A/N: So...here's another one. Sorry it's been so long, but I've just been REALLY busy. I'm still pecking away at this story, believe it or not. It'll come to an end eventually, and you'll know when it does. Not much to say except that I should probably shorten my chapters a little...I'm starting to cram so much in that it takes a few days to write. BUT...it's alright, so long as it's a good read, right? Besides, I've got a reputation to keep up for having overly-long chapters. Anyway, I hope you all enjoy! :)
A homeless young man cradled his sister of equal age in his arms, his eyes half-lidded and full of exhaustion while she slept soundly. The makeshift hood that covered his head was being pelted with rain, and it was so damp that there was no reason to even be wearing it anymore. He pushed through a congested crowd that gathered by one of the Hidden Rain's very few train stations, head lowered as his black eyes transformed into the Mezame Byakugan. The range of the technique could not have been more useful as of now, for the homeless young man was attempting to plan out his escape route. There, dead ahead, was the village entrance that wound through crowded street after crowded street. It would be one hell of a sprint, sure, but he had done worse.
A small trickle of sweat rolled down his forehead, yet it blended in with the rainwater cascading along the young man's face. For a moment, he glanced down at the girl he'd been holding in his arms. She was fast asleep, arms curled up against her bosom and head snuggling against his body. He must have felt very warm to her, perhaps even feeling an underlying sensation of safety in her unconscious state.
Yeah, right. He frowned a little, not sure where such a thought originated from. It was ludicrous to assume such things. He was the Hyuuga's Black Eye, after all. The fabled kidnapper of jinchuuriki. If he was caught using the transformation technique to take Netsu Natsu out of the Hidden Rain, hell, if he was just seen even NEAR her, he'd never see the light of day again.
"Excuse me, sir..."
Jiyuu's Mezame Byakugan deactivated in an instant, and he peered over his shoulder to see just who was beckoning for him. It was normal civilian, and judging by the lackluster chakra levels the he could sense, it was clear that this was no transformation technique. The Hyuuga's Black Eye was quiet, sharp eyes demanding that the civilian continue to speak.
"What's wrong with the girl?"
The answer came as fast as the question did. "We've had a long journey, she's tired and we haven't quite made it to our destination." Jiyuu began walking once again, not leaving room for a response, yet the civilian would continue to poke and prod.
"Why not rest up at a nearby hotel?"
"We have no money."
"Here, let me give you-"
"We don't need your money." Jiyuu almost turned himself around fully, but he didn't wish to attract too much attention right now. He kept his back to the civilian who seemed to be following close by, and was just about ready to do something violent if he didn't buzz off. Thankfully, the man seemed to get the hint, and stood still.
This whole situation was just a mess, wasn't it? Even though everything was going as smoothly as possible, it was overall an unfavorable position to be in. A thought had hit him square in the head...how would he be able to leave the village undetected? The village exit had many guards, and two sentries that would no doubt be able to tell he was using a transformation technique. As he mused over this, Jiyuu lowered his head and activated his special eyes once more. Swimming wasn't an option since Netsu wasn't in any condition to do much of anything except rest for now. A small glance at her chakra network revealed it to be weak, yet better than it had been while she was under the influence of her Caged Bird Seal. A small, flickering wisp of orange chakra was present in her abdomen, indicating the Four-Tails's strength was slowly coming back to her.
Perhaps a boat would be best? Probably, but if he were able to just walk right out of the village and not be tailed by people...no, no, that's crazy. As Jiyuu thought before, the Hidden Rain shinobi guarding the bridge out front would never let him pass without detecting his transformation, or questioning the girl in his arms. He was sure they had some kind of sensory-nin up there, and the only reason he had been able to infiltrate was due to him being alone, deep underwater, and not needing to worry about keeping a transformation active for two people while lowering his own chakra levels. His current situation was crippling, to say the least.
To make matters worse, it probably also wasn't a good idea to just steal a boat. A motorboat was loud, definitely capable of garnering unwanted attention. A rowboat was much harder to detect, but he had no doubt in his mind that the rogue Hyuuga were also looking for him, and would have no issue spotting Netsu's tailed beast chakra. Getting out of the village would ensure safety, the Hyuuga wouldn't dare reveal themselves after being so deeply implanted in the Hidden Rain for so long...but they would only cease to be a threat after Jiyuu and Netsu were beyond the village borders.
What a mess.
And then, suddenly, The Mezame Byakugan picked up on three chakra signatures suddenly stop just outside his range of vision. Three shinobi, all experienced judging by their chakra levels. Normally, Jiyuu would not be concerned with shinobi suddenly appearing in a standard three-man team, but what DID concern him was the fact that they all had a green aura surrounding their eyes in their chakra networks. Doujutsu...and he could tell that each of the shinobi were staring at him through the congested crowd.
Hyuuga, all three of them.
His bad luck was at it again, it seemed. At least that managed to stay consistent throughout his life. Jiyuu began to delve deeper into the crowd of civilians, as he could tell the Hyuuga were aware that they had been detected. Their body language changed completely, and they also began to pick up their pace as they kept their heads lowered.
The ground shook a little, and the horn of a train sounded in the distance. Perfect, perhaps his bad luck would be kind enough to hold off for just a few more moments. If it did, then this could very well be his ticket out of here. It hadn't been long ago that the Hidden Rain, with all of it's technology and all it's intelligence when it came to knowledge of engineering that they had decided to develop faster method for civilians to travel throughout the village. The Dangan was it's first bullet train ever, and it served it's purpose relatively well. It could circle the entire village at it's top speed within 10 minutes, and although it was an impractical and dangerous feat to accomplish, it was impressive nonetheless. Even without going at top speed and even while stopping numerous times for passengers, the Dangan was far faster than any person on foot could be.
That included the average shinobi.
The Dangan was approaching, it's horn sounding again as it made ready to blitz by civilians on it's way to the next station. It would not stop, it would not cease to move forward. Perfect. Jiyuu could feel his Mezame Byakugan pulsing with chakra, adrenaline began to fill his muscles and mind. 200 meters until it was time to make his move. Through his doujutsu's magnificent vision, he could clearly see that the three disguised Hyuuga began to step up their pace towards him, though a wall of civilians still stood between them and him. 100 meters. Jiyuu chose to turn around, his hold on the disguised Netsu Natsu tightening some. The rain felt like it was coming down harder, for it began to cascade down Jiyuu's hooded head even faster. 50 meters. The Hyuuga were coming closer, their passive shoving through the crowd becoming just a little more aggressive as they closed the distance. 25 meters. Jiyuu lifted his head ever so slightly, just in time to feel the air generated by a mass of metal flying behind him. The time was now.
It took a single, simple backflip jump, but it was that easy. Almost too easy. Perhaps the Hyuuga did not think Jiyuu reckless enough to try such a tricky maneuver while holding a jinchuuriki, or maybe they assumed he would try his absolute hardest to not give away his status as a shinobi while he escaped the Hidden Rain. Regardless of their thought process, they did not expect Jiyuu to jump onto the top of the bullet train. Furthermore, they did not expect a Hyuuga using a rare form of the Byakugan to properly stick to the bullet train moving at a high speed while carrying an unconscious jinchuuriki and using a transformation technique...but he did. Those seven years of training were not for nothing. Jiyuu's landing was flawless, free of stumbling or panicked foot readjustments. He could barely pick up on civilians gasping at the sudden act, and could pick up with his eyes that the very people who had concerned themselves so much with secrecy were looking to get just as reckless as he.
Tokage's Byakugan widened, and he suddenly cared little for keeping a low profile. "DAMN IT, DO NOT LET HIM ESCAPE!" Hebi and Kusa could barely turn their heads to look at their peer before he leapt in the direction of the train, his feet quickly finding the rooftops of smaller homes and buildings as they carried him towards his target at a blinding speed. The two disguised Hyuuga took off after him, ready to do whatever was needed.
"Tokage, there's no need to worry," Hebi called out to his teammate with unusual collectiveness. "He will not be able to escape from us. Even if he manages to, the village shinobi certainly won't allow him to leave quietly."
"Can't you see what that fool's looking to do?!" Looked over his shoulder just to shoot Hebi a frown, despite moving at such high speeds. "If he's no longer concerned with staying incognito, then he doesn't plan on leaving quietly! We must hurry!"
The cloak that came with the henge being used by the Hyuuga's Black Eye flapped furiously. The wind was strong, so much so that even the hood came off, though it really didn't matter. This transformation would be dropped the second Jiyuu was outside of the Hidden Rain's borders, far from danger via either the Hyuuga or the Rain shinobi. A small glance down at the Four-Tails Jinchuuriki in his arms revealed that she was still fast asleep, even smiling a little. How anybody could sleep over the roar of a bullet train, as well as being on the TOP of a bullet train, was beyond Jiyuu's comprehension. He lifted his head, the Mezame Byakugan had the Hidden Rain's main entrance within view, as well as the beginnings to the bridge that stretched out to land...and the three Hyuuga slowly but surely gaining on the train. Even Jiyuu had to admit, their speed was impressive, perhaps it was best he avoided conflict with them at all cost.
Well, if he successfully pulled off what he was looking to do next, he'd have nothing to worry about.
Jiyuu got down onto a knee, and pumped as much chakra as he could into his legs. As if on a springboard, he launched from the top of the bullet train high into the air, the village bridge well within view and rapidly approaching. The sensation of being so high up, he still wasn't a fan of it. His skin crawled as he saw just how little everybody down below appeared to be, and especially when he thought about having to land while carrying someone. The Hidden Rain shinobi that surrounded the entryway to the bridge, as well as many others casually strolling around below, took immediate notice of the cloaked man soaring through the air, and all were alerted the second he hit the ground feet-first, and darted down the bridge with breakneck speed.
Just who was this man in rags? Who were they holding? Why were they in such a rush to leave the village? The Rain-nin had many questions, yet none mattered. It didn't take a genius to realize that only someone who wasn't welcome would bother trying to leave the village in such a manner, and the list of unwelcome shinobi was not that long. Immediately, a two guards began to pursue from behind, but they were nowhere near fast enough to keep up with the Hyuuga's Black Eye.
