Chapter 14: Lady Justice

(Jaaaaaanng! I'm back!! Turns out studying is so boring that I was forced out of my writer's block immediately! Kukuku. Anyways, today's song is "Ashes" by Celine Dion!! Finally huh??! So without any further adieu, let's get to it!!!

Extra ps, all photos and audio not mine.)

Third Person's POV

Leaves rustled as multiple footsteps ran past, bringing the wind as swift movements were quietly being executed. Truly, those moves were those of a skilled individual. Another set of steps followed, slight less graceful but still as fast as they jumped from tree to tree, staying hidden as they followed their leader's every move.

"We're near the borders."

The leader said on which was replied by the nod of his students, taking the kunai formation to properly protect their client. A C rank mission means that the lowest that can attack the client was bandits and thieves, but a certain white haired girl thinks otherwise. She was far too suspicious of the situation but there's nothing wrong to be cautious, specially that their client is important to a whole nation.

As long as she was ready, she could save them. And as long as she has her saves of course.

Speaking of saves......

The white haired girl started to slow down her pace, making Juichiro surpass her and take her side. The said boy looked at her with concern which she dismissed.

"Save point."

[Save 1: Kiri's ForestSave 2: Dungeon RaidSave 3: empty slot]

"Overwrite save point two."

[Overwrite complete.

Save 1: Kiri's ForestSave 2: Yugakure's bordersSave 3: empty slot]

A satisfied smile adorned her thin lips as the team came to a halt, before them is Yugakure's big gate seemingly welcoming their arrival. Suzaku and Yi talked to the ninja on the gates and handed them two scrolls, one from Suzaku and one from Yi.

Both of the ninja nodded after they read the scrolls.

"Yuka, accompany them inside the village. I'll go get Tama and Aoi, stay guard."

All three nodded, a dark blue, almost black haired guy taking the guy's place, the girl nearing team 12 with a bright smile.

"I'll accompany you guys inside. Follow me."

She said in which they followed. They passed several stalls and homes, each people giving them a smile or a wave as they passed by. What a lovely place huh? If only that was all that there is to it.

"Here's the inn that all of you will stay in. I will be at the gates if you need of my assistance."

She then bowed and left quickly. Jhin, who was surprisingly quiet the whole time finally spoke that broke the silence.

"What are you investing here anyway Yi-san? This village looks so friendly that it makes me sick!"

"Jhin!! We're not in Konoha so shut up before you get everyone here to kill us!"

Juichiro whisper-shouted to his brother that made the said troublemaker roll his eyes. But now that it crossed everyone's minds, what is he going to investigate?

"There has been mysterious deaths around Yugakure for the past month or two, all of them just dropping dead without anyone knowing what to do."

"Dropping dead without a reason.......must be the cause of a poison."

"My thoughts exactly."

Akali muttered that Yi immediately agreed upon.

The thought of another murder enticed the white haired girl. She wanted to solve it, feeling her detective instincts itching as multiple scenarios quickly occupied her head.

But she must remember that she was not here to solve a case, she was here to guard the one that'll solve the case.

She sighed, feeling down as an opportunity of case solving slipped pass her fingers. Oh how she wanted to be able to interrogate people again.

[That's just messed up.]

"Interrogation is different than torture you know."

[But if the one who'll interrogate is a manipulator like you? You might as well call it brain torture.]

Akali scoffed and returned her focus to the real world, seeing that they were already inside the inn, facing three doors.

"Room 3 4 and 5. We will split this three to the 5 of us. Akali, you take room three alone. Juichiro and Jhin you go on room 5. I'll stay with Yi-san in room four so if anything happens, you three will be quick to respond. Settle first and fix your things. We'll leave in 10 minutes."

All of them quickly nodded, the feisty red head complaining about the small amount of time to rest. Akali however never left her post.

"Chiro. Could I place my scroll inside your room? It might get stolen alone in mine."

"Sure! Oi Jhin-chan take Akali-chan's scroll."

The said boy grumbled but still obeyed his brother, coming back outside in a matter of minutes.

