A/N: chapter 10 is up...just as a note, it may be awhile between this and ch. 11 - busy week ahead with school and stuff...Enjoy. Read & Review...

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

CHAPTER 10

"RESCUE EFFORT"

Gasping for air and clutching at his aching sides, Ren continued to stare back over his shoulder. Despite his age and lack of physical training, he had managed to put a good amount of distance between himself and the two factions of shinobi battling at his home. Now, though, he was paying the price for his speed. Running along the uneven and rocky terrain beyond the back of his house had left his shins aching and his feet cramped and swollen. He was finding it harder and harder to forge ahead without stopping every minute or so to rest and catch his breath. When he finally reached the wide, rocky plateau a mile or so away, he was forced to take another of his breaks. Slouched over with his hands on his knees, Ren had spotted something out of the corner of his eye; something had flown straight up into the air above his house. With his aging hazel eyes squinting at the tiny dots soaring into the sky, he was sure he could make out a person in the blurry specks. He tried to continue on, but found himself unable to avert his gaze. His head turned over his shoulder and watched as the object halted its ascent and began spiraling straight down. Ren lost sight of the falling mass as it passed below a jagged cliff jutting out from the side of the rectangular plateau, but a distant booming sound and a faint eruption of dirt and debris told him that whatever had been diving down towards the ground had crashed heavily into it.

"I hope those kids are okay," Ren said to himself, tilting his tired torso back against a well-placed boulder. "I wish they hadn't been dragged into this…"

Beginning to feel the weight pressed upon him by his feelings of guilt for leading the three Konoha shinobi into the Sound's trap, Ren crumbled to his knees. Digging his calloused and soiled hands into the gravelly hillside path, he shut his teary eyes and hung his head between his trembling arms.

"Jana…Nanami…" he whispered.

Remaining in this mournful position for a moment, Ren concentrated his thoughts on them. Gradually, he rose to his feet and gathered himself, looking hard at the upward journey that lay before him. The plateau's unique position made it a dangerous climb, surrounded on two sides by a vast and seemingly bottomless canyon. The towering vertical northern face made the eastern side the only traversable one. It was on this side that Ren continued on, hiking up the winding trail leading to the top, until he paused as a beautiful blue-colored hawk swooped by. The bird's loud screech rang in his ears as he wiped the moisture from his hot and weary face. Shielding his eyes from the still-scorching sun, Ren looked up towards the top of the high-rising plateau. He stared longingly at the hook-shaped overhang extending out beyond the main structure and clenched his teeth. So many thoughts raced through his head as he readied himself for the trek upwards. He saw their faces, and he heard their frightened words. After several minutes of playing back images in his mind, Ren finally took his first few steps towards the top. As he moved, the scraping of feet against a few pebbles along the ground made him stop and quickly spin around, withdrawing a dull chipped knife from the satchel around his shoulder. Before he could act, a firm hand quickly grabbed hold of his wrist.

"Oi, easy Ren-san."

Ren shook his head. "Takeo-san?"

Takeo smiled briefly. "Relax. It's me, believe it or not."

Ren mouthed the words, but couldn't make himself produce the sounds.

"Why…I don't…how?" he sputtered.

"Kintarou noticed you took off during the battle," Takeo informed him, rubbing the freshly formed scab on his puffy lip. "Our mission is to escort you back to Konoha, which kind of makes you a pretty important guy, Ren-san. Whether or not you're lying about the information you have really doesn't matter. The mission says to bring you back, so like it or not, I have to protect you."

"But…" Ren tried to counter.

"Right. How did I find you?" Takeo said, giving a sharp whistle. "This guy."

Darting down towards his extended arm, the blue-winged hawk gently pulled up and landed near Takeo's shoulder. Ren looked in awe briefly as Takeo brushed a finger beneath the bird's beak, stroking its white-feathered neck.

"Aojiro followed you," Takeo explained. "He signaled me when he found you and I dashed here. You got pretty far, Ren-san, but it was easy to catch up with my speed as a shinobi."

"I see," Ren sighed as he finally found his voice. "I appreciate everything you've done, Takeo-san. Defending me from Bandon and his companions was very brave, but I can't go back with you. I couldn't possibly leave…them…"

"The girls?" Takeo knowingly asked.

"Yeah," he sadly nodded. "It's my fault they're in danger so…no, never mind."

"Ren-san?"

"Takeo-san, I'm sorry, but I can't go back with you. I can't abandon them, no matter how dangerous it might be. They're all I've got…"

"I understand, Ren-san, however—"

"No…you can't force me back. If you try and take me, I'll fight you. I won't go back without them!"

