I do not own Naruto and his associated articles; only my OCs.
Squadron Hatake returned mostly unharmed; a broken nose and some cuts were the extent of the team's injuries. The entire group was weary and most suffered with a heavy chakra drain that only time would heal. While treating Namazu's broken nose, Manami learned a vague account of what happened.
The squad had managed to eliminate their outer targets with ease, but the planned detonation had gone awry leaving the team with few options. Akio had stepped in and performed a fire jutsu. It had been somewhat effective but because everything was wet, it had only activated a small portion of the planted tags. This had resulted in an all-out battle. Hearing the explanation, Manami was quite surprised that none of her teammates had died. They had been outnumbered five to one, but had returned with minor damages.
Afterwards, she checked on Yuudai again. Since he remained without fever, Manami deemed it wise to move him to his own cot to continue his recovery. Shuji, who shared the tent with the taijutsu user, was kind enough to move the tall man back to their tent despite being on the verge of physical exhaustion himself. Alone in the medical bay, the kunoichi was able to focus her time into finishing the antidote. It was late into the night when she completed the task.
Early on the following morning, unfamiliar voices brought Manami out of her light slumber. The kunoichi grabbed a kunai for defense and slid out of her cot slowly. She inched her way to the tent's entrance and glanced through its opening.
In front of the main tent were twenty men she had never seen before, wearing the Konoha insignia. Manami hastily dressed before heading directly for the medical bay. It was none of her business why the other shinobi were there and she didn't feel like interacting with strangers.
In the medical tent, she started the process of cleaning up the aftermath of the day before. Beginning with her desk, she worked her way into the examination rooms. The grass where the remnants of the poison had seeped off the table was dead. It was no surprise; grass was easily killed by foreign contaminants. However, Manami made a mental note to inform the taichou of this event. It would cause trouble if that poison were to weep into ground water. As the medic was sanitizing the equipment, Sakumo entered the tent.
Manami briefly looked up from her work. He walked around the tent giving a once over. "I haven't been in here since when Sho first started to set up the bay…" Sakumo started trailing off as he inspected the shelving. "You've changed the configuration here."
Manami grunted in response without looking up from her work.
"Yuudai is awake now. Looks a little worse for wear, but he says he feels fine. I would imagine that he doesn't feel as good as he says though; he is notorious for accepting his injuries as a sort of punishment." Sakumo stated, seating himself at the eighteen year old's desk.
"Normally you don't try to make small talk Taichou," Manami replied, throwing her rag into the bucket, "What's on your mind?"
Sakumo smiled and leaned back in the camp chair, "Very perceptive of you Manami-san. I've come to inform you of some… changes." Manami's stomach dropped. That pause didn't sound like good news. The captain continued, putting the medic's doubts to rest, "It's nothing bad. We're not leaving you behind, if that's what you were thinking. The team is going to head out sooner than we previously thought. There are five teams en route to relieve our team and take command over the area while we proceed to another location. I have yet to tell the rest of the team, but I know you have more work to do around the camp before you would be ready to move."
Manami blushed, "Thank you for informing me. I need to take care of in restocking the medical bay, but beyond that I have no worries. My main concern lies in whether or not Yuudai is ready to move. He was badly burned, and his skin was quite sensitive."
Sakumo nodded, considering the medic's words, "Yes, I see your point." His brows furrowed in contemplation, "There is a chance we could leave part of the team behind until Yuudai recovers and then have them join up afterwards. Would you consider leaving your ward to another medic if it comes to that?"
Manami nervously nodded, "If they were well enough equipped, I-I should see no problem in that."
"Good. I'd rather not leave you. You need the field experience. We'll speak again soon, when the team is back from scouting. Good work yesterday, you did well."
Sakumo left the kunoichi flustered with his comments. Manami knew she did nothing worthy of praise. Working the barrier didn't make her a hero and Yuudai's poisoning had been more of an inconvenience than a life-threatening injury. Manami really didn't understand the captain's need for praise. Perhaps Yoko was trying to get back into the kunoichi's good graces by playing up her involvement. Frowning, the kunoichi finished her work in the medical bay with renewed vigor.
Afterwards, the kunoichi paid Yuudai a short visit to ascertain his true condition. He was a bit on the lethargic side and had gained a fever sometime in the night. With a frown, Manami ordered the shinobi back into bed and ordered him not to remove himself under pain of tying him to it. That threat backfired as soon as it came out of the medic's mouth, earning a smirk and a quick comeback from the taijutsu user.
