The compound was bustling with activity. Tsuya cut through the crowds purposefully, sliding around and between other clan members going to and fro, stalking straight into the main building and from there right to her room. Sighing she collapsed on the bed pulling the chopsticks from her hair and tossing them onto the bedside.
Her hands shook as she pulled herself up, slumping against the wall as she took a draught from the glass of tea she usually kept on the bedside table. Her head strained up as the door slid open.
"Taka, what's up?"
"Hey, Tsuya girl, you don't look so hot."
"I think I'm coming down with something…"
"Shit man, here let me give you a once over. Lie down."
Setting the cup back on the side table she let herself lay back on the bed as Taka placed a hand on her forehead. Instantly she felt some of the strain reside. The taller girl frowned at her.
"You're stressed out, Tsuya, the strains beginning to wear down on you."
"Yeah, I know. Any suggestions."
"Damn, lemme get you some real tea, not that tasty crap you like to drink. I'll be back in a second."
Tsuya sighed, sinking back into the blankets. Maybe a little sleep would do her some good, she had been pushing herself. Fighting with Zuki last night after the talks for a bit of fun, and then Taking on Sateshi for a little more fun…then staying up late to refine that new jutsu. There was just too much to be done in so little time and in another eight days they would be leaving this compound permanently. She had to pack still.
She swung her legs over the side of the bed and staggered to her feet, snatching up three large boxes that were just inside her door and walking over to the dresser. Pulling open the first drawer she grabbed a stack of clothing and began filling the boxes slipping valuables between the layers for protection. As she was beginning the second box Taka came back with a steaming cup of some awful contraption no doubt.
She was forced to sit on the bed and down the awful tasting mixture. It was awful too. Not only that but Taka refused to let her wash the taste down with another cup of regular tea.
Yuck.
Mouth awash with the bitter after taste she decided a nap would be the best course of action and immediately fell asleep.
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Hinata perked up. "Kakashi sensei, the genjutsu seems to be turned off temporarily."
He snapped to attention at once. "Tsuya is a ninja in the Nari clan." He enunciated.
She nodded vigorously. "Should we go to the Hokage at once?"
"No." This could be some sort of minor lapse, we should wait and learn if this happens frequently or not. In the mean time, I'll narrate and you record what I say okay?" He told her. "this way we'll get as much of the info down as we can right now, it may help later on."
"Hai."
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"So what does the weather forecast say for the ninth?"
"Oh great, it's supposed to pour, heavy downpours from the fifth to the ninth."
"Dang it that's the last thing we need."
"The caves are soo going to flood out."
"On the other hand it'll make for a great cover up."
"Yeah, the whole area will be underwater!"
"There's no way we can move the furniture when we're knee deep in water."
"I guess we'll just have to figure something else out then. So what if we're a little late in some areas."
"What a pain."
"Tell me about it."
"No help for it then, call a clan meeting."
"Wow, two in two days we're on a roll."
"Yeah, somebody should definitely record this. A clan first or something like that."
"That's awesome we should make a list."
"Then try to beat scores and all that."
"It could be like a clan wide competition."
"Good for clan bonding and all that too."
"Sweet."
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"Hokage sama!"
"Hinata? Why aren't you with Kakashi?"
"He sent me to give you this and to tell you that he's gone ahead."
"What do you mean he's gone on ahead?"
"The Jutsu wore off or something, he said he could get inside since they wouldn't consider him a threat until they found out it'd worn off."
"Kuso. Genma and Gai should still be following him, Asuma! Assemble the other juunins Now!"
"Hai!"
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There was something odd about the compound. The guards let him through the gates, uncontested. Once inside though he wasn't sure where to go. Not only that but the feeling that people were watching him was raising the hairs on the nape of his neck. Yet, there wasn't anyone in sight, only a minor breeze that whipped around the courtyard.
Had they all left already? He hurried towards the main building, leaping up the main steps and pushing open the front doors. The room was empty. Perplexed he slowly walked forwards towards the center of the room. Just yesterday shelves full of scrolls had lined the full right wall. Braziers had lit and warmed the room. Thick massive rugs had covered half of the floor and low tables with cushion seating had made for a small study area.
What had happened?
"Can I help you Kakashi san?"
He swiveled to face the source of the voice. Long black hair was twisted up into a messy bun and impaled with two senbon, the same type that had been used on him. The glinting steel sent chills through him as he remembered the removal process. She smiled, more like baring her teeth than a grin but same difference.
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"Actually I got lost…."
"Taka. Call me Taka."
"Taka san, kinda cute."
"Save it for someone who wants to hear it."
"I was on my way to Tsuya and got lost, Taka san."
"Liar. You're looking for our scroll aren't you."
He stepped back, he actually wasn't. But that was a fatal accusation. "No, actually."
She cocked her head to the side, oozing past the doorjam to lean against the wall. "No need to pretend, it's expected actually. We are after all such a powerful clan. So many wonderful jutsus at our disposal. It's natural that ninjas, and other clans, and even entire villages would vie for the power we posses."
