Three hours had passed since I had finished my training routine and Oyashiro's men still hadn't arrived, so I decided to meditate while I waited.
Hmm... now that I think about it, I have never entered my subconscious. Supposedly if one meditates enough one can manage to get in there, although well, I've never tried it before and I don't know if it would work on me either, after all, the only people it's been seen to work on were the jinchūrikis, although I guess it would be interesting to try to get in and see what I can find in there, but with my luck I'll probably end up finding one of the tailed beasts and it tries to eat me....
- Meh, can't be worse than being locked up for life in a coliseum where I can only fight for a greedy bastard to get - I muttered.
I tried to concentrate as best I could, with the only thought of getting into my subconscious.
I was doing this for what seemed like hours, though it was only minutes. Entering a place like the subconscious was a more difficult task than I thought it would be and it was starting to make my head hurt, so I decided to give it up for the time being.
Just the instant I opened my eyes I could hear the doors to my cell open.
Looks like Oyashiro's men are finally arriving.
From inside I could watch as the giant guy who had brought me here opened the cell.
- All right brat, it's time to eat, but first put this on," he said, throwing something at me.
I caught what he had thrown me and realized it was a dark yellow jacket with the number 10 on the back.
Oh, right, they had to give me this for beating Futsu.
I quickly took off the jacket I was already wearing and put on the new one. Then I walked out of the cell and stood next to Oyashiro's henchman.
This would be a good time to escape, but I have no idea where I am, so I might end up running in circles. For now I'll just take heed and gather as much information as I can.
- Move it," the man growled.
- Fine - I grunted back.
We walked down the hallway, passing the cells where the rest of the fighters, I assumed, were being held. I looked at all the people in the cells, looking for someone I knew from the Naruto canon, but unfortunately I found no one.
After a few minutes of walking, we entered a large rectangular room with a food bar next to the door and several circular tables with seats surrounding them. There was plenty of room and relatively few people, so there were plenty of seats, which made me wonder why there were still so many people in the cells.
- Hey - I said to the huge man
- What do you want?
- Why are there still so many people in the cells? Wouldn't it be easier to feed them all together? - I asked.
- If we let everyone out at the same time, by the end of the day there would only be 5 to 10 fighters left alive. We do this so they don't kill each other over past grudges. Besides, it makes it easier to control them," growled the man.
That makes a lot of sense.
- Okay, listen now. At that bar over there they'll give you your food, then sit down and finish it, because you won't eat anything until tomorrow at the same time. When the bell rings you will approach the door and you will be escorted to your cell again. Remember not to make trouble - said Oyashiro's henchman, as he walked away and closed the doors behind him.
- Tch, whatever you say.
I walked in the direction of the bar and grabbed one of the platters that were stacked next to it, then approached the grim-faced guy who was cutting something. I dropped my bowl hard on the bar table to let the guy on the other side know I was there, which, apparently worked, as he turned to look at me with obvious annoyance on his face.
- You could have just said something - the man complained.
- Yes, I could have.
- Tch, you stupid kid - he muttered - Fine, tell me what you want.
- Whatever is most edible - I said, looking at the amount of weird stuff there was to eat.
The guy dipped a bowl into what looked like soup and added some noodles, then cut something similar to a giant crab and put a leg over my bowl.
- There you go, the most edible thing," the man grunted.
- Thank you... uh...
- Kenta," he said, "I'm the cook of this place.
- Thank you, Kenta.
- You're welcome...
- Hideki, I'm the new number 10 - I said, while looking at the noodle soup in disgust.
- Heh, so that idiot Futsu didn't last more than 2 days with the job, wow that's pitiful. And where is he now?
- Dead - I replied, as I walked away with my bowl.
I walked in the direction of one of the tables farthest away from the rest of the people and took one of the noodles in the soup.
Please let it be edible, please let it be edible.
I quickly put the piece of pasta in my mouth and swallowed it. I waited a few seconds and nothing happened, absolutely nothing, not even the noodle tasted.
Well, it's better than I expected.
I continued eating the noodles and tasted some of the soup, it had no taste either, but at least it was edible.
As I was finishing my soup, I hadn't realized that 2 older teenagers were looking at me. One with curiosity and the other with annoyance.
