Chapter 17
Naruto took his mask, and placed it on his face.
It's awesome how this mask makes everything so much clearer. It is an advance piece of technology. Also, it's expensive. Like everything else in ANBU.
Hare left his room, and entered the common room. He found Fox lying down in an armchair, in a similar black cloak. Snoring was heard from the man. "Fox," Hare spoke, to which the snoring stopped and Fox rose his head, "Are ya ready?"
Fox simply nodded and got up, and went to leave the room. Hare followed. Fox started jumping through the roof tops.
Crow and I would probably mess with the populace. Fox would rather avoid bothering. Oh well.
The two left the village without incident. Not that there would be one. The pair went at a casual pace, and after five hours of travel, arrived in the port city Silver Star. Fox and Hare perched on a roof that overlooked a good portion of the city. Fox spoke, "The chunin will arrive in approximately twenty hours. We will investigate ourselves until we find everything we can get from not talking to people. We will then give the chunin the questions we want when they arrive. Hare, investigate further who Gato is and find what kind of security he has. I will investigate what he's doing and formulate how to stop him."
"Yes sir," Hare replied. The pair then turned invisible, and went on their way.
Hare ran silently to the Aristocracy District.
Gato was staying at the Swan's Paradise. There.
Hare jumped building to building to the target location.
Chunin. Three of them. Inside the building. They are close to where Gato's room should be. Annoying. I need to move in closer.
Hare dropped down to the too above the overly grand door, and waited. As a person entered the building, so did he. Hare then moved his way through the room and reached the stairs, and quickly scaled them to the fifth and highest floor.
Chakra is completely suppressed. This is when it gets hard.
Across the hall, stood two chunin level ninjas outside a door.
Missing-nin from cloud. The third one is in the room. I can't enter from here, but this confirms that Gato has three chunin working for him. Annoying. I don't recognize them. Options are they are newly missing, or Cloud is lying. Both are possible.
Hare crept away, and started descending the stairs when he froze.
Jonin. Damn it. It will be difficult to hide my presence from him. He is still over a hundred yards away. As long as he isn't a sensor and doesn't come right in front of me, I'll be fine.
Hare scaled the wall and hid on a rafter. After a few minutes, the Jonin level ninja, a missing-nin also from Cloud underway, along with Gato. They walked up to the fifth floor, and walked down the hall, at which point Hare could no longer see them.
He showed no signs of noticing me. He likely didn't. He seemed low jonin, that is good for me and Fox. I can't do anything more at this point. I need to look elsewhere.
Hare left the building silently, and unseen.
"So three mid-chunin and a low-jonin huh," Fox asked. Hare simply nodded in response. "Well. from what I've dug up from my investigation at his office, he plans of taking control of Wave economically. As Wave relies solely on trade, he might just succeed."
"Should we stop him," Hare asked.
"If it were only so simple. However, a major thing I picked up is that Gato is selling weapons to Cloud as a relatively low price. It doesn't bode well for us," Fox replied.
Hare replied, "Cloud and Lightning have been having increased militarism for the past year. They've been keeping it quiet but this should be enough to convince Earth Country as well as Rock. Our combined pressure should be enough to force them to slow down."
"Exactly. However, killing Gato won't necessarily solve anything. Someone can potentially just take his place. We need to scare him instead."
Hare then asked, "Are we really going to need the chunin at this point?"
Fox replied with a yawn, "No, but they do provide good advertising. They could help with scaring Gato. We need to kill his ninja guards. That will get his attention. Can you beat three chunin by yourself?"
Thinking it over for a moment, Hare responded, "It's possible that I can beat these three, but it would be best to wait for the chunin reinforcements. That will give a guaranteed victory."
"Alright, we'll wait for them then. We don't want to take unnecessary risk. I don't want to either. You die, and Crow and Shadow will give me a painful death."
Naruto paused for a moment before he spoke quickly, "We have to move. Gato and his guards are leaving. We'll have to take those chances."
Fox let out a sigh before nodding. "I'll take the jonin then reinforce you. Survive while I'm gone. You make the opening move to try to eliminate one early and make it easier for yourself. More if you can. Where are they heading to?"
"Dock four."
"Let's move out then," Fox groaned.
The two silently ran towards dock four.
"We got here first, prepare to make an ambush," Fox ordered.
Hare made three shadow clones that turned invisible, before he and Fox turned invisible themselves. They waited for fifteen minutes before their query arrived.
They're here. They are not expecting any trouble. Gato walks ahead. Followed by the jonin, and then the three chunin. Wait for the right moment. Three...two...one...now.
Hare's clones sprinted from their cover towards the chunin in the back. The jonin reacted quickly and eliminated two of the three clones. The third slashed the chunin across the chest with its Tanto.
One down. The final clones was bursted by one of the remaining chunin. Fox had come moments later and kept the jonin busy. Hare revealed himself to the remaining two chunin.
"He killed Has'to," one screamed in rage.
Hmm. It might be best to wear these guys out quickly. A fight on the water then. I just have to get them there. Easy.
Hare then spoke, voice fully monotone, "He was nothing more than fodder."
"Bastard," the second yelled before both charged him.
Hare ran. The chunin followed. Hared jumped out into the ocean, standing on its surface, and was followed by the two missing nin. Number two smirked, before saying, "Big mistake," and started to go through hand seals, and shouted "Water Release, Water Bullet!"
Crap.
Hare waited a few moments as the second ninja formed a water bullet, and shot it towards him at high speeds. He quickly redrew his extended tanto.
Flying Swallow.
Hare slashed the water bullet in half, the water splitting around him.
