"..." –Talking

Setsuna thinking
Sasuke thinking
Neji thinking
Kakashi thinking

/.../ –Voice in Setsuna's head
-...- –Voice in Sasuke's head
... –Voice in Neji's head
((...)) –Voice in Kakashi's head

Chapter 20
"Well, well, well…2 little boys pretending to be shinobi, and Hatake Kakashi as their sensei… How the great have fallen. And little Tari as well."

Kakashi stared at the brown-haired man. "Azuba of Hidden Cliff. What are you doing here?"

Azuba hefted his scythe. "I'm here to rid Kano-sama of the obstacles in his way. All of you, and that blond in particular, come to mind."

Sasuke pulled out a kunai and Neji activated his Byakugan. Kakashi…well…he had been reading Come Come Paradise before Azuba arrived, and didn't really bother to put it away just yet. It irritated Azuba, obviously. The man was about to yell at the silver-haired idi—uhh, nin when when two masked shinobi, one male and one female, arrived.

The pair dropped to one knee in front of the Cliff nin. "Azuba-dono." One lay the body they carried before Azuba. Upon seeing who it was, Sasuke and Neji started forward but Kakashi stopped them.

"Sasuke, Neji. Protect Miss Tari." The boys flanked Tari and the woman could sense their temper and agitation rising. Setsuna was the one lying in front of the scythe-totting killing Azuba, unconscious, and, what's more, Kakashi seemed quite calm. The jounin did put away his book, however, and revealed his left eye.

Just as in his previous lives', Kakashi's left eye was that of the Sharigan, gained in a multitude of ways; each different from the last. The jounin glared at the enemy shinobi through the cold, red eye. The shorter of the two masked shinobi removed his mask. The young man looked eager to fight Kakashi, almost as though he'd been expecting it.

"Azuba-dono, may I?"

"Of course Taro."

Taro grinned at the still masked nin. "Don't interfere Kaoru. These ones are mine this time."

Kaoru merely gave an imperceptible nod and Taro grinned before rushing Kakashi. The jounin narrowed his eye and met Taro, moving to grab one of the boy's arms and blocking a second, armed attack from the other with a kunai. Instead of flesh, he met nothing but air, his arm cut.

An afterimage? How can he do that!

((Try to follow his movements and don't worry about how! Sooner or later you'll catch up to him.))

Yes but will I be too late by then?

Taro continued to speed around the shinobi, dancing just out of their reach. Kakashi glared at each afterimage, hoping that he'd pick up on the boy's speed. That plan wasn't working too well. Taro managed to hit Kakashi a fair few times—each a shallow gash that could have been dodged—while he himself was unharmed. Kakashi's kunai attacks didn't come anywhere near him.

Kakashi suddenly blinked. Wait; did it seem like the boy slowing down? He couldn't have run out of stamina that easily, but there was a way to find out. Pulling out a set of kunai, Kakashi followed Taro's movements before letting loose an attack on the boy.

All the kunai missed, but one managed to clip the clothing, causing a small tear. Yes, he was slowing down. It didn't make sense though. Only a few minutes or so had passed. Was it really that stressful to maintain such a speed? Kakashi glared at the afterimages, now closer and more fluid. No, this boy was only teasing at Kakashi, baiting him into something, or distracting him from something. But…what?

He didn't have time to realise what it was: Sasuke dashed at Taro and the two boys were sparring. Punches and kicks were exchanged, no weapons pulled out. Taro looked a little angry at Sasuke's interference but concentrated on the boy instead of Kakashi.

It seemed like Taro was losing to Sasuke, however. The out of control Uchiha—who was acting much like Naruto from the past—was hitting a weak point every time for some reason, but...Sasuke's attacks were too wild. The boy wasn't really aiming for anything; he just seemed to want to beat something into a bloody pulp for Setsuna's capture. Taro, from what Kakashi could tell, could have avoiding all of those hits and have incapacitated the black-haired boy. So what...?

