[[[Author's note: the last chapter is apparently where young me stopped writing. Or rather, young me decided it was the perfect place to put a 1 year time skip before she stopped writing. I felt so betrayed by my younger self that I couldn't just sit by and leave it as it was. Since I am picking up from here, please forgive any inconsistencies with previous chapters and roll with it.]]]

...

According to Shigeru, the next person they should be most wary of was the sour-faced girl called Nara Shioku. Although she didn't have superior tracking abilities like Kenji, she by far outsmarted the rest of the class and would be able to quickly organize the group and strategize a plan. Also, basic traps and misleading evidence most likely won't work on her.
"We do have the advantage, though," Shigeru smirked. He had been woken up by Echiko only a couple hours after having captured Kenji and the night was still young.
"Hn? We do?" Echiko asked.
"Shioku's a Nara," he stated, as if it was obvious, and thrust a finger to the sky. "She won't have much use for her shadow jutsu with the moon covered up like this."
He was right. Heavy clouds obscured most the night sky, blocking out the twinkling stars and covering most of the partial moon from view. Echiko shivered. Shigeru was beginning to sound quite reliable.
"And," the disguised boy continued, "we know the abilities of most of our classmates, unlike them, who Sensei said think they are going after chunnin instructors."
Echiko belatedly realized he hadn't really been paying any attention to the other students in class. Know their abilities? He barely knew their faces. Heat rose to his cheeks. "I - I don't know anyone in class..." He didn't even know much about Shigeru, only the fact that he's physically strong and stubborn. What jutsu did he know? What even was his nature affinity? Did they cover that in class?
"Figured as much," Shigeru spat. He grabbed a twig and proceeded to squat down, drawing figures in the loose dirt and sand. "Listen 'ere. I'm only going to explain these once, so you better as hell remember it, squirt."
Echiko gulped.
"We have a total of 23 kids in our class. Most are unremarkable, they know basic taijustu and bukijutsu (weapon techniques) but not much else. Obviously, the ones from big clans are gonna have techniques you should watch out for." He cast a glance back at Kenji, who at this point in time was well tied and gagged in the corner. "Inuzuka are trackers. Good hearing and sense of smell. Usually work with dogs." He tapped his crude drawing in the ground, which resembled something like a fan a girl would use. "Uchiha would be hard to deal with if we had any who could use their dojutsu. They're basically good at taijutsu and have a strong fire affinity. You're not gonna remember their names, so remember the symbol of their clan. They always wear it out in the open. Idiots."
He drew another symbol, this one looking like an upside down tent with fire inside. "Hyuga. We only have one in our class, Hitoshi, but he isn't here anyway." Next was a spider. "Aburame are weird. They use insects. I don't know much else about them. Tori and Hotaka are pretty tall and wear long coats." He then drew the kanji for 'food'. "You'd probably recognize Chicho. She's an Akimichi and, well, I don't think I've ever seen a skinny one. They are strong and can increase their size and stuff."
It was a lot to take in, but Echiko knew he'd need to memorize this information if he was going to stand any chance against the rest of his class. He was surprised Shigeru was being so cooperative, but he decided not to question it. Either way, they needed to work together if they were going to win this thing.
"So... what affinity are you?" Echiko ventured to ask.
Shigeru looked at him sideways. "I dunno. Only those from big clans get tested early. The rest of us have to wait until we're genin to learn that stuff."
Echiko's eyes widened. Wait... so none of the other students can even use elemental jutsus? Why don't they teach it in the Academy? Isn't that what school is for? Echiko stared at his hands. He's been practicing with chakra and learning to use his element ever since he was a baby. He can even produce a small flame without using hand signs. Was it just him who thought it was a little odd for a school that trains children into weapons to not teach them even basics like that?
Well, it didn't matter right now. Right now they needed to formulate a plan.
"If... what you said about Shioku is correct, then she'd be hot on our tail already," Echiko thought aloud. He got a solemn nod from Shigeru. "Knowing her, she would have found what direction we're in by now." He added.
If I was Shioku, what would I do?... Echiko pondered for a moment. "She... most likely, would have split the group into teams. Probably 4 to 5 people each, herself with those who are decent in detection and maneuverability..."
"So an Aburame, definitely," Shigeru said. "And Uchiha. That girl with the curly white hair is pretty fast too."
Was he talking about Nya? Well if she was anything like her cousin, then she would be a scary opponent to have. "So at least 4 of them are going to be tough to catch off guard. If they take the most direct path here, following and disarming any traps, they'd reach us within the next few hours."
