Chapter 80
Intelligence Gathering: The Race Begins!
The Wasabi Family compound was, as the name suggests, quite large.
Located on the outskirts of the Port, the compound was well-fortified by civilian standards. Staunch guards patrolled the premises, attired in a combination of elegant cotton and linen garbs, light leather armor and the odd piece of steel armor; they were equipped with varying weapons, from samurai katanas and polearms, to small hatchets and a rare Masakari—a two-headed battle-axe about six feet in length. The man to wield it was exceptionally broad, grizzled and bearing a severe appearance that reminded Amari of Ibiki.
Intimidating.
The mood of the guards swayed between casual peace and vigilance. Few younger men kept their weapons in reaching distance, but the lack of action made their attentiveness wane. They spoke and laughed loudly, casually—too casually to be on duty. She could've infiltrated and ensnared more than a handful of these people in her Shadow Possession Jutsu, including the vigilant guards, due to their lapse of focus.
Amari's eye lingered on them long—it drew the attention of the grizzled man wielding the Masakari. His eyes followed hers to the group. What he saw wrinkled his weathered features with a severe frown. He strode purposefully towards the guards. The Nara didn't hear what he said, but whatever it was straightened them up instantly. The infiltration point closed.
The grizzled man met her eye. He nodded once.
Amari nodded back.
Beyond the guards were the sturdy, tall walls enclosing the compound, well-maintained at a glance and on closer inspection. Nothing as tall as Konoha's walls. But a simple breaching explosive wouldn't be enough to tear the wall down.
The Wasabi Family was well-prepared for a frontal assault.
Yet, despite the walls and guards, the compound offered an inviting air. A handful of trees sprouted within the compound, their green canopies standing higher than the walls. Birds nesting within chirped. She could hear a faint trickle of water from somewhere within—a water feature, she assumed. And, if she closed her eyes and inhaled deeply, she could smell fresh flowers—a garden.
Green hills, rolling endlessly towards the horizon—common for the Land of Tea—cut off access to the back of the compound.
Pretty well scouted for a peaceful nation, Amari noted, nodding to herself in appreciation of their decision. She couldn't help but wonder if the guards were a new addition due to the current animosity with their rivals, or if the wealth of the Wasabi Family brought thugs, scoundrels and other scum looking for an easy hostage payout.
Not my business to pry. From the look of things, the Wasabi's could handle their usual affairs without shinobi help, which only furthered Amari's suspicion of the Wagarashi Family hiring shinobi—rogue or otherwise.
She preferred it to be rogue shinobi over shinobi from one of the other four Shinobi Nations, odd as that was to say. A rogue held no affiliation or political power, and some might even have a bounty from their home Villages. In that situation, they could battle at full power then move on afterwards.
No mess. No fallout.
But battling a shinobi of one of the other Nations could escalate tension, bring them closer to war. This mission could end up like a rock being dropped in a lake; ripples would expand from it, extending outward in different directions of possibilities, some less sever while others possibly leading to further skirmishes and war.
Here's hoping we're dealing with thugs or rogue ninjas.
Despite the rude interruption at the tea shop, Team Seven still made good time in traveling. Their walk took around three hours, almost to the minute, without any further interactions with jerk locals. The peaceful walk let their encounter at the tea shop escape their minds on the blissful breeze of comradery and exchange of banter about whatever came to mind.
Except shirtless Haku. Shirtless Haku was off limits forever.
The non-strenuous walk aided in rejuvenating their expended energy. Another bonus was the cooler temperatures this far south in comparison to Konoha, though Amari attributed that to the breezy, coastal climate.
As the team waited outside the gate of the compound for clearance by the guards to meet Boss Jirōchō, Amari covertly checked over the state of her team—sheesh, that's still weird to say.
Naruto grinned as he jabbered on to Sakura and Sasuke about how easygoing Boss Jirōchō was. Sasuke and Sakura listened patiently.
Given how hard I pushed them and how tired we all were when we first settled into the tea house, I expected to see some fatigue in their eyes, but they don't even look like we sprinted across the Land of Fire.
Internally, she sighed in relief. She worried the walk and break at the tea house wouldn't be enough to help them recover. She pushed them to their stamina limits the night before, out of necessity, but she tossed and turned on the decision through the night and pondered it deeply throughout the morning.
What if they had to immediately protect their client in this race? Would they be able to withstand the strain already on their bodies to successfully complete their mission?
She wanted so much to ask Kakashi for his opinion on her decision making, see if he concurred or if he believed there was a better option. Ever since they became a team…no, ever since he started popping in to offer advice when she first started training, he was always willing to provide an ear to her ideas or thoughts.
That courtesy was extended into their field work to hear out plans or an opinion before he made a final decision. Amari appreciated that. It helped her to get her thoughts out and feel somewhat useful even if he decided there was a better way.
But even though she was used to making plans on missions, she always had Kakashi there to cushion her fall if her plan wouldn't work or to keep her in check when she wanted to react on emotion rather than analytical thinking. Just like in the Land of Snow.
"They slaughtered them like cattle and laughed about it as they did! We can't just let them get away with that!" she argued in seething rage.
"I know. We will put an end to Dotō, but not here. Not now. We need to get the movie crew to safety, take care of the dead and handle your wounds first."
She lost sight of everything. He hadn't. Kakashi's eyes remained on the mission, on the safety of those under their protection, including his students' safety. He didn't give in to raw emotion like she did—a decision which kept the movie crew safe and toppled the tyrant. Had she gone off on her own for revenge, she'd likely have been ambushed, overwhelmed and captured by Dotō and his cronies.
But that was their last mission when she had Kakashi to keep her in line. On this mission she was alone with her plans and her decisions. When they debriefed on this mission, there would be no hiding from the responsibility of any failure or decision she ended up making.
"Kakashi-sensei trusts you. Your team trusts you. I trust you. You're going to kick some serious ass on this mission. So stop doubting yourself, you've got this."
A quiet sigh escaped Amari. Mimi's right. We're going to do just fine. She looked to her team again, smiling softly. Despite my endless worrying we're all pretty much recovered and ready for anything this mission throws at us. Kakashi-sensei may not be here to let me bounce ideas off him, but he gave me something far better than that.
His silent support and belief in her abilities would get her through this, as would the support of her team and Mimi and Aoko. No matter how much pain is going on in my heart, she thought, unconsciously bringing her left hand up to her heart, I'm going to keep pushing through it all until I break through the clouds of darkness and see the light again.
That was a promise.
"Boss Jirōchō will see you now," the returning guard informed.
Amari gave a small bow of her head to the man. "Thank you." She looked to her team and nodded for them to follow her. "Come on, guys. Time to meet our client."
They were guided into the compounded, around a small pond, where a bamboo water decoration acting like a teeter-totter tapped a rock every time it overflowed.
Peaceful, Amari thought. Maybe one day I'll have enough money to move me and Mom onto a larger property where we can have a garden and a pond and cherry blossom trees.
She loved their cozy home, but if Asuma and her mother decided to marry then they'd need space for two adults, one teenager and the possibility of a newborn. Or several.
Eep! Amari's feet tripped up under her as her heart stilled in response to a sudden realization. Luckily three hands snatched her and kept her from gaining an intimate relationship with the ground.
"Whoa, you okay, Amari?" Naruto asked worriedly.
