The name sent a shiver down Ronnel's spine. On top of losing his students to his own stupidity, that they would learn from one of the most dangerous men in the world had broken him. He grimaced and stood up, sliding down the pile of random junk. He scooped up the scrolls and tossed them to his student. When he spoke, his words were toneless.
"Those are the genjutsu scrolls from Sunagakure. Every genjutsu except unique ones are in those scrolls. Each is clearly marked as to their rank and any requirements, I've made sure of that." Out of a pocket came a much thinner scroll. "This is the unique genjutsu, Reisi Waru (Sanity Shatter) that I invented, and the counter technique for it." The scrolls were tossed to Tetsuo. Then Ronnel sank to the ground and buried his face in his hands for several minutes before looking up and speaking again, still in a blank tone.
"Learn everything you can. In this pile here are elemental scrolls, everything from Sand, even the Sand techniques. If you want, forsake Grass style and learn Sand. The Doppleganger is a Sand technique that will let you recreate your body, two bodies for one mind, or in your case, two bodies for two minds." He stood up shakily and walked closer to Tetsuo.
"Learn that all. Become strong. You'll have to become far stronger than I am if you want to fight the students of Akasun Zerumaru. He is a puppet master, and a genjutsu master. He's been an on-again off again for many years, and you'll be hard pressed to fight anyone he teaches. Tetsuo...Toshiko, please don't get in over your head. If you can't match them, retreat." He gripped her shoulder tightly through her disguise before swinging his heavy coat off and putting around his student's shoulders. The gold in his eyes shone as he stared at his first, and apparently, last student here in Kusa.
"Hehe...che, you'll learn from those scrolls better than you could ever learn from me. A medic... this squad was not thought out well. In the end, I couldn't teach you all anything." A final squeeze and Ronnel went back to the pile and pulled a unique scroll out. He paused and closed his eyes tightly.
"Good bye my student. I regret that I couldn't be what you needed, what they needed." He plucked a rice paddy hat off the side of the pile and slung it low over his eyes as he turned around, the tattered shirt that he had on fluttering in the cold wind. He pulled off the modified rebreather and tossed it down.
"Might as well leave that to you as well... it'll protect from poisonous gases and let you breathe underwater. I'm sorry Toshiko. Kaze Shunshin." Wind swirled around them, cold as the shattered heart that cast the technique. When the winds faded, Tetsuo stood alone in the clearing, Ronnel's cloak on his shoulders, and everything else laying before him.
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