Chapter 002

Test Of Skill

Riku is the first to react as he turns around and rushes into the forest as he's followed by everyone else and Riku jumps into the trees and Itsuki notices he's starting to get farther away from them and he also jumps into the trees as Dai notices how far ahead Riku is and Dai rushes up as Riku jumps towards another tree but Dai punches the tree splitting it in half causing Riku to fall out of the air and Kenji is *shocked* as he says

“Dai, what the hell are you doing!?” Kenji turns around and rushes towards Riku as he's falling and Dai keeps running as he says

“Everyone for themselves!” Kenji notices Riku's low to the ground as he jumps towards Riku and tries to push him out of the way but Riku lands on his hand as he flips backwards out of the way of the tree and he notices Kenji's about to be hit by the falling tree and he tackles Kenji out of the way knocking them both to the ground as the tree blocks the path behind them and Riku gets up as he looks down at Kenji and says

“What the hell are you doing?” Kenji says

“I was trying to help you, but I guess you had it handled” Riku helps Kenji up as he says

“Thanks, but next time don't just be willing to kill yourself for someone else. If you are going to help try and save the both of you, now lets—” Suddenly Kingsman's voice echo through the forest as he screams

“HERE I COME!” Kenji is *panicked* as he says

“Oh no, we have to go!” Riku says

“Relax, We should have some t—” Suddenly the log behind them splits and Riku turns around *shocked* as he sees Kingsman standing there and Kingsman says

“You both didn't make it very far” Riku thinks

"There's no way he could close that kind of distance that fast! There's no way we can escape if he-" But Kenji grabs Riku's arm as he screams

“RUN!” Kenji starts running away dragging Riku away from Kingsman and Riku notices Kenji dragging him and he thinks

"He grabbed me! I froze up and he could have left me, but he helped me!" Riku pulls his arm away from Kenji and starts running beside him but as he looks back he sees Kingsman is right behind them and Riku turns to Kenji as he says

“We have to split up and make him choose, we can't stay this close” Kenji says

"All right, but he's really fast. Be careful" Riku thinks

"If Kenji keeps running this way, I can go-" Riku is *shocked* as he looks to his left and sees Kingsman is on his left keeping pace with them and Riku thinks

“He was just behind us, how did he!?” Riku looks back and he's *confused* as he sees Kingsman is still behind them and Riku says

“We have to get into the trees!” Kenji says

“All right, I'll follow your lead” Riku jumps into the trees on his left as Kenji jumps into the trees on his right and Riku looks back at Kingsman but Kingsman still running on the path as if he was still chasing them and Riku is *confused* and he looks up at Kenji but he's *shocked* as he sees Kingsman behind Kenji and Riku opens his mouth but a voice from behind him says

“You might want to watch yourself!”

At that time Dai and Itsuki had just found a clearing and they both see the kunai stabbed into a big tree and Itsuki looks at Dai and says

“If you think I'll let you take the kunai you're a bigger idiot than I thought” Dai says

“I thought you were trying to show confidence in front of everyone else, but do you really think you can beat me?” Itsuki says

“I know I can, so lets really see who Sensei’s greatest student really is” Dai *smiles* and says

“Fine, lets go then” Dai rushes Itsuki and tries to hit Itsuki but Itsuki dodges three of his strikes and pushes his hand away as he hits Dai in his stomach twice and uppercuts him and Itsuki tries to hit him with a right hook but Dai catches it with his right hand and punches him in the stomach with his left as he lets go of Itsuki's right hand and punches him with his right hand launching him into some trees destroying one of them as he slams into the second tree and Dai *laughs* as he says

