V8 ch 8
Survival
Daiya walked in the pitch darkness with his team. He breathed out slowly, ears listening for any signs of an enemy. The fortress they were in contained deadly traps and obstacles for his team to get past. He wondered if the other teams were as uneasy as his was. Daiya's feet padded behind Saori's. He heard a click as his foot pressed on something in the barely lit hall. The floor began to drop out from underneath him. Daiya yelled as Ryu and Saori tried to grab onto him. He went down into the darkness of a shaft. He tried to grab onto the surface around him as he fell, but it was no use. His nails scraped on the wood until he fell straight into a box.
The lid of the box closed on top of him. Daiya screamed in sheer horror as his claustrophobia kicked in. The experience sent him back to when he was a child being tortured by his biological mother. Daiya covered his head as he tried to break out of the tight space by kicking. His body shook all over as his panic heightened. Unknowing to him the box was sitting on a rotating piece of wood. As a hidden door opened off to the right, the box containing the frightened ninja rotated and was thrust into another room.
Hashano Maeno from the Fang country sucked on his sharp teeth as he made his way down the watery tunnel. He rolled his yellow eyes wondering if Dayu was laughing because he got separated. Bastard. As Hashano turned a corner, he could hear someone screaming. Without a justifying thought about why the sound was occurring, he ran after it. His feet sloshed in the water as he moved.
Hashano came upon a large box that appeared to be lying against a wall. Someone was trapped inside. He could tell by the high pitched screams the male inside had a strong dislike being in the container. "Not very fitting for a ninja," he said to himself. "I'll get you out!" Hashano slammed his elbow on the edge of the box. It started to crack and break off with the repeated force. He quickly thrust the top of the box open. Out fell a boy with a ponytail clutching his chest. Hashano lifted him. "Hey. Are you alright?"
Daiya's half lidded eyes saw a guy watching him with yellow eyes. He reminded him of a younger looking Kiba. He didn't know why, but he answered the guy truthfully, "My heart is… making me blac-," Daiya's head went back, his body going limp.
Hashano picked the boy up out of the water. He knew something wasn't right. "If I was cruel, I'd leave you here until the exams are over. But I'd like to compete against you." He lifted the unknown boy onto his back. Hashano pictured Dayu shaking his head in disapproval. He's still a bastard.
Ryu and Saori ran through the hall quickly to avoid weapons darting over their heads. Saori used Rose as a shield over her and Ryu. Kunai and shuriken rained down upon them. The kunai made tack noises onto the wooden puppet. Saori breathed hard as they exited the hall around a corner. She put her back against the wall. "Ryu, what are we going to do about Daiya? We don't know what kind of trap he fell in to," she said trying to catch her breath.
Ryu punched the wall hard. He let his forehead hit it. His other fist punched the structure as if it had anything to do with their team mate's disappearance. "He could be dead for all we know. If that trap didn't get him, his condition will."
Saori put her hand on his back. "We can't give up. We have to keep moving. These traps aren't the only thing we have to worry about. If Daiya is able to meet us later, we have to show the initiative. We aren't giving up on him!"
Ryu was stressed out. It wasn't the fortress beating him, but his own thoughts. He wanted Daiya to be alright. He just had no way of knowing where he was, or if he was still alive.
Areku swore as he climbed up the rocks jutting out of the wall. He heard the shink sound and removed his left hand as a long metal needle came out of the fake rock. He swung his arm back as the metal spike retreated. "Watch your hands and feet! They've put poison on the tips of these things. One prick and you're out!"
Kandai moved up as quickly as he could when the rocks went inside the wall they were climbing. He held his position on the rocks he stood on throwing his body against the wall. Kandai stared at the floor three stories below. He breathed hard trying to keep his focus.
"We're almost there, Kandai. Keep moving and don't look down," Areku said. Ichigo was buried in the back of his vest. He glanced over at Gin who was higher than they were. She's fast for a petite girl.
Gin had to get to the top before her team. She was planning to use her plant jutsus to help them make it the rest of the way. The rocks jutting out started to go back into the wall again. This time, her feet were slipping. Gin frantically held onto the rock as her body dangled. "Whoever thought of this is cruel," she said.
Kandai started to move faster as his hands and feet interchanged positions. He was more afraid of the needles than he was falling to his death. He gasped as his hand was removed in time to see a needle pop out. "Guys, I know this doesn't help, but the needles are coming out faster!"
"That's not what I wanted to hear," Areku yelled as he began to move quicker. He breathed hard as the rocks started to do something he didn't expect. They began to rotate three hundred and sixty degrees. Areku's hand started to slip as the rock his hand was on, rotated. He yelped as the one under his feet did, too. "Ah!" Areku fell from his position. He dug his claws into the wood, but his weight caused gravity to pull him down faster.
Kandai placed his hands onto the wood directing his chakra to his palms. As Areku came towards him, he swung his body, twisting his mid-section to give Areku something to grab onto.
Areku anxiously grabbed Kandai's legs. He dug his nails in trying to hold on. As Kandai's body came back to where his feet could find placement, Areku tried to find his own footing. Once he found it, his nose picked up the scents of other ninja directly below them. "We're not the only ones climbing. Move!" The team started to pick up speed.
Domeda Hiranuma snickered as his head craned upwards with his hands on the rocks. "I can see three little monkeys ahead of us," he said. "If the wall doesn't get them, we sure will." His team began to move quickly up the wall to catch the other team.
