A/N: I told you I would be out with yet another chapter tonight! And a long one at that! Yay for me! Hopefully this will sate you guys until I can get started on another chapter!
Also, if you guys have any ideas whatsoever about what you want to read or whichever, feel free to let me know in a review or PM! I'm up for anything! Or, if you have any questions about the story, you may ask though I try to keep the story a mystery for the readers but if you can't wait and don't mind the spoilers, I can try to answer your questions as best to my ability as I can.
Without further adieu, enjoy!
As soon as Kikyo had disappeared from the office, the ROOT team knew that they had about five minutes to follow her lead and arrive at the gates. Since her first lesson, the team has learned to always be prepared for out of the blue missions and the need for immediate reactions. So, with a bow to their leader, the team disappeared from sight.
Kagome flashed through the village in a blur as she used the time it takes to get from one end of the village to the other to think over what was happening. Team Seven was sent out on a mission that was put in as C-ranked just a few days ago. However, today the Hokage called Team ROOT in as a back up squad to rush and catch up to the other Genin team. Why? Because whoever tipped off the Hokage on what was going on in the Land of Waves mentioned that the current team was not prepared despite it holding Konoha's very own Copy Cat ninja and the Uchiha heir.
Shaking her head of the thoughts, Kagome twisted her body in such a way to avoid crashing into an oncoming food cart. 'No more thinking on this. What's done is done. I have to focus on what will happen within the next few days.'
With that thought in mind, Kagome added more chakra to her legs to pick up where she began to lag behind.
As all three reached the gates, they were met with Kikyo's smile. Looking at them, Kikyo nodded in approval. "That took you three about three minutes and thirty-seven seconds. You are improving."
Bankotsu grinned at his teammates as he fist pumped their celebration gaining amused looks from his team. "Alright, looks like we can get the show on the road! I don't know about you guys but having a full day to rest has me slightly antsy and ready to do some dirty work."
Kagome giggled as Hakudoshi smirked in response. "Well, then," Kikyo spoke up as she turned to where two Chunin were waiting on them. She nodded to them to open the doors as she watched her students straighten up. Of course, this is not the first time that they left through these gates - and it definitely won't be the last - but at least this time, they know they will be coming back. "Let's get going, shall we?"
With that said, Kikyo took off running followed quickly by her team.
As they breezed through the forest surrounding the village and farther past their home, the team made sure to use everything they have learned in all of their training sessions and created a defensive formation.
With their sensei in the lead, Kagome took up following behind her but slightly to the right as she was the one with the most focus and quick reactions. Bankotsu, being the brute force and strength, was taking up the middle to fall in quickly wherever his assistance was needed most - and so that he wouldn't have any reason to fall behind or get lost, though that wasn't what they told him - while Hakudoshi took up the rear using his Kekkei Genkai to take in his full surroundings.
With this formation, there should be no reason for them to not catch up to Team Seven especially at the pace that they are at.
Kagome had already tapped into her own spiritual energy as when it comes to the team, she was the most natural user. Her eyes, unbeknownst to her, had began to glow blue as she focused her energy. Taking in her surroundings, Kagome was able to see every and all movements due to being able to see the spiritual energy of all that is alive.
Looking around, Kagome had faltered as there were two seemingly odd energies coming up. "Hold up!" Kagome announced as she paused in her running just before the met up with whatever was ahead of them.
"Kags, what's going on? What did you see?" Bankotsu asked as he landed on the same branch as Kagome did.
Kikyo noticed Kagome's eyes glowing as she focused on whatever it wa that she saw. Kikyo was surprised at what her student was capable of doing but followed her example. Upon focusing, Kikyo saw what caught Kagome's attention and noticed that Hakudoshi was trained on the area that the two energies were coming from.
"Is it Team Seven?" Bankotsu asked, out of the loop as he hasn't quite learned the way of using his spiritual energy nor does he have Hakudoshi's ability.
"No," Kagome answered before anyone could. "There's only two energy signatures coming from ahead of us. And, to be honest, they feel malicious compared to anything else around here."
"Then we must approach with caution. Stick to the trees like before and wait for my signal once we get closer," Kikyo spoke up as she let go of her energy and motioned to move closer.
Kagome stood in her place for a moment longer as she watched the energies stay in only one place, thinking it odd, before following at a subdued pace. 'Good thing Kikyo-sensei decided to stay off the main road.'
