Not even going to tell you guys how many times I've rewritten this chapter. (from scratch by the way) But finally, I think I found the direction I want to go. I'm sorry if it might seemed rushed, but just know I tried. I know how short the arc really is, and how most of it is filler, but I will try to stretch it out if I can. And if you guys have any suggestions, I'm all ears. However, I will admit I know how I want this to end. (With only a few days to rest, from work that is, I find myself sleeping more than anything else. I want to write, but I'll be so tired nowadays, I end up just wanting to sleep in for twelve hours straight. Gomen. Gomen.
Anyway, don't forget to leave a review and please tell me what you think. And once again, I'm so sorry about updating so late. Six months is definitely too long. I really wish I could be doing this as a full time job. This would be a much better deal then my current job. - Oh adult life. I just love how it drains the actually life and energy out of your being- NOT!
Okay, I'm done. -For now at least.- (ranting that is...) Enjoy the chapter!
Kazumi.
Tale of The Crimson Kitsune And The Silver Ookami
Chapter Thirty-Three: Nowhere To Run, Nowhere To Hide, Trouble Amongst The Waves! Pt. 2
Normal Point of View:
"Secret Style of the Tamotsu Clan: Genjutsu Dissolution!" Manami yelled as a yellow light emerged from her hand. Placing her palm alongside the water's surface, an emblem of an eight-point star appeared underneath her form, emitting the same golden light as the markings came together. Once the other markings had taken form as well, a blinding flash engulfed the area for only a brief moment before diminishing. As natural lighting returned the scene back to normal, everyone slowly regained their sight.
"Ugh. Manami… What the heck are you doing?" Captain Yamato asked as he opened his eyes. Once his vision cleared, he found Manami standing before him. But what caught his attention straight away was the individual standing behind her. Glancing over Manami's shoulder, Yamato spotted Kazumi. "Huh? Kazumi…?"
"How…?! How did you get over there?" Aoba asked. "You were just behind us…" He stated as he and Yamato glanced back to confirm his statement, however, they were shocked to find the masked man standing there instead. "What the..?"
"You two were under the same Genjutsu Kazumi was under earlier today," Manami explained. "And the one responsible for fabricating that very Jutsu is standing behind you." She added as she pointed an accusing finger at the masked assailant. "To use such a Jutsu makes that bastard nothing more than a coward!"
"Wait. If what you're saying is true… Then that means, this entire time, we've been fighting…" Aoba paused as he looked back at Kazumi, his eyes lingering on her seared clothing and the burns that covered sections of her left arm and leg. In a matter of seconds, realization struck him, as well as Yamato, immediately. "Kazumi. I…We're…" Before Aoba could continue, Kazumi was suddenly grabbed by her ankle and was hauled underwater.
"Kazumi!" Aoba and Yamato exclaimed together, causing Manami to glance over her shoulder just in time to see Kazumi's hands disappear underneath the waves.
Before anyone could make a move to help, a large torrent of water appeared from out of nowhere, knocking them back. As the trio regained their balance, they're eyes quickly locked onto the masked man, who now had five clones standing beside him. They each shifted into a fighting stance, readying themselves for Aoba, Yamato or Manami to make the first move. While the clones held their attention, the original was currently placing the second phase of their plan into action. By the time the Hidden Leaf trio eliminated five of the clones, the seal had already been placed on Kazumi.
As Aoba and Manami dealt with the last clone, to which they believed was the original, Yamato dove underwater, searching for Kazumi. Fortunately for the wood user, he didn't have to look far. After diving into the frigate waters and finding his bearings, he spotted Kazumi. She was motionless and was slowly sinking farther into the deep abyss below. Wasting little time, he transformed his arm into a wooden pillar and shot it forward. On his first attempt, he managed to wrap the pillar securely around her waist. Acting quickly, he retracted his arm back towards his body as he swam back to the surface.
Once the final clone was eliminated by Aoba and Manami, Yamato emerged from the depths of the ocean with Kazumi. As he climbed out of the water to stand on the surface, he made sure he kept a secure hold of her. When Manami spotted the two, her eyes immediately narrowed sharply. Catching sight of this, Yamato instinctively looked at her with a slightly confused expression.
"Hm…? What's with that look?" Yamato asked. Remaining silent, Manami lowered her glance to stare directly at an unconscious Kazumi. "Look. You can either explain why you're staring at her like that, willingly, or I'll force you myself. Your choice." Yamato told her in a stern tone.
Returning her attention back onto the wood user, Manami simply turned to face the ship, "Honestly, it could just be my imagination. But just to be certain, I'll look more into it once were back on the ship." She muttered.
"And what exactly are you referring to?" Yamato queried as he raised an eyebrow in suspicion.
"For now, there's no need to fret over it." She told him as she proceeded to head back to the ship. "Just know that I'll inform you and the others if I discover anything of importance." She added as she kept walking. As she moved along, Aoba soon walked over to Yamato and stood beside him.
"Any ideas as to what she's talking about?" He asked.
Yamato just shook his head, "Not a clue. For all we know, it could be nothing. However, she did say that she'll inform us if there's something." Yamato told him. Shifting Kazumi slightly in his arms, he turned towards the ship but kept his eyes on Aoba. "Never mind that right now, how's Naruto?" He asked.
"He's doing okay." He answered. "He's back on the ship with Gai. As soon as I got a chance to get him away from that masked stranger, I got him back on board as fast as I could. And unfortunately, just like Kazumi, he's out cold as well."