Takeo sighed. "No one's going to fight anyone…so ease up a bit. Why don't you at least tell me what's going on? Who are the girls they've got and what do the three of you have to do with the Hidden Village of Sound?"

Ren hesitated. Takeo's watchful eyes studied the older man as he considered his options.

"Fine," Ren eventually agreed. "They have…they took Nanami and Jana…my daughters."

Takeo's head perked up and he looked inquisitively back at Ren.

"They're not my real kids," Ren continued, guessing the answer to the question Takeo was about to ask. "About twelve years ago, I found Jana wandering through the mountains along the border, with Nanami hanging around her back. You can imagine my surprise at seeing this little six-year-old girl carrying an infant around by herself at night. When I took them both to the nearest town, Jana refused to speak and tried to continue on. They had been traveling awhile I assumed, so I managed to convince her to stay the night at the inn with me. I used to be quite the herbalist, gathering rare herbs and selling them all over to various countries and villages. At the time, I was still traveling around, so after resting for a few days, I told Jana that she and Nanami could travel with me until they found a place they wanted to stay. Eventually, Jana opened up and finally told me that their village had been destroyed, and that both of their parents had died in the destruction defending it from the invaders that had attacked. She'd wanted to stay, but several people came to take her and Nanami away. Jana said they looked really scary and like they were going to hurt them, so she took Nanami and ran."

"And you took them in, then," Takeo understood. "I can see why you want to get them back. They've been through a lot already."

"Yes," Ren glumly replied. "It wasn't easy, but over time Jana and Nanami and I grew pretty close. The girls wanted to stay with me and…and ever since, I guess we've become a family. I never had time for a wife or kids or anything, so I…I…"

"I get it, Ren-san," Takeo nodded. "But that doesn't really explain why the Sound would bother you."

"I-I can't be sure," Ren admitted. "But after I officially adopted Jana and Nanami, I began looking into the destruction of their village. I figured out which town they were from and discovered a lot of strange circumstances surrounding the whole event. Through some friends I had made in the feudal lord's service, I learned about a group of missing nin that supposedly were investigating the same incident. Then, about a year ago, I was traveling on what ended up being my last trade journey out of Earth Country. I had stopped at a busy merchant village along the Grass Country border and heard about this new Hidden Village of Sound. Several ninja wearing their symbol on their forehead protectors always stopped by my tent, as I was the only one selling the rare herbs and medicines they wanted. I remember one of them telling me about moving their base setups and other things that were probably none of my business. I usually tried not to pay any attention to them. From the way they acted and looked, I was afraid to do anything to make them angry or suspicious. But, on the last afternoon as I was packing up, I heard one man mention the name of Jana and Nanami's village. I tried my best not to look up, but I couldn't help myself. Another man wiped his glasses and calmly told the others to finish up and then mentioned something that made the other guys with him stop."

"What was that?" Takeo questioned.

"He said he knew who attacked Jana and Nanami's village," Ren sternly answered. "I think they caught me listening, because they turned and began walking away. But I managed to hear something before they left: Akatsuki."

"Akatsuki?" Takeo repeated. "Why does that sound familiar…"

"I had no idea what it meant," Ren added. "When I tried asking some of my friends and contacts I'd made traveling around, none of them knew either. Then, out of the blue, a strange white-haired man riding a giant toad appeared on my doorstep about a month ago, wanting to know what I knew. I wasn't sure what to do, but he claimed that he knew people and could provide me with protection if I needed it. I reluctantly agreed and told him what I knew. Then he said that he would arrange for a team of shinobi to guide me and the two girls back safely to Konoha."

"But that still doesn't quite—"

"The point is that I can't go back, Takeo-san," Ren reiterated. "It's my fault Jana and Nanami are in danger. I can't leave them…"

"Ren-san," Takeo responded, shaking his head. "I get the feeling you're holding something back…but I understand. Like I said, it really doesn't matter if you're lying about things or not. However, I'm under Kintarou's orders to follow you and bring you back."

"No! I wo—"

"So," Takeo quickly continued. "I suppose that if you were to keep going to find the girls, I would have no choice to follow you…and then bring you back. All three of you."

Ren sighed and finally smiled. "Thank you, Takeo-san."

"Yeah, yeah," Takeo said. "Kintarou's going to have a fit…"

"I'm positive that Bandon was holding them in his camp up there," Ren said, pointing at the curved cliff at the plateau's top.

"Long climb," Takeo commented. "Sure you can make it?"

