Chapter 22: Chapter 22: Valar Morghulis - Valar Dohaeris
< Madara POV >
The winds on the seas felt new to me, standing at the bow overlooking the waters and the coast of Essos on the way to Braavos.
The crew with me consisted of around 40 sailors who controlled and maintained the ship. I also brought around 100 Uchiha guards here to protect the boat while the sailors sell and buy.
I have gained some information on water dancing teachers. Recently, I heard that a First Sword of Bravos has resigned. I plan on hiring him to help Dany.
As we sail closer, the upright colossal statue reminds me of the figures of Hashirama and me at the valley of the end.
The sails of other ships indicate where they are from. One striking sail I noticed was that of a stag.
'The stag of the baratheons?'
"The King of the Seven Kingdoms is hosting another tournament." A sailor whispered to his other companion
"What do you mean?" I inquired for more information.
"Ah, my lord. Recently, rumours have spread that Robert Baratheon is hosting a tournament in Westeros in four months."
'Oh, this makes it interesting. I have been wanting a way to get a hold of Westeros. Winning this tournament would help my plan move forward a lot easier. Since I understand the rules of this world, as long as I can become a knight, I can ask to own land, where I can create my new village.' My gaze lingers on the Uchiha Guards on the boat with the striking Uchiha fan logo on their backs.
As we docked at the port, the surrounding people kept eyeing us. From the corner of my eye, I noticed a shadowy figure inside the crowd.
They felt out of place but also in place. Intuitively, my eyes strain as my Sharingan is opened.
Noticing a dark energy surrounding his face. My vision could clearly see a woman, but then a shadow would appear of an ordinary-looking male overlapping.
'So this is the faceless?'
The female I was watching showed a natural smile, but slowly, it faded, backing up into the crowd and disappearing.
'Is it his skill to determine I saw through him? Or was it a warning from their god? Either way, this makes this place a lot more fun,' With slightly closed eyes and a grin on my face.
Stepping off the boat and finally touching the ground, I looked back at the Uchiha guards and stopped on Yellow Bug.
"Yellow Bug, you will be on guard duty. Ensure no mice sneak in, and be careful of those closest to you. This place... The closest people may not be who they are." My tone left an unquestionable tone while also leaving a warning.
"Uchiha Guards!." Yellow Bug yelled in Valryian
The Uchiha guards formed properly as they sent my farewells, again attracting the audience. The armour and the masks did the part I wanted, striking fear and awe.
Pacing myself through the streets of Braavos, I observe and eavesdrop on conversations.
"Valar Morghulis"
"Valar Dohaeris,"
A scrawny child flipped a coin into a beggar's hand. The very homeless man then stood up and changed into a different persona.
Any easy emotions I would have had originally on this expedition slowly become stale and calm.
'These faceless are not easy.'
"Did you hear the first sword of Bravos lives down by the iron bank? He taught kids some of his style, but no one could catch his eye."
Unfortunately, I was looking for an ex-master.
Turning away to find more information, my feet stopped moving.
"You mean ex-first sword? I heard he left because he got into an altercation with one of the emissaries from the Lannister household and was left."
Filtering out the final words, I only needed to know that the water dancer I sought lived near the Iron Bank.
Sometime later, the iron bank stood tall before me, but I did not want to go inside. Instead, walking towards two guards who were lazing around, soon sobered up the moment I came into their view.
Feeling their condescending eyes, the laughter in my heart almost couldn't help but come out.
'These two actually look down on me.' This feeling was very fresh and novel.
Blood vessels pumped into my eyes as my Sharingan started to turn, releasing a genjutsu.
"Where does the ex-first sword of Braavos live."
"Black... house...red... pots..."
Soon, only silence was left.
My feet moved faster than my mind; as I made my way to his house, the guard's illusion would end shortly after I left. No need to kill them. I am not a bloodthirsty maniac.
'Black House and Red Pots' Repalying the information in my head, I came across that exact description.
Just as I was about to knock on the door, I had a better idea.
I wanted to test this new upcoming master who would be entrusted to Dany.