"Kami," she breathed out in shock. All these years of teasing her mom and Asuma about their relationship, never once did she ever even consider that she…"I could end up a big sister…" she muttered under her breath, her eyes wide at the revelation.
"Uh, what?" Naruto's confusion was clear as the nearby pond.
"Kurenai-sensei is pregnant?!" Sakura all but squealed, her eyes becoming starry at the thought of Kurenai being with child.
Broken from her shock at the squeal, Amari shook her head quickly and raised her hands to slow her teammate down before she got ahead of herself. "No! No she's not pregnant, at least not to my knowledge…"
But I suppose she could be right now without knowing yet. She wasn't stupid. She knew how babies were made, and obviously her mother and Asuma were intimate with one another when alone. And if they weren't using protection…
"I'm too young to be a grandma," she recalled her Mama's words to Shisui.
Could she be too young to be a big sister?
Again she shook her head rapidly. "Moving on!" she decided for everyone, turning on her heel to continue following the guard.
I could be a big sister someday! Amari wasn't sure if she was more excited or panicked about the prospect. Was both okay? She wouldn't mind if Asuma manned up to ask her mother for marriage at some point.
But what had her far more bubbly and frightened in equal measure was the addition of another member to her family. Could she handle being the older sibling? Was she even ready for that huge responsibility?
"Shisui…you were a great role model, but could I even hold a candle as an older sibling like you were to me?" she asked herself, bringing her hand up to her chin in thought without realizing her inside thoughts were being vocalized. "You were so protective and kind and supportive to me. I…I know I'd want to be the same as you if my mom eventually has a kid. I'd want to be their shining light just as you were to me. I'd want to be their hero, too."
A hand grabbing her shoulder startled her and brought her eye back to Sasuke and her team. "We're here," he informed, lifting his chin to the nearby door.
Looking over to his motion she realized he was right. Looking back to her team and their mixture of teasing and just downright confused looks made her acutely aware of the fact she was thinking out loud.
Amari felt her cheeks flush in embarrassment. "…I said that all out loud, didn't I?"
Maybe she hadn't spoken out loud. Maybe it was just her imagination.
"Yeah, you did," Sasuke shot the fallacy down without even blinking.
Heat swarmed her cheeks. Crap… How did she always manage to end up embarrassing herself? And why did it have to happen when she was about to meet a very important client?! Double crap!
"…Can we pretend this never happened? I think my mom might faint if anyone asked her if she wants to have a child."
Honestly, the prospect of it made Amari herself a little faint.
Without giving her team a choice in the matter, she turned and climbed the two steps onto the porch just outside of the room they were meant to enter. As she stripped off her black sandals and set them neatly out of the way, she heard Naruto whisper, "I don't get it. Who would even get Kurenai-sensei pregnant?"
"Are you serious, Naruto?" Sakura's disbelief was palpable.
"Yeah. Why?"
"You really are a brain-dead idiot," Sasuke sighed.
"What? What did I do now? Guys, come on! What'd I miss?"
Sitting inside the room was an older gentleman, graying, but by no means frail or at deaths doorstep. He was healthy and strong, attentive and respectable. He dressed in a haori jacket, colored a light shade of blue, like the sky at dusk. Beneath his attire was simpler ashen-grey kimono. At the sight of the team, he offered a kind smile in greeting.
"Welcome. And thank you all for coming."
His voice was a honeyed baritone. Cadence smooth and articulate. She liked it.
Amari moved to step forward, bow and greet him back. Naruto suddenly stepped past her, hunched a little forward in an incredibly improper bow then spoke in a tone she couldn't decide was either purposefully forced respectful voice to be mocking, or truly his attempt to be respectful. If it was the latter, he really needed etiquette lessons.
"I bid you greetings and offer you my services!"
The Nara deadpanned and quirked an annoyed eyebrow up at the back of her teammate. He also needs to learn volume control. Normally she wouldn't mind—she'd grown used to Naruto's loud and brash personality—but considering they were meant to be representing themselves as much as the Leaf, his introduction wasn't proving them as competent shinobi.
Between the sigh from Sakura and the arms crossed and irritated frown from Sasuke, she was confident the rest of her team stood in agreement.
"I have come from Konoha, which is also the place of my birth! I was raised on ramen and hard work and given the family name of Uzumaki! But I'm known to everyone as—"
"As the village knucklehead," Sasuke interjected, bored and irritated at their teammate's overzealous introduction.
"As the village knucklehead," Naruto repeated. Barely a second passed before he realized what he accidentally said. Their knucklehead groaned and began stamping his feet in horror. "Ah! Very funny, you jerk!"
Much to Amari's surprise, and relief, Boss Jirōchō laughed heartily at their very unprofessional introduction as a team. "You haven't changed at all, I see," he said, regarding Naruto with an appreciative gleam in his eyes.
Naruto smiled and clasped his hands behind his head. "Ha, well you haven't changed much either, big guy."
Amari deadpanned further, her shoulders sagging in despair at his use of such an informal nickname. So this is how Kakashi-sensei feels. What a painnnn.
"Watch it, Naruto," Sakura scolded in a whisper.
Her teammate's attempt to silently warn him of his informality didn't get past their client at all. He chuckled and waved them off. "No, no, it's quite all right. The boy has spirit, I like that!"
Phew, Amari sighed in relief, sounds like Naruto wasn't exaggerating in the slightest, nor was the tea house owner. This guy is pretty cool.
Clearing her throat to take charge, as was her responsibility, Amari spoke up. "Since you know Naruto already I'll quickly introduce the rest of the team so we can get to business. I'm Team Seven's acting leader, Amaririsu Yūhi. This is Sakura Haruno," she motioned to her fellow kunoichi and then to Sasuke, "and Sasuke Uchiha." She let her arm return to her side. "Lady Tsunade sent us to help, and said you would give us the details on our mission."
Jirōchō's look became neutral as he nodded to her. "Mm. All right then." He covered his mouth to conceal a cough before returning his attention to them. "Do you four know of the dedication ceremonies held at the Great Todoroki Shrine every four years?"
Collectively they shook their heads. "Not much, unfortunately," she answered.
He motioned for them to sit with a gesture of his hand. "Please, sit." They obeyed and sat on the tatami mats with him. "It all started long ago. Legends say in ancient times there came a powerful and terrible storm. In desperation to end the storm, the people dedicated the Ryuko Jewels to the Great Todoroki Shrine. It worked. The storm subsided, and now we repeat the ceremony every four years.
"At first, the event was held as a re-dedication of the jewels, but decades ago it became a festival and a race; the winner of this race would be hailed as a great hero." Their client's eyes darkened. "In recent years, however, what used to be a friendly race has taken on a far more troubling aspect," he explained. "For generations Port Degarashi has been split between two separate families: the Wasabi and the Wagarashi, two rival gambling organizations.
"Both families wanted control of the town and its port, leading to a never ending conflict that became increasingly violent over time—some of which ended in all-out battles in the streets."
"Oh man. The civilians…" Amari grimaced, her mind pulling her back to the Invasion of Konoha. Shinobi and civilians in the streets. Fires. Explosions. Screams of terror. Desperate calls for help. Cries for a loved one as they were slayed. Cruel laughter.
Jirōchō nodded grimly. "Yes. Many were injured. Some perished in the ensuing chaos. Finally, in an effort to end the cycle of violence, the Feudal Lord called on both sides to come together and come to an agreement. Hence forth, the town and port would no longer be decided by street brawls and violence, but by a competitive race."
