(Canterlot)
(The next day)
“As I thought, the nobility here doesn’t take too kindly to those who are... different.” Zeko thought as he walked on the main road and received strange looks from the high class citizens, some of which recognized him from the duel but most saw him as a brutish foreigner who didn’t belong. One of them decided to voice their concerns to him in a less than respectful manner.
“I believe you should be with your caregiver, otherwise the guard will throw you in a dungeon creature. I’m not sure where you came from but this is Equestria, a land for Ponykind.” A mare in a green dress said with venom in her voice which just made Zeko give her a bored expression before he rolled his eyes and continued walking. “Perhaps you’re a criminal that a bounty hunter lost? Maybe I should report you to the guard.” She said with an irritated tone since she wasn’t used to being ignored due to her status.
Zeko turned back and brightened from her words; “Bounty hunters? There are bounty hunters here?” He asked expecting a mixed response.
“Yes and they are known to be allied with the monster hunting guild, but you should know this since they’re more than likely looking for you.” She spat at him which to her surprise made him smile which confused her.
“So I can join a group of people who are paid to hunt things down? And here I thought I’d have to do regular work in this world.” The teenager said with a smirk while the mare was scowling.
“Good luck, as soon as something like you walks in you’ll be killed and your head mounted on a wall.”
Zeko started chuckling and continued as if she were insane and had told him that clouds were red. He chuckled to the point where others had stopped to watch the conflict that the two were having. “Why are you laughing, does death seem that good to you?” She asked with her arms crossed while Zeko managed to stop his fit of laughter.
“No... not at all, it’s just that... you think some mercenaries who hunt criminals and animals could manage to beat me. Does anyone here recognize me or know what happened to Captain Shining Armor?” After he said this one of the stallions visibly tensed and began shaking his head back and forth.
“N-no not you y-you’re the one w-who beat the Captain of t-the guard.” He said which made the crowd gasp and murmur collectively and the mare was shaking in fear.
“I h-heard about t-that... the Captain had a d-duel from a foal a-and he’s been I-in the hospital since. Are you the one who fought him?” She asked hoping that his answer would be no but she subconsciously knew what it was.
“If you’re asking if I’m the one who Liger Bombed him into his current state then yes. That’s why I was laughing before, if a Captain couldn’t beat me how could they?” He asked rhetorically before walking towards the castle where he had been called to claim his earnings, leaving a crowd of shocked, fearful, and for one mare, angry ponies.
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(Canterlot Castle)
(A few minutes later)
Zeko was in the throne room waiting for the Princesses to give him his money while two guards were overseeing him to ensure that he didn’t do anything suspicious. “I can get why they’re watching me but if Celestia or Luna was here then I could leave.” He thought to himself while a guard walked up to him.
“They will be here shortly but may I ask how you managed to beat Captain Armor?” The guard inquired to the teenager.
“I hope they get here soon. And beating Armor wasn’t too tough, the fighting styles I know are something this world hasn’t seen and he couldn’t process that. If you actually mean the moves then I could teach you...” He drew out the last part of his sentence so the guard could introduce himself.
“Honed Blade, and if that’s what hand to hand combat is wherever you’re from, then I’ll gladly take some lessons.” Blade said trying to remain calm to keep his demeanor as a guard but wasn’t doing the greatest.
“We agree! Thou should teach our guards to fight in thine manner.” Luna said breaking the pair out of their conversation and causing Blade to bow his head before walking back to his post. “Thine skills hath been shown on the field of battle and now our protectors are envious of thee! Tis a truly odd time when a child is able to beat our Captain. But enough of that! Thou hath winnings to claim from those who doubted thine skills correct?” The Princess of the night asked while Zeko looked incredulous over her manner of speaking.
“Hey Blade.” He whispered to the guard. “Does she normally talk that way? I just thought it was for certain occasions.”
“It’s a long story but that’s the way she knows how to talk so just bear with it.” The guard responded as quietly as he could.
“Ok Princess I’d like to get my reward... even though that Fancy Pants guy said he would be here. But I guess I was right again, he didn’t keep his word.” Zeko shrugged his arms before turning around after noticing a familiar chakra signature. “Well damn, I guess you could be bothered to show up.” He said as Fancy Pants walked through the great doors with a large bag in his magical grip.
“I’m not one to break a promise, no matter how much doubt I face. I told you I would pay on the other’s behalf and I keep my word.” The wealthy stallion stated confidently while Zeko rolled his eyes.
“Well I guess I’m just glad to be paid. Now I’ve got a question for you Luna, is that forest next to Ponyville owned property or could anyone just live on it?” The shinobi asked which left the others in the room astonished at the fact that he seemed willing to move into such a dangerous area without hesitation.
“Well we suppose it would be a neutral territory, but wouldst thou rather live within the safe confines of Ponyville?” The ruler of the night seemed concerned that a child would want to reside in such a dangerous area, fighter or not, she didn’t believe it was safe.
“I’m sure, and I planned on living there from the start. I know you read the report and you know that I made a miniature desert there to live on since none of the animals there are able to live in such dry conditions.” The shinobi calmly retorted and proceeded to grab the bags filled with bits before walking out of the castle. “Hey Fancy Pants, do you know any companies that are looking for advertisement?”
