Chapter 29
"What was that?" asked Zenka, running to one of the large windows. He was high in the tower that resided in the centre of the forest. Minamo walked after him, both looking out onto the forest, unable to see more the vague tree outlines due to the light. Minamo squinted in a futile attempt to see anything.
Zenka turned away, hastily picking up his heavy coat from the worn chair it rested upon. Minamo turned to look at him questioningly. Although she wasn't too keen on it, they had been given a job to stay in the tower to wait for the students. She just hoped they had enough snacks.
"I'm going to investigate" said Zenka. "If I'm not back within an hour inform the village that something is happening in the forest. Hopefully I'll be back in a couple of minutes."
"Ok" replied Minamo. "What do you think is going on out there?"
"I don't know" replied Zenka. "Perhaps one of the students are messing around, decided to try a stupid jutsu. Or maybe something else, but I don't what" he said, as he pulled open the large wooden door and disappeared down the stairway.
"Hello?" called out Chiyo in the darkness. She had left Yomi and Kagura to find a place to "relieve" herself (she hadn't told the others this was her reason for going).
However the sudden onset of darkness had left her disorientated. Being in the middle of the exam, she knew she couldn't be too loud or else other students would find her. Though she doubted Tomo or Kaorin or the other team would attack her on her own, she didn't know about the people from other villages. They were here to pass an examination.
"Hello?" she said in an attempted loud whisper. She heard faint whisperings from close by. Being the youngest of the participants had brought one advantage- she was also the shortest. And she possessed an ability to be very quiet when she wanted to, so she found it easy to remain hidden. The only downside was that she lacked the killer instinct to follow up on her stealth.
She stepped into a thick bush, carefully pushing the foliage out of the way, grimacing as her shoe scrapped over a large rock. It sounded like the sound of boulders falling to her. She was still for a moment, the whispering continued. She leant forward, and peered through a gap in the bush. It wasn't anyone from her group. Two men stood holding burning torches, talking to one another.
"I thought you said you knew the way" growled the taller one.
"I do" replied the short man.
"Well we certainly seem bloody lost. You've got us lost. I'm going back to try and find Takaya" said the tall man angrily, turning and walking further into the forest, the small man sticking up a finger. He turned away, grumbling to himself. He looked up and Chiyo gulped as she found herself staring into the man's eyes. She slowly moved back as he pulled out a knife.
"I see youuuuuu."
Holding the knife he sprinted towards the bush, holding the torch in his other hand. Chiyo jogged back out of the bush before turning and sprinting away. However she had never been the fastest person around. The time when she had beaten Osaka in a race was her proudest speed related moment. The man tore through the bush, the foliage slashing his face as he kept hold of the knife and torch.
Chiyo continued to run, now finding herself hoping to be found by one of the other student teams. She knew her pursuer was a fully grown man, someone who'd made their way into the forest independent of the exam. After all she doubted an examiner would chase after a student with a knife- not even Yukari would do that. Kagura, Yomi, even Tomo would be useful to find now.
She tore through thick undergrowth, grimacing as barbs sliced into her legs. Suddenly she found herself in a large opening, a fast running river in front of her. She couldn't wade through it, and she couldn't swim against the current. As she gulped, she heard a loud thud. She glanced around as another thud was emitted. What could that be?
As she wondered, hoping it was something good, the man appeared. He pointed the knife at her, as he carefully walked down the small dirt embankment. Chiyo stepped back, closer to the river. She gave it another glance, but it just seemed too strong and fast. She didn't feel like drowning anytime soon.
"Girl, you made me slash up my face. Not to mention the fact you've actually seen me. It's nothing too personal- I don't know your name and I don't want to. But I'm afraid you have to die."
Thump
Chiyo gulped, moving back, feeling the loose dirt start to come free as she got closer to the river. She felt the ground vibrate as the man held up his knife. As he went to move forwards, a group of trees were ripped into, trunks snapping as the trees collapsed. A large reptile, twice the size of a man smashed out of the forest, an array of scales and teeth. The man screamed momentarily as the jaws closed around him. The legs, missing the rest of the body fell to the floor juddering, as the creature smashed through trees and vanished, Chiyo not big enough to warrant attention.
The tail vanished from view, and Chiyo slowly and quietly backed away, before breaking into a run. She was resolute that she wasn't going to cry. She had survived. With the threat over for now, she could now feel the burning in her legs where the barbs and thorns had torn into them. She hoped Yomi and Kagura hadn't come across anyone, she doubted they would get help from the wildlife.
