Obtaining knowledge. For some it was just a given that experience would come with knowledge. For others with more motivation it was a lifelong pursuit. One could never stop learning. Each interaction, each new sight and sound given a new experience to be expanded upon. The pursuit of knowledge was in most cases an honorable one. However many would find a barrier that should not be crossed. A price to be paid to great to hold onto their souls. Of course there were other roads to travel. Other lessons to be learned so that road was left mostly untraveled. Only those willing to risk their humanity had placed what few foot prints were on that particular path. A lone road leading to a nearly forgotten island. A place where someone born more beast than man and abandoned as such was rumored to reside. Surviving even against impossible odds and rising beyond the normal human limitations as if he was simply born to do so. The village knew him by name now, unlike a few years prior. However they still whispered of him. Warned any considering going out that way to avoid that road. The father of horrors was not to be roused. He was not someone that left his island often and rumor was he had taken to sleeping in a suspended sealed state often. Having given up his position as captain of the seven swords and supposedly retired for the most part. Some even said he was on the level of a kage.

Still the name was easily discovered. Osada Sero. The right hand of the Mizukage and successful in his shinobi career. Head of the ANBU and head of the Hunter nin for a time. Leader of the seven swords. Aside from Kage there wasn't an office the man hadn't achieved. Even so far as to be leader of squad Zero for a time. The Mizukage's personal guard. Besides that it was rumored that he had mastered all forms of weapons as a mere genin. As he grew he had mastered all forms of Katon and Suiton jutsu provided in the libraries and even altered some to his clans ability. However many refused to work with him. None of his jobs outside of the Mizukage were anything but kill missions. The sheer body count he left behind left an entire storage room of successful hunts. To those who dreamed of a life of crime within the nation he was the boogey man. Once he was summoned after a target he never failed to bring them in or kill them. Sometimes leaving nothing but a finger to identify them. Pictures of his kills were gruesome. Men nailed to tree's, hung from pirate ships by their entrails. Dead eyes permanently staring in the pictures in a sheer look of horror. No one could claim Osada Sero was a good man. However he never had a single note in his file doubting his loyalty. He was born a monster, choosing to leash himself to the village.

The last rumors of him had suggested he had delved into some more ancient seals and texts. Studying them at length and having purchased almost ever book on seals imaginable. There was even a book published by him regarding it. The read was very dry but accurate. He was even considered a leader in the field of historic seals as of late. One part of his book even mentioning the Hansha gate and his studies regarding it. If one were to ask where to find this monster few would even answer. Many would simply call them a fool looking for death. A few though would direct them begrudgingly to the spider island if pressed. Clearly stating they were not responsible for what happened to the traveler. One wide road. Abandoned for the most part but somehow had not faded into the surrounding growth. The path broke from the main road and headed east for about ten miles before one would reach a bridge. A large red Tori gate with paint peeled and burn marks here and there stood on the shore near the road on this side of the bridge. As if struggling to seal in what evil was there. The bridge itself was in disrepair and seemed to lead into a heavy fog bank hiding the far bank. A sense of something out there watching would easily be felt the moment they crossed that tori gate. A sensation that would urge most to flee this place and never trespass on fate again.

If they pressed on however the fog would eventually fade just enough for them to see the barren tree's. Webs coating the canopy instead of leaves like snow. The air was cold and moist. The ground beneath was hard and overgrown as this road seemed to be unattended for the most part. Just enough of a road for a cart to access. Blackened tree's seemed to shift as if reaching for this new life filled being to an unfelt breeze. Red eyes peered from the darkness and mist as the trespasser progressed further. However they would not move to intercept them. More of a curious gaze for this rare trespasser. Still there was a sense of stillness. As if no one knew what was coming next. Why had the human come here? This place of monsters and horrors. What did they seek? Would it be worthy? Would the lord accept them or perhaps they had come to challenge his position. Another assassin come to crush the monster for his bounty. Another fool seeking his own grave. None yet knew but the air was tense. If they broke the treeline the path would lead up to an old manor at the center of the island. The moment they crossed the treeline though a new sensation overtook them. Something was out there. Something far worse than the spiders and tree's. Like the grave itself had risen and now watched them from every angle. Surrounding them. Like a hungry predatory creature. They had stumbled into its territory.

Obtaining knowledge. For me, I always had the most fun when I could discover things for myself. Not that I didn't appreciate help, but some of my fondest memories from my days at the academy included just me sitting on my bedroom floor, a pile of scrolls surrounding me, trying to figure out how I could seal away my own chakra in the weirdest ways I could think of. I always thought that it was just fun to learn new things. And of course there was the satisfaction of mastering a new jutsu or figuring out a complex problem, but for me I always yearned for another journey after reaching the destination. Overcoming troubles, overcoming problems, is a vital skill in a shinobi's arsenal, but that doesn't mean I can't enjoy it.

Today though, I was a little unsure. After Iro had told me about his father and the fact that he wanted me to help find a way to unseal him, I felt an obligation to do whatever I could. Normally, I would just be trying to figure it out myself, but I neither had the skill set nor the time to even attempt that manner of discovery. No, this morning, I set off to the library to do some actual research on sealing jutsu. I didn't know much about Strafe's seal, but I knew that it wasn't anything I would have come across before, so I headed over to the section of the library dealing with strange or old seals. After perusing some of the more dust-covered books, I came across a history of ancient seals by someone named Osada Sero. The name sounded familiar, but I had a hard time placing it.

Have I read his work before?

I sat down in an empty corner and started reading. The beginning was a little boring, and I considered putting the book back on the shelf, but knowing the name without knowing where I knew it from was driving me nuts, so I continued reading in case something sparked my memory. As the book went on, I started liking it more and more as the author went deep into the intricacies of the studied seals, describing every last detail about their possible or discovered functions and their theorized, or in some cases proven, formulation. I spent most of the morning into the afternoon reading it.

"Huh, the Hansha Gate. Interesting name, but even more interesting is the methods the author has been using to investigate it. Some of these are really clever!" I muttered to myself.

