Oji arrived when the sky was just lighting up and the stars slowly retreated into hiding. There was a thick fog hugging the land and sweeping out into the water. He found the ninja all sleeping on the edge of the grass meeting the sand. the fire gave a weak stream of dieing smoke. He left them to sleep and stood on the shore, watching the clouds of mist roll lazily. He glanced at the paper in his hand. Kali woke not long after Oji arrived and walked up behind him.
"The next boat comes not long after the sun rises," Oji said not even glancing back to Kali. Kali wiped the sleepy from her eye lazily as she listened. "I'll attack first and you can back me up."
"This will be what the guards are trained for," Kali said.
"It won't be a walk in the park like other times," Oji followed with an agreeing thought.
"Always wanted a challenge."
"Do you want the others to help?" Kali stepped up next to her brother and looked back at the sleeping ninja.
"No, they don't need to. They would just get in the way." Oji looked at her.
"You sure you don't want to leave now? It wouldn't be hard."
"I need to do one more thing and I still don't feel ready."
"Ok," Oji shrugged, "Let's get ready to do this." He went back to the three ninja and woke them one by one. He led them through a checklist to make sure they had all they needed. "Alright, now here's how this is going down. Kal and I will raid the unsuspecting ship and remove all guards. Be ready in case we need back up, and don't hesitate. When we get the boat cleared I'll show you the reins and ya'll can set sail. And don't wait for very long after that, because another ship will be expected in the next hour." The three nodded their understanding. Naruto saw Kali pass by and head back into the forest.
"Where is Kali going?" Naruto asked.
"She has something to do this morning," Oji answered, "It will be a squeeze to get back in time to see ya leave, but it's the only chance she'll get."
"Aren't you going to tell us what it is she has to do?" Sakura asked.
"No," Oji handed the sheet of paper to the three ninja. "Maybe you can find something to do with this; I don't need it anymore." Sakura took it and began reading the schedule. Oji stepped to the edge of the woods and leaned against the base of a tree and plucked a small twig to whittle.
"So we're just going to sit here and wait??" Naruto asked crossing his arms.
"Yup," Oji replied half-heartedly. "If she doesn't show up in time for the attack on the ship, We'll have to do without."
"But why would she leave so close to the time?" Sakura asked.
"She's trying to get it done while the getting's good. Fleeting bravery can be a cruel, cruel thing, and Kali's duties require a lot from her. I give her a break on that account." Sasuke stood and walked toward the shore.
"Where ya going, Sasuke?" Sakura asked cheerily, standing as well.
"For a walk," Sasuke replied nonchalantly.
"Want me to walk with you?" She blushed lightly.
"No." He walked down the beach calmly leaving light footprints in the mushy sand. The fog had rolled back slightly and gave a little to the sparkling waters. The sun was still hidden behind some thin clouds so the day looked oddly dull. The waves sloshed up on the shore lazily like the dull day had slowed their movements. The beach wrapped all the way around the island as far as Sasuke could tell. The coast made a gradual turn out of site and made a jutting peninsula. Sasuke stopped on this and looked hard out into the water. He imagined the shore of their homeland just through the fog. There was a large splash just out of site. Sasuke saw the faint silhouette of a whale's tail slip back into the water. There must be a drop off in the sea floor for such a large animal to be so close. Sasuke turned and began to walk back toward the others.
Without the three ninja Kali's trip was much faster. She still ran into a few distracting people and animals, but she did not wait for long at any spot. She gripped her old headband in one hand and a kunai in the other.
She arrived at the house of Janoh. It was quiet, but Kali didn't notice. She entered the house without knocking and looked around for her sensei.
"You came early, Kali," Janoh said as he came out of the back room. Kali looked at him silently at first.
"Janoh sensei, it is done," She said, "I'm free from Kinas forever."
"But you still hold the second spirit with you," Janoh replied. Kali nodded.
"That is fine with me. As a matter of fact, I wouldn't have it any other way. But now I must prepare to leave."
"I understand, we made a deal and it must come to an end. Do what you must." Kali looked down, smiled, and tightened her grip on the kunai.
Oji yawned and peeked over at Naruto. Naruto was itching to move so Oji stood and walked to the shore.
"Kal had better hurry or we'll just have to do this ourselves," He said. "Let me see that schedule, Little Lady." He gestured to Sakura. Sakura instinctively handed the paper to him. It showed the first ship would be there soon. "Alright let's start getting ready, Kali's running a little late." Sasuke arrived about now and was caught in the preparations. Oji went over there supplies again and gave them about three packs of food to bring. He also set Naruto out on watch so they knew when the boat was coming. The fog had given more since the early morning so they would have at least five minutes to hide for the ambush.
Kali rushed through the woods returning to the beach. She was late and there was no doubt Oji would not hesitate for her to get there. She had to see Sasuke one more time. She had something to tell him. Her heart was pounding as she stopped momentarily. Her headband needed to be moved from her hand for speed so she had tied it around her neck. It felt strange at first, but she soon forgot it was there.
"C'mon, Kali…" She breathed as she closed her eyes for a second. She leapt into the air again and trimmed across the branches.
