Chapter 41 – Calling from the Wave

“Huff, huff. Why am I being paired with you?” Shikamaru had a rat hand seal as his shadow latched onto Raito.

“You think that your shadow will stop me, Shikamaru?” Raito clenched his teeth and struggled.

“Damn, just give up.” Beads of sweats dropped from his face.

“Hehe.” Raito made a small smile as he looked up just for a second then continued struggling.

“I’ll not be fooled.” Tiger… Shadow Binding Cover

Shikamaru pushed last of his chakra as his shadow turned a bit darker and thicker. Under Shikamaru’s control the shadow expanded covering Raito in whole.

“Damn, I am not good at one on one battle.” Shikamaru made a hand seal then walked towards the shadow ball.

“I know.” Raito appeared out of nowhere and placed a kunai on Shikamaru’s neck.

“Tch. Troublesome.” Shikamaru raised his hands slowly but Raito snatched the ball that was about to drop. “A dud?”

“Huff, huff.” Shikamaru was covered in sweat and dirt whereas Raito was fresh and only some part of his clothes had dirt.

“Heh.” Raito took out small rock beads from his inventory and was ready to throw at Shikamaru.

“This will hurt.” Raito smiled mischievously.

“… I give up.” Shikamaru raised his hand then fell on the ground in exhaustion.

“Hehe.” Walking towards Shikamaru, Raito brought out a sandwich and a water bottle.

“Tch.” Shikamaru grabbed them and started eating. “How come you became stronger?”

“Why not? I am a genius after all.” Raito acted smug and sat on the ground.

“Everything started when Naruto moved in with you.” Shikamaru didn’t ask but made a statement.

“When we have time let’s go to a dungeon.” Raito looked at a distance and patted Shikamaru to go. And while he was at it Raito used ‘Heal’.

The result was clear. Chōji and Naruto were equally matched but Naruto had the upper hand. Hinata won over Ino then lastly Raito won over Shikamaru.

Raito walked in front of each of them and used heal.

“That’s the fastest healing technique I have ever seen.” Asuma commented.

“I have no idea where he learned that from.” Kakashi replied.

“This kid knows a lot of unique techniques.” Asuma threw the cigarette bud and steeped on it.

“… He sure does.” Kakashi has seen a couple of techniques that Raito had done. Not even Sharingan could see through them.

“Train with him. I’ll take the others.” Kakashi walked towards the group.

Asuma had a small smile as he walked towards the group.

“Why am I with you?” Raito wore Black Half Finger Leather Gloves and readied his stance.

[Black Half Finger Leather Gloves +11]

(Rebound: 10% chance of physical attacks getting rebounded.)

ATK 23-28

Durability – 280

“Oh, gloves to fight me?” Asuma pilled back his metallic hand bracelet and took a defensive stance. “Let’s see what you can do.”

‘Chakra Enhancement’ ‘Hand to Hand Combat’ ‘Body Flicker’ ‘Crush’

Chakra gathered around Raito’s fist and it started to get dangerous. In one sweep 800 points of chakra was used.

“That doesn’t look good.” Asuma watched as the dangerous fist reached him.

“Ha!” chakra gathered as Asuma guarded the attack. Although he wasn’t send flying, Asuma was forced a couple of steps back.

“Are you for real?” Asuma watched as the fist print was pressed on his sleeves. Rolling the sleeves, Asuma found a red fist print on his forearm.

“You kid… are really awesome.” Asuma let out a helpless smile and waved his hand asking Raito to use his healing jutsu.

“Enhanced your body with chakra more concentrated on your arm then you even used ‘Body flicker’ then a straight brutal punch. Isn’t that right?” Asuma asked.

“Yea.” Raito nodded then continued healing.

“I should have dodged that.”

“You should have.” Raito looked at Asuma then asked, “So why did you not?”

“Hmm… You looked really serious.” Asuma answered with a laugh.

“Serious?” Raito was stunned. “I looked serious?”

“Yeah, you have that shining eyes when you started.” Asuma laughed loudly then took out a cigarette.

“You shouldn’t you know.” Raito commented then took out a juice then gave it Asuma. “It is good for your health. It’s homemade.”

Looking at the stick in his hand then at the juice, he selected the juice.

On the other side of the field, Raito saw the five Genin fighting with Kakashi. Kakashi was easily dodging the attacks of the five. Shikamaru had activated his jutsu as well as everyone and bombarding Kakashi with it.

“Naruto Barrage.” A group of clones ambushed Kakashi but each and every one of the clones were destroyed.

“Lightning Fang.” Ino was flicked.

The duo of Shikamaru and Chōji were confused by Kakashi’s multiple replacement techniques.

