Chapter 3 Still too early to die! The beast awakens!
Kurenai's House
The smell of smoke and flowers mixed in the air as Asuma and Kurenai discussed the direction of their respective teams while enjoying the brief off time they were given.
"...and then all three of them go tumbling down! Mission accomplished but in the most embarrassing way possible." Kurenai finished as the two adults laughed at the story.
Asuma took a drag of his cigarette. "You seem to be enjoying your team more than you thought." He said as Kurenai smiled and nodded in agreement. The last three months have been a true learning experience for her as much as it was for the young genins in her employ.
"Yeah. They're all destined for great things and that's why I'm going to give them their first C ranked mission."
Asuma nearly dropped the cigarette he was smoking before he recomposed himself. "You can't be serious..." He said. "How many missions have ya'll actually done? 7? 8 D ranked?"
"12 and one of them could of been classified a C ranked mission!" Kurenai said getting a little upset in Asuma's lack of confidence.
"Aren't you always saying that there teamwork could be better?" Asuma said. "What if Zoro and Kiba have one of their little spats and blow your cover? They could get you or Hinata hurt." He finished with obvious concern in his tone.
"What are you trying to say!" Kurenai said as anger started to get the better of her. "That I'm not a good judge of ability or able to take care of my team?"
"No! I just..." He said catching himself not wanting this to turn into a shouting match. "You should think this over a little more. Your team is strong and gifted that's for sure, but they might not be ready for this jump."
Kurenai slowly started to calm down. "We have some time before I was going to pick there next mission. I'll give it a little more thought." She said biting her lip. Asuma had planted a seed of doubt in her that wasn't being washed away. She would definitely have to give this more thought.
Roads of Konoha
Ino was on cloud nine. For the first time in several weeks she was going to get some alone time with a certain green haired swordsman. Last time they had some time off Naruto showed up and ruined her plans. But not this time, she had fixed it so he wouldn't be showing up anytime soon. Before she made the final turn towards his apartment she checked how she looked in a nearby window. She smiled. Then the thoughts of the fox whiskered boy teasing her enter her mind. She quickly shook it off.
'I just want some alone time with a friend without King Annoying messing with us. This isn't a date or something!' She thought and laughed out loud earning some confused looks from people passing by. She made the final turn and walked up the stairs musing about what they would do today.
"Good morning Ino." Hinata said as she prepared to ring the doorbell.
"Good morning Hinata." She replied. "HINATA!" Ino screamed surprising the shy girl. "W-w-what are you doing here!" She asked.
"Well I'm taking Zoro out to eat this morning. Kiba was supposed to join us but his mom forced him to go train with her so he couldn't make it." Hinata answered.
Ino's train of thought stopped when Hinata said that she was taking Zoro out to eat and missed the whole entire second sentence. Her mind raced. Before she could say anything in response the door swung open and a half asleep Anko stuck her head out of the door.
"What's with all the noise out here this early in the morning!" She complained then she looked at who was standing at her door and a mischievous smirk formed on her lips. "You two girls here to see my little Zoro?" She asked.
The two girls unable to comprehend the sudden mood swing just nodded.
"Hold on. I'll get him for you." Anko said as she left the door. "Zoro! Two pretty girls are here to see you! It's bad to keep a lady waiting like that."
"What are you talking about...ANKO! PUT SOME DAMN CLOTHES ON!" Zoro yelled.
"What it's not like you haven't seen me like this before. It's not like I'm naked." Anko said. Ino and Hinata stood flabbergasted at what was transpiring.
"I swear I'll never understand that snake woman..." Zoro said as he exited the apartment with a light red tinge on his cheeks. "Yo Hinata."
"Good Morning, Zoro." Hinata said returning the greeting with a smile.
"Ino? Wasn't expecting you this morning."
"Morning Zoro. I was in the neighborhood so I decided to drop by." Ino said with a nervous chuckle. This was not going as planned.