The guard signalled for Arai and Kuraigu to wait as he walked towards a large decorated wooden door. He knocked loudly once, and then pushed it open with a creak. He disappeared momentarily into the room, talking with the Hokage. He soon returned to the duo. Arai felt uneasy. He knew there was a large group of their men waiting for a frontal assault, and a team making their way through the forest- but he was the only one here with Kuraigu. If something were to go wrong, he might not be able to defend his friend and master.
"The Hokage will see you, but we must insist that you relinquish your swords please" said the guard. He stood waiting, prepared for a possible attack.
"Why of course" said Arai, "But I hope you don't plan on attacking us" he joked, trying to keep a light hearted mood for now.
"Of course we wouldn't, too much paperwork if we did" joked the guard as he took hold of the two swords. The two men were quickly checked for any concealed weapons and then allowed into the room. Arai led the way, Kuraigu following him.
It was a brightly painted and large room. The Hokage sat at the far end of the room, which had few furnishings and was generally empty. The elderly man sat smoking his pipe. He slowly looked up and signalled for the two men to approach. The door was closed, the guard and his quiet accomplice standing by it. Arai walked forwards a short distance before stopping.
"May I introduce my master Kuraigu, who wishes to speak with you."
The old man nodded. "Please step forward."
Kuraigu stepped forward and kneeled down. He kept his face down, towards the floor.
"I have come to talk to you about the threat of invasion."
"Oh really?" asked the Hokage raising an eyebrow. "Such things have been mere rumours- can you say you have any proof?"
"I was able to stumble across a man who claimed to be part of the enemy invasion force. I was highly doubtful at first, but he carried detailed maps of the area, obviously created over a period of time."
The guard shifted at the back. Standing still like this was annoying. And that Kuraigu guy was certainly more talkative then he had been expecting- after all Arai had been doing all the talking before this.
"Such things could simply be the ramblings of a drunk" stated the Hokage.
"The man was most certainly sober" replied Kuraigu. "I know it is hard to believe. I would not have come here save for one reason. The attack is planned to begin some time within the next five days. I knew I would have enough time to get here, so I made my way here."
"I see" replied the Hokage, deep in thought. He was certain such things would be unfounded, yet at the same time the village was not without a history of being attacked. But this Kuraigu man could simply be looking for attention…or possibly some sort of reward.
"And there was also something else that I found" stated Kuraigu. "I was able to find a non working prototype of a new form of weapon. I was able to gain possession of it."
"Really?" asked the Hokage. "A new form of weapon?"
"Yes. I have it with me. If you wish, I could show it to you?" he asked. "As you can see I am not within distance to strike you with a slash, and I doubt a throwing knife would take care of you" said Kuraigu in a joking manner.
"Please proceed" said the old man, looking up as the guards started to move forwards.
"Of course." Kuraigu reached into his cloak and pulled out a strange looking device the Hokage had never seen before. A crude form of wooden handle was found attached to a metal cylinder. Kuraigu held it with the cylinder facing upwards. It seemed lightweight in his hands.
"That is a strange looking weapon" stated the Hokage. It had no bladed edge at all. "Does it possess a name?"
"Yes" replied Kuraigu. A sinister smile suddenly appeared as he pointed it towards the old man who remained nonplussed, having never seen it before. "I call it a firearm" he said, as he pulled on a small piece of metal.
A loud bang shocked the two guards, Arai closing his eyes due to the noise. Kuraigu held up the weapon, and then dropped it to the floor. The weapon had worked, but was only able to fire once before being rendered useless.
"What was-" started the guard, as Arai pulled off his clock and turned. His hands moved quickly, and the guards slumped to the ground with throwing stars sticking in their necks.
The Hokage's pipe fell to the floor. He slowly looked down as a blotch of red on the chest of his clothing suddenly began to grow. It became darker and darker before he slumped to the floor, an irregular iron ball lodged in his chest. He felt the burning throughout his chest. He coughed once, and looked towards the window. He hoped the village would last. Kuraigu threw his cloak to the floor and removed his sword from the hands of the dead guard.
"Arai, light the fire in the fireplace" commanded Kuraigu.
As his companion vanished he walked towards the window. With the numerous torches outside, the village remained illuminated. The smoke could be seen as it started to rise into the air. Kuraigu waited for a moment, before one of the buildings on the outskirts of the village started to burn.
Kuraigu slid his sword into the sheath and left the room. The attack had begun. He closed the door as the Hokage's blood began to spill onto the floor.