Chapter 13 – A Snake's Trap
Sitting in a tea shop, Naruto was treating the team he was leading. It was also to get to know team Kurenai. They, mostly Kiba, had a little issue about him leading due to his age. However, they got pass it and Naruto found them to be a cool bunch, despite their quirks. Kiba acted like he was a big shot, Shino was way too quiet and Hinata was way too shy. Still, their mission record spoke for itself and Naruto was pleased to lead this team.
After some seats, tea and conversation, Naruto decided to talk about the mission. However, he was interrupted by someone. He was older, had brown hair and brown eyes. The look that he gave Naruto was not friendly.
"That vest looks new." He said with a tone.
"It is. You have a problem with that?" Naruto asked, preparing for anything.
"How did you pass the tenth question?" Naruto raised an eyebrow at that. Before he could speak, Kiba spoke up.
"Why don't you take a hike? Can't you see we're busy?" Kiba spat. The teenager scoffed and walked out after making some signal to the owner. They kept watching him until he left. Kiba scoffed at the teen. "What was his problem?"
"I'm more interested in how he knew about the tenth question. He didn't have anything on him the suggested that he was from Konoha or that he was a genin. He might be from one of the teams that graduated from my year but I don't remember him. I'll send a toad back to the village and get some information." Naruto said and was about to do a summoning when the waitress came up to him with two bills. Naruto looks confused as to why.
"Oh, that young man who just left told the manager that you would pay for his meal." She said. This surprised everyone at the table. It also pissed them off. Naruto paid for both bills before dashing out of the tea shop, hot on the teen's heels, team Kurenai following.
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Yakumo cursed as she looked around her surroundings. It was nothing but a void with the only light coming from the sealing array at her feet. She wasn't alone as Genmai was here with her. She checked him over and saw that he was okay, just unconscious. As she got to work on escaping this trap, she mentally counting backwards from a hundred to calm the anger in her.
Even after she explained everything to them, that idiot of a kunoichi still disobeyed her orders. She ignored her orders not to engage the man. They could have easily dealt with the dog chasing him and kept their distance but no. Because of her arrogance, she tripped this trap. If she was just a little slower, Ino would be the one in here, not her.
Yakumo decided to save her harsh words for now and deal with the trap she was in. Lucky for her, she studied a bit of fuinjutsu due to the fact that Naruto was on her team. She also studied it due to the trap Naruto laid on her during a spar. She looked over Genmai and found what she was looking for. She prepared to get out of this trap and once she did, she was going to unleash her inner Anko.
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Shikamaru and Choji hit the ground hard. They were hurt and had some minor wounds. They looked at their enemy and felt that this was going to be their last day alive. The female, a brown haired, black-eyed kunoichi, was smirking behind her black mask.
"I thought they would have been some challenge. I almost wished that we were fighting the team we were sent for. What do you think Iwana?" she asked. Iwana wore a green-colored, shark-like top with a hood, resembling a shark's head. He had black eyes as well. He held a shuriken in his hand.
"I agree. Let's get this over with Yamame." He said. Yamame readied her Kama and he readied his shuriken to finish the two off. That when the ground under them began to crack. They looked down only to be ensnared by vines. They tried their hardest but they could not escape. They were lifted into the air.
"What the hell is this?!" Yamame shouted. From out of one of the vines, a pea pod sprouted. It opened to reveal Yakumo. This surprised the two.
"N-No way! How did you escape that trap?!" Iwana exclaimed nervously.
"It won't matter to a couple of dead people." Yakumo said calmly. She pulled out her dagger and launched forward. All Shikamaru and Choji heard was steel cutting through flesh. The bodies dropped to the ground and laid there, blood pooling around them. Yakumo turned to them, shaking the blood off her dagger. She looked at the two with a dead serious expression, making them gulp.
"D-Did you… kill them?" Choji asked nervously.
"Better them than you." Yakumo stated bluntly. She noticed that Ino was not with them. "Where is she?" Shikamaru was the one who spoke.
