AN: Hey everyone I am back.
Sorry I took so long, I had my final exams for uni and only recently got my results back to find out I have graduated, and to my surprise I've ended up being quite busy working out my next step. (Not a legit excuse, I know :) )
That and I've been having a major writers block with handling the plot of this story, which hopefully I now have all sorted.
Chapter 12 Mysterious Adversaries
'Of all the bloody missions that could have been chosen, why did it have to be one that involved SAKE of all things?' Tenten inwardly cursed for the umpteenth time already.
Everybody on team Gai is fully aware of Lee's 'ahem' peculiar traits when he is exposed to even a single ml of any alcoholic substance, and the chaotic effects that follow. Yet they were protecting an entire wagon full of sake in both bottle and barrel form, with all but Tenten being completely ignorant of the fatal combination that could happen.
Ironically, Lee himself still was not aware about his apparent natural talents with the drunken fist fighting style. Whenever he had recovered from the effects of sake, he would always have no memory of what happened once under its influence. Pretty safe to say though that Tenten didn't forget the very first time it happened, along with every single person in the restaurant that day.
To the shinobi group's unnoticed luck, no such natural disaster had struck on their mission yet. The town they were currently at was their second stop since leaving Konoha. Taro had informed them that he wanted to visit numerous restaurants and stores that used his stock to see if they wanted to make any purchases. Sakura and Tenten at the moment were guarding the wagon on the side of a generally non-busy street, while Lee and Shino had accompanied their client as escort around the town.
While Tenten was playing with a kunai in her hand, she pondered on what she should do, 'I should tell Sakura and Shino about Lee's condition. It makes sense when it is something as problematic as this.'
Turning to face said at eased Haruno already had gotten Sakura's attention who met her eye, "Yes Tenten?"
Before she could announce anything, the strong voice of Neji from her memory of Lee's first drunken display spoke out to remind her, 'A condition like that on Lee's record would hinder him from undertaking serious missions. Would it not, Gai-sensei?'
The effect from the memory caused Tenten to appear perplexed to a now baffled Sakura, "Is something wrong, Tenten?"
'Surely something like this would not hinder his evaluation…right?'
"I have a question regarding Lee's evaluation, if I'm permitted to ask about it."
"Oh? Well I'm more than happy to answer anything to do with it, so please go ahead."
"Does Konoha at all look for conditions of a shinobi that could disqualify them from receiving a promotion, or disallow them from undertaking certain missions?"
"Umm…what do you mean exactly? If you mean something along the lines of health conditions then of course we do. Shinobi's are meant to be at one hundred percent efficiency at all times to guarantee both successes to missions and to their survival. Then again, if it was severe enough of a condition we would never permit them to be a shinobi in the first place."
Tenten gulped to Sakura's direct yet otherwise neutral explanation, 'Ermm…oh crap.'
"Do you know something about Lee-san that isn't on his medical record?"
'The slightest amount of sake turns him into an even crazier lunatic than what he already is.'
"Eh, I was only interested about the topic."
Sakura's perked eyebrow showed her clear suspicions, "Come on, I'm not stupid."
Tenten yet again swallowed the hard lump at the back of her throat, as Sakura shook her head at the weapon specialist's tense expression in bewilderment.
"Why are you looking at me like I'm an evil exam marker or something like that? I'm Lee-san's friend for god's sake. I'm more concerned with Lee-san's health than looking for something to disqualify him with."
Tenten lightly chuckled, "You can't be too careful."
"'You can't be too'-…oh whatever. Just tell me this. Is whatever this condition is you won't tell me about putting Lee-san's life in grave danger?"
"Not exactly."
'Just to everybody else around him…but you didn't go that technical on the question.'
Sakura lightly sighed at the vagueness, "Ok, then I won't pester you. However, if you change your mind which I truly hope that you do, please just tell me. We can work something out whatever the issue is. I owe that much to Lee-san don't you forget. I want him to do well."
Tenten recovered with a light hearted shrug, "Hmm, I'll tell you if I strongly feel it is necessary."
The dismissal like tone in that statement made Sakura's shoulders drop akin to a sulk, "You're still treating me like a stranger."
Tenten had to suppress her light giggle when the others had returned. Taro was addressing Shino about something, "Shino-san?"
"Yes?"
"I'm aware you are doing your job to protect me-which is good and all-but in future-…-could you please not stare down my clients and try and act a little-umm-cheerful?...take this fellow for instance."