"I say we should trap the hell out of this place, that way when they find him we can ambush them from the trees." A competitive smile grew on Shigeru's face.
"Uh, I guess that could work..." Echiko hadn't thought of anything better. Working with someone against several teams was a whole new world to him.
"Take a nap, short-stack. I'll wake you before it starts." Shigeru looked away. "Can't have you weak bodied and tired."
Echiko wasn't going to argue with that. He found a comfortable nook against a boulder and closed his eyes, but his mind kept going. How were they going to ambush Shioku and her team? Should he use his summons? What if they get ambushed by another team while dealing with hers? A lot could happen. But his heart throbbed in his chest making his fingers tingle. He didn't want to lose. The excitement the next few hours might bring blended with his dreams, and before he knew it, he was being shaken awake.

They crouched, hands at the ready hovering over their weapon pouches as they peered over their campsite from the trees above. Echiko kept his breath slow and steady, calming his nerves and remaining as quiet as possible, but he couldn't help but glance at Shigeru who had yet to master the art of quiet breathing. Hopefully their opponents wouldn't be too aware when they stumble upon their captured teammate cleverly dangling over an invisible trap. For extra effect, a low light torch was propped up nearby with an unlit campfire and fresh game making it look like the enemy had just dipped out for a second.
Now all they had to do was wait. Who would show up first? With all their planning he was hoping it would be Shioku, because they hadn't really made any other plans of attack for any other group. Then he had a thought. What if the class thought the bloody sign was a prank and stayed at camp? Oh but the teacher did say he'd tell them about the game. So that couldn't happen. They could have also decided to wait until morning, knowing Kenji could take care of himself just fine until then. But that would defeat the purpose of the exercise. They had to treat it as if enemy ninja had taken a teammate. So that wouldn't happen either. No, he felt the class would largely follow the most logical route, and Shioku would provide that route with ease. The only question that remained: if they determined the direction of their stolen companion before or after the group hypothetically split up? Because if before, he and Shigeru might find themselves surrounded in no time because all the teams would be in some way headed this direction. And if a skirmish did take place with one team, the others would hear it. Echiko rubbed his temples with an inward sigh. I should stop thinking about this... I'm spinning in circles...
He glanced up at the sky. The heaviest of clouds had long since moved on, but there was enough coverage to still guarantee as little light, and shadow, as possible. A mist was slowing seeping through the underbrush, giving the midnight forest a rather eerie feel. It wasn't cold, either, as there was barely a breeze to dry the beads of sweat forming on Echiko's forehead. Just as he began to think about switching positions, something quick and thin scurried up the trunk below. In a second, it stopped before him, forked tongue checking his scent. It was his summon.
"They're here."

A few moments later and they heard the footsteps. It sounded like four or five, walking at a brisk pace. They must have gotten used to detecting the traps and could avoid them altogether. The first figure broke into the clearing and immediately stopped, his eyes on the outcropping of rocks and he beckoned for the others to follow. Two, three more, all guys Echiko didn't recognize. Two of them seemed to be wearing the Uchiha fan on the backs of their jackets, but it was hard to make out in this light. The third had on a long trench coat. Maybe the Aburame? The first boy, however, wore a bright vest over a long sleeved shirt. His hair was lighter too. Maybe Shigeru knows who he is...
Finally, a girl stepped out into the clearing. Echiko let out a breath. It was definitely Shioku. She seemed to be talking to the others in a hushed voice, and directed them to search around the rocks. This is it!
One of the Uchiha was the first to see Kenji. "Hey! He's here!" He dashed forward, hand outstretched, only to find himself hanging upside down next to his rescue. Echiko swore he saw Kenji roll his eyes.
"You idiot! Check for traps! What do you think we've been doing this whole time?" Shioku voiced angrily. She moved to join him, but was stopped by something in the bushes. "Keep your guard up!" She readied a kunai. "We don't know these chunnin's abilities-"
Echiko and Shigeru moved before she could finish speaking. In a flash, several kunai were tossed in her direction by Shigeru, while Echiko threw a handful of shuriken at the boys trying to rescue Kenji, activating a jutsu with the other hand, turning the few sharp objects into 30. It was only to distract them, as their main goal was to capture Shioku. If they took out one at a time, they'd be forced to join their team.
Shioku easily blocked Shigeru's kunai, and when she caught sight of him he was preparing hand seals for a jutsu. Instinctively she stepped back. Shigeru smirked. See, Shigeru didn't know any offensive jutsu. But Shioku didn't know that. So as she stepped backwards, her heel clipped a wire that was attached to one of the kunai he had thrown. In one fell swoop, Shioku was lifted into the air completely enshrouded by tent fabric that had been placed strategically below the dirt. Shigeru hopped down from the tree and poked the sharp point of his weapon into the canvas. "Surrender, Shioku," he commanded. A muffled "fuck!" was his reply from within.