"Shhh!" I heard a voice aggressively whisper from the other side of a bookshelf.

I stood up and walked around so that I could actually see the librarian. A young man with his headband around his waist, he didn't look too happy.

"Sorry about that. Do you know where I could find more information about..."

I checked the cover of the book once more, reading off, "Osada Sero?"

The librarian looked at me with a mix of annoyance and...concern? Worry?

"Why do you want to know more about him?" the librarian asked.

From there, both through questioning the uneasy librarian and reading snippets from books on the subject that he recommended, I came to learn the Osada Sero was a very famous ninja, notorious for his mastery of weapons and jutsu from such an early point in his career, his vast knowledge that led him to be a leading scholar of ancient seals, and the brutal state he would leave his victims in after completing a mission. I wasn't too fond of that last point, but I considered it might be an exaggeration. After all, who doesn't love a good war story? His skill in both combat and fuuinjutsu led me to believe that he might be able to help me, or at least point me in the right direction. The question is: would he be willing? Apparently, he too was a ninja of Kirigakure, and though he was extremely reluctant, the librarian told me that Sero lived by himself on an island not too far from here.

"But I'm not telling you which one! I've already given you more information than what's good for you, and he's a dangerous man. I don't want to be the one to send a genin to his death!"

"Well, thank you for the information. I'd best be going now. See ya!"

By then, I had already decided that I wanted to track Sero down just to ask him a few questions. It was hard to get information from the people in town, but eventually I was able to piece together enough information to figure out that he was on an island referred to as the spider island. Whether it was just shaped like a spider, or even filled with spiders, I didn't end up figuring out before I set off. It was already midday and it would be late afternoon by the time I would be able to get there, so I set off without further hesitation.

After walking down a forgotten, but not completely lost, road for about ten or so miles, I found myself before a large, red, and damaged Tori gate. The bridge itself wasn't looking any better, the island was obscured by a heavy fog, and the whole situation was giving me an ominous feeling.

Maybe I was wrong? It doesn't look like anyone's lived here for years. Maybe...maybe I shouldn't go any further.

No, this is where Sero lives, or at least where people think he lives. And if I'm going to be any help to Iro, I need to become a stronger shinobi.

I stepped on to the bridge, crossing beneath the Tori gate, and immediately I felt a sense of dread. After just a single step, I froze in my tracks.

What. Is. This. Feeling?

I was frozen in terror, and I started to slightly shake.

This was a mistake, I should just go back now, I should never have come out here, this was a terrible idea, this...

NOBUYA!

I mentally shouted at myself, which, admittedly, was a weird sensation.

Get a grip! You're a shinobi, act like it. Do you think Gattsu would turn back after getting this far? No! Now find Sero and ask that he help you!

I clenched my fists and steadied my nerves, slowly starting to shake less and less. Haltingly, I took another step forwards. And another. And another, until I had finally crossed the direly-in-need-of-repair bridge and reached the shore of the island. As I was progressing farther into the island, I noticed that the dark trees had webs coating the tops, draping a creepy canopy over the walkway, which, similar to everything else up to this point, was looking like it hadn't been taken care of for a long time.

At least the spiders are providing some shade?

I looked over and saw a pair of red eyes staring at me from the trees. No, not a pair, more. Many more. Watching me. I began to notice different groupings of eyes from all around me.

I quickened my pace as I made my hand signs.

Tiger-Dragon-Snake-Rat. Just in case.

Eventually, I found an old house pretty far into the island, and a new, even stronger sense of dread overcame me. I didn't exactly want to go to the manor, in fact I found the prospect quite terrifying for some reason, but I knew that a manor meant people at least used to live here. I half-walked, half-ran to the door, knocking as soon as I reached it.

I yelled, "I'm looking for Master Osada Sero, and...and people said he lives here. My name is Nobuya Yomechiro, and well, I was hoping you could help me."

Chakra 220/250:

WC: 1335

Nothing would bar their path as they pressed forward. Simply curious eyes watched on as the human child ventured into this forsaken land. Wondering why something so pure and innocent would dare to wander here? Were they simply hiding a frightful presence masterfully? If so why would they bother? On this island power was respected not deterred by the common ways of man. How was it that one of pure untainted chakra would wander here so willingly? In order to discover the answer none interacted with them except to pursue them. Keeping close but not by any means barring their path. However as soon as the chakra was activated the scene would shift. Hand signs were recognized even if not for exactly what the combination did. These creatures knew of Ninjutsu and the spiders for the most part would scatter. None of them wishing to be caught in the mayhem of whatever jutsu might come to play. A shinobi was here. Perhaps purity had been assumed. Still even as the being exited the treeline some of those spiders had shifted into human form and stuck to the mist. The guards of the manor, the Unmei clan were a creation of the man who lived there. Spiders who could take human form at will. Sentient creatures that spoke and interacted as humans though each of them maintained some sort of trait from the spider forms. Fangs, red eyes. Shadows moving in the treeline and watching with a wary eye now. A shinobi.

Still none would bar their forsaken path. The hard dirt and gravel under foot seeming to echo as they ran though the garden in front of the manor. Overgrown fountains and statues of monsters crumbling away. Even as they drew closer to the manor they would discover it was far larger up close. Multiple stories tall with archer towers on all four corners and walkways for each floor. Four floors in total with a clock tower in the center. In it's prime this place would have been the home of a lord easily. However it appeared that those that lived here now cared little for appearances. Still nothing would shift to stop them even then. Though a couple of 'statues' would seem to turn ever so slightly to watch the movements of the trespasser. Idle in their movements but there all the same. Just enough to make one question if they had indeed moved even had they been looking directly at them. Silent watchers everywhere the little ninja went. Spider island...it was named for its inhabitants but many called it by another name. Monster island. There were things here that tainted the soil, darkened the skies and twisted the mind. Many who had come before had left just a little more monstrous than they had come each time. However those who would resist this place more than once grew each time. Helping to produce some of the most powerful warriors in the current ninja roster for the village.