Hinata continued to ambush Kakashi but after training with her so many times, Kakashi immediately defeated her. The battleground was like a wasteland. Fallen and destroyed trees, dirt covering the fallen bodies and a standing warrior.

“This is what happens if a Jōnin is seriously sparing.” Asuma slurped then walked over to Kakashi.

Kakashi looked at Raito then at approaching Asuma. Asuma stuck the bottle over his chest then he revealed his arm, where there was a faint fist print. “It was like this after the brat used healing jutsu.”

“I heard that you and Kurenai are getting C-Rank mission?” Kakashi pulled the Genin with Asuma. Raito also walked in and helped using ‘Heal’.

“Yeah, Kurenai’s Genin are really getting out of hand.” Asuma sighed.

“Kakashi-sensei, our ban on C-Rank ends today. How about we get a C-Rank tomorrow?” Naruto who was getting healed got a punch to his head.

“Ow, my head.” Naruto cried out in pain.

“Asuma-sensei it’s so painful. Maybe we shouldn’t-”

“Nope.” Asuma cut off Shikamaru from talking.

“Still D-Rank for you guys.” Kakashi was heartless making Naruto sink.

“Are you ok?” Raito asked as he healed Ino.

“Mm.” Ino nodded her head. “Kakashi-sensei is too-”

“He is a Jōnin afterall.” Raito whispered softly.

As he was speaking to Ino, Raito ‘saw’ a blur coming towards him. A spear hand reached his back but Raito’s conditional reflex helped him hit Kakashi’s hand at the very last moment.

“My hand slipped.” Kakashi smiled silly rubbing the back of his hand.

“As if.” Raito glared.

Asuma gave Kakashi a roll of Ryo and said, “You win.”

Kakashi looked at the roll of money then at Genins. Looking at the expected eyes of some like Chōji, Naruto and Raito, he chuckled. “How about we all go to Yakiniku Q?”

“Yay!” Even Hinata and Ino jumped in joy making them wince in pain.

Next morning team seven walked in the Hokage tower and walked together with team eight and team ten to the gate.

“Bye bye.” Naruto waved them farewell. Their figure grew smaller as they went further.

Raito turned around and walked towards the park grumbling about the trash in the way.

“Stupid people.” Naruto grumbled.

“Disrespectful people.” Hinata also joined in.

“Lawbreakers,” Raito said loudly.

Kakashi sweatdropped, “It’s not that bad, right?”

Next day.

“I just love the holidays.” Naruto, Hinata, and Raito sat under a tree in the backyard on their rest day.

“Sandwich.”

“I want that has lots of meat.”

Naruto and Raito locked into one sandwich but before they could fight for it Hinata had cut it into two pieces with her chakra threads.

“You can use chakra thread like that too?” Raito gaped as he was handed half of the sandwich.

“Hinata is so awesome.”

“Hmph.” Raito snorted then ate his sandwich.

“Don’t you three need to go on you ‘experiencing’.”

“That’s just free labor.” Naruto angrily pointed at Kakashi who was sleeping on the branch.

“I love my experience workplace.” Raito stood up cleaning himself.

KAW! (Sfx for eagle calling) (I don’t know what is the word used for that sound.)

“It’s not good.” Kakashi sighed.

“Raito. I don’t think you can go to your workplace. Hokage tower. Let’s go.” Team seven disappeared from the place and reached the tower where Hiruzen was frowning while looking at a scroll.

“Kakashi.” Hiruzen placed down the scroll and pushed it forward.

“Hokage-sama.” Kakashi stepped forward and took the scroll on the desk.

“It seems that we have a client telling lies and Genins that can’t tell what is good for them.” Hiruzen smoked his pipe and let out a cloud.

“They encountered two B-Rank ninjas of the mist village; the Demon brother, Gōzu and Meizu.”

“Gōzu and Meizu mean that the demon blade might also be there.”

“Highly likely. And we have been hearing about mercenaries gathering at the nearby area. So after you meet up, I want you to take command. Try to resolve it, if not…” Hiruzen didn’t add anything because his gaze enough to know what he was saying.

Everyone left the room and soon reached the gates.

“Pack up enough, we may be gone for more than just a week.” Kakashi turned around but was stopped by Raito.

“Sensei, don’t we need to gather intel?”

“It already close to five, if we are anymore late…. We don’t have enough time.” Hearing that Raito started frowning but before he could say anything Kakashi started speaking.

“I’ll send a clone with Naruto’s.” with a cloud Kakashi's clone appeared.

“Now go. We will meet at the east gate in an hour.”

“Yes!” the three Genin disappeared going for their preparation.