Echiko was dealing with holding the others back during this time. He shot Fire Flare down multiple wires across the clearing, and - with the help of a wide-winged silvery dragon summon - billowed gusts of wind and fire, cornering the other Uchiha and Aburame into the center of the outcropping. The boy in the bright jacket shot down, palms to the earth. What was he...? Suddenly, a thick mud wall appeared between Echiko's fireballs and the opposition. It served to keep them covered until the Uchiha and Kenji were untied.
"Shigeru!" Echiko panicked a little, glancing over at his teammate who had just released the Nara from her cloth prison. She seemed to be a bit peeved to realize her opponents were her classmates and not respectable chunnin.
"You with us?" Shigeru asked flatly.
Her frown deepened. "God. Fine. It's not like I have a choice."
She quickly equipped herself with another set of kunai and stepped up to the line of burnt grass. She tossed a question at Echiko. "This your idea?"
"Uh, no?" Puzzled at what she meant, Echiko called his summon back and released the wires just as the mud wall collapsed back into the earth. The now five boys stood in ready positions, seeing their old teammate was now with the enemy. A feral voice barked into the air, "Shigeru! I'm coming for you, fat boy!" Kenji had climbed atop the largest boulder and glared at Echiko's team.
Shigeru growled. "It's called muscle! You shit for brains!" He pounded his chest. "If you're man enough, come down here and fight me!"
Echiko was beginning to worry. They were making so much noise, if other teams were nearby they'd definitely hear it. They have already lost their advantage but gained a new ally, and were now at a stalemate with both teams not sure where to move.
"Hey, peg-leg." Shioku tapped her hip impatiently.
"Huh?" Peg-leg? Really? He bet she never paid attention enough to learn his name. Although he supposed he was guilty of the same.
"Do you have any summons that reflect light?"
Echiko paused. Of course. If she wanted to use her trump card, she'd need something that gave enough light to cast shadows she can use. "But wouldn't your teammates who know your abilities be wary of it?"
She looked at him. "They don't know yours."
It was true. He had only touched the tip of the iceberg with the types of dragons he could summon. This gave him an idea. "I'll do you one better," he said firmly. "Can you distract them for 20 seconds?"
"Consider it done."
Her hands shifted to the small of her back and she pulled out a scroll, instantly casting it into the air as it unraveled. Quick to react, one of the Uchiha formed hand signs for a fireball technique, while the other charged at Shigeru pulling him into a spar in taijutsu. Kenji was still rubbing his rope burns, but he and the boy in the bright jacket had to brace themselves for the onslaught of shuriken and kunai that blasted out of Shioku's scroll. The last boy, the Aburame, ducked under a rock. It seemed he had already used up his strength searching for traps with his insects along the way here, so he was stuck hiding for now.
Echiko closed his eyes and concentrated on the flow of chakra within his body. Focus. If his attention deviated even a little, he might not summon the dragon he was intending for. And right now he needed a very particular one.
The ends of his hair quivered with the heat of the Uchiha's fireball as it flew passed him, having been easily avoided by its original target. But he continued to concentrate. When the moment was right, he formed the set of hand seals for summoning, slicing the skin on his palm so a thin stream of blood coated his hand and this time shot his hand into the air. Poof!
It was hard to see, bits of its surroundings reflecting off its shimmering scales. It had a thick torso and short neck, almost looking more akin to a crocodile than a dragon. It expanded its wings and pounced off Echiko's extended hand, straight for the space above Shioku's head. It hovered and began to glow.
"Shigeru! Toss the tent!" Echiko shouted as best he could.
The reformed bully cursed under his breath and stomp kicked his opponent in the chest, sending him skidding back several yards. Two seconds and the tent that had been used to capture Shioku was now in the sky, just as the oddly glowing dragon suddenly brightened tremendously. It grew so bright Echiko couldn't even watch it. And then the small beast cocked back its head, opened its mouth, and shot out one after another - a stream of molten rocks like a catapult, launching them at the five boys.
It was chaos. Although the burning rocks were only the size of a fist, they were as hot as hell and there were dozens of them raining down. The boys tried their best to find or create cover except for Kenji, who took this chance to dart his way through the hailstorm of fire planting a fist straight into Shigeru's gut. As he went down, he grasped Kenji's shirt and pulled him down with him, turning their fist fight into a full on brawl in the dirt.
