Suigetsu was first to attack. He lunged towards me with his sword behind him ready to swing down but I pulled out my twin swords blocking his attack. "Hmph, a swordsman as well?" He spoke mostly to himself then jumped away creating distance between us. He started to weave hand signs then held his fingers to his lips. "Water style: raging waves!" He shouted then soon after water shot from his mouth heading towards me.
I weaved my own signs then held out my left arm. "Wind style: Propelling Waves!" Wind shot from my hand quickly moving me towards the right out of the way of his attack. The water shot into the forest behind me destroying a tree.
He lunged towards me again attempting to land a hit with his sword but I blocked it again. Swing after swing the clang of metal hitting metal echoed throughout the clearing and by looking at Suigetsu's face, I can see he was getting frustrated. He was on the offensive pushing me closer and closer to the tree line. I kicked him away making him skid backwards. I watched as he retreated which made me skeptical.
In a split second, a clone came catching me off guard kicking me towards a tree. I scoffed at my stupidity letting a clone get the better of me but immediately brought up my swords stopping Suigetsu's. I looked at the position we were in seeing he aimed his attack towards my left shoulder and my right side was blocked by a tree. I looked down seeing if I could manage to duck under his legs but they were positioned in a way that I could fit through. He had a good foot and then some on me and his arms wielding the sword were greatly enlarged which made my eyes widen.
"So that's something Orochimaru did to him...Did he do anything else to this kid?" I wondered as I could feel my arms shaking from his weight.
"Heh, looks like I got you doll." He said with a smirk as he looked down at me.
He was right, I was trapped. The only way I can get out of this is to go to my left but I'd have to put my swords down in order to move...or maybe scare him with fire but I'm not confident in my ability just yet. I'd have to take the hit, maybe it'll give him some confidence and he'll underestimate me which will make this easy to finish.
I moved my arms out from under his blade quickly lunging to my left ignoring the pain in my right arm as Suigetsu's sword slashed it. A triumphant smirk showed on his face as he looked at the laceration on my forearm. He started to weave more hand signs making mist form around the clearing making it impossible to see.
"Now try to dodge my attacks," he said from my right.
I only smirked as I sent chakra to my eyes activated my Subete Miru and looked straight ahead seeing Suigetsu only a few feet away. He turned his head to fully face me then stopped in his tracks. We made eye contact which made his eyes widen probably realizing what clan I'm from. With a smirk, I dashed forward with my sword swinging at him but he blocked and reciprocated making me block his sword a few inches from my face.
I could see his previous clone emerging from the trees dashing towards me but just before he stabbed me, I jumped out of the way making his own clone stab him. Suigetsu didn't even try to dodge the attack and allowed the sword to penetrate his abdomen.
"Something's up, no one can be that stupid and let their clone stab them." I thought as I put some distance between us. "He didn't even try to dodge." I watched as his clone removed the sword from Suigetsu which made water spill from the wound then healed immediately. "Is that another thing Father did? I remember reading a file that described this...how can I defeat this guy? What's his last name? Father had them organized by their last name...Hoshigaki? Nah that Kisame's name...Hoshi-something?"
I looked up seeing Suigetsu about to swing his sword down at me wielding it with both arms, which were enlarged. I blocked his attack but the weight was too much as I backed away just as my sword broke in two. I didn't mind as much since these swords were stolen after all. I saw he was about to attack again and once he was behind me, I hissed in pain as my bones emerged from my skin stabbing him. The mist cleared almost instantly once he was stabbed. I heard him grunt in pain as he pulled away.
"Wh-what the hell was that?!" He exclaimed as he put some distance between us.
His face was full of shock as he watched my bones retreating. His face then changed into one of disgust but I only smirked at him letting my aura loose which made him shiver.
"A gift like yours," I answered once my bones were back in my body. "Never will get use to that pain though." I felt eyes on me and looked over at Jugo who looked pretty pissed. I guess he wasn't over Kimimaro's death yet.