"Where's dog boy?" Zoro asked.
"Well his mom wanted him to train this morning." Hinata replied.
"Damn Kiba. I change my day to make time for this and he doesn't even show." Zoro said.
"You know how she gets. It wouldn't be wise for him to disobey her." Hinata said.
"It can't be helped. Ino do you want to join us?"
The question snapped Ino back to reality. She had been observing Hinata's newly gained composure around the boy who she uses to fear. "Umm yeah." She finally spurted out.
The three genin headed out with Hinata and Zoro walking a couple of steps ahead of Ino. Ino silently watched as the two teammates carried on a conversation without giving her a second glance. As they carried on Ino hated to admit she was growing increasingly jealous.
'This sucked worse than if I would have brought Naruto...' She inwardly mused as they made the turn into the restaurant.
As the meal went on Ino's mood declined. Sure they included her in their discussions now, but it was still not enough for her taste.
"I'm gonna go take a leak. I'll be right back." Zoro suddenly said.
He got up and left the two girls alone. She glanced over at the timid girl. 'I need to know.' Ino thought.
"We are just friends Ino." Hinata said.
"What?" Ino replied.
"I'm just letting you know that me and Zoro are just friends. I'm sorry if I made you think otherwise." Hinata said looking the blonde kunoichi directly in the eyes.
Ino inwardly kicked herself. They had been friends for a while and she let her jealousy get in the way. Just like her past confrontations with Sakura.
"Hinata I..."
"It's ok. Zoro and Kiba had been so kind to me since we started this team that I wanted to show my appreciation. Anyway there's someone else..." Hinata trailed off as her cheeks turned slightly red at the thought.
Ino laughed and put her arm around Hinata. Both of the girls looked up to see Zoro staring at them.
"Girls in general are just weird." He said earning a punch from Ino.
Konoha - Root Hidden Headquarters.
Danzo sat at his desk looking over the progress report of Zoro's development. His brow furrowed as his fears of the kids growing power was becoming a reality. His spies kept a constant eye on him to spot any sign of weakness and the only thing so far was genjustu. Zoro's team wasn't doing anything that warranted him to go against an opponent strong enough to even put a dent in this monster.
"Fu." Danzo called out.
Fu phased in from whatever shadow he was watching from. "Yes Danzo?" He answered.
"I have a mission for you involving Roronoa Zoro." Danzo said.
The name caused Fu to tense up. The memories that he experienced from the boy still showed up in his darkest nightmares. For this reason he hated the green haired boy.
"What is it sir?" Fu answered.
"I want you to go to find out when Kurenai will go pick up another quest for his team and make sure that they get this one." He said passing him a sheet of paper. "And make sure you retrieve Hinata's Byakugan if she dies with him. Village secrets must be protected."
"Yes!" He answered as he phased out to make preparations.
Konoha - Mission Assignment Station
Kurenai waited patiently behind two other Jonin instructors to get there next team mission. She had mulled over this choice for the last couple of days. Should she take her team to the next level like she had thought they were ready for or should she go should she side with caution and stick with what they know?
"Ah Kurenai. Hear to retrieve a mission for team eight?" The attendant asked.
"Yeah... I want to get a C-rank mission." She said.
"Oh. This is their first one right?" The attendant asked.
"Yep. But they are more than capable of this." She said gaining more confidence in her team at each passing second.
"Well. I have the perfect mission for a first time job. Simple item retrieval. There is a small town on the border of the lands of fire and earth. They have lost their village symbol when a thief stole then sequentially dropped it in a forest full of dangerous beasts. The villagers have an idea where the symbol's location is and they want us to provide people to retrieve it since they lack the skills to get by the beasts." The attendant said passing her the paper with an in depth overview of the mission. Kurenai looked it over.
"I'll take it." She answered with a smile. As she turned away the attendant gave an evil smirk and watched her walk out.
