Five

A shuffling sound is heard as a hand slipped through a go holder to retrieve a white piece. It was dead into the night but there two who were not asleep as of yet.

"Good move."

Kendon said as he watches Kei take on his attack on the go board.

"Was it necessary to be playing go under the moonlight tonight?"

"I was finding it hard to sleep. Don't you?"

"I guess."

And she watches him place a black piece amongst the board. It was true that they were insomniacs but that was not the real reason for the lack of sleep tonight.


FLASHBACK at dinner

"Ok. The four of us will have to draw lots to decide which jounin will take in which stranger as guest in their place tonight."

Genma indicated as he held pieces of toothpicks in his hands. The other long piece in his mouth twirled artfully between his lips as he watches Kakashi, Kurenai and Asuma. The mentioned guests were currently off to get their belongings and would get back in a while.

"Let's get this over and done with. We need to settle this before dinner is over tonight all right? Just pick a toothpick it's not that hard."

Everyone drew a piece from Genma and glances at their choice. All four were colour-coded - red, blue, yellow and green.

"And what do these colours mean, my dear friend?"

Kakashi said as he stared at the red piece. He had a sneaking feeling who it represented but he wasn't about to speculate too much.

"Red - Kei, Blue - Kendon, Yellow - Ishida and Green- Maiko."

Sometimes I think it isn't such a great thing to be right about things all the time.

"Ne. I think you shouldn't use this system. It isn't exactly fair. The girls should all bunk with Kurenai and the guys with any of us."

"Yeah I thought about that. Except Kurenai stays in a one-bedroom apartment and can only accommodate one. Anko is currently not around so it kind of makes things a bit difficult. In any case, it's just for one night."

Sigh. Genma held a green, while Asuma and Kurenai held up a blue and yellow one respectively.

"Fine."

End of FLASHBACK


"Checkmate."

Kei smiled.

"We have even out the scores now counting from the previous games - 34 wins and 34 losses. And I guess we should get some sleep, a long road lies ahead of us tomorrow."

They shifted themselves back into the allocated lodgings for the night. She watched the sleeping figure of Kakashi on the couch as she slipped back into the apartment. Slow breathing synchronised with rhythmic chest movements of the chest. He slept rather peacefully even with mask. Even she didn't sleep with her mask on, it makes breathing a little tad uncomfortable for her. She looked around at her surroundings. It was one of decent size with not so decent maintenance but as expected from a typically guy. She sighed and crawled back into the bed. Sleeping is a tormenting time for her, to be more specific, it was the part when she starts dreaming that makes things complicated. Kei turned and lay on her stomach in an attempt at getting some sleep. There was a sandalwood scent on the pillow, inhaling it had a rather relaxing effect.

Interesting scent coming from a guy who lives in a pig sty.

There were nostalgic feelings arising from within her. However, the recollected memories were vague and not in a constructive manner, she gave little attention for sleep prevailed and rest was achieved.


The lot of them stood at the gates of hidden leaf village. They were readied with basic essentials to last a while, thanks to the hospitality of Hokage. They thanked heartily again for the help they have been receiving. Last goodbyes were said and their journey started.

Now if only things went as smoothly as people planned. But unpredictability is what makes life a tad more interesting. The four had barely moved a yard from the gate when they sensed the presence of others - unwanted company to be more precise.

"Ano sa, ano sa. You finally decided to show yourselves in the daylight."

A young punk one stood in front of them who was dressed in the same fashion as them but with a much cockier attitude.

"Oh look. There's a fly in our way."

Maiko injected, knowing darn well how the fella took insults to his size.

"YOU!!!" And the face took on a shade of red, but fades when he realises how easily he fell for the insult.

"Anyway, you guys are wanted back home all right. So the boss has been kind enough to have you guys escorted. Rather generous don't you think?"

"To go back alive, dead or in a few pieces?" Ishida replied.

"Either. No particular preferences really since you guys are the rebels who abandoned us in the first place."

Darn it. There goes our lie.

"Rebels eh? Nah, can't beat the ones that killed the head the other day. It's ok. You guys can keep the title for yourselves."

"You!!!" Punk turns red-faced again.

