A/N Slightly longer chapter this time, with a bit of action, this is where it all starts happening. Hope you're enjoying it so far, and as always, comments suggestions reviews are welcome.
Chapter 5: Perception
Han turned his back on the second ninja to visit him in a week, and Neji made for cover quickly. By now it was perfectly possible that ANBU were here. Even if a few of his traps and diversions had been successful that still only gave him a few hours at best. Lucky, the dock foreman had come up trumps.
He'd secured passage on a ship that would follow the one Kakashi-san had taken, though by all accounts he'd already have reached the Water country by now. The copy ninja was an expert in tracking, using both his own keen sense and that of his track hounds. Hyuga's best bet at finding his kin was to catch up with Hatake and lend his Byakugan to the search.
He wasted no time boarding the ship and stowing his belongs in his cabin. Neji didn't particularly like his quarters, too plain and spare. Being of the Hyuga family, even if only a branch family he was used to a high standard in every aspect of his life. Too small, too dusty, and the bed was just plain horrifying.
Satisfied his belongings were secure he preceded topside to help with the sailing preparations. The quicker they ditched moor the harder it would be for ANBU to catch him. But they couldn't catch him. Hinata needed him. He'd hurt her, in fact, he thought with a frown, he'd almost killed her. Hanabi was young but still a Genin. Constantly he had to remind himself, she's a ninja, at her age, so was he.
"Where do you need me?" he asked the first rag ridden sailor he found.
"See those crates? Get them on deck, we'll do the rest." Before Neji could agree the man was off helping hoist a pully over the cargo hold.
So Neji set to work loading the crates, he'd pile two or three onto of each other, as much as he could carry. Byakugan meant he didn't have to worry about not being able to see past them. Occasionally he caught the others watching him from behind, curious perhaps. Two days of worth of food and rum later, the cargo grate was slid shut and the captain walked on deck.
"Catch" squawked a ship hand and Neji obliged, looking down at the rope he held, "Tie that off over there, when they're done we'll be off." Everyone on deck was busy, tying off lines and hoisting sails it was an interesting thing to be able to take in.
The flapping stopped with the crack of sails coming tight. Wood creaked and men waved as the ship slowly but surely eased away from the pier. The Hyuga boy watched the pier with apprehension and wondered how he'd feel when he returned. Mourning? Relieved? He thought.
"Neji-San!" A voice called.
"Shit" he cursed and looked around the deck, no one seemed to be looking at him. Then his Byakugan spotted two figures on the pier and his heart skipped.
"Neji-San! Halt!" they called. When he didn't move or answer, they burst into a sprint along the pier. Instinctively Neji started judging distances. If they maintained that speed, when they reach the end of the pier, given the fact that it's ANBU they could probably shunshin to the deck at this range.
Reaching for his stars Neji mentally kicked himself. What a monumental lack of foresight. The boy genius had left all of his belongings in his cabin. After a quick glace for suitable objects he selected an empty rum bottle and smashed it against the railing. The ANBU were gaining.
After collecting several of the shattered pieces of glass he launched them one by one at the ANBU, trying to distract them long enough to keep them out of range. Not surprisingly it was useless; both ninja simple caught or parried each of the shards and didn't slow down at all.
The taller of the two trained assassins reached the end of the pier first, he shunshined to the deck so fast even Neji's eyes missed it, but that didn't matter Neji was ready. Turning he anticipated the ANBU's position and grabbed him be the forearm guard and waist belt.
His Byakugan allowing him almost complete 360 visions Neji perceived the second Anbu landing on the banister Neji had just been looking over. With all the might he could muster The Jonin twisted and launched his captive towards the new arrival, the tossed ANBU had presence of mind to throw a kunai Neji's way before disappearing over the side of the ship.
As the second ANBU vaulted his partner and came at Neji, the Hyuga kid picked the kunai out the air and used it to parry the incoming attack. After a brief flourish of Taijutsu Neji found himself disarmed and on the defensive. This guy was amazing. Diving backwards at a crucial moment to avoid Neji's Heavenly Spin defence the ANBU left himself in mid air and vulnerable.
"Eight Trigrams Empty Palm Jutsu" Neji capitalized on this expelling a huge amount of chakra from his palms in a double thrust, effectively tossing his chakra at his opponent. It collided with the ANBU's chest guard and sent him too, over the edge of the ship.
With nothing to push of off, they couldn't shunshinback up from there. They'd have to swim to shore, and follow on the next ship.
That was close Neji thought and flopped onto a crate.
"You're sure?" he asked, switching footing on the branch. They were huddled in one of the taller trees in this part of the country, about three miles from a little village.
"Kakashi-sama, I'm hurt" Pakkun said dryly. "How often am I wrong? Besides, that girl smelled like heaven." The ninken sneezed and looked up at his master.
"Thanks, Pakkun" Kakashi flicked a treat from his pouch at the pug and it promptly disappeared in a puff of smoke. "So, they're went into that village and haven't came out since" Kakashi muttered.
Fully aware of the danger they could be in, Kakashi sped straight for the village. Branch and trunk and root and dirt all supplied him with foot holds as he propelled himself through the forest. Since recovering and turning up too late to save Naruto and stop Sasuke at the waterfall, Kakashi had never been late again.
Kakashi thought back to Obito and Rin, about how he reacted to the rescue plan. How he wanted to pursue the mission regardless. Looking back at that cold and tortured version of himself, he found he was gritting his teeth.
After a while the copy ninja reach another clearings in wood, normally he'd just launch himself across the gap and keep going. But something caught his attention and he dropped from the trees and landed feet away from young girl.
She was curled up on her knees, clothes soaked in blood and her long black-purple hair a mess. Hearing someone approach, her head shot up, fearful teary eyes searching him. Was this a girl from the local village?
"Please..." she pleaded, stretching her hand out. Kakashi made to rush forward and stopped in his tracks.
With two quick seals he dispelled the Genjutsu, and stood straight.
"Show yourself," he said.
I won't let my comrades die. Never again.Kinata-kun, I'm coming