As they got closer, Kikyo took notice of what Kagome had found odd. They haven't moved an inch since they were first spotted. 'What, exactly, is going on?' As soon as the thought passed through her mind, Kikyo's trained ears picked up the sound of unfamiliar voices caught in a heated conversation.
"I still can't believe we were bested by a bunch of kids! Do you know how embarrassing that as? We should have just finished them right away, dammit!"
"Yes, well. I doubt we would have been able to anticipate their sensei being Kakashi Hatake. We should have known better than to actually believe we were able to best him of all people."
One of them let out a frustrated growl before the sound of metal rattling rang through.
"Will you stop that?" The second voice spoke up once more. "It's just going to make these things tighten even more."
"Well, I can't help it! I am trying to get out of here!"
Kikyo's right eyebrow rose in slight amusement as she listened to them speak before turning to her team and motioning for them to silently follow her lead. Getting nods of affirmation from them, Kikyo dropped down from her spot and landed directly in front of the quarreling pair.
"Good evening, boys," Kikyo's voice drawled out effectively stopping the ninjas' argument. "I couldn't help but listen in on your conversation. You mentioned a friend of mine that goes by the name of 'Kakashi Hatake.'"
The two chained brothers ignored what she said completely in favor of leering at Kikyo's fit body. "Well, hello there."
A sound of disgust came from above them as the the rest of Team Kikyo dropped down from their spot to surround the two in a similar fashion of how they caught their sensei on their test. "Please, refrain from even thinking you have a chance. It's unbecoming," Kagome spoke up first as she sneered at the two. Her eyes were still glowing unconsciously which added an extra tone of intimidation to her glare.
"Now," Bankotsu spoke up next from his spot in front of the first ninja to speak, "tell us what we want to know."
"And what?" The second one spoke up, "you'll let us go?"
"Somehow," The first voice continued, "I get the feeling that you won't."
"You're right," Hakudoshi purred from his spot, his demon eyes flashing dangerously, "we won't. But, I suspect that you will cooperate one way or another."
Kikyo chuckled from her spot gaining the attention of the group in front of her. "Now, now children. Play nice."
The three pouted from their spots and stepped back from the two chained shinobi, their looks screaming how lucky they were for being chained up.
"I know who you are now," Kikyo said as she gained the undivided attention from the shinobi. "Meizu and Gozu. Twin mercenary brothers working for the one known as the Demon of the Hidden Mist. Tell me, how long ago has it been since you ran into the Copy Cat ninja?"
"Why does a pretty little thing like you want to know?" Meizu spoke up first still leering at Kikyo.
Before her team could do anything, Kikyo appeared in front of the brother that spoke with a sinister look to her face. "If you want to live, my dear, I expect you to cooperate. Is that understood?"
Gozu stared at Kikyo before growling. "Let us go, bitch and maybe we will tell you what you want to know."
"I don't think you're in any sort of position to be threatening or bargaining here," Kagome mentioned.
Hakudoshi, getting tired of the two holding out on the information decided to take matters in his own hands. Applying more chakra to his body, Hakudoshi activated the second stage of his Kekkei Genkai - demonic senses. As his senses heightened considerably, Hakudoshi managed to get a scent of the knucklehead that spent time with Kagome from the blood that was spilled on the ground from Team Seven's battle with them as well as managed to get a time on how long it's been since the twins' blood has been shed.
Turning his attention to his sensei, he nodded his head at her questioning look. "It's been about two days since they were last here. They haven't been going too fast but they did manage to pick up their pace a bit more after being ambushed. If we continue at the pace we were going before we should be able to arrive at the destination at least a day after they do. That is, if they haven't been attacked along the way."
Kikyo nodded at Hakudoshi's reasoning as well as his effective information gathering skills. She watched as he deactivated his Kekkei Genkai down to the first stage. She turned to the two that were staring in shock at her student. "I told you that we would get the information we needed one way or another. Stay put, dears, I'm sure that there will be someone who will come by to pick you up and arrest you." Kikyo winked at them as she turned to walk away.
"They're dead!" The brothers spoke at the same time. "If not at this moment, then they will be. They won't be able to stand up against Zabuza."
"You'll be returning home with their corpses strung over your shoulders," Gazu spoke as he laughed at what he said.
Kagome growled in anger before punching him across the face. "Shut up unless you want me to rip you tongue out, you snake!"
"Kagome," Kikyo called out softly, "come along. They know not what they speak of."
