rejecting defeat

*hm* Hayate looked up at the sky, "(soon it will be dawn)", he looked down at the front area of the boat were everyone was having a nice dining with each other, both the rich and poor were eating, drinking, and chatting with each other under Hayate's illusion.

***

Sora's eyes were locked on Chiko as he planned his move, "(first thing first, we have to take this guys out of the boat, I need to execute my plan at once)", Sora thought, "guys".

*Huh* was the response he received from his team mates, Sora begin using some hand gestures, signaling them of his plan in a way the demons won't understand.

*Hm* Shinokaze scoffed not liking the fact that Sora was giving him orders.

"Understood", Kaguya nod.

"Great, now you guys make me feel like I'm not on the team", Shinra grumbled in frustration not getting the point of his brown haired friend.

Sora took of running towards the rear end taking the demons by surprise,"where do you think you are going", Chiko launched after the Nosuke clan boy.

*Hm* Sora smile, Shinokaze next to them before leaping off again as Chiko landed on his feet.

"(Damnit)", Chiko growled as his hand falls off.

"(That brat... I didn't see him move)", Junichiro wondered, Sora dived into the water and Junichiro frowned.

"I'm having a bad feeling about this", Benjiro frown, Shinokaze made a flip over him and he spun around to face the blue haired boy, Kaguya took this as her cud and launched several needles at Benjiro who swiftly spun around and deflected them.

"(That's done it)", Kaguya grab Shinra and leaped onto the ceiling.

*Ugh* Benjiro look around to see Shinokaze making swift hand signs,"(I knew they were up to something)".

"Ninja arts: wind tsunami!".

***

*Hm* "nice one brats", Hayate comment his students as he smile to himself, he was having a glass of saké.

*Ah!* The three demons were blasted out of the boat by Shinokaze's wind technique.

"(Such a strong wind)", Shinra was surprised, he looks over to the water and couldn't find the demons *ugh*Shinra gasp in realization,"(Sora is still in the water)", *tch* "Kaguya, please let go of me ".

*Huh* "ok", she released her hold on the white haired Akatsuki and he landed safely before running over the the water.

"Sora! Are you in there?", Shinra yelled.

*Hm* "pathetic ", Shinokaze scoffed at Shinra.

*Huff* the demons surface from the water and climb onto it, they were now standing on the surface of the water.

"Seriously?", Shinra ball his fist, the demons were about to make a move towards the boat when the water started changing shape, a huge snake then emerges from it and Sora was standing on it's head.

"(That was the same summoning he used the one day)", Hayate smile wanting to see how well he will perform.

"(So I have to get myself wet just to distract them)", *eh* "( at least it's worth doing because they are off the boat and I think the battle is about to get started for real)", Sora's eyes were locked on the trio before him.

"Shit, the boat is going away ", Chiko was pissed.

"Yakushi", Shinokaze said and leaped off with a blinding speed.

*Huh* Shinra frown.

"It ok Shinra, join us when you are ready", Kaguya gave a friendly smile.

Shinra's entire face went red as he was flattered, "(how does someone get to look so beautiful, I'm almost starting to think she's a real goddess and wanna kiss her)", *hehehe* Shinra grin sheepishly, "of course I will, Kaguya ", be smile widely.

"Alright then ", she leaped after Shinokaze.

*Hmm* Shinra's smile disappeared and was replaced with frustration,"damnit", Shinra curse for the fact that he was in the boat while the others are about to get down to a fight of life and death.

"Hey brats, what do you think you idiots are doing? Back there we were holding back because we didn't want to wreck that boat, but out here, we can go bizarre", Junichiro smirk.

"Why do you think we were holding back as well, or do you take us for a weaklings, you must be out of your league ", Sora smile.

"Something is really off here, this kid are all jōnin level ninja, and it is rare to see two jōnin in a squad or else they are not just ordinary jōnin", Benjiro said.

"Code grade level ninja ", Chiko snarled.