I turned to face Suigetsu seeing him lunge towards me again but I merely sidestepped making him hit the ground creating a crater. I easily kicked him towards his team and Hikaru then my eyes darted towards my fallen sword. As he got to his feet, I extended a chakra string wrapping it around my sword picking it up and sent it towards Suigetsu. By the time he saw it, it was too late, the sword had gone through his abdomen. I brought it back to me catching it with my good arm. My injured one started to go numb and by the blood trails I've been leaving, I had to end this soon before I lose too much.
"It seems like he only relies on his sword and the abilities Father gave him. He doesn't have a lot of chakra and hasn't done a lot of jutsu." I thought then looked down at my arm. "I can't use any jutsu with this arm." My eyes darted towards Sasuke who met my gaze which made me smirk. "Let's see if he actually needs this guy or if he's expendable."
As Suigetsu charged after me once again, which was getting pretty old, I lunged towards him kicking his sword out of his hand then taking advantage of him being distracted, I got in between his arm clashing our fingers together creating a sign. He was mostly focused on my sword that was a mere centimeter from his face but then looked down at me. I released the sign then lifted my good arm.
"Ninja art: striking shadow snake!" I shouted as many snakes emerged from my went right for his face and neck causing him to back away.
"Hozuki! That's what his last name is! Alright, he has regenerative abilities and can turn into liquid at will. Father didn't give him that liquid ability, it's from his clan. His weakness is speed, ninjutsu, and genjutsu. He can't regenerate his heart or brain."
The snakes were thrown off Suigetsu and he looked over at his fallen sword. I adjusted my grip on my own sword pulling it up over my head pouring chakra in it making it glow blue. When he finally got all the snakes off, he looked towards me.
"Wind style: Slicing bl-" I started but stopped when Sasuke grabbed my arm pulling the sword down.
"That's enough," Sasuke said with an emotionless tone making me roll my eyes then shoved my hand down out of his grip.
"Hey what's the big deal Sasuke? It was just starting to get good!" Suigetsu complained as he started to walk closer to us along with everyone else.
"She would've killed you with that last move Suigetsu," Sasuke explained which made Suigetsu cross his arms.
"Psh yeah right, I don't believe it."
I raised my arm pouring chakra into it like before letting it charge then finally swung it towards the tree line cutting down any tree in it's path. I turned back to the team with a triumphant smirk.
"And that would've been your body," I said before placing a hand on my wound starting to heal it.
"Who the hell are you doll? There's no way you're a Himura." Suigetsu accused getting angry.
"And what makes you think that?"
"Because Himura's have brown hair and are pretty tan," he explained then pointed at Hikaru. "That's what a Himura should look like."
"Well, you did see my eyes, isn't that enough to prove I'm a Himura? I'm not full blooded idiot."
"How do you have Kimimaro's kekkei genkai?" Jugo questioned interrupting our conversation.
I turned to him feeling bad that he lost his only friend. "You can thank Lord Orochimaru for that," I told him which made his and the other two's eyes widen.
"So you were one of his subordinates?" Karin questioned feeling less scared of me.
"More than that Uzumaki, I've been with him my whole life. I was the one who even got Jugo to join him."
"Okay, can we know who you are now?" Suigetsu questioned angrily getting in my face making me scowl.
"Get out of my face!" I shouted pushing him away. "My name is Ko Himura."
"K-Ko?" Karin stuttered taking a few steps away from me.
"Yes," I answered.
"You know her Karin?" Suigetsu questioned looking over at the red head.
"Idiot," she scoffed, "she was Orochimaru's right hand. More trusted than Kabuto, Orochimaru always mentioned her."
Her words shocked me but I doubted he'd talk about me. "He talked about me?" I wondered thinking of any possibility on why she would lie about that...there wasn't a reason to.
I was to preoccupied in my own thoughts to notice Suigetsu looking me over but I looked up meeting his violet eyes. "She does look familiar but at the same time she doesn't." He said resting his thumb and index finger on his chin.
"You've never met me, I never associated myself with experiments unless I was the one doing them or if you were in the Northern Hideout."
