Lee found the others in a bush on the cliff.
"Lee! Setsuki! Thank God you both are safe." Tenten says.
"Shh." Neji responds.
"What happened? You both look rugged." Tenten whispers. Lee knelt down and sits me down gently.
"We took a tumble but we're fine." I whisper, giving her a reassuring smile.
"Oh, well at least you're okay. You had us worried!" Tenten replies. Lee had been shaking his head since I started talking, and it captured my curiosity.
"Please do not lie, Setsuki-san." Lee says, staring into my eyes.
"W...what..?" I ask.
"You are hurt Setsuki-san. You are anything but fine!" Lee exclaims.
"Shh!" Neji hisses. Lee turns to Neji with a glare, pointing at him.
"Do not shush me! I am-"
"Shut up you idiot!" Neji hisses, glaring back at Lee. I hadn't noticed Tenten was already rolling up the leg of my sleeve and taking my leg weights off.
"It's okay Lee, it's fine, it's a small cut!" Tenten says, poking a small cut on my leg. I jump.
"Ow! Tenten!" I whine. Tenten frowns.
"I'm sure these leg weights wouldn't help, you need to take them off." She says.
"But Tenten-!"
"No! You're taking them off, right now!" Tenten argues, about to take the other one off. I put my hand out to stop her when suddenly Lee's head hit the ground near my foot. Neji was laying on top of him. Tenten and I stop fighting to stare at them.
"Stop fighting you two!" Naruto gushes. Neji rolls off Lee and sits up, wiping his mouth with a sickened expression and began coughing. Lee's eyes were just wide and he lay there frozen. Naruto folds his arms with a huff.
"Er.. Lee?" I inquire, waving my hand in front of his face which didn't seem to change expression.
"Ah just leave him." Tenten says. Neji growls quietly towards Naruto who ignored him. Tenten reached into her pocket and pulled out a small bandaid, though big enough to cover the cut near my ankle. I was surprise, how the hell could such a small cut cause to much pain? I wince when she applied the bandaid, then peer out through the bushes. Tenten puts a hand on my shoulder.
"Don't get excited, we can't go rushing out alright?" She says. I give her a blank expression. "..? You weren't thinking about rushing out?"
"No.." I lie.
"Good." Tenten huffs, crossing her arms.
"Shh.. the enemy was nearby.." Neji mentions. "There's still a chance that he is still there..." He activates his Byakugan again. "I can see it!" He exclaims. "23 degrees southwest, 12.3 degrees southeast, 8.1 degrees southeast, one 24.11 degrees northwest, and 14 degrees northeast."
"Should we go out and take them down?" Naruto asks. Neji gives a nod, and they all jump off, leaving me there. I fold my arms, how dare they. I carefully stand up, and after a minute, I heard shouting.
"Please help me!"
I gasp slightly. "Lee?!" I call, looking around. I saw the others head in one direction, so I was about to run out after them, but as soon as I put pressure on my leg, I cry out in pain because it was almost unbearable, and I fell over again. I've never felt so useless before. They must have heard me because before I knew it, Tenten and Neji were beside me within the blink of an eye.
"Setsuki you need to rest!" Tenten gushes.
"But.. but Lee-san called for help!" I whine.
"He's fine.. he got his foot stuck on a rope and isn't capable of freeing himself." Neji huffs, as if insulting his teammate.
"The enemy disappeared!" Lee called out. Neji began looking around carefully with his Byakugan.
"I swear the guys I was fighting just turned into boulders or something!" Tenten mentions. I sit up again.
"Maybe it was a transformation jutsu?" I suggest. Neji shakes his head.
"No.. they seem to be some sort of illusion.." He says. I heard a loud static noise, and when I turned my head I saw bolts of electricity coming straight for us. None of us could get away in time, so we got struck by it. The pain of this was unbearable, like thousands of sharp needles stabbing in and out really fast all over your body, your blood feels like it's acid and burning you from the inside. No one could control the cries that escaped their mouthes, especially me. Neji and Tenten fell over right when the electricity stopped. I was on the verge of being unconscious, my body was twitching all over the place as if electricity was conducting inside of me, and it still hurt.
I heard something hit the ground near my head, but I couldn't open my eyes. "Ah, warm corpses." I swear I heard someone speak, but I couldn't focus properly, I blacked out.
When I became conscious again, I could feel my body bobbing up and down, and multiple footsteps running.
"But are you sure he'll be alright in there?" Tenten's voice asks.
"We're going back for him, so of course he will be!" Naruto's loud voice answers. My hand twitches as I open my eyes slowly. The left side of my body felt like it was hanging over something, and my right arm was wrapped around something. When my vision became clear after a few seconds, all I could see was a rocky ground passing by very quickly.