Gin tensed as a wave of water was dumped over the side of the wall. She held on tightly as the fluid washed over her body. Her entire team was being soaked to the bone. Gin forced her body to move, her nails searching for the rock. As soon as she found it, she continued her journey.
Areku placed his foot on the same rock as Kandai. He crawled over him to get his team mate to pick up the pace. "Get going, Kandai! They're getting closer," Areku said with alarm in his voice.
Eriko Taira whistled after the kids ahead of her team. "Come on and play with us brats. We don't bite much," she sang as her arms and legs moved to avoid the needles coming out of the rocks as they turned.
Kakuei Ushiba unhooked the long whip from the belt on his hip. He grinned showing his teeth. "It's a long drop," he shouted up to the kids who were continuing to move up the dangerous wall. He started to twirl the end of the whip eying a rock over head. Flicking his wrist, he caught onto it. Kakuei began to pull himself up, easily avoiding the rocks moving around him. He was gaining on them.
Kandai moved from each stone trying to catch up to Areku. He and Gin were almost to the top. A needle popped out of the rock going into his hand. Kandai yelled in pain moving his hand away, but it was too late. The poison started to seep through his bloodstream. A voice from under him caught his attention.
Kakuei touched down on the rocks, his hands holding on as the boy above him caught onto his movements. "That's a nasty wound you have there," he said moving up to where he could see the blood exiting the boy's hand. The rocks started to rotate unlike the rocks on the lower levels. Kakuei hopped from rock to rock, trying to keep himself from falling.
Kandai's eyes started to feel sleepy. The world around him swirled with colors as the poison took over his mind. His body wasn't able to respond to the rocks moving under his feet. His feet slanted with the motion of the rotating devices, his body instantly leaning back. Kandai Hyuuga was swept away by the poison in his system.
Gin Akimichi had made it to the top just in time to see Kandai's body depart from the wall. She screamed his name, his form disappearing from her sight. Gin threw several seeds out into the open air. She formed hand seals quickly causing the seeds to sprout. Her eyes closed, her concentration holding as the vines shot with rapid speed out towards the bottom of the drop.
Areku threw himself onto the landing, his muscles aching from the strenuous exercise. The team that had been taunting them was still moving to catch them and finish them off. He signaled Ichigo to come out of the vest. The canine jumped down, her body stance ready for a fight.
Domeda jumped upwards his form coming up over the edge of the wall. The kids were definitely surprised to see him. He unhooked his large weapon from his back. It resembled a staff, but on the end of it was a long piece of metal equipped with needle thin spikes jutting out three feet. One swipe of it towards an enemy, and he could tear their flesh off.
Areku and Ichigo jumped back as the weapon came barreling down on the space where they once were. The wood splintered off in huge chunks flying through the air. I've got to keep this guy off Gin! He threw shuriken at the guy to distract him.
Gin saw the vines tighten; she only prayed they managed to latch onto Kandai before his head came into contact with the floor. She now had to worry about getting him up the wall without the other team interfering. The other two members of the Haze team were within feet of reaching her. Areku and Ichigo were attacking the main leader, their forms blurring as they moved around to outwit him.
Kandai dangled an inch from the floor, his head back as his breathing started to slow down. He wasn't aware of the activities around him. The poison in his body was reacting fast.
Domeda went after the boy and his dog, his Harikanazuchi drifting along the corridor. The tower walls were being ripped apart by his sheer force. "You're not going to get away from me that easily!"
Gin had to get to Kandai. She jumped from the edge of the level with her hands outstretched towards the vines. Catching on to them, she started to slide down them, her legs wrapped around as if it were a pole. The two team members yelled at her, but she refused to hone in on what they were saying. Gin finally saw Kandai lying limply wrapped in the vines. She detached herself from them landing on the floor.
"Kandai? Kandai!" Gin searched for his pulse as he hung around. Her eyes softened. His pulse was slow - the poison had already taken over control. She began to search her kimono for the pouch she kept for such emergencies. Gin opened the pouch to find the seeds she needed. She poured out the seeds she carried, searching for the right ones. Gin placed them on the floor, her body turning to open the pouch on her back. Pulling out a small wooden bowl and handle, she began to grind the seeds into mush. Gin found the vile of elixir she kept hidden in her kimono. Untwisting the cap, she tilted her hand pouring the right amount into the bowl. She kept mashing the seeds until they were dissolved in the water. Hurriedly, she opened Kandai's mouth.
Gin poured the antidote into his mouth as her other hand moved to support his head and neck. She wasn't sure if he was going to make it, or not. It varied on the amount of poison put on the needles jutting out of the rocks. Gin also had no idea of knowing what kind of poison it was. She was using a simple antidote taught to her by Shikamaru to counteract the effects on Kandai. Her head lifted to hear an all out attack being held with Areku and Ichigo. She had no choice but to gather Kandai and assist her team mate.
Areku and Ichigo ran at the Haze team their bodies twirling in the air with the double clone attack he had learned from his father. Man Beast Clone was a sure fire signature that he was an Inuzuka. Areku growled as his fangs started to show and his nails grew longer. He twirled from one end of the hall as Ichigo came barreling down the other end at an angle.
The Haze team started to split up trying to limit the chances of their entire team getting the full blunt end of the attack. Domeda brought up his Harikanazuchi as he stood in a defense stance. If the boy ended up coming down on it, he'd be done with. The needles jutting out from the weapon were enough to lunge straight through any body part in its way.
