Cursed Warrior Extermination Mission I

After reporting the mission's completion, Shikio began sorting out his plans of action for the following three years.

'Since we're following the filler timeline, the events of several filler arcs will take place along the current year. I'm only interested in four of them however . . .'

'The Cursed Warrior Extermination Mission that will allow me to expand my influence across another country and, if all goes well, take it over like the Land of Snow and Spring. Even though the benefits will definitely not be as great, it's still important to solidify my hold on the continent.'

'The Star Guard Mission, both for obtaining the so called "Star"'s power and to take over Hoshigakure as well.'

'The Peddlers Escort Mission for similar motives as the Cursed Warrior Extermination Mission since I'll also have the opportunity to charm a female heir of a country.'

'And finally, the Kurama Yakumo Rescue Mission. Both for the girl and her innate abilities as well as to collect the power within the Kurama clan's bloodline. I should probably try and take care of this before the events of the original series take place too.

'Those are the filler events of the original series that I have a personal interest in . . . After this year has passed, I'll have two years filled with few things of importance to make more aggressive moves across the continent.'

'As for right now . . . I'll just keep training and consolidating my current holding while preparing for my future endeavours. On that note, let's try and get some work done on the side of madara's soul before the next mission comes by.'

In his private quarters in the Desert Fortress, Madara's soul floated in front of Shiki as he carefully analyzed it. He quickly shifted into Yomi to take full advantage of the time and got to work.

'First thing to do, is memorize the changes that the combination of Ashura and Indra's chakras made to his soul, in other words, how to awaken the Rinnegan.'

'Reproducing them in himself would be done later since it was a delicate procedure that required time and focus but he already had the materials, all he needed was the info.'

Having put to memory all the necessary characteristics of Madara's soul so that he too, could awaken the Rinnegan later, Shiki went about, doing a few traceless modifications to the soul, using his Soul Transmutation Jutsu.

It took quite a bit, even with the help of Yomi's accelerated time, it still took a little less than two weeks of real world time to finally succeed. After which, he harmlessly let the soul go back to the pure land.

"Hehehe . . . Preparations complete!" Shiki muttered deviously to himself.

With this, he was fully confident and even looking forward to Madara's revival the completion of the Akatsuki's plans.

Regardless, with the passing time, a new mission arrived on his doorstep. It was time for Cursed Warrior Extermination Mission to begin . . .

Shiki was just about to officially accept the mission in the Hokage's office when Neji, Tenten and Lee walked in.

"You wouldn't mind bringing them with you right, Shiki?" The Tsunade soul clone asked.

'Curses! I did too good of a job with the reproduction that it even dares to screw me!' Shiki thought.

'Oh well, I'll take this as bringing the village's young genin out to gain experience . . .' He resigned himself to the duty forced upon him.

"Fine! Come on, let's go" Shiki commanded the genin to follow him before turning to the one other person i the room.

"Yes." Answered Neji.

"Osu!" Shouted Lee.

"Yes, Shiki-san!" Said Tenten with starts in her eyes, clearly she was a fan.

A plain young man who was on his knees ever since Shiki had entered the room. He was the representative of the Land of Birds that came to put in an urgent request for the mission.

"Chishima-san . . . Was it? Come, we shall set of to your homeland immediately." Shiki declared.

"My eternal thanks Shiki-sama!" He responded and followed along.

A little while later, the group had set off and Neji asked Shiki a question.

"Shiki . . . sensei . . . What are the details of the mission.

'Heh! Looks like it's a bit difficult for him to address someone younger than him as sensei . . .' Shiki thought before he answered.

"You can just call me name, I don't really mind." He first said.

"As for the content of the request. Perhaps it is best for our client to explain." He passed the baton to Chishima.

The young man then proceeded to explain the situation his small country was in. It was focused on the capital city, where a large river runs through and is a spot where migratory birds rest, hence the country was named, the Land of the Birds.

It was very peaceful under the rule of the Daimyo Owashi a kind and beloved ruler. However, he suddenly perished with what most considered a deadly disease. After which, the matter of who would succeed the throne came along.

The contenders were Sagi, the son and heir of the previous Daimyo, Owashi and Komei, the strategist of the Land of Birds.

While Komei vehemently opposed Sagi's claiming of the position due to the prince's young age, Sagi ended up on the throne anyway, receiving the advice of the Head priest Moso, in order to cover for any shortcomings that might arise from his young age.

Supposedly, Sagi used to be a cheerful child but ever since the death of his twin younger sister Toki and the burdens of his new position, he seemed to have become colder.

Still things were mostly normal but that ended with the appearance of the Cursed Warrior an Apparition that seemed to seek justice for the death of the previous Daimyo, Owashi.

All of it pointed to a hidden conspiracy that lead to the death of two members of the royal family.

After hearing the whole story, Shiki asked the genin.

"So, you three. After hearing of the situation, what are your thoughts."

'Might as well take this as an opportunity to teach them.' He thought.

"Hmm . . . The individual who seemed to benefit the most from the turn of events is the head priest Moso . . ." Tenten suggested.

"Impossible!" Chishima shouted. "Moso-sama is a man of boundless virtue and selflessness!" He asserted.

"Then . . . What would be left is the strategist, Komei." Neji said.

Chishima did not want to believe it but it seemed to be the only option left.

"What about you Lee?" Shiki continued asking.

"To be honest, such things are not really my specialty . . . But after I meet everyone, I'll find the culprit with GUTS!" Lee started weak but ended strongly.

"I . . . I see . . ." SHiki said with an undecipherable expression.

Neji and Tenten were already used to this but still let out a sigh.

"Well then all of your suggestions have merit." Shiki started.

"Even Lee's?" Tenten asked suspiciously.

"Of course meeting the people in question may allow us to grasp things we had not previously considered." Shiki said, which seemed to make Lee happy.

"For now, the suspects are the head priest Moso and Komei, thus ,they are our primary targets of investigation. We must also keep an eye of Sagi, the Daimyo since he might be targeted as well." Shiki declared.

Chishima tried to interrupt again to claim Moso's innocence but Shiki stopped him.

"I know you deeply respect the head priest but we must be thorough with our investigation. Beside, if he is as virtuous as you think, then his innocence will be proven beyond doubt." Shiki explained.

"I just think your time would be better spent elsewhere . . ." Chishima argued.

"Do not worry Chishima-san. We are professionals and I assure you that my team will be able to swiftly solve this trouble before any more casualties arise." Shiki reassured.

"Isn't that right?" Shiki asked the trio.

"""Yes!""" They answered with conviction.

Truth be told, they very much appreciated the confidence Shiki had on their abilities since he was quite the legendary figure back in the village.

A few days later, the group safely arrived in the capital city of the Land of Birds. With a mental transmission, Shiki contacted the genin trio.

'Don't show any reaction.'

Once he made sure they were paying attention, he gave them his orders.

'I'll leave a shadow clone with you to go and meet with Moso while I make my own investigations. After the meeting, Neji will stick around and keep watch of the priest while Lee and Tenten make a visit to the strategist Komei. Understood?'

Getting covert confirmation from the three of them, Shiki used the Shadow Clone jutsu in conjunction with the Substitution jutsu to quietly disappear and leave a shadow clone in his place.

'Right then . . . Let's get to work.'

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P.a.t.r.e.o.n is officially up!

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You'll get to read up to FOUR week ahead, a full month, but I'll still post here.

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