"Whatever, we will take care of you. Rest assure that the odds are even."

The small path was now surrounded by 7 others of dark disguise. Two teams. The four surrounded caged figures roughly knew who was in the pack - after all some of them were their subordinates before.

Tsunade had ordered the gates to be closed and for security to be upped. Her suspicions were realised at last and now these lot had a lot of explaining to do. That is, if they can get themselves out of this mess to begin with. Before she could order for more back-up to arrive, the four halted her move.

"Hokage-sama. Gomen. This is our fight, please don't get involved."

Ken smiled from behind the mask. Bracing themselves for an attack, they await the first move.

The surrounding shinobis then launched an attack from all sides. Shurikens fly pass in V-formations from two sides. Kunais came from above. A few stood to ensure that there were no loopholes from any side. They were caged- birds from surface glance.

Of course given that the younger generation was hand-trained by them. It was only expected that they would adopt such tactics. After all, it was the one of the few that they taught.

Ishida activated a jutsu forming a transparent barrier against the sharp edges. Upon blocking, it was released only to allow Maiko to make her move. Retrieving all sort of weapons from her clothing, she launched several of them to keep the lot occupied. All this while, Ken found an exit and stood next to one of the punk before knocking him senseless. Kei on the other hand, was busy breaking the formation of the shinobis who were attacking. Aiming for certain spots on the chests and necks, she disengaged their mobility.

Within 10 minutes, only four remains. And yes, it was the more troublesome four.

The punk stood staring at Kei in a challenging manner. She ignored his stare and dismissed him as any threat at all.

"I've always wanted to test my strength against the either of the legendary seniors - Kei and Ken."

"Oh really?" She replied, hardly impressed.

He cursed before launching himself towards her. Sharp edges were thrust towards the redhead, to which it swipes only thin air. A kick was blocked with any effort. A blow to the heart was seen.

The punk cursed, sputtering blood from his mouth.

And I thought only the Hyuuga clan was the only ones with the gentle fit style of taijutsu. Apparently, there are similar styles being practiced elsewhere, Kakashi thought as he watched the flow of sequences being orchestrated.

Kei moved effortlessly through the attack sequence of the Kunai. Until impatience got the best of him, and he activated one particular jutsu to which, the other three followed suit at his command.

A pattern of hand movements rapidly traces invisible lines in the air.

The ground suddenly moved. It was as though vertigo affected everyone. The sand floor moved under the impact of the release of the seal.

"Nimpou - Release of the Spirit!"

And one huge lizard stood in front of her. One ugly lizard made of sand and the people's chakra. She really wanted to avoid escalating the level of the fight to such height, but it seems like she hasn't got much of a choice.

"Now, we shall see who the prey that gets played with."

Suddenly the village was surrounded by the ugly reptile. People stared at the chaos that was unleashed. The other four stood their ground.

All four of their attackers were in full concentration. Riding on top of the lizard, they were meditating willing mediums who allow the lizard take their chakra.

"So they finally decided to share the burden of being medium to the beast."

Kei said to Ken.

"It makes it a rather unstable formation actually, though it is still formidable in this state. It has yet to wake up the beast entirely."

Angry swipes were made at the lot. Its fast movements were hard to keep up. Blocking here and getting knocked over there. The lizard was an angry and psychotic beast of power. Ishida and Maiko attempted to get atop of the beast. They nearly made it, save for the fact that they got whacked by the tail and were sending flying into the forest, out of sight.

The other two were having difficulty avoiding swipes from the beasts. Sands were flying everywhere blurring their vision. Spikes were formed on its body to prevent them from closing in on the mediums.

Then she saw an opening and went for it.

But the beast was more alert and faster in taking action.

It went for its prey and slammed her under its sandy scaled foot.

Very audible curses and a dribble of blood escapes from her lips as she lay pinned under. It was at this time that Ken then unleashed a jutsu. The hypnotic chant of the long sequence of seals enticed the beast's attention.

"Divine Heavenly Blade!"

And down came one enormous sword made of chakra that attempted to slice the creature into two. The ugly thing blocked the blade and struggled. It was a test of not strength but endurance. Who can endure and hold out longer.

One mind vs. the minions four and one ugly beast.