Illumination – A Naruto Fantasy

"...!"

"Uh?!"

"Ngh!"

"Ah!"

Like a shock to their system, the four barrier holders were bombarded with chakra as they fell under Rei's Illusion

⌈They're under my control! Go! I'll mark enemy locations!⌋ (Rei)

⌈Rei! Start with the ones on the outside, then work your way inwards!⌋ (Tango)

⌈Way ahead of you!⌋ (Rei)

⌈Tai! Suzu! You two stick together, I'll move on my own. Let's make this quick!⌋ (Tango)

⌈Understood!⌋ (Tai)

⌈Right!⌋ (Suzu)

The rest of team Tango moved quickly, yet quietly

⌈Sensei, two on the balcony above you⌋ (Rei)

⌈I'm on it⌋ (Tango)

⌈Tai, Suzu...there's three right around the corner⌋ (Rei)

⌈Got it. I'll...⌋ (Suzu)

⌈Leave this to me!⌋ (Tai)

⌈Tai?!⌋ (Suzu)

{Time to put my new skills to the test!} (Tai)

 

♦♦♦

 

Unraikyō, several weeks ago

WHACK!

"Ooof!" (Tai)

Tai was knocked on the ground

"Get up!" (Tango)

"Ugh. R-right! But Sensei...!" (Tai)

"?" (Tango)

"I'm in the position of the medical-nin right?" (Tai)

"Yes, that's correct" (Tango)

"And my main Ninjutsu involves manipulating mist made from my special oils with Suiton right?" (Tai)

"That's also true. What's your point?" (Tango)

"Well, considering all of that, it's clear I'm a long range fighter. So why are you having me learn Killer B-sama's 'Kakuran Taijutsu'¹Disturbance Taijutsu?" (Tai)

"You don't think it's useful?" (Tango)

"N-no! I never said that! B-sama's unique Taijutsu is known even by normal citizens in the village. Rei's even using it for inspiration to create his own Genjutsu. It's just...I don't think I'm suited to be a close range fighter" (Tai)

"...You think you're a long range fighter?" (Tango)

"Well...yeah. I don't think I'll ever be up to Suzu's, and especially Rei's level" (Tai)

"...Tai...you" (Tango)

♪ When it comes to fightin', ya think ya knows best? Bitch please, ya still a fool like the rest! Fool, ya fool! ♪ (Killer B)

"..." (Tai)

"..." (Tango)

"Umm" (Tai)

"He means medical-nin are naturally trained to avoid conflict because they're the most important members of the squad. But that doesn't mean they always avoid conflict" (Tango)

"Huh?" (Tai)

"It's BECAUSE your taking the spot of our medical-nin that I'm focusing more on your Taijutsu, rather than Ninjutsu during this trip. If you have better hand-to-hand combat abilities, you're less likely to get hurt during missions. It's inevitable for any medic that their squad mates won't always be able to protect them. Remember the events on Genbu?" (Tango)

"Ah!"

{That's right...once the animals got close, I was helpless. Forget fighting them, I couldn't even dodge them on my own...} (Tai)

"You're chakra control is second only to Rei's, so there's no need for you to practice Ninjutsu much during our month long stay here. You're Taijutsu however, has plenty of room to improve. Besides..." (Tango)

"Huh?" (Tai)

"I still don't think we should rule out you being a close range fighter" (Tango)

"But..." (Tai)

"Stop comparing yourself to others! That's a bad trait of yours. Yes, Rei and Suzu have abnormal skill, but do you think you'd be on this team if someone didn't notice your talent? Never underestimate yourself Tai" (Tango)

"Sensei..." (Tai)

"♪ Plus you got the Octo boss here to teach ya
You'll be a whole new man once I'm done with ya.
Ya keep on crying bout yo weak skills
But I'm the one who decides if ya can pay the bills! ♪" (Killer B)

Getting back up

"I don't need a translator to understand that! Let's go again B-sama!" (Tai)

"♪ Bout time you show me what ya got!
Better hurry before Rei and Suzu put ya on the spot! ♪" (Killer B)

"Y-yes sir!" (Tai)

{Despite the laid back attitude you display in your everyday life, the only thing you lack is confidence in your skill, Tai. Once you get past that, you're true talent will emerge} (Tango)

 

♦♦♦

 

"I'm just saying guys, I don't think we're getting payed enough for offending Kumogakure"

"We're not in Kumogakure"

"We're in the Land of Lightning"

"Which Kumogakure oversees"

"If they were 'overseeing' it, don't you think they'd be here by-"

"Hmph!" (Tai)

"Wha?!"