"Then there is a kōjin around too, and I can't hear the screaming of those humans anymore ", Benjiro said.

"Come on, this brats are very cheap to be a code grade, most especially the duck with white haired ", *hahaha* "never in my years of living as a demon have I seen a code grade ninja this weak", Junichiro mucked.

What's happening?)", Chiko concentrate on his sense *ugh* "(they all seem really calm, it seems someone has cast an illusion on them... and I don't think it's any of these brats' doings)", Chiko thought, "(it must be the work of the kōjin)", Chiko wasn't so sure,"hey, brats... I'll promise to spare your life, if only you tell me the name of the kōjin with you".

"Relax hothead, stop acting like you demons are not terrified by all kōjin", Sora smirk.

*Hm* Chiko frown.

"It seems like we have failed our mission, right Chiko, Benjiro", Junichiro ask, the smirk still on is face but it was a bit off.

*Tch* Chiko grit his teeth, he was the type that always fulfil his duties without failure, Benjiro on the other hand was still having his calm and reserved features.

*Hmm* "Ken will be here anytime soon, so... We should get rid of these brats before that time, or else we will be doomed", Benjiro said.

"Who said we were going to let them live, not when I have failed, I hate failing", Chiko cracked his knuckles.

"This is going to be fun", Junichiro smile evilly.

"Guys, I think it's about time, let give it our all", Sora said from above the snake.

"Sure", Kaguya pulled out her sword and was on guard.

"Nosuke", Shinokaze called out quietly.

*Umm* Sora look at the Hoshino clan boy.

"Next time you give me orders... I will kill you", Shinokaze threatened while returning his sword to it's scabbard, he placed his hand in his backpack and pulled out another fan.

"(Watching all three of them from here without being able to do anything is making me feel sick and less among, I really am a loser)", Shinra was mad at himself for the state he was in.

(Flashback)

"Hey, Shinra", Kai called after the white haired boy, they had just returned to the village from mission.

"Yes? captain kai", Shinra looked up at the adult, he was still about ten to eleven years old back then.

"It seems like you still haven't been able to get over your fear for demons", Kai said questioningly.

"No it's not really that, I'm not really scared of them... It's just that...", Shinra look down in disappointment, "anytime I sense a demon or approach them, my body instantly shuts off and I barely have any strength to move them, and this always freaks me out cuz it makes be feels helpless as I can't contribute to the team", tears roll down Shinra's cheek.

Kai placed a hand on Shinra's head and the eyes of the white haired boy snapped in total shock, "it alright, Shinra, I get it, I understand how you feel, not being able to take down a demon, even an abnormal, but... You are the best among the entire team I've led since my years as a chuunin and being a jōnin", Kai said.

Shinra remain motionless as he stares at the ground, Kai's hand still resting on his head.

"You know... your heightens sense help track down our enemies on time, you detect the slightest information and lead the team to their den... You are a great kid and I... Kai, believe that you will become an ace ninja", the brown haired jōnin said with a smile which melts the heart of the child.

(Flashback fadeout)

*Hmm* Junichiro smirk, they started releasing a vast amount of yamiryoku which started creating gust of wind and waves.

*Hm* the three ninjas also released a huge amount of reiketsu that was trying to rival the demons yamiryoku which causes a huge gust of wind and waves around them.

"(What in the world, their taste for blood is as great as those demons, this is insane, I didn't know they have improved their reiketsu to this level... This is no genin level reiketsu, all three of them are chuunin level... How could I not have noticed from the start)", Shinra was having wide eyes.

"Hey boys", Hayate's voice boom from the device in their ears, "no offense... but it seems like Sora really is the strongest among you all)".

*Ugh tch* Shinokaze grit his teeth in annoyance as the vain on his left temple became visible.

"Now where are you going with this sensei ?", Sora ask in suspicious.

"I'm just stating the fact, and from Kaguya's reiketsu I will say she's better than Shinokaze and happens to be the second strongest".

"Thanks Hayate sensei", Kaguya appreciate.

