Shadows of Revenge Ch. 8
By Eliad Sholomovich

** The following morning **

Ibuki lay peacefully in her bed, the exhaustion of the previous night had really hit the poor youth hard. Her chest rose and descended in a repetitive pace and her light breathing was the only noise heard in the room.

Then an audible ring defiled the peaceful atmosphere. Ibuki moaned tiredly and opened one eye lazily. She turned it towards a small clock, which was on a table beside her bed. She focused on her digital alarm clock and sighed tiredly. The clock read “8:00 am”.

Ibuki then opened her other eye. She rose to a sitting position and stretched tiredly while yawning. ”Time to get ready…I’ll stop by at the Dojo and notify Sensei of my predicament before I go tackle whatever this X has in mind…” Ibuki thought to herself.

She then got out of her bed and changed into some casual clothes. These consisted of a pair of black jeans and a red T-Shirt. Then she packed a bag with her uniform, Gear and the note she had found the previous night.

She then left her room and entered the bathroom. She washed the tiredness away with a splash of cool water before brushing her teeth. After doing these she combed her hair into a long single braid and tied it with a brown piece of cloth.

She then left the bathroom and walked downstairs. She went to the kitchen and opened the refrigerator’s door. She took out 2 oranges before closing the fridge’s door. Then she pealed them and ate them quickly.

Then she took her keys and wallet and walked towards the entrance. She opened the door and exited the house, then she pulled the door shut before locking it. Then she put the keys and wallet in her bag and began walking towards the Shinobi Dojo in Central Tokyo.

** About 2 hours later **

Ibuki was walking through the corridors of the Shinobi secret Dojo and searching for her Sensei. She had changed into her uniform and was equipped with all her gear and Katana. She then heard a voice from a nearby room.

She recognized it as Geki’s calm and deep voice. Ibuki walked up to the appropriate door and entered the room. She had reached the training grounds. Geki was standing in the middle of the room surrounded by a group of about 10 Shinobi trainees. All were lying on the ground holding respective Injuries.

Ibuki recognized them as Shinobis in training by the color and design of their uniform which was similar to her own suit except it was black and was made of bulky leather where hers was made of a tough yet light cloth.

Geki sensed her enter and turned to her “Ahh…Ibuki you’re arrived just in time to help me prove a point. Come here” He said warmly. Ibuki bowed in respect and complied. She stood a few feet before Geki and awaited his request.

”I was about to call upon someone else…but since you’re here I want to show all these disappointments the worth of a true Shinobi.” He says and bows to her.

Ibuki bows back in respect ”This wasn’t what I had in mind…but I can’t disobey his request…I’ll talk to him later…” She thought and then took a few steps backwards. All the others Ninjas all backed away and surrounded the two in a circle.

Geki enters his stance and Ibuki does the same. Then Geki shouts “Begin!”. Ibuki doesn’t need to be told twice and she dashes forward. She sprints forward with lightning speed closing the gap between them quickly.

Upon reaching a foot’s distance Ibuki throws a straight punch towards Geki’s nose, Geki blocked it easily before retaliating with his own punch. Ibuki moves her head aside and the punch misses. Then she spins around with a quickl roundhouse kick.

Geki blocks with his forearms before stepping forward and aiming both fists at Ibuki’s chest. Ibuki swatted his attack by swinging both hands backwards. Then she grabbed his wrists and placed both feet onto his chest and kicked off him forcefully.

Geki was sent flying backwards and the Ninjas gasped, but the Veteran Ninja flipped backwards and extended his hands, her landed on them and somersaulted back to his feet.

He nods and then Ibuki resumes her attacks by leaping with a jump kick. Geki sidesteps easily and then blocks Ibuki follow up jab. Then he tries a quick palm strike, which Ibuki swats it aside soundly.

Then Geki steps forward and punches her abdomen, he then grabs onto the cloth of her uniform and grabs her arm with his other hand. Then he throws Ibuki over his shoulder.

Ibuki flies forward and lands on her feet after a quick somersault. Then she hears running footsteps and leaps while spinning around. She extended her right leg while Airborne and her heel collided with Geki’s cheek with great speed all her momentum behind it.

Geki reels and shakes his head as he's thrown backwards. Then Ibuki lands on the mattress and lunges forward with a kick. Geki swats it with his foot and continues his defensive approach. Then Ibuki steps forward while throwing a punch towards his face.

Geki bends backwards and dodges the punch, then he steps forward and wraps his gloved hand around Ibuki’s wrist with his left hand and places his right hand on her shoulder. Then he submits pressure on her shoulder and twists her arm, forcing the adoscolent to her knees.

Then Geki sent his leg swinging forward, his foot sunk into the muscles of her abdomen and then after forcing the air out of her lungs he nailed her with a powerful Axe kick to the center of her back.

Ibuki groaned silently as she collided with the mattress forcefully. She exhales sharply and rolls out of a stomp kick’s path before spinning around while extending her leg. The agile kick and he successfully swept Geki, which landed on the mattress with a soft thud.

Meanwhile Ibuki rose to her feet. But before she could think Geki had already recovered. He dashed forward while throwing a punch at her abdomen, Ibuki blocked it only to be forced to dodge another swift straight punch.

Then Ibuki shifts her body sideways. Then she slams her elbow into Geki’s back, Geki stops forward to regain his balance. As he spins around he raises his forearms to block a kick to the head. But Ibuki anticipated this course of action and kicked low and her foot collided with his abdomen.

Geki was forced to bend down to his knees from the force behind the blow. Then Ibuki dropped her stance and bend downward. He muscles tensed as she pushed against the mattress.

