Chapter 34
"I see, and I think I'm beginning to understand why you wanted us to come along with you." Sasuke says achieving a questionable sound from Kabuto. "It's because you're frightened aren't you?" This question causes Kabuto to chuckle.
Looking away from Sasuke to Kabuto I find myself narrowing my eyes at him. For some reason, after what happened with Orochimaru my memory seems a bit clearer than it had been as if accepting my energy had unburied some of my hidden memories about this world. I remember Kabuto is Orochimaru's right-hand man and is on par in strength with Kakashi. Him, afraid? Not likely. He could most likely pick apart any team he runs into without too much trouble. He wants to keep an eye on Sasuke and Naruto. Possibly myself. To evaluate us and our strengths. Being a medical-style nin I wouldn't doubt that he's itching to dissect me to figure out how I tick. That is if his master would let him. Face it. A body that is immortal. I believe Orochimaru would wish to see if my body would work as a permanent one that wouldn't expire after three years. Kabuto… Everything would be a lot easier if he were out of the equation. He's dangerous and only uses Orochimaru. Someone willing to serve under a Sannin just to gain what they can from him. Is insane and dangerous.
"You bet I am." Stopping we look out over the trees to the tower, Kabuto of course standing out front. "There's the tower that means the end is in sight. Now comes the hard part."
"Well, it's about time! Bring it on!" Naruto yells as I rest my hand on my kunai in its holster.
"There's someone back there!" Sakura says just before Naruto pulls his kunai and throws it back. Successfully sticking an ungodly huge centipede in the head with it.
"Ha, false alarm it's just a centipede." He says standing back up.
"Just a centipede… That creepy thing is as big as a bus." Sakura says grossed out as she moves her hands in front of her face wiggling her fingers as if signifying the creepy crawlies of bugs.
"Hey, Naruto?" Kabuto says causing me to glance back at him as he looks at my teammate.
"Hmm?"
"Do us a favor and try to keep it down to a dull roar will you?"
"Huh?"
"See the whole idea is to not let anyone know we're here. If you go crashing through the forest like an elephant you're gonna draw collectors like flies. We want to find them before they find us." Even though he was speaking calmly and kindly I could tell he was starting to get irritated. His emotional block isn't exactly sound but it's good enough that I'm not sure the others would catch even this slip.
"Oh, yeah, I see your point." Naruto comments nearly chuckling as he rubs the back of his neck.
"Take it slow and quiet. Let's use all the time we've got left." Kabuto informs him gently as he watches my blond-haired teammate a little too closely for my liking.
"Okay." Sakura agrees with a look of determination in her eyes.
"Right." It was time for Naruto to respond. Almost as if he didn't want to be left out.
"Got it." Sasuke says as Kabuto looks at him. Yet as he looks at me I just nod causing him to smile.
"You're a quiet one aren't you?" Giving him a shrug I glance at the others before setting out. He doesn't need to know that I speak when I need to. Also the less I speak around him from here on the better.
As we sneak around I watch Sasuke's shoot in the water, and Sakura's crouched walking, quietly in the tall grass. Every now and then I see Kabuto appear to check on everyone. Noticing Naruto caught on vines I pull my right blade out. Leaping up to him and cutting him free, with him in hand landing quietly upon a branch. "Thanks, Kira." He whispers and I just give him a nod bringing my pointer finger to my lips. "Oh right." He says as I put my blade away. How did I get assigned the job to keep Naruto out of trouble?
"Okay, we're getting closer." Kabuto says as Naruto and I finally join them. After I had to save Naruto from yet another trap and keep him from seriously hurting himself. Naruto drops to his knees along with Sakura breathing heavily. "For crying out loud. How far have we walked? That tower's not getting any closer." Sakura complains, exhaustion overtaking her determined demeanor she had a few hours ago.
"Now that you mention it I was thinking that too. It's weird." Naruto says and I glance at Kabuto and Sasuke.
"It would seem we've been spotted." Kabuto finally says to the two of us who are absolutely clueless as usual. "Somebody is playing games with us. Look." Kabuto points past them. "Ring a bell?"
"Oh, man! No way! It can't be!" Naruto yells seeing the centipede he killed hours before. "Hey! What's the big idea?"
"What's going on?" Sakura pitifully asks.
"Genjutsu." Sasuke states simply as if she shouldn't have already known that. "Right." I say looking around us slowly.
"That's what it looks like. And we fell for it completely. We were so concerned about not being seen by anyone we didn't see we were walking around in circles." Kabuto explains.