Crouching low and moving slowly, I pull myself through the window.
Climbing the wooden frame structure in the house to get an advantage at a high ground point.
My breathing was calmed to almost a halt as I felt one with my surroundings and no emotions on my face to cover any attacks or killing intent.
I was in a perfect state of man and nature.
Time passed slowly, but I was soon rewarded for my patience as I saw him appear in my vision.
With a small stature and curly brown hair, he treads lightly and carefully into the room. He moved his hands to the hilt of his rapier sword and looked around.
His expression was not seen clearly from the faint flickering of the candlelight.
'He has a strong situational awareness, or at least his intuition is spot on.' potent dopamine started to rise from my heart to my mind.
'Since he could do this, let's see how strong he is.' Soon, I calmed myself. Suppressing these emotions, I slowly grabbed three shurikens and threw them.
'If he dies from this, then I will find another. If he can survive this, he will be worth my own shot,' my body shifts to match my thoughts.
The three shurikens flew fast and silently, but my heart felt its blood pumping fast as a visual feast was shown before my eyes.
Seemingly noticing the first shuriken, he stepped back gracefully, the shuriken piercing right into the floorboard.
The second one came from behind at a much different angle. This would surely hit anyone unprepared, but it was as if he had eyes on the back of his head. He slowly turned at this exact moment, just as if he was dancing.
His eyes moved from the second shuriken to my location.
'He can even judge my approximate location.' My lips couldn't help but curl.
However, it soon opened and turned into a slow and deep breath, and my head shook slowly with it.
The third shuriken was thrown faster than the other two, but he attacked at the same time, moving towards me, the third shuriken was a sure hit.
'I guess he was just arrogant after all.' A pain flashed in my heart. This was a perfect teacher for Dany already, and I killed him.
But soon, my heart skipped a beat as I saw him stab with his rapier right into the hole in the middle of the shuriken, controlling it and still attacking my spot.
My legs bounced from my location, twirling my body midair into a proper landing position. Standing up and patting my body to dust off anything, my gaze fell upon this short person, breaking the silence first.
"Impeccable, the ex-first sword of Braavos." I could only speak highly of him.
Initially, the pain in my heart for a second was me thinking he would die from that shuriken throw, but this also made me realize that I should not underestimate these highly skilled mortals.
"Who are you, and what are you doing here, boy." I heard him talk in a sharp tone using the common tongue
My lower lip quivered at the corner, in a rapid succession going up and down, after hearing the word "boy."
The worst part was that I couldn't even get angry because I was literally a boy.
A ten-year-old one at that, too.
"I am Madara Uchiha. I am here to find the ex-first sword of Bravos. I have a commission." I say in a firm tone, pushing out my chest and tilting my neck upwards.
"And why should I accept after you broke into my home and attacked me? Boy?" Again, he spoke slowly and fluently like water, just like his profession.
"First, I do not like being called a Boy." My eyes couldn't help but lose their lustre, my original, confident smile turned stiff, and my body became a lot more casual and lumped.
"Second, it's because I am stronger. Let's follow the primitive rules of the world; the weak listens to the strong." Straightening my body, raising my arms, and slowly clenching my fists to align with his face, I was ready for a battle.
"No, I choose to accept, " he said, sheathing his sword. But not before flicking the stabbed shuriken off his sword into a wooden frame.
I felt a breeze fly by my face, cooling the boiling blood in my veins. My body moved towards a chair at a table and just slouched.
I didn't bother to force him to fight as it wouldn't be his best.
"Tea? " he says to me. Slowly moving my head left to right with a long deep breath, I felt a surge of anger, but also grief.
Seeing me not agreeing, he doesn't insist.
Sitting down, he opens his arms for me to talk.
"I have already introduced myself, so I won't say that anymore. I have a..."
My heart churns into something. A silvery-haired girl, always smiling and trying to play around but never giving up, appeared in my mind.
The serious words slowly turned into an elder's gentle voice.
"Sister..."
My heart felt warm, as if accepting this truth was better for me. Maybe it was or wasn't, but I did now truly feel that Daenerys was a real family to me.
