Fire Resistant Ninjas

Ace froze as he felt a presence near by, watching him. He stilled himself, willing his outline further into the shadows. A flame ignited to his right, and Ace almost snorted that someone was foolish enough to light a fire in his presence. He was the elite Ace Firefist after all, fire was his to command.

He turned and spotted the tall blond man, lighting a cigarette…his way of dressing seemed too formal for a ninja but his calm demeanor in the face of just discovering one of the best in his territory said that was exactly what he was.

Ace stood, obviously discovered but didn’t yet make a move. The other man exhaled the smoke and continued to consider the man before speaking.

“What brings the shitty Whitebeard clan to our village…” The man asked conversationally before sharpening his tone to deadly intent. “…after dark and slinking about the shadows of our homes.”

Ace cursed lightly, he hadn’t intended to be discovered or start a fight on his younger brothers territory but he wasn’t about to be questioned and pushed around either. He summoned the flame and his hand and it burst into a glowing orb of fire in his palm, better illuminating his freckles and good looks to the blond before him.

“I’m not going to be questioned but I don’t mean the Mugiwaras any harm. You better move aside if you don’t want your pretty face singed.”

“Hnn…fiery type eh?” The blond looked unmoved and puffed another drag on his cigarette. “Shitty foreign ninjas should have better manners that to come uninvited and expect hospitality.”

Ace poured more of his spiritual chi into the ball of flame, making it grow and crackle menacingly. The blond leaned back in some sort of form of readiness the Whitebeard ninja didn’t recognize.

Ace spotted his chance and launched the ball of flame at the rival ninja as he ran after it, ready to follow up the attack close range. He was forced to skid to a stop as the other man leapt onto his hands and whirled his legs in midair at such a breakneck speed the flame suddenly snuffed out at the windy backlash before flipping back ten feet in a perfect landing.

Ace couldn’t help but be impressed. Who was this guy? Well whoever he was, it would take more than just fast footwork to defeat him. The fire user began to pool a much more significant amount of chi into both of his hands now, compressing the ball tightly in a large white hot deadly swirl. Underestimating this guy wasn’t about to happen again.

“You’re unlucky you met me of all people. Blackleg Sanji of the Mugiwara clan is a cooking specialist by day. I can handle any kind of heat or fire. I also…” the chef paused as he took the cigarette from his mouth and held it up to a newly visible glint of string above his head, burning it through and eliciting a quick snap. “…know how to plan ahead.”

“SHIT!” Ace glanced up too late in horror as a Null stone net landed on him, immediately snuffing the mans flames and sucking every breath of the mans fire forming energy into the net. “Guh!” He groaned as his physical energy began to wick away as well and he fell to his knees. The bastard must have spotted Ace hours earlier and set up the trap in advance. No…He could see several strings criss-crossing the tree branches of the woods at varying heights. He had set up SEVERAL traps. Ace couldn’t help but be even more impressed…this man…how had his brother gotten someone like him?

Sanji walked over to the man and smiled, smarmy sarcasm written across his face.

“Ooooo…Look! You’ve been upgraded to prisoner! Shitty prisoners we treat very hospitable. I’ll even cook you a meal! But cooking is my day job. Some say my skills at night are even more considerable…be sure to let me know when I’m done with you, okay, Firefist-kun?”