Chapter 3: VIP Escort

“Something like that,” she said as she took a long deep breath before blowing out a smoke, “I was just hired by a company in the Land of Water it sounded like easy work so I accepted. Oh! It just occurred to me that we weren't properly introduce. I’m Kumori and who might you two be?”

“Sanmaru Nara," Samaru replied. “A pleasure meeting you.”

"And I'm Elijah Ramu," he added.

With a smile, Kumori gave them a bow and said, “It’s nice to meet you both.” Off the ship and a little ways behind them, there were three fishing boat full of armed men waiting to attack. On one of the two smaller boats sat a masked who looked impatient. “Hey are we gonna kill this guy or what I’m getting bored here,” he complained on the radio.

"Patience my good man," replied a voice from another small boat, "Await the boss' orders."

On the larger boat, a man with an ice cold demeanor said, “Zaku move out, Mukuro follow his lead. Remember our target is Elijah Ramu but if anyone gets in your way…KILL THEM.” Mukuro smiled sadistically as he sped up his boat. “Hahahahaha, I’m gonna make it rain blood,” he shouted.

"Don't get carried away Mukuro," said Zaku through the radio, "Mr. Ramu is our only target. Pull up on the right side of the ship, I'll pull up on the left. I'll provide a distraction and draw the attention of any security forces above deck. You use the chaos to locate and kill Ramu." Zaku speeds up his boat and pulls over to the side of the ship.

“Well, she was interesting, to say the least, " Sanmaru said, leaning back on the railing. He wondered who would suddenly just introduce themselves; especially to him, a Shinobi. Sanmaru figured it was harmless, and thought nothing more of it while he gazed at the water.

“Well, " Kamiko said stretching out to express her boredom, “if you two need me, I'll be going up top to get some fresh air and check on Sanmaru-sensei." She then began walking up the top deck, leaving her teammates alone with the weird girl.

"So Kazuma," said Yoshino, "If you don't mind me asking, how old are you? You look a little more mature than your partners here."

“I'm 13, I'm just a bit more... disciplined than most, " he replied glancing back at Renji. Although he wondered why she wanted to know about him...

"Great, so we're the same age," she thought. "Cool, so am I," she said, "So what is it like to be a shinobi, I've always been curious about that."

“Captain Faku, it looks like we have two boats closing on us,” says one of the crew members who was working the radar. While still reading a book the captain nonchalantly says, “are you sure there’s only two of them?” “Yes Sir,” He replied, Faku gave a long sign putting down his book before standing up. “Well you all know the drill,” He said in a loud voice, “helmsman sped the ship up! You there, tell the security team to be on standby and tell the guests to get in their rooms while you're at it! You keep checking that radar for other ships!”

"Alright let's get this going," said Zaku. He jumped off his boat and walked up the side of the large vessel. He jumped onto the deck and saw a surprising lack of people. A leaf flak jacket caught his eye. "Should've known our client would hire leaf shinobi," he thought. He then noticed Elijah Ramu reclining in a chair and looking over at him. "Well isn't it our lucky day," he said out loud, "Looks like we won't have to search the ship for you."

As Mukuro’s boat came in on the other side of the ship, he too ran up the ship’s side to its deck. “Hahahahahahaha, Die die die you all are going to DIE,” he shouted as he lunged Elijah Ramu.

As the helmsman tries to escape the two boats, the third one quickly moved into position blocking its path. “All forces, this is Kiseki Mizuryū, board
the ship now,” he ordered as all the men poured onto the ship.

Sanmaru immediately noticed the loudmouth, and used his momentum against him to slam him on his back. “And just who you might be? You don't look like the normal types around here. " Just then, Kamiko came up to the top deck. “Hey Sanmaru-sensei,” she called, “are we there yet-" she stopped short at the sight of Zaku, feeling an uneasy and intimidating vibe.


