. . .
Ok then.... first step...
Lumian took a moment to observe their positions and notable angles. One of the Chunin were leaning on the wall to the right while the other was leaning on the wall to the right. One Genin was squatting next to a trash can, disgustingly so...., while the other lounged on top of a wooden crate, legs dangling.
The Tall one that sensed him was standing upright with his posture straight.
Lumian grimaced.
"This guy's standing in the middle with his arms crossed... Who does he think he is, a military instructor?"
Considering each of their appearances and positions, Lumian immediately eliminated the Chunins as notable targets, rightfully so..
That left the Genins.
"Hmm.... which one looks the most stupid...."
Right on cue, the Genin squatting next to the trash can reached up his nose to pick his boogers.
"Bingo."
Lumian grinned as he picked his victim. "Now I just got to lure him away..."
Making a hand seal he drew his chakra in, and carefully tethered his connection towards the booger picking Genin's position. Then, he opened his mouth and made a sound to draw his attention.
POP.
. . .
Down below, the genin's ears twitched. He blinked, looking around.
"Hey guys did you hear that?"
Sitting on top of the wooden crate, the other Genin frowned and tilted his head in confusion.
"Hear what?"
The trash-can Genin stood up, still glancing around.
As the other's drew their attention towards him, he waited.
"..."
Hearing nothing, he scratched his head. "Eh. Must've imagined it."
POP.
The Genin jolted, eyes snapping toward the alley entrance.
"I hear it again!"
One of the Chunins frowned as he cupped his hands to his ears. Brad chuckled and looked at the Genin in amusement.
"I'm not hearing anything. You okay, Todo? Have you hit your head?"
Todo frowned as he shook his head. "I'm sure that I'm hearing something...."
POP.
Todo twitched his eyebrows.
POP.
"GODDAMN IT"
With a frustrated growl, Todo marched toward the exit, eyes blazing.
"I swear.. if I find out what's making that noise!"
The others watched in silence.
"...."
The Genin on the crate finally asked, "...What the hell's his problem?"
The Chunin leaning against the far wall sighed, shaking his head.
"Ignore that guy... he's probably on something...."
. . .
. . .
(A Few moments later)
"Yo."
The Genin on the crate glanced over as Todo returned, brushing some dust off his sleeve.
"Did you find out what was making the noise?" he asked with a grin.
Todo clicked his tongue and rubbed the side of his head.
"Nothing... But I know I was hearing something."
One of the Chunin laughed and strolled over, slapping a hand on Todo's shoulder.
"Sure, sure. Just admit you accidentally drank from your dad's sake stash again!"
Todo growled and shoved his friend's arm off. "Shut your mouth."
The Chunin just chuckled and turned to Brad. "We should go grab something to eat. Maybe stuffing this idiot will get his brain working again."
The group erupted in laughter, all eyes shifting toward Brad.
Brad smirked and turned to the other Chunin still leaning against the wall.
"How much do we have left from that brat we 'borrowed' from last week?"
The Chunin dug into his pocket, jangling some coins before pulling them out.
"Eh... about 5,000 ryō."
"That'll do. Let's move."
With Brad taking the lead, the rest perked up and started toward the alley's exit.
The joking Chunin threw an arm around Todo's shoulders again.
"Come on! You're buying if we see dango!"
Todo muttered something under his breath, but didn't resist as he was dragged along.
While the others bantered and laughed, Todo stayed quiet, eyes watching.
Wallet, right pocket. Wallet, left pocket. Wallet... back-right pocket.
His gaze shifted to Brad, walking just ahead of the group.
Back-left pocket...
A subtle smirk played on Todo, no.... Lumian's lips.
Infiltration successful.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"Here's your order."
Todo gave a nod of thanks and walked over to where the group was seated on a long wooden bench under the shade of a faded red awning.
His fellow Genin looked up with a puzzled expression.
"Mitarashi Dango? I thought you liked Hanami Dango."
Todo sat down beside him, casually popping one of the soy-glazed dumplings into his mouth. He chewed with exaggerated delight and spoke through a half-full mouth.
"What do you mean? I like Mitarashi too."
