Chapter 12 – One mission ends, another one begins
The situation in Takigakure no Sato (Hidden Village in the Waterfall) was starting to get intense. Shibuki's attack took out several of the invaders and dazed the others. This freed up the prisoners who had just realized the situation. Those with ninja training pounced on the invaders, stunning them. The villagers were led away to safety as the fighting continued.
Murasame cried out as he was pushed back by Neji. The young genin was waiting in his stance as Murasame growled at him. He couldn't believe that this genin was beating him so badly. He attacked him for his earlier attack but it seems that he might have made a mistake. Again he vanished, using his speed to try and get behind Neji. Neji dodged the kick and the two punches that followed. With each attack, Murasame would get hit by Neji with either a palm strike or finger strikes. The man was getting frustrated and he was no longer going to take this.
He jumped back and started doing hand seals. However, he could not mold the jutsu or feel his chakra. He glared at Neji.
"What did you do to me?!" he demanded.
"Two things that you need to realize. One, I am the student of Maito Gai and the teammate of Rock Lee. Your speed does not compare to theirs. Two, you should really know who you are fighting." Neji said before appearing in front of Murasame. He was in a stance and his Byakugan was activated. Seeing this, Murasame realized who he was fight. "Now, you are in range of my divination. Hakke Rokujūyon Shō (Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms)." Murasame was bombarded with several strikes, sixty-four strikes that shut him down and knocked him out. With that over, Neji made his way over to where Shibuki was fighting.
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Hisame was sent flying into a tree. She groaned before looking at the chunin who was walking up to her. Hisame could see that this boy was trained well and would kill her. She saw Murasame go down and she wasn't about to follow his example. She needed to escape and get the hell out of here. She did some hand seals
"Mizu Bunshin (Water Clone)!" she exclaimed and five clones came out of the river. They all formed a Suiton: Suiben (Water Release: Water Whip) and attacked. Jakken ducked and dodged the attacks before swinging his weapon. He destroyed two clones and charged at the remaining four. He engaged her in close combat, showing that she was no fighter. Jakken destroyed all the clones and brought his kusarigama down on the real one. Or so he thought.
"What the," Jakken said with surprise. Hisame jumped out of the lake and rushed at Jakken using her chakra to speed up. She drove a kunai into his back, making him gasp.
"Not so tough now huh?" Hisame said confidently.
"Kinzoku Chen no Ketsugo! (Metal Chain Binding)" Hisame was wrapped up by the chains of Jakken's weapon.
"What the hell?!" she exclaimed.
"That was a pretty good plan you had there." Jakken said, walking out from behind a tree. "Making a sixth Mizu Bunshin while we fought so that you could escape. But then, I guess you realized that you don't know how to escape. You got in here thanks to your leader and I bet you don't remember the way. You probably would have drowned. Instead, you're going to have to spend your time here in a Takigakure prison. Say good night, Raiton: Jibashi! (Lightning Release: Electromagnetic Murder)" Sending enough electricity to knock her out, Hisame screamed as she was hit by the volts. She would soon pass out and lay there. Jakken secured her so that she would not escape before going to help Shibuki.
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Shibuki skid across the ground. He was breathing heavy and was losing chakra fast. He was barely standing and his Takigakure-Ryū: Mizukiri no Yaiba (Takigakure Style: Water cutting Sword) was starting to lose its form. Suien looked a little winded from the fight but he knew that he held the advantage.
"You've done surprisingly well Shibuki but it is time to stop playing around. The boost that you received from the water is fading. Just hand it to me and I promise, I'll make your death quick." Suien said with a grin.
"No, I refuse to give you the water." Shibuki said. This made Suien frown.
"Stupid boy, you should have stayed that coward you always were. You want to die a brave man? So be it." Suien vanished and reappeared bringing his sword down on Shibuki. He raised his sword to counter but Suien cut through it and him. Shibuki dropped to his knees clutching his wound. Suien looked at him and readied his sword for the final blow. That's when several kunai came at him. It forced him to back away from Shibuki. That's when three Takigakure ninja appeared. Two stood guard while the other checked Shibuki.
"You will be alright Shibuki-sama. We've got you." He said. Suien growled as he looked at the shinobi defending him.
"If you don't get out of my way or give me the water, I will kill you all." He spat.
"Just try it traitor!" the ninja said. "We will defend the water and our leader with everything we have!"
"So be it then!" Suien roared and did hand seals. "Suiton: Suiryūdan no Jutsu! (Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique)" A large dragon came out of the lake and zoomed toward the group of shinobi.
"Hakkeshō Kaiten! (Eight Trigrams Palms Revolving Heaven)" The chakra dome protected the shinobi and dragon didn't even make a dent. It died down and Neji stood in his stance, his Byakugan blazing. Jakken appeared, his weapon twirling. That's when several other Takigakure shinobi appeared with the other two. Suien looked around him and saw that he was now surrounded. The small army he brought with him was defeated. There was no way he was getting the 'Eiyu no Mizu'. He growled at everyone who was protecting Shibuki and he was angry that his plans were failing. That's when things got worse when the canopy exploded from above. Three figures came from above. They landed with the rest of shinobi.
"Comrades, leader, I have returned with help!" Lee exclaimed. Jakken looked at the person he brought with him. It was Asuma. Tenten was with them as well.
"Hey Asuma, what brings you to the neighborhood?" Jakken asked with some mirth.
