Taiga was doing fine. That's what she told herself while being pushed back and enemies advancing. Their line had been broken by a powerful fire dragon that came from behind them. The infiltrator had been put down quickly but his mission had been completed. Her battalion was in disorder with a gaping hole in their defense that invited their enemy to come in. The enemy, having prestigious manners, accepted the invitation with a grin on their face. When their line was broken it was somewhat troublesome, when the enemy started attacking it was downright horrible.

Enemy ninja and samurai were coming like a flood into their campsite. A courier genin team brought the battalion time to retreat and regroup, or at least tried to. It was really brave of the genin, Taiga thought, as she ran deeper into her territory. The genin knew they would not make it even if they survived the first encounter with the enemy. Instead, they went kamikaze, riddled with explosive tags they ran to the enemy while screaming at the top of their lungs. The explosion was a distraction big enough to disrupt advancing enemy. Taiga was sure their names would be engraved onto the monolith for village heroes. It would be nice to be remembered as a hero and not an assassin. It was something most ninjas desired but that privilege was only for the brave or lucky.

The sound of a tree falling in the distance made Taiga come back to reality. She put on a burst of speed and moved deeper into the maws of the forest. Branches creaked and sometimes snapped as she jumped from tree to tree. Getting away fast was the top priority, later came regrouping with hopefully competent comrades, and finally was getting another profession besides being a ninja.

She honestly did not know what went through her head when the opportunity to become an academy student arose. It must have been the propaganda but that was just pushing the blame on to something else. It was truly all her fault, embracing a death trap with open arms like the idiot she was. The only plus that came out of being a professional killer was that the village gave her an apartment free of rent. Sure it was run down and the pipes clogged but it was something.

The sound of metal against metal broke through the trees and reached Taiga's ears. It came from the West from where she was, changing her course she slowed and became quite as she advanced towards the sound. The battle was probably being fought by only two persons if the lack of sound and explosions was any indicator. Her plan was simple, join her ally and overwhelm whoever the opponent was. This would kill an enemy and give her a meat shield if things went south while she traveled to regroup.

She landed on a tree that was on the outskirts of the battle. Pressing herself against a branch she crawled forward until the battle could be seen. It was worse than what Taiga expected. There were three enemy shinobi throwing kunai and shuriken against an earth dome some yards in front of them. The lack of justsu and exploding tags told her that the enemy was out of chakra or wanted to conserve it. Taiga, by divine chance, was situated just above the enemy shinobi who were oblivious to her presence. It was clear that her ally was in the dome praying for reinforcements to appear. It seemed like god did not answer the prayer as she would not intervene in something that spelled death from wherever you looked at it.

Just as she was about to leave the poor ninja to his certain death the dome split in half similar to an egg. Out of the dome came dozens of water needles directed towards the ninja below Taiga. The ninja dispersed and hid behind the trees around Taiga, this put her on edge. If only one of them were to look up she would be busted. The needles diminished in quantity until none advanced anymore. Taiga, at the lack of needles, looked towards the broken dome where she could see a teen kneeling as exhaustion made him succumb. It was then that the teen looked up to the trees, probably cursing the god above, and caught Taiga's eye.

Well, she may be unlucky but this was absurd, what was the chance of the guy down below seeing her? Apparently very big! Now she had to get down and fight alongside him just because he caught her stare, unbelievable. It was something similar to making eye contact with an acquaintance on the street. If you did not go and make small talk and just ran off the action would be considered weird and rude. Besides, if her comrade were to survive somehow and report her of not helping in the fight her actions could be considered treason. That was a path Taiga would not take whatever it took, if she did only death would meet her at the end.

Breathing deeply and cursing her existence Taiga took out a kunai from her holster and aimed it at the ninja closest from her. The thrown kunai flew perfectly, obtaining a deadly beauty in its flight. The object made its way between trunks and branches, grazing some but never directly hitting its obstacles. It struck its target and buried itself inches deep into the ninja's skull.

The kill was made quick and efficiently. The ninja did not comprehend what had transpired. When the kunai struck and ended his life there was no time to react. He did not think. Did not think about all the regrets of his life, what could have been if he had made another choice. He did not see all the faces he killed or get to think about the guilt that kept him awake at nights. The sound of the lullaby his mother sang never passed through his mind. He did not remember the friends and comrades he had made. All the happy memories that gave him strength and courage were not sought out to help him. He especially did not think back on a nephew he had in his village. All the time he spent together playing and talking to his nephew did not mean anything to him. He did not think that his nephew would grow old and become a ninja bend on revenge against Kirigakure.

