Finally with his arrival back at home Argies slugged his camping bag off his shoulder and looked around his house for any sign of intrusion. There was none. It was early morning and yet Argies contemplated jumping right into bed to sleep off the holiday he had spent with his squad. Training all day as it was with them, to return to a hot bath every night, the routine was a little tiring and now he merely wanted time to himself.
Though he was not one to sleep as much as he did on holiday, he still found time every night at the onsen to read whatever he had prepared in his back pocket. Whether it was to read of history and the battles that have come and gone, or if his passions pushed him to study ninjutsu and all its many arts and technics. Argies always found comfort in reading, he saw the knowledge it gained him as an advantage against the unseen enemy and the problems he had yet to face. Reading in many ways was also a distraction, taking him away from the reality of his difficulties while at the same time earning him the wisdom to overcome them when they needed to be confronted.
Taking out what he had read during his stay at the hot spring, he filled his empty back pocket with new notes and facts he had copied down from the Leaf's libraries. The Leaf knew that knowledge was dangerous and as such most books about ninja and ninja arts were forbidden or highly restricted. Which was why when Argies entered the sealed libraries he always knew to carry a few pages to copy down what he couldn't check out. At this point in time he was thinking of develop a write fast jutsu just for this express need, but he had yet to form the idea into practice.
Sitting down in admiration of all his notes spread out on his Aunts tea drinking table, Argies scribbled down a further few notes. "My hand writing is disgusting" He remarked to himself with a smile because though others found his hand writing unbearable, he didn't mind. He knew for certain that he was not going to be publishing his notes any times soon, especially not the Ages scroll notes he often quickly burned.
Being at home once again Argies was happy. He was glad that his team got to train together before any one was injured on a mission due to all the faults and weaknesses they could discover safely during practice. He welcomed the thought of future missions with his team as he learnt that little more about them over these last three days. His mind and his heart were at rest from all their pains and sorrows because now he knew he could rely on both Hakari and Amoroto. Most of all he was happy about one true fact, he and his team now had a sensei and that sensei gave them access to medical books and knowledge. Like his Sensei's herbal healing guild, a book he most enjoyed reading and studying in the nights that remained after their hot baths.
Suddenly like an alarm call he heard the rapid crack of knuckles against his front door. Reluctantly he got up onto his feet from his position behind the low raised table, and answered the door to what must be urgent news judging from the bombardment of fist on wood.
"Argies are you home!?"
"Shikamaru, what is it?!" The sound of worry in the shadow ninja's voice, raised the concern in Argies own.
Opening the door Argies could see the state of Shikamaru, the lazy ninja, who now had his eyes wide open as he explained. "Sasuke has defected from the Leaf, and I've been assigned to form a team out of every available Genin in order to bring him back… Listen I know it is a drag but I need your help."
"What? W-when did this happen… why aren't they sending his sensei after him?" Argies too widened his eyes, looking around as if searching for sense in the world as he turned his head in hunt for this Genin team Shikamaru was supposedly assembling.
Equally frazzled Shikamaru ran his hands through his hair, "Look I know this is tiresome but I have limited time to explain. Sasuke left the village last night after attacking Sakura. Tsunada says that all available Jounin have been assigned high ranking duties so it is left to us to do something about it. Now listen, I haven't told anyone else yet but I'm going to form a team and go after Sasuke. The thing is… I don't believe we are going to survive this mission." Pausing and letting that thought sink in he continued. "Sasuke is being escorted by ninja of the Sound Village, meaning Orochimaru. Tsunada's old team mate is stronger than all of us combined so I'm guessing that these Sound ninja are of Jounin level or higher. You saw the sound ninja during the Chunin games, you know what kind of freaks they are, besides those were just Genin. The ninja we are expected to face are apparently much stronger, which is why I need your help"
"This is a lot to take in, ok I'm ready. What do you need me to do?"
…
As I made my way to Tsunada, strapped with all my ninja gear and ready, my mind was abuzz with thought. I still had to contact my team and formulate a plan. There are so many other ninja better suited than I who could help, but I suppose Shikamaru is desperate and the Leaf is still over working itself to appear strong after Orochimaru's last visit.
While I jumped over roof tops, listening to the Village below me like a melody of sounds as the wind whistled in my ear as I passed on by, I was thunderstruck by vision. Like the hypnotic spin of a two sided coin everything I saw was overlapped with another reality, the future. It was my Kichi forth sight. I stopped and steadied myself on top the tiles of a steep roof side. Shaking my head of the visions of blood I could see. Blinking out the torn bodies of friends. Stifling the with a hand the remnants of faces I could barely recognise. I struggled to press on with the surmounting rush of evidence confirming Shikamaru's dread… they are all going to die.
