Chapter 35: Old Comrade

" How far do we have to go?" Ryouta asked.

" We are quickly gaining on them. They haven't done anything along the way, so I assume they felt confident in having those two shinobis taking care of us. In a few minutes, we will be able to catch up to them," Makoto replied confidently.

" Alright, I'm going to tear them a new asshole! Bring it on!" Sora exclaimed excitedly.

" Calm down, you crazy fool. We need a plan to approach them. Rushing in like some idiot would be careless of us," Hibiki replied, before turning to Ryouta. " Hey, we need an attack plan, or we are going to face some difficulties in fighting our opponents. What is our course of action?"

" We go in, and kick their asses," Ryouta replied.

" Right, a sound course of...wait, what the hell did you just say? I was asking for a sane opinion to tackle this problem. If I wanted to charge in like some idiot, I would ask Sora for advice, not you!" Hibiki exclaimed loudly.

" This is a sound plan. We have faced them before. We just hit them hard and fast, and I believe that would be sufficient. There is no real need for a plan here. Instinct is going to guide us here," Ryouta replied.

" I second that!" Makoto and Suzumi exclaimed.

" Wait...did everyone except me just lose their sanity?" Hibiki groaned.

Makoto suddenly slammed his leg hard on one of the branches, stopping his movement. Pushing as hard as he could, he suddenly leaped backwards, grabbing Ryouta and Hibiki, yanking them backwards all of a sudden just as the branch he was standing on previously exploded into smithereens. Sora and Suzumi leaped aside, avoiding all the splinters of wood and pieces of debris that came flying in their direction.

" Crap, that was close..." Hibiki spat, before looking up.

Hachi stood in front of them, standing proudly with his arms folded. Five large humanoid figures cloaked in dark robes that covered most of their features stood next to him, although despite the lack of features it was almost impossible to not recognise them as his puppets. The five of them glared at him, as if they had suddenly descended on a small army. Indeed, the presence of his puppets alone was more than enough to warrant caution, despite having a force of numbers.

" ...Tch, so the main boss shows his face. Come on, let's beat the shit out of this punk and leave him to rot here," Sora replied, cracking her knuckles.

Ryouta grabbed her shoulders, stopping her from taking another step forward. " Stop, a puppeteer is as powerful as the number of puppets he has or control. He may be a lone combatant, but his puppets are enough to put him on an even footing," Ryouta replied.

" Wise observation," Hachi replied. " ...It is your puppeteer friend that we need. We don't need the rest of you, so leave. I'm not in the mood today, so if you turn your tail right now, I'll spare your lives."

" Fuck that!" Suzumi shouted back. It took everyone back by surprise, since they could not even remember the last time Suzumi ever spouted profanity. " Hand Hiroshi back, or so help me, I shall pry your heart out of your damn corpse with my hands."

" Never thought words such as that were befitting for a girl like you, but I guess things can change," Hachi replied. " If it's going to be any consolation, we want him alive, so he will live regardless of what happens. I can swear on that."

" Don't fuck with me! You think I'm going to walk away?! Who the hell are you to talk, you damn traitor?! I'll never believe a traitor such as you! Liar! Cunt! Devil!" Suzumi spat. The tone of malice coming from her voice was even making Sora wince.

" ...He's telling the truth..."

Everyone spun on Makoto, who said those words calmly. Even Hachi looked surprised at the reply. Makoto didn't even flinch, although some of his friends were shooting him dirty looks, namely Hibiki and Suzumi.

" I can hear things properly, and Hachi is being honest," Makoto replied. " But...tell us, Hachi. Why do you want Hiroshi? To what benefit is it to capture a puppeteer? If it's a puppeteer you want for your organisation, you should be more than enough to surfice."

" ...You really do not know why we want him, do you?" Hachi replied mockingly.

" Tell us..." Makoto replied.

" And will you leave if I tell you the reason why?" Hachi asked.

" I'll consider it," Makoto replied.

" I can't believe you are trying to pull some shit like this..." Sora replied.

" ...Have you observed the explosive notes Hiroshi uses?" Hachi asked.

" Explosive notes?" Ryouta asked, before suddenly realising why Hiroshi was wanted all of a sudden. It made so much sense now that he thought about it.

Explosive notes were made by sealing volatile gases, usually oxygen or hydrogen, within a tag, along with a seal for a spark. Once chakra was channelled into the seal, the seal will slowly corrode, and realise the gases and spark. The result would be a powerful blast. The standard procedure was a standard for all shinobi nations. An explosive tag made in Konoha would not differ in any way from one made by any other shinobi countries.

This was because of the limitations of the tag. No matter how much one tried, they could not make the explosion more potent or more powerful, without the increase in monetary cost or time. Each explosive tag was set to explode with a certain force, due to the amount of gas it can contain. Many shinobis had tried, but despite all the changes they tried to make, they could not make the explosive note any mere potent without incurring a massive monetary cost or making it time consuming. In a war, this economical cost was not valid, since custom made explosive notes, despite being useful and powerful, was not financially sound in such a situation.

