Mariko's Foster Ho
"HAH!"
"EYAAHH!"
"Less yelling, more fighting"
SWSH!
"O-Oof!"
"Agh!"
"At this rate, your stomachs are gonna be full on dirt than food"
"Haaa...you're too fast!"
"Yeah! Rei-nii! Quit dodging!"
"That'd defeat the whole point of this Karui"
With Mariko almost done cooking, Suzu suggested Rei keep the kids entertained while she and Tai begin setting the table. Though reluctant at first, his interest was piqued when the eldest of the foster children, Karui and Omoi, asked to spar with him
Rei knew these two were destined to be the apprentices of Killer B. Being characters from the original story, he naturally kept them under observation
Obliging their request, they sparred as the other, much younger children watched in glee
"Let's go again!" (Karui)
"Right!" (Omoi)
Rei also wanted to test how strong he was. Especially after he underwent multiple sessions of draining the Ten-Tails chakra yesterday. His current chakra levels were higher than they've ever been, nearly reaching Jonin levels
All in preparation to break the next lock on the Black Scroll. Now that his body's rate of evolving was increasing, chakra control was even easier now
He was fully confident he could the break the third lock
{No issues so far...I feel like my capabilities have grown imnsely. However...} (Rei)
"Now!" (Karui)
"Right!" (Omoi)
ZWP!
The pair unleashed a barrage of attacks from both sides, trying their best to knock Rei off balance. But the latter's exceptional speed was too great for the soon-to-be academy students
"Wrong..." (Rei)
"Huh?" (Omoi & Karui)
FWAP!
With barely any effort, he flipped them on their respective backsides
"...Again" (Rei)
"Ah!" (Karui)
"Ow!" (Omoi)
The match was finished in barely over a minute, neither challenger landing a single blow on Rei. The other children crowded around the Genin, enlivened by his performance
Rei gestured for them to sit, presenting a question for Karui and Omoi
"Do you know what you did wrong?" (Rei)
"Um...our teamwork?" (Omoi)
"Tactics?" (Karui)
"Nope. Your first mistake was made before that, challenging . This might co off as a bit arrogant but, it was very na??ve to think you could beat
of all people in Taijutsu" (Rei)
"Sigh. I knew it from the start...you're way too fast Rei-nii!" (Karui)
"I could've sworn we saw afterimages" (Omoi)
"What I an is, you mustn't run in blind. You have to think, calculate, anticipate, choose your battles wisely before engaging. Never rush in blind" (Rei)
"Oh! Is this what you guys...um...that thing you always say?" (Omoi)
"?"
"Yup. Read between the lines" (Rei)
Rei had all the children stand and line up before demonstrating so safe fighting moves to study and practice.
Tai and Suzu observed from the side
"Shouldn't that be Tango-sensei's line?" (Tai)
"It's a good one, ant to be shared" (Suzu)
"True. And Rei seems as fit as ever" (Tai)
"You think so?" (Suzu)
"?" {What's with her? Lookin so serious all of a sudden...} (Tai)
{Forgetting Lava, even his Earth is...} (Suzu)
Suzu recalled their previous sparring match with Toroi, along with the latter's ambiguous comnt towards Rei's supposed Yōton1Lava Style. She noticed his proficiency with said power had not only failed to improve in the past year, but even began to decline
Rei was still hiding the fact his body was now more alien than ever. His "??tsutsuki" DNA violently reacting every ti he used his In'yōton2Yin-Yang/Shadow & Light Style-focused ability, Kisshōten3Auspicious Heavens
"Tai, has Rei's fighting style...changed?" (Suzu)
"Hmmm. More like, he regressed rather than progressed?" (Tai)
"What?" (Suzu)
"Oh right, you don't know since we never interacted much in school. During our early days, Rei had trouble accessing any of the five basic nature transformations. It's why he's so Taijutsu focused" (Tai)
"Also skilled in Genjutsu as well" (Suzu)
"True. True. His connection with Inton4Yin/Shadow Styleis potent, and with no elent at his fingertips, he needed an edge. But that all changed when he suddenly demonstrated the ability to use Fire" (Tai)
"Right, his mother's ancestry" (Suzu)
"Rei told
a while ago that he's decided to, go back to basics. Since he always excels it's hard to tell, but I think he's realized since gaining an elent, he's neglected his other skills" (Tai)
"Hmm. Maybe..." (Suzu)
"Now that I think about it, he told
his plans only days after our mission on Summoning Island" (Tai)
"..." (Suzu)
Unbeknownst to them, Rei's enhanced hearing picked up nearly every word they uttered
{It's getting harder and harder to hide what's really going on with , and they're not getting any duller} (Rei)
Unlike his Katon5Fire Styleand Suiton6Water Style, Rei's Doton7Earth Stylewas nurtured from his human chakra. After his body "reset" from his first reaction during Team Mabui's rescue, he retrained the two elents to new levels
However his Earth, along with Lava, originated from "Rei's" chakra and cells. Both of which were being replaced by his alien side, hence their decline
But losing a nature transformation was unheard of. People might even begin investigations into him, which was the last thing he wanted. His current dilemma, conjuring up an excuse for when the inevitable ca, was quite the headache.