…
After hearing the news of Shikamaru's mission to bring Sasuke back, Argies went straight to the Hokage. There were many people, many obstacles in his way, but he pushed them aside giving no explanation other than. "I need to see the Hokage, this is urgent!" It was rare for anyone to report to the Hokage directly, unless requested to after a mission or under the authority of the Leaf, but with no Jounin in the Village to repel him there were few Chunin willing to side against their fellow comrade in his self-determined mission.
Standing outside the final door to the Hokage's office, making his way into the foyer with some resistance but little to slow his progress, Argies was now confronted with the two Chunin on guard outside her doors.
Looking down on the boy one of the two ninja on duty stepped forward. "What are you doing here, you have not been summoned and there have been no hawk calls for the last four days?"
"I was not summoned" Argies chocked off his words but bit down on his indecision to speak up. "I need to request an urgent mission, there is no time to file an appeal" He did his best to remain formal. Knowing full well that the proper protocol was for him to pay for a mission so that other ninja might take up the task, after proper reviews and payments were made.
"Who do you think you are?" The other ninja on guard spoke out. "The Hokage is very busy, if we had to interrupt her for ever request our kage would never have time to manage our Village."
"This is important, lives are at stake." Flaring up his chakra in threats, Argies let his voice boom his determination "I have no time for these interruptions, now stand aside!"
"Watch your tongue!" A Konoichi called from behind him. "You might be a Chunin but that gives you no right to make threats or demand special treatment, now get out of here before we kick you out!"
"Hokage!" Argies shouted but worried that perhaps her silencing seals were in place and as such she couldn't hear him. "Stand aside!" He decided instead to reason with his fellow Chunin. "I understand that there are protocols and formalities I have not met, but what do you not understand when I say this is urgent. Are your rules more important than safety of the Village, is procedure far more valuable to you than the lives of our shinobi and people. Stand aside or I will demonstrate how high I place our Nation of Fire, above any punishment you could force on me!"
They still refused to budge, instead they taunted him goading him to press on with his demonstration. Grimacing in what he was forced to do Argies Pulled out a stack of paper bombs. Triggering the explosives, enough to blast the sizable room to pieces, he himself vanished in a puff of chakra smoke before anyone could react.
"Assassin!" One Shinobi shouted before taking notice of the substitution jutsu, which replaced Argies with a Log plastered with sealing bombs.
"Take Cover!" Another Ninja yelled, Bravely taking the log in hand in hope to cast it out a window.
As everyone ducked and dived out of the way, existing the room and rushing for refuge, Argies quick as a flash ran to the Hokage's door under the disguise of a henged shinobi on duty! However, the door opened before his hand could reach it!
"What is all this yelling about!" Shizune caught sight of all the chaos about, then she took note of the henge in front of her and uncovered her poison dart gun hidden in the arm of her kimono. "Reveal yourself"
Exposed Argies conceded "Now can I see the Hokage?" puffing away his chakra disguise he let his half smile expose his shame to all that had become of his drastic actions. The log and the paper bombs too removing their disguise. "It is about Sasuke Uchiha and the retrieval mission"
"Is that Argies?" Tsunada said from behind her desk, her voice reaching through the partly opened door. "Let him in immediately!"
"Sounds like I'm in trouble" Argie's half smile wavered but bashfully he let the broad lie in his mask remain grinning.
…
"Do you have any idea how much trouble you are in!" Tsunada foreshadowed Argies punishment with a deep disconcerting voice emanating from where she stood behind her desk.
Bowing low Argies pleaded. "Please let me explain, I am merely a Chunin and do not know the proper procedure my Lady 5th"
"The proper procedure for what?!" Tsunada slammed a hand against her desk, scattering pages caught in flight at the sudden rush of impact. "You will never test my Chunin like that again you hear me!" She pointed a stern finger at him in warning before concern entered her eyes to melt away her hostility "What if they had acted on your threats. Do you think I would enjoy losing my Chunin over a mistake?"
"My lady fift…Mistake?" Argies straightened himself confused. "You do not doubt my actions as innocent…? Sorry I…"
"Innocent hardly, but yes certainly a mistake. Now what are you here for Ages?"
Remembering why he was there Argies settled a hand to his bandaged shoulder, seeking strength from his past, before returning his mind to the task at hand. "Orochimaru is a medical ninja of sorts, surely not as proficient as you but I have seen the quality of work that he produced for the Chunin games. His human experiments. I fear as Shikamaru goes on this mission that these ninja escorting Sasuke are far more powerful than the Sound ninja we faced During the invasion."
