Naruto: Mixed Heritage

Chapter 40- First Mission (4)

Shoko, evading Riku's attacks, maintained a cryptic demeanour.

"Maybe you're not as in the know as you think, Senju."

"Senju Wolf of Konoha?" Shoko taunted, a smirk playing on his lips as he observed Riku's reaction. The nickname was a relic of the past that Riku gained during his exploits in the second shinobi war.

Riku, regaining his composure, shot a sharp glance at Shoko. "So, you've done your homework."

Shoko chuckled, the banter intertwining with the intensity of their jutsu-laden duel.

"It's not every day you get to face a living legend. They say you tore through enemy lines like a wolf hunting its prey."

Riku, maintaining a stoic demeanour, retorted, "Legends can be deceiving. What does my past have to do with this mission?"

Shoko replied, "In as much as I'd like to test myself over you I'm only here for the chakra metal."

It was not strange that Shoko was not backing down. Chakra Metal was a very precious metal. It's not just a valuable commodity; it's a source of power that can enhance the potency of various techniques. The elemental nations have, in the past, gone to war over control of chakra metal mines.

The history of conflicts over such a precious resource highlighted the strategic importance placed on it. The mere fact that it had high Chakra conduction made it a must have ingredient when making bladed weapons for shinobi.

Amidst the fierce clashes between Riku and Shoko, a moment of strategic contemplation surfaced in Riku's mind.

'So far he has been using Earth Jutsus both for offence and defence. Is he from Iwa? Although he might be from another village, Iwa is the most likely guess. If so why did they send him?'

As the battle raged on, Riku seized an opportune moment to pose a question to his adversary.

"Are you perhaps from Iwagakure?" he inquired.

Shoko, momentarily caught off guard by the unexpected inquiry, assessed Riku with a measured gaze. The question lingered in the air, however, Shoko did not indulge Riku. He remained enigmatic, offering no verbal response.

Riku, undeterred, continued to inquire,

"Rindo Shoko," Riku asked, his tone laced with a mixture of realization and inquiry.

"Is that the name you go by?"

"Common just answer you already know about me. After all, this might be the last time we fight, At least for one of us."

Riku's deduction regarding Shoko's identity was drawn from the information stored in the Bingo book. The pages of the book held the story of Rindo Shoko, a figure whose history intertwined with the turbulent aftermath of the Second Shinobi War.

Recollections surfaced within Riku's mind. Rindo Shoko, once a shinobi of Iwagakure, had gone rogue in the years following the war, a fallout with the Tsuchikage leading to a renegade path. The echoes of betrayal and dissent whispered through the entries, marking Shoko as a fugitive from his own village.

The bounty placed on Shoko's head, a sum of two million Ryo, served as a tangible reminder of the rogue shinobi's status. While the amount might not hold significant allure for Riku, it was still enough to make Riku vow to collect it.

Seeing Shoko now become unresponsive, Riku heaved a sigh.

'He was all talk just a few minutes ago, now that I'm asking questions he become mute. Anyway, time to end this farce.'

With a determined gaze, Riku steeled himself for the final push. Closing the distance between them in a blur of speed, Riku launched a couple of strikes at Shoko. His strikes were a fusion of taijutsu precision and ninjutsu, a relentless onslaught that sought to break through Shoko's defences.