"Wha? When did I get here?" The attendant asked.
"Man we've been here for hours. Maybe you've been working too hard." His colleague said.
"Maybe you're right. I don't remember a thing since I got here."
Several miles outside of Konoha
The sun's light illuminated the forest lined path as a group of four headed for the outer reaches of the Land of Fire.
"Ah first mission outside the village!" Kiba declared as team eight started their mission.
"Like a rabid dog out of his pen..." Zoro said.
Hinata and Kurenai smiled at the comment as Kiba ignored Zoro.
"Not even you can keep me down today, stupid swordsman." Kiba retorted as he smiled and the puppy on his head let out a playful bark.
They might not all expressed it as much as Kiba did, but they all shared the same amount of excitement about this milestone of their ninja careers. Kurenai walked behind her charges, mentally taking notes of how observant they were of their surroundings.
'This is only the beginning of the mission and they seem a little too relaxed. Maybe I should do … something... to...' Her thoughts trailed. There was an unease flowing from the forest. Konoha was barely out of sight, but still too close for even the brashest...
"Do you sense that dog boy?" Zoro asked as he stopped and put his hand onto Wado's hilt.
Hinata looked at Zoro confused.
"Yeah. There scent reeks of killer intent." Kiba answer as the puppy's demeanor changed too.
Hinata turned her confused gaze to Kiba. 'Maybe I should activate my Byakugan...' She thought as she could not sense what her two male colleagues did.
As soon as she focused the required amount of chakra to her eyes to activate her family's specialty, something darted out of woods straight at her. She let out a gasp and quickly tried to drop to a fighting stance to intercept the attacker. She feared that the attack would hit home but Kiba had already parried the blow looking more bestial than she had ever seen.
"Hinata, snap out of it! There's more out there." Kiba growled. He began to push the attacker back and they started fighting.
Hinata didn't say a word and dropped into the basic gentle fist stance and went to assist Kiba.
"You should worry about yourself." A voice called from behind her. She was so focused on her frontal enemy that even with her nearly 360 degree vision she didn't notice him. She turned to block whatever blow she was going to receive only to hear metal clash against metal. Zoro had placed the Wado in front of her as he stood behind her. The second attacker cursed under his breath as he futilely struggled against Zoro's blade. Hinata took this opportunity to attack the attacker hitting him several precision strikes before he fell to the ground all chakra shut down. Zoro and Hinata looked over at Kiba just to see him hovering over a cowering form.
"Enough." Kurenai ordered. She didn't even have to act. Even with Hinata's slow start, her students had overcome a basic ambush... But why would one be set up this close to the village.
Kurenai stood back as the two tied up ninjas sat on the ground wondering what their fate would be.
"I say we kill them." Zoro said finally breaking the silence causing the two prisoners to freak out and the rest of team eight to give Zoro a look of surprise.
"N-no! Not yet. We don't even know where they are from!" Hinata protested. "There head protectors are so faded I can't even make out what village they originate from."
"Yes, Hinata is right on this Zoro..." Kurenai said. "So where are you two from?"
"It won't change our fate. We failed the mission so our fates are sealed." The black haired prisoner said after a few seconds of silence.
Kurenai got nervous. 'A mission!' She thought. She looked over at Hinata. 'Where they lying in wait to kill her for her eyes?'
"Tell us what your mission was." Kurenai asked not caring where they were from anymore.
"Our mission..." The brown haired prisoner spoke.
"Speak. We'll just turn you in to our village for prosecution. Tell us your mission and we'll "go easy" on you." Kurenai said.
They both knew what "go easy" meant. Less torture.
"OK!" The brown haired ninja said. "It was to..." He was cut off as two well placed kunai where implanted into each of their foreheads and they both fell over dead. Team eight turned around to see two masked ANBU ninjas standing there.
"Are you ok?" One of the masked ninjas asked.
"Yeah. We had this under control." Kurenai said. "Your actions where a bit extreme."