Even if they were, it would make little difference. The three rogue Hyuuga approached them from the rear, and Hebi wasted no time in throwing kunai into their backs. The bladed weapons did the trick, as one would expect. When the guards stopped to writhe in pain, they were knocked off the bridge and into the water by the three rogue Hyuuga, dying the murky liquid a dark shade of red. And, as a result, the Hidden Rain shinobi who donned scuba gear and laid in wait underneath the bridge were alerted when they saw their peers sink below, and immediately leapt onto the bridge. With hair-raising synchronization, the scuba Rain-nin made their presence known one-by-one, each of them sporting full-body black diving suits, and goggles with red glass.
"Damn it, Hebi!" Tokage grit his teeth and shot one of the masked Hyuuga a glare, one so bad that it made a few more veins pop up near his Byakugan. This only complicates things. We didn't have to go on and attack first, but someone just couldn't wait. Jiyuu's getting further away, and now we have these lower-class shinobi standing in the way of progress. With little thought, Tokage palmed an oncoming scuba shinobi in the face hard enough to snap his head back, and with a second blow so fast that almost nobody saw it; the rogue Hyuuga punched him right in the throat, crushing the wind pipe. He was soon shoved to the side, and Tokage continued onwards, but his progress was short-lived; many more Rain-nin blocked his path, and his Byakugan revealed that there were just as many in the rear. He slipped into his Gentle Fist stance, baring his teeth like a cornered lion.
Hebi and Kusa also took up the same stance, the two standing with their backs to Tokage. "This was to be expected," Hebi stated with a calm tone, quite unusual to the Hidden Rain shinobi, but something the other rogue Hyuuga expected of him. "We were running around without a disguise of any kind. A confrontation was inevitable."
"Yes, but we could have delayed this," Kusa countered. "Admit it, you just wanted to get your hands a little dirty. We both know it's been some time since you fought anything."
No response, but it didn't take the Byakugan to know that Hebi was smiling a little behind his mask.
Tokage shook his head, his closed eye twitching slightly. "Let's end this right now, we wasted too much time."
Brow furrowed and head low, Jiyuu kept his sights on the end of the bridge. It seemed so far away, and even with the speed he was running at, it would still take another five minutes to reach the end. He could see it in his doujutsu, the scuba Rain-nin had surrounded the Hyuuga. This could probably provide him with about two minutes, and that would be just enough time to make it to the end of the bridge. After that, he'd cut through the very same forest he traversed earlier, and it would be a straight shot to the Hidden Sand from there. But...the Hyuuga wouldn't get off his tail so easily, would they? No, he'd have to fight them for sure, and it'd be better for him to fight in the dead forest where he could easily split them up. But who knows? Perhaps those Rain shinobi would give them a run for their money.
And then, in unison, the three rogue Hyuuga shouted as they all took on a special stance. "COMBINATION TECHNIQUE! EIGHT TRIGRAMS: 64 BLITZING PALMS!" In no time, they began darting between all the Hidden Rain shinobi, and one by one, they would get palmed in the head with a Gentle Fist strike so powerful, it would cease the chakra flow to the brain. They began to drop like flies, and the attacks were so swift, so quick, that nobody really had the chance to fight back. The entire group of Rain-nin had fallen dead within seconds, and after Tokage killed the final one, he regained his posture slowly, taking in a long, deep breath as his Byakugan zoomed in on a fleeing Jiyuu.
"I'll not let you escape..."
The three were on his tail yet again, running after him without any signs of fatigue. Things were bad for the Hyuuga's Black Eye, as per usual. It seemed as if he'd have to fight them all by his lonesome self, all while keeping Netsu safe.
That is, if one of the Hidden Rain shinobi hadn't signaled for help. See, as the rogue Hyuuga trio shredded the mass of Rain-nin, they failed to notice one of them had pressed a panic button on his wrist guard. It seemed insignificant, yes, but such a minor action would bring about a much greater reaction.
A red blinking light began to beep on a certain kunoichi's mechanical arm. She brought the prosthetic limb up from beneath her cloak as she leapt from rooftop to rooftop, her eyes narrowing some from behind her gas mask. "They passed bridge security," Horusuta stated. She was as calm as ever, but as expected, the only other jounin with her was not willing to take it slow.
Suchiru let out a low growl of sorts, and his graceful shinobi leaps became a more primal sprint of sorts, his footsteps now leaving small imprints in the stone and metal he darted across. His speed increased thoroughly, and Horusuta had no choice but to keep up. Telling the man to slow down would be as useful as trying to get the rogue Hyuuga to surrender: it wouldn't be likely. She looked over her shoulder at the two chuunin she had been training since they were kids, and gave a simple order. "Let's hurry."
There was no need to argue. The stakes were high here, they both knew it. Baransu only nodded to his sensei, he was well-aware that now would be as good a time as any to listen to what he was told...but Sogeki, on the other hand...
"Tch, THIS is why we need to rely on technology more." The younger kunoichi flung her cloak off in midair, revealing a shimmering, ivory and black exo-suit with small white lights glimmering here and there. It was fancy, it was sleek, and it was the latest model of what she had been using since her first Chuunin Exams. She performed the seal of confrontation, and the white lights on her fancy piece of machinery became a shade of green. Her legs became coated in a thin, transparent aura of blue, most likely a side-effect of the chakra there being enhanced so much, and as soon as she landed, dust and water exploded behind her. Her speed had increased such a dramatic amount, even that annoying Hidden Mist jounin with the attitude was being blown back by the sheer wind force of her movement alone.
With speed like that, she'd cross the bridge about the same time that the rogue Hyuuga would be. As impressive as that would be, Horusuta knew that Sogeki was not skilled enough to take on three rogue Hyuuga alone, at least, she didn't believe so. She wanted to call out to her student, she wanted to tell her that whatever her reasons were for wanting to run on ahead without support didn't matter. But, looking back, perhaps it did. The teacher knew better than the student, they had to, and sometimes that even included the teacher knowing them better than the student knew themselves. Sogeki had to watch Dan, the underdog of her team, rise far above her in terms of talent not too long after their first Chuunin Exam and earn a promotion straight to jounin right before her, while she had barely met the requirements to become a chuunin in the first place. She was jealous, even more so than Baransu had been back then. He at least let it go and accepted that he had much more to learn, though he'd never admit it...but her...she refused to believe she wasn't fine the way she was. Her pride would be her downfall, and if she wasn't careful now, her downfall would very well be soon.
Regardless, even if Horusuta did want to yell at Sogeki to stop, it had been too late after the first step in the young kunoichi's super-sprint. She had already gotten too far ahead for words to reach her. Horusuta would not let her student die, she simply refused to let such a thing happen...but she could only go so fast. All she could do now was hope that the suit Sogeki wore was better than most would think.
Finally...
The bridge had been crossed, and Jiyuu finally dropped the transformation technique on himself and Netsu. They both became enveloped in a puff of smoke, and her red, long twintails fluttered in the wind as the two continued moving at a high speed. The Hyuuga's Black Eye didn't realize just how exhausted he felt until finally releasing the technique, and his eyes were beginning to strain horribly due to the Four Trigram Mezame Byakugan being used too long. He was in trouble for sure...he wasted too much chakra escaping the village. It was at times like these he wished he could activate his inner gates like normal, but he couldn't. He wasn't talented enough, not after all these years. That's why he found a workaround: force them open with his Harmony Fist, treat them as chakra points and expand them until they open. It had been something he was advised to NOT do some time ago by...well...anybody he proposed the idea to. But he hadn't died yet, it all worked out. He never did bother opening more than two, however...he knew it was bad enough to shove dangerous amounts of chakra into a specific part of the brain just to open a gate, but it was something his body could handle. Three gates? He'd probably blow up, or something.
Regardless...he wanted to open a gate now. The reserved chakra within it would be just enough of a boost to help him keep up his pace, and the increased strength would up his movement speed...but forcing the gate open would require a free hand, something he didn't have while carrying Netsu. There was no time to stop, either, for the Hyuuga would surely catch up to him if he stood still, even for a moment. As he ran, he glanced down to the girl he carried as she buried her face into him, sleeping soundly like they weren't in grave danger.
The Hyuuga's Black Eye, he could only shake his head a bit and focus on what was ahead. "You're causing me quite a bit of trouble," he muttered to her, despite knowing she wouldn't respond.
Oddly enough, it was at this exact moment that the jinchuuriki began to stir. She let out a small grunt, her smile vanished some, and a single eyelid lifted. Her vision was blurry, as was to be expected of someone who had been through her situation. The first and most alarming thing that came to mind was...she didn't know where she was, or what was going on. Her kunoichi training kicked in, and she began to analyze the situation. There was wind, lots of wind rushing against her and rainwater pelting her duster coat. She was moving at a high speed, and with a few blinks and a slight readjustment of her body, she could see and feel that she was being carried by someone she didn't know. A very roguish man who wore the Allied Shinobi Forces forehead protector from the Fourth War, his onyx hair flowed in the wind and that chiseled jaw set in place. He was glaring rather hard, his level of focus was something most shinobi yearned fo-...
...was that a black Byakugan?
...only that jinchuuriki thief (or killer), Jiyuu Tamashi, had such a thing. The Hyuuga's Black Eye. She had seen his face in the bingo books, though they were of him as a child since he had done a good job of hiding his identity. There was quite a price on his head, somewhere around 100,000,000 ryo due to many accusations against him and his involvement with the jinchuuriki crisis, his possible involvement with the group of shinobi that were seen whenever jinchuuriki vanished...but probably most of all, he was a rogue shinobi known for being very dangerous, and the eyes alone added a few extra zeros to the price.
Long story short, he was dangerous, a suspect of the jinchuuriki crisis. She wouldn't just let him kidnap her like this!