And yet, Hiroshi had been making his own explosive notes, since he makes all his weapons by himself, even the kunais and shurikens, since he loved to make alterations to them. And more towards the fact, his explosive notes were much better then the typical ones. They exploded in a larger radius, had more potency, and a controllable corroding seal. Being able to explode in a larger radius was a plus in itself.

Yet, Hiroshi never seemed to run out of costs despite making his own weapons. Hiroshi prided himself in never taking money out from the treasury to fund his weapons research. It didn't strike him as odd now, but now that he thought of it, Hiroshi always had an abundance of his custom explosive notes always ready to be used. Hiroshi used them regularly, more than a normal shinobi should. Shinobis used explosive notes sparingly not only because they are a useful tool, but because they were expensive as well, but money was of no concern to Hiroshi. This meant he was manufacturing explosive notes that were much more potent that they standard issue ones they gave out to them at a much lower cost.

The implications were dire. If Hiroshi's formula for this explosive note was to be leaked to another country, there could easily be a shift in the power balance. The enemy could produce weapons that was twice as potent at a third of the production cost, and it itself was more than enough to warrant war to break out. Ryouta thought the 20 million ryou bounty on Hiroshi's head was slightly underrated considering the circumstances.

The rest of them looked at Hachi, realising the potential and possibilities brought. Perhaps they never realised this since they were so used to using Hiroshi's weapons. Nobody spoke and nobody moved for a while. It was Makoto who replied first.

" I see..." Makoto mused.

" So, I've told you the reason. Will you back down now?" Hachi replied.

Makoto didn't need any time to ponder upon his decision. All of a sudden, he untied his forehead protector, and tossed it aside, discarding it as if he suddenly decided to discard his pride along with it. The rest of his friends looked in shock, wondering what was up. Makoto slowly opened his eyes, the distorted, yellow-red eyes glared at Hachi with such ferocity that could kill.

" Do you know why I discarded my forehead protector, Hachi?" Makoto asked, his voice seething with anger. " This is because there will be no honour in this fight, no mercy. I will kill you today with as much respect as I would have of an animal, because you are nothing less than a dog, you mongrel. Say your prayers, Hachi, for today is the day you will rue the day you made that choice to leave the Sand."

" Makoto...?" Hibiki mused.

" I have held back far more than enough, Hachi. This ends now," Makoto replied.

" ...You have to be joking. You know you can do shit to me, because I can neutralise..."

Makoto didn't even wait for him to finish his sentence. His hand shot upwards. He didn't form any seals at all, yet a powerful jet of wind shot out from his hand. Cut wounds suddenly appeared out of nowhere on his arm, but Makoto could care less. The jet of wind hit one of Hachi's puppets, shattering it to bits.

Perhaps shattering it to bits was an understatement. It was ripped into pieces so fine the largest pieces was a splinter as long as two centimetres.

" What?" Hachi gasped.

" ...I've had it with holding back, Hachi. You warrant no more mercy from me. This is where we cut our ties, and this is where you will die like the miserable monkey you really are," Makoto replied. " Don't you even dare speak to me. I'm going to rip out your heart, Hachi, just as Suzumi promised. The rest of you, go. Hiroshi isn't far ahead, and Ryouta's capabilities should be more than efficient to track them down without my help."

" Wait, Makoto..." Hibiki started.

" Hibiki, before anything, I want to apologise for everything..." Makoto replied.

" What?! What kind of bullshit are you..."

" I know you hate me, and you will forever hate me for my choice. But I wish to tell you that I am sorry. I'm sorry for betraying your trust all those years ago. I'm sorry that I thought my pride was more important than your friendship and your forgiveness. Perhaps you will never forgive me, and I think I deserve your hate, and I will not blame you," Makoto answered. " I just wanted to say that I am sorry. If you can not find that part in your heart to forgive me, I shall accept it. I just wanted you to know I'm sorry for everything I have ever done."

" You were my friend above everything else, and to disregard it like it was nothing was nothing but lowly for me. I am a man of pride, but if pride requires me to disregard a great person such as yourself, I don't think I need it," Makoto replied. " I'm going to kill this son of a bitch. Any comments?"

Hibiki looked at Makoto's back, as if he had just been hit by lightning. It took him a while to understand what he was saying. Hibiki gave a sigh, as if it was a sigh of relief, before looking at Makoto.

" ...I'm been waiting for a heck of a long time for you to admit that. I am grateful, and I forgive you," Hibiki replied. " Fuck him up real good!"

" Will do," Makoto replied. " Now go. Hiroshi is waiting. Hachi will die today, regardless of what happens, I can promise as much!"

