(Thanks for coming back to read the next chapter of the series! Yovestu plans to strike while the enemy is in retreat. Will the team be able to defeat Hatsu, Jishi, and their commander Suizaki? I love feedback and constructive criticism, so please leave a review so I can improve my writing and storytelling skills. Enjoy!)
"Wait, what? I thought you said it was dangerous to go running off into the jungle," exclaims Hitomi.
"It is, unless you know where you are going," replies Yovestu, "And I know exactly where we need to go. Kuroda, please call back your shadow clone"
"Done," announces Kuroda.
"Good, now make another one and send it back to the villagers' hideout to tell them that we are going to destroy the enemy base," orders the team leader. Kuroda does as instructed and then prepares to head out once the clone is out of visual range.
"How do you know where we need to go?" questions Hitomi, "Did you get information out of one of them?"
"I will explain that on the way," responds Yovestu, "I am sure he has another batch of warriors waiting back at his camp. We need to get moving so they don't have time to prepare for us."
The team sets out keeping very close to each other so they will not get separated and lost. The route is highly congested with branches growing over and through each other, fighting to reach the sunlight. The pace is fairly fast considering how packed in the trees are. Yet, the density of the jungle causes the humidity to skyrocket and the team quickly becomes drenched in sweat. The journey is mostly silent until Yovestu calls for a stop. "We will rest here for a few minutes," he announces, "The base isn't that far away and I want everyone at full strength when we get there."
Kuroda takes out some sort of bar from his pack and tosses one to each of them. "They are energy boosters," he says, "My own special recipe. They have as many nutrients as a full meal so you can eat them on the go."
"Wow, this is really good," comments Hitomi after nibbling on her snack.
"So I guess now is the time where I should explain everything," says Yovestu.
"Yeah, how do you know where we are going?" inquires Hitomi.
"I know where to go because I know who the leader of the mercenary group is," he reveals, "His name is Suizaki Rengaku, a former Jonin of the Village Hidden in the Leaves, now listed as an A-class criminal and has a standing capture or kill order on his head."
"Okay, it is good that you know who he is, but that doesn't explain how you know where we are going," points out Hitomi.
"I am more interested in why a Chunin like you would know all that information about a rogue ninja," comments Kuroda.
"I know who he is and where to go because Suizaki and I were on the same Genin squad," reveals Yovestu, "Remember when I told you that I had been on an escort mission to this country before? Well, Suizaki was the one who led that mission. On that mission we had to hide out at some ancient ruins due to a huge rainstorm that occurred. We stayed there for five days and to pass the time we did a little exploring and found a lot of good defensive positions that we could use if we were attacked. We are heading towards those ruins right now."
"What makes you so confident that he isn't somewhere else?" asks Kuroda.
"Suizaki is impatient. He is not going to take the time to clear trees and build a fort when he has a perfectly good structure he can use by only making a few renovations," explains Yovestu.
"Wait, if this guy is really an A-class criminal like you said then why are we going after him?" questions Hitomi, "I mean, we are pretty strong, but we are in no way ready to handle that."
"I realize that," says Yovestu, "That is why I had you send that messenger bird back to the village before we left. I informed the Hokage of the situation and requested that she send a squad of ANBU black ops. I gave detailed instructions on what path to take to get here in the fastest time and how to get to the ruins. That actually has a secondary purpose of ensuring they will travel on a known course. If we do complete the mission then we can meet up and prevent them from coming all the way here for no reason."
"You still haven't given us a good reason why we should even attempt this," comments Kuroda.
"You two don't have to worry about anything, you will only need to deal with the remaining mercenaries," explains the team leader, "I will be taking on Suizaki by myself. If I die and fail to capture or kill him then you are to retreat back to the villagers' hiding place and wait until the ANBU make contact with you."
"Why are you taking this risk?" questions Hitomi.
"I already told you that I injured him earlier," argues Yovestu, "He won't have had enough time to recover his full strength."