The Genin frowned and scratched his head.
"Huh. Didn't know you were the variety type."
Todo shrugged and leaned slightly closer, eyes glancing briefly toward the Genin's own dango.
"Mmm. This stuff's good."
"Yeah, not bad," the Genin said, distracted, as he bit into another skewer.
Todo grinned and leaned back just a little.
Then, his attention drifted to the other side of the bench, where chaos had apparently broken out.
The quirky Chunin had one hand around his comrade's neck, shaking him violently.
"Spit it out! Spit it out!"
"Grkkk—!"
Sighing, Todo stood and stretched, throwing a glance towards Brad, who was still waiting for his order.
He jerked his head toward the commotion.
Looking back and forth between the scuttle and Todo, Brad sighed and waved him off.
"Go ahead."
With an exaggerated yawn, Todo strolled over to the scene and placed a hand gently on the aggressor's shoulder, leaning in close.
"Need a hand?"
"That would be much appreciated, thank you," the Chunin hissed through gritted teeth, still throttling his comrade.
Todo stepped around, crouched slightly, and yanked at the pinned Chunin's pants.
"GRKK?!"
Startled, the Chunin immediately spat the dango from his mouth, choking and coughing as he fought to keep his pants from falling down.
"Todo?! What the hell!?"
Todo smiled innocently.
He turned to the now-freed Chunin, who was panting and staring down at the mess of spit-covered dango on the ground.
"You still gonna eat that?"
"...No."
Dusting off his hands, Todo returned to his seat, ignoring the furious, red-faced Chunin tugging his pants back up.
The Genin stared at him, wide-eyed.
"That was... a weird way to break it up."
Todo picked up his dango skewer and took a bite.
"Effective though."
. . .
As the group finished their food, Brad tossed his empty skewer onto the ground with a loud smack.
"Let's go."
The others got up and followed, joking and stretching. Todo lingered just long enough not to raise suspicion.
He winced at the sight of the scattered skewers left on the ground, muttering under his breath as he picked them up.
"Filthy bastards... No respect for the environment."
He dropped them into a nearby trash can, then hurried to catch up, careful not to let the wallets stuffed in his pockets jostle too loudly.
That brief lean-in when the Genin was eating.The hand on the Chunin's shoulder during the chokehold.The pants-pull during the chaos...
All perfectly timed.
As he rejoined the group, he glanced at Brad's back.
Back-left pocket.
Todo's grin returned.
"Now I just have to steal from this bastard... then make my exit."
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
As the group strolled down the narrow village road, their shadows stretching long in the afternoon light, Todo subtly closed the distance between himself and Brad.
"So... Brad," he began casually, "you really going to that family dinner tonight?"
Before Brad could answer, the quirky Chunin threw an arm around his shoulders, grinning.
"Yeah! Come oonnn, skip it just once! What's the worst that could happen?"
Brad sighed, brushing the arm off with a shake of his head. "I can't. You guys know my father... skipping's not an option."
Todo clicked his tongue in mild frustration as the rest of the group huddled in closer, blocking his path forward.
"Damn it… I can't do anything with these idiots bunching up like a pack of dogs..."
He drifted slightly to the left, then to the right, weaving along the edges of the group like a predator circling its prey.
"I've gotta move fast. The longer I wait, the more likely someone checks their pocket..."
Glancing over his shoulder, Todo made a subtle gesture toward a nearby rooftop.
Almost imperceptibly, a head popped up over the edge of the roof and signaled back.
Todo narrowed his eyes, lips barely moving as he mouthed the words:
"I need a distraction."
Whether his clone had seen or understood was anyone's guess.
He sighed, eyes flicking forward.
Brad was still at the center of the group, just out of reach. The window was closing.
"It's now or never..."
. . .
(Five minutes later)
Todo was reaching his limit.
His jaw clenched, shoulders stiff with tension as the endless bickering around him continued like a mosquito buzzing in his ear.
"Forget it… Might be better to dip while I still have some dignity left…"
He shot an irritated glance toward the rooftops.
"Clone… seriously, what's taking so long?"
Just then, as if on cue, a sharp crash echoed from up the slope ahead.