"But was the chakra seal really necessary?" Lee's voice asks, and it was rather close to my ear. I lift my head and turn it to the right, coming inches away from Lee's. I blink, he was.. carrying me?
"I said it before, he may have more powers hidden within him. It's to make sure, just in case." Neji's voice answers.
"But still...! Setsuki-san! You're awake!" Lee says as soon as he looks at me. I still felt heavy and tired, so I just nod in response. "How are you feeling?"
"Uh.. I dunno.. okay, I suppose." I reply, looking ahead.
"Maybe we should have left Setsuki there to guard that kid!" Naruto mentions.
"Kid..?" I inquire. Neji stops running, and so everyone else does too to look at him.
"That is a good idea. Though I didn't expect it to come from you, Naruto." Neji says. Naruto growls under his breath. Neji looks at Lee. "Lee, take Setsuki back to that building to keep that kid secure. She wont be much help if we get into another fight down there."
"Hey! I am perfectly fine!" I exclaim, trying to get down, but Lee showed no intention of letting go of my legs, so I couldn't get down.
"No you are not!" Lee argues. I frown at Lee.
"Yes I am!" I exclaim.
"No! You are not!"
"Yes I-"
"No you are not!" Lee raises his voice.
"Lee knock it off-"
"You are not either!" Lee cuts Tenten off, facing her.
"What? Lee I'm perfectly fine!" Tenten says.
"Yes you are!" Lee says. "But you are not!" He looks at me.
"I am fine!" I exclaim. Lee took a deep breath.
"No! You are not fine Setsuki-san!"
"Yes I am!" I argue.
"Shut up!" Neji gushes.
"YOU'RE NOT FINE!" Lee and I both shout at Neji suddenly. An awkward silence was then created, Neji rubs his forehead.
"... So take Setsuki back, and meet us down the bottom." Neji finishes explaining. Lee suddenly stood up straight, as if saluting with no hands. I was close to losing balance until I plop my hands on both his shoulders and took a firm grip. I'm glad I did too, because I almost fell off when he started running back the opposite way.
"So.. Lee-san?"
"Yes, Setsuki-san?"
"Who is this 'kid' they keep talking about?" I ask.
"Oh, well that Raiga guy had a child strapped to his back in this bag, and the child has some sort of magical power that gives Raiga strength! We managed to separate them both, and we think Naruto-kun may have already defeated Raiga! But to be sure we are going to investigate! But we cannot allow the child to try and trick us!" Lee explains in one deep breath. "Naruto-kun put a chakra seal on the building to ensure the child does not escape, but now you are awake, perhaps you can keep an eye on him!"
"Ohhhhh.." I reply, only catching a bit of that. "Yosh! Then I will make sure the kid doesn't get up to any mischief!"
"That is indeed good news!" Lee says, stopping suddenly.
"..? What are we stopping for?" I inquire.
"Because the building is here." Lee says, turning to the left. There was a small shed-like building made from wooden planks. How did I not see that just now?
"Oh.. of course!" I giggle. Lee laughs and carries me to the door, and lowers me down so I was sitting on the ground, leaning against it.
"Setsuki-san."
"Yes?" I look up at Lee as he stands up straight. His eyes were fixed on mine.
"Please stay safe." He says. I give him a nod, and he starts running back after the others.
"Lee!" I call out. Lee stops and looks back.
"What is it Setsuki-san?"
"You be careful too, okay?" I call out. Lee formed a smile on his face, and he gave me two thumbs up before continuing to run down the slope.
"Who's there..?" I hear a petite voice. I look at the door.
"You must be that kid they're talking about!" I exclaim. "I'm Kuromizu Setsuki."
"... You're one of those Konoha ninjas... I want Raiga.." He spoke. I look up at the seal tag stuck to both doors. It was one of the simple chakra seals that can easily be broken. I carefully stand up, leaning on one foot, and do a hand sign.
"Release." I say, the tag burst into flames and burned to ashes within a few seconds. I open the door and hop inside, and saw a small kid tied to a pole with a tiny bit of rope. The boy looks up from the ground at me.
"What are you doing?" He asks. I hop over and sit on the ground beside the pole.
"I'm not gonna make you sit in here alone." I say, he seemed so innocent looking, how could this boy be 'bad'? His red eyes stare into mine with surprise.
"But you.. you're with them.. the other guys that killed Raiga.." He says. "Why are you concerning over me..?"
"Uh, well I was told to come keep an eye on ya. So, here I am." I explain. The boy moved his head slightly so he could see out of the slightly open door. "What's up?"
"Raiga..."
"Don't worry kid. You're better off in our hands." I say.
"My name is Ranmaru.."
"Ranmaru? Hey, listen, instead of worrying about that Raiga, tell me about yourself!"
