Tracking
Present day
Tsuki crouched on the branch, frowning in puzzlement at the fading column of men travelling through the forest.
"They're definitely moving quicker now…" She thought to herself.
As she stared, a small robin glided over, coming to land on her shoulder. Tsuki glanced at it.
"Looks like they know we're here." She said to the robin.
In a flash of blue light, the robin disappeared, replaced by Kazuki leaning on the girl's shoulder.
"I think they knew that a long time ago." He said.
Tsuki gave him a stern look. Kazuki hastily removed his arm from her shoulder. He coughed.
"It could be that we underestimated what we're up against." He said, standing up. "We need to be even more careful now…"
Tsuki thought for a moment, then poked him. Kazuki smiled but he was not in the mood for another poke war. Without a word, both ninja sprang into the air and vanished into the trees.
Tsuki's eyes widened in mid-air.
"Kazuki!" She shouted at the man in the air next to her. "On your left!"
In a flash, Kazuki transformed into a tiny chaffinch, just before a shuriken shot through the point where his head was a moment ago. The little bird veered off, putting as many trees between him and his attackers as he could. Meanwhile, Tsuki, using a tree as leverage, leapt down to the ground, getting out of her exposed position in the treetops. She landed next to Kazuki, now back in human form and the two of them stood back to back in the centre of a clearing. Kazuki glanced at Tsuki, not even having to ask; Tsuki already knew what he wanted to know.
"Three of them." She told him. "In the bushes, we're surrounded."
Kazuki smirked, drawing a pair of short, straight swords from his back. "That's OK; we're not going anywhere anyway…"
Three of the red clothed ninja emerged from the foliage, clutching long katanas. Tsuki raised an eyebrow, drawing her own weapon. Putting her hands on each side of her waist, she pulled out a glinting, razor sharp katana, attached to a long knife in her other hand by a thin chain. Kazuki twirled the swords in his hands as the men approached cautiously. He smiled and turned his head towards his partner.
"After you…" He offered Tsuki.
Tsuki nodded and, with a glint in her purple eyes, lunged at the nearest man.