Shota followed the silent ANBU down some narrow stone stairs that seemed to go on forever. They had reached the outskirts of the village after travelling from the Kazekage office.
The air grew cooler with every step. Torches on the walls gave just enough light to see the next stair. His footsteps echoed. The ANBU made no sound at all.
They finally stopped in front of a plain metal door. The ANBU turned to him and spoke in the flattest voice Shota had ever heard.
"Undress."
Shota immediately placed one hand on his chest and the other hand lower, as if protecting something very important.
His eyes went wide. "I'm flattered, sir, but I don't swing that way. Also, buy me dinner first."
The ANBU stared at him through the mask. The room was silent for a long time. Shota kept his hands where they were to protect his chastisity.
Finally the ANBU pointed at the bundle of black clothes Shota was already holding in the hand that was supposed to be protecting his dignity. "Change into your uniform."
Shota looked down at the clothes, then back up. Another long stare.
Five full minutes passed. Neither moved.
The ANBU spoke again, still flat but now with the tiniest hint of suffering. "Any problem, Chunin Shota?"
Shota raised one finger. "Turn around. I'm shy."
The ANBU turned so fast it was almost funny.
Shota quickly changed. The black uniform fit perfectly. Light armour pieces covered the chest, shoulders, and forearms. He had to wear cloth that wrapped his head which looked like a turban. He put on his Anbu mask next.
A thinner veil hung from the forehead band to hide the porcelain mask completely. Suna ANBU really liked their secrets.
'So that's why in the anime Suna Anbu wore veils. I guess you have a choice in wearing both a veil and a mask or either one of them. I will stick to just the mask. It's cool and offers good protection.'
He adjusted the turban and nodded to himself. This would keep his hair from flying everywhere when he used Erasure. It meant that no one would notice that he was using his Erasure since there would be no more visual cues.
He turned around. "I'm decent now."
The ANBU glanced once, then pointed down the hallway. "Go straight. Fourth room on the left."
Then he vanished. Literally. One second there, next second gone.
Shota scratched his head. "Rude. At least say goodbye. Some people have manners."
He sighed dramatically. "If every ANBU is this shy, missions are going to be so awkward. We'll just stand in corners staring at each other until the target dies of boredom."
He walked down the dark corridor. The torches grew farther apart. By the time he reached the fourth door, the light was almost gone.
He pushed the door open and stepped inside.
The room was completely black. Not dark. Black. Like someone had sucked all the light out and forgotten to give it back.
Shota stopped just inside the doorway. "Hello? Did someone forget to pay the light bill? I know Suna is poor, but come on. This is just showing off the mysterious vibe now."
His danger sense screamed.
He dropped flat to the floor.
A foot passed through the air exactly where his head had been. The kick was so fast it made a whooshing sound.
Shota rolled and looked up. Nothing. Just darkness.
Before he could stand, something hard hit his back. A chakra-enhanced punch drove him face-first into the stone. He coughed blood onto the floor.
Pain exploded across his spine. He gritted his teeth and forced his body to move. Hands flew through seals he could do blindfolded now.
"Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!"
A roaring ball of flame shot from his mouth toward the ceiling. For one second the room lit up bright orange.
Shota saw him. A thin ANBU standing on the wall like a spider, one foot still raised from the kick.
Shota tried to meet his eyes and activate Erasure.
The ANBU body-flickered away before Shota could fully focus on him.
The fireball hit the ceiling and died out. Darkness swallowed the room again.
Shota cut the chakra to the jutsu fast. Closed spaces plus fire equals very dead Shota since. He was not in the mood to suffocate from lack of oxygen today.
Another punch caught him on the cheek. He flew sideways and slid across the floor.
A calm voice came from somewhere in the dark. "As expected. Your ability needs line of sight. Remove sight and you are helpless."
Shota wiped blood from his lip and sat up slowly. 'Wow. Fighting in total darkness. Never saw that weakness coming. To be fair, the other Shota Aizawa never had to deal with enemies smart enough to turn off the lights. Good job, Suna ANBU. At least, he managed to find a weakness to my ability.'
But for this weakness to work, there should be complete darkness which was not possible in open areas like forests or desserts.
And he can always lit up a fireball, see his enemy for just a second and just don't blink again. His Erasure would continue to work until he blinks and even in total darkness, his ability would continue to work.
Of course, he was not going to reveal this to the Anbu right now.
He spat blood and grinned into the darkness. "You know I just got out of the hospital, right? Broken ribs. Cute nurses. Soft bed. You could have waited a week before beating me up."
Inside his head he was celebrating. More injuries meant more hospital time. More hospital time meant soft pillows and nurses feeding him sweet rice balls that Matron would bring for him.
The Nurses always pulled his cheeks and called him adorable, which was annoying, but the food and the soft bed was worth it.
The voice in the darkness sounded almost embarrassed. "Uh, I did not know that."
-------Author Notes---------
For every 250 power stones. I would be posting an additional chapter. So gimme those power stones!!!
Y'all can read the next 15 chapters of the fanfic on my pat*reon. Thankyou for your support!
https://pat*reon.com/Charizard6
[No star]