"It seems to me that there is more to this than you are letting on," says Kuroda, "How exactly did Suizaki Rengaku become a criminal?"
"I will admit that I have a personal grudge against him for what he did," reveals Yovestu, "But I have my reasons for wanting to do this on my own. Besides that, he is not the ninja he once was. He is overconfident and has lost everything that once made him a great Leaf Ninja. His kindness, his compassion, his warmth, his heart, and most of all his mind."
"If you are really set on doing this then we will support you," states Kuroda, "Right, Hitomi?"
"Yeah, we have your back," she confirms.
"Okay, then it is time to head out," Yovestu declares.
"Leader, what happened, where is everyone?" asks one of the guards as Suizaki drops down from the top of the gate.
"Those weaklings are all dead," replies Suizaki, "Where is Reizo? I need to see him immediately."
"He should be up at your tent," answers the guard, "He just finished locking the brothers up."
"Why, were they causing trouble again?" inquires Suizaki.
"Yeah, they killed two women again," says the guard.
"Go and release them," orders Suizaki.
"What?" exclaims the guard, surprised.
"I told you to go and release them," growls Suizaki, menacingly.
"Yes, right away," stutters the guard, turning to run.
"Tell them to come and see me immediately!" calls Suizaki after him.
"You were careless," comments Reizo a few minutes later as he is examining Suizaki's chest wound in the tent.
"Just shut up and freeze it," responds the rogue leader.
"Are you sure about this? It is not a permanent solution," warns Reizo.
"I will get it properly healed later," Suizaki responds, "Right now I just need a quick fix."
"Okay, then hold still," says Reizo putting his hands over the wound, "This is going to be cold." A bluish white aura swirls around Suizaki's chest and causes him to scream out in agony.
"Looks like the boss is having some fun without us," says Hatsu, hearing the scream and thinking there is someone being tortured.
"I hope he lets us join," remarks Jishi as they head towards their leader's tent. A few minutes later they arrive and walk in through the entrance flap. Suizaki has his back turned and is putting his coat back on.
"How did you two get out? I locked you up," says Reizo, stepping out of the shadows.
"Relax, I called for them," explains Suizaki.
"What did you need from us?" asks Hatsu.
"Maybe some help torturing that prisoner who was screaming earlier?" inquires Jishi.
"That was me, you idiots," responds Suizaki.
"I didn't know you were a masochist," states Hatsu.
"Can we help?" asks Jishi.
"No, but I do have something fun for you two to do," replies the leader. Suddenly there is a large explosion in the distance and the tent shakes from the blast.
"What was that?" asks Reizo moving towards the entrance. They move outside and see a large pillar of smoke off towards the perimeter of the camp.
"That is what I wanted the twins for. We have some visitors that we need to take care of," says Suizaki.
"Is it the same ones from before?" asks Hatsu.
"It would be fun to play with them again," adds Jishi.
"Yes, there should only be three of them. Me and the twins will go take them head on," commands Suizaki, "But there could be more so I want you to circle around and look for support, Reizo. If there are any reinforcements take them out and then come in from behind."
"Understood," says Reizo before a bluish white mist swirls around him and he vanishes.
"Let's go, you two," orders Suizaki, "But the one in yellow is mine, you two can deal with the others."
"We will take out the boy," says Hatsu.
"And then have some real fun with the girl," adds Jishi with a sick and perverted smile.
Kuroda withdraws his kunai from the neck of a warrior and the corpse falls to the ground. He looks at the large hole in the wall caused by Yovestu's Jutsu and tries to determine the full amount of damage it caused. "His personality is not that great, but his skills are undeniable," he thinks, "Plus with all of his experience he could be a very useful asset."
"We should move ahead," mentions Hitomi, coming up beside him, "The big guns will be along soon."
"Good, I'm getting rather bored of fighting all of these thugs," he replies, "I need a real challenge. I'd like to fight the leader, but Yovestu already called dibs on him."