Silence seemed like the best answer, so he said nothing.
She smiled again, this time smirk style. It was less comforting than the primitive 'I've got fangs' one. "Come on then, this way."
With nothing else to do, he followed her.
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She led him down one of the many indistinguishable hallways to a thin sliding panel he took to be a door. Knocking twice sharply she let herself in before waiting for an answer. Tsuya was curled upon herself on the bed fully clothed and breathing heavily.
Taka didn't appear to care, yawning and picking at her fingernails as Tsuya hauled herself up, taking a moment to fix her hair. Pinning it up with two chopsticks.
"You're charge is here, you watch him."
"You watch him for a while." She muttered.
"Not my problem." She replied just as stoically.
"Fine, now buzz off."
Taka smirked slightly. "Sucks to be you."
Tsuya scowled as Taka turned and slipped by him. She sighed glancing at him and then at the floor. The door was still open, he let a foot slide back to ease it closed. Just in case he had the chance to overpower her while she was in a weakened condition. The closed door would block some of the sound.
She nodded at the motion and lay back down on the bed, closing her eyes wearily. She seemed pretty sure of herself. Curiously he weighed the idea of killing her and found it possible.
"Sit down."
Glancing around he settled to the floor beside the dresser, letting his back lean against the smoothened hardwood. Perhaps he didn't have complete control still… It was clear that the jutsu was straining her though.
"Take a nap for a while." With a heavy sigh she pulled the chopsticks out of her hair. He unwillingly felt his eyelids begin to sink as she too slipped into slumber…such a good opportunity…gone…
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I had a pounding headache. It was the first thing that registered after the fact that I wasn't in my pajamas. Forcing my eyelids apart I stared at the plain polished wall for a moment before rolling over. Two small, simultaneous cracks echoed in my ears.
Across the room Kakashi's eyes opened, alerted by the sound. I glanced at him briefly before flinging my feet over the edge of the bed, inconspicuously grabbing the pieces as I rose. A quick feel was all it took, the jutsu was obliterated. Broke in two, crushed, snapped, and completely and utterly gone.
It wouldn't have mattered my charka was completely dried out anyway.
I tossed them into the wastebasket before glancing around for another set. Normal action would be best, couldn't let him or anyone else find out. My boxes were still unpacked, they were leaving soon and no one had done the sick girl a simple favor.
Damn them all to heck.
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Running a hand through my hair I wandered out of the room, leaving the door open and not caring too much when I felt Kakashi follow me out. Probably out of morbid curiosity I thought bitterly. It forced a harsh laugh out of me, one that echoed off the corridors.
No one was in sight. Those bastards, they'd probably left without me. Now that I thought about it our new location had been kept a tight secret too. I didn't have a clue of where to go. So here I was all alone, with a village ninja. Damn. Couldn't get any better could it?
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Throwing open the double doors to the clan hall I wandered over to the friendly looking couches, all the scrolls had been replaced. Probably filled with self damaging jutsus disguised behind a helpful pretense. Subtle revenge for greedy ninjas.
He had to know the jutsu was off by now, so I was treading a very thin line here. The outside doors crashed open, more village ninjas flooded into the entrance way. The line was getting thinner all the time.
Time to go.
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I gave Kakashi one last lazy smile. It was difficult to imagine that right now all I wanted was distance between us, especially with him looking so adorably scrumptious. And so very smug. Perhaps he was something of a jerk.
I flung a foot in his direction, not surprised when he dodged it easily. But it gave me room, and room meant distance and distance meant opportunity.
Stomping hard on the wooden floorboards I bashed my way through into the basement. Unfortunately for the other ninja it didn't quite extend the whole length of the clan hall. I would have paid money to see their faces as their attempts to descend right where they stood ended in thick mud, however I would steal money to keep them off my tail.
The basement was unlit, another testament to the clan's departure. A single torch up ahead burned though, and the scent of oil nearly knocked me out. Could I take a hint? Oh yes.
Ripping a snuffed torch from the brazier I hurled it at the flame, easily knocking it from it's bracket in the wall. Several shuriken, no doubt intended to block my throw, sped into the darkness. Strike three you're out!
The corridor burst into a tunnel of flames as I dove through a wall wincing as the wooden panels broke against my arms. Damn that hurt. All cool looking action moves always include vicious pain.
Grunting slightly at the ribbing pain I got my first glance at the room and tried not to break down in hysterical laughter. Explosives, everywhere!
The trap door was now out of the question. Not enough time, explosion, cave in, instant death. I couldn't get through the ninjas in the compound, too many, no time, perhaps a quick death, perhaps torture. No charka left to shield and sneak off…
"Out of the pan and into the fire…" I sung hysterically. I was tired, and charka-less, and out of ideas. Damn them all for putting me in this situation. I strode to the edge of the room, broke a hole in the ceiling and crawled through it onto the floor of my room. I shoved my dresser over the hole scowling as it caused a small landslide of change to fall off the top. But no one heard.