Ibuki then somersaulted over the grounded Geki, when she was behind him she extended her feet. Those aimed themselves at the Sensei’s back, except he had been expecting the move. Then he leapt upwards while being surrounded by blue wisps of Chi, His Kazekiri rising kick slammed into her abdomen.

A bright flash erupted upon contact and Ibuki was sent spinning from the force and angle of the blow which had sent her spinning out of control as she descended.

Thus Ibuki lost her midair balance and pummeled down toward the mattress, she curled into a ball in the last possible moment and then rolled forward. Then she rose to her feet. She put a hand on her now aching abdomen.

Geki then lunged forward again. Upon reaching a close range her sent a spinning roundhouse at his pupil, Ibuki stepped backwards and the kick missed, then as Geki’s foot returned to the mattress he shot forward with a powerful sidekick.

Ibuki blocked his kick, then she channeled her Chi into her arm. A blue glow engulfed her clenched fist as she sent a Raida flying towards Geki’s solar plexus, but the latter summoned his own Chi and grabbed her fist in his open hand and caught it.

Then Ibuki quickly opens her hand and locks her hand within Geki's. Then she tries to punch him with her other fist, but Geki grabs it too. She opens her other hand too locking it with his. Then the two were locked within a mercy hold both of their Aura's flaring brightly.

Both auras of life force glowed filling the room in a powerful blue glow, Geki was starting to win but Ibuki didn't relent and forced him back. Then a minute later upon none of them gaining the upper hand Geki’s eyes turned warm and he smiled under his mask.

”Very good…That is enough” Geki said and let go of her hands. Ibuki then bows before wiping some cold sweat off her forehead. Geki then turns to the other ninjas his eyes resuming their cold glare.

“The day you can challenge me like that…is the day I might turn you into members of our clan…now go and train harder.” He says sternly.

”Hai Geki-Sensei!” They all say in unison and bow in respect before leaving the room. Ibuki waited until she heard their footsteps far away before turning to Geki. “Sensei we have to talk…” She says seriously.

Gehears the seriousness in her tone and her eyes seemed to turn sad ”Whatever could be wrong I wonder? Well I’ll have to see…” Geki thinks to himself and nods slowly. He sits down and motions Ibuki to follow suit. Ibuki complies and sits before him.

”So what is the problem Ibuki?” Geki asks her.

Ibuki sighs tiredly ”Well here goes nothing…” Ibuki thinks to herself. “A serious problem has arisen Sensei…And I must leave the clan for a while in order to fix it…Please don’t ask me what it is…I can’t tell you…” She says sadly Tears almost forming in her eyes, but she manages to hold them back.

”Can’t we help somehow?” He asks and looks at her. ”Her tone, eyes…they signal sadness…despair…what is wrong with you Ibuki?” Geki thinks as he asks her.

”I wish you could…how I wish you could help me…but you can’t…I can’t risk mom’s health…D**n you X…” Ibuki thinks and shakes her head. “Its kind of personal Geki-Sensei…Please I have to tackle this alone…” Ibuki says in a pleading tone.

Geki looks into her eyes and nods “Although this request is suspicious Ibuki…I trust you and will assist you in anyway I can…You have my consent…” He says.

Ibuki smiles “Thank you Geki-Sensei…You don’t know how important this is to me…” Ibuki says and gulps. “I have to go now…I hope to return soon…” She says and gets up ”If at all…” She adds in her mind.

Geki rises to his feet and bows his head “Indeed…Good luck Ibuki…If you need us…You have our number…” He says. Ibuki nods and bows before turning around and walking towards the exit.

As she walked through the corridor towards the exit she looked at a clock which was on the wall and cursed under her breath. It read “11:25”. Ibuki quickly entered a room and changed into her casual clothes and then started running with her bag.

** 32 Minutes later **

Ibuki was running through the busy streets of Tokyo. She muttered many apologies and flash apologetic smiles as she bumped into people. And gulped as people shot her angry looks and colorful remarks.

She kept on dashing towards Tokyo Central square. She then reached a crossroad and waited for the cars to pass. She tapped her foot impatiently as the traffic kept on pouring down the road.

”Blast…I’m gonna be late…” She thought until a small break in traffic was seen. She then dashed forward into the street. Beeping could be heard as she navigated through the street. Then one car almost collided with her, Ibuki somersaulted forward and avoided collision.

Then she kept on running ignoring a thread of extremely cruel swears from the driver’s direction and shocked looks from other bystanders.

She then reached Tokyo square and found her target. Jason was standing cross-handedly by a wooden Bench and tapping his foot while looking at his watch.

Ibuki panted tiredly and approached him. ”F***in piece of metal…I wish I could just cut you to threads now…but I guess I’ll have to wait for later…” Ibuki thought and walked towards Jason.

Jason turned his gaze to her and opened his mouth “You’re late…” He states coldly.

Ibuki arranges her breath and snarls and remains silent. Jason smiles coldly in response.

”I bet you’re just dying to beat me to a pulp…Too bad…Master X has other plans for you Ibuki…” He says and chuckles.

Ibuki’s right fist shakes with growing fury at the man’s arrogance. She inhales and closes her eyes then speaks through clenched teeth “Just give me the mission and lets get this over with…” Ibuki says venomously.

Jason looks at her and laughs “You should *laugh* see the look* laugh* on your face *laugh* He states and takes out a folder from his jacket. He looks around and hands it to her.

”The details are inside Ibuki…Don’t worry we’ll contact you soon…” He states coldly and then turns around and walks away.

Ibuki looks at the folder then puts it in her bag. ”You Just wait metal mouth…One of these days I’ll shut you and your master up…for good…” She thinks and her eyes narrow angrily.