Don't Blame Me for Fighting Dirty

Nara Tsukimi leaned against the wall, breathing hard. The gap in age and numbers was more than his natural talent could make up for.

One against three? That's asking a bit much of me.

But surrender was not an option for Tsukimi. He gritted his teeth, forced down the pain coursing through his body, and quietly gathered a wisp of Chakra in his palm.

Seeing that he still refused to back down even when cornered, two Sixth-Year Students stepped forward at once, their faces turning vicious as they closed in from both sides.

"Still trying to tough it out? Looks like we'll have to teach you a lesson today!"

The one on the left reached straight for his shoulder, intending to pin him against the wall. The one on the right drove a knee toward his stomach, with no intention of holding back.

In that instant, Tsukimi focused, twisted sideways, and bent at the waist. The knee missed him by a hair. At the same time, he caught the student on the left by the wrist, dropped his center of gravity, and sent him over his shoulder in one clean throw.

Thud!

The Sixth-Year Student slammed into the ground and was out of the fight. But before Tsukimi could recover, the third student kicked him in the chest, sending him flying.

Tsukimi hit the ground hard. The skin on both arms had been scraped raw, stinging fiercely, and a trace of blood clung to the corner of his mouth.

He lay there breathing fast, his whole body aching and weak. His six-year-old body had reached its limit after taking two blows from twelve-year-old students.

Under the shade of a nearby tree, a white-haired father and son watched the bullying unfold. Kakashi Hatake leaned forward slightly, ready to step in.

Buzz!

Just then, a wave of dizziness rose from deep within Tsukimi's mind. His consciousness went dark for an instant, and in the next moment, a strange, mysterious mask appeared in his mind.

A flood of information poured into his head.

The Tara Mask. The Nine Shadowkhan Armies...

In a daze, he remembered buying that mask from a roadside vendor while out for a meal in his previous life. He had picked it up on a whim to play with. He had never expected it to follow him into the world of Naruto, much less awaken fully now.

Ninja Tribe initial progress +12%

Samurai Tribe initial progress +12%

Troll Tribe initial progress +12%

Once he had absorbed the flood of information, Tsukimi's eyes lit up. The shadow of war that had weighed on him for two years vanished.

I knew it! How could someone transported to another world not have a cheat? I did good deeds in my last life. I deserve this!

There was no time to explore the Tara Mask's other abilities. With his two opponents closing in, Tsukimi willed the shadows on the ground to move. They surged violently, like boiling water.

The next moment, six pitch-black figures rose from the shadows. They wore fitted black-and-red ninja outfits, with gray-blue skin and crimson eyes. They were members of the Shadowkhan's Ninja Tribe.

The six figures faced Tsukimi and knelt on one knee. In the light of the setting sun, a cold, murderous aura spread across the school gates. The two remaining Sixth-Year Students froze where they stood.

The unknown was always frightening!

"Earlier, it was three against one, and I won't call you cowards for that. Now it's three against one on my side. I hope you won't blame me for fighting dirty either. After all, you're Sixth-Year Students!"

"Take care of them."

Tsukimi pushed himself slowly to his feet, looking at them with a mocking smile.

The six shadows moved at once, three attacking each student. The one on the right tried to form a hand sign, but they were already upon him. One seized him by the throat while another pinned his arms.

The student on the left threw a panicked punch. A shadow slipped aside, and in the next instant, his legs were swept out from under him. Two more shadows pinned him down.

Heh. My turn now.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Four shadows held the two students fast while the other two stepped forward and rained punches down on them. Their victims wailed without pause.

"No! We were wrong! Please, let us go!"

"You can't do this to me! My brother's a Chunin. He'll get revenge for me!"

Their cries kept coming. To Tsukimi, they were music to his ears.

"Oh, right. There's one more. Don't worry, I haven't forgotten you."

Tsukimi sent two Shadow Ninjas to haul over the student he had thrown earlier, placing all three together.

Five minutes later, the Ninja Tribe had beaten the three black and blue. Even their sobs had grown faint. Tsukimi finally felt satisfied and waved for the six shadows to stop. They knocked the students unconscious and dumped them in a corner by the gate.

Ninja Tribe (14%)

Samurai Tribe (12%)

Troll Tribe (12%)

Huh? The information appearing in his mind caught Tsukimi's interest.

Does the Shadowkhan's progress increase through combat? Could training on my own raise it too?

While Tsukimi stood pondering the Shadowkhan's rules, Might Duy stared at him wide-eyed, his face full of astonishment. Beside him, Might Guy's eyes shone with admiration.

Duy was the first to recover. He gave Tsukimi a thumbs-up and flashed his gleaming white teeth, nearly blinding him.

"Young man! They're students, so I couldn't lay a hand on them. Thank you for stepping in today. That's the power of youth!"

Might Guy did not come forward. His excitement gave way to guilt. "I-I'm sorry, Nara! This started because of me, but when you were struggling against three of them, I didn't help you. Dad, I was too cowardly!"

He burst into tears. Duy walked over and rapped him on the head, his expression turning serious.

"Might Guy, it's good that you recognize your weakness. That's all the more reason to face it. Be a man and apologize to Nara. Ask him to forgive you!"

Might Guy wiped away his tears, nodded, and walked up to Tsukimi. He bowed deeply and apologized. "I'm sorry, Nara. I was too cowardly this time. Next time, I'll fight beside you."

"My name's Nara Tsukimi. And I forgive you." Tsukimi waved a hand, unbothered.

"All right! That's the power of youth! Remember this well, Might Guy!"

Duy pulled his son into a hug, and the two began crying again, tears streaming down their faces.

Tsukimi's mouth twitched. He wanted nothing more than to escape the awkward scene. Watching it happen in person was hard to take.

At last, father and son finished crying. Might Guy turned to Tsukimi, his eyes burning with excitement. "Tsukimi, you're amazing! Can we train in taijutsu together from now on?"

Tsukimi nodded. Father and son both gave him a thumbs-up and flashed their white teeth.

"Thanks for the help!"

"Looks like it's over," Hatake Sakumo said quietly. Then he looked at Kakashi beside him.

"Go introduce yourself. Those two will make good rivals."

At Sakumo's prompting, Kakashi walked toward them.