Chapter 78
"Yes."
"Where have you been!?"
"Setsuki-chan!?" Lee's voice shouted from outside. I glanced towards the door.
"Where is Susumu?"
"Back home, I think." I replied. Lee burst into the building, almost colliding into me. He fell at Komaru's feet. Choji jogged in panting a few seconds later.
"Too... much... run..ing.."
"Who are these two?" Komaru asked.
"Ah, this is Lee, and Choji-kun!" I said.
Lee looked up at Komaru, then stood up, brushing himself off. "Who are you?"
"I think I remember you. You're still wearing that same green outfit." Komaru said. "Rock Lee, isn't it?"
"Yes! But who are you?"
"You don't recognise me?"
"... No!"
After a little explaining, Lee finally remembered Komaru-sensei, and our little reunion was soon interrupted when a crunch was heard by the door, and I don't mean the crunch of Choji eating chips. We all faced the door, a pair of cloaked figures stood over the floored door, one had stepped on and broken the feeble door.
They were holding someone hostage, a tight grip on their hair, causing them to bend at the knees. My eyes widened at the hostage's shocked face staring back at me.
"D-Daisuke-kun!" I stuttered, I glanced at the hooded people, their faces were hidden from sight. They wore full length black cloaks with dark purple rims.
"S-Setsuki!"
Lee stood up straight, in a stance. "I demand you release Daisuke-kun!"
"Seems a few mice have found our-" The one holding Daisuke was suddenly knocked backwards, by an unseen hit by Komaru. Komaru hit Daisuke forward, so he fell flat on his face with a loud grunt. I rushed over, but Komaru extended his arm out, stopping me.
"You're not to go engaging in battle with these guys." He ordered. Daisuke stood up, his fists clenched, he faced Komaru. "Who the hell are you?!"
"These guys are beyond your level. I'll keep them busy while you four escape." Komaru instructed. He looked serious.
"Oh, is that right?" The cloaked guy spoke.
"No! I'll be the one to destroy them!" Daisuke snarled, trying to shove Komaru out of the way. But Komaru didn't budge the slightest bit. His stamina was incredible. Komaru made intense eye contact with Daisuke.
"I know these are the men who killed your father, but you are no match for them. I can't let my student die in front of me."
Daisuke flinched a little. "... Komaru-sensei?"
Komaru faced the two cloaked figures, glaring. "These guys are ANBU hunters, they could kill you in the blink of an eye."
"I'm blushing." The cloaked guy said. "That's the little rat that you allowed to escape ten years ago."
"I remember. I said he'd die in the forest, but seems I was wrong. He's no different to his pathetic father." Said the other.
Daisuke turned with a death glare, Komaru held him back. "Don't you DARE bad talk my father! You sorry son of a bi-"
Komaru quickly slapped his hand over Daisuke's mouth. Daisuke's behaviour was abnormally violent, but I could sympathise with him. If I ever found out who caused the destruction of my village and family, I would be pretty angry as well.
The two cloaked men chuckled to themselves, in a mocking manner.
"That'll do, Daisuke." Komaru said, pushing him back to us. Daisuke went to step forward again, I hesitantly reached forward and grabbed Daisuke's wrist. He turned with an aggressive expression, but immediately backed off once recognising me.
"Daisuke-kun.." I didn't want to say we had to go, I didn't want to stop Daisuke, but I also didn't want him to get hurt.
"All four of you, go now!" Komaru demanded.
We looked amongst each other, and I particularly looked at Lee. Lee had a thoughtful expression as he stared at Komaru. Daisuke didn't seem intent on leaving.
"Lee.." I gained his attention. I gave him a look, and he nodded.
"No, Komaru-sensei. As leader of this small platoon, I hereby give the order for us to back you up, and take down these guys!" He said, a fist of courage displaying in front of him. Choji and I grinned, Daisuke gave a nod of approval.
"Setsuki." Daisuke said to me. "I don't want you getting hurt. So I'll protect you."
Lee seemed to give off a competitive look. "Protecting Setsuki-chan is my job, Daisuke-kun. You do not need to worry, I will make sure they do not leave a single scratch on her beautiful skin!"
Daisuke narrowed his eyes at Lee. There was a small spark in their gazes. "I'll be fine!" I said. "We've gotta protect each other, not just me! I'm strong too, y'know!" I mentioned. They both gave an uneasy look, but accepted.
"Then I will protect both Setsuki-chan and Daisuke-kun!"
"What about me?" Choji grumbled.
"And Choji-kun, too!"
Then it started, just as Komaru was about to retort, they attacked. One almost knocked Komaru-sensei down, the other came straight for us at an incredible speed. Daisuke turned, as if ready.