Pointing to Lee, the difference in the warm and ecstatic atmosphere around the miniature Gai was ever obvious to all…except for the gloomy and mysterious Shino.
"…I will try my best to."
The elderly man chose to leave it at that, although a part of him felt his request was not going to be met. Lee seemed to be in awe about something despite the discussion, "Your methods of silent treatment Shino-kun are outstanding. Without even saying a word, you just give the impression that you're in control of the situation. That is so very hip!"
Two sweat drops were formed with both Tenten and Sakura, while the latter stood up straight from her previously slanted figure, 'Did he even register a word that Taro-san was trying to say?'
Shino turned his head so that the edge of his goggles could see Lee, "It is important to keep control of the situation, why do I know this? Because it makes others aware that you are one not to be trifled with."
Sakura felt her sweat drop grow even further down her back, as Lee went as far to take out his notepad and jot down Shino's statement, "Haww! I couldn't agree more!"
'Seriously Lee-san…Oh well. It's very good to see at least that Lee-san appears to be getting along with Shino very well for their first time working together…' Sakura tuned out of the conversation as she brought out her own notepad to jot down a few points.
The lingering Tenten over her shoulder made Sakura hiss in remembrance to their previous discussion, "You still don't trust me?"
"Just curious to see what you noticed that I didn't that is worth writing down."
"Why does a part of me detect a lie in that reason? Anyway-here."
Tenten almost didn't react in time when Sakura shoved the notepad into her hand to see everything she had written.
"-…I'm noting that Lee-san is very cooperative with others, which links to the mission we undertook a while back."
"Hmm?"
"As shinobi, we are expected to work together with other ninja to complete missions, sometimes this being with colleagues we have never worked with previously. It is very important that we have an accepting personality, so that we can work at top proficiency with even unfamiliar people to complete our tasks."
Tenten looked back at Lee in surprise as she handed the pad back, "So I see."
Sakura gave a clearly offended groan as she resumed writing, "Do you trust me now?"
"Alright-Alright, I'm sorry. I am only looking out for my teammate."
"That's fine."
While Sakura jotted down a few more notes, Tenten voiced her surprise, "I never would think such a given thing would be so important. Are they really that specific?"
"As I have said to Lee-san, you'd be very shocked just how exact they are. However when you think about that point, it makes pretty clear sense doesn't it? I mean, what would happen if Lee-san was self-destructive and a danger to his comrades? It would be a big compromise to everything including the team and missions."
'She just had to go there didn't she?'
The trip still was uneventful to one weapon specialist's relief, and this was approaching the last day of their journey now. The group decided to take a shortcut through a small country town that was mostly empty. Their formation had Sakura and herself leading the front of the wagon on either side of the lone horse, while Lee and Shino were in the back. As for their client, Taro was riding on the horse with no such worry in the world.
Tenten could hear Lee once again trying to have a conversation with Shino. It was the usual trend that happened over these past couple of days it would seem. Lee was the one doing most of the talking, although she could acknowledge Shino actually was speaking a little more than he was beforehand.
"How incredible. So you act as a home for your bugs?"
"Not precisely the correct term, however it is close enough. By using my chakra, I can communicate with the bugs to give then instructions."
"Amazing. I'm so envious of the Aburame clan's bizarre yet incredible techniques."
Shino chose not to reply to Lee's praise, as his eyes were scanning the mostly unoccupied houses for something that was causing an odd sensation which his bugs alerted him to. The sensation being that several strong chakra signatures were lurking not far from them. The oblivious Lee was still talking as the bug user decided to pretend he was none the wiser to his bugs warning.
Taro's semi amused grunt caught everyone's attention, "I think we may have some business here." He announced, as his eyes were locked onto a street full of all kinds of stores and inns.
Quickly setting up at the corner of the street, Taro disappeared with Tenten and Sakura this time as his escort. Shino was leaning against a plain wooden wall of a store next to the wagon with his hands idly sitting in his pockets, while Lee was at attention by his side. Shino's head rose partially to look at the few people walking up and down the street, with his sharp eyes homing in on one in particular.
"Lee, we may have company."
Lee's startled gaze was met with an answer, "I cannot confirm if they are hostile as of yet, but my bugs have detected several chakra sources in this town."
"I-Is that so?" Lee responded in growing concern, as Shino once again answered his brewing question.