Sasuke was knocked backwards suddenly, stumbling and falling to one knee. Taro towered over the boy, grinning. "Kaoru, now!"

Wha--!

Kakashi's eyes widened and turned in time to see the masked shinobi form a hand seal. Duplicates of Kaoru materialized by Kakashi and Neji, short swords unsheathed. Two pairs overpowered the two Konoha nin, forcing them to the ground, and all pressed cold steel against the necks.

Kage Bushin no Jutsu...?

Taro himself held a kunai at Sasuke's neck; the boy seemed to be in shock. That is, until Taro's rolled laughter awoke him. The Uchiha growled; his teeth clenched.

Taro calmed down enough as he pulled Sasuke's hair back. "You want to know something, hm, boy? While Setsuna-sama was with us she was very vocal when she was with Kano. Very vocal." Taro smirked at the obsidian orbs widened in shock. "She never spoke a word against though. I believe she...enjoyed it. Greatly. There was something about it being so much better than her first time."

"No..."

Setsuna couldn't have! She wouldn't have!

-Give herself up for the mission? Isn't that the duty of a kunoichi?-

No! Setsuna's too proud! Too stubborn! She...she's...

-She's just too much like Naruto in our previous life.- The voice was grim, disapproving of Setsuna's nature. -It'll get her killed.-

But that doesn't matter! She's a good fighter. She found a way to escape.

-What if they let her go? What if she sided with them?-

No! She wouldn't do that! She...she's too honest...

His inner voice was silent at this, but both it and Taro's words had seeded doubt in him. Setsuna...how had she escaped? What had really happened when she was trapped there? He knew that Kano was an absolute pervert but...what if Setsuna had succumbed to his advances? He was a very handsome man, and she only just began liking Sasuke and developing a relationship with him. Perhaps she had found Kano more to her liking, what with all the things he did for her? (Which would be what?)

The kunai pressed harder into his neck, drawing blood. "Ah, pay attention boy, because this is the most important part. Setsuna's going to die."

"What...?"

Taro laughed at the look on the boy's face. "She left Kano at the altar, such an insult. Heh...just watch boy."

Sasuke's head was forced in the direction where the now vaguely conscious Setsuna lay. Her eyes were trained on him, warm. A small smile bloomed on her features, though it seemed full of sadness. The lips slowly mouthed words that Sasuke couldn't quite hear, but he recognized one: his name.

"Setsuna..."

That's when Abuza's dagger pierced her chest and ended her life. Her body shuddered for a moment before her eyes glazed over and blood trickled out. Kakashi and Neji stared at the sight before tearing their gaze away. Sasuke was the only one of the three that found it impossible to wrench his gaze away from the sickening sight.

Setsuna, you...you can't be...

-I don't think she can hear you anymore...-

Abuza pulled the blade out viciously, letting the blood wet the dead girl's clothing. "Taro, finish them. Kaoru and I will go and report to Kano-sama."

"Hai!"

Abuza headed off, Kaoru a moment behind him. Taro turned to the two other nin as the bushin disappeared in puffs of smoke.

"Shall we dance then?"

Abuza moved through the trees, Kaoru following him, until the pair reached a clearing. There waited Zukah, calm, in her anbu uniform; mask and all.

"Zukah, the obstacles are being taken care of as we speak."

Zukah turned to face Abuza, body serene and voice ice cold. "What obstacles? By whom? Abuza, you've already angered Kano by taking the twins without his permission and disappearing. Explain. Now."

Abuza opened his mouth to speak but was interrupted by Kaoru. "Abuza-dono left Taro to deal with Kakashi, his genin and Tari. Abuza also ended Setsuna-sama's life."

Zukah's head snapped towards the girl at that, though her voice was utterly calm. "He did, did he?"

"Hai."

