Coming out of his recollection Kekkai smiled wryly and stood up. He began shuffling around his workbench putting away the half-finished Inner Armor and the random carpenter tools.
Looking down at his dirty clothes, covered in a myriad of ink, dye, and soot from two days of working in the forge; He thought about whether he should just head home and freshen up or wait for his father's convoy to return with his favorite cousins after their two-month long departure.
/It's better to freshen up first./ He lifted his arm and flinched back when he smelled his pits, complaining /I smell like I've been wrestling with pigs in a mud pit/
Shaking his head. He began to close up shop when the door to The Weavers Den suddenly swung open and a whirlwind of mayhem entered. Or two whirlwinds if he had any say.
It was his baby cousins who poured in squealing at the top of their lungs "Grandma! Kekkai! Akane's back!"x2
Seeing Kekkai standing there alone their eyes glinted as if looking at prey and rushed him. Taking both sides of the teenager they leaped at him; aiming to tackle and knock him down.
With a grin, Kekkai snapped his arms out and grabbed the flying children straight out of the air by their collars. Hanging there the twins immediately began to struggle in an attempt to get him to release them.
Taking a look at the twins in each hand, he playfully swung them up and down until they howled and clung to his arms. Satisfied he brought them to his chest into a big hug.
"Where's your cousin, getting you guys all excited like this? Don't tell me she gave you guys sweets again before running off?" Kekkai said this as he gently placed the twins back down.
At the mention of 'Sweets,' their eyes lit up, but they shook their heads in denial. Kekkai's eyebrow rose at this, it was unusual for Akane to leave these two alone when they got together. Usually, she would go around pranking everyone with them to relieve these twos' mischievous nature.
"Uncle Okamora's convoy was attacked as well. Although they didn't make it back yet she said that they should be coming home soon, Akane went to tell grandpa and the others about the attack." Miyato explained obediently
At this news Kekkai's eyes grew narrow. /Who the hell gave these guys the courage to attack ALL of our convoys one after another? The new Daimyo, The Hateno, Or someone else altogether!? There's no way they can manage to find all six trade convoys and attack them one after another on the return journey without help!/
Masato on the side, however, didn't care, pulling on his dirty sleeve he begged, "Cousin can you play with us? There's nothing to do these days, grandpa, and grandma doesn't play with us anymore and everyone else is working all day."
Kekkai's cheeks twitched at this, thinking of his cousin's overabundant energy and need to cause mischief of course everyone would avoid these two devils.
"Well," Kekkai said gently while turning around, "I guess I didn't work on these for nothing then. You guys can be the first testers of my new device!"
"Really! Cool, what is it this time?" Masato asked as he cried out in delight.
Miyato was in anticipation as well as she watched her cousin with big round eyes as if pleading with him to hurry and give them their new toy.
Taking their hands he walked into the back of the forge. Right next to his station were Scattered diagrams and metals laid across a large desk. On top of it was a stand that held a large hollow metal disk with a faded blue glow lining the rim and two cuffs heavily inscribed with various runes.
Letting go of the hands of the two he slid a cuff onto each wrist to their curious gaze. He then took the disk and tapped on it with the cuffs. With a slight hum, the ring came to life, the glow became prominent and when he let it go it hovered in place.
"Wow!" The twins said in unison. Waving their hands between them to see what was holding it in place.
Kekkai stepped a couple of steps back letting it float there for a moment and then with a flick of his wrist he held his arm to his side.
*Zhoooomph*
The ring that was hovering immediately shot over to his awaiting palm with a quick hum. To his cousin's cry of delight, he didn't stop there and with a quick wind up he threw it forwards.
Like a wild air puck, it bounced here and there around the forge. Making little sound besides that low hum as it rebounded without losing momentum. Then with another flick, it returned to his hand.
The twins were silent for a moment, Kekkai who had put on a show looked at them in confusion. Thinking that they weren't pleased with his gift.
The two were looking at each other in the eyes blinking and signaling in a heated but silent discussion. After half a minute they nodded at each other and turned to him.
Grabbing his arms and tilting to look at him they asked with big wide eyes"Cousin, I want one, please!!!"x2
At this face, Kekkai could only chuckle hard at their plea
"I made this with you two in mind. One cuff for each of you and the Displacement Disc is for you to share." He explained while taking off the cuffs and placing one on each of their wrists.
Just as they excitedly reached out for the Ring he held it high, warning them"But you guys have to play with this outside. I have to close up and head home to wash, I'm trusting that you won't around scaring people by throwing this right?"
