Chapter 27 – Ninken, Mysteries, Damn it

Outside the cave, Raito walked on the tree and rocks, leveling up the skills. Jumping down, Raito saw that Chōji was again making chicken and there were six of them, again.

"Chōji, why do we have so many chicken?" Raito asked in confusion. 

"Pakkun and his buddies brought it." 

Going around the cooking area, Raito saw ninkens and eight of them. 

[Pakkun] [Bull] [Urushi] [Shiba] [Bisuke] [Akino] [Uhei] [Guruko] 

Of all shape and sizes, the ninkens kept themselves in a line. 

"You all are Kakashi's summon?" Raito saw the group and asked in curiosity. 

"Yeah. It's like we got him and he got us." Shiba spoke up. 

"Can I help in any way, Chōji?" turning around, he asked Chōji in boredom. 

"Not for now Raito. Everything is prepared." 

"Okay then." 

Walking further into the open area, Naruto and Hinata were practicing—she was helping him with tree walking. After observing for a while, Raito returned and stood near a big rock. 

'[Record]' 

Pushing his chakra on a rock, Raito tried changing it's shape at first. From an irregular to a round, perfect sphere then Raito gave another command, '[Become small].'

The rock stretched moved back and forth but it shrank down little by little.

'Not bad but they are still big.' After sensing the bottle neck, Raito looked at the rock and caressed its surface.

Next, he grabbed an average-sized rock and tried to make it bigger. 

Making the big rock into a small rock, then changing the small rock into a big rock. 

"Why do you want small but heavy rocks and big but lighter rocks?" Pakkun asked, trying to push one of the smaller rocks but failed to do so. 

"To train, of course." Raito replied smoothly, whatever anyone asked he would tell the same thing. "Jii-chan's note said that experiments are the best way to develop new things. If I want to learn, I need to explore."

Pakkun looked at the rocks, then at Raito and asked, "Who is this Jii-chan?"

On a secret path outside the village. 

Mizuki was escorted by four ANBU members through a secluded pathway, taking him to a correctional facility for the punishment.

Mizuki fell down as he walked, his face covered by mud, and the shackled hands were not helping him anytime soon. The surrounding ANBU just watched him struggling to stand up, not even forcing him to stand. 

"Not even helping to stand up. What heartless bastards. Crappy…." Mizuki grumbled. 

The way the ANBU mask wearing men looked at you, just looking at you, no talking – was just creepy. Bunch of masks looking at you.

"Damn bastards. If only I had left this damned village and followed Orochimaru-sama at that time. I could have slaughtered you all easily. If I get out, I would go kill that Uzumaki brat and his little demon worshiper." Mizuki shouted as he struggled to get up. 'It was probably that bastard. Wait till I get out. I will kill you.'

'More anger, hate, disgust….' The mysterious, maniacal voice reverberated in Mizuki's ear. 

The voice sounded alluring but also made him remember all his sufferings: his parents brutally killed by the demonic fox, the life of being an orphan, the feeling of losing everything in just a day, the sympathetic looks on the streets, the ridiculing eyes from clan members, the disappointed eyes of teachers, the pitying remarks from the Hokage after failing a mission, the first kill, killing enemies and friends—one, two, three, hehe.

Hokage's eye of disappointment and the smiling face of Iruka. 

Orochimaru, Danzō, Kabuto. 

"The demon fox, the demon worshiper."

"###### - Rage." 

"###### - Confuse." 

"Ha!!" A black light expelled and knocked the ANBU down then the black fire surrounded Mizuki, leaving flame like patterns on him.

The light on Mizuki's eye disappeared as he kneeled down. A rough maniacal voice escaped Mizuki's voice. "###### - Search" 

The black light escaped out of Mizuki's body, accumulated in a ball then exploded. The black wave traveled more than half of Konoha before disappearing.

The black diamond mark on the Mizuki's neck disappeared.

"What a waste," 

"Curses… using, the great me as search magic, I curse you." Black gas, blind to naked eyes, was pulled into a ball before the ball disappeared.

After quite some time, Mizuki regained his consciousness faster, than anyone around him did. He was still in a state of confusion as he took off, running towards the village.

On a cliff, a tall, beautiful woman with long black hair waved in the wind. A veil covered her delicate oval face, revealing only her golden phoenix eyes. Her blue one-piece dress, held together by cuffs, flowed as she looked at the scene.

"How many more before I get my sandals back?" The women pouted, gazing at her jade feet, resting on the crystals, then bursting into moths of light, she disappeared. 

"Whatever it was, it destroyed the seal and knocked the ANBU down." Mizuki ran as fast as he could. He ignored everything; the patrolling ninja, the ANBU, even Orochimaru. "First, Tsubaki and my child. If it is true then I have to take them away." 

On a secluded house, outskirts of the village 

Iruka stood outside the closed door and said a weak voice. "Tsubaki, Mizuki is being taken to the correctional facility and it's happening today, now."

