Hi all, sorry for delays. My thesis is due soon, so I've been trying to pump out a 20 page lit review while still preparing to collect more data. Ah, science. However, I've been keeping up on the manga and I really really miss this universe so I'm still working on it, but updates will still be far between.
As always, reviews make me happy, or alerts, or whatever. Anything that indicates someone is reading it and doesn't feel like they're wasting their time.
With this threat averted, further traps seemed imminent so Shirakumo had them assume the prearranged battle formation. Yukina and Gisuke took their place in front of the cart, thankfully quiet now that they had something to focus on besides each other.
That left Atsuko with Shirakumo. The jonin declined to ride on the cart again and Atsuko didn't want to appear weak in front of her sensei, so she walked beside him.
There was a deep feeling of apprehension forming in her stomach. Combat was imminent—something she hadn't really experienced. Last time she'd been carried by Naruto and Genma, only getting in a few shots by sheer luck. This time she had training and was better prepared, but untested.
"You're feeling apprehensive about this mission, aren't you," said Shirakumo. It was not a question. "It is to be expected. You are untested, especially to yourself. Just keep your head about you and let your training guide you."
"Yes, sir," she replied, but didn't really feel any better.
Suddenly the cart stopped and Shirakumo indicated she should follow him as he walked towards Yukina and Gisuke.
Gisuke's eyes were closed and his fingertips touching.
"How many?" whispered Shirakumo.
"Four. They are spreading out and approaching from all sides," Gisuke replied, his eyes still closed.
"Damn," muttered Yukina. "I must have missed something."
"Just tell me what to do," said Yuudai, reins in hand.
"Stay put until we assess the threat," answered Shirakumo. "But be ready to leave at any moment."
Yuudai nodded nervously.
They waited. Yukina made a move to grasp her tanto but with a glance at Shirakumo who shook his head, she let her hand drop to her side.
"Travelers of the highway," came a strong male voice from the forest. "Turn over your goods and you may pass unharmed."
"These goods are mine," replied Yuudai loudly. "They are not yours to take."
"An unfortunate choice," replied the voice. "It will only cause you trouble and pain. You are surrounded and at a disadvantage."
Simultaneously the four thieves that Gisuke had sensed emerged from the forest. At the same time all four of them moved to stand back-to-back, weapons out and pointed at the thieves.
"Shinobi, eh?" observed one of the thieves, sounding only mildly surprised. "You have foresight. However, we still have the advantage in position."
Each of the thieves had all sorts of knives and weapons tucked into their clothes and at a signal from the thief who'd spoken threw everything they had at the travelers with surprising accuracy. However, even an Academy student could deflect such throws and soon the ground was littered with the thieves' weapons in a clear circle around them.
"Impressive," said the leader when the air was clear. "But it changes nothing."
"This can end now with no one getting hurt," said Shirakumo. "Let us pass and nothing will come of this."
The leader's countenance changed with Shirakumo's offer. He became furious and with a snarl he raised his arm in the air. Everyone paused, expecting an attack, but none immediately came. In one moment, however, as she caught a glimpse of metal, Atsuko knew.
Flipping over her comrades, Atsuko landed on the cart's bench next to Yuudai. Simultaneously she created a chakra shield that she held between them and empty forest. Half a second later an enormous arrow slammed into her shield.
The force of the projectile knocked her back against the cart, but the shield held, deflecting the arrow into a tree which it pierced like an apple.
Yuudai stared at the other, mouth open. The others stared at Atsuko.
Furious his hidden weapon had been thwarted, the leader raised his other arm.
Each of the thieves pulled out a weapon—two pulled out long deadly katanas and one pulled out a pair of modified short axes covered with metal spikes. The leader pulled out a plain staff, but the smirk on his face led Atsuko to think that it was anything but plain.
"None have made it this far," said the leader. "However, we have not shown you our true skill yet. I'm eager to test ourselves against shinobi." With a mad grin, he leapt towards the small circle of shinobi, followed closely by his companions
"Yuudai! If you see an opening, go!" shouted Shirakumo as he blocked a sword swing with his katana.
Yuudai took a firm grip on the reins in answer, but the leader of the thieves yelled, "Whatever you do, don't let that cart move!"
