Powerful Guardians + Sage Mode

Reo walked into the tavern with the words “The Rock Crab” overhead. Fitting name for this place ,though Reo wasn’t exactly sure what a crab was. He was beginning to think that his zoology knowledge was severely lacking.

Once inside, Reo walked to the barkeep. It was a dusty place, though there were stairs leading upstairs. That implied that there was some sort of housing in the building. It was made completely out of stone. As many shinobi here were Doton users the stone would serve as defense for the building should a shinobi war break out. Reo had to admire the dual practicality.

[Post 28: 104 Words]

“You’re mighty young to be here alone. Someone send you?” the barkeep asked with a smile. Reo was unable to tell if it was real. Perhaps he just had trouble figuring out why a twelve-year-old boy just walked into his bar.

“No. I’m here looking for a room to rent for a few days. I can pay.” Reo slid some Ryo onto the bar. It wasn’t much but it was enough to cover a night’s rent for a room in this place, surely. The old barkeep eyed it with one eye. The other eye somehow trained itself on Reo. His long bushy eyebrows curled at the ends and caused Reo to shive slightly. He had never seen anything like it.

[Post 29: 120]

The barkeeps eye shifted to a stink eye – with one eye opened wide. He leaned forward and whispered to the young boy. “If you mess my room up.. I will end you, boy. And don’t even think about trying to sneak any alcohol while you are here.”

Reo nodded eagerly and turned to go up the stairs. He made it halfway before the barkeeper was yelling at him. “Room four, boy!”

Reo continued on his way, weaving in and out of drunk patrons until he made it to the stairs. He slowly made it up the stone steps. Reo walked until he found the room marked room number four.

[Post 30: 109 Words]

Reo opened the door. There was no lock – which was disconcerting to the young monk. He was a shinobi in a rival village – after all. He wiped the sweat off his brow as he climbed into the bed – throwing his meager possessions in a lump on the floor next to the bed. He was exhausted from going to the shrine and back to Iwa in one day. Reo lay there – staring at the ceiling and wondering what adventures awaited him. There was the possibility of being attacked here in Iwa – though he hadn’t run into any minions of Apollo or Ares since arriving in Iwa.

[Post 31: 104 Words]

Reo’s breath came in quick gasps as he opened his eyes. Cold sweat had formed on his forehead. It was dark both in the room and outside of it. Reo wasn’t sure what time it was but he knew he had been awoken by a sound.

He just wished he knew what it was.

The young monk crawled out of bed and began to look around. Seeing nothing immediately, he reached over and grabbed his trident. Then, he took a fighting stance.

And, he waited.

He waited some more.

After what felt like an eternity, Reo lowered the trident and stood up normally. The room was clear.

[Post 32: 107 Words]

“Hello, Young Man.” A familiar elderly voice said from somewhere below Reo’s knees. Reo jumped and his head hit the ceiling. He fell back down on his butt on the floor. “That was quite impressive. Not only did you wait for at least an hour after you heard a noise, but you then jumped so high that you hit your head. Not every ninja could do that, you know?”

There was a twinkle in the little Armadillo’s eyes – which could be seen as he was no longer wearing his sunglasses. Other than the lack of glasses, everything else was the same. This was clearly Armatus.

[Post 33: 105]

The armadillo had returned for Reo, which was interesting. Did Reo not say anything wrong after-all, then?

“Now, I didn’t expect for you to return to Iwa. I took an interest in you, you know lad? It’s just…we rarely form a contract with anyone outside of Iwagakure. Sure, you have what it takes, but that doesn’t mean that we just give you a contract. We are rather loyal to this village, you see? The thing is…I heard you asked about me at the gate. Young Dwayne signed the contract before…and, well, I admired your tenacity.” The armadillo paced as he talked. Reo listened.

[Post 34: 103 Words]

The armadillo flung a massive scroll out and unfurled it. There were many bloodstained fingerprints on the papyrus. Reo looked at it and could instantly tell what he needed to do. His hand needed to be bleeding and he needed to place his blood on the scroll…if he accepted the contract.

“Do you wish to form a contract with my family, Reo Gojisou?” The armadillo asked politely. Reo wasn’t sure at first. He didn’t know much about them…but then he remembered the way the armadillo had jumped off the mountain and walked away. Plus, the armadillo and Reo had shared many characteristics. Not only was Reo a good fit for them, but he felt they were a good fit for him.

“I’ll do it.”

[Post 35: 124 Words. QUEST COMPLETE. Gained: Armadillo summons]

Reo bit his finger and felt the blood trickle down it. He repeated this with all four fingers and his thumb, to be sure that each finger would be represented on the scroll. Then, he placed his blood soaked hand on the scroll.

Reo expected a reaction. He expected lights or to feel a power coursing through his veins. He felt none of this. The only thing that Reo felt was pain in his fingers.

“Good, now we have work to do.” Armatus said with a smile as he began to roll the scroll back up – not bothering to wait for the blood to dry. Perhaps it somehow dried due to the nature of the scroll?

[Post 1: Sennin Quest: 116 Words]

“Work. Master Armatus?” Reo asked tentatively, unsure of the title for their relationship. This creature appeared to be the elder in their summoning family, after-all.

“Yes, though do not call me Master Armatus. I am old, and I am powerful but the clan does not answer to me. We must take you to meet the Armadillo Sage. She will be expecting you.” Armatus said with a smile which was half hidden by his moustache.

“How do we get to this place with the Armadillo Sage and what shall I call you?” Reo asked as he stood up from his kneeling position. His body ached, and he couldn’t repress a yawn that came over him.

[Post 2:114 Words]

“I summon you there, of course.” Armatus said with a smile. Then, he poofed into smoke. It looked very similar to the way Reo used his clones – except it was a short mustachioed armadillo rather than another version of Reo that poofed out of existence.

Then, Reo poofed. It was the oddest sensation in his life. One minute, he was standing in the room he had recently paid for the night. He had been reaching down to grab his belongings. Then… he was in another place. Luckily, he had managed to place a hand on his pack and it had come with him.

[Post 3: 104 Words]