"Stop joking around," she responds.
"Who's joking?" he says, "While your demonstration earlier was entertaining I already knew you could do all that. It is much more fun to take out the strong guys personally."
"I really can't figure you out," she states. He just grins and then takes off to go fight more enemies.
Yovestu is already ahead of them taking care of a man as large as a bear who just happens to be covered in brown fur. After slashing down across his chest, the man falls back and hits the ground with a large thud. Two men in purple cloaks appear around Yovestu and capture him with a long steel chain. Kuroda and Hitomi each take out one of the men to free their comrade. "Thanks, I didn't sense them there," says Yovestu.
"You should be more careful," warns Hitomi, "Even the best ninja can be taken down if he isn't on guard."
"In that case I should tell you that Suizaki has arrived along with those two twins we fought back in the village," replies Yovestu.
"So, what is the plan then?" inquires Kuroda.
"I'll lure Suizaki away so we can fight. You two take care of everyone else, but be careful of the twins. They are more dangerous than they look," warns Yovestu before he sprints off to the left. Suizaki, who is about forty yards away, mirrors his movements.
"I'll take the twins, you can deal with the remaining fodder," orders Kuroda.
"Fine with me," says Hitomi before taking off to attack a warrior who just popped out from behind a shack.
"They are splitting up, Brother," observes Hatsu.
"Just makes our job easier," replies Jishi.
Hatsu orders, "Okay, you go at him from the left."
"And you go from the right," says Jishi. The twins spread out and run in symmetrical curved patterns toward the Leaf Ninja. Kuroda gets into a squared defensive stance and prepares for their dual attack. They come at him from the right and left, both winding up for powerful punches. Kuroda pulls his hands into fists and puts his arms level above his thighs. He stays motionless until a second before their attacks hit. His hands explode outwards and he meets their fists with his palms. The attacks are completely halted, but they send out shockwaves showing just how strong they actually were.
The twins don't show any sign of surprise as Hatsu immediately jumps into the air for a spinning kick aimed at the back of Kuroda's neck. Jishi on the other hand drops to the floor and rotates around, intending to kick his shins out from under him. Kuroda gracefully hops into the space between their attacks and into a speedy full body twist parallel to the ground. After the failed attacks the twins jump back away from the target. Kuroda lands and darts off to the left after Jishi, trying to catch him off guard with a fist to the face.
Jishi trips on something and falls backwards, only giving Kuroda even more of an advantage. The Leaf Ninja arrives above him, ready to strike when he sees another shadow on the ground.
"Ha ha, I gotcha!" shouts Hatsu from above as he swings his large hand toward Kuroda's back. Instead of punching Jishi in the face with his right hand, Kuroda thrusts his left palm into the man's chest. Using that as a base, he is able twist around and smash his heel into Hatsu's chest before his blow can reach. Hatsu flies over into a couple of tents while Kuroda pushes off Jishi, twists in the air, and lands neatly a few yards away in a new defensive stance.
"Their teamwork is impeccable," thinks Kuroda as he waits for them to regroup, knowing the battle is not over, "I have never seen two ninja's movements so in sync with each other. I wonder if it is a result of their bond as twin brothers."
Jishi pops back up to his feet and brushes the dirt off his clothes. Hatsu stomps out of the tents scattering poles and fabric everywhere. He sees his brother and nods, and then the two of them rush in for another attack.
Hitomi watches the action with one eye while using the other to try and pick out any of the remaining grunts in the area. It seems that either the majority have been defeated and if not they have already run away. To be sure she makes a sweep around the perimeter. As she walks around she senses one other presence in the area. She carefully makes her way over to a thin brick wall guided by the breathing of the final enemy.
(That is the end of the chapter, what did you think? The Leaf Ninja have dealt a massive blow to Suizaki's forces. However the enemy is not beaten yet, what secret jutsu do they have hiding up their sleeves? Will the team be able to complete the mission? As usual, 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.)