74 We Meet Again.(1)

To the shinobi from the Kurama Clan, it looked like Tendo's hand hadn't moved at all before they saw the legs of their leader being cut off. The dismembered torso of the leader started falling to the ground as his life started fading from his eyes. He never even imagined that he would have such a gruesome death just from following this girl here. Judging from his words, he seemed to be the one that sent the girl there to retrieve their mistress. The leader wanted to shout out the order to kill him, but his current strength didn't allow him to do so. Unfortunately for him, his pain wasn't going to be over yet.

Suddenly a hand came out of nowhere and grabbed him by the face, holding his body up from falling.

Tendo: "63 wounds. That's how many injuries I counted on her body. Naturally, that's how many pieces your bodies will be cut into. Pray that you die before you can feel the pain."

The rest of the shinobi already started to run away since Tendo appeared in front of their leader and they weren't looking back. Fear had gripped their souls so much that they gave no second thought about abandoning their leader in such a situation. But there was nowhere they could run as Tendo's abilities far surpassed whatever they thought he was capable of.

'Sword Force.'

A thin layer of dark chakra formed an orb around Tendo and with a large 'BANG!', everything in front of him was cut numerous times. Every thin strand of chakra that touched something looked like it was slashed by a sword itself. He was letting the chakra go wantonly around except when it came to cutting the shinobi. They were cut into 63 pieces, some even and some uneven but Tendo's intentions were carried out with each of them...thoroughly.

Throwing away the small piece of a human head that was still in his hand, Tendo sheathed his sword and walked back towards the bodies of the two girls on the ground.

Moryo: "Tendo, you don't seem angry or saddened at all. I'm surprised."

Tendo: "Angry? Sad? Why would I be? Shion died because I sent her into a mission that she wasn't ready for. As her leader, I already took revenge for her and my responsibility is just to make better judgments the next time."

Moryo: "Haha! That's cold! You're even more of a demon than I am Tendo! Even I would've been angry that some fools dared to kill a subordinate I put so much effort into attaining."

Tendo: "Cold? Maybe. But I'm always fair, don't you think?"

Moryo laughed at Tendo's words as the latter picked up Yakumo from under Shion and absorbed her. He could feel his mind being changed drastically as her genjutsu prowess flowed into it.

[Ding]

[Host's soul strengthened, Kurama Clan's Kekkei Genkai gained. Its abilities will also be bolstered by the host's illusion arts.]

Seeing how destroyed the forest was, Tendo was going to use a wood style technique to repair it but as if almost on instinct, the genjutsu was activated and the forest appeared just how it was before. Tendo knew it was an illusion but at the same time, Yomi ran out of the cave to see what the commotion was. He didn't expect to see Tendo there nor did he expect to find his pupil dead on the ground. He also saw the dead bodies of the men between the trees but when he realized that no trees were destroyed in the process, a small bit of curiosity appeared in his mind.

Rushing towards Tendo, Yomi kneeled down with his eyes facing the ground as he cupped his fists and said hurriedly :

"Lord Tendo, please forgive me! I've failed to train Shion up to your intended requirements!"

Tendo: "Yomi, get up. It's no matter. She has done her job well and has already been avenged. There's only one thing I want you to do."

Yomi: "Anything, Lord Tendo!"

Tendo: "Remove all the poison from Shion's body and heal all wounds on it. After that, just keep it in a sealing scroll for me."

Yomi: "Consider it done!"

Almost as if on cue, Tendo's concentration slightly broke and the forest illusion disappeared, revealing the reality of the destroyed forest for all to see. He still didn't have control over it properly but he wasn't going to suppress the power at all. He needed to learn how to control the full thing quickly as it would be a great tool to use in and out of combat. Yomi was dumbfounded at what we saw as he got up from his kneeling position. He was stuttering as he never even knew that he was in a genjutsu and he severely doubted that Tendo would put him one just like that.

Tendo: "Don't be afraid, Yomi. This is the power that Shion gave her life to retrieve for me."

Yomi: "Ah?! So that's it? I see, Lord Tendo. She did well indeed."

Tendo: "Yes. Now, do what I told you earlier. I have to leave once again to visit an old friend."

Yomi: "Already, Lord Tendo? You can rest a bit before you go."

Tendo: "It's fine, I don't need rest. I'll repair this forest for you so don't worry about it. Just do what you need to."

Yomi saluted Tendo and picked up Shion's body right away, carrying it inside the cave. Tendo used Deep Forest Emergence to regrow the destroyed part of the forest and he even increased the number of trees to cover their hideout even further. He then outstretched his hands and multiple white Zetsu spores fell out of it, merging themselves with it as soon as they landed.

Tendo: 'You know what to do, search every hideout until you find him. When you do, just signal me, I'll be there.'

And with that, the Zetsu spread out in search of Tendo's old acquaintance.

[A few hours later, late at night]

Tendo finally received a signal from a few of his Zetsu's. They had finally found the man he was looking for. Tendo got up from the tree he was sitting on and merged with the void itself, moving through it to get to the destination set for him. About an hour later, Tendo arrived in front of a cave in Kusagakure that had intricate designs on its entrance and it was also outfitted with large snakes on both sides.

Tendo didn't waste any time and walked into the torch-lit cave, already locating the man he was looking for sitting in a chair with two other familiar young men standing beside him. Of course, they couldn't sense that he was there at all so they carried on their conversation nonchalantly.

Sasuke: "Orochimaru, I already finished my mission in the Land Of Waves. Here's the scroll with the technique you asked for. It wasn't as impressive as you said it was."

Orochimaru: "Hehe, boy, of course, it's not as impressive by itself but now that I can fuse it with another technique to create a new one. Sigh, if only you were interested in research."

Kabuto: "Sasuke, Lord Orochimaru, enough bickering. Hand over the scroll, Sasuke. My research isn't going to complete itself."

As Kabuto collected the scroll from Sasuke, he looked at Orochimaru only to find the latter staring behind them with a streak of sweat running down his forehead. Kabuto and Sasuke both looked back immediately to find Tendo standing behind them with the usual calm look on his face. Orochimaru wasn't expecting him to find them so quickly especially after they had just relocated as he knew Tendo would look for him eventually. After all, he still owed Tendo something.

Tendo: "I suppose you know why I'm here, Orochimaru."