The little Ninja would run unhindered all the way to the door. A solid double door made of wood yet thick enough to withstand a small assault. Upon touching it the wood would be warm as chakra coursed through it. Reinforced with chakra as well. Whoever lived here was prepared to be sieged. Still once they finished introducing themselves the door would slowly swing open as an older butler with black hair and white sideburns would open both doors quietly. He stood tall but what stood out about him was that he had four arms. Two folded behind the butlers back even as he gave a stern red gaze to the child before him. He would lift his hand to indicate continuing down the hall to the main throne room. A single door directly across the from the entrance between two flights of stairs. "I will prepare some tea. Do proceed to the master immediately. Mind your manners though. He has many children and they do not take kindly to rude guests." With that the butler would excuse himself and proceed to the kitchens to prepare said tea. Leaving the young ninja alone. If they proceeded forward they would cross through another warm door to be presented with a dimly lit large room. Painted windows depicting war lined both walls and cast an assortment of colors along the hall. Empty except for three thrones at the end of the hall on a raised platform. Behind those a gigantic pendulum would swing back and forth slowly. Each swing taking ten seconds to shift as it swung back and forth like the part of a grandfather clock.

From behind the third throne a pale hand would seem to lift and as it did the giant pendulum would stop mid swing abruptly. A warm breeze would pick up in the room as that sense of dread suddenly had a source. That pale hand had been responsible for so much blood spilled, so many bodies buried that just the revelation of the being it was attached to created a pressure. Like death had come to this realm simply to meet a visitor. One could not deny the suffocating pressure that only increased as the being stepped further out. A lean and pale man with robes made out of spider silk that hung loosely over his form. His long white hair blending into it as he seemed to glide around the chair like mist. No weapon adorned his form but it felt clear that he was still just as deadly. Cold grey eyes would shift over the young ninja that had come that day. Empty eyes that didn't blink or seem to truly see. Almost glazed over like the eyes of the dead. Yet they regarded the young ninja and seemed to see all. The sensation coming across that holding onto a jutsu before him was a foolish idea. All the power they had gained up to that point was meaningless against him. A new peak to strive for. Even as the being spoke the light seemed to dim in the room slightly. Torches flickering in their green flames from the walls between windows as if brought to life by his words. Casting a green glow across the dim room.

"Not many seek me out these days. Truly you must be one of the brave. You spoke of hope and help...tell me, what is it the village would ask of me now? Or perhaps this is personal?"

Thankfully, almost immediately after I knocked, the doors were opened, albeit rather slowly compared to the hurry I was in to escape whatever was giving me this terrifying feeling. I looked up to see a tall well-dressed man with solid red eyes, who, judging from his apparent age and demeanor, probably had been living here for quite a while. His clothing was a bit strange around his arms, with part of his clothing looking like it was folded back behind him, but my attention was focused on his eyes.

Maybe he possesses some kind of dojutsu? But he doesn't match up with the description I was given of Osada Sero. Did I somehow actually just come to the wrong house?

Before I had a chance to apologize or excuse myself, the man in front of me raised his hand towards a door farther into the house and spoke, "I will prepare some tea. Do proceed to the master immediately.  Mind your manners though. He has many children and they do not take kindly to rude guests."

I bowed my head and offered, "Thank you very much sir, tea would be very much appreciated. It was a decently long walk, and it was a bit creepy to be honest. But I don't mean to complain! This is a very lovely home. I...forgive me, I seem to be quite nervous and jittery right now, I shall make an effort to control myself further in the future."

I was indeed quite nervous, the unsettling nature of the things around me shaping my thoughts and keeping me off-balance. The gentleman at the door continued staring at me with his off-putting red eyes.

I am so glad that Master Sero is from our village. I would not want to fight anyone who lived in a place like this. I mean, on one hand, it's kinda cool in a creepy sort of way, but on the other hand, you'd have to be pretty powerful to cultivate this much fear just in the area you lived in.

Actually, now that I think about it, what if this is just a genjutsu affecting my mind? Should I use Genjutsu Kai? No, that'd probably be considered rude. It'd have to be his genjutsu after all, or the genjutsu of whoever the guy in front of me is. I've never really had that much of an interest in the stuff, but it might be a good thing to ask him about.

I took a quick look behind me as I entered the large manor, seeing more of those red eyes behind me, but now some had definite shapes I could see. Some looked like humans, some like giant spiders, and some...Switching in between?

Ok, yep. Definitely a genjutsu.

The gentleman turned around and left me, revealing behind him another set of arms. It seemed that things were rather strange here on Spider Island, but what else could I expect of the home of a ninja of such renown and notoriety. Stepping inside, I took off my shoes and placed them by the door, remembering the four-armed man's warnings about minding my manners. I never paid too much attention to those things, having been raised by seafarers with little heed to cultural norms, but I knew most of the rules, and if there was one person I didn't want to offend, it would be the master of this house.

I proceeded forward, taking in the sight of the old house around me. I could see from the outside that it was quite large, but you can never really appreciate the scale of a building until you're inside of it. And I was just in the front hall. I kept walking forward, arriving at the door the man pointed me to. After a moment of hesitation, I decided to open it. It was warm on my hand, like the front door, but I had not noticed until just now, as I was somewhat distracted earlier. Still, I recognized the feeling as familiar, and, deciding that it would be rude to not proceed immediately as the red-eyed one had instructed, I stepped inside.

The room was empty save for three thrones and a large pendulum behind them, slowly swinging as to add even more to the sense of tension in the manor. Large painted glass windows flanked the room, filling the otherwise rather drab room with a motley of colors. The windows depicted scenes of war, of conquest of victory, and necessarily of suffering and defeat. The scenes only stopped for small sections of wall, bearing torches of a green flame.

Now how does that work?!? Are they some kind of chakra torches, or maybe a katon jutsu of some sort? I had heard of his proficiency with fire style, so maybe his flames are just naturally green. That's pretty awesome, actually, if that's the case. Even if not, it was nice to just to look at the green flames dancing.