"Sorry." The second one said as he put his hands on both of the dead ninjas and bugs swarmed onto them until they both vanished from sight. "We have been hunting these two for some time now. They were marked for death."
Kurenai looked at the two. "Ok..." She reluctantly said. "I guess we will continue on our mission then."
The two masked ninjas nodded and then disappeared from sight as team eight continued their journey.
"I told you two chunins wouldn't work on that group." Fu complained as he took off his mask.
"I knew they wouldn't either." Torune, of the Aburame clan, said as he did the same. "But it proved an easier way to place the tracking bug on them since they left the village before we had a chance too." Fu decided to stop the discussion there as the two root ninjas stood quietly watching the four ninjas walk out of sight before they started to tail them.
Outskirts of target village
Team eight quietly walked through the increasingly rocky terrain showing they were reaching the fire and earth border. After a couple of days of only seeing each other, they started to see children from the nearby village playing and coming out to observe the new faces to their small town. Zoro looked around. He had never walked this long on dry land without seeing some kind of big body of water. He looked out towards the border and saw towering mountains several times higher than the hokage monument in Konoha. He didn't show it outwardly but he was amazed.
"Hey Zoro look." Kiba said as he pointed towards the non walled village. "For a town surrounded by beast they sure spared the expense on fortifying there town." Zoro nodded in agreement.
'First the attack on leaving now this? Something is wrong with this mission.' Kurenai thought not wanting to worry her genins with her doubts and fears.
"Welcome to our village." An old man greeted them. "Are you the ninjas from Konoha? A little younger than what I was expecting, but I'm glad you showed up when you did. Let me introduce myself. I'm Koji this village's chief."
"Hello Koji. I am Kurenai and this is my team Hinata, Kiba, and Zoro." Kurenai said as she returned the introduction. "We are here to solve you little theft problem."
"Step into my house." Koji said as he ushered the group. "We can talk details in there."
"You guys walk around the village and see if you can find any clues." Kurenai said as they reached the chief's house door. "Keep an eye on him." Hinata and Kiba nodded as Zoro silently seethed.
Inside the hut.
Candles lit the small room as the chief sat on the ground and Kurenai joined him.
"I was surprised at the age of the team that Konoha sent." The chief said as he filled his pipe.
"Wild animal slayings are handled by a team of my caliber. It's a perfect opportunity to hone their skills." Kurenai answered as she refused the pipe that the chief had offered her.
Koji took a deep drag from his pipe. "Wild animal?" He said as he let the smoke escape from his mouth.
Kurenai showed him the mission assignment form.
"This is my request but the information is off. This "beast" that thing refers to is actually a missing nin from Iwagakure. He has been terrorizing the country side for months. The chunin team that Iwagakure sent was slaughtered by this dual pole-axe wielding villain." Koji said.
Kurenai's eyes widened in disbelief. This mission was a set up! Thank god this old man had told her the truth before she walked her team into a losing situation.
"Thank you Koji. You are correct though. My team is way too new to take on a task this difficult. I apologize but we must return to Konoha. We will send a proper team to dispose of your problems as soon as we get back." Kurenai said as she stood up and bowed.
"I understand. The rock ninjas where a brash bunch. They knew how difficult it would be to stop this guy and they went anyway..." Koji said as he shifted his pipe in his hands. "He put their heads on display when he came into town to get supplies as a warning to us."
"Will your village be safe while I retrieve a more experienced team?" Kurenai asked as she stood in the door.
"Yeah we'll be safe. As long as we don't disturb him or deny him any of our food." Koji said smiling weakly. "At least stay for the night. The trip back will be long."
"We will." Kurenai said while trying to think of a way to break it to her team.
