Riku rummaged through the bandits loot, hoping to find a good weapon or maybe some valuable items. These bandits couldn't use chakra so he was leaning on better weapons and to his delight, he found a Black Ninjato, which was a weapon very similar to that of a katana but the Katana has a single-edged blade with a slight curve, while the Ninjato has a straight blade with a sharp point. The Ninjato was also the weapon Riku used most in his past life so it was a pleasent surprise seeing it again.
The slaughtered bandit camp lay in ruin; broken tents and smoldering fires were a testament to how chaotic it must have been. Riku sat in a tent, his long black and whit hair draping down his shoulders as he inspected his loot. The beautiful black Ninjato lying infront of him as Kokuenryū informed him of a fairly powerful presence behind him.
Lurking in the dark while he searched through the discarded arms and provisions, A figure in a long, dark brown robe billowed out like smoke. The figure of the man that had obscured his face with a black demon mask as he looked on at the destruction with curiosity. His sharp eyes then locked onto Riku.
"There you are," the hunter said in a low, mocking voice. "The infamous Kuroshiro kid, time to collect my reward."
Riku turned, Kokuenryū informing him of the danger in the air. He straightened, his Ninjato now clutched tightly in his hand. "I don't know who you are, but I'm not in the mood for anyone to try me." But In reality, Riku's chakra was running really low and he couldn't fight now, especially against someone that Kokuenryū deemed somewhat strong.
The bounty hunter chuckled, a cold, mirthless sound that made chills run down Riku's spine. "You think you can fight me? I have dealt with much more fearsome prey."
Without warning, the bounty hunter formed a series of quick hand seals. "Water Style: Water Prison Jutsu!" Suddenly, a torrent of water burst from the ground, encasing Riku in a strangling sphere. The boy's heart was racing as cold water enveloped him, but he wasted little time in focusing his chakra, channeling it into his fingertips.
"Claw Projection Jutsu!" he snarled, ghostly claws sprouting from his hands. He sliced through the aquatic prison; the jutsu burst in a spray of droplets. Riku exploded free, landing on his feet with a flash of surprise in his eyes.
"Good," the bounty hunter said, his voice full of grudging respect. "But let's see how you'll handle this one, kid."
He thrust his hands forward, calling out a massive wave that surged towards Riku. Riku reacted in a flash and dodged to his side, narrowly avoiding the attack. Behind him, the water crashed down as he drew his ninjato, the blade glinting menacingly in the dim light.
The boy charged, striking in quick succession. The bounty hunter caught Riku's first thrusts, dodging with grace, but Riku didn't stop- and his strikes were fast and precise thanks to his large amount of experience. He began analysing for the lapses in the hunter's defenses to deliver a critical blow.
"You're quick, but in the end you are just a child!" the bounty hunter sneered, countering with a strong kick that sent Riku sprawling. The boy gasped as pain radiated through his body from being hit by a chakra enhanced kick, but he quickly rolled back to his feet.
"Hmph, arrogant bastard." Riku retorted, his eyes burning with a decade of fury built up. Again he lunged, feinting this time towards his left, before whirling right, his blade aimed for the bounty hunter's flank.
The hunter was ready for it and dodged to the side, counter-attacking with a strong fist that connected to Riku's arm. A sickly cracking sound as the boy felt his arm snap beneath the fist, pain surging through him. Riku fell to one knee, his breathing hard, fighting to stay conscious, blood oozing down the wound.
"Naive child," the bounty hunter spat, taking a step closer to him. Confidence just oozed out of him.
But something compelled Riku on. Biting his teeth, he used his sword to sever his mangled arm, it would grow back eventually anyways and it would only be a burden for him now. Steading his resolve, he used up the last strength in him. "Fuck off." he yelled, channeling the remnants of chakra into his remaining arm. Delving into his inner will, he flicked the claw projection on again.
