(Welcome back! This is the Second Chapter of a 10 Part Arc. Team 3 is preparing to bring their special package back to the Hidden Leaf, but a Mist Jutsu signals they are about to be ambushed. I love feedback and constructive criticism, so please leave a review so I can improve my writing and storytelling skills. Enjoy!)
A shuriken comes whirling through the mist right towards a pink head of hair. Luckily Kuroda sees it in time and pushes Sakura down and out of harm's way. Kayo is also targeted but she senses the incoming weapon at the last second; she tilts her head just far enough to the left so the shuriken slashes through her hair, but doesn't hit her actual body.
"So, they are trying to take out the strongest and the weakest at the same time," Kuroda analyzes as he deflects another weapon away from Sakura, "A pretty smart tactic, too bad they don't have any idea who those members actually are. They're just guessing based on appearance."
"Damn, I can't see anything," shouts Jando as a shuriken slices into his wrist. He bites down on his lower lip to suppress a scream of pain.
"Sensei, we need a plan here," says Kuroda urgently, "Can't you use your Genjutsu or something?"
"I need to be able to see my opponent in order to trap them in an illusion," Kayo responds as she knocks away some kunai, "But if I consider the abilities of everyone on the team I do have a plan. I read the reports of your Genin test; can you really make 4 Shadow Clones?"
"Yes, and the answer to your follow up question is also yes," Kuroda replies, "Transforming them to look like the rest of the team would not be difficult, but the task would take up a lot of my chakra. It would buy us a few minutes to escape, but it would be a total waste if we didn't get all the way out of the mist."
"I can take care of that part. Just make the clones and then everyone form up on me," she orders.
"Sakura, you'll be on your own for a second, can you handle it?" he asks.
"Yeah, I'll be fine," she assures him with a nod of determination, "Just focus on your job." He passes her his kunai and then sets off making hand signs for his Jutsu. Jando and Sakura slowly move towards Kayo so that all their backs face each other.
"Shadow Clone Jutsu," whispers Kuroda before jumping back into his place in the formation. A swirling mass of white smoke appears and then the members of Team 3 shoot out in opposite directions, trying to make a break for safety. The flurry of projections target their movements and catch up to take them out one by one. But as each member falls their body morphs back into the image of Kuroda and then poofs into white smoke.
"Just clones," says a man peering down from the rooftops of the buildings. A wispy question mark-like symbol is carved into the steel plate of his grey headband indicating that he is a member of the Hidden Smoke Village.
"Wow, not bad," comments his partner squatting down beside him, a man with short grey hair and an ugly mustache.
"Well, we weren't putting that much effort into it, so I guess it isn't that much of a surprise, Bosch," says the leader as he strokes his long, greasy, purple hair, careful not to ruin the ponytail.
"That's true, Kaneo," Bosch agrees.
"What to do now is the question," comments Kaneo, seemingly indifferent to the mission, "I suppose we should go after them."
"Can I go after them alone?" Bosch asks as he tries to hide the glint of ambition in his eyes, "I don't think they will be much of a problem, even if I am only a Chunin."
"Sure, go ahead and have fun," Kaneo says as he makes a shooing motion with his hand. The younger man leaps off the building and lands neatly on the ground and then sprints off in the ninja fashion with his arms trailing behind him.
"Let's see if you are worthy to advance your rank," thinks Kaneo as he slips his hands into his pants and whistles as he walks along the eaves of the rooftops.
A mass of swirling leaves appear a short distance outside the town. As the whirlwind dies down the real Team 3 is revealed.
"What? How did we get here?" questions Jando in utter bewilderment.
"Wow, Sensei, was that the Body Flicker Technique?" asks Sakura as her eyes sparkle in amazement.
"So that is what high-speed movement feels like. It truly has a completely different feeling than my ability," thinks Kuroda as he flexes his fingers, "And Kayo-sensei was able to move three other people without much difficulty. I guess Genjutsu is not her only talent but now that I think about it, a good Jonin wouldn't limit themselves to only one area of expertise."
"Is everyone okay? Can you all still move?" asks Kayo as she checks over her students.
"My clones are gone, Sensei," Kuroda warns, "That was a lot faster than I thought."
"We'll do an injury check later then," Kayo announces with the urgency evident in her voice, "We need to get moving before the enemy catches up to us."
A while later the group comes upon a gap in the forest where a large lake lies. The water is deep blue and stretches for about a mile before hitting the other shore. Kayo puts her arm up to signal them to halt and announces, "I haven't been sensing that the enemy is tracking us, so we will rest her for a while and regain our strength."
"Are you sure that this location is the best, Sensei?" Sakura questions, as they walk towards the lakefront, "I mean, it is right out in the open where anyone can see us."
"Very true, but the tree line is so far away from where we will set up camp that any enemy will have to expose themselves if they want to attack. Not only will it make it a more even fight, but it will also let us identify just exactly who we are dealing with."
"Oh wow, there are so many things you have to take into account even if you are just choosing a spot to rest," Sakura comments.
"Whatever, it doesn't really matter who the enemy is," Jando boasts, "I'll destroy anyone who attacks."
"I'll go set up a perimeter," Kuroda says, rolling his eyes at the comments of his foolish teammate.
(They have escaped the ambush, but Team 3's two new opponents won't be giving up that easily. As always, if you want more information on my characters you can see their bios on my profile page. Be warned, there may be some spoilers. Also I'm in the process of getting pictures drawn for the characters, but I have no idea how long that will take. If you're interested in drawing and have a DA account then send me a Message. Enjoy the next chapter, and please review.)