I do not own Naruto or Boruto; those manga's rights belong to Masashi Kishimoto and Ukyo Kodachi. Nor do I own or claim ownership of the world map created by Michael-Madlock. This story is just for fun and isn't part of the original properties. Please, enjoy.
Chapter 6: Rogues of the Frost!
Team 9 arrived at the Main Gate at one o'clock, where two Jonin stood on guard. They saw a wrinkled, broad-shouldered man with gray hair beside an old cart being pulled by an ox. The older man wore gray overalls over a blue long-sleeve shirt and a crooked straw hat.
"Oi, over here," The man waved them over.
Team 9 approached the man, "Good to meet you, sir. I'm Yamato."
"Right," the man nodded, "Call me Shonin."
"This is Kaede, Hiei, and Menma," Yamato introduced his students.
"Good ta' meet you. Let's get a move on," Shonin said with a nod and got his ox moving.
The group proceeded east down the road. Menma led the group five meters in front of the ox and cart. Shonin remained on the right of the cart, with Hiei to his right and Kaede on the other side. Lastly, Yamato remained five meters behind the cart and kept watch behind them.
Shonin had hired protection from Leaf shinobi, and Lord Third had permitted Team 9 to take on the mission.
The group continued down the road until it split into three separate routes; one heading south into the Land of Fire, one leading northeast toward the Land of Hot Water, and the last heading north to the Land of Sound. They chose the middle road and continued northeast toward their destination.
"I've never left the village before," Kaede said excitedly.
"It's a beautiful world out here, that's for sure," Shonin nodded.
Hiei looked around at the enormous trees that lined the road, and he looked up at the thick white clouds in the sky. "I've never left the village either."
"Once you get more experience under your belt, you'll leave a lot more," Yamato said from the back of the group.
"Lord Third let us leave the village this time, though. Isn't that enough experience to start receiving C-Rank missions more often?" Kaede wondered.
"The old man does as he pleases," Yamato chuckled.
Kaede smiled, "We could probably talk him into giving us another higher-ranked mission."
"Yeah, but asking for special treatment all the time isn't how I want to do things," Hiei said slowly.
"Yeah, same here," Menma agreed.
"Fair point," Kaede chuckled awkwardly.
"So, were you just being cautious when you hired help from the Leaf, or is there any need for concern?" Yamato asked Shonin.
The merchant looked over his shoulder, "There are some bandits in the Land o' Frost. I dun' expect them to be a problem, but better safe than sorry."
"I see. You're in good hands, Mr. Shonin," Yamato assured.
The road stretched before Team 9, its path winding through the dense forest as beams of sunlight filtered through the towering branches overhead.
As they ventured deeper into the unknown, their anticipation mingled with a tinge of uncertainty. With its vastness and diversity, the outside world held the promise of adventure and the potential for danger. But they were not alone. The steady and experienced Jonin Yamato was there to guide them, his presence instilling a sense of reassurance.
Menma, his gaze fixed on the path ahead, maintained a vigilant lead, his movements graceful and swift. The responsibility of protecting Shonin and their mission weighed upon him, but it also fueled his determination. He was determined to prove himself, to show that he was worthy of the trust placed upon his shoulders.
Kaede, her eyes sparkling with curiosity, observed everything around her with a keen sense of awareness. She absorbed the sights, sounds, and scents of the outside world, her sensory perception attuned to the slightest disturbances in their surroundings. The mysteries of the Land of Frost lay ahead, and she was ready to embrace them with open arms.
His gaze shifting between the towering trees and the vast expanse of sky above, Hiei felt excitement and trepidation. The village had been his sanctuary, a place where he honed his skills and found solace. Stepping beyond its protective borders marked a turning point in his life, an opportunity to discover who he truly was beyond the expectations and shadows of his clan.
Yamato, ever watchful, maintained a steady pace behind the group. His keen eyes scanned their surroundings, searching for any signs of trouble or potential threats. He was aware of the bandits that lurked in the Land of Frost, their presence a constant shadow that danced on the fringes of their journey. But he also knew that his team possessed the skills and determination to overcome any obstacle that crossed their path.
As the sun arched across the sky, casting an ethereal glow upon the landscape, Team 9's footsteps echoed along the road. Conversations filled the air, a blend of eager anticipation, lighthearted banter, and occasional words of wisdom from Shonin, whose weathered face carried the weight of a thousand stories.