Once I had finished with the noodles, I looked curiously at the crab leg I had been given.
While I had lived in a coastal city in my past life, I had never eaten crab, or any other crustacean, so this would be new to me.
As I was about to take the leg, it was snatched away by a teenage boy. He was somewhat tall, had white hair with a slight blue tint, his eyes were purple, and he wore a purple sleeveless shirt with gray pants. He wore a belt around his waist with water bottles and another belt around his waist holding a sword.
I couldn't take my eyes off the teenager due to the fact that I recognized him instantly.
Suigetsu Hōzuki, one of Orochimaru's prisoners, Sasuke's future partner and a skilled water nature user, coupled with his kekkei genkai that literally turns him into water. Interesting, I thought by this point he would already be Orochimaru's prisoner.
- So you're the new 10 - said the teenager arrogantly, while taking a bite of the crab leg.
- And you are? - I asked.
- Oh, nobody special, just number 2, and this big boy here is number 3, the older brother of the old number 10 - he said, while his smile got bigger.
I looked at Futsu's brother for a few moments and the only difference I could find between him and his brother's appearance was their height and eye color. His were black in color, unlike his younger brother's, which were green.
- I see, do you guys want a greeting or something? - I asked, with the most expressionless face I could manage.
While, I wasn't sure I could beat these two, after all, one was number 2 and the other number 3, I wasn't going down without a fight, much less let myself be intimidated by an idiot like Suigetsu.
- You see... my friend here is upset that you so cruelly killed his little brother.
- Oh, and your friend here can't talk? - I asked.
- I don't like to waste my words on useless trash like you," said Futsu's brother.
- Wow, looks like arrogance runs in the family - I muttered.
- What did you say scum?
- I'm sorry your majesty, I wasn't aware that I was in front of someone superior, but those words lead me to think, why did you come here if he doesn't want to talk to someone useless like me?
- The easy way you beat my idiot brother reflects negatively on me, now everyone thinks they can challenge me because a new guy beat one of the big 10 in his first fight - he growled, as he moved his hand closer to my neck.
I hit his hand with mine before it reached me and looked at him with annoyance.
- Don't you dare put your hands on me - I growled.
- You dare raise your hand against number 3?
I could clearly see the anger in his eyes, the hatred, and some sadness. I could also see Suigetsu slowly walk away and sit down next to another teenager with long black hair.
I couldn't keep looking at him, because I had to dodge a punch from Futsu's brother.
- Stand still so I can kill you! - he shouted at me.
- You know, it's funny, your brother told me the same thing before I knocked him out - I mocked.
I could feel his killer instinct kick in. I had to admit it was pretty big, though minuscule compared to Aoki's or Kakuzu's.
I guess this is a good time to test my alternative to the killer instinct.
I focused on my chakra, trying to see if it was still sealed, and to my fortune it was fully available.
I let a small smile form on my face and stood my ground.
- Oh, so that thing is your killer instinct... pretty pathetic if you ask me, but since you and your idiot friend took the time to ruin my moment to eat, let me return the favor.
I released my chakra and let it spread all over the place. The results were better than expected. The nearby tables, which were made of rock, cracked. On the other hand, Kenta had fainted as well as some of the weaker fighters in the place, while what I assumed were the rest of the "Big 10", as Futsu's brother called them, tensed up and prepared for a fight.
Speaking of Futsu's brother, he was paralyzed with what I assumed was fear.
Heh, and this guy is supposed to be number 3? I honestly expected something else... come to think of it, Oyashiro said not to kill anyone outside of a death match, though he also said it didn't matter since no one followed that rule, so if I kill this idiot, can I go straight up to number 3? It never hurts to try.
I approached Futsu's brother, while channeling chakra into my feet to move faster and gave him a powerful punch in the throat, or so it would have been, if a wall of ice hadn't protected him. I stared in amazement at the ice structure, which after a few seconds I realized was not a wall, but a mirror.
I jumped back, expecting an attack from the mirror, but nothing happened.
- I'm sorry for Akiro's behavior, but I think you also went a little too far by using his dead brother to provoke him - said a teenager as he jumped out of the mirror.