“I told you, I'm Sensei’s greatest student!” Dai walks over towards the tree and reaches for the kunai but Itsuki starts throwing rocks and sticks at Dai making him dodge pushing him away from the tree until Itsuki throws a big stick towards Dai's legs but he jumps into the air and as he's in the air Itsuki throws a log at Dai hitting him in the stomach and pushing him back but Dai's able to punch it breaking it in half as he lands on the ground and rushes back towards the kunai and he gets within inches of it but Itsuki kicks him in the side sending him slamming into a tree and Itsuki *laughs* as he turns towards the tree and reaches for the kunai but Dai tackles him sending them both to the ground and Dai rolls on top of Itsuki and tries to punch him in the face but Itsuki dodges both of the punch making Dai hit the ground behind him and Itsuki hit's Dai twice across the face as Dai tries to hit him again and Itsuki dodges but Dai’s fist slams into the ground causing it to get stuck in the ground and Itsuki starts hitting him with a barrage of punches until he uppercuts him and sends Dai flying backwards into the air as Itsuki flips back to his feet and rushes towards the kunai again but Dai lands and rushes him from behind as he grabs the back of Itsuki’s shirt and starts swinging him around spinning them both in a circle as he slams Itsuki into the tree the kunai is in and he drops Itsuki to the floor as Itsuki is balled up holding his stomach on the ground and Dai *laughs* as he grabs Itsuki by his collar and throws him back in the direction they came from as he looks at the tree but he's *shocked* as he notices the kunai is gone and he looks at Itsuki as Itsuki's gets to his feet and *smiles* at Dai as he flashes the kunai in his hand and he turns around and quickly starts running back down the path as Dai rushes after him and Itsuki is quickly moving in between trees as he sees Dai running on the path getting closer and Itsuki jumps back on the path as he turns around and sees Dai getting closer but suddenly he runs into Kingsman as he's knocked over sending the kunai into the air as Riku and Kenji both notice it flying into the air and they both jump for it but Riku grabs the top of Kenji's head pushing him down as he pushes himself higher in the air catching the kunai and Riku lands on the ground pushing the kunai in Kingsman face as he says

“Here it is Sensei!” Dai catches up with them as he says

“That's not fair Sensei!” Itsuki gets back to his feet as he's *angry* and says

“I had it first, but I ran into you Sensei! That's not fair!” Kingsman says

“Enough! I told you to bring it back there, not to me. So you all can still get the kunai” Riku is *shocked* and says

"What!?" Suddenly Dai punches the ground destroying it underneath them and everyone loses there balance except Kingsman as Dai punches Riku in the stomach and snatches the kunai out of his hand as everyone falls down and he rushes down the path and Kenji gets back to his feet as he says

"Damn it, Dai get back here!" Kenji rushes towards Dai but as he tries to grab him Dai jumps into the trees and Kenji jumps into the trees but Dai drops back onto the path and keeps running and Kenji drops back down onto the path as Dai jumps back into the trees and Kenji jumps back into the trees as Dai drops back down but Kenji tries to kick Dai in the chest and he's able to block it as suddenly Riku appears above them and he stomps Dai in the top of his head pushing him onto Kenji's chest as he grabs the kunai and Dai falls towards the ground but he's still holding the kunai pulling Riku down as well until Itsuki kicks both of the hands from behind sending the kunai flying forward as he quickly rushes up and catches it before it hits the ground as he continues rushing down the path and he looks back and doesn't see anyone on the path behind him as he notices Riku's running through the trees on his right and Riku breaks two sticks off a tree as he throws one towards a tree far ahead of Itsuki and he screams

"ITSUKI!" Itsuki looks up as he sees Riku falling towards but suddenly the stick bounces off the tree towards Itsuki's hands as it knocks the kunai out of Itsuki's hands sending it into the air and Itsuki is *shocked* as Riku grabs it and lands on Itsuki's back making him fall to the ground as he continues running down the path and Riku notices movement in the trees as Dai drops down on the path in front of him and he tries to grab the kunai but Riku slides underneath his legs as he stands up and continues running and Riku looks to his right as he throws the kunai past the trees off the path and he rushes over to it catching it right before it hits the ground and Riku keeps running through the trees until he hears multiple foot steps from the darkness of the trees and he throws the kunai past the trees to his left and he rushes over and catches it as he continues running down the path and he throws the kunai in front of him as he turns around and sees Itsuki's reaching for the back of his neck and he grabs Itsuki arm as he knocks his feet from underneath him and slams him into a tree as he passes it and Riku rushes up as he catches the kunai and Riku notices the trees in front of him open up and he notices Kingsman still sitting in the same spot and he screams

“SENSEI!” Riku throws it as hard as he can towards Kingsman and Kingsman notices it as Itsuki, Dai and Kenji all suddenly pop out of the trees as they all catch it and all push it into Kingsman's face as there still fighting over it and Kingsman is *confused* as he says

“Why are all of you fighting over a stick?” They all stop and realize what their fighting over and Kenji is *confused* as he says

“How!? I saw him throw the kunai!” Riku walks up next to all of them while spinning the kunai on his finger as he hands Kingsman the kunai and Kingsman *smiles* as he says