As the sun descended, casting an orange glow across the horizon, Yamato called for a brief halt to set up camp. The team found a suitable clearing surrounded by towering trees that offered security and tranquility. They efficiently organized their campsite, with Hiei and Menma collecting firewood while Kaede assisted Yamato in setting up the tents.
Sitting around the crackling campfire, sharing a warm meal provided by Shonin, the team engaged in a conversation filled with anticipation and camaraderie.
The group packed up and continued at dawn, heading east through the woods. They moved in the same formation as the previous day, watching for any threats as they traveled. An orange glow shone over from the horizon, and the few clouds in the sky were dyed pink by the sunrise.
Hiei watched a flock of birds burst from a tree and take to the sky with a cacophony of wingbeats and caws. He yawned and scanned the treeline to his right, watching squirrels scurry up trees and… He stopped in his tracks.
"What's wrong, Hiei?" Kaede asked.
"Oh, man," Shonin sucked in a breath as he stared at the trees.
Hiei saw four corpses hanging from the branches of a looming tree, three men and a woman. Shonin stopped the ox, and Menma came to see what was happening. Hiei couldn't take his eyes off the bodies.
"C'mon, let's cut them down," Yamato said quietly.
They cut the bodies free from the branches and carried them away from the road. The three men were shirtless, their organs sloppily removed from their torsos. The woman was completely naked, covered in cuts, and her throat was slit open impossibly wide.
Yamato and Hiei prepared graves for the four bodies while Menma and Kaede stood on guard with Shonin. They ensured not to make the graves too shallow, or the animals would dig them up. They placed the bodies in their resting places and pushed the piles of dirt back into the graves.
Unable to think of any parting words, Team 9 returned to the road and continued toward the Land of Hot Water. The group remained silent for a few miles until arriving at a small town. The four ninjas refilled their waterskins as they passed through the town, leaving just as fast as they had come.
The group continued through the forests of the Land of Fire, moving along at the pace of the ox. They kept moving all day, finally resting a few hours after dark. They set up camp at the base of an enormous tree in the center of a vast field.
"I know this tree," Shonin said matter-of-factly.
"Yeah, we're about forty minutes from the border," Yamato said as she set a ring of rocks around their campfire.
Hiei and Menma had kept their branches and set them near the fire while Kaede helped Shonin unload some supplies from his cart. Shonin began preparing fish and rice as the others sat around the fire.
"What's the Land of Hot Water like?" Kaede asked.
"Same as this, really," Shonin responded.
Yamato nodded, "Same kind of trees and open fields. It's a nice country."
"There's a ninja village there, right?" Menma asked Yamato.
He nodded again, "Yeah, the Steam Village. But it's a long way to the southeast of here."
"There's one in the Land o' Frost, too. It's a small place, and like the whole country, it's going through tough times," Shonin sighed.
"What's been happening there?" Hiei asked the merchant.
"It's a lot o' things. Some bandits come from neighboring countries and rob the traveling merchants and homesteads. Or pirates from the Amado and Chigiri Seas," Shonin explained.
"Trouble on all sides, huh?" Menma questioned.
Smaller countries always suffer the same problems, Hiei thought, and he looked up at the stars in the sky.
"The Frost Village has suffered a lot recently. They've lost good men and women to raids and mutinies. Supply lines have been severed, and people are starving all over," Shonin sighed again.
"And that's where you come in, huh? You sold everything you could to bring back food for the villagers?" Yamato asked.
Shonin nodded, "It's not enough to feed the whole country, but it'll do."
The five of them ate the fish and rice, enjoying green tea with their meal. They set up their bedrolls, and Yamato took the first watch for the night. The Genin lay down to sleep one by one as Shonin drank sake and stared up at the moon.
The following day, the group packed their belongings and continued the journey northeast. Thick clouds covered the sky, and another pink sunrise hung over them as they traveled.
After nearly forty minutes, the group entered another forest and crossed the border into the Land of Hot Water. They moved through the woods until the road again split into three routes. Staying on the center path, they continued heading northeast toward the Land of Frost.
They passed by several hot spring hotels and small towns as they traveled. Hiei kept his eyes open and focused on any possible threats.