"Mono-flame Slash Projection!" he cried, his index fingertip coursing with energy as he swung his arm down at the bounty hunter, his finger tip lighting afire wildly.
Riku had gambled upon this, he didn't actually expect the claw projection to be lit aflame with his monoflame.
The bounty hunter's eyes widened in surprise as Riku charged. "No!" he shouted, lifting his arms to block, but the monochrome flame flying towards him in the form of a slash at breakneck speeds severed his arms, yet not enough to kill him.
Despite the fact that the bounty hunter was alive, he would more than likely not be able to fight any longer.
Riku was on the verge of collapse but he stood strong, his blade pressed against the crippled bounty hunters throat as he beckoned "Why did you attack me, and what is the reward you mentioned." Riku asked with a demonic tint in his eye, but before he could even answer, a sheet of paper flew out from the hunters cloak.
Riku picked it up and looked at the piece of paper as he giggled, "A bounty? For ME? Wow! 8 million ryō too! Gee they really didn't like me punching that old hag." Riku couldnt help but cry out in joy looking at his bounty, I mean 8 million? Seriously!
The bounty hunter collapsed, but not before Riku picked up his mask and then stabbing him through the head. "Thank you for the cool mask, I guess." Riku didn't bother looking at his missing arm as the wound had already sealed up and the bleeding had long stopped.
Releasing one shadow clone to retain the memories to see if they had reached Fū. Seeing that they had, Riku released the remaining shadow clones as he felt his chakra go from 5% to 25%, which was enough for him to be okay for now.
…
Half way back to the camp, Kokuenryū informed Riku of a group of even more bandits lurking behind him. Riku couldn't help but sighing, 'You can't be serious.'
And just like that, Five bandits entered from the tree line; their snickering followed them as they entered the clear area. They were a sorry-looking bunch, in illmatched armor and bearing crude arms. Their leader, burly and bearing a scar down one cheek, yet radiating an aura of nothing more than a summer ant. Completely different than the bandit leader he had faced earlier. stepped forward regarding Riku with affront and humor.
"Look at this little brat," he sneered. "What's a kid like you doing out here all alone? You must be lost."
Riku narrowed his eyes, clenching his hand on the handle of the ninjato. "I'm not lost."
The bandits exploded into chuckles; the sound scratched at Riku's eardrums. "You think you'll take us? There're five of us, and you're just you!" the leader fumed, swinging a rusty sword in the air.
Riku's expression remained stoic, he really didn't like all of this talking nonsense but he would go with the flow for now. "Numbers don't matter if you're weak."
With that, the bandits charged, raising their crude arms. Riku prepared himself; with his heartbeat growing from adrenaline, he knew they were weak, but he was injured and only had one arm. Despite this, his chakra was also extremely low. he took a moment and focused, channeling his chakra in this one arm, in preparation for unleashing his skills.
The first bandit sprang towards him with a club. Riku danced nimbly around him, he muttered "Arden Swordsmanship: 1st page, Crescent Arc." his ninjato slicing the air in a blur. The blade bit into the bandit's arm, and with a flick, Riku flung his attacker backward to send him crashing onto the ground, the club slipping from his grasp. He fell back a step, shock etched upon his face.
"One down," Riku muttered in a flat tone.
The rest hesitated an instant; then one, the leader, snarled: "Ain't afeard of no young whippersnapper! At him!"
Riku had to hold back his laugh as he thought, 'Whippersnapper? What the hell.'
They charged again this time from every direction. Spinning, Riku's flashed bright in the partial light, his arm rising to deflect a blow from the left, his body twisting to avoid a kick from the right. Quick, fluid motion. Rolling his eyes, Riku muttered "Arden Swordsmanship: 8th page, Lunar Whirlwind."
Counterattacking, he fell prey once more to the euphoria of battle as he spun rapidly in a dash forward, slicing the enemies bodies but the cuts were not deep enough to warrant a proper reaction. Dodging a wild swing from another with a roll, he then struck upward with a whisper "Rising Moon" and sliced the bandit across the chest. The man fell to the ground, clutching his wound, fear replacing the bravado in his eyes.
