Samurai Showdown With Kakashi

Renji and I were walking towards Mifune's office, as I noticed him almost trembling:

- Does your arm hurt?

- No, not really.

- Then why are you shaking so much? I'm the one who will be interrogated!

- That's exactly why I'm nervous!

I honestly didn't understand what could possibly go wrong, but I can't deny I got a little scared with his attitude. Although, I believed that if his meeting didn't go badly, mine wouldn't either.

We both entered Mifune's office as Renji said:

- Here he is, as you requested. - He then left the room, closing the door behind him. I was now alone with Mifune and Lai.

Lai had also been recovering after protecting Renji from a blood explosion, and was now with cloth wrapped around his whole armorless body. I suppose he was still s.e.n.s.i.t.i.v.e and couldn't wear armor, which made it even more impressive that he would be standing there fulfilling his duty as Mifune's guard.

Mifune, who was now writing a few papers, looked up with a tiring expression. He had been overworked the whole month. It must be really tough to be the general. Lai told me:

- Sit in the chair in front of the general. Let's see if we can get this dealt with quickly.

I sat as demanded, and Mifune greeted:

- How are you doing Roderick? Are you still in pain?

- No, I feel great actually. Ready to serve you once more.

- That's great. I suppose you know why I've called you here.

- There is some suspiscion about my involvement in the disaster.

- Exactly. There are certain facts that don't check out. Hopefully you don't mind me asking anything to you?

- Go right ahead.

- Let's start with the beggining then. Why were you there in the first place?

- I went alongside Renji and Lin to visit the tomb. Due to our hours of work here, we were only capable of going there at that time and were caught by surprise by the reapers. - I couldn't tell him that I had went there to steal the iron scroll. I would take care of thks, Renji didn't need to be afraid.

- Lin is Linja, the girl who delivered us the iron scroll, correct?

- Exactly. The iron scroll was their main goal, and after the reapers were defeated, Lin came to deliver the scroll for safe keeping.

- Everything seems to check out, except for one thing. Do you know who went to the forbidden cave?

- Two of the reapers, Raspatiu and Jack.

Mifune looked for a paper in the mess that was his table, and with a serious expression, noted:

- From Renji's report you went after them inside, correct?

- Yes. I went there to stop them. - I felt myself sweating. Why is he asking so many questions?

- When I sent some of my soldiers there, they found out remains of paint as well as a bag filled with empty scrolls. I'm sure you know what that implies? - Damn it Lin. Why did you forget your bag? I suppose this is why Renji was worried.

- Do you think someone copied the scroll? - I tried to act as innocent and clueless as I could. I couldn't let him know Linja had the copy.

- Huff... - Mifune seemed disappointed. - So you know nothing about it either? From my understanding you were there with them the whole time.

- Not the whole time, sir. - All I needed was one well timed moment to corroborate my innocence. With that I should be able to get out of this. - In order to help Renji fight the reapers outside, I left the cave. I thought I had incapacitated them, however they eventually appeared once more after the tomb was destroyed. In that small gap of time, they might have attempted to copy the scroll.

- That checks out with the other reports. With the amount of destruction outside they might have been too curious and left the copy half done. Right now that's the only explanation as to why no copy turned up.

Thank god! - Mifune said clearly relieved.

- I really didn't want to arrest my teacher. - He claimed with a laugh.

- I'm glad we got that cleared out. I suppose that's all the questions.

- Actually there's one more thing. I'm preparing a team to find a way to cure Rakuma's genjutsu. Our best lead is a genjutsu specialist in the Hidden Village of the Leaf, however I can't contact them after what happenned there. I was thinking you could aid Lai and Renji on the trip, since you're the one with the least injuries. They are ready to leave tomorrow

It was an interesting proposition. An adventure outside of my land to find a cure for my master, however...

- I'm sorry, but I'll have to refuse.

- Really? I suppose I did give you the choice...

- I'm sorry, its just that with the recent news of the incoming Pain invasion, I feel like I should concentrate on getting stronger. Renji and Lai don't need me to find a cure, even with their injuries it should just take a couple samurai to aid them. I'm going to train. I'm sure that's what Rakuma would have wanted. - I felt like I was bothersome during the disaster, like it would have all turned out the same without me there. After all, it was Lai and Rakuma who did the most damage to the opponents. I couldn't let that happen again. I must grow more powerful.

- Fine words, Roderick. Well then, I suppose I'll send a small comitive along with them. You may go.

I started moving for the door, however something was bugging my mind and I had to ask.

- Sir, why was the iron scroll on the forbidden cave? What does it contain?

- Its just a list of jutsus from a cursed, despicable family of samurai. The most hated people in our entire history.

- And they were samurai? With a scroll?

- A sort of ninja-samurai hybrid, I suppose. It was something we always wanted to get rid off, however it holds too much power and it always felt like a waste.

I left the room, with Lai opening the door for me. On the other side was Renji, nervously waiting. We got away from the door and he asked:

- Did... did everything go well?

- Yeah, I'm in the clear. But it would have been easier if you hadn't told them about me being in the cave.

- Oh, so now it's my fault? - Renji felt deeply insulted. - Next time I will tell them it was Linja.

- Fine, I suppose you didn't do too terribly.

- I was perfect in my interrogation!

- Let's just go to my house. I can't barely wait to find out about the Iron scroll. - And I really couldn't.

With all the hype I received from Linja, and now with Mifune, I had to find out what that damned scroll was all about.

We both went running towards my house, or at least I tried to. I had just left an hospital bed. I wasn't in the best conditions, but it wasn't something that a nice meal wouldn't solve. So we stopped in a nearby restaurant, and Renji asked:

- Are you going tomorrow to the Leaf Village?

- No, I'm staying to train. If the scroll is as good as people are saying it is, it should help me get stronger.

- You're not going? I thought for sure you'd say yes. That's really a letdown. - Renji actually seemed sad. I almost felt bad for saying no, but it's a question of honor. He proceeded. - Do you really think the scroll will make you stronger? Aren't scrolls for ninja?

- I thought the same, but Mifune talked about it having samurai techniques. He also mentioned it belonging to the most hated people of the samurai. Let's hope it's not cursed. - Renji seemed worried when I said that.

- Maybe we shouldn't see the scroll.

- Are you scared? It's just a piece of paper it can't do any harm..

- It's not that... - I finished my meal, and since Renji had already finished, I interrupted him saying:

- Let's go. I'm not waiting for you. - I quickly tried to leave the store before the owner shouted:

- Hey you're not leaving without paying!

After paying for the meal, me and Renji reached my house, and inside was an expectant Linja.

- Finally, took you long enough.

- Where's the scroll?

- Right there. - She said pointing at a table. On top was the holy grail of mysterious power.

I quickly grabbed it, sat on the ground, opening it on my l.a.p. Linja commented:

- I can't wait to see your reaction. You're going to love it.

After reading the beggining, I felt excited. It showed sword seals, ways to move the chakra through your body without the use of hand signs. With my lack of chakra control, this was perfect.

- This is amazing! - I said out loud. Renji seemed nervous. Well, he seemed nervous all day, so it should be fine. I'll give him the scroll when I finish seeing it.

- And you're not even at the best part! - Linja said. - Go to the end.

When I finally reached the end I felt my voice vanish, as I stared at it in disbelief. It can't be.

- Have you seen it, Rod? - Linja said excitedly. - It says right there on the bottom. Written by Sygen Samunashi! Isn't that your last name?

This was when I realized. The family hated by samurai was my own.