Chapter 11: The Bare Bones

Fast and reckless. Shogo's wild sprint through the crowded main road of the center island of Water country could only be described as such. Gone was the careful weaving and dipping of the past cautious child that wanted to avoid the gazes of others now replaced by a panicked mess. The running child had even neglected to put on his discarded sandals in his haste. The important things in life become clearer when time is limited. 

Shogo POV 

*Huff* *Huff* *Huff*

‘The Terumi clan is on the southernmost island! It's the furthest so I’m gonna get that fucking cow thing first. I’ll figure out how to bring it back when I get it!’

I start running south which I’m pretty sure is towards the docks. After about five minutes of straight hauling ass, the dock gates come into view and there is the usual traffic going through but I can’t afford to waste time slipping through all these people. I gather my chakra in my legs, 

"Whoa whoa! Hey kid! Watch out! Holy-" 

The elderly man could only watch as I leap clear over him and onto the top of the gate. I continue my momentum and do a flip off the gate, rolling forward as my right shoulder connects with the ground first. Grunting as I hurriedly start sprinting again from my crouched position, hopefully the guards at the gate will leave me alone after my little display. My legs felt noticeably heavier than they were before my jump, my sudden fatigue confuses me because I was able to use my chakra for hours yesterday with being this fatigued. I reach the boardwalk and continue running down it full speed. The people unloading and loading boats I pass by give me funny looks. 

I reach the end of the board and leap off of it without hesitation. My descent is a bit slow, but I plunge into the water feet first. Wanting to waste no time, I immediately push chakra into my legs again. The result is instantaneous as I resurface like I have been shot out of a cannon. I soar over the ocean beneath me for at least ten feet then I contact with the surface again and proceed to slide over it like solid ice. Each foot movement causes a massive splash behind me but that seems like an insignificant tradeoff for the crazy speed I am going at currently. 

After about a mile of skating along the ocean toward the southern islands, I noticed that previous fatigue had faded at some point. Right now I felt like I could run around the world and back out on the open sea. The open salty air seems to energize my soul in a fashion that it never has before. 

'I'm gonna be on the open water quite a damn bit for the next 48 hours so I might as well enjoy it a bit.'

I couldn't help but crack a smile before I blast off trying to get to my destination even faster. 

Four hours later….

I've been running for hours and the southern island is finally in sight. I am at least five miles off the coast and I could already see the massive volcano that took up the majority of the land. The oily black color of the ginormous inactive volcano contrasted heavily with the milky white mist that surrounded everything. After a quick 30 min break in the water, I make an energized push towards the island. Taking huge leaps along the surface so I could get a good look at the coastline from above before I get too close. I am now in Terumi clan territory and I did not want to run afoul of whatever shinobi they have patrolling. 

As I get closer, the unusual nature of the island becomes more and more apparent to me. The amount of grass and vegetation that took up residence on the island shocks me as it was such a foreign sight compared to the large rocky and sandy environments of the other two islands I had been on. It almost looks like the lush green grass begins from the ocean itself as there is little to no sand visible along the beach. I see no people or anything moving along the shore, but I halt my advance to a snail's crawl just in case. Making extra sure none of my movements project the slightest sound while creeping close to the ocean surface, going so far as to let the tide carry me forward at moments.

It took me about two hours to finally reach the island at my methodical pace. The sand squelched beneath my feet instantly alerting me to the fact that I forgot my sandals at Gengetsu's home. Whatever it's not important at this very moment. I survey my surroundings and only the extremely thick and tall jungle fills my view. I'll have to go in deeper to have any hope of scoping out the locale before I try and nick this fucking cow. Still have no idea how I am going to pull that off by the way.

I set off into the jungle in front of me and immediately after making my way through the first thick bush, the warm tropical air blasts me in the face.

The atmosphere is sweltering, and I can feel the sweat start to bead on my forehead. It bewilders me how the temperature is so hot and heavy just a few steps onto this island, my layers of clothing have quickly become incredibly uncomfortable. Making my way through the jungle is made immensely harder by the rapid setting of the sun. Light is already scarce due to the tall trees.

