Meeting with the Miko

Chaos was spreading throughout the world. The demon Moryo had returned and his invisible immortal army of stone warriors, the Ghost Army, had arisen from their slumber to serve its master and was now marching from the Land of Demons to the Land of Swamps were their master's body was sealed.

The entirety of the shinobi world, fearing the rise of the demon took up arms but most decided to focus on strengthening their defences and attempting to stop the Ghost army rather than deal with the root cause Moryo.

As for the reason for such stupidity, Shiki could guess they wanted the Land of Fire who was in the most immediate danger due to proximity to take up charge of this battle and thus exhaust its forces, mainly Konoha who had recently been on the rise, having won a decisive victory against Suna and Otogakure.

While the ghost army terrorized the people, Shiki was gathering a little team to go to the Land of Demons and meet up with the Miko / Princess whose subjects requested Konoha's help in protecting her, as she was the only one with the power to seal Moryo.

Shiki went to his little trainees in the Desert Fortress and gathered them together.

"Alright, it's time for your first big job but since I'll be coming along as well, even if you turn out to be utterly useless, it will be no problem at all!" Shiki started.

His words immediately set them on fire, eager to to contribute, to demonstrate their progress and prowess as well as prove to him that they were qualified to help him in his endeavours and walk behind him as he chased his goals and aspirations.

None of them were arrogant enough to think they could match and walk beside him however, his image of omnipotence was far to great for them to consider such a thing.

"Sasuke, Hinata, Hanabi, we will be the ones going on this mission. It will be a mission as Konoha shinobi so don't get your background stories mixed up, you will not be moving as members of Mugetsu and I will go as myself and not the Reaper. Understood?" Shiki explained.

"""Understood!""" The three responded with fervor, ready for their mission.

"Now then, time for your briefing." Shiki continued.

Hinata, Hanabi and Sasuke stood in attention and listened carefully to the details of their mission, said to them by Shiki.

"I assume all of you have learned of the impending revival of the demon Moryo and the devastating march of his Ghost Army of stone soldiers." He started the briefing.

"Yeas, Shiki-nii." Sasuke replied.

"Yes Shiki-san!" Hinata exclaimed.

"Yes Shiki-sama!" Hanabi echoed.

"Good! The priest that possesses the power to seal this demon requires protection that was requested to Konoha and the hidden village of the largest country that stands to be most affected by the impending disaster." Shiki continued.

"This will be our official mission as shinobi of Konoha!" He added.

"Is there an unofficial mission then, Shiki-nii?" Sasuke perceptively asked.

Shiki smiled in appreciation.

"That's right! A second mission as Mugetsu will also be undertaken in parallel." He confirmed, making them all tighten up, this should be where the true hardships would lay.

"Well you don't have to be so stiff though as that part will be mostly my role to play." Shiki deflated them a little bit.

"Your roles in this mission of ours will be to restrain the Gang of Four, the four main underlings of the primary target while I deal with the primary target myself.' He continued

"Rather than sealing it permanently though, I'll just pretend to cooperate in that action and steal the sealed demon to use for my own purposes." Shiki revealed the true final purpose of the mission, to obtain the demon Moryo in its entirety.

"This Gang Of Four, what are their abilities?" Sasuke asked.

"They are quite weak but will receive Moryo's chakra and manifest different jutsu of different natures so each battle, they might have a completely different type of ability and fighting style." Shiki replied.

"In other words, shut them down with overwhelming force regardless of their abilities or quickly see through their presented fighting style and take them out without allowing them to retreat to fight another day." He added.

"This mission's purpose for you three is to gain some real fighting experience in a battle to the death, three against four. If I have to directly interfere and fight one of those four, consider your personal submissions as failed." Shiki declared.

"""Yes sir!""" They all responded with fire in their eyes. Their training in Mugetsu was different from the basics of their training on Konoha and even Shiki's special training. It focused more on mental conditioning to be able to exhibit one's best under any situation and show no hesitation in battle.

Shiki took his team, teleported to Konoha and used regular travel methods from there to the LAnd of Demon's where the mission was taking place.

When the team asked why they weren't teleporting, Shiki simply told them that based on the schedule given by the requester, there was no need and since Shiki, as his true self was only supposed to know the Flying Raijin Jutsu which required markings so he elected to use normal travel to ward off any possible suspicion.

A few days later, the group arrived at the Miko' Compound in the Land of Demons, the residence of the current Miko Shion.

It was large building not unlike a temple complete with torii. It was where Shion lived, guarded by countless soldiers. In the event of attack, there was a secret passage leading from the back wall of the Priestess' room to a waterfall behind the compound, which then appears to go further through the waterfall to an unknown location.

"Who goes there?" A guard shouted from on top of the gate.

"We're shinobi of Konohagakure dispatched to ensure the safety of the MIko, Shion as she seals the demon Moryo." Shiki replied.

"Please wait a moment!" The guard shouted back and, after a couple of minutes, the gates were opened to allow them to enter the Compound.

A few minutes later, they were lead to the Miko's chambers were she sat hidden behind a wooden curtain as her attendant and bodyguard spoke to Shiki as the leader of the group.

"Greeting fellows from Konoha, I am called Taruho and attend to Shion-sama as her bodyguard and advisor." Taruho greeted.

"Uzumaki Shiki, leader of this team. This Uchiha Sasuke, Hyuuga Hinata and Hyuuga Hanabi." Shiki introduced himself and his team.

"Tales of your many deeds have reached us even in the Land of Demons. We are honored by Konohagakure for sending one of such caliber to help us in this time of need." Taruho continued.

"Of course. My team, although young consist of two chunin and a single genin but with advanced abilities. They will be in charge of intercepting and pursuing any attackers while I shall take charge of Shion Miko's personal protection at all time to ensure her safety." Shiki declared.

"I shall trust your judgement but strongly request you allow me to accompany you as well." Taruho responded.

It sounded more like a demand rather than a request, which irked some of the party's members but Shiki simply replied.

"That shouldn't be a problem but these "requests" end with that single one. From now on, until Moryo is deal with, Shion Miko is under our charge and I'd like you to understand that."

With those strong and vaguely threatening words and pressure emanating off Shiki, Taruho could only deeply bow in compliance.

"Uzumaki Shiki." Shion spoke in a somewhat excited voice.

Shiki was somewhat surprised by her tone as in the series, at least in the beginning of the movie, was quite bad to say the least.

Self importance of the highest degree to the point of simissing all the soldiers that died protecting her as a matter of course since her life was, in her mind, and in part, reality as well, more important than theirs. All of this combined with being spoiled from childhood made her snobbish and unruly or bratty.

As such, he was quite surprised to hear excitement and, possibly even admiration from her voice.

"Shion Miko." Shiki greeted.

"Please, Shion is sufficient." Shion claimed as she had the covers lifted.

She was quite the beauty with pale lavender eyes and light blonde hair that fell past her waist. In her formal Miko attire, she wore a lavender kimono with her hair kept tied back with a golden crown. Strangely, even for Taruho who was slightly unsettled, she had a bright smile on her face and even a slight blush.

"Very well then Shion." Shiki reiterated, much to the Miko's delight.

"I'm counting on you for my safety." She declared.

"Leave it to us. My team is here so that I'm do not have to leave your side to deal with any enemy." Shiki said.

"Hmm!" She nodded, seemingly quite pleased.

But then, alarm bells sounded throughout the compound . . .

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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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