Ryouta and the rest of them charged forward, regardless of Hachi's presence in front of them. Hachi leaped down from the branch he was standing on, his puppets following closely. However, something swept past him, knocking him and his puppets aside. Makoto just executed a wind jutsu in his direction, forcing him to lose his balance. Hachi landed on the ground some distance away, looking very much displeased.

" What the hell have you been up to? I couldn't neutralise that jutsu just now. Since when were you able to counter my neutralising jutsu?" Hachi scowled.

" Don't think so highly of yourself, prick," Makoto snarled.

Hachi considered his options now. It was obvious he would have to take care of Makoto first before he could continue on. He had no idea what Makoto just pulled, but he was pretty certain that Makoto just fired a wind jutsu twice. However, despite doing the correct procedures, Hachi could not prevent it from hitting its targets.

There was an oddity however. Makoto's hands were bleeding from using that jutsu. Hachi figured whatever he was using the bypass his neutralising jutsu was causing Makoto harm. If this was going to be a battle of attrition, Hachi will obviously emerge as the winner. Hachi merely glared back at Makoto, who looked at him with pure hatred in his eyes.

Hachi flicked his fingers, and his puppets sprang into action. Two of them shot forward, bringing up what looked like barrels for arms. Makoto dropped his body, before doing a back flip to avoid the powerful chakra blast that was emitted from the barrels. He rolled to the side as the puppets started to fire repeatedly.

Makoto didn't bother attacking now. He was apparently more interested in running away from Hachi. Hachi sent his other two puppets to attack, firing kunais from a distance. Makoto slipped behind a few trees to hide himself from the rain of kunais, moving occasionally to not get hit by the chakra blasts the two initial puppets were firing. The chakra blasts could easily blast through a tree trunk, so Makoto had no doubt that it would as easily blast through him.

Makoto slipped behind, only to feel something right behind him. Relying on mere instinct, he leaped upwards, only to avoid a few wires from cutting him as they shot out of nowhere. Hachi felt that he had caught him, since Makoto had left himself vulnerable by launching himself up into the air. All puppets aimed their weapons at him, and a whole slew of kunais, along with a few chakra blasts flew towards his direction.

Still, that didn't explain how all the attacks missed Makoto by a mere fraction o a millimetre, flying past him without any effort, not even leaving a scratch on his body as Makoto landed on the ground.

No, it wasn't that. Makoto seemed to sport more wounds on his body, several nicks here and there all over his body. He had just used his 'technique' once more, and it was taking a toll on his body. Hachi merely smiled, knowing that even if he used that 'technique' to avoid his attacks, he would still wind up worse off than before.

" Don't push your luck Makoto!" Hachi exclaimed loudly.

Two of his puppets appeared right in front of Makoto, large blades sticking out of its body, ready to shred Makoto to pieces. Just as the puppets were about to move, Makoto merely looked up at them, and they froze in their tracks.

" What?!" Hachi exclaimed in shock. Did he just use genjutsu on a puppet?! This is unheard of...

Makoto slammed his hands upon the two puppets, and they shattered just in the way the first one did. More blood poured out from Makoto's hands, but he didn't seem to mind. His eyes started to bleed at this point, looking as if he was crying blood out from his tear ducts. Makoto didn't care the least. He suddenly raised his hands, as if he was trying to grab something invisible, clenching his fingers slightly. Hachi suddenly felt his puppets stiffen in his hands, and he could see that Makoto's hands were directly aiming at his two remaining puppets.

Makoto merely clenched his fists tightly, and the puppets were reduced to pieces in an instant.

" …You…" Hachi snarled.

" If you think I'm the simple-minded Makoto you think you knew, you are greatly mistaken," Makoto replied. He raised his hand ever so slightly, and Hachi sensed danger, and instantly leaped away. Makoto merely muttered two words with utter malice. "…Vacuum Field…"

Something invisible wrapped itself around Hachi's hand. It was an odd sensation, as something gripped onto his right arm, squeezing it tightly. Hachi could see some distortion in the air around him, as if the air around him was vibrating in some sort of way. His eyes widened as he realised what it was, and tried to yank his hand free from whatever that was holding onto him.

" Too late! Vacuum Destruction!" Makoto exclaimed, clenching his fists all of a sudden.

It was as if Hachi's hand shattered in an instant. Something crushed his arm with an immeasurable force, shattering his bones and tearing apart his muscle like paper. Blood splattered all over the ground as Hachi took several steps backwards, his right arm hanging limp on his side.

" …You…" Hachi groaned, holding his damaged arm with his other hand.

" That's right. I admire our Kazekage, so it is to no surprise that I emulated his abilities. In terms of tactical combat ability, it's far better than his, but no doubt, highly flawed. I'll need to work on it. Regardless, you cannot touch me with this technique," Makoto replied, coughing slightly. Blood trickled out from the side of his mouth as he did so, and he spat a small glob of blood mixed with saliva to the side.

