Despite it All

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Jiraya's POV (Observation Room of Trial of Nio)

Jiraiya inwardly cackled at the Raikage's reaction to yet another one of his' performing what he called "A PATHETIC EFFORT!". He hid his mirth inside a saucer of sake. Then Mifune and his guards led them to a separate room which held a litany of monitors. Expensive machines were a rarity due to their battery-powered mechanism which never did last too long. On these screens were the video logs on the Trial of Nio. Each monitor followed a different team and allowed them to see how things were going.

The room was quiet except for the quiet chatter throughout the room. Various officials discussing the exams thus far. Hiruzen, A, and Mifune were seated near the center together. The bodyguards of them were seated nearby at their council. Darui and C sat with them and were relatively good company. Not quite sharing the intensity of their leader.

"Hmm, it seems Team Five is quite the group." C mused out loud. "Not many could escape Omoi that casually. Shikamaru Nara and Rock Lee are ones to watch."

"I think that Gaara guy has it on lock. He took on an entire team. He's not dull but he certainly seems like a problem." Darui replied. The man enjoyed his sip of sake.

"There are quite a few notable ones in this aye Jiraiya?" Tsunade said with a shoulder bump. "The betting is bound to be something else."

"Not that you should partake. With your terrible luck." Jiraiya countered with a smile.

Tsunade frowned at the friendly jab, before she punched Jiraiya softly (her version tended to leave bruises), and threw back her saucer of sake. "Oh shove it, the betting is simply gonna be too juicy to resist."

"Good point! Maybe I'll place a bet of my own!" Jiriaya responded merrily as he refilled Tsunade and his saucers.

"Perhaps you two should hold yourselves with dignity?" C asked, frowning at the two legends.

"Don't be so dull C. Our job is to guard our glorious leader and maintain peace. If a drink does for them, we can call it easy." Darui replied with a smirk. C frowned even further before he sipped at his sake. Flinching at the strength he nursed it silently.

"We're merely doing our jobs and enjoying ourselves." Tsunade said with a smile. "Besides, unlike you, we can handle our liquor."

"I'll cheer for that!" Jiraiya sang happily, two Sannin happily toasting their glasses, shocked to see Darui join them.

"Would you cheer with Konoha Dogs?" C asked, looking gobsmacked.

"For now they are our company. We will have plenty of time to kill each other in the future." Darui answered simply.

"Darui here is right, you know." Tsunade added. Suddenly she seemed less tipsy as she focused. "It's best to be friendly for now. We're professionals." She lectured to C.

"Beautiful here is right." Jiraiya chimed in as well. Ignoring Tsunade's punishment for the casual call. "Besides, I wanna discuss betting some more."

"Hmm, it would make things less dull." Darui mused.

"Exactly, I will bet 30,000 yen one Naruto Uzumaki will win this tournament."

"Tournament? They still do that for these?" Tsunade asked questionably. "Well, then I got Sasuke Uchiha for it. Those gloomy Uchiha are always somewhat powerful." She explained as she downed yet another saucer of sake.

"Might as well keep it fun. I have Gaara of the Desert as I said earlier. The kid is nothing short of a monster." Darui chimed in.

"Hmph! While I disagree with such actions on the job I relish the chance to take money from degenerates like yourselves." C started. He somehow ignored both Tsunade attempting to throttle him and Jiraiya desperately holding her back. "I will back my sister. She is much ahead of the other Genin in our village and has quite the head on her shoulders."

"You really should watch your mouth." Darui told C. "Those two are S rank. They likely could kill you easily."

"Of course we would." Jiriaya answered merrily.

Hiruzen held back a chuckle as he noticed the group of guards going back and forth. It seemed despite their differences their table was having an interesting time. His own was awkwardly silent. A was harsh towards everything he saw and brought the mood down each time he spoke. Mifune was more polite but seemed to be less than enthused with A's presence. Settling into a polite silence. They watched as Shikamaru Nara and Rock Lee escaped Team One.

"Impressive strategy." Mifune started. "Simple but rather effective. Those Nara's in your village are quite ingenious. To prepare that kind of plan on the move is quite the feat."

"Indeed. The other team learned a valuable lesson. Just because you outnumber someone never makes them harmless." Hiruzen replied happily.

"Perhaps. If they were simply stronger though there would be no need for such treachery." A countered seemingly annoyed with their method of scoring.

"Samurai themselves normally do not move in such ways." Mifune said with a small frown.

"But shinobi move in such ways." Hiruzen explained. "For us, their strategy is not only appropriate but impressive."

"HA! For you weaker villages maybe." A laughed happily. "We prefer to use our might."

"The mightiest warrior can be slain by the smallest blade." Mifune replied.

The group of leaders continued to bicker as they watched the Trial of Nio unfold.

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Mangetsu was a man who was anything but normal. He had been born a freak with an unwanted bloodline. He had been born in the land where nature ruled over nature. He had even excelled in such a cruel land. Using his unique abilities he had been determined to become a Mist shinobi. But even with that in mind, the first test had been grueling. Like many before him, he had become close to his classmates. Enjoyed the best childhood a child born in the war-torn land could hope for. Until the Graduation Exam of course. They had been tasked with one mission to become Genin. Be the last one alive.