"During our walking through this town, I allowed some of my bugs to drop to the ground and locate the sources."
Lee's sharp eyes coincidently saw one of shino's bugs buzz over his head and land on Shino's face. Within a short moment, Shino declared his findings, "There are five possible shinobi within this town other than us. With the exception of one, they're all within close proximity of each other which can lead to assuming they may be working together. Since this mission first begun, I had placed a female bug on Taro-san and all of us so I can keep track of where everybody is. I've done the same to these contacts now. The four grouped up are on the opposite end of the town, one however…"
Shino's head turned a fraction to peer at his target, which Lee found to be an elderly man wielding a cane who was only four houses away from them. The man's back was turned to them, as he continued at his slow pace down the street. Lee at first didn't understand what there was to suspect in the elderly man, until his eyes widened as he met the answer, 'Could Shino-kun mean that person is using a henge?'
Shino continued still in his monotonous voice, "We won't act unless that one gets too close to our client. Why is that? Because they could well be just shinobi doing their own mission that is in no relation to ours. Once Taro-san and the others have returned, I will fill in Sakura and Tenten to this discovery."
Lee could only nod his caught off guard head, but before he could even muse a thought, another bug flew by and landed on shino's face.
"I see…The four that are together are in fact a Konoha group holding some kind of meeting in a cafe. It's a three genin and a jounin squad which I have seen before in Konoha…then knowing this, it would be safe to deduce that this one is working alone."
Lee at last fixed his hung open jaw, 'I have heard talks about team 8's abilities of tracking standing out from others in their field. Shino-kun surely is living up to his team's reputation. He was able to gather all that just from using his bugs for intelligence gathering. Not only does he have a map of where we are, but he also identified other ninja nearby and even located a possible threat. That is quite an outstanding ability.'
A few moments later Taro and his escort were spotted returning to Shino and Lee's position with two new followers that both assumed were customers. Lee's focus solely was on the suspicious bystander who didn't act open the group passing by. Tenten acknowledged the pair with a wave as Taro lifted the cover to present his stock.
One of the followers whistled in awe, "That is quite a fine collection you have there."
While Taro was talking, Sakura noticed Shino and Lee's state of alertness, "What's going on?"
'Several full barrels? That is such a large amount of sake they purchased from Taro-san. Then again, now that I think about it, other customers of Taro-san purchased it in quite large amounts too. I wonder if when I try it one day I will understand why adults drink it so often.' Lee pondered, as he effortlessly lifted a barrel of sake to bring to the store of the customer.
Lee was unaware that Tenten was staring in fear of any 'exposure' occurring…as she had done throughout the entire journey every time Lee had done such action.
Sakura did not miss seeing this pattern and her brows furrowed in contemplation, 'Really, what is this possible health condition Lee-san has that she won't tell me about?' Dismissing her curiosity, Sakura's eyes shifted to show awareness of the other issue Shino had just informed her about.
'Moving along from that, what about this person that clearly is disguised as an old man.'
Finding the said target that had now sat down on a bench, Sakura continued her musing, 'What would Kakashi-sensei do in this situation?'
Somehow her question morphed from Kakashi into somebody else without realisation, however she chuckled lightly at the thought, 'Naruto would probably shout out some curse and charge straight at the guy without considering otherwise. Hehe, rush in first and ask questions later sounds like him, that reckless baka.'
Shaking her head clear of the thought, she refocused on the situation at hand, 'I suppose Shino's idea would be best. We do not know if their purpose here has anything to do with us…Actually, perhaps it might just be worth the time to inform the other Konoha group Shino mentioned about this.'
Deciding to carry out her thoughts, Sakura told Tenten of her intentions and then left the street to find the other Konoha team.
Lee by this time had made it to the front of the bar, where Taro and his customer were settling the cost of the sake. The owner of the bar addressed Lee for a moment, "Just right there next to the front thank you, I will move it in myself after."
"Yosh." Was Lee's response as he settled the foot tall barrel down and went back to grab another.
Once Lee and Shino were done with the drop off and Sakura had returned to see Taro now sitting himself in the mostly empty wagon with a face that showed his satisfaction, "Another excellent round this season. The fire country sure loves their sake."
Sakura felt her sweat drop along with somehow picturing her master at his comment, "Why does that not surprise me, Taro-san?" The elderly man blinked in wonder while his eyes stared up at the sky in thought.
"Something wrong, Taro-san?" Lee enquired, as Taro's eyes grew big in remembrance.