Areku wasn't able to stop the spinning motion his body was performing. His eyes saw the Harikanazuchi appear out of nowhere as one sole Haze member stood to oppose the attack. He and Ichigo hit Domeda with sheer destruction and force. Areku Inuzuka hit the weapon so hard, the handle of it broke in two, but it wasn't over. He stood up with his eyes narrowed in on Domeda, the needles piercing through his left arm and shoulder. Areku's brow furrowed as the pain hit.
Domeda showed his teeth pressing the spikes further into the boy's arm. "Nice try, but no one can avoid my Harikanazuchi," he said as he planted his left foot forward and pulled. The needles came ripping out of the boy's flesh, blood escaping the large wound. The kid's knees buckled as he fell to the floor. The small dog who had been spared was growling at him, her ears back. "You were lucky, mutt." He turned around to signal his team. "Take care of that girl," he ordered.
Gin had just secured Kandai on her back when she saw two Haze members coming down the vines. She was in trouble. Areku must have been defeated. Her first decision was to protect Kandai, but she also had to protect herself. Gin began to form hand seals – she wasn't beaten just yet. The vines above her started to grow again, but this time, their extensions were deadly. "Vine strangle!"
Kakuei yelled as a vine wrapped around his neck. His legs kicked in the air as his hands came up trying to loosen the hold it had on him. Eriko went ahead to try to finish the girl off. He grunted as it tightened. It was becoming difficult for him to breathe.
Eriko formed hand seals of her own as she jumped off the vine, avoiding a strip of plant from attaching itself to her body. Shadow people started to come out of the darkness towards the plant girl. "Avoid this!" Eriko kept her hands forming the hand seal for 'ox' as she landed on the ground.
Gin turned her head around several times. The shadows were moving towards her, their red eyes watching her. Kandai was too much weight on her back for her to be able to dart past them. She shifted her feet attempting to avoid them from touching her. The jutsu was unfamiliar to her.
Eriko had to keep the girl confused. She heard Kakuei finally cut through the vine to free himself. As the leaf-nin ran around to avoid her creatures, she signaled them to come even closer, trapping the girl in a circle of shadows. "I wouldn't let them touch you, if I were you. They'll drain your chakra," she said.
Gin thought the girl was bluffing. She ran to go through one of the shadows. Her body came in contact with it. Being in contact with the dark energy made her feel sick to her stomach. Her head swirled as she stepped back. She could hear the girl laughing at her for the attempt.
Kakuei jumped to the bottom of the wall, his body crouched with the landing. He stood up, his eyes watching the girl try to escape. "Your trainer didn't prepare you for everything," he said giving Eriko the signal to take care of her. "Finish her off. We have to get going. Who knows how many levels are inside this tower."
Eriko changed hand seals, her eyes focusing ahead on the shadow people, her eyes not blinking. "Shadow swarm!" The shadow people started to move around the girl, their human like forms becoming nothing more than a blur of blackness that was getting smaller. The girl from the Leaf village whirled around with a weapon drawn, but it was of no use. Eriko's shadows struck her, causing her form to disappear from sight.
Gin was blanketed in darkness. In the darkness she heard evil voices whispering in her ears, their looming presence causing her heart to race in fear. She wasn't aware that it was all a trick of the shadows to elude her. Gin's ears picked up on a voice she remembered from months ago. Its bellowing laugh was all around her. Her head flipped around trying to find its form, but there wasn't any. The fear she had in her from that time got to her. She couldn't defeat Ryokuzu again. Gin blacked out falling to the floor with Kandai's limp form on her back.
Eriko signaled the shadow people to disembark. Her gray eyes looked up and down at the unconscious girl on the floor. She flipped her curly, short dark green hair satisfied with her training. "One team down," she said with affirmation.
Hashano carried the boy on his back for a while until he saw a team ahead of him examining the stairs leading to the upper level of the tower. He stopped in his tracks. There were only two of them. They hadn't spotted him yet, which was in his favor. Hashano gently crouched eying the situation. He leaned back to put the boy against the wall. The boy's head slumped forward. I must be out of my mind watching over someone I don't know. Hashano felt sorry for the guy. He formed hand seals as a kunai went soaring past his head. He opened the buckles on his vest to allow his minions free reign. A dozen fleshy mouths formed out of his body. They popped off of his skin and onto the ground lashing their teeth as their small feet darted them around. "I'd back off if I were you. Their bite is pretty serious," he said.
"I'll take my chances," the guy said as he held his scythes ready. His red eyes moved to Daiya sitting up against the wall. "What are you doing with my friend? Answer me," Ryu yelled as he attempted to slice at the guy's head.
The mouths on the floor moved around biting at his legs. Ryu growled as he was pulled back by Saori's chakra strings. She lifted him in the air as her feet hit the floor.
Saori studied the unknown boy. Her sharp eyes picked up on observations Ryu had missed. "You were helping Daiya, weren't you," she asked calmly. The guy's posture was aggressive. She stood up, her chakra strings detached from her boyfriend. Ryu fell to the floor with a yell. "You can answer me. I'm Saori from the Hidden Leaf village in the Fire country. Who are you?"
Hashano relaxed a little, but when Ryu stood up rubbing his head, he tensed again. "Why should I tell you? Both of you tried to attack me."