Meanwhile, below deck,  Kazuma was still dealing with the strange girl. “You sure are a curious one, aren't you- wait.." Kazuma felt like something didn't feel right. “What is it,  Kazuma?" Renji asked.

"I don't know,” Kazuma replied with a tense look on his face,  “but something feels off. We should go back upstairs. " Renji furrowed his brow, unsure of what was up with him, but he agreed anyway and both of them began to walk back to the top deck.

Yoshino was hesitant to follow them, but she was curious. She looked back and saw that her father had yet to return from the bathroom, so she followed the boys to the upper deck.

Elijah stood up from his chair and his four body guards got in between him and Zaku. Each guard pulled out a sword and took a fighting stance. The other people on deck stood and watched as a fight was about to occur. "Surely you guards don't think you can protect him from us now do you?" said Zaku as he smiled, "Keep that Jonin busy Mukuro. I'll deal with the target."

"What's going on?" Kazuma asked Kamiko. When he and Renji reached the deck of the boat, they were surprised by the sight of the attackers. "A whole lot of trouble," Kamiko replied. "Everyone, defensive position around Mr. Ramu," Sanmaru ordered. Without hesitation, Kazuma stood in front with the bodyguards, Kamiko took her position directly in front of Sanmaru and Elijah, and Renji stood behind; all, except Renji, had their kunais at the ready. "Go ahead and try," Sanmaru said, turning his attention to Zaku and Mukuro.

"Soooo...three guards, three genin, and one jonin," said Zaku, "Let's even the playing field shall we. Kirigakure no Jutsu (Hidden Mist Jutsu)." Within a few moments, the deck was covered in a thick fog. Passengers on the deck began to panic and tried to find their way to the lower deck. Zaku pulled out his kunai and began to approach the group surrounding Elijah.

"I can't see a thing," Kamiko said, squinting through the fog. "Yeah, me neither. It's too dense, we have to do something about it." Renji smirked, like he had an idea. "Don't worry, I'm on it, just brace yourselves and duck. Fūton: Reppūshō!(Wind style: Gale Palm)" Renji clapped his hands together, releasing a powerful wind that disperses the fog and knocking down anyone else with it.

Zaku was knocked back by the sudden powerful gust of wind. "Well that was unexpected," thought Zaku, "That's a lot of wind power for a genin." He pulled out a kunai and pointed it at the genin standing before him. "We're only here for Mr. Ramu kids," he said, "I know he's paying you guys, but if your lives are worth more to you than money, I'd suggest you step aside."

Yoshino was surprised by what she was witnessing. She obviously lived in a where with shinobi, so she knew things like this were possible, but she had never seen such control of the elements in person before. She knew it would be safer to go back below deck, but she couldn't bring herself to leave. She was fascinated.

“Why are you wasting time Zaku,” Mukuro says with a smile, “you heard my brother’s orders: if anyone gets in the way, KILL THEM!” Putting his hand together, Mukuro quickly charged them with lightning chakra and said, “And that’s just what I’m gonna do.” He then launches the Lightning Ball right at the group guarding Elijah.

"Kamiko! You're up!" Sanmaru shouted. Kamiko nodded, switched places with Kazuma and weaved a few handsigns before borrowing the water surrounding the boat. "You guys picked the wrong time and place to start a fight with a Water Style user," she said Mukuro. "Suiton: Mizukagami no Jutsu!(Water Style: Water Mirror Jutsu)" A large, flat, circular pool of water formed in front of them and transformed into a mirror. Kamiko then hooked onto it with her hand, turned it 90 degrees, and an exact replica of the Lightning Ball materialized, colliding with the real attack and dispersing both into water.

Zaku rushed towards Renji and swung at his head with a kunai.

"Nice try," Renji smirked, as he ducked at the last second and spun around with a low leg sweep, tripping up Zaku and making him fall to the deck floor.

Zaku tumbled over but caught himself on the ground with one hand and did a helicopter kick. He then pushed off the ground to land back on his feet.