Journey to Americagakure pt 10: Divided We're Lost
"Wha-where is everything? Help me! I can't see!" Hinata Hyuuga called through the darkness.
"But we're in a kitchen, it's really bright in here." said Hinata Niningen.
"But that means—I'm blind! Why am I blind!?" the Hyuuga heiress panicked. Hinata's eyes were open, and it looked like she had her Byakugan engaged, but when Hinata didn't respond to the American Hinata waving her hands in front of her face, it was clear that she was indeed blind for the moment.
"It can't have been the Sudden Shield Jutsu. Jin-kun's technique is purely defensive, and wouldn't bring any harm to anyone.
"It's ok, Hinata-chan. We'll be your eyes until your sight comes back." Naruto, who had been eating ramen on the other side of a table, stood up, slurping in the last of his noodles. "The Kurokishi may be bad and all, but they've got the best ramen!"
"Naruto, assess the situation more seriously than that. Only the four of us are here." Shikamaru finished examining some of the equipment in the kitchen and went to where the other three ninja were gathered. "What exactly did the jutsu that saved us do, Hinata?" he asked the Super-Elite Jounin.
"Ah, Jin-kun's Sudden Shield Jutsu takes nearby friends to the closest safe place in a time of imminent danger. From the looks of it we ended up in the big craft we were all looking at, but we got separated, as well." reported Hinata.
"I see. Well, we're not going to find the others by just waiting here, and the kitchen is a high traffic place. The Kurokishi may come here soon. Let's go—Naruto!" Shikamaru was about to leave when he saw Naruto stuffing packets of instant ramen into his jacket.
"Put those down!" after scolding Naruto, Shikamaru opened the door and peered down both hallways. They were dark, with dim purple glows down either path.
"Our best bet is to just follow one of the paths. Naruto, you and I will walk in front with our Hinata behind us. Being a Super-Elite Jounin, you can cover us from the back and guide Hinata, right?" he said to the American nin. Both Hinata's nodded.
"No one in sight, let's keep moving." said Neji, disengaging his Byakugan. He, Itachi, Sakura, and Tsuki found themselves in a hallway after waking up. They were at an advantage with two sets of amazing eyes on their side, but the halls of the Kurokishi's massive submarine were more overwhelming than expected. It looked much smaller from the outside.
"Do you even know where you're going?" asked Itachi. The group had been wandering for quite a while.
"Not entirely, but continuously moving is better than staying in one place. It would be trouble if we were found." replied the Hyuuga genius.
"Don't worry, Sakura, babe. I'll protect you!" Tsuki attempted to woo her.
"Ehehehe… thanks, I guess." said Sakura. I think I understand what his sister meant when she was talking about how annoying he is. After a while of walking, the four young ninja came to a door, where Neji stopped and engaged his Byakugan.
"Is there anything behind it?" asked Itachi.
"You ask too many questions." said Neji, not even turning around.
"Well, is there?" Sakura egged him on.
"Yes, behind the door is a spacious chamber. It looks like an arena, because there are many seats. On the other side is another door, and behind that is a large concentration of chakra. I can't identify exactly what it is." Neji informed them.
"Do you think it's the Kurokishi?" asked Sakura.
"There's only one way to find out." said Neji, and he slowly opened the door.
"Of all the places to end up! Why the hell are we in this place? Where's Akamaru?" Kiba pounded the ground of the jail cell.
"This sure is a predicament. Hey, kid. What happened?" Shino turned to Mio, who was busy working at something in the corner.
"Jin-onii-san used his Sudden Shield thingy. It takes you to a safe place when you're about to die. Looks like we got to go to jail this time!" the youngest Super-Elite Jounin looked almost cheerful as she stated their situation.
"From the smells of it we're still underwater. You think we got into that submarine?" said Kiba, sniffing the air.
"That's the most logical explanation." Shino nodded. Then Kiba cracked his knuckles.
"Well let's get out of here then. Use your bugs to pick the lock." he said.
"If I could have done that I would have already. The lock is sealed with a very strong ninjutsu. We won't be getting out any time soon." Shino declared. Kiba growled, and then there was a long silence, with only the sound of metal scraping against metal…
"Mio, what the hell are you doing?" Kiba looked over her shoulder. The young ninja was working at the bottom of the cell with a spoon.
"Getting us out." she turned around and smiled. Kiba and Shino sighed.
