I do not own Naruto. Speaking/Thoughts
Zale looked at the location it had one way in and one way out the only other possible escape route was the path that led to the oceans, and that would leave someone exposed. It was a good place for his combat because with their luck someone would come attack them. "Are you sure it was okay to leave Satsuki and Kurumi back at the hotel alone?" Chrome asked.
"They're not alone they're with Shiki besides it's not like Satsuki isn't a capable ninja, and Kurumi with how sick's she's been lately would only be a hindrance. It's better that she's out of the way if anything happens." Gaara said and as always Gaara had last word on the argument.
"Kira's almost here and it seems he has visitors." Zale said turning back around to see them round the corner. It was with a girl that had dark hair and pupil-less eyes as well as a little girl that couldn't have been very old. "Why are they here Kira?"
"I needed to ask a favor, and she could be useful." Kira said as relaxed as possible, but Zale was intimidating even though he was taller than the blonde. "She has damaged DNA, and I was hoping that you would repair it for her."
"Why would I do that?" Zale asked sitting down on a rock.
"I saved his life you should be grateful!" Isaribi nearly yelled at him, and everyone except for Kira took an immediate step back. To him she immediately whispered "Did I say something wrong?"
"I recommend that you pray to any god you believe in." Kira whispered back pulling her and Kimiko back away from Zale who wore a cold stare looking directly at them. They started to sweat under his gaze.
"Well the fact that Kira didn't bring it up means that he was smart enough to know that I couldn't give less of a damn whether he lived or died. The fact that you had the courage to say that to me means that Kira didn't warn you exactly how little regard I have for human life. There better be a damn good reason that you've spoken to me like that." As he spoke a dark aura whipped around behind him as if it was its own being with a mind of its own.
Isaribi was immediately horrified by this person, and regretted her decision of speaking in such a disrespectful way to this short boy that commanded respect. "I was told you were building an army." Isaribi said with a trembling voice and the rage that came off of him in waves relented a bit. "I have something that you would find very useful, and if you would at least make me look normal on the outside I would be more than happy to serve you."
"How interesting." Zale said with a smirk everyone breathing a little easier now that he had calmed down. No one except Kurumi and Satsuki had ever been able to talk to him like that they knew that they would be murdered if they were to even breathe a word of disrespect to him. "Well then how's about you show me what you can do and then we'll see if it'll be worth me making you look normal."
"Please give me a second." Isaribi said encouraged by Kira and Kimiko who stood behind her even in front of his leader. She took in a deep breath before her transformation took hold of her body the scales ripping though her clothes, her eyes becoming those of a fish, gills sprouting on her neck, her teeth turning sharp, and a large fin sprouting on the back of her head.
To many people she looked like a monster, but to Gaara, Aria, Zale, and Chrome she was a target. "Chrome!' Zale yelled tossing ninja wire holding onto one end and Chrome Manipulated the wire to wrap tightly around Isaribi.
"What the hell are you doing; let her go!" Kira yelled angrily at them his brain not putting the pieces together. "Stop it right now!"
"Are you an idiot Kira, she's the monster that's been hijacking the ships, and we're being paid to stop her." Aria said to him.
"No there's no way she did that." Kira said shaking his head. "Tell them Isaribi tell them that you're not the one that did that." Isaribi didn't look him in the eye and stayed silent. "Tell them Isaribi."
"Oh she's the one that did it, and until we get paid she's not going to stop." a familiar voice said and Zale turned just in time to dodge sharp thin blades. This got him distracted from the blade that cut through Isaribi's bindings allowing her to escape into the water without any problem. They looked up to see a boy with blood red hair. "Honestly I didn't expect to see you again so soon Zale, and with your little brigade of Manipulation imitators."
"What the hell are you doing here Cole?" Zale asked tensing up read to fight and give the others time to escape since these weren't the type of people that they could fight.
"Oh come on bunny that isn't any way to talk to your old buddies is it?" Suzie asked with a playful smile appearing behind Cole out of thin air sitting on a rock behind him. "Oh how cute. They think that they could actually hold a candle to us in combat; they're even getting into their little fighting stances. It's just adorable, don't you think so bunny?"
"Don't underestimate us it'll be your fatal mistake." Gaara said sand whipping up.