"Hold on…who is the current hokage of your village?"
Partially puzzled by the question, Sakura answered, "Tsunade-sama currently is. Why do you ask?"
Taro's load groan full of both surprise yet annoyance only confused her further, "Curse me starting to go senile in my old age! I forgot where my best customer was situated."
'Why am I not even a little surprised shisho is his biggest client?'
Sakura barely chuckled as her sweat drop remained, "Hehe, I see. Did you and my shisho have some business to deal with?"
"Absolutely, this last barrel is strictly for her. Tsunade-hime prepays for my usual stock three years in advance! I'm surprised she didn't come and hunt me down in the village knowing how much she enjoys her alcohol." Taro explained, pointing at the last ordinary looking barrel.
"Tsunade-sama unfortunately most of the time is very busy with her duties, plus there has been a great deal happening recently. If you wish Taro-san we will deliver it to her once we have escorted you to the border."
With the matter now concluded, the group began to move out. While they were exiting the street, Shino's head tilted so he could see where the suspicious man had been seated all this time, only to discover the bench was now unoccupied.
Sooner or later, the Konoha group had reached the end of their mission with Taro at the border. Lee volunteered to carry the sake barrel back which had nobody voice an objection with the exception of a slight mumble from Tenten.
Before departing Taro addressed Sakura, "A safe journey as always every time I come through the fire country. Thank you all very much, and please give Tsunade-hime my sincerest apologies."
"I'm sure she will not mind once she has a sip or two Taro-san."
'A sip being an entire cup full.'
"I'm interested though Taro-san, why exactly this barrel over the others you had?"
"Why, because it is the very best Daiginjo you can buy of course."
Sakura mouthed out 'wow' before recovering with a laugh, "Something tells me shisho will not care at all about the delay after even drinking an ounce of that."
Seeing off their client, the Konoha group decided on a short break before beginning their adventure back to Konoha. The group settled for eating at a Dango restaurant with hardly any people inside.
"That mission went fairly well if I don't say so myself." Sakura stated, unaware of the tension hovering over the kunoichi next to her.
Lee from across the table gave a sharp nod, "Very much so, but-…"
"Hehe, as I keep reminding you Lee-san, your evaluation does not require you to show me something outstanding every single mission. Your consistent performance and other comrades own evaluation makes this mission alone valuable."
Lee's disappointment was washed away with his wide grin, "Hai! Thank you for reminding me!"
Shino, who was holding a mysteriously already cleaned off dango skewer grew interested, "I heard you mention this 'evaluation' earlier to Lee. What precisely do you mean?"
While Sakura was explaining to Shino Lee's issue, Tenten was staring at the sake barrel that was positioned on the edge of the table. The wooden cask was only a foot in height and length, which bared a black kanji symbol of a brand she had never heard of. Around the sealed lid was small fine artwork that reminded her of pictures she had seen in a history book once.
Hearing silence from the rest of the group which she assumed meant the topic had ended, Tenten decided to bite on her curiosity and ask, "What is so special about this sake anyway Sakura?"
Sakura turning her head answered, "Daiginjo is a very expensive and hard to make type of sake. Although I don't know what it tastes like, shisho speaks very highly of it."
"Do you know how much it is worth?"
"Umm-…just going by from what I know since shisho usually asks me to pick up some sake she orders-…-Yeah, I would say that barrel is probably worth both our mission payments put together."
"N-No way, for just that amount?" Sakura's nod made Tenten's hung jaw shakily close.
"A-And Tsunade-sama really likes it a great deal?"
"Ah. Although to be honest, that is really her opinion for sake in general. I can't understand or relate to her since I've never tried it, but denying her sake can be quite a bad move."
Tenten so should not have asked by repeating quietly, "'Bad move'?"
Sakura trembled in fear as if she was recalling something, "E-Eh, Let's just say she got very-umm-'cranky' when I last attempted to bring her something that wasn't sake."
'Gulp' was all that could be heard in response from the weapon specialist's end.
When the shinobi resumed their journey, Tenten seemed to have Sakura's words looping in her head. She didn't know now what would be worse, Lee potentially going berserk, or the wrath of the Godaime being set before them if something were to happen with the barrel. The fact that the key object of the former scenario was holding the key object of the latter scenario was just the icing on the cake.