"Huh?!"

BONK! POW! Two of the guards were knocked out before the third even realized what was going on

"Guys?"

As the third guard turned around, he noticed his two compatriots were on the ground. Tai formed a hand seal and mist emerged from one of the many small pouches he was wearing, gathering in his hand

"S-shinob-! Umph?!"

Before he could speak Tai grabbed his face, covering his mouth. He began to drift off

"Shhhh. Just go to sleep" (Tai)

The last one fell asleep as Suzu approached, taken aback at Tai's performance

⌈Using Suiton to vaporize oil and manipulate it as a weapon. Rei told me about it, but it's still quite a sight now that I'm seeing it for the first time⌋ (Suzu)

⌈With all the Taijutsu training B-sama gave me, it's not surprising I couldn't show you. Besides, these guys are just adult Genin who could never become Chunin⌋ (Tai)

{You say that, but they still have much more experience than us and you quietly took three down before anyone even noticed} (Suzu)

⌈I've taken mine down Rei! What's next?⌋ (Tango)

⌈There are two more, and they're getting a little too close to my position!⌋ (Rei)

⌈Sensei! Circle on back towards the north side of the building! Suzu and I will take the next corner and meet up with you for a pincer attack!⌋ (Tai)

⌈Got it!⌋ (Tango)

⌈Let's go Suzu!⌋ (Tai)

⌈Right!⌋ (Suzu)

 

On the side of the factory near Rei, two guards were maintaining their vigilance. One of them began to speak on his radio

"How's it going in there Boss? I'm ready to leave!" 

HZZZ "Progress has been slow but they're almost done. We'll be out of here soon enough" (Leader)

"Barrier team! Report in!"

HZZZ "Barrier team's still at it, but nothing worth noting so far. They're so quiet it's almost as if they've fallen asleep hehe"

"Considering how long we've been here, I'm going to fall asleep. Hostage team! Report!"

HZZZ "They're behaving now after realizing we kept true to our word on releasing them"

"Alright! We'll continue with patrols"

"Jeez this is the longest mission we've ever had!"

"You said it, whatever's in that safe had better be worth it!"

As the two guards griped, an unfamiliar voice spoke

"Oh trust me, after we're done with you..." (???)

"You're definitely not gonna think it was worth it" (???)

"What?"

"Eh?"

POW! BAM!

"Ngh!"

"Gah!"

In less than two seconds, they were slammed to the ground. Knocked out cold

⌈That's all for the outer perimeter!⌋ (Rei)

⌈And inside?⌋ (Tai)

⌈The leader and the two safe crackers are still inside the office with Tetsuo, on the East side of the building. The barrier team of four are still under my Genjutsu, just waiting for me to put them to sleep. There's a single guard watching over them, most likely the one who relays their instructions for intruders who touch their barrier. All of them are still at the center of the building⌋ (Rei)

⌈What about the hostages?⌋ (Tai)

⌈The three remaining hostages have a single guard watching them. They're closer to the West side of the building⌋ (Rei)

⌈In that case I'll-⌋ (Tango)

⌈Hold on Sensei⌋ (Tai)

⌈?⌋ (Tango)

⌈How about you and Suzu take one guard each. I'll use my Suiton to disorient them to give you the opportunity for a quiet takedown⌋ (Tai)

⌈That sounds good to me⌋ (Suzu)

{Heh! It's like I'm talking with an entirely different student!}

⌈Alright! Suzu get into position⌋ (Tango)

⌈Yes sir!⌋ (Suzu)

As Suzu and Tango separated from Tai and entered the building, Tai himself got down on bended knee and began to concentrate

⌈Rei...how far are the guards from one another?⌋ (Tai)

⌈Hmmm...I'd say...sixty-eight feet. Is that going to be okay?⌋ (Rei)

{Not what I had hoped for but...}

⌈I'll make do! Sensei, Suzu. Are you in position?⌋ (Tai)

⌈In position and standing by⌋ (Suzu)

⌈Ready and waiting⌋ (Tango)

⌈On my mark!⌋

{'Suiton: Kiri Seigyo no Jutsu'!²Water Style: Mist Control} (Tai)

{Here goes everything...} (Rei)

⌈Three...⌋ (Tai)

{Have to aim for the throat so he doesn't alert anyone else...} (Suzu)

⌈Two...⌋ (Tai)

{Hehe. Such a take charge demeanor was something I expected from Rei, but not Tai...} (Tango)

⌈One!⌋