They were all shocked when Zale spoke his next words. "Stand down and go after Isaribi she's our job here, and if we lose her then we don't get paid. All of you, and whatever the hell you do don't engage in combat with either of them. This isn't something that I'm allowing you to argue with run for it." Zale said. It didn't matter how powerful they thought they were these were opponents they couldn't fight.
"Yes sir." they all said after a moment's hesitation. They ran out across the water except for Kira who had to run across ice Aria had formed for him.
"Oh how precious; they really think they're an army." Cole said with a laugh.
"You know our offer still stands bunny, and until you do something that's downright unforgiveable then it will." Suzie said with a kind smile that didn't suit the evil aura that clung to her like a second skin.
"If you were confident that you could beat me then you wouldn't be trying to recruit me." Zale said reviewing the psychology he had helped study back before his current life.
"Oh yes I guess a sharp mind like yours free of aging or damage wouldn't forget the tactic we've used so often bunny. Still you know humans are unpredictable species even with all the books and records that you read it's impossible to predict the behavior of a human. Of course beasts are a little more predictable, all you have to do is back them into a corner and they'll go insane. I wonder Zale how much pushing will it take to get you into your corner." Suzie smiled delighted the morning light sucked in by her dark hair as if trapped by a vortex. "Nothing personal, but we've got a job to do just like you do, so I guess you should be ready to die."
Zale flew across the small pond an earthquake caused by Cole slamming his fist into the ground, and the damage barely avoided him. "You should really stop with the running away Zale." Cole said looking up at him with a sneer on his sharp face. He ran forward at what seemed like a near impossible speed for someone of his age.
Zale leapt up dodging Cole, but a sharp rock impacted with back barely missing anything vital. "Forgot about Suzie." Zale said spinning around to see them smirking smugly. 'I remember an old saying we used to have those who drew first blood wins the fight, so I really hope it was just dumb luck.'
"You always were such a lucky brat." Cole said running forward to give Zale a finishing blow to the stomach, but his arm was caught by Zale in a perfect manor.
"It's skill you moron!" Zale yelled grabbing him by the wrist and elbow before slamming him into the shallow water onto his back rocking him slightly, but there was something else there. 'What the hell?'
He didn't have time to put more thought into it because Suzie had used the same energy Cole had used in their first fight to slam him against a wall. "See you're no match for us." Suzie said.
"ENOUGH!" Zale yelled shaking the area. He got down on all fours as red chakra flowed over him healing his wounds and allowing him to focus. 'What the hell is that; I'm sure that it's there.' Zale didn't ponder it anymore instead deciding to swing a chakra claw down onto Suzie who barely avoided it. "Stop running you miserable excuses for a devil; why we gave you two that title is a mystery to me!"
"You're going to eat those words." Cole said running forward.
"Not falling for it this time." Zale turned dodging Cole's punch and then avoiding the blades that Suzie had tried to throw in secret. "I finally remember where I had seen that tactic. When we attacked the Northern Army with a small one in the front then while they were distracted we snuck in and took over the country. It's on a smaller scale sure, but it's still effective."
Cole was caught by surprise when Zale grabbed him by his gut tightly twisting it around and around. "Help Suzie." Cole managed to choke out.
Zale used Cole's own body to block the barrage of blades that Suzie had tried to send his way. He jumped up high out of the way of the spikes that Suzie had tried. "You're still breathing?" Zale asked Cole who had rasping breaths that barely filled his lungs. 'What the hell is up with this guy he's been taking full brunt attack; somehow is still alive!' Zale located Suzie and threw Cole at her pinning them both to the wall. 'There it is again.'
"We're not done yet." Cole said slowly rising to his feet Suzie doing the same. They seemed to be on their last legs. "Come on you loser you won't ever be able to beat us."
"You're right I won't be able to beat you because you're not there." Zale said getting out of his fighting stance. "You're either a pile of rocks or something else that Suzie and Cole Manipulated to think on their own. You've been faking all the pain, but you have no power they're probably somewhere else trying to focus on making it look like you can really use Manipulation."
"You're wrong!" Suzie yelled disappearing and reappearing behind Zale, but was put in place when he grabbed her by the head and slammed her hard into the ground cracking her skull open. Inside wasn't blood because they couldn't bleed. It was a bunch of sand.
"It was a clever tactic one that I haven't seen, but knowing you you're out attacking my squad so I'm out of here." Zale said running off before either of them could stop him.