Things went quickly from that moment on. As more shinobi troops poured into the area, Sakumo ordered the barrier dismantled and organized the camp into a smaller semblance of the main camp. Tents cropped up quickly and duties were divvied out to the new troops, leaving Squadron Hatake free to prepare for moving. By the afternoon, two medics had arrived with the influx of shinobi. Manami, being the first medic in camp, was declared head and left to show the newcomers the bay's set-up and their first patient, Yuudai.
The two medics were quick to take up their duties, convincing the kunoichi to rest and finish packing. Glumly, Manami accepted, knowing that she still had a bit of packing to do before Sakumo summoned the team to the tent to brief them on their next mission and who would be staying behind with Yuudai.
It was well into the evening before Sakumo called for the team. Koji was his usual energetic self, bouncing about the kunoichi's confined quarters as she reluctantly tied the Konoha hitai-ate around her head. She had managed not to wear it the entire two weeks of her stay, but it was obvious that she wouldn't be able to continue the practice as the team moved. Deep down it still hurt to wear another's insignia. It felt like she was losing a part of herself when she did.
The meeting was fairly short and simple, Manami knowing the situation that the team was in. Otomaru Yuudai would be left behind, as well as Komatsu Shuji, Oonishi Takeshi, Hyūga Jirou and Uchiha Yoichi. This ensured that there would be at least two Jounin present when the team departed to meet up with Sakumo once Yuudai was healed.
None of the team seemed upset by the change of plan, as the discussion moved on to their next move. They would be moving to the south along the border until they reached the northern point of Kuwa no Kuni. It was another tactical spot where Konohagakure would be building a base in order to easier invade the countryside surrounding Amegakure. It would be a day and a half worth of steady running through enemy territory with an extra day added if they chose to head back and go through Hi no Kuni instead.
Their departure time was set for early the next morning. Sakumo informed the team that he would make the decision about their route and notify them in the morning. The team was dismissed soon afterwards so they could get a good night's rest.
When the morning came, Manami was prepared. Unlike the last time, her field uniform fit snuggly, the kunoichi had adjustments made to the size. The shoulders were brought in and the sleeves hemmed for a better fit. Her new hitai-ate was tied securely to her head and her quarters broken down, making room for incoming supplies. It was a little strange. The medic had grown attached to the confined space over the span of half a month.
Her eyes swept the tent one last time, making sure she hadn't missed anything while packing. It was clean. Shrugging the large scroll of medical equipment onto her back, Manami pushed her way through the narrow passage for the last time, exiting the tent into a pleasant morning fog. The rain had let up late in the night, replacing itself with a dense fog.
The weather reminded the kunoichi of her home in Uzushiogakure. Fog was a common occurrence there. After a long night in the lab, Manami would climb the tall buildings of her village in the morning and watch the sun rise. The fog would make the landscape appear to be high in the clouds, like it was situated high in the mountains instead of on a relatively flat island.
But the reality was, that this wasn't Uzushiogakure and that this fog would hinder the group's progress to their new destination. Moving silently through the haze, Manami found her group positioned just outside of the original camp. All the members were gathered, though only seven were dressed in their field attire. Yuudai was supported between Shuji and Takeshi, Yoichi and Jirou standing off to the side. Koji leaped over to the kunoichi, while Yoko slunk his way from behind the captain, letting out a lazy yawn.
"Ah, here's the Manami-san, punctual as usual. Jun, please relieve the medic of her load." Manami watched the nineteen year old approach, unconsciously holding the strap of the scroll a little tighter. "Sorry Manami-san," Sakumo started, sensing the eighteen year old's discomfort, "I'd like to make you less of a target by moving the focus onto someone else. I meant to discuss it with you before, but it must have slipped my mind."
Manami accepted that whether or not she wanted to give up the scroll, it was simply best to just follow orders. It was just general medical supplies, and not her own articles. Those were stored in the pouch at her hip. Slipping the strap over her head, the medic handed it to the brunette in front of her, overcoming her short fit of anxiety. Koji licked her hand, to comfort her.
"I've elected to take the shortest route through enemy territory. Speed is our priority and avoiding any unnecessary stops is our goal. I will be sending word once we arrive at our destination to determine how the second team follows. If there is minimal resistance like I hope, you will follow the same way next week. In the meantime, Yuudai focus on recovery and do everything that the medics instruct. The team needs all of its members together to be the most effective. Remember who you fight for and what you fight for. We will all meet again soon. Squadron Hatake…" Jun tapped Manami's heel, bringing attention to his feet; they were covered in chakra. The kunoichi quickly did the same, catching onto his subtle hint. "SCATTER!"