The dragon's storm was quick to end and smoke puttered from its entire body, slowly returning to normal, although its scales were now blackened like charcoal. As the dust settled, Echiko squinted to see what had happened. Shioku stood in a wide stance, her hands and fingers holding an activation handsign in the center of her body. A dark line emitting from her own shadow had strung across the playing field, stretching passed where the tent had landed and splitting into four, securely paralyzing the boys who had tried to hide. Their bodies twitched to no avail, and Shioku finally smiled.
Was it a smile? Echiko shivered. It looked more like a sadistic smirk.
"Well?" She called out. "I didn't capture your tongues, you simpletons! Out with it!"
"Gah! We-we surrender!" the boy in the bright jacket whimpered. All his teammates had been captured now, save Kenji.
Shioku let up her jutsu and wiped her brow. "When you said you 'had one better', that's not exactly what I prepared for," she mused, turning to Echiko. She seemed exhausted. "Without the tent casting a large enough shadow, all we'd have accomplished was mess up the forest. But," she added. "It wasn't a terrible plan."
Echiko found himself grinning. Was he getting a compliment from the smartest person in class? His dragon waddled over to him and he patted its head with affection. We did good!
"Hey..." a boy with dark hair walked up to them. His short sleeved shirt bore the symbol of the Uchiha. "What are we gonna do about them?" He pointed over to where Kenji had Shigeru in a headlock until Shigeru twisted out of it, putting Kenji into an armlock with his legs - all while yelling profanities at each other.
"Leave them be." Shioku wore her laziest expression again. "They'll eventually get tired of it."
"What should we do about the game?" The bright jacket the boy who spoke was wearing appeared even brighter now that he was standing close. What color was it? Yellow? "If we're now part of the enemy team, shouldn't we move to a new location since this area has been compromised?"
Both Uchiha boys nodded their heads, and the Aburame mumbled quietly, "-most likely saw the hail of fire even if they were miles away..."
"That ability was pretty cool," bright jacket boy said, looking at Echiko. His eyes sparkled. "Your name was what again?"
"Eh? Ah... Echiko," he stammered in return. Why am I suddenly getting nervous?
"I'll remember it. The name's Nori," the boy jutted a thumb to his chest then out to the two Uchiha, "and this is Seto and his cousin Uruada. Bug-boy is Hotaka."
"Oh, uh..." It's nice to meet you... He was about to say it, but got caught in his throat. They've already known each other for months, technically. So it would be weird to say 'meet' you...
As Echiko was stuck in a loop of social anxiety, Seto and Uruada had moved onto the two boys still at each other, trying to pry them apart, and Nori formed another mud wall between them using his earth jutsu. "It's over, guys, come on!"
"No! Fuck this bastard!" Shigeru spat.
"You started it, asshole," Kenji growled.
Seto scoffed. He was barely containing Shigeru in a lock from behind. "You guys are acting like children. We're on mission, remember? Grow up."
"...at least leave it for later, it's becoming uncomfortable," Hotaka inserted in a low voice, eyeing the trees. His insects were growing increasingly active, which made the other boys shiver a little.
"Bah! Fine." Kenji was the first to let go and stomped off in Shioku's direction. "You're not worth it, anyway."
"Are you done? Let's go then."
It took a moment for Echiko to gather himself before realizing the others had started walking off ahead of him. Brushing the dust off his shirt, he made one last glance at their now destroyed 'hideout'. All in all, they did pretty well. Things could have gone sour if Shigeru had kept up his arrogant attitude towards him. But he ended up being a decent partner and ally Echiko could count on. Maybe this was the real reason Sensei put us together... The teacher knew their strengths and weaknesses more than anyone. He must have seen the value in Shigeru and used Echiko's circumstances to push him in the right direction. Of course the boy was still a bully, but Echiko understood him much better now. Not that I'd ever want to be put on the same genin team as him...

"Echiko, lemme see that map."
He handed it to Nori, who stuck his tongue out in concentration as he peered at the dots marking the spot where the hideout was and the traps surrounding it. There wasn't much light to see by, as it was still barely past midnight. "Wouldn't it totally throw everyone off if we just went back to the main camp with Kenji? I mean, with everyone out looking for us, they're not going to return to camp until morning at least."
Shioku yawned. "As much as I'd love to return to camp, what happens if a group does return? By the rules, they'd only have to untie Kenji right then and there to win."
"But we could at least get a few hours of uninterrupted rest beforehand," Uruada said, yawning as well. "The last time I ever stayed up this late was playing games with Seto."