Oji heard someone behind them and drew his kunai while looking out into the sea. The criminal appeared silently and slowly progressed toward the supplies. Oji's tail flicked irritably. He Swung around and threw the kunai right at the man's feet. He jumped back from the attack and looked at the attacker, Oji. He didn't have much time to escape before Oji had jumped him and beat him senseless. The man whimpered away, thoroughly defeated.
"There it is!" Naruto said excitedly. A small speck appeared in the fog and came slowly closer. Oji was silent for a second before barking commands sharply. Naruto hid behind the nearest tree to the beach, Sasuke and Oji hid farther down. There were three men who jumped off of the boat and guarded the fourth and fifth man who began unloading large crates. Oji ran in first. Like lightning he darted from his hiding area and attacked the man nearest. Sasuke was right in his shadow and threw shurukin at two of the guards. Naruto and about five clones surged from the woods and barreled over the remaining guys. Two guns went off.
Kali was running swiftly over the forest floor when something jerked her to the ground by her leg. A bear trap had snapped onto her leg and refused to let go. Kali growled and sat up to reach the trap. She didn't notice the pain of the injury even though it was bleeding badly. She gripped the edges and pulled them hard apart. She snarled. This wasn't helping her time, and if she didn't hurry, they will leave before she reaches. Her heart fluttered and her cheeks flushed. Sasuke. She had to see him one more time. Just one more time. She closed her eyes and pulled harder. The trap creaked and snapped angrily.
Oji tossed the last guns into the pile of weapons. Sasuke came out from the inside of the hull.
"All clear," He said. Oji nodded his understandment. Sakura finished wrapping Naruto's arm from a gunshot and put the first aide kit away.
"So are we going to wait for Kali now?" Naruto asked. Oji shook his head slowly.
"She knew when you three had to leave and she decided to go. And another ship will soon be arriving. We can't take the chance of a sharpshooter picking us off the beach like big red targets."
"But why didn't she wait until later to do…whatever she had to do," Sasuke asked as he hopped from the boat to the beach. Oji looked at him and sighed.
"Who knows," he answered, "There is so much going on in that newly freed mind. I don't know what will happen now. We just have to keep on keepin on." Oji jumped onto the boat and stepped into the control room.
The outside of the boat was not very impressive; made of worn-down wood and discolored glass. The inside, though, was better maintained. There was complicated equipment to steer the small vessel and a small clean bed to rest. There was a small room where the supplies were kept during transport.
"Who's going to be doing the driving?" Oji yelled from the inside. All three ninja looked at each other before Sakura stood from the sand.
"I will," she said.
"Come let me show you how to work this stuff." Sakura did so and Oji launched into a very systematic lesson on how to maintain the safety of her teammates and maintain a good pace.
Sasuke looked expectantly out into the thick woods. Akkan lay lazily under a leaf the size of his large muscular body. He had his head resting on a large paw and his glassy blue eyes were comfortably shut. Some birds had woken up and were now chirping happily. The sun had almost annihilated the remaining fog and the dew was dripping from all the plants. The sun peeked from behind the clouds and shone on the lonely beach. Where was Kali? Oji jumped to the edge of the boat and leapt from the stern.
"Naruto, get some supplies and put them in the room behind the controls. Sasuke, you can help." Sasuke snapped from his stare and followed Naruto to the pile of supplies.
Kali threw the trap against a tree angrily and it shattered into many rusty pieces. She had bandaged her leg and set off. Before she got far she was interrupted by a man with a javelin and a small cage. He was gruff and looked like an old seasoned hunter.
"You steel my trapped food," the man growled.
"No, I was IN the stupid trap," Kali answered impatiently, "But you'll have to learn to place your new traps better. That one was in the way too much."
"What you do with my trap!?"
"Go see for yourself. I've got places to be." She jumped over the stocky man and continued. She was too far behind to talk.
Oji helped Sakura start up the boat and keep it running. Sasuke was staring into the woods again when Oji called him.
"Let's move, Little Sasuke," he called. Sasuke turned.
"Where is Kali?" He called back. Oji threw his arms up to say he didn't know.
"Is she even going to make it?" Naruto asked. Nobody answered but the answer was almost obvious. Sasuke's heart fell. He wanted to see her one more time. Oji shoved him and Naruto into the boat.
"Come on, kids, the boat home is departing," Oji said.
"But I have to tell Kali something!" Sasuke blurted. Oji hesitated.
"I'm sorry, kid…" He said sadly, "Kali made her decision fully aware of what was going to happen, and I made mine." He put his foot on the edge of the boat and shoved it off.
Kali heard the boat start and tried to add speed to her mad dash. When she arrived the boat was on a steady pace and heading away.
"SASUKE!" She called reaching the shore and splashing into the water. Sasuke was in the hull when he heard her and rushed out to see. "Sasuke!!" She held a kunai close then threw it hard. Sasuke barely caught it because of the distance. It was dark metal and had a deep red ribbon on it. "Don't forget me, Sasuke!!!" Kali screamed. The tears flowed down her cheeks. "I'll come find you again!!!" Sasuke blinked back the tears and waved high to the continuously shrinking island and the girl he had met there.