Chapter 32: Newer body, newer me.
I had just finished building my first full-fledged body. A masterpiece of art, biology, and science, I must say.
The hours spent trying shit out until I found the perfect combination of traits were all worth it.
Now I was the proud owner of a brand-new vessel for myself. One that I could train and strengthen without having to worry about how much DP it would cost.
I now stood 180 cm tall, had black hair tied back into a ponytail, fair skin, and was dressed in simple gray robes.
The intention was to look average, if I needed to look impressive later, the drip always provides.
But sadly, I couldn't just go out and start doing shit. There was still one tiny detail left.
Actually training.
Thankfully, I had asked Zabuza and Haku to write down little instructions on all the techniques they knew, well, Haruka asked after I told her to make a Library for our Military Wing, eventually we would outgrow just training people in person, and these instructions will serve as good templates for techniques.
Konoha also agreed to give us the Techniques we asked for, nothing too amazing, but we had about 100 manuals, ranging from E-rank to C-rank, including at least 1 of each element.
So now I would have to sit down and actually learn how to use Chakra, It shouldn't be that much of a problem, thanks to my new body, Chakra Control and Capacity were genetic to a degree after all.
I wish I had examined Sakura while she was in Wave, might have been able to get that monstrous control she has naturally.
But I knew enough about Chakra from observing my followers and Zabuza to know the theory. It was just a matter of practice now.
Wave was also doing well, the Wings were all growing, the Military Wing was up to 800, although I feel like it will slow down soon, there aren't that many people that want to live a life of fighting and constant training.
The intelligence Wing expanded enough that Hikari couldn't run it on her own anymore, so the most loyal and competent were being promoted to higher positions.
The Medical Wing was doing amazing, while my Blessing of comprehension was good when you wanted to be a good fighter, but that also required a strong body and a large Chakra capacity, which required a good deal of time, being a good Chakra Doctor required knowledge and Chakra Control, two things my Blessing helped with massively.
I was proud of Kazuo's work, he had really built something great there, in a year or two we would rival even the best in the Elemental Nations in terms of medical Ninjutsu.
And lastly the Economic Wing, I felt sorry for them, with the money from Gatō now ours to use, and with the Bridge being finished, they couldn't rest. Every day more merchants were trying to use Wave as a trading hub, they also had to use Gatō's to improve Wave, managing the expansion of towns in Cities, surveying land for new villages, building infrastructure and so on.
It was going to be hell for the next couple of months, but Wave will grow and prosper, that was for sure.
So now, I am going to sit my ass down in the middle of a forest and learn how to use Chakra, and then I'm going to go on vacation.
Maybe I'll visit Rōran? Time Travel would be interesting to see.
***
Yomozuki looked at the small cave opening, this was reportedly the last group of Mōryō's followers in the Land of Demons, the remnants that banded together as they fled from the purge happening. The Watcher was surely looking over them, as the purge was more successful than they could have hoped.
The Acolytes were not largely involved, but the Honored Amikiri has requested his aid in this endeavor, and he would not say no to The Watcher's Children.
"I see why I was specifically requested," He commented quietly, eyes glancing towards the cave entrance.
Taruho raised his eyebrows curiously, watching him closely as the rest of the guards stood around silently.
"Indeed? What is the reason?" Taruho asked politely.
"Every Acolyte receives a Direct Blessing from the Watcher, mine is particularly suitable for this scenario." Yomozuki explained calmly. "My blessings excels in close quarters."
Yomozuki started stretching before drawing his odachi.
"Are there any Chakra capable fighters in that group?" He asked.
"At least one, she is the reason they escaped, she used Fire Jutsu to hold off the Shrine Guards for long enough for them to escape," Taruho answered grimly.
"Hmmmm..." Yomozuki hummed thoughtfully, eyes staring at the cave entrance. "Taruho-san, stay outside and do not let anyone escape, do not let anyone enter the cave, they will die if they do so."
With those words, Yomozuki dashed into the cave, disappearing into its darkness.
Yomozuki didn't look back, sprinting forward without slowing down.
Zabuza-Sensei had been clear, speed was a great advantage for a swordsman, only beat by stealth in Zabuza's opinion. Yomozuki was not suited to the Silent Killing Techniques, but he was told he had great talent for the blade, so his training had focused on skill, then speed and finally strength.
He found the first enemy after 2 minutes of running through the caves, a single sentry stood there, armed with a small axe. The man noticed him when he got closer, but it was already too late.
Yomozuki didn't give the man any time to react, a single slice was all that was needed, the man's head dropping to the ground.
There would be no survivors.
Yomozuki continued moving, eventually reaching a makeshift door made from wood. He could hear several people talking behind it.
"We should not be waiting around, they will eventually find us!" Someone said angrily.
"Well, what else are we supposed to do?" A different voice yelled back. "There's no way we can escape in the state we're in now!"
"Silence." A third one ordered loudly. "There will be no running, Mōryō-sama is testing our loyalty and faith."
"H-How can you say that?!" The first one spoke up again. "Our leaders were killed by that damn monster! They found out every hideout w-" He didn't get to finish his sentence before Yomozuki kicked down the door, surprising them.
In the large cave, there were about a dozen people, most of them looking tired, in the center sat an old woman dressed in white robes.
Yomozuki scanned the cave, only one exit which he was currently blocking, perfect.
He focused on his Blessing, it began manifesting as flames around his blade, then on his body. It started dripping down onto the ground, forming a pool of liquid fire that started spreading outward.
"What the fuck?!" One of the men that was yelling earlier yelped out in shock, they all stared at him in alarm.
Yomozuki did not think too badly of them for this, before he had received his blessing, he too would have been shocked if his enemy suddenly set himself on fire and didn't die.
He ignored the threats and questions they were shouting at him, focusing solely on his task.
The room started to get hotter, and the enemy realized that this liquid fire would flood this cave eventually. That was when they panicked.
The old woman jumped up from her seat, drawing a handful of Kunai from her robes and hurling them at Yomozuki.
Yomozuki easily deflected them, but that distraction allowed 3 other enemies to charge forward, all armed with a variety of weapons.
They did not reach him, the lake of flames surged forward and consumed them in an instant. They screamed in agony for a few seconds before succumbing to the heat.
It was almost pitiful, how easy it was to kill these people, they had no chance against Yomozuki, maybe if this wasn't an enclosed space they might have escaped, but now... This was nothing more than a slaughter.
More of the cultists attacked, only to be consumed by his liquid flames. The old woman attempted to fight back with Fire Jutsu, but they were colder than his flames and thus ineffective.
Eventually, he had accumulated enough fire and swung his sword upwards, the pool of flames surging to the ceiling, then he thrust his odachi forward.
A tidal wave of fire washed over everyone in the cave, quickly cutting off any screams.
Yomozuki breathed out slowly, standing still as he surveyed the burning cave, making sure no one was left alive.
Once satisfied, he exited the cave, smoke was now billowing outwards from the entrance.
He frowned, his clothes would smell like ashes now.
"Yomozuki-san." Taruho greeted respectfully as he walked up to him. "You didn't suffer any injuries?"
Yomozuki shook his head.
"No, I am unharmed." He stated simply. "I shall report to Amikiri that our mission is complete, you should do the same for Shion-sama."
Taruho smiled slightly and bowed.
"Of course, we thank the Acolytes for their assistance in this matter." He said gratefully.
Yomozuki nodded, satisfied with his work.
Any day when he serves The Watcher is a good day.