The gentle tone soon left after that single word, returning to my usual calm and indifferent tone.
"I want her to learn water dancing from you. She, like me, is my age and has been training since she was six." I watch as his face turns from disinterest to interest.
"She has been interested in water dancing, which is her strong suit. I hope you can help teach her your knowledge, in return-"
"Nothing needed in return." The urge to hit him came back to me after being cut off, but soon, my quick anger turned into satisfaction by what he said.
He continued "I have been wanting to find an apprentice to pass down my skills, but no one was able to take that spot. If your sister is as good as you claim, she will be the one. If you are wrong, I'll just take it as something to do."
He looks me straight in my eyes.
"Like you said, follow the primitive rules of the world. The moment I saw those unique eyes of yours, I knew I wouldn't win. This is not a cowardly heart.
A person should understand his position. If I were still the first sword of Bravos, I might take you up on that offer, but now I am just a man who wants to live freely and teach an apprentice."
After he said this all in one breath, he leaned back and sipped his tea in elegance.
'Worthy of a master.' My childish beating heart couldn't help but speed up; this was the demeanour of a strong man, not like that other rabble I have seen.
"Okay, I have more things to do while I'm here. The ship is docked at the port. Just look for a boat with a sail sigil of a white and red fan.
You can get on. We will leave in about a couple of days. You can pack all you need. You will be expected to live at the new place until you believe you have taught all you could."
Rising from the seat and walking towards the door, I felt I had forgotten something.
After a second of thinking, my mind became apparent, and I remembered what I wanted to ask.
"Just to make sure you are who I thought you were, can you confirm your name?" Although it wouldn't matter, I just got a general description of him and wanted to double-check.
My worries were no longer needed once I heard him say
"Syrio Forel."
"I will see you in a couple of days, Syrio Forel." My hands waved in the air, and my back turned to him as I left. The casual goodbye was like talking to a friend.
I walked through the intricate streets of Braavos, which showed the life of the common people.
My pace was steady, and my breathing was calm.
What I was about to face next will be necessary; many of my plans can be changed or revised based on this interaction.
The huge building temple of the many-faced god was left a hundred meters before me. No nearby people walked this way, but many murmurs were heard when they saw me approaching.
"Poor kid must have lost something important to come here."
"If that kid gets accepted, someone else may come out of that house."
"I hope I never did anything to harm him."
These voices were hardly audible; most of them were murmurs, but they were still distinctive whenever I walked past them.
Stepping onto the stairs, I walked slowly and easily, staring at the doors. The closer I got, the more my heartbeat. Adrenaline started pulsating through me.
Finally, I arrived at the doors before I could even plan what to do next.
It opened on its own, and some ordinary person looked at me.
"A boy has finally arrived," the man said in a tranquil voice as if nothing could bother him.
"Why does everyone here call me boy?" My adrenaline-filled body slowly converted into a faster heartbeat. The boiling blood inside me had no place to vent, but I kept myself sane.
"A boy will find the answers himself; he only needs to accept the gift of the many-faced gods." My grumbling was soon cut short as he invited me inside.
Stepping inside, the hairs on my neck stood up. This same power I once felt was like the sage of six paths.
My eyes strained on their own as my Sharingan turned on. The dynamic vision instantly was filled with dark, ethereal energy floating around, originating from the fountain in the center and branching off into the side doors.
"It seems you are no boy." These words caught my attention.
When I turned, I saw that the person who brought me in had changed into a look of a male with red and white hair.
"A man's name is Jaqen H'ghar. I am the spokesperson for the many-faced gods."
My Sharingan observed a shadowy entity behind him, a shadowy representation of who he or she once was. The shapes kept flickering: old, weak, petite, tall... all shapes and sizes.
My vision couldn't be wrong. Was this truly who this person was? 'Everyone? No one?' Or was this effect only because of the influence of this energy?
Reaching my hands to touch the ethereal power, I moved my hands through it, but I felt a tiny grasp of it sink into my hands.