Man, this is so boring, Hiei thought to himself.
The morning continued uneventfully, and the group pressed onward through the Hot Water country. Around noon, they came to a wide river with a bridge built across it. Six men stood at the bridge's center, and the group slowly approached them.
The five moved cautiously over the bridge as the six figures before them grinned and whispered to each other. Menma slowed down so others could get closer to him as they walked.
"Stay on your toes," Yamato said as he moved closer to the cart.
"I've got a bad feeling, Yamato-sensei," Kaede said quietly.
Hiei stared at the six men and prepared himself for combat. These guys are bad news, he thought.
"Hello there," One of the men said to the group. He had light purple hair, dirty gray clothes, and eyes that were too close together. He held a spiked club in his hand.
"Could you step out of our way, please?" Menma asked the men kindly.
"How about you hand over that cart and all of your weapons," another of the men said with a chuckle. He was tall, with long brown hair and a ripped brown cloak. He gripped a machete tightly with his left hand.
The group stopped walking and stared at the six men before them.
Yamato walked forward and stood beside Menma, "Why don't you guys move out of our way?"
The men laughed, and the man with the spiked club said, "Someone shut this bastard up."
A shorter man with no shirt and a hatchet skipped forward to swing his weapon at Yamato. He caught the man's wrist with his left hand, slammed a knee into his gut, and smacked him in the chin with a swift punch. The man reeled back, and Yamato swept his legs from under him. He tumbled onto the bridge, and the other five men jeered and cursed loudly.
Hiei reached over his shoulder and yanked his tanto from its sheath.
"Kill these fuckers!" The tall man with the machete screamed.
Hiei and Menma dashed forward simultaneously. Menma collected the hatchet off the bridge and slammed it into the neck of the man with light purple hair. Hiei leaped into the air and swung his tanto, slicing through the shoulder of the tall man with the machete. As Hiei landed behind the man, Yamato lunged forward and pierced his heart with a kunai.
Menma blocked several strikes from a man wielding batons, and Kaede hurled a handful of shurikens into his back. The man gasped and stumbled forward, and Menma slammed the hatchet into his forehead.
Hiei opened the stomach of a fat man holding a sickle as Yamato cut down the last one with her kunai. They stood silently for several moments, and Yamto approached the unconscious man. He stared down at him briefly and plunged his kunai into the man's heart.
They moved the bodies off the bridge and left them in a pile in the grass before continuing in their usual formation.
"Those were your first, yeah?" Yamato questioned a few minutes after leaving the bridge.
"You mean our first kills?" Hiei asked, peeking over his shoulder at his sensei.
He nodded.
Menma looked back at the others, "Yeah, they were my first."
"Same," Hiei said.
"I didn't technically kill that one guy," Kaede muttered.
Yamato shook his head, "Even if you didn't finish him off, you contributed to the fight."
"Yeah, I guess," Kaede muttered.
I thought that… I thought that taking a life would feel different… It's almost as if I feel nothing at all. Hiei looked up at the sky.
"It's part of being a ninja," Yamato said with a subtle sigh, "People die all the time. It's the only absolute in life."
Hiei nodded, "The life of a shinobi is a cold one. That's what my brother told me."
"Life is just plain cold, kid," Shonin said.
Life is life.
"Stay on the lookout for any other bandits; we don't know if those guys had any friends," Yamato said plainly.
"Those looked like some dime-a-dozen chumps," Shonin chuckled, "Plenty o' them around here."
"Why's that?" Kaede asked.
"Pretty far from the ninja villages. I'd reckon the Frost Village is closest," Shonin explained.
"We'll keep our eyes peeled," Yamato stated.
After several more hours of travel, the weather began to turn cold as they approached the border of the Land of Frost. The sun started to set behind them as they strode through an open prairie. Kaede looked around as the darkness crept further along.
She shivered slightly, "Brrr."
Shonin chuckled, "Yeah, it gets a might cold around here. Especially at night."
"Yeah, no kidding," Menma chuckled.
"Where are we heading, exactly? Once we cross the border," Yamato spoke.
"There's a village a ways past the border. I figured we'd stop and rest there for the night," Shonin said.
"Sounds like a plan."
Sleeping in an actual bed would be nice, Kaede thought. Camping out has been killing my back.
