Opening Theme: Blue Bird by Ikimono-Gakari
Chapter 11: Clash with ANBU, Kyo's Identity Revealed
While Ren and Chinatsu were in Yukigakure with the three elder Akatsuki members, Sayuri and Deidara were in the Land of Rivers, Kawa no Kuni. The pair had stopped in the middle of the road and was facing each other with glares and clenched fists. Both were ready to rip the other's throat out, and the only thing that held them back from doing so was Pein's wrath.
"Admit it, blondie! We're lost!" Sayuri snapped, crossing her arms in front of her chest and glaring up at Deidara.
"We are not lost, yeah!" Deidara retorted, grinding his teeth, "Stop yapping and get a move on!"
"We are lost, fool!" Sayuri argued, "This wouldn't have happened if you hadn't lost the stupid map!"
"Can you just shut up and get a move on, hmm?" Deidara fumed. The two of them locked glares for a moment longer before Sayuri suddenly took out a kunai from beneath her cloak. She threw it into a pine maple tree that stood next to the path.
"If we see that kunai again, I will not forgive you," she seethed, pointing at the weapon to get her point across.
Deidara rolled his eyes. "Whatever, un. Let's just go."
The pair continued down the path, both of them obviously still angry. Luckily, neither of them seemed inclined to say anything, meaning they couldn't get more upset than they already were.
After a long time of walking, Sayuri suddenly let out an exclamation and pointed ahead. Deidara followed her gaze and cursed mentally. Sayuri rounded on the blonde bomber with a triumphant and irritated look on her face.
"I told you we were lost!"
A couple yards in front of them was the kunai embedded in the maple tree.
"Tch. How can two C-ranked kunoichi be so hard to find?" Chinatsu muttered as the group of five exited the village on their continued quest to find Kiyoko and Hitomi.
Ren sighed. "Maybe they're just really good at hiding," she suggested, "I feel bad that we left without saying goodbye to Kyo-kun though."
"That brat can handle himself," Sasori said as he trudged along from his place next to Itachi.
"That's probably true," Chinatsu agreed with Sasori. Ren had told Chinatsu about the money that had appeared in the former's Akatsuki cloak's pocket, and the Kumogakure kunoichi guessed that Kyo had somehow managed to sneak the money in there without anyone noticing.
"Let's hurry," Sasori muttered as he quickened his pace slightly, "I want to get to the next village before nightfall."
"Okay, but we better stop for a break some time before we cross those mountains," Chinatsu said, nodding in the direction of the tall, white-capped peaks of the great stone protrusions in the distance.
"Fine."
Sasori kept his word when they reached the base of the first mountain. He didn't breathe a word of complaint when the other four started a fire and began to gather food to cook and eat. Chinatsu and Ren had left the group and just caught a few wild birds when they suddenly halted.
"Oh…" Ren trailed off as she stared at the two ANBU members blocking the path back to the three Akatsuki men.
"Well, this is probably the best I've felt all day," Chinatsu said sarcastically.
"Stop right there, you Akatsuki scum!" The ANBU wearing a hawk mask shouted.
Chinatsu cleared her throat. "Excuse me, ANBU-san, but are you blind? We stopped walking a long time ago."
"Shh!" Ren hissed, slapping a hand onto Chinatsu's mouth, "You're making things worse!"
The hawk-ANBU let out an angry snarl and darted forward, his katana raised and ready to cut down the two kunoichi in front of him. Before he could touch them, however, there was a loud thud and he let out a cry of pain before falling back. The hawk-ANBU clutched his stomach as he landed unsteadily. A second familiar person landed in front of Ren and Chinatsu, facing the two ANBU members.
"K-Kyo-kun!" Ren sputtered in surprise. Chinatsu's eyes were also wide in astonishment.
Sasori, Itachi, and Kisame appeared next to the two Akatsuki kunoichi. "What's going on?" Sasori inquired.
"Hey, isn't that the kid?" Kisame asked, staring at Kyo. Itachi narrowed his eyes, his Sharingan blazing dangerously.
Kyo twirled the slingshot that he held as he grinned at the hawk-ANBU. "A man picking on a woman. That's not very nice, is it?" he asked as he tucked his slingshot into his shirt casually.
The second ANBU member, who was wearing a cat mask, stepped forward. "Leave this place, boy. Those five belong to Akatsuki, an S-ranked criminal organization."
"I know," Kyo waved a hand dismissively, "But what if I refuse to leave?"
"What?" Hawk-ANBU exclaimed, "Are you insane, beggar? Just get out of here before I make you!" He waved his sword for emphasis.
Kyo didn't look fazed at all. "Says the one who couldn't even resist against a stone," he countered, smirking when the hawk-ANBU's chest swelled with anger.
"Kyo-kun, just go home," Ren shouted impatiently, "Don't get muddled up in this."
"I won't," Kyo said stubbornly, "I still haven't fully repaid you for the food yet."
"What an adamant guy," Chinatsu muttered to Kisame, who grunted in agreement.
"If you refuse to leave, boy, then we will be forced to kill you along with the Akatsuki," Cat-ANBU warned as he unsheathed his sword as well. When Kyo didn't budge, both he and the hawk-ANBU charged forward.
Hawk-ANBU reached Kyo first and swung his sword at her head. With surprisingly swift movements, Kyo ducked and did a quick cartwheel, kicking hawk-ANBU in the chin in the process. As the beggar boy landed on his feet, cat- ANBU attempted to stab him in the back, but Kyo spun to the right, successfully evading the blade.
Cat-ANBU swung his sword in Kyo's direction, hoping to at least cut the boy, but Kyo bent backwards, once again dodging an attack with ease and grace. Hawk-ANBU had recovered by now and slashed his sword at Kyo's legs. Kyo easily evaded by placing her hands on the ground and doing a backflip.
The Akatsuki was stunned. None of them were expecting the beggar boy to have such skill and be able to stand his ground against two ANBU members. Five pairs of eyes followed the young boy as he weaved his way through attacks, and five minds wondered why the boy didn't go on the offensive instead.
Meanwhile, Kyo continued to avoid the attacks made by the two ANBU members, who were obviously both very shocked by the beggar boy's skill as well. So shocked that they decided to play dirty. While hawk-ANBU kept Kyo's attention, cat-ANBU snuck up behind the boy and slashed at his head. Luckily, Kyo noticed in time and managed to avoid getting his head cut open. However, his turban wasn't so lucky.
The piece of cloth unraveled itself and drifted to the ground. Kyo's eyes widened briefly before he quickly teleported a good distance away from the ANBU. The beggar crouched on the ground as his long, black hair cascaded down from its bun. Slowly, Kyo lifted his head and met the astounded looks of seven people.
"What the hell…?" Sasori uttered.
"Did you know about this, Itachi-san?" Kisame inquired to his partner.
"This is…unexpected," Itachi said quietly.
"No way!" Chinatsu gasped.
Ren stared. "Kyo-kun…you're a…woman?"
To be continued in Chapter 12: The Shadow's Promise…
Ending Theme: Ichirin no Hana by High and Mighty Color