Chapter 21 – Purple Patch

The surprise attack was a remarkable piece of work by the enemy they hadn't noticed a single trace of a chakra signature. Even Temari who was by far the best at stealth dedication had somehow missed any signs. This was a troublesome thought as more clones appeared around them. The clone was an innocent looking girl with white pig tails and violet eyes. She looked so slight in build that to see her attacking with a blade was most bizarre. There was no head band to help with identification either she was a total unknown.

Gaara felt the thin slip of crude wire trying to slice into his skin. He curled his shoulder inwards hurling the opponent over his shoulder. When the wire loosened he unwound it quickly from his neck. He watched as other clouds of white smoke dissipated by his companions before running to the ledge. He gasped Yasu was now gone too and a quick scan showed two figures falling rapidly out of sight. He cursed the rain making him slow to react. He wasn't quick enough - the sand in his gourd would not reach them in time!

Yasu had tried to brace herself for the impact adding more chakra to both hands and feet. But nothing could prepare the jonin candidate for when Matsuri sprang back from the link. The resulting force had ripped her clean off the wall, and now they were both falling down at tremendous velocity. She could see the trail of long white scratch marks running vertically down, Matsuri was attempting to slow herself down it seemed. Good idea, but that won't be nearly enough! They were running out of options: slamming into an earth style platform was suicide and with so much water around making a containment pool was unlikely to work either.

I don't have a choice here! Yasu finally caught up with Matsuri and grabbed her hand.

"Ooofff!" Suddenly they collided with something soft and bouncy. They were no longer falling, and yet no matter how many times their brains tried to communicate this to their bodies it was not sinking in. Matsuri lay completely still wherever she was it was swaying and creaking. She lifted up her right hand it was coated in something green.

"Hey, you okay?"

"Lady Yasu?" She asked weakly. The older woman was already standing up and looking over the edge of...she didn't know what it was. The fact that somehow they had cheated death was boggling her mind. "What is... what is-"

"What's this?" The Konoha ninja scratched the back of her head. "Why, it's a bird's nest of course!"

Matsuri sat bold upright and peered cautiously around her. The walls of this gigantic nest were made from an intricate weaving of twigs and grasses. Inside was straw and soft squishy moss which they had (thankfully) landed on.

"I didn't see any nests this big as we were climbing!" She said.

Yasu replied, "That's because there isn't. I made this myself."

The younger girl was open mouthed at the news. She had no idea that Master Gaara's friend was capable of performing such extraordinary jutsu. The ability to create such natural structures so quickly was overwhelming.

"I am indebted to you."

The heroine shook her head looking depressed. "We need to get back up there," she said more to herself than to Matsuri.

She made additional hand signs so that the branch containing the nest began to grow. It slowly rose inch by inch extending through the blanket of cloud that had surrounded the mountain.

They soon spotted the group being pinned down by ninja on both sides.

Are they from the Hidden Cloud?

"Gaara Sensei!" Matsuri called out.

"Take it easy!" Yasu pulled her roughly back into the nest as the eager youth had clearly forgotten her transport arrangements!

Making a swift decision she decided to create a gangway for her comrades to get a better foothold. Planks of wood came shooting out from the cliff joining together to create a steady path that zigzagged upwards. Both the allies and enemy were taken by surprise at the sight and looked about in confusion.

Temari seized the opportunity leading the party up to higher ground where Yasu and Matsuri were finally reunited with the party once more.

"Thought you were a goner, Leaf Loser!"

"Sorry, not about to make your dreams come true just yet!" Miss Katashi gave a sly grin.

"Are you hurt, Matsuri?" Gaara asked relieved to see his first student again.

She grinned, "No, Gaara Sensei! Lady Yasu saved me by making a nest to catch us!"

The Kazekage found himself torn in response: grateful that the life of Matsuri had been spared and yet the consequence of Yasu's actions would be dire back in Konohagakure.

The ex-ambassador had her back to the group deliberately, "Where are they coming from anyway? It's like they've just appeared out of thin air!"

Together they pushed forward with the older members of the group taking the brunt of the fighting. As the clones fell more continued to appear but at last they had reach a crucial tier in the mountainside. At this point just within reach was the entrance to a cavern if they could make it to there, Yasu was certain she could block it off using earth style.

Now they were running as though their lives depended on it. No one had ever seen so many clones being generated it couldn't possibly be one ninja making them! More young girls accompanied with hysterical laughter and blank expressions, carving up the air between them with knives.

This has to be a genjutsu. Gaara thought as he reached the opening, Temari followed with Kankuro. As soon as they stepped inside however there was an odd whooshing sound, when their heads looked up they saw a dark purple energy pulsing and bobbing. This strange phenomenon moved slowly towards the opening before expanding to fill the gap. A glowing wall started to crystallise from the ceiling to the floor. Enjin dashed inside but this remarkable energy field was closing the gap fast! Gaara wedged his gourd between the strange chakra and the battle zone outside. It halted the mysterious force momentarily - Matsuri was through now.

"The gourd!" Temari exclaimed as it began to crack in front of them.

"Its chakra is being eroded..." Gaara analysed, his voice sounding strange. Yasu wasn't going to make it.

Kankuro only realised that his little brother had started running back to the opening when it was too late. He watched helplessly as the Kage slid underneath, (away from his body guards) just as his gourd had disintegrated into a pile of sand grains. The purple chakra field, although beautiful was now sealed with great finality in place.

"Gaara!" Kankuro called out. He couldn't see the other side any more.

"Don't touch it!" Temari rugby tackled her brother, finding it difficult to restrain him due to his size and strength. "You don't know what it will do!" She was struggling even with Enjin and Matsuri pulling on his black hood, "Getting injured is not going to help us get him back!"

Seeing sense, Kankuro collapsed onto his hands and knees. He glared up at the glowing barrier winking at him, and detested it.

Author's note – Poor Kankuro, he really does care about his baby brother! From here we'll follow Gaara and Yasu for a while and then switch back to the party of four.

Regarding mountain climbing I went up part of Mount Fuji when in Japan but as it was Spring I didn't get to the top. Where I did stop I couldn't see a damn thing anyway!

Just been watching season 2 of the Mysterious Cities of Gold, what was in the mind of the voice caster when choosing those voices?! I hope for season 3 they sort this out – my ears can't take it. At least the next city is in Japan apparently so we might get to see samurai, geisha or even a ninja!