Takeo and Tsutomu are holding off a group of Aku members. They are struggling a bit as more of them surround them.
"Think we can get outta this?" Tsutomu has a stern face with a sweat drop.
"We're not going down without a fight," Takeo firmly states as he grips his ice sword.
Before he lunges at the group of Aku men, a stream of fire whips out at them from behind Takeo and Tsutomu. The stream lashes out at more men, even damaging the ground and leaving a cloud of dirt. Everyone is quiet until the cloud of dirt eventually disappears, revealing me and Mizuki in a fighting stance as we stand in front of Takeo and Tsutomu. My eyes glare straight ahead at Kenta who's behind a group of his men.
"Ah, I see your arm is intact now," Kenta smirks.
"Yup," I rip my cut sleeve off. "Now how about I return the favor?"
"Hn! I'd like to see you try!"
"With pleasure," I grin.
Within seconds, I'm swiftly dashing around the area, taking down some of the Aku. Some I take down with my kunai and some I use their own weapons against them. I stop after taking one man down and tossing him to the side. I spot my broken katana on the ground nearby and go to pick it up.
"You know you broke a priceless katana," I take the two pieces. "Too bad I won't be able to take you down with it."
"You speak so sure of yourself," Kenta smirks. "How about I introduce you to a friend of mine?"
He bites his finger and crouches to slam his palm to the ground. He summons a massive serpent creature that towers over everyone, hissing and flashing its fangs.
"Let's see you handle this!" Kenta shouts to me.
"You really underestimate me," I shake my head a bit.
I summon my full Susano'o, which towers over the foam serpent creature. My Susano'o uses its katana to slash it in half, causing it to disappear in a puff of smoke. While still in my Susano'o, I glare down at the Aku men and at Kenta. Many of the men are frightened at my fully formed Susano'o that they flee the area, abandoning the fight. Kenta can't help but frown in frustration at the men scurrying away.
"Get back here, you cowards!" Kenta yells out at them.
"Stand down now," I warn him. "At least you'll be alive in prison."
Some more of his men flee. Kenta glares up at me in frustration. I deactivate my Susano'o and land some yards in front of Kenta.
"Still not backing down?" I say. "Seems your men have more sense than you."
"Don't mock me, Uchiha!" Kenta grits his teeth.
He takes a hold of his sword and dashes toward me, reaching me in a matter of seconds. I also sprint toward him, scooping up a sword on the ground from one of the Aku men. I foresee his movements with my sharingan and swiftly dodge them. I support myself on my right hand and land a kick at his side. Kenta tries to strike me with his sword but I dodge it, slashing off his right arm at the middle. He grunts and tries to strike me with his sword again, but I manage to knock it out of his only hand. His sword crashes some feet away and he lunges to it. I see he's going for it and drop the sword I have and also go straight for his. We both make it to the sword, but I'm faster than him by a second. Before he can reach me, I pick up his sword and hold it straight at him. A moment of silence ensues as he towers over me, completely still. Mizuki, Takeo, and Tsutomu watch in suspense, trying to figure out who got who. Kenta suddenly coughs up blood, seeing that I've impaled him at the stomach with his own sword.
"It's over, Kenta," I say.
"No...it's not…" Kenta struggles to breathe. "Many of my men managed to flee… They'll carry on the Aku ideology, even in my absence. No matter how much peace, there will always be an opposing force to combat it."
"And we'll take down every one of them too."
"How can...you be so sure?" he smirks with blood at his mouth. "The peace this world is seeing now will only weaken the future generations. You won't be around forever to stop such threats…"
I think for a moment, thinking of my own children: Takashi and Sora.
"Your children will not be as prepared as you are for threats such as the Aku," Kenta continues.
"Which is why it is my duty to prepare them for it," I firmly state. "And like me, they'll take down anyone who threatens our peace."
Kenta smirks. I pull out his sword from him and he lurches forward, making guttural sounds as I make my way back to my group. Kenta drops to his knees and on to his face as I toss his sword aside. I pick up the two pieces of my katana as I reach Mizuki and the gang.
"Impaled by his own sword," Tsutomu crosses his arms. "That's real twisted of you, Denizu."
"He chopped my arm off first," I defend. "And in case you forgot, his men tried to kill you."
"You're right," Tsutomu shrugs with a smile.
"Is everyone alright?" I glance at the group.
"Yes, we're fine," Takeo replies. "How about you?" He eyes my sleeveless arm.
"Well, I got my arm back thanks to Mizuki," I wiggle my right arm.
I hold up the two pieces of my katana as I gaze down at them in thought.
"Sorry about your katana," Mizuki feels bad.
"No worries," I reply. "As long as everyone is safe. Besides...maybe this is a metaphor. It shows that no matter how long you try to preserve generations, the old generation will need to cease in order to make way for the new one."
"Does that mean you won't be using your katana anymore?"
"Nothing a little welding can't fix!" I have a smug smile.
"So much for ceasing the old generation," Tsutomu jokes.
"I'll have it welded for display in my home," I clarify. "I'll be in the market for a new katana!"
"That's more like it," Tsutomu smiles.