"Cool," I muttered. I realized there was something strange in my senses, and I noticed that the pendulum had stopped moving, and what felt like a warm breeze swept through the room, bringing with it a sense of dread. I turned back towards the throne and noticed a pale hand slowly come out from behind the chair, bringing with it a being clad in loose white robes, with grey eyes that almost seemed to have an eldritch quality about them. Thinking of my dirty jacket and plain pants, I felt rather under-dressed for the visit.

Ok, either this is Master Osada Sero, or I've accidentally wandered into the lair of a vampire. Except, with spiders instead of bats. What would that be, a Vampider? Except there are windows, so that's not it.

At this point, I was just trying to distract myself from the fear I felt deep inside. The man spoke, a radiance of power seeming to emanate from him, flickering the torches surrounding us.

"Not many seek me out these days. Truly you must be one of the brave. You spoke of hope and help...tell me, what is it the village would ask of me now? Or perhaps this is personal?"

One of the brave, or one of the foolish?

It took me a moment to collect my thoughts and muster up the courage, but I bowed my head once more and stated, "Um, hello Master Sero. My name is Nobuya Yomechiro, and I come not on behalf of the village, but on behalf of myself. You see, I read your latest text on ancient seals, which I actually really enjoyed by the way. I absolutely loved how much detail you put into..."

I had, by habit of my own, raised both my voice and my head, smiling at him as I recounted my admiration. I quickly lowered my head back down, realizing that he seemed like the type of person who would appreciate me stating my purpose here directly.

"Sorry. Anyways, I know that you are a master of many things, and I came here seeking advice or perhaps help in preparing myself for a difficult task ahead. My squad-mates and I are looking to go to a foreign land, in a possibly perilous journey, in order to undo a seal that keeps the father of a comrade trapped. I was hoping maybe you could give me guidance, sir."

"Of course," I hastily added, "I completely understand if you're busy, and I'm very sorry to bother you if so. But, I just thought you might be available. And if you don't want to, that's fine too. I just...wanna help my friend, and all I can do are these weird little seals that I've been making."

I held out my right hand to show the seal I had impressed into it earlier, realizing I probably no longer needed it as I was well out of the forest, which I had internally dubbed, "The Forest of Eyes." And it's not like I would be needing it against Master Sero. If he wanted to, he would just kill me before I knew I was even in danger. And I was NOT going to be attacking him for ANY reason.

"I mean, I'm proud that I know them, I spent quite a bit of time working on these and I think they're pretty cool, but..."

I sighed.

"But I just fear that it's not enough, sir."

Realizing I had sort of rambled on without letting him speak, I waited in silence for him to respond, keeping my head down, staring at the floor.

WC: 1464
Total WC: 2799

Sero would listen idly as the child spoke. Slowly his gaze shifted as he looked them up and down. His own age seemed obscured somehow. His porcelain skin suggested a youth to him but his movements and speech suggest and agelessness. His very being seemed to suggest that time did not work the same with him as it did others. Due to his recent discoveries perhaps it did indeed function differently but few knew of it. Such things could be dangerous in the minds of those who would thwart him. However though he did not use them in combat seals had always been a fascination of his. Such ancient power sealed away by those who feared it or did not understand it. Often what was sealed was done so because it simply was beyond their means to safely destroy it. When raw power did not work the art of seals usually did. The one style of the shinobi he respected that was not a combat art primarily. More so then genjutsu and other silly things. Even should he become so powerless that he could not raise a sword, with but a touch hell would raise forth before him. It was a magnificent field to study.

However the fact that this child had read his book and not only understood it but enjoyed it seemed to catch his attention as now he studied the childs eyes. Looking to see perhaps if the flattery was simply that or if it was based upon honesty. He had considered it a rather advanced book. Describing dimensions as doors to close and open. How to make them one way passages and to control your own seals. The variety of styles based on cultures as well as the effects they shared and differed upon. His current sequel however was still in the works. His writing donated rather than sold in the hopes that others pursued his interests. As it would seem it had brought on something akin to what he had hoped for indeed.This youth held a talent he doubted they themselves fully grasped yet. Still he would idly begin to circle them as if a predator was sizing up its next meal. The windows would shudder slightly as the sensation of a massive hidden beast almost drooled over them somewhere nearby. The ceiling itself would shift slightly if one looked close enough. It was not solid but rather an occasionally shifting mass of spiders of varying types and sizes. The entire ceiling was covered in them. The children the butler had mentioned.

Sero would stop at the childs side as an active seal was held up. He could taste the doton chakra in it. Feel it surging beneath the surface. A simple enough thing to ready a jutsu and hold it. This one had practiced doing so without much strain it appeared. Still Sero would idly run his pale hand inches above the boys own before retreating his hand back. The seal itself seemed to peel away like paint as the jutsu within was destroyed. Sero likely didn't enjoy having a hostile jutsu so readily prepared so close to him. Still he would speak as he finished and the seal faded away. His voice like a cold wind in winter void of emotion. "Seals hold power over all other forms of jutsu. Nothing can avoid a properly prepared set of seals intact. Let the children fling their lightning blindly. We will consume it. However they do have their own weakness for this power. Destroy a single piece of a standard seal and it unwravels. No longer serving any purpose. For a quick use a hidden seal is useful but I find seals that hide themselves entirely are much harder to avoid and negate."

With that he would reach up and direct his palm to the pendulum behind the thrones. As he raised his hand the cleanly polished steel would begin to glow along its length before revealing what once was hidden there. The entire pendulum was being used as a massive scroll. Seals of different types and ages combined together to form a complex design beyond anything at the academy. There had to be hundreds of glowing seals working into each other upon the surface. As he lowered his hand however the glow would fade and once more it would appear a simple steel pendulum being used as a part of a clock system. He would let the idea of hidden seals sink in before he would speak again. "One comes to me for knowledge, not for himself but for another. Yet knowledge is the greatest gift mankind can share. You come asking me for this gift. I would inquire of you something in return. Tell me young Nobuya Yomechiro, Have you yet had to take a life?"