"I'll be fine," assured Ren.

"Yosh," Takeo nodded. "One last thing then."

Removing a blank roll of parchment from his pouch, Takeo quickly scribbled down a few lines before tying the note around the leg of the hawk resting peacefully on his shoulder. With a quick nudge, Aojiro flapped his wings and briefly hovered above Takeo and Ren.

"Take it to Kintarou," Takeo called. "And then scram before he goes insane."

Screeching softly in reply, the bird flew again into the sky, heading back towards the direction of Ren's home and Takeo's two teammates.

"Let's go," Takeo advised. "I'll take the lead, Ren-san."

Ren nodded in agreement and fell in line behind Takeo as he began the march up the twisting pathway. Glancing back toward his home once again, Ren spotted Aojiro's blue-winged form slowly gliding away from their sight. The hawk's faint cry echoed through the rolling valley between the plateau and Ren's house, where the four remaining shinobi continued their drawn out battle. At the sound of Aojiro's cry, Kintarou turned his gaze towards the sky. Flipping back out of range of the scrawny dark-haired Sound ninja, he followed the bird as it dove straight at him. Holding an arm out, Kintarou allowed the hawk to rest and spotted the note bound to his leg. He quickly removed it with his free hand, flicked the rolled parchment open, and quickly read it:

Yo, Kintarou. Found Ren. He's safe, don't worry. We're taking a quick detour before heading back though. And before you go off on another of your tirades, tell Aojiro his job is done. Later.

Takeo

Kintarou's jaw clenched as he crumpled Takeo's note.

"You never listen to anything I tell you to do," he muttered with annoyance.

"Kintarou-kun!" Kaori shouted. "Was that from Takeo-kun?"

"Yes," he quickly answered, eyeing his opponent before taking out a small scrap of his own parchment.

"Well?" Kaori anxiously asked.

"He found him," Kintarou responded. "But apparently he has decided to take a little detour before coming back."

"A detour?" Kaori exclaimed.

"Yes," Kintarou affirmed, quickly writing a response. "I imagine Ren-san went off by himself to save the girls the Sound are holding hostage. And I would guess that Noppo agreed to help him."

Kintarou hurriedly finished his note and affixed it to Aojiro's leg. Not looking too thrilled about relaying another message, the hawk ruffled his feathers and squawked as Kintarou gently tossed him back into the air, sending him back to Takeo.

"That baka…" Kaori frowned. "He'd better not do anything stupid."

"Problems, blondie?" Mokina snickered, interrupting them.

Kaori angrily spun and charged back in, her kunai outstretched. Kintarou spotted the scrawny Sound ninja approaching and growled.

"We cannot afford to waste any more time here," he roared, crouching down in an attack position. "Ninpou, Doubutsu Tootemu! (Ninja Art, Animal Totem)"

A savage look appeared on Kintarou's face as a violent chakra aura engulfed him.

"Washi. (Eagle)" he shouted, his eyes morphing into two piercing golden orbs.

The Sound shinobi charged, but was immediately halted by two kunai blades cutting through the tops of his sandals and slicing through his feet and into the ground. Unable to lift them, he quickly bent down to remove the kunai from each foot, wincing in pain as he wiggled one of the blades free.

"Harinezumi. (Porcupine)"

Kintarou dropped several narrow needles onto the chakra tail that had formed on his backside. With a quick jerk, the deadly quills burst out from the tail and flew straight at the Sound ninja, piercing his hands and arms. He cried out in pain, falling back onto his rear and struggling to quickly remove the stinging spines from his hands and the last kunai from his throbbing foot.

Kintarou glared at his weakened opponent. "Shika. (Deer)"

Two glowing blue antlers slowly emerged from the short black hair on Kintarou's head. With one ferocious snarl, he rushed towards the still fallen Sound ninja, who was unable to move, still trapped by the kunai in his foot and the numerous quills numbing his hands and arms. The man had barely the time to look up before Kintarou lowered his head, tackling him and lifting the scrawny shinobi up in the prongs of his antlers. The Sound ninja howled in agony as being forcibly lifted from the ground drove the kunai deeper into his foot before it finally broke free from the earth. Still facing forward, Kintarou summoned everything he had and swiftly threw the wounded Sound ninja into the air. As the scrawny man flew up and away from him, Kintarou paused.

"Hyou. (Panther)."

