Kitsune Travel Record's

Advance 10 chapters on p@tre_n

*************************

Japan, Tokyo

A man sprinted through Tokyo's bustling streets, his eyes darting nervously, his movements fueled by desperate urgency. He shoved through crowds, ignoring angry shouts and bewildered stares.

He ducked into a dark alley but before he could go far, a strong hand slammed him against the wall, pinning him.

He whirled around, his face pale with terror, as his attacker emerged from the shadows.

"Please… no…" he begged, his voice choked with fear. His plea was cut short.

A thin, gleaming knife plunged through his throat, then into the back of his neck, pinning him to the wall.

His body remained upright, appearing from a distance as if casually standing in the alley. Only the crimson stain spreading down his shirt and the blood pooling at his feet betrayed the truth.

Lucian, having just taken another life and thought 'I'm getting sick of this shit.'

He was tired of killing. In the six months since becoming an assassin, he'd killed countless people. He didn't care about strangers; he was merely biding his time until Raizo's arrival. Until then, he had to play the part of the Ozunu clan ninja.

His kills were no longer brutal, but efficient, faster, and silent. Cortana's words had extinguished any thrill in the act, in pointless killing.

He'd suppressed all emotion, becoming a killing machine a skill honed by controlling his own healing.

Yet, even without emotion, his bloodlust had intensified.

"It's almost over." Cortana said.

"Six more months, and Raizo should be here." She as well was tired of this kind way of living.

Lucian was about to reply when he saw a child eating ice cream, watching him from across the street.

His face partially obscured by his dark mask, Lucian offered a subtle smile and raised his index finger to his lips, a gesture for silence. Then as blends towards the shadows as he completely vanished.

The startled child dropped his ice cream, crying out to his mother.

•-----•-----•-----•-----•

Lucian reappeared at the edge of Tokyo's bustling streets.

Takeshi emerged from the shadows with other ninjas.

"Are you done playing games?" he asked, his tone grim. 'He'd be the perfect assassin, better than Raizo, if he weren't a child' Takeshi thought.

"You'll be punished again. Stop playing with your targets."

Lucian sighed. He'd let a target escape during his fifth assassination.

He remained silent. explanations were futile. To them he was just a boy, cruelly toying with his victims.

The punishment, however, was inevitable.

He was sick of killing yet he knew others would continue the work if he stopped. He had to maintain his role, waiting for the right moment to let the children escape.

"Let's go," Takeshi said. "Lord Ozunu has a large target."

"Where?" Lucian asked, expressionless. He had no desire for camaraderie.

"Korea. An awakened human."

Lucian's eyes narrowed.

He'd encountered awakened humans before on his assassinations and their powers varied wildly, from superhuman strength to telekinesis.

Takeshi and Ozunu believed Lucian himself might be an awakened human suitable for assassination, as they hadn't detected that he was a supernatural creature.

As they moved through the shadows,

Lucian suddenly stopped, causing the others to halt.

Even Takeshi frowned he knew Lucian wouldn't joke around.

"What's wrong?" Takashi asked.

"Something's off about this road," Lucian murmured, focusing his heightened senses. He detected a faint heartbeat within the wall itself.

He drew his kusarigama and hurled it.

As the weapon neared the wall, the surface rippled like water, revealing a camouflaged illusion.

The man inside ducked as the kusarigama passed, he caught its chains and pulled.

Lucian felt the strong tug and pulled back, the chains creaking ominously.

As the Ozunu ninjas prepared to attack,

their opponent spoke, a frown etched on his face.

"Don't you think you're a bit young to wield such a dangerous weapon?" He was a blind, black man.

Lucian thought 'Enemies from rival clans?'

Cortana appeared, observing the man.

"Your memories contain no information about a black blind ninja." she said, referencing to his past memories.

"It seems your memories won't be much use in this world. Too much has changed."

She felt troubled the plot, once their greatest advantage, had vanished.

Takeshi stepped forward, his face hardening.

"Does your Arashikage clan want war?"

The blind master remained focused on Lucian.'Such a young voice. Has the Ozunu clan sunk so low as to use children as assassins?' he thought.