Without much warning whatsoever, Netsu let out an ear-piercing scream and unloaded a rather powerful punch into Jiyuu's chest, right over where his heart was. Now, the Hyuuga's Black Eye saw it coming from a mile away, he really did. However, the prolonged use of his special doujutsu had taken a toll on him mentally, and his incredible reaction speed was nothing like what it should have been. It also didn't help that he had been attacked by the one person he was trying to save, that also caught him off-guard. Once the impact was made, his heart skipped a beat. His body felt cold, his eyes went wide, and he felt like he was incapable of breathing. It all happened for just a second, but that was all it took for him to stop running, and for the both of them to hit the ground rolling. Dirt and water were kicked up, and as soon as his heart began beating again, Jiyuu caught himself and skidded to a halt with a hand in the ground. Netsu was less graceful, having been under the effects of a seal for so long, but she did stop rolling not too far from the Hyuuga Pariah, and wasted no time in lifting her head to shoot him a nasty glare. He gave her his own, though it had little power against the fiery being before him.
"You bastard," she wheezed through a weak breath, shaking as she pushed herself up onto her feet. She stumbled a little, and her hands went to her knees as she hunched over to catch her breath, but she continued to glare like Jiyuu was responsible for all the troubles in the world. "You...you took me from my parents. I hope you know...you made a terrible mistake, bub. I'm gonna roast you alive like a shish kabob, y'hear me?!"
It was Jiyuu's turn to stand up, and he too hunched over as he put his hand where he had been hit. It was swollen, and he could feel it beginning to bruise. She hadn't pulled that punch one bit...probably would've knocked him out if she hit higher up. "You stupid BITCH! I'M the one who just SAVED you from the assholes that DID capture you!"
"You think you can get me to believe that, Hyuuga's Black Eye?" Her scowl seemed to deepen, probably because she felt he underestimated her intelligence. "The rumors are true. You're kidnapping me! You DO kidnap jinchuuriki!"
"Do you really believe every rumor you hear?"
"Only when I see for myself that they turn out to be true!"
This was going nowhere fast, and Jiyuu was all-too aware of this. He let out a yell of frustration and swung his arm out to the side, as if literally sweeping their conversation under the rug. "Look, there's no time for this! We have to get moving right now, before-"
Three black entities blurred around the two shinobi, surrounding them in a triangular three-man formation. The speed at which they had gotten into position was astounding, and due to the oncoming eye-strain Jiyuu was beginning to feel, he failed to see it coming. There they were: Hebi, Kusa, and Tokage, all three with their arms crossed and heads inclined. Tokage's single Byakugan locked onto Jiyuu, while it was clear his partners were focused on Netsu. They would not waste time, they would be as swift as an oncoming breeze with their work. Tokage whistled, and his teammates darted for Netsu in a fraction of a second. They looked to seal her again, most likely...either that or knock her out. Once again, Jiyuu failed to see it coming, his mind and body simply couldn't react to what his Byakugan was perceiving. He had gotten so far...would he really fail his mission now?
No. Because as soon as Tokage whistled, Netsu panicked and hunched over, coating herself in the chakra of the Four Tails which soon became a cloak of flames. Almost as fast as they had leapt at her, Hebi and Kusa retreated back to their previous position, though in a defensive stance rather than the cool, confident posture that Tokage still maintained.
The leader of the trio scoffed at her action, shaking his head. "Stupid girl," Tokage muttered as his single open Byakugan scanned her from head to toe. "You're too low on chakra. You'll pass out in seconds, you'll only be saving us the trouble."
He was right, Netsu was deathly low on chakra. The seal had almost emptied her of her reserves, and the last thing she needed to do was burn the rest of it (no pun intended). But, the three Hyuuga failed to remember that she was not alone. Jiyuu welled up chakra within his gut, turned to face Netsu, and did something he had practiced with all his special techniques until he had it down perfectly: he performed the Mighty Gale jutsu without using hand signs. A difficult thing to learn, sure, but one can learn quite a bit if they have the eyes to study the flow of chakra, and the time to memorize how to channel the flow for specific techniques properly without the aid of hand signs. Seven years of training goes a long way...
...but, I digress.
The technique did nothing but shove away Tokage, who barely flinched. However, he had not been the target. Jiyuu took the technique and spun around with it, coating Netsu in a flurry of wind that strengthened her jutsu tenfold. Wild flames whipped to and fro, some even flying towards Hebi and Kusa before they leapt back. The boost to Netsu's technique would keep her going for at least ten minutes. Ten minutes of not getting attacked by taijutsu specialists was a big deal, and she knew it immediately. She turned to face the Hyuuga Pariah, struggling to find the right words to ask her question...in fact, she had so many questions, she didn't know which one to ask first.
There wasn't any time for them, however. There wasn't much time for anything, that was the trend for today it seemed. Jiyuu ended his technique when he saw that he had pulled off his plan successfully, though there was now a twitch in one of his eyes due to an even lower level of chakra. "Get going, don't just stand there! Head north, I'll catch up and take you to safety!" He could see she was opening her mouth to ask a question, and shook his head violently. "Just do it!"
"You won't catch up with her! You don't be going ANYWHERE when I'm done with you!"
Relying more on battle instinct than his doujutsu as of now, Jiyuu ducked down and spun, thrusting out an open palm just in time to counter Tokage's own palm strike. The chakra burst from the impact was immense, so much so that the rainfall around them had been knocked away momentarily. Tokage took the moment to move in for a few more palm strikes, but Jiyuu would not let him get in close enough to do anything. He watched carefully, struggling but barely managing to slap away each new oncoming palm strike. The chakra bursts were powerful, each one eliciting a small 'boom' between the shinobi, but the rogue Hyuuga was clearly no pushover. The Hyuuga's Black Eye found it difficult to keep the same pace, and was getting pushed back. It was unusual for him, though he was certain his opponent didn't know such a thing. Jiyuu's breathing was harder, and the rainwater was beginning to mix with his sweat. He was in horrible condition to be fighting right now, but unfortunately, he had little choice.
The Hyuuga Pariah narrowed his blaring doujutsu after stopping yet another palm strike. He could see that Hebi was coming in from behind to aid his ally with a flying kick, and ducked just as it flew overhead. He had no time to even think, however, as he was attacked yet again by Tokage with a palm strike while Jiyuu was down low. The ex-Mist shinobi took a few steps back, already swatting away another attack from Hebi and strafing to avoid one more from Tokage. The two attacked as one, their strikes and motions flowing between each other so smoothly. The synergy between these two was insanely good, almost too good for Jiyuu to handle. It wasn't long before a palm or two got past his defenses and clipped his sides, yet it thankfully did not result in anything too terrible happening. However, each attack, each strike was forcing him back step by step. He was losing ground fast, and they made it quite clear that they were fully rested and ready to keep this assault up for as long as they had to...likewise, it was apparent to them that Jiyuu had been awake for quite some time, and was low on chakra. It wouldn't take much more until he dropped his guard and got hit by something lethal.
Netsu was frozen in place, watching the battle take place as an uncomfortable sensation welled up within her. She had been certain that Jiyuu was the one that kidnapped her, but why did he tell her to run? Why did he strengthen her technique with his own when it would benefit him for her to drain herself? She was still burning bright, meaning Jiyuu's handiwork turned out to be quite effective. Why? Why would he do this? And why were these strange people attacking him? They didn't look like they belonged to any shinobi village she knew of, but she could clearly see the unmasked one was a Hyuuga, and the masked being fought in a very similar style. It gave her no reason to doubt that they were also a Hyuuga...so why would they attack Jiyuu? She had heard that he wasn't on the best terms with the Hyuuga, but the maskless one didn't even sport a Hidden Leaf forehead protector, so it was clear that this was not 'official clan business'.
Ohhhh, it didn't matter! What did matter was that she had a chance to get away, and that chance was now! But...she couldn't do it. She felt like she shouldn't just abandon the man who told her to head north...told her that he'd take her to where her father was. What was going on?
Before she could mull over anything else, all of them were surrounded by a wall of Hidden Rain shinobi that blurred into a massive circle enclosing the Hyuuga. The two rogue Hyuuga instantly broke away from Jiyuu and took up a defensive stance, whereas Jiyuu was shaking and breathing hard, barely maintaining his own. He kept his eyes focused on the two Hyuuga before him, neither of which even looked winded...in fact, they only seemed to be interested in the shinobi surrounding them. Gritting his teeth, Jiyuu could only tremble when a realization hit him.
Damn it...I'm in over my head this time. I was a fool, thinking I could undergo a mission like this alone. If the Hyuuga don't do me in, then the Hidden Rain surely will. Feeling like he would collapse if he didn't do so, Jiyuu's Four Trigram Mezame Byakugan devolved slowly into the Two Trigram variant, and then back into it's standard Mezame Byakugan variant. More chakra filled his body and helped him regulate his breathing, but now his eyesight had become just a tad bit worse. Things were blurry, and he had a hard time staying focused. I'm not sure how much longer I can keep this up. I've finally reached my limit...I just...I just...have to keep going, though. I have no choice. I came so far...I can't just give it all up now.
A single Hidden Rain shinobi in the mass spoke up. His demands were simple: lay on the ground and surrender. What would happen next was clear: they were all to be arrested, save for Netsu. Tokage clicked his tongue, and beneath the mask, Hebi was smirking. Jiyuu already knew what would happen next, it didn't take a genius to figure it out. It was clear the trio would fight back...trio...
...wait...where was the third one?
Lifting a finger up to his temple and tapping it, Tokage narrowed his eye. "Judging by that look of sudden realization you're making, Hyuuga's Black Eye, it seems you just remembered that our third member is missing."
Naturally, the Hidden Rain shinobi were confused by that statement. What third member? Their answer came in a rather bloody fashion, for Kusa, who had been using the transformation technique to stay disguised as a rock, emerged from a puff of smoke with a kunai in hand, stabbing into the spine of a Rain-nin. From that moment on, it was like Jiyuu didn't even exist to the shinobi, as they all immediately turned their attention to the masked kunoichi who had killed one of their own, and the two of her teammates who started to assist her with the others. The Rain seemed to pour harder as the shinobi charged in letting out battle cries, yet they knew not what they were up against. The three rogue Hyuuga wasted little time dispatching the majority of the opposition, and while palm after palm was thrown out to attack the enemy, Jiyuu crept back step by step until he was a bit closer to Netsu, keeping his eyes frontward.