Calling it a bloodbath was a disservice. It had been a slaughter, his unique bloodline had kept him safe. His natural proclivity for the blade had ensured the others weren't. Some would call it traumatic or unfair but he had realized something in the wanton slaughter. People were simply violent, oh they pretended not to be. They were civil, obedient, and somewhat kind. But in truth, they were never far from killing one another. With that in mind, he had decided to kill as he needed. He had excitedly signed up to be a Genin. Then the civil war started. Yagura had risen to Mizukage quickly being a mere eighteen years old. He united the islands of the Mist purely with his power. No one could stand in his way. Soon though the position of Yagura had affected him. He started to worry about a revolt. Started fearing those who wielded incredible power, otherwise known as any shinobi who were powerful enough to be a threat.

He had started by disbanding the current version of the Seven Deadly Swordsman of the Mist. Several members died, others defected, and some went missing. They had been Mangetsu's goal but he had accepted it. Then several notables in the Anbu and Jounin forces went missing. Finally and arguably most cruelly Yagura had ordered the gathering and extermination of all those who opposed him. Most of which happened to be bloodline clan members, the only ones who could possibly oppose Yagura.

Luckily or unluckily depending on how you viewed it he and Suigetsu had been out on a mission. When they returned they discovered many of the major clans had been crushed or left. Even more concerning was the fate of the Hozuki clan. The two young boys were never ones to followly rules closely and as such once they heard their clan had been imprisoned like many others they had moved to free them. Even at their young age with their powerful bloodline ability, they had gotten much further than most Genin could ever hope to. They cut their way through the prison searching for their lost brethren.

Certainly unlucky they had encountered a team of Anbu led by Yagura. The two boys never truly being fearful of death had been unflinching in their assault. They were crushed of course. A single Anbu would've likely been enough to stop them. A kage and a whole squad had proved too much for them of course. Once they were defeated they had been imprisoned for weeks. It had been a hard process and Mangetsu was sure it had affected them both mentally. Oddly this was merely a prelude to their future. After they had both nearly given up, Yagura had called for a meeting with them.

In this meeting he had offered them a deal neither could refuse. It had turned out during their little assault that they had impressed Yagura. The man offered them to serve under him as his dogs. If they did as he said when he said it, they were offered to earn the freedom of their clan. The two boys knowing death had awaited them had joined Yagura. They committed assassinations, theft, blackmail, any number of morally compromised missions.

While the two did as they were told they realized the evil that was Yagura. He ruled over the village almost as some kind of deity. Killing any that opposed him and doing whatever he pleased. Mangetsu and Suigetsu had slowly resented their career. They had no choice of course, even if they hated him they would serve honorably to gain the freedom of their loved ones. As such he needed to insure he passed.

He had planned to attack the team who had managed to get the better of them. But to his shock, they had fully escaped. The unfamiliar land acted as a natural deterrent to tracking. He had been prepared to hold back before he saw a lone shinobi trotting through the woods on a horse. Mangetsu had to admit that the guy had a decent idea of avoiding the paths. But here it had led to his misfortune. Mangetsu nearly giggled as he dropped below wielding his blade.

The hooded boy looked up, having sensed him somehow. He jumped off his horse and threw several pellets at him. The pellets burst cloaking the area in smoke. Mangetsu merely smiled, opening his eyes and body flickering towards the sound of the guy. He popped in front of him, kicking him back into the smoke.

"Poor Choice!" He called arrogantly. "Prepare to die blind!" He charged into the smoke sheathing his blade for now. He unleashed a kick for his head but the man ducked the kick, landing his own in response. The hit flew through his liquefying body. Mangetsu smiled as he grabbed him by the throat. "Sorry, I guess you're an amateur." He said cruelly as he prepared to crush his throat. Before he could he had his head removed. Akamaru popped into himself. Freeing the dog, both of them merely attempted to retreat.

"Run buddy! This guy is some kind of freak!" Kiba said to Akamaru leaving him open to a kick to his midsection. The powerful blow sent him flying back. Akamaru attempted to bite his throat but was smacked down cruelly. The dog yelped as it fell into the snow.

"That makes two points!" Mangetsu said cruelly as he stooped down to pick up the downed Kiba. "Now for the third, I'll take your lif-" Mangetsu was interrupted as he was suddenly pierced with a kunai. Luckily it missed his vital organs but it somehow was bleeding blood. "H-How?!" Mangetsu asked as Yuno pulled the kunai out cruelly. Magetsu fell as Yuno's band glowed. Before he could recover Kiba suddenly rushed forward and kicked Mangetsu in the head, sending him collapsing into the ground. Before he could recover, Yuno stabbed him in his leg. Now that Mangetsu was facing the woman he saw her Sharingan eyes. As well as the lightning nature chakra flowing into his body.

"Ran into your creep of a brother!" 'Thanks, Karui, without you using lightning I would never have been able to copy it.' Yuno yelled angrily as she gained her second point. Kiba realized the chance he had, wailed on the man viciously. A left, a right, a stomp, Akamaru having recovered joined in biting anywhere exposed. His anger at being helpless and the bastard enjoying it being unleashed. Yuno smiled as she allowed him to get his revenge. Mangetsu looked about done. Yuno merely smirked as she tapped him once more. At the end of Kiba's wrath, the two Leaf Genin stared at the beaten-down Mangetsu. Before they could ponder what to do with him he suddenly poofed, a black mannequin taking his place.

"Get back here you damn bastard!" Kiba roared before Yuno suddenly covered his mouth. The two made eye contact for a second before jumping back. They stared each other down before Kiba nodded. Displaying Kiba thanks for the save without either of them risking each other's company. They parted ways on horses both knowing that the Trial of Nio wasn't quite finished for them.