"And you ended up sleeping for fourteen hours and skipping school, you dolt," Seto chided. "I was forced to do extra homework because of you."
"Haha, how is that my fault? You could've slept in too." Uruada received a chop to the head in reply.
Echiko looked around. They were walking at a casual pace with Shigeru still grumbling in front, leading them away from any traps they had placed earlier that night. Shioku and Hotaka followed him with a lightly tied and gagged Kenji in tow. He seemed to have finally accepted his fate in being the most important piece of the game. The rest of the boys strode in from behind, all not really aware of their surroundings as every yawn sprouted another one.
Echiko recalled something his father used to tell him. "Long restless nights are all that awaits a shinobi who is unprepared for his enemy."
"What if we did go back to camp..." Echiko ventured. His voice cracked. "Not-not only would we be claiming our opponents home base, but we could defend ourselves easier there than in the trees. We could... we could use Nori's abilities to make a wall around the camp and make openings to throw kunai..." He stopped when he realized everyone was looking at him.
"I'd feel much safer with four walls around me," Nori agreed after a while.
"We could set up more traps around the perimeter too," Seto added.
"Then one or two could keep watch while we sleep!" Uruada got a little excited. Shioku only shrugged, but her steps turned inward and the group was quick to follow. However, they only walked a few yards before Hotaka raised his fist and muttered, "-ere's movement to our left, you were being too loud, now we're spotted..."
Shioku crouched low and said in a hushed tone, "You don't know that. Let's lay low for a minute."
The stillness in the air was deafening. The summer wildlife that normally kept the forest alive with sound were nowhere to be heard in mid-winter, save for the occasional hoot of an owl. They could hear, however, an unnatural rustling in the bushes a ways off to their left, and distant low voices though not loud enough for the group to catch a word.
"Which group do you think it is?" Seto whispered to Shioku.
"Only Chicho and Tori's teams went this way," she said. "So unless another group doubled back, it's most likely one of them. Or both."
Echiko quietly summoned a small, slender dragon with a forked tongue - one he first used against Kakashi in the bell test with Obito. This dragon had two skills: to track a scent already known to it, or to sense the chakras of any larger creature nearby. Once found, it could convey the sense mentally to its master.
Echiko knew he was getting to the end of his chakra supply, but knowing how many enemies lie ahead was important. The slender dragon slithered into the underbrush and out of sight, leaving Echiko in anticipation.
"What was that? What is it doing?" Nori whispered in awe right behind Echiko. He was a little too close to him for comfort.
"It will be able to tell me how many there are," Echiko said at length. If it was two teams together, they might be better off sneaking around. It was quick to return to his hand, but as soon as Echiko perceived what it sensed, he squinted in the distance, puzzled.
"What? What is it?" Now the other boys were getting curious. But Shigeru noticed his confusion. "Is something wrong?" He questioned.
"Well..." Echiko started to sweat. "It's weird." He pulled his thoughts together, trying to make sense of what he was seeing enough to put it into words. "The others split into groups of 4 or 5 like you guys, right?" They nodded. "There... there are only 3 chakra signatures I can sense, and 2 of them are much bigger than any Academy student..."
Silence.
"Much...bigger?" Seto frowned. "Like an adult?"
Echiko stared at him with wide eyes. "Like an adult."
Shioku was quick to dismiss the growing elephant in the room. "One has to be Sensei, or possibly a chunnin team helping keep the game in check. I would think Sensei has high level shinobi keeping watch on us as well. There's no way..." she collected herself, "there's absolutely no way it's what we're all thinking."
"She's right, I mean, we're so close to the wall right outside Konoha," Uruada's voice quavered as he tried to put on a smile. "It couldn't be..."
"It's not possible, right?" Nori fidgeted uncomfortably. "It's not."
Kenji was sniffing the air. He had already spat out his gag and freed himself from the rope. "I don't recognize the scent."
"God, get a grip!" Shigeru suddenly growled. "It's a test! Sensei already said 'two chunnin instructors' would be the bad guys of the game. He told us we were the enemy, but that was to throw us off so it would be harder!"
The others looked visibly relieved. "Of course, haha."
"We assumed he meant you two."
"That makes sense..."
But we don't know that for sure... Echiko thought. What if we're wrong?
"Either way," Shioku interjected, "we treat it the same as a real mission. So if these ninja aren't with us, then are they our enemy as well?"
"Do we have to confront them?" Seto pondered. "If they take out the other teams, they're just helping us out."
"You can't treat it like a game," Kenji glowered. Is he part of the team now? "They'll come after us sooner or later. Right now we have the element of surprise."