"Now, the three of you can wander around Yugakure, just don't be separated. I'll take first watch."

Suzaku said and winked, Yi smiling as the both of them started to leave. Not when Akali stopped them.

"Yi-san, are you going to start investigating about the mysterious deaths?"

"Why yes. Interested?"

He asked in which Akali quickly nodded her head to, making Suzaku looked at the both of them weirdly. What a weird combination.

"Could I replace you sensei? I'll be Yi-san's bodyguard for now."

"Sure......."

Suzaku said with hesitation, clearly suspicious of the both. Well, not that he can do anything about it since the two was already a mile away from them. How? He doesn't know. So he was stuck with an unsettling feeling on his back.

Meanwhile with Akali and Yi......

"Where do you think we should head first?"

Yi asked as Akali looked around.

"The nearest information of course. We have to know what exactly killed these people, and we could use the murder weapon as a trace to the murderer themselves. It'll be better if there was an actual crime scene though....."

She said without the slightest feeling of....well nothing. It was as if she had done this for her whole life, as if she was used to the mention of dead bodies and murder all around her. Yi can only guess what happened to her past, and if he was being honest? It doesn't look like a good one. If it was her past that made her to be as cunning, meticulous and scarily intelligent now, then it's a past that no one will want a part of.

"Correct. We need to have all the information regarding the case, even the small and seemingly unimportant ones. It might help us later. For now, we're going to head to their security department."

"Should we call a Yugakure shinobi? It might get us long to locate that place."

"No need. I've already been here once, I think I still know my way."

Akali nodded quietly and followed Yi, looking around their surroundings with a thought in mind.

"Is this how my apprentices feel? I kinda get them now."

[Memory fragment acquired!12/34]

A certain station came into view, a few ninjas talking and laughing with tea or dango as their afternoon snack and barely noticing Yi and Akali's presence.

"Well......Yugakure is a non ninja village now....I can only guess that it's really peaceful that's why they act this way."

"Great, you're already here Hozuki-donno."

The man from the gate greeted us, behind him a man with purple hair and a stern look, standing an inch higher than Yi. And Yi's height is no joke.

"Hm."

"He says he's happy to meet you. By the way, my name is Kyoya head of Yugakure's security. This is Tama, he'll be with us to solve this case."

Yi smiled and shook hands with both Kyoya and Tama, both looking down at Akali who bowed briefly. She is still 11 years old, and these men were tall so she wasn't really offended by them looking down.

"Yi Hozuki, investigator sent by Udon no Kuni. This is Akali, she's my bodyguard for today."

The two visibly doubted the said girl's capability to guard him. He looked like he was even the one to protect her, but that didn't bother Akali for their opinion doesn't matter. And hey, she can't read their minds. Although their expressions are more than enough of a proof.

"Let's go to a quiet place shall we?"

All nodded and followed Kyoya to a small cafe near their headquarters which made Akali wonder. Are meetings always supposed to be at a cafe? That's extremely stereotypical. She thought.

She then followed them in a stall, standing behind Yi instead of sitting with the three as a sign of being polite. She us just a bodyguard, not a companion so it would be rude to sit uninvited.

"Let's cut to the chase. Here are the files of the victims that died in the past 2 months, all are present including their relationships, recent activities and affiliations."

"Hm.....hm. uhum."

"He says there was something strange about their deaths that he can't put a finger on."

Akali looked incredulously at the two, wondering how the fuck can they understand each other before peeking a little in the files. Yi chuckled, sharing the other files for her to look at.

"Hm?"

"He says that the young girl might be disturbed about the sudden deaths. I must agree. Is it wise to let her handle these important information?"

Akali frowned at his comment. Although she knows that he is only doing his job, it's pretty fucking rude to look at her like she was some kind of fragile porcelain.

"Oh don't worry Kyoya-donno. She is my apprentice. We'll need all the help we can get right?"

The said jerk nodded his head reluctantly, letting the both of them soak the information they had just given.