"And so what if I did!" Abuza snapped. It was enough to have Zukah being completely calm, but for Kaoru to speak as though she had no allegiance to him...he had found her and her brother when they were children, and raised them as killers who's loyalty rested first in Abuza, and then in Kano. Had the long, white-haired man somehow brainwashed the twins against him?

Zukah ignored Abuza, instead centering her attention on Kaoru. "Did you do as ordered?"

"Hai."

A small container passed from Kaoru to Zukah, who studied it before nodding and turning to Abuza. "Abuza, you've betrayed Kano-sama by killing the shinobi known as Mizugo Setsuna. You are hereby sentenced to death and…Kaoru will be your executioner."

Kaoru inclined her head in acceptance, and Abuza snorted. Kaoru was no true ninja, no executioner. There was no way the child could kill him. He turned to Zukah, to refute his executioner's abilities and his so-called betrayal. Opening his mouth to speak, only a strangled cry escaped his throat. A kunai had stabbed his left, upper arm.

Eyes burning and filled with anger turned on the masked Kaoru, who pulled out another kunai. "…Teme!"

Kaoru seemed unfazed, even as the ground shook and a wall of sheer rock rose from beneath, ringing the edge of the large clearing. Zukah's doing no doubt. Abuza clenched the handle of his scythe before gripping it and launching at Kaoru full force.

She was never much of a challenge to defeat.

"Zukah, you can stop now."

Zukah skidded to a halt, turning and staring up at Kano. The man stood, leaning against a tree, staring out to where they had left Abuza and Kaoru. He looked both troubled and amused.

"Kano-sama?"

"Zukah, I want to stay and see who wins."

Zukah removed her mask, looked down at it, and frowned. "Abuza will be targeting Kano-sama with intent to kill after he defeats Kaoru. And Kaoru will be defeated easily. We must leave before then!"

Kano smirked, a small laugh escaping his lips. The troubled look had vanished from his face. "The girl we left to deal with Abuza will kill him though…it will be an interesting battle."

"…Kano-sama?"

"We wait."

Zukah saw Kano's eyes; two smouldering fires that sparked and were ready to burst into wild flames, and sighed. He was excited to a point Zukah rarely saw, and it scared her.

Taro scowled as a red-eyed Sasuke attacked him relentlessly. This didn't make any sense! He should have been relatively easy to defeat. That's what Kaoru had said. She had said—!

Quite suddenly Kaoru's chakra exploded, and died as quickly as it had come. Kaoru…it felt as though she was dying. She couldn't… Taro couldn't lose her! Kano, Abuza, Zukah, and these idiot nins could burn in hell for all he cared, but not her!

Sasuke blinked as he passed through Taro. Turning, the Uchiha saw that the red-haired nin had disappeared. He growled, eyes darting around, hoping to catch even a glimpse of where the other boy was but couldn't, and let loose a primal scream. He could find those responsible for Setsuna's death and make them pay!

He darted forward, in the direction of the burst of chakra that had appeared before the boy took off but was stopped short by Kakashi, who stuck out his arm level with Sasuke's neck and pulled him back.

"Kakashi-sensei, let me go after them!"

"Sasuke…"

"They deserve death for what they did. Slow and painful."

Kakashi sighed and tried again. This was like in their previous life; when Sasuke wanted vengeance against Itachi. "Sasuke…"

"How could they simply kill her? I thought that Kano was interested in her too much to do that."

"Oi, Sasuke…"

"It's a dishonour to her as a shinobi, to be killed out of hand. On a whim. How…how…"

Kakashi rubbed his temple. Sasuke had gone over the usual amount of words he used. Wonderful…

"OI, UCHIHA!"

Sasuke looked up at Neji, who was glaring at him with white eyes, the veins by them bulging with the chakra entering them. Sasuke narrowed his own eyes, snapping at the Hyuga. "Nani?"

Neji walked up to the Uchiha, staring into the red eyes for the still activated Sharigan. And then punched him in the gut. Sasuke doubled over in pain, clutching the attacked area. "The hell!"