The thief with the two axes was closest to the cart and leapt onto it, aiming his deadly weapons at Yuudai's head. The merchant tried to duck, but Atsuko blocked the blows with her shield then used her other hand to swing a kunai knife across the attacker's face. He leapt back, face bloodied, to fall off the cart and land on top of Gisuke.
Gisuke was quicker than the axe-thief, and with his hands glowing green with chakra, got off what seemed to be very precise contacts across the man's body. The axe-thief was slowed, but not stopped, and slowly began to rise. Gisuke made some quick hand signs and the man froze. As if paralyzed, he fell over and didn't move—only his eyes blinking and his chest rising and falling indicated he was still alive.
Shirakumo's opponent wasn't confident alone so he enlisted the other sword-user. Shirakumo was clam, his katana hanging loosely in his hand. One swung his sword, but it was easily deflected. The two shared a glance and began to attack together.
They were good—the two swordsmen clearly knew how to use their weapons and how to fight together. They attacked Shirakumo from both sides, attempting to find and then exploit his weak spots.
There were none.
Shirakumo moved like the wind. He spun, blocking every strike as if they weren't even moving. Brows furrowed, the two began to pick up their attack speed as they realized he was a difficult opponent.
Soon it became obvious they couldn't defeat him with mere swords. Before they could formulate a new plan, Shirakumo took a step back. They paused, confused. Suddenly the air around his katana glimmered with chakra.
Gisuke, having just defeated the axe thief, at least knew what was going on. "Get back!" he yelled.
Atsuko couldn't leave Yuudai, so she stood by him and created a shield, unsure of what Shirakumo was about to unleash.
Shirakumo brought his katana across the air in front of him in a great sweeping motion. It created a rush of air that knocked down everything in its path. The two swordsmen were blown into the trees, which had been torn from their trunks. Atsuko and Yuudai caught the edge of it, the shield blocking the debris that came rushing towards them.
When the wind died down, a crescent of bare ground littered with stumps was laid out in front of Shirakumo. There was no sign of the two swordsmen; only a single broken sword could be seen jutting out between the fallen trees.
Meanwhile, the leader with the staff went after Yukina. Perhaps he thought her an easy target.
His face was fixed in a smirk as he jumped down towards her. Yukina pulled out her tanto, gripping it solidly in her right hand and taking up a defensive posture.
The leader opened strongly, jabbing the staff at her face with a quick precise movement. When she ducked, he rotated the staff to knock her feet out from under her. But Yukina used her hand to balance herself as she managed to jump over the staff. The leader took advantage of her distraction and launched a kick at her. His foot impacted, throwing her to the ground where she skidded for over a meter. He did something to the staff and out of one end popped a blade.
Yukina was still on the ground, her face hidden as he swept the blade across her neck and face, but it was stopped by a sword sheathed in flames.
Unruly red-brown hair covered Yukina's eyes, hiding her face. But a change had occurred—even the leader of the thieves could see it—that he was not the more powerful of the two. Indeed as their two weapons touched, the flames surrounding the tonto were melting the staff's blade. The leader remained motionless, his confident expression turning to one of fear. Only as her tanto cut completely through and half of his blade fell to the ground did he flinch.
Yukina stood and with two lightning-fast strokes the staff fell to pieces in his hands. He stepped backwards out of instinct, trying to get away from the flaming weapon. Yukina held her sword out in a clearly offensive posture.
The leader was flat out scared. Atsuko didn't blame him; even from her perspective, the look on Yukina's face was terrifying.
Finally, breaking the tension, Yukina reached out with her free hand and grabbed the man's shirt, pulling him to her as he felt to his knees.
"Your men are defeated," she said. "Some are probably dead. Your scary band of thieves were defeated by genin. That's right. We're not even qualified shinobi. Next time, however, you may not get so lucky. Spread the word: the shinobi of Konoha are watching."
Yukina let go as the leader scrambled backwards until his back hit a stump. There he remained, eyes wide and locked on Yukina.
"Yuudai! Are you all right?" she called.
"I'm fine, and my goods remain untouched."
"Good. Let's keep moving. We wasted too much time here."