Feeling that panic from the very beginning of this mission surface again, Tenten turned to Lee abruptly, cutting into the otherwise calm silence of the group, "Maybe you should let somebody else carry that thing Lee."
"Whatever for? It's no hassle in the slightest Tenten?"
"Knowing how clumsy you can be, it probably would be for the best if I was holding it."
Blinking for a few moments in thought, Lee agreed, "As shameful as that is to admit, I believe you are right Tenten."
Tenten could have sworn the small barrel became unimaginably heavy as she took it from Lee's hands, but as Lee released his hold, she near too fast for casual span around and semi jogged away as if some minimum safe distance had to be reached immediately.
The eyebrow raised rosette apparently was at that border, "Everything ok?"
"I'm perfectly fine thank y-"
"Wait!" Shino's sudden interruption made the group stop and turn to him, noticing his head was facing to something distant to their west. Not a word was said as several bugs could be seen buzzing around the bug users head. Even though his goggles and turtleneck collar blocked most of the sight, his tensed expression was noticed.
"Something is happening in that town we were in earlier."
"What do you mean Shino-kun?"
"So I see now…that disguised shinobi was never interested in us, they were scouting out the other group."
Sakura lightly gasped before shaking her head clear, "You mean the other Konoha team? That was Konohamaru's group!"
"'They?'" Tenten repeated in question, as Shino continued looking out in the distance as he replied.
"Hai. Unfortunately my bugs can only travel so fast between the location and theirs, but the last bug reported to me that many more chakra signatures in the area. How can I be so certain? Because my bugs can sense chakra."
'Konohamaru…'
"We are going back there now!"
'So many Oto-nin. I'm counting seven in front of us, maybe more elsewhere.' Moegi mused, trying to not to physically show her unease to the situation.
Ebisu told them that their mission was a simple C ranked mission involving delivering a scroll to Suna. Konohamaru complained about the given rank soon after the briefing, whining just how boring it was going to be as he always did on routine. However, right now she knew Konohamaru wasn't going to complain given he got the action he was wishing for. Maybe even too much than what he asked for.
The surprising run in with Sakura earlier warned them of another shinobi nearby, but the team would not have guessed it was an Oto-nin that was tracking them. Which brought them to their situation now, being pinned in a corner of a now fled street with several Oto shinobi boxing them in. Three sound nin wielding a kunai were standing before them, with another four spread out on the rooftop of the store above them. There was very little to distinguish between the Oto-nin, each shinobi's lower face was hidden behind a black mask similar to Kakashi's, and wore navy blue overalls along with similar shaded vests. The forehead protector each was wearing tightly across their black bandana covered heads with the sound symbol gave no doubt to their affiliation.
Ebisu for the third time in the same minute adjusted his sunglasses to the point they were nearly crushing into his tensed eyes. 'These are the Oto-nin hokage-sama was warning the village about. They sure don't look like push overs either, perhaps chuunin rank, maybe higher. Konohamaru-kun, Udon-kun, and Moegi-chan are no match for these guys. I must bide them time to escap-'
"Alright, let's teach these guys for messing with us!"
Ebisu's thoughts were sharply cut off by the pumped up Sarutobi. Knowing his student well, Ebisu snapped his gaze down to confirm his fear at Konohamaru's strategy to get them out of this situation.
That signature seal a certain blond genin always did, "Konohamaru-kun! Don't-"
"Kage bunshin no jutsu!"
'Damn that Naruto for teaching him that jutsu! Konohamaru-kun faints every time he uses it!' Ebisu cursed as the sound of four 'poof' clouds appeared before them, which soon revealed the four clones. Expecting them to instantly disperse, the jounin grinded his teeth in frustration, however before he could think out how to get them out of this, Ebisu realised the kage bunshin still remained formed.
A furiously sweating Konohamaru gave a chuckle through a pant, "Don't underestimate me Ebisu-sensei!"
"Konohamaru…" Moegi mumbled in awe, while Ebisu shook his head clear of disbelief.
"As expected of you! Now then, let's take care of-?"
Ebisu yet again was cut off as Konohamaru suddenly just fell straight over like all energy in his body was drained, and upon his landing was a loud 'poof' as the clones dispersed.
Udon knelt down to check on his friend as he muttered, "Not again Konohamaru, how humiliating." Moegi deeply sighed while muttering a word she appeared to have picked up from Sakura using a lot.
'Baka.'
