Wandering Heathens

Fire

The shinobi charged at Ryuu who stood his ground. He blocked and deflected the kicks and punches, wincing when they struck him due to the force behind them. "Taijutsu, eh?" He said through gritted teeth. "I'm a Master in my Village. You won't beat me!" He snarled sending a fresh barrage of kicks and punches. "Oh fuck you" Ryuu muttered and sent fire chakra to his hands and arms. The man screamed when his legs caught fire and his lackey wove hand signs: "WATER STYLE: WATER WAVE!" Ryuu's eyes widened as the wall of water crashed onto him and swept him through the grasslands. Shinjo, Itachi and Kisame jumped to one of the few trees in the region, safely avoiding the water and Ryuu's flailing body.

Coughing, he sat up, his hair in his face and his robes soaked and heavy. Getting to his feet he stripped off his robe revealing his chiseled body that was decorated with tattoos and piercings. Kisame swooned and Shinjo steadied her. "Fucking water users! Why do I always get you guys?!" He ranted as he swept his hair off his face. The water user grinned savagely and readied his next jutsu.

Before he could complete his hand signs two senbons embedded themselves into his eyes. He screamed as blood and viscous fluid poured out of his punctured orbs. Ryuu stood with one foot in front of the other with his left hand in the spar sign. "Kaen" he said and the paper bombs that were wrapped around the senbons ignited and the man's the head exploded, raining blood, bone and brain matter over the battlefield.

The third shinobi charged him with a katana drawn. He roared his battle cry and jumped into the air, swinging his sword down where Ryuu was standing. At the last possible second he somersaulted away and the blade sliced the earth. The shinobi landed and rushed Ryuu's back, intent on stabbing him. "KINJUTSU ART: FIRE CLOAK!" Ryuu shouted and he was enveloped in a black chakra cloak that flickered and crackled like fire. The katana clanged off the fire uselessly and the man stood in fear as Ryuu stood, turned and walked over to him, the black cloak flickering hungrily.

Angry green eyes stared into scared grey ones as Ryuu grabbed the blade, yanked it from the shinobi's trembling hands and with a swift smooth motion, severed the head from the body. The body collapsed to the ground, twitching as blood spasmed out of the neck stump. Ryuu kicked the head and it crashed into the burned shinobi who was trying to crawl away. "Goal!" Ryuu cheered as he cancelled his jutsu cloak and ran at the shinobi.

He roared as he ran and the shinobi went white and closed his eyes, watching as his life flashed before his eyes and regretted not making better choices. He opened his eyes when he felt a finger tap his forehead. Ryuu was kneeling down and smiling. "Hiya" he said before his smile turned into a sneer and he plunged a kunai into the base of the man's neck, cutting slowly as he listened to the man's screams and pleas for mercy. Hot sticky blood sprayed onto Ryuu's body, steaming as it spattered against his skin. Standing wearily to his feet, he swayed a little before Shinjo appeared at his side, placing Ryuu's arm around his shoulder. "We need to make camp" he said as Itachi went to scout ahead and Kisame followed them holding Ryuu's robe.

Shinjo sat next to the red head as he recreated battle scenes using the fire. A figure of Madara Uchiha was fighting a figure of Hashirama Senju. "But I love you Madara!" The Hashirama figure said, Ryuu using a high pitched voice for her. "I don't care!" Madara said with a lower toned voice. "But Mada~" Hashirama whined. "I doubt that's how that battle went" Shinjo remarked as he watched. "Probably not but it's entertaining" Ryuu responded. Kisame came to the fire and shyly sat next to Ryuu. Shinjo winked at him and slipped away to his bedroll.

After a moment of awkward silence Kisame spoke, "Are you feeling better?" she asked. Ryuu gave her a closed eye smile, "peachy keen!" he said. "Is-is it hard? To use the kinjutsu I mean!" she corrected herself, a faint blush on her cheeks. "Why don't you find out?" He leered at her but quickly laughed, "it takes training. Kinjutsu uses our second chakra system, the black chakra. Shinjo has better control of it than I do so I've got some work to do" he finished. "I see" Kisame said, looking at the fire.

She's so pretty Ryuu sighed as he watched the shadow of the flames dance on her face as she stared into the fire. He quickly glanced around to ensure they were alone before he turned to the shark-woman. "Kisame" he said softly and she turned to look at him. He closed his eyes and leaned in, his lips slightly puckered. "Oh!" Kisame exclaimed and moved away from him. I didn't think she was so far away he thought as he continued leaning forward.

"What are you doing?" Itachi asked. Ryuu opened his eyes as he crashed face first into the ground. Spitting out grass and dirt he sat up and looked at the Uchiha who's Sharingan reflected the firelight. "Um...having a moment?" He said chuckling and looking anywhere but at Itachi. Itachi glared at him and pulled Kisame up by her arm. "I'll be taking my girlfriend to bed with me. Alone." She emphasized as Ryuu opened his mouth to speak. The two women turned on their heels and walked away to their shared bedroll.

"Why do you hate me so much Kami?!" He said to the star speckled sky. He heard panting and soft moaning coming from Itachi's bed roll and he plugged his ears, settling in front of the fire as he resumed his battle scene. "You're gonna die alone!" Madara whisper-scolded him. "You'll never carry on your bloodline!" Hashirama whisper-screamed at him. Shaking his head, he brushed the figures away and watched their smoke dissipate into the night sky. He punched his pouch a few times and laid down, closing his eyes and falling into a fitful slumber.

"Well? How'd it go?" Shinjo asked as they walked through endless plains of grass swaying in the wind. "She's got a girlfriend" Ryuu mumbled. "She's got a what? A girlfriend? Who?!" Shinjo asked, looking around as if this mystery girl was with them. "The Uchiha" Ryuu responded pointing to Itachi. "Damn. Sorry man. I didn't know," he said as he ruffled Ryuu's hair, "I'm sure there's a special someone out there for you." "Maybe" he muttered as they fell into step behind the women. "Not far now!" Itachi called to them. They continued to walk, stepping ever closer to their destinies.