As I had spoken, the old master had walked around me, circling me as he seemed to be inspecting every last detail. When I had held out my hand to him to show my seal, he simply passed his hand over it to dispel the seal.

Uh oh.

As I saw the seal disappear from my hand, I braced for the earthen tendrils to appear from my feet. I had to make sure to control them quickly so as not to damage any of Master Sero's property. Usually, I was able to guide them fairly effortlessly, but Sero's unsealing had caught me off guard. And yet...no tendrils appeared. I carefully inspected my hand. It seemed that with only one jutsu, he had not only managed to infiltrate my seal and scatter or destroy the chakra within, but he destroyed the seal itself in the process. And he had done it without so much as making a hand seal, at least that I could see.

This guy must be a master of chakra manipulation for him to do something lie that so casually. I mean, I know I'm just a genin, but that seal had a lot of chakra put into it. I mean, I tried to make it fairly intricate, but he just basically waved it away like it was nothing! And now that I have a moment to think, it was kinda rude that he would dispel it just like that. I mean, at least he could've asked.

"How did you even know that that was holding a jutsu?" I muttered.

"Seals hold power over all other forms of jutsu. Nothing can avoid a properly prepared set of seals intact. Let the children fling their lightning blindly. We will consume it. However they do have their own weakness for this power. Destroy a single piece of a standard seal and it unwravels. No longer serving any purpose. For a quick use a hidden seal is useful but I find seals that hide themselves entirely are much harder to avoid and negate."

He was right, and echoing the advice Kenshin-sensei gave me when he first met me. As a sealer, I could do well as long as they weren't able to reach me, making me better at a distance than at close-range, at least with my current skill set. Seals can be used at a moment's notice and don't generally use much chakra to just maintain, making them incredibly versatile in a battle. However, as Sero said, this ability to be released easily leaves in them a weakness, the fact that a skilled enemy can similarly release the seals and leave the sealer themselves without defense or offense.

Sero walked back to the three thrones, back to the giant pendulum that had ceased in its movement at the start of the conversation. Sero once again raised his hand to it, but not to restart its swinging. No, now when he raised his hand a glow began to shine out from the arm of the pendulum, with the glow starting to spread up and out, illuminating the various seals hidden within.

Wow...there must be hundreds of them! I wonder what he uses them all for? Are they interconnected? Are they all sealing the same thing, or does each seal have its own purpose? Some of these seem to almost intertwine with one another, which is amazing since some look like completely different designs.

I recognized a few of the general designs as historical from Sero's published work, but I was amazed at how the combination of so many seals could seem to work together so effortlessly.

I wonder if he has to unseal all of them if he wants to unseal one of the intertwining ones, or if he has some special procedure used to isolate them. Or maybe the chakra and seals aren't connected at all, except in design.

"This is amazing! How long did this take to create? Was it all done at once? What do they all do?" I asked as I craned my neck up, my smile wide in amazement and delight.

I took a few moments to appreciate this massive sealing structure hidden to me until just a few moments ago, but then Sero spoke again.

"One comes to me for knowledge, not for himself but for another. Yet knowledge is the greatest gift mankind can share. You come asking me for this gift. I would inquire of you something in return. Tell me young Nobuya Yomechiro, Have you yet had to take a life?"

What a weird question to ask. I mean, to be fair, I haven't told him my rank or anything, but that's such a particular interest in my ninja activities.

"No sir, so far I've only gone on simple D-rank missions, including capturing missing cats, gathering resources, and patrolling the village. Actually, I've never even fought anyone outside the village or in anything other than a sparring match, now that I think of it. Although, to be fair, I am just a genin, and I just recently graduated from the academy and was assigned to a squad. But I know that I'll be fighting eventually, and I may even have to take a life soon."

I looked down. What I had to say next wasn't very fitting for a ninja of Kirigakure, but I felt it was only fair that Master Sero knew if I was asking him to train me.

"To be honest, I don't really like the idea of taking a life. I just know...there's just so much...pain. Dying is scary for a lot of people, and, Master Sero, my ninja way is that I want to become strong enough that I can minimize the amount of pain that the people I face experience. If I can beat them without them getting hurt, then what's the point of them getting hurt? Or at least, that's what I've been thinking. I know it's stupid and inefficient to think that way, and I wouldn't let it get in the way of a mission if I had no other choice, but I want to be able to fight my own way. And, well, truthfully that's why I was hoping you could help me."

"From what I've read, you're not exactly averse to painful methods of taking down Kiri's enemies, but you also have this incredible strength and knowledge I was hoping could help me out."

I waited patiently for his response.

WC: 1111
Total WC: 3910

Sero would pause as he listened the the boy. He wasn't a slayer by normal means. Not born into this world with hate infecting his heart. Normally Sero would have called it there. He had no time for moral debates or those who thought death was to be avoided. For him it was his purpose in life. To seek death and justice for those who would see themselves as the cruel and wicked. He did not view it as playing god. Merely a hand of justice that would bear down on the darkest of souls. Murderers who would not think twice about killing an innocent. He thought the view was flawed. To preserve life no matter what. It would always end in tragedy. Others or the boy himself would find death sought them out despite their efforts to prevent it. He would not relish in it. A life lost of a soldier to scum was to be mourned. If only the just hearts could prevail in such a turmoil filled world. Alas he would not give in just yet. He would present a factual based side for his argument. Attempt to sway the boy before it was too late. The easy path.

"Even if your resolve is to maintain your belief only when you can, that creates a moment of doubt in each life and death moment. To allow the worst to happen. Even if you find the strength to prevent it, you will often face situations where you had to take a life. I wonder....will you spend your nights filled with doubt on if you should have killed that man? What if I could have saved him instead? Dwindling down your spirit. The truth of the world child is innocence is lost as soon as one picks up their first blade. There are no more hero's. No prisons left in Kiri for the questionable prisoners. In the end you have to choose when you are prepared to kill, not when you are prepared to spare. The enemy will not hesitate and neither should you. With that in mind, as I said Kirigakure has no prisons. You will either have to release your attackers or kill them. Bringing them back to the village in chains is only bringing them back to execution. Do you think your hands would be cleaner if its someone elses blade that does the deed? Would you put that on another?"

