The world was different, even miles below in Kaizoku’s swallowed sea, the shift in my perspective was so stark it left speechless as I examined myself. The Nature Energy transford my skin to a smooth and almost scaly surface that glittered in certain light, not that there was much light. But as my eyes had beco slit like an eel so had my underwater vision improved, much so that I could peer through the dark waters drowning Kaizoku’s tower from my place atop his tail. I could see how much of him remained coiled down there, he was huge, long and more feathered and scaled than Unaimaru. A section of his body was barbed with spikes that twitched infrequently.
My eyesight was poor in comparison to the heightened sense of sll, and god this tower stunk. My nose crinkled and the two, subtle barbels protruding from my cheek wriggled. I prayed to not only get used to the stank but my own [Sage Mode] transformation sooner rather than later.
I wasn’t expecting so many…modifications.
The stumpy little barbels flailed by my cheek, each sway brought a new understanding of the chakra clustered in the atmosphere nearby and increased my [Water Perception] range by magnitudes such that I could sense the movents of the many other Unagi and half-breeds swimming around in Kaizoku’s tower. But more than the barbels was the perpetual mist that seed to aura around , it was thin, enough to wave away with a hand but thick enough to obscure.
I could see so use in this. The mist acted according to my thoughts and will, though quite sensitively— I would need so practice before it could move as I wished during combat or otherwise.
Overall, my affinity to Water Chakra nature had seen explosive growth, well past what I thought was possible even after being declared a master at it for years. The power in my bones and muscles was just as well, each movent felt like I was a feather gliding through the air, my body was light, free but dangerously strong.
I spun around on my heel and punched out at the water, it exploded as a pressure wave blasted against its surface. A satisfied grin crawled against my lips at the show but that quickly faded as Kaizoku’s stunned silence ended with a rolling cackle, “Nnghahaha! Yagura Karatachi!”
Surprised to hear my na and not ‘turtle’ from Kaizoku, I answered with a raised brow as the colossal Sea Serpent leered closer at but without any of the hostility he’d exhibited from before. Is he…happy?
“I will rember you, Yagura, Fourth Mizukage and second ever Sea Sage!” Kaizoku bellowed joyously, his voice full of mirth even if his face remained as frightening to look at as ever; the extra viewing to his rows of hundred teeth didn’t help.
His switch up was surprising but considering what I’d accomplished…Wait, second Sea Sage? “Sea Sage? I thought you were a Sea Serpent, an Unagi?”
“Marvellousss child, the dominion of my contract includes all from the tiniest seahorse to the largest whales. Every creature within my Sea is within my protection and subject to our calls.” Kaizoku said, his toothy grin growing larger every second I stewed in [Sage Mode] his eyes ogled with a mix of pride and fascination, “I will train you in the Sage Art, worry not, you will understand the true depthss of your new power.”
I couldn’t help but raise a brow to that, after everything the damned sea snake had put through and his clearly attempted murder just now, training with him wasn’t in any of the scenarios I imagined. We have this handled, don’t we?
“Your Senjutsu is particularly suited to ,” Isobu answered within , “We should stick to our original plans, not sure what other sacrifices Kaizoku has planned when he says ‘train’.”
The original plan was simple and straightforward, it was also a success. eting Kaizoku one last ti to get a scent for the [Sage Mode] so I could activate it on my own…I’d just done that and feeling the energy coursing through , I knew I’d never forget how to access it, not after what I’d done to make this all possible.
Looking up from my clenched fist I answered his offer, “No, thank you. I think I’ve learned enough to be functional.” I waved a hand through the thin mist cloaking , “I will master the Sage Art just as I have other forms of jutsu.”
Kaizoku’s mood soured instantly. His head surged forward, eyes gleaming with sothing between frustration and determination. “Do not be foolish, Yagura. The Sea Sage Art is not sothing to intuit—you barely understand the power I’ve placed in your fingertips.”