" …But…to create vacuum by itself is a bloodline ability!" Hachi exclaimed.

Makoto had not been using wind jutsus, but more specifically, a new element which was vacuum. Since it was in a totally different class altogether, it was obvious Hachi could not neutralise it. Makoto could create a vacuum within a given space, and by fluctuating the amount of pressure he applies, he could easily rip apart anything as long as he had managed to open up a space of vacuum on where he wanted. He had previously set up a space of vacuum where Hachi was at, which managed to catch his arm. Placing stress on it, he managed rip his arms apart.

" Hachi, you are but a short-sighted fool. Bloodline abilities make elemental combinations easier, but it does not restrict high class elemental combinations to us normal shinobi. After all, I am a wind jutsu expert whose innate elemental affinity is Earth," Makoto replied. " With a little help, I can always take my ninjutsu to the next level."

The vacuum element can be created by altering the air around himself. Using some lightning manipulation, he could charge up the surrounding earth particles. These ionic particles will react with the air in the space around him, forcing them apart, creating a vacuum space within an area of choice. This technique was no doubt chakra demanding, and using three elemental manipulation all at the same time while outputting it within his limited chakra coils was taking a toll on his body, damaging his body each time he used the ability since it placed too much stress on his arms.

Hachi flicked his fingers slightly, and something shot out from behind him. Due to the pain and blood loss, Makoto was unable to avoid three senbon needles from striking his hand. Makoto winced as it stung painfully, just as he felt some burning sensation run through his hand.

" Poison?" he mused, grabbing his hand in pain.

A sudden snap made him return his attention to Hachi. Hachi had now moved out of sight, yet there was a multitude of movement all around him. No doubt Hachi had managed to procure more puppets, and was trying to take the advantage of the terrain around him to attack Makoto.

" Prick, you think you can hide and get away with it?!" Makoto snarled.

The burning sensation kept running up his hand, slowly seeping through Makoto's arm. If left unattended, it might pose a serious threat to Makoto. Channelling his ability, he forcefully ejected his blood out from his veins. Copious amounts of blood splashed all over the ground, painting it crimson. Makoto started to go dizzy from the sudden act, but he somehow managed to expel the poison in his body, since his arm, besides being heavily wounded, was fine now.

" You can't last for too long now..." Hachi replied.

" ...Bah, merely a flash wound..." Makoto replied.

All of a sudden, something whipped up all around him. Coils of thick metal wires wrapped themselves around Makoto in an instant, and even before he could move himself, the wires had somehow managed to keep him into place. He was suddenly pulled backwards, slamming hard onto a tree. Makoto tried to pull himself free, but he was unable to budge. His injuries were making him weak.

Hachi dropped down in front of Makoto, confident that this time he would not pose a threat to him, and thus exposed himself willingly. Makoto tried to pull himself free when he saw Hachi in front of him, but his efforts were in vain, since the wires held him into place, unable to free himself from his bonds.

" It's pointless, Makoto. You'll shorten your life if you struggle too much now in your condition," Hachi answered nonchalantly. Makoto merely panted heavily as he calmed down, too tired and wounded to put up much of a fight anymore.

" …Why?" Makoto sighed.

" Hmm? What now?" Hachi asked.

" …Was all that revenge really worth it?" Makoto asked.

" …Perhaps…" Hachi answered. " Why would it matter to you anyway?"

" Because I had bet everything on it!" Makoto shouted loudly.

Without warning, the metal wires that held Makoto into place broke apart, the wires recoiling and snapping loudly all over the place. Hachi took a step back in surprise when he saw Makoto miraculously free himself from his bonds.

" Vacuum may have unlimited destructive power, but you forgot I excel best in the sharpness of the wind," Makoto replied. " My eyes can do far more than to only bleed and see. You, of all people, should know that well…"

Hachi tried to move, but the instant Makoto did so much as to look at him, his body froze up all of a sudden, as if he had suddenly been encased in ice. It was a high level genjutsu Makoto used in order to disable enemies while he went in for the kill. His eyes were stinging painfully now, as if someone had just poured acid on it, and even seeing things was difficult due to the bleeding that was caused by his eyes from looking at light too much. He had to finally close them, even though his target was so close.

Relying on instinct, he raised his hands with his eyes close, before saying " Rot in hell, you ungrateful son of a bitch!"

Writer's note: No idea how explosive notes are made, but I like to entertain the idea that is is formed using the stated reason above.

Also, in case you didn't realise it, Makoto didn't stop Hachi's puppets using genjutsu, but his vaccum technique. Hachi was just temporarily fooled to think it was him using genjutsu.

As for the Vaccum element, it was just something I pulled out from my brain. Always wanted to upgrade Makoto's wind techniques somehow.