Tales of a Ninja Magician: Of What Defines Us

Dust to Dust

Even after the match had ended, it did not appear that Gasco was willing to leave the arena. His choice of actions after overseer Oke ruled his victory was surprising to everyone except, it seemed, Stea. The tall powerhouse walked up to his knocked out opponent and just watched him strictly from up above. Then, slowly and calmly, he bent over and picked the young boy up with one hand wrapped around the youth's head, holding the powerless opponent in front of him.

Kiyomi looked at Mana uneasily. This would have normally been a cue for her to do something stupid that would have lead to her getting disqualified. And yet... The magician stood still, lips pressed together, head firmly fixed on one point she couldn't really see in an unwilling instinct that took over when all of her remaining senses were fixed on something else.

Could Mana even tell what was transpiring? What was she thinking? Kiyomi's knuckles pressed tightly, she settled firmly on stopping Mana if she as much as twitched at that direction. It was her duty as the girl's friend to stop her from ruining a journey this long, perilous and one that cost as much to them both as this one did. And yet... The magician just kept on standing calmly.

Gasco's fingers pressed against Dhaogu's temples, he must have considered crushing the boy's head like a grape in between his fingers and he certainly had the strength for it. Had the young Sunagakure genin not been knocked out he'd have been in a lot of pain.

"So pathetic and merciful, asking your opponent to surrender when you believe you have the upper hand. Unfit for service. And yet... Strong enough to be of some use to your village. The potential for developing a Bloodline Selection in the future too. Yes, killing you would be an injustice to your village", Gasco settled as his hand went frail, letting the boy slip from his grasp and slam to the ground weightlessly as the giant turned around and walked away.

Kiyomi breathed out easier. She looked at Mana with a faint smile, "I thought you'd do something stupid, honestly".

"Why? It was obvious that Gasco would not kill Dhaogu", Mana wondered, "Gasco and Doma only kill people they think are wasting their village's time and money with their service as ninja, people they deem a disgrace to the ninja name and reputation. Dhaogu has three active Elemental Natures, which means he may develop an Advanced Bloodline or a Bloodline Selection in the future. Such a man cannot possibly be unworthy of life in their eyes".

"Yeah but... How can you tell what they're thinking, they're just so... Crazy", Kiyomi sighed easier before looking at the large screen that displayed the next match-up. "No offense", the Yamanaka quickly shut Stea down as the Getsugakure kunoichi gave her an off-handed glare after the remark that the blonde made.

"There's a method to any madness. I understand theirs well enough to be able to read it", Mana calmly replied.

"I hope you haven't filed me up with those two in that mind of yours", Stea smiled giving Mana a challenging glance.

"I haven't, your different way of thinking is what makes you more dangerous than your team", the magician admitted.

"Well, girls, I guess I'm next!" Nanaba shrieked out in excitement before running off and turning down the staircase that lead to a long corridor leading up to the arena. She may have heard a couple of good luck wishes before she disappeared or she may not have wanted or been able to hear them, given how excited and fast she was.

On the other side, the familiar frail desert dweller in Buhakim stepped out. The Uber-Spiritual One already had his grotesquely strange looking puppets unsealed and screwed together, wearing them around his body as accessories as the one with many limbs, the one Buhakim called Śrāvakayāna, laid wrapped around his body like an overly clingy lover. Meanwhile, the more abstract shape of a ship wheel covered with fists, Pratyekabuddhayāna, laid behind his back imitating the spiritual enlightenment present on religious art glowing behind important figures.