Chapter Six: Setting the Stage
The Iwanin ran hard and fast across the burning roof tops of Oto, the dancing firelight keeping his path well lit. His steps were light as the ashes falling upon the city rooftops. Intense urgency radiated off his person, somehow finding power despite the dangerous situation around him. In his gloved hand, a bloody blue cloth fluttered.
Perhaps if the tears of lost comrades hadn't been blurring his vision and the pain from both his physical and mental wounds weren't so prominent in blocking his senses, he would have been able to see the shadows flirting around him, in a clear attack pattern. But alas, he did not, all he could sense or feel was that he was alone, and had to survive. Had to. Or else Konoha would destroy everything else he loved.
The first blade shot out of the ground, the Iwanin barely side stepping enough for it to not go through his foot or cut his chest, as the enemy came flying up into the air before him. Konohanin! Right behind it, another knife stabbed from the side, which he barely maneuvered away from, and even more from the side and above. He dodged them all, as there was no longer any desire to fight the bastards. Survival was foremost, lest many others die too.
The three Konohanin - ANBU members, he noted - seemed just as determined on their own mission. We're Konoha shrinobi truly so bloodthirsty? He had never... The propaganda had never actually made him believe they were the evil representations they had portrayed - Wolf?
Barely registering it as the big fucking white wolf struck from the side, throwing him off the rooftops and into the streets. He rolled with the Wolf a ways, fighting for survival with each movement and every breath - the smoke was thick down here. Not only that, but the burning bodies that were scattered around made an ungodly stench. If he survived, he'd never eat meat again.
The Iwanin struggled hard to escape - he just had to survive! If he didn't, how else would they know, for sure, that Konoha had made the first move?
"Akamaru, stop!" A voice pierced through the smoke and crackles of flames; distinct in its Konoha dialect. "Here, now!"
The tamed wolf responded immediately, why were they pulling out - he heard it. Distinct snaps of wood finally growing weak from the destruction on their base and unable to support the upper portion of the building. Shit, shit. In his panicked state, he couldn't concentrate enough to perform any sort of jutsu, resulting in his mad scramble to escape the avalanche of fire and wood.
This was it, the damn dog had killed him. Iwa would be blind sided by Konoha, giving them the advantage. Curse it all! He went ahead to his knees and curled up, covering his head as if that would somehow save him from the impact.
It never came. The blow that he thought would hold certain death. After a moment of lasting life, he twisted back. The building had been stopped just above him, by a black sort of inky substance. Someone had saved him. Not about to second guess it at the moment, he started to crawl out, and leaped to one of the few buildings that hadn't caught fire yet. He could sense any sign of the three Konohanin that had attacked him earlier. Must've thought he was dead. His joy was overwhelming, he had just survived a situation he shouldn't have. Amazing.
"You'll need this." He jumped, turning back. A young, pale, black haired man stood there, face shielded by a mask, and most likely his savior. He held out the Konoha headband he had accidentally dropped at some point. "This ought to prove your point."
"Thank you. Thank you so very much!" Bowing as if he were little more than this guy's servant, the Iwanin took the headband. He didn't even realize that the man giving it to him was a Konoha ANBU. Didn't even get a hint that he was being used as little more than pawn. "You have saved many lives. Thank you!"
"They'll be back if you don't hurry. I'll look into holding them off." Nodding in acknowledgment to the thanks, he turned from the Iwanin, going to return to his own mission. The Iwanin wasted no time in bounding off through the streets, making a literal bee line for Iwagakure.
o0o
"Akamaru can't smell him for all the smoke - if he'd gotten out, we would at least smell something. He's got to be dead." Kiba was pissed. He couldn't confirm that they had killed the damn Iwanin, and that was a loose end. Who knew where that bastard would be going, or what towns he'd be burning down next. "Have you gotten in touch with... anyone? Or are the radios still down?"
"Still down." Hinata confirmed, coming to his side, her Byakugan activated. "I don't see him. He's either dead, or gone. Either way, he's not our main concern. Shino's been working with the radios, though he doesn't think it'll do much. The signal is either being blocked by something in the area... or there isn't a signal to be had." She deactivated her special eyes, giving Kiba an intense stare.
"Iwa may have attacked there, too." His words were barely a breaths worth of noise. "Damnit! What do we -"
Kiba never finished his sentence. A kunai to the head finished that job off rather well. Hinata's eyes were back on in a second, as she started out for the next attack. She took only a moment to identify the unique craftsmanship that Kuani sported. No doubt about it. "Shino! Kiba's dead, I think it's more Iwanin!"
She didn't waste any time moving of the line of fire by jumping into the alley behind their roof of choice, about five Kunai impacting just behind where she had been only seconds before. She had to get to Shino. Hopefully the smoke in her wake would be enough to obscure her from the attacker. They were right on the edge of Oto, wouldn't be hard to get
"Hinata, where are you?" The radio bud in her ear cackled, only able to receive signals between them. "I'm sending some friends to help you."
"Better hurry-" Hinata gasped as her feet refused to move. What the hell... yanking her legs up hard with no luck, she looked down and saw the living black ink holding her in place. Jutsu. She jerked her body again, recognizing the chakra filled ink. No, a Konoha shinobi was doing this? No... Kunai filled her own back, and the ink released, letting her body fall freely to the ground, just within the line of trees.
A swift shadow made a move by her body, dropping a hiate ate - a head band - sporting the Iwagakura village's symbol. The stage had been officially set. Now for the actors to do their part.
A/N:
Yeah, I know. Don't get on me about it.
Sidenote, I need a beta.
A/N