“Good job, Riku” Dai gets up and is *angry* as he says

“You tricked us, you bastard!” Kingsman says

“I’m impressed that you all went all the way through that forest in ten minutes considering it's about sixty something miles long” Itsuki gets to his feet as he looks at his body and says

“I didn't get cut!” Dai and Kenji look at themselves and realize they haven't been cut and Dai says

“Neither did I!” Kenji says

“Yeah, I didn't either” Riku is *confused* as he says

“What’s going on Sensei? You were right behind us” Kingsman *laughs* as he says

“Oh yeah, I forgot about that” Kingsman picks up his sword and spins it as suddenly there are thirty black slashes across everyone's bodies except Riku’s and Kingsman says

“These slashes are permanent, I can activate them at any time to watch this. One!” A singular one of each of there slashes burn brightly as they all *fall to their knees in pain* and they are unable to move from the pain and Riku looks at his body in *confusion* as he says

“Why don't I feel anything?” Kingsman says

“Because you won and brought back the kunai, you won't suffer any consequences and because you won I'll teach you any element. But you must understand the strain these elements put on your body, these elements could destroy your body. But they might help your body adapt to your natural abilities easier in the future” Riku says

“What is your darkness? I've heard about different divine elemental users, but I’ve never seen or even heard about that kind of element” Kingsman says

“My darkness is something that was passed through my family, a true curse! It consumed my grandfather forcing my father and another nation to team up just to stop him, this darkness is constantly attempting to take full control of my mind and even attempting to corrupting my senses. This darkness is truly the embodiment of evil" Riku is *shocked* as he says

"I'm sorry Sensei" Kingsman *chuckles* as he says

"It's not all bad, it holds consciousness of the previous wielders of it. So if I get lonely I can always talk to them, but even with big pros like that there has to be a small problem. It's just looking for any opportunity I lose control to take over my body and cause pain and destruction, but it's really teaching me I have to be very careful and control my emotions no matter what. So I'd call that a fair deal!" Riku says

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

"I-" Kingsman *smiles* as he says

"Don't worry about me, I'll always be ok. But this is about you right now, what element would you like?" Riku says

“Oh umm, Sensei you know I intend on keeping distance and watching the field” Kingsman says

“I know you're not going to be a hand-to-hand fighter, but you'll need something to use at distance won't you?” Riku says

“Yes, but I don't want to hu–” Kingsman says

“For some like you...You're very smart and have amazing strategic skills, you'll need something extremely persisted to make sure you don't hurt your teammates. So you can either go with water which you could use ice with if you develop it correctly or even wind” Riku says

“I'll do wind, but can I also learn some lightning?” Kingsman says

“I don’t know, using multiple elements at once can cause extreme strain on your body. Over using your element will cause your body great strain and it'll even start to hurt you over time” Riku says

“I understand, Sensei” Kingsman says

“But if you show me your body can maintain it, I'll think about allowing you some lightning" Riku *smiles* as Kingsman looks at everyone else and says

"What about the rest of you?” Kingsman notices there still all on the ground *convulsing in pain* and Kingsman snaps his finger as the slashes disappear and everyone slowly gets to their feet as they're *holding there chest in pain* and Kingsman *chuckles* as he says

"Sorry, I forgot about you three! But which element would you like me to teach you" Dai *still holding his chest in pain* says

“I want... Fire, with my strength and fire I'll be unstoppable!” Itsuki says

“I'll take lightning, i'll be the strongest lightning user ever seen!” Kenji says

“I'll take ice!” Kingsman *laughs* as he says

“You all make it sound like this is going to be easy, you’ll have to battle with these elements to absorb the elemental powers. Fusing part of yourself with your power to make sure you're not damaged by your own power too much. But for now training is done, and since most of you all don't come from the Tohoku Region. Let’s go down the hill, it's time to introduce you all to your new home” Kingsman stands up and everyone follows him down the hill and as they walk into the Taketomi village and they are amazed by the beauty of the village, Itsuki says

“This village is beautiful! And it has so many wisteria trees, my village didn't have any” Dai is *shocked* as he says

“Look at all the restaurants!” Riku is *amazed* as he says

“The people are extremely friendly and nice” Kenji *smiles* as he says

“Yeah it's an amazing village, you guys have to see it at night the lights are amazing” While they are talking Kingsman stops in front of a building with a gate around it and Itsuki says