"I don't know why you have appeared here, but there's a price on your head. Daemon Targaryen." His tone was still tranquil, like a calm lake. He didn't seem worried at all after mentioning my bounty.
Since he didn't attack me immediately, I'm curious if it's what I think. My heart felt calm, even if my secret was about to be revealed.
My heart didn't have a heartbeat skip or anything. I had already accepted this truth would be known, and I never cared about it being a secret or told to everyone. Only strength determines everything.
"However, there is no Daemon Targaryen in this world." He looked at me with what seemed to me soulless eyes. Looking for any reaction on my face, he just continued, seeing that I didn't have any, "Only a Madara Uchiha remains."
The quiet ambience of the temple felt even more eery and quiet after these words came out.
"Interesting, so unless they pay you to kill Madara Uchiha as the name, then you won't be able to do anything for Daemon Targaryen?." This was really interesting to me, but it also makes sense. I've heard about some warlock magic that can take other people's bodies, but their soul makes them.
"So if someone were to pay to kill me, how much would it be, and would you think you could succeed?" This conversation led to this. My body trembled from excitement. The thrill of battle was always my favourite, and I was never afraid of challenges.
Observing Jaqen H'ghar's pensive look. I assumed he was conversing with his god.
If I were in my heyday, that god would be a bigger ant.
"The price is expensive but doable at this given moment. But it will gradually go up until someone can't, or at least no materialistic things could... As for succeeding." He paused and finally said something that made my breathing quicken. "Yes."
I felt if they genuinely believed these faceless men could kill me, they would need to bring the best of their best, and that thought thrilled me. Looking at this man, I feel we will have that fight.
"What would be the price to stop you from assassinating someone?." Another feeling of pain crossed my heart. I didn't want to imagine another such future of losing someone close to me.
"If the many-faced god accepts it, a man must do it." He said with slow but clearly deliberate and steady words.
Eyes staring daggers at Jaqen H'ghar. "What if I insist that you never assassinate her."
He still looked unbothered by this, saying, "Then you just protect her well. We will accept your revenge; no one is afraid." He said this still with that blank face.
The thought of leaving on my future expedition to Westeros only to come back to Daenerys lifeless body filled my chest with pain. The overlapping memories moved my mind to me sitting beside my brother as I had to take his eyes for the future of protecting my clan.
I never forgave myself.
The suppressed adrenaline I had felt coming here, and the anger, now this... I couldn't hold back anymore. It was time to at least show my strength to prevent the worst from happening.
"Then I will have to show some muscle to make you and your god behind you afraid."
My hand quickly grabs the tanto on my waist; I raise my arm to slice off his neck instantly. Still, it seemed Jaqen H'ghar was already on guard as he dodged, but having to step back, he pulled out a valyrian steel dagger, stabbing at me.
Watching this in slow motion, I move my head to the side, dodging, and apply a genjutsu to end this swiftly, but it's cut short due to the energy constantly flowing into his body.
'Tsk'
Jumping backwards, I resheathe my tanto. My hands go to grab inside my clothes. Pulling out six shurikens, I throw them at separate times within a quick instance.
My training paid off as I knocked the first three and the last three into separate locations. From six different angles, all towards Jaqen's vital spots, I was prepared to go all out. Dodging would also prove futile. He was forced to defend with his body, which gave me a big advantage in this confrontation.
My eyes that were concentrated suddenly contracted; I was witnessing something extraordinary... I slowly watched as he quickly grabbed his face and turned from an adult male to a kid like me. All my shurikens were aimed at an adult male, not a child.
Slowly analyzing his next move, I forsee him charging at me. I get into a position ready for this, pulling out my tanto to block his dagger.
Exchanging blows back and forth, Steel clashing again Steel, but I can see his dagger slowly chipping away at my tanto.
My Sharingan is taking in all his movements. Watching these slow actions, I can easily follow and keep up. I then felt a huge information load and felt like my brain was going to burst. I realized I was also copying and parsing this energy at the same time.
The dynamic aspect has become a downside in this situation.