Ranmaru's eyes became distant, he reluctantly started talking. He told me everything about him, how he was an orphan who was found by Raiga and that they've been together since. It was kind of touching really. I then heard the door slowly creak open. I instantly tense up and take hold of a kunai in my pouch.
I look over my shoulder and blink. It was the guys. I smile at them.
"Setsuki? Why are you inside the building?" Neji asks.
"I was talking to Ranmaru!" I exclaim. "What about Raiga?"
"He's gone." Neji states.
They all gathered around Ranmaru as he retold his past to them, making everyone realize he's not a bad person.
There was a short silence after the story, the second time hearing it had me in tears. "It's so sad!" I sniffle.
"Calm down Setsuki!" Tenten groans.
"Hmm.. I know! First lets eat some curry of life and get better!" Naruto suggests.
"That's right! You will get some nutrition!" Lee exclaims.
"Don't you think that will make his health worse?" Tenten argues.
"You're not really going to eat it are you Naruto?" Neji grumbles.
"Well, you see? After eating it several times, I feel like I've been getting stronger!" Naruto exclaims.
Naruto unties Ranmaru and carries him on his back. "Until you can walk on your own, I'll be your body! Okay?" Naruto says. Ranmaru nods.
Suddenly I felt my own body being lifted off the ground. Lee was holding me in his arms.
"Setsuki-san! Until you can walk on your own, I will be your body! Okay?" He says.
"Lee you just stole Naruto-kun's wor-"
"Lee what are you up to?" Tenten asks with a suspicious expression.
"I am helping Setsuki-san! What does it look like!"
I couldn't help but laugh. "Thank you Lee."
He shines a bright smile and I could imagine the thumb pointing up.
"I.. have one request." Ranmaru says. "Please.. take me to Raiga's body."
We all look at each other then they decided to do so.
They took us back out on the mountains to where I saw Raiga's body buried beneath a large pile of rubble. Both his hands were poking out, holding the swords to the air.
"Byakugan... Just as I thought, I can't find his life signs." Neji says.
"Can you see it, Ranmaru?" Naruto asks.
I felt slightly scared, after my encounter with Raiga and his attack. I didn't even notice myself gripping onto his shirt.
"Is it alright now?" Naruto asks Ranmaru.
"Yeah."
"Let's go. Our mission is complete." Neji says, then everyone starts running back to Sanshou-san's curry shop.
We met up with Karashi along the way.
"Sanshou-baachan! We're back!" Naruto exclaims.
"Karashi-kun's here too!" Lee says, kicking the guy in the back, forcing him to move towards her. Karashi drops to his knees and wails.
"M-Mum! I'm sorry! Please forgive me!"
"Please forgive him! From now on, he will become good again and will work to help this Curry of Life shop!" Lee exclaims.
"Lee if you keep moving around you're gonna drop me-"
Sure enough, Lee stepped backwards too fast and I slipped out of his hands, landing straight on my butt.
"Ow! Lee!" I growl.
"Baka!" Tenten smacks Lee one over the head. Lee was on the ground and took my hand, looking up with tears running down his face and a nice bruise on his forehead.
"P-Please forgive me Setsuki-san!" He whines.
Sanshou-san turns around and slams a plate of the black oozing curry on the counter.
"I will only forgive you... after you eat, right?" She says, staring Karashi straight in the eye. Lee stands up and brushes himself off then offers a hand to me, but I shake my head, afraid he'll drop me again.
"Wow it looks good! If he isn't gonna eat it I will!" Naruto exclaims.
"I have some ready for everyone else, too!" Sanshou-san says.
Lee suddenly burst up in the air with a cheer. I facepalm – he would've dropped me just now.
"Oh my. What a sickly-looking child, huh?" Sanshou says, taking notice of Ranmaru.
"Yeah. Can you prepare some for him, too?" Naruto asks.
Karashi finally gets up and takes a bite of the curry, his eyes watered majorly.
"300 Spice Punishment Curry, isn't it?" Sanshou-san says. Karashi continues to eat it anyway.
"Spicy! It's spicy. But it's good. It's good, Mum!" Karashi mutters with his mouthful.
"Everyone's curry is ready!" Sanshou-san says.
I was so full my stomach couldn't possibly fit anymore in it if I tried. Groaning and moaning laying on the floor holding my stomach, it irritated both Neji and Tenten, because Lee was exactly the same as me.
"I told you two not to eat so much!" Tenten gushes.
"I w-won though!" I say. Which I did. I actually won our eating competition. By half a plate! I was regretting it though.
Naruto and Ranmaru started discussing things about the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist, but I wasn't listening.
"It's getting pretty late outside.. how about we all go to be-" Tenten was cut off by the snoring coming from both Lee and I. She sighs and shakes her head with a grumble.