Chapter 7 : The Shocking Truth

"You aren't alone, where are the others?" Even without his sharingan these two posed absolutely no threat at all. They had their uses though, if Kakashi could find out how many more there were, or even information about team 14 then it hadn't been a total loss.

Infuriated by their humiliation both ninja retaliated immediately. Forming seals as they ran they charged at Kakashi, the red head watched as the lone ninja started forming his own series of hand signs.

As his partner Biran shunshined to left their opponent followed his movement with his eyes, using this time wisely Korlin shunshin to the rear of his quarry finishing his jutsu. In tandem the two cloud ninja launched their attacks

"Lightening Release: Shocking Spear!"

"Lightening Release: Current Cage!"

Before the mysterious ninja could move Biran's cage flashed around him the electric current dancing through the air preventing any movement. Korlins red hair swept up away from his head as prepared to launch each of his spears. One after the other they harpoon through the cage and struck the trapped ninja.

"Where's your smart mouth now!" Biran bellowed as the Jutsu's stopped. After a few seconds the ninja finally stopped writhing in pain and the Korlin and his partner approached him cautiously. Kunai at the ready they watched to be sure there was no sign of life. Dead.

That's when the transformation jutsu wore off. A familiar visage stared up at him through dissipating smoke and horror gripped him. No!

"Kitsuna! Kitsuna!" the chunin fell to his knees, forgetting his comrade in arms. How could this happen? Why was kitsuna here? Why had she attack them? "Shit, shit, shit Kitsuna I'm sorry. What the hell were you doing?"

His red hair covered her face as he buried his head in her neck. Shaking her didn't work, her head just lolled back and forth limply no matter how much he wished it was otherwise. Remembering Biran he turned face him, hoping against hope that his brother would have an answer.

It wasn't Biran who stared down at him. The eyes that met his were eyes he'd feared for years, cold eyes, those of a man who'd seen death a thousand times. This man revelled in death. Now he was here. They'd failed, and he'd come to punish them.

"Sensei!" he cried, the pleading tone in his voice breaking out of his control. Bodily he was lifted from the ground, the collar of his top making it hard to breathe. Lazune's gaze was unbearable, for sure he'd kill him.

"She was supposed to be guarding the brats! She shouldn't have been here it's not my fault! We thought you two had it covered, then that snooping nin showed-" he was cut off and knocked across the dirt by his sensei's backhand.

Kakashi stood back released the Hell Viewer Genjutsu and admired his handy work. The smaller of the two cloud ninja, the one he'd learned was called Biran lay unconscious. He'd succumbed to Kakashi's first attack a simple knockout blow from behind.

Korlin, the redheaded older brother lay quivering on the ground. He'd been the more useful. So it was a team of three Chunin and their Jonin sensei. That meant Kakashi had one Chunin and a Jonin to contend with, and he had a sinking feeling that those two would prove more troublesome.

Satisfied with these new revelations Kakashi felt sure that Team 14 was still alive, probably in that village under the vigilant gaze of Lazune and Kitsuna. It was time to bring these kids home. The copy ninja executed a quick Paralysis Jutsu on the two Chunin to ensure they couldn't follow him.

After a quick set of rounds to pick up his spent tools Kakashi was back on his way again racing towards Hinata and her team. It had not been long before he encountered any sort of trap or delay tactic.

Obviously expecting some form of interference they'd set a parameter with trip wires and explosive tags, several containment tag arrangements and other traps only meant to notify them of someone's presence.

Painstakingly Kakashi countered and debunked all the traps he could without actually triggering them, he'd need the element of surprise if he was to get in there without any deaths. The moment they thought he was coming he ran the risk of Team 14 dying.

Hinata-kun's Byakugan would be infinitely useful so he'd make it a priority to free her; from then on out she could easily hold off the Chunin with the help of her Genin team, as long as Kakashi could keep the Jonin busy. It must have taken all three Chunin to overpower Hinata-kun's team, this time she'd have the advantage.

Safely through the net of traps Kakashi surveyed the village. Desolate, no need to worry about civilian casualties or additional hostages. The lack of additional body's meant it would be harder to cover his tracks, but it also made it harder for his opponents to hide. It won't happen again, Kakashi he thought, you'll be on time.

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Hokage-Sama

Catching the Jonin has proved more difficult than we expected, but we don't perceive any problems in capture. We've been delayed by our initial encounter and had to wait on an additional ship sailing, but have recovered most of the lost ground. His traps and delays have proved in effective but his travelling speed far exceeds what we'd expected. It may take us at least a day to be in a position to capture him without harm. We have considered our position and realised that if we are found to be in this land, looking for our own missing nin, it would support Konoha's protestations of neutrality in the matter, and give Kakashi-Senpai much needed leeway in his search. Neji will not get much further into this land and he will most certainly not pass the boundaries of what is considered to be Hidden Village territory as Kakashi-Senai has. We will not let him join and jeopardise the mission.

For Konoha

Tenzo