My eyes move faster and faster without control, from watching his attacks to receiving more information from the surroundings. My body was starting to be unable to follow. I felt a sight cut on my face, blood slipping down my cheek.
My movements were getting slower while Jaqen fought as if he had infinite energy and was still attacking.
The moment I felt the blood running down my cheek, I only felt more and more dopamine and adrenaline inside me, I thought I could start keeping up with his attacks, and soon, I was turning the tide. The energy I am copying is slowly making its way into my body. Seemingly noticing this, Jaqen backs off and starts throwing darts at me. I quickly slash the darts down.
When my gaze fell on her, he had changed into a skinny girl.
"A girl is an acrobatic circus performer," she said
My brain couldn't keep up with what he said; I didn't find It meaningful until when I went to attack, he dodged flexibly and struck at me from another weird, almost impossible angle. My tanto was just in place to block, but it couldn't handle this strike. The tanto was cut in half as the dagger pierced my arm.
The pain of a thousand needles was felt. I clenched my teeth, but it slowly turned into a bloody smile.
With a strong force from my legs, raising it and kicking right into her neck, I felt I touch a soft cu. Ion, I knew she had received my kick, and I heard bone snapping; her neck was now bent.
Any mortal would have died from this, but I just saw her fall down, but her life force was still strong.
I step back and put myself into a new stance. The Valyrian steel dagger is still stuck in my arm. I knew pulling it out would only be detrimental, especially in this world where medical attention is lacking.
My Sharingan closes. Constant images and applications on how to use this ethereal energy impact my brain, and I am overloaded with information.
My normal eyes now felt heightened, as if I had first awakened my dynamic vision. I realized this was part of the energy I copied.
I see her stand back up, placing her hands on her neck and setting them back into place. I take in as my gaze rests upon her hands, and her nails grow longer and sharper. Then, with long, lanky movements, she strides up to me and starts another round of attacks.
I dodged and struck back, breaking her elbow, but it seemed she meant it. The newly bent elbow with her sharp nails swiped right at my face, I just barely dodged and then pulled out a kunai and stabbed her in the stomach.
I took a deep breath. This was the most intense battle I have felt ever since I came to this world. I knew I was facing off against a champion of a god in this world, and this was to be expected.
Watching her on the ground bleeding out, my emotions only heightened; although I was able to counterattack, the battle intuition I had trained for countless was going off. My heart beat faster as I could only stare as she stood up rickety.
Pulling her face off into a muscle man. The bleeding stomach was gone. Instead, the spot was now on this man's thigh, but it was tiny.
I was as big as his kneecap in comparison to height.
"A man is a brawler," he said, his voice thundering in these echoing halls. I felt my body even reverberate from it.
'someone that big woul-' My heart was beating fast, started to beat slower.
A punch came swirling fast. I only felt the wind brush my face, forcing my eyes to close. With my Sharingan off, I couldn't see it, but my instincts controlled my movements, jumping backwards quickly.
"A man has reached the peak of humanity, a human champion two eight-thousand years ago." casually explaining more about himself.
My body is still acting based on instincts, crouching, jumping into handstand flips, and leaping up while I throw shurikens, which are lodged in his muscles.
The punches kept coming; I knew if my body was hit, I would die.
Suddenly, the battle shift changed. He had stopped charging and just stood before me.
Taking this time to breathe correctly and feel my current body condition, I felt the tearing pain in my arm... If I keep fighting, it may be crippled.
I overestimated how this would go, but I never thought he could use several transformations, even those from thousands of years ago, and who knows how many more.
Another aspect is that in this room, using the Sharingan is pointless.
If this factor didn't exist, I wouldn't be so passive.
"The Many-Faced God does not wish to continue; a boy is asked to leave,"
"Heh, when have I ever listened to rabble." I couldn't help but raise my neck high and attempt to look down on him, even if I was small. I knew this fight could lead to loss, but I would still be as arrogant as possible. Especially since I don't even know the outcome. Why should I lose?
"Then, for the first time since my establishment, the many-faced god shall take a life without a price." The body the size of a bull charged at me.
