Angel of Death, Chapter One
Heeyyy! This is Maara! Okay, well this is MY first adventure into Naruto fan-fiction, so please, no flames, but constructive criticism would be appreciated. Also, if I am bashing the characters, more importantly, Kakashi-san, then please tell me, I'm trying to be as accurate as possible, hehe! Oh, and by the way, this is co-authored by Himitsu, and me so if you notice a change in the writing style or something, that's why. It's a combined effort!
DISCLAIMER: Neither I, nor my A-mazing partner, Himitsu, own any part of Naruto! That includes characters and settings, yeah?
The trees swayed in the wind, birds chirped and the steady trickle of a creek sounded in the distance. Kakashi crouched down. After the team's first encounter with the Akatsuki, he knew failure would not be an option.
Asuma's death had been a tragedy for the Konoha ninjas. Everyone knew him, and him with his humorous attitude befriended almost everyone he knew.
Sunlight filtered down through the foliage casting spotty shadows here and there and giving the clearing an eerie feel and look. In front of him was Shikamaru, His bushy ponytail gave presence to the co-captain. He was very close to his sensei. And everyone knew that. Asuma's death had hit him the hardest, though it did not show the most.
It was obvious to Kakashi that Shikamaru-san was after revenge for his sensei, but Kakashi hadn't found the time the see what exactly Shikamaru was planning to avenge Asuma. Since he was acting as a replacement for Asuma, Kakashi had to learn as much about this team as he could. As soon as Ino and Choji came into view, Kakashi looked at Shikamaru.
"Shikamaru-san, let's hear your plan first," Kakashi spoke, his lips rubbing against the soft cotton of his mask. It had become a second skin for him. He didn't even feel it there.
"Sure, I just have to change it a bit to adapt to you, Kakashi-sensei," Shikamaru responded.
"Right whenever you are ready."
"I'll explain each scenario to you. It will vary depending on what happens, so you will need to remember them all…"
Ino and Choji looked with interest at the black-haired Jonin, taking in every word. Even though the three had probably already gone over this plan, it was evident they were also striving for perfection in this particular battle.
"Kakashi-sensei," Shikamaru's voice interrupted Kakashi's cascading thoughts. He was running through the scenarios in his head, adding details to it himself and trying to figure out was kind of fighters these Akatsuki were all at once. "Take this. Use it when you see an opening. I'm counting on you."
Kakashi opened his hand and received a small vial attached to a needle. Ino and Choji got one as well, because they knew things might not turn out the way they wanted them too. Kakashi would be ready to collect Kakuzu's blood with it, anyway.
"Got it," Kakashi replied, stashing the small needle into one of his many pockets. "I've gotta hand it to you, Shikamaru-san. You've learned an awful lot about your enemy, after only facing them once."
"Well, we still don't know about his partner, unfortunately."
Shikamaru said a few things to conclude the meeting. It was vital to the mission that the whole team memorize the plans. Kakashi had them down, clinging on every word the first time around. The Copy Ninja was impressed by Team Ten. They had devised a nearly flawless plan from only one encounter, with plenty of back-up options. Shikamaru was truly a strategic prodigy. The group stood up and looked to him.
"You ready to go?" Kakashi said, throwing the question out into the open air.
They all concurred.
"We will have to pick up their trail," explained Kakashi, "It might take a bit, so let's get a move on."
"Yes." The team replied.
Soon dead trees came into view. Their long, gangly branches casting shadows down on them in the harsh sunlight. It was a completely different setting from where they came from. The vast expanse of naked trees, dirt and sand stared back at him.
They were here. Kakashi could feel it, not only in the gusts of dry wind, but also in his very being. But where? The trail had been washed away by the rain, even in this god-forsaken desert. He felt frustration emanating from Shikamaru.
"Our plans are pointless if we can't find the enemy," Shikamaru said, his tone of voice a tad deeper then earlier.
Choji interjected, "Didn't they tell us to wait at the trading post? But they wouldn't return to the same spot…"
"There should be teams surveying the trading post," suggested Ino, her blonde hair swaying slightly in the hot breeze. Even with the breeze, the giant chunk of sleek hair did not reveal her second sky-blue eye.
"It would be fine if it was just that loud baka, but his partner is also in this. No matter which route they take, they are still after Asuma's bounty and Naruto, a Jinchuuriki. If anything, they are headed to Konoha," explained the Shikamaru, his eyes narrowing with determination. A small cloud passed over the sun, and then dissipated into the distance.