Saori loosened her posture. She sat on the floor crossing her legs to make herself seem less threatening. "Ryu attacked you – not I. he figured you were harming Daiya, but it's impossible to do that if you're carrying him." Saori smiled. "I was watching you while I used a clone to make it seem like Ryu wasn't alone," she said pointing to the ceiling. She had been hiding there the entire time.
"Maeno Hashano. Don't call me that. Everyone calls me 'Ano'. What's wrong with him," Hashano asked as he took a quick glance at Daiya. "He blacked out after I rescued him from a box he was trapped in. He was screaming his head off and banging around." Hashano eased his body entirely. The situation had changed all together. "Neither of you were aware he's claustrophobic."
Daiya heard familiar voices talking as his eyes slowly opened. He vaguely remembered the guy in front of him who was eying Ryu. He saw Saori glance in his direction.
Saori moved past Hashano. She crouched placing her hand on his forehead. "You're fine. Do you remember Ano helping you?" Saori pointed to Hashano. "He's from the Fang country. Daiya, I'm worried about you continuing with the exam."
"He chose to enter. There's no backing down now. The only way out of the Mist Village is on a stretcher, or a body bag," Ano said. "They deem forfeiters as cowards."
"The stretcher might be the lease of our worries," Ryu said quietly. "You shouldn't have entered because of Saori and I. I know that's the reason you chose to lead us here. It's only the beginning of the trials and your ailment is reacting this quickly. I didn't agree to this," Ryu said turning his hard gaze upon Daiya. Ryu walked off angrily toward the stairs. He didn't want to associate with his friend.
"What ailment do you have," Ano asked.
"He has a bad heart," Saori said as Daiya frowned staring at the floor. "This is too much stress for it to bear, Daiya. You don't have to prove yourself to us."
"I have to prove everything to myself," Daiya said lowly. "I can't depend on you and Ryu to defend me when I'm not able to, or because of this stupid reason!" He touched his chest, his fingers wanting to dig into his body and thrust his heart out.
"You're not doing your team any favors, kid," Ano said. "You realize that now right? They're going to have to baby-sit you." Ano called the mouths back to him. He crouched down as they leapt for him. The mouths were absorbed by his skin. He buckled his shirt.
Daiya watched Ano crouch in front of him. He looked at him with a blank stare. "Why'd you help me?"
"It's tough to make it through the trails without having to fight yourself along the way," he answered realistically.
Daiya lifted his hand. He placed it on Ano's head, petting gently. Ano didn't seem to understand the gesture.
Ano stood up walking away with Saori by his side. "Uh, what was that all about?" He stopped near the stairs for an explanation. Ryu was staying away from him for the time being.
"It means he likes you," Saori said. "Take it as a compliment. He's standoffish to most people."
Ano glanced back to look at the guy he had rescued. "Take care of him. He's got a lot to face with the trials. I need to make it back to my team." He went up the stairs to the other level, leaving the blond haired girl in his wake.
Onari looked across the room at the wooden pillars standing out in the open off the landing her team was standing on. They were trying to understand what lay before them. The wooden pillars were stretched out in all directions. Across the way was the continuation of the hall. Lights from above were showing the depths of the darkness below the pillars. Onari exhaled assessing everything in view.
The area was so large that several teams could have a serious fight at one time. The darkness allowed another team to mask an ambush hidden from the reach of the lights. Onari growled under her mask. Her side training had prepared her for this moment. She wasn't fooled one bit.
Onari formed hand seals, her eyes remaining focused ahead. Three forms popped into view. Clones of her, Eiyu, and Takeru stood awaiting instructions. For the moment, she was taking charge. She signaled Eiyu to create an illusion.
Eiyu Hyuuga formed hand seals as he concentrated. Genjutsu was a hidden talent of his. He was the only one on his team who could perform it well. The three clones in front of them helped hide their real selves as the world around them began to change. Eiyu and his team disappeared leaving the clones in full effect.
Takeru tilted his head as he glanced at the rest of the clone team. He began to put a foot on the wooden pole, testing it. As he stepped fully onto it, the pole dropped three inches due to the weight change. He remained where he was, waiting.
Onari was the next to step out onto the wooden poles. She moved ahead by four poles as if she were a pawn in a game of chess. Her body remained stiff, eyes looking around for anything out of the ordinary. She and Takeru were guarding Eiyu as if he were a king and they were the knights defending the fortress.
There weren't any sounds being emitted from the area except the shuffle of their feet moving on the poles. Takeru moved away from Onari, his posture starting to lower. He tilted forwards at an angle. Takeru's clone shot forward, darting left and right randomly to avoid becoming a target.
Onari opened the casing by her leg. She threw several shuriken in each hand in a diagonal pattern to give the illusion she was protecting Takeru from a frontal assault. The shuriken flew through the air, their spinning forms disappearing out of sight.
Eiyu's clone lifted its arm pointing straight ahead to give Onari a visual command to attack off to the right. He started to move on the poles, his weight causing the pole to drop, just like Onari's and Takeru's motions. It was soon learned that if he stepped on a pole that had already been touched by one of his team mates, that it dropped away out of sight into the abyss.
Team 9 stayed where they were as they watched their decoys try to lure out the other team. Eiyu knew they weren't alone in the area. It was foolish to think so. The Crux Tower was a confusing adornment of challenges. Where are you? Eiyu's white eyes searched the darkness again for any sign of a reflection. He wasn't able to use the Byakugan right now. It was impossible to use two techniques at the same time.
