Chapter 21: Kitari Joins Up

"Well, it took us two days," Kurenai said, "but we're finally here in the town of Ossa."

"We better look for a place to stay," Aurion suggested. They all nodded and wandered deeper into the town.

"So, does anyone even know where to begin to look for that damn book Shinji wants?" Kiba asked.

"We should ask around as soon as we find a place to stay," Sakura recommended.

"Damn that Shinji guy!" Naruto shouted. "He should've told us what the book was about or what it was called or something!"

"Naruto's got a point," Sasuke said. "What if we can't find it?"

"Then…Shinji might kill Airi…" Hinata said sadly. "No! We can't let that happen!"

"That's exactly why we have to find it," Kakashi said.

"Where's Aurion?" Airas asked as she looked around.

Shino blinked and looked around as well. "…There." He pointed to the Nozomi man a few feet away. He was talking with three other women.

"Hey there, my lovely hunnies!" Aurion smiled as he looked them over. "I'd like to make beautiful memories with all of you."

The women blushed and giggled. "Oh my!"

"What a flirt!"

"But he's so handsome!"

"I'm new in town and I'd appreciate it if you lovely ladies could show me around."

They giggled again. "Oh, we'd love to!"

"I'm such a lucky guy to have such beautiful women show me around!" He grinned at them.

"Oh my, oh my!" They looked at each other. "You're single, right?"

"Unfortunately, I am." They blushed and giggled yet again.

"SCUMBAG GIGOLO!" Airas punched Aurion in the head. "Cut that shit out!"

"Ow!" Aurion rubbed his head. "Airas, you're so mean!"

"You are the worst 'Casanova' I've ever known! I'm ashamed to call you my older brother! Why has God given us the same blood!"

"Ouch, you're horrible!" he said. "I'm so sad now."

"Get yer ass over here, now!" She grabbed him by the ear and dragged him back to the group.

Kurenai crossed her arms. "Aurion, grow up."

He looked at her. "Aww, my beautiful Kurenai, please don't be angry with me! I was only trying to find a place to stay!"

"Then why were you flirting with those women?"

"…I'm a healthy young man, I can't help it!" Aurion said with a smile.

"You're terrible." She turned her back on him.

"My glamorous beauty, nooo! Forgive me!"

"This is pathetic," Naruto said with a sigh.

Aurion turned to him. "Shut up squirt!"

"Squirt?"

"You're gonna die Aurion," Sasuke said with growing anger.

"What! Screw you!" He turned to Sakura. "You're not mad at me too are you, my beautiful rose?" She held up her kunai knife.

"Let's keep moving," Kakashi said as he walked off. Shino followed him and so did everyone else.

Aurion looked at Hinata. "Hinata? My sweet angel?"

Hinata blushed. "U-Uh…"

"Don't talk to him Hinata," Airas called back.

"I…I'm sorry!" She ran after Naruto.

"I'm so unloved…" Aurion sighed. He quickly glanced over at a woman. "Curvy curvy!" He smiled.

XXXX

"What a large party, but yes, we have vacancies," the innkeeper said.

"Thank you so very much," Kurenai said.

"Yes, here are your keys. More sets will be delivered to your rooms shortly."

The group nodded and bowed. "This inn is pretty nice," Kurenai said.

Aurion looked at Kurenai. …She's…She's so beautiful, so why do I keep acting like a jerk! "Kurenai…" He walked over to her.

"How are you feeling Shino?" Airas asked he bug ninja.

Shino looked at her through his sunglasses. "I'm quite well."

"You don't need to lie to me Shino. I don't hate you as much as before," Airas said.

"Oh gee, thanks," he answered sarcastically.

"I'm sorry, that didn't come out right. I know that you're upset by everything, but don't worry, everything will be fine. This is all gonna work out in the end."

"Why is everyone getting on my case about my feelings! You guys are pretending like you know what's going on with me and what I'm going through, but you don't!" The group looked at him.

"Shino…" Sakura whispered.

"Stop acting like you do!"

"Hey, Shino-" Sasuke was cut off.

"No, no more. I don't want to hear about it anymore." They walked by an open room.

"…Hmm?" Kakashi stopped and looked in. There was a women praying in front of a statue.

"What is it Kakashi?" Airas asked.

