The Ksuya Hideout!
Karubo, Sutari and Taiki all prepare to infiltrate the Ksuya clans hideout. But how will they get past people who sneak around for a living?
"I can feel my head spinning a little. Don't worry though, it's just a sign there wil be some action." Kuroba said, smiling at Sutari. Taiki stayed focused, thinking about Zinata, and if she were back.
She was a little smaller than Taiki and wore a grey suit, with a green sash around her waist. She carried two swords around, and could handle them deftly. She resembled her mother Ksuya Nakata. Nakata's nickname was the "Venom Woman" because of her snake-like ways. She turned on just about anyone – it didn't matter how close they were. If they were in the way, she got someone to off them, or she did it herself.
He remembered how easily Zinata defeated Takumi. She didn't try any genjutsu, she just used her amazing speed and reflexes to close in on Takumi. Even Takumi was a little surprised. Zinata had an older brother as well, Akotse. He was shorter than her, and looked much younger, but was just as lethal as his sister. He used a giant needle and thread to attack his opponents. He controlled the thread, which was very thick, with his charka. His main method was to catch an opponent with the thread, wrap them up, then use the needle to impale them numerous times. It was a gruesome way to be attacked, for sure.
But, they weren't as dangerous as their mother, who would try to keep herself alive at all costs. She even told her children face to face, that if their life were in danger, they'd have to fend for themselves. And if she were in danger, she'd waste no time in throwing them in front of an oncoming attack.
The House of Ksuya was a gambling palace. Nataka ran it all, and was responsible for setting up various thefts, infiltration, assassination and reconnaissance. The place bustled with activity and Nakata always made her rounds, being flanked by her two newest bodyguards: Tyoh and Shuni. Tyoh was a broad-shouldered man who used a mallet, and Shuni was smaller and was adept at throwing weapons.
"The place is pretty busy. I say we just go in and ask. She's not one to kill for no reason. Now, if she suspects something of us…" Sutari said.
"I say we transform, just to blend in." Kubora said. "It couldn't hurt."
"Yeah, I agree." Taiki knelt on the tree branch overlooking the Ksuya's house.
"It's worth a try. But we must be careful. She's very shrewd." Sutari said, transforming. Taiki and Karubo both changed into rich men ad Sutari transformed into a servant.
As they walked to the door, a huge needle landed in front of them.
"She'll look through your disguise right away." A small young man jumped into a view. He wore all black with a white sash, his mouth and nose covered. He stood beside his needle, which was seven feet long. His thread slithered around him like a snake as he looked at the trio, who instantly transformed back.
"So?" Kuroba asked. "how do we-"
"You want that diamond, right?" he asked. "Man, that whole mission was fun to pull off. You should've seen it…"
His expression changed from amused, to grim.
"Of course, I really can't let you in if you want it, you know that, right?" he readied his needle, hoisting it over his shoulder. The thread began to slide toward them.
"A fight already?" Sutari readied her sword. Taiki called Chikoi and Karubo drew his sword.
"Please, not against me. Against them. It should keep you company while I get Nataka." Atokse knelt and vanished, and the trio turned to see six shinobi ready for blood. Even with their masks on.
Sutari quickly rushed the group and held her left hand up – a signal for Taiki to use his bird jutsu. He turned to Karubo and whispered something. Karubo nodded and readied his sword.
Taiki ran and Karubo followed, his sword ready to slice. In an instant, Taiki burst into a flock of birds, distracting the ninjas. As they flew around, the ninjas were cut and sliced as Karubo and Sutari wasted no time in their attacking. Taiki landed on a branch, Chikoi on his shoulder. Five down, he counted. The final one…
"Eye of the Sparrow." He whispered. He saw the ninja running up and scalping Karubo. With a quick motion, he threw a kunai at the Leaf jounin. With a 'thuck' sound, the final ninja fell, with the sword still over his head, as if he were about to attack. Karubo looked up and gave a respectful nod to Taiki.
Taiki jumped down from his branch. He didn't mind killing from a distance. It was when he saw the face of his opponent that the killing intent left him. There was something about the final moments of a persons life, them staring at you. It made him freeze a bit and shudder.
