V 10 Ch 5
Misdirection
Kakumei twirled his tiger fork over his head as the lightening erupted all around him. Sasuke was coming straight at him with his grass cutter drawn, but Senko was also coming towards the other man from behind. Kakumei took off, sprinting as the charges began to develop in greater waves flowing down his arms. He rotated the tiger fork letting the electricity flow off of it.
Sasuke activated the Amaterasu in his left eye. The kekkeigenkai eye technique from the Uchiha clan passed to him from his dead brother, Itachi. Blood started to flow from his eyes as the unholy black flames appeared around Kakumei. Sasuke kept his eye focused, not blinking while he used his right eye to tone down the flames power so they were not uncontrollable to the point of burning the village, or anything else.
Kakumei screamed as the black flames appeared around him. His form was burning hotter than any fire he had witnessed. Dropping the tiger fork, he clutched his head, his eyes starting to bulge from the intense pain. The armor on his body was melting. The padding underneath the metal was molding to his skin.
Senko reached behind his back taking out his customized three prong short swords. He clenched his hand around the hilt of the sword as he swung his arm in Sasuke's direction. The middle prong came out several feet the tip pointed and sharp with poison.
Sasuke had no choice but to break his concentration. He moved his body sideways to where his head was turned to face Senko from his right. The prong from the sword missed his face by a few inches. Kakumei fell to the ground, his clothes smoking from the black fire. Sasuke moved his arm, his grass cutter hitting the other sword. He pushed it away. His eyes narrowed. "Moron."
Senko came at him again with the other sword, its middle prong also lengthening to strike the man down. Each time he rotated and alternated the swords, Sasuke managed to push him back, his one sword meeting both of his. Kakumei was of no use to him right now. The man was lying in pain upon the ground, his groans escaping his burnt lips.
Sasuke shut off the Amaterasu, the technique causing his eye to throb in pain. He couldn't use it for long periods of time without risking his sight in the process. He and Senko twirled around, their arms moving swiftly to block the others movements. His feet danced with the General's actions the clanging of metal upon metal striking furiously. Sasuke saw his opening. It was taking Senko longer to swing his right arm when his left arm was striking. He suspected the man to be left handed. Which meant his right was his weakest. Taking the opportunity when he saw it, Sasuke bore down on the man's right arm with the sword pushing with all his force.
Senko grit his teeth, his left arm starting to push more violently at the grass cutter in front of him. If he couldn't hold it off the blade would pierce through his arm. The tip of the sword hovered as it shook. Their strengths were matched, his eyes narrowed as he grunted to keep Sasuke Uchiha off of him.
(Scene Change)
Buitai went straight after the two kids trying to elude him and Hanzai. The metal scorpion he controlled moved swiftly behind them, its claws rotating waiting for an opportunity to strike. "You're not getting away from us," Buitai called with a grin on his face. He jerked his head a little to the right signaling Hanzai.
Hanzai reached into her back pocket. She took out a small mechanical device with a twisting top. Placing her hand upon it, she began to turn the device counterclockwise to activate it. Hanzai threw the bomb at the two boys with a powerful aim. The bomb soared through the air pinpointed at an area ahead of the group.
Ryu glanced over his shoulder as he sensed something coming at them. His eyes widened. Takeru was being held under his arm as he ran with all the speed he could muster. The bomb came over their heads. He slid on his feet so fast, his body turning to regain his balance, that Takeru's yelled his face an inch away from the top of the roof. Hanzai and Buitai were straight in front of him, his back towards the bomb. As Hanzai and Buitai were in the process of moving their bodies to strike, Ryu's mind flashed to a technique Daiya had came up with.
At the exact moment the bomb hit the roof, a boom sounded sending debris everywhere. Ryu placed his hand upon the roof, kicking his legs up. He concentrated the hardest he had ever done in his life, his chakra pushing against the fiery blast coming at his back. His body shot forward, rolling in the air as he went straight over Buitai and Hanzai.
Takeru rolled in the air the blast coming stronger as it finally engulfed them. The shockwave of the blast sent them rolling farther than Ryu had anticipated. Ryu's grasp on Takeru was loosened as he was sent flying over two buildings. He started to fall hitting the roof straight onto his right shoulder. The impact caused the bones of his shoulder to break. Ryu grabbed his arm his legs kicking in complete pain.
Takeru tucked and rolled his body hitting a few crates that were on top of the roof. For a few moments he was out of it, his eyes looking straight up into the black smoke infested sky, his legs sticking straight up. How did I end up on my back? He struggled to break free of the wood his hands punching at it until it broke. Where was Ryu? Takeru popped out of the box, his feet scrambling as he tripped on the wood debris, his form falling over. He got up a bit dazed his eyes searching for his best friend.