In the end, there was no time to dwell on any of those things. His death was swift with no room left to think. In a way it was mercy, Taiga thought. The job of being a ninja, if it could be called that, was one filled with hardships that no human being should witness. That was the reason why many ninjas abandoned their humanity and sometimes sanity, that way guilt, rage, and sorrow could never reach them.

The corpse fell on his back hitting the dirt and sending dust into the air. The sound alerted the ninja nearby and after looking at their dead commander they exploded into action. One whipped his head upwards and started making hand-seals while the other went into hiding behind a trunk. Taiga knowing that getting away before the attack was futile decided to take cover. Judging by the few hand seals she saw it was probably a wind technique. She prayed the purpose was to push instead of cut. Hoping that maybe faith was in her favor she readied some kunai.

When the tree she was on started swaying and not falling down relieve flooded trough her. It was clear their intention was to bring out their enemy instead of killing. A dumb move in her opinion, but whatever they did wrong was right in her book. Sensing the technique come close to its end she readied her kunai and threw them up to the sky. The kunai were propelled by the dying winds of the jutsu making them go higher than her throw would ever allow. Her purpose filled Taiga made her way towards the broken dome while leaves and branches fell around her.

She skidded into the clearing and immediately ran towards the fallen teen in it. Reaching him it was clear he passed out from exhaustion. Taiga quickly fed him a soldier pill from her stash. Seeing no ninja nearby meant that her kunai trap had worked. In moments the boy's eyes opened and a groan escaped him. From pain or the injustice he found himself in Taiga guessed it was the second option. Shaking her head to disperse her thoughts she concentrated on the boy. "Alright boy-o, what rank and division are you from?" Another groan was emitted from the boy as an answer. "What was that?! Speak, you idiot, they'll be coming back any second!"


The boy for his part was in what could only be described as hell. His body hurt whenever he thought about moving it, and the pounding on his head did not even let him think in the first place. Add to his predicament an angel that although pretty, asked him questions about his mortal life. How weird was that? Should it not be judging him or something of the sorts?

"Oi! Answer me you idiot."

She was also rude, but maybe this was part of his judgment? As for the question, maybe what the position he had earned made him more important in heaven. If so then the warmongers had it right which was a shame, he had preferred the view the monks had. An eyebrow of the angel twitched, maybe it would be best to answer her, what an impatient angel! "I'm a Kirigakure genin from the courier division 11." His voice was raspy and when he finished talking coughs rocked his body.

It looked like his answer did not please the angel, she looked ready to kill somebody. Good thing he was already dead, just imagine if he was alive! His amusement was broken when a more important thought occurred to him, was he even getting into heaven? Genin was a low position although being a courier was a step away from being chunin. That was worth something, right? Should he have lied to her?

The angel stood up and threw her arms above her head. "Perfect. Just perfect. I got a kid to deal with. Oi, get up you lazy ass, we're about to have company."

It was decided, Akita did not like the angel sent to get him. Would he get divine punishment for not obeying an order, he doubted it, but he wasn't eager to test the theory. Slowly and painfully he stood up until his feet were planted on the ground. The pain he felt was something he did not expect in heaven. Then a frightening thought crossed his mind, what if he was in hell?

It would make sense, he was a ninja, the job of the devil it was called. That would explain the questions about his rank, to see what punishment he should receive. Being in hell would also explain why the angel, now a demon, was insufferable. The question now was to wait for his punishment or to try and escape. His plan to knock out the demon and run for his life was interrupted by the arrival of two figures.

The bushes in front of him rustled slightly before two men came out in a burst of speed. They had green vests with a blue suit underneath, Konohagakure headbands adorned their heads. The demon was saying something to them but Akita was not paying attention. He was looking intently at the new arrivals. The men registered immediately in his mind, and if they were in hell that could only mean one thing. He had killed them with his last jutsu.

How awesome was he? A genin defeating not one but two opponent chunin! He was awesome alright. Yet, his initial problem still remained. How was he going to escape punishment with three enemies close by? A smoke bomb might be the answer, if he could only reach it discreetly.

A kunai was launched by a Konoha-nin but it was caught by the ring courtesy of the demon. That took some serious skill; it was obvious that fighting the demon would not turn alright for him. The two men looked at each other, nodded, and rushed towards them. The demon broke off from his side to intercept them. One jumped over the demon while the other stayed behind and begun engaging her in battle. The one who jumped begun to run towards Akita with his face set in a frown.