Lucian was shocked. 'Arashikage? What the hell? I'm certain there were no black ninjas in the G.I. Joe movies.' he thought to himself.

Cortana frowned. 'If the plot's changed, will Raizo even appear?' she wondered,

wanting Lucian out of there. And now maybe

The possibility of Raizo's non-appearance loomed large.

Takeshi, noticing the blind master's silence, surveyed the area before shouting,

"Blind Master! Does your Arashikage clan want war?!"

The blind master released the kusarigama chain.

"We're not here to fight," a voice called from a rooftop. A man in black landed gracefully, followed by other Arashikage ninjas.

"Our Tōryō wishes to speak with Lord Ozunu."

(A/N:Tōryō = Leader, Boss, Chief)

Takashi frowned. The Arashikage weren't as strong as the Ozunu in combat their focus was Defense and information gathering and they already given up on the old ways adapting to modern society and weapons unlike the Ozunu's dedication to assassination and sticking to the old ways.

However, a conflict might provoke other clans.

"Take us to your leader." a young man in white clothing said.

Takeshi's face remained impassive.

"No one enters the Ozunu clan, not even the Arashikage Tōryō's grandson."

As the Ozunu ninjas prepared to attack,

Lucian observed the young man in white.

'That should be Storm Shadow. Where's Snake Eyes?' He scanned the Arashikage ninjas, searching for a helmeted figure.

The Hard Master, noticing Lucian's scrutiny and his youth, remained silent Bowing,

he said.

"Then please inform Lord Ozunu that Lady Sen wishes to meet." He gestured for the Arashikage ninjas to follow him and make way for the Ozunu clan.

Takeshi still frowning but still led the Ozunu ninjas away as they blended into the shadows.

The Hard Master sighed once they were gone.

"Their speed is still astonishing. They're more focused on killing than we are."

Storm Shadow scoffed.

"So what if they're strong? Their clan lacks honor." He prided himself on the Arashikage's role as protectors of Japan as he looked down on the Ozunu clan that was a killer for hire.

The Hard Master frowned.

"Enough. If they hear you, we'll both be in trouble."

He knew the Ozunu ninjas were orphans given a home, fostering fierce loyalty.

"Are you saying even you would die fighting them?" Storm Shadow asked, surprised they weren't engaging in combat with how many ninjas he took with them.

The Hard Master shakes his head leader and sighed.

"They're the best at fighting and killing. I didn't bring you all here to fight. I brought you so they'd hesitate to attack."

"Let's go. We still need to report."

As the Hard Master departed, Storm Shadow glanced at the direction the Ozunu clan had vanished into.

Meanwhile, Lucian as he was running he pondered of what other worlds has merge with this one.

Cortana's anxiety was palpable.

"What if Raizo never returns?" she asked, her voice tight with worry.

"The soldiers will find nothing, and you won't be able save the children safely."

Lucian knew he couldn't afford to believe Raizo might not return, but the possibility gnawed at him. The weight of responsibility pressed down every breath was a struggle against the suffocating fear of failure.

"Then, if he doesn't appear in six months, I'll do it myself," he said, the resolution firm despite the daunting task ahead.

He couldn't give up as he didn't to regret not helping the kids. Yet he knows it will be hard defeating the Ozunu ninjas, especially the formidable Ozunu himself, seemed impossible.

"Let's hope Raizo returns." he said, clinging to that hope as a lifeline If not, he would escape first as his priority was survival.

followed by finding a way to permanently dismantle the Ozunu clan. Until then, he'd wait for the right opportunity.

The city blurred around him, a chaotic reflection of the turmoil within.

He ran driven by a desperate hope and a grim determination that warred within him, shaping his every step.

_______________________

Next Chapter 24: Report on Both sides

______________________

Marishadow:

Hello to Everyone!, Join my p.a.t.r.e.o.n on:

https://www.patreon.com/Marishadow

To Support me and get access to advanced chapters. Get ahead up to 10 chapters.

~ 5 advanced chapters $5 ~

~ 10 advanced chapters $10 ~

Every member helps me creating and sharing more with you all.