"The dedication ceremony for the Great Todoroki Shrine then," Sasuke put together.
"Correct."
"So that means when the Wagarashi won the race four years ago they gained full control of the Port," Sakura said.
Jirōchō nodded. "Yes. We lost the race four years ago when the Wagarashi secretly hired a shinobi to aid their chosen competitor; we have learned that they have done the same this year."
Damn, Amari frowned. I already figured they had hired a shinobi, but I hoped…
Simple thugs had always been a fleeting hope, but it was better to nix it out of her calculations now rather than finding out in the middle of the race. Now the only question that remained was if the shinobi hired was a rogue or of one of the other Shinobi Nations.
"That is why we sent messengers to you in the Hidden Leaf to request help. It was our only way to level the playing field, but before they reached your Village they were attacked—ambushed." Jirōchō suddenly bent forward, placing his hands on the floor as he bowed his head to them. "I beg you! Please lend our family your strength."
The four Genin let out startled gasps in response to his bow. None of them expected the elder and leader of the Wasabi Family to bow and beg for their aid. Desperation, Amari noted. He may have more influential ties than them, but at the moment he needed them, direly. Not just him, but all of Degarashi Port.
His next statement made that point clear.
"If the Wagarashi Family wins this race, it will be another four years of their control. Another four years of intimidation and extortion for the good people of this port."
In that case…
"Not gonna happen!" Naruto declared.
"Fear not, Mr. Wasabi, we will not allow the Wagarashi Family to win this race," Amari agreed.
"So, who do we need to escort?" Sasuke asked.
Jirōchō raised his head, a wide smile of relief on his face. "That means you'll take the job?"
Amari dipped her head in a nod. "We will."
No way were they letting the Wagarashi continue to run the port through fear and intimidation.
"Excellent!" He clapped his hands twice to summon someone else.
Not a second later, a shadow in a respectful kneel appeared behind the shōji door they had entered. The individual slid the door open. "You wanted to see me, Boss?"
That voice… Amari fought to keep her eye from widening at the person they were meant to be guarding. His voice was missing the cocky snark and resentment she remembered, but the figure kneeling at the doorway was still the same boy as before.
A startled gasp escaped the new entrant when he saw the four of them sitting there. Sakura gasped, too, when she recognized him.
"Whaaa?!" Naruto cried in disbelief as he jabbed his finger at the punk.
"Great," Sasuke grunted in annoyance.
The person we're meant to protect is that punk?! Now she couldn't let Naruto lay him flat with a single punch! What a drag!
Naruto and the punk immediately broke from their shock to glare daggers at one another. Jirōchō, ignorant to their previous encounter with the punk and the glares, smiled and said, "Ah, so you already know each other! That makes everything far easier!"
"I wouldn't be so sure," Sakura grumbled under her breath.
Ugh, this is going to be such a pain. But she couldn't outright deny their client over petty dislike. She was just going to have to suck it up and complete the mission whether she and her team liked the little punk or not.
"We've met, but we didn't get his name," Amari said, her voice flat and devoid of any emotion. It was the most she could do to keep herself from joining Naruto in his glare and anger. "He was far more interested in running away so we'd have to pay for his meal and tea, and then lying to us when we confronted him by saying he had all his money stolen."
The punks glare made its way to her, but she kept her features schooled against the satisfied smirk wanting to pull onto her lips. I know I'm holding a tiny, childish grudge, but boy does it feel good to get some payback.
As she expected, Jirōchō frowned and let out a disappointed sigh, turning his gaze onto the runner. "Idate," he chastised.
The punk, Idate, withered under his look. A satisfied snort escaped Sasuke, no doubt accompanied by an unconcealed smirk she could feel without looking at him. She was far too busy keeping her face stone serious and her eye from gleaming in victory.
Ha, that's what you get for being a cheapskate. Don't mess with Team Seven, jerk!
"…Sorry, Boss."
"We will discuss this later, Idate. First you owe these four an apology for lying and stealing from them."
"But—"
Jirōchō raised his hand to silence the boy. "Do not dishonor the Wasabi Family, Idate. These four shinobi have come to aid us. They did not need to agree to help, but they have, without hesitation."
Idate grit his teeth in frustration. He loathed the entire idea of apologizing to the shinobi he sneered at before. But then let it fall with a sigh. He bowed his head to them. "I'm sorry for what I did. Forgive me."
Not a chance, all of Team Seven thought simultaneously.
Forgiveness, definitely after everything he did, was not freely given. If he really wanted their forgiveness he'd have to earn it through his actions. Preferably by winning the race.
"You're forgiven," Amari lied on behalf of her team. "Holding a grudge is too troublesome anyways." She turned her eye back to their main client. "By the way, you picked an excellent runner, Mr. Wasabi." Much as I despise admitting that. "He's fast. Faster than my three teammates in a straight up sprint."
His smile returned as he gave a small nod. "Thank you. But you said your three teammates. Do you mean to say you can keep up with Idate?"
"On physical speed alone, no," she answered honestly. "Only one shinobi in our general age group would be able to. With chakra, however, myself and a friend of ours can keep up, but we're sort of the speedsters of our respective years." She glanced over to Idate with a measured, analytical gaze. "I do not know everything this race entails yet, but in a foot race he'll blast whoever his opponent is out of the water. Nothing escapes my eye, so I mean it when I say whatever training he's put himself through for this, he's doing it to win no matter what."
Returning her eye back to Jirōchō she noticed hope and pride beginning to irradiate off of him.
"We'll keep him safe so he can win the race. Count on it."
The meeting ended soon after. Jirōchō graciously offered them a spare room for the night, conveniently located adjacent to Idate's room, before the big race tomorrow morning. Amari considered turning him down and renting a room for her team; she didn't want to intrude upon the Wasabi Family or take advantage of their hospitality, but tactically it was unwise.
They needed to keep a close eye on Idate and the Wasabi compound in case the enemy shinobi, whoever they might be, tried to infiltrate and eliminate the competition before the race even began. She could not put it past the Wagarashi Family to play extremely dirty, especially when they made their money on extortion and intimidation.
Her team agreed when she explained her thoughts and they all dropped off their bags in the room and prepared it for eventual sleep.
When Idate decided to take a stroll through Degarashi Port, Naruto reluctantly went to be a bodyguard, grumbling the whole way after Amari warned him to not pulverize the client. Not even a little.
Sakura and Sasuke, too, left to scout the port and see if they could spot their enemies among the crowds. Amari urged them all to keep their guard up and their senses about them.
Not wanting to settle in just yet while her team went out for mission based reasons, Amari respectfully asked to speak to Jirōchō again to gather further Intel on their mission. She needed to know every detail about the race, what it would entail and…she wanted to reassure him that his men were on the road to recovery.
He deserved to know they weren't on deaths doorstep any longer.
He granted her another audience and agreed to a game of shogi while they spoke. Amari unsealed her board with the pieces already set and began her questioning.
According to their client, the first leg of the race was by boat, sailing out of Degarashi's harbor to Modoroki Shrine—the halfway point—on Nagi Island. Geographically, Nagi Island was due south of the Land of Water and Hidden Mist Village and east of the Land of Tea—somewhat northeast of Degarashi Port.
She spared a passing thought for Haku and Kaito, wondering if it were possible she'd see the troublesome bird and hear from Haku sooner because of this mission. It'd sure make Kaito happy and be convenient for me to send a quick message back…if the Mizukage didn't send another.