Takeru saw him on another building his body lying on his side, back towards him. Ryu was holding his arm. "Ryu!" Just as Takeru began to run towards his friend, a menacing shadow overcastted his own in the sunlight. Takeru froze. Chills rose up his spine. Slowly he turned his head to look straight into the towering figure of the metal scorpion. Its tail was hovering right over him, the poison dripping from the tip. It clinked its head several times, eyes darting trying to pinpoint which way he would go. Takeru held his breath.
Buitai angrily threw Hanzai off of him as he fought against the debris covering them. "Get off of me, woman!" He pulled himself free letting Hanzai roll off the mound to the roof. She groaned. Buitai stood on top of the mound his green hair moving about as he whipped his head around. Where were they? Then he saw his scorpion raised ready to strike. "Got you," he said. He went straight in that direction.
Hanzai lifted herself up, touching her head. "Stupid brats," she said her hand coming away to reveal blood. She clenched her hand. "I'll get them for ruining my hair!" The aura around her changed as her eyes became focused on the direction Buitai had managed to take off to. She reached into her outfit taking out several small bombs. Hanzai leaned over rubbing her cheek on them affectionately. "Oh, mama's babies missed her, didn't they?" She kissed each one of them adoringly. "Don't fret, my lovelies. I have a job for you," she said wiggling her hips as she winked an eye. Hanzai threw the little miniature bombs straight after Buitai.
Buitai was just about to his scorpion when he turned to see Hanzai's miniature bombs coming straight at him. His eyes widened. "AH! YOU STUPID WENCH!" The scorpion twisted its body a heavy claw outstretched to its master. Buitai grabbed a hold of it as the scorpion curled up, its legs around him to protect him.
Takeru thought he was lucky for a split second until he saw why the scorpion had reacted that way. He couldn't die here like this. No, he was a Uchiha. Takeru formed hand seals taking a deep breath. He blew outwards a stream of fire aimed at the bombs. The fire turned into a fireball the form of which engulfed the bombs. The bombs were set off quicker their detonation causing the building he was on to shake from the intensity.
Hanzai took cover throwing herself at the roof again. She covered her head with her hands. Each miniature bomb was detonated causing a chain reaction. The building she was on started to shift in a downward spiral. Her eyes widened. Hanzai leapt off the building her hands outstretched. The building hit the ground smoke coming in waves. She was thrown forward her vision becoming obstructed by the clouds of dust. She coughed trying to cover her mouth.
Takeru ran at Ryu in the brief moment he had to escape. Ryu had forced himself to sit up, his face ashen white. Takeru crouched as he slid. "Ryu! What happened?"
Ryu felt sick with pain. "My shoulder," he managed to say afraid to even speak. Suddenly another presence was near them. He glanced at Eiyu Hyuuga.
"You two were easy to find with that blast. The whole village has been alerted." His keen eyes told him Ryu Yuhi was in no position to fight any longer. "You're wounded. You need to go to the hospital."
Ryu shook his head. "I can't go," he said not sure how he was going to continue fighting. "I have to protect Takeru. If they discover he can summon the dragon, we're in a load of trouble."
Eiyu lifted his eyes. The metal scorpion was uncurling. And along with it, its master. "I can hold him off," Eiyu said firmly. "Takeru, take him and get him help."
Takeru narrowed his eyes. "Don't boss me around, Eiyu. I can fight also."
Eiyu was in his face within a matter of seconds, his nose half an inch from Takeru's. "Listen to me for once in your life. On what grounds are you an idiot?" Eiyu waited for a quick response, but Takeru kept silent. "Ryu is injured beyond the point of being useful. The least you can do to repay him for protecting you this far is to take him to the hospital! This isn't about who dies sooner!"
Takeru glanced at Ryu. Ryu was not thinking about the village being invaded, or the fact they still had one opponent to fight. "I'm sorry, Ryu," he said apologetically. "I didn't mean to be childish."
"Get going," Eiyu said as he whirled around to see the large metal scorpion slam back onto the roof. Buitai was angrily holding his head. The explosion had left the man with a ringing in his ears. "That's an order!" Eiyu shot off towards his enemies giving Takeru the chance to get away.
Takeru heaved Ryu with all of his strength onto his back. "Ryu, you're going to have to tuck your feet in." He heard Ryu grumble from behind him. Takeru started to run almost tipping over from the extra weight. He wasn't too sure about leaping off of the building. But what choice did he have? He could hear Eiyu fighting Buitai and the metal scorpion behind him. Takeru leapt through the air, the world around him not seeming real. Smoke filled the air. All around him were fighting to get the Lightening-nin out of the village. Everything was because they were after Onari. His legs hit the other roof hard, his body wanting to buckle under the force, but somewhere deep down inside him, Takeru found the effort to lift himself and keep going.