"The leader took her. He has short black hair and green eyes. He was wearing a grey shark-like top a hood that had appendage on the back that looked like a dorsal fin and dark pants. He also had two dark violet markings under his eyes. He took her after the troublesome girl attacked him. He went north of here." He reported. Yakumo sighed at that.
"Genmai is unconscious but otherwise fine. You two are going to watch over him until I get back. I'm going to get your idiot of a teammate. You should make it quick because those dogs will return when they smell the blood." Yakumo said and vanished. The two looked at each other before following her instructions.
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Yakumo entered a cave that was a few yards north. It was dimly lit but she could see her opponent and the idiot right next to him. She walked up to them, walking on the surface of the water. She stopped when she was in front of the alter. The missing-nin looked at her with a grin. Yakumo looked at the ninja with a critical eye. She gauged the best way to fight him but was interrupted by his voice.
"I'm surprised that you escaped the Lord's trap. You must be pretty strong." He said.
"So the fuinjutsu trap wasn't your doing? That also means you were sent here and you kidnapped Genmai." Yakumo said.
"Yes but you were not our target. My 'Lord' wanted team Kakashi." Yakumo narrowed her eyes at that. "If you would please, bring me that team. I will hold on to her while you do." He said.
"I don't think so." She said. This made him smirk.
"Are you going to make the same mistake as her?" He asked pointing at Ino. "Are you going to attack me head on?"
"I've already made my move." The teen looked confused until she disappeared. His eyes widen and quickly spun around. He jumped back in time to avoid his throat getting slashed. Yakumo continued her assault but her opponent quickly disarmed and slammed her into the ground.
"That was an impressive move." He said.
"You'll love this one." Yakumo exploded into sakura petals. It was followed by a punch that he did not see. He got some distance, escaping the petal cloud, sticking himself to the cave wall. The petals disappeared and both girls were gone. He suddenly turned around and grabbed Yakumo's wrist. She was surprised but that quickly turned to pain when he broke it, forcing her to drop her dagger. He pulled her forward and slammed his knee into her gut. He then slammed both fists into her back sending her toward the water. He quickly did some hand seals.
"Suiton: Rekku Suigeki! (Water Release: Cold Sky Water Attack)" He fired several large jets of water from his mouth that came at Yakumo at a high rate of speed. She was hit hard, coughing up blood, and lost her arm in the attack. She hit the water with a splash. The missing-nin jumped off the wall and landed on the water's surface. He walked up to Yakumo who was floating. Blood seeped from her wound, making him grin.
"You did surprise me but this fight is over. You will be a message that the Wondrous One will use. For the entertainment, no matter how short, I will give you my name. It is Kaijika." He said arrogantly.
"Thanks for name. Magen: Mugetsu! (Demonic Illusion: Moonless Sky)" Darkness quickly consumed the cave, surprising Kaijika. "Genjutsu Kuchiyose: Gōmon Heya! (Illusion Technique Summoning: Torture Chamber)" Kaijika was suddenly restrained by four chains. He looked around and saw that he was now in a cage with several imps looking in. it looked like they were holding something. He looked forward to see the dying Yakumo stand up without any pain. He watched with some fear as her arm regrew and her wounds vanish. What was now in front of him was a ghostly image.
"Well now Kaijika," Yakumo spoke in her new voice. "It appears that I am the one who will be delivering a message. You're coming back with me to answer some questions." That's when Kaijika began to laugh despite his fear. "Is something funny?"
"I finally understand now but if you believe a mere genjutsu can hold me, then you are a fool!" Kaijika shouted. He cut off and then released his chakra, attempting to break the genjutsu. After a few moments, Kaijika was still being restrained. "No, this can't be real! This is all an illusion!"
"That will be enough of that." Yakumo said and snapped her fingers. The imps began pulling on wire that further constricted Kaijika. The man could felt the sting of the wire cutting into his body. He struggled only to get cut up some more. Yakumo walked up to him. "Sorry but I can't have you dying from any wounds. It is time for you to go to sleep." Yakumo was about to put him in a sleep induced genjutsu when something happened. Kaijika's eyes began to glow and a purple aura surrounded him. Yakumo backed away quickly.
