A minutes into the forest Kazuki and Reiji have yet to encounter a monster nor other children only big trees as large as an elephant's legs and branches as long as it's trunk.
None the less they have to continue their walk until they find either the earth or heaven scroll, so they can go to the tower.
Even with the ominous atmosphere in this forest, the loud noises of the other children and the rustling of the bushes Reiji can see Kazuki's eyes continue to have no hint of fear.
"Kazuki I could tell you don't want to about yourself, but I wanna know what motivates you." His voice filled with anxiety.
"What are you talking about! I wanna protect my sis." His smile exerting innocence.
"Your mouth say something, but your eyes say the other." Reiji seeing he won't get info on Kazuki just yet . He decide to follow Kazuki until he does.
***
The long silence covering them frustrate Reiji to the point of him punching a tree.
*Bang*
*Thud*
Kazuki and Reiji simultaneously look down at Reiji's feet where the sound came from. Kazuki reach out his hand grabbing the thing that caused the sound.
"Reiji could this be one of the two?!" His eyes widening with shock at what he just picked up.
"Let me see." Kazuki hands Reiji the thing. A smile creeps on him with a sense of fulfilment he add. "Are we lucky? Cause this thing is a earth scroll."
They both jump with joy knowing they have now found one of the scroll and just one remaining. Suddenly a monster bash the tree in front of them catching the two boys by surprise.
The monster has thick fur, sharp black claws, golden eyes and standing at a height of 210m. It's gaze shake Reiji's legs with fear.
"Kazuki le…let us run for now." Turning his back to the monster.
"No I can do this!" His mouth vibrate with fear though not visible to Reiji.
"Bu…but this monster is beyond your level."
"Reiji I know, but am not running away." Gritting his teeth sharply calming down the fear he has for this monster.
"Damnit!" Rotate back to the monster ready to face it alongside Kazuki.
*Howl*
With its unbearable howl the monster charge's to the two boys. The two boys jump out of the way for the monster standing behind the tree.
[Poisonous Kunai!!!]
A voice in the distance is heard by the two boys, following that voice is a rain of kunai's each landing on the monster dropping on the ground with its purple blood.
Curiosity can be seen on Reiji and frustration on Kazuki, but one feeling they share is shock.
They move away from the trees to stand in front of the monster's head.
Footsteps echoing in the direction in which the kunai's came from. After a minute a shadowy figure slowly walks to them.
To their surprise it's Ion with his blonde hair and two other boys. They walk up to the monster standing opposite to the two boys.
"If it's not Mr "A ninja doesn't run away from a challenge." Are you not going to thank me for saving you." Ion slightly tilting his head.
"Why should he thank you? He never asked for your help blonde." Reiji reaching into his vest to pull out his Kunai.
"Hey! Don't you dare call my Lord with such a nickname. And when my Lord tells you something you better do it or else." The boy left on Ion's side speaks.
Ion raise his hand make the boy to keep quiet. He lowers it suggesting that at least they can offer him something for killing the monster cause without a doubt it would have killed them either way.
"We…" Kazuki interrupt Reiji from speaking.
"How about when we complete the exam I ask my sis to cook for you Hayashi Rice!" Kazuki offer surprise Ion as a scheme begin formulating in his mind.
"Okay. That is if she is even clean."
A sneer creeping up his face.
"Blonde you better take that back." His tone filled with snappish resentment for Ion.
"What? Did I press a button or something?" Him and his two buddies laugh.
A rush of anger fill Kazuki as he jumps on the monsters back dashing straight to Ion who swiftly pulls one of his kunai's from the monster to block Kazuki's attack which pushes him a few meters.
'I can't believe he cracked my Kunai with just his scabbard.' Ion hand shacking from the force he just received from Kazuki's scabbard.
Like a snake swirling around to strike it's target. Reiji knocks one of Ion's buddies unconscious.
On the other hand Ion leaps away from Kazuki and runs deeper into the forest with his buddy following him.