"MY MELONS!!"
Todo's head snapped up.
A vendor's cries rang out as his stand collapsed in a spectacular mess, sending dozens of massive green melons tumbling down the slope like fruit-flavored boulders of death.
Wide-eyed, the group froze.
"Are those...?"
"Move!!"
Todo saw one melon barreling straight toward Brad, who, in true tall and silent fashion, looked at it with unimpressed contempt.
Nope.
Todo surged forward, shoulder-first.
"Brad! Look out!"
He slammed into Brad's back, knocking him forward just as the melon bounced past where his head had been. Brad faceplanted with a surprised grunt.
Around them, chaos erupted. The group dived to the side, stumbling over each other, and one even vaulting over a melon with a panicked yelp.
When the last fruit rolled past and silence returned, Todo exhaled shakily and got to his feet.
"You okay, Brad?"
Brad pushed himself up, expression unreadable. Then, without warning, he grabbed Todo by the front of his shirt and yanked him close.
"You really think I'd be done in by something as shitty as melons?"
Todo froze. His face contorted into a sheepish grin, head shaking quickly.
"N-no! Of course not!"
Brad stared at him a second longer, then released his grip with a grunt.
"Good."
He turned and kept walking. The rest of the group followed, throwing Todo either casual shrugs or concerned glances.
Todo let out a shaky breath, straightened his shirt, then reached down and patted his pocket—now stuffed, clearly bulging from the weight of multiple wallets.
A grin crept across his face.
"Get played, scum."
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
As he caught up to the group, he pretended to be a bit afraid as he stuck close to the back.
So far, his act hadn't been noticed by the group. So much for being a friend... Poor Todo.
The sun was dipping low now, shadows stretching long across the path. With the mission accomplished, there wasn't much point in hanging around.
"Now... how do I make my exit? Fake an errand? Just dip? Nah, too casual. They might suspect something-"
. . .
"WAIT!"
. . .
A sudden voice rang out, as the group froze and turned to the voice with a questioning gaze on their faces.
As Lumian turned towards the voice, he internally panicked.
"Shit."
Todo was standing there, his clothes ragged and hair messy. His face sported some bruise marks and his eyes had a wild look to them. As if someone had been knocked out... and found out someone was impersonating them secretly.
Yep, he does have a good reason to be angry...
Panicking without externally showing it, Lumian glared at a nearby rooftop.
"You have one job clone. One job!"
Brad walked forward as the group made way as their gazes were utterly confused.
The tall Chunin crossed his arm and looked at the raggedy Todo with his eyebrows raised in suspicion. He looked back between Lumian and Todo with a baffled look on his face.
Behind him the group muttered.
"What the hell is going on?"
"There are two Todos?"
Todo gulped as he panted from his long run searching for the group after he woke up.
Clearing his throat and shouting with a croaky voice, he pointed at Lumian.
"Thats an imposter! Get him!"
???!!!!
The group gasped. Heads whipped between the two.
Lumian didn't miss a beat. He scowled and shot back.
"Who the hell is this? Are you guys seriously buying into this act?"
The group looked back at Todo.
Startled, Todo angrily stomped his feet yelling at the group.
"He's lying!!"
?????!!!!!
Brad was visibly contemplating this situation in confusion as even he was confused on what the hell was going on.
Lumian let out a tsk and put a hand on his waist.
"C'mon seriously? Brad, don't you remember that your family's doing a get-together meal tonight? And not to mention... didn't you guy's want to go to that place instead?"
. . .
The group nodded as they slowly turned their heads towards Todo with slightly more suspicion.
"Yeah... Todo does know that information..."
"That mean this bastards the imposter??"
Todo panicked as he looked at Lumian in startlement.
"How does he know that??!!"
As the group slowly started to diverge their opinions towards Lumian, he internally smiled.
"That's right. Two can play the memory game, dumbass."
Just as it seemed like the balance was tipping in his favor, Brad raised a hand. Silence fell.
Hands in his pockets, the tall Chunin stepped forward, squinting.
"If you're the real Todo..." he said calmly, "then stand still."