The Shadow user let the thought go and continued to play her game and listen to her client.
The runners would take one of the Ryuko jewels from Modoroki Shrine and then have to run to Ouzu Island—an island connected to Nagi Island by a rope bridge—to the finish line where they would dedicate their jewel to the Great Todoroki Shrine.
As for rules, there were none. Shortcuts, obstructions—anything and everything was allowed.
"Hm. Troublesome," Amari murmured as she considered her next move in shogi and mulled over the race. Jirōchō was pretty good at shogi; nowhere near her level or that of Shikamaru or Shikaku, but definitely not an opponent to underestimate. I suppose since this is a game he's probably played it in a gambling match.
It'd explain why he didn't fall for her simplest tactics.
"What troubles you?" he asked.
"I'm trying to piece together how best to protect Idate while not burdening his speed in anyway," she answered, far too deep in thought to consider if it was inappropriate or not to discuss this with their client. She brought her hand to her chin in thought. "The first leg is simple enough, in theory. All we have to do is get aboard the ship and sail to Modoroki Shrine. Of course I highly doubt the enemy shinobi will let us sail without a fight, which is where me and my team come in. But the fight isn't my greatest worry."
"Oh?"
Amari winced. "I…I didn't mean that to sound overly arrogant. My apologies."
Jirōchō let out a hearty laugh at her apology. "There's nothing to apologize for, Amaririsu. I can see the gears turning in your mind. Considering your aptitude in shogi, I'm confident in saying you are the tactician of your team."
Fight the blush. Fight it! "Ah, well, yes, though that's not to say my team is incapable of good plans or thinking for themselves." She made her move and tried to ignore the amused smile from her opponent. "Anyway, in the first leg I'm more worried about the weather than I am our enemies. Our odds of winning can change drastically if the wind is wrong or a storm comes, and no amount of skills we have can affect the sea or weather."
Weather could have a profound effect on a battle regardless of where it took place. A lightning storm could, in theory, help a Lightning Style user. A raging storm on the water could give a Water Style user everything they needed to destroy their enemy.
The unpredictability of Mother Nature could turn the tides of a battle instantaneously, and that worried her the most. She knew the Land of Fire weather because she was a native, but here? She didn't have a clue of what sailing conditions were like, what kind of storms they had this time of year or if they had monsoons or water spouts further out at sea.
"I don't know much about the weather in this region so that's one of my greatest blindspots in the first leg," she continued, her lips pursed in deep thought. "As for our enemies, I cannot doubt they might try to sink our ship to prevent our victory. It'd be a good move, definitely if they're Water Style users."
"And if they're not?"
"It would depend on how many shinobi they have that would dictate their plan of attack. Larger numbers might make them overconfident and still lead to an assault on our ship during the first leg. However, if I had the money the Wagarashi Family does, I'd hire enough shinobi for two groups."
Jirōchō made his move and Amari took one of his pieces an instant later. He frowned and went back into thought on his next move. "Why two teams, Amaririsu?"
"One team to serve as a shield for my runner, the other as a sword to take down my opponent. For instance, if I were to separate my team into teams of two, I'd pick Naruto and Sakura for the sword. Naruto would make up the bulk of the brute force, and Sakura would use her intelligence to act as support and find the opening needed to sink the ship. At the same time, Sasuke and I would be the shield. Sasuke would defend at a distance through offensive attacks to keep the enemy at bay while I remained at the runner's side to protect them with a mix of assault and defense."
A simple tactic overall, but sometimes simple was better than extravagant.
"Put into the first leg, the defense would stay on the ship while the sword attacked the opposing ship. Of course it's possible the Wagarashi could hire one powerful shinobi to be a sword and a shield, but then they'd risk you hiring several powerful shinobi that could overpower their single shinobi."
Amari shook her head with a frown in place on her lips. "In that scenario their defeat would be guaranteed. They might be gamblers, but that's too risky of a bet in my eye. Granted the Wagarashi's could be overconfident, but I can't risk lowering my guard on that risky of a whim."
Now her gears were really spinning. She could subconsciously feel it as her eye darted across the board, piecing together every move Jirōchō could do and thinking of several counterattacks to end the game.
So we're probably dealing with two teams of unknown size, she thought. One will try to destroy our ship or delay us while the other stays close to the runner just in case we divert part of our team to attack their runner. That was the Wagarashi's smartest bet and plan to go through with when the stakes of control over the port were on the table.
Which means we'll need to be ready for an immediate defense as soon as the race starts. From there, once we know the size of the force we're dealing with and their strength, we'll be able to judge if we should split up or stick together.
Jirōchō moved a piece. She responded an instant later.
"If the attack doesn't happen on the water, then whoever is in first place by that point has the advantage. As I said, Idate is quicker than my team, probably quicker than most shinobi in a straight sprint. So if he's in first then all my team has to focus on is keeping up, defense if it's close and setting traps to sabotage any chance the other runner has. He'll handle the rest."
If there was one thing she could depend on with Idate, it was his ability to run away. All we have to do is get him to land first as quickly as we can and then he'll be on the fast track to victory.
Amari hummed and furrowed her brow as a new thought crossed her mind. But, if the race destinations are known to the runners and their guards before the race then another smart move would be to plant a shinobi near Modoroki Shrine or near that wooden bridge connecting the two islands together.
She bit the inside of her lip and squinted down at the board, not seeing shogi pieces but the battlefield ahead of her. There's no chance for us to set that kind of trap up because of how late we were, but they certainly had the time to. That meant getting Idate to land first and faster than his opponent alone was not enough to seal victory.
The bridge was the best place to end the chance of an opponent winning if it hadn't been done by that point already. A rope bridge could be cut down with ease in comparison to a solid structure. We'll need to be cautious when we reach the island. Even if we have a big lead, we can't assume we're out of the woods until Idate crosses that finish line.
Jirōchō moved. She took another piece, pushing the game closer to her victory.
"But if our trip to Modoroki Shrine is stalled by weather or shinobi, his opponent will not only have the lead, but the enemy shinobi will have the ability to set traps and make it even harder for us to regain the lead. As long as it's close, though, or we maintain a good lead then our real focus will be simple defense of Idate."
"You've given this some deep thought in a short time," Jirōchō said as he made another move.
Amari smashed through his defenses while shrugging. "Just how my mind works. But that's why the weather is my biggest worry. The first leg really dictates how the rest of the race goes and what kind of trouble we'll have. My hope is the Wagarashi Family either underestimated what kind of rank shinobi you'd hire or are overconfident enough to think it wouldn't matter in the end. Regardless, I won't be blinded by overconfidence or underestimate our enemy. My team will be prepared for anything." She made her final move. "Checkmate."
Jirōchō breathed out a laugh at his loss and crossed his arms across his chest. "Well done. Though I suppose I shouldn't expect anything less from a Nara."
Lightning might as well have struck her. Amari stilled, heart beginning to race. How could he know that? How could he… The Nara glanced down then exhaled. Of course. Her pendent had snuck out of her tank top and was on display for all to see.
"I guess I'm not doing a good job at keeping that secret," she said mostly to herself.
"May I ask why you hide your true heritage?"
His curiosity was innocent. But the question alone was enough to make her eye and heart fall. She grabbed her pendent. "…I'd rather not discuss it. It's…it's a raw wound for me."