"*Sigh* is that what Shikamaru told you?" Tsunada took her seat, resigning to the fact that Argies explanation would take a while. "…because of the curse mark placed on Sasuke, Orochimaru is our best guess but what would you have us do about it Argies. As a Chunin I gave Shikamaru the right to assign any off duty Genin in the Leaf to his mission, so why are you here when you could have simply joined him in his duty"
"I am a Chunin" Argies held his words in pride not letting the bite of how everyone seemed to forgot his role, mug him of that title. "I request that you allow me to assign an inter-village team to follow after Shikamaru and his clan born unit. As inter-village ninja are not allowed to leave the Leaf, I knew I had to make a special request on their behalf. Furthermore my Lady 5th. I believe if we are to follow after, it is merely to pick up corpses which is why I further request that you mobilise a medical division to follow after my team of ninja. Once again this is against proper procedure since medical units are the most vulnerable to attack it would be a violation of routine for so many restricted ninja to Leave the Leaf."
"I sense that there is more." The Hokage raised her hands in a pray formation, looking down at her desk in contemplation. "These are indeed rules and regulations that would not sit well with the Chunin in charge of regulating the passage of ninja in and out of our Village, but I do hope you have more."
Unsure if her words meant she was pleased or that she disapproved, Argies went on regardless. "Finally my lady 5th, I must formally request that you allow Naoki of the Sand Village to send word of Sasuke's defection so that the Land of Winds might assist us. During my mission with Gaidra of the 25th elite regiment, when delivering the convoy of peace, the Sand Village expressed concerns about our Rogue ninja problem. By allowing them to aid us, whether our alliance is genuine or not, it will give them the chance to express more than just concerns. Despite how far their Nation is from the Sound, this will further increase the likelihood that our ninja will survive as well as strengthening alliances between the Lands of Fire and Wind" Argies said this knowing his own loyalty was in question when measured in turn with his voyage to the Sand after an invasion of the Leaf.
"You would make an interesting Hokage, Argies Ages." Tsunada took a sip of wine as she meditated on Argies tactics.
"Thank you my Lady 5th but I cannot take full responsibility, Shikamaru and I deliberated and collaborated our ideas to form this plan of action. It is however up to you to make the final decision. With the Leaf as understaffed as it is I can understand why you would send out such a large force to retrieve one ninja. That is why we equally measured the worth of every ninja sent out, so that we might insure everyone comes back alive to re-join this Village. As well that our future goals can coincide with our Allies so that together we might grow stronger to face common enemies, and not work against each other to the Sounds benefit as was the case during the Invasion of the Leaf. A hindrance to both Wind and Fire, since we Both lost a Kage. I am sure the Land of Wind, just like Fire, would gladly take up the opportunity to payback the dues Orochimaru has owed"
"While I really wish you wouldn't be as formal as you are, I cannot say I do not appreciate your presentation." Tsunada smiled bitterly to the sound of Orochimaru getting his just punishment, but then her lips twisted into inner turmoil as her own formalities repressed her true feelings.
"You have measured the threat of the Sound ninja even though you have yet to encounter them, you have tallied casualties before any reports have been filed, and you test alliances merely by holding them to their word. Far be it for me to say you are wrong or right, but I see no harm in testing your theories…" trailing off the medical marvel, Tsunada, turned to her assistant.
"Shizune send word to the front gate, tell them to let inter-village ninja and medical units pass for the next half hour. Then send word to Naoki Yamane and his sensei, have these ambassadors explain to their Nation that our truce has granted us the opportunity to attack Orochimaru indirectly." Turning once against to the Chunin in front of her, Tsunada began writing down instructions before sealing them with wax.
"Argies I'm placing you in charge of the inter-village ninja." She said in the process of writing. "Though I do have one limitation to set over this plan of yours. You are not allowed to engage the enemy directly. Inter-village ninja aren't allowed to leave the village for a reason and that is because they are not ready to face the Shinobi world outside these walls. You are only allowed to act in support of Shikamaru's team and medic teams, do not face the enemy unless accompanied by a true shinobi. Now meet with your sensei to explain what you require of him and his medical unit. These are further instructions to support your mission and its parameters." She handed him a scroll, to which Argies extended a hand in hesitation.
"I… I suppose I will have to accept these conditions but I also need further assistance your Lady 5th. Despite my plan of action I do not know where or how I might assemble this team of inter-village ninja. I feel as a Chunin I should know, but I cannot even begin to understand how such ninja are summoned."
