izana_king snippet

"We're closing in on their camp, Dragon," Tsume muttered as we crouched in the dense foliage, her sharp eyes scanning the dimly lit clearing ahead. "I don't know why the Hokage sent a brat on this mission, but listen up I'm in charge. Cat and I will handle the missing-nin. You can play with the bandits."

She didn't even bother to lower her voice much.

"Dragon, have you killed before?" Cat's quiet voice cut in, her masked gaze shifting toward me.

I nodded silently. I had spent nearly two years with my old team in this life, completing missions that required taking lives. And in my past life? Accidental or not, I had ended more than a few.

"Good," Tsume grunted. "No room for hesitation."

I counted at least ten bandits, likely more in the tents. The two missing-nin were obvious both had Konoha headbands with a deep slash through the leaf emblem.

"One's moving away," Cat noted. "Think you can handle him quietly?"

I gave her a small nod before vanishing into the shadows, moving quickly but silently.

The bandit wandered a fair distance from camp, stopping near a bush to relieve himself. Amateur. As I closed in, he didn't even sense me until my hand clamped over his mouth. My kunai sliced through his throat in one swift motion.

I felt his body stiffen, a weak struggle before the light left his eyes. But I didn't stop there I drove my kunai into his back, piercing his heart. A slit throat wasn't always enough to finish someone instantly, and we didn't have time for prolonged deaths.

Wiping my blade on his clothes, I leapt back up to the branches where Tsume and Cat waited.

"Not bad, Dragon," Tsume admitted, a glint of respect in her eyes.

I nodded in thanks.

"Now watch closely," she said with a predatory grin. "Because Kuromaru and I could have handled this ourselves."

With no further warning, she and her massive wolf leapt straight into the camp, immediately spinning into a deadly blur of claws and fangs.

"Dammit, Tsume," Cat sighed. "Dragon, pick off anyone trying to flee or anyone isolated."

She unsheathed her katana and descended swiftly, aiming for one of the missing-nin, who barely managed to dodge at the last second.

I moved instantly, catching a bandit as he bolted. My strike was brutal, my hand ripping through his chest as my claws tore him apart.

This felt like overkill. Cat had already eliminated two enemies, and Tsume was steadily overwhelming the supposed leader.

A bandit I kicked stumbled, rolling across the dirt. I landed beside him, driving my blade into his chest before scanning the interior of a half-collapsed tent.

My eyes locked onto a wooden lockbox.

No time to pick it I slashed through the weak metal latch. Inside, three scrolls bearing the Yamanaka clan emblem rested neatly.

Fake or not, I couldn't verify them here. I sealed them away and turned my attention back to the fight.

Cat had finished off the remaining bandits, and as Tsume spun toward the still-breathing leader, I took my chance.

Her spinning attack struck him dead-on, tearing through him like a drill through soft flesh. Blood painted the ground as what was once a man was reduced to unrecognizable chunks.

Tsume landed lightly, giving me an approving nod. She wasn't the type to care about honor only results.

"Tch. What a pushover," she scoffed, wiping blood from her cheek. "Why the hell did we need two ANBU and a Genin for this?"

"That one used to be a Jonin," Cat replied. "The Hokage didn't want to take any chances. As for why the Genin… you'd have to ask him yourself."

She turned to me. "Good work.

Tsume smirked. "Come on, brat. It's past your bedtime."

She leapt into the trees, and I followed without hesitation.

-later-

Back in the Hokage's office, Cat gave her report while Tsume stood off to the side. When she finished, the Hokage dismissed them both except for me.

Once we were alone, I retrieved the scrolls and placed them on his desk.

"Very good, Jin," Hiruzen said, his expression unreadable. "You're free to go."

I dipped my head and left.

The mission was over, and I had earned a bonus for my extra effort.

I grinned under my mask. Maybe I'd treat myself to something good to eat.

As I walked through the streets, a series of notifications appeared before me.

[Dragon Claw - Level 1]

You gain the power of the dragon, enhancing your strength and cutting ability. This ability improves with each level.

[Treasure Sense]

You can detect the location of nearby treasures. The larger the collection, the stronger the pull.

[Blood of the Dragon]

Your blood now carries an intense heat, capable of melting metal and flesh on contact. You can activate or deactivate this ability at will.

The notifications confirmed what I already suspected I was progressing along my chosen archetype. But as I left the store, a bag full of junk food in hand, I mulled over a different possibility. I had a choice continue on the path of the Dragon Lord or switch to something else entirely.

After a moment of consideration, I made my decision.

Alpha Beast Archetype Chosen.

[Alpha Werebeast - Level 1]

You have gained the ability to take on the form of an alpha werebeast stronger, faster, and more resilient than a regular werebeast. Your regeneration is drastically increased when in your transformed state.

Forms Unlocked: Wolf

[Feast on the Fallen]

By consuming the flesh of your fallen enemies, your regeneration is massively boosted for a short time. Eating the heart of a being you've slain can permanently strengthen your werebeast form and unlock additional abilities.

[Alpha Pheromones - Level 1]

As the pinnacle of beasts, your presence alone commands respect. Your scent establishes dominance over other beasts and marks your lovers as yours, preventing rival males from challenging you.

[My Pack is My Strength]

As an Alpha, your abilities grow in power based on the size and strength of your pack. Being near pack members enhances abilities that would normally require you to be within your territory.

[Beast Bloodline - Special]

The blood of a divine beast runs through your veins. As you grow in strength, you will gradually unlock more of its hidden power.

[Drawback - Blood Rage]

Suffering damage beyond a certain threshold has a chance to send you into an uncontrollable blood rage. This state persists until the damage is healed, you regain control, or no enemies remain.

By the time I reached home, my mind was still turning over my decision. This new path would require some serious adjustment, but it offered immense potential.

Tossing my bag of snacks onto the table, I leaned back and took a bite of a chocolate bar.

Tomorrow, I'd train. And if I was in the mood, maybe I'd take on a mission to test my new abilities.

XxX

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