Chapter 21
Night had long since fallen by the time I felt Kakashi break formation and jump down out of the trees. Making my way to him I felt the others do the same. Converging on one location again on the ground. Without a word, Kakashi walks into a large hole at the base of a huge tree. "Why are we stopping?" Kiba asks as I follow Kakashi's lead. Without a response, I hear Kiba sigh and come into the tree as well. I find a spot in the back of the little cover and sit down leaning against the wood. Kiba however stays just inside the opening looking out. "Kakashi Sensei, is it really the right time for us to be kicking back and taking it easy?" Kiba asks turning towards Kakashi. I close my eyes and lay my head back.
I feel Kakashi, Hinata, and Shino sit down in a circle. "We can't do anything until my insects locate the enemy, we might as well rest up."
"He's right Kiba. And Kira most of all." Hinata speaks up and I could feel nearly all of them look in my direction. Except for Kakashi who ended up sitting in front of me.
"Yeah." Kakashi says. "Until we find out exactly who they are and where they are, there's no sense in us jumping the gun. Beside's there's that crystal jutsu. Until Pakkun gets back with word from the Hidden Leaf, we've got to move with caution, and keep our strength up."
In the morning Kakashi decided we should continue on. Though this time he wanted Shino to keep his insects beyond my 2-kilometer limit and leave it to me to watch within that threshold. That way we could cover more ground. I couldn't argue with his train of thought. That was the best plan he could come up with from the information he has. In a way. I am thankful. His bugs were really starting to get on my nerves.
We have been moving along the trees in a tighter formation than we were previously throughout this mission. To make it harder for the enemy to spot us. Kicking off a tree as the others stop I land beside Hinata. "Getting anything Kiba?"
"No not a whiff." Kiba calls back to him.
"Kira?" Kakashi asks and I shake my head in response to his question.
"I can't find anything with my Byakugan either." Hinata pipes up as Kakashi looks over at her. She then gasps turning her head in one direction as a bat flies over our heads. "A bat?"
"There are some signs." Shino says in a tone that just reeked of being annoyed from Kakashi not asking him. I couldn't help but smirk behind my coat collar.
"Huh?" Kiba asks turning to him as Shino lands next to Kakashi and stands. Pocketing his hands in his coat. "Where?!"
"I'm talking about one of my insects. Don't get so excited."
Kiba slouches forward as he drops his head and hangs his arms a lot like Kakashi had done. He groans in disappointment. "Just your bugs. Don't do that." Kiba then stands up straighter looking at Shino. "Last count, you had something like ten thousand of them, ok? The fact that you found one, isn't really that surprising."
"But this one came in contact with the enemy. And the fact that it survived makes it an asset to us." Shino explains as he turns his head more in Kakashi's direction.
"What kind of asset?" Kiba asks as the rest of us stand. Hinata and Kakashi looking at Shino.
"It presumably got hit by the enemy's jutsu. Yet it's still here."
"What are you saying?" Kakashi asks him. "It's developed some sort of immunity?"
"Could be." Shino says now looking directly up to Kakashi. "And my insects have a short lifespan A few hours at most. It wouldn't take long to breed more of them that are immune."
Kiba grins excitedly at his teammate. "Are you kidding me? That's amazing!"
"It's just a possibility. I don't know if it'll work but I should try to find as many survivors as I can."
"Don't worry we'll help you look for them." Hinata smiles folding her hands over her chest again.
"Right, we can handle it!" Kiba says happily with his hands on his hips.
"That's alright." Shino keeps Kiba from continuing a rant that I would imagine could rival one of Naruto's.
"What do you mean?!" Kiba whines and Akamaru just seems to look up at him. Your dog is smarter than you are. I nearly laugh at my own thought.
"I'm the one who should look for them. You need to stay put. If you guys start trampling around you'll end up stepping on some. I can't have that."
Kiba sighs and slouches. "If you're gonna shoot us down you could be a little nicer about it."
"I didn't want to waste time dancing around the issue." Kiba sighs again as a bead of sweat builds on his temple. Kakashi nods to Shino.