Snow began falling shortly after crossing the border, and Kaede smiled at the dark sky. As they kept moving, she could sense people further down the road. Shaking her head, she took deep breaths and tried to focus on the sensations in her mind.
"There are people up ahead," Kaede warned the others.
"It's probably the town," Shonin stated, "It's not much further."
Kaede continued breathing as they continued onward.
They continued down the path until reaching a small town, three guards standing watch on the outskirts. "Who goes there?" A voice called to them.
"Shonin, the merchant."
"Oh, it's just Shonin," The woman on guard said with relief.
"Good, let him pass," One of the men said.
The group entered the town of Sukoshi, walking down the main street as the villagers waved and greeted Shonin. Dim orange lamps hung from poles along the road, barely illuminating the buildings on either side.
Shonin got them free lodging at an inn in town. They put the ox in a barn, and the cart was stored in the back room of the inn. Team 9 helped Shonin hand out some of the food and water to the villagers, and they ate with them in the center of town.
"Thank you all so much!"
"I haven't eaten this good in a long time!"
Kaede smiled, watching the villagers rejoice in their full stomachs. She then frowned. This isn't right. Everyone should have enough to eat.
Team 9 and Shonin finished eating with the people of Sukoshi and returned to the inn to end the night. Hiei and Menma shared a room, while Yamato and Asuka had their own. Shonin preferred to sleep with his ox in the barn.
Kaede changed into yellow pajamas and sprawled out on her bed. Smiling widely, she stared at the ceiling and yawned.
My sensory abilities are growing stronger..!
The snow had fallen through the night, slowing the group down as they traveled through the Land of Frost. Hiei had put on his jacket and used his Chakra to stay warm as they went. He looked around at the white forest around them, his breath floating away as he exhaled.
"C'mon, you got this," Shonin said, patting the ox on the back.
The group continued east, trying their hardest to stay on the snow-covered road. Menma was positioned at the front of their group, using Chakra on his feet to walk along the surface of the snow. Hiei regretted not thinking of that sooner; his feet were already soaked and frozen after an hour of travel.
We've gotta be close to the Frost Village, right? He sighed.
"Brrr," Kaede shivered.
"I'd offer ya' some whiskey, but it's probably irresponsible," Shonin laughed.
"I'll allow it," Yamato said.
"I'm okay, thank you," Kaede mumbled.
They continued down the road, or where they guessed the road was, with the sun reflecting off the blanket of snow on the ground. The forest was eerily quiet as they progressed, and the snow began falling again. Hiei felt the snowflakes melt in his hair and roll down the sides of his head.
"There are people up ahead," Menma spoke suddenly.
"Ready yourselves," Yamato said.
Kaede closed her eyes and focused as they walked, "They appear to be in an ambush formation… Two are waiting on the road, and two more are on either side of the road."
"Could be highwaymen," Shonin said.
"Seems it's something like that," Yamato said quietly.
Menma looked over his shoulder at the others, "What's the plan, Yamato-sensei?"
"Keep moving. Act casual. Let them spring their trap, and we'll wait for them to strike," Yamato answered.
"Kind o' risky, isn't it?" Shonin looked back at the Jonin.
Yamato shrugged, "There's no going around these guys; we may as well meet them head-on."
"If ya' say so," Shonin muttered.
"Just stay on your toes. Be ready for anything," Yamato instructed.
Hiei prepared himself for another fight, keeping his eyes peeled for the bandits.
The group moved further down the road and spotted two figures waiting for them up ahead. The figures wore dark blue flak jackets over black clothes and masks covering the lower half of their faces.
"They look like shinobi," Hiei said as he eyed the two figures.
Shonin squinted, "Yessir. Look like Frost ninjas to me."
"Looking at their headbands, I'd wager their rogue ninjas," Yamato said seriously.
"Then, it's definitely a trap?" Menma asked, keeping his eyes forward.
"Seems that way," Kaede said nervously.
When the group was around thirty meters from the Frost ninjas, one of them shouted, "Stop there!"
The group stopped moving and stared at the two men up ahead. They remained silent for several moments until Yamato called out, "Move out of our way!"
"We told you you couldn't save the country, Shonin!" One of the men shouted, and the other jeered.