The team launched itself into the obscuring fog, leaving the encampment in a fast paced sprint. The squadron was easy enough to follow, but the lack of practice made the Manami feel a bit on the clumsy side. Realizing this made her more determined to keep up. Namazu flanked to her left, Daichi and Daiki to her right. Sakumo and his ninken were to the front with Akio and Jun to the back. The formation felt natural to the kunoichi; safe and supportive. With a determined smirk, the kunoichi fell into a relaxed run.
The pace continued over the next twelve hours, the fog slowly burning off as the day continued. The humidity spiked making the air uncomfortable. It was like swimming in the air of a hot spring. This didn't slow the group though. Being out on the move was a refreshing change for Manami after being cooped up for so long. After the twelve hour mark, Sakumo forced a half hour rest in order for the team to replenish their energy and catch their breath.
Finding the covered clearing near a small river seemed like a stroke of miraculous luck but upon further thought, Manami gathered that this had been the taichou's intention all along. He had been making slight corrections to their course over the last half hour. Perhaps he had been here before. The team quickly dispersed, some leaving to take care of nature's call, others including Manami going to fill their canteens with fresh water.
The dogs, overheated from the run, jumped into the water downstream full heartedly, splashing quietly in the cool water. The ninken wouldn't be doing such a thing if the water wasn't safe, the canine species being very adept at identifying poison. Dipping her bottle into the river, Manami wistfully watched the scene unfold. Bojū caught a small perch in his mouth, waving his trophy in triumph before Keikai tackled him into the water. While Bojū tried to fend off his blue merled friend, Yuuto claimed the prize as it tried to slip away unnoticed into the water. This in turn caused both collies to jump Mastiff to exact their revenge.
Manami giggled at the hounds' antics, capping her filled bottle.
"They can make anyone forget that a war is going on," a warm baritone interrupted, making the kunoichi jump in surprise. While watching the dogs play, the silver haired leader of the group had appeared next to her, filling his own bottle. Unwillingly, Manami colored, embarrassed that she had been so easy to sneak up on.
Sakumo smiled at her, the lines in his soft mouth becoming slightly more pronounced. "Did I surprise you?"
The kunoichi shook her head, trying to ignore her racing heart, "No, my mind was simply not where it should have been at that moment."
The captain nodded, capping his own canteen. "You've done well so far today for being inactive. I was worried that the pace would be a little too fast to start out with. Akio convinced me of otherwise and was proved correct."
"Thank you Hatake-Taichou," was Manami's soft reply as she avoided eye contact. Climbing to her feet, the medic gave a nod of acknowledgement before trotting back towards the group that had returned. Namazu offered a field ration that Manami waved off, showing that she had her own. Soon, they were back on the run, making massive headway to their destination.
Their progress followed the same way, with a half hour rest at the eighteen and thirty-two hour marks before they reached their destination. Despite a close-call, in which Sakumo ordered a sudden halt to miss a squadron of twenty plus enemy shinobi, the trip had been uneventful; no fighting had occurred. Manami deemed this was a good thing, as the team was still somewhat exhausted after the last skirmish.
The work didn't stop there though, as Manami was immediately tasked with setting up tents with Daichi and Daiki. They worked against an incoming thunderstorm that had formed as they reached their location. Sakumo and Akio were busy setting up another barrier to keep them out of sight, while Namazu and Jun worked to clear the area. The ninken were also made useful, digging the camp's latrine.
The wind started soon after, ripping through the camp with a piercing cold gale. The tents flailed against the wind, threatening to fly off of their stakes as the rain started in heavy sheets. A shiver shot through Manami as she finished tying down the last tent, soaked to the bone by horizontal rain.
Lightning struck a tree just beyond the camp's parameters. Manami hesitated before Namazu grabbed her by the arm and drug her into the Taichou's quarters, where they had stashed their extra supplies from the rain.
The dark skinned shinobi handed her a towel, as he started to dry himself off. Daichi and Daiki were already, in dry clothing. Their wet clothes were laid out flat on the ground. Jun appeared through the flap, immediately shutting it behind him.
"Namaiki-chan and Taichou are still setting up the barrier, so they are going to be a little while," he reported as he started to peel off his dripping clothes. "Best get into dry clothes Namazu and Hamano-san; it's going to be a long night."
Namazu nodded as Manami nervously fidgeted. There was nowhere for her to change in the tent that would be private. She wasn't embarrassed by her body, but it was her personal preference to change in privacy. Knowing that wouldn't be an option here, she pulled her packs from the pile and proceeded to a corner where she could at least have a little privacy. The kunoichi unsealed her camp clothes and started to get dressed. There was a rustle behind her. Namazu stood politely looking away, holding a towel to cover the kunoichi's body from view.