"I see… I will have the Chunin at the front desk search out the ninja you request who will meet you at the village gates. Now hurry!"
"Thank you my Lady" Bowing Argies disappeared in a flash of speed.
Supposedly alone, Tsunada pondered aloud. "Too many of my ninja show potential that we as the Nation of Fire have yet to realise, nevertheless, I fear the influence of Orochimaru in each and every one of them. Neji, Naruto, Sasuke, Argies they all desire vengeance, recognition, approval, or power and like Sasuke I fear that hunger might consume them as it did Orochimaru"
In a puff of Chakra smoke the elders of Council, along with Danzo, reappeared in the Hokage's office.
"A little re-education is all that is needed, isn't that why we have ninja like Ibiki Morino. To keep your ninja in line."
"Don't pretend Danzo that you aren't responsible for each and every one of their feelings of contempt for the Leaf. I intend to make a full investigation of your involvement in all your actions during my office and before."
"Every Hokage since the second, has accused me, don't believe you are any different Tsunada. The remaining fact is that I am not Hokage, and cannot be held responsible for your Fallacies."
"If every Hokage has accused you, then it is certain there is guilt to be found, and for that I am glad I can hold myself accountable for overlooking your actions."
The two elders of council looked between Tsunada and Danzo as they locked eyes, with dismissive hums and airy snorts the old man and women made their own judgments on who was right or wrong. They all knew that each had a hand in the conduct of the Village and all its surreptitious affairs.
…
Tensue was in a rush, with the letter from Tsunada handed to him he hardly noticed his students about him whispering as Argies made his leave.
"…. before I go, there is something I've always wanted to ask." Before he could be prompted, Argies continued. "The soldier pill, I've been told taking more than two is not advised but why, what would it do to the body" He rubbed his neck, sensing that death was a probable side effect of an over dose.
An awful smirk crossed Tensue's face, "No one has ever asked me that question. It makes me wonder so many things about you Argies, your potential." Madness flashed across his glasses before he righted himself. "You are on a Mission Argies, and the question you carry holds a heavy tome as an answer" He paused and before his student could turn to leave he gave his explanation. "Strychnine milk infusion"
…
Making my way to the front gates of the Leaf, the other teams are probably there by now, I contemplated all I learnt about herbs and myself over the last few days and the months prior. Even during the Chunin games, the forest of death, I knew a enough plants to make my own poison. That was how I developed my puking trap, and how I met Arisu's team and pet wolf dog.
Learning under the tutorship of Tensue, after we traded Hinata's examination for mine, I learnt that plants could be used to heal as well as harm. Hinata found out that the hard way when we went searching for Naked Ladies.
Through my connection with Tensue, and when I was finally taken in as his subject, I also learnt about myself and my blood ability. I learnt that my blood is a life force of its own, because not only was it able to absorb more chakra, it could use that chakra on the cellular level to defend itself. It is that possessive quality of my blood that nearly resulted in my death so many times. Though Thanks to friends and to strangers like Fuma's and his team of silver, white, and grey, I avoided being snuffed out or beheaded. Yuu and his bukijutsu fanatic yokai hunting warriors, who thought I was possessed, didn't help me much in that regard but at least I learnt more about each of the Genin nine through all my near misses.
Most of all there was Naoki, a ninja not from our Village. Though he plays such a small part in all I have learnt, he plays the most vital role now. If he is unable to convince the Land of Winds to send their Sand ninja in our aid, I worry that we will all not survive this mission. It seems such a trivial fact, this mission such a worthless undertaking, but strangely I feel that if I must risk anything it should be for the value we place in our people and our loved ones and our Village. That is a meaning, the composure of feeling, for which I am willing to die.
I landed with a thud, chakra bursting as far as I could to the Village gates. Then I saw them, my team, the people I am to command into a potential end, whether to their end or the end of our enemies… I am unsure. They were there lined up on the dirt road just outside the Village, between the boarder of relative safety and undeniable dangerous.
"Morning everybody" I tilted my head, feeling panic raising as I introduced myself casually. I will not begin this journey by shutting out niceties, no one has asked to be here and in accordance with their will to help I will not command obedience. "You are all here to accept a mission by the Hokage, directed through me. This mission is to retrieve one of our ninja, who has defected in order to join the enemy. There is already a team in place to bring back this ninja. We will act as a supporting team to them, by acting indirectly without confronting the enemy head on. These are the orders directed to you from the Hokage so they must be abided… to a degree." I paused there feeling my throat swell up, but by keeping formalities I learnt to remain strong as I looked over my friends, my team and my rivals.