"That woman looks familiar…"

The woman got up and turned around. "What!"

The group gasped and took a step back. "It's that assassin woman from before!"

She hesitated. "…I finally found you!"

"Um, actually, we found you," Hinata said.

"…Shut up!" She shot a string of her acid spider webs right at Hinata.

"Hinata look out!" Naruto pushed Hinata out of the way and hit the wall. "Are you okay Hinata?"

"Yes, I'm fine, thank you." She blushed. He was right on top of her and she could feel his breath on her. "…Na…Naruto…um…"

"You're gonna regret this!" She smirked. "This time, I'm ready…" She drove her hands straight through the ground. "Heh heh, right where I want you…"

"What!" Sasuke's eyes popped. "How could she do that!"

"AAAHHH!" Small veins popped out on the assassin's arms.

"Look out!" Kakashi shouted. The acid spider webs popped up from the ground and hit their targets. They wrapped around everyone's leg.

"Ha ha ha!"

"AAHH!" Sakura reached for the strings, but they burned her hands. "Ow! Someone get this off! It's burning my skin!"

"Hey you!" Naruto jumped behind the woman and kicked her.

"Ugh!" She fell to the side and pulled her hands out of the ground.

"Jyuken Gentle Fist!" Hinata hit the woman in the chest and blood shot out of her mouth.

"Not again!" She grabbed Hinata's hand and threw her.

"Aiieee!"

"Hinata!" Naruto poofed to Hinata's aid and caught her.

"Damn, that hurt," Aurion said as he rubbed his leg. "She got us good. If it wasn't for Naruto, those strings would have cut through our legs."

"Hmph, I'm not done yet!" The strings began to form into two separate ropes. "Heh, by using my chakra, I can make these strings into whips!"

Chakra…? Kakashi looked at the woman curiously.

Aurion held up his hands. "C'mon, we don't have to fight sweetheart! I don't want to hurt a beautiful woman such as yourself!"

"Don't take me lightly!" She swung her whip and stuck Aurion across his right cheek, leaving a burning cut.

"OWW! Hey! You can't hit me in the face area! I win women over with me face!" He drew his sword. "Revenge!"

"Come on then!" the assassin urged with a sadistic smile. "Let's go!"

XXXX

"Ah!" Sakura and Hinata fell backwards, followed by Naruto and Shino.

"Damn!" Naruto shouted.

"She's a lot tougher than before!" Shino informed.

"How long do we have to keep fighting her!" Sakura asked. "She won't give up!"

"I can't get near her and use my Jyukentechniques," Hinata said as she wiped blood from her nose, "if she keeps swing those whips!"

"Here Hinata," Naruto said as he handed her a cloth. "For your nose."

Naruto! "Um…Thank you." She wiped her nose.

"You okay now?"

"I'm fine. Thank you again Naruto."

"Sure thing!" He smiled at her.

"ACK!" Sasuke hit Naruto.

"C'mon, you're all so weak!" the assassin shouted. "What happened to your power, huh!" She chuckled.

Kakashi huffed. "Even with the Sharingan, this is a tough battle."

"Hey Kakashi, remember what we were practicing?" Airas asked as she got to her feet.

"Yeah?"

"Let's do it."

He smirked. "Alright, this should be fun…" Kakashi grabbed his hand. "It's time for Lightning Blade!"

Kurenai looked at Kakashi as chakra filled his hand. "Lightning Blade? Can he hit her?" She stumbled forward.

"Kurenai!" Aurion shouted. He caught her. "Kurenai, you should rest. By that look on my lil' sis's face, everything will be fine."

"But Aurion, what if-"

"There's no room for 'what if', what will be, will be. Don't worry anymore." He smiled. "I promise everything will be fine."

She blinked. …Aurion… A small blush crept over her cheeks.

"What is that! He's holding chakra!" the assassin shouted. "But how!"

"Alright, here I go!" Airas held up her staff. "Flare!" She jumped behind Kakashi. "This is a little thing that Kakashi and I have been working on…"

"…Called Flare Edge!" Kakashi finished. "Now!" Airas cast the spell and Kakashi's chakra began to glow red. "FLARE EDGE!" He charged at the woman.