*Ar!!* Shinokaze was now furious.

"(Now I get it)", Sora smile in realization, "(trying to make Shinokaze pissed in a way that he won't hold back against this demon... Smart)".

"Hey Shinokaze, ever wondered why Shinra is the fastest even when he's a slacker and a loser?".

"What!?, I might be a bit slacking but Sensei I'm not a loser, if anyone is it's Shinokaze ", Shinra spat out making Shinokaze want to go mad.

"Who are they talking to?", Benjiro ask.

"Most be the kōjin, and he's still on board... I can hear his voice", Junichiro informed.

"You bastards, once I finish with this insect... then I am coming after you ", Shinokaze's reiketsu increased and he launched off running towards the demons.

"This one's mine ", Junichiro launched after Shinokaze, the blue haired boy slash his fan and Junichiro blocked with his hand, the fan could not go through, Shinokaze made a spin upside down and strike his leg up at Junichiro's chin but the demon's speed had increased more than before, Shinokaze skillfully dodged Junichiro's claws and slash his fan, Junichiro made a back flip creating a little space between them.

"Kaguya, let go", Sora said and his summoning started swimming towards the other demons.

"Right", the violet haired girl dash off on the water surface.

"This is it Chiko ", Benjiro said with his usual low calm voice.

Chiko grabbed him and spun around *ar!!!* He tossed Benjiro into the air with extreme force and he sailed over to the Yakushi clan girl who bent backward dodging the fist of Benjiro.

"This guy... He has great strength", Sora eyed the broad demon *huh* Sora frown when Chiko clapped his hands and locked fingers, his eyes were shut and he was releasing some vibrations throughout the lake.

"Demon arts: sea-jaws", Chiko said and sharks started merging from the water.

"(Did he just summoned sharks? Man this guy is something else)", Sora frown lazily.

"Charge!", two sharks swiftly moved through the water heading after the snake.

"(Now he's trying to attack my summoning)", *hmm* "smart bastard", Sora smile and place his hand in his backpack, he pulled out some little black spherical device and attached them to two Kunai with a string, he threw the kunai into the water in front of the approaching sharks *boom* the water explode.

*Tch* "explosive... Damn ninja", Chiko was on edge.

*Cha!* Kaguya smashed her leg on Benjiro's shoulder and the demon hissed, he pulled her leg and toss her away but she landed safely on the water and launched another attack, Benjiro threw a punch but it was a wrong move as Kaguya's sword went through his fist to his upper arm splitting it apart, she then slash his stomach leaving a wide opening on him.

*Ha* he kicked Kaguya away, she threw some of her needles and they went into his stomach which had not healed up before her body hits the water a few times as she fell distance away due to Benjiro strength as a demon.

"Kaguya!!", Shinra yelled from his position on the boat.

*Huff* "(that was a pretty hard hit, thanks to my outfit and reiketsu that I used to shield myself, I wondered what would have happened to me)", Kaguya got back up.

"Come on, that was my very first attempt and you are out of shape already, humans really are weak ", Benjiro was walking towards her.

"Don't sweat it, I haven't even started yet ", Kaguya took a fighting stance.

*Oh* "really?", Benjiro continue walking like he owns the world.

"Yeah ", Kaguya swirl her sword and dash off, she started lashing her sword and Benjiro was dodging with ease.

"Seriously, do you really call this a swordsmanship? I feel awfully ashamed of myself right now fighting with you, it makes me hates myself in such a way can't even comprehend", Benjiro said as he continues to dodge Kaguya's sword attacks, "this is while samurai are ten steps ahead you ninja when it comes to wielding blades, and I enjoyed killing them, how do you expect me to feel about myself by the time this is over?", he continues dodging.

"Don't worry mister, by the time this is over, you will be in hell", Kaguya was trying to get a piece of Benjiro who's speed was higher than hers *Khaa* she cough when Benjiro nailed his knee into her stomach forcing all the air in her lungs out, he jumped and smashed her away with a kick.