I immediately noticed that the teenager was the same one Suigetsu had sat with earlier. He was a young boy with an androgynous appearance. He had long black hair, pale skin, large dark brown eyes, pretty eyelashes and an attired complexion consisting of a striped kimono that reached his knees. Over her brown sweater, she wears a teal haori with white trim, and around her waist a sash also brown with a fringed trim. Along with this, she wears light brown wide-soled sandals with straps of the same color as her haori. She also wears her fingernails and toenails painted teal, matching her haori. Her hair is long and pinned up with a white bra, while two strands of her hair fall loosely framing her face, pinned at the ends.
I immediately recognized him when I saw his face.
Obviously this is Haku, now my question is, what the hell is Haku doing here, and why isn't he with Zabuza?
Realizing that Haku was watching me warily, I realized that I was still channeling my chakra all over the place, so I stopped and spoke.
- You're right, I may have overdone it by doing that, but it's his fault for bothering me when I was eating, I just defended myself.
- You're absolutely right and I'll make sure it doesn't happen again, as I'll have a very serious conversation with him and Suigetsu.
- Okay, could you tell me your name? - I asked, trying to verify what I already knew.
- My name is Haku, I'm number 1, could you tell me your name too? - Haku asked.
- My name is Hideki, I'm number 10, as you know.
- Alright, Hideki-san, once again I apologize for Akiro and Suigetsu's behavior, if you have another problem with them, please feel free to mention it to me.
- Of course.
After that Haku grabbed Akiro's shirt and entered his ice mirror, a few seconds later he appeared in front of Suigetsu and they started to argue.
Okey, this got complicated... I honestly don't want to hurt Haku, he seems like a good character to me, on the other hand, I wouldn't mind at all to be number 3 or 2
My thoughts were interrupted by the loud ringing of a bell.
- I guess they won't let me bring food to my cell, right? - I sighed.
I walked in the direction of the door where the Oyashiro man was already waiting for me with an annoyed expression.
As we walked towards my cell, I remembered something that made me curious, so I decided to ask my guide.
- Hey - I said.
- What?
- Why does the number one have different attire from the rest? - I asked.
- Because they are his benefits. Just like number 2's sword.
- So if I get to number 2 I can get a new outfit?
- You might say. It depends on how well Oyashiro-sama likes you.
- I see...
That would explain why Futsu was so focused on getting Oyashiro to like him... maybe he promised him something in return for his loyalty.
- All right, here we are.
I looked at the doors we had arrived at and realized it wasn't my cell.
- Where are we? - I asked.
- The showers, get in the one with your number on it and get out quick, I don't plan on waiting here all night.
- Fine.
I entered through the doors and found the place full of steam, it reminded me of the sauna Aoki had in the house, you could only see the numbers on the doors because these were somehow illuminated, making them easy to see through the steam. I walked in the direction of the door with the number 10 on it and entered. The place was small, but wide enough for me to move around without any problems.
Well, this is better than nothing.
I took off my clothes and started washing my body, thinking all the time how long it would take to get to stalls 3 and 2, and whether I could beat Suigetsu or Haku in a match. I came to the conclusion that I wouldn't be able to beat Suigetsu unless I learned some lightning technique to counter his kekkei genkai that transforms him into water, and if I couldn't beat him first, beating Haku was pretty unlikely.
- I guess I'll just have to go up 1 at a time - I sighed.
As I was about to finish with my shower, the door behind me suddenly opened, and in walked Akiro followed by 2 other guys.
- I don't give a shit what Haku says, you will die today - Akiro growled.
Oh, so this is what Oyashiro meant when he said that in the showers the fighters are usually "creative".
I quickly went through the proper hand seals and said; Suiton: Teppōdama. I threw several spheres of water that hit Akiro and his companions head on.
- Not only do you disturb not only my lunch time, but also my shower. I don't give a shit what Haku says too, you won't get out of here alive - I growled.
I pulled out my seal trench knives in my hand and channeled chakra into them. Akiro's companions saw me do this and stood up, then rushed at the same time towards me.
Tch, annoyance.
I dodged their blows and answered them with quick slashes to the tendons of their legs and arms, causing them to quickly fall to the ground.
Heh, who knew those anatomy classes with Akio would do any good.
Before they could scream from the pain, I kicked them hard in their faces.
- All right, now t...
As I looked in the direction where Akiro should have been I realized he was gone.
- Tch, damn coward.