The medic couldn't help but smile as she muttered thanks. Manami was quick in changing clothes and relieving Namazu. The wind howled against the tent, shaking the stiffened canvas in its frame. It would be a long night, but they had been lucky to have such mild weather comparably when they traveled. Manami shuddered at the thought of having to travel in full gear in this storm.
The night passed slowly but the team kept dry by staying overnight in the Taichou's tent. The group settled with their packs and blankets around the large tent, all exhausted from the combination of weather and travel. The ninken squeezed in wherever they could. Koji curled around the kunoichi's head, his nose touching her's while Yoko lay to her left side.
The next morning, the birds chirped loudly greeting the shining sun. It was an oddity, Manami thought, after spending close to three weeks without seeing the golden globe. Quietly, she exited the tent, aware that her movements were known to her half-asleep teammates. She allowed the ninken out of the tent then secured the flap into place. Manami circled along the border of the camp. The rain from the night before had created giant puddles around the camp, and the tents had held despite the rain and wind. Koji and Yoko paused at the same time to sniff the air. Their ears twitched forward and their tails became erect.
"There's a messenger bird circling just west of the camp. It's one of ours." Yoko reported, his ears still twitching, "Urgent carrier. Fast. And I think it's looking for us."
Manami nodded, "We'll go get it then. Koji, inform the captain of the bird and prepare for our return. We shouldn't be gone for very long."
"Are you sure that's wise?" Yoko asserted as Koji started towards the tent. "Perhaps we should wait for Akio-san or Sakumo; we are in the middle of enemy territory after all."
Manami patted her weapons pouch, confidently. "If it's urgent, it's best we send the first shinobi available to retrieve it. The longer it circles, the more noticeable it will come. The sooner we leave, the faster we can get back. And I'm not completely helpless."
Yoko yawned, "If you say so. But don't say I didn't warn you." The wiry ninken growled as he followed after the eighteen year old. She exited the barrier and headed west.
It didn't take long to locate the messenger bird. With quick instruction from the ninken, Manami was able to call down the hawk and receive the message. It was addressed to the captain. With bird secured , Yoko and Manami headed back to the camp.
As they approached, Manami felt the tug of the barrier's power urging her retreat. It wasn't as strong as the last time. Mind focused on Yoko, she slowly overcame the feeling but not before she almost collided with the barrier itself. Yoko gripped her free arm tightly in his mouth, pulling her away from the barrier.
"You need to pay attention to my cues," Yoko barked as he released the medic's arm. "Running into that chakra wouldn't be pleasant. You'd be knocked out for quite some time."
Manami mutely nodded, refusing the urge to nurse her bitten arm.
Yoko howled and they were admitted into the camp to be met immediately by the Taichou and team. Her teammates seemed to be on the groggy side compared to their silver haired commander who looked ready to scold the kunoichi. Before he could, Manami pushed her hand presenting the unopened scroll.
"Yoko said it was urgent, Taichou. I brought the bird along in case you needed to reply." Manami conveyed as the message was taken from her possession.
Sakumo nodded, looking at Yoko for a moment, "This is true, but next time I would prefer that you wait. The area hasn't been scouted so we don't know where the enemy may lie. Reflect on this. You are the only medic in our midst and it would be a major inconvenience to the team if you were to be injured or disposed of."
Manami remained silent and complacent. She understood, but rather than argue, she waited for the contents of the scroll to be revealed. As Sakumo read, his eyes hardened; whatever the message was couldn't be good news. With bated breath, the squad awaited the news.
Sakumo reread the letter twice. After the second time through, the captain raised his hand to his brow and rubbed his temples as he contemplated the letter. "There has been trouble along the border with the civilians of Ame no Kuni. They don't want to be caught in the crossfire of our struggles, but they refuse to leave even with the war looming on the horizon. A nearby team has convinced one of the villages to leave, but they are in need of help to move. This is where we come in. The team will be moving out of the area to assist another and Hokage-sama has ordered our team to assist in getting these civilians out of harm's way.
"It's short notice, but we will be leaving as soon as possible. Jun, you'll be staying here. Manami, you'll be coming with the team. Prepare any medical supplies that you may need and dress in field uniform. The rest of you know your duties. You have ten minutes before we move out. I'll take the hawk in the meantime to confirm orders with Sandaime-sama." Sakumo stated, holding out his arm for the bird.
Manami released the straps that kept the bird latched to her arm, watching as it easily hopped between the two shinobi. With a nod, the medic was off to sort out the supplies she might need. She doubted that there would be a need for any supplies beyond the normal bandages and ointments. Moving a group of civilians wouldn't be easy but depending on their age and level of fitness there could be a lot of sores from walking long distances.
