Sweey: So, I'm gonna pick up where my thumb drive left off… so enjoy this continuation of the previous chapter. ;D Sorry about the long wait for the update... go check out my profile here or on DA for an explanation. This is a relatively short chapter. Please enjoy and please review! ^^

~Chapter Six: The Arrival of the Dragon

Kotaro landed silently beside Sasuke and the Koga ninja turned to him in surprise.

"Back so soon? I was just chatting here with Lee here that he needs to have another chance at meeting you, seeing as you sort of beat him up and took his horse and left him naked in the cold."

,

Kotaro did not reply, he merely stared off at the sea, folding his wings.

Sasuke's eyes narrowed as he stared at the legendary figure before him. Ever since he was a little boy, his grandfather had told him stories of the legendary Kotaro Fuma, the man that had tamed the Wind Demon.

The Wind Demon, yet another legend among the shinobi folk of every clan, had been the only thing separating them from the ability to move freely and silently and perform with accuracy. It was said that the leader of the Fuma clan, Kotaro, would not stand aside idle any longer and challenged the Wind Demon to a race through the skies. It was that very day that Kotaro had grown his wings, slender and black like a crow's. He defeated the Wind Demon, who time and time again tried to trick him with a clone jutsu, the false Wind Demons offering the Fuma ninja a treaty. Kotaro had been far cleverer and as the morning sun shone through the sky, marked his victory as he reached the peak of Mt. Fuji. The Wind Demon would not have it. He challenged Kotaro once more and the great shinobi agreed to it; so the two dueled there upon the peak of the mountain, fighting to be the one standing triumphant. Then the Wind Demon knocked Kotaro down and he tumbled down the mountain into a farming village, losing his ninjato somewhere in the process. It was there in the village that he picked up a sharp garden trowel before dashing up the mountainside, spreading his black wings and flashing past the Wind Demon up into the twilight sky until he reached the place that is night. There he selected a star and plucked it from its place in the night sky and dove back down from the twilight and into the blue sea of daylight. With the two new weapons in hand, he flew with incredible speed and destroyed the demon. Using the dust-wind jutsu, Kotaro turned the Wind Demon into red dust, which he inhaled in order to seal the Wind Demon forever within his body. The Wind Demon could escape only if Kotaro Fuma opened his mouth and spoke. Then the blood of the Wind Demon soaked into Kotaro's hair, coloring it red and marking the seal so that he was forever realized as the victor over the Wind Demon. It was because of this that Kotaro had outlasted the ages, living through eon after eon without fear of death. So says one legend. There were others, all of them Sasuke knew by heart.

It was, in fact, Sasuke's grandfather's great grandfather who had given the trowel to Kotaro when he fell from the mountain, which was roughly five generations ago. The story had been handed down through those generations, until finally they had fallen upon Sasuke's young ears.

In a way, Kotaro Fuma was Sasuke's childhood hero. The day he had first heard rumors of Kotaro Fuma's return, some days after he became captain of the Sanada Ten Braves, he had been filled with that same childish excitement that had been the fire in his soul so many years ago; the very child who had dreamed of fighting alongside the great Twilight Ninja, the Wind Demon, the legendary Kotaro Fuma after having heard the story for the hundredth time from his dear grandfather. Some days he and the other village children would go play in the forest whenever they were not training and Sasuke would always secretly pretend that he was fighting the Wind Demon, helping Kotaro in his victory.

Sasuke smiled, in his daydreams he had always been the one to hand the star in the sky to Kotaro, just as his ancestor had done. Now here he was, standing beside that very same man, a living legend, breathing and spending long days with Sasuke. It was almost as if those childish promises to his grandfather that he would fight alongside the Twilight Ninja, now finally meant something.

Sasuke lifted his gaze to the sky, knowing that his grandfather was proud of him, for he was living out the very stories that he had told Sasuke when he was growing up.

Kotaro turned and looked at him and Sasuke met his gaze. The Twilight Ninja then turned to the man he had attacked. In curiosity, Sasuke watched as something unfolded in Kotaro that he did not know existed. The tall shinobi pulled off the man's clothing that he wore and undid the man's hands, helping him back into his clothing. Before he let the man go, Kotaro untied his feet and the man dashed off back to the camp like a bird released from its cage.

Kotaro straightened his back and the wings vanished. He crossed his arms a moment, before suddenly collapsing to the ground. Sasuke took a step forward in alarm before he realized what Kotaro was actually doing.

With his ear pressed close to the ground, Kotaro could hear an unmistakable sound. Without warning he jumped to the top of the cliff where they had stood when they first had arrived and stood, staring inland. Sasuke was there a second after him.

Trampling over the grounds that stretched before them, the army of Oshu was making swift progress to the army by the sea. Kotaro knew that Date was by no means trying to threaten the newcomers, but he was definitely not being modest about his approach. He was flashing all his power before the seaside army, perhaps to discourage an attack from the other army.

"Whoa," Sasuke muttered, "Masamune got here faster than I thought he would."

Kotaro had to agree, it was much sooner than expected.