"Did he attain any serious injuries?" Yamato asked.
"A couple of cuts and bruises here and there, but no, nothing serious," Aoba explained. "But although his injuries aren't severe, I have a feeling that he'll be out for the rest of the night. If not, then just a few more hours at the least."
"Hmm, that's understandable," Yamato stated with a nod of his head. "Come on. Let's get back to the ship." He added as he moved forward.
"Right." Aoba agreed with a nod as he followed the former Anbu.
Once everyone was back aboard the vessel, Yamato carefully sat Kazumi down and allowed her to lean back against the pole of the mainmast, right next to Naruto. Manami soon came over and kneeled beside the teen. Summoning her natural blue chakra to emit around her palm, Manami began to move her hand around Kazumi, as if she was looking for something. As she reached Kazumi's abdomen, the blue glowing energy caused a spot on Kazumi's stomach to glow an unusual greenish-grey color.
"I'm pretty sure that's not supposed to be happening." Aoba stated as he pointed at the seal. "Someone want to explain why the seal on Kazumi's stomach is glowing?" Aoba asked.
Feeling suspicious of the markings, Manami raised Kazumi's shirt to get a better look at the glowing seal. Upon doing so, Manami found a strange seal with familiar markings. However, when Aoba and Yamato saw the seal, the two instantaneously found that the seal wasn't the original one that kept the Ten-Tails enclosed in her body. In fact, it was covering the original. They also noticed that this new seal was made of symbols identical to those seen on the sealing inscription Manami used merely minutes ago.
The only difference was that the markings were arranged differently, plus, it was lacking the eight-point star emblem. As an alternative, the center held what looked to be a flower with saucer-shaped petals. However, there was a five-point star pattern in the center. Recognizing the symbols, Manami immediately knew that the seal was undeniably created by someone who had ties to her clan, the Tamostu Clan. But she wondered if they also had ties to the Nonaka Clan since they used the Clan's symbol as the seal's emblem.
"Manami, what is it?" Yamato asked her.
Remaining silent as she continued to study the seal, Manami eventually lowered Kazumi's shirt and rose back to her full height. Folding her arms against her chest, she released a sigh of frustration as she turned to face the two men. When the two ninja locked eyes with the kunoichi, the two found her staring them down with a serious look in her eye.
"I'm going to be blunt here." She told them. "I'm not a hundred percent sure as to what this seal does or what's its purpose may be. I recognize the symbols and know what each one stands for, however, the way they're positioned makes it a mystery to me."
"Well… Do you at least know if this seal is dangerous in any way?" Aoba asked.
"It's possible, but then again, it could be completely harmless, which I truly doubt." She answered in a dulled tone. "Hell, for all we know, it could just be some sort of simple tracking mechanism. But like I said before, I'm not sure."
"Alright. So, if you can't figure out what this seal means or what its purpose is; then what do you suggest we do about it?" Yamato questioned.
"In my opinion, we should head straight towards Ēteriaru Yugure no Shima." She told him. "There, I can find someone who'll be able to decipher the markings and give us a precise explanation."
"Ēteriaru Yugure no Shima?" Yamato repeated. "The Island of Ethereal Twilight? I've never heard of such a place."
"Neither have I." Aoba added.
"Well, I can assure you both that it indeed exists. After all, I'm originally from there." Manami told them. "It may not be as big as the other Five Great Nations, but it's just as real as they are."
"Hmm, an impromptu detour was never in the arranged plan; however, given the circumstances, it would be best to make it. After all, we need to figure out what this seal is, and hopefully, remove it as soon as possible." Yamato told the two.
"And besides, we definitely don't need any further distractions keeping us from reaching our destination in a timely manner." Aoba told his comrade.
"That's also true." Yamato agreed.
"Captain Yamato!" A new voice called out. Looking to his left, Yamato spotted a fellow shinobi running towards him and the others. It was Shun Ikeda, a Chῡnin that Lady Tsunade assigned to Yamato's group.
"Shun? What's going on?" Yamato quickly asked.
"Sir. While checking the radio signal, I was able to pick up a transmission from a nearby island." He explained. "From the information I've received, it seems that we're heading directly towards a tropical cyclone, but this isn't your ordinary storm. Reports state that the storm is a category three, which could possibly turn into a category four in the next six to eight hours."
"A category three Tropical Cyclone?!" Aoba repeated as he turned to look at Yamato. "Well, I guess this gives us another excuse to make the sudden detour. Besides, in my opinion, I don't think the ship could handle a storm as powerful as that one."
"You may be right. Better safe than sorry." Yamato told him. "Very well then. We won't waste time. Tell the crewmen to set a course to Ēteriaru Yugure no Shima at once."
"Yes, sir!" Shun stated as he gave a salute before rushing off to complete his task.
"Well, it looks like we're heading towards Ēteriaru Yugure no Shima," Yamato muttered as he scratched the back of his head.
"Then I suggest that you tell your crew to head slightly towards the East." Manami told him as she walked off, heading to one of the sleeping quarters.
"She's just a shining ball of sunshine." Aoba mumbled in a sarcastic tone. Yamato just shook his head at the comment as he proceeded to head to the upper deck. "I'll stay down here with Naruto and Kazumi, alright."
"Yeah. Thanks." Yamato told him as he proceeded forward.