“What's this building, Sensei?” Kingsman says

“This is your first mission, make it past the guards and into the Village Leaders office” Before any of them can say anything Kingsman disappears and they are all *confused* and Dai says

“Where the hell did he go?” Riku says

“Up there” Everyone looks over at the building as they see Kingsman standing behind a big glass window and he waves to them as he turns around and walks away from the window and he bows his head as he says

“Hello Lord Kaito, my strong, powerful and wise—” Suddenly Kingsman starts *laughing* as Kaito walks over to him and Kingsman stands up as he says

“How have you been Kaito?” Kaito says

“Not so well, we have a problem with the other regions” Kingsman steps up as sits at the boardroom table and puts his feet up as he says

“What’s the problem? Don't we have a peace treaty in effect?” Kaito says

“That's the problem, the Fujiwara region attacked a convoy going to the Shimadzu region and with that Sasaki has gone silent and withdrawn his attendance, and it has made all the other leaders paranoid. Causing everyone else to withdraw from every meeting between us all, now we have complete silence between all of the regions and I don't know if anyone is still following the rules of the peace treaty” Kingsman says

“So what? Let's go down there and attack the Fujiwara region” Kaito says

“We can't, there’s no definitive evidence only a symbol carved in the side of the cart that is very prominent in the Fujiwara region. But the thing about the convoy they stole it was full of food and weapons, and I fear they may be building an army because they’ve never stolen anything from convoys before” Kingsman says

“Fine then I'll go down and talk to little Saki and get things sorted out, we'll be fine!” Kaito *sighs* as he says

“You don't remember the full order of the peace treaty do you? Did you even read it?” Kingsman says

“Yeah...I mean I skimmed it” Kaito says

“Neither one of us is allowed in any other region unless a meeting is called, same for all the other leaders and there generals” Kingsman says

“I don’t even understand why I’m included on that, I'm not the general!" Kaito says

“You know the fear you have around the world, Fallen Angel!” Kingsman *smiles* as he says

“Like you're any better, Cold Devil!” Kaito *laughs* as he says

“Since we don't know if anyone else has broken the treaty, anything we do will result in every region being able to invade our region” Kingsman says

“So!? Even if all of them came at the exact same time again they still can't beat us, especially not if we're going all out” Kaito says

“We won that because the village was empty and we didn't have to worry about any of our own casualties, but now we have a lot of casualties if we fight here. Plus eventually we won't be here to protect the village, soon someone else needs to be here to step up and take care of the village” Kingsman says

“I'll always be here, I’m everywhere. But I guess you're right this village will need a good reliable leader who they can trust” Kaito sits down at the table as he says

“What about one of your new students?” Kingsman says

“Well Dai is extremely strong physically and he can take a punch, but Dai is irrational and impatient. He doesn't understand he can't just beat everything with physical strength alone. Itsuki is smart, can think on his toes, and is very level-headed. But I see too much of myself in him and he even acts how I did towards my father, always trying to prove to him I'm the best so he would respect me more and if he turns out anything like me. He won't be able to lead this village, he’ll overthink every situation and he’ll burn himself out quickly. Then there's the boy, he is my son but he’s more focused on other peoples lives rather than his own. As the leader of the village, he would do ok until the first sign of danger. He’s willing to die in that battle alone taking unnecessary risk and taking more damage to make sure other people don't get hurt, he’d be dead in the first week. And finally there's Riku, strategy wise he’s unmatched by any of them! He’s the fastest and can get everyone out of a bad situation very quickly, and he’s very observant and can figure out someone's fighting style and how to beat them very quickly” Kaito is *shocked* and says

“He sounds like the perfect man for this role!” Kingsman says

“But when it comes to defending the village he doesn't want to kill people, that's why he's never learned how to fight properly. Just to make sure he won’t kill anyone, but you can't always subdue an enemy and if they learn he won't kill anyone they'll invade knowing nothing is going too happened. He'd have no fear around his name and this village would be overrun in a week, but if he dropped that fear of killing people and allowed me to teach him how to fight too the fullest then I have no doubt he’d have the potential to beat all of them with ease. I'd put my life on it!” Kaito says

“He's strong-willed and sounds very strong-minded and as he faces the trials of life either he will change his own ideology or he’ll double down and strengthen his own mind. It all comes from the trials of life” Kingsman says

“You're right, but we need to worry about the Fujiwara region. What can we do?” Kaito says