"I think we're all set, then. Shino will start rounding them up. The rest of us will get back on the enemy's trail." Kakashi looks at Kiba in particular as he talks. Making Kiba sigh again.
"Fine. Let's go Akamaru." Kiba agrees and looks at his dog who barks at him. They then move on with me following them. Leaving Shino behind. I'm extremely glad to be done with him and his bugs for a while. This thought makes me smile behind my high coat collar.
We continue to move. Akamaru keeps his nose down to catch any scent of the enemy. Hinata with her Byakugan activated. And me. Feeling the area around us. Now focusing only on the 2-kilometer distance that I had told Kakashi I could feel. My eyes widen feeling a man on the edge of a cliff just outside of a cave. "I feel.." I begin catching their attention just before my head begins to ring. Putting my hands over my ears as if that was going to be of any help. At that moment Akamaru stops and whimpers.
I could feel my foot miss the branch moments before there were arms around me in the air. Pulling me back up into the trees. As soon as my knees touch the wood I feel my stomach turn before a dry heave forces its way from my stomach. "What is it, boy?" Kiba asks turning towards Akamaru. Just as I thought my head was going to settle down it happens again. This time rippling through my head and into my body. Making me groan. It was as if my energy blanket was thrashing in chaotic waves in every direction. Disorienting me.
"Akamaru says it's like a dog whistle." Kiba says just before I hear his feet touch the same large branch I'm on.
"A dog whistle?" Kakashi asks next to me as he stands looking at Kiba.
"Yeah, Akamaru says he heard one for sure."
"Does that mean our enemy is working with a dog too?" Hinata asks as she too stands on the branch.
"I kind of doubt it. Trying to cover up human scent is difficult enough, with a dog it's near impossible. And if they had a dog, Akamaru and I would have smelled him by now."
"So then, why a dog whistle?" Hinata asks confusion lacing her words.
"Wish I could tell ya." Kiba sighs.
"Know where it came from?" Kakashi asks.
"I have no idea, but they're not that far off. That much I do know."
Kakashi sighs as I hear him step back up in my direction. The rustling of clothes showing he was kneeling next to me. "Are you alright now, Kira?" He asks gently and I try to peek open one eye at him before I wince.
"Not really, Kakashi. But I was listening... To you guys." I shiver, the ripples seem to be never-ending, forcing me to pull my energy back. "I can't use my energy blanket, right now." I move to my butt and put my hands behind me. Leaning my head back I let the moonlight shine on my face.
Since I undid my energy blanket, everything begins to settle down. I first squint one eye to test the waters before I finally open both of them. Setting up fully once I feel grounded enough to move a little I look at Kakashi. "I'm not entirely sure what that was. But I don't like it." I puff my cheeks out.
"Did you feel where it came from?" He asks gently. I try to move to my feet only to find my legs were still a bit shaky. Kakashi quickly wraps an arm around my waist to keep me standing. Reaching up with my right hand I press it to my temple trying to soothe my aching head.
"For a moment. Just a bit southeast of us. A man was standing outside of a cave." I nearly whimper.
"Alright." Kakashi says quietly almost as if he's caught on to my head hurting. "Do you think you can move?"
"The effects are easing." I mutter and step out of his hold. My knees shake a bit but they seem to hold my weight now.
"Let's go. Try to keep up." Kakashi says looking down at me and I nod. Moving along the trees I find keeping my footing difficult. As if my energy was still ringing through me and wasn't connecting me to the tree very well. I stumble a few times making my stomach churn from the movement.
They were following me this time so I can lead them. Akamaru's nose was still to the ground trying to smell for a scent and Hinata's Byakugan activated. "There's a trace of chakra." Hinata says as I nearly hit my knees in a stumble.
"Good, we're on the right track but." Kakashi puts a hand on my shoulder stopping my movements. Looking up at him he smiles down at me. "You need to rest we'll go the rest of the way to check it out." I sigh openly but sit down. I can't argue with that. I'm in no condition to fight.