The final Rain-nin was hit over the chest with a palm strike, this one crushing his heart and making blood spill from his mouth and into his breathing apparatus before falling over dead. Tokage had been the one to land the final blow, and slowly lowered his extended arm as he brought his attention back to the matter at hand. Jiyuu seemed weak, but not ready to die off just yet. That would change after another few minutes, and Tokage would let him know.
"You've been quite the thorn in our side for some time, Jiyuu Tamashi. I intend for this to continue no longer."
No response from the Hyuuga's Black Eye.
Kusa let out a single chuckle as she wiped the blood from her hands and tossed her kunai to the ground, also turning to look at the Hyuuga Pariah. "We've been sending quite the number of missing-nin after you for some time, most of them Hyuuga. It's a surprise that you've managed to live this long."
The response came almost automatically, like Jiyuu didn't have to think much about why things were the way they were. "The people you sent were many, but the talented were few." He could see he got no reaction out of them, they were immune to his words, but he would continue regardless. "Maybe whatever Main Family Hyuuga member you managed to have join your ranks just isn't that good of a sensei. Surely, they could have done a better job at training the sorry saps you sent."
At this, Tokage had to smirk a little. "So, you know?"
"Of course I know," Jiyuu stated as he thumbed to Netsu over his shoulder. "Only the members of the Main Family know how to brand people with a Caged Bird Seal. That can't be any of you, I can see with the Byakugan that you've all been branded, you're all members of the Branch Family. Even IF you knew how to do so yourself, there's no way it would be as clean and precise as the one put on her. It had to be done by someone who's been branding Hyuuga all their life."
At that moment, Netsu brought a hand up to feel her forehead without thinking, as if she'd be able to feel the mark.
A small nod was all Tokage could do in response to what he heard. "That's a reasonable deduction, but that's as far as you'll get with figuring things out. The Family has a plan, a wondrous plan that will not only benefit the Hyuuga, but all shinobi who have been cast aside or treated like scum for little to nothing."
"I've heard of this 'Family,' but nothing specific."
Tokage opened his mouth to speak, but the second he did so, something fast-moving approached from the rear. His Byakugan twitched, and the only word out of his mouth was 'Rotation.' He spun around and instantly created a dome of blue chakra around himself, just in time to meet the fast-flying haymaker that a leaping Sogeki threw at him. The metal of her exoskeleton's fist ground against the chakra wall before it shoved her away, yet she managed to land gracefully on her feet. She was huffing through her rebreather, indicating she put quite some effort into getting here so quickly, even with the aid of her mechanical suit. Her eyes slid over to Jiyuu, who could only give her a weak grin.
"Took you long enough," he joked, though this was no laughing matter.
Hebi and Kusa both turned to Sogeki, the latter slowly turning her attention to Jiyuu afterwards.
"He was stalling, waiting for some kind of backup," Hebi stated. That much had become obvious to the three, but Kusa felt the need to add in her own personal opinion on the matter.
"That's quite petty, someone like you needing help," she spat at Jiyuu. "Someone who's killed so many of his own kind that surely he'd be able to do it again three more times. What's wrong? Are we simply too much for you to handle?"
"Everybody shut up!" Sogeki's voice boomed with unmatched authority, but although everybody complied, none took her seriously. She pointed a finger at Jiyuu, glaring so hard that the man could practically feel it. "I'll deal with the most sought-after criminal here...last. As of now..." She turned to fact Tokage, and aimed her finger at him. "...I'll deal with the more immediate threat. Your armor is a dead giveaway, and you sport a forehead protector rather than a mask. Only highly-ranked members of your little organization have permission to show their faces, and the members of your rank HAVE to be the ones responsible for the kidnapping of jinchuuriki."
This all sounded terrifying to Netsu. She knew it was a dangerous time to be a jinchuuriki, but never once imagined she'd be caught up in a situation like this. She felt scared, if she were to be honest with herself, but she was confused more than anything else. Just who was to blame here? There was an organization? That Jiyuu guy was causing them trouble? When did she even get captured? Why was she brought to the Hidden Rain of all places?
"Netsu, you're thinking about things that aren't important!"
That voice...so he was still there. He had been so quiet all this time, she had been afraid that Son Goku was taken out of her.
Goku? Why do I feel so...
"Drained? Well, you've been sealed up for about a week. What do you expect?"
She could feel the flame cloak technique that she was using start to wear off. I need you to hurry and give me chakra, I need to help this Jiyuu person.
"Ehhhh? You want to help THAT guy? You hit him earlier! He's one of those dirty Hyuuga, you know, one of the people who abducted you in the first place!"
A small frown crinkled her brow. Well, in case you haven't been paying attention, this one's clearly different from the others. Maybe if you bothered taking an interest in what was going on outside of my body, you would know that.
"I'm not going to argue with you, girl." Son Goku growled a little, and she could tell it was one of defeat...or annoyance. "I'll see if I can generate some chakra faster, but just remember: if he ends up being one of them all along, it's your fault."
Just hurry up and-
Suddenly, Netsu felt that she was out of breath. She fell to a knee as if she had been sucker punched, and placed a hand over her gut. Her usable chakra finally reached a critically-low point, and her flame cloak dispersed into numerous embers that the rain erased in seconds. She was weak, sputtering, and very much vulnerable. Tokage's Byakugan twitched at the sight of this, and he did not hesitate to make his move. With speed that rivaled some of the best taijutsu users around, he darted past Jiyuu and behind Netsu, palm raised and ready to strike the back of her head for a fast knockout.
However, when he did throw out the palm in an attack, it only met with the flying spinkick that the Hyuuga's Black Eye threw out moments after Tokage darted away. There was a wild fury in his twitching black doujutsu, a primal look that was anything but the cool and refined stares he would usually use against his opponents. He was tired, short on chakra, and well aware that he had bitten off more than he could chew, but he would continue going so long as he had some fight left in him. He refused to fail now, of all times. A jolt of adrenaline shot through his body, and vicariously, Tokage felt the same type of sensation as he met the eyes of his opponent.
The small fact that Tokage was not alone had been somewhat forgotten for a moment. Without much question, Hebi rushed in to assist his teammate, palms poised to strike. Kusa had been ready to do the same, but saw a more immediate threat approach her from the side with her Byakugan. She swung her arm out to the side, backhanding the arm of Sogeki's exosuit to redirect a rather nasty attack. Sogeki clearly looked like she hadn't expected to be countered so easily. She knew of the Byakugan's abilities, but still believed she could attack the Hyuuga kunoichi and catch her off-guard with a rather speedy approach. It did nothing, of course, and she realized just how foolish her attempt was after Kusa followed up with her own strike: a front kick to the mid-section. It didn't knock Sogeki down or anything, but the impact could be felt through the suit, and it did cause her to slide back. The Mist-nin put up her armored arms to defend her face, and she had just barely blocked a powerful Gentle Fist double-palm thrust.
Kusa was glaring behind her mask, regardless of whether people could see it or not. "You little fool...I'll remove you first, and then there will be no distractions."
The resolve of the Hidden Rain kunoichi strengthened, as did her defensive posture. More strikes soon came, but they were meaningless. The Gentle Fish may have worked on flesh and was capable of going through light armor, but this was a machine built around increasing chakra flow and resisting heavy physical damage. Kusa was striking harder and harder, and certainly tried to get around and hit any vulnerable spots Sogeki may have, but this suit was up-to-date with the latest in technology. All it took on Sogeki's part was to be aware of what Kusa was trying to do, and readjusting her defense.
She had reached a point where she didn't care what was going on right now. Not about the Four-Tails, not about Jiyuu, not about the jinchuuriki crisis, none of that. All she cared about was the fact that this had quickly become an S-rank mission of sorts, what, with multiple dangerous missing-nin and all that, and all she wanted was to complete it. After one large attack from Kusa, steam burst from the joints of Sogeki's armor, and she delivered the same exact front kick to the Hyuuga with terrifying speed. Kusa could only put her palm in the way, but it did nothing but get her arm crushed against her body with a loud 'crack' as she was sent flying. She let out a small yelp, but quelled it before flipping in the air and landing on her feet, switching taijutsu stances up. That arm she had used to block was now broken, hanging limp at her side. the good arm was forward, palm out, and unwavering.
In her mind, Sogeki felt that she had this in the bag. She had a point to prove to her sensei, to EVERYBODY, and this would be the best time to do it. She narrowed her eyes, and for a moment, she could see that idiot Dan smiling bright, holding up his brand new jounin outfit that still sat in it's plastic wrap. Her hand balled into a trembling fist, one so tight that it made the exosuit's arm whir. She refused to let the Third Wheel get in front of her, she simply REFUSED! Going through some hand signs and pulled back her arm, a ball of flames formed in her palm, alerting Kusa that the real battle was going to begin. Sogeki's makeshift variant of the Fireball Jutsu was thrown forward as the first real move of their little battle.
The scrambling and frantic method in which this battle was playing out was ridiculous. Here Jiyuu was, flipping and darting around Netsu Natsu as she stayed on a knee with her palm to the ground and eyes shut. He could see that she was garnering her chakra from somewhere deep within, no doubt from the Four-Tails. She would be ready to get out of here in a moment or two, but she couldn't get hit once...she also wasn't in any condition to really defend herself now either. That left it up to the Hyuuga's Black Eye to keep her safe, though the task was proving to be more trying than he'd have wanted. Hebi and Tokage would not let up on their assault of both the Hyuuga Pariah as well as the jinchuuriki, and their mission would be a success if either Jiyuu collapsed, or Netsu was struck and knocked out. Regardless, they'd have little trouble dealing with the other half of their current predicament, and would have the Four-Tails in their possession once more. They had the upper hand, clearly, and Jiyuu's weariness was beginning to show despite his best efforts. He would get grazed here and there by a palm strike, nothing accurate enough to close up a chakra point, but still too close to comfort.