Arisu was the first to speak, my rival, her wolf dog barking objection. "My cousin Kiba is on that team, but what I do not understand is why are we going after a ninja that doesn't want to be part of the Leaf anyway? Did Tsunada give us permission to kill him if he refuses to come back?"
I paced the line of ninja in front of me, contemplating her question. "I have not been given such permission directly, but I can only assume Sasuke knows enough about the Leaf in order to harm it if he joins an opposing force." Arisu was alone, except for her wolf hound, the rest of her team must be away on missions or recovering from injury. That is two extra ninja short of what I was hoping for our assignment.
"I take it that means we get to kill Sas-gay" Hakari reiterated the insult she used the night before, clearly his disrespect for me still lingered to burn my team with distaste.
I nodded my head in conformation "In the field it is up to each ninja individually to make the best choice you can for the Leaf. This mission is no different. Sasuke may have once been a Leaf ninja, but if he refuses to call himself a ninja of the Land of Fire then he is no ally of ours."
Fuma unloosened his silver lips, the voice of his team he spoke their words unified with his own as they whispered at his either ear. "You say we should act indirectly, as we journey outside the hallowed safety of the Leaf. An inter-village ninja beyond the bounds of our walls, can we then call ourselves ninja and attack the enemy head on?" He had his Guan Dao with him, the red iron of the weapon reflecting its blade end and long staff. It shined imposing might in the sunrise of the day. I have a difficult task ahead for his team.
"All ninja must follow the same rules when encountering the enemy" I fell back on my knowledge and quoted directly from memory. "'If not in the interest of the Leaf, do not act. If you cannot succeed, do not attack. If you are not in danger, do not fight.' If you can abide by these ninja laws, the teachings of the academy, then you do not need listen to any other rule. Inter-village ninja or not, outside these walls we face the same dangers and must make the same choices. While I cannot encourage you to face the enemy head on, if you must, if it will help the village, this missions success, and you believe you will survive the effort. Then there is no authority I or anyone else could place over you, that can rob you of the life choice you alone make." I did my best to keep my voice steady as I spoke of death, as I uplifted their moral by making the choice theirs, as I presented their lives as a token to be spent or kept.
"Can we refuse this mission…" Arisu words drifted through the silent air, and for a moment I could not say a word.
"As all missions you are free to reject the assignment handed to you" I looked down not willing to face her for a moment "but in this mission." I caught her gaze and she held it fiercely focused with my own. "I rely on each and every one of you for not just our success, but the survival and mission success of the team ahead of us. A team your cousin is on, and many other clan born. A team that is not only formed of our comrades, but our friends, our fellow class mates, and as clan born the prosperity of the future Leaf…."
"Ok ok I get it.. G" Arisu cut me short, her dog growling annoyance. "Now what do you want us each to do?"
"Right." I heaved a breath before lifting command to my lips. "Fuma, Taka, Genjuu, you are silver white and grey. Your team is well suited for capture, which means you will only be needed at the end of this mission once the enemy is dead and we can confront Sasuke alone. This is why I have a very different mission for you to begin with. We have sent word to the Land of Winds to meet us at the Border between fire and the land of Rice paddies. You are to meet them at this half-way point, so that you can help escort them and find Sasuke." I cleared my throat as I felt it tighten, cracking my wrist I continued uneasily.
"Arisu you will accompany Fuma and his team. With this combination and Taka's ability to fly you should have no problem finding the Sand siblings and later tracking Sasuke. However there is one other reason why I have assigned you this task…" I did not know whether to whisper my commands or to shout them out into the open that was the Village gates, but determined I pressed on. "The Land of Winds recently attacked the Leaf and for that reason you might not be able to trust their loyalty. Be wary, on a mission like this it is easy for them to kill one of our own and blame the death on an enemy ninja, don't accompany them alone and always face them together. Retreat if threatened and do not try and Face Gaara of the Sand. Genjuu with your sealing traps, I hope you can insure you teams safety" Genjuu tilted his head to me, I hope his ability to render ninja unconscious will be enough to stop Gaara if need be. "If the Sand does not meet you or you cannot find them, then abandon that mission and find Sasuke. Fuma and Arisu, I'm placing you in charge of this team. Together your instincts could mean mission success or the death of your comrades"
"What about us?" Amoroto voiced feeling left out.