As Aoba stood there, he started to hear soft moaning. Looking over to where Kazumi and Naruto, he found Naruto stirring lightly in his sleep. Not long after, Naruto's stirring became more animated. Soon enough, Naruto sat up, placing a hand on the side of his head, as he slowly regained consciousness. Upon opening his eyes, he looked up to find Aoba looking at him with a relieved expression present on his face.
"Hey. How are you feeling?" Aoba asked once he was sure Naruto was conscious enough to be aware of his surroundings.
"Ugh… I feel as if I've been punched in the head by Sakura." He mumbled unconsciously as he continued to rub the side of his head. Realizing what he just said, Naruto quickly looked up at Aoba with a panicked look. "Uh… Please don't tell her I said that!" He quickly told him.
"Don't worry, I won't." He assured him.
Lowering his head, Naruto released a sigh of relief, "Thanks." He told him. "Oh…" He suddenly stated as he remembered something. Looking back up at Aoba, he asked him, "Hey. What the heck happened to that masked guy we were fighting?"
"Unfortunately, he managed to escape." Aoba told him as he crossed his arms over his chest. "His chakra signature disappeared as well, so there's no way to track him down."
"Damn it," Naruto growled as he looked down. "That bastard really caught us off guard. We had no idea he was watching us the entire time we were talking. Wait a minute! Where's Kazumi-cha-…." Before he could finish asking his question, Naruto glanced to his right to find Kazumi sitting beside him. "Kazumi-chan?! Is…Is she…?"
"Don't worry, she's fine." Aoba told him. "She's just out of it right now."
Narrowing his eyes slightly, Naruto lowered his glanced to the wooden deck, "That's right. It was him." He mumbled in a low tone.
"Hm? What was that?" Aoba asked.
"It was him," Naruto said once more as he looked over at the Special Joῡnin. "He's the one responsible for casting that Genjutsu on Kazumi."
"I… -sigh- I know," Aoba told him as a faint expression of guilt formed in the features of his face. "Yamato, Manami and I personally found that little fact out for ourselves." As he told Naruto this, he couldn't help but look at Kazumi's injuries once more, which caused him to cringe faintly. "But now that we're aware of that Jutsu of his, we know now that we'll have to be exceedingly cautious from here on out."
"Yeah," Naruto replied, nodding his head in agreement. As his anger grew, Naruto began clenching his teeth as he balled his hands into fists. "Next time… Next time, I'll make sure I'll get that bastard back."
"What do you mean by, next time?" Aoba questioned. "Naruto, there's no telling if we'll cross paths with that masked man again."
"No, I know we will." Naruto told him in a firm tone. "I know because he's after Kazumi for a reason. He told us, straight to our faces, that he's after her and that no one is going to stop him. In other words, he'll be back. I'm sure of it!" He explained.
"Well, next time, he'll have us to deal with all of us." Aoba told him. "And next time, he won't catch any of us off guard. We'll make sure it that."
"Right!" Naruto said with a slight nod of his head.
Time Skip no Jutsu: A few hours later…..
Dark, gravel-grey clouds covered the once clear, midnight blue sky, threatening to unleash an unrelenting downpour in its wake. Flashes of light could be seen in-between the clouds, which was followed by the roaring sound of thunder. The once calm sea quickly turned rough and choppy as the waves continued to grow in size and power while the wind turned from a gentle breeze to a prevailing whirlwind. It was clear that the storm was finally upon them, and it was only a matter of time before it unleashed its wrath upon the sea and those who were daring enough to sail through it.
Out on deck, Yamato, Aoba and other members of the crew were standing in their assigned sectors, readying themselves to jump into action if the storm became rougher than it already was. Even though they were nearing their next destination, they knew that anything could happen, especially at a moment's notice. Over by the mainmast, Naruto was leaning back against the pole, staring absentmindedly at the sky above as he waited for Kazumi to wake up. A few minutes later, he felt subtle movement come from his right. Glancing out the corner of his eye, he focused on Kazumi, who was stirring slightly in her sleep.
Her head shifted slightly on his shoulder as she slowly came to. Before long, Naruto could see her starting to open her eyes. She sat there in silence for a minute or so as she became more aware of her surroundings. Soon enough, he could see her slate-grey eyes peeping through her bangs. As she lifted her head to look up, the two locked eyes with one another, to which, Naruto just smiled quietly at her.
"Naruto?" She said quietly.
"Hey." He replied back in a similar tone. "I was beginning to think you'd be out of it for a few more hours." He added as Kazumi sat up.
"A few more hours, huh?" she mumbled in a confused tone. "Yeah, that's right. I passed out. Or was knocked out?" She asked as she grabbed the side of her head. "I don't really remember. But either one would explain why I have a splitting headache right now." She muttered quietly as she rubbed the aching spot gently. "So…. Mind telling me how long I've been out of it?"
"Well, from the time I woke up, I'll say at least two hours or so." Naruto told her as he contemplated the thought. "But I think Aoba Sensei or Captain Yamato can give you a better answer than I can."
"Fair enough." She told him. As she looked around, she found everyone was back on the ship. "Since the ship is moving again, I'm guessing that the masked man got away. Didn't he?"
"Yeah, sadly he did." Naruto told her. "Aoba Sensei told me that he was able to escape them, even though they had him surrounded. I guess he really did have one last trick up his sleeve."
