Okay, like I said before, I'm sorry, but I can't make them longer before they're already pre-written and posted on Quizilla like this, and I'm just too lazy to combine the chapters and/or make them longer.

So, sorry, but you're just gonna have to read the short chappies until I write them longer.


Inner Destruction: Chapter Five

Tenten gasped. "Izanami!" she cried.

"Gai-sensei, what do we do?" Lee said, distressed.

"Everyone calm down!" Gai called out.

The person holding Izanami was a large man, almost too bulky to be a ninja, but he had to be; how else could he have snuck up on them so silently?

She moved her hands slightly.

The knife was pressed harder into her throat. She felt it slice open a portion of her skin.

"Don't move," he murmured into her ear. "If you want to live, that is."

"Takeshi, you never said anyone was after you," Neji said coldly.

"I – I didn't know!" Takeshi stuttered. "It must be an assassin sent to kill me, because I'm the firstborn son!"

The assassin was listening to the conversation with interest. "Your younger brother sent me," he said quickly. "He wants you dead so he can seize the throne."

"What about the emperor?" Neji asked quietly.

The man smirked. "That can easily be taken care of." He shook Izanami. "Now give me the prince or she dies!"

"I beg to differ," a cold voice said from the side.

The assassin spun around. Standing in front of him was Izanami, a small smirk planted on her face.

"But – But –" He looked down at the Izanami still in his arms.

There was a sudden "poof", and when the smoke cleared up, Izanami was gone; instead, a log rested comfortably there.

"A Replacement Jutsu," Izanami said, stepping closer to the man. "If you were a good ninja, you would've seen that. But apparently, you have no more skill level than a genin."

Gai shot forward with a kick. Soon, the assassin was tied up and against a tree.

"Tell us everything," Gai ordered. "From who sent you to where they hired you to when you're expected to be back with Takeshi."

The assassin shot a nervous glance at the prince, who frowned slightly.

He refused to say a word.

Tenten raised a double-sided kunai to the man's throat.

"I suggest you start talking." Izanami said softly.

The man opened his mouth, but nothing came out. Except for blood.

Tenten jumped away. "What the –"

There was a dagger sticking out from his chest.

Izanami quickly scanned the area. No one.

Neji glanced backwards at Takeshi.

He seemed to be smiling.

"Well!" Gai broke the silence. "That was certainly very strange, I'll admit. But, right now, we should focus on other things."

He turned to Takeshi. "Who is after you?"

"Didn't you hear the assassin?" Takeshi said condescendingly. "Obviously, my little brother wanted to get me out of the picture so he could become emperor."

"Hm…" Gai pondered this for a while before he said, "You're probably right!"

"Of course I am," Takeshi said arrogantly.

"Now," Gai turned to the assassin's body. "What should we do with this?"

"Search it," Izanami suggested. "We might find out more about his employer."

"No!" Takeshi disagreed. "He – He might be infected with something! Besides, you're supposed to be escorting me back home! I need to be back there soon!"

"Well, he might contain valuable information…" Gai said thoughtfully.

"Let's just leave him to rot!" Takeshi argued. "The sooner I get home, the safer I'll be!"

"Are we going to listen to him?" Neji said quietly to Gai. "He knows nothing of the way of the shinobi."

"Yes, but…"

Takeshi turned to leave. "If you don't go, I'm getting home by myself!"

"No!" Lee darted forward. "You might die!"

"Not if I have you five protecting me," Takeshi said craftily.

Gai cast a last glance at the body, but followed the prince. "Come on, team! He's our mission!"

Izanami looked back at the assassin's corpse. His eyes were wide open in fear.

They were staring at the spot where Takeshi had stood.