"But you look familiar."
"Is it the dark hair and pale skin?" I questioned getting tired of this guessing game. These people were idiots... mostly everyone who couldn't make the connection were. If I had Orochimaru's purple line on my eyes then they'd realize.
"Yeah," he answered still scrutinizing my features.
"Then guess who my father is, I get those features from him."
Both he and Karin looked at me and finally Karin got it and widened her eyes but Suigetsu was still dense making me sigh with annoyance.
"Looks like you're still having trouble so I'll tell you. My father is Orochimaru." I told him which made his eyes widen like saucers.
"No way, I can't imagine him being a father." He commented which made me scoff.
"He was never a father," I said with an icy tone. "He was a mentor, he destroyed my clan just to have a powerful child." I felt all eyes on me including Sasuke's but I kept my gaze on Suigetsu.
"How haven't you killed Sasuke yet?" He questioned looking over at the Uchiha. "He was the one who...ya know...killed Orochimaru."
I looked back at Sasuke able to see he was curious as well. I only smirked at him then looked back at Suigetsu.
"Trust me, I did for a week. Planning all the ways I'd kill him but after time I've realized it wouldn't do anything. Just a ninja killing another with the intent of revenge, the cycle of hatred starting again. I didn't want to be another avenger like every ninja before me, that's how war starts. It's in the past and it should stay there." I explained then looked back at the ravenette. "You should learn something from me Sasuke, might be able to get your life back if you play your cards right with the Leaf."
I might've struck a nerve; Sasuke's eyes were glowing with the Sharingan glaring down at me. "I'll never go back to that hell hole," he spat harshly making Suigetsu and Karin flinch but I stared at him blankly.
I shifted my gaze to Hikaru who looked like he was getting bored. It was starting to get dark so I stretched then walked over towards Hikaru but not before reaching up and patting Sasuke's cheek. "I do have to thank you though Sasuke, you helped me find another Himura. Let's go, I'm starting to get hungry again." I said to Hikaru.
"Didn't we just eat?" He deadpanned.
"Hey, I lost a lot of blood over there." I replied, "Look at the grass, it looks like someone got murdered." I grabbed his wrist starting to pull him towards the village until Sasuke's voice stopped me.
"Wait," he said making me slightly turn to face him. "Come with us, I could use someone more useful." He offered which offended his team.
"I'll think about it," I told him before turning back around and hurrying back to our room.
When we got back to the room, I collapsed on the bed relaxing on its soft surface releasing a sigh. I patted to the spot next to me inviting Hikaru to join me.
"I thought you were hungry?" He questioned as he walked over.
"Nah, I'm more tired than anything." I replied just as he got into bed.
"That fight tired you out?" He chuckled as he laid next to me. Unfortunately, the inn only had a one bedroom left, which was a single, so we decided to share since it was big enough to fit five people.
"That and we haven't had a decent night's sleep in weeks. Especially not in a comfy bed like this." He sighed relaxing into the bed.
"So you want to go to bed?" He questioned tugging at the covers and pulling them over us.
"Yup, goodnight." I said turning my back towards him making him sigh.
"Goodnight Ko," I heard him say before turning off the lights.
I was jealous of how quickly he fell asleep but I had a lot on my mind. I couldn't stop thinking about the encounter I had with Itachi.
"Do not think your life is meaningless, you have another purpose." His words echoed in my mind as if he were next to me repeating it.
I'll have to face the Akatsuki sooner or later and I couldn't bring Hikaru into that...they could use him as leverage. He's not much of a fighter and wouldn't stand a chance, if something happened to him, I wouldn't know what I'd do. Traveling with Sasuke will attract the Akatsuki and having a group will be better than just Hikaru and I. I didn't care much about Sasuke's companions and if they died it wouldn't matter but if Hikaru died...I couldn't even think about it. I looked over at Hikaru seeing him sleeping peacefully.
"I can't bring him into this life, he deserves better. I can't lose the only family I have left."