"I was on my way back to Konoha when Lee sped by me. He told me the situation and we rushed over here with two others. They are looking over the women and children. By the looks of things, you seem to have the situation under control. However, I will handle this." Asuma said and pulled out his blades. Suien scoffed at him and readied his Takigakure-Ryū: Mizukiri no Yaiba.
"If you think I'm just going to surrender, you are a fool." Suien said. Asuma didn't say anything but just channeled his chakra. The two jonin charged each other, disappearing and reappearing, backs facing each other. It would be a moment later before blood sprayed out of Suien's chest and he fell to the ground. Asuma just sighed and reached for his cigarettes. The fighting was done.
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Back in Konoha, Naruto was enjoying a bowl of ramen. He had finally finished his punishment of guard duty without an incident. That was only because his sensei refused to let him. It was such a letdown that his once crazy sensei was such an authority now. Granted, if he did mess up, she would pay the price too but that was beside the point. Either way, his punishment was over and he could relax for a while.
As he ate, he was suddenly joined by the sensei of team seven. He looked at the man and gave him a grin.
"Hey Kakashi-sensei, what have you been up to?" Naruto asked.
"Nothing much Naruto. It's just been a very frustrating week." Kakashi said with a sigh. Naruto looked concerned because Kakashi was usually pretty laid back. What could frustrate the cool jonin, Naruto didn't know.
"What's up?" he asked.
"My team figured out that I have skipping over missions for them. The mission to Takigakure was supposed to be our responsibility but I refused due to their actions. Another mission was also refused because they are still not getting it. I believe your two teammates took those missions. Sai let it be known that was happening and Sasuke was not happy. This had to be the worst argument that we have had. However, I'm sticking to my decision and he will have to deal with it." Kakashi explained.
"Man, you got it rough. Is Sasuke the only problem or is it all three?" the chunin asked.
"Sasuke is the main one. Sakura still does not take this as seriously as she could and Sai, while skilled, is not what he seems." Kakashi then sighed and took his bowl of ramen. "I am truly at the end of my rope here. If they do not get it together and soon, I am going to recommend that this team be disbanded." He said and focused on his ramen. Naruto felt back for his friend and just gave him a pat on the back. They were suddenly interrupted by the arrival of Shizune.
"Hello Naruto, Tsunade-sama would like a word with you." She said. Kakashi looked at the boy with a curious eye.
"What did you do this time?" he asked.
"I swear to kami, it wasn't me." Naruto replied.
"No, it isn't that. Tsunade-sama needs you for a mission. You will be leading it." She said.
"Ha, she finally gave in! She knew that I was her only choice!" Naruto exclaimed.
"Yes and no! While you were he only choice, she tried really hard to find another leader. She even considered promoting Maruboshi Kosuke just to avoid it." Shizune said with a nervous smile.
"That wasn't going to happen." Kakashi said. He then looked at Naruto. "Take care Naruto and do your best." Naruto gave him a salute and followed Shizune to the tower.
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Team Yakumo were making their way to the area where the young son of Genmai said he would be. Finding the area was not hard but it Yakumo soon realized that Genmai must have gotten lost. The foot prints showed that much. The team tracked the footprints about half a mile when they disappeared. Yakumo got down on a knee to exam the area. She ignored the groans from team Asuma who had been bitching since leaving Inaho Village.
"Why are we just standing around here for? Let's just find this guy and get back to Konoha." Ino whined.
"I'm hungry." Choji added. Shikamaru stayed quiet and just waited. Yakumo stood up and looked at Shikamaru.
"What do you think?" Yakumo asked.
"Judging from marks in the ground and some broken branches, it looks like he was ambushed here. That means that this mission just got more troublesome." Shikamaru said with a sigh.
"Yeah, I agree. We are dealing with unknowns and this might have been a trap for someone." Yakumo said.
"Could it be one of us?" Shikamaru asked.
"I can't really say. Despite the 'minor' status that the village gives our clans, Choji and I are clan heirs, you are the son of Konoha's jonin commander and Ino is the daughter of Yamanaka clan leader. It could be intended for any of us." Yakumo said.
"Hey!" Ino shouted. The two looked at her. Ino was not happy about being ignored. "What are you two talking about?!"
"We are talking about how this mission has been risen a little in difficulty. Our objective has been kidnapped and is probably close by with his captors. This was a set up for us to respond." Yakumo explained.
"And you decided to talk to just Shikamaru and not all of us?" Ino demanded.
"I did that because I can trust Shikamaru to do his part when the time comes. He is obviously the brains of your group and I know who his father is. Lazy as he might be, I know that I can count on him to think of ways to succeed, to be objective and give sound advice. I've known this since this mission began." Yakumo answered.
"Are you saying that me and Choji are useless?!" Ino shouted.
"If you want me to be blunt, yes. All you have done is complain and give orders when you know that I am in charge. You have questioned everything that I have done and you are too loud. What if the enemy is close by right now? No offense to Choji but you are a little too soft and a little too concerned with food even after we ate two hours ago. Shikamaru has earn my trust so I am going to rely on him the most. You don't like it, tough." Yakumo said with a serious face. Ino was red in the face at what Yakumo said to her but she did not say anything. Despite her bravado, this was the girl that defeated her in the preliminaries. Ino just huffed and turned her nose up. Yakumo turned back to Shikamaru.
"We need to know what we are getting into. Let's find Genmai first." Yakumo said. They team set out to find the lost man. They would soon be tested in battle as a dark force laid in wait.