Village Inn
Hinata sat down watching Kiba and Zoro fight over whose fault it was that the mission got cancelled. Kurenai had briefly walked in and told them that the facts had changed and they where no longer qualified to do the mission. She knew that the boys fight was senseless because it was her fault. He looked down at her hands as she wondered if her weakness was bringing this team down. As much as Kiba and Zoro tried to uplift her confidence, she seemed to gain none of it. Both of them saved her at the beginning of the mission. She would have been dead if not for these two. She had to do something to prove to Kurenai, Kiba, Zoro, and mostly to herself that she wasn't the weakest link of this team.
"Hey! What are you doing! You're too young to drink that!" The innkeeper yelled as Zoro started to down a whole mug of beer.
"Who's gonna stop me..." Zoro said as she flashed the blade of one of his swords causing the innkeeper to back down.
Kiba laughed as Zoro continued to drink. "Ha moss head! I guess you'll be sleeping like a baby tonight!"
"Shut up dog breath! You shouldn't you be outside marking your territory on all these new trees." Zoro retorted causing Kiba to get back into his face and they started fighting once more as the innkeeper watched his property get destroyed.
'That's it!' Hinata thought. She slowly got up from her seat and snuck out of the door to make preparation for her new plan.
Late night boy's bedroom.
Hinata quietly snuck into the boy's room. Zoro was propped up against a wall. Swords on one side of him and an empty barrel of beer on the other side, while Kiba was sprawled out across the floor. Hinata tip toed two Kiba and opened up a bag of freshly prepared sleep powder. She sprinkled some on the nose of Kiba and Akamaru. She shook both of them to make sure it took effect. First gently then rough and neither of them stirred. She smiled at her success and started to walk over to Zoro. She once again noted the empty barrel and decided that he had done her work for her. She put some more on the boy and his dog again just to play it safe and then she dashed out of the room.
After a couple of seconds, Zoro opened his eyes. 'What is she up to?' He thought. He walked over to Kiba and kicked him in the stomach and he didn't even let out a yelp. He walked over to the window and saw Hinata run into the woods by herself.
"Crap!" He yelled. Kurenai burst out of her room to see what was going on. She looked at Zoro.
"Hinata just went into the woods by herself!" Zoro said.
All the blood left Kurenai's face. "Stay right here!" She ordered as she opened the window and jumped out and darted into the forest.
"Like that's going to happen!" Zoro declared as he followed Kurenai into the darkness of the forest.
Deep within the forest.
Hinata was had been searching the forest for what seemed like forever. She didn't see the symbol anywhere. She was sure that she was going the right way. She climbed onto of a rock and there she saw it. A clearance with piles of various precious gems, money but what caught her eye was a solid gold statue sitting on a stump. That had to be it! She quickly ran down to the clearance. She smiled as she got closer to the small statue. She had done it! She cleared the mission by herself! As she bent over to pick it up she heard a weird whistling coming from the forest. She looked around and the moon shined off of a metallic surface coming from the direction of the sound. She quickly hit the ground as the object whirled past her head and lodged itself into a tree. She looked up and saw the handle of a massive pole-axe.
"Ah I see that you have some skill ninja girl." A raspy voice called from the darkness. Hinata got to her feet as the owner of the voice walked into the lighted clearing. A large husky man with another massive pole-axe resting on his shoulders. He wore a Rock Village head protector with a line threw it. Hinata knew she was face to face with a missing nin.
"You after my treasure girl?" He asked as he collected his other axe.
Hinata dropped into the gentle fist stance.
The ex rock ninja let out a loud laugh and examined the blue haired girl that challenged him. "Hmmm leaf headband and white eyes. Well the gods have smiled upon me and delivered me a Hyuga." He said laughing. "Do you intend on fighting me?"
Hinata didn't reply but inched forward.
"At least tell me you name. I would like to know whose eyes I stole after I killed them." The voice sent a chill down Hinata's whole body. This was why Kurenai stopped the mission. This guy was out of their league!
"My name it Totaku." He said as he brought down one of his axes.