"Yes, Cousin Kekkai!" They answered while standing straight.
While handing the Disc to Miyato before she ran off she held her chin, then with a gasp of surprise she clutched at her side quickly and pulled out a jade stick that she had collapsed in her pocket.
"I almost forgot! Akane sent this over to you before she left!" She said
"Really? Let me see." Grabbing the stick, he found it was a Zenith Jade that he had sent with his cousin for her to fiddle with on their journey.
It was a multi-purpose tool that he sent with all the convoy leaders on their way out of the clan lands. It was linked to the clan barrier and defenses and allowed them to enter and exit the clan at will. It also worked as a 3-D camera, a measurement tool, and a resource probe. He sent it out so that they can collect rare materials on their journey and store information and make maps of the shipping routes.
Before he could ask what she sent it for the twins had already disappeared out of the door with their new toy, Giggling with apparent glee.
Shaking his head with a wry smile he put the Zenith Jade into his pocket and began to clean up the utensils dropped in his demonstration. After closing up and beginning his walk home he once again thought about the attacks that prevailed over their convoys recently.
The Mēkā clan is in a big predicament after it went to war with over three different shrines after his supposed assassination attempt.
When he woke up seven years ago he was overcome with a ravenous hunger that tore through his body. Although the Nanites had been fed and had gone into hibernation their body was completely malnourished and weakened from the transition.
Practically every medicinal Herb and treatment the clan had was used to sustain his famished body. He spent three months in a dilapidated state, passing in and out of a coma. When coming out of it his grandfather was furious to find that his grandson's chakra was completely gone and his mental and physical energies were completely unable to synchronize into even the most basic Chakra Refinement.
Despite his pleas of the reason that he was not attacked and that it was a mistake in his practice that rebounded on him. His grandfather and elders would have none of it. They had never heard of a practice gone so wrong that it would attack his body, mind, and soul to the point that he almost became a mummified corpse.
They believed that the only thing that could do this was a Secret technique from a rival ninja clan or even a Juinjutsu by an Evil Gods shrine.
They decided to Lock him up inside the clan lands under house arrest for recovery and protection. Worried that there would be another such attack, much to Kekkai's helplessness at their overprotective means.
The Mēkā clan after this went out in full force, scouring and investigating every shrine and clan they had past conflicts with. They left no stone unturned as they poured over the kingdoms of Stone, Birds, and Bears. Getting nothing but malice and unneeded enemies in their search.
It was only when he awakened his Hoshokugan did he managed to break out of house arrest and show its power to the elders did they stop the search.
But the damage was already done. They had practically offended every clan and shrine in the kingdom. Though most just wrote it down and planned to settle accounts later, there were a few that declared war with the Mēkā.
The Daimyo was helpless at his old generals' actions and couldn't stand the pressure of both the shrines and the clan's rebuke of the Mēkā.
But instead of chastising his grandfather he simply said to them that he will allow them to settle the dispute however they wished and simply went into closed-door seclusion.
At what seemed to be consent from their lord the clans were pleased. Though they harbored bad thoughts about the Mēkā and were a little greedy for their techniques they held back for a while to scheme.
After another year three small clans and the Hateno shrine allied and launched an attack on the Mēkā clan.
Though to their dismay even their combined strength and planning were no match for the Mēkā clan.
Each Mēkā was a prideful warrior in their own right. Mighty physique, Talented sensors, and illusionists, With a slew of Divine techniques and weapons provided by their worship of Ida over the years made the war a unilateral slaughter.
Two clans were annihilated in a month and the remaining clan and the Hateno shrine fled in terror to plead for the Daimyo's aid. The feeble Daimyo could only come forward to mediate between them. He summoned his grandfather to a council with the elders and the other shrine priests.
Although Kekkai didn't know what was said his grandfather came back and declared a peace treaty.
A few months later on his thirteenth birthday, another major change occurred. The old Daimyo had died, and in his place was his eldest son. Taking advantage of the old daimyo passing and his heir leaving a power gap.
The Hateno priests took their place by the new daimyos side and because he was within his ear he began rebuking the Old Man of the Mēkā for his provoking actions.
Listening to his aid he announced that the Mēkā Clan would no longer have the right to missions or shrine rites in the land of Stone. Soon after there was a resounding order from the land of Birds and Bears as well.
The Mēkā clan was like a rat across the street in the land of stone at that time. See one and beat one, though the Mēkā under his guidance pulled through and began to take the self-sufficiency route it was not without its tragedy.