The deaths were 7 old men, 2 old women and a middle aged man in his 40s. All of them had the same reaction before dying, saying that they had loss of appetite, delirious hallucinations, even a heavy case of depression and after a few hours, they drop dead.

"Clearly......this is poisoning. But I have never heard of a poison that causes depression to those who injested it......have you run the autopsy on the bodies?"

Yi asked.

"Hai. We are currently detecting what poison entered his system but we cannot be sure. We don't have a poison master in Yugakure so it will be hard."

Ping!

[Quest Alert!

Solve the case of the mystery deaths in Yugakure!

Rewards:+10 REP to all Yugakure citizens+10 000 EXP+1 AK47

Failure:Culprit will murder you

Time limit:3 days]

[Accept Quest?Yes/No]

With a smirk, she pressed yes, looking at each file and trying not to miss any details. So she went through each one again, noticing that all of them has the same last name. Kazu.

It would only make sense, since they must've ate the same poisoned food or drank the same drink on their table, so the chances of one of them poisoning their own family is low. Not unless one of them survived.

Akali's hand combed her hair, deep in thought for once in 2 years.

"Anything you want to ask, Akali?"

Yi asked in which she smiled to. The man knows how to read the situation. She likes that about him. She nodded before voicing out her thoughts.

"Are there any survivors in the Kazu family? It mustn't be a coincidence that all who died have the same last name right?"

"Ohm. Yhym. Hm."

"There's one, her name is Nemuri Kazu. A florist, but she was shunned from her family because of not wanting part of their business"

"Business? You mean the shady things that they did in the past?"

Yi asked as he showed them the file, pointing on the illegal cartel that the Kazu family has control over. But they were brought down 10 years ago by the police force of Yugakure, it makes no sense that the business would resurface again.

"Not exactly. After their cartel was down, they were the hosts of official sports arenas, some of their sons and daughters participating in the tournaments, but Nemuri was not athletic at all so she came to that situation."

Yi looked at Akali with a knowing glance. For a family of once illegal manufacturers to be murdered at such a fashion is indeed strange. It would only indicate that someone wants to have revenge on these people, and they succeeded. But for now, the only thing that they had on their suspect list is Nemuri Kazu.

It was now Yi's turn to ask questions.

"Did the family have enemies as a whole? Any other suspicious people??"

"Hmm.....that's hard to tell. This family has made so many enemies in the past that each and every one has an intent to kill. But all of them were outside Yugakure. There's no one here who would even dare touch them."

"I see. That's quite unfortunate. The culprit could be anyone in this village, or they could've already escaped."

"But our village has been in deep patrols by our team, only merchants and important guests like you are permitted to enter."

Yi shook his head.

"Still, it's too early to come up with a suspect. Although I do want to talk with Nemuri-san."

He said and stood up, looking out the window to see that it was already so dark. The time flew strangely fast, though it was understandable since they got here at 3 to 4 pm.

"I guess we'll have to leave that tomorrow. May I keep these files with me?"

"Of course Yi-donno. Please have a good night."

Both bowed before leaving quietly. There was also a lot less people in the cafe too so they took that as a signal to leave, ordering a Chocolate mousse cake to bring back to the other three.

"So! What did you think? Who do you suspect as the culprit?"

Yi started as they walked back to the inn, passing around people that's smiles seemed to gleam underneath the warm shine of multiple street lanterns. Akali shook her head.

"Nothing yet. But I'll get as much information as I could tomorrow, even a small shade of light to this case would help greatly."

Yi raised his left eyebrow suggestively. It seems that what he heard about her solving the "Cyanide Case" was true. By the way she speaks, the way she holds herself in these circumstances, she looks like she could identify the culprit just by looking at them.

"We will. After all, we still don't know what the characteristics of this culprit. We must be careful."

Yi said, worried about the white haired girl.

"Whether the culprit is dangerous or not, it is my mission to protect you. Not you to risk your life for me. Plus, I'm pretty tough. It would take more than a petty killer to kill me."

Akali said playfully to assure Yi. Distress can be bad for the brain and he needs that now more than ever, so she doesn't pressure him. And also because what she said was true, she could stand up to anyone who isn't in the plot, except for Suzaku or Oka......