"Iruka, is there any chance… he will come back?" Tsubaki had tears coming out of her eyes. She sat on the ground, leaning on the closed door and clutching the picture of her and Mizuki.

Closing his eyes in sorrow, Iruka answered truthfully. "Tsubaki, I don't know." 

"He admitted his past crimes and at the same time cursed Hokage-sama, and even threatened to kill the people of the village." 

"Tsubaki, you have been away from the duty for almost two months. Hokage-sama wants you back on the duty. If you wish to continue, report to the tower." 

After a long pause, Iruka turned around. "You should know how he has changed in the past year. He is not the man he once was, not a friend he once was." Then Iruka left.

Mizuki hid in the bushes, watching and listening. After confirming that everyone had left, he jumped and rushed inside.

…

Mizuki-Tsubaki House 

"Tsubaki, are you pregnant?" Mizuki grabbed Tsubaki from the behind in a choke hold and asked in a cold tone. Her stomach was neither big nor there were any other signs of pregnancy but still he wanted to confirmation. 

"Mizuki, why are you here?" Tsubaki stopped struggling as she heard Mizuki. 

"Answer me." Mizuki shouted, strengthening his hold. 

"N-No, I am not… I am not pregnant." Tsubaki had tears coming out of her eyes. 

"Tch, go to sleep." Knocking her unconscious, Mizuki started searching the house. Slamming the hidden compartment shut, he shouted, "Why are there no weapons?" 

"I thought I would meet you here." A calm voice sounded from outside the house. 

Hearing the voice, Mizuki turned around, looking surprised, "Kabuto? What are you doing here?" 

"You have been exposed, so it is better for you to leave the village." In his cold tone, Kabuto walked to the table and said, "Orochimaru-sama has a job for you." 

"Orochimaru-sama." Mizuki mouthed the name and smiled lightly, then said, "I'm ready to do anything."

"He wants you to meet him after you obtain the Scroll of Seals." 

Opening the scroll, Kabuto pulled out a small scroll from the storage seal then gave it to Mizuki. "The ANBU are going to start searching for you very soon. That will help you steal the scroll and leave the village."

Mizuki nodded.

"At the third floor of the Information department, there is a library, about twice the size of this house. You will go inside the library, find a false slab at the middle of the room and open it. There will be a seal when you uncover the false slab and that is when you will need this." Kabuto pulled out a small vial with blood and continued. "Pour the blood over the seal then open this scroll, face down and that should unseal the scroll of the seals. If it doesn't work, run." 

"Pour blood, open the seal face down, grab the scroll of seals, and then run." Mizuki nodded, taking the vial and scroll.

Kabuto picked up Tsubaki then placed her on the bed, covering her with a blanket.

"We will be supporting you from the shadows." Kabuto gazed at a group of people wearing robes and mask. "Which route are you going to take?"

Mizuki changed clothes and grabbed Tsubaki's gears then walked out with Kabuto. "Training ground zero, I have something Orochimaru-sama gave me there." 

Kabuto frowned, "The academy teachers will be there. Can you take care of them?" 

"Piece of cake." Mizuki smiled wickedly. 

Kabuto paused then turned towards Mizuki and said, "Mizuki, there is someone else who will be leaving the village with you." 

"Okay." Mizuki nodded and looked at the small group of people, wearing robes and masks. "I'm ready."

Kabuto wore his mask and covered his head. "There is one more thing I want you to do."

"Hm,"

After an hour. 

Inside the Hokage tower, an ANBU suddenly appeared, disturbing the discussion between Jōnins and Hokage. 

"BOAR, what is it?" Hiruzen asked. 

"Area 11." 

Hiruzen looked at the people around him and waved his hand, signaling them to leave.

After everyone left the room, BOAR continued. "We found the missing vial and scroll on the scene, and the scroll inside the seal is also missing." 

Hiruzen nodded. "Causality?"

"12 injured, none fatal." BOAR answered.

"Hm,"

"According to the injured ANBU, one was Mizuki, who was supposed to be on the way to correctional facility, and another was an Inuzuka, unknown." 

"Alert the Jōnin in the village." Hiruzen waved his hand, signaling him to leave. He sat on the head seat in the meeting hall, pondering then, after a few moments, left for his own office.

Shelter – Dining area 

"Thank you for the food." Everyone prayed for food. 

"Woof! Woof!" 

Everyone ate heartily, competing for who would finish first, except for the girls, of course. With training added to the schedule, they needed more energy and to gain more energy, food was necessary.

Hatake Kakashi couldn't resist the delicious aroma and joined the group, even when he was not supposed to interact with the participants. Like every bit of a child man he is, he sat on the small for his size table and chairs then ate with the group.

"Hey ANBU-san, can you not eat like that, OPEN THE MASK." Raito shouted, seeing the weird way Kakashi was eating. Even with his mask on, Kakashi ate quickly and it was making everyone confused. 