"Let's head back home!" I lead the way.
"Finally!" Mizuki follows. "I need a break after this."
"What? Don't you like putting my limbs back together?" I tease.
"Don't you dare go on losing anymore limbs!" she warns.
"I can't guarantee that."
"The fuck you will!"
I grin sheepishly at Mizuki as she glares at me. Takeo and Tsutomu chuckle as they follow behind us, making our way back home.
It's the afternoon. I'm making my way toward the village gates with the group. Kakashi, Takashi, Sora, Gai, Kaito, and Miyoko are waiting for us as we arrive.
"Mom!" Takashi rushes into my arms.
"Hey, bud," I smile as I hug him.
"Mom!" Kaito and Miyoko bombard Mizuki with hugs.
"Easy, you two," Mizuki laughs a bit.
"Welcome home," Kakashi also hugs me with Sora.
"I didn't take too long, did I?" I give him a smile.
"You're fine," he gives a slight chuckle. "I see you brought some guests," he turns to Takeo and Tsutomu who are some feet behind me.
"Yes, Takeo and Tsutomu insisted on aiding us on this mission," I explain.
"Takeo insisted," Tsutomu clarifies. "I was forced to."
"I second that," Mizuki raises her hand.
"Come on, you both made it back alive, didn't you?" I joke.
"Says the one who lost an arm…" Tsutomu mutters.
"Lost a what?" Kakashi questions.
"Ask her!" Tsutomu quickly points at me and scurries behind Takeo.
Kakashi and Takashi turn their gazes at me, Sora also giving a questioning stare. I freeze as I also remember my arm.
"What happened to your sleeve?" Kakashi points out my missing right sleeve. "And what happened to your katana?" he also notices the two broken pieces of my katana tied to my hip.
"Oh, about that…" I smile with a sweat drop.
"She got her arm cut off," Mizuki bluntly states.
There's a slight breeze of air tussling the leaves as a moment of silent ensues.
"WHAT?!" Kakashi and Takashi exclaim.
"It's okay! It's okay! See?" I move my right arm up and down as I point at it. "No scar!"
Kakashi and Takashi stares at me in shock as I'm so calm and just continue to smile. Sora ust chortles as she claps her hands.
"I was just as shocked as you," Mizuki says. "She was so nonchalant about her arm being chopped off as I was healing it back together."
"Wow!" Kaito comes around to me to examine my arm. "There really isn't a scar!"
"Not even a scratch!" Miyoko also examines my arm.
"I know, right!" I'm also amazed.
"Great job, mom!" Kaito exclaims.
"I won't have to worry about the next time I lose a limb!" I say.
"No!" Takashi states.
"You will not be losing another limb!" Kakashi also states.
Sora just chortles at our comedic exchange as I smile with a sweat drop at them.
"I guess this is our time to depart," Takeo chuckles at us.
"Leaving so soon?" I ask. "You guys came all the way here to escort us back home. I'm sure you can rest here for at least the night."
"There's a nice inn nearby," Kakashi says. "We can make arrangements."
"That does sound nice to sleep on a bed…" Tsutomu is eager.
"Then we'll leave tomorrow," Takeo nods.
"Yes!" Tsutomu holds a fist up.
"Cool!" Takashi is excited. "I can show you around the village!"
"I look forward to that," Takeo smiles down at him.
Takashi gives him a cheeky smile.
"Now let's go home!" Gai exclaims. "I've got plenty to catch you up on, honey!" he puts his arm around Mizuki.
"Oh great. What did the twins do this time?" she groans.
"Hey!" the twins say.
"We behaved really well!" Kaito says.
"We cleaned the whole house!" Miyoko adds.
"After you destroyed it, I presume…" Mizuki eyes them.
"What?" Gai nervously laughs. "What makes you think such a thing?"
"Your face does…"
They make their way back into the village as the rest of us chuckle at them.
"Thank you," Kakashi turns to Takeo. "We appreciate you escorting Denizu back home."
"Not a problem," Takeo nods and then glances at Sora. "So this is little Sora."
"Oh yes," I say. "You haven't met Sora, yet."
"Hello, Sora," Takeo gives her a warm smile. "Nice to finally meet you."
Sora stares up at him as he holds his hand out to her. Sora shyly takes a hold of his finger but chortles after seeing how friendly he is.
"She doesn't speak yet," Kakashi says. "But she's got plenty of time for that."
"Children are often better like that," Takeo says.
"Agreed," Kakashi chuckles.
"Hey, little Sora!" Tsutomu leans to her with a smile. "I'm Uncle Tsutomu!"
Sora waves her little hand at him with a smile.
"You've got your mother's looks but your dad's eyes and hair," Tsutomu says. "You're so cute!"
"And it seems she's calm like Kakashi, too," I laugh. "It levels out with me and Takashi being the dynamic ones."
"We balance out the hotheads," Kakashi says.
"We are not hotheads!" Takashi and I sternly stare at Kakashi.
"Whatever you say," Kakashi shrugs.
Takeo and Tsutomu chuckle at us as Takashi and I give Kakashi pouty faces.