Tenten awoke to total darkness. She could tell she was on something soft, but it was unclear exactly what it was she was lying on.
"Hello?" she called out into the abyss.
"Tenten! Is that you?" a voice answered her.
"Yeah, who said that?" Tenten asked nervously.
"It's me, Ino. It's pitch black in here; can you find a light?" it sounded like Ino was fumbling around trying to find a switch.
"KYAA!" Ino suddenly screamed.
"What's wrong?!" asked Tenten fervently.
"I touched something really… man like, if you know what I mean." said Ino.
"Hey! I found a light! Let's see where we are." Tenten found a lamp and turned it on. The two kunoichi seemed to be in a bedroom. Tenten had ended up on a bed and Ino on the floor at the foot of it. The odd object Ino had touched was…
"Lee!" Tenten suddenly yelled. Ino's face began as one of surprise, and then turned to one of realization, then one of pure disgust.
"No WAY! I did NOT just touch that!" Ino shrieked. Tenten suddenly felt something move under her.
"Shh! Ino, be quiet for a second. There's something under the covers here."
"It's…" Tenten gasped.
"No way, that's impossible! I thought we dealt with him already!" Ino whispered.
"Until we find the others, we'd better get out of here with Lee and not mess with him."
"Agreed. C'mon Lee, wake up."
"Unh… Is it morning already?" Lee said groggily.
"Shh! We have to be quiet!" Ino hushed him "There's someone here who would be a real problem if he woke up right now." Lee immediately went back into mission-mode.
"Right! Let us go!" he said, and the three quietly stole away into the hallway, making sure they closed the door with the utmost care.
Jinketsu, Kamiko, and Akamaru had been walking for a while.
"We've been wandering around for hours through these hallways! When are we actually going to reach something?" Kamiko complained.
"It's only been about eighty minutes," said Jinketsu "stop exaggerating and let's keep moving." the Jiyuukage sounded rather commanding. Kamiko sensed a feeling of great determination in him. Before moving on, however, she noticed Akamaru pawing at the metal wall on their right.
"Jin, stop. Akamaru's interested in something." she told the other Super-Elite Jounin.
"What did you find, Akamaru?" asked Jin.
"I smell Hyuuga scent." he said.
"The metal is too thick for my Byakugan, but if Neji or Hinata is behind there, we don't have time to find a way around." announced Jinketsu.
"Akamaru, I'd clear the way if I was you." Kamiko suddenly looked surprised and slightly frightened as the Jiyuukage began making hand seals. She and Akamaru ducked around the corner.
"Freedom style: Rockets' Red Glare!" the final bird seal manifested a plethora of rockets and missiles of all kinds in Jinketsu's vicinity. These missiles drove into the wall at breakneck speeds, some exploding on impact and some piercing the multi-inch thick metal before detonating their warheads. After the fray, a massive hole took the place of the wall that rivaled the armor of even the strongest tank.
"Jinketsu, you idiot!" called a voice through the smoke.
"I'm pretty sure that's not Neji." Kamiko whispered to the Jiyuukage. Just then a fist came flying through the haze and slammed Jin square in the nose. Enter Sakura.
"Do you want the Kurokishi to find us?! Don't just go around using powerful techniques like that!" Sakura was shaking Jin by the collar of his shirt.
"Sakura, your yelling isn't necessarily helping the noise level." Kamiko warned her. As if on cue, the door opposite the entrance that Neji, Itachi, Sakura, and Tsuki came through flew open.
"Damn it, Zurui! If you're randomly blowing up things again, I'll—" the person who burst through the door took notice of Jinketsu, Kamiko, Akamaru, Itachi, Neji, Sakura, and Tsuki, and also the huge hole in the wall.
"Well, well, well. What a surprise we have here today. Didn't think you'd have the guts to come after us after what happened to your country. Guess I was wrong—and look! You brought friends this time. I think I remember the one in white." it was Shokora, female confectionary ninjutsu user of the Kurokishi. Kamiko shrugged.
"I told you that you were making too much noise."
The six ninja and ninken have encountered one of the Kurokishi! The others are still lost, and just who was under the covers in the room Tenten, Ino, and Lee were in? Wait a second… where's Sai, Kobi Rito, and Tsuchi Masura!? Find out in Journey to Americagakure pt 11: Convergence!
