The knife the Undead held clattered across the floor of the cave, as the Undead's arm was pinned against the wall behind them. Held there by the hands of one of the Shinobi. The Undead easily wrenched their arm free in time for one of the others to bring a dagger down on the hardened leather covering the Undead's wrist. Lodging the blade in the leather and cutting a shallow wound into the flesh below. The Undead looked into the blind eyes of the dagger's wielder before his hand reached down for his Iaito's handle. Finding nothing, however, as his blade lay beside him as he slept, not on his waist.
The Undead balled his hand into a fist and swung it, hitting the blind eye in the chest, releasing their grip on the dagger and sending them flying out of the entrance to the cave. The Undead tore the dagger from his wrist, as the one in his grasp, Oroka, hit the cut with both hands. The snap of bones accompanying the strike.
Oroka hit the ground, spluttering as he regained his breath before a screech tore past his lips as the dagger was slashed across his face. The Undead felt a punch strike their head, making them stumble. The Undead watched as the remaining three gathered, two of them dragging the fool out of the cave. Oroka's hands covering his bleeding eyes.
The Undead looked towards his limp hand.
FIRE STYLE!
The Undead raised their head to the entrance of the cave and the yell that came from it. The Pyromancy flame conjuring in their limp hand, the other dipping into the bottomless box, hunting for a Flame Stoneplate Ring. The Undead crouched before the bonfire with his cloak splayed out.
Great Fireball Jutsu!
The Undead's finger found the Ring. The Pyromancy flame pressing against his chest. The Undead's body poured sweat from every pore.
A flash of heat and a wave of fire washed over the Undead.
Onnanoko watched as Aiman sent a fireball into the small cave they had found the…She didn't know what to call them, they weren't an enemy Nin. And she was sure that they wouldn't have even fought if it were not for Oroka's brash actions. Still, in that small a space, nothing should survive the fireball.
She held her hands over Oroka, trying to heal him of his wounds. She kept her eyes on Aiman though as he collapsed to his knees, his breathing strained as he clutched at his ribcage.
"I think he broke something…" Aiman's voice was laboured.
Shuryo leaned against a tree some metres away. Catching his breath before turning her way. He gestured towards Oroka. "Onnanoko, how is he?"
She swallowed the lump in her throat before replying. "Not well. The kunai went deep, slashing his optic nerves." Oroka whimpered under her.
Shuryo balled his hand into a fist before slamming it against the tree. "We could have avoided this. Now we have a dead man on our hands."
There was a crackle, like that of fire with fresh kindling. Aiman looked up in time to see the fireball leave the mouth of the cave and impact him straight in the chest. Setting him ablaze. His scream dissolving into nothingness.
Onnanoko turned her attention to the cave mouth where out of the smoke strode the man, a shield in his left hand, an Iaito in the other.
How? How were they still standing?
The Man slowly looked between Onnanoko and Shuryo before turning his attention fully to where Oroka writhed on the ground.
"You may walk…" His voice cut through the morning air. Making Onnanoko forget the chill of dawn. "Just walk away and forget these tragedies. But leave the condemned to his fate." He pointed his sword straight at Oroka. Onnanoko moved to stand in front of Oroka, Kunai at the ready.
"C-aptain?" She growled inwardly at herself for the hitch in her voice. Giving away her nervousness.
Shuryo eyed up the Man before drawing three shuriken from his holster.
"I'm afraid we can't do that."
The Man across from the two ninja sighed.
"Very well…There is a blood debt to pay, and not drop of mine shall fall on the thirsty earth."
Three shuriken were thrown, all bouncing off the shield that was raised to meet them. A kick impacted the shield soon after.
"PROTECT OROKA!" She heard her leader yell.
She watched as the enemy pushed back against the kick. Forcing Shuryo into a backflip to the ground before pursuing quickly with a swing of the Iaito that was deftly dodged, each swipe of the blade narrowly missing. The Ninja drew a kunai, meeting the blade in a clash that drew sparks. The corner of the shield made Shuryo jump back, obscuring his opponent for but a second. A blade as long as Onnanoko slammed into the ground, Shuryo barely moving out of the way. From where the blade came from Onnanoko did not know. The Undead spun and slammed the blade into the ground again. Another turn and the blade was thrusted towards Shuryo. Cutting a long strip into the side of his flak jacket. Shuryo responded with a stiff punch to the jaw sending the enemy flying backwards.
