Insurance

It had always been undeniable, Konoha's corruption that is, but that was only because they went through the effort to disguise it. Mistakes were often unwelcomed and warranted only disdain from their superiors. , once a revered warrior, found a single mistake deadly. It had always been the assumption that he killed himself, but he was a warrior bred for war. What did he care if his peers hated him? What did he care if the people cursed his name as he walked through the streets of konoha? His son adored him, and the families of the men he spared blessed his name. The irony of a village who promotes a philosophy of Friendship and love was strong. What his death proved only was that even the heroes of the village were never truly safe. Shikaniku took the story of the White Fang to heart as his superiors issued the orders.

In midst of his thoughts, the shinobi leaped towards him, almost hesitantly, and it was that lack of confidence that was his downfall. Shikaniku, uncaringly, sliced him down, having used that instant of reluctance to draw his own sword. He turned to face the shinobi that stood before his deceased comrades. "I almost expected more," Shikaniku spoke, shaking the blood off off of his sword's steel, "But, I guess Kumogakure isn't the village that it once was." He gave the shinobi a pointed look. "Afterall, you do want.." a brief paused interrupted his dialogue as a flickered into existence in his hand, "this, right? It has to mean that you're village is truly in a tough position if you're willing to trade for a weapon that only a fraction of your population can use. No?" His tone was condescending, and outright disrespectful as he courageously, or perhaps arrogantly, teased the enemy ninja.