His features became sympathetic and offered a nod. "Understood."
The Nara exhaled a heavy sigh and let her hand fall back into her lap. "Thank you."
With the game and information gathering over, it was time to pack up and see if her team had returned. Amari chose then to bring up his messengers.
"Before we left Konoha," she started, "Lady Tsunade informed me that your messengers were poisoned when they were attacked. I don't know how many you sent or how many made it to our Village, but she did say they when she mentioned their survival. I believe she attended to them herself, so if they all made it to Konoha I have no doubt she saved them all."
Jirōchō's lips split into a joyful smile. "Ah, that's wonderful news! Thank you."
She gave a small bow of her head. "Happy to pass on any good news I can." Amari finished resetting the shogi board and sealed it away. "Thank you for your time and the game, Mr. Wasabi."
"You are welcome, Amaririsu."
Amari stood to leave, but when she neared the door a sudden question popped into her mind. She turned around to face the older gentleman, who was still sitting in the same spot and giving her a curious look.
"Four years ago when the Wagarashi hired shinobi, do you remember what Village they were hired from?"
"No, I do not," he answered, shaking his head. "But I believe they did not leave on good terms, so it is unlikely they would hire the same shinobi."
"Okay. Goodnight, Mr. Wasabi."
"Goodnight, Amaririsu."
After the door was shut behind her, Amari brought her hand to her chin as she walked through the halls with a pensive look on her face. If he had known the current shinobi he would have mentioned it, and since the previous did not leave on good terms…
"Still no leads on who we're dealing with. How troublesome," she muttered.
"The poison is mainly used by the Hidden Rain, but that does not necessarily mean a shinobi from their Village used it."
Lady Tsunade's assessment was accurate, but the mere possibility of their enemy origins being linked to the Hidden Rain unnerved her greatly. When it came to reclusive, closed off, Villages with violent histories, the Hidden Rain and Mist were tied for first.
Mist was known best for Blood Mist, of course, but the Hidden Rain could be considered far more troubling due to what they had experienced. The Hidden Rain Village was geographically located right between the Land of Fire, Earth and Wind, and that left them caught between the previous Great Shinobi Wars.
Repeatedly being the battlefield of other villages wars had to breed resentment and powerful shinobi, especially since they shut themselves off to the rest of the world.
Beyond that logical assumption, the Shadow user knew little about the Village as a whole, though that could be said for everyone from what Kurenai once told her. What she did know thanks to her mother was the type of missions they specialized in—assassinations.
If we're dealing with Rain ninja who use poisons… Amari let out a disgruntled hum. I can't jump to that conclusion of who our enemy originates from, but I can still prepare for them, just in case.
An assassination team would act with stealth, which meant tonight she and her team needed to remain vigilant and rotate a constant watch so they were all protected and able to sleep at some point. Once they survived the night they'd need to keep their senses open in case they were dealing with an assassination team.
I need to keep that antidote Lady Tsunade gave me on hand at all times. Amari opened the door to their room and entered, engrossed by her thoughts. Our enemies could be using any assortment of weapons from smoke bombs made of poison to blades coated with it. They might even have a jutsu.
She would need to limit herself to maintaining a close proximity to her team and Idate. She couldn't risk getting caught in a close quarters duel again and risk one of her teammates or client getting poisoned when she was nowhere near them.
Hmm.
Amari put her scroll away and sat down on the floor crossed legged to think. So many scenarios to plan for, possibilities to consider and worries to mull over. Maybe a light meditation would help her get her thoughts straight. Releasing all the tension in her body, Amari shut her eyes and breathed slow, large breaths to clear the storm from her mind.
Sakura and Sasuke returned sometime later with Naruto following their arrival about ten minutes after, his mood soured by his few hours spent with Idate. By that point Amari reached a Zen-like state and was ready to hear of any information they might have to add it to her calculations and pass off what information she learned.
Their debriefing went well; Amari held the most information overall thanks to her meeting with Jirōchō, but that was okay. Sasuke and Sakura apparently entered into a small scuffle with members of the Wagarashi Family—thugs wrecking a man's store after he asked them to pay for their purchases.
It was only a small scuffle because the two shinobi pummeled the three men with ease and sent them home wailing in terror.
"Good work," she congratulated them. Scum like the Wagarashi Family were just like Gatō, and they all knew what she felt for that piece of trash.
Enough scorn to give his life to a Demon willingly.
Besides that they didn't see or sense any shinobi during their scouting trip.
After she went over all of the information she gathered, they each prepared for sleep while Amari prepared for the first watch of the night. As she sat alone in the quiet of the room, her Byakugan scanning the perimeter and their client's quarters, she found herself gripping the pendent hanging from her necklace to try to ease her nerves.
Tomorrow is the day…
The day of the race.
The day of the mission.
The day she would have to lead her team in battle.
Tracing her finger over the conjoined symbols, she did her best to breathe and calm her nerves.
Tomorrow…
Hopefully this time her client wouldn't ignore her orders.
In the dark, early hours of the morning, concealing themselves among the shadows, four Wagarashi thugs approached the walls of the Wasabi compound. Silent, they believed, as shinobi. They crept closer, full of ill intentions. Motivated by greed and possible glory among their family.
They didn't need the hired shinobi to take out the rival racer. No. This was a matter to be handled by Wagarashi Family members; outsiders weren't needed to eliminate a single punk kid. Soon they'd enter the walls and, without a sound ever being made, kill the Wasabi Family's one chance at winning the race.
"Going somewhere?"
The harsh voice didn't startle them. They expected a guard dog or two to be out on patrol. This was no issue.
Moonlight shone off the steel of the Masakari. The grizzled Wasabi veteran was alone, for now. He or their battle may yet raise the alarm, and this mission would be for naught. Unacceptable. They would eliminate him quickly and quietly, then their mission would resume as planned.
The Wagarashi thugs sneered and drew their swords. One man against the four of them? Incompetent fool.
"This is the end for you, Wasabi dog."
"I'd say the same to you, Wagarashi scum."
He swung his battleaxe in a wide, almost three-hundred and sixty degree strike. They leapt back, evading the dangerous weapon. With his back turned to them, one follower thrusted his sword for his back. The Wasabi guard, a man of many battles, sidestepped fluidly and jammed the pointed pommel into his enemy's sternum.
The follower crumbled to his knees, weapon falling from his hand, gasping for air.
The Wasabi guard was given no time to finish him. Two other followers attacked simultaneously with downward strikes. Lifting his weapon up, he caught the blades with the length of his haft and, with greater might, pushed them back.
He made for another sweeping strike, growling as he did. Hold them here, he demanded of himself. The longer this skirmish lasted, the greater chance of reinforcements. His armor guaranteed he would survive a slash, a cut or a weak thrust from their swords. One blow from his axe meant losing a limb or a massive gouge in their flesh.
However, his weapon was heavier. Slower. The Wagarashi Family thugs were greater in numbers, and wielded quicker drawn weapons. How grievous might his injuries become if a few bug bites became hundreds?
It was then the Wagarashi thugs felt an unnatural chill permeate in the air. The Wasabi member felt it, too, though the intensity was greatly lessened around him. He understood immediately, and was relieved Boss Jirōchō hired a vigilant shinobi.
Cold, invisible claws began to slowly drill themselves into the thugs flesh. The air, while still, felt alive. Twisting, curling around them. Teasing them menacingly with their weakness. Chills raced down their spines as sweat began to bead on their foreheads.