"We will directly follow after Shikamaru's team, and pick up any pieces he leaves behind. Ok you all have your orders and I trust you all to look after each other and make the best decisions for this missions success. Just promise me one thing" They all paused and collectively we took a breath. "Promise me you will all try your best to survive this mission"
"Right!" they confirmed and like that we were off
…
With my team formed and with each an assignment, we made our way out of the village casting our footsteps in leaps and bounds from tree to tree. Hakari tracked Shikamaru and his team while I related to Amoroto of what had transpired. Finally with their questions at an end I handed them each a soldier pill and explained in my own words what I could say to distract them from the mission ahead.
"Tensue has given us soldier pills for this mission, they are made from Strychnine which is a poison but that only makes plants all the more amazing" Being a medical ninja has opened my life up to such a unique insight and perspective over everything, and in saying this I know I need a distraction to.
Strychnine is a poison, a powerful poison and a well-known one. In the village it is used as a means to exterminate pests, especially rats which are notorious for their quick resistance to any poison used against them. As ninja, strychnine is a poison which perks the ears and narrows the eyes; it's an excruciating death without a cure. Yet from Sensei's book I have learnt that strychnine kills through exhaustion, making your muscles spasm and tighten uncontrollably until you die; breaking bones in the process.
"'Strychnine; a powerful drug that cause hyper sensitivity of the nerves.'" I quoted "the smallest flicker of thought causes a reaction and the lightest touch pain. A super stimulant, too powerful to be used even when diluted. This is why as a poison it kills through exhaustion; the body is unable to rest causing death through fatigue. However as a milk infusion, the effects are soft; an effective improvement to strength, dexterity and chakra control through the workings of the nerves system and provocation of the muscles and mind."
Seeing that Hakari was too busy to respond, Amoroto placed his attention on me, even as his eyes searched around for possible threats. "What has this to do with us… or the mission? Didn't Tsunada tell you not to attack. How much of it is safe to take?" He rambled a little unclear as to his intended conversational directionality.
We are about to enter boiling water and I don't want them to feel the temperature raise all at once, so a little distraction is what I think we need. "Take two and you're ok, take any more and you can't sleep for weeks or… you die. You know, Sensei wasn't really clear." Amoroto scratched his arm nervously as I gave my half smile, joking about death.
Jumping down to inspect broken branches and subtle directions to the ninja head, our tracker added her own concern as our pace slowed. "Ok what are we talking about here. The soldier pill isn't anything we have needed before, why should we need to rely on them now." Hakari thrust herself ahead with stronger jumps, so eager was she to meet the enemy. The first enemy we would face as a team since the HFO, and yet that was mission we nearly all died on.
"I believe it's because these are, Orochimaru's men" The words escaped my lips and I could feel my skin shiver with ominous doubt about our missions success. "This is going to be another HFO mission, isn't it?"
…
Jumping through the last remaining tree tops, we landed, Katsumi my wolf hound panted and sniffed the ground and again we were off on a trail to the Sand Village. Argies had underestimated how fast we could travel, and his team of silver grey and white were fit enough to keep up. That flying Konoichi and the boy with a Fukumen concealing his breath, had no trouble keeping track of me, it was only that silver guy we ever had to slow down for, but we will make it to the Land of Winds before the Sand ninja can cross the border into Fire. It is better we wait for them, then for them to get lost trying to make it to Sound on their own. Still as I travelled at a break neck speed, the wind lashing at my hair and face, I couldn't help but let other thoughts latch onto my mind.
Argies Ages, I've been training so hard since that day you beat me during the preliminary rounds of the Chunin games. I do not know why I hate you so much, maybe it is because secretly I hate myself for not being able to beat you. That I reflect myself hatred back onto you so that I might not feel as poorly as I do. Yet we have so much in common.
We are both inter-village ninja and we both did not have a ninjutsu to use against each other in the preliminary round. The only real difference between us is that I have my wolf hound, and I am clan born. That small difference, that insignificant variation, makes me burn with rage against you and all you succeed in.
I should be Chunin. I should be the one leading this mission. I should be the one to call the shots because you aren't clan born, you are not part of the main branch families that govern the Leaf so why do they let you govern this mission!
"Wolf hound and master!" That silver ninja called out in a deep voice. "Slow down, can you not see the storm ahead." I looked ahead of us as he caught his breath by panting at the ground with his hands on his knees.
We were right on the border, between the Land of Rivers and the Land of Winds. It was common sense not to enter the Land of Rains, a place of eternal conflict and war. The ground ahead of us was still hard but partly covered in sand. The Sand Village was situated in a desert so I expected no less, but what I did not expect was to see the battle ahead of us.