Of course he was being harsh. His own views darkened by the very being he was born as. A haunt upon the land. A slayer of hundreds. Kiri had been bathed in blood by him alone more than once. None thanked him besides those like him. The village feared him but still he did his duty. Still he would move to the pendulum once more and touch three seals. It was becoming apparent now that the seals were like a combination tumbler. Though active they were used in different ways by combining preset seals. In this case he would touch three and a green glow would emanate from them before between the three a grey mist would form. Like a window into a difficult to see but very grey world. He would reach into the mist and it would ripple like a pool before with a heave he would yank a pale man from it. Allowing it to close again. The man had the look of a weathered warrior but a cruel look deep in his eyes. Even frightened he still looked like he might like to kill everyone in the room. However his form was weak. Starved and ravaged by time without nutrition. He barely could rise to his knee's.

"This is Uba. A mercenary at one point that decided there was more money in being a pirate. Of course, he didn't attack just any ship. Uba was a clever man and would target lightly guarded vessels. Passenger vessels. Entire ships found floating in the fog filled waters with not a man, woman or child left alive. Some murdered quickly, some much more slowly. However it was what they did to the children that brought the call for me to intervene. He had a game where he made the children fight to the death. He put them in a ring with knives and promised to spare their families. Only one family though. The last child he killed personally. Only after making them watch as their parents were drowned. His crew admitted all this to me as I made my way through them over a course of several days. Very upfront and truthful. It only spared them pain of course. However Uba was more interesting a subject to torment. The time has come though for Uba to receive his death. Will you do this or will you keep your hands clean even from this filth?"

I looked at the apparent mercenary-turned-pirate. I didn't know how long he had been held here, but Master Sero was right. Anything more that could be gotten out of him, whether it be information or just pain for the sake of itself, was long expended. It was time for him to die. I didn't like it, but I was a ninja, Master Sero was my superior, and I knew it would be a mercy. At least Sero didn't say anything about how he wanted the scum in front of me to die. Without a word, I stepped forward. The hand signs were simple enough.

Ox, Ram.

He already was barely holding on, quite obviously malnourished, exhausted, and very afraid. It was time to end this. I approached him, and he tried raising his arms to defend himself, but he was much too weak. This wouldn't be a battle at all. Just an execution, and I would be the executioner.

Well, this turned into quite a visit.

I placed the seal on his forehead, and he collapsed, drained of chakra. He was already drained from his exhaustion, but this seal sought out and captured the last of it. To be thorough, and to make sure he was actually dead, I took out my kunai and slit his throat. I probably slashed deeper than I needed to, but I was nervous. This was my first time taking a life, and I didn't know how deeply I needed to cut. I slowly rose as the blood drained out of his body, staining my clothes and turning his face as pale as Sero's.

I turned to Osada Sero with a look of grim determination on my face. There were no more hints of humor or excitement in my eyes.

"Master Sero, I have no qualms directly relating to the action of taking a life. If I did, I certainly wouldn't be a very good ninja. Death itself is an easy transition. No sir, the problem I have with it lies in the fact that all too often for my liking, when a killing is performed, it is done with malice and cruel intentions. There are people in the world, scum like this," I explained as I prodded the newly-dead corpse with my shoe, "that need to die. I do not argue with that. But I just think it need not be done so cruelly. That's why sir, I developed a chakra-draining seal. If you get low enough on chakra, you either collapse from exhaustion or just die outright. No pain, just weariness. And that makes the killing easier."

"Some may say that criminals like this deserve all the pain they can handle. But they're already dying. I see no point in making myself feel bad for killing them. I try to suppress my empathy, but I've just found this to be the simpler solution. As to what you said about whether I would put the duty to kill on another, I really think that I might prefer the killing myself. Even if they would be sent to Kirigakure for execution anyways. At least then I know that I'll be killing in my own way."

I looked down at the floor. At the blood. I could've thrown up, but I was still experiencing some shock.

"And again Master Sero, I know that this way of thinking isn't always the best in a battle, but it doesn't mean that I would ever hesitate to kill. It just means that I don't like it. The shinobi world is full of pain, that much anyone can see. Pain is unavoidable, and I'll hurt people if I need to. In my first sparring match out of the academy, both my opponent and myself were bleeding by the end of the match. But if I don't need to cause pain to get the job done, then I really don't see the point in causing it. I'm sorry if this means you would not be willing to train what might be a lost cause like me, though I really hope you would actually be willing, but I thought it would be fair to tell you my philosophies. Not because it necessarily hinders me sir, but because those are the tactics that I work with. Those are the jutsu I employ. Those are what drives me to become so powerful that I can accomplish any task in any manner I so choose. That, Master Sero, is what I mean when I state my ninja way."

Chakra 210/250:

WC: 776
Total WC: 4686

Sero would watch the youngling step forward. Two hand seals in reverent silence as without mercy or hesitation the child put an end to the monster before him. It was clean, it was silent and in the state the man was in it was instant. Painless. His eyes simply rolled back and he wheezed out his last breath before crumpling like a sack of bones. Highly efficient and yet it seemed kind of boring. Sero enjoyed the hunt, the mind games and the torment on those deserving of it. For his plaything to simply be awarded such a painless end was almost too disappointing. However inwardly he acknowledged those were simply his preferences. The ordeal had been handled rather flawlessly. For a first kill there was no empathy for the target. Of course this one was clearly in need of the death sentence. Almost a mercy at this point. However grey lines would be in the child's future. Blurred from whats justice and whats not. Still the child would continue. Wisdom in his words though it made it more like a paladin speaking to a devil. Opposite sides of the same justice coin. Perhaps in time the child would be as Nozomi was and be his opposite. His balance. He didn't abhor killing as an act. Instead it was simply how it was brought about. He wanted merciful and efficient even for the cruel. Refusing to allow even the scum of the earth to suffer in vain. Boring Sero would think to himself but more efficient than his own ways.

