5. Outlaw Boss.

Osamu snorted as the shadow men appeared before him.

"Mere trickery is simply waste of time." He swiped his ninjato with great force, sending the shadow men flying away. The shadow men crashed on a huge tree and burst into nothingness.

"Is that all you got, Kage ninja? Pathetic!"

"All I got?" Akira raised an eyebrow. "I'm just getting started." He raised a hand, and the two shadow men were summoned back again.

"Hmph! I remember you, Kage clan kid. Or should I say, I remember your father. Kaito Kage. We've traded blows once, he's quite a tough man. This technique, shadow man is it? Your father used it to cause me a lot of trouble during our fight."

"Oh? You've traded blows with my father and you're still alive? You must be quite strong yourself, master Osamu."

Akira remembered Osamu too. Well, knew was the right word.

Osamu was famous for being Metsudo's right hand man, and was a top official in the Ryujin clan. But shortly after Metsudo became Lord of Ninjas, he had plotted to kill him and take the seat for himself. It was a rule in Ninshu that if the current Lord of Ninjas died, a successor from his clan would be chosen to taken his place, so long it was still within the frame of his seven year rule.

The tournament to decide the next Lord of Ninjas happened only every seven years. So if the Lord of Ninjas dies within two years of his rule, a successor from his clan would take over and rule for the remaining five years. Osamu's plan was almost flawless, as he had succeeded in turning away some top Ryujin members away from Metsudo. But the real problem was Metsudo himself. The man who had taken the number one seat in Ninshu was not one to be easily trifled with. Osamu had battled Metsudo and had lost badly, barely escaping with grave injuries. The rest officials who had joined him in his coup were all executed. This happened two years ago.

As what became of Osamu? Well, you could guess already. He had joined the outlaws and was now leading them.

"You're just ask cocky as your father." Osamu said. "If i wasn't injured at the time we fought, you would be an orphan by now."

On the day Osamu was fleeing from Metsudo, Kaito was one of the ninjas sent to hunt him down.

"Well, it's just bad for you that you ran out of luck today. I'll finish what my father started." Akira swung his ninjato and took a stance, his shadow men readily waiting for command.

"That's why I said, you're one cocky..." Osamu paused and immediately swung behind him.

His ninjato clashed with Buto's, pushing him away. (Buto: Kaze clan ninja who had used single strike blades in the previous chapter)

Buto who had attempted an air attack, landed softly on the ground and smiled.

"Oh? What nice reflexes. I could picture your lifeless body already."

Osamu frowned. He was about to say something, when a huge claw shot towards him. Jumping high into the air, he avoided the attack and did a flip, landing on a tree branch. Two shuriken flew towards him, and he slashed his ninjato at them, sending them flying away. The huge claw contracted and turned into a ninjato in a ninjas hand.

"I had already pictured your heart in my hands already." The Akuma clan ninja responsible for the attack licked his lips evily.

Osamu looked around and saw he was surrounded. The outlaws he had led had all died. His heart skipped a bit as he thought of what Kazuma might do if he failed. He wouldn't be able to withstand Kazuma's wrath. He had lost men, and the ninjas were still alive. He had to end them here and now!

Kenji stood up from the ground and glanced around him, feeling satisfied at the support he was getting. He was also very pleased to see all the outlaws had fallen.

"There's no where left for you to run now, Osamu." Kenji said.

Osamu snorted and closed his eyes, and his body began to glow with a golden hue.

Shiro stared at all the lifeless outlaws' bodies around him, and felt he was lucky to be alive. The fight had barely lasted more than ten minutes, and now, it was just the boss that was left standing. Shiro estimated that he too would be dead in another five or ten minutes.

A hand touched his shoulder, nearly startling him.

"Calm down Shiro." Koji laughed. "You did well in the fight, but it's time to retreat now. You're no match for that man there, you could die in seconds if you try."

Shiro nodded and moved away from the last fight. Koji was right. If he faced top ninjas from other clans, he would be killed. His quick reflexes were not enough to save him from elite ninjas who had their clan's inheritance.

"Stay somewhere safe till we're done." Koji said and rushed eagerly to join in the fight.

Meanwhile, Osamu's body glowed brighter and brighter, and a heavy pressure descended on all the ninjas present. The ninjas resisted the pressure and took their battle stance, knowing Osamu was about to go all out. Suddenly and without warning, Osamu shot down from the tree top, straight at Akira.

Akira, though surprised that he was the first to be targeted, blocked swiftly with his ninjato. The force of the clash wasn't something he could handle, and he was sent flying several meters away. Gritting his teeth, he issued a command, and one of his shadow men appeared behind him, catching him mid air.

Osamu wasn't willing to give Akira a breathing space. The moment Akira landed on the ground, Osamu appeared Infront of him and slashed at his head. Akira didn't have enough time to dodge or block, but he wasn't perturbed. Infact, he sneered.

Before Osamu's ninjato could land, Akira's,

other shadow man appeared and held his hand, drawing him backwards and stopping his attack. These few seconds were enough for Akira. He jumped high and landed a good spinning kick on Osamu's face, sending him staggering backwards. The shadow man, who was behind Akira, used his shoulders as a boost, did a front flip, and gave Osamu a good drop kick to the head.

"Brat!" Osamu snarled, but a final attack from the last shadow man, a kick to the face, shut him up.

Osamu was prepared this time. He caught the shadow man by the leg and flung him towards an unsuspecting Kenji.

