SUMMARY: Continuation of the Wave arc.
Kurenai thinks it's time to call for back up.
They pause for a little break: Tazuna is a civilian.
Kurenai takes her Genin aside for a little while.
She doesn't have a way to call for back-up but she's pretty sure they're going to need to.
While the three were securing the Demon Brothers, she grilled the builder.
The only reason they haven't turned back is because of the children depending on this and the fact it's the only time the other three have ever been out.
But Kurenai isn't super confident.
They need other ninja now.
Just because she doesn't have a way, doesn't mean her Genin don't.
She's not going to underestimate them like that.
Anko curses as her seal begins to pulse.
Sakura offered it to her before they left - just in case.
She needs to get out of here fast before it activates.
The three somehow managed to combine a Kariwami with a Shunshin.
Or at least it looks like it.
Sumire didn't really describe it further than a transportation seal.
Anko sprints out of the building and manages to get to one of the training grounds before she disappears.
Unknown to her, the training ground isn't quite as empty as she would hope.
Ru wobbles when Anko appears.
He's had to put quite a bit of chakra into that seal.
He might have bigger than average chakra pools but they're not infinite and he hasn't paid much attention to expanding them.
Ra and Re rush to stabilise him.
Their Sensei decides it's something they are going to need to work on.
Anko assesses their surroundings and when she finds no immediate threats, she turns to Kurenai.
They continue on for a little while, until Ru disturbs their walk by throwing a Kunai at a bush.
The Kunai has gone straight through a white rabbit's flank.
A white rabbit.
It's not the right time of year.
He shivers and returns to his place.
Tazuna looks a little spooked but he really couldn't care less.
"Dinner." he smiles apologetically.
Kurenai, Re and Anko try not to laugh.
Ra sniggers.
It get surprisingly misty as they continue.
Kurenai tastes the air - it's almost as if...
As if there is chakra in the mist.
She exchanges a worried look with Anko.
Gato is quite a big enemy to make it seems.
If he can spend enough to hire more than decent killers, he's clearly got quite a lot to his name.
Why did he hire the Demon Brothers then?
Were they meant to be a distraction?
A way of delaying them so they couldn't face the next enemy?
Kurenai doesn't know.
It's making her uneasy.
It's worse than she thought.
But she doesn't know how bad it is.
She has to protect her Genin.
"GET DOWN!"
Ra, Re and Ru obey without a moment's hesitation, knocking the builder down with them.
It turns out to be a good choice because a heavy blade thuds over their heads before embedding into the tree behind them.
The poor tree now has a giant gash in it.
Honestly, though, it's not the tree's fault!
Collateral damage.
They wince.
It's a huge blade and they wonder just who wields it.
Ra swears she looses some hair - maybe it's time for a trim.
Or maybe not.
Considering a huge man jumps onto its handle, maybe later.
If there is a later.
"Zabuza Momochi, Demon of the Mist." Kurenai mutters darkly.
Probably not.
Why is he here?
To assassinate the bridge builder probably.
He brings more trouble than he's worth. Still...
Ra leans over to Sumire.
Perhaps they can find a way to...
Ru tenses.
Ra and Re are planning something so it's up to him to defend them until they're done.
"Naruto." Ra says and Re hands him a seal, indicating the bridge builder.
Ru nods.
He doesn't know what is going on yet but he trusts them.
Re's seals are reliable - Tazuna will be fine.
The man crumples like a sack of potatoes.
Hearing the thud, everyone turns to face them.
Ru doesn't shake from the Killing Intent the missing Nin is radiating.
"Strong ones you have here." the man comments when none of the three back down. "It's too bad-"
"Wait!" Re calls.
Ru moves to flank her.
Re is undoubtedly the best talker but there is no guarantee this man will listen.
Ru glares at him.
If he so much lays a finger on any of them (except Tazuna), he'll kill the man.
"Why are you here?"
The man raises an eyebrow.
"Yes but why do you want to kill him?" Re continues.
"Just a job, nothing personal." he shrugs.
"Any time limit?"
The man snarls, "Get to the point little girl."
"We've been hired to protect him until he builds the bridge. Is there any reason you can't... delay his death for a little?"
Zabuza smiles, his razor teeth prominent.
Ru buckles himself, waiting for the threat.
Re breathes slowly out.
It's nothing more that luck and Ra's help dealing with the details that she isn't dead right now.
She's been waiting for the other shoe to drop for the past few seconds.
She was just getting ready to remind the others that she wanted to be cremated when she is dead, especially when the man grins.
Then he speaks, "I like you brats."
He nods at their Senseis.
"Unfortunately, honour isn't enough for me to believe you."
Ra, Re and Ru understand this intimately.
"What do you suggest?" Anko, who's been watching the proceedings silently, interjects.
They know enough to accept that without some sort of hostage on either side, there is a danger of the contract not being kept.
Zabuza makes a small sign and a child around their age appears.
Oh.
They nod collectively at Zabuza.
"The purple one." he says.
Re squeezes Ra and Ru's hands and switches places with the child.
"My name is Haku. Please take care of me."
Haku bows and Ra and Ru have no choice but to allow him to join them.
He's surprisingly polite for Zabuza's apprentice.
Still, they have to keep an eye out.
Zabuza and Re disappear into the mist.