"My, my, Anko sure has a vicious little student." Kaijika said but it was not his voice. "The power of the Kurama heiress is such a power to behold. It would have been an experience to experiment on your body. I can see now why Midoshi was so interested. Although, her reason are different from mine." Hearing Midoshi's name, Yakumo knew who she was speaking to.
"Orochimaru," She said with some worry.
"Indeed. A shame that I did not get to speak to Sasuke directly. I wanted to see how my gift was working out for him." He said.
"The same 'gift' you gave my sensei? I wouldn't call it much of a gift." Yakumo growled.
"A matter of opinion. Either way, I will have other opportunities. This is good-bye for now." That's when Kaijika glowed brighter. Yakumo quickly broke her genjutsu and got out of the area just as the body exploded. When the dust settled, Yakumo stepped out from behind the boulder she dove for. She did not let her guard down but her gut told her that there was no one else in the cave. A groan alerted her and she turned to see Ino getting up. She realized that it was time to finish the mission and report back to the Hokage. She needed to hear this report ASAP.
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Tsunade could feel the headache growing as Yakumo gave her report. She cursed whatever god, her teammate and his brat of an apprentice for making her take this damn job. The fact that everything was going so smoothly for the past couple of hours only aggravated her more. After Yakumo was done with her report, Tsunade let out a sigh.
"Well, the only good news is that Genmai is safe and the mission was completed. However, I am going to get together with the mission's department and start screening these missions more closely. Then I need to talk to Kakashi about his student. I also need to talk to Asuma about his students and the punishment that they are about to receive." She said.
"P-Punishment?" Choji asked nervously.
"Yes, punishment. I don't know who you brats think that you are but your actions on this mission were unacceptable. Between the insubordination, whining and your lack of training, I have to start looking into your academy records and Asuma's training." Tsunade explained.
"Wait, you can't blame Asuma-sensei for this!" Ino exclaimed.
"I would watch your tone genin Yamanaka or your will find yourself in more trouble than you are in right now!" Tsunade shouted. Ino quickly bowed her head. "The fact is, you disobeyed the orders of your leader. You questioned the ability of your leader who was making the right decisions. I have to wonder if this is something that Asuma allows and if so, I have to question his methods." Everyone stayed silent after that. Tsunade took a breath before looking at each member.
"Genin Nara and genin Akimichi, you will report to the academy and be assisting Iruka in his class. If he complains about anything you do then I will add on more time to that punishment. As for you genin Yamanaka, since you think you can make adult decisions, you will be getting adult consequences. As of this moment, you are suspended from duty. How long will depend on what your sensei thinks. You are all dismissed." Tsunade said with authority. They all bowed and left the room, Ino the first out, tears falling from her eyes.
Outside, Jakken was coming from training. He usually passed the Hokage tower on his way back from the training grounds. As he walked pass the entrance, Ino came running out and brushed pass him. A little annoyed at the fact that she did not apologize, he was about to say something when Yakumo called out to him. He turned to see her with two others who made off in the same direction as the rude girl. He turned his attention to her.
"What was all that about?" Jakken asked.
"She got a punishment that she deserves and she's being a child about it. I am so annoyed right now so I'm going to that ramen stand Naruto likes. Their food always seem to calm me down." Yakumo said.
"I'll come with you them. Don't need you to put some poor guy in a genjutsu if he says the wrong thing." Jakken joked.
"Who do you think I am? Sensei?" Yakumo asked with a frown. Jakken grinned and was about to answer but a warning glare stopped him. The two just continued on to Ichirakus
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Naruto sighed and wondered what deity he offended. He could only look on as two of his clones were holding back Kiba from launching himself at Jirocho underling to pieces. It would not do well to kill the person that they were tasked with protecting. Sighing again, Naruto turned his focus onto the client.
"So, we're protecting Idate? Can you go into more detail?"
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Authors' Notes: Hello everyone. I redid this chapter because I felt that the original was way too fast. This chapter feels better than the original. I will have the new chapter out tomorrow for Christmas. I'm planning to update a lot of my stories when I wake up tomorrow.