"Ey Neji. I know you're gonna be busier now that you're a Jonin guard, but you're still gonna play right?"
The Konoha Kings was Leaf Co.'s most celebrated basketball team. They had earned prominence in sports and were known to be formidable opponents. Neji, Lee, Kiba, Naruto, Sai and Konohamaru were all permanent members since they all had individual skills that were valuable to the team. On the other hand, the rest of the players were in a continuous competition against one another in order to retain their spots.
Neji downed his remaining liquor before responding coolly to Naruto. "Yes. It had been decided that if a mission conflicted with our games, a substitute will be allowed to play on my behalf."
Ino tuned out the boys' discussion and turned to the girls. She brought out a couple of shopping bags and handed them to Sakura who looked at her in confusion.
Ino elaborated, "Since you're gonna be a dancer at Akatsuki and all, we thought you might need clothes that are…more suited…for the job."
Sakura picked up the pink shopping bag, her face reddening upon pulling out a black latex tube top with a matching mini skirt. She opened the other bags and found a pair of stilettos, a silk negligee, and lots of lace.
"INO!" Sakura cried out in humiliation. When everyone in the room turned their heads in her direction, she lowered her voice. "Ino, I'm going to be a dancer. Not a stripper!"
"Well, Sakura," Tenten inputted. "I may not know much about Akatsuki, but I know that they're gonna want you to sell. And sexy sells."
Suddenly, Sakura heard a whizzing sound and turned her head in time to see the glass window that once overlooked the dance floor, shatter into thousands of sparkling shards. She glimpsed at the stunned faces of the partiers below before she saw them disperse into a commotion.
Her friends' bewildered voices became muddled in the background as her gaze stumbled upon a small object that had landed inches from her feet. She picked it up.
A puppet?
The miniature puppet had pink hair and was dressed in black pants and a white shirt. It was attached to a sharpened metal which she supposed was what broke through the window. It looks like me. Sakura stiffened when she saw a small piece of paper peeking from under its shirt. She hastily undressed the puppet and found that its stomach was a little compartment. Hesitantly, she opened it, her hands shaking as she read the piece of paper.
I know who you are.
Itachi and Kisame arrived at the City of Stone the following afternoon. True to its name, everything - from houses, buildings and skyscrapers - seemed to be made of stones and rocks giving the place a dreary feel. Hence, the blue waters that cascaded from the sizable stony mountains and the lush leaves that grew from mini gardens seemed somewhat unnatural.
It had started to rain unexpectedly forcing two wet Akatsuki to duck into the nearest joint. The Rock Tavern proved to be a haven for rowdy, brawny, bearded men who reminded Kisame of cavemen. The place itself resembled a cave. There were no windows thus trapping in the musty odor combined with the smell of spilled beer and sweat. It was dim - the only source of light was a light bulb which seemed to be flickering its way to its near end. Warmth emanated from the numerous bodies stuffed inside.
At the moment, the rowdy cavemen were engrossed in what seemed like a fight, animatedly shaking their fists in the air while yelling unintelligibly. Itachi and Kisame dodged their way around the crowd to get a better view.
In the middle of the circle were two men; the first man had dark hair and an unkempt beard. He was the same size as his opponent though judging from his bruised eye and bloody face, he seemed to have received the most damage between the two. The other man had flaming red hair and an equally red beard. He watched his opponent stagger with a triumphant smile.
Kisame nudged his raven haired partner, his eyes never leaving the red haired man. "Hey Itachi, that looks like our man, Rōshi!"
Itachi nodded. A bulkier bearded man had entered the circle to announce that Rōshi had won. The crowd erupted into a rambunctious roar.
"DOES ANYBODY ELSE WANT TO TAKE ON THE MIGHTY BEAST RŌSHI?"
It was Itachi's turn to nudge Kisame.
Kisame shot him a sinister smile that bared his sharp incisors. His raspy voice commanded attention. "I will."
The rowdy cavemen quieted down, parting to make way for the courageous challenger. Kisame did not have to look to know that they all stared at his imposing figure in immediate awe. He cracked his knuckles with a smirk.
"You don't seem to be from around here," Rōshi observed as he poised into his fighting stance.
"No. Now let's cut the talking, Rōshi."
The red haired man initiated the first punch which Kisame foresaw and evaded in time. Just as quickly though more precisely, he returned the blow, his speed surprising Rōshi. He used this moment of shock to plant another punch but Rōshi had regained focus and dodged.
The red haired man swiftly slid at an angle before striking once more. Kisame took one step back to avoid the hit then one step forward to slam his fist on Rōshi's face. Red liquid squirted tainting his blue fist. Taking advantage of Rōshi's lowered guard, he directed several more punches his way.
Kisame cast a glorious look at the bloodied beast.
"I win."
The red haired beast wiped some blood off his mouth. "Not even."
Kisame swung his fist once more, this time aiming at his gut. Rōshi blocked his punch with his left hand, using his right to deliver a powerful hit at the blue man's shoulder.
Kisame only faltered for a second before putting all his weight into his knuckles, letting it collide with the beast's stomach.
Rōshi coughed out more blood.
Without hesitation, Kisame resolved to end the fight with a series of hits aimed at his face and gut.
"Now, I win."