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(Hidden Leaf Village)
(2 weeks after Zeko and Kotetsu’s match)
Kotetsu was running around the village in a fit of anger over the fact that not one of the clans had any information on where his cousin was, even the leaf portion of the Uchiha had no leads. “Fucking damn it! This isn’t right... it’s not right AT ALL!” He stopped to yell and got the attention of everyone who was nearby and used his greatest skill to break their attention. “THE HELL ARE YOU LOOKING AT?!” They all quickly made it seem like he wasn’t there while he continued his search.
“Uh Kotetsu, what’s wrong?” A voice that the Sharingan wielder knew but wasn’t happy to hear. “Did you lose something?”
“Of course this moron shows up. Wait... maybe...” Kotetsu thought before looking back to his “Friend” and putting on a false smile. “Hey Nouka have you seen Zeko anytime over the last week?” He asked the one he reluctantly calls a friend, hoping that he would have a normal answer as opposed to his normal behavior.
“Well I have not seen him since he visited a month ago to see that girl I like, but that peasant has to be around here somewhere since his parents make him stop by every month and I just a glglglgl.” Nouka ended his minor rant with a sound that resembled a boat rudder which visibly angered Kotetsu. “But no I haven’t seen that peasant anywhere, why did you have to know?”
“You know how sometimes I send things into my eye?” Nouka nodded after remembering the many times he’s lost to his friend because his jutsu was teleported elsewhere. “Well I sent Zeko in there again and he hasn’t come out.” He continued while rubbing the back of his head.
“Doesn’t he always get out? Wasn’t it two days at the longest, y’know he took two days to get out that one time?”
“Yeah I know... but its kinda been two weeks...” The two stood still before Nouka pulled something out of his pouch and played with it before opening his hand, revealing two hawks made of clay. “Now I know you’re pissed but doing that to me won’t change anything.
“You sent my one of best friends somewhere to die ayeeeh!” Nouka let out a form of battle cry as he threw the hawks which grew exponentially before flying to Kotetsu who decided to stand there and take the attack.
“This one’s gonna hurt really bad.”
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(Canterlot)
(10 minutes later)
Zeko was following Fancy Pants to a business that could always use the help of those who want to advertise, the stallion could only wonder why the teenager would want to know where help was needed doing something in this manner. The two came up to a photography studio and walked in where they heard a mare yelling with an accent that Zeko thought was strange. “These designs are terrible! There is not enough to inspire shock and awe in those who see it!” The duo kept walking until they saw the mare in question. She had a blue coat with a black and white dress with dark pink accents. She noticed the two once walked closer, “Ah, Fancy Pants, it is so nice to see you. Somepony! Get him some imported tea right this minute!” Her assistants scrambled to find their guest a drink which left Zeko thinking to himself.
“She has them under her immediate call, does she have some sort of genjutsu or are they so well paid do they just listen?” He was so focused in his thoughts he didn’t notice her walking around him, examining his clothing and his facial structure.
“Have you brought me a new model Fancy Pants? If so I may have to hold a debt for you because he may be perfect for my new line and these clothes are simply amazing.”
“I just wanted to know if you needed anyone to come model for you.” The shinobi responded while prying her hands away from his shirt, she simply frowned while he did this but her vigor returned quickly.
“Well you are in luck, I am Photo Finish, the greatest photographer in Equestria and I shall help you achieve stardom. I have a simple question however, will you be able to remove the spell on your eye? I’m not certain if all will love it.” She asked this while examining the eye in question and didn’t feel any magic emanating from it.
“It’s not any spell, it’s just my Rinnegan. It’s something I was born with and offers me a great deal of abilities that no pony could have.” He finished leaving Photo Finish to hold her chin while thinking.
“Well I suppose it would be fine, but come I must take photos quickly.” She grabbed his arm and dragged him along to a changing spot her assistants put up. She had Zeko change into a blue and grey skintight suit with gems along the arms, and then had him stand on a stage while she took photos.
“My theme here is the water. I need you to flow freely and be calm with your positions.” She told the shinobi who was given an idea from this information.
“She needs water? I can give some water.” He thought as he put made different signs to Photo’s confusion before putting a hand on his chest and forming a large sphere of water around himself leaving photo finish and her assistants with dropped jaws and wide eyes. He began to make various elegant poses which broke his photographer out of her stupor.
“Wunderbar! Whatever spell this is, it’s perfect! These poses, that water, those clothes! I have found my new muse.” She said while taking more photos. Zeko only realized that he would have industries try to use him for advertisement and smiled as this would help him with his goal. “ENOUGH!” Photo Finish suddenly yelled, making her assistants drop their respective objects and Zeko dropped his water bubble causing the stage to be flooded with water leaving him mysteriously dry, which everyone overlooked.
“Are we done for today?” He asked hoping to be able to remove the outfit he had on, and to his delight Photo Finish nodded while her assistants pulled up another changing divider which let the shinobi change back to his outfit. “So how much will I get paid for this?”
“Your payment shall come but for now I must spread your name... which would be?” She drew out that last portion as she never was told the name of her new muse.
“Kusanabe Zeko. But Zeko is my first name while Kusanabe is my surname.” He explained to the mare who simply nodded and gestured for him to leave. “A strange one but if she’s as good as Fancy Pants made her out to be then it’s fine.” He said to himself as he walked out and looked up to the cloud of sand where he left Samehada and brought it down to him. “And here I was getting used to carrying these bags. Now I’m just going to have to get a bit of knowledge on how these ‘bits’ work.” He said before floating off to his desert within the Everfree.
“An interesting creature, I’ll have to report this to Queen Chrysalis immediately.” A stallion wearing a black skintight suit thought before running into an alley.
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