A/N I must apologise in advance for this chapter, I'm not entirely convinced I like it myself. A few things to note, I've had to lighten up Kakashi a tad for this chapter, to off set the graveness so far. It was a necessary balance for the coming chapters, i assure you. This may get revised at some point. Thanks for the reviews as always.
Chapter 8: Anako
Hinata Hyuga wished with all of her heart that her sister would stop crying. It was over yet. Hanabi had been sobbing for hours straight, ever since Anako had been cut down. The young Genin had disobeyed Hinata's order and used an escape jutsu.
That girl had came back to feed them again, Anako had used that as an opportunity and attacked her. At first it seemed like he would over power her, his exemplary Taijutsu skills being put to good use in the confined space. There was a sudden turnaround in the fight as the girl furiously retaliated, and then Hinata understood.
She'd been toying with him.
Knocked across the room by a well aimed kick poor Anako had tried to recover only to be smacked with a Wind Release: Concussive Breath Jutsu. Satisfied with crushing his escape plans the girl picked him up and made to return him to his team.
That's when he showed up. They'd never called him anything other than Sensei so Hinata had no way to tell if she'd heard of him or not. Dead eyes had searched the room and assessed what had happened. Faster than Hinata could see he crossed the room and buried a Kunai into her Genin's chest.
Hanabi had cried out then, Izashi shut his eyes tight and growled to himself. They'd been close. Hinata vowed to herself then that if she accomplished nothing else, and her life was to end here tonight. She'd ensure that ninja paid, or at least remembered the fury of Konoha's Will of Fire for as long as he lived.
"Hanabi. Girl come on, calm down. A Genin is still a ninja," his voice shook as his rage flared inside, "You shouldn't cry for a fallen nin, Hanabi-chan." Izashi shifted in his binds and after a few moments of awkward moving back up against her. Their hands met and he squeezed softly, but her sobbing never stopped.
"Sister." The strength of her own voice surprised Hinata, "We're not dead yet, I've still to prove Neji wrong," Hinata turned to face her sibling hands outstretched to touch her shoulders and her bonds fell to the floor. "And I'll never go back on my word."
"Hinata-san, when did you-" Izashi was silenced by her raised finger.
With a hand seal for concentration Hinata activated her Byakugan, the veins around her eyes extruding from the added pressure. Silently she sat surveying their surroundings. The room they were held in sat at the farthest end from the wooden doors of the main hall, off to the right.
"I need you to do what I ask." The elder of the two sisters hardened her voice as her younger sister finally stopped sobbing. "The only chance you have of getting out of here, is me."
Both Genin frowned at her and the Kurama kid released Hanabi's hands. As she released them both from the bonds she solidified her intentions in her mind. Anako had died, because of her failure to defend them. This time it would be different. Even if it came at the cost of her own life, these two Genin would survive, and be given the chance to make Konoha proud.
"Two of them are gone, that means I have two of them face. There's no need for you to be caught up in this. I'm sorry I couldn't protect Anako, but I'll make up for that. I want you to make for the port, as fast as you can and don't stop till you get there. I'll do all I can to hold them off, my Sixty Four Strike's will protect me as long as my chakra holds out."
Hanabi grabbed at Hinata's hands, tugging on them she pleaded with her sister, "But how can you escape, Hinata, there is no way you can beat that guy."
Hinata's hands flew out and clasped the girls mouth shut, she shook her head and whispered, "Someone's here"
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A fine mist floated its way under the great wooden doors, through the grates that served das windows and even down the stone staircase that led to the upper levels and eventually the roof. It danced its way upwards rising from the floor to envelope everything in sight, until all the benches, the altar and ninja where obscured from view.
Instantly Lazune froze and called for Kitsuna to do the same. The Hidden Mist technique? Surely they had not saw fit to interfere now, they wouldn't risk a break down in their precious piece, would they?
There was no impression of movement, no hint of presence and certainly no way to see the new comer like this. Could there be more than one? The Cloud Jonin decided speculation was futile, action was more appropriate. It was then that the question came.
"Where are the kids?" it asked.
"Go to hell!" Kitsuna retorted, her voice giving her position away in a moment of foolishness.
"You first," it answered.
Lazune hurled a star straight at where Kitsuna was standing and was satisfied by the gritty clash of steel he heard. The assasin had located Kitsuna by sound alone, and only her sensei's kunai had prevented her from a silent death.
Hearing the clash of weapons only inches from her head Kitsuna rolled and twisted sending her own volley of stars into the mist. There was nothing there to hit and they ricocheted off stone and lodged harmlessly in wood.
The air crackled around her and the mist began to hiss and spit, she heard her sensei call out and immediately readied herself for a fight.
"Lightening Release: Chakra Discharge" electricity arced throughout the room drawn to where the stone was densest, wind bellowed out from a central point, the mist dispersed as both current and gale increased until the room was returned to state of visibility again.
"Kitsuna! Here" Obediently she shunshined to his side but at first he ignored her, searching frantically for signs of the mist nin. Nothing, he'd just vanished. Lazune removed a thin scroll from a clipped portion of his belt with one hand, and bit the tip of his thumb with the other. Undoing the string around the scroll he scored each of the characters on the page in one sweeping motion, there was a puff of smoke and he plucked his staff out of the air.
"I'll kill old Sarakumo, you get the brats. After that, this coward can fry."
Kitsuna watched as her sensei jumped left, pushed off one of the many pillars that supported the ceiling and raced down the far side of the benches towards the altar, and ultimately the stairs off to its left. Something between bewilderment and shock hit her as the first row bench kicked her sensei as he passed and knocked him clean through one of the windows.
Instantly the Transformation Jutsu wore off and she was afforded her first look at the mysterious ninja who'd assailed them. Dressed in plain black trousers and a top he didn't look like much. No headband or markings to affiliate himself with anyone.
Deep black hair hung heavily down obscuring most of the upper part of his face but his lips were held tight in concentration. Kitsuna charged two kunai with her chakra and sent the two electric blades at him. At the same time she shunshin'ed behind him with the intent of driving a third kunai into his neck.
Somehow he disarmed her while slipping her attack, and met one of the incoming threats with her blade, the second charged kunai drove it's self a few centimetres into her shoulder- a pain she only fleetly got to enjoy before she was hurled bodily across the room by a simple wrist toss.
Kakashi flicked a paper seal at the window hoping the Jonin would attempt to re enter that way. The Kunouichi glanced towards a small wooden door, opposite side of the hall, mirrored with the stairs. Team 14? Kakashi tossed her a few stars to pin her down and raced to the door.
A blast caught his attention and he twisted into a slide to watch the window dust over and the returning Jonin being blown back out. Come on, Kakashi thought to himself, tell me that wasn't epic.
Spinning back round to face the direction his momentum was taking him Kakashi slammed one foot into the door and it caved with a satisfying crack. Instantly he pivoted to avoid a palm thrust, crouched and parried a powerful back kick.
"Now's not the time to be squabaling, Hinata-kun."