“We can't send any of our warriors too face them or we’ll be seen as invading the Fujiwara region allowing all other regions too attack us” Kingsman says

“So what other options do we have? I can't go, you can’t go, and none of our warriors can go except maybe the new general of the army. Since he’s still not technically one of our soldiers and you should be able to validly argue down that point at the meeting, other than that who's left? He's strong, but even he can't take all of them by himself even with his ability” Kaito says

“Well your team are the only other ones who fall in that loophole” Kingsman stands up *angry* as he says

“WHAT!?” Kaito says

“I know you don't want to put them in that kind of danger yet, but we have no other choice they may be putting together an army” Kingsman walks towards Kaito as he says

“You think I'll send them into a village full of blood thirsty traitors and murderers, who would kill their own people for power! The new leaders are the four sons of a dead leader, a leader they killed!” Kingsman darkness covers his hands as he's in Kaito’s face and says

“You think I'll send them into that!?” Kaito stands up as he takes a step back and says

“Kingsman, its—” But Kaito is interrupted by Kingsman suddenly *laughing* as he says

“I'm not worried about them, I know I'll train them to be far stronger than any of them” Kaito *laughs* as he says

“You had me worried, I thought I had made you mad” Kingsman *smiles* as he says

“You know I’d never stay mad at you, we’re brothers. Well not actually, if you were my blood brother you'd be a lot stronger” Kingsman and Kaito shake hands as Kingsman looks at the door and says

“They weren’t even able to make it up here...I'll come back and see you later Kaito” Kaito says

"All right Kingsman” Kingsman opens his office window and jumps out dropping back near the front gate as he looks at the front gate and sees all of his students knocked out and he walks up to them as he says

“What the hell happened to all of you!? None of you can beat two guard!” They all wake up as there *holding their stomachs in pain* and everyone slowly stands up as Itsuki says

“We beat them, but then this big guy with a scar on his cheek came out and we couldn't touch him at all” Kingsman says

“Oh, you’re probably talking about Gyomei. He's the general” Gyomei walks up behind Kingsman and Itsuki says

“Behind you, Sensei!” Kingsman turns around and locks eyes with Gyomei as he says

“Hello Gyomei!” Gyomei doesn't speak as he tries to walk past Kingsman but Kingsman elbows him right in the stomach dropping him to his knees and Kingsman says

“Hello...Gyomei!” Gyomei *holds his stomach in pain* as he says

“H-Hello Kingsman” Kingsman puts his foot on the back of Gyomei’s neck and says

“Hello who?” Gyomei says

“Hello, Lord Kingsman” Kingsman moves his foot as he pulls Gyomei up and dust him off and says

“How have you been?” Gyomei says

“Fine, strengthening our army’s sir” Kingsman says

“Good, I'll have my students back in a couple of weeks when there trained and you’ll go into the Fujiwara region with them. I expect you to be watching over them and protecting them along the way” Gyomei is *shocked* as he says

“Why would they go into the Fujiwara region sir?” Kingsman says

“Because we have reason to believe they may be plotting an invasion or assembling a war army and we need them gone, so we can get our peace treaty fully back in order” Kingsman turns and starts walking away as everyone follows him and he says

“I expect you to be ready in about a month at the very most! But it should just be a few weeks" Kaito is watching them from the window as he *laughs* but suddenly a voice from behind him says

“He shouldn’t be talking too you like that, you're the leader of this village not him! But he talks and walks around as if he owns the world” Kaito *sighs* as he says

“You're never in the village and the one time you come back it's to tell me about how much Kingsman needs to die, Kingsman is my brother. Kei, I've wanted nothing but peace between all of us. Why can't we have this?” Kei is *angry* as he says

“I'm your brother, Kingsman is just a dog with no respect! Doing as he pleases, he needs to be put in his place! Have you forgotten everything he's taken from us!? The loved ones lost because of that monster!” Kaito *sighs* as he says

“You’ve changed Kei, we built everything together from the ground up. We are both the founders of this village, we saved this region” Kei says

"No, I haven't changed I’m just not going to let the man who killed everyone we ever loved walk around without facing justice! So tell me Kaito, what are your subordinates going to think when they hear a man with no title talking to the leader of the village as if he's nothing?” Kaito says

“None of us left that war without casualties and besides everyone knows who Kingsman is” Kei says

“I should have taken control of this region long ago, you're a fool if you think that kind of disrespect is acceptable” Kei turns around and leaves the room as he slams the door