I quickly got dressed and exited the showers.
- What the hell took you so long? - Oyashiro's man complained.
- Some idiot along with his friends tried to attack me in the shower - I complained.
- Oh, Akiro I guess, huh?
- How did you know? - I asked.
- He just ran off muttering something about getting revenge.
So I'll have to watch my back from now on....
- By the way, what did you do with the others who tried to attack you?
- I cut their tendons and left them in the shower - I said, pointing in the direction of the showers.
- They don't pay me enough - sighed the man.
I just shrugged as we started walking in the direction of my cell.
- Hey, can you tell me anything about Akiro? - I asked, trying to gather as much information as possible.
- He's Futsu's older brother by only 2 years, he's quite skilled in taijutsu and ninjutsu, though he's quite arrogant, and cowardly when he encounters someone superior. He also tends to backstab his peers. I think the only person who really got along with him was his brother and the first two.
- Hum... interesting...
I'm surprised he actually told me all that... I feel like Oyashiro has something to do with all this and I don't like it....
Once we arrived at my cell I went inside and before Oyashiro's man closed the doors I asked him something.
- Hey, what's your name? It's awkward to say "hey" every time I want to ask you something.
- Soka - after saying that, he closed the doors.
Hum... Soka... not a bad name.
Once I was alone in my room I did some extra exercise and then went to bed. The next day I would surely have to fight and try to take care of myself so that asshole Akiro wouldn't try to kill me again.
I could tell Haku and try to use that to get a little closer to him. It wouldn't hurt to have number 1 on my side....
4 months had passed since I arrived at this place, and I hadn't been able to rest for a single moment.
Every day I would get up around 6am, train a little in my cell and then head to the arena to fight some idiot trying to get up to rank 10. Once the fight was over, I would go back to my cell, 2 hours later I would go out to what everyone called "the courtyard" which was a huge room with several windows and some greenery. Normally fighters trained there or formed groups depending on their village, gender, or something else that distinguished them from the rest, but in my case, going out to the courtyard was about surviving the constant attacks of Akiro's henchmen.
After I told Haku about the assassination attempt by Akiro in the showers, it seems that they had an argument because this was not the first time he did something similar against another fighter. Well, that argument ended with Akiro in the infirmary with many senbon needles in his body, which led him to hate me even more and to see to it that I could never talk to Haku again, as there would always be about 20 of his goons around him, making it almost impossible for me to get to the teenager.
After our "recreational" time in the yard was over, we would go back to the cells and wait for our next fight, once the fight was over, we would wait in the cells for it to be time to eat and then bathe, and finish in the cells until the next day.
So my stay here could be defined as; wake up, train, leave my cell to fight, go back to my cell, go out to the yard, survive the constant attacks, go back to my cell, leave to fight again, wait to be taken to the mess hall, then go to the showers and back to the cell again.
Defending myself from those damn attacks had become so repetitive that it already felt like a typical MMORPG daily mission.
To top it off, the idiots I was defeating in the fights for rank 10, always ended up allying with Akiro at the end of the day, due to them hating me for not letting them advance in the rankings... so well, at the end of the day I ended up with around d assassination attempts, not counting the fights in the arena.
But it wasn't all bad, at least I had made a "friend", about the second month of being in this place. A girl of about my age had approached me once in the courtyard, although well... it didn't go so well....
*Beginning flashback*
It was day number 62 after arriving at the coliseum. I was in the courtyard after winning another fight in the arena. I had been sleeping for only 2 hours lately, all due to the paranoia that being on constant alert had caused me, waiting for a possible attack from Akiro's followers. To top it off that bastard had convinced his master to pay one of the guards to let a group of his minions into my cell, so even there I wasn't safe. Now I was trying not to fall asleep in the yard for fear that someone would try to cut my throat.
- Hey! Hello!" said someone from behind me.
I instinctively pulled out my trench knives and threw a slash at my would-be attacker's face.
My fist was stopped by a huge stone hand. Upon a closer look, I realized that it was some sort of stone golem rising from the ground. I quickly made a kawarimi with a piece of wood on the ground and then prepared to throw a jutsu, but was stopped by a strong knee to the stomach, followed by a punch to the face. Before I could do anything, I felt my hands and feet being captured by something. When I looked down to see what it was, I realized they were grabbed by another golem that seemed to be coming out of the ground.