It was time to take things to the next step.
Tokage went in for a rather risky jumping roundhouse kick, but much to his surprise, he was grabbed by the leg and spun around by his opponent, tossed away like a ragdoll. After the swift counter, the Hyuuga's Black Eye placed a palm against the side of his head, and with surgical precision, pulsed chakra from his hand to his brain. A jolt of sudden power coursed through his body, an incredible second wind hit him like a truck. The first gate had been opened.
Tokage was just catching himself after being thrown, landing on the ground rolling before flipping onto his feet. His soles only just made contact, but Jiyuu had already blurred in front of him, Mezame Byakugan wide and crazed-looking. Tokage's own Byakugan widened in surprise, and he put up his arms to block what looked to be a rather brutal front kick, yet he was only half-right. Jiyuu did in fact kick the leader of the rogue Hyuuga trio, but it wasn't to attack. He used the kick the shove off of Tokage and fly towards Hebi, thrusting a flying knee strike towards his target's head. Hebi saw it coming easy, and caught it with two open palms. However, the force of the strike was heavy, carrying enough force to actually have both himself and Hebi slide back after making contact. The masked rogue Hyuuga was focused on keeping his balance, so much so that he failed to see what Jiyuu was aiming to do next, and could do naught about it.
Once more, he raised a palm to his head and unleashed a pulse of chakra into his own brain, this time on the opposite side. Jiyuu's heart...it began to beat so hard that it almost hurt. His breathing became heavy, as well as his lungs...they felt too big, like his ribcage was restricting them from letting in enough air. He opened his first two gates quite often, though it was usually at the start of a battle he knew he could win, and it was only to speed up the process. However, it was rare for him to do so when he actually needed it.
These two...are pushing me a bit too much...
More chakra flowed through him, he had more energy than before. It was dangerous utilizing the gates the way he did: tapping into them just so he could draw out the vital chakra required to keep his organs from functioning properly and continue to fight. He would have to finish this fast, for prolonging this fight any more would put him in a position he couldn't recover from.
Both Jiyuu and Hebi stopped sliding, but Jiyuu took this opportunity to grab his opponent and drop to the ground, throwing him backwards in the direction of Tokage. The unmasked Hyuuga grit his teeth and ducked below his airborne alley, preferring to keep on the pressure of their assault. If his teammate failed him, then he had no business working with Tokage to begin with. Tokage went in low for a double palm strike once he was within range of Jiyuu, and...he missed? Yes, Jiyuu seemed to be just out of range, but he had shifted back in such a subtle way that it appeared he had glided. Tokage did not let up, instead planting his hands onto the ground and shoving himself into the air, flipping forward and throwing out two Air Palms at his enemy along with a battle cry. But, the Hyuuga's Black Eye was ready, darting side to side without even turning his head, his doujutsu locked onto Tokage's own. The maskless Hyuuga was already flying back due to his technique, allowing for Hebi to rush in with his own attack ready. His palms were actually glowing blue, Jiyuu could see a mass of heavy chakra within each hand that would no doubt be rather nasty if it so much as grazed him.
"Just lie down and die, you son of-"
The sentence couldn't even be finished. Jiyuu darted forward and caught Hebi off-guard, bringing his arm up to strike with an elbow uppercut. It connected with the chin, and the hit was powerful enough to take the man off of his feet. It had been a Harmony Strike as well, meaning that a jolt of chakra rattled the brain of the masked Hyuuga. They were stunned, everything went fuzzy for a moment...but they still felt everything, including the pain of a powerful double straight punch hitting his chest. The force was enough to send him flying high up, sailing over Sogeki and Kusa, the former firing all sorts of projectiles at the latter's Rotation technique. Hebi's side connected with the muddy earth, pain shooting through his body as wet dirt splashed around, but he fought through it and quickly stood tall. He fought against his body's natural survival instincts, ignored the desire to flee the battle and recover for the next fight, but he couldn't just leave. He couldn't, not without accomplishing their goals that they had worked so hard to reach. He dashed towards the Hyuuga's Black Eye once more, and found that he had already began a brand new assault against Tokage, who appeared to be barely holding his own.
One step back was followed by another as Jiyuu threw out his attacks. The angles were weird, and the order of his strikes were unusual. A punch, then a spinning backhand, then a spinning roundhouse in the same direction, though it was angled towards the shoulder rather than the head, so on and so forth. The hits were powerful too...he was using Strong Fist, most likely trying to conserve his energy. Regardless of his reason, it was very effective; not only was each hit heavy enough to push Tokage back, but the speed of these attacks was too quick for any type of retaliation. It seemed the Hyuuga's Black Eye practiced all forms of taijutsu he had some knowledge: Strong Fist, Gentle Fist, and his own custom style, Harmony Fist. But, every fighting style had some sort of flaw...
THERE!
Jiyuu went in for his famed uppercut, a foolish move. It was slow, easy to see coming, a final blow that the Hyuuga's Black Eye hoped would be the knockout strike. But Tokage saw it coming with ease, and went for the most obvious move he could possibly make: he reached for Jiyuu's lowered fist, ready to palm it away as it came up to knock Jiyuu off-balance, and then follow up with his own final blow.
...but...the uppercut never came. Tokage was curious, even scared for a moment. What happened?
It was a feint, that's what it was. The slow move was sure to attract the desperation within Tokage, and force him to make a play, even if it wasn't the smartest thing to do. The Hyuuga's Black Eye knew but one thing, and it was that the maskless rogue Hyuuga did not like being put in a corner...he was like a wild animal, willing to fight once he saw an opening. The slower move was perfect, and the fact that Tokage had gone in deep to intercept the fist was all the better. It was all just planned out by Jiyuu, who wasted no time in opening up his lowered fist and grabbing Tokage by the wrist. The other hand grabbed Tokage by the shoulder, and with a mighty tug, Tokage fell face-first into the mud.
The rogue Hyuuga saw it in his doujutsu, the menacing chakra building up in Jiyuu's now-free palm as it was raised high in the air, and thrust down towards the back of Tokage's head. He couldn't move either. He tried, he really did struggle and fight, but the fact of the matter was he was now in a pin of sorts. Once Jiyuu had slammed him face-first into the ground, he quickly scrambled onto his back, placing a knee down on the spine and twisting the arm that was grabbed behind Tokage's back. He had been foolish to allow such a thing to occur, it was nothing but a disgrace, a dirty stain on not only his pride as a Hyuuga, but as a shinobi who fancied himself a taijutsu expert. But he wouldn't die here, he didn't deserve to die here! He refused...he had to do something. Yes, something that was quick, and would take only but a second. He could use the Gentle Fist: One Body Blow, but such a technique took time he simply wouldn't have...even if the technique took a second to do, Jiyuu's final strike would land within half that time. Tokage needed something simple, a technique he could do with little thought...and just as Jiyuu's hand came down, he realized what it was.
...his body poofed into a cloud of smoke, as did Hebi's. Jiyuu's hand did in fact meet the back of someone's head, but the sudden sensation of Tokage's arm no longer being in his hand, and the loud 'hurmph' that elicited from the person Jiyuu hit were both big red flags.
He did not finish Tokage off...and when the smoke cleared, it became obvious what had happened.
There was someone else beneath Jiyuu, chest up and mask cracked down the middle with Jiyuu's palm resting on it's center. The world seemed to go quiet, all except for the sound of blood pumping through Jiyuu's head. He was wide-eyed, not because of what he had done, but because of what Tokage had done.
Lifting his hand off them ask allowed it to collapse into two halves that fell off of the victim's face. There was Hebi, eye's partially rolled up and his Byakugan veins slowly receding. Chakra surged through his brain in a fatal manner without him even expecting it, meaning he didn't even have the chance to prepare for the strike. Jiyuu pushed himself onto his feet and backed up a little, head lifting to stare directly at Tokage.
There he was, the 'fearless' leader of the Hyuuga trio, standing right where Hebi had been before the little stunt he pulled. He was panting, and it was clear that the water dripping down his face was not only rain, but sweat as well. He could only stare at his dead comrade, though whether he felt sorry or not for what he did was unclear. Thunder rumbled gently in the distance, and even the two fighting kunoichi had paused to see what happened. Kusa was mortified, a look of pure terror behind her mask. Even Netsu, who had been in a weakened state the entire time, finally regained the strength to stand once more, and shuffled over behind Jiyuu. Her eyes carried a weary look, one of a person who hasn't had a good night's rest in a long time, but she was very much aware of the betrayal that had just occurred before her. It brought a soft crinkle to her usually smooth brow, and for a brief moment, she could only think about brief moments from her past. How when she had been a genin, the two teammates she had would treat her like she was dirt, only because she got 'special treatment' from the Raikage for being a jinchuuriki. Her sensei wasn't too keen on her being around, either. Regardless, they would always end up hiding behind her when things got out of hand, despite being the ones that barked the loudest when the situation didn't call for it. Tokage was that type of person, except he was also vile enough to let his teammates die in his place, without their permission. Only one word cycled around Netsu's mind, and it eventually found it's way out.
"Coward..."
Tokage's eyes snapped to her, and it made him look deranged. However, it did not prevent her continuing on.
"You coward...using you friend like that to escape an attack. He wasn't even ready for it...and you KNEW it would kill him!"
Tokage's deranged look receded, his eyelids lowering as the reality of the situation sank in. He was not dead, that was all that mattered to him. He took his time standing up straight, chin lifting a little as he looked down at his deceased comrade. The time they spent together was minimal, a few months at best. Hell, the only reason the two had worked together was because Jiyuu had killed off the previous Hidden Abyss jounin that had been assisting Tokage here in the Hidden Rain Village. He was just a pawn, a stand-in for those who came before, and the maskless rogue Hyuuga couldn't even say that Hebi had been the best person he worked with. He'd be lying through his teeth. All in all...this loss was not a major one.
