossing it at corner of his eyes. The kunai seems to have not landed on the ground.
The flickering shadows stops. He waits a while, before going back to his original position on the ground.
"Isn't that enough?" Kaito says.
A burst of candles lighten up, revealing the shape of the cave and the shadows that were flickering around him. Now each of them surrounding him.
Looking behind him the entrance of the talus cave is narrow, however the inside is almost as big as a mansion. Stalactites hang from the ceiling like jagged teeth, the walls illuminated with golden light due to the candles on them.
He spots the kunai that he threw early embedded on a person's foot. Kaito is amazed by how the person it landed on was able to hold his scream.
Sounds of claps begins to spread throughout the cave and the shadows move away from him as if the claps are commanding them.
"Long time no see, Kaito-sensei!!" His voice louder than the flames of all the candles combined.
He looks up, a smile of joy forms in his face. Starring at Yoshiro who jumps down on to the ground.
"Come to take your position back?!!" Yoshiro ask standing in front of him.
"Wow, you haven't changed a bit." The two of them exchange a hug with Kaito further adding, "I will cut to the chase."
"Hahahahah!! Ok!!"
Kaito begins to explain to him that a few months ago three spies entered the State and found a way to enter the academy using names of dead examines.
"For some reason your fa…am sorry. Master Ryūkishi is allowing them to roam free knowing what they and what they are."
"And you want me to expose them?!!"
"Only one of them. Lucky for you, you haven't attended any classes so they will be quiet shock to find out you know there secret."
Before Yoshiro can say anything he burst out a hysterically laugh, same as Kaito feeling a awkward atmosphere.
Their laugh finally stops.
"So what if I haven't attended any classes!! I have been patrolling and doing missions for the state!! So don't make me a KESSEKI-SHA!!" Yoshiro says in a angry tone.
Kaito goes back to laughing while apologizing at the same time.
"But the question is how?!!"
"What?" Kaito says, shocked at how quick he calmed down.
"I want you to participate in the upcoming academy tournament. Like I said before don't worry of people finding out you will be there. Leave it to me."
He lets go of his previous question.
" I hear you, but I have a few questions of mine before I give you an answer."
"…"
"I wanna know how you were able to remove the tag at the entrance?!! And how you were able strike one of my men with your kunai?!!"
"Hmph. Well the tag was quite easy. Before I touched it I used my ZAI to deflect it."
Yoshiro is dumbstruck telling him the electricity coming from the tag can split a boulder in pieces. Saying all that aloud he remembers what Kaito's Demonic Ability.
"Well, how I located that guy. Is because he was emitting his bloodlust since outside."
"That's impossible!! You mentioned you used your demonic ability!! And when you use Zai you ain't able to circulate Sei, which helps with sensing bloodlust!! So be truthful how were able to locate?!!"
Kaito begins to smile inwardly, a strange feeling fills him up. If he were to put it in words, it would be the feeling of a parent seeing his child succeeding.
'Not only is his Ryusei improved - his well informed about hand signs.' Thinking to himself.
"You're are correct. Well, it's because of my ninja instinct." Smiling at Yoshiro.
"Hmp. I accept them!!"
Present.
Standing face to face with Yoshiro, Faizan can not help but wonder if Kazuki and Yoshiro are brothers. Notice that they both have the same bright eyes, only difference being Yoshiro's ones are more brighter.
"How did you figure out am number 9?" Faizan ask him.
"It's because of my ninja instinct!!"
"Wha…"
Before he can finish his sentence a solid punch flies towards him. Faizan instinctively blocks it.
"Ugh!" Faizan grunts
Though he was able to block Yoshiro's punch. It feels like a boulder was able to go past his Hei.
"How did…"
Just like before, Faizan is unable to finish his sentence due to Yoshiro throwing three rocket like punches to his chest.
Faizan coughs asking himself how come Yoshiro's punch are so strong and how are they able to phase through his Hei. Faizan moves back trying to catch his breath.
"Hold up." Gesturing for Yoshiro to stop he adds, "I wanna know how you are able to punch through my Hei?"
Shrugging his shoulders Yoshiro says, "If I were you I would stop asking questions and get serious."
His words brings back memories of the time Nero once said that he "over thinks to much." Hearing it again from someone (with different words) frustrate him.
"It's your funeral." Faizan says.
He leaps to the sky doing the Rin, Hei, Toh, Kai, Jin and Retsu hand signs.
Like a swimmer he dives straight to Yoshiro.
Yoshiro moves out of the way, but as he turns to Faizan a invincible blow lands on his jaw pushing him a meter away.
However Faizan's not done yet. He leaps straight to him and landing three unseeable blows that the students can not see traveling to punch Yoshiro. Only able to perceive that Yoshiro is moving back.
And like a stalker he tries to land another one. Sadly Yoshiro catches it.
"I see now!!" Smiling at him. "You're using using Restu to change your blood into strings!! Which you then make that blood string to extend your bones, confuse your opponent into thinking your punches are fast!!" Yoshiro stares at him with a mischievous grin to add, "But that is all a lie right."
The students wonder what does he mean. Since they believe what Yoshiro said made sense.
"Hey who is this guy?" Reiji ask Lia.
"Are you still deaf from Hachimura's attack?" Lia says in a mocking voice. "Didn't you hear what he said."
"N-no. That's not what I meant!" His cheeks full with redness. "Am asking do you know him or what."
"He is Yoshiro Hein, third son of Master Ryūkishi. I have only met him a couple times and all I could say is his probably the strongest one in our year." She stares at Yoshiro to add, "He is also the leader of the Special Force."
"Wow!" Amazed.
On the other hand Faizan springs backwards.
"What?!! Scared I figured out your secret?!!"
"You've a lot of confidence in yourself don't you?" Faizan ask him.
"What kind of ninja would I be if I wasn't confident in myself!! Or are you afraid that my confidence might expose your truth?!!"
Faizan burst out in laughter while holding his stomach.
"What would I be scared of. If it is related to you knowing about how my ability work. Then it wouldn't matter as it won't change the outcome." He sits down cross-legged.
"Maybe not of this fight, but of you mission!!"
"What mission?"
"You thought I a Unranked ninja would not be able to see you use the 8th sign!!" Mischievously grinning at him.
"8th sign?"
Faizan and the students ask themselves what does he mean when he says 8th sign?
TBC.
NEXT CHAPTER: PRELUDE 15