At this moment, I felt a subtlety as this man charged me down; I felt everything was slowing down, the fierce look on his face, the water flowing from the fountain, the blood dripping from my cheek and arms.
Slowly opening my eyes, a bright red glow highlights its presence in this darkened room.
'I can see it.' My dead heart finally sparked with life.
In my vision, watching the energy swirl around and into him, I could see each node of his body using this power, how he uses it, how he channels it, and where it comes from.
A warm current filled me, like being bathed in a hot spring. Unprecedented power came back to me, and I felt this familiar feeling. It was not the same as chakra, but it was close enough.
The energy channelled into my legs, and I leaped to a pillar holding this building up; yet, instead of falling, I stood horizontally.
"HAHAHA." This was it.
Although it's the very basics, and it's very little.
It's enough.
I have now grasped this power.
I understand it.
I flowed the energy to my feet and stepped forward.
Time moved very slowly, but I was fast. Before his eyes could keep up with me, I was already in front of him.
That ferocious face finally contorted into one full of disbelief and horror. The loud words even shook the temple itself.
"IMPOSSIBLE-"
In one swift moment, from the moment I appeared in front of him, I had already pulled out the Valyrian steel dagger stuck in my arm and sliced straight into his veiny neck, "ahh," Applying all my strength to this, my arm pushed forward with one straight motion.
The head leaving his shoulders and the unbelievable look on his face excited me. This was one hell of a fight, but it was thrilling.
Blood sprayed everywhere, dyeing the fountain red and anything else around it. Falling to his knees headless, the body started flickering into several different body types and shapes until nothing was left, just a husk of a body.
My body fell to the floor as the blood running down my arm made me feel like I was falling into a cold and dark room. I couldn't keep focus.
I had to stop breathing heavily, taking deep breaths in and out. My breathing fell under a steady rhythm, getting into control.
Although I have now beaten the champion of the many-faced god, I am not sure if he will accept Danys assassination requests.
As my adrenaline starts wearing off, I feel the world become weightless as my arm keeps losing blood.
The sound of footsteps faintly echoes in this empty temple and my heart races. I have just worn off the adrenaline, and now my body feels exhausted.
"A boy has won. The many-faced god agrees to your request not to accept Daenerys Targaryen's assassinations." The voice sounded familiar.
Laying on my back, I stared at a man with red hair and white hair once again coming into view.
"I thought I killed you."
"You killed No one," he says expressionlessly. Afterwards, I saw him wave his hand and a bunch of energy waving towards me.
But my instincts told me not to dodge. I trusted myself very much and allowed this energy to wash over me.
"A sign of good faith from the many-faced god." He once again continued.
I tried to better understand this power as it flowed through me and worked its wonders, but halfway through the healing, I felt I could no longer contract this power.
"A boy must learn to control his own power, not the power of others." Hearing this again, like a parent teaching a child, made my heart beat fast and my face red. I couldn't tell if it was anger or embarrassment.
I was only left to my thoughts as I lay here.
This time, I overexaggerated myself, but the gains were worth it.
I now knew the principle of this ethereal energy and how it works now.
With this knowledge, it won't be soon that I can start training it on my own.
My mind went blank, and my heart went cold. The moment I stepped out of the temple after being healed. I could no longer feel the flow of energy...
I felt the excitement, passion, and ambition go away. Once again, I had to wake up to a reality I didn't want to believe.
There is an energy in this world that is as powerful as chakra, but the problem is that it's so little. The most I can save up is for special moments, and I can only use the most basic things taught to graduate to genin.
However, this would be a very strong power to pass on to others, even if it feels worthless to me. Just the enhanced vision and body strengthening made humans physically stronger and faster.
I looked at the coin in my hand from the emissary of the many-faced gods and his lingering words.
"A boy needs to give this to his sister." His serious look, compared to his expressionless look, made me overthink it. Now, I am still determining whether I should do it.
'What should I do.'
Looking at the wreath on my wrist, which is dyed red, my heart starts to feel a stinging pain, but it soon goes back to normal.
My gaze lingers in the direction of Pentos.
It's time to go home.