It had gotten rather hot in here in the last few minutes, but my bed was there, so inviting. I crawled between my sheets and pressed my face into the pillow letting my eyelids droop to half mast as the smoke began to irritate them.
One of the great things about being completely drained of charka is that no one can find you, no energy and you don't appear on the ninja radar. I shoved my nose into the scent of my last shower and waited for the end.
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I was hot, clammy. Uncomfortable. I could hear the yelling beneath me and frantic footfalls
This was pathetic.
Forget dying.
I got out of bed for the third time that day and stumbled over to the door dragging my blankets with me. That idiot had left it open. I carefully snatched a glance in either direction, and shuffled across the hall to the bathroom.
Quietly I closed and locked the door behind me, instinctual as a mere wooden door wouldn't stop them. Bathtubs are amazingly sturdy structures. Good protection against explosions. I threw my blanket over the porcelain and started up the taps. Despite being able to forget 'please' and 'thank you' the water and electric never went unpaid.
Baby blue turned a dark royal hue as I slipped into the cool water, clothes and all. It felt so good to be able to settle on the soft blanket. I had to take baths with my bedding more often.
Dragging my sheet in with me I tore a strips, placing one over my nose and mouth. They taught you this for poison gas, but I guess it worked just as well with-
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!BOOM!
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I felt the shockwave through the water just before the floor went through the ceiling. I ducked underwater. Maybe if it didn't see me I wouldn't get hurt. Right?
It felt like the worst hangover I'd ever experienced. Everything went topsy turvey. Colors flickered before my eyes and the bathtub rose to meet the ceiling. Wood splintered, was buffeted by flame, and fell. I think I got water up my nose.
The world snapped back into harsh reality as the tub impacted with the ground, shattering. My blanket protected me though, clinging to me wetly as we fell amongst the debris. In one last act of defiance the Nari clan expanded their territory over the surrounding roads sprinkling the neighborhood with debris.. I jarred to a halt next to the gutter behind the compound. It smelt like smashed worms. Pleasant.
Once my ears were done ringing, I could make out the voices of a few ninja, prowling the area. I'd gained a teensy bit of charka in the last few minutes. If I was really nasty I could take about three of them out before I was captured or killed. Or I could worm out of my blankets and down the storm drain.
Are you man or mouse?
Pass the cheese please.
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"Kakashi-sensei." Hinata appeared at his side.
"Hinata, quickly, where's the body?"
Entwining her hands she focused. Byukagen! "There's no one in the wreckage that I can see." She replied smartly, scanning side to side.
He frowned slightly. The entire compound had been rigged with explosive tags. The entire block that it had inhabited was now a mass of burning splintered rubble. It would take days to sort through it, but the damage had been thorough. Every building had fallen, they had been forced to flee as soon as they realized the extent of the impending explosion. He had felt the buffet of escaping air on his back as they'd made the front gate.
"However…." The hyuuga heir was scowling slightly. "there are places I can't penetrate. And much free floating charka. Traps I suspect." She said, eyes squinting through the smoke and dust.
Sneaky, very sneaky. He couldn't detect her charka either, through the clumps of dormant jutsus that littered the area and free floating charka from various charka imbued objects the place was a mess. Her power would still be too low to discern from the rest of the trash.
"Kakashi."
He turned slightly. Tsunade stormed through the wreckage to his side. "Well?"
He shook his head bitterly. "They're not dead, just gone. Somewhere, the whole freaking clan except one perhaps. Tsuya, brown hair midback length, brown eyes, about five feet tall, high genjutsu talent, some taijutsu. Most likely wearing off white pants, and a black tea shirt. Nearly completely devoid of charka."
A nod, and a cluster of ninja leapt off to search the surrounding area.
They wouldn't find anything here, if Tsuya survived she'd be too sly to get caught now. And he was almost one hundred percent sure the explosion hadn't killed her. "Come Hinata."
"Hai, sensei."
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I smiled bitterly. One of the benefits of paranoia was that if someone was after you, you were prepared. Grimly I activated the illusionary justsu, squirming as charka leach its way into my skin, eyes, hair. It felt like a thousand tiny worms trying to dig their way through my skin. So gross.
Ten minutes later I lay on the tunnel floor, breathless. But today I was a new woman. Literally!
Throwing off the remains of my clothing I jerked on a new set and set fire to the scroll and rags, kicking their ashes into the water.
"Sucks to be me huh?" I hissed. I knew why I was weary, sick, tired. She'd drugged me! That bitch. Those bastards! Family my ass! I thought she was a friend damnit!
I was starting a hit list today: The Nari clan, Konoha village.
Hell, all ninjas were after our techniques, so they all forced this hide and seek game. They were all to blame! Every ninja, every village!
Especially the clan though. Set me up would they? Well they'd find out just how nasty one of their own could get. The one thing we were bad at was forgiving, and I sure as hell wasn't going to forget this anytime soon.
It was Tsuya against the world, and I was betting on me!