"I hate to say this, but, even though he's gone, I have an eerie feeling that we haven't seen the last of him." She stated in a quiet, impassive tone.
"I feel the same way." Naruto told her. "We should keep our guards up. There's no telling when he'll pop that ugly face of his back up."
"Yeah, you're right about that." Kazumi said with a firm nod of her head.
"Land Ahoy!" A crewmember, who was stationed at the crow's nest, called out suddenly.
"Huh? Wait… Don't tell me we've already made it to the Land of Lightning." Kazumi stated in a surprised tone. "We've haven't been sailing for that long. In fact, you could say that we've just started."
"How about we go find out?" Naruto suggested.
With a nod, Kazumi sat up and the two of them returned to their full heights. Naruto and Kazumi walked over to the front of the ship to see an island coming into view. Before long, they were joined by Aoba and Yamato. Manami remained leaning against a wall that was near the sleep quarters while Gai remained inside the sleeping quarters, sprawled out on the floor, as he tried to keep himself from throwing up whatever was left in his stomach.
"Wait. Is that the Land of Lightning?" Naruto asked.
"No, far from it," Yamato answered. "Because of unforeseen circumstances, we decided to take an alternative route. You see, there's a bad storm heading our way, and we thought it would be best for us to seek shelter until it passed."
"What? Don't tell me you guys are afraid of a little stormy weather?" Naruto asked them as he looked at the wood user with a raised eyebrow. "I mean, we've been battling storms every since we left the Land of Fire."
"This isn't your typical storm, Naruto." Yamato explained to him. "A Tropical Cyclone is not a storm you want to press your luck against. A storm like that could easily turn a ship our size over and sink it within minutes. So it's best to not risk it."
"If you say so," Naruto told him as he shrugged his shoulders. "At least we get a small break from the sea for the time being."
"Hey, don't worry so much, Naruto." Kazumi told him, causing him to look her way. "While we're waiting for the storm to pass, maybe we can get some training in. With some luck, maybe we can find a dojo to practice in while the storm blows over."
"Hmm, that sounds like a plan." Naruto said, smiling brightly at the idea.
"You two can erase that idea from your minds right now." Yamato told them both. "You both are going to sit tight and patiently wait out the storm, just like the rest of us will. Understand?"
"Come on, Captain Yamato." Naruto whined.
"Wet blanket." Kazumi muttered under her breath.
"End of discussion." The wood user stated in a stern and commanding voice, causing the two to roll their eyes simultaneously.
"Yes, sir." The two muttered in a thwarted tone.
Somewhere, deep under the waves, a dark silhouette could be seen gliding effortlessly through the rampant currents of the ocean. Keeping their eyes to the fore, they swiftly approached a dark cave. With little hesitation, they swam straight into the chasm of darkness. Just before the last sliver of light vanished, the figure retrieved a pocket size flashlight from their pocket. Turning the small device on, the light illuminated the white mask they donned, as well as, what was a foot or so around them. As the light shined, small crystals that were embedded in the cave walls reflected the dim light before fading out once he passed them.
After swimming for quite some time, a faint glow of light could finally be seen at the end of the tunnel he swam inside. Before long, the masked man exited the passage and entered a large lake bed. Similar to the tunnel, the lake bed was covered with small clusters of crystals of different shapes, sizes, and colors. At the bottom of the lake sat a small, weathered shrine. Although the structure was worn out, the clear, pristine blue water and the crystals that surrounded it reflected the light from above and gave it a divine appearance. Alas, the facade of the cave, the shrine, and the crystals was nowhere on the mind of man that floated in the water.
Retaining his concentration, the masked man swam to shore. The underground lake sat in a large chamber that had a spiral pathway that ran along the shore and cavern walls, stretching up to the ceiling. Along that path were small entrances that lead to other tunnels and chambers. As he climbed out of the water, he pulled his prisoner out along with him. Under his arm, he carried them in a tenable hold. Kazumi was unconsciously and hung limply to his side. Her hair, soaking wet, hung freely down her shoulders, shrouding her face. Her arms were secured to her sides while her wrists were tied behind her back. Her legs and ankles, however, were free of any bindings.
After glancing around a few times, making sure no one was around; the masked man proceeded to walk down a corridor that stood before him. Torches aligned both sides of the path, each emanating a dim orange glow, keeping the passage from being submerged in utter darkness. The passage was long and had a few other corridors, which either lead to other chambers or simply dead ends. Anyone who didn't know their way through this underground maze would easily become lost and confused.
After walking down several corridors, the two soon entered a fairly large chamber that held a few cells with metal bars.
Approaching one of the cells, the masked assailant removed a single skeleton key from their cloak pocket and placed it inside the keyhole. As he turned the key, the bolt clicked to life and snapped back, unlocking the only entrance/exit of the small prison. Pushing the door with ease, it screeched to life, the sound vibrating off the walls. Entering the room, the masked man lowered themselves down to one knee and sat his captive down on the cold, hard flooring of the cave.
Just as he returned back to his full height, Kazumi suddenly began to stir. Deciding to see if she would regain consciousness or not, they decided to stand there and wait for a minute. Fortunately for them, they didn't have to wait for long. Kazumi's stirring slowly became more discernible. As she opened her eyes, Kazumi looked around torpidly as she tried to focus. Her vision was indistinctive, but that didn't stop her other senses from carrying out their tasks. Cold, wet and numb, that's how she felt as she laid on her side on top of the freezing, cold ground. Of course, this was strange since she clearly remembered being out in the middle of the ocean.