"Sorry, I can't." Kakashi replied.

Raito's words were like hammer, plunging into cotton, having no effect. 

"We know who you are so what's the point in all this?" Raito pointed with his chopsticks. 

Kakashi pushed his cup to Raito and Raito could only fill his cup reluctantly.

"We know?" Sakura said in a surprise. 

"Silver hair, dog summoner. There's only one who matches this description in the village." Shikamaru looked at Sakura in a weird way, then said, "You don't even know the top shinobi of your own village?" 

"What's with this water?" Out of blue, Kakashi asked, stirring the water inside the glass. 

"Purified water," Naruto answered then added with a big smile, "Hinata and Raito did that."

"Go away if you're done." Raito felt that Kakashi was absolutely bothersome, always asking these small, unnecessary questions.

Kakashi roamed around the shelter after eating his fill and looked at all the things Raito made with interest.

"Wow, you have such nice rooms, definitely better than everyone else. Is that supposed to be a fireplace? Why are there potted plants here?" 

"Yeah, Raito made all this." Naruto said with his ever-present cheery smile.

Seeing that Naruto would answer easily, Kakashi turned to face him and started asking him.

"How did you grew this plant, Naruto?" touching the plants he faced Naruto and asked. 

"That was done by Raito." Feeling no remorse, Naruto sold the information to the demon. 

"I see those two seal work there. You did that?"

"Raito." 

"What about the bath outside?" 

"Raito." 

Every time Kakashi would ask, Naruto would reply in one word – Raito. 

"Can you stop asking?" Raito massaged his temples then grabbed Naruto "Bakanaru, go and get some firewood." 

Raito thought that if he could send Naruto away, then he could send Kakashi because he was the only talkative one in the group, but it was proven wrong. 

Kakashi sat beside Raito and watched him water the plants. "Can you not stare, Kakashi-sensei?" 

Instead of answering, Kakashi looked curiously at the stone attached to Raito's shoulder and asked. "I am curious, why is there a Genjutsu casted on the stone."

"Training," Raito asked plainly, not wanting to divert his attention and make the stone fall. The same as the 'Leaf Sticking' exercise Raito tried it with rocks but the chakra gain was just a couple of tens more. "I want to one day make changes whenever I want."

Raito saw that the water in the vats had finished. Raito made a couple of hand seals then activated his chakra. "[Water Condensation]"

Water gathered quickly and hovered above Raito's hand.

'That was fast'. From inside the cloth, covering Kakashi's eye, the magatama on his eyes spun. 'His chakra is so steady.'

With a simple directing, the globe formed into a stream, then poured into the vats.

"[Water Purification]" A shot of chakra escaped Raito's palm and entered the water. Bubbles appeared and a small column was ejected out of the vat. With a quick '[Observe]', Raito found that it was good to drink and use.

"So you know water condensation and water purification jutsu, huh?" Kakashi used his Sharingan eye to check and found that it was all good.

"Of course, I know." Raito rolled his eyes and covered the vats, then he did the same with other vats.

*SFX for Eagle screeching. 

Kakashi watched the eagle as it made three circles before flying towards the tower. In addition, the eagle had a yellow ribbon tied on its leg rating it a level 3 threat. 

Raito looked at the sky, then at Kakashi and asked. "You need to leave, right?"

"Yeah," Kakashi sighed. His vacation didn't last long. Letting out a sharp whistle, Kakashi gathered his summons and gave them separate missions.

Raito was sitting on a rock, trying to listen to Kakashi but it was impossible. He should be using some kind of technique to talk with his summons. 'If there wasn't his mask, I could read lips.'

"Stay alert," Kakashi jumped to the top of the cliff then disappeared.

"What?" Raito frowned.

It was already late at night and Raito with the gang, were inside the room, discussing about their work and training. 

Cutting the chakra flow to the Illumination seal, the room soon turned dark and everyone fell into sleep except for Raito, who was in a daze. It was quite a unique feeling. It had never happened. Awake for the whole fifteen minute, Raito got anxious and woke up, drinking a cup of water, Raito tried sleeping but failed to do so. 

Raito had a bad feeling as he looked at around him. 

Reference to the games, the only time when the characters get to have time exceeding the normal time, is the time of an EVENT. That was bad, extremely bad. 

If it was a game, then he would be happy tremendously, but clearly, it was real life. Events in real life, means the chance of death. 

Raito walked out of the cave and looked around. It was cool on the outside and bright with the lights from the moon and stars. Raito used his '[Chakra Sense]' to find Kakashi.

'He isn't back.' Raito frowned then hoped that other ANBU would return.

Standing still for few minutes, Raito raised his right hand and said, "We give up on survival exam." Even after waiting for a long while, Raito did not see anyone get into the scene but…

[Quest Alert]

[Quest Objective - Survival]

"Damn it." Thinking back as to how fast Kakashi had left, the bad feeling grew exponentially.