Three years ago he lost his mother, aunt, and uncle in a sudden raid of their trade convoy to the land of Fire.
When Okamora and Kekkai found out that their family was attacked in large numbers they went into a complete and utter rage. Not caring for his weakened state he set out with his grandfather and father along with 30 elites of the clan with eyes so red that they could be mistaken for Uchiha.
His teeth clenched and blood boiled remembering the scene where a depressed clansman who could only return to the clan with an ashen axe and a broken bow still made his fists itch as he craved violent release.
Except that the fists landed on cotton because when they howled for blood debts and they made their way past the land of storms and into the land of Fire. Only to be stopped cold in their search for the culprits by the Fire Daimyo and the Fire Temple amassing an army to stop their path forward into their land with an un-sanctioned force. Aggrieved and crestfallen at their failure to bring the killers to justice, the Mēkā was forced to return home.
Since that day the Mēkā have closed the clan completely, setting up barriers and guardians around Ida's Rest, and other than the yearly convoys that leave and return the Mēkā clan has completely closed itself off from the outside world.
Since that tragedy, Okamora took in the young sisters Akane and Akiko under his wing. Though he became grimmer and grimmer as time passed. He no longer spoke as much and his smile grew rare and far between.
Kekkai tried his best to help his father and cousins with their grief while taking up a role of his own in the clan. Realizing his strength was failing to return at his rate of progress he turned to different ways of using his system to achieve balanced and profound growth for himself and his clan.
Making it to his home he opened his door to a cluttered madman's house of diagrams, spreadsheets, and various metal junk. Ignoring the mess he made his way up the stairs and put down his tools from the workshop with purpose.
Taking management quests and tasks around his clan he used the purchasing power of being in a large clan to purchase knowledge and technology using his system mall as well as knowledge from his past life.
He poured through his entire clan library along with the new books the convoys collected at his request from the various lands of the Elemental Nations.
Searching, understanding, and refining his knowledge constantly as he consulted the ninja and priests inside the clan, creating new techniques and spreading them through the clan as well.
Together with his clan, he grew alongside them to greater heights. From mining technology and civil tools to weapons and armor. The Mēkā clan was undergoing an evolution and shedding its dried cocoon. They were going farther and farther ahead of the curve and they were waiting.
What for? Of course, they were waiting for Kekkai!
/Soon the wait will be over/ Kekkai thought while he grinned savagely
/Nikki, pull up my Stats/
/As you wish, Kekkai/ Nikita responded
//Ding/
Status:
Level 5/35
Exp: 210/1500
Health: 420/420 Regen: 4hp/5sec
Stamina: 60/60 Regen: 2sp/10sec
Armor: 170/170 Regen:5ap/10min
Rage:0/20
Chakra: 0/40
Pupil: 360/360 Regen: 6pp/1sec
R.A.M: 18 Regen: 2p/5min
Enhancements:
2/5 slots
Pupil: Hoshokugan (Eye of the Predator)
Integumentary:
Subdermal Armor Tier 3
Body:4
Perk: None
Intelligence:8
Perk: Visualization
Reflex:4
Perk: None
Cool:7
Perk: Creative Mode(Active)
Technique:12
Perk: Combat Prediction(Passive), Clear mind(Triggered)
Affinity:5
Perk: Self Sustenance(passive)
Available attributes: 19
Eddies: $35,670
//
Looking at the Chakra stat that had been unlocked once again, filling his body with that reality-warping power. He closed his eyes for a minute before opening them again with a sharp glare.
/Not long now, soon/ Kekkai thought.
Taking out his cousins Zenith Crystal as he got undressed to take a nice hot shower to relieve his long week of hard work, he wondered what was on that she would send it off to him as soon as she returned home.
Thinking that it was important he brought it to his forehead and pressed the crystal against it.
When he saw what was recorded on the Zenith he froze. One minute passed, two minutes, and finally, after half an hour and the image of his cousin blowing a kiss while winking mischievously was when he took it away from his head.
Kekkai was completely red in the face and the serious mood that he had built up on his way home had been completely destroyed by his cousin.
Looking down at the heavy tent pitched up in his trunks after watching that sensuous show of a moaning and twisting beautiful woman under the control of another had boiled his blood in a completely different way.
*Sigh*
"Guess I'm taking a cold shower today." Kekkai sighed in regret. Looking down at the crystal and then his tent "A Really cold shower."