"Who he?" asked Naruto.
"Orochimaru, one of the Legendary Sannin of Konoha, an S-Rank Missing Nin," said Tokiko, not bothering to try and mask the anger in her voice. "He was experimenting with monstrous hybrids of man and beast. I'm not sure if they were beasts given human intelligence or humans altered to be more like beasts. They hunted down and ATE everyone. I was hidden in an attic. I saw it happening. Orochimaru in the center, directing the carnage. He didn't care that we were simple farmers - we were merely to test out his newest creations."
Naruto and Hinata kept their silence.
"I saw children my own age, ones that I played with, torn apart. I saw one of the beasts recognize someone, turn on its fellows, and Orochimaru killed that one personally. Everything is a tool to be used for him." Tokiko snarled out at the village.
"That's when you met Might Guy?" asked Hinata.
"He was calling himself Bravo then," said Tokiko. "He acts the fool, but isn't. Well, not as much as he acts. He went through the monsters and went up against Orochimaru himself, but that was just a diversion. Two other ninja of Konoha attacked from ambush. Orochimaru exchanged himself with an Earth Clone technique and got away. I was brought here."
"So you've got the Tragic Past with Hated Foe," noted Naruto as he scratched his chin.
Tokiko regarded him for a moment before finishing with a non-ladylike snort. "You're one to talk."
"Me?" asked Naruto.
"You've been shunned most of your life," said Tokiko. "Then there's the Princess."
"I'm not really a princess," protested Hinata.
"So what's the plan? How do we gather information on Might Guy? Do I just go sneaking into his apartment?" asked Naruto, seeing Hinata get uncomfortable.
"Might Guy, also known as Captain Bravo, also known as the Magnificent Green Beast Of Konoha, known as Captain Falcon during the war with Iwa," said Tokiko. "Taijutsu specialist. Not a 'specialist' like Kakashi Hatake who claims to be a specialist in everything. No, Might Guy truly IS a specialist. He has a summoning contract with turtles, some decent ninjutsu with fire and earth styles, and when pressed has manifested a twin-sword style kenjutsu. Taijutsu though - that's where his main skills lie, even with his '108 Bravo Talents'."
"You said he's not an idiot but acts like one? Why's that?" asked Naruto.
"People don't bother him as much as they would otherwise," said Tokiko, looking out of the corner of her eye at Naruto. "Much like someone else has been known to do."
"Ouch," said Naruto, but grinned widely back at Tokiko.
"So Kurenai wanted us to investigate someone you already know pretty well?" asked Hinata, her tone thoughtful.
"Probably wants us to find something specific," said Naruto, considering that. "Doubt it's something like food preferences though. Some sort of lesson we're supposed to pick up on."
"Curry and foods so spicy that they should be classified as 'weapons-grade'," said Tokiko. "I've accumulated information on Bravo for years now. I wanted to be on his team, but he has a team already."
"Oh, that's too bad," said Naruto, sounding sincere.
"I think I would have gotten stabby with your cousin if I'd been on that team," said Tokiko, inclining her head towards Hinata.
Neji stopped abruptly.
"What is wrong, my most youthful student?" asked Guy, likewise stopping.
Neji Hyuga frowned. "I suddenly got a strange feeling. As if somehow I, bound by fate though I am, have somehow avoided a fate even more painful and full of suffering than my current fate."
"Ah," said Lee on the sidelines. "I get that all the time."
"Ridiculous," said Neji a moment later, returning to a ready stance.
"So, do we have a plan?" asked Naruto.
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(Posted Mon, 16 May 2011 17:05)
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