Heh, so this is as far as I got.
I closed my eyes waiting for my death, but it never came.
- What are you doing? - asked the same voice as before.
As I looked in the direction of the voice, I could see a young girl about my age, she had long red hair tied in two pigtails, her eyes were gray and she was wearing the same outfit as everyone else, although she had the number 5 on it. But the most remarkable thing about her was the huge smile on her face, it vaguely reminded me of Aoki's smile.
It's as if Aoki had an affair with some woman from the Uzumaki clan and she was the result of that affair....
- Who are you? - I asked, while looking for a way to escape from the golems holding my hands and feet.
- I'm Kaori, nice to meet you - she said, while extending her hand.
I assumed she was trying to shake my hand in greeting, but apparently she hadn't noticed that my hands were trapped by her golems.
- Um...
- Oh, sorry, I forgot about that - he said hurriedly as he made a hand signal and the rocks on my limbs came undone.
I picked myself up off the ground slowly and cautiously, all the while staring at the girl in front of me, looking for any sign that she was hostile.
Once I was fully on my feet, the girl now named Kaori extended her hand once again.
- Let's start over. Hi! My name is Kaori, let's be friends! - she exclaimed with a big smile.
At that moment my brain short-circuited.
What did she just say?
- Could you repeat that again? - I asked, still confused.
- Oh, sorry, I didn't think you were slow.
I frowned at him for the insult, though he didn't seem to notice or just ignored it.
- My name is Kaori, let's be friends - he said, extending his hand again.
Is this some kind of plan of Akiro's to get me to let my guard down?
- If you wanted to be my friend, why the hell did you attack me? - I asked.
- In theory that was self-defense, after all, you attacked me first - he pointed out.
- Touché - I muttered.
This girl reminds me of Aoki.
- And why do you want to be my friend? Did Akiro order you to do it? - I asked again
- Akiro, you mean the third one? Why would he order me to become your friend? - asked the girl with confusion.
He seems to be telling the truth, but I can't be entirely sure?
- Then why did you decide you wanted to be my friend? - I asked.
- I don't know, you looked lonely, sad and bitter. Like an old man no one visits - he said.
Are you comparing me to an old man? Yes... you definitely look like Aoki, you're even just as irritating.
- Why would number 5 be interested in that?
- I told you my name is Kaori, not number 5, I hate it when people call me that just because this stupid jacket says so - he grumbled.
I couldn't help a small smile forming on my face, but I quickly made it disappear. This girl reminded me so much of Aoki it hurt.
- So Kaori, you just want to be friends with me because I looked like an old man? - I asked.
- Maybe, though it's mostly because I used to get picked on too when I first got here, you know, red hair and all. I figured they did the same to you because of your white hair.
- Then you're wrong," I replied.
- Oh, and why did Mr. Third and his friends bother you? - he asked, tilting his head to one side.
Mr. Third?
- I killed Akiro's brother - I said, looking into her eyes, searching for some expression that might slip from her happy face.
- Wow... that's ugly....
- Yeah, that's why you want to kill me now, just like your friends.
- If that's true, you deserve to be beaten, but not killed.
What do you mean?
- What do you mean?
- I mean, I understand that he hates you for what you did, but it was a death match, obviously you weren't going to let yourself be killed just so the other guy would win, plus it was clearly seen how Oyashiro-sama forced you to do it.
- How do you know it was a death match? At no time did I tell you.
- Whenever there is a death match they always let us all watch it in the courtyard through a screen - he shrugged his shoulders.
Why am I just hearing about this now?
- Why didn't anyone tell me?
- You didn't ask - he answered, while playing with his pigtails.
- That's all right," she said.
- Now will you respond to my proposal?
- Proposal?
- Yes, the one about being friends.
I still don't quite trust her, but I guess it's better than spending it alone, waiting for the next attack.
- Well, I accept," I replied, taking Kaori's hand in a squeeze.
*End of flashback
After that day I couldn't get Kaori to let go of me. No matter where I was, she was always there. I think the only place she didn't follow me to was my cell, because the men's and women's showers were next to each other.