"I wouldn't understand a treacherous eunuch like you to understand being loyal to your home!" Shonin yelled angrily, "You all have forsaken your country. For that worthless weasel, Kenzou!"
"Watch out!" Kaede shouted.
Movement on both sides of the road caught Hiei's attention. He skipped forward as two figures zoomed toward the cart from the right side. Quickly weaving hand signs, Hiei kneaded Chakra through his chest and exhaled an enormous ball of flames; Fire Release: Fireball Jutsu!
The fireball erupted wildly, melting snow and engulfing the wet trees. The figures on the right side of the road leaped back from the flames, and Hiei drew his tanto from its sheath.
"Ice Release: Swallow Snow Storm!" A voice boomed from the left side of the road, and a flurry of small ice birds twisted around the group.
Hiei leaped back toward Shonin and deflected as many birds as possible as others ripped through his jacket and into his arms. Wincing in pain, he pushed through it and shattered the ice birds as they neared the merchant.
Yamato leaped into the air and twisted around, "Water Release: Water Bomb Jutsu!" He quickly weaved hand signs and spat a torrent of water down at the left side of the road.
The two men waiting in the road hurdled toward the group. Menma weaved hand signs and sent a flurry of wind that rocked the approaching Frost ninjas.
Yamato and Kaede were positioned on the left side of the cart, where two men burst from the treeline and lunged forward. The two Leaf shinobi met the figures head-on, Yamato taking the older man and Kaede the younger.
Hiei stood with Shonin on the right side of the cart. The ice birds had all been dealt with, but two figures emerged from the treeline on the right side of the road. Time seemed to slow down for a split second, and Hiei activated his Sharingan.
His dark iris' turned red, and a pupil with two tomoe appeared in both eyes. Reaching his left hand into one of his tool pouches, Hiei hurled a handful of shurikens that the two men deflected with their kunai.
"Just forget about me, kid," Shonin said solemnly.
"You heard him, kid. Just run away," One of the men jeered at Hiei.
Hiei grinned and lunged forward.
Menma swiftly collided with his two opponents. They gracefully evaded his strikes and attacked with synchronized attacks. One of the Frost ninjas began weaving signs, and Menma leaped at him. He slammed a wicked jab into the man's solar plexus and sent him sprawling into the snow.
The other man lunged forward and landed a savage punch into Menma's chin. He reeled back and planted his right foot down as he sent his left foot smashing into the man's gut. Gritting his teeth, Menma lunged at the man he had just kicked. They exchanged a quick flurry of punches, and the second man jumped up to his feet.
Skipping away from the men, Menma grabbed smoke bombs from his tool pouch and lobbed them forward. He landed in front of the cart as the smoke bombs erupted; thick clouds of white smoke enveloped the road.
I don't like doing this, but here goes nothing…
"Shadow Clone Jutsu!" Six clones appeared around Menma, and they all charged forward into the smoke.
Yamato and the older Frost ninja exchanged blows, dodging and blocking whenever possible. The man, presumably Kenzou, grinned and hurled shurikens that Yamato deflected with a kunai.
"Finish the girl off and take the cart, Ranmaru!" Kenzou called out before lunging forward.
Yamato blocked two punches and slashed his kunai horizontally at Kenzou. He stepped away from the attack, and the two exchanged another flurry of punches and kicks. Kenzou struck Yamato in the stomach with a swift jab and jumped away from him.
Gritting his teeth, Yamato watched Kenzou weaving hand signs and quickly did the same.
"Water Release: Water Bomb Jutsu!" They shouted in unison.
As the words left their lips, Yamato and Kenzou unleashed their respective Water Bomb Jutsu, their chakra-infused water gathering and swirling into potent spheres of liquid power. The shimmering orbs shot toward each other, colliding in a clash of force and explosive energy.
The resulting impact sent a shockwave rippling through the air, causing a burst of water droplets to spray in all directions. The mist momentarily obscured Yamato and Kenzou, their figures fading in and out of view.
Yamato, ever resourceful, called upon his expertise in Wood Release. With a surge of chakra, he caused the water particles in the air to coalesce and intertwine with the surrounding vegetation. The mist thickened as the moisture transformed into a network of wooden tendrils, obscuring the battlefield and creating a maze of organic barriers.
