In the Hidden Clouds
Chapter 36: Konoha
"Spread out," Souma said, "the Konoha ninjas are nearby." Tamima's team dispersed. It had been a few days since her team had met up with the Suna ninjas, and they'd parted ways for a while to try and find the Konoha group, which were proving to live up to their reputation as the best ninjas available.
It was proving to be a fairly large irritation. Tamima was started to get annoyed when the muffled sounds of a fight in the distance caught her attention. Turning her direction, she headed north toward where she heard the sounds. She arrived just in time to avoid getting her head lopped off by a flying kunai.
She backpedaled and ran into one of the Konoha Jounin. A woman with dark hair and what looked like medical gear on her belt. Tamima smiled and saluted.
"You scared me," the woman, who was probably Shizune, said, "Why don't you watch where you're falling?"
"Why don't you not stand where I'm falling," Tamima replied jestingly, "anyway, what's the situation," Tamima asked, quickly activating her beacon to show that she'd found the Konoha group. A beep came over Tamima's earphone as acknowledgement.
"It's one of the defectors from my village," Shizune said, "he's pretty tough, too. A former ANBU, probably his advice that helped this organization avoid the tracking parties. Kakashi-san is fighting him right now, but it's fairly even." An explosion nearby caught Tamima's attention as Kakashi and the rouge Konoha ninja came within view.
The enemy was no slouch. It is said that Kakashi is one of the most skilled ninja of all Konoha, but even he was having a hard time against this guy. Tamima thought about stepping, but then thought better. Kakashi had enough to worry about right now, and having Tamima try to help him would only hinder him.
The rouge ninja made a move, he used a massive fireball technique that was fairly similar to the Uchiha's Goukakyuu no Jutsu, but it seemed less effective. This was the opening Kakashi needed. When the fireball disappeared, Kakashi was gone.
"A Doton jutsu," Tamima muttered beneath her breath, "Doton, Shinjuu Zanshu no Jutsu. This won't last much longer." Indeed, Kakashi burst out of the ground, his palm ablaze with chakra. "What jutsu is that," Tamima said to herself. Kakashi missed the attack by a few inches, but it caused his opponent to stagger.
Kakashi capitalized on the opening and came back with the attack. This time, he hit is mark, ripping a hole in his enemy's torso. That was when the Kage Bunshin dispersed. Kakashi cursed and glanced around quickly. He needed to find where the real body was. Tamima took a quick glance around, but she couldn't see anything. She needed Zatoichi's eyes, he could see through Bunshin techniques.
Tamima's com beeped in her ear. She checked her beacons, Zatoichi was closest. Lucky for her. She got on the com and informed Zatoichi of the situation, to which he replied with a simple "I'll handle it." Kakashi was still looking around when Zatoichi entered the clearing. Kakashi looked a bit surprised to see Zatoichi, but then was glad he was around.
Zatoichi glanced around for a moment, then point toward the east. Kakashi headed north to circle around, while Zatoichi went straight toward the real body. The strategy was plenty effective. The rouge ninja was too concerned with Zatoichi to notice Kakashi come up from the north. The guy fell to the ground with a hole in his chest.
"That worked well enough," Kakashi said, "anyway, I guess I wasn't really expecting you here, Zatoichi-danna."
"Such respect, do I really deserve it," Zatoichi said, "oh well, we'll wait for the others to get here, and then move out."