Even his own team is beginning to notice...and he's running out of excuses
CLINK!
"Okay! Let's start!"
"Mariko-san, we're good?" (Suzu)
"Yeah, co inside and give
a hand. The rest of you, take your seats!" (Mariko)
"Alright! I'm starving!"
"This is gonna be great!"
"Rei-nii! Rei-nii! Sit next to !"
"No !"
CLINK!
While Tai and Rei kept watch over the children in the backyard, Suzu reentered the house to see Mariko taking pots of hot food off the stove
"Suzu, take out those bowls and plates for . Let's fill them up"
"What happened to the small hibachi8Traditional heating device for foodyou always used?"
"Broken, a long ti ago. We're not exactly swimming in money"
"Right. Orphanage..."
"And that was years ago! When you were living with us. I'm surprised you can rember, you were still just a baby back then"
"Feels like yesterday to ..."
Suzu was orphaned at an early age. The girl, too young to take care of herself, was placed under Mariko's care. But once the girl entered the academy, she was legally allowed to stay at her family ho
"I still think it was too soon for you leave. Yes, your ho's been remodeled thanks to Mori Sp., but my doors are still open"
"More like, thanks to you, the kids, and my team"
"Hehe, plenty to be thankful for. I'm happy you've found a good team...no...a good family"
"You'll always be my family Mariko, I've just added so new mbers to it"
"Wow. You trying to make
cry? It was hard to imagine you'd let anyone get so close to you. To show such concern for others besides us...it brings a smile to my face"
"Gratitude. That's all there is to it. I've been blessed to receive friends able to look past my heinous family origins, to see
for who I truly am. If it ans keeping them safe...there's no price I wouldn't pay"
THUMP! THUMP!
The back door was opened
"You guys done, because I don't think I can keep them from waiting any longer. They're all, Rei especially, super hungry right now" (Tai)
"Pffft! Okay, we're coming!" (Mariko)
"Right behind you" (Suzu)
"Sothing good happen? That's a nice grin on your face" (Tai)
"Hehe! Maybe..." (Suzu)
Suzu and Mariko went to work placing the food and everyone sat impatiently around the table. Just as they were about to eat, Mariko requested everyone to clap their hands together
Closing her eyes as she offered a prayer
"Ancestors, we thank you for this plentiful bounty, we thank you for our health, we thank you for our freedom and joy. Please continue to watch over not only our family, but all who are in need of more love and blessings in their lives. Help us keep our hearts pure and humble, and renew our spirits with vigor. May all feel what we are so lucky to today" (Mariko)
"Itadakimasu!" (Everyone)
"Let's eat!" (Mariko)
??????
Another district in Kumogakure
Calm. Serene...just how these atbags like it
"R...R..."
This day is like any other, people tending to their own business. So nonchalant, so uncaring, so...ignorant
"R...Re...Renn"
It's always astounding, all this ti watching them, to see how quick they are to stagnate. To remain unchanged, quick to let others do the "changing" for them. Striving to improve, only a select few possess this drive
"Ooo...vaatt..."
Be it this world, or another, humans will have a million problems over their heads and still...!
"Reno..aaationnn"
They never act unless said problems directly affects them. It's so amusing, every ti I...we see it
"vaa...ttiioooon"
Oh! That's it! That's been the answer this whole ti!
"...tioo...ation"
It's so easy! That's the key to getting people to do what you want. That's how We can get him to do what we want! Especially now that he's grown even more suspicious...
"nooooo...vation..."
All they...no...he really needs is a little...
"RENNNNOOOVATIIIOOONNN!!!!!"
BOOM!
pUSh...
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