The seductive Kunoichi Fuuka is back from the dead! She wants to take revenge on the blond-haired brat who dared to expose her best-kept secret and defeat her in battle years ago. Much has happened since then but the story of the attractive woman, whose beguiling charm had brought many strong opponents to their knees, also continues...

Fuuka's Last Kiss

Chapter XXVI - The Clan - Part III

"This one... is special. Nobody... gets out alive!" - Fuuka

"I hate walking uphill!" cursed Fuuka - visibly upset. "Why are we taking the main path to the village anyway? Why can't we just walk through the forest like we used to?"

"Not after the incident with those Kiri-Nin a few months ago. Our people have placed quite a few traps in the forest so that such a thing won't happen again. There was a lot of commotion about that."

"I had only heard about it - what happened again? All I remember is that you had sustained an injury or something."

"You don't remember that?", Hasura shakes his head. "Oh, right. You weren't here when it happened, after all."

In his voice, Fuuka thought she heard some kind of accusation or criticism. Normally she wouldn't care about something like that if some guy from Uzushio confronted her with that accusation, but when her younger brother did the same, she couldn't help but feel a little guilty, even if she would never show it to him. She suppressed the urge to look him in the face.

"A group of Anbu from Kirigakure have come ashore unnoticed. Taking advantage of the shadows of the opaque forest, they snuck up to the village fortifications," he added.

"But you eventually spotted them and took them out, didn't you?"

"Correct, but we were unable to determine how long they had been holed up there and passing information."

"You mean..."

"I mean that before we were able to catch them, they were quite capable of sending one of their group back to Kiri to tell the Mizukage in detail the weak points of our defences."

"Oh..."

"Which is why I'm a bit annoyed that I've been detached again to pick your ass up from the mainland. Not the first time, by the way."

Fuuka glared angrily at Hasura.

"What are you blaming me for now?!"

"You know how involved I am in the military affairs of the village. They are depending on me. We have to completely change the strategy of our defence now that they-"

"I have nothing to do with that!"

Fuuka holds a hand to her chest.

"Am I responsible that-"

Hasura gives her that one look. The one look Fuuka had been familiar with since childhood. Though Fuuka is the elder of the two siblings, Hasura has had to take all the responsibility after her mother passed away. Their uncle - Ashina Uzumaki - had given them shelter and food, but was not at all supportive, especially when it came to emotional matters or leadership. Even then, the more mature young brother had to keep the playful big sister in check who always got herself in trouble.

"It's not always about you, Fuuka!"

Fuuka stared into his face before resignedly looking ahead again. Fuuka remained silent. For a while they said nothing at all, walking up the winding, cobbled path.

"I don't know where you've been all around, with whom, and for what reasons..."

Hasura turned his head slightly in her direction.

"You've always kept secrets from me..."

He looked forward again.

"But you are my big sister; I need you."

Fuuka cast a fleeting glance at her brother - but did not dare to open her red lips to say anything.

"But you don't even wear your headband anymore. Who knows if you even still have it with y..."

"I still have it," she replies in a hesitant, quiet tone. She showed him the dark-purple headband with the mark of Uzushiogakure engraved on its metal plate. "See?"

Hasura stopped and looked at Fuuka's hand where her headband layed. He took the headband from her hand. Fuuka looked up at him - surprised, she drew her eyebrows together and stared open-mouthed into his face.

"Hey!"

Hasura looked at her headband again. Now he had two identical ones - one on his forehead, one in his hand. He pressed a finger to her lips before returning her gaze. Fuuka calmed down. Then he walked around the Kunoichi silently until he was standing right behind her. He gently placed the headband on her forehead, pushed her long red hair aside and made a simple knot.

"Fits."

Then he placed both hands on her bare shoulders and signalled her to turn towards him. Fuuka turned and looked into his eyes, which were identical to their purple headbands. After a few seconds, Fuuka averted her gaze from him.

"Of course it fits - it's MY HEADBAND, you fool!"

"That's my big sister!" said Hasura with a laugh. Fuuka could not suppress a smile on her part either.

They continued walking along the path. The wind was strong that afternoon and the sky only slightly cloudy. Around them stretched the dense forest Hasura had spoken of earlier. The plants and treetops were not all green, but there were also some red and turquoise coloured plants and trees that should make this forest look exotic. But Fuuka was so used to this sight that she did not appreciate the specialness of this unique natural scenery. Suddenly she heard a rattling in the bush.

"Hasura!"

"Yes - I know!"

Hasura heard it too. Protectively, he held his arm in front of Fuuka, as he had done back when the two of them had been smaller and Fuuka had once again messed with the wrong person. In a split second, they were surrounded by Shinobi - but, judging by the mark of their headbands, they were not Ninjas from the enemy Kiri or another village. They were from here - they were from their own village: Uzushiogakure. One of the masked men in typical purple uniform approached them - holding a long Katana sword in his hands.

"You are under arrest!"