"That narrows the area where we need to search. What do we do now?" Kakashi asked, his question directed at Shikamaru. Shikamaru looked up, a bird passed over head, seemingly following the small shade of the cloud that has passed.
"We'll find them with that." Shikamaru answered bluntly.
Ino nodded in agreement, "On it!"
Kakashi felt Ino's chakra flare and her mind became one with the birds'. Her body went limp, and they lay her against a tree. It was a waiting game now. Ino would search for the Akatsuki, and, with any luck, they would be hot on their trail within minutes. He looked away from Ino, his uncovered eye arbitrarily keeping an eye on the horizon.
All of a sudden, he heard a sharp gasp from Ino.
"You okay, Ino-chan?'
Kakashi turned in their direction.
"They are definitely heading for Konoha," she replied simply, "They are at two o'clock, about ten minutes from here."
Kakashi nodded, "All right. Let's go."
A bird screeched in the distance. Kakashi watched as two figures passed by. He recognized the one that they were targeting. The idiot was wearing ripped clothing, black in color with a red cloud pattern standing out against it. It matched his partners'.
The Copy Ninja watched as Shikamaru's jutsu stretched out slowly, reaching for the two men. Before it made contact though, they dodged the shadow, and hopped to the side. Kakashi's eyes narrowed as he watched two paper bombs dive in the Akatsuki's direction. They dodged it. Perfect. The member that looked almost albino grinned, his magenta eyes flashing confidently. Just as the plan mentioned, he was an idiot.
Two more blades, this time attached to dud bombs were sent flying. They hit their mark, and he watched, as the Akatsuki members were deemed motionless. Kakashi could almost see the emotions of the shorter man: pride, confusion, panic, confusion, anger, confusion, and finally understanding, rage, and excitement. Kakashi could have almost smiled. Not only was the plan working, he also had a readable and amusing opponent. So far so good, Shikamaru launched himself from the tree branch and landed in the midst of the enemy. As Shikamaru explained to the two men what feat he had just accomplished, Kakashi prepared. Looking over once or twice at the idiot, for some reason the attitude and the appealing magenta eyes just drew him in like a magnet. Refocusing, Kakashi turned his attention to Shikamaru and his genius. The jonin would load the blades with his chakra and then when they hit the opponents shadow, his Shuriken Shadow Mimic would go into effect, and they would be unable to move.
He listened to the masked man dissect Shikamaru's plan, and watched the shirtless one fume. Kakashi was getting slightly impatient. They needed to follow through on the rest of the plan.
He let out a small sigh of relief when Shikamaru's jutsu went into effect, his shadow looking to connect with the enemy's. He's got them.
Slowly but surely, Shikamaru inched the loud idiot back towards his weapon, which lay, severed, on the sand. The attack was being executed swiftly. As Shikamaru aimed the enemy's weapon towards the masked man, the baka yelled, "Duck, Dumbass!" and in seconds, the chakra blade holding the masked man with strange eyes was thrown up in the air. Damn.
The detached arm on the ground returned to its owner. Who is this guy? Kakashi thought, eyeing the strange tentacles that sought its masked owner. The suspected masochist grinned in triumph for his partner, it was odd considering all the Akatsuki members hated each other. As Kakashi suspected, the man had buried his arm in the ground beforehand. Damn. The masked man was dangerous. From what Kakashi's sharingan could see, the seals the man had used were Earth-style, and he could harden his body at any given time. Again his valuable focus was drawn to the still stupid and still trapped baka. He was smirking, suspecting the masked one to probably free him, Kakashi couldn't help but feel almost sad that his trust would be misplaced.
As Kakashi's eyes followed the loud idiot, Shikamaru forced him to attack his partner, making several swings at him. All the while, the loud albino was yelling and swearing, as if no one had any eyes or ears of their own. Kakashi, realizing he was going to be needed soon, tense up his muscles, ready to go. From the corner of his vision, he saw Choji perform his Nikudan Hari Sensha and roll down the tree, onto the masked man. Kakashi made his way closer to the action.
The dust cleared, and Kakashi saw the outline of his target against the sunlight. He performed his seals in a flash and stuck his lightning justu through the masked man. Right through the heart.
"How did you sneak up on me?" the man said, his voice straining over the crackle of lightning. "I didn't even sense you…"
"Too bad, for you," Kakashi retorted. "From what I saw, you used Earth-style seal to harden your body…"
"How did you see that? I did that in a second. How did…oh. I see! You're Sharingan Kakashi!"