"Oka Mayuko, a name i haven't heard since I was eight. I wonder if that green haired devil is still finding his princess?"

The nostalgic look on her blindfolded face was quickly replaced by surprise and alertness as a black figure swooped down Yi, taking the important files and running into the night.

"Oh no you don't!"

"Wait Akali-!"

"Just call to sensei for retrieval if I don't return in 30 minutes!"

She shouted as she ran after the shadow with full speed, racing from the streets to roofs until everything felt like it vanished before them, all becoming quiet as they entered the forest on the far side of Yugakure. Now dashing on grass and jumping on branches as both were locked in a seemingly endless chase.

The shadow looked as if it was surprised. How was a mere child able to keep up with someone like him? Akali on the other hand, never ceased to chase the shadow, the yellow bar underneath the hp and cp bar that indicates stamina still more than half full. She just accepted this quest, and she can't have a cannon fodder just kill her because she failed.

She smirked, razor sharp teeth gleaming underneath the moonlight that proves effective to spook the shadowy figure, making it run in panic, not noticing the cliff that he just turned to.

The shadow forcefully stopped, inches away from falling off the cliff as the white haired girl neared him slowly, just like a hunter intimidating it's prey into submission.

She flicked her wrist, making her signature cards appear glowing in the dark, switching and flicking them in one hand with a clock-like ticking.

The shadow was now illuminated. It was a man, about 5 years older than her and doesn't really have striking features other than being insanely fast. Before he could even think of jumping off the cliff, the white haired girl flicked a stun card towards him which hit him on the shoulder, catching him before he falls unintentionally.

Due to her clothing not being bright or light colored, her color blend in perfectly in the night, only her evil Cheshire cat grin being visible to the shaking boy.

Akali wasted no time and grabbed the files from his paralyzed hand, but she did stay, playing with her cards in front of the boy.

"Tell me, who made you do this?"

She asked, slicing his other shoulder with another stun card just as the effect of the other one fades.

"I...I-I don't know! Let me go kid or I'll kill you!!"

He shouted, struggling to make his limbs feel something again. Of course he wasn't scared, he was a boy! And he was far more stronger and older than she is! He thought, that being the only hope he has now. But all of that hope was gone when the white haired girl suddenly walked forward, a smile making an unknown feeling of fear blossom in his heart.

"You? Kill me? I wonder....."

She neared the boy and placed a finger on his shoulder, slowly....slowly adding pressure until-

"N-n-no!! PLEASE!! ILL TELL YOU EVERYTHING PLEASE LET ME LIVE!!"

The boy was now free from the effects of paralyzation but he dared not to make a move for he was deep in fear, her whole body shaking in silent despair as he prayed that the girl would spare his life, his eyes wide, pupils dilated and shaking as if he just saw his own death before him.

She nodded in satisfaction. The devilish grin not leaving her face.

"Question one, who sent you?"

"I- I don't know! I was t-threatend to b-b-be killed if I d-don't do as they say...."

"Hm....they? What did they look like?"

"Fat man....has a very thick beard and spiky clothes...."

"Definitely one of the Kazu's enemies?"

She thought.

"Did they tell you why?"

"N-no.....all I heared is that they are protecting s-someone from being found out..."

"The culprit."

She spat, glaring at nothing in particular. She has a new lead now, the problem is just how to locate this Santa claus counter part.

"Do you know his name?"

"H-he was called Kinko....the bald...."

"Where can I find him?"

"I-I don't know he's the one who approached me...I....was in my house when....."

"I understand. You're free. Don't ever do this again. Let's say you live after failing those yakuzas....."

She trailed off, rasing her headband that blindfolded her eyes.

"....don't say a thing about me. Don't you dare speak anything about what I look like or what I did. If I found out that you ratted me out, I will hunt you down and make sure you regret betraying me."

Her eyes looked as cold as ice as she stared in his eyes as if she was looking for his soul, but intimidating him wasn't the only reason she revealed her eyes, it was also to classify what kind of abilities and skills does he have.