What unnatural being was responsible for this?
"I expected this from the Wagarashi Family, but I assumed they'd at least send professionals."
The foreign voice was dangerous. Bladed. Dripping with toxic venom. But without a doubt belonging to a child. A girl.
So why was it so frightening?
"Yet all I see are thugs."
The four Wagarashi members growled and raised their eyes to the wall. The girl crouched above the Wasabi guard, silhouetted by darkness. None could decipher her appearance fully, but one reality became certain: This killing intent was her doing.
The air was thinning. It was hard to breathe. Hard to think, as if a heavy fog was disrupting their senses. The invisible claws dug deeper into their flesh. They could feel the monstrous hand clutching them loosely.
"What are you?" the leader hissed.
"Flee back to your masters. Now," she ordered instead of answering.
"Or what, child?"
"Or you'll learn a fate worse than death."
They hesitated—it was the greatest error they made that night.
The child suddenly, violently, transformed into a demon dragon. Crimson and lavender eyes, sharper than any man-made blade, full of hunger for blood, locked onto them.
None except the Wasabi guard could move freely. The intangible monstrous hand clutching their bodies crushed them in a vice grip, talons drawing blood that wasn't real; it refused to let them go until the dragon was allowed to feast on their souls.
Terror seized the four Wagarashi thugs. Inside the glowing eyes of the dragon their violent deaths were revealed to them. Heat like volcanic lava rushed past them as the dragon unleashed an earth trembling roar only they could hear and feel.
One follower collapsed back on the verge of hyperventilation. The follower the Wasabi guard struck lowered himself further to the ground, as if bowing before a god. The other two became statues, unable to breathe, think or move beyond trembling.
Finally, with what little sense they had left, the Wagarashi thugs dropped their weapons and fled from the compound, all but tripping over themselves and pushing their so-called allies out of their way.
The Wasabi guard turned back to the kunoichi crouched on the wall. She was still silhouetted in the shadows.
Again he nodded to her. In appreciation of how she handled the situation without further bloodshed, and gratitude for the aid.
Stubborn pride was an inexperienced young man's burden.
The kunoichi nodded back. Respectful. Then she vanished.
He'd known she or a member of her team would arrive. These four Leaf shinobi, especially their leader, were a vigilant and experienced team despite their youth. It gave the veteran hope.
Idate, the stubborn and prideful fool, was in capable hands, just as Boss Jirōchō had assured him this evening after his meeting with the kunoichi leader. He was pleased to see it with his own eyes.
As long as Idate didn't blunder this, he may yet prove himself worthy of Boss Jirōchō's trust.
Until then…
The Wasabi guard hefted his Masakari onto his shoulder and continued his patrol.
Vigilance was key—a lesson he would lecture his fellow guards on at the crack of dawn.
Amari returned to their room and resumed the last hour of her watch.
Tomorrow…
"You stupid, stubborn, arrogant punk!" Amari cursed Idate while struggling to maintain her Shadow Possession at long range. The runner teetered on the edge of a rocky cliff. "If you'd have just listened to me…grr!"
A bead of warm sweat slid down her cheek. She gritted her teeth, trying to force the idiot to step back.
Her attempts were futile at this distance, thanks in no small part to Idate struggling against her jutsu. Hissing out a frustrated breath, she raised her voice again. "Stop fighting my control! If you keep it up, you'll plunge to your death!"
She had just about enough of Idate for a lifetime. First he went darted off in the wrong direction at the start of the race with no explanation whatsoever. Then he fell right into the enemy's double genjutsu right along with Naruto, the latter of whom she was able to talk sense into so she could release him from the genjutsu. And now he placed her in a position where she had no choice except straining her Shadow Possession on a mountainous cliff with minimal shadows!
This entire thing was a huge pain in her neck!
"One of you, hurry and grab him! I- I can't—"
He was still struggling, still fighting her control. Her Shadow was already at its thinnest length, to the point she was forcing the jutsu—an act every shinobi was warned to never do—just to save the arrogant punk.
Any second now the jutsu would break and he'd go falling off the cliff like the idiot he was. All he was missing was a sign to hold up with an exclamation of "Yikes" or 'Help me" on it.
She could feel her shadow trying to recede. She could see it slimming even further right in front of her and then expanding as she forced the jutsu to remain connected.
Naruto and Sasuke dashed past her as fast as they could. Idate was within arms distance within seconds. But she couldn't fight it any longer. The strain was too much for her body to handle, like trying to carry a refrigerator full of cement on her back down a flight of stairs.
Amari collapsed onto the stony path. Her weak limbs failed to catch her, leaving her to crash shoulder first on the warm stone. She was gasping desperately, greedily for every bit of oxygen she could get as she laid there, unable to move, feeling as if she was suffocating even as she knew she was breathing in oxygen. Her throat felt constricted, her heart tight.
This…is why you…never force a jutsu.
Every molecule in her body was screaming at her. Vicious, bloodcurdling screams. Her tight heart slammed against her chest, up into her throat, with explosive force she feared might make her puke. And oxygen, where had the oxygen in the air gone?
"You damn idiot!" Sasuke reprimanded Idate.
Struggling to lift her head, she tightened her jaw against the pain and raised her eye just enough to see him through blurry vision. He gripped their client by the back of his shirt to keep him in place as he hung precariously over the edge. Naruto turned into two, one holding Sasuke and the other grabbing Idate as well. Both boys roughly pulled him—threw him—back onto the cliff path then rushed back over to Amari.
They knew what she risked to save Idate. They knew how her jutsu worked, its weaknesses and how their current terrain and her cries to get their client to stop struggling would affect her jutsu.
Forcing any jutsu could be the final fatal mistake of a shinobi. Usually it was only something a shinobi needed to remember when at low chakra or when using powerful jutsu like Chidori or Rasengan.
Although she hadn't been low on chakra, to use a jutsu like Shadow Possession when it had set limitations, and using willpower to force it beyond those restrictions, was downright reckless and dangerous.
He…didn't give me…much choice, she reminded herself.
Idate's blatant disregard of her warnings, his refusal to slow down when the risk of enemies ambushing her team was high and ignorance to the cliff he nearly ran off left her with no choice but to send her Shadow when they finally were in range.
Poor consolation as far as her screaming limbs were concerned.
A gentle hand resting on her back alerted her to Sakura's presence. She hadn't even sensed her teammate.
"Hey, you okay?" she asked softly. Then she gasped in fear. "You're entire body is quivering. And you're body is really warm to touch."
She grunted in acknowledgement of the truth.
"Every- everything inside me is burning." Her voice was strangled in agony. Had she been able to do it without adding onto her pain, she might have bitten her arm or clenched her hand into a fist to dig her nails into her palm. She couldn't, though. Mere twitches of her muscles only piled onto her pain.
Her heart, her lungs, her intestines, even her blood felt like it was on fire. Searing pain flowed through her from her main organs down to the tips of her fingers and toes.
"I…I don't think I can stand on my own," Amari admitted through the pain.
No, she knew for a fact she'd fall face first if she tried to stand up on her own strength.
She wasn't sure she even wanted to move. Well, of course she wanted to move, but she was afraid even to have one of her teammate's move her would just make this far worse.
Doesn't matter, she told herself. We have to keep moving no matter how painful it may be. We have to complete this mission.