'Another down' Riku thought, confidence building.
The red, now ablaze, leader flung himself at Riku, roaring, and began to swing his sword around him with abandon. Riku ducked again, this time ready for him. Faking a swing to the left, he countered to the right, and Riku, being fooled by this, was struck by the blade deep into his right side. He grunted-but less than a second later, he had composed himself.
"You're tougher than you look, kid," their apparent leader spat, wheezing with heavy breathing. "But you can't take all of us down!"
Riku's eyes seemed to narrow as they rolled. "For the love of god, shut the fuck up man you're so annoying. And anyways, don't need to win against all of you. Just you."
In an instant, Riku sprang forward toward him, the space between them suddenly naught. His ninjato came around in a great sweep, and the lead man was obliged to raise his guard; the shockwave that resulted rebounded up Riku's arm, having to use his sword with only one arm was certainly difficult. The recoil from attacks couldn't be absorbed by two arms, yet he pressed forward into momentum, twisting to land a strong kick right into the middle of the leader's stomach. The man folded over, wheezing to take in air.
Seizing on that brief lag, Riku sprang upwards and swung his sword in a "Crescent Arc." at the head of what seemed to be the leader. Fortunately for him, the bandit had raised his sword in time, but he was sent to the ground anyway.
'Three down,' Riku panted, but the triumphant gleam was there in his eyes.
The other two bandits stared into each other, shaken, their boastfulness gone. The two of them knew no more what to do against this awful child. But the leader tried to stand up and shouted: "Not a step backward! We will overpower him together!"
With renewed determination, the two bandits charged at Riku, their weapons raised. Riku stood firm, his heart racing. He focused on the nearest bandit, sidestepping his attack and countering with a swift slash of his ninjato. The bandit cried out as the blade cut through his armor, sending him tumbling to the ground.
"Four down," Riku said calmly, though a multitude of adrenaline was running through his body.
The final bandit and the leader that had now gotten up desperately decided to attack together. Riku felt the full of their combined assault; for this, he was prepared. He dodged underneath a wild swing and, with a quick flick of his wrist, sent the other flying into the bushes, disarming him. With an almost feral determination, Riku finally faced the last bandit, who all but shook with fear. "You can still walk away," Riku said calmly, yet firmly, "leave now, and I won't hurt you." The bandit wavered, glanced at his fallen comrades; but the chief, still trying to get to his feet, shrieked: "Don't mind him! Fight!" In a blind frenzy, the last brigand lunged at Riku, against which the latter was quick enough. The youth dodged the bandit's stab and swung his ninjato down in a fast, decisive stroke. The bandit fell defeated onto the ground. Riku panted heavily, his figure amidst chaos, while the heart beats firmly in his chest; he had fought off five bandits with no pain from his lost arm hindering his victory. He looked to the men that had fallen, exhausted and a triumphant mix within him. "Next time," he muttered to himself, "I'll be even stronger." With that said, he tucked the ninjato back into its holder and walked out of the clearing.
'Shit, my whole body is sore. I really need to get back.' Riku thought, he really didn't want to get into another fight. His heart still beating from the thrill of battle.
…
Right as Riku made it back, Fū ran over and cried "What the hell happened! Where is your arm? Are you okay?" Despite only meeting Riku today, he was one of the only people to ever be nice to her and thus she was worried about him.
"I'll be okay, just need some rest. You should return to your village with all of the victims. I'll see you around, okay?" Riku said as he leaped up into his treehouse.
"Oh… okay, I'll see you around, Riku. Dont forget me!" Fū said as she gathered all of the women and children around.
Riku didn't know what happened after that, as soon as he fell down onto his bed of leaves and shut his eyes, he fell asleep instantly.
It had been an eventful day after all.