Byo Funaki from the Whirlpool country crouched low on the ceiling with his dark purple hair tucked into his clothing. The Mudasanyou, a demonic three-talon creature with a suction cupped mouth, stayed in position next to him away from the lights. His team mates were on the sides of the walls waiting for his signal. Until he gave it, they would remain where they were in seclusion.
Jurobei Tsukade's eyes followed the girl's movements in his line of sight. She poofed using a substitution jutsu to change her location. The team from Konoha were avoiding becoming a localized target. However, they were assuming the team was in front. They know we're not below 'em. The weight of the poles would have dropped each of us off by now.
Kankeo Yasui narrowed her eyes, her fiery orange hair making her appearance appear rather wild. To her, it was unusual the team was separating themselves from each other. Something's not right. Either each of them is a huge threat alone, or they want to be taken out.
Byo figured out everything at the same time Kaneko did. They want us to give away our positions. Foolish, but perhaps not. We can't advance without defeating them. Damn. He signaled his team to move forward by tapping on the ceiling. The sound echoed throughout the area.
Jurobei sent his large crab like arms out into the light in order to strike fear in the girl near him. Each claw came out snapping onto the poles as he pulled his body forward. His feet came down, his back arched as he lowered his head in an intimidating gesture. The girl was watching him with a blank stare.
Takeru's clone moved back with a jump landing seven poles away as a girl came shooting out of the darkness at him. He moved his eyes sizing her up and down. Takeru pretended to form hand seals to get her in a defensive stance. It was an attempt to learn about the girl's techniques.
Kankeo formed hand seals of her own as she prepared herself for a fight. Her eyes locked with the boy's. "It's a fine time for a trip," she said changing the environment around them. The poles disappeared forming a bamboo floor. The walls became that of a dojo. Now he doesn't know where to step without falling in.
Byo went after the leader. He signaled his Mudasanyou to land in front of the boy while he landed behind him. The Mudasanyou came crashing down onto the poles, its massive weight causing them to sink a foot below the others around it. Its suction cupped mouth puckered and swelled as its saliva was expelled. The sharp talons on its feet dug into the wood as it arched its back threatening to pounce at Eiyu.
Byo took out his three linked bombs that were on a strand of wire. He could move them in any direction he wanted to create a large explosion area or a small one with more impact. He watched the boy glance over his shoulder in his direction. "I'd keep my eyes ahead if I were you," he said making the bombs move farther apart.
Eiyu Hyuuga just stared ahead annoyed as his clone started to go into a defensive stance with the arms brought forward, palms facing the creature. What kind of fool does he take me for? I'm the one watching his back.
Onari moved her hand out to touch Eiyu's arm gently. He was fixing to give away their real position out of anger. Boys and their stupid tempers. She rolled her eyes. Takeru was already ahead of her in the planning department. He had moved his position farther away. Eiyu can't hold onto our illusion much longer. And neither can I. The whirlpool team has already shown themselves. It's time they meet the real us.
Takeru turned on Sharingan. His clone was doing a perfect job of acting confused and not knowing how to react to Kaneko. Genjutsu doesn't work on us from the Uchiha clan. Too bad she doesn't know that. As the girl remained distracted, he glued his hands and feet to the side wall. Takeru moved along it like a spider after its prey.
Eiyu's brows furrowed. He was at his limit of using Genjutsu on the whirlpool team. It was taking more chakra than he wanted to wager. "Onari, I can't hold on to it any longer," he whispered.
Onari moved her left leg out to flash with speed towards Eiyu. As the Genjutsu was released, she wrapped her arms around him to pick him up. The green creature in front of Eiyu's clone caught a glimpse of their movement. It alerted the leader by spitting its saliva everywhere.
As Jurobei moved his massive arm at the girl, Byo yelled the team they were fighting were decoys. His claw went through the girl's form. She poofed on contact.
Kaneko's kunai went through the boy she had trapped. Her eyes widened as he disappeared at the same time Jurobei's opponent did. She swore whirling around to be met with an enormous fireball coming her way.
Takeru held his position on the wall with his feet glued to the surface as he kept the tiger sign strong. The fire scorched the wooden poles so badly, they appeared black. His eyes saw the movements of those in front of him. Onari was in the air spinning with her arms outstretched as kunai came flying at her. Eiyu was hitting the chakra points of Kaneko, the girl with the wild orange hair. His eyes focused on the guy with the large crab arms. He was coming around to slam his hands on top of Onari. Takeru narrowed his eyes.
As the motions occurred, he leapt off in a sprint with his arms out to the sides and body tilted forward. Reaching into the casing on his leg, Takeru took out several shuriken, throwing them straight at Jurobei to stop his motion.
Jurobei yelled in anger as sharp metal hit his arms. His hands came down missing the girl by a few inches. "Damn brat," he said singling Takeru out. He went after him.
Eiyu moved his body twisting on his heels as he aimed his open palms at Kaneko's chakra points. The girl was still trying to hit him. "I stopped your chakra flow. There's nothing left for you to defend yourself with," he said blandly. Kaneko resulted in moving back to rethink her attack. Eiyu took the opportunity to unclip the bamboo flask on his hip.
Takeru needed the water inside the flask to unleash another technique of his. As usual, he used fire to limit the advances of another team. But now the area was bone dry and the technique couldn't be pulled off. Eiyu pried the top of the flask off with a kunai before he threw it at Kaneko. "Takeru!" He thrust the water from the flask out into the open air.
