Chapter 95
The Fifteenth rather ran to the next room, and began to look out the small window, on which stood the strongest, formation-reinforced glass, capable of withstanding several full-force blows from the average Chunin.
Kenshin calmly made his way to the ring, shedding all of his clothes with telekinesis on the way, and pulling on various sets of exosuit. In just two seconds, he was in full combat readiness, and adopted the Nara clan's defensive stance.
Ichiro saw the signal to attack, and immediately lunged at his father, kicking him in the head with full force. Fifteen didn't even notice the moment of the attack, but he clearly saw his father block with both hands, and stopped the powerful kick with his foot.
The dust beneath Kenshin's feet flew in different directions, and at the point where his arm and leg collided, hundreds of small lines lit up for a split second. The impact was stopped without much trouble.
Kenshin smiled contentedly, and tried to make a hook under Ichiro's supporting leg, but failed. An incredible battle ensued, out of reach of Fifteen's eyes. The two silhouettes exchanged several blows in a second, and were sent flying every now and then.
Although Kenshin's physical capabilities did not allow him to react and move as quickly as a full-fledged Chunin, his accelerated perception allowed him to notice the slightest muscle contractions in a split second, and determine the enemy's action in advance.
A few minutes later, the winner was still not revealed. The sparring had reached a stalemate. Kenshin didn't have the same strength and speed as Ichiro, so he couldn't trap him and win. Ichiro in turn didn't have the same incredible perception and his father always minimised the damage.
The exosuit had undergone incredible changes, but it was still not enough for Kenshin to be able to defeat Chunin. Kenshin's movement speed was barely on par with peak Genin, and his punching power was even lower. All the several dozen punches that Kenshin had struggled to land on his opponent were no more painful to Ichiro than a punch from a ten year old child was to a grown man.
- Enough. - Kenshin declared, realising that the sparring had reached a stalemate. Ichiro could easily beat him if he used ninjutsu or sharingan, so Kenshin wasn't complacent about his strength.
- Oh, father, your costume is really something..." Ichiro groaned, rubbing his lower jaw where Kenshin's foot had slid in so successfully.
- It's nothing. Another fifteen minutes and I would have run out of energy. The suit needs work..." Kenshin sighed, not too pleased with the result.
*****
Kenshin spent the next week doing nothing but perfecting his exosuit, and finally, by the evening of the 226th day, he had completed the work as planned. He had squeezed the most out of the available knowledge of formation building, and had obtained a suit that granted him the strength and speed of a Peak Genin, while allowing him to withstand Chunin strikes at full strength. Kasumi was still sending him flying slightly with her strongest blows, but even so, he could fight back a little.
- Ichiro, Third and Fourth. Come with me tomorrow. Get a good night's sleep, we have a combat mission ahead of us. - He declared during dinner, shocking all his sons.
Without explaining anything, he turned and left the dining room, heading for his wives. The hardest part was ahead.
- WHAT?! No, you're not going anywhere! - Kasumi declared, shocked at his plan.
- I have to make a pact. No one else can do it but me, or have you forgotten that I'm an excellent empath? - Kenshin parried.
- Don't bullshit us, Nakayama Kenshin. You're not going anywhere, I won't let you! - Natsumi supported her friend, angry at her husband.
- Kenshin, honey, maybe you can change your mind...? - Aya said affectionately, and hugged him from behind, resting her head on his shoulders, kissing his neck tenderly.
- Girls, you have to understand, we need to evolve. Without combat experience, the kids will be nothing more than punching bags. We need to register as mercenaries and complete a test mission. Kasumi, you said yourself that not everyone is accepted, and without a good negotiator, things can fall through. - He said, stroking the delicate legs of the wives sitting next to him.
- Then I'll go with you. I am the strongest fighter in our family, and I am the only one who can protect you. - Kasumi declared, refusing to let go of her lover.
- No, that's not gonna happen. Even though your belly isn't visible yet, you're already pregnant and you're not going anywhere. Besides, Eighteen needs a mother. God forbid anything should happen to you. - Kenshin said with a sigh, and stroked his third wife's delicate thighs again.
- And if something happens to you, does that make it okay?! - She snapped at him.
- Nothing's gonna happen to me. You should have realised that in those many sparring sessions. I can always get away from Peak Chunin, and you know the rules of the latest plan.
- But-" Kasumi started to start, but was stopped by Kenshin's imperious order.
- Enough! I'm not going to discuss this subject with you any further. We're going on a mission tomorrow, and the most you can do is wish us luck. - He got up from his chair and went to his office, which was now on the first floor.
- I need to finish my training. Don't bother me unless absolutely necessary.
*****
On the morning of the 227th day, the atmosphere in the Nakayama family home changed from cheerful and calm to tense and sad. The girls were resentful of Kenshin and tried several times to dissuade him from this risky venture, but he was adamant.
Everyone ate breakfast at the same table that morning, but there was no joy on the faces of the family. Kenshin's wives dreaded the dreadful prospect of the trek, and his sons were mostly upset that they would stay at home while their father and older brothers were in danger.
- In my absence, Kasumi will be in charge of protecting the family. If an enemy appears, everyone must obey her. - Kenshin declared, and took a sip of apple juice. He felt remarkably relaxed, and acted perfectly calm.
- How confident are you in the success of this mission? - Kasumi asked, setting her plate aside. She had no appetite at all.
- Ninety per cent that everything will be normal, and ninety-five per cent that half of them will come back alive. - Kenshin answered calmly, not afraid to say such things out loud.
Hearing such an optimistic prognosis made Kasumi relax a little, while the rest of the family tensed up a little, especially Aya. She hadn't thought there was a chance of someone not coming back again. At the thought of her second son, tears came to her eyes. She silently walked over to Kenshin, sitting down on his lap and resting her face against his broad shoulder.
Kenshin stroked her back without a word. He didn't know what to say in such a situation, so he remained silent. Everyone else had stopped eating, too, and was thinking about something else.
After breakfast, Kenshin and Ichiro, Third, and Fourth went to get ready. Everything had been ready since yesterday, but Kenshin checked everything thoroughly once more.
Each was dressed in an analogue of an exosuit, with multiple formations. The sons' suits were not as elaborate as Kenshin's, for it took days of jewellery work to create one such suit. Their suits were capable of withstanding several dozen blows from Peak Chunin, and were honed for a specific type of damage. All attacks with elemental techniques, as well as blows to the back and head were met by the formation. Punches to the forearms stronger than the average Chunin were absorbed only slightly to save energy. The momentum from the strike was not dissipated for the same economy.
With the new knowledge, Kenshin had only slightly increased his energy storage capacity, and was at a dead end. He needed a revolutionary knowledge to override all previous knowledge, and somehow allow him to store dozens of times more energy to withstand future Jonin strikes. But so far it was all just a dream.
After everyone had finally gathered, Kenshin let the older sons say goodbye to their mothers, and then was alone with the girls when they went out the door.
Aya had tearful eyes, and Natsumi and Kasumi had very sad faces. He hugged all three of them, and said: - I'll definitely come back. You don't have to worry so much. Aya, girl, when I come back, we'll eat your favourite ice cream all day, and swim in the pool, okay? - With a smile he whispered to the crying girl.
- Promise? - She sobbed. Her mind was grasping at straws to find a little peace.
- I promise. - He said, and hugged each of the girls again, then walked away without turning around.