"So we fight," Shigeru determined. The two feral boys seemed to have completely forgotten about their previous disagreements.
"No- let's at least scout it out more, first," mumbled Hotaka apprehensively. "...I don't like running in blindly..."
"That makes me wonder," Nori thought aloud. "Who is the third person with them? Did they already take out another team? Are they taking a hostage as well?"
"If they received the same instructions as these two, then it would make sense," Shioku waved a hand towards Echiko and Shigeru.
"If we capture their target, I wonder if we'll get extra points?" Uruada was smiling for real now. His earlier sleepiness had washed away.

Echiko's heart thumped uneasily in his chest. Everyone seems bent on thinking this encounter is part of the game. But is it really that hard for an enemy ninja to sneak around in the forest outside Konoha? He thought back to the weird feeling he had on the first day of the trip. Like they were being watched... it's an uncomfortable feeling, and he knew it well. So if these ninja were watching us, what were they watching for? It's not like Academy children would know any information of value an enemy could use, or make for very good bargaining chips. Because they lived in a world where the average life expectancy capped at 35, one child's life was an acceptable sacrifice for the grand scheme of things.
Echiko's fingers dug further into his palms. No, you can't think like that. We're right outside of Konoha. This is a game. Nothing is going to happen!
He was pulled out of his thoughts when Shioku finalized their plan of attack.
"We listen first. 'Bad guys' are always talking about their plans out loud. They'll most likely do the same, if they think anyone is watching." Her voice was low and steady. "When the time is right, Shigeru and Kenji will go first and distract them. The rest of us will be right on their heels. Our main goal is to capture their hostage and get out, so Seto, Uruada - you're covering us from behind." She took a moment to look at everyone in the eye. "If the chunnin put up a fight we will definitely lose, so IN and OUT. Got it?"
The excitement of this new challenge spread to everyone but Echiko and Hotaka, and they all nodded enthusiastically.
Moving as quietly as they could, the group of Academy students slowly made their way closer to the 'enemy' ninja they sensed earlier. They hadn't moved and seemed to be deep in conversation, but it wasn't until Echiko's group was a stone's throw away could he make out what they were saying.
"-ugh, I really shouldn't have eaten that sweet roll."
"It was in your pack for months, what did you expect?"
...Eh?
"I dunno, it still looked good."
"You'd eat a rock if it had a sugar glaze."
"I wouldn't! I'm not that bad."
"Yes, yes you are."
"Before this, I hadn't eaten anything sweet for months!"
"Your definition of sweet is skewed. Just last week I saw you eating dango. You know how much sugar is in those?"
"What? I thought they were mostly rice and stuff?"
"Have you ever tried plain rice?"
"I dunno, probably?"

What was with this conversation?
There were two young men casually sitting below the trees. It was hard to see much in the darkness, but they both seemed to be wearing long sleeved outfits cuffed at the ankles and wrists with mesh armor. Instead of the usual flak jacket a chunnin or jonin would wear, these wore unmarked and tattered coats. Their hair was covered with a bandana, and one was rubbing his belly with an unpleasant face.
"How much longer do we have to stay here?" he complained. His companion was squatting on his heels, sorting through what looked to be a large backpack. "Just until he meets up with us."
"Ugh... I hate waiting for a damn brat! We have a hostage already, why don't we just leave?" He gestured to a large burlap sack leaning against a tree. The smallest chakra Echiko sensed was definitely in there.
"Just 'cause we got one doesn't mean we got the right one." The other retorted. "Our spy on the inside will definitely know which of these babies is the most valuable."

The tension in Echiko's team was paralyzing. Was this scripted dialogue of a Konoha chunnin in disguise - or was it real? Echiko glanced at Shigeru. He could see the veins in his forehead popping out even through the darkness and he looked about ready to pounce right in. Don't do it, Shigeru! Echiko panicked.
A new figure suddenly stumbled into view. He was much shorter than the two unknown shinobi and wore a basic t-shirt and slacks. Echiko barely recognized him. He's an Academy student...
The boy seemed out of breath. "Where...why...why didn't you guys meet up with me first?" He wheezed. "I thought we were doing this later."
"We were getting bored," the one rubbing his belly answered with a snarl. "Plus, it wasn't hard to snatch a Hyuga after all. She barely put up a fight."
The boy looked exasperated. "You idiot. If you had met up with me first, I'd of told you the Hyuga didn't come on this trip!"
"What?" Both men shot up. "Are you sure? This one definitely looked like a Hyuga - she had the eyes!"