I love that technique. I can't wait until I can incorporate wind chakra into it. Then I will be absolutely overpowered.
The first enemy then snarled before charging him. Hare gave wide slash just as the brown haired ninja approached. As he did so, he launched senbon towards the second ninja who was going through another set of seals.
The first ninja easily backed dodged under the slash, and launched an undercut towards Hare's waist. Hare let the punch land, and pushed off as it hit, minimizing the damage.
I wished the senbon hit the other guy. He barely dodged and now I can't surprise him.
Landing on the water, Hare launched himself forward while sheathing his Tanto, and threw a punch toward the first ninjas shoulder, which was easily blocked. The brown missing-nin then returned with a fist to the head.
Hare leaned back to dodge and launched a kick as he did so. The chunin blocked it, but was launched upward as a result. Hare was forced to jump back as several kuni flew in his direction.
If I can eliminate the second one, engaging the first will be easier. Or, I could just dodge for a little bit and tire them out. Probably won't work.
Then the former cloud ninjas formed themselves up on opposite sides of him. The second formed a water cloned, which started running towards him. Hare moved to eliminate the clone, and as he did, the first ninja went through a set of hand seals.
Right after Hare easily dispatched the clone, a bolt of lightning flew from the ninja towards Hare. Hare dropped into the water, the attack harmlessly passing overhead. He then created two shadow clones, both which he sent out of the water. Hare then went through several hand seals, before he saturated himself with chakra, forcing him out of the water.
A great gust of wind flew from Naruto towards the second ninja, and towards open sea.
Wouldn't want to destroy the town.
The ninja was unable to dodge, and went flying back.
He'll be back soon.
Hare then charged the first ninja, forming three clones, then drawing his tanto while his opponent drew out a kuni.
The clones quickly formed themselves around the cloud ninja, before charging him, while the real Hare jumped up for a decapitating slash.
Dance of the Crescent Moon. This will kill him.
The cloud ninja follow a similar tactic to Hare's earlier one, and let himself fall into the water. Hare then dodged another water bullet that was shot from behind. Hare quickly pulled a set of shurkien from his cloak and threw them at the second ninja, who dodged three, while the fourth hit his flak vest, doing nothing. Hare then quickly backpedaled, dodging a strike from the first ninja who jumped out of the water.
Suddenly, a shadow passed over the second ninja, who promptly lost his head. Fox materialized behind him.
Good, successfully zoned him towards Fox.
Without the worry of a second ninja, Hare quickly charged the first. Hare sent a slash with his tanto, clashing with the others kuni, who then smirked. Lightning flared through the kuni, and conducted over to Hare, who was shocked by the attack.
The ninja tried to capitalize on his attack, but Hare recovered to quickly and blocked the slash from the kuni, and then further cutting through it. The action surprised the Cloud ninja, and put a slight gash across his chest, failing to fully dodge the attack.
I love Flying Swallow. Fox hasn't intervened. He is assessing my skill.
Hare sent his second set of shurkien, which were easily dodged. Hare used the opening to create two clones, one which charged the ninja.
Good thing were facing the sea.
The real Hare and a clone went through a different set of hand seals before one let of a small flame, while the other let out a massive gust of wind. The flame set the wind alight, causing a massive inferno 'to be released. The inferno destroyed all in its path.
"A little flashy Hare," Fox commented.
Hare shrugged, before asking, "Did you secure Gato?" Fox nodded, before saying, "You can talk to him. Your smarted anyways." Fox simply sighed before nodding.
Fox stared down his opponent, who looked slightly nervous. Fox then charged, pulling out his tanto as he did so. The former Cloud ninja pulled out a cleaver and clashed blades. The cloud nin overpowered Fox, who was forced to back up less he be cleaved.
I just feel like being done with this. He's going to die anyways.
Fox then went through several hand seals, and his shadow shot towards the jonin. The jonin avoided the attack, and then commented with surprise, "So you're a Nara."
Fox let out a groan, before going through a different set of seals, before charging the cloud ninja. Seeing that nothing happened, the cloud nin once again made a slash to parry the attack. Fox instead at the last moment wove around and through a palm strike with his free hand.
The cloud ninja blocked with his bicep, when a dark material, a shadow, shot from the sleeve of Foxes cloak, piercing the bicep and the chest. The ninja fell over dead.
Secret Technique, Piercing Shadow Strike.
Gato was trying to run away, and Fox appeared behind him and struck him on the neck, forcing Gato unconscious. Fox then said to himself, "I guess I should help Hare."
Gato awoke. Fox spoke tonelessly, "Gato, the Leaf Village is willing to let you live, as long as you never interfere with anything that could remotely be considered Leaf business. Do you understand?"
Gato nodded with terror.
Fox then left him. Hare then spoke up when they were out of Gato's hearing distance, "It was mean to use a genjutsu to make yourself a lot more scarrier."
Fox simply shrugged.
Authors Note
There is Chapter 17. I might not be able to post a chapter this weekend due to life, but I'll try my best. Make sure to review so I know what I'm doing wrong. The Cloud Militarism arc only has 3-4 chapter left in it.
If any of you are wondering about ANBU characters, there are only two canon ones currently in. Dog and Cat. Dog in case you haven't figured it out yet, is not Kakashi. The ANBU Commander canonically is a man in a Dog mask. where my story is occurring, Kakashi has already left ANBU.
Fox is obviously a Nara, not an orange haired guy from the Kurama (Genjutsu one) arc.
If anyone would like to be a proof-reader for me, that would be awesome, as I only have my lone self right now.
Hope you enjoyed the chapter!