Long, deadly claws emerged from Kintarou's hands and feet and the muscles in his legs grew and tightened. With all the stamina he had left, he viciously leapt high above the man and pounced, sending the Sound ninja down hard to the ground and leaving him with several deep gashes. Heaving one last mouthful of blood, the scrawny nin fell unconscious. Hunched over beside him, Kintarou could barely stand as the aura enveloping him faded. He collapsed to his hands and knees as he slowly regained his wind. Hearing his cries and seeing his beastly victory, both Kaori and Mokina frustratingly turned toward one another.

"Guess it's just you and me, princess," Mokina sneered.

"We've already won," Kaori retorted.

"Is that you trying to tell yourself it's okay if you lose?" Mokina responded.

"No, it's my way of asking you to surrender," Kaori glared back. "Because this battle is over."

"Hmph," Mokina scowled.

Her eyes wide with hate, the Sound kunoichi jumped high into the air, ready to plunge a sai through the chest of the real Kaori this time.

"Sabaku Miraaju, (Desert Mirage)" Kaori whispered.

Hands clasped together, a faint glow began radiating from her body. Around her, the environment began shimmering; Ren's house, the few trees in the yard, the shrubs beside the rock wall remains, and even the hard, clumped soil slowly disappeared. Mokina glanced around, though still focusing on Kaori, until she too faded away. Halting herself in mid air, Mokina dropped down and frowned at her new surroundings. In every direction she spun, the only thing visible was sand. Miles and miles of sand.

"Your petty illusions won't hide you forever," Mokina called.

"Who says they have to?" Kaori shouted back still hidden from sight.

Suddenly, two figures rushed towards the unsuspecting Mokina. She sensed them just in time and flipped over behind them. Kintarou and Takeo's faces glared back at her. Both shinobi lunged at her, but she easily dodged and slashed them both with her kunai. Their images rippled for a moment, before fading away.

"This is the best you can do?" Mokina scoffed.

Three more figures suddenly came into view. Two of them rushed straight towards her, while the third held back. As they came into focus, Mokina stopped momentarily at the sight of the scrawny Sound ninja waving his sword at her as the hefty goggled shinobi twirled a set of shuriken in each hand. She gritted her teeth and rushed forward, slashing through the images until they vanished as well. She ran up to the third, knowing who she'd meet. Grinning back at her with his sinister metallic smile, Bandon waited for her attack.

"I'm done playing around," Mokina shouted. "I can dispel this pointless jutsu in an instant.

She raised a hand to her eyes, focused for a moment, and opened her mouth to speak.

"K—"

Mokina stood, unable to move, as Bandon stepped out from behind her. His white locks slowly colored to a sandy blonde as his frame shortened and his face faded away. Kaori grinned back at Mokina, who was completely paralyzed. Her sensation of touch and pain remained, however, as she felt the stinging feeling in the back of her neck.

"I've temporarily severed the connections between your motor neurons and your brain," Kaori said to her face. "You cannot move. My "pathetic" illusions aren't my only weapons. I'm a strong medic nin, too. And as much as I'd like to have more fun at your expense right now, we shinobi of Konoha are trained to aid our teammates. Be thankful I don't kill you for what you guys have done."

Kaori turned away as the desert around the two kunoichi faded.

"You're lucky I'm such a lady…"

Mokina's eyes leered intently back at Kaori, who slowly turned back around. A small grunt escaped Mokina's frozen lips as a small fist collided with the side of her face, sending the motionless kunoichi falling back to the ground.

"Kaori-san!" Kintarou shouted, moving up beside her.

"Okay, so I'm not that much of a lady," Kaori mumbled smartly to herself.

"That was a bit unnecessary," Kintarou continued. "I hardly think that—"

"We don't have time to worry about that," Kaori quickly stopped him. "We need to go after Takeo-kun and Ren-san."

"I agree," Kintarou nodded. "Noppo's hawk flew off in that direction. My guess is that it was heading towards that large plateau."

Both of them glanced behind Ren's house, looking out at the wide rocky structure.

"If we hurry, we should be able to catch up in no time," Kintarou grinned.

"When we do, I'm going to give him a—"

A loud, earth-shattering blast drowned out Kaori's words. Both she and Kintarou hurriedly looked around, trying to find the source. Within seconds, Kintarou spotted it and placed a hand on Kaori's shoulder to get her attention. Atop the large plateau in the distance, the place where Takeo and Ren had to be, a cloud of dust and smoke rose high into the air. And though his eyes were nowhere near as sharp as Takeo's, Kintarou was sure he saw what he did. Kaori's trembling body and awestruck expression confirmed it. Beneath the cover of sand and falling debris, both of them stared, as the large mound of elevated rock splintered apart, its shattered fragments tumbling into the gorge below.