I need to hurry and pass through so I can take advantage of the cover the shadows of the night will give me. Who knows maybe those bad breathed red heads will have turned in early for the young night that would definitely be ideal…

Meanwhile…

??? POV

I put another spoon full of the stinky mush from the bowl that sits in front of me at the table into my mouth with a shudder and thinly veiled grimace. I don’t want to openly complain about my borderline rotten meal because it will only suffice to make my mother even sadder. I seem to have done a poor job at keeping my opinion to myself however as a grim look reached my beautiful mother’s somewhat pale gaunt face. 

“Please don’t waste any of that food, Ki-chan. What’s in that bowl is the last of what we currently have here. You need to eat so you can grow into a big strong lady, right?” 

She pets the top of my head and plays with my hair a bit, before placing a kiss on my scalp. 

“I’ve sent a missive to your father, that we require more food. Hopefully, he’ll be willing to provide us with even just a little more to keep us going longer this time…”

The doubt in her dark nearly black eyes is too palpable to ignore. It feels like a rock formed in the pit of my stomach at the news that we might be getting a visit from my “father.” I personally refer to him as the monster man, but I don’t say it out loud as my mother will punish me for it if I do.

Sometime later that very day…

*CRAKKK* 

The wooden door to our cabin turns to splinters as a bear of a man violently advances into our small home with a fierce look on his face. The sudden interruption startles my mother and I from our task of doing laundry on the floor in a basin. My body seizes up in shock but a light shove from my mother gets me behind her and shielded away from our home’s invader.      

*Thwack!* *KRRSSHH!* 

"Ugh!…."

My mother groans on the floor, delicately pinching her bleeding nose with her left hand. An absolute bear of a black-haired man stood over the battered woman with a twisted snarl on his face. This is the usual outcome when the monster man comes over to our house. He always beats up my mother and sometimes he hits me too. 

Today he seems particularly angry. Gross green veins are visible all around his stupid red face. But his words are what terrify me most because apparently, he has run out of patience with my mother and me. 

"I shall wait no longer for another one of your failures to exhibit signs of our clan's legendary bloodline. You have failed the main family for far too many times, not only have you bore me a female this time, but one not equipped to push our clan into the golden age!"

He kicks mother in the stomach, sending her sliding against the ragged wooden floor. 

"And you have the AUDACITY to ask me to give you more food than what I've been nice enough to provide you and your little reject!" 

The irate man walks over to where I stand shaking in fear. He looms over me, the darkness of the dimly lit wooden cabin that I've lived in my entire life somewhat covers his disgusted expression. Without warning he slugs me across the face, I faintly hear my mother wail for mercy but the ringing in my ears drowns most of it out.

 I feel the small splinters from the wooden floor stab into my right cheek, my long back hair blinds me as it is draped over the front of my face like a curtain.  

The familiar taste of iron filled my mouth as I rolled over trying keep myself from choking on the blood. I peek upward through the long strands of hair in my face to see the huge wooden sandal primed to come down on my head. It is then I knew that my life of pain was almost finally over. Hopefully, my mother's next child will have what I lacked and whatever the monster so desperately craves. 

Just before my head is crushed under his foot, I see my mother lunge out from the corner of my vision and shove the man away. His back hits the wall near us and he lets out a grunt. I look at my mother shocked as I have never seen her speak out or much less raise a hand against the demon man. The admiration I feel for my mother in the moment is quickly replaced by fear. Though my mother stood over me protectively against the bear of a man, I knew that neither of us would now survive his wrath. 

Despite the fact that death is likely near for us both, the look on my mother's face is fierce, nonetheless. Blood drips down her forehead and blends in with our clans red circular birthmarks all the while she stands firm. Seeing her so resolute gives me a bit of hope but it is quickly dashed as the absolute visage of true rage comes into my vision. He quickly grasps my mother's throat with both hands and begins choking her in the air faster than I could blink, 

"You dare fucking defy me, woman! After I've allowed you to continue the main bloodline! You insolent whore, I'll rip your head off then stick it atop a spike!" 

I watch as my convulsing mother goes from red to bluish in the face. I want so badly to intervene, but my limbs won't allow me to move even an inch closer to help my mother a few feet away from me. I feebly reach my hand out towards the disgusting man, the tears burn as they start to blur my vision.  

Fear. Rage. Helplessness. And then the worst pain I have ever felt in my short pain-filled life…

Back to Shogo…

Shogo POV 

Urk...urk…

I let go of the rope, I had been pulling on for the last ten minutes,

“Move damn you! I stole you fair and square!” 