Both Lumian and Real Todo froze, confused.
Brad's eyes suddenly shifted.
His lack eyes turned a blood red as a single-tomoe rotated in quick succession around his pupils.
Sharingan.
Lumian gaped at Brad who now shifted his gaze towards him.
"Sharingan??!!! He's a frickin Uchiha??"
Brad pointed at Lumian.
"That one."
Just then a sudden voice rang out.
"MY WALLET!"
"ME TOO!"
"WHAT THE???"
. . .
The group erupted. Hands slapped into empty pockets.
Brad reached behind him. His fingers met nothing but cloth.
Silence.
Lumian let out a nervous laugh, scratching the back of his neck.
"Heh… this is awkward..."
He was answered with murder in their eyes.
Lumian suddenly pointed towards a random direction.
"Uhhh… Look over the-!"
"GET HIM!"
Lumian let out a sharp tsk.
"That usually works in the movies..."
He clapped his hands in a quick seal.
POOF!
Smoke burst outward in a dense gray cloud. Coughing and shouting followed.
"Don't let him get away!"
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Lumian darted through the crowded market street, slipping between clusters of villagers who shouted in surprise as he brushed past. A startled fruit vendor yelped as his basket was knocked over, apples scattering across the cobblestones.
"I need to lose them…"
Behind him, the thunder of pursuit echoed, furious voices rising in chaotic chorus as angry shinobi shoved aside pedestrians with zero remorse.
"Move!"
"Outta the way!"
"Get that bastard!"
Lumian's eyes flicked across the environment: a shopfront, a vendor cart, a narrow alley to the side, but nothing that screamed safe. His breath came fast, and his pulse quickened as he glanced over his shoulder....
....and froze.
Brad was gaining.
Eyes blood-red with the Sharingan, gaze locked like a hawk eyeing its prey. He didn't dodge or stumble. Uncannily so, he didn't even blink.
"Why the hell does he look like Goku when he spots a strong opponent?" Lumian gritted his teeth and turned up the speed.
He vaulted over a hay cart, flipping through the air. The old man pushing it shrieked in panic, nearly letting go. Lumian hit the ground in a sprint.
Brad didn't even flinch.
He weaved around the hay cart with smooth precision, never breaking stride.
"Damn, I can't outrun this guy."
Even with the Marauder's physical enhancements, Lumian wasn't in top form. Not with 5 different wallets weighing down his pockets like bricks. And especially not against a damn Uchiha Chunin who apparently moonlighted as a predator missile.
"Think....."
His eyes scanned again.
A narrow alley between two buildings.
"There!"
He juked left and ducked into the alleyway, boots splashing into a puddle as he turned sharply.
Lumian created a hand seal as he ran as Chakra poured into his system.
He hoped to form some Shadow clones as a distraction.
"This'll slow them down... give me ten seconds, maybe more."
He rounded the corner as he was about to unleash the justu.
And skidded to a stop.
Brick wall.
Dead end.
"...Damn it."
He whirled back just as Brad entered the alleyway, his gait calm and predatory. His Sharingan eyes glowed red as they locked into Lumian.
Behind him, the rest of the group surged in: Chunin and Genin alike, red-faced and panting, forming a semi-circle at the entrance. The alley was blocked. Every escape path sealed.
. . .
Lumian was trapped.
. . .
He took a slow step back until his shoulders pressed against the wall.
Brad took one slow step forward.
"You bastard…"
Sweat trickled down Lumian's temple.
He looked around.
No exits.
Angry Shinobi.
"...Well," he muttered under his breath with a strained smile,
"Shit."
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(Author's note:
Amooong us. lol
So, I've actually been developing a new fanfic recently since my school year is basically over.
Its going to take a bit of time since I need to read the material more and research the writer's method of creating a meaningful tone.
So, its probably going to come out by the end of this month.
Hint: Its not Lord of the Mysteries...
. . .
So, please leave a review and comment in my many numerous chapters and this novel!
Arc 1 is designated to end by this month so I hope you guys been enjoying this novel so far....
Anyways, I actually want to hit 100 power stones by the end of this week!
So.....
Power stones pretty please?