From within the cover of his wooden creation, Yamato focused his senses, honing his perception to detect the slightest movement. He could hear the rustling of leaves and the faint sound of footsteps. Kenzou, too, was adapting to the changing conditions, utilizing his experience and keen instincts.
Suddenly, a figure lunged forward from the mist, aiming a vicious kick at Yamato's position. Acting on instinct, Yamato swiftly sidestepped the attack, narrowly evading the blow. In response, he counterattacked with a precise series of strikes, his fists infused with his chakra.
The blows landed with precision, connecting with Kenzou's defenses and forcing him to retreat. However, Kenzou was not one to be easily overcome. With a fluid motion, he switched his focus to his Ice Release, crafting icy shields and barriers to defend against Yamato's relentless assault.
The clash between Yamato's wood-based attacks and Kenzou's ice-based defenses created a mesmerizing dance of opposing elements. Ice shards shattered against wooden constructs, and the air crackled with the clash of chakra-infused power.
Their battle intensified as they exchanged rapid strikes and evasive maneuvers. Yamato's wooden constructs surged forward, aiming to ensnare Kenzou and limit his mobility. In response, Kenzou retaliated with intricate hand seals, causing the temperature to drop dramatically.
The moisture in the air crystallized, and frost coated the ground, making each step treacherous. Kenzou seized this opportunity, gliding effortlessly across the icy terrain, launching swift and precise strikes that threatened to break through Yamato's defenses.
Unfazed by the icy onslaught, Yamato tapped into the depths of his Wood Release. The ground beneath him responded, erupting with a surge of verdant energy. Vines burst forth, their thorny tendrils snaking toward Kenzou with incredible speed and precision.
Kenzou's movements becoming more fluid and elegant, countered the onslaught with his mastery over Ice Release. He crafted intricate ice sculptures, each one deflecting the wooden onslaught with an ethereal grace.
The battle raged on, the clash of elements echoing through the frozen landscape. Yamato's Wood Release surged with determination, entwining and intertwining with Kenzou's Ice Release. Each combatant pushed their limits, testing the boundaries of their abilities and resilience.
Amidst the swirling chaos, Yamato's eyes flickered with determination. With a burst of chakra, he summoned colossal wooden roots from the ground, ensnaring Kenzou and immobilizing his movements. The icy defenses shattered against the overwhelming force of the verdant onslaught.
With Kenzou trapped, Yamato seized the moment, channeling his chakra into a final, decisive attack. Wooden spikes emerged from the ground and pierced Kenzou's torso in several spots, killing him.
Kaede ducked under a kick and jumped away from Ranmaru. She weaved hand signs and cast the Clone Jutsu. She charged forward as she pulled a kunai, and Ranmaru lunged forward. He struck her in the gut with a swift jab, and the clones faded.
Ranmaru drew his ninjato, and Asuka skipped away from him. It's to the death, then, she thought.
He sprang forward and swung his ninjato down at her. Kaede jumped to her right and lunged forward with the kunai. Ranmaru caught her wrist and punched her in the face with the hand gripping his ninjato.
Despite the blow to her face, Kaede refused to succumb to the pain and fought back with fierce determination. She swiftly formed the necessary hand seals with her free hand, channeling her chakra into a powerful Fire Release technique.
"Fire Release: Fireball Jutsu!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with conviction.
A blazing sphere of intense flames materialized before Kaede, growing in size and intensity. Without hesitation, she released the fireball towards Ranmaru, who was momentarily caught off guard by the sudden onslaught of searing heat.
Ranmaru released Kaede's wrist from his grasp as he was engulfed in flames. He screamed as he stumbled backward, his grip on his ninjato faltering. Ranmaru collapsed and ceased to make noise as his body continued to burn.
Hiei clashed his tanto against the kunai of one man and ducked under a punch from the other. Leaping into the air, he reached into his tool pouch and hurled a handful of shurikens that the Frost ninjas dodged. He landed on his feet and saw Shonin dashing to Kaede behind the cart.
Ducking beneath a kick from one of the men, Hiei slashed open the man's calf and slammed a fierce jab into his chest. The man stumbled back as the other lunged forward, and Hiei exchanged blows with him.
The man with the injured calf began weaving hand signs as he hobbled along. Hiei kicked the other man back and dashed at the one weaving signs. The man panicked and sped up his hands as Hiei approached, and with a horizontal slash, the man's throat was split open.