The other member of the rogue Hyuuga trio couldn't have disagreed more. She rather enjoyed Hebi's company, despite him being a fool. At least he told the occasional joke, or was brave enough to sneak out and grab everybody food other than the rations that they were delivered every now and then by the Hidden Abyss Village. He was even nice enough to reveal his face to her, despite his insistence on keeping their masks on...the very reason Tokage did not wear a mask was to object against Hebi's wishes. He really was a decent person...probably too decent for being a part of the Hidden Abyss, but she welcomed him regardless, even if she didn't say so aloud.
Too distracted by her fallen friend, a flying fist connected right against the side of her face, curtesy of Sogeki. The Hyuuga kunoichi was flung off her feet and flew a few yards before slamming into the muddy ground below. Her mask shattered upon being hit, and the pieces fell off in midair. There she lay, a large bruise on the cheek of her exposed face, eyes shut and hair sprawled out in the dirt. She seemed so hopeless now, so defenseless. This was no time to sleep, she knew it and she tried to fight the oncoming darkness, but she could only fight so much. She gave in to the dark, and slipped into a silent slumber.
Tokage didn't need to face her to know what happened, already seeing it all unfold in his Byakugan and clicking his tongue. "You call them my friends," he asked Netsu with his own glare. "I barely knew them. We just started speaking casually only a week ago when you arrived to the village. Regardless, they were only weighing me down."
"That doesn't justify your actions," interrupted Jiyuu. He looked tired, the bags under his eyes seemed to be more prominent and he twitched now and then, but he was still to be considered dangerous until he was taken care of. "Even if I were with some of the people that've done wrong by me, I wouldn't stoop to something that low if I had the chance. Your Hyuuga Pride has twisted you into something vile..."
At this, Tokage smiled a little. "Hyuuga Pride? You truly think this is the reason I willingly sacrifice pawns?" He slowly folded his arms, smile getting slightly larger as he did so. "I was simply stating facts, that's all. This 'Hyuuga Pride' you always go on about, it was the very reason I left the Hyuuga Clan to begin with. Pride doesn't win you battles, nor does it build empires. The Hyuuga Clan's pride has lead them nowhere, and on top of that, it only weighed down upon those who were not a part of the Main Family." The smile smoothed into a narrow line, and Tokage inclined his head forward. "Do you believe that a Branch member would be proud of serving someone no better than him, only because he was born into a different family? No, pride means nothing, especially when only the entitled few have it. It will only hurt you in the long run, more than you think." His arms parted, falling to his sides as his single active Byakugan narrowed. "I used to think being a Hyuuga made me superior to others, but what good is that when all I am in that clan is a slave? You see, I NEEDED liberation, and the Hidden Abyss Village had given me just that. It cleared my vision, it made me see what the Byakugan could not...a type of clarity that only a leader could possess, and they saw it in me, Jiyuu Tamashi. This is why they ask me, of all people, to assist them with their jinchuuriki-related affairs...even though it mainly boils down to 'babysitting' them until 'they' show up."
Boy, someone was certainly talkative. It must've gotten quite boring being around two other deadbeats from the same clan, Jiyuu figured. All with nothing to do except watch some jinchuuriki until 'they' picked showed up. In the corner of his Byakugan's range of vision, he saw Sogeki ball up a fist beside her and frown at the rogue Hyuuga, and just over Jiyuu's shoulder, Netsu seemed to be swirling orange chakra in her gut; it didn't seem like she had enough for a jutsu of any type, however, so this was the equivalent of a child getting red in the face with anger. He supposed that, since someone felt like being so chatty and so open about themselves, it was time to ask questions.
Besides, any chance Jiyuu could get to recover some stamina and chakra, he would take.
"This group you keep talking about, 'them' and 'they,' is that the group I've been hearing about? The Family? If so, they've been causing me a tad bit of trouble."
"Why yes, someone's been doing their research," Tokage stated, though he hardly sounded impressed.
"So...what's your rank within The Family..."
This, however, did elicit a rather large reaction from Tokage. It caused the rogue Hyuuga to lift his head to the sky and bellow out with laughter, a kind of laughter that held a twist of overconfidence and smug superiority within. Jiyuu hated laughter like that. "Me? A member of the Family? Hardly. Something like that takes an extreme amount of talent for both shinobi-related skills as well as leadership, and I am but a speck of dust when compared to any of them. They are in quite another league all on their own, perhaps even more powerful than the five Kage combined. As for me? I'm but a humble jounin-ranked shinobi of the Hidden Abyss Village, which does happen to be under the protection of the Family."
"About as humble as a Hyuuga can be, I suppose." The small words that Jiyuu said caused Tokage to flinch some, but it was so minor that even the Hyuuga Reject failed to notice it with his special doujutsu active.
Sogeki, a silent third party for this entire conversation, felt the need to ask something. Yes, it was a question that had been circling through her head for some time, as well as every other shinobi's who happened to have met or known Jiyuu Tamashi at some point. She remembered him back in the Chuunin Exams, how sickly and frail he appeared to be when pit up against Kyofu, a rather formidable heavy-hitter from the Hidden Sand who also possessed the rare kekkei genkai of Friction Release. Jiyuu had barely managed to pull out a victory that time, but the real spectacle had been the battle that Sogeki did not witness in person at the Hidden Mist's Chuunin Exam Arena, but at home as it was televised: the battle between Jiyuu and Oda. He was fierce, confident, clearly trained from a very young age and sported a 'never say die' attitude. He was a boy fighting for the chance to live the rest of his life at home, yet despite doing so, she remembered how he smiled wide after defeating Oda, how he gave that Tanken boy a helping hand after their bout...
...he had been something special, had. Now? He looked cold, stoic, untouchable. He clearly kept to himself and hated dealing with people nowadays, but there was just something about the way he kept himself between Tokage and Netsu. He was very defensive of her, and Netsu was not running away from the Hyuuga's Black Eye as if he was the one that took her away to begin with. On top of that, he had been single-handedly fending off three rogue Hyuuga before reinforcements showed up...even now, when it was clear to Sogeki that the man had no will to fight left in him for today. Yet there was still that twinkle in his eye, he still cared about people. If he didn't, nothing would stop him from being a complete shadow. There would be no rumors about him running out into the open world, be them good or bad. That being said, she had to ask just one small question to him...for the record, of course.
"Jiyuu Tamashi," she began, garnering the attention of both Hyuuga as well as the jinchuuriki. "Exactly what is your connection to this 'Tokage' person, anyway?"
The Hyuuga's Black Eye didn't open his mouth, instead only sliding his gaze over to the rogue Hyuuga being mentioned. As soon as he tried to speak, Tokage spoke for him.
"There is no connection, other than the fact that he's been a rather large hinderance to the Family's operations, and therefor, the operations of the Hidden Abyss Village." Tokage turned to face the man who had caused his village so much trouble, and clicked his tongue. "Always sneaking around and trying to dig up some information about us...but it's clear all your years of hard work have lead up to nothing."
"Clearly it has," he countered. "I finally found someone that your little 'Family' just can't live without. A jinchuuriki, yes, one of the few that you bastards just couldn't wait to get your hands on." He took a single step forward, curling his upper lip into a small snarl. "She's not your's anymore, you hear me? I'm not letting you take her away again! She has people waiting for her back home!"
Unbeknownst to the jinchuuriki of the Four-Tails, a slight blush dusted her cheeks, and the second she turned to face Jiyuu's back, she seemed to develop a slight sparkle in her eyes. She suddenly felt very safe near him, completely at ease with her situation despite knowing she was not out of the woods yet...but, she suddenly understood that he did, in fact, have a heroic side to him. It was just buried deep down below a stoic facade.
Little did she know, he was only so determined because Jiyuu had his own motives in mind. If he saved her, then he would finally clear his name as a criminal, he'd no longer be pinned as the one who made Mendona disappear. Five long years lead up to this moment, and he would not give it up for anything.
"That's some big talk for someone who's going to be arrested by his fellow shinobi," Tokage retorted, his single open Byakugan shifting to stare at Sogeki. There was such a ferocity in it, a well-kindled flame that seemed to burn with the wrath of hell itself, and the fact that such a level of killing intent was coming from somebody as lax as the rogue Hyuuga appeared to be was all the more unsettling. Whoever this person was, they had plenty of raw, unfiltered emotion built up inside, like a container filling with air. Whether he would burst violently or remain under control was up in the air, but regardless, Sogeki would not show him she felt even the slightest bit intimidated. She was thankful for the rainfall, as it concealed the small beads of sweat that were forming on her forehead. "I'm correct in my assumption, yes," he asked the Hidden Rain kunoichi. "You initially came out here for him?"
She began to huff just a little harder through her rebreather, a dead giveaway that she was feeling the pressure. She didn't like being in that guy's line of sight, not one bit. "Not exactly. I spotted three shinobi leaping across the cityscape of my village, and closer inspection revealed that the outfit they wore matched a description." She thrusted a finger towards him, and even added a scowl for good measure. "Black leather padded armor, a hollow circle engraved into the shoulder pads, and a plain mask with that same hollowed circle on the forehead. All three of you fit the description for the rogue Hyuuga that have been sighted all over the Five Nations, save for your mask." The pointing finger was pulled back, transforming into a fist that was balled up so tight, one could hear the stressful mechanical whirr of her suit. She held it right in front of her chest, glare narrowing. "So no, I actually came out here for you. While capturing the Hyuuga's Black Eye would have been a good story to tell and earned me some decent bragging rights, I figured that I had bigger fish to fry if you bunch were here. There's just one thing I can't quite figure out about this whole situation, above all else."
"..."
"Why have you been so...open about yourself? About your new village? About the Family?"
At this, Tokage had to smile. It wasn't a creepy one either, nor a deranged one that a killer might wear. It was a simple, charming smile...the fact that he wore it so well was the creepy part. "Really? I'd have thought it obvious. But before I answer that, I must know something for myself." With that, the rogue Hyuuga turned to Jiyuu, and held his arms apart. "Mr. Tamashi, I must ask. Do I look familiar to you at all?"