Hinata dodged the strike and hit him with as quick three hit combo before she increased the distance between them.
"Bwahahahahaha! Did a gnat just bite me?" Totaku gloated as her blows didn't seem to have any effect.
He started to walk towards her again when Hinata pulled her remaining sleep powder out and tossed it at the advancing man. Totaku simply moved his body to the side and let the bag flow by.
"Is that all you got." He said continuing his path towards the scared girl. "Come here this won't take lo..."
Hinata hit him in the stomach with a rapid blow mid sentence catching the man off guard and knocking the wind out of him. He stumbled back and Hinata tried to press the attack before she was met with the back of his right hand and sent soaring into a tree. She let out a cry of pain as she fell to the ground.
"Heh you got me good there..." Totaku said. "Maybe I'll pluck your eyes out then kill you." He said as he reached for the injured girl.
Then a hand reached out and blocked Totaku's advance.
"What the girl has a protector?" He said.
"Hinata, are you ok?" Someone asked. Hinata opened her eyes. And standing there bathed in the light of the moon was the green haired swordsman Zoro.
"I-I'll be ok..." She answered. Zoro turned his attention back onto the ex rock ninja. Pushing his hand back.
"You'll pay for hurting her." He said drawing Wado and Sandai out of there scabbards.
"Oh..." Totaku said grabbing both of his axes. "Three swords, green hair, leaf ninja with protector on his arm. You must be Zoro."
Hinata gasp. It didn't surprise her that he knew that she was a Hyuga but to know Zoro. But that didn't bother Zoro as he rust forward and they crossed weapons to signal the start of their fight.
~Forest 10 min earlier~
Kurenai rushed toward the chakra signature of Hinata. She noticed Zoro's moving in a sporadic manner but overall in their general direction, and Kiba still back in the village, so she focused on Hinata. She was going to the clearance to grab the symbol. She cursed under her breath. She would have to give Hinata the lecture of a life time. She saw Hinata stand on top of a rock. She didn't want to cry out not knowing where the missing nin was. She saw Hinata go for the statue and when she reached the rock that Hinata previously occupied something sprung. White binding straps wrapped around her body covering everything but her eyes.
"Well well look what we caught." A voice called out. "
You're not on the list of people to be killed by Totaku, Yuhi Kurenai." Kurenai was shocked that this unknown knew her full name.
"Let me see, kill Roronoa Zoro and if Hyuga Hinata shows up kill her too. But you and the Inuzuka boy must survive. Lets watch as two of your students die" The voice said as it forced Kurenai to look at the massive man stalk Hinata.
~Present~
"Your good boy." Totaku declared.
He couldn't gain any ground on Zoro and he wouldn't let him get anywhere near to the girl. Totaku towered over the smaller Zoro and brought both of his axes down into the ground. Zoro jumped back
"Nitoryu: Nigiri Tourou!" He yelled as he sent to slashed up the length of Totaku's body. Totaku's blood oozed out of the wound that Zoro had caused.
"Damn you..." He bellowed out. "I'll deal with you. He said as he held his wound. He reached into his pouch and pulled out two scrolls.
Zoro eyed him as he places both of them on the ground.
"RELEASE!" Totaku yelled.
Both burst open and all Zoro could see were the trees wavering in the wind.
Hinata looked opened up her eyes. Totaku was laughing and Zoro was just standing there motionless.
"My contact was correct! Genjustu is your weakness. Trying to fight you straight up was a mistake..." He said as he sliced Zoro's leg causing blood to gush from it.
Zoro let out a grunt of pain.
"What's the matter not so bad now?" He said as he cut Zoro's left arm.
Totaku was getting mad. The boy didn't waver or anything.
"Drop your sword! He said as he cut Zoro's right arm.
Zoro didn't drop his sword, fall to a knee, or even grunt in pain this time. His distant eyes just peered forward.
"Huh! Your gonna be like that huh! Well you can die standing!" Totaku said as he brought both of his axes down.