Lying there in silence, she stared straight ahead with a hazy look on her face. Her dripping wet bangs hung in her face, but she was still able to distinguish the dim lighting that shined towards her. She assumed it probably came from a lantern or possibly a lit torch. Unfortunately, knowing that simple fact only conjured up new questions, which didn't help her in the slightest. She was already having trouble concentrating because of a pounding headache she was presently suffering from. Now, with the addition to her contemplating where the heck she could be, it made it even more difficult for her to keep a clear head to think properly.
While the seconds to tick by, the numbness she felt began to dwindle away. However, it was replaced by a combination of soreness and severe pain that pulsated throughout her body. The burns she received from Aoba's attack and the cuts and bruises attained during her fight with the masked man started to sting and irritate the injuries she was suffering prior to the unexpected fight. She hated to admit it, but she wished she was back in an unconscious state so she wouldn't have to feel the uncomfortable pain her injuries were causing.
As Kazumi attempted to lift herself up, her body convulsed with each movement she made. The effort only caused dizziness, which kept her from registering why the task couldn't be done. But soon, she slowly realized that her arms were bound to her sides while her wrists were tied securely behind her back. As a sense of vulnerability struck, she began to struggle against her bindings, ignoring the pain that flared. Regrettably, she found the task to be laborious, and in the end, she was unsuccessful. However, during the struggling, she realized that her legs and feet were free from any bindings.
"Struggle as much as you please. Ultimately, the attempt is useless."
Freezing in place, Kazumi glanced down towards her feet, and out of her peripheral, she could see a partial, dark outline of a figure that stood on the borderline of the shadows.
Remaining silent, she followed the figure with her eyes as they proceeded to move forward and stand in front of her. Their body casting a shadow on her face as they blocked the dim lighting. As her vision cleared gradually, Kazumi could slowly make out the familiar white mask they donned. Her eyes narrowed in anger as she stared at the man donning the white mask. But just like before, the man just stood there. And unbeknownst to Kazumi, he was silently staring back with narrowed eyes of his own.
"Continue to stare at me in any way you see fit. It won't change the situation you've found yourself in." He told her.
"What is it? What the heck do you want from me?" She asked, her voice sounding weak and hoarse. "If you're not after the Tailed Beast, then what are you after? What could I… possibly have that you want?"
"Hmm? You really don't have a single clue, do you?" Taking a step closer, the masked man kneeled before Kazumi, which caused her to shift away from him as best as she could. "Don't worry… You'll find out soon enough." He added as he held up a kunai. "After all, I'm on an exceedingly tight schedule."
As he moved the weapon towards Kazumi, the silver-haired teen tensed up. She instinctively closed her eyes and waited for the sharp metal to pierce her skin. Moments passed but she had yet to feel the cold metal of the weapon. Instead, she felt the ropes around her arms and wrists loosen immensely. Opening her eyes with caution, Kazumi found her bindings lying on the floor in pieces. She looked up and stared at her captor with confusion as he continued to hold the kunai before her. The masked man stared back at Kazumi as he waved the kunai back and forth in a casual manner.
"The rope won't be necessary." He told her. "After all, you're injured, exhausted and your chakra is being suppressed. Given the circumstances, you're hardly regarded as a real threat."
Wanting to prove him wrong, Kazumi's tensed her body and raised her leg, attempting to kick him. Seeing this, the masked man was able to catch her leg before she could touch him. Keeping a tight hold of her ankle, he turned his head to look back at her, with what she believed would be, an unimpressive expression.
"Is that truly the best you can do?" he asked impassively. "Honestly, I anticipated that you would give me more of a challenge."
"Well… don't count me out just yet." She replied back, slightly out of breath. "I would hate to leave you disappointed."
"What are you…?"
Before he could finish his question, a spark of lightning appeared around her leg. The small surge of energy was enough to electrocute the masked man as he continued to hold her, causing him to cry out in pain. When the energy disappeared, the enemy released her and fell onto his back with a thud. Once he was down, Kazumi painfully and forcefully picked herself up and stumbled towards the opened cell door. Grabbing a hold of one of the metal bars, Kazumi pulled the door close, locking the man inside. When the bolt locked back into place, Kazumi leaned against the nearby wall as she tried to catch her breath.
"There's no telling how long that'll keep him down. I need to hurry and escape this place." She thought to herself. "Wherever here is…"
Hauling herself up off the wall, Kazumi used the only pathway that led in and out of the chamber. Using the wall as a crutch, she moved down the dimly lit corridor. The main passageway and the smaller tunnels made the cave look more like a labyrinth. As Kazumi searched for a way out, the masked man was gradually regaining consciousness. He found himself staring at the dark ceiling above while he was lying on the cell floor. Sitting up nonchalantly, he just stared blankly at the metal bars.
"Hmm, it would appear that I've underestimated her." He said quietly to himself. "After all, she is the little sister of Konoha's Copy Ninja. And more importantly, she's her daughter. So there's no question she'll have that unrelenting attitude." Standing up, he walked over to the door and found it locked. "She even locked me inside. Smart. However…" He added as he pulled out the skeleton key once more. "…not smart enough."