"And what did the eyes look like?" he prodded.
"Well, they were - they were really clear. Kinda purple."
"Yeah and her hair was super white! She has to be from a clan like that!"

They're talking about Nya! She's their hostage!

"She's not," the boy rubbed his face. His eyes were cold. "God, whatever. It's fine. Take her and get out of here before you're noticed. There's plenty of chunnin in these woods watching the students right now, and I don't want to get caught talking to the likes of you."
"Shut it, brat," one of the men spat. "Don't think you're better than us 'cause you're on the inside. That arrogance will get you killed, little spy! And when we get back to Iwa we'll tell 'em exactly how helpful you really were."
That was the final strand before Shigeru lost it.
He hated spies. He hated enemy ninja. And he hated anyone who would dare make light of his Village and his classmates. Echiko knew this, and perhaps he felt relieved when the large boy shot forward without any warning. Echiko himself was paralyzed by his own powerlessness. He could never be the one to intervene first - there's no way he'd stand a chance, no matter how much he wanted to - his body wouldn't move. So he looked up to someone like Shigeru who didn't dwell on the gap between him and one who was stronger. He flew in, a sharp punch aimed at the enemy's face.
Smack!
The unknown ninja shifted, narrowly avoiding the brunt of the punch, but still getting grazed enough to reel back, hand to his nose that started to bleed profusely. "You fucker!"
Kenji was quick on his heels, dealing a heavy roundhouse kick to the side of the other ninja's stomach, and he immediately threw up. "Aw crap! What a waste of a sweet roll!" The enemy didn't have time to wipe the bile from his mouth, as Kenji connected a heel to his jaw with a seamless spinning kick. The enemy's head cracked against the ground.
"Get up, Osubachi!" the other called out. He guarded against a series of punches from Shigeru. "They're just kids!"
"Ugh, they don't hit like kids," Osubachi whined as he jumped back up, spitting out a tooth and eying Kenji with a devilish grin. "Hey Ichiru, can I kill him?"
"Do what you like, but we need to get out of here fast," his companion replied. As Shigeru drew his fist back for another punch, the one called Ichiru followed it in with an uppercut to Shigeru's chin, launching the boy off his feet and into a tree.
The others of Echiko's team did not stand idle. Uchihas Seto and Uruada pelted the enemy with kunai. Nori and Notaka cornered the Academy spy, and Shioku skirted the action to reach the captured Nya who was struggling to get out of the sack.
Echiko nervously waited for an opportunity. How should he support his allies? If he tried for another summon he'd exhaust the last of his chakra. Think, Echiko! He watched the movements of the Iwa shinobi, gauging their strengths. The one called Osubachi seemed like a glass cannon. He conjured explosive mud balls and tossed them in all directions, not caring about his surroundings or in how much damage he took himself from a few well aimed kunai and kicks. The other man, Ichiru was it? He used his head, always waiting to counter or block any attack. He had yet to use any jutsu other than creating earthen armor for defense.
Echiko guessed he was probably the stronger of the two. And using jutsu wildly like Osubachi was a bad idea if you didn't want more Konoha shinobi to show up anytime soon. What was Ichiru planning? Echiko couldn't let him move first. He thought back to the books he read about Iwagakure when he was a child. If he remembered correctly, earth techniques were weak to... lightning? How could they create lightning? He woefully wished Academy students were allowed to carry element-infused scrolls and explosive tags. Without those, he'd need to somehow create it naturally, and the only people here with any knowledge of their chakra elements were the Uchiha and... wait. Echiko's heart steadied. He thought of a wild idea. It might not work, but... it can at least get the attention of allies nearby. And that's all they needed.

Shigeru huffed and hung back, trying to catch his breath. The Iwa ninja he singled out as his opponent had barely moved, countering and blocking every punch Shigeru made since breaking his nose in the first round. Also he layered on a thick armor of earth that protected him from any kunai thrown by Seto and Uruada, so only Shigeru was taking damage. But Shigeru's stance didn't waiver and he prepared himself to deal another onslaught of punches when suddenly - a storm of shuriken rained down from three sides on the Iwa ninja with terrible aim. Or was it?
The blunted shuriken bounced off the smooth bark of the trees and swung around the enemy, stringing dozens of wires with them, enough to bind the Iwa shinobi to the back of one tree even if just for a moment. Seto and Uruada popped out from the bushes, followed by Echiko, who all quickly formed a couple hand signs simultaneously and jutted their chins to the sky. "Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!" the two Uchiha boys shouted. They had filled their mouths with oil from their pouches with Echiko's direction, and bellowed out two massive balls of fire into the clouds above. Echiko as well, although he did not know the Great Fireball technique, shot several smaller fire bullets with them and they all collided in the air - forming angry storm clouds immediately above their heads.