No time was wasted in the retort. "Should you? You just look like another one of those sorry fools that your little 'Family' sends to do their grunt work."
At this, Tokage could only shrug, clearly over being insulted by now. "Well, it was just a curious thought," he stated before turning to Sogeki, his smile growing even wider. "Now, to answer your question. Why do I share so much information, and so openly? Simple."
Tokage's closed eye began to twitch, and slowly, very slowly, the lids barely parted. "Because you're all going to die here...you won't be able to tell anybody a thing."
He was serious. Jiyuu could see it emerging with his doujutsu, the mass amounts of chakra Tokage had left in him began to come up to a more usable level in terms of techniques. It completely flooded his body, and to make matters worse...Jiyuu saw something else. Yes, that other eye that had always been closed, the one that had been closed this entire time, seemed to be gathering it's own mass of chakra. Not just any color of chakra either...green chakra, indicating that a doujutsu was being activated, albeit slowly. It wasn't the Byakugan, the chakra signature didn't match, this was something completely unique. Jiyuu stomped his foot behind him as he leaned back, getting into a defensive Gentle Fist stance. Whatever came next, it was sure to be big, and frankly didn't know if he'd be able to do much, even if Sogeki chipped in and Netsu suddenly recovered enough to fight.
Tokage never did manage to open his eye up much, however. All he could manage was opening it up a small crack, a sliver of his bloodshot eyeball being revealed before he quickly shut it, and widened his already-active Byakugan. He leapt high into the air, backflipping away from the trio of shinobi just in time to avoid a massive white fireball that collided with the mud. It was hot, extremely so, even to the point where the mud below it started to bubble over, dry into normal dirt, and then scorch the dirt itself. What kind of a technique is this? Tokage landed atop a stone jutting out from the ground not too far away, standing tall and knitting his brow at, what he could only assume was, the cavalry.
Two jounin landed just by the white fire, one from the Hidden Mist and the other from the Hidden Rain. They stood up straight after making their landing, and the kunoichi's hand was extended from the cloak that draped around her body. It was completely mechanical, an absolutely artificial limb with a small hole in it's open palm which flickered with little white embers; the open palm became a closed fist, quickly quenching the flame as the mechanical arm slipped back beneath the cloak. Shortly after, a chuunin wearing a cloaked landed behind them, ready to tussle with Tokage.
The only villain here stared at the two long and hard, assessing his situation in his head. "Horusuta of the Hidden Rain. A well-known jounin who replaced anything she lost in the war with her village's finest technology. Isn't that right?"
The kunoichi, clad in her gas mask as usual, didn't budge at the analysis. Tokage turned his attention over to the other jounin present.
"Suchiru Ishi, a jounin of the Hidden Mist who had been the sensei of the Three-Tails jinchuuriki, Mendona Unmei. Your gimmick is that kekkei genkai of yours, 'Steel Release'. A rarity in lands that far away, though it's origins are traceable." The rogue Hyuuga clicked his tongue, and the mass of chakra he was building began to grow larger. "I assume you're the backup."
Although he had been brave and unflinching up until now, Jiyuu suddenly found himself frozen. He couldn't move, and felt his heart thumping against his ribcage like it was trying to break free. Suchiru-sensei? All the way out here? Why? And Tokage was right, that man was the sensei to the one person Jiyuu always hated when he was a child, the very person who went missing and essentially painted Jiyuu as a criminal to begin with. He remembered just how short of a temper Suchiru had, as well, and easily recalled the fact that he had been willing to kill Sakana, as a genin, for what she did to Tenshi during the Chuunin Exams. Imagine what he'd want to do here, now, with Jiyuu being one of the bingo book's top-ranked hits as well as a suspected jinchuuriki thief.
Almost as fast as Jiyuu had this revelation, as soon as he began to wonder just what this confrontation would bring about, that very jounin turned to face him. His furrowed brow was as hard as ever, narrow beady eyes filled with a steeled resolve...but no cigar, and the age lines on his face had increased. He was older, yes, seven years older, but he looked like he had aged for twice as long. Some of his bleach blonde hair was greying, and the stress lines on his face had become more defined than they used to be. He looked like he didn't sleep much, as well, no doubt from staying up through countless nights finding out where Mendona had run off to. His lip was a straight line, and his breathing slow. He was surprisingly calm, and Jiyuu had no idea why.
Was he not surprised to have crossed paths with Jiyuu?
Suchiru's eyes scanned the Hyuuga's Black Eye up and down, then shooting back up to meet the gaze of the young man. It had been some time, and to say he did not recognize the person he was staring at was an understatement. Suchiru and Ketsui had been good friends for quite some time, despite all the butting of heads they did now and then. He would often come visit when Jiyuu was young, as in 'before he could enter the shinobi academy' young. Back then, before everything, before the Byakugan...he had been so lively, so bubbly and heart-warming. He was hard-working, determined to not let his old folks down, and trained with them every day, yet always ended each session with a smile. He was so full of energy, like a tightly-wound spring bouncing all over. But this man before him, he was not Jiyuu, at least not the one he remembered. There was a dullness to his energy, as if he had been drained of all life purpose except to simply survive and see the next day. He was tired, very tired. The bags under his eyes, the half-lidded eyes, his Mezame Byakugan trembling, he was worried about just what this confrontation meant but was too physically worn out to react properly. Suchiru took in a deep breath, and scratched his chin with a finger. No, this was not the son of Ketsui Tamashi that he remembered all those years ago, not even the one that had beaten Mendona out in public during his final days in the Hidden Mist...but the face was the same, albeit more mature. The Mezame Byakugan, a dead giveaway. But most of all, beyond anything physical...the young adult had a resolve like no other. Despite being worried, weary, and ready to collapse under his own weight judging by how he was shaking...he stood ready to continue going until he passed out. Besides Ketsui, Suchiru only knew a few shinobi quite like that.
"...you've gotten taller, but you're still a little runt."
It was said with a small grin added in, a rarity for the steel-willed jounin, but it quickly disappeared. Jiyuu didn't react to Suchiru's teasing words, most likely anticipating some sort of attack. He was stiff, tense, ready to strike regardless of what may happen. He had the utmost respect for Suchiru as a shinobi, but he'd be damned if he would be thrown into prison for saving Netsu. Horusuta, the kunoichi of few words, felt the need to speak up.
"While this Tokage person spoke, Sogeki activated a microphone on her suit. We are all up-to-date on the situation. Do not worry."
"The rumors were true, after all," Baransu mused aloud as he adjusted his special gauntlets, eyeing Tokage. "Hyuuga were taking away jinchuuriki, and now we know that this is also for the betterment of a village run by an organization called 'The Family.' What I don't understand is why. Why jinchuuriki? A village that's managed to remain hidden can only do so by relying on it's own production of resources and maintaining a small size, neither of which are easy in the shinobi world as it is today. So why would a village so underdeveloped be stupid enough to pursue jinchuuriki, and for what reason?"
"All very good questions," Suchiru added, putting his hands in his pockets and looking at the rogue Hyuuga. "Maybe if this man's smart, he'll be kind enough to give us some answers."
Whether or not Tokage was willing to politely respond with what he was not so subtly being asked for, or if he was going to fight back with all his power, was a mystery. Suchiru would not give him a chance to decide, for under the ground, steel chains sprouted from his feet like tree roots, snaking their way through the earth and darting towards Tokage.
Steel Release: Binding Chains Technique...
The rogue Hyuuga had no time to even think about what was happening, and before he knew it, he was being wrapped up in the same steel chains as they sprouted around him and destroying the boulder he stood on. They wasted no time in pressing his arms against his upper body, and held him above the ground by a good few feet. It quickly became apparent that raw strength alone would not be enough to escape, each second passing gave the chains more time to add extra pressure as they squeezed their prey. Tokage knew he would be spared, they wouldn't kill someone who could potentially give them information...but how much was that Suchiru guy going to rough him up beforehand? That was something he didn't know.
"Jiyuu," the Hidden Rain jounin called out. He looked over his shoulder at the young man, and was glad to see that he had eased up some; no doubt, it had to be because the main person he was fighting was now being restrained. His battle was finally over. "I know you've got somewhere to be, and Netsu Natsu needs to go along with you. I know now that you're not what all those rumors badmouthing you say you are, your pop would be proud. I just need to know one thing." His eyes narrowed some, and he hesitated before asking. "Have you...found any traces of Mendona over the past seven years?"
No answer, but the lowering of Jiyuu's gaze was more than enough for Suchiru to understand. The steel-willed shinobi did the same, turning his head frontward as he did so. He wouldn't let Ketsui's son see him even slightly upset, not ever; he had a reputation to keep up. "I see. Tanken and Tenshi've been worried sick, is all. I guess I'll have to keep looking. And, speaking of people being worried sick, your parents have been tearing themselves apart over you, do you know that?"
No answer, but the Hyuuga's Black Eye was now staring at the jounin's back, and could see with his doujutsu that the man was making fists in his pockets.
"Just what the hell were you thinking, running away from the village?"
Again, no answer. These were questions that didn't need to be answered, at least not right now. What was he thinking when he left? Many things. His arm had been freshly cut off by someone who had just warmed up to him, for starters. There was also the fact that, for the first time Jiyuu could ever remember, Ketsui was furious with him and blamed everything bad that had happened up until that point on him. There was also Tsuyo and Tenshi going around behind his back, that was also fun. The cherry on top was, regardless of all this happening, he would have ended up leaving with people he didn't like to a village he didn't care for to join a clan he didn't want to be a part of. His whole life was being crushed in a matter of hours, so since there was nothing left but pieces of what was once a relatively positive and fulfilling life, it had been time to wipe the slate clean and start fresh. New location, new way of life, new outlook on things. All this required a vanishing act, which Jiyuu did manage to pull off...there were a few bumps in the road on his path, but it all lead him here. Jiyuu could see that Suchiru was about to ask him something else, but there simply wasn't time.
