Summary/disclaimer: Time for another chapter of Sand and Earth. Enjoy the 900-word chapter. I don't own Naruto, Masashi Kishimoto and a few others do.
The assassin, who would go on to be named Nao? He was made aware the Tsuchikage being a lot more dangerous then he believed.
She had leapt from her bed, easily knocking his blade aside with her bare foot before throwing him across the room.
"I'm sorry, but I have no choice." Nao stated, he leapt forward, seizing the blade from the floor.
He was still surprised she didn't have guards, but it made sense considering that she was the ruler of the country.
"No choice but what?" She asked, the assassin continued to cut at her, his movements like dancing.
Still, she continued to block his movements, slamming an open palm into his chin which made him stumble and bleed from his lip.
Yep, she could fight. he was glad, maybe this fight would be over quickly.
"To kill you… or their kill her." the room was dark. He did want to use the cover of night and it made sense for an assassin to sneak into the complex at night.
She could still see his features clearly. He looked angry, at himself, questioning why he had chosen to carry out such a task. Kurotsuchi gripped his arm as he tried to dig it into her arm.
"I'm sorry, I have no choice… I'm a coward." Kurotsuchi flipped him to the ground, his blade sliding away into a corner of the room where it would be found tomorrow.
She rested her foot on his neck and twisted his arm behind his back, knowing he couldn't do much with his remaining arm.
Kurotsuchi looked at the assassin, he had wild dark black hair which shot out in all directions. His eyes green which clashed with her pinkish eyes. He didn't struggle, knowing he had lost.
Kurotsuchi wasn't an ANBU agent, but she knew how to read people… a skill you kind of needed to be leader of the country.
The man looked saddened, disgusted at his deed, but it was clear there was SOME truth to the fact that he hadn't wished to kill her willingly.
"Who are you, and why did you try to kill me?" Kurotsuchi heard the man sigh and looked to the shadows.
"I don't have much of a name, I'm an assassin from Sunagakure… they wanted me to kill you." Kurotsuchi noticed his headband had been knocked from his person.
Kurotsuchi could guess some of the story, a Sunagakure assassin who was forced to killed her if he was right?
"You were supposed to kill me…" He nodded, refusing to met her gaze, not that he could really look up.
"To frame Sunagakure as an attack by Iwagakure, yes. I was supposed to make you a martyr. I didn't have a choice; they'd kill my sister if I refused." He sighed and looked at the ground.
Kurotsuchi knew assassins, it was her job as a former guard for her grandfather to deal with assassins.
Most assassins made threats, most would usually boast about their abilities and how they were more skilled then Shinobi. Assassins loved to make themselves look good and such.
The one who she had easily subdued looked regretful, shameful of even attempting the issue. Kurotsuchi sighed and rolled her eyes.
The weight of attempted murder of the Kage was death, public execution actually, made to intimidate others.
She wasn't going to kill him, there would be a political outcry, and the killing of a Suna assassin would carry out the war anyway.
"If your lying…" The man managed to prop himself up on his remaining arm to look at her, his features contorted into a steely gaze.
"No, Lady Tsuchikage. I wouldn't… kill me, I'm already dead to myself… I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I was able to carry it out anyway." He stated, angrily clawing at the floor like a large feline.
Kurotsuchi sighed and released the man. She wouldn't kill someone who was forced into this, there was no trace of him being greedy as he didn't sell out his contact.
There was no hint that he was lying to save his skin, no trace of disgust with her.
No, this Jonin of Sunagakure was sincere, he had a kunai to his throat. They had been sloppy on purpose. He wanted her to kill him and made it even easier for her to win.
"Where is your sister?" She would talk to Garra, nobody was stupid enough to provoke him into a fight.
"Suna. I do not know where." Kurotsuchi sighed and turned to the man.
"Stay here and do not move… or I will kill you." the man made no effort to disobey her instruction and she was already outside.
She had somewhat of an idea, but it required talking to the rest of the Suna council… oh joy, dragging grumpy people out of bed.
Little did she know how close they'd be.
Author Notes
Phew, another chapter done! I want to point out I'm trying to stay true to the characters and not make Nao too op. next chapter will be in a week or so and will show Kurotsuchi talking to the council then to Nao. Until then, Lighting Wolf out!
Ps: Sakura is probably on hold besides some few updates here and there. And Hanabi or Karin is being written alongside Ino sometime next week.