Hiei ducked down and rolled to his right, and the shurikens hurled by the man behind him sank into the dying man's chest as he slumped backward. Spinning around, Hiei dashed forward and held his tanto ice-pick style as he moved.
The Frost ninja pulled a kunai as Hiei approached, and they clashed their blades in a furious flurry. Hiei swept the man's legs out from under him and pierced his chest with his tanto. He gasped and spat blood as he quickly died.
Looking around, Hiei saw a crowd of Menma's standing above the bodies of two Frost ninjas; their throats slashed open. Turning to the others, he realized that the skirmish was over.
Team 9 and Shonin regrouped and assessed their damages after the fight had ended. Shonin remained untouched as the others clashed with the Frost ninjas. Yamato and Kaede had sustained minor injuries. Lastly, Hiei and Menma had minor cuts and bruises that they hardly felt at all.
They tied the bodies to the back of the cart and collected what ninja tools they could before pressing on. The adrenaline slowly wore off as they silently traveled down the snow-covered road.
"Did you know those men?" Standing beside Kaede on the left side of the cart, Yamato asked Shonin.
"I didn't know them, but we had met before," Shonin sighed, "Those guys deserted the Frost Village and started working with bandits in the area."
"Are there any more of them?" Hiei asked, hoping to rest a little before their next fight.
Shonin shrugged, "Don't think so."
Wonderful, Hiei thought.
"Why are we dragging these bodies with us?" Kaede asked.
"We'll hand them over to the Frost," Yamato explained.
"Secrets can be learned from the corpse of a shinobi," Hiei said, looking over the cart at Kaede.
The group continued east for just under two hours until finally arriving at the Village Hidden in the Frost. Tall white walls surrounded the Village, full of white and blue structures, with the streets forming a snowflake-like pattern. They walked through the main gate with Shonin, and two Frost Jonin blocked their path.
"What business do Leaf ninjas have in the Hidden Frost?" One of them asked.
"This lot helped a deserter problem you've been havin'," Shonin chuckled.
"We have the bodies of six rouge ninjas from your village. We've come to protect Shonin and hand these guys over to you," Yamato explained.
The two Frost Jonin walked around the cart and stared at the bodies attached to it, "Yep, that's Kenzou."
"And Ranmaru, poor kid," The other muttered.
"Ranmaru made his decisions," The other said firmly.
"Where do you want 'em?" Shonin asked.
One of the men cut the bodies free from the cart and nodded, "We'll take them from here. Thank you."
The group continued down the main street of the village. Hiei looked around at the shops as they walked.
"I'll buy you lot lodging at an inn," Shonin said, "I think it should be safe to part ways here."
"If you're sure," Yamato replied.
Shonin nodded, "I am. We can drink another night away before we split up."
Yamato laughed, "Sounds like a deal."
Shonin paid for three rooms at an inn on the main street and made his way to a so-called girlfriend in town. Yamato and Kaede went to their rooms, and the boys went to theirs.
Hiei dropped his backpack on the floor and collapsed onto one of the beds. He rolled over onto his back and looked up at the ceiling.
"Are you going to sleep? It's not even noon yet," Menma chuckled.
Hiei shook his head, "Just resting."
Kaito sat on the other bed, "What a fight, huh?"
Hiei looked at Kaito.
"It's just… Never mind," Menma rubbed the back of his head.
"Yamato-sensei said that taking lives is a part of being a ninja," Hiei said slowly," But I know what you mean."
Menma shook his head, "No. It's not that."
"Then, what?" Hiei questioned.
"I… I kind of enjoyed it…"
If we didn't kill them, they would have killed us, Hiei thought. That is the life of a shinobi. Kill or be killed.
"...Yeah. I know what you mean."
The two sat together silently, and a knock came at the room door. Menma walked over and opened the door, revealing Yamato and Kaede on the other side, "Yo."
"We're going to grab some food. Do you boys want in?" Yamato asked.
"I'm on the hunt for a snowcone," Kaede said excitedly.
"Snowcone?"
"Oh, yeah, I bet they make them somewhere in the village!" Menma smiled widely.
"C'mon, let's go," Yamato smiled.
Team 9 descended the stairs and exited the inn, heading for a place to eat to celebrate a successful mission.
To Be Continued