Meanwhile, Kazumi had just turned down another corridor and was hoping this one wouldn't lead her to a dead like the last one did. After walking little ways down the corridor, she suddenly began to see light in the distance. Before long, she could see light shining brightly at the end of the tunnel. Paying no heed to the protesting message her muscles were sending to her brain, Kazumi continued forward. But as she exited the tunnel, she found herself staring at a large, underground lake. Looking up, she saw the spiral road that led to the ceiling, along with the other passageways.
"This… Ugh! This can't be it." She said to herself, clearly out of breath. Walking closer to the water's edge, she continued to search for some sort of exit. "There… There has to be a way out."
"Oh, there is."
Glancing over her shoulder, Kazumi found the masked man standing on the threshold of the passageway she just exited. Moving slowly, she turned around and faced the assailant, a guarded look present in her eyes.
"But you won't find it." He added.
As she held her injured arm in a defending manner, Kazumi carefully shifted herself into a fighting stance. This action caused the masked man to tilt his head slightly, a response Kazumi was surprised to receive. But be that as it may, she kept her eyes locked firmly on him and her senses sharp, ready to move at a moment's notice.
"Do you actually believe you stand a chance against me?" he asked. "You may have caught me off guard before, but I can assure you, that won't happen again."
Remaining silent, Kazumi released her injured left arm and brought her right hand up, making a fist. She narrowed her eyes as she stared down her opponent with as much resentment she could conjure up. "If I recall correctly, you're not at a hundred percent yourself." She told him.
"True. But I'm in a better state than you are." He stated. Raising his hands, he quickly performed a series of hand signs. "Water Style: Water Shuriken Jutsu!"
Hearing splashing behind her, Kazumi glanced back to see a mass of water rise out of the lake and hover a foot or two over its surface. The large mass separates into several fist-size droplets before shaping into shuriken. Before long, a cluster of water shuriken was floating above the lake. After performing one final hand sign, the cluster shot forward, aiming directly for Kazumi. In order to avoid the attack, Kazumi dove to her right, allowing the shuriken to fly over her head. After tucking and rolling safely across the ground, Kazumi landed back on her feet. But as she looked up, she suddenly finds herself face to face with her opponent.
"I'll admit, you're fast, but not fast enough." He told her.
Acting quickly, Kazumi attempted to punch him. But before her fist could hit its mark, her wrist was caught. Tightening his grip, the masked man tugged on Kazumi's arm and threw her over his shoulder. Kazumi flew across the room and ended up colliding back first with a nearby wall, which knocked the wind out of her. Unable to breathe for a moment, Kazumi just fell to the ground, landing hard with a solid thud. Gasping for air, Kazumi cringed in pain as she flipped onto her side, her back facing her enemy.
"Like I stated earlier, you won't be catching me off guard a second time." He told her as he approached her down form. As he closed the gap that separated them, Kazumi was slowly recovering her bearings and was pushing herself up to balance on her hands and knees. "Still determined to fight back, huh? Fine. Have it your way." He added. "I'm going to make you see how that little personality trait of yours is going to get you and the people you care about killed."
Once there was nothing more than mere inches separating them, he reached out to grab her. However, Kazumi's hand suddenly flew up and caught his wrist in an instant. Tightening her grip, Kazumi lifted her head to look at him. There, he found two glowing orbs glaring sharply through the bangs that shrouded the teen's face. Before he could react, Kazumi narrowed her eyes and pulled him closer towards her. As she did so, she brought her free hand up and clawed the mask, slicing the item into pieces.
As the pieces of broken mask flew through the air, Kazumi released her hold, allowing the unmasked figure to stumble back as he used his hands to keep his face concealed. By the time he regained his balance, the pieces struck the ground with a hollow clatter, echoing through the chamber. He could feel a slight sting across his face and the sight of blood on his hand indicated that he had been injured. Using his cloak sleeve to hide his face, the figure glanced over at Kazumi, who was lying on the ground, breathing heavily. His slate-grey eyes narrowed sharply in anger at what the teen managed to achieve.
"You…! You damn brat! Not again!" He roared in anger.
Kazumi was lying on her side, the look of exhaustion and pain clearly seen on her face, as her assailant stomped over to her down form. Too fatigued to move, Kazumi just glanced up to see the blurred outline of her captor. Her vision went in and out of focus a couple of times, but she still managed to see the infuriated look in his eyes. But that's when she spotted something strange. His eyes didn't hold a masculine look to them whatsoever. Instead, they had more of a feminine appearance to them. And now that she realized it, his voice had unexpectedly changed as well.
"Y-You... You're not…" She mumbled weakly.
"….A man?" She finished as she continued to keep her cloak sleeve up to hide her face. "No, I'm not. And it's not like you'll be telling anyone either." Reaching out with her free hand, the woman grabbed Kazumi by the neck and hoisted her up into the air. Kazumi could only hang there, incapable of fighting back. "Since you've proven to be more of a handful than I anticipated, I'll have to resort to drastic measures." She told her as she held up a tiger sign with her other hand.
With the use of a single hand, the woman began to perform the necessary hand signs for her next Jutsu. As she did so, Kazumi was able to catch a quick look of her face. Instinctively, Kazumi took a mental picture, hoping that in some way, knowing this piece of information would help her. Moments after documenting the image into her long-term memory, the woman finished performing the final hand sign.
"Ninja Art of Demonic Illusion: Internal Torment!" She cried out.
