Chapter Four;
The six were up early the next morning. Just as the sun was rising. The men had been made to sleep on the pull out couch. Which was not very comfortable, if they said so themselves. Today the rebel leaders had to migrate the women from one of the hideouts from the west to the very south. It would be safer there, for them. Then they had to lead the men from the hideout to the eastern kingdom hideout, where they would begin training.
The girls strapped on their weapons, and medical pouch. They ordered the boys to leave their cloaks behind. Explaining that it would hinder their movement, since they didn't have chakra anymore. It seemed to depress them slightly, but nonetheless they complied. Evelynn promised they would get new clothes that would be more suitable once they were in the western hideout. They always had extra, since every so often they recruited new members for their cause.
Shoto grabbed the scroll she and Evelynn had taken from Hanzo's men. It was a message that his men in the western kingdom should travel to the north, because he had a battle plan he wanted to discuss with them face to face. It also mentioned that there was a prophecy hidden in stone in Lion's Valley. Mira confirmed that her mother use to tell her stories of it, but she couldn't remember. So Evelynn took note to search for this prophecy once they reached the eastern lands.
Now, the four walked through the thicket of trees, heading towards Dragon Valley's outlaw hideout. They were casually walking, for now. Hanzo's men wouldn't be scouting the area for at least another three hours. It would take two days to reach the hideout. It was unnerving to the Akatsuki members. Their lives now rested in the hands of three young women. One of which was a short tempered, foul mouthed, rebellion leader. The second who was a cool, cunning, lead strategist. The third who was a meek, soft spoken, head medic. Well, it could be worse, right?
"So, what was your world like, anyways?" Evelynn asked. She was casually stepping over tree roots and fallen branches with her fingers laced behind her head.
"It was.." Itachi started, but trailed off. What was his world like..? It wasn't the best, but it wasn't the worst. Some places had trees as far as the eye could see, and others were just dry desert.
"Not home, hm." Deidara mumbled.
Personally, he didn't give a damn if they ever found a way back or not. Since he deflected from Iwagakure, and became a terrorist for hire he had been relatively happy. Then, the Akatsuki forced him to join their organization, and took that happiness from him. Of course, he was still able to perform his art. The beautiful explosions always sent a rush of adrenaline through him. Yet, it wasn't the same. Nothing was the same since he joined the Akatsuki. When he was alone people respected him, in fear or what have you. When he joined Akatsuki he was the youngest member, as well as the newest. Therefore, he was placed with the dirty, low jobs. No one in Akatsuki really respected him, and in reality his boisterous and cocky personality was all a front. He hated Akatsuki, and he hated the shinobi nations. That was about it.
"I-it must have b-been terrible." Mira stammered, concerned edged in her voice.
"Well, no use thinking about it now, un." Deidara flashed the girl a grin, and Mira looked at her feet as a blush rose across her face.
Sasori eyed Deidara and Itachi. It was true, anyone could see Deidara's personality was all a front. At least, Sasori could. Being his partner and all. Sasuke, as it turned out, decided his revenge meant nothing. Apparently, some pink haired brat from his village, and some blonde knuckle-head convinced him of that. The thought had made Itachi happy, and Sasori knew the only reason the Uchiha was still in Akatsuki was so the organization didn't attack Konoha. Which was fine by Sasori, he had no interest in revealing secrets.
Personally, Sasori didn't care for the organization either. When he and Deidara kidnapped the Shukaku host Chiyo had been there to fight. Grandson and Grandmother were forced to fight. Now, don't get him wrong. Sasori cares nothing for Suna, and cared very little for his grandmother. The woman who had raised him, but never seemed to want to love him. Then again, she had been very depressed when she learned about the death of Sasori's parents. Which she lied to Sasori about. Still, she was his grandmother, she did raise him, and there was always that part of Sasori that would hold a small amount of gratitude for her. So, killing her had been one of the hardest killings he made. Not to say it broke him, but he wasn't quite the same afterwards.
Sasori was snapped from his thoughts as Evelynn slammed her side into his, and sent them both falling to the forest floor.
"What the hell?!" Sasori snapped. Only to see an arrow embedded into the ground where he once stood.
Evelynn got up, and helped the red-headed man up as well. Her eyes were narrowed in the direction the arrow came from. Apparently, while Sasori was lost in thought they had reached the edge of the forest, and were currently facing a vast field. Evelynn swung her pole axe down from her back, Shoto grabbed the axe head of her axe and chain, and Mira pulled out her dagger. Each one took a defense stance as six men on horseback rode towards them. They stopped a few yards away.
"By order of Hanzo, we've come to arrest you. You are called 'Evelynn of the Outlaws', are you not?" A man in elaborate armour asked. Apparently, he was the leader of the troop. "Also your right hands; Mira of the Healing Hand, and Shoto of the Bloody Chains."
"What if we are?!" Evelynn called back with a smirk. So, they were very well known, apparently.
"You have committed many acts of treason against your king. Come quietly, give us the names of your new comrades, and you may be shown mercy." The man ordered.
"Hanzo is no king of mine, for I do not serve a forced king!"
