Chapter 14: Here Comes the Pain: Part 3

Where we last left off

"It's time we finished this." said Izuka/Aqua.

"Gladly!" Kizuo then charged at the Sage. Big mistake buddy.

Currently in present times

Kizuo raised his sword as he ran towards the Sage. He tried to strike her in the chest, but was deflected by Izuka/Aqua as she raised her trident to protect herself. Kizuo tried another strike, but this time, Izuka/Aqua jumped out of the way. She did a flip in the air and landed on the small pond Kizuo made.

"You're going to have to do better than that if you want to beat me." said Kizuo. Kizuo took some shuriken out from his pack and threw it straight at Izuka/Aqua. Izuka placed her hand on the surface of the water.

"Water Style: Aquatic Barrier!"

A barrier similar to the one Kizuo had made a while ago emerged from the water and absorbed the shuriken. The shuriken were then promptly fired straight back at Kizuo. Kizuo used his katana to deflect the shuriken.

"Really?" Kizuo asked.

"I'm not done yet." said Izuka/Aqua. She did a few hand signs. "Water Style: Hydro Needles!"

Suddenly, hundreds of needles were shot from the barrier right at Kizuo. Kizuo tried in vain to avoid them. He succumbed to the needles in a matter of seconds.

"ALRIGHT!" screamed Kankuro.

"You got him!" shouted Temari.

Daisuke only stared in amazement while Gaara nodded his head in approval.

"Thanks for the support guys." yelled Izuka/Aqua. "But he's not done yet."

"What do you mean?" asked Kankuro.

Temari countered. "Guys, look for yourselves."

Kankuro, Daisuke, and Gaara all turned their heads to see Kizuo sitting up on the ground. His body was bleeding from where the needles had cut into his skin. The needles had done so much damage to his body, that his left eye was sealed shut in pain from the impact of five of them.

"I see you're still alive." acknowledged Izuka/Aqua as she started to walk towards the injured bandit.

"Needles ain't gonna stop me from reaching my goal." said Kizuo simply.

"And that's what again? Capturing me and putting me up on the black market?" Izuka/Aqua asked disdainfully.

"Yeah, that's about it. Wait a minute. Weren't you passed out when I said that?" asked Kizuo.

"My eyes may have been closed, but my ears were still open." said Izuka/Aqua simply.

"Spoken like a true Sage." said Kizuo.

"Thanks." said Izuka. She pressed her palms together and instantly disappeared.

"Where'd she go?" asked Kizuo to no one in particular. Before he could utter another word, an invisible force hit him straight in the chin. The force was so great that Kizuo flew back twelve feet. The force soon revealed itself to be Izuka/Aqua, who had full extended her leg to kick Kizuo.

"That was a sneaky shot!" grumbled Kizuo as he got up from the ground.

"We're ninja. Aren't we supposed to be sneaky?" Izuka/Aqua asked him.

"Touché, Lady Sage, touché indeed." commented Kizuo.

Izuka nodded her head and moved her trident towards the pond. The water inside the pond responded to the trident's movements.

"Oh hell!" yelled Kizuo as he started to make a run for it.

"No way are you getting away." Izuka said blankly as she moved the water and commanded it to grab Kizuo. The water did as it was told and grabbed him by his ankles.

"Let me go!" he yelled.

"No way!" yelled Izuka/Aqua.

The water started to cover Kizuo's body until it reached his head. Izuka walked over to his immobile form. Gaara went over to them.

"What are you going to do to me?" asked Kizuo.

Izuka turned to Gaara. "I'll leave his fate to you."

Gaara considered his options, but then a thought occurred to him. He whispered his idea in Izuka's ear. She smirked.

"That's not a bad idea."

Izuka raised her hand. The water covering Kizuo's body responded to the movement and moved itself in a way that made Kizuo stand up in front of the Sage and Kazekage.

"What are you going to do?" asked Kizuo in a frightened tone.

Gaara and Izuka/Aqua both smirked at each other.

"Oh, you'll see." the Kazekage and Sage both chorused.

About two hours later

Daisuke, Gaara, Temari, Kankuro, and Izuka were now running through a small forested area on their way to the Wind Daimyo's palace.

"Daisuke, where are we and how close are we to the palace?" asked Kankuro.

"We're in the forest near Mizukari City. The Wind Daimyo's palace is in the city's center. We'll probably get there in another hour or so." answered Daisuke.

"Oh good cause I'm starving." sighed Kankuro.

"You're always starving Kankuro." exclaimed Temari as she gave him a sisterly shove.

"I know I do but what are you?" asked Kankuro as he stuck his tongue out at her.

"I'm a person with common sense and fashion sense sir." Temari replied.

"What are you implying sis?" inquired Kankuro.

"She's saying you have neither." said Gaara out of the blue.

"OH HELL NO!" screamed Kankuro. Everyone laughed, except Gaara, who chuckled.

Daisuke stopped laughing and turned to Izuka and Gaara, "Was it a good idea to leave that bandit leader back there like that?"

Izuka and Gaara turned to look at each other, then back at Daisuke. "I don't think Kizuo will be bugging anymore travelers for a long time." replied Izuka.

Gaara smirked at the thought.

Daisuke only nodded his head in response and the group continued on their way towards Mizukari City.

Back with Kizuo

Kizuo was currently stuck in the ground. I mean, STUCK IN THE GROUND. Currently, he was buried in rock up to his neck. His bandit minions had already abandoned him when they woke up from their dream lands and he was at the moment, all alone.

"Ugh, could it get any worse?" said Kizuo out loud. "Why the HELL did I say that?"

Kizuo would have smacked himself in the head if it weren't for the fact that his hands were underground. Instead, he turned his head to see a huge sandstorm come his way.

"Oh shit."

Back with the group

The group finally finished their journey through the forest and was now at Mizukari City's gates. Daisuke led the group over to the city's security checkpoint, where a small line had already formed. The line moved quickly and the group soon found themselves at the security desk. The guard looked up from his paperwork.

"Ah Daisuke. It's good to see you again. How was the assignment?" asked the guard.

"Hello Aiko. The assignment went well." Daisuke gestured over to the others. "I'm here with the Lady Sage, the Kazekage, and his siblings. The Wind Daimyo is expecting us."

Aiko looked over a paper that was a list of expected visitors. "Oh yeah. They are here on the list. You guys can enter. Have a pleasant stay."

"Thanks Aiko." Daisuke and the four teens walked over to the main gates. The gates opened to reveal a bustling city full of activity.

"Wow, this is amazing." said a stunned Kankuro. Temari, Gaara, and Izuka could only nod their heads in agreement even though they have been to the city before.

Daisuke turned around to face the teens. "Guys, welcome to Mizukari city."

End of chapter 14.

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