"Just like I thought." A syrupy voice poured from the top of the steps. The trio looked up and saw Nataka with her two guards and Atokse at the bottom of the steps. Nataka wore a gold jacket with turquoise pants and a gold sash.
"And I was just about to assign them to kill a businessman. Good thing you tested them, huh?"
She walked down the steps, holding a diamond, with an emerald in the middle. Atokse stepped aside as Nataka's feet touched the ground.
"I'm a businesswoman and I'm willing to make a deal with you." She said. "I will give you this diamond – if you agree to fight my bodyguards."
Karubo raised his hand. Nataka shook her head.
"He knows who I'm talking too." She grinned. Taiki sighed, feeling his heart drop. He'd seen both their faces. The big one was bald and had no facial hair. The smaller one had a goatee and no moustache. He could see their eyes. He grimaced inside, but knew what he had to do.
"Ok." He stepped forward, Chikoi on his shoulder.
"there are no rules," Nataka said, raising a finger. "except one. The one who wins, will be the one or ones who draws first blood."
"One on two?" Taiki asked. Nataka nodded.
"My turf, my rules. If you can win, we send you off with the diamond – no strings attached. You lose, and you had better run as fast as you can, cause I can't be responsible for how I feel when I smell blood." Her hazel eyes glowed, even giving her guards the chills.
"Ok, boys, don't let up. He's good, but I don't know if he can handle two, especially of your caliber." She said. "GO!"
Tyoh threw his mallet sideways, letting it fly like a boomerang. Shuni used his speed to get behind Taiki, who turned to face him. Luckily for him, the long handle of the mallet struck his back. Shuni wasn't so fortunate, and was knocked out cold from the impact, landing at the base of a tree. He bled through his clothes, leaving Taiki and Tyoh. Taiki got in front of the mallet and used his Eye of the Sparrow, seeing that Tyoh could control the mallet with his charka. The mallet flew over his head, then stood, handle up, beside the large man, while he used hand signs to use ninjutsu. Both his arms doubled in size, and he lifted the mallet easily.
"Did I mention he's a part of the Chouji clan?" Nataka beamed. She was always good at evaluating talent, and with the excess of shinobi unable to attain stable jobs, she gave them jobs with her. With this kind of process, she had all kinds of shinobi at her disposal.
"Giant Swing!" Chouji Tyoh shouted, shaking the ground, and swinging with his whole body, spinning around and spinning right at a stunned Taiki. When the ground shook, there was no way of gaining footing to properly avoid him. The winds grew stronger, and the spectators stood their ground as best they could as he wound up all of his power.
In this attack Tyoh could easily wipe out entire groups, but he had no sense of direction, like most of the Chouji clans physical attacks. Taiki focused his charka on the unstable ground – then whistled. Chikoi swooped in and Taiki raised his hand, transferring his charka to the eagle, who lifted him off the ground. Taiki was only ten feet off the ground, and Chikoi wasn't about to hold Taiki up for long. Tiaki felt his charka slowly dissipating. Tyoh stopped, feeling a little woozy, and Taiki found his open spot. He started forming a hand sign as Tyoh regained his composure.
He fell to the ground, right in front of Tyoh, who wasted no time in whacking the stationary Taiki. As the ninja was knocked back, a sudden POOF was heard, and … Chikoi grimaced in pain. He screeched as Sutari and Karubo ran over to him. Meanwhile, Tyoh was absolutely confused, and looked at Nataka, who put her hand on her forehead, sighing.
"Very nice tactic. Almost … impressive." She said. An even more confused Tyoh instantly felt pain in the back of his knee, and felt it leaking a warm fluid. He looked behind him to see Taiki kneeling, still holding the kunai firmly in the back of his knee. He pulled it out quickly, and Tyoh yelled in pain, falling to the ground.
"The diamond is yours." She said, tossing it to Sutari. "It really wasn't of much worth to me anyway."
"Huh?" Taiki asked. "Why'd you take it?"
"Someone wanted it. I think some other clan wanted it. Forgot their name too. But, like I told them, you should never trust a snake." She smiled. "They knew what they were getting into."
Karubo placed the jewel in his pouch and prepared to leave, but sensed something. A star fell at the feet of Nataka, and she looked in the direction it was thrown. She saw the thrower, and felt her skin tingle.
"Kurokawa…"