Takeru formed hand seals stopping on the sign for 'dog'. He concentrated choosing a technique his mother had taught him in preparation. "Water fortress," he said as the water from the bamboo flask was released.
Jurobei grinned as the water formed around the boy creating a four walled structure. "That's not going to work on me." He moved his arms through the water halfway as he tried to attack Takeru. What is this? It's not allowing me to pass through it!
Takeru ducked as a massive hand went above his head, trying to snap it clean off his neck. Idiot. My mother was the elite of the water country. You can't pass through heavy water molecules containing only half water and half part oxygen. He moved around continuing to avoid Jurobei's assaults on the fortress.
"Come out of there," Jurobei demanded getting angrier by the minute. He kept punching through the water expecting to make contact with the boy inside. Jurobei began to angle his hands at the top and bottom of the water. "I'm going to get you!"
"Doubt it, since I can see your moves," Takeru said dodging every attempted hit. He took out a kunai and came down upon Jurobei's arm hard. The blade went straight through. The other ninja yelled in pain, but Takeru kept attacking him.
Onari whirled around punching the Mudasanyou between the eyes. It cried out as she heard the cartilage break. "Sit," she said lowly. "Bad."
Byo threw a tied wire strand containing three bombs at Onari. He watched the ignited weapon soar through the air. Just when he thought it was going to hit, it snagged on another piece of wire he hadn't seen. He turned his head in disbelief to see Eiyu holding the wire that was linked to a kunai lodge on the far side of the wall.
Onari was busy punching the Mudasanyou all over its body. Once it toppled over she lifted the heavy creature into the air. As the bombs began to spark, she threw it at the strand. As she suspected, Byo went after his pet. The bombs went off blowing the wooden poles apart.
Takeru opened the water fortress long enough to escape from the back. Jurobei kept trying to attack through it until the water fell on top of him. The girl Eiyu had defeated ran once she realized her attacks were useless against him. He turned his head, his feet touching the remaining poles to see Jurobei leaping towards him with a death blow.
Onari's form poofed behind Takeru in mid-twirl, her long iron spike jutting out from the sleeves of the kimono. Aiming the pointed end up, it caught Jurobei in the chest going cleanly through his back. She fell on her side with the man stuck to her hidden weapon. Onari plucked it free with a grunt. Crawling out from underneath him, she rose, brushing herself off.
Takeru and Eiyu waited on Onari to make it to the solid flooring. They were both surprised at the new weapon's abilities. She stood before them with her wrist extended. Flexing her wrist, the weapon shinked back into its hiding place.
Team 9 exited the area moving ahead to the next obstacle they would face. "So uh… what have you been doing in your spare time, Eiyu," Takeru asked with a glance.
Eiyu smiled knowing his colleague was going to catch on as soon as he saw the details of Onari's new weapon. He walked off to the right around the corner leading his team. "Designing weapons, Takeru," he said as an afterthought occurred to him. How many levels were in this place?
Nahoko Ieyasu made her way to the strangest area she had ever seen. Moss covered the walls and floors of the hall they were walking through. Her eyes shifted around examining her surroundings. She led her team further into the tower, their feet walking slowly in case an attack occurred.
Saji Yamaha adjusted the goggles he wore around his eyes. "Now that's not something you see every day," he commented as they came to a blinding sight of old trees rooted in the flooring. Their branches stretched far and up to the next level of the tower. Moss hung from the dark wood, their intoxicating smell of mold hitting his nostrils. "It's apparent these have been here for a while."
Raidon Adachi rolled his eyes. "Stop stating the obvious," he said annoyed. "It's a trial not a nature expedition," he said moving past Saji. "It's the only way up and we're going to have to fight for it."
Idai crouched on the branch his arms hanging as he watched the Red Bean Jam team arrive. "Now what would ever make you think that?" His orange eyes locked with Raidon's.
Masaru was several branches up, his hands holding onto a branch as he pulled himself up. Swinging his body he managed to get onto the slippery wood. Masaru flipped his head around, his white eyes looking for Yanagi. She must be in hog heaven up here. That caterpillar of hers is probably eating through the bark.
Saji moved his fingers in his gloves. He was ready to take on the Konoha team. "I'm not getting any younger, let's get started," he said flashing his movements around the tree until he was straight under it. Idai seemed to be taken aback by Saji's speed. "Are you feeling alright," he asked as if Idai was merely lightheaded and his eyes hadn't seen what they did.
Idai lifted his arm putting his hand on one of his swords. He wasn't taking any chances. He had two others on his team he had to protect. One of them happened to be his best friend's girlfriend. Idai didn't know what the Red Bean Jam team was capable of, but he was fixing to find out.
Nahoko started to climb the enormous tree, her hands moving quickly up as her feet found footing. She wanted to get to the next level as quickly as possible. It had been two days already since her team had been trapped in The Crux Tower. Night and day were passing them by. Any longer in here and we won't make it out. I've seen teams already annihilated by stronger ones. It's the survival of the fittest!
Raidon wasn't attaching himself to the tree like his other two team mates. He was looking around for the third member of the Konoha team. There's one of 'em missing. Where could she be? He searched all over the branches, but there was no sign of her. He took out a small bag tied closed with a string. They were highly combustible. He snickered as a grin went across his face. How he loved to make things explode.