"Perhaps in your favour you would be willing to trade. The men for your freedom? After all, the more men Hanzo has, the stronger his army becomes." The man offered. The females knew better. These men did not believe in fairness, nor would they agree to a trade. Besides, why would they want to aid Hanzo's army? So, Evelynn called him on his bluff.
"You want them?!" She asked as she waved on of her arms out in a gesture towards them. "Come and claim them! If you can!"
On her taunt the men rushed forward on their steeds. Swords and bow and arrows at the ready. Shoto, with deadly accuracy, threw her axe head towards one of the archers. Her chain clanked as it unraveled from her hip. The man on horse tried to ride around the axe head, but with a flick of her wrist it embedded itself into his throat. She yanked back on the chain, and the axe head was removed, blood splattering everywhere as the man gurgled and choked on his own blood. As she pulled her weapon back she swung it slightly to the left, and it embedded itself into the back of the head of another rider. He slipped off the horse, and crashed to the ground. While she was occupied one of them had come around to her right side. He swung his sword down, and Shoto barely had time to dodge. Her thigh was cut open, and as she turned to face him Itachi ran forward. He still had a kunai, and used it to block the sword. He then ducked down, and kicked the man in his jaw with such force that was a sickening crack as his jaw broke. As the man fell to the ground, Itachi grabbed him by the arm, twisted it behind his back, and slit his throat. Shoto watched with slight awe, but mostly she was studying his movements. This must be the 'taijutsu' he was talking about.
"That was impressive." Shoto observed.
"We did say we'd help in any way we could." Itachi replied as he dropped the man to the ground.
Meanwhile, Evelynn had gone head to head with the leader of the troop. She was blocking his sword with her pole axe, and when she finally got the chance she swung her fist. The spikes that protruded from the knuckles of her gloves pierced his cheek with a disgusting crunch. The man hollered, and Evelynn pulled back. Then, she stabbed her pole axe into his stomach. Blood dripped from his mouth as his helmet fell off. Evelynn titled her head, and watched him with a thoughtful gaze.
"You may think Hanzo has won," she started. "But we will never give up our freedom. The war has only begun, rat. Go tell your 'king' that. From yours truly, of course."
With that Evelynn yanked her pole axe out of his stomach, and watched as he struggled onto his horse. He rode hastily towards Hanzo's kingdom, leaving his other two comrades behind. Just as Evelynn was turning around an arrow was shot at her, and embedded itself into her shoulder.
"Dammit!" She yelled as she yanked the arrow out. Before she could turn around Sasori jumpe forward, wrapped one arm around her waist, and the other was outstretched behind her. Evelynn grabbed his shoulder with her free hands, her other hand still occupied by her weapon, and turned her head slightly to look behind her. One of the archers had a dagger in a striking position, and Sasori had his kunai in the man's jugular. Evelynn turned so her back was against Sasori's chest, she pushed the red-headed man back a little. When he moved back, he ripped the kunai out. Blood sputtered from the wound, and a few splatters met Evelynn's face. She eyed the man with disdain. He was choking on words he couldn't speak. Evelynn swung her pole axe, and completely decapitated him. His head rolled away, and his body fell to the ground. Evelynn turned to Sasori, who was eying her with an impressed expression.
"I didn't ask for you fucking help." Evelynn snapped as she swung her pole axe into the strap on her back.
"That's an odd way to say thank you." Sasori drawled.
"That's because I fucking wasn't."
The two glared at each other, and then returned to join the others. Deidara had killed the fifth one by slicing his throat, as Itachi had done. The only difference was Deidara got a deep gash across his face, and a stab wound to his abdomen in the process. Fighting without chakra was a lot different. The men were learning that quickly. Mira had already healed Shoto, who was just finished drawing in her axe and in chain to her hip. Now, she was currently healing Deidara's wounds, and scolding him for being too careless. Deidara had a rather stupid grin on his face. One Itachi and Sasori took note of.
"Is everyone alright?" Evelynn asked. She had removed some gauze wrap from Mira's pouch, and was working on cleaning up her arrow wound in her shoulder.
"Oh, Evelynn, you sh-should let me h-heal that!" Mira scolded. Evelynn just waved her away as Shoto helped wrap the gauze around the wound.
"Save your strength. We still have a day and a half of traveling." Evelynn frowned. It was past noon, she could tell that. Apparently, the fights had gone on longer than they thought.
"Should you have let that man go?" Shoto asked coolly as she finished patching Evelynn up.
"Yes. I want Hanzo to know he doesn't have control over everyone." Evelynn replied firmly. "Do you still have the scroll?"
Shoto nodded, and showed her the object.
"Good. Let's get going then." Evelynn turned to the others as she spoke. Then, she took notice of the horses that were left behind. Slowly, a grin spread across her face. "We can just borrow these.."
Unfortunately, the shinobi did not known how to ride horseback. So Mira, Evelynn, and Shoto each hopped on a horse, and took the reigns. Deidara climbed on with Mira, Itachi jumped up behind Shoto, and Evelynn helped Sasori climb on behind her. Each man wrapped his arm around the women's waists. The girls nudged the horses forward, and they took off towards the hideout once more. The once Akatsuki members now aware just how dangerous these women could be. Heh, if they were honest with themselves, they really didn't mind.