The last five hours of my life have been hectic…

I had managed to sneak up a tall tree close to the ranch. It wasn't an easy task even with chakra because the whole enclosure was surrounded by mile high walls. I took a peek into the ranch only to try and look for one of those things Gengetsu wants me to steal. I spot about eighty huge beasts below me munching on the grass. They had thick black fur, four powerful legs, large back humps, elongated snouts, and colossal heads. And if the massive beasts weren’t intimidating enough, a good amount of them sported a pair of large white horns that ran along the crown of their large forehead down to a sharp point at the top of their nose area. 

After doing some more reconnaissance, I formulated a plan on how to best take advantage of the surroundings around the ranch. For whatever reason, those dumbass lava spitters had decided to build an open-air sauna next to the ranch. First, I made a bison shaped hole in the soggy wooden wall that stood between the ranch and the sauna. All the steam had luckily made the walls were weak enough to the point my katana could cut through with a little bit of elbow grease. The goal was to make it look like one of the bison just went rogue and decided to bulldoze through the wall. Thankfully, nobody was taking a bath at the time of my infiltration because I surely would’ve been melted on the spot, no questions asked. I swear my skin got a little crispier from being near that damn water even for a few seconds. After I crept through the hole, I baited one of the younger dumb cows toward the wall by waving a large fruit I’d picked from the jungle previously in front of my face. Even the young ones were huge, but I could tell it was a relatively young bison because its horns weren’t that huge, some of the older ones had horns longer than I am tall!

I carefully lured the cow into the hot springs area, the damn thing was so focused on the fruit in my hand it just walked right into the boiling hot water and started to scream. I had to quickly shut it up so I threw the fruit into its huge mouth and effectively quieted the huge beast down. When it was done chewing on the fruit it quickly turned around and started to walk back to the damn hole that led to the ranch. I tried to yell at it and get its attention, but I had effectively gotten rid of the only thing I had to make the bison follow me. So, at that moment in time I had to improvise on the spot or all my hard work would have been for naught…

So, I cut off its stumpy tail...

It seemed like a good idea at the time but I could have never expected the bison to have such a violent reaction, one that included it chasing me all around the jungle trying to gore me with its huge horns. I was able to successfully guide it to one of the beaches while I frantically evaded getting run through by the rightfully pissed off bison. I hit a massive stroke of luck as I spotted a large seemingly unmanned boat near a dock ripe for the pilfering. I continued my course out of the jungle toward the boat. After making sure the stupid brute was still chasing me, I made a stop at the hull of the boat, waited till the bison got close enough then jumped to the side and let it knock itself out when it collided with the hull of the boat. The sound of the contact between the bison and the wood, worried me that the horns had punctured the boat’s integrity, but I breathed a sigh of relief as the damage was minimal.  

It was then that the boat’s owner popped out from the boat and screamed out at me,

“WHAT HELL DO YOU THINK YOUR DOING TO MY DAMN BOAT?!”

His bloodshot gaze told me that the commotion had woken him up from his slumber, but I had dealt with pissed off people a lot in my six years so I wasn’t really bothered by his hostile energy. I immediately took note of his features and his clothing; the sailor had a thin build with somewhat expensive robes on. He had a well kempt beard and his hair looked like it had just been styled before he slept on it. Overall, I was dealing with a man with a boat wearing fancy clothes. My most important observation, however, was that he didn’t look like a shinobi. My approximate guess is that I was dealing with a merchant and I hoped one that was particularly weak-willed.

“Oh-Sorry about that civilian-san! My bison got a little out of control, so I had to give it a few knuckle kisses.”

I made a show of dusting off my knuckles onto the bottom of my jacket. I didn’t expect him to immediately believe that someone with my build or age actually punched out such a behemoth such as the downed bison next to the boat, but I had to at least seem confident. 

“Pfffttt! There’s no way a little squirt like you, is capable enough to even scratch that monster much less put it to sleep.” 

He might have laughed at my admission, but I could see the wariness in his eyes meaning he didn’t completely dismiss the possibility in his mind, so I acted fast. I immediately leap out from the beach and onto the open water before I slowly walked upside the boat with chakra. That was the first time, I tried to walk up a solid surface with chakra and I found it a lot easier than I expected. Once I got to the top of the boat, I stood face to face with the perceived merchant, 

“It doesn’t matter if you believe me or not, however it should matter to you that I am going to use this boat as a means to transport this damn cow to the main island with or without you on it. So, what will it be civilian-san?”