As she held her, Kazumi began to feel a familiar numbing sensation appearing once again. Before she knew it, Kazumi felt herself fall into darkness once again. As soon as she was out of it, the woman released her hold of Kazumi, letting her drop back to the ground.
"This brat has caught me off guard twice today. Plus, she managed to inflict another set of claw marks to my face." She mumbled to herself as she used her sleeve as a compress to stop the bleeding. "Hmpf. Even with her chakra suppressed, she still managed to call forth that beast's chakra yet again. It appears that this strong will she possesses has only gotten stronger since the last time we encountered one another."
As the unmasked woman stood there, she continued to stare angrily at an unconscious Kazumi. However, her eyes soon relaxed as she closed them, releasing a heavy, tired sigh. Reopening her eyes, she looked at her with half-lidded eyes. It had been a long night and she was starting to feel the result of that night, both mentally and physically. Without a word, she grabbed Kazumi by her shirt and lifted her up, throwing her over her shoulder. Turning back to the dimly lit corridor, she proceeded to make her way back into the cell chambers.
"There's no doubt about. That older brother of hers has taught her well." She mumbled to herself. "I'm not going to make the same mistake twice. This time, I'm going to make sure you stay put."
With that, the unmasked woman and Kazumi merged with the darkness as they continued to move farther down the corridor.
Kazumi's Point of View:
Instead of falling back into the empty abyss I knew before, I find myself lying in ankle deep water as I stared absentmindedly at the dimly lit ceiling above. With my ears partially submerged, I could hear the familiar sound of water droplets falling into the water. I knew immediately that I was inside the mindscape I shared with Kiyiya. Turning my head slightly, I look to my left and then my right, hoping to spot the metal bars of her cell. But to my surprise, neither she nor the cell was anywhere to be seen. Pushing myself up to a sitting position, I scanned the room. There was no doubt about it. I was inside my mindscape, but there was clearly no sign of my Tailed Beast partner.
"Kiyiya…?" I call out, my voice echoing off the solid metal walls. "Kiyiya, can you hear me?" I ask, but once again, there was no answer. "This is strange. Kiyiya should be here, so where is she? And why isn't she answering?" I thought.
"Water Style: Water Needle Barrage!"
Acting quickly, I jump to my feet and dove to my left, avoiding the barrage of needles with only seconds to spare. Flipping myself up right, I turn on my heels and faced the direction the needles originated. Narrowing my eyes sharply, I ball my hands into fists and stared in anger at the individual responsible for such an attack. Although the white mask with green markings kept their face hidden, I knew how they looked. Their appearance was no longer a mystery. Not to me anyway. As we stood there, I had a feeling that the continuation of our last encounter was about to recommence.
"Listen. How about you make this as simple as possible and just give up." She states in a nonchalant tone. "We're both injured and exhausted, and it would just be a waste of energy if we continue on with this little game of ours."
"Huh, a Game?! You think this is a game? Well let me tell you something, you may call this a game, but as far as I'm concern, it's no such thing." I reply back. "And why the hell should I make anything easier for you?"
"Damn brat. I was hoping I wouldn't have to waste any more of my chakra on you, but it seems that you leave you me with no other choice." She says in an exhausted tone. "Very well then. Since that strong will of yours is keeping you going…" She mutters as she draws a blade from her cloak sleeve. "Then I'll just have to shatter it!"
With that, she pulls back her arm and lunges forward, aiming to attack with the blade. Shifting my left foot back, I maneuver myself into my fighting stance, readying myself to dodge or block her incoming attack. I wasn't sure as to how this encounter will end, but I know there was no way I was going down, not without a fight anyway. But since it was just the two of us, I had a feeling that I had a better chance of taking her down, now that she didn't have anyone else to target in order to distract me.
"I'm ready for you this time." I tell her as she closes the gap that separated us.
Normal Point of View:
As the ship pulled into the docking bay, Kazumi and Naruto were leaning against the wooden railing, scanning land, taking in as much as they could at the moment. Just like the one in the Land of Fire, there was a large market area, which was no doubt filled with booths selling a variety of fish and other types of seafood. There was also the possibility of booths selling accessories, supplies, medicine and other items that locals and tourists would find either interesting or in need of. However, with the dark looming clouds above, threatening to release an unforgiving downpour, there weren't many out and about as one would normally see in such a setting.
Once the ship came to a complete stop, the anchor was lowered into the water as the gangway created a pathway off the vessel. Just before anyone could begin dismounting the ship, a gust of wind suddenly appears, flying pass everyone. As the others looked towards the mainland, they all find Gai lying on the ground, embracing it as if it was a long lost friend. Many looked at Gai with a "what the hell" look while others just held a deadpan expression. Of course, those with a deadpan look kind of expected this kind of reaction from him, especially since they knew how much he couldn't take the sea.
"Seriously?" Kazumi muttered quietly.
"Geez. Come on Gai Sensei, get it together." Naruto said out loud as he shook his head.
"Let go you two," Yamato stated, catching their attention. "We better get moving before Gai makes a bigger scene we don't need." He told then as he began to move.
"Too late for that," Naruto replied as he looked towards Kazumi.
"Entirely too late," Kazumi said with a nod.
As the group walked along the narrowed boardwalk, which led straight to the mainland, Naruto glanced over the railing to spot something shining in the water. Within some of the rocks that sat at the bottom of the shallow section of water, Naruto could see small clusters of crystals shining in the dim lighting. He could even see some were growing along the submerged pillars of the boardwalk as well.