"I'll wait here." I tell him. Waiting for them to leave before I lay down on the branch. What the hell happened? One second everything is clear then the next... Pure and utter chaos. Could it be that... my energy blanket has a massive weakness?
Sighing I roll over onto my left side. Normally I'd just drink from my canteen but it's not like I'm injured or worn down. Just... Dizzy and disorientated with a headache. "Well, what do you know, it's a curse mark." A male's voice reaches my ears nearly making me stiffen. I am not used to this. Not being able to feel someone around me before they can even find me. There were taps on the tree branch. Two of them.
"I wouldn't pick a fight with me." I warn them remaining still to show them they didn't bother me in the least. Sometimes it's best to play it tough. Especially when it comes to criminals. The same guy that spoke before laughs.
"You guys are all the same, ordering us around, acting like you're tough." I roll my eyes keeping my head down. "Hey! I'm talking to you!" Rolling over I catch the foot that about kicked me. Now looking up at a brunette wearing a purple shirt, a bluish-grey scarf with wrapping around his torso. "You're!" He exclaims as I twist his foot making him lose his balance. However, before I could kick him. He and his big friend were gone. Sitting up I rub my head and click my tongue. Dammit, I knew I was in no condition to fight. Getting up I look around. Trying to reach out with my energy only made my knees quiver again.
"Kira." Kakashi says as they land next to me. "What's wrong?"
"Two guys were just here." I growl and give up on my energy blanket again. "They sure do run away fast."
"Did you see which way they were headed?" Kakashi asks and I shake my head. Akamaru already had his nose down sniffing.
"This means we must be closer than we thought." I point out before looking at Kakashi. "What did you guys find?" This time it was Kakashi's turn to shake his head. "The chakra traces we were following disappeared and we couldn't find the cave you were talking about." Kakashi sighs hearing Akamaru whine at Kiba. So, even though the enemy was here, there's no scent. That's strange. "How are you feeling?"
"Better." I tell him even though I know I'm still not up to full strength. But so long as I don't use my energy blanket I should be fine... "Guess we have no choice but to keep searching." I tell him and he nods.
"Let's go." He orders briefly and we go back to following Kiba. "Kira, can you use your energy blanket yet?" He asks over his shoulder at me and I shake my head. "I see, Hinata, Kiba, we're relying on you."
"Right." They say in unison and I sigh more focusing now on keeping up with Kakashi. It seems the more time that passes. The easier it is. My energy blanket will come back in time too. I nod to my own thoughts. Just have to wait.
Before long it begins to rain. "It seems luck isn't on our side." Kakashi says lowly before he jumps down. I follow after him in silence. Coming to a small cave he and I duck inside. Kiba and Hinata lagging behind.
"Wish I could say this was the cave. But it's not." I mumble sitting down. Kakashi looks down at me before moving his gaze to the other two as they come in.
"We'll take turns searching the area and return here to regroup but don't go too far." He tells them. "Kira will stay here with me. Without her energy blanket, she can't do much to help."
"Right." Kiba and Hinata say before they leave again. Kakashi hangs back to wait for them. Tilting my head I watch them leave. Bringing my knees up I wrap my arms around my legs. Resting my cheek on my knees watching as Kakashi sets down next to me with a sigh.
"What happened?" He asks gently as he looks at me. I couldn't help but shrug.
"It's never happened before but it was almost as if whatever Akamaru heard sent my energy blanket into chaotic ripples. Affecting my balance. Disorienting me. Even now when I try to use it, my energy continues to ripple. Though the effects have eased and it's not making me feel quite as sick. However, I can only assume it's not a weapon or even a metal tool. But as if someone putting energy into such a sound somehow conflicted with mine." I explain to him and look away towards the opening of this little cave.
"I see, then from this point, you should be careful with your jutsu." He says as he follows my gaze to the front of the cave. He didn't have to tell me that, if those guys can do that to me on accident then there is no telling what they can do if they figure out it can be used as an attack towards me. I'm so useless, nothing's changed at all! I inwardly growl at myself in frustration as my fingers dig into my knees enough I can feel my nails through my pants.