There in the distance I could see Gaara using his Sand ninjutsu, his Sister casting Wind like a blade and his brother manipulating wood so that it stood like a man. They were fighting a squad… and losing
The Flying Konoichi landed just ahead of us, with her wings spread wide she informed us over her shoulder. "Those are Sand ANBU, they are fighting with their own ninja?!"
The grey ninja pulled down his cloths mask to reveal a wicked smile. "Should we help?" smoke escaped his breath as he spoke
Deciding that it was my turn to speak I assessed "Technically that means there are more Sand ninja than we are Leaf, even if they are fighting with each other now they could turn on us. Which would outnumber our unit easily. However…"
"If we do not intercede the Sand Siblings will die." unsealing his weapon the long armed silver ninja stood. "If we debate we can analyse, so while we have this time to speak, to act or not act, we should mark out the weaknesses in all our enemies before we chose to attack or fall back."
…
With they're pace slow as they looked out for traps and any sign of the enemy, they knew they were getting closer. Only their nervous chatter kept them preoccupied on other thoughts, away from the itching feeling that they are about to die.
"Sound is supposedly situated in the Land of Rice paddies" Argies offered up as the new conversation, looking around himself at the Kunai flung by a recent battle.
"The Land of Rice paddies...?" Hakari bit her lip, no longer so eager to meet the enemy.
Amoroto held confidence in his team and as such he feared very little about the road ahead, he the only ninja to Leave the Village regularly in the past "Naruto said he and his team came back from the Land or Rice paddies, I wonder if he was mistaken… though maybe that is why Orochimaru is interested in Sasuke now."
"Oh he's defiantly mistaken" Argies brushed his fingers over a recent wound to a tree, probing where the enemy might have gone as their team tracker did the same. "The idiot can't tell the difference between rice fields and Tea leaves. Literally!" Sensing the courage in Amoroto and the fear in himself, Argies steadied. "Ok let's pick up the pace again. It can't be far now" The wind suddenly changed direction, and it was then the scent of dry blood hit them all like a wall of stale air. "Shippuden, let's hope it is the enemies blood." They ventured ahead the pathway to death so evident, though now their footsteps were more unsure than ever before.
Red stained the green leaves, the grass, and the forest ahead of them, all was dripping, all was marked red with blood.
Whispering now Hakari shaped a piece of crystal into a throwing lance "I'm surprised none of us could smell the decay sooner, come on I'll go in front. If they attack I can take a hit... The bodies can't be too far now."
They crept steadily over quite a few clearings before they happened on the scene, their bodies spread out in battle but now not a limb stirred and not a whisper of breath could be heard.
"These are Chunin" Amoroto assessed, standing in the middle of the clearing, casting his eyes out on the number. "There has got to be at least ten ninja here, all ranking higher and older…" he could not let himself finish his sentence, gagging on the smell of blood accompanied by the bodies. He held his hand over his nose and mouth before turning back to the edge of the clearing, and then he saw and equally shocking sight.
Smiling malevolently, there stood Argies. His hands caressing the air and wafting the aroma of death into his nostrils, he took an overzealous breath of ecstasy. "I can use this" his voice echoed in the volume he supplied his words. "We can take their bloods, and take their energies, their souls will be ours and their emotions will feed our power!"
Turning red with rage Hakari stood in front of Argies, coming between him and his gory goal "What are you saying!" Argies continued to smile broadly, his eyes caught in a trance, his vision wading in blood. "You aren't thinking of using their blood… wait, you are. Like our first mission at the gates of the Leaf, you want to form those sick blood mist arms" With a snarl the Crystal ninja stood aside, disgust biting at her but common sense telling her they needed to use all the resources they could get.
It was then…
Coughing and spat blood broke the silence and Amoroto called out. "One of them is still alive"
Broken from the spell Argies shook himself. "Wait what just happened?" He rushed over to where his team hovered, the body of a man felled under a large hammer. "Ikiyothro!"
Indeed it was Ikiyothro, the Chunin Argies had on his team when in contest against Shikamaru that day during the Bo taoshi demonstration. The man started to stir again and so they hunched down and listened closely, it was only Amoroto who stood guard so that he might keep a distance between himself and the man grasping for breath.
"Shuriken" The man swore before coughing up blood again. Raising a hand to his head he touched along the length of the wound running across his face. "That's going to leave a scar" he laughed in sarcastic pain.
"How did you…" 'survive', Hakari wanted to say but cut herself off for sounding so pretentious.
