I would like to thank Stormfoedt for making the majority of this writing be finished in this chapter. This author has shown me the strength of someone I knew before. I was on long hiatus but it won't take a year to make the future chapters.
XXX
Sensei was lucky it was his shoulder instead of his head or neck but it sure hurt being struck in it by a very sharp object.
"Who goes there?!" he said loudly while at the same time signalling to Misuterii where the enemy was, the other male disappearing in a moment. Meanwhile Sensei did not let go of the prisoner, but kept his senses alert for potential attacks on him or his student.
"You need not know." a hissing voice whispered, an echo with no apparent source but everywhere. Haro tried focusing on the voice, but came up short. It was to the right and left, up and down, everywhere and nowhere. A jutsu of sorts had obviously been activated, but what kind was unknown. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Even if this was an illusionary jutsu,Haro could not dispel it for the life of him. The only conclusion was that it had to be real. The enemy was everywhere. Nowhere.
The blood kept flowing from Sensei's shoulder, coloring his clothing red in an expanding circle. Misuterii returned empty handed, kunai in hand and ready for an assault that may come from anywhere. They were all tense, but no attack came. Silence stretched out, soon interrupted by a strangled giggling.
The group turned to the captive where he sat, a maniacal look in his eyes, his smile ever broadening and his laughter growing increasingly hysterical.
"You're dead, you are." he said in an almost cheery voice.
"Dead dead and more dead, the lot of you." he continued. Sensei and Misuterii exchanged looks.
"And the Fire country will faaaaaaaaaaaaall, under a big giant ..." he did not get to finish his lunatic chant, as another kunai came flying, hitting its mark spot on, straight in the middle of his eye and into his brain. He fell limply to the ground, and Sensei had lost his source of info.
" Stay close to me. I'm not losing any of you! You must grow to be strong and happy." Said Sensei, his brows scrunched together in concentration. He knew something about this. He remembered something. His suspicions had been weak at first, guided by the assumptions that the likely culprits were long gone. If this was not the case... then. Then what? What could be done? He looked about, studying this little group that had gathered. What could THEY do, in the state they were in? He was the only one old enough to know what it was like back then.
He was the only one of the lot to have met them before and lived to tell the tale. And now, he struggled to keep his poker face up, now... it might already be too late for him.
"I need you to listen." he whispered to the closed in group, looking straight at Misuterii to get his undivided attention. They had but one moment before the enemy would be upon them. He swallowed, felt the pulsing pain from his shoulder. Only when Misuterii seemed to sense the gravity of the message, silently retrieving the tiny scroll Sensei handed to him, did Sensei offer his goodbye.
"Run." was all he said, and they parted ways.
On the note, one to be opened much later, the information would be written, crucial for the survival of the Fire Country, essential for the Leaf.
Misuterii had no words for he feared any goodbye he gave would sound cruel to Sensei. Nor did he have time to express it. They were running now, Misuterii and Haro, the younger one wanting to ask why they had fled with such urgency without the other one. They were heading homewards, of that he was certain. But why? He was a capable shinobi, was he not? Misuterii was exceptionally strong, and so was Sensei. Whatever could have them abandon all hope and flee like this? Without a word Misuterii summoned his dogs, the mutts dispersing to further confuse the following enemy, assuming that the enemy was following them. If they were, they would not have a hard time guessing the path, for they were going in a near straight line, not even bothering to set any traps.
Had they thought rationally about it, they likely should have foreseen the trap laying in wait for them, but instead they stepped right into it. This trap was something sharp went right into Haro's leg. 5And to his utter disbelief... Misuterii-sensei abandoned him as he fell, continuing on towards the Village. What was going on? This didn't make any sense. Wasn't he supposed to be strong? Wasn't he part of the next generation in the Leaf Village, destined for great things? But as the silhouette of his friend and teacher grew smaller, and the grass became a blurry mass of green to tickle his cheeks, he was struck by an almost indescribable fear. He would die here. The feet touching lightly upon strands of greenery, the sound of metal being freed from its brethren and gripped in deadly hands, they all signified the silent drum of his demise, his heart speeding up the rhythm. And the Fire Country will faaaaaaaall, under a big giant... Everything went black.
XXX
"Wake up. Haro..." someone said. It was far away, and didn't matter. He was dead, remember? He wasn't breathing, and his heart had definitely stopped beating. Perhaps was the someone talking about someone else. Surely was. But that name, though... wasn't that his name?
"He's not waking up." the same voice stated. Obviously he could not be waking up. He was dead. Killed by some enemy after being abandoned by his comrades.
"Come on. We need to leave." another voice ushered. Oh, how tired he felt. But why? Dead people should feel no fatigue. Nor should they feel the following sensation. The sensation of being moved, which meant he had sensations to begin with, and a body these sensations belonged to. The realization was followed by the flutter of a drum, a weak beating heart struggling to push still very present blood around his body. Haro WAS alive.
"He needs medical help, and you know it." the first voice argued, close enough to be stated as the one with Haros body in his arms. Or on his back. Or... moving it. Haro was too numb to know the details other than the fact that he had been moved.
"Fine. But you better keep up." the second voice gave in. Haro felt himself slip back into a restless sleep, and his last thoughts were a silent prayer that these people were not the enemy, and that Misuterii had made it back in time to save the Fire Country.
Being asleep this time brought out all his happy feelings.
He awoke in a state of intense euphoria, the pain in his leg pounding joyously in agony. He felt that if he tried to get up, he would collapse in a fit of painful laughter. He was going nowhere. That probably explained why he was not restrained, though his weaponry was seized and tossed in a corner across the cave room.