Slightly annoyed, the kunoichi prepared her pack, trying to keep the supplies to a bare minimum so that the camp's stock wouldn't be drastically cut into. Knowing noncombatants, they would be slower than usual because of their emotional attachments to their homes. Some might even be weighed down with unnecessary baggage, like large family heirlooms. Manami had participated in a similar mission as a genin, moving citizens from the coastline during tsunami season. A particular old lady and her gigantic hope chest hung in the back of Manami's mind making the medic shiver in distaste. She was convinced that this endeavor would be very similar.
The team was dressed in their field attire and out of the tent by the time Manami finished her preparations, leaving her to get dressed on her own. Relieved, she exchanged her camp clothes for a dry set of field clothes. The ones she had worn the day before still drying on the ground in the corner. She finished by tightly securing her Konoha issued hitai-ate around her forehead, flattening her braided hair. She exited the tent, joining her teammates.
Sakumo led the team out of the camp at a pace that was akin to the one they had on the way to their camp. The ninken split off from the team immediately. Koji, Yoko and Kane shot forward disappearing into the trees. Yuuto and Bojū were off to the left, Keikai and Tsuyoi vanishing to the right. Bakkin and Haaku were flanking Sakumo and the medic could hear Horitsu somewhere to the back.
The formation was similar to the one they had taken the day before, Sakumo to the front, though Daiki was to her left and Daichi remained to her right. Akio and Namazu took up the back, effectively putting the medic in the middle of the group. This could both be a blessing or a curse. Potentially, Manami would be the last person reached in this formation, but at the same time it made her the most vulnerable. She had little room to maneuver if an attack were to rip through the group. Because of this defect in formation, the kunoichi put herself on a high alert, preparing to move if the need arose.
As the day lengthened and the team approached their target. The clouds quickly accumulated, the air growing heavy with humidity. The weather was so volatile that the kunoichi wondered if there was a jutsu was influencing the fluctuations. It would be something she would pounder at a later time, when her mind wasn't preoccupied. The clouds were a deep gray when Sakumo signaled a halt, the ninken appearing around the group.
The team gathered, hands manipulating weapons. They were at the peak of alertness. Yoko came forward, speaking under his breath, "The village is completely silent, as far as we can tell there hasn't been a sign of life for at least half the day, the scents have faded but there is a smell of blood in the air. Can't be sure if this is wildlife or not, but it is coming from the south."
Sakumo nodded, pointing to Daiki and Daichi. "Take Haaku and Kane and circle to the far side of the scent. Keep on guard in case this turns out to be an ambush." His voice was a bare whisper as he directed Akio and Namazu to quickly scout the surrounding area with the rest of the ninken. Manami's eyes met Sakumo's as he gave out his next set of orders, "Manami, you're with me. Be on high alert; we're going to investigate the site directly. Don't make a move without my order. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Hatake-Taichou."
"Good. I will use the usual signals to inform the rest of you as the situation becomes clearer."
The team departed to their specified locations while Manami and Sakumo made a direct route to the south as Yoko had described. Sakumo held his hand up as they approached a clearing, the air becoming rank with the smell of blood. Manami's mouth grew dry as she peered around the trees, searching for the source of the smell. The area seemed to be an untended pasture, the long grass and leftover wheat growing tall and unruly. From her current vantage point, Manami couldn't ascertain the cause of the scent. Sakumo hand signaled for the kunoichi to follow him.
The duo descended from their perch in the trees and cautiously entered the dene, bodies and senses alert to their surroundings. The smell became stronger as they approached the center, the long grass concealing the source. As the kunoichi stepped, she felt the ground roll beneath her sandal strangely. Curious, she lifted her foot back, revealing a leaf pile. Sakumo had also stopped to watch as Manami parted the leaves. Startled, she dropped her finding and stared at it in shock. It was an adult's ring finger.
Hands shaking, the kunoichi picked up the finger and examined it closely. "Clean cut," Manami started, throat dry, "suggesting a high velocity swing from a sharpened weapon. The angle shows a linear swing, telltale of a skilled user, shinobi or samurai. Judging by its current state it's only been… detached from its owner for about an hour."
Sakumo nodded, processing the information, before letting out two shrill whistles. Keikai and Bojū appeared through the grass, awaiting Sakumo's orders. The silver haired shinobi held out his hand as Manami handed him the severed digit.
"We need to find the owner of this finger," Sakumo grimly stated, holding the digit out for his ninken to smell. The two collies sniffed the finger, before they started to circle the clearing. The only sign of their presence was the parting grass.