Shuryo rushed his opponent, catching them as they still flew, an axe kick sent them into the ground. They raised their shield, leaving their sword as Shuryo began another flurry of blows. Each hit sent small tremors through the ground and pebbles flying into the air. The Undead thrust their shield out, throwing the shinobi off balance, Shuryo focused back on the Undead as a cloud of purple mist came rushing at him forcing him to retreat to the other side of the field.
Onnanoko watched her opponent pick themself out of the small crater they were in. As they reached down to pick their sword back up Onnanoko found herself throwing a kunai that just barely grazed their hand making it send a glare her way.
"Onnanoko!" She heard her captain, anger present in his voice.
"We have to work together!" She shouted out.
She heard a huff from her captain. "On my lead."
Shuryo threw two kunai out, both impacting the enemy in the feet, pinning him to the rock below. He dashed towards their opponent, Onnanoko trailing along behind him. He dodged a sloppily thrown punch before peppering his chest with a barrage of punches before grabbing hold of the shield their opponent still held and wrenched it off to the side to allow Onnanoko in. She drew the tanto that lay across her waist and slashed the neck and chest of her opponent before driving the tanto into his gut and up below the ribcage before stepping on his chest and jumping away. Shuryo spun into a roundhouse kick to the chest, sending the enemy into the rock wall beside the cave. Onnanoko following with her own kick to send him deeper. Jumping away again but not before leaving two explosive tags on it's chest. Onnanoko landed as the tags ignited. Sending smoke and dust everywhere. She heard the coughing of her captain as the dust cleared. Showing their opponent unmoving, imbedded in the rock. The fight was over.
Onnanoko turned to her captain as he fell to his knees. "Captain!" She called, running to his side. She saw him hold a hand to his waist where the sword cut through his Flak Jacket. She pulled out the bandages she carried. "How bad is it?" She asked.
Shuryo coughed again before responding. "It's shallow. I will live."
She looked to where Aimans body lay then to where their opponent ended. "Could this have been avoided?" She asked her captain.
"If we approached differently, yes. But Oroka's brashness has set us on this path of pointless death."
"I agree…"
Both shinobis' heads jerked up at the sound of the voice. The shifting and cracking of stone drew them to the rock wall where their opponent lay to find them clawing their way out of the wall. Stumbling momentarily as their boots returned to earth. They looked down at the handle sticking out of them and slowly wrapped both hands around it. He looked up to the two shinobi.
"Yet Velka's judgement has been cast. By his own actions he is condemned."
Onnanoko could hear the cries of crows in the distance.
He pulled the blade from his stomach before inspecting the weapon.
"As the crows demand. An eye for an eye."
She heard Her captain whisper next to her. "We cannot win this. We have to flee."
Shuryo jumped forwards, inhaling and began making hand signs as his opponent was already charging forwards again. Shuryo put his hands to the earth and shouted,
EARTH STYLE!
The Ninja's opponent raised their borrowed sword in an overhand swing.
MUD PIT!
The ground around the opponents feet softened and they sank in. A screech of anger leaving their mouth at the new predicament the Man found themselves in.
"Grab Oroka!" Shuryo ordered, one hand held over the cut he had sustained.
She hoisted Oroka's arm onto her shoulder, Shuryo taking his other arm. "What about Aiman?" She asked, pointing to where he lay.
"Leave him. We have to go."
The two took to the trees, jumping as far away from the cave as fast as they could.
As Onnanoko and Shuryo jumped through the treetops, she could hear a faint poem carried by the wind.
"The sky roared and trembled from the might at display, for from Gwyns mighty call the Lightning Spear sent the dragons into disarray."