"You obviously gave him too much." a guy commented dryly, sitting by the vibrant fire. The serious face of the guy was twisted like a horrendous distortion in the vivacious flickers of the fire, in direct conflict to Haros blissful state of mind. This other guy was not in a good mood. His hair was dark, his eyes darker still, a starch contrast to his pale skin. He was wearing a blue shirt and light colored trousers, and was despite his serious demeanor handsome, for a guy. Haro recognized him, but could only declare himself a lunatic if he dared admit to this person being here. He felt his lips twitching into a smile, broader and broader until it felt like his face was splitting in two. A strangled giggling erupted from Haros throat, happy to sensate the hurt in his neck because it meant he was alive. The boy by the fire sighed, sent an accusative look towards someone in the shadows. The one to have fixed him. The one who was yet not known.
Oh, how Haro had wanted to talk to this one person by the fire. Experience the time that was when this boy was a young lad such as he was before him.
The guy was Sasuke Uchiha, and by the looks of things he was about 14 years old. Haro knew being young Sasuke didn't settle all the furious emotions he would have. Or rather, all the furious emotions he should have. The bliss still refused to let go of him, so all he could do was stare at Sasuke sitting there, young yet well into the training period of the infamous Orochimaru.
"He's in agony, possibly dying due to the neurotoxins. Giving him this much is pretty much the only thing that keeps him alive." a female voice replied. Haro did not recognize this one, and she, whoever she was, kept to the shadows.
"Then why not abandon him? He'll only slow us down" Sasuke said. No reply. The female was obviously medically trained. She was likely against hurting people, and also the one to have saved him from... before. Before was all a blur. A mist it was hard to navigate through. It was a lot nicer, and less painful, to allow his sheepish smile, focus on the warm bliss in his stomach.
"I'll take care of him, if you want." Sasuke suggested, seeing her hesitation.
"No. I want to see if he survives this. No one should, in theory. My Bliss will keep him from killing himself, but even without committing suicide..." she said. Had there always been a mean streak in her voice. Sasuke shrugged.
"We need to move soon. He'll slow us down." he said matter of factly.
"Then we leave him. His comrades should take care of him when they find him." she said.
"Whatever" Sasuke gave in, focused back on the fire, its blazing tongues being swallowed in the darkness of his eyes.
Haro didn't want to die and he didn't have the energy to tell these people how he could be of use to them. Therefore he could only helplessly watch as they talked about nothings for a while, then packed their gear down, and left him and the dying embers behind. Haro wished there was a sign that someone would save him. He couldn't trust himself that he would save him or see anything now that the fire was diminished.
As time went on, hours dragging by in the cool cave, bliss gave way for agony. Crippling, devastating, torturous agony. Every inch of him, from the roots of his hair to the tips of his toenails pulsated with pain, coming from the place he had been struck during his hazardous run earlier. He couldn't even scream in his anguish, for the contractions kept him from being able to do anything but breathe.
"Haro."
The voice was so far away, well beyond the little cave and the cold ash. How could anyone find him where he was? How could there be any hope? He wanted to die.
"Haro!"
The voice was persistent, dragging gradually nearer. Then farther away. Then nearer yet again.
"HARO!" and finally the caller stood like a giant shadow in the mouth of the cave, sweaty and stressed, yet still overjoyed to have found the lost pupil.
" I'm so happy you found me." Haro sounded like he lost all his courage from this experience. " The people who saved me before also left me to die."
"Where is Misuterii-sensei?" Sensei went on asking, his eyes roaming the dimly lit cave.
"He left... for Konoha." Haro said, feeling the return of the dread he had felt at that moment, being left behind like that.
"He did?" Sensei sounded surprised, and a little bit alarmed.
"Yes." Haro confirmed.
"That is very unlike him. Did he say anything to you before he left?" Sensei asked, again checking out the room, as if there was anything else than cold rock and cold ashes to found in the shadows.
"No." Haro replied, again feeling the same jolt of fear and desperation. It was indeed very unlike Misuterii sensei to behave like he had done, not even looking back at the student he left behind.
"Haro. Who was here with you?" Sensei said, his fingers touching the cave walls as he neared the younger male.
"..." Haro opened his mouth, but said nothing. It was madness. It was impossible. Sensei kneeled down in front of Haro, gently cutting the ropes that had restrained him. Haros limbs had grown numb from the violent trashing, utter agony, and the restraints.
"Tell me." Sensei urged, allowed Haro to sit up, nursing his red and irritated skin.
"You wouldn't believe me." Haro said eventually. Who would?
"I think I would." Sensei insisted.
"Orochimaru used to have a hideout around these parts. People still stay away from here, says it brings bad luck to visit. Plays tricks on the mind." Sensei continued, a smile playing on his lips, as if he was telling an old children's story. A story told to keep the little ones well behaved. But soon his smile faltered, and seriousness settled.
"We do of course know the truth, a chosen few. Orochimaru left more than a reputation behind. Medicines. Followers." his eyes flickered, looking about again.
"Did you see him, Haro?" he asked, walking toward the opening of the cave.
"Did you see him?" he repeated. Haro got up, feeling his feet wobble in protest. He was exhausted, but otherwise unharmed. His foot had no visible wound. Sensei was acting off to. Was this all a dream? Had he gone mad?
"Who was here with you?" Sensei said again.
"Sasuke Uchiha" Haro finally said.
"Who else?" Sensei inquired further.
"I don't know. A girl. I didn't see her face." Haro said, regaining his confidence in his sanity since Sensei did not question the notion of Sasuke being there.
"Misuterii never made it back to the Leaf." sensei said.
"How do you know?" Haro asked.
"I was there. You have been gone for a long time, Haro." Sensei sent Haro a sad look after saying that.