Blood. Screams. Death. Injured. Traitors.

That's what the village was filled with, a nine year old boy thought as he ran through the body covered streets. He bit his lips, finding it hard to look at the faces, afraid he'd see someone he knew in them. Or, worse, to see her face. The boy had sandy blond hair, jade eyes, and fair skin. He was wearing a blood red shirt that hid most of the blood stains, blue shorts, and ninja shoes. He reached into his kunai pouch, pulling out one as he got deeper into the city.

A ninja suddenly appeared in front of him, an evil smirk on his face. "Bow down to Yuma or die," he threatened.

"I'd rather die than join her!" the boy exclaimed, jumping at the ninja. He watched as the man smiled. He must not have known just how powerful the Jikoku clan was. The boy did a quick hand sign, and then the man was suddenly moving in slow motion. It wasn't that the boy was moving faster, but the man was moving slower. The boy ducked under his arm, closing his eyes as he brought the kunai tip up into the man's jaw. He felt blood squirt onto his face, but refused to jump away in disgust. This was war - blood would have to be shed. It was the only way to live. And the only way to find her.

When he felt the man go limp, he jumped away, keeping his eyes close for another moment before running forward again. The boy tried to avoid getting distracted, heading to the one place he knew she always went whenever bad things happened, but it was hard. He always wanted to go help someone in trouble, but it was his assigned job to protect her, not them.

The boy came to a stop as another boy suddenly appeared in front of him, a small smirk on his face. The boy was about thirteen, with blond hair that barely passed his ears, bright blue eyes, and fair skin. He was wearing a black shirt under a yellow sleeveless one, stormy grey pants, and black ninja shoes.

"Toshiro," the boy hissed at the older one, eyes narrowing.

"I finally found you, Krino," Toshiro said, the same annoying smile spread across his face. "Yuma was wondering where you were." Krino flinched as Toshiro suddenly appeared in front of him, hand grasping his arm. "Seeing as you're one of the last members in the Jikoku clan, and known as the strongest at using your kekkai genkai, she'd prefer to keep you alive."

"To use me like she's trying to do with everyone else!" Krino snapped, biting down on Toshiro's fingers. Letting out a howl, Toshiro let go. As soon as he realized what happened, he glared at Krino. But it was too late. Right when Toshiro looked up, Krino was finishing the hand signs. "Jikoku style! Jikoku osoi (time slow) jutsu!" As he said this, time around him started to slow down. Knowing he only had a few seconds to run before the jutsu broke, he made a run for it. He bit his lip as he weaved through the slow battle, and then it suddenly went back to normal speed. If he continued to use his kekkai genkai like this, he'd quickly run out of chakra. He swerved to avoid a kunai that had missed its target, turning onto one of the back roads that led to his destination, knowing it would be more peaceful.

"So, where is my adorable sister hiding, Jikoku?"

Krino skidded to a stop as the familiar figure appeared in front of him, only now surrounded by lightning. Dang it! He absolutely hated the Katachi's form jutsu. It drove him insane. Sure, he didn't mind when she used it, but when it was being used against him, it was annoying. "Pretty bad you have to use your lightning form jutsu on a little kid."

Toshiro glared, pulling out a kunai. "Don't make me hurt you. Yuma wanted you unharmed, but I could just blame it on one of the others."

"If you want to know where she is, I'm not going to tell you. I'm never going to tell you." Krino reached back and pulled out a short sword, putting it in front of him. He got into a defensive stance, his eyes meeting Toshiro's. "Unlike you, I'd never betray her."

Toshiro let out a bark of laughter. "I have no clue why people always feel so freaking compelled to help that brat."

"That's what friends are, you jerk!" Krino ran forward, watching as Toshiro pulled back his hand, flicking his wrist and sending the kunai flying at him. Krino watched as he spun, lightning suddenly engulfing it.

Taking in a deep breath, Krino jumped up and over it, knowing that was what Toshiro was wanting him to do. The next second the blond headed boy was in front of Krino, his fist pulled back. He launched it forward, landing a blow on his cheek-

And cursing when Krino poofed, leaving smoke in his place. "Shadow clone," he muttered. "How annoying can one kid be?"

****

Krino felt his shadow clone die as he manoeuvred through the alleys, getting so close to the place he wanted to be he almost jumped onto the building to get a better view. But he knew better. If he did that, Toshiro may see him.

He continued running for a minute before turning the last corner, stopping and gasping for air, a smile on his face, when he saw the church in front of him.

Krino ran forward, glancing around to make sure nobody was watching him. He ran at full speed toward the church, hoping that she'd be there. He stopped when he entered the place, looking around. "Hello," he whispered. "Are you here?"

No response.

Krino closed his eyes, feeling sadness fill him. She wasn't there. His eyes flew back open when he hear something scrape against the ground. One of the chairs had moved. Was she there? Filled with hope he really wanted not to crash down on him, he ran toward the chair that had moved.

"You're okay!" Krino exclaimed when he saw his friend cowering between two chairs. The girl had pale blond hair, fair skin, and blue eyes. She wore a purple shirt with the word かたち (Katachi) on the back, blue shorts, and black ninja shoes.

The girl nodded, her eyes showing her fear. She was a year younger than him, but she looked even shorter. She'd always been short, though.

Krino smiled. "Come on. We need to-"

"What? Escape?"

"Crap," Krino muttered, turning to see Toshiro smirking at them. "How'd you find me so quickly?"

Toshiro let out a bark of laughter. "Seeing as I'm fast as lightning, you shouldn't be surprised I already caught up with you," he said. "Now, just hand over my sister and nobody gets hurt."

"Drop dead!" Krino shouted, grabbing the girl and putting her on his back despite her protest to just run and leave her. "No. I'm going to protect you."

"But, Krino," she began.

"No buts!" he shouted, running at full speed away. He quickly did some hand signs. "Jikoku style! Jikoku osoi jutsu!" Time slowed, allowing him to be faster than Toshiro. He ran forward, doing even more hand signs as he reached the wall. "Fire style! Fire aura jutsu!" Hands, Krino thought. His hands were surrounded with a red aura before the aura became fire. Knowing his time slow jutsu would break soon, he made a whole in the wall of the church.

"Don't you dare burn this church down, Krino Jikoku!" the girl said, and he knew she was glaring at him.

"We need to get out of here!" Krino retorted, running away from the church and Toshiro. But he was too slow.

"Lightning style! Paralyze jutsu!"

Krino felt lightning run up his legs, and the next moment he slammed against the ground, the girl flying off of him. He heard her yelp as she hit the ground. "Hurry up and run!" Krino ordered.

The girl stared at him with teary eyes as she got up. "But, Krino-"

"RUN!" he barked, glaring at her. "Don't worry about me. Run. You have to get away."

The girl looked at him for a few more minutes before turning and running. Right before she disappeared into the forest, lightning surrounded her like it had Toshiro.

Krino sighed in relief, closing his eyes. He heard the pad of feet as Toshiro got closer to him.

"You know we'll catch her sooner or later," Toshiro said, crouching down beside of him.

"You underestimate you sister, Toshiro. She's the strongest Katachi left, and we both know that's why Yuma wants her."

"Hn." Toshiro placed his hand on Krino's hand, sparking his head.

He closed his eyes, screaming as such strong lightning coursed through his veins he knew he'd faint in moments. But that didn't matter. The only thing that mattered right then and there was that she was safe. That Kina had gotten away.

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Here's a picture of Kina when she's 13-14, in case you want to check it out. Ignore the brunette, she was from the old story.