Sadly, it was that of a normal civilian. He only got so fast because he is a common thief that ran from Yugakure's police all the time, quite a feat but not that special.

With one final glare, she put back her hitai-ate, watching as he scrambled out of the forest in a hurry. It was then before she realized that she needed to follow that boy to lead her back to the inn.

"Well sh*t. I'm lost in a forest again."

She said and looked at the thick rows of trees that lead to different paths. She doesn't even remember where she went through.....which is bad. Really bad.

"I better find shelter. I don't want to risk fighting specially that we just returned...."

Akali said with a tired yawn, opening up her inventory and putting the dead Kazu's files inside. It was the best hiding place of course, except for other players like her.

Speaking of players, I wonder how Junko is doing? She thought as she walked around, jumping from tree to tree and it was not long before she found something.

A quaint looking cottage, filled with flora and warm colored lights was in sight, an old lady seeming to live there as she gathered mushrooms from just outside her home. It was also near a cliff, the front and sides of the house being covered by different kinds of flowers and ornamental shrubs, but the back was an unkempt little forest of pink flowered shrubs.

She thought that it was part of the terrain since the others are looking so organized and well trimmed, but her thoughts were cut short when the old lady noticed her upon the tree that she was in, waving at her as if she was inviting her inside.

Akali shuddered.

This situation was giving her hard Hansel and Gretel feels and she does not want to be in their shoes right about now. Specially now.

But she doesn't have any other choice doesn't she? She was tired from their recent arrival, tired from chasing that thief and tired from thinking about that murder. She was now sure that it was murder.

And there's the possibility of running into an opponent that she could not defeat, so it was the best choice for now. But she kept in mind that she must not eat anything or touch anything carelessly for she does not want to be dinner if this was a witch.

[I've said this before, why the hell are you so cautious?]

"Because I don't want to die without winning the bet with your game master. I'd rather not pay for my crimes in a different world."

She thought, surprised when the old lady was staring at her with a smile when she got down the tree.

"Creepy. Too bad I'm an advocate of equality. I will NOT hesitate to fight back if this woman wants to eat me."

[You're so judgemental]

"And being judgemental is what kept me alive."

"Hello, are you lost child?"

The old woman asked to the white haired girl with a smile. Akali quietly nodded and faced her on her porch, tucking a shining blue stun card underneath her jacket's sleeve, ready for anything that might happen.

"Come inside then. Many travelers are lost in this forest too so it's my job as a guide to escort them back. Oh, sit here. I'll get the tea."

She nodded, sitting on the floor Indian style.

"So...what brings you here...?"

"Akali."

"Balance.......what a great meaning for a name."

The old woman said and smiled, pouring tea on each of their cups before placing down the pot and drinking hers.

"My name means timeless or eternal in Punjabi, and balance in Japanese? I didn't realize the name I picked was this unique....."

[It gets even better, it also means a member of a suicide squad.]

"I don't know which part of that was better."

"I chased someone who stole something really important to me."

"I see......and what did you do to that thief?"

The old woman's face was blank, her eyes closed as if she was testing Akali. The said girl gulped inaudibly.

"I let him go."

It was the truth, but he didn't got away with nothing.

[Yes because he probably has trauma because of you.]

"It was intentional. By how he begged for his life, he would do anything to survive. And I'm hella sure that he'll tell those yakuzas who I really am. I needed to traumatize him a little to send a message to those yakuzas. And if they're smart enough to send someone to eliminate me, that person will be my living evidence and clue to find out that culprit."

All of those she replied on her thoughts, maintaining a smiling face on the outside. If someone was to hear her thoughts, that smile would appear as a cold and manipulative one, but alas, only the gods can hear her dangerous intelligence.

The old woman smiled at her response.

"A thing as important as a life?"

"You could say."

"Then why let him go? Why not kill him for what he's done?"

Akali raised her eyebrow. The old woman's question was getting a bit dark, but if this was a way to occupy her without drinking the tea, then she would gladly answer.