Neji knelt to look Sasuke in the eye, Byakugan to Sharigan. "You're getting too emotionally involved with the situation. A good shinobi shouldn't—"

"You don't get it!" Sasuke wheezed slightly as he stood up. "They killed her! And you're saying—what?—that I shouldn't care!"

Neji growled at that comment. "I'm not! What I'm trying to say is that you shouldn't let your emotions carry you away or cloud your judgement. You'll just get killed and you won't be able to complete your…vow."

Sasuke stared at Neji, pressing his lips into a thin line, cold eyes almost glowing. Neji bit back a sigh, knowing that Sasuke's mind was still on exacting vengeance. "Kakashi-sensei, we should escort Tari-san back to her home."

"Hm?" The jounin blinked slowly before his eyelids slid to half-mast. "Aa, all of us should. Let's go then, Tari-san, Neji. Sasuke."

Abuza smirked at Kaoru, who was on her knees a few paces away from him. She was cradling her right arm, now broken, against her chest. It was her only wound, however, and it was strange how she managed to dodge every bother attack. Abuza grunted as he grabbed a hold of her head, squeezing.

"There isn't anyone to save you, Kaoru, and Zukah was a fool to—!"

Kaoru's left hand grabbed hold of his arm, fingers biting into the skin. Abuza gasped, letting go of her and stepping away, cradling his own arm as well. Kaoru was bent over her knees, shards of her mask falling to the ground. Abuza glared at her and cursed. How was it possible for her to have such power and not show it?

There then were two explosions: one blasting a hole high up in wall and the other creating a small crater in the narrow space between Kaoru and Abuza. A figure appeared out of the rubble and dust, launching itself at the girl, and landed on the ground, but a pace away from her.

"Kaoru! You're alright. I was worried that—"

"Taro, move."

The redhead blinked, startled by the cold, raspy voice. "Kaoru, what's wrong…? Ah! Kaoru, you're hurt! Your arm's—!"

"I know. Move."

Taro blinked and then frowned. Something was wrong. Kaoru never spoke to him like that. "Ka—"

"She's right Taro. Move so I can kill her."

Taro froze at the voice, eyes wide with shock, before he turned his head. "Abuza-dono?"

Abuza smirked, hefting his scythe with his unscathed arm. "Very good, Taro. Now move. Kaoru and I have something between us that I'd rather see finished."

Kaoru stood, with her useless arm hanging limply by her side instead of close to her chest, moving around the boy towards Abuza, and fell into a defensive stance. Taro stared at her, shocked. "Kaoru…"

Taro stared as the girl engaged in a deadly dance with Abuza that Taro hadn't thought possible of her. Ducking, twisting out of the scythe's path, by a few hairs at times, Kaoru never once attacked the brown-haired nin. The girl suddenly flew back, skidding several feet once she touched the ground, to a halt in a crouch with her good hand gripping her kunai. Abuza was immediately above her, scythe raised to swing down on the girl.

"DIE!"

"Kaoru"

Blood splattered as Abuza's scythe lodged itself into the body in front of him. Taro. Cold eyes narrowed at the redhead. "You brat."

Taro coughed. The scythe in his back was fairly painful but… "I won't let you hurt Kaoru… Nev…"

And the red-haired boy died.

Kaoru sat, still, for several minutes, obviously staring at the body before her, before moving to check if Taro was alive. When she ascertained that he wasn't, she began to shake. Abuza wrenched the scythe out, finally, and turned on the girl.

"Scared, Kaoru?" The shaking moved to full out laughter at Abuza's words. The man blinked, shocked. "Kaoru…?"

The girl reached up to touch the mask covering her face. "I won't need this anymore." The broken mask was removed and Abuza stared at the face beneath as the blood-red lips twisted into a smirk. "Let's dance Abuza."

M-chan: Ah…gomen, gomen. I didn't think it would take this long to type this up. No worries though! Updates with be coming more often soon!