Chapter 10

The Traitor

It took at least two hours to get everything off the ship and ready to go. As Michiru got into his carriage with Hikaru, he asked the circus to stop by the palace some time and perform. Ari sat on the ledge behind the coach. The maids took their coach into town to their own homes and families. Ari, however, lived in the palace with the royal family.

She breathed in deep as they started off. She loved the smell of the sea and the freshness of this island. It was so tropical and lively all the time… Until they arrived in town that is…

It was a ghost town when the rode down main street. Ari looked around. "Where are the towns people?" she whispered to herself. She looked over at Kakashi who was checking the place out cautiously. Ari looked up at a window of an apartment. I woman with her child ducked from view. Ari crinkled her brow in confusion. "This has bad news written all over it…" she growled to herself.

They approached the entrance of the palace, and soon stopped. Ari jumped down from the coach and went to Kakashi's side. She looked up at the welcoming balcony of the palace. She looked up at the face of Shaba Daba, the king's royal advisor, and his erm… wife. (At least I think it's his wife) Ari glared. Something told her this all had something to do with him.

"Shaba Daba!" called the Prince as he stepped out of the coach with Hikaru by his side. "Hello, Shaba Daba!" he smiled up at him.

Shaba Daba peered down at the two royals and smirked. "Hello Michiru…" he sneered.

Ari felt uncomfortable and went to Hikaru's side. She glared up at Shaba Daba as he looked down at them with his arms behind his back and his… wife at his side.

"Where is father? He is usually the first to meet us when we get home from our trips." Michiru said, looking around the court. Ari put her hands on Hikaru's shoulders.

Shaba Daba looked as if he had something mildly funny in his head. He smiled evilly. "It seems as I am in charge now, Michiru. You father is DEAD. We do not need you here anymore." he waved his hand at them.

Michiru gasped, and Ari did to.

"What do you mean the king is dead?" Ari yelled at him.

Shaba Daba glared at him. "As in gone. Goodbye. No more." he said, and grinned. "But don't worry, dear Ari, you are part of my deal." he straightened up. "Guards! Seize the girl, and kill the rest of them!"

A small fleet of the royal guards spilled form the doors of the palace and surrounded everyone. Ari shoved Hikaru behind her and stepped in front of Michiru.

"Everyone, get ready!" Kakashi called to his squad. The ninja's went to work on the guards that surrounded them. One guard went after Ari, but she dodged him, and punched him in the face. One guard from behind wrapped his arms around her, trying to constrain her. She managed to elbow him in the face and then knee his un-guarded groin. He let her go and she was surrounded again. They all came at her at once and she readied herself. But, before anyone could touch her, Kakashi was right there and he deflected all of the guards from her.

"Go, Ari! Get them back in the coach and get out of here!" he demanded.

For once, Ari agreed and went to the royals. She ushered them quickly into the coach, and told the driver to go. But she didn't go with them. Ari appeared at Kakashi's back, her back to his. Kakashi glanced behind himself at her. "I thought I told you to go!" he growled as he kicked one of the guards down.

Ari shook her head as she did the same to another guard. "I can take care of myself!" she said. "Besides, you got no one to cover you!"

Kakashi sighed. "You better not get hurt, Ari." he said.

Ari laughed and flipped one of the guards onto his back. "Don't worry about me."

Then, a large black military carriage sped inside of the court.

Kakashi looked at it. "Friend or foe?" he asked Ari as he blocked an attack.

Ari pushed one of the guards away from her with so much force he almost flew. Ari shrugged. "That's a Royal Police Coach. I'm not sure what side their on." she flipped a guard.

Then, the captain of the police came running out of the carriage with his sword, and ran towards them. Ari readied herself. But she growled at the captain. "Koriga!"

As she thought his blade was meant for her, it crashed into another guards. Ari gasped as Koriga's back faced her to defend her. "You must get out of her, Ari!" he said as he fought.

Ari growled. "I don't need protecting!" she jumped from between the men that protected her, and when she landed, her feet plated into a guard's face. She jumped again landing on top of the military carriage, and took a katana from through the window.

She jumped down gain and bashed some soldiers face's in.

Ari looked over at the royal coach that had not reached the end of the entrance way. It was stopped and surrounded by men. Ari hissed, and ran with her Shinobi speed down to the coach. The other nin followed, including Koriga and Kakashi. Once they all fought off the surrounding guards, Koriga got behind the reins of the horses and forced them to go.

The three young Shinobi followed behind it, and Ari went to Kakashi's side as he faced the palace. Kakashi's hand went to his headband protector that covered his left eye. He lifted it up, reveling a scarred, blood red eye with three black comma looking things. Ari gasped.

The Uchiha clan's Sharingan…

She has studied about that long ago with her honorable brothers when she was still in the academy.

Kakashi shoved Ari back. "Go, Ari! Quick!"

Ari didn't bother arguing back, and she went, looking back at Kakashi as she ran. He used a series of hand signals as the guards came towards him and he shoved his hand to the ground. He disrupted the earth he stood on and quickly jumped up, and ran , catching up along side Ari. She looked at him and then behind. The entrance of the palace was now blocked with large disrupted pieces of earth.

Ari smirked. "Sharingan?" she said to him.

Kakashi glanced and nodded. "Only one. Now let's hurry and catch up.

Ari nodded, and they sprinted, Ari easily keeping up with Kakashi.