"I'll brace you then so you can regain your strength," Sakura said without hesitation. Carefully, she slung Amari's left arm around the back of her neck and stood up, bracing the pain filled kunoichi who did her best to not be total dead weight and not scream—because, kami, everything within her was begging her to scream so she had some sort of outlet.
"Ggh!" she choked down a scream.
"Is there anything I can do to lessen the pain?"
"N- no! Don't…don't worry. I'll…" Amari's entire face, pouring with sweat, scrunched. "I'll endure it."
Naruto and Sasuke approached with concerned faces.
"Are you all right, Amari?" Naruto asked.
"No," she choked out. "But…I'm still alive, so that counts for something."
"Forcing her Shadow Possession Jutsu like that did a number on her internally," Sakura said. "What she did was like straining a muscle—only she strained her entire chakra network saving Idate. And because of how interconnected our Chakra Network is to—"
"Ggh!" a pained grunt cut off Sakura's explanation.
Her fellow kunoichi did her best to offer comfort through reassuring whispers and a soothing palm rubbing circles on her back as her entire body quivered through tumbling waves of pain.
"So it's affecting her like Hisashi's poison, in a way," Naruto said.
Sakura offered a nod. "Similar, but not a direct comparison. She hasn't been poisoned. This pain she's going through is like—how to describe it? Oh! Like a cramp when you drink too much water and then try to exercise. Only more extreme, obviously. It doesn't require Medical Ninjutsu to heal; she just needs to rest without using any chakra until it passes."
"Read Mimi's notes, huh?" Amari attempted to jest through labored breaths, but her laugh caused a shooting pain to erupt across her stomach, as if someone stabbed her with a kunai. "Argh!"
"There isn't anything we can do to ease it. The pain should pass soon. Until then, I'll carry her until she can stand on her own."
"Nothing I can't handle." Amari struggled to lift her chin back in the direction of Idate. "Come on, we still have a mission to complete. Sasuke, you take the lead for now."
"Got it," he agreed with a nod.
Orders given, they walked back over to Idate, who was sitting on the ground and rubbing his back. He scowled up at them. "Stop slowing me down, you idiots."
Ungrateful jerk.
"Slowing you down?!" Naruto boomed. "If it wasn't for Amari, you'd be splattered all over the ground right now!"
Idate shot up to his feet. "You only saved me because you are bound to your duty! There's no need for me to thank any of you! "
"What did you say?!" Naruto jabbed his finger back at her. "Look at her! Look at the pain she put herself through to save you! Put your pride away and show some gratitude, you punk!"
Idate snarled but did spare a glance to see her pain etched features and her struggle to breathe without wincing. He said nothing, only looked away and hissed out a breath.
"Naruto, agh! Enough already," Amari ordered. Her best friend shot her a look of disbelief. He didn't want to let this go. But he needed to. They didn't have the time for an argument. "Arguing with him serves no purpose. Besides, you're only worsening his inferiority complex."
That was a needlessly barbed statement, but considering she just saved his life at the risk of her own she felt entitled to it. Idate's eyes found hers in a heated glare.
"Listen, Idate, the only reason why I let you come this far is because Mr. Wasabi trusts you."
Another wave of searing pain, this one enough to make her double over.
"You're okay. You're okay," Sakura did her best to sound reassuring and soothing, crouching down when she began gagging. No puke came out, thankfully. That would have been mortifying. She sensed Naruto's intensifying glare on Idate, a silent dare to say something snarky.
Idate did not.
Sakura took the Nara's hand into her own and allowed her to use it as a stress ball until the pain passed. It brought back memories of their night on the ship. Amari latched onto the peace she'd found then with Sakura to combat the overwhelming pain.
When the worst of it passed, she spoke up in a weak voice, "I'm assuming you have a plan, but if you keep ignoring us because of your clear disdain for shinobi, you will die."
Without her Byakugan able to activate she could only flick her right eye back in the direction they came. Those shinobi…why do I feel like I've sensed their chakra before?
The feeling troubled her. If they followed them this far, then they were likely going on ahead just in case their genjutsu plan didn't work.
"Sakura, can you help me up again?"
"Okay."
Turning her attention back to their client and his sneer, she decided to finish up her speech. "That genjutsu trap you just fell for was a complicated attac— argh!"
She hunched forward slightly and grit her teeth through another wave of burning. Every muscle across her body contracted; she could feel a sheen of sweat forming in a futile attempt to cool her off.
When the pain was bearable enough to speak again, she did as quickly as she could. "I know this because my mother is a master of genjutsu. These shinobi we're dealing with clearly mean to kill you. Last night the Wagarashi Family sent thugs to finish you off before the race began."
Idate stiffened at the news.
"I know you have a race to win, but if you don't let us do our duty and protect you because you ignore us, then you can expect to fail Mr. Wasabi and his trust in you."
That earned her a glare but no retort. Direct hit. In their short meeting with Jirōchō she could see how much Idate respected him. Was it dirty to use that against him? Perhaps. But if it got him to actually listen then she wasn't above using it.
"Now, why are we going North? What did you see at the port that made you come this way?"
He gave a long, reluctance filled sigh at her. "Shouldn't you shinobi know these things?"
"Damn it, just answer her question! You can see how hard it is for her to speak! Stop being so cruel!" Naruto shouted.
He rolled his eyes in agitation. "Around this time of year there are strong seasonal winds blowing hard across the sea. Back at the starting point, I noticed storm clouds on the horizon and how they were being blown towards us by the wind. Besides that, there's a port in the north where the ocean current flows straight to Nagi Island."
"Hmph. Who knew he actually had a brain," Sasuke said.
Amari nodded in acknowledgement of both boys assessments. "Then it seems North is our best bet. Let's move."
Idate turned around, sparing another sneer at her. "Try not to slow me down."
And then he was off at a run again, though his pace was noticeably slower than his previous one.
"I really don't like him," Naruto growled. He was barely able to contain his fury from the look of it. Another push or prod and she might not be able to stop her friend from laying him flat.
"You don't have to like the client. Just protect him."
"Fine."
Team Seven, with Sakura bracing Amari, followed after him and kept pace the whole way to the northern port. The genjutsu using enemies did not appear again, but that only made Amari more suspicious of their eventual appearance. Though I can't say I'm upset they haven't shown up.
The state she was currently in would make her a burden to her team. But the fact their enemies hadn't tried to attack again when they were vulnerable proved to her that they laid their genjutsu trap and never once looked back. Not that she was complaining. The longer they waited, the more recovered she'd be.
"Hey, I can smell salt in the air!" Naruto announced.
"The sea is up ahead," Sasuke said. "How are you two holding up back there?"
"We've gained a rhythm and we're moving quickly," Sakura answered as they continued to ninja jump through the trees in tandem.
"The burning pain has been replaced by a tingly needle feeling, like when your foot falls asleep only everywhere." Even her face was tingly, and that was a strange sensation. "But I can feel my strength returning. I should be able to use my sensory abilities once we're on the boat."
"We'll definitely need it since those guys haven't shown their faces yet," her fellow kunoichi said. "They missed a good opportunity to ambush us when you were weakened."
Amari nodded. "They did, but that means they cast their genjutsu and kept moving ahead for the next attack. We'll need to be ready once we're on the water." And if Idate stashed a ship in case of a storm, then I'd bet these guys scouted him doing so and have one of their own waiting for them.