"With all do respect, Suchiru-sensei, I've got a job to finish." The Hyuuga's Black Eye extended an arm out to a still-unconscious Kusa, lying silently on the muddy earth as rain continued to soak her. "You have not one, but two Hyuuga who will be valuable in terms of information. Meanwhile," he continued as he then extended his arm towards Netsu behind him, "she has someone waiting for her in the Hidden Sand, someone who considers her precious. The sooner I get her home, the sooner I can clear my name as a criminal. I've waited too long for this...seven years too long. I'll no longer be considered a jinchuuriki thief or killer, and I'll have this to back up my claims of innocence."
"..."
"Go."
The order did not come from the Mist jounin, but rather, from the Rain joinin. Suchiru turned to give Horusuta an inquisitive look, but through the little he could see in her gas mask's eyeglass, she was standing firm with her decision. She didn't meet Suchiru's gaze, not because she was ashamed, but because she did not need his approval. No, she kept her vision set on the Hyuuga's Black Eye, the boy who had overcome so much during the Chuunin Exams all those years ago and managed to carve out a piece of the world for himself for the past seven years, even if it was a piece that was shadowed with controversy and solitude. "I know what it means to wipe the slate clean...it's not easy."
"..."
"There will most likely be little danger ahead. Head onward, and do what you must...surely, we will all be debriefed once an announcement is made about Netsu's return."
A subtle threat, but not enough to warrant any sort of negative response. 'We will know if she actually makes it back, and if she doesn't, we'll know what you really are.' Jiyuu couldn't blame her for having suspicions, but he figured that the only reason she was letting him go was for Sogeki's discrete activation of her microphone, and Tokage's admittance to his involvement with the missing jinchuuriki. But to all shinobi, the Hyuuga's Black Eye was to be considered a wild card until proven otherwise. This mission would do just that, and not a single moment more would be wasted. He gave her a slight bow and shut his eyes, Mezame Byakugan deactivating as he rose up. "Thank you."
Jiyuu turned, and gave Netsu a simple glance, one full of exhaustion and determination. 'Let's get moving.' The message was clear, and Netsu gave him a nod to show she understood. They were about to take off, but Suchiru had called out the young man's name, keeping them cemented in place for just a while longer. Jiyuu would no turn to face him this time, only wanting to continue on...but he would listen to what Suchiru needed to say.
The Mist jounin paused, the words were caught in his throat, but after a short huff, he managed to get it out. "When it's all said and done, if you can...go home. Your parents miss you."
No response, one was not needed. The sound of going home was an attractive one, an option he hadn't considered having for the entirety of his time as a missing-nin. The thought of going back, seeing everybody again, it left him with a warm sensation that quickly devolved into something more cold. Everything he experienced with the people he knew, how would they react to seeing him? Apologize? Perhaps, but words only carry so much weight. He'd have to see if he really felt comfortable in the first place. Maybe he wouldn't get along with his father like he used to. Perhaps Tsuyo and Tenshi were not too keen on having him around again. And Sakana...the mere thought of her alone made Jiyuu's bandaged forearm tighten it's fist without thought. He leapt into the dead forest hanging on the outskirts of the Hidden Rain, a surprised Netsu stumbling a little when he left without so much as a word.
"Jiyuu? W-Wait!"
She took off after him, a fairly simple task considering he was not moving nearly as fast as he had been while he fought. He had relaxed, his two opened inner gates had closed naturally due to a lack of chakra being channeled for battle, and now it was all a matter of keeping the pace and not overexerting himself. Still, he wanted to get back to the Hidden Sand fast. There would be no time for rest, not a moment.
"Jiyuu, wait!" Again, Netsu called out, but this time she had managed to get to his side. The two were leaping across the branches of dead trees with minimal effort, his focus set straight ahead while she was peering over at him. "You never told me! Who's this person that asked you to find me?"
"How much energy do you have?"
The response to her question with a completely unrelated one of his own threw Netsu off, but she would be the polite one and answer him first. "I have a decent amount compared to before, not enough for fighting just yet."
"Good."
With that, he began to pick up the pace, and she did too without question. The two were quickly gaining distance from the area they had their previous battle, and soon enough, the rain stopped falling over them.
The sooner I get Netsu back to her father, the sooner I can go home...
...home...
...does such a place even exist for me anymore?
The Hidden Mist jounin watched the forest they ran into, even after the two were no longer visible to the naked eye. Rainwater dripped down his triangular glasses, which he pushed up the bridge of his nose. "After he lost in the Chuunin Exams, the Hyuuga were planning to take him away to the Hidden Leaf as part of a lost wager on Jiyuu's part." He looked to Horusuta, who he assumed did not know the tale; Baransu and Sogeki walked over as well, curious. "The kid was desperate, and through some kind of method managed to leave the village undetected by himself. Probably boarded a ship or something. He traveled far away, and turned himself into a missing-nin, and I'm sure you all know the rest. I'm just glad to see the bad crap I've heard about him were all lies." Narrowing his eyes, he looked over to the only two chuunin present, and gave them a small 'hmph'. "HE is definitely jounin material. Maybe next time you two slackers meet him, you can ask how he managed to not be such a complete mess."
"Before all that," Horusuta cut in, "we have business to attend to."
Suchiru couldn't argue with that, and held out an open palm towards Kusa, the only other Hyuuga present. Steel chains emerged from his hand, and slithered out until they wrapped around the kunoichi just like the did with Tokage. They squeezed as they lifted her into the air, eliciting a light yelp of pain from her. She was beginning to stir a little, a massive bruise on her cheek and a bleeding gash on her head revealing themselves in the light coming from a clouded sky. She was messed up, but far from dead. It would take her some time, but all parties were certain that she would talk.
Through a single, stoic, half-lidded Byakugan, Tokage watched on. Things had not gone the way I expected. It was only moments ago that Jiyuu and Netsu had gotten too far into the forest for my Byakugan to track them. They are out of my range of vision, and with each passing second, they will simply get further away. I could pursue them, certainly, but it would take a mass of chakra to escape this technique that the blonde man has me in. On top of that, I would have to try to shake four shinobi as they pursue me, and take on a rested jinchuuriki and a still-awake Jiyuu. That's the best-case scenario. The worst case would be that the blonde shinobi stays behind with Kusa, and interrogates her. I will not break, my loyalty to the Hidden Abyss is far too great. But her...I am not so sure.
He shut his single eye, and quietly, Tokage let out a long-held breath. I have failed in my mission. I have been captured, and my useless teammates will no doubt reveal the village's secrets unless I...
...well...I do have just enough chakra to escape...but only that much. I could give just a pinch more in order to save some face, but afterwards, I will have to pull a vanishing act. Yes...the battle is lost, but the war is far from over. I'll live to fight another day...I must.
...this technique. The Byakugan can see it's weak spots. "Gentle Fist: One Body Blow!"
The technique was sudden, and one none of those simpleton shinobi would expect. The links in the chains were undone, blowing apart and scattering all around as the two jounin were caught off-guard. Immediately, Baransu flung a Demon Water Shuriken, and Sogeki began charging in beside it. Tokage was in no mood to play around, however, leaping high into the air and drawing his hand back, a single finger extended and his Byakugan glaring deep into Sogeki. He channeled chakra into it's very tip, gave it a small twist, and thrusted his whole arm forward. "Eight Trigrams: Air Bullet!" A small speck of grey wind flung forward, and Sogeki was fortunate enough to have the lethal projectile fly just over her head.
Well, of course she was...she was not Tokage's target.
The projectile whizzed on, flying straight for the semi-conscious Kusa as she just barely managed to crack a single eye open. It was too late, she wouldn't be able to speak a word about the Hidden Abyss even if she wanted to. The Air Bullet shot through her skull and put a hole in her brain, ending her life in an instant. All shinobi present looked to see just what Tokage had done, and the short moment they did so was all he needed to escape. He weaved through hand signs and slapped a palm on his chest, a seal scrawled on the inner side of his armor glowing with a warm heat.
"Eight Trigrams: Distortion Seal!"
And just like that, in a heartbeat, everything around Tokage blurred about, colors and shapes alike, until they formed darkness. Yes, a barren darkness that most found chilling...but he began to fall, and once his feet his solid ground, a sensation of relief flooded his head. This darkness was due to a lack of light on the inside of Tokage's personal hideout, here in the Hidden Rain. A small out cove in a skyscraper high above the village, overlooking most with it's demonic facade and extended tongue. It had been rumored to be the place where one of the Akatsuki members would look out over his home, watching the people and keeping them safe; he was the Hidden Rain's own personal God, and he had an Angel at his beck and call. The two of them were no more, leaving this pleasant little place of solitude abandoned...but it was only five years ago that Tokage had discovered it, and decided to set up shop. Although it was too dark to see, even with the small bit of light that came from the open mouth of the building, there was a small mat laid out on the floor for sleeping, and a jumbled mess of scrolls scattered about.
Nothing glamorous, but a home away from home as it were.
Now free of any danger, Tokage finally decided to deactivate his Byakugan, his closed eye twitching while the open one's power receded. What a shame, he never got to use that after all. It would have definitely won him the battle, but around the end, it simply wasn't worth it. Tokage was no fool, he knew that he would not win with how much chakra he had burned up until that point. Sighing some through his nose, the rogue Hyuuga took a slow stride out towards the opening of the tower, and walked along the extended tongue of the demonic face sculpted onto the side of the building. He stopped on it's very tip, looking down as his hair began to flow in the wind and rain pelted him. His brow developed a small crease in it as he looked over the village, and for a moment, he tried to forget the fact that he had lost.
But beyond that, he had lost to the Hyuuga's Black Eye...someone he believed he was more than ready to defeat.
...no, he didn't lose. Jiyuu ran away, didn't he? Yes, he did...and he needed his friends to save him, as well. This small bit of truth kept his pride in tact, but it wasn't enough. He needed his rematch, and he needed it soon.
...Jiyuu Tamashi, the Hyuuga's Black Eye...
...this is not the last you will see of me...