Saji flashed his form again appearing near the leader of the team. The boy turned his head to regard him. "Don't be so surprised," he said before his form faded out in a blur of colors. He was above Idai in a heart beat, his form hanging as he tried to sucker punch him unaware.
Idai crouched just in time as Saji came overhead. Nahoko was already near him, too. She was making her way towards him to get a clear shot at him. The girl's arm was moving to grab a hold of the long wooden object on her back. Idai had to react fast. He unsheathed both of his swords, rotating his wrist above to send Saji away from him.
Saji moved his form quickly to another location as Idai shot a current of air in the space where he once was. The branch he had been on cracked so hard that it began to snap off. Saji took out kunai and shuriken, throwing then at Idai. The weapons soared through the air.
Idai moved out of the way of the branch falling. As he moved, he was hit with weapons. Idai grit his teeth as his hand moved up to pull the shuriken out of his right arm. The kunai had hit the wood around him. The broken branch began to lean as gravity pulled its heavy mass down. The smaller branches came flinging back towards Idai, shifting their branches. He was pushed forward by the force, his body slamming against the hard surface. Idai scrambled to get back up.
Nahoko was unclipping her wooden zenbon pipe. It was a foot and a half in length, half an inch in diameter. She began to load it with the poisonous zenbon needles she loved to use to take down her enemies. The pipe allowed her to shoot farther than she could throw – even get into tighter spaces than she could possibly aim for. Nahoko began to bring the weapon up to her mouth. As she inhaled air, she felt something pulling on her leg. Nahoko looked down at her feet to see a hand wrapped around her ankle. Another thrust and she was caught off balance, trying to steady herself.
Yanagi's form came half way out of the tree. She wasn't about to give Nahoko the chance of hurting Idai. The woman was trying eagerly to get back up but Yanagi was catching each of her legs, pulling as hard as she could to keep her from gaining her balance.
Idai's head flipped around trying to track Saji's lightening fast moves. Every time he thought he had him, the man would move somewhere else to confuse his strategy skills. Idai was becoming annoyed. It was like trying to catch a fly with a pair of chopsticks. Patience was not one of his virtues.
High in the moss covered tree, Raidon pinpointed the location of a blond haired kid moving around with a large shuriken on his back. He wondered briefly why the boy had chosen to remain up here instead of helping his team mates. Raidon thought it was a foolish move when going up against an unfamiliar team. "Have you no idea how much trouble you're in," he asked as the boy landed on a branch opposite him. Raidon was older, wiser, and bigger.
Masaru only stared at the man from the Red Bean Jam team not giving any acceptance or denying to what he was saying. It was wrong to confirm the thoughts and actions of an opponent in battle. His father had taught him that. Things could change in an instant. Masaru wasn't away from his team for sheer lack of intelligence. No, he had been leading Raidon away for his sheer stupidity. Masaru Uzumaki smiled slowly at Raidon.
Raidon didn't know what the boy was smiling at. He threw several of his combustible powder bags at the boy to make his point. "See if you're still smiling after this!" He watched Masaru's form get annihilated by the bags of exploding powder. His homemade bombs were enough to make any formidable assassin proud. They were quick, on contact, and hard to foolproof.
Masaru stood again watching Raidon from the same location. This time, he had moved to another branch a little farther back that was more stable. Raidon seemed confused as hell to how he could have survived the all out explosion. Again, Masaru only smiled at him keeping that same blank stare he had learned from watching Idai a time or two.
Again Raidon reached into his clothing to take out more of the bags. He didn't know what game the boy was playing with him, but he wouldn't be caught up in it. Raidon threw more of the bags in his direction – this time from the top and bottom as he leapt off towards him. "Stupid kid!"
Masaru didn't move. As the bags came within feet of hitting his body, he concentrated. There was one formal fact about being a Hyuuga descendent – his mother had taught him a special technique to protect himself. Masaru spun around quickly creating a blue ball of light to guard himself against the exploding powder. As the powder came raining down, he kept rotating his form. The ball of chakra kept him from getting hit by the debris or getting seriously injured.
Raidon's eyes widened. He had never seen a jutsu like that before. "What kind of technique is that," he asked as he hunkered down, his body moving closer to Masaru, his feet stepping on each winding branch. He had to know. It was a hobby of his to familiarize himself with different clans and their techniques. "What clan are you from?"
Masaru answered the man truthfully, his smile dying away. "Uzumaki," he said not giving Raidon the full answers he sought. It was true he was both an Uzumaki and a Hyuuga, but his mother was a descendent and he was not part of that original clan. Masaru unclipped his shuriken from his back. "Enough talking," he said throwing it at the man.
Raidon leapt high into the air surprising the boy from Konoha. He threw more of the powder bags, his tongue going across his teeth. "I want to see you dodge all of these," he said as he kept on throwing them not waiting for the powder to disperse.
Nahoko had to get Yanagi off of her. She decided to let herself lose her balance to throw the girl off. Nahoko let go of the branch, her body falling as she brought the zenbon pipe up to her mouth. She inhaled quickly before unleashing a wave of poisonous zenbon on the girl.
Idai had to abandon his attack with Saji. It wasn't getting him anywhere. Yanagi was in danger. His main focus as a leader was to protect his team. Idai jumped with his sword drawn, arm outstretched as it came in front of her. Her eyes widened as he started to rotate the sword down the angle of the other one. A huge wave of wind was blasted forth sending the zenbon back to their original owner.