Manami waited patiently, hands inching towards her weapon's pouch on her hip. The wait felt agonizingly slow, before the ninken bayed, signaling that they had found the source. The duo landed next to the ninken, to the left side of the field. Their faces where completely somber. This meant one of two things. They had either lost the scent or-
Sakumo nodded and the dogs started to dig, ripping apart the terrain with ease. They hadn't dug for long before they uncovered their first body. Or what was left of it. Through the loose dirt, a child's face appeared. The skull was shattered beyond recognition other than its size, the jaw completely torn from it and half an eye hanging from a socket. The worst part was that it still maintained the rosy complexion of the recently deceased.
An overwhelming feeling consumed the kunoichi as she stumbled back a step. And another. Her head was swimming as her body started to dry heave uncontrollably. Turning away from the scene, Manami fell to her hands and knees as her body tried to force her vacant stomach to empty its contents. It was a painful feeling, having her insides contract to force nothing out and she was in too much shock to focus and stop herself. Her throat burned heavily as her stomach finally grasped bile and forced it out of her system. The yellow bile and phlegm pooled on the ground as the kunoichi struggled to catch her breath.
Sakumo was at her side then, placing a cool hand on the back of her neck as Manami panted, wiping away the excess emesis from her mouth. "I'm sorry," she wheezed, her eyes stinging with tears, "I don't… usually… vomit." She was starting to grasp control of her system again, her breath coming more easily as Sakumo soothingly rubbed her back.
The ninken has stopped digging and obscured the dead child from the kunoichi's view. Sakumo had performed some kind of clone jutsu, so whether the one rubbing her back or the one standing at attention observing the field was the real one, the medic didn't know. Manami straightened from her hunched position, her breath finally caught, but her head was still light and disorientated. It was a very strange feeling to have.
"You don't have to be sorry." Sakumo moderated, removing his hand from the eighteen year old's back. "I would expect as much from an acute stress reaction. This hasn't been the first time I've witnessed something like this." He paused, swallowing his words, "and it probably won't be the last." The term acute stress reaction swam through Manami's head as she wondered where she had heard it before. Recognition slammed into her moments later, it was another term for psychological shock.
Manami had thought herself somewhat immune to shock after witnessing trauma many times during her tenure in the hospital. Searching her memories she realized that the majority of autopsies and treatments had been on shinobi, adult and child alike. But never a civilian child. Shinobi were meant to protect those who couldn't protect themselves.
It was an unwelcome shock to the system as Manami finally found the strength to stand. She had no room to argue because he was correct. There was nothing that she could do about the stress reaction, but now, she would know to guard herself against such scenes in the future.
"Does that mean that we are standing on a mass unmarked grave?" Manami whispered, staring down at the dead child's face. Her stomach was calm now, calm but feeling like an unfillable void.
"Most likely," Sakumo answered, as his clone covered the child's face once again with the loose dirt. His voice was strained, his fist clenched.
"Well. Well. Well. What have we here?" A slimy voice called. Manami's hand went into her weapon's pouch as she turned, Sakumo gripped her arm before she could remove a weapon. He wanted her to wait; she relaxed her grip on the kunai and withdrew her hand from the pouch. Sakumo let go in return, watching as a group of Amegakure shinobi melted away from their hiding places.
Manami instantly recognized the group. They were the ones that the team had passed by the day before while they were traveling. The least armored shinobi stepped forward brandishing his sword as if it were as light as a feather, resting it on his shoulder. Undoubtedly, he was the leader of the group and an overly confident one at that. Manami felt the clone and ninken shift behind her, assuming a guard position at their back.
"Konohagakure? Come to play a little bit of cat and mouse on the enemy's territory? Tsk tsk tsk. You must know how horrible of a mistake that is, hm? I mean, you know the risks, though those poor poor civilians that you convinced to leave didn't though. I don't think they thought it through before betraying their homeland. They paid the best they could though, with their lives."
"So you admit that you were the ones that massacred a village full of defenseless people?" Sakumo asserted, casually shifting his weight. His eyes were focused on the leader with a hardened gaze that didn't match his body language.
"They couldn't have been that defenseless if they had chosen to abandon their own country. They served as an example though, to show the rest of the idiots in this land what happens when you try to betray your own country. I imagine that they will be less willing to help you in the future now that they know Konohagakure will simply abandon them to the slaughter. Now," the shinobi swung his sword across his body, pointing it at the duo, "If you would be so kind as to answer a couple of our questions, we promise to give you an easy death, just like the civilians."
"I think we're going to have to decline your offer." Sakumo answered, switching his stance. "I'd hate to be rude, but you're going to be the ones that will be asking for an easy death by the time we're finished here." The captain reached over his shoulder, freeing the tantō from its holder, holding it horizontally in front of his body.
