The others ran to Satori's side to see what he had picked up. Their eyes widened as well.
"Whose head protector is that?" Taku asked.
"Ronin's"
At that moment they came face to face with a large group of ninjas. Satori looked at their head protectors.
"Rock Ninjas." He said.
Then the group split and a single ninja stood between them. His long blonde hair flowed with the wind.
"Ronin!" Satori said.
"We thought you were dead." Katianna said.
"I was going to be if it weren't for the Hidden Rock." Ronin said. "You left me to die."
"It wasn't like that." Satori said.
"Of course it was. Iwa has shown that they want me. They wouldn't leave a comrade behind." Ronin said.
"You traitor." Katianna said.
She attempted to move toward Ronin but was stopped by Satori's hand. She looked up at him but he shook his head.
"Why didn't you bring my body home, then?" Ronin asked.
"One, your body was possessed. You told us to leave you there and I even wanted to bring you back but you wouldn't allow it. Two, that's ANBU's job. We've got our own missions to do." Satori snapped.
"We know what you are here for. And we are here to see that your mission fails." Ronin said. "However I am offering a deal."
Satori moved the senbon in his mouth up and down.
"What sort of deal?" Azumi asked.
"Well, I'll spare the lives of the others, if you hand over the documents that you are carrying and if you'll join me." Ronin said.
"Does the phrase go suck a lemon, hold any meaning for you?"
"That's unfortunate." Ronin said.
In that instant Ronin appeared next to Azumi and shoved his hand into her stomach, however it didn't go all the way through. He lifted her into the air and stood at the waterfall's edge. He then threw her over the edge.
"AZUMI!" Satori shouted.
Satori reached into his front pocket of his vest and pulled out a scroll. He turned to Taku and tossed it to him.
"You two, go! Complete the mission. I'm going to save Azumi."
Taku and Katianna nodded and took off running. Two Rock ninjas ran after them. Satori drew two kunai and threw them at the pursuing ninjas. The two ninjas fell to the ground. Satori then spun around and threw a shuriken at Ronin. Ronin dodged it but part of his long hair was cut in the process. Satori headed for the edge but a few ninjas stood in his path. Satori did a sequence of hand seals. Rat, Tiger, Dog, Ox, Rabbit, Tiger.
"Katon: Hosenka no jutsu." (Fire Element: Mythical Fire Phoenix Technique)
Satori shot multiple fireballs at the Rock ninjas. A few were hit by the fire balls and others leapt out of the way. Regardless, it did what he wanted he wanted it to do, and that was to clear the way. Satori jumped over the edge of the waterfall. As he leapt into the air he was hit in the left shoulder with a kunai. He fell to the water below. The Rock ninjas ran to the edge and looked over and saw only water.
"Report back to Iwa. The other two are too fast for us to catch up to. I should know one of them was my teammate." Ronin said.
The Rock ninjas headed back to their hidden village. As they left, Satori pulled Azumi from the water and into a cave behind the waterfall. Azumi had already lost a lot of blood. He pulled the kunai out of his shoulder and tossed it. He then took off his chuunin vest and then his own shirt then tore his shirt into strips. He ripped open Azumi's shirt revealing the wound. He wrapped his torn shirt around Azumi's severe wound. He then replaced the chuunin vest over his torso. He knew it was atleast a day and a half back to Konoha. He then picked up Azumi and exited the cave. He leapt into the trees and headed back to the Hidden Village among the Leaves.