Although Akiro didn't seem to mind her being near me, he would still keep sending his henchmen to try to kill me. Luckily Kaori always helped me in my fights outside of the arena, so I had had to worry less lately.
I would never admit it to anyone, but I had begun to grow somewhat fond of her and even started to think of her as a real friend.
- Hey, Hideki, guess what!
My thoughts were interrupted by Kaori's shout coming in my direction. I turned around and could see her with her huge smile that seemed to be constantly plastered on her face.
I stopped kicking the body of another one of the "assassins" sent by Akiro and walked in the direction of my only friend.
- You look very cheerful, did something good happen to you? - I asked.
- Guess who is now number 4 - she exclaimed proudly.
- Wow, congratulations," I said, impressed.
One thing I had learned quickly, was that while Kaori may look stupid, she is quite strong and smart, even smarter than me, which led me to wonder on several occasions how that idiot Akiro is still number 3.
- But that's not the best part, since the fight for the number 4 spot was a fight to the death, now the number 4 spot was left vacant, which means there will be a tournament for the spot, so I took the chance and recommended you to enter - she said, with a happy expression on her face.
Kaori's words took a few seconds to reach my brain correctly.
- Let me know if I understood correctly... are you telling me that you got me into a tournament for the number 4 spot without asking me first?
- A tournament to the death - she corrected.
- ...
- ...
- I'm not sure if I should hit you or hug you....
- We both know you can't hit me, and I don't like hugs, so just accept it - he shrugged.
Tch, he's right.
- Okay - I sighed - When is this tournament supposed to start? - I asked.
- In about... 40 minutes - he said, looking at an imaginary watch on his wrist.
- 40 MINUTES?!
- Hey, don't yell at me - he complained.
- I'm sorry, but how the hell is a tournament this important supposed to be put together in only 40 minutes?
- Oyashiro-sama is fast at this sort of thing - he shrugged.
Oyashiro had visited me once or twice during all this time, always to tell me that Kakuzu is happy with my performance, but that he expects much more from me.
He basically just comes to tease me....
- I see, then I guess I should go - I said, as I started walking in the direction of the courtyard exit.
- Oh, one more thing - he said, approaching me - Don't die - he smiled while stroking my head.
- If I die it will be your fault - I answered, with an obviously fake smile.
- How mean you are - he pouted.
As I was walking towards the gates I passed one of Akiro's loyal henchmen.
- Tch, what the hell are you doing here? - he asked in a growl.
- What the hell do you care, dog? - I responded in kind.
- Hmph, whatever, if you come to sign up for the number 5 spot it's already late - he said with a cocky grin.
- I'm already signed up you idiot, does being Akiro's dog take away your reading skills?
- How dare you talk to me like that? - he growled.
- I'll talk to you any way I want, dog, or are you planning to do something about it? - I replied.
- You... you fucking brat," he said, as he approached me.
- Hey! Stop fighting! - shouted one of the guards at the door.
- Tch, you're saved for now, but don't think that in the tournament it will be the same.
- Yeah, yeah, whatever you say, dog.
We stared at each other for a few seconds and then he walked away.
Tch, you annoying bastard.
I walked in the direction of the guard and then spoke to him.
- I'm already enrolled, what am I supposed to do now? - I asked.
- Go to your cell and wait for your name to be called.
- Good.
I walked away from the guard and walked towards my cell.
During all this time here, I had already walked each and every corridor of this place, so, to some extent, I knew the whole place, unfortunately, even if I had this knowledge I had realized that I couldn't escape, as the walls were bathed in chakra absorption seals, so no matter how hard I tried to hit the walls, it did absolutely nothing to them.
When I was finally close to my cell, I signaled one of the guards to open it and then stepped inside.
One of the perks of being one of the "Big 10" is that I could go in and out of my cell whenever I wanted and as long as there were guards nearby.
All right, I must psych myself up for what is about to happen. I will be entering a tournament to the death for the number 5 spot, which is pretty cool, or at least Kaori made it seem that way. Now the real question is, what should I expect from Akiro? Because I sincerely doubt he's going to let me enter the tournament just like that, even more so knowing that one of his loyal followers will be fighting.
My mental questions were answered because the door to my cell burst open and about 7 fighters entered at once.
- I don't know why I expected anything different - I sighed.