This earned a hardy bark of laughter from the leader, "Oh yes. I'm shaking in my sandals from the threat of a toothpick wielding old man and a ten year old boy. You've chosen the wrong route to your death. Men, kill the tall one and try only to maim the boy. I'm sure he'll be more susceptible to our… delicate persuasion after we beat it out of him, hm?"
"Stick closely to my clone, Hamano-san." Slipped out of the Taichou's mouth as the enemy shinobi descended upon the Konoha and Uzushio shinobi.
Manami's hand slipped into her weapon's pouch producing a set of kunai. Three were thrown, blocking the kunai that had been thrown at her. The fourth stayed in her hand to block the rest. The clone's back pressed against her's as Sakumo darted past the enemy brandishing the tantō expertly, aiming for the leader. Manami was fast to counter any attacks directed at her as the clone did the same behind her. Bojū and Keikai covered their master, serving as distractions against the shinobi that tried to get in the silver haired shinobi's way. Manami helped the canine, throwing shuriken as the dogs dove at the enemy. This proved to be more than some could handle as the shuriken dug into their flesh of some.
Their enemy was not as experienced as they had been led to think as Sakumo reached the leader, engaging in a fight with kenjutsu. He was fast, though the enemy's leader was proving to be just as skilled. Manami dove out of the way of an attack, as an Amegakure shinobi engaged her in taijutsu. Another had anticipated her movement and struck from behind, aiming for the kunoichi's vital organs. The clone was quick to counter, but the force of the attack caused the clone to disperse. Manami dodged away, hands forming a replacement seal as she was struck.
Manami dispersed into a puddle of water, leaving the shinobi momentarily confused. Taking the opportunity that was presented, Manami killed the first shinobi with a kunai stabbed directly into the brain stem. It was a messy ordeal, as the kunoichi retreated with bloodied kunai in hand. The enemies that had hung back, sprang forward enraged by their comrade's death. Eight enemies enclosed Sakumo, his tantō locked with the longer blade.
A shout froze in the kunoichi's mouth as ten armed shinobi descended upon her. Suddenly, the ground collapsed beneath her. As she fell into a burrow, the Taichou's ninken sprung out behind the enemy. Manami dove farther into the tunnels, gaining cover as weapons embedded into the ground she had occupied. Chakra formed in her hands as she replaced herself back into of the trees above ground.
Akio was now at the Taichou's back, fending off three shinobi, four bodies at his feet. Namazu was close by, engaging the remaining enemy that had attacked the taichou. Daiki and Daichi were engaging six of the enemy, four more on the ground in addition to the one Manami had killed. The twins were pushed back, their swinging range limited due to the number of enemies. Manami watched as Namazu dispatched his opponent before helping Akio overcome his.
Sakumo was still engaged with the leader. Their fight was moving away from the group and from the sight of the kunoichi. In a last ditch effort, one of Daiki's enemies threw an array of explosive tagged kunai at the captain, hoping to free his leader from the fight. Daiki cut him down just as the kunai released from the shinobi's hands, speeding towards the unaware captain.
Manami reacted instantaneously, appearing in the middle of the battle, in the path of the explosive tags. She recognized the seals on the tags as they were commonly used by many shinobi; a tag that reacted to sudden impact to detonate. Her right hand was covered in chakra as the medic sloppily poured water from her canteen over her left. As the tags flew past, Manami pressed her hands over the seals, dissipating the chakra from the seal with one hand before grabbing it with the other. The kunai jerked as their momentum was ceased and the tags made useless.
Manami smiled, relieved that that her knowledge of fuinjutsu had finally paid off. While it was extremely dangerous to mess with, it felt natural after being drilled repeatedly by her sensei as a genin. If she were better at it like her teammates, she could have absorbed the seal instead or reset it and threw it back at the enemy. She was satisfied with her handiwork. The enemy wasn't nearly as happy.
One of the shinobi engaging Daichi separated to engage the kunoichi. This particular opponent wore a heavy mask and breathing apparatus primarily worn by those who worked with poisons. Bracing herself, Manami dodged to the side of the shinobi's attack, watching as the shinobi dug his heel into the ground forcing his momentum back towards the kunoichi. It was a blinding tactic, as a chain released from the back of his arm guards. It was spiked and dripping with unknown toxins.
Manami replaced herself with a thick log, the chain catching in its thick bark. The chain strained and then released, as the Amegakure blocked an attack to his blindside, his arm guard facing the kunoichi's face. Just before impact, Manami recognized the fuzzy ridges against the guard as needles. The full attack was taken to the face, the kunoichi cried out before dispersing into a puddle of water.