"Earth is weaker then lightning. I'm a bad match for you. You're dead." Kakashi heard his name yelled from where Shikamaru was standing. Shikamaru's Shadow Mimic was reaching its limit. He had to finish this. At last, the masked mask gave a last groan and fell face-first onto the ground. Kakashi yanked his hand from the charred flesh of the man.
Kakashi built up his chakra again, and poured it into his hand. Sparks flew and soon his chidori was surrounding his hand. He turned to look at the masked man partner. "You're next."
Kakashi did expect the albino to be pissed; to charge into some stupid move. He did expect a direct attack to himself. What the Sharingan did not expect was the feral grin that wormed it's way onto the pale man's face.
"You just wish, fucker."
Kakashi felt something collide with the back of his skull, he twisted around and avoided the partner's deadly scythe. Remembering Asuma's quick demise, the Konoha shinobi leapt backwards, arming himself with a kunai. The Akatsuki member raced at him, blocking the three blade scythe was getting harder and harder. Kakashi had to be ever on the lookout for a small scrap or cut, always to be one step ahead at all time. The Sharingan user had to know every twist of the albino's wrist or pivot of his ankle. Although Kakashi did note that his adversary's bright eyes, ivory skin, and slim figure with lean muscles made it rather enjoyable. Luckily, Kakashi finally managed to escape his relentless onset by tricking the baka; the idiot. Taking cover behind a particularly thick dead hunk of bark, Kakashi's plan went into effect. While his enemy came closer, the Copy Ninja preformed a simple shadow clone and sent it in predictable direction. Thankful for the years of sensing and hiding charka, Kakashi made his way to where Ino, Shikamaru, and Choji were standing, their mouths catching flies. Kakashi followed their gaze to the supposedly dead Akatsuki member. Standing tall with a bloody hole through his chest the tan man tore off his cloak, his eye filled with rage.
"Geez, Fucker you can't kill them with your glare."
"Hidan, don't start now." The tan one growled, eyes still focused on the Konoha ninjas.
The tan one was tearing off his cloak, revealing stitches. They looked like they were all done with a practiced hand, and it made the man resemble an old doll. Then suddenly, they began to unravel and the brown skin was wriggling and stretching, making him look like a ripped open doll. As whatever was instead the doll man emerged, Hidan came falling from above. Kind of angelic, with his slicked back hair slightly flying up, eyes such a rich magenta, clock flapping. Except that angels don't have three bladed scythes of death. Ino, surprisingly acting first, pulled the dazed Chouji out of the way. Shikamaru had the good sense to jump to the side, but bad luck caused to fall on his butt.
Kakashi alone remained. He swung his arm up for a counter-attack, having not realizing that his luck had run out. The second Akatsuki member, never missing an opportunity, unsowed his arm and sent it along with its tentacles, to prevent the Copy Ninja's arm from reaching its desired position. The scythe sliced shoulder to hip. Blood sprayed the two; one had a look of surprised horror and the other maniacal triumph. Suddenly an over-sized fist slammed into the blood drenched Akatsuki member, and he was smashed into a leafless tree. Judging by the sound the ninja had made, he had the wind knocked out of him. Ino—finally seeing her chance—ran up to the dazed curse caster and executed her Mind Transfer no Jutsu. The bleeding jonin caught the limp body and quickly hopped back away from the danger zone. Shikamaru, who had gotten off his ass, realized his revenge had not only failed it, had become the worst-case scenario.
His captain has injured, a teammate and the medical ninja were out of commission, and they still had no idea what the masked man was capable of. Biting his lip, the pineapple-headed teen looked from his best friend, and back to himself. He could tell now that whatever chance they had of surviving, was dripping down like Kakashi's blood. Then as if it was an answer to Shikamaru unsaid pleads, their reinforcements arrived. Team Seven and at least three squads—each eight chunin strong—made a pretty scary sight. Now it was the masked Akatsuki member's turn to panic. Sighing, the tall man made some fire ninjutsu signs. And in the ash, smoke and flames he escaped.
"Well, you got one outa two, at least," Naruto said, looking liked a kicked puppy.
Rubbing his temples, Shikamaru tried to plaster a convincing smile on his face.
"Yeah, it would be too troublesome to catch both of them."
The bleeding Copy Ninja of Konoha looked over at the seemingly sleeping enemy. His silver hair was completely messed up, with a smile lingering on his pale blood spattered face. Amidst all the carnage and destruction, all the pieces of dead ashen wood, under the harsh sky Kakashi realized that maybe angels did exist. Well, angels of death did anyway.