The closest Oto-nin perked his brown eyebrow, as his golden coloured eyes stared at the group, "Hey, perhaps you lot don't seem to understand the position you all are in right now, but we are standing right before you? Whatever, easy pickings are refreshing every now and then."
Trying to ignore Konohamaru's state, Ebisu stepped forward with a kunai raised, "Moegi-chan, Udon-kun, get out of here with Konohamaru-kun. I shall handle this."
The same sound nin's snicker was ignored as both the conscious genin looked at their sensei as if he was crazy, "We aren't leaving you behind sensei!"
Not wanting to listen to this argument, the Oto-nin gave the nod to his comrades, "Take care of them."
After his order, a volley of kunai was released coming from every possible direction around the group.
Ebisu sprung straight into a seal combination as the fine blades grew closer, 'Come on make it in time!'
Before any of the sharp objects could reach their targets, every single kunai was intercepted perfectly by another kunai, causing the weapons to suddenly rain into the ground a mere foot away from Konohamaru's team.
Ebisu froze in bewilderment, 'Who was that?'
"What?" Barked the Oto-nin in surprise, as his senses kicked in and he brought up a kunai to ricochet off a shuriken that otherwise would have dug into his face.
Glaring in the direction the shuriken came from, he grunted in annoyance, "More Konoha ninja? I thought our scout said the other team had left?"
"You shouldn't be so bold to make such assumptions. 'Why?' do you ask? Because shinobi should always expect the unexpected." Shino scolded in that monotonous voice of his, which resulted in the Oto-nin's glare toughening in anger.
Next to Shino was Tenten, who was refolding up a scroll she had used to unleash the kunai earlier.
"There was four of them taicho!" Another member of the sound nin shouted.
Seeing as it appeared this Oto-nin was the leader of the group, Shino addressed him, "If you wish to continue attacking then prepare yourselves. Why is that? It's because when you point a point a blade at one of us, expect that person's comrades to step in."
Tenten felt her sweat drop as she looked at Shino, 'You didn't need to explain what you meant to everything!'
Snickering, the sound-nin responded harshly, "Like I have anything to fear from a bunch of brats."
Shino's goggles flickered a bright green as his hands slowly slid out of their pockets, "You are still making bold assumptions-…"
As his hands became visible, suddenly they disappeared again behind an endless stream of black bugs pouring out from his sleeves. Tenten stood her ground despite her clear shock to the bugs spreading all across the ground like a plague. Eyeing her feet, she noticed the bugs hadn't intruded on her immediate space, despite every other part of the floor covered in the grain like appearing insects.
"…-You know, I hate having to explain things twice." Shino finished still in that stone cold emotionless tone.
Shino's display most certainly had an effect on not just Tenten.
"A-Are those bugs? He is from the Aburame clan!"
"S-So many!" The leader despite the fear striking sight before him barely flinched from his stare off with Shino's face. The only sound that could be heard in the otherwise tense silence was the scattering and the eerie cries of the bugs.
One of the Oto-nin standing on the rooftop cracked under the pressure, "T-Taicho! Orders?"
Tenten grew a scowl when she could see underneath the leaders mask was a concealed smirk, knowing fully well despite Shino's warning they weren't going to back down. 'poofing' in a tonfa in her hand gave Lee and Sakura the signal. Within an instant a shadow appeared above the leader, who looked up to see Sakura with a reeled back glowing fist.
"SHANNARO!"
Reacting in time, the Oto-nin jumped back to avoid the raging fist that cracked the ground on contact. Before he could counter, the leader was caught off guard to a presence alarmingly fast appearing behind him while still in mid-air.
"Konoha Senpuu!"
Tenten winced at seeing Lee's blurring kick connect straight into the leader's head which appeared to have snapped his neck on impact. Only Shino was the one not to react in disbelief however when the shinobi 'poofed' away leaving a heavily dented trash can in his place.
"Behind you Lee!" Tenten warned, as Lee span around in his taijutsu stance to see the man he thought he incapacitated standing a few meters away from him. Sakura gasped in recognition to the change noted in the man's appearance.
It was the infectious like black tattoo markings that had crept over the left side of his face, 'I-It's the same thing Sasuke-kun had! The curse seal!'
"I say to you again, I have nothing to fear from a bunch of brats."
AN: While I've surprised myself before and released chapters of my other story earlier than expected, I will say it in advance just in case.
Merry Christmas/happy holidays and a happy new year to everyone.
Please give feedback/ constructive criticisms.