The Amegakure shinobi searched wildly for the missing kunoichi. Judging from the rise of his chest, he was in the middle of a very potent adrenaline rush. Manami watched the shinobi disguised as a kunai. If she could maneuver him closer to her puddle, even a step her jutsu would be successful. She doubted that would be the case as the enemy's eyes were now focused on Akio.
Taking the risk, Manami released her transformation jutsu, hands flying through seals as her opponent became aware of her. His body leaned forward, his arm raising as he prepared to sprint. One step. Two. His foot landed just past the puddle as the kunoichi released her jutsu. "Suiton: Kappa o kōsatsu!"
The water snaked up his leg, catching the Amegakure shinobi unaware. He tripped from his momentum. That was all that was needed. The water poured over his body, restraining his hands and body engulfing him from head to toe. He let out an enraged yell as the water seeped into his mask, drowning out the sound as well as the shinobi. He convulsed in the water.
"Kappa no kawa nagare," Manami murmured as she felt the shinobi's life slip away. She released the jutsu, eyes drawn back to Sakumo's fight.
The medic's eyes widened as she realized that the leader had gotten away from Sakumo. He stood above her, his sword slashing down. Manami lost all feeling to her body, knowing that she was about to die. It was true what they said, that your life would flash before your eyes as your time came. It was an out of body experience as she watched the blade descend, a white flash of chakra breaking through the enemy's body. The blade was severed but its trajectory was aimed at the defenseless kunoichi.
Suddenly her body moved, but not of her own accord. Dodging to the side, the blade grazed her arm stinging harshly as the leader's torso split apart sputtering blood across the kunoichi and the captain. Sound returned to the kunoichi in a deafening roar the broken katana planted into the soft ground beside her and Sakumo let out a sigh of utter relief. In his hand, his tantō blazed with a white chakra, the sound of static electrifying the air.
The foreign force persisted a moment longer before Manami collapsed on the ground, unsure of what had happened. Namazu was at her side immediately, hand covering the wound as he yelled for a medic.
Akio was a couple of feet away with a tired smile, hunched over, his hands resting on his knees. "I did say that a woman wouldn't be any good on the front. Look at you, trying to keep up your cool appearance opposed to keeping your life," he miserably chuckled.
Manami smiled back, feeling a bit hysterical as she realized that she had survived. "They didn't even think I was a girl," she argued back, pushing the worried tan shinobi away. Her arm stung, as she pressed her hand over the wound. She stopped the bleeding and started to heal the laceration.
The battle had ended, Manami's eyes gazing around the clearing. The team had received unexpected reinforcements from Konoha. Ten fresh shinobi stood in the clearing fast at work sealing the defeated enemies into scrolls for later.
"What happened? I should be dead." The kunoichi stated, looking between Namazu and Akio for the answer. Manami didn't believe in luck and she knew that her body wouldn't move completely on its own for no reason.
Namazu clapped her shoulder, turning her attention to the three men who were conversing with Sakumo. One was a blond, another brunette and the last a red head with the kanji for food across his chest plate. Manami gave a confused look, demanding explanation. "That was the technique of two of the prominent clans in Konoha. The Nara Clan's Kagemane and the Yamanaka's Shintenshin. If not for their fast reaction, you would be dead."
Realization came to Manami. She had heard of the Ino-Shika-Cho combination from her father when she was young, as he recounted her grandfather's participation in the warring states. He had fought allied with the three joined clans for several skirmishes and had seen their extraordinary teamwork. As a child, it had been one of her favorite stories to hear and now she had felt what it was like to be processed by such jutsu.
Akio appeared before the kunoichi, offering his hand. "Well? Do you want my help to stand or not? It's not every day that you get to touch an Uchiha that doesn't want to kill you."
"Don't act so aloof, you just don't want to train another medic after you've worked so hard at keeping this one alive," Namazu butted in, also offering his hand to the medic.
A smile engulfed the kunoichi's face, as the stress of the battle washed away. Taking the offered hands, Manami made the realization that maybe being part of a team full of inconsiderate childlike men wasn't actually that bad. Especially when they all acted like older brothers.
Kappa o kōsatsu- roughly means Strangling the Kappa
kappa no kawa nagare is a Japanese expression that translates to "a kappa drowning in a river" meaning that even experts make mistakes. I decided to leave it in its original text as a stylistic choice.
Thanks to Prescripto13, XxBishxX and xLilim for their reviews and all of my readers for their continued support. It is greatly appreciated and I couldn't do what I do without all of you. As it stands now, we are over a third of the way through my current outline of the story. My plan is to update once every two weeks on Wednesday (if at all possible) and to try to finish the story before my wedding in August. Wish me luck!
And as always, critiques and reviews are greatly appreciated.