"Because he deserves a chance of redemption. I'm not a judge of good and evil to decide what he's fate will be, plus I'm weaker than him! I just barely escaped...."

The white haired girl said, lying through her teeth. She doesn't want to be deemed a psychopath in the age of eleven and interrogation and mind manipulation was pretty psychopathic for a child.

"I see......you're lying."

Akali's eyes opened in surprise. Does this old lady read minds?

"You are stronger than you look, even stronger than those ninjas down there. But you weren't lying about your intentions. In all of my years observing and guiding people back there, I've also developed the skill to know who they really are. And even if these eyes are already blind, I see it clearly. Your soul wants redemption."

[Holy shit. She's right!]

Although confused on what the woman was blabbering about, Akali was instantly on guard. She was way too close to the truth and it was hella scary.

"When I first saw you up close I thought you were lady justice, probably because of your blindfold. With benevolent intentions and a blind eye for any other thing that justice and truth, I thought she was sent down in your form. But I see that your will is tainted by your past experiences that it made you hard and cautious. Taking measures that are underhanded to execute justice, even if it means making you take all those glares."

"You must stop thinking brutally. Fighting fire with fire only burns things to the ground, and with nothing but ashes you will regret choosing the side of the just. You have to make a decision and not just choose to save everyone. You can't be the hero you wanted yourself to be. Keep this situation inside your mind, what if you get stuck in a situation where you have to kill in order to save someone? What if you have no choice but to pass verdict? Are you ready to kill?"

The white haired girl was lost in thought. The old woman was right.....she can't always be the good guy. She might even become a bad guy just because she killed another. She doesn't want blood in her hands but what if she had no choice? Killing is normal for a shinobi. And though she was no judge of good and evil, she will be tasked to do so anyway.

"Akali!!!!! Akali where are you?!!!!"

The old woman stood up and looked at Akali, offering her hand which she took.

"You have a kind heart child. You want to give everyone another chance even if your mind says otherwise, but not everyone will understand you. Not everyone is as understanding as you. And there will be a time that you have to decide to kill, so take this as a gift. A guide to help you decide."

The old woman held her hands and rubbed it, and just as she finished what she wanted to say, a tab mysteriously popped up out of nowhere.

[You have acquired a new skill!

Scales of Justice (passive)level: MAX

The very scale that Lady Justice holds, this skill determines the innocence of anyone who is appraised by this skill.If the person is evil, the scale will give you +50% buff on every stat. Will only disperse if the evil is vanquished. If the person is innocent, the scale will do nothing.]

After finishing reading what was said on the tab, Akali noticed that she was outside the old woman's house, carried by Suzaku who was thanking the old lady for taking her in for a while.

Strangely enough, her limbs wouldn't let her move. And as Suzaku ran farther away, only the mysterious innocent smile was all she saw from the old woman before everything faded into black.

Character Info

Name: Akali (Hoshigaki?)

Title: Miss Detective

Age: 11

Gender: Female

Level: 60 (100 /1 001 000)

HP: 100 000/10 000 asleep-confused (regen 10.00 per sec)

CP: 100 000/100 000 (regen 10.78 per sec)

STR: 80

VIT: 90

DEX: 304

INT: 300

LUC: 16

STY: 100%

Team Daya admires you!

Udon no Kuni (Land of Noodles) is proud of you!

Affiliation: Konohagakure no Sato

Money:11 000 000 RYO

Unspent points: 101

Runes: 100 000

Once was a ruthless detective, she was cold hearted towards the ones she brought to justice even if each of them had a reason why they did each crime. She was challenged by Deus ex Machina to change her ways, to be in the shoes of those she turned a cold shoulder, to kill in order to survive.

"There has been a disturbance Sir. A mysterious entity suddenly messed up with our systems and gave a player a meta skill."

The secretary informed her boss, the latter showing no signs of panic whatsoever.

"As long as it'll make the plot a lot more interesting, it is nothing to be afraid of."

There was yet another cruel smile that appeared on the bosses face as he watched how each and every life that he reincarnated suffer. It is certainly fun to see how will they fight to survive.

. . .