Onnanoko looked over her shoulder in time to see a streak of light flying towards them before it impacted Shuryo in the back. Sending them both falling harshly to the ground below. She could barely breathe. The impact knocking all the air from her lungs. She could see through the forest a faint glow, as it got closer she could make it out as a pair of eyes. Orange and glowing like that of a fire. He walked closer through the trees until he came upon the three shinobi.
"Your persistence is admirable."
She watched as he reached far too deep into a small box on his hip and brought out the sword he had originally wielded. She watched as he fastened the scabbard to his belt before drawing the sword. He stood over Shuryo who was still weakly trying to crawl away, smoke and flame still coming from his back where the lightning struck him. The Man positioned the sword over him.
"When my time comes, Burn Me."
He thrust downwards, piercing through Shuryo's back and into his heart. He pulled the blade back out and turned his attention to Oroka.
"Take my bones and colour them red."
The Man walked over to Oroka who had struggled to his knees.
"Scatter them to the four corners of the world."
He stood in front of the crying Oroka, tears streaming down his face and voice breaking.
"Please don't kill me…I'm sorry for what I've done…I don't deserve to di-"
Oroka's sobs were silenced by a sword piercing his skull.
"And deny me the peace I doth not deserve."
The Man turned his attention to Onnanoko as he pulled the blade out. She could almost feel his eyes scrutinising her.
"You are different to these men."
He stalked towards her, blade at the ready.
Onnanoko crawled backwards until her back hit a tree. The blade of the unknown fighter dangerously close to her face. The blade moved closer, and she felt her breathing get faster.
"Please-!"
"Quiet."
She could see the faint glow of her attackers eyes under the hood he wore.
"…You…are small."
She warily eyed the tip of the blade as it moved to the corner of the mask she wore. A hiss of pain escaped past her lips as the sword cut the mask away leaving a shallow cut from her ear to her chin. The sword pushed the fabric away exposing her face to the world, she felt a hot tear run down her cheek. He stared at her face for an uncomfortable amount of time, sword still poised to end her life at any second. Finally after an age he spoke.
"What is thine age?"
"T-thirteen." She hesitantly replied.
He went quiet again.
"You…You are but a child…?" His voice seemed to hitch.
The sword dropped to the ground, the enemy letting it go. He spoke again, voice low.
"Go…leave. Do not deny my mercy."
Onnanoko froze. What did he say?
He threw an arm out to the forest "AWAY WITH YOU!" The shout echoed out. Without thinking she wrapped her arms around his waist and thanked him between sobs before she fled quickly into the forest.
The Undead saw the child away, clutching a hand to her chest. He stood there for who knows how long wondering to himself. Was that the right decision? A voice at the back of his mind shouted how dare he. How dare he consider taking the life of one so young when he had lived countless lifetimes.
He grabbed the arms of the two ninja and began dragging them back towards the cave he had called home. Once returned he slowly began stripping them of anything that took his interest. Taking weapons and armour, clothes and valuables. He propped the head of the blind eye upwards and dug his fingers into the body's eye sockets. Pulling the eyes from the corpse's head and wrapping them in a small sheet of cloth. The only thing left of interest from the body as the rest had been burned away. He piled all of his gains in front of the cave mouth. The most interesting to him being the three metal bands they wore on their brow. A small arrow like emblem on each one. The Village Hidden in the Leaves A memory whispered to him. He separated the pilfered items. Sorting them into their own pile based on purpose before he reached to his hip.
The Undead stopped in shock before he scanned the immediate area around him. He sprang to his feet and ran back into the cave. Minutes passed before there was any movement in the small clearing. Heavy footfalls left the cave and a roar echoed into the heavens.
The Bottomless Box was gone.
Fun Fact: As I only speak English. I haven't given any proper names to the Naruto worlds characters yet. So far they have only been quick translations of the characters intended purpose in the story. Butterfurai may be the most obvious, but the two Hagoromo, Butterfurai and Koka, are Butterfly Effect. As they show the Undeads first interactions with the world, thus the Undeads initial butterflies that will have consequences down the road.
The Hidden Leaf squad's names show their place in the team. Aiman: Eye man, Oroka: Fool, Shuryo: Leader [I think?], Onnanoko: Girl