...

Raikane sighed, watching her shinobi friend clean his wound on his shoulder.

"That was close, Katsuo," she muttered, plopping down beside him. "I don't want another close call like that. Are there other shinobi like him?"

Katsuo was already shaking his head, "No... no that shinobi is a legendary figure, Tomoko-sama."

Raikane cocked her head, "Legendary? I mean, his skill was beathtaking, but how is he a legend if he is still alive?"

Katsuo winced briefly as he finished dressing his wound, "It is said he kills every man who ever witnesses him in action. We are fortunate that he backed away, which means that his boss has good will toward us."

Raikane snorted, "Good will? He was going to kill you, Katsuo! How can he have good intentions when they kill the people they want to befriend?"

Katsuo stood, waving the matter away, "It is shinobi business. You probably will never come to understand. Not even our own can get a clear picture of our true intentions and peculiar customs."

"So I see, well, with that settled," Raikane sighed, resting a hand on her katanas, "What now?"

Katsuo lifted either shoulder, popping his neck, "Well, we could start by looking at that map which you've been putting off since we came ashore."

Raikane groaned, "Is there something else we can do? Like train. Yeah, we haven't had a good duel for some time. In fact, we only faced off that day we met on the ship!"

Katsuo gave her a dry look, readable even from beneath the mask.

"Oh right, your wound. Um, well, is there something else I could do? I dunno, I'm just not in the mood to read over that map," Raikane muttered.

This time Katsuo didn't reply, he stared off in the distance intently. Before she could ask why he dropped to the ground and pressed his ear to the earth.

She scrunched her nose up in confusion, "What are you doing?"

A hissing sound came from beneath his mask, "Shhh!"

Raikane jerked back slightly in surprise, but she regained her composure. She looked around at the new world that surrounded her. New cultures to adapt to, new land to live upon, and new faces to memorize stretched around her. She loved the thrill and excitement of it all. Then her attention was caught upon another variable; the unmistakable sound of hoofbeats thundered in the distance, resounding over the waters.

She craned her neck in an attempt to get a glimpse at the approaching riders, however she found it difficult to see over the multitude around her. From here, Raikane could see the dust rising from the hooves of the horses. There had to be a lot to kick up that much dirt. She didn't have to wait long to see the new arrivals, for her men quickly scattered to clear a path for the riders. A yellow cresent, that was the first thing that caught her eye. She quickly registered the man in blue armor wearing it on his helmet, lowering her gaze to his crossed arms, and then shifting her eyes to his right side where another rider was. Behind them, a wild cavalry trampled the ground behind them.

The man in blue armor stopped his black horse and those who followed halted just as he had.

"So this is the fresh meat that washed onto our shores? Hmph, I was hoping for something with a little more...," he paused to search for the right word. When he could not he muttered, "Well, more."

Katsuo quickly stepped forward, "Date Masamune!"

Masamune's brows rose, "Well this is a new face! Who told you about me? That monkey ninja that hangs out with Sanada?"

Katsuo clenched his hands into fists, "That is of no importance. However, you should greet people with at least an ounce of respect. Or does the great dragon of Oshu have a great lack of manners? That would make you no better than one of those ruffians we shinobi call prize money."

Date's eyes narrowed, "Come over here and I'll wipe that smile off your face."

"I'm not smiling," Katsuo retorted. "I am in fact very displeased."

Masamune urged his horse forward, but the man to his right stopped him.

"Lord Masamune, you cannot expect them to recieve you with respect should you not first give it to them."

Masamune let out an irritated, yet defeated sigh, "Alright Kojuro. That doesn't mean I have to like it."

"Not at all sir," Kojuro replied.

Raikane cocked her head, it was an interesting relationship the two men shared. The leader, Masamune, seemed to be rash and rebellious, while his right hand man, Kojuro, was cautious and trustworthy. Masamune met her gaze but she did not look away. This man had walked on her turf, what little land that was, and disregarded her altogether. She did not like that in the least bit, but she wasn't about to be a jerk about it. That would get her no where.

"And who are you?" His tone was flat as he spoke, as if he were talking to a rock.

"Raikane, from the western lands," she replied with a slight bow. "I came to throw my lot in this war."

"Good, it's nice to have another player throwing their weight around on the battlefield. I'll have you know though," he jerked a thumb to his chest, "I'm the man who's gonna unify this country. So, eventually I'm gonna have to take you down. Though, I'll wait around until you're good enough to put up a fight."

Raikane didn't reply, though she had the words to.

"One-eyed Dragon, if you are through here then be on your way."

Masamune looked down at Katsuo, who still stood firmly in his place standing at Masamune's stirrup.

"Hmm," Masamune hummed, "It seems my doubts have been cured. These people do have a bite to their tongue, don't they Kojuro?"

Kojuro muttered a distracted, "Of course, Lord Masamune."

"Why don't we settle here then and make camp?"

Sweey: So, again, it's a short chapter. I'll be able to update more later... but not now. :) Please review! I hope you did enjoy! ^^