I grasped the hilt of the katana on my back for dramatic effect. I was confident that the merchant wouldn’t call my bluff, but I think I’ve gotten pretty good at lying over the two years I ran with Tako’s gang. Confidence and appearances are key when you want someone to believe in what you have to say. I can honestly say that I had both in spades at that moment in time, so my theory proved correct in the end. 

My threat proved effective as the merchant quickly grew pale in the face before making an audible gulping noise. Looking back on it, my threat must have been really convincing to have successfully punked this spineless chump so hard with my sometimes-squeaky voice. 

The skinny well-groomed man with a very familiar face, backed up from me slowly while nodding to show that he would indeed offer me passage on his boat, 

“N-no need for violence, shinobi-san. I was going to swing by the main island anyway to sell my silks, so no trouble at all.” 

“Wait a minute…. You said that you want to sell silks...” 

I could hardly keep the smile off my face, and I must’ve done a horrible job of it too because the merchant took a few more steps back before answering, 

“Yeah, I’ve made quite the living off of collecting fine silks around the nations and selling it to people of the upper crust.” 

The now confirmed silk merchant held his nose up high at that last bit which kind of pissed me off but I had to know if my luck was finally turning around or not so I asked my fateful question, 

“You wouldn’t happen to have any silk from Water country on this boat would you?”

“Of course! I have collected all of the finest silks from my native country and I always make sure to keep a subsequent stock of them just in case I go on a long foreign voyage.” 

“Really? Even from the Yuki clan? I heard that silk is pretty hard to come by?” 

“Yuki Clan silk is my top seller. I would never set off on a trip without at least three chests filled with it!”

“Three chests you say….. Muahahaha- ack” *cough* *cough*

So, after that pretty stupid revelation made by the now confirmed fancy silk merchant. The Yuki clan silk has been seemingly gifted to me by the beautiful moon goddess herself. Not only did it save me some much needed time but I wasn’t too confident in my chances of getting back on to the Northern Island after I was banished, especially when it came to getting anywhere near the Yuki clan district. The villagers on that island ass kiss that clan of icicle chuckers so much it is sickening. The entire town including the damn temple I grew up in often donated food and other goods to the clan in exchange for “protection.” I highly doubt those stuck up assholes would be willing to put forth any effort in protecting the people they so obviously look down on. In my four years stomping around on that island I had never seen a Yuki clan member leave their front gate. That by itself wouldn’t be so bad if their whole fucking district wasn’t in the center of the fucking village! They wouldn’t allow anybody to cross through their gates and they went out of their way to avoid going into town. If the looks of disdain on their faces when they see villagers weren’t evidence enough of whatever superiority complex they have then maybe the fact that they go out of their way to segregate themselves from the rest of the island should put it into perspective. Anyway, because the Yuki clan is revered so much by the normies on the island, I would have a devil of a time getting anywhere near the district without being called out for it. 

You know what because this merchant has saved me so much trouble, I won’t toss him overboard and make him swim back to the beach after we set off. Instead, I’ll knock him out and take the silk when we dock on the main island. Easy peesy! Then all I’ll need to do is turn the fabric into a blanket somehow then jet back to the meeting place so I can plan out my heist on the Daimyo’s wine cellar. Also, ask around about that pearl lady somewhere in between there. 

I made the demand to the merchant that we set sail as soon as I load my bovine charge onto the boat. Currently, I am hard at work pulling a borrowed cart filled with an unconscious bison up the ramp onto the boat. I briefly considered making the scrawny merchant do it or at least help me out but a quick once over of his tall bony frame made it clear that even with my childish body, I still am better suited for this type of work. After a few more futil pulls of the rope, I start to have an idea. Maybe I could push chakra into my arms to make this process go faster. I have never enhanced my arms before but it can’t be that much different than using my legs. I concentrate on building up my inner energy and direct it towards my upper body. I immediately feel a subtle tingle in my arms like the muscles in my arms are vibrating. Ignoring the new tingling sensation, I proceed to yank up the heavy cart with a fraction of the struggle that I had without chakra. 