A thought she'd have to wait for confirmation on.
As they made their way down to the beach where they'd be setting sail from, the silhouette of Nagi Island took over their horizon along with several dark and frightening clouds covering the path from Degarashi Port.
"We can probably make it to Nagi Island in about an hour from here," Idate informed as they reached the beach. He stopped for a moment and looked to the fisherman house settled next to the stairs. "Wait for a second," he said before running off to the house.
"And there he goes again," Naruto muttered, more annoyed this time than angry.
"Hey, Sasuke," Amari spoke in a whisper. There was something else bothering her that she hadn't had the time to talk to her teammates about until now. "Did you catch his surname when they announced him at the festival?"
He dipped his head in a small nod. "You noticed that too, huh?"
"Noticed what?" Naruto questioned.
She wasn't surprised Naruto didn't catch it. He wasn't one to remember names of people he didn't know all that long. She did remember, however, and she was far more suspicious of their client now that she knew his full name than she had been previously.
"Later," she dismissed when she saw Idate running back over.
The ship they ended up taking was already waiting for them on the beach. Although she knew little to nothing when it came to ships, it seemed to her untrained eye to be made for speed rather than heavy cargo transportation.
It was relatively small, able to be manned by their small group with Sasuke at the helm, Naruto and Sakura taking care of the sails and Amari sitting near Sasuke with her Byakugan activated so she could look for threats on their horizon and help guide him.
The tingly needles still pinned and pricked along her body, but the longer they sailed, the less it bothered her. As long as she continued to let her body rest and didn't strain her Byakugan eye she'd be fine.
Unfortunately, the time for resting was going to end abruptly at some point. The next attack was coming. Somewhere within the next hour the sword team would come again to try to take them out of the race permanently, and they needed to be ready for that.
But her lingering suspicion about Idate continued to bother her immensely. Now that she was alone with Sasuke and Idate was standing at the very front of the ship—about as far away as he could get from all of them without jumping into the water—she decided to bring it up again.
"It'd really make sense for him to be his little brother, wouldn't it?" she whispered to Sasuke.
"Yeah," he nodded, "it would. How many shinobi do you know that can run that fast without chakra?"
"One. Two including Guy-sensei."
Again he nodded. "Exactly. He's had special training, no doubt about that, and the fact he knew how to release the first genjutsu is suspect enough. An entire stadium was hit with one, and some of the shinobi with more experience than us didn't even realize it happened." Sasuke shook his head, a deep frown creasing his lips. "Something doesn't add up with him. He can't be some regular punk. He's had to at the least spent time in a Hidden Village."
"Mm. I wonder if that means he's a rogue."
"Even if he is, I don't see any sense in doing anything about it."
Amari couldn't help but nod in agreement. "Me neither."
He was no threat to anyone. He was just a runner. A teenager who liked to act tough but when real danger appeared he did his best to run away. What she couldn't figure out was why he hated shinobi so much. If he had spent time in a Hidden Village, why did he detest them? Did it have anything to do with why he ran away?
Naruto, who had been discussing something in hushed voices with Sakura, suddenly burst out laughing and threw his hands behind his head. "Come on, Sakura! That idiot could never be a ninja!"
Ah, looks like they were discussing the same thing as us.
"Look who's talking!" Sakura fired back. "Last time I checked you got yourself pummeled by two kunoichi because of your stupidity!"
"Hmph," Sasuke snorted humorously.
Naruto recoiled a little. Sweat formed on his brow after he glanced Amari's way and found an intense stare. Don't. You. Dare.
Shirtless Haku was not to be spoken of, especially in front of a client.
"Well, yeah…But I did make it to the finals of the Chūnin Exams, you know," he did his best to shift the topic of conversation.
Idate suddenly turned around with surprise clear on his face. "You didn't really make it to the finals of the Chūnin Exams, did you?"
Interesting, Amari thought as she and Sasuke shared a single glance of piqued curiosity.
"You bet I did! And so did Sasuke and Amari!" Naruto declared. "I would have won it too if the Sand and Sound didn't interrupt it with their invasion! I'd be a Chūnin if it weren't for their attack."
Both Uchiha's suppressed their laughs. "You hear that, Sasuke? That means he'd have beaten you in his second round match," she teased, smirking down at him.
"Hmph." Sasuke rolled his eyes with a smirk pulling onto his lips. "In that loser's dreams maybe."
Idate's disbelief remained clear on his face and in his voice as he said, "Yeah, well, whoever your proctors were must have been real pushovers. Sounds like the Chūnin Exam has lowered its standards!"
Idate was suddenly overcome by embarrassment, shocked at himself. Everyone, save Naruto and Idate, smirked or smiled at his slip-up. Idiot managed to walk himself into that without any of us actually having to set a trap.
"Heh, well well well, for someone with such a sour opinion of shinobi it seems you used to be one," Amari said. Her smirk grew when he tried to turn away to hide his embarrassment. You're not getting out of this that easy.
Time to set a little bait so she could get him to admit a truth she was becoming certain of.
"As for proctors being pushovers, I'd love to hear you say that to Ibiki Morino's face without cowering in your sandals."
Idate spun around instantaneously, appearing like a squirrel whose secret stash of nuts vanished.
Jackpot.
"Nice one," Sasuke said for only her to hear.
"What'd you say?" He left his post at the front of the ship and moved closer to them. She might have assumed he'd seen a ghost with the way he looked at them. "My big brother is still alive?"
That wiped the smirk right off Amari's face and replaced it with pure confusion.
"Of course he's alive. Why wouldn't he be?" Naruto asked.
"You really mean it? He's really alive?"
Was that relief? The two Uchiha traded looks and looked back to their client. Something was definitely wrong here.
"He's alive. He was our first proctor and led the defense during the Invasion. I was under his command. I mean, he has some scars, but he's definitely alive. Why—"
Amari snapped her mouth close and spun around to face the sudden surge of chakra she was sensing.
"Enemies?" Sasuke asked immediately at her reaction.
"Yeah." Honing in on the chakra, she scanned the headbands and the attire of their enemies. Her eye widened when she saw who they were. "It's those Hidden Rain shinobi we ambushed in the second round of the Exams."
Talk about a strange coincidence.
Damn, we don't even know their abilities or if they're the ones who use poison. They had thoroughly outsmarted the first one they ran into without giving him time to show off any of his abilities. And our second encounter never even got started because Mimi eliminated them with ease.
So they were facing shinobi they didn't know the abilities of at a time when they didn't have the element of surprise…Or did they?
"Sakura, take the helm. Naruto, protect Idate," she dished out orders as a plan came to mind.
Amari turned back to face her team. Sakura was already closing the short distance to take the helm. Naruto spun a kunai into hand.
"What's going on?" Idate asked, a hint of worry and confusion to the sudden change of conversation and their actions.
"The shinobi the Wagarashi Family hired are right behind us."
"Are you sure you're ready, Amari?" Sakura asked as she took over for Sasuke.
She nodded. The tingles were still there, but she and Sasuke were the best options here. Their eyes would give them an edge against any genjutsu, and what she had in mind required more from him than it would from her. "Don't worry, I'll be fine."
Hopping up onto the railing, she looked to her fellow Uchiha and nodded her head for him to follow. "I'll explain my plan on the way. You're going to love it."
Sasuke smirked and followed her off the boat and towards the enemy.
Looks like things are finally picking up.