"I'll avenge my father, right here, right now!"
"Nice try brat."
That was enough to fully agitate Daisuke, he lunged forward, a kunai in his hand. Komaru-sensei was ready to interfere, but I sprayed water at him.
The first cloaked figure vanished, and appeared behind Choji.
"Choji-kun! Watch out!" Lee exclaimed, turning quickly to protect him. Choji was too slow to react, before a critical punch knocked him down.
"You students are still so disobedient!" Komaru snarled as he took a hit that Daisuke didn't see coming. Daisuke stared at our sensei, I guess a little surprised at his actions.
"You kids ought to listen to your wise old master, if you want to live."
Lee turned a glare towards the cloaked man. "Running away is not an option!" He spoke bravely. "If we are to truly prove ourselves as proper Chuunin, then we must fi-"
"If you are proper Chuunin you will listen to your superiors! Don't throw away your lives so easily, especially not in my presence!" Komaru snapped. I never liked it when he snapped, it was almost like he would turn into a demon. I hated that kind of supernatural thing.
"Komaru-sensei!" Lee spoke up. Daisuke was thrown across the room, as was Choji, whom landed on Daisuke as they hit the wall, and smashed through it. They rolled down the small slope before hitting a tree. Lee backed up in front of me. I was in a corner. "We are much stronger now! Let us prove ourselves to you! Give us a chance!"
Komaru stood in front of Lee, glaring over his shoulder. "I wont have anymore comrades dying before me." His voice was ghastly.. intimidating, yet... sad?
"L-Lee.. maybe he's right. We sh-should go.." I reached out and tried to grab his hand. My gut had started churning out of fear. I had no idea what caused it.
Lee clenched two tight fists, and held them up in front of him. I didn't get to touch him. I felt like crying, and I don't know why.
"I will not run anymore." He firmly spoke. His eyes narrowed like that of a fearless hawk. I felt my eyes burning up as tears started to form. One of the cloaked men sped off outside after Daisuke and Choji. I squinted my eyes, trying not to let any tears escape. Lee was the last person I wanted to see me cry.
"No!" Komaru abandoned us, and pursued after.
"Do not worry, Setsuk-"
"L-Lee!" My voice was a pathetic sound, a whimper, a sob, as I gripped his back. "I-I don't wanna be here.." I sniffled, I was whining, crying. My crying got worse, because I started crying about crying in front of Lee. The one person I wanted to acknowledge me as strong. And here I was. Breaking down in front of him. "I wanna go home!" I cried.
Lee seemed hesitant to say or do anything, his eyes were wide with concern and worry. I sensed a notion of helplessness from him.
"How pathetic."
Lee glared at the man. "Do not come any closer."
"Shinobi who show their emotions are weak."
Lee sort of backed up, but I still clung to his back tightly, sobbing uncontrollably. I felt so embarrassed, how could I ever let anyone see me like this, especially in front of an enemy.. and especially... in front of Lee.
Lee said nothing, he merely stood there, not taking his eyes away from the cloaked man.
"The weak are trash. Nothing but scum."
Lee started to tremble. Was he upset too? Was I upsetting Lee? I gritted my teeth, but continued to pathetically sob, the tears wouldn't stop. His clothing was getting wet from my tears.
"And to completely lose yourself like that? Utterly pathetic."
Lee tensed up. "Now..." His fringe covered his eyes from view. "Hold up just a moment, there.." He was still trembling, shaking, fists were clenched so tightly that blood started to seep out through the bandages. "You.. can say.. anything you want.. about me.." He started to snarl a little, his upper lip was twitching, bearing his teeth like a predator. "But.. no one. No one. Gets away.." He lifted his head a little, one of his eyes peered out from beneath his fringe, narrowed and displaying nothing but death. "With calling my Setsuki-chan trash!" He suddenly disappeared, I gasped and almost fell forward by losing his support.
"Hm? What th-!?"
The cloaked man was thrown across the room, breaking through the wall. Lee appeared, grabbed him again, and punched his jaw down, a loud crack was heard. Lee withdrew his hand and lifted the man up higher into the air, before performing an extremely powerful drop kick. The man smashed into the ground so hard, that the surrounding trees shook and birds flew away in fright. Lee landed beside the man's head, shaking the ground at his landing. Lee's one-eyed glare was unlike anything I'd ever seen. It was scary. Frightening.
"You.. made my Setsuki-chan cry.." Lee knelt down and grabbed the guy's collar, his hood fell off. "No one... makes my Setsuki-chan cry.."
The man's eyes widened in fear.