The first of them ran in my direction with a kunai in hand and threw a slash, but I easily dodged it, then used his own hand to force him to stab himself in the neck. Following that, I pulled the kunai from the corpse's neck and threw it with all my might at another one of the intruders.
Tch, I hate not being able to use chakra in my damn cell, why the hell can't I do it in here, but outside? It doesn't make fucking sense.
I had to duck under a kick from another one of the intruders and then countered it with my own kick, but to his supporting leg, which caused him to fall over. Before I could go to finish him off, I was interrupted by a punch that passed too close to my face. I grabbed the puncher's arm and sent him flying over my back and crashing heavily to the ground. I quickly finished off the two fighters on the ground with strong kicks to their heads and focused on the remaining 3.
- All right, how do you want to do this? - I asked, looking at them with a wild grin.
When I finished saying that, all 3 of them rushed at me at the same time.
- Then it will be the 3 of them together...I like it.....
I rolled out of their way and grabbed the kunai I had thrown earlier which was embedded in the skull of one of the corpses.
I ran in the direction of the nearest one and stabbed the kunai in his eye, then kicked him against his companions.
The loud scream of the now blind attacker alerted all the guards around the cell, who quickly came and saw the corpses on the floor.
- What the hell is going on here? - demanded the guard.
- Isn't it obvious? These idiots tried to attack me in my own cell, again - I growled.
The guard looked with annoyance at one of his own and then ordered him to take the bodies away, he also ordered another to escort the live attackers out of the cell and the wounded one to the infirmary.
- Damn you number 10! Can't you stop causing me trouble! - he complained.
- How the hell am I supposed to be to blame for this? They broke into my damn cell when a stupid guard is supposed to be outside making sure that doesn't happen.
- I know, but if you don't solve your damn problems with number 3, this will only continue.
- Or you could just get a fucking guard who isn't a corrupt fuck and will take pay from anyone who wants to come into my fucking cell to kill me - I whined.
- You do realize we're in a clandestine fighting place, right?
- I know.
- Anyway, go to the damn arena, the tournament is about to start - said the guard, rubbing his forehead with annoyance.
I simply wiped the blood off with my bed sheets and walked in the direction of the arena.
Once I arrived, I approached Soka, who was with some kind of board in hand, calling the competitors.
- Well brat, you're on time, your match is next - he said, looking at me sideways and raising an eyebrow when he saw blood on my clothes.
- Don't ask, just tell me who I'll be fighting.
- Fine. You'll fight number 8 - he said, pointing to a guy he knew well.
So I'm fighting the dog, eh... interesting....
Not long ago, I had noticed that numbers 9, 8, 7 and 6 were under Akiro's orders, but the most loyal of them was number 8. I believed that by being a close "friend" of Akiro's, he would make his master take an interest in him and start sponsoring him in the same way he did with his wrestler.
If I remember correctly, Akiro's master was Gatō. The same Gatō who was obsessed with the land of waves. That explained why that idiot Akiro was so cocky. His master was just as arrogant and to top it all off he would pamper him with some money to pay the guards so that his thugs would attack his future opponents and thus have an easy victory in his next fight, since his opponent was always tired or too damaged to fight at his maximum level.
- Alright brat, it's your time, enter the arena - said Soka.
I just nodded and entered the arena through the big doors that I had already crossed several times.
Once I was on the other side, I looked with annoyance at Akiro's dog, who was looking at me with arrogance clear on his face.
- Looks like I'll finally be able to teach you some manners you damn brat.
- Yeah, yeah, whatever you say, dog - I shrugged.
- Tch, don't you dare call me that again - he growled at me.
- what, dog? But I thought that was your name, dog.
The annoyance was clear in his eyes, but he couldn't attack me because the fight hadn't started yet and apparently the judges of these fights were too strict with the rules. If they said it was a fight to the death, it was a fight to the death, if they ordered you to stop, you did it, otherwise there were serious consequences.
- LADIES AND GENTLEMEN! THIS WILL BE THE OPENING BOUT FOR THE FOURTH PLACE TOURNAMENT! ARE YOU ALL READY?! - the announcer's voice was heard.
- YES! - shouted the spectators.
I will always find it disgusting the way all these bastards scream with joy to see children fight to the death.
- ALL RIGHT! LET THE FIGHT BEGIN!