"We don't?" Meizu asked. "Why else would your village send out a back up team to ensure the mission is complete? From what we experienced, that squad could barely take us down. If it weren't for that copy cat, they would have died already. Once, ack!"
"I told you guys to keep your mouths shut," Kagome growled out through her teeth, Meizu's tongue held tightly in her grasp. Kagome's eyes were narrowed and the light had dimmed out of her eyes.
"Kagome!" Kikyo spoke sternly as she watched her student allow her anger to get the best of her. "Let him go."
Kagome faltered at what her sensei said before her shoulders sagged and she let go before pulling a cloth from her pack and wiping her hand. Sneering at the two, Kagome stalked towards her team but not before turning back around and punching Meizu across his face and knocking him out.
Bankotsu laughed as he clasped his hand on Kagome's shoulder once she joined them while Kikyo sighed and motioned for them to take their spot back in the trees. Hakudoshi nodded his approval towards his female teammate and watched as she grinned sheepishly before jumping up and following their sensei. Soon, the team was off towards the Land of Waves, the sound of Gazu trying to wake his brother up fading in the background.
The group managed to continue on their way without too much of a problem though they did pause when they came to the borders of the Land of Waves and hitched a ride on one of the boats that were stationed on the shore.
It was at this time that Kikyo addressed her students. "Once we arrive, whatever that meets us, we must be prepared. Who knows what caused the Hokage to send another team though it could be anything."
The three nodded at what she said but otherwise stayed quiet. As they floated along the river, Kagome turned to ask how much longer it would take before they were to hit land again but when she turned, Kagome was not able to find their boat's captain.
"Uhm, Kikyo-sensei?" Kagome spoke up hesitantly as she looked around.
"Yes, Kagome?" Kikyo looked to her student and tensed when she saw that Kagome was on her guard and looking around.
"Who exactly is commandeering this boat?"
At that one question, several kunai came from different directions shocking the inhabitants inside the boat. At once, the team all ducked out of the way though they were nicked in some places by stray kunai.
"Stay on your guard!" Kikyo shouted out as she looked around.
Kagome was surprised that someone would attack while they were in the boat. "Don't tell me we're being attacked by shinobi pirates!" Kagome exclaimed.
"Is there even such a thing?" Bankotsu paused to ask causing Kagome to look at him in exasperation.
"I was joking!"
"Now is so not the time for your arguments, you two," Kikyo cut in before another set of kunai shot towards them.
Hakudoshi's quick eye caught the movement under water and as they deflected the kunai, he spoke aloud. "It's coming from under us! Whoever it is, they are water based shinobi! And, skilled ones at that."
"Dammit, we have to make sure the boat doesn't tip over. We won't be able to survive the attack if it's coming from under us!" Bankotsu spoke up as he trained his eyes to focus on anything that moves.
"No," Kagome whispered as she disagreed with Bankotsu, "I think that's exactly what we need to do. They are expecting us to stay on this boat until they finally tip us over. If we all jump off and swim as fast as possible toward the shore, we'd have a better advantage."
"I don't know…" Bankotsu trailed off as he took note of the fact that the waters went still once more meaning that whoever is under there is waiting for the right moment to strike once more.
"I think Kagome has an idea," Kikyo said as she thought over what her student had said. "We're a lot closer to the shore than we thought. I'm efficient enough at water-based jutsus and could provide a well enough diversion to get us onto the shore quickly. From there, we have to be on our guard."
The three looked at her hesitantly as they thought of the possibilities that could happen once they are within the same playing field as their attacker. However, their sensei is skilled in more things than they are and if anyone can manage to get them to shore, its her… right?
"Okay, listen up because I only have time to say this once. Once in the water, you do not look around for the opponent. I want you to just swim straight ahead until you feel the land under your feet once more. Take a look at the distance and make sure you jump as hard and as far as you can to close the distance up. Do not pay any attention to what is going on around you, just keep swimming."
The three Genin nodded their acknowledgement towards their sensei before looking towards the shore. From the looks of it, they have about twenty to twenty five feet to cover. Not much but a lot could happen within that time.
Taking in a deep breath, the three cleared their minds and did the only thing they could do at the time - they jumped.
Weeeell, that concludes this chapter (;
Just what did happen to the boat driver? Who is the one attacking them? WIll they make it to the shore without any casualties or injuries?
Stay tuned for the next chapter of: ROOT Beginnings! In the meantime, let me know what you thought about this chapter! :D It would be much appreciated!