I opened my mouth to counter, but he wasn’t done.
“That strike was a poor but powerful showing.” His voice deepened, coiling around like the waters of his domain. “I can show you how to rupture organs with a touch. How to sail the air itself. How to beco unseen, even in the clearest waters.”
As if to prove his point, Kaizoku vanished. One second, his massive bulk filled my vision—then nothing. My new Sage senses scread, yet all I could grasp was the faintest ripple of displaced chakra.
Where—?!
A whisper of movent. Then, a force like a tidal wave slamd into my side. I barely had ti to reinforce my body with chakra before I was sent hurtling through the water, flipping end over end. The currents themselves felt like Kaizoku’s limbs, dragging and twisting at his command.
I caught myself mid-spin, heels digging into an invisible surface—the water itself solidified beneath . I gritted my teeth. That was no simple movent. He’s shaping the battlefield with every breath.
Kaizoku’s laughter echoed. He reappeared with a slow, sinuous coil, his gaze triumphant. “This is Kaikyo Ken.”
Already I could see how I could go about doing so of those things, especially developing a new martial art form to bring the best from my [Sage Mode] I’d done a lot of those with Uncle during the 3rd War, with a healthy plethora of shinobi and their varying combat styles, I was intrigued but also afraid. But that was then.
“That was…an impressive demonstration and while I appreciate the offer, Kaizoku, I’ll have to decline.” I turned, ready to jump out into the water so I could leave out the giant Uzumaki sealed doors and return ho, but Kaizoku wasn’t taking no for an answer. More of his tail rose up from the water, blocking my path as he slithered around the tower.
“You stubborn one. You cannot simply take the power of a Sage and wield it without purpose or definition. I will be your guide, your master in the art!” I groaned but he wasn’t done, he began to negotiate, “Very well, I shall give you authority to summon more than my son, I am sure he has been a bore unto you. In exchange I will train you in Kaikyo Ken!”
I was about to outright reject him with no care towards being polite but the context of his words told sothing new, “I never realized I wasn’t allowed to summon more than Unaimaru.” Brows knitted to a frown I glared up at him, “That’s a breach of the contract I signed, Kaizoku.”
The aged and colossal Sea Serpent seed to shrug, unconcerned, “Can you bla for not trusting you? For believing you would fail?”
“Yes.” I deadpanned, partly furious and partly surprised I never noticed. I suppose I never had ti to discover how many more creatures I could summon, Unaimaru was quick, familiar and serviceable. Shaking my head I decided there and then not to let it go, regardless of my apparent ignorance and Kaizoku’s sowhat understandable doubt in shinobi, I wouldn’t forgive, much less give into his demands without significant concessions on his part.
“If you really want to revive your lost Sage Art in the shinobi world, then you’ll restore my privileges and add on to it.” I said, arms folded.
“Anything within my power, Sage Child, na it.” Kaizoku promised, hope glittering in his eyes as he leaned closer to hear my wish.
“It is exactly your power I want, Kaizoku,” I said, a asured smirk creeping up my lips as confusion ca alight in those slit eyes, “I will summon you to battle soday and you will answer the call, however many they are. The shinobi world enters an age of uncertainty now.”
For the second ti this encounter I’d rendered Kaizoku stunned and speechless. His mouth hung open, eyes dilated in deep thought as he stared at and through . And then, slowly, those jowls expanded in a showcase of fangs and teeth as he grinned, “Yagura Karatachi, I will surely rember you.”
“You better, now, what do you say? Will you heed my calls?”
“I will grant you my might in battle three tis and no more, do not waste it. Now, we train.” He lood, just about a snap away from swallowing .
I saw myself in the lens of his eyes, and mine were just like his. Slit pupils and a sclera darkened to a deep sea blue, the sa colour markings that highlighted my eyes. I liked what I saw.
“Good, but let’s make a schedule first.”
Hiya!
In anticipation of continued power outages, RTM will return on the 25th. See ya then.
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