"What's their game?" Sasuke looks at me and asks. As if I should know the answer. I do but that's beside the point.
"They're probably trying to wear us down and then strike when we're frustrated and physically exhausted." Kabuto answers for me as I move my hands to the hilts of my blades.
"You mean like we are right now?" Sasuke questions as if it wasn't so obvious.
"Right." I say looking around us slowly.
"They'll be coming soon." Kabuto states as he adjusts his glasses. Sensing movement I pull my hands from my blades and step up to Sasuke.
"Sasuke.." I whisper to him and he nods at my voice.
"I feel it too." Watching people in black jumpsuit-type outfits with bandages over their eyes crawl out of the trees. I look around our surroundings trying to take in all that is happening to think of a proper counter or point of action. "Well, Naruto. You wanted a fight."
"Hmm. Five against forty I like those odds!"
"What are they?" Sakura questions nervously.
"Clones from the look of it. And a whole lot of them." Kabuto answers her just before one of the clones laughs.
"Hahaha, like cornered rats."
"Oh yeah! Cornered rats are we?!" Naruto yells as he leaps to punch one. His fist connecting with the guy until his hand just seems to slide through it as if it were oil." I tilt my head looking at the clones before looking at the rest of my team. "Say, don't these guys look familiar?" I ask drawing their attention to me with looks of question unbridled in their gazes. "Look at them again, imagine yellow instead of black." I mutter. It was Sasuke who gasps first. "You're right. Just like that guy who attacked us our first day." I nod to him. Guess now we know they are actually weak if his team is anything like him.
"Kira." Hearing Sasuke's voice I glance at him. "We'll cover you. Focus on figuring out a way through this." Kabuto glances over his shoulder at me. Gee, thanks Sasuke. I was trying to stay away from his scrutinizing gaze as much as possible.
"Sasuke, it would be best if we all fight." He says.
"No, it would be better if we let her strategize rather than fight." Nodding to him I smile kneeling in the center as they surround me. I focus on what is happening around us.
"Why would you say that?" Kabuto asks. So it is his turn to ask annoying questions.
"Trust me. It would be better if she analyzes before she fights." Sasuke simply states not answering his question causing me to smirk. He obviously remembers what happens in training along with what happened at the land of waves. Our chakras… If not carefully planned out can hold disastrous outcomes. Yes, a huge explosion would help in a fight if it didn't put ourselves and our teammates in danger. I guess he also figured out the way my brain works from the fight in the land of waves. When I had proved to him that if given a little time I was able to devise a plan to counter-attack. Even if during that fight I had neglected to add in the facts of our separate energy levels, and how low Sasuke's and mine had become.
I watch the clone Naruto had punched sprout into two. Already I can see fighting these things will be pointless. Watching as a double-ended kunai is thrown my eyes narrow even as Kabuto tackles Sasuke to help him. Watching as Kabuto gets up and runs towards another clone I notice how Sasuke doesn't move. "You okay?" I ask him finally standing. "If something is wrong I'll help you." I tell him as I pull a kunai and block the one that just came flying at him. "Kabuto! They are timing their attacks with their clones to make it seem real." I yell as I look at him who is now looking at the double-ended kunai.
"Oh, I see. That makes sense." Kabuto mutters in a calm realization making me roll my eyes. Yeah, scared my butt.
"Surrender your scrolls, surrender your scrolls." The clones just keep repeating themselves.
"Forget it!" Naruto yells ready to attack again.
"Save it!" Sasuke yells from behind me. I could feel my heart start pounding as I try to figure everything out about this fight. Why is it? This fight seems so familiar yet I just can't seem to completely remember it all. I mean I know these are just clones and the others are hiding out of sight until we are so tired we can't defend ourselves but… my eyes widen subconsciously watching Naruto produce shadow clones to try and fight off the illusions. Out of all of us, Naruto is the one with the most stamina and chakra. Top it off with his stubborn personality to never give up. I nearly smirk with my thoughts.
"I have an idea." I inform them causing them all to look at me. Reaching into my pouch I retrieve a paper bomb and wrap it around the handle of my Kunai. Time for a little distraction.
"What are you planning?" Kabuto asks looking from me to my kunai. "That won't do any good. You should know that by now." Shaking my head I resist the urge to roll my eyes.
"You'll see." Is all I say before tossing my kunai a safe distance away but not far enough it wouldn't do what it's supposed to. Setting the bomb off I cover my face from the dirt and blowback from the force of it. "Quick!" I hiss before turning around towards them and relaying my plan to them. Watching their eyes widen with each and every word spoken.