"Wanna go after him or continue the exam?" Reiji asking Kazuki.
Kazuki body continue to fume with anger, though he remembers he still has a 7 days left.
He sigh. "Let's contie with the exam!" Reiji seeing his smile has come back he himself feels relieved.
"What about him?" Reiji pointing at Ion's unconscious buddy.
***
His eyes slowly opening trying to adjust to the light. He trys to get up but feels like something is restraining him from doing so.
To be precise it is like bricks equivalent to the weight of a human being. This weight seem to be place him firmly on the ground since he can still feel the itchiness and smell of the grass.
His eyes finally adjust to the light. His first thought is to see the weight that is on top of him. To his disbelief it is the boy who knocked him out.
"I wouldn't move if I were you." With a grin on his face.
"Why would I do whatchu you telling me?"
"Cause I have the Kunai Blondie attached the monster with?" His eyes showing no hint of hesitation.
"What do you want?"
"Well…First let me introduce myself. My name is Reiji and my friend with a big sword is Kazuki."
Without needing to be told he knows what he has to say.
"I erased my name when I became a lord Ion's retainer. So you could call me retainer 34."
"Oh okay retainer 34. Tell who Ion really is."
Retainer 34 explain that Ion is the child of a daimyo who by the way was once a ninja.
"What? So daimyo's can become ninjas?"
"Ya, since am the son of a daimyo to. My father told me that anybody can be a ninja as long as they have RYUSEI in them." Even while he speaks his eyes are locked on Retainer 34.
"Does that mean your father is a daimyo? And what is RYUSEI?" Kazuki's mind blown from hearing Reiji is child of a daimyo.
"Yep. RYUSEI is the life energy circulating in every thing. About 99% of humans have RYUSEI, though most people rather not use it." Reiji quickly looks at Kazuki shocked expression of learning he is the child of a daimyo.
"If you are the son of a daimyo then which clan do you come from?" Retainer 34 asking Reiji.
"Am the one asking the questions. Now tell me how blonde was able to enter with so many poisonous kunai's when we only got 2?"
"He of course bribed one of the administrators."
"Why?" Kazuki ask's both Retainer 34 and Reiji.
"What other reason is there. Hey Reiji is your friend stupid? I can bet that attack you used against my Lord was just a fluke."
"Servent boy you better not disrespect my friend." Emitting a level of bloodlust that chases all the small animals around them.
"So-so-sorry." Like a boy who is about to confess his love to his crush. His body is shacking furiously from Reiji's stern eyes and bloodlust.
"I think he must have needed it Kazuki." Kazuki try to ask him a question but cuts him further say. "In this continent being a ninja is the lowest paying job." Kazuki shakes his head in understanding.
"Now servant boy is Blondie carry any scroll on him?"
"Before I answer you how many hours have I been unconscious? Also did anything happen during that time?"
"I think around 6-8 hours and I think I heard a couple of screams coming from one certain direction."
Suddenly using speaker an administrator informs the children in exam that there has been a death toll of 100 children in the last 10 hours. He further say that the head admin has decided to reduce the time period by one day everytime the number of death is 100. To add more shock he says there has been only 5 participates to complete the survival exam.
Hearing this retainer 34 begins laugh at the two boys mocking them that they will never catch Ion now. Believe that Ion is part of the people who completed this exam.
While his laughing Reiji deliver a jap to knock him unconscious once again. He stand up putting the Kunai in his vest and stands next to Kazuki.
"So what are you gonna do Kazuki? Finish the exam quickly or chase down Blondie.?"
"Ain't it obvious Reiji! Chase down Blondie!" With a smile on his face and clenching his sword tightly.
"Knowing you might meet some lunatic waiting to kill you."
"I know, but I can't let someone who disrespected my sis to be in the same academy as me!"
His mind brimming with confidence thinking about his sister.
"Then let me join you." Hugging Kazuki from behind with a smile.
TBC.
Next Chapter: 21 April