I…I can't move! Is this…fear! She stood there in a daze and received the blow. "AAAHHH!" The hit erupted in flames as Kakashi's finger's just barely pierced the woman's chest. "ACK!" More blood began to drip from her mouth as she fell to the ground.

Kakashi took a deep breath. "It worked Airas…" He closed his eyes and began to fall backwards.

"H-Hey, Kakashi?" Airas held out her arms and caught him. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, just a bit tired."

She smiled. "Okay."

"Ughn…" The woman struggled to get up. "I…I can't lose…"

"No!" Hinata shouted.

"Don't worry, I got her!" Aurion said. He held up his sword. "I call upon the ruler of the frozen tundra! I summon thee, come, Tsura!" Cold little blue orbs drifted out of Aurion's body and transformed into a chilling cool beauty.

"The Summon Spirit of Ice?" Airas asked.

"Yep! Tsura, stop that woman in her tracks!" Aurion commanded.

"Alright!" The ice Summon Spirit threw daggers of ice at the assassin. One dagger for her right and left hand and one for her right and left foot. The force from the blow pushed the woman back and the daggers of ice covered her limbs as she was glued to the wall. With that, Tsura disappeared. "Aw man, why'd she leave so fast? I was enjoying the view!" Aurion said to himself.

"Lemme go!" The woman shouted as she tried to pull herself off the wall. "Lemme go lemme go lemme go lemme go lemme go lemme go lemme go! LEMME GO LEMME GO-"

"AGH!" Airas covered her ears. "Shut up or I'll gag you!"

"Go ahead and try you hag!" the woman shot back.

"AAAAHHH! KILL! KILL! DESTROY!" Airas shouted.

Kakashi grabbed her. "Hey, Airas, stop!"

"You dare insult my sister!" Aurion demanded. "That's like insulting me if you insult the beauty of my family!"

"Fuck you and your family!"

"AAAHHH!"

Kurenai wrapped her arms around Aurion's waist. "No! Aurion, wait!"

"We need to ask her some questions before you can destroy her!" Kakashi shouted.

"Stop it all of you!" Shino yelled. Everyone quieted down. "Good." He walked up to the woman. "Who are you and what are you doing here?"

"Ha, you expect me to answer you, bug boy?" the woman said with a smirk.

"Tell me or I'll kill you right here."

"You're joking."

"I don't joke." Small bugs crawled up the woman's arms.

"Wh-What the hell!"

"If they make it to your ears, they'll kill you. How will they kill you, you ask? Well, they'll eat your brains out."

Her eyes widened. He…He's dead serious! What's with this kid! A few of the bugs were crawling across her face. "YEEEAAGH! Alright! I'll tell you, just call of your death bugs!" They bugs quickly moved off of her body. She sighed. "…My name is Kumo Kitari…I'm a-"

"Rouge ninja," Kakashi finished.

"What? How did you know?"

"The spider webs, they way you manipulated your chakra, your fighting style. It's all in my bingo book. Kumo Kitari, the deadly Acid Ninja from the Village Hidden in the Sand. You're an S-class criminal."

"Yep, that's me! And I take it you're the Copy Ninja, right?" she asked. He nodded.

"Hey, finish explaining your story," Kiba said.

"Alright, geez, you people are bossy." She shook her head. "Okay, I'm a hired hand. This guy name Aburame Shinji hired me to kill all of you. I didn't want to do it, but he said that he would kill my parents if I didn't cooperate. Naturally, I did, I'm human after all. I didn't want my parents to die."

"Do you know where Airi is?" Hinata asked.

"Yep."

"Where is she, tell me!" Shino demanded.

"What's your problem? Is she your lover or something?" He quickly looked away. "…Oh…Look, I didn't want to do this okay? I'm a victim too, ya know. I never wanted to get involved in this whole Aburame-Nozomi thing."

"So, you're not really our enemy, are you?" Sakura asked.

"No, I'm not."

"She knows where Airi is, we should make use of her," Sasuke suggested.

"What?" Kitari shook her head. "No way!"

"You're our prisoner, so you have to do as we say," Kakashi said with a smile.

"Prisoner? Since when!"

"Since now!" Kurenai said.

"Grr…Fine!" She looked away. "But I won't like it!"

Hinata giggled. "Welcome to the group Kitari!"