"Hey look. There are crystals on the pillars and along the bottom." Naruto exclaimed as he pointed over the railing.
"Hmm. They're along the water's edge as well." Kazumi told him as she scanned ahead. "With all these crystals, they're probably a source of income. In fact, they're most likely used for jewelry or some sort of charm."
"If that's your assumption, then you'd be correct." Manami told her as she walked in front of them. "Not only are there crystals within the water, but there are caves on this island that contain them as well."
"Well, a cave is something to expect. But to see them sitting in water like that is a bit strange." Naruto told her. "Oh! And speaking of crystals… Hey, Kazumi…" He said as he turned to look at her.
"Hm? What is it, Naruto?" She asked.
"I've been meaning to ask you this. What happened to your crystal?" He asked.
"Huh? My crystal?" Kazumi asked, sounding a little confused.
"Yeah, remember, your crystal. The one you always have around your neck." He said, pointing to his own neck to emphasize. Kazumi reached up to touch her chest but didn't feel the necklace around her neck.
"Damn it! You mean to tell me she had a necklace under her shirt." She thought to herself. "And of all the little, insignificant things to remember, he remembers a small item such as that? I better think of an excuse and fast before he figures me out." Coming to a stop, Kazumi lowers her hand back to her side as she tilted her head to the ground. "The scuffle..." She muttered.
"Huh?" Naruto questioned.
"I-I must've lost it during the scuffle we had with that masked man." She elaborated. "I was so focused on that damn enemy that I didn't even notice. Now… Now it's gone, forever. I'm sorry, Naruto." She added as she glanced his way.
"Hey, don't… don't worry about it." He told her. "I bet that with all the crystals on this island, I can find an even better one before we leave. I promise."
Nodding subtly, Kazumi allowed a small smile to form, "Thanks, Naruto." She said quietly. "Phew, that was a close one." She thought.
"Hey, you two," Looking forward, Naruto and Kazumi found Aoba, Gai, Manami and Yamato waiting for them at the end of the boardwalk. "Hurry up! Manami is about to take us to a place we can stay for the night!"
"We're coming!" Kazumi called back to them. "Come on, Naruto. We better get moving." She told him as she proceeded to move forward.
"Yeah." Naruto nodded as he slowly followed.
Naruto's Point of View:
While walking behind Kazumi, I couldn't help but notice how different she was acting. It seemed that ever since our encounter with that masked man, it somehow changed her and not for the better. I wasn't sure if the others knew and were just playing like they didn't or if they really didn't know. But I knew better. In my gut, I had a feeling that the Kazumi that was with us wasn't the real Kazumi. For one, her chakra didn't feel the same. It felt as if something was missing. I was sure of this because ever since Kazumi and I started our training together, I've been getting better with sensing chakra and had gotten used to how her chakra felt.
And what just happened proved why I was feeling uncomfortable. Kazumi didn't have her necklace, something she kept safe no matter what. I remember Kakashi Sensei telling me that she would never take it off. She would keep it securely in her shirt whenever she trained or was on a mission. And the way she acted when I asked her about was not a reaction I thought she would make. I thought she would be worried and possibly heartbroken, but that wasn't the case. It was like she didn't understand how precious it was. No, she didn't know how precious it was to the real Kazumi.
"So… You finally figured it out." Kurama's suddenly states, his voice echoing inside my head. "About damn time."
"What the heck is that suppose to mean?" I ask him in an annoyed tone.
"Unlike you, I figured it out hours ago." Kurama continues. "From the moment they brought her back to the ship, I knew she wasn't Kazumi. Hell, the missing chakra of Kiyiya was a dead giveaway. I thought you would've been able to since such a big difference such as that!"
"Hold on. Wait just a damn minute!" I yell. "Are you saying that this whole time, you knew this wasn't the real Kazumi and you didn't say anything about it? What the hell is wrong with you?!"
"Look here, runt! You weren't going to learn a damn thing if I pointed everything out to or for you." Kurama explained. "You need to figure things out on your own and stop relying on me for everything you can't solve by yourself!"
"You stupid, stubborn ass fox! Are you completely insane?!" I scream in frustration. "You're here playing games and for all we know, Kazumi and Kiyiya could be in danger as we speak."
"Quit your whining!" He snaps back. "From what I can tell, they are both fine."
"They're fine? How the hell would you know?" I ask. "And if you can sense where they are, then how about you lead me to them right now?"
"Can't do that." He says in a blunt tone.
"And why the hell not?" I quickly ask. "You just said that you could sense them."
"If we attempt to leave right now to go save them, that imposter before us may warn the ones responsible for their kidnapping. And if they do that before we can get to them first, who knows what may happen to them," he explained. "We have to be patient and wait for the right moment to act. We can't afford any mistakes and we don't need you to be acting recklessly either."
"How do you know we'll get the right moment to act?" I ask him. "And even if we do, what makes you think we'll be able to save them?"
"You let me worry about that. Just know you'll have my full cooperation this time around." He tells me. "And one way or another, alone or with help, we will get our chance to save them."
"Alright, then answer this question for me." I tell him. "Where Kazumi and Kiyiya are being held. Is it close by or somewhere off this island?" I ask him.
"To put it simply, let's just say that they're closer than you may think." He answers in a quiet yet stern tone.
"Hmm, well then, that's good enough for me," I say with a firm nod of my head.