The only issue he personally had with it was it was hardly a deterrent. His method spread fear to those who would try and take up where those he had slain left off. The idea that the host of spider island was coming for you was enough that many crime lords avoided the country entirely. Still those were his own ideals. If he was to be training another slayer. To taint their chakra with his own. This would clearly not be the case here. Knowledge was asked for and for now a blood price had been given. Sero would tilt his head and observe the seal fading on the mans forehead a moment. As if memorizing it by sight and placing it to memory before suddenly something odd would happen. The floor would ripple beneath the body. Almost like liquid before hands shifted out of the pale floor. Moving it like it was some thin veil over their fingers. Stretching out as dozens of hands rose up and wrapped around the form of the dead man. Slowly pulling him within the small spot of rippling floor beneath him. No corpse was left when it was finished and the floor stopped rippling. If tested it was solid once more. Sero had clearly done no jutsu to accomplish this and was not known for an affinity for doton. Instead there was something else at play here. Something far from the natural laws.

However Sero would seem satisfied for the time being. His hand would rise as thing fingers would curl to beckon the boy forward. The roof would chitter with excitement. "He accepts the boy...he accepts them...he molds new brother...new brother brings new food" It was like an echoing distant whisper. Crowds of spiders excitedly talking to each other. If the boy approached His steps would seem to echo more and more with an excited chitter growing louder until he reached the top step where Sero stood waiting next to his throne beside the pendulum. The moment his foot stepped down all would draw to stillness and silence. All the noise in the room stopped as if waiting with bated breath. Finally Sero would speak. His voice cold but his eyes watching the boy as he said his piece. "Before you is my creation of a combination of seals. All of them are connected and vary in difficulty through out. If one is broken the rest work to repair it. There is one thousand seals interlocked on this piece and it is my greatest creation., The entire island breathes and shifts on this pendulum. From lighting the torches to sealing the light in the sky from piercing the heavy fog generated by a series of seals on here, all combines and connects and preforms a task as needed. Directly connected to its own energy and self sufficient. This is the peak of my ability. For now I want you to practice combining three seals to work in tandem with each other into one seal. One seal with three effects. Even the lowest level of sealing can multiply its power if combined properly. As for your issue. A seal you must take apart. I direct you to your seal before. Notice that your jutsu did not erupt once the seal unwravled. Simply put that is because I did not attack your seal with my own but rather the chakra stored within it. Once a seal is activated its connected to whats sealed within. Destroy or remove what is within the seal and the seal unwravels. This is how you undo seals safely."

My hands trembled slightly as I watched the body and the blood gradually disappear in front of me. The blood dissipated as if diluting into a greater water, and disembodied hands wrapped around the body to pull it into the floor, which seemed itself to take on a somewhat liquid property. At the beginning of the day, I would've been fascinated by the hands, wondering if they were the direct result of a single jutsu, or if it was just another effect of the strange island. I might have even been frightened by the unexplained hands so close to me. But not now. No, now, I was just tired. Not physically, but mentally tired. The body disappeared, leaving the floor as clean as it had been when I entered the room.

Almost as if nothing had happened. Almost as if I hadn't just taken my first life just mere moments ago.

I looked up at Master Sero as he beckoned be towards him. I stepped forward, my body almost seeming to act on its own until I reached the summit of the stairs. Along with the sound of my own footsteps, a chittering noise seemed to echo around me, originating from above us. At first, I thought that I had perhaps imagined it, but it became very clear that it was not merely a figment of my imagination. When I reached the top, all the noise was at once subdued, as if the whole house was at once deferring to the great and powerful shinobi before me.

He began explaining the nature of the pendulum behind him, how the variety of interconnected seals worked together in order to give and control the exact nature of the whole island we stood on. Things that I couldn't imagine being controlled normally were at the beck and call of the giant contraption before me. Still, despite its already impressive size, I was intrigued by how something so relatively small could control so much of such a large area.

Seals have always been really interesting, but I had no real idea they had this much power...

"For now I want you to practice combining three seals to work in tandem with each other into one seal. One seal with three effects. Even the lowest level of sealing can multiply its power if combined properly."

So it seems that he has accepted my request for help, thankfully. And now I have my first assignment, though I haven't tried anything like that before. Though, I guess that's kinda the point. It seems like a pretty interesting concept exactly...

Despite my interest in the assignment, I knew that I didn't have the mental energy to even begin considering solutions to the problem that the sealing master in front of me had presented. I wouldn't even have enough energy to do my normal sealing experiments. I was pretty sure that I'd just about have enough energy to get home, climb into my bed, and let my mind rest with my body.

"As for your issue. A seal you must take apart. I direct you to your seal before. Notice that your jutsu did not erupt once the seal unraveled. Simply put that is because I did not attack your seal with my own but rather the chakra stored within it. Once a seal is activated its connected to whats sealed within. Destroy or remove what is within the seal and the seal unravels. This is how you undo seals safely."

"Thank you very much for your help, Master Sero. If you wouldn't mind, I think I'll take my leave now. I'm very sorry that I could not wait for the tea that the gentleman outside so kindly offered, but I'm afraid I must be going. The assignment you have given me is a fascinating one that will surely take up a portion of time in order to master. I am very grateful, sir."

If he gave a sign of approval and permission, I would bow and head back down the stairs. I walked through the door, thanking and apologizing profusely for leaving earlier than perhaps the four-armed gentleman had expected if I happened to run into him once more. If not, I would continue to the front door in silence, opening the warm door and walking out into the fog once more. I walked through the seemingly neglected garden, taking some time to appreciate the scenery around me. The eyes and figures were still watching me, but with my emotional exhaustion, I no longer cared. I would not think they would do me any harm at this point, and I was resigned to death if they saw fit to kill me. It was not a mental state I enjoyed having. I wondered whether the now-derelict statues and fountains had been left like this since Master Sero had acquired the property, or if they had perhaps simply fallen out of his favor at some point in his past.