Kenji jumped high into the air, avoiding the shadow man, then still in the air, he twisted and slashed down at Osamu.

Osamu blocked Kenji's ninjato and, grasping his clothes, slammed him brutally to the ground."

Kenji coughed blood and arched his back in pain. Osamu raised a leg to stomp him.

"Fifty blades in a single strike!!" Buto yelled and attacked viciously.

Osamu jumped backwards, avoiding most of the attacks, then using his ninjato, he parried the rest. Hopefully, that was the highest level Buto could use, else he would be in trouble.

Buto was unhappy that his attacks failed to accomplish the desired effect. Although he didn't think it would bring Osamu down, Osamu had avoided it rather too easily, making the single strike blades look like a joke. Buto saw it as an insult to the Kaze clan. He changed his stance and prepared to attack again. "Fifty blades In a..."

Unfortunately for him, he was too slow this time. Osamu appeared Infront of him in a flash, with a vicious knee to the stomach.

Buto flew up in the air, coughing out blood in pain. Osamu prepared to slash at him in the air, but he was suddenly wrapped by a manriki.

"That does it for you, leader of the outlaws." The Shiroi clan ninja who had thrown it smirked.

Osamu struggled to break free, but the manriki only tighted around his body.

"It's no use resisting. That's a super enhanced manriki made by the Shiroi clan." The Shiroi ninja said confidently.

Osamu snorted. "How amusing for you to think something like this is capable of..."

He didn't finish his sentence before the manriki suddenly crackled to life, unleashing a blinding flash of lightning that electrified him. Osamu hollered in pain,but he stood firm, his eyes blazing with defiance despite the jolt.

"Now!!!" Kenji yelled.

Akira and the other clan ninjas jumped at Osamu, seeking to end him once and for all.

"Cocky brats!!!" Osamu roared.

A huge burst of energy erupted from his body, and the manriki shattered to pieces. Even more energy erupted, creating a shockwave, and sending the ninjas who had jumped at him flying. Osamu's body was literally on flames right now. He was burning his life force and turning it into strength.

"Arrogant brats!!! All of you should go and die!! Aaarrrgghhhhh!!!" He bellowed.

"Now's my chance." Koji said to himself.

"Wait!" Shiro tried to stop him, but Koji wasn't listening.

He turned into a shadow form and sank into the ground, erupting back out from the earth behind Osamu seconds later. With a swift strike, he lunged at Osamu with his ninjato - the same move the Kage outlaw had used on Shiro.

Osamu caught Koji by the neck, without even looking back. His sacrifice of burning his life force has heightened his senses multiple folds.

"You should die!" Osamu said and stabbed at Koji with his ninjato.

Koji closed his eyes helplessly, waiting for his death. Osamu's grip on his neck was so tight that he could barely breathe, talk more of trying to escape. He waited for the cold blade to pass through him, but nothing happened seconds later. Opening his eyes, he saw Shiro had held Osamu's hand and was struggling with him.

"Idiot!" Koji struggled to speak. "Run, you're no match for him!!"

"I can't hold him much longer, Koji-san. Break free while you can."

"Tsk!" Koji raised his two legs up and gave Osamu a double kick to his face, before twisting himself free. Osamu was momentarily distracted from Shiro, and Shiro used the opportunity to knock his ninjato off his hand.

Shiro slashed his ninjato towards Osamu's head, but Osamu caught it with his hand and snapped the steel into half.

"I guess we're both unarmed now, kid." Osamu said. "Allow me to pummel you with my fist then!"

He rushed at Shiro and began throwing a barrage of punches and kicks. Shiro dodged most of the attacks, and blocked the rest. Osamu's fist were heavy, so a blocked attack nearly counted as a direct hit for Shiro. Shiro knew he couldn't continue on the defense, so he switched to the offensive too, throwing out his own attacks with even more speed.

In seconds, they were both locked in an intense Taijutsu battle. Although Shiro landed the most hits, Osamu's hand was far heavier than his, so he was loosing the bout. Shiro's heart beat rapidly as he faced Osamu. He had never faced such an opponent who was by far superior to him before. He knew it was a matter of seconds before it was over, but he pressed on with more tenacity, landing punches and kicks to Osamu who took them all without sweat.

"You're mine!" Osamu lurched forward suddenly and grabbed Shiro by his head, lifting him up like a chicken.

"Not bad kid, I couldn't sense any energy from you, but you were quite tough. It's too bad your going to die first." Osamu said.

Shiro struggled as he felt Osamu's hand crushing his skull, he tried kicking Osamu to free himself, but Osamu didn't bulge, only increasing his grip force instead.

Shiro was speedily loosing consciousness. When he felt he was about to black out...

"Pathetic..." A voice said camly, but it rang in the entire forest, giving everyone chills. Osamu was more terrified as he stood shakily, loosing his grip on Shiro who dropped weakly to the ground.

"You disappoint me, Osamu." The voice spoke again.

"L...Lord Kazuma... I..." Osamu didn't finish speaking when a huge burst of purple energy burst out, knocking everyone to the ground.

Shiro felt he was hit by a sledge hammer, and every single strength in his body disappeared. He struggled to keep his eyes open, but it was all in vain. His body disobeyed him. His vision was blurry but he saw a young man with silver hair stand over him, seemingly looking at him in disdain. He tried to wonder who the silver haired man was, before he lost consciousness.