The merchant watches me in fear and awe as I completely bring the cart on the boat. 

“Whew!”

I wipe the sweat off my forehead and roll my shoulders to loosen them up a bit. As soon as I stopped channeling chakra to my arms the strain became readily apparent. Welp, now I had better tie down that bison to the anchor of the ship or something. 

“Hey! Don’t just stand over there, Merchant-san! Find me some more rope to tie down this huge ass cow, chop chop!” 

I inwardly chuckle as the scrawny older man scrambles away to do as I ordered.

Sometime later out on the open sea….

“EERR...ERRRRRRR!!!”

The adolescent bison had woken up from its involuntary nap about ten minutes ago and it is not happy being tied up to the hull of the ship. By the time I came to shut it up from the racket it was making, the bison had already pulled some of its bindings free. When the bison sees me come into its vision, it starts to pull even harder trying to gore me once again with its horns. Unfazed by the bison’s open aggression toward me, I slowly wake up to its face while starting to channel a bit of chakra to my right leg. I rear my right foot back and smirk at the fury in its eyes as its struggle seems to renew, 

I briefly considered leaving the already defeated behemoth alone but its constant noise was disturbing my sleep soooooo….

*TWACK!!* 

“Ouch” 

The towering bison fell to the deck like a sack of potatoes and it is once again out like a light. As if it were instant karma, the foot I used to kick in the bison’s chin hurt profusely. I think I broke a toe or two on that stupid things head or something. After a few minutes of writhing in silent agony holding my poor foot, I walk to the front of the ship where the merchant is sailing to hopefully get some information on one of my targeted items. I have no idea where to even begin looking for this Momochi person but hopefully Merchant-san is just as pretentious as that blonde asshole and can point me in the right direction. I check the bindings on the unconscious animal before I walk back to the small cabin where the merchant is guiding the ship. 

“Hey merchant-san! Quick question for you!” 

I hear the merchant mumble beneath his breath, “I told you, my name is Tadeshi.”   

The merchant turns his head around to face the doorway I am currently in and looks at me tiredly, 

“How can I help you Shoji-sama?” 

I chuckle lightly at his obvious disillusionment with my presence before I ask my question. I had given the merchant a fake name since I plan to steal from him later on. I learned from living on the streets that names and nicknames are powerful things.  

“Have you ever heard of this Momochi pearl lady? I need to find out where she is located for a mission of sorts. Maybe I’ll have you drop me off there next after I deliver this bison to the Hozuki compound if it's on a faraway island. I’ll know if you lie to me so make sure you tell the truth!” 

The merchant visibly grimaced at the idea of once again being forced to chaperone me in his boat. He quickly answers my question, making sure to put on his best kiss ass face.

“I wouldn’t dream of lying to you, Shoji-sama! Miss Momochi’s shop is located on the far north eastern side of the main island so there won’t be a need for another boat trip heheh…”

I contemplate whether I should trust this new information or not. The silk merchant has not shown himself to be sly or even all that smart, but I couldn’t be too sure given my limited experience with the man. I grill the merchant with a hard stare as if to expose any and all deception. This causes the scrawny man to tremble slightly and avert my gaze to look to the open water to the portside of the boat. His eyes immediately widen comically prompting me to look out the window as well. 

Instead of the open blue water I expected to see, I watch with an open mouth as a huge pale green appendage continues to rise from the ocean. As the suction cups of the now apparent tentacle rapidly grow closer to the ship, I kick into high gear as I back pedal toward the back of the boat. The merchant seemingly moves in slow motion as his head turns toward me. His eyes pleading for assistance, his mouth is still agape as if he is screaming or maybe he is but the sound of my beating heart blocks is the only thing I can hear.  

The foreboding tingle down my spine causes my chakra to ignite in my legs instinctually. I leap from the doorway of the boat cabin to where I think is safe toward the back of the boat, hopeful that I land out of range of the tentacle’s proverbial splash range. 

*BOOOOOMMM!!!*

The air behind me pushes me far beyond what my leap should have taken me. Beneath my soaring panicking form, are the familiar dark waters of the Water Country ocean which have once again royally screwed me over. To think I thought that I wouldn’t have to contend with death today at least. I just can’t catch a break.... 

*SPPPLSHHH!*