Maybe this is just one more thing used to create his off-putting environment.

I walked though the web-strewn woods, back to the bridge, and having finally crossed back, looked to the west to see the low sun shining through the trees. Having stepped once again under the red Tori gate, I felt as if a great weight had been lifted from my shoulders. A burden I had forgotten I had been carrying. I continued staring at the setting sun, reflecting on the day's events. I had started the day following a curiosity, a series of events that now seemed to be in a distant past that led me to this path. To this bridge. To those woods, to that manor, and to that master shinobi. I had asked for his help to help a friend, and he asked me to take my first life in return. I looked down at my hands, my wrists, my arms. Now, they were stained with the blood of the executed. The slitting of the throat had caused so much blood to spurt out...

My eyes went wide in surprise as I observed a tear fall from my face onto the dried blood on my right palm.

Since when...When did I start crying?

Now that I was off the island, my body was finally recovering from the shock of the ordeal. My emotions were suppressed by fear on the island, and even up to the bridge, but now I was free from dread's influence. I watched and felt as more and more tears rolled down my cheeks, wetting the spots of my hand not covered with blood. Suddenly, I felt as my stomach twisted and my throat burned, making me fall to my knees, stretching out my arms and using my hands on the ground in front of me to steady myself. After a second, I started vomiting and crying as all of my thoughts and feelings came out at once.

After a few minutes, I stood up, drying my eyes. Disgusted by the acidic taste left in my mouth, I walked about a mile to a familiar river to wash my mouth off along with the rest of the dried blood.

I didn't regret my kill. It was ordered and executed quickly and efficiently. I had ended the criminal's life and in doing so, ended the pain of Sero's torture of him. But at that moment, I promised myself that I didn't ever want to use that kind of fear myself ever. In my eyes, it wasn't honorable. It turned others into an emotionless, thoughtless, methodical shadow of themselves. For some, fear could break them, making them sabotage their own strategies. But if I couldn't beat them with my own power, instead relying on the power of pain and fear, then there would be no point in winning. That isn't strength. That, is laziness.

Of course, it kept the nation safe, and I harbored no ill will against Master Sero. In fact, I strangely enough was still very much looking forward to learning from a master such as him. I respected that he came to a different conclusion than I had, and it was good for us to have a difference in opinion. But I would think of myself as scum if I changed myself into someone so radically different from the person I imagined myself to be. And so, I decided that I would never use those tools in my ninja arsenal. I would win my battles through other strengths. Through my own.

Because that, to win through those strengths, is my ninja way. And I would keep to it.

WC: 1462
Total WC: 6148
-1100/1100 C-rank jutsu: Water Style: Shield Seal (-10% from Quick Learner, +20% from Clan)
-2000/2000 Ninjutsu C->B (-20% from S-rank sensei, +20% from Clan)
-3000/3000 Ninjutsu B->A (-20% from S-rank sensei, +20% from Clan)

WC Remaining: 48

[EXIT THREAD]

Sero would consider the boys words and hurried excuse to leave. He had held a good face during their meeting but Sero knew one thing to be true. To the innocent the island would turn the mind and stomach. Defeat the heart and spirit. It was easy to get accustomed to but not quickly and certainly not directly in his presence. For a genin he had done rather well to hold himself together so valiantly for so long. He was a good boy but Sero knew the wicked did not spare the innocent. Despite the harshness of it he was satisfied he had made the boy process his first kill. The smell of blood, the sight of life fading. All of it was better to deal with now when he had time to recover than in the middle of battle. Though with this one, his will likely would have seen him through to the end of the fight only to lose it all then. Would this prepare him further for the inevitable? Sero certainly hoped so. If he could take killing in stride his allies might cling to that to get by if they had not reached that point. He could guide them and support their transition. It was not a possible thing in this world to not take any lives and live in the village hidden in the mist as one of its shinobi.

Sero would take a breath after the boy had gone. Shifting slower now to his throne. The pendulum. It kept the island functioning but if he used it too much...it was bound to take something from him. For now he had disturbed his slumber so his chakra pressure was weakened. He fell into his throne as grey eyes judged the room. Was he drawing to his limits? Did he have limits? He knew he felt tired of being him. The dark guard against the rising tide. One of the few standing that would crush the opposition. However it was not a thing one man could do. Still the pendulum was a two way street. As he sat under it the massive creation pulsed and life seemed to return to the moonlight colored skin. The servant entered and bowed before bringing in a cup of tea. Walking down the long walkway before kneeling next to Sero and holding up the cup of red liquid. Sero would give it a glance before collecting it and taking a sip. Perhaps he was thirsty. Sero would hardly know. He hadn't been born human. A demon with no sense of touch or emotion. Just the need to serve and kill.

"The boy, He interests me. Send one of our most silent trackers to keep an eye on him from out of sight. Keep them alive as needed. Otherwise do not interfere. Observe and report. Go."

Sero would be left with his tea in hand as the servant smiled and rose from his kneel to scurry away to fulfill the command. It was not often the master showed interest in humans. Especially those who he had not tainted with his cursed chakra. Sero would be left alone in the throne room as silence fell. A glance up to the ceiling sent the mass scurrying away. He wished to be alone for now. In the empty and silent massive room. Colors shifting across the floors from the windows and lights. He would sip his tea till it was finished over several minutes alone with his thoughts. That boy would provide a better future than this old monster could. If he made it to the same level that was. If he made it? No...Sero would make sure of it. He would frown as the tea cup in his hand would aggressively burst into dust at his flare of chakra as he felt the boy pass the torri gate that limited his influence beyond it. Sero would be sure to personally crush whoever destroyed that dream. If they did not wish for the snesible boy they would keep the beast.


exit thread