Kugutsu no Shinigami

| 28 | The Masked Man

"Alright, guys!" Asuma announces, his voice chipper. "This marks our biannual chunin exams!"

"You mean, like last year, when Konoha got invaded?" Sasuke asks, uncertain.

"Yes, except there shan't be an invasion this time. We won't be in Konoha and if there is one then we can always flee."

"So, where is it being held, per se?" Tsumetai asks, acting as the communal voice in this matter.

"It will be in Sunagakure."

"But they are the ones who invaded us! How can we trust them?" Ino protests.

"Trust in the Hokage, she is currently engaging in taxing political discussions with ambassadors of Sunagakure to resolve this in time. Head in there, and believe that all will be well."

"Of course," Naruto says, his voice holding a rare sense of conviction. Inside his mind, however, is a completely different story.

Why would I even trust that hag? Ever since she had taken over, the village's wealth has been slowly declining by 0.2% every month! At this rate, Konoha's economy will be taken over by another village!

"Well, fill in these forms and we'll be good to go!"

Tsumetai/Naruto's eyes scan the paper, carefully scouring it for any loopholes to exploit, or conditions to be wary of.

By the time the others had completed theirs, Naruto hadn't even begun.

"Hurry up, Tsumetai! We don't have all day!" Kakashi declares in an attempt to motivate him.

So far, the aforementioned male had compiled a short list of loopholes:

Loopholes:
- The only condition in the second stage of their exams is that killing is permitted. However, it doesn't specify that we cannot maim.
- Like Konoha, the third stage of their exams is a tournament. It states that no killing is allowed, however, it doesn't say anything about leaving one dying on death's doorstep, maimed.

"Earth to Tsumetai!"

He blinks, avoiding a hard slap to the face. He simply stares down the perpetrator, Kiba.

A cold, unnerving stare that penetrates the soul and unravels your deepest, darkest desires for all to see.

Kiba chuckles nervously, before turning away, to strike up an awkward conversation with Hinata, his eyes deliberately avoiding Tsumetai.

"What do I write for this question? I haven't a team to enter with..." Tsumetai inquires.

"Leave it blank. I believe that you can complete the exam by yourself."

Tsumetai calmly fills in the form before handing it to Kakashi to submit.

"Right, you will now be working on your chakra control."

Abruptly, Tsumetai falls backwards, and before anyone could react, his molecules deteriorate, now a chilly wind that scatters into different directions, not necessarily following a straight gust.

"Find him~!" Kurenai orders. "Rendezvous here in an hour!"

~~~

Tsumetai reappears in a cool breeze, within the Red Light District.

He strides towards the Black Market, a place where theft is common but is easily repelled. The thieves in question are the civilian underworld, a network that scales from petty thugs to mob bosses.

Hopping atop a roof, his eyes scour the market for a certain man, his eyes taking on a hawk-like gleam when he spots him.

Tsumetai's eyes morph, changing the iris to a bloody red and the area around it into swirling whirlpools, three tomoe in gyration in the circles.