"What the fuck is that...?" The Iwa shinobi fighting Kenji lowered his guard for a second, distracted by the odd actions of the Uchiha kids. He regretted it, though, as a moment later got the wind knocked out of him from another well placed kick by Kenji.
All Echiko saw was a bright flash. But they all felt the electricity in the atmosphere, raising the ends of their hair, and the thunderous BOOM that shook them off their feet. Smoke rose from the tallest tree that conducted most of the charge straight to the ground, and unfortunately for the enemy, straight through the shuriken and wires wrapped around him and the tree. He had tried to thicken his earthen armor, but the electricity went right through it as well. By the time the dust cleared, everyone could tell he was badly burned and most likely unconscious.
"Shit! That was so cool!" Uruada couldn't help but cheer. "I've never made a fireball that big before!"
The other Iwa shinobi cursed under his breath when he saw what happened to his companion. He looked incredibly angry. "Who the fuck shoots fireballs into the air for a little bit of lightning? You little fuckers are gonna pay. I will kill you all right here and now-" He had his hands on the ground, ready to produce a deadly technique, but was quickly cut short by a snake-like shadow climbing up his body and around his throat. Shioku had not missed the opportunity the bright lightning gave her. Nya was there behind her, unbound and kunai in hand just in case. Echiko had to stifle a laugh as he noticed her fluffy white hair floated up on its own with the amount of static in the air.
The battle wasn't over yet, though. Shioku couldn't hold the Iwa ninja for long, especially since this enemy was stronger than her. He was already struggling hard against it, and he could see the beads of sweat on the Nara's brow.
The problem was, just tying him up wasn't going to do anything. Plenty of ninja could activate jutsu without the use of both hands, so even if they tied up every limb he was still a dangerous opponent-
As Echiko was musing over this, Kenji was a man of action, and saw the opportunity to land several punches and kicks to the man's exposed face. Yeah, that would do it. Echiko wasn't sure the man would have any teeth left after this was over... He looked away from the carnage and glanced at Nori.

Nori and Hotaka had confronted the classmate who became a spy, but the battles around them unraveled so fast they were still just standing there by the time the lightning dissipated. Now surrounded by his former classmates with nowhere to turn and no one to help, the spy's face was stoically grim.
"Who are you?" Nori shouted. "I thought you were my friend, Noboru!"
The boy looked him in the eye. "Don't get too cocky. They were only weak genin. You will all soon perish to Iwa's might and forever be in our shadow! The crushing of Konoha has only just begun!" He began to foam at the mouth and his eyes rolled back, falling to the floor - dead.
Nori's eyes were wide with horror. "He... he..." The words wouldn't come out.
Hotaka bowed his head. "He committed suicide... to not be captured..."

The air was heavy. The kids didn't know what to do. It was finally beginning to settle with them the fact they all just fought real live enemies and barely avoided getting seriously injured. Their opponents were only genin? Echiko gulped. They were incredibly lucky then, because anyone slightly stronger would have ended their lives in a heartbeat. It was a disheartening moment. Echiko started to wonder about the other students. If any of them encountered enemies as well...
It wasn't a full minute before a tall figure in a boar mask appeared. He scanned the group of children quietly before nodding towards the body of the spy. "You have all done a great service for Konoha. You should be proud."
Nya stammered to ask him, "What-what about the other students? I-I was with a group but we were ambushed-" Tears formed in her eyes as she remembered what happened to her.
The masked figure moved to place what looked like thick handcuffs on the two Iwa shinobi before addressing her question. "I was only given information that the perimeter had been breached. Several teams were dispatched to find and protect you, but I am not aware of the condition any student might previously be in. I am sorry I didn't make it in time to help you."
She nodded slowly, hiding her face in her sleeve.
"Your teacher set up a relief center at the main campsite. Panda and Mouse will escort you," he gestured to his right, where two other masked ninjas were now standing. The boar masked man then grasped the collars of the two unconscious enemies and disappeared soundlessly. That's the Body Flicker Technique, isn't it? Echiko thought to himself.
"Come now," Mouse ushered softly in a feminine voice. Panda had hoisted the body of Noboru over his shoulder and followed behind as Echiko's group was guided back to the main campground.
The events of the game earlier that night now felt like a distant memory, and Echiko couldn't shake the declaration Noboru gave before he died.

The Crushing of Konoha has only just begun, huh?