"STOP IT!" Hinata yelled as she rushed to Zoro's side.
"R..r..release..." A voice that Zoro recognized as Hinata's said.
Zoro blinked a couple of times as his eyes met with Hinata's. He realized that they were both on the ground her on top of him.
"Good. We've gotta teach you to dispel genjustu properly one day. You could have died..." Hinata said while smiling weakly.
He put his arm around her and then he felt it. A two shallow slashes down her back.
"Hahahaha! A girl had to save you!" Totaku said.
"Why Hinata!" Zoro yelled. "I could have taken that blow! You should..."
Hinata put her finger onto Zoro's lips signaling him to be quiet. "It's still too early for you to die." Hinata said with Dracule Mihawk's voice over hers.
Zoro mind went blank and the scar on his chest started to hurt. He remembered the day Mihawk said that to him. Zoro stood up and picked up Hinata. He gently propped her up against a tree.
"You gonna be ok?" He asked.
Hinata nodded.
Zoro closed his eyes and pulled his protector off of his arm and tied it around his head. He placed the Wado Ichimonji in his mouth and withdrew the Sandai Kitetsu and the Shusui. His eyes opened shadowed by the protector. All those around him where the first in the ninja world to witness Zoro stand as the master of the Santoryu.
"PFFFFSAHAAHAHAHA!" Totaku laughed. "What is this! An attempt to get me to laugh myself to death?"
Zoro let loose all the killer intent he had be holding back and make Totaku stop laughing and take a few steps back.
It even reached up to where Kurenai was being held. Her captor let out an anguish yell.
"NOT AGAIN! I DON'T WANT TO SEE THIS NIGHTMARE!" He yelled.
The owner disappeared into the forest and Kurenai was released. She quickly rushed over to Hinata and started to heal her.
"N-n-now you have backup." Totaku stammered.
Zoro shook his head. "She won't get involved."
"Cocky punk!" He yelled as he rushed Zoro bringing both axes down.
Zoro blocked both of them with the Shusui.
As much as he pushed down Zoro didn't move. Zoro sliced him with the Sandai and Wado causing another wound on his chest.
"No way! There's no way I will be defeated by the genin I was suppose to kill! This was supposed to be easy money!" Totaku yelled as he stumbled backwards.
Zoro took a knee pointed both the Sandai and the Shusui in the air and brought the Wado behind them.
"OniGiri!" Zoro yelled as he appeared behind Totaku after a strike than no one could make out.
Zoro stood up and sheathed all of his swords in their respective scabbard as Totaku fell over. Dead before he hit the ground.
Next day outskirts village
All of the villagers lined up and gave a fond farewell to their heroes. There nightmare was over. Kurenai, a bandaged jacket-less Hinata, and Zoro caring a sleeping Kiba and Akamaru.
"I still don't see why I have to carry them..." Zoro complained as Kiba snored in his ear.
"Well Hinata used too much powder so they'll be out for another day or so." Kurenai said.
"I'm sorry Zoro." Hinata said as she grabbed Akamaru.
"Maybe this will help." Zoro sighed as Kiba started to fight an invisible enemy. Kurenai let out a little laugh and then opened up her bingo book. She had to double check...
Konoha - Root Hidden Hideout
"Totaku was an A-ranked missing nin!" Danzo yelled as he slammed his fist thru his desk.
Fu and Torune stood silent. He was furious at Fu's breakdown and when Torune gave his report of the battle that drove him over the edge.
"That was a jonin level mission that team eight blazed thru with only two people!" Danzo vented.
He knew his chances would diminish in the next couple of weeks. He wanted Zoro dead or in his fold. But with the chunin exams coming up he had to worry about security. The village does come first after all...
Sorry for the delay. I killed my computer -_-. Well I hope this can hold you over till next chapter when Zoro has his first runin with Orochimaru.
R/R
~B.O.X.~