“That Sasuke got to fight two B-Rank ninjas.” Naruto let out his suppressed anger as he packed for the go.

“Baka.” Raito who was across the room when hearing Naruto shouting cursed at him.

After grouping with Hinata, they took their time reaching the gates. Even though they took time they managed to reach within the hour.

Kakashi was already at the gates when they reached. Passing the gates, Kakashi actually lectured them about being on time or early if possible. The ninjas at the gate also nodded as they heard that.

“Team eight of Jōnin Kurenai and Genin; Uchiha Sasuke, Aburame Shino, and Inuzuka Kiba. We are going to follow, meet and take over.” Kakashi’s voice was stern, even the two gatekeepers were doing their work fast.

“Kakashi-sensei, why are we in such a hurry?” Hinata asked. “Didn’t team eight defeat the demon brothers? What other problems can be there?”

Jumping trees, Kakashi answered, “Demon brothers are the lowest level of rogue ninja. According to what we know Zabuza Momochi, the wielder of one of the seven swords of the mist, Kubikiribōchō, might also be there. They were working together the last time we saw them.”

“Seven swords of Kirigakure? Isn't that like really, really important stuff for the Mist village?”

“They are, they are. Those seven swords are very unique sword and very dangerous.”

“Then why is the mist village not taking it back?”

“Not all question has an answer, Raito. Our ninjas who are patrolling the water country has found that the fourth Mizukage who was source of all trouble were finally getting killed.”

“A k-kage is dead? Who killed the fourth Mizukage?” Naruto asked in horror.

“Probably the fifth.” Raito reasoned.

“Kakashi-sensei will Kurenai-sensei be fine?” Hinata asked with a troubled face.

“She will be fine but she will definitely need reinforcement. That’s why we are at our fastest speed.”

Hinata heaved a sigh of relief. Then she began to increase her pace.

Raito frowned a little seeing that. “ Hinata.”

Raito’s voice calmed her down.

“Everyone, we will move in a line.” Kakashi ordered and soon they were in a line Kakashi in the front then Hinata, Naruto and lastly Raito.

“Why am I always getting last place?” Raito cried out in injustice.

During this trip, team seven passed through various small villages.

“Sensei I can’t see much. We have to go through the main road.” Raito spoke up but immediately stopped himself.

“We are four hours away from the nearest port town.” Kakashi waited for the three to take a break.

Hinata’s condition was much worse. Even though they had taken several brakes, this type of long journey was not something they had experienced.

“Kakashi, they took a carriage from here.” Pakkun appeared out of nowhere.

“That means they have taken the long road to the port town then they have to walk for several more hour to reach the new bridge construction site.” Raito opened the book and started explaining. In one hand a book and in another lightning dancing on his hand giving illumination.

“Should we rest, sensei?” Raito asked and the earth below started rising.

Kakashi nodded, “Prepare a camp.”

Raito nodded and took out a bucket full of stone beads.

Rat… the stone beads combined exploding into a dome going around the trees and attaching to the ground.

Kakashi looked at the temporary camp and knocked it a few time. “Good.”

Kakashi gave Raito a dozen of paper to read then sat on a stone

“Have you three brought rations…” Kakashi looked at his bacon, dry biscuit and water then at his Genin who had few vegetarian dishes.

Kakashi sighed then joined them for food.

“Sensei why don’t you just store food in your storage seals.” Naruto asked as he ate his food.

“Because they rot. Food rots in storage seal.” Kakashi answered while drinking hot cup of tea.

“Sensei you eat too fast. Why not slow down?” Raito took another bite.

Hinata had already finished eating as she was in a hurry.

Kakashi gave Raito a few signs but he didn’t budge. Raito instead elbowed Naruto.

“Ow.” Raito glared at Naruto who didn’t understand the situation. "If we use ‘Body Flicker’, we may reach in half the time.” Raito spoke in a small voice so that Kakashi could only hear.

But Kakashi only shook his head to Raito’s suggestion. “Naruto and Hinata cannot use it. And if we use and carry them, we will just exhaust ourselves.”

Taking out the big sofa from the inventory Raito asked Kakashi to lay on it. “Just what are you doing?”

“Massage.”

After Kakashi, Naruto and Hinata also took the massage. At the end he massaged himself.

“This massage is really good.”

“I feel that I can do anything.

“Yes, yes.” Raito waved his hand and the dome disappeared into a stone bead.

“Improved.”

[Stone Bead]

Weight – 230 kg

“But it’s too heavy.” Raito tried picking up but with his strength, it was still heavy.

Raito immediately split into two then stored them inside the inventory.

“Let’s go.”

At this time, Team eight and a drunkard man got off from the carriage and arrived at the Port Town.