"Huh… this will make an interesting story when you get back" Argies said calmly, assessing that the man indeed would survive. "Your bone hammer might look ludicrous in many ways but it also saved your life, I'm guessing if you weren't pinned under it most of the damage would have been inflicted on you."
"That's if I can get back… I'm bleeding pretty badly over here and I don't think I can get up"
In a meek whisper Amoroto offered, "We could take you back" but he was unsure of himself and Ikiyothro knew why.
"You are obviously on a mission" he said weakly. "Otherwise you wouldn't be out here. Just do me a favour, when you come back at least leave a head stone for me and my team."
"We are on a mission." Argies confirmed coldly, indifferent and steadfast to the reality. "The ninja who attacked you, were they from the Sound Village?"
"Yes. We were on patrol, on this outer rim." The man gulped and in laboured breath he continued. "We were suddenly attacked, it couldn't have been more than ten seconds before I found myself like this and you guys arrived"
Looking over the bodies Hakari voiced in sympathy. "Some of them are still bleeding. Like this man they are still alive." There was nothing they could really do about it, it was up to the follow on medical team to see to the injured before they bleed to death.
"Do you know where they went…" Argies pressed on
"It was north east I think"
"Good that means they haven't taken Sasuke to one of Orochimaru's hidden hideouts." Standing up Argies let the thought pass into his mind, the thought of just leaving these ninja to their fate "For the better of the Village" he said but duty knocked hard on his iron resolve, and like a bleeding heart a tear creased down his face. "In the Chunin games I wounded a ninja, perhaps fatally so, then I simply left them and their team alone to carry that hurt and that pain. The loss of a friend. This was my introduction to the role of Chunin, killing and indifference." Taking on a darker note Argies words spun as blood manifested and stuck to his body like gum. "Show me your blood, your crimson gold, let me see what your hearts can hold. My ninja of leaf, our Nation of Fire, we fall like feathers spilt by desire. Now I see your bodies all around me, as I have seen it before and once more I stand with you now as I was then, to share in all the despair, the pain and rage, so together we might rave when caught within destiny's cage." The ground under their feet began to heat, as if caught within a storm the blood began to beat, and lifted with fiery steam, they began to thrash and scream. "Now I ask you all, let your bloods speak freely, what in this world is worth fighting if I can abandon a friend so that I can save so many more?"
Their bodies stood up, not alive but dead, they opened their mouths to everyone's dread. "Execute them, Execute them, we must execute them." They said as one, their words reverberating in Argies mind.
"There is only so much of your power I can wield" The blood ninja whispered, casting his eyes around this dark place with him at its centre. "I can save your friends, the few that remain, or I can seek vengeance with the strength of your disdain." Undecided they let him speak, and so he weighed their options aloud so that they might make a sound decision. "Know this, the ninja who killed you were more powerful than you all combined, so why now would you think me any different with your power in me confined."
"Execute them, Execute them, You must execute them" They repeated and yet this time their eyes looked down on the ninja scattered to the ground, their life slowly fading away. "Execute them, Execute them, You must Execute them"
In the echoes of his mind Argies noticed that singular difference. "You"
Black faded back into the green of the forest as light broke free from the sky and cut through the spell of his mind. The grass painted red with blood no longer as now tendrils of blood wisps held to Argies. No longer thrashing in rage or burning with anger, they held onto Argies so that he might save their friends, and so he did. Pressing his hands to each of the fallen a little of the tendril wisps faded as wounds were healed and their companions brought to peace.
"What happened?" Hakari's voice shone out, as Argies mind was still caught between worlds
"That is all I can do for now" He said kneeling by the last of the fallen to be saved. "We should continue on with our mission, it is up to the medical teams to take them back to safety"
Hakari pressed a hand gently to Argies shoulder "You didn't use their blood like I thought you would" her soft reassurance making him feel weak for the trial he faced between worlds, and the emotions running through him from the voices' souls. "Though now… will you still be able to face the enemy ahead without that power?"
"I can try, we can all try." He looked across at Amoroto, and then facing Hakari once again he let his hands shake and his body straighten to their realities. "These Chunin may have died and so to might we, but for a friend, for a comrade, for this Nation of ours Hidden in the Leaves I can try. We can all try."
Ikiyothro raised his voice once again, now with his wounds sealed. "Don't give them time to use their *gasp* stronger Jutsus." He blacked out and just in time for Tensue's first medic team to arrive.
"You guys go ahead, we've got the wounded from here."
"How many more squads are still on their way?"
"One squad per a clan born ninja, I'm afraid that was all we could spare"
"Let's hope no one else gets seriously injured"
"Or dies…"
…