It was weird, to say the least, they were already dead but still wanted to kill each other. Could there not be peace even in the afterlife? Then again, this was hell so it was to be expected. Following trough that logic, what would happen when someone died in hell? Would they be killed again or disappear completely? So many questions and not enough time to answer them, especially with the man running towards him. Either way, if the Konoha-nin wanted a fight he would get it.

Taking a kunai out Akita met the man before he could reach him. Sparks flew as metal ground against itself. Both combatants locked eyes with each other for a second before they jumped back some yards. Without any preamble, both rushed towards each other again. It was pure hand to hand combat here, neither had any chakra to throw jutsu around. Akita jumped over a sweep kick and tried to stomp on the offending leg but missed by inches. The momentum of his opponent carried him into a roundhouse that Akita ducked under. He stabbed upwards with the kunai but only managed to graze the leg instead of piercing it.

The Konoha-nin moved back rapidly after his failed attack and brought his hands to the injury on his leg. Narrowing his eyes he moved to Akita again. This time instead of a straight line he moved erratically, swaying from left to right. The boy tried to put on a defense but it was not fast enough. A kick connected to his abdomen that brought him parallel to the ground. The ninja acted on the opportunity and jumped to deliver an ax kick. Akita hastily crossed his arms to receive the brunt of the arm broke while the kick connected to his chest. Akita bounced off the ground once before lying face down, unresponsive.


The ninja jumped back and waited for the teen to rise. When nothing happened he launched a kunai at the boy. Before it would have hit the target its course deviated. A spark flew and two kunai were embedded in the dirt a few centimeters from the Akita's head. Taiga walked slowly in front of the prone body of Akita and picked up the two kunai.

Looking at the Konoha-nin from head to toe she spoke, "can't let you do that, buddy."

Her chestnut hair was matted down with blood and sweat. Some hair strands stuck to her forehead and cheeks. Her flak jacket shoulder pads were torn off. Small blood patches decorated her left leg near the ankle. She also had a small trail of blood that ran from her temple over her lips and down to her chin. Despite the poor state Taiga was in she smirked, her teeth were bloody. The small facial gesture unnerved the Konoha-nin. It held no real emotion, not portraying any feelings or thoughts to the exterior, it just was. It held a cruelness that only monsters possessed.

Within a blink of an eye two kunai that Taiga held were thrown forward. After another blink they were deflected upwards, by the Konoha-nin, causing a small spark. Wasting no time to retaliate the ninja sped to Taiga. Both opponents met in the middle of the clearing with a clash.

Taiga began with strong and fast punches aimed towards his chest. The Konoha-nin blocked but it was easily broken as Taiga was stronger than what he anticipated. He began to step back and lose ground as Taiga kept on attacking. The enemy blocked for an uppercut but it never came. Taking the opening her faint had created she swept her leg. With her opponent of balance, she delivered a punch to his face.

The sound of bone on bone was heard throughout the forest. The ninja was sent flying back until a tree stopped the gained momentum. Birds flew from their perches situated high in the tree that was hit. The ninja slumped to the floor to form a pile of broken bones and damaged muscles. Taiga approached the fallen kunai that had been deflected, she pocketed one and the other one she threw at her enemy. It cut the wind with a soft whistle until it hit the skull of the man. Nodding to herself she looked behind her to check on Akita.

She expected him to still be unconscious on the ground. It was a surprise to find him limping away from the clearing. His movements were jerky and clumsy, probably from the concussion he would be sporting. Akita turned his head and caught a glimpse of Taiga walking towards him at a slow pace but somehow still gaining on him. He tried to speed up but only ended up tripping and falling down face first. Trying to get up was fruitless as he could not even move his head. It was short of a miracle that he was able to advance those few painful steps.

"What the hell are you trying to do boy-o? Spoke Taiga.

A groan escaped Akita.

"Speak up! Can't hear crap with your face in the mud."

Another groan was emitted.

"Whatever. Get up boy-o and let's get out of here before someone else comes." Akita was unresponsive this time. She prodded him with her foot but not even a groan that he loved so much was heard. With a sigh and some arm stretches she snatched up Akita from the ground and slung him over her shoulder. With a last look around the small clearing she left towards her rendezvous point.


So hey, name's Zueman, and this is my first fic. Hoped you enjoyed what you read and hope to hear from you all. This won't really have an schedule as this story is just pretty much practice and a fun way to pass time. Look forward to next chapter where Akita and Taiga actually interact.