Nahoko's eyes widened as her zenbon came back. She shielded her face, curling into a ball, but it wasn't a match for the ones she had sent out. The padding on her body was thick, but only in certain areas. As the zenbon rained down on her, Nahoko's body was obstructed like a pin cushion. She fell to the bottom of the tree, her body lifeless as the poison seeped through her veins.
Masaru kept his attention focused on Raidon as he allowed himself to run riot. It was getting harder to keep the ball of chakra going around him. Masaru was starting to wear down and Raidon knew it. The man was sending even more bags at him, if it was possible to believe. Masaru couldn't see or hear anything as the bags exploded one after the other around him.
Yanagi ran up the side of the tree with her chakra gluing her feet to its moldy old bark. She tried to get to Masaru in time, her heart racing as her team mate was being attacked. Yanagi formed hand seals causing hundreds of pink butterflies to be expelled out of her clothing. The butterfly swarm went straight after Raidon.
Raidon laughed manically as he kept throwing the bags at Masaru. The ball of chakra the boy was contained in was starting to fizzle out. He turned his head just in time to see a pink mass of insects coming at him. He took his last combustible bag and threw it at them. The explosion sent pink wings everywhere.
Saji was on top of the girl his kunai drawn as he came down on her. She met his blade with her own, her dark eyes watching him intensely. He only smiled at her behind his goggles. "A lovely girl such as yourself would make a finer nurse maid," he said pushing her back with his strength, his heels digging into the wood.
Yanagi wasn't used to being talked down to. She sneered, her mouth turning into a frown. "Bring that pretty mouth of yours a little closer so I can cut your tongue out," she said in anger.
Idai bucked the large caterpillar as it climbed up the tree, its sharp feet catching onto each branch as it circled. He held onto its hairs as it moved faster once it saw Yanagi. Idai smiled as his hair fell forwards into his face with the movements of the creature. "Ah, you see your mama don't you?" Idai bucked more with his heels.
Saji pushed the girl so far back that her feet were fighting to stay on the branch. He was taller than her by a foot and a half. Yanagi was struggling to keep her arms from buckling under the weight of his own. Saji pushed down on her arms. He could tell they were starting to give from the pressure.
Idai had to help Masaru first before he could help Yanagi. "Maybe we can take them both out at the same time," he said patting the caterpillar's head. Masaru had resorted to creating one clone of himself at this time. Both he and the clone were running around Raidon to confuse him, but also creating a whirlwind.
Raidon threw shruiken and kunai at the boy and his clone. He didn't know which was which, but he didn't particularly care. His feet were starting to hover above the branch. Damnit to hell! I would run out of weapons at this point in the battle!
Masaru was tired as he could be, but he kept it up. He had to! If Raidon overthrew him now, Masaru was as good as dead. He was fighting until his body wasn't able to take anymore. The clone he was using to create the twister started to slow down. "No, not now," he yelled at the clone. It apologized to him, but poofed on him. His chakra was low.
Raidon smiled as his feet touched the branch once again. "No more tricks up your sleeve boy?" He threw a kunai straight at Masaru's face. Masaru threw one back to get the weapon off course. Raidon threw another and another trying his best to hit the boy. He watched Masaru run behind the large frame of the tree. "Cowards hide," he taunted as he started to follow him. Raidon slid on his tracks almost falling off as he was met by a large caterpillar who was reared up at him.
"And idiots with big egos fall right into traps," Idai said as he commanded Yanagi's pet to put Raidon in his place. He and Masaru watched the caterpillar open its mouth spewing forth an icky sticky fluid. As Raidon swore and tried to pull himself out of it, the fluid hardened. Raidon was caught stuck in an awkward position.
"Now to help Yanagi," Idai said as Masaru laid on the back of the caterpillar. The creature moved down the tree passing Raidon as he swore several times at it. "You have plenty of time to wash your mouth out," Idai called back.
Yanagi twirled her form in the air as her foot slipped. She brought her other leg up and kicked Saji right on the side of the face. He went flying at the tree, hitting it. Out of the corner of her eye she could see Idai on the back of her caterpillar. Maybe it had been wise of her to unleash it ahead of time. Yanagi came around rotating her body in the air with her arm and leg outstretched. She caught onto one of the lower, thinner branches below.
Saji pushed himself off the bark of the tree, completely fed up at this point. The pink haired girl was becoming more of a nuisance to him than he could have ever imagined. Saji started to dart back and forth before he leapt off the branch with his arms out, feet tucked in, weapons drawn.
Yanagi half expected to be mince meat, but soon she saw the familiar fluid go flying over her head. Saji was soon caught in her caterpillar's defense. Yanagi yelped moving herself under another branch as some of the fluid came dripping past her. "Ew, gross," she said up to her pet. It cleaned its mouth with hits teeth.
Idai helped Yanagi up onto the back of the creature as Masaru laid behind him breathing hard. "Maybe we should let it complete the rest of the trails for us," Idai said as the caterpillar started to circle around the tree like a rollercoaster. It's body went up and down as Team 6 held on.
"No, it wouldn't be fair to him. He did his job," Yanagi said. She looked over her shoulder at Masaru. "You finally found someone to wear you out," she said petting his head.
Masaru wanted to take a nap. It had been difficult keeping that technique of his mother's going. "Yeah," he said breathing hard as his eyes half-closed. "That guy had almost enough energy as Idai."