Opening Theme: Blue Bird by Ikimono-Gakari
Chapter 1: The Renegades
"I can't believe we're having a repeat of last week already," a red-haired girl muttered to herself as she jumped from branch to branch, followed closely by a brown-haired girl and a girl with snow-white hair.
"It can't be helped, Sayuri," Sayuri's brown-haired companion sighed, "We knew that this would be happening when we chose to become rogue."
"It's not the moving around that I don't like," Sayuri objected, "It's the pursuit!" A kunai flew past her left cheek as she said that, and the three girls pushed themselves faster to escape from the Kumogakure ninjas that were hot on their trail.
"Well, we should actually be somewhat grateful for the pursuit," the white-haired girl said cheerfully as she did a twirl in midair to avoid a couple of shurikens.
"And why is that, Chinatsu?" Sayuri asked through gritted teeth.
"Look at it this way: if there weren't anyone pursuing us, then we would have a pretty boring life, no?" Chinatsu reasoned, giving Sayuri a small smile.
"I guess Chinatsu is right," the brown-haired girl agreed, "Do you two want to deal with them now?"
"I thought you'd never ask, Ren!" Sayuri exclaimed, her expression of annoyance changing to one of happiness in an instant.
"I want to set a trap," Chinatsu declared, ducking her head to dodge a kunai.
"Trap it is then," Ren said, "Everyone knows what to do, right?"
Sayuri and Chinatsu both nodded, and the three of them separated. The group of Kumo chunins split up as well, a couple ninjas following each kunoichi. Chinatsu glanced behind her to see two pursuers following her closely. She smirked slightly and sped up her pace, forming a series of seals with her hands discreetly.
Sayuri turned to count her pursuers and was furious to find out that she had three on her tail instead of two like her companions.
"Why do I have to have the most jerks following me?" she cursed quietly as she made a few hand seals.
Ren sighed quietly and prepared her technique. "Plant Release: Vine Cage."
Thick, barbed vines burst from the earth, wrapping themselves around the two Kumogakure Chunins, who let out cries of shock as they were rendered immobile.
Suddenly, Chinatsu shot out from the trees, closely followed by her two pursuers. Chinatsu skidded to a halt besides Ren, while the other two Kumo ninjas continued to advance, unaware of the trap they were walking right into. A pair of thinner vines appeared from the ground and grabbed the Kumo ninja by their ankles. The pair of ninja were then lifted into the air and thrown towards where two of their companions were already captured.
As soon as the two ninja came into contact with the larger vines, they also ended up ensnared and completely unable to move. Sayuri appeared next to Ren and Chinatsu a few moments later. Her pursuers suffered the same fate as the other four Kumogakure shinobi.
"That was easy," Chinatsu said, flicking imaginary dust off her clothes to annoy the trio's captives.
"Hurry up and finish it," Ren said, looking bored, "I want to get going."
Chinatsu sighed. "Fine." She stepped forward and formed a seal. "Crystal Release: Entrapment Prism."
Four transparent sheets of crystal rose from the ground, forming a barrier around the seven Kumogakure ninjas. A fifth sheet materialized above the walls and dropped down the structure, creating a flawless shield to make sure that no one could enter or exit.
"My turn!" Sayuri had already done the necessary hand signs for her technique; electricity crackled around her right hand. She swiped her right arm through the air, firing a bullet of lightning at Chinatsu's crystal technique. "Storm Release: Volt Charge."
The electric bullet struck the transparent prism and disappeared. The electricity surrounding Sayuri's hand also vanished. "We're done. Let's go," Sayuri stated. Ren followed the redhead, while Chinatsu paused.
"Good luck trying to get past an electrified crystal barrier and a loving plant," she taunted before turning on her heels to go after her friends, ignoring the shouts of the Kumogakure ninja.
"Where do you two want to go now?" Ren asked once Chinatsu caught up.
"Somewhere with food," Sayuri said shortly while Chinatsu shrugged.
"We'll go to Kusagakure then," Ren decided, "I want to get a bingo book while we're at it."
The three girls picked up the pace and arrived in Kusa after a few hours of travel. Sayuri and Chinatsu went to buy some snacks while Ren went to a small bookstore and bought the latest version of the bingo book. As she flipped through it, Sayuri and Chinatsu returned. Both were snacking on some fruit they had bought.
"Anything new in there?" Sayuri asked between mouthfuls of apple.
"Nothing, really," Ren reported, "We're still listed as B-ranked criminals, even though we haven't done anything except leave our villages."
"Kumo, Kiri, and Konoha are prone to overreacting," Chinatsu said as she finished off her banana, "Anything else in there?"
"There is," Ren said, "Two more C-ranked criminals. They call themselves the Opposition Duet."
"The Opposition Duet?" Sayuri repeated critically, "What kind of name is that?"
"It's not the name that matters," Ren objected, examining the bingo book, "It's the abilities of the shinobi that count."
"But why the Opposition Duet?" Sayuri repeated, "Are they rebelling against something?"
"The bingo book doesn't say," Chinatsu said, taking the book from Ren, "But it's not really any of our business, is it?"
"I was just curious," Sayuri grumbled, "Anyway, let's hurry up and find somewhere to stay. People are going to start finding out our identities soon."
"Yes, let's go," Chinatsu agreed, handing Ren a pear, "This is for you."
"Thank you." Ren accepted the fruit and bit into it as the trio left the village and entered a small forest to find a safe place to camp.
To be continued in Chapter 2: The Opposition Duet…
Ending Theme: Ichirin no Hana by High and Mighty Color