Buitai went at the boy with every bit of anger he could muster. His kunai hit Eiyu's with each sheer force, his body turning to try and kick the youth aside. The metal scorpion let its tail strike from every open angle Eiyu left open, but Eiyu seemed to be keeping each eye he had on them. Buitai started to bear his strength towards his hits, his feet moving against the ground.
Eiyu caught onto what Buitai was trying to do. He was trying to refocus his attention so it would be misdirected from the scorpion's precise strikes. Eiyu's arm went out hitting Buitai on the side with enough force emitting from his chakra that he caused Buitai to back off. Eiyu activated his Byukagan, the man's pressure points upon his body becoming clear. If he could manage to get Buitai off his back some, he could defeat the scorpion.
Buitai grinned as Kyu and he circled the youth from the Leaf village, his hands going straight for his metal fans. He drew his hands in, his fingers clasping around the weapons strapped to his wrists. Buitai unleashed them keeping a fan overhead and one lowered. His feet moved swiftly preparing to strike straight after the scorpion. There was no way the boy could hit both of them at the same time. You're mine!
Kyu's head clicked pinpointing the moment when Eiyu's movements were the slowest. Eiyu kept his arms out blocking each of Buitai's fans with his hands. Each strike the man hand, Eiyu's palm came out to hit the fan in the middle, careful not to touch the razor sharp edges. Kyu whirled his pincers. Buitai's lip curled upward in a cocky snarl. That was Kyu's signal to go for it. The scorpion came at Eiyu's back, his pincers striking, but Eiyu whirled around in a blue light of chakra causing Kyu to be thrown back. His feet dug into the roof of the building.
Buitai laughed as he was knocked backwards onto his rear. "So this is what you were planning?" He laughed more raising to his feet. "I wonder how long you can keep this up. Although, I'm not complaining. It's making me sweat a little," Buitai said in a low growl. He lifted one of his fans to let it brush the sweat away. "Sucks to be you, my friend." Buitai's body began to charge, the sweat from his body becoming a catalyst for his lightening jutsu. The fans held in his hands only allowed his strike to lengthen. "I don't have to be near you to hit you. Kyu!"
Eiyu glanced behind him. Buitai was mortal and could be harmed by his training. However, Kyu was metal and not human. The scorpion closed in on him. Eiyu whirled around again, his chakra defense sending the scorpion backwards. He knew in the back of his mind he was in deep trouble. Buitai's real offensive tactic was to wear Eiyu down to a bare minimum. Eiyu could only rely on one thing: that backup came to his aid. He was alone on the rooftop fighting two strong opponents by himself.
Buitai kept fighting Eiyu the adrenaline rushing through his body. "How you like me now, brat?" He snickered coming at Eiyu from all angles. Anywhere there was an opening he and Kyu took it. Eiyu was sweating so hard droplets came off his flustered cheeks. "No one's going to help you! You're completely alone!"
Kyu rotated his head his eyes whirling around keeping track of Eiyu's movements. The metal scorpion's tail twirled fast rotating with sheer precision. Eiyu whirled again throwing the scorpion and Buitai back. Eiyu's arms went out with attempts to block Buitai's chakra. Kyu moved side to side, the top of his tail swishing around in the opposite direction his body moved.
Eiyu was hit in the shoulder by Buitai's metal fan, the ends going straight through his shirt, then his skin. He grit his teeth the pain seething. His heart pounded in his ears, sweat starting to blind his sight as the faint sounds of the scorpion moved around him. Eiyu's heart was hit with a shock of adrenaline. He came back fighting Buitai again, his feet moving to keep the scorpion from tracking him.
Kyu clicked his pincers erratically to play on Eiyu's senses. While Buitai kept Eiyu busy on his end, Kyu was already beginning to move aside a hole he had created with his feet. For a mechanical scorpion, Kyu was able to keep Eiyu distracted with his movements, bluffing with a strike from overhead. But that wasn't his real focus all along. He shot his tail through the hole.
Eiyu went forward his hand outstretched to knock one of Buitai's fans aside. The man moved aside just in time for a metal tail coming straight up from under Eiyu. Eiyu's heart froze. The end of the poison dipped tail plunged into his chest. He opened his mouth, the blood escaping his lips. Within moments, the sweat on his brow was cold, his body falling forward into a slump.
Buitai stood up. Kyu withdrew his tail from the boy's chest. "Took you long enough," he scolded. Eiyu's blood stained the metal legs of the scorpion as it towered over him. "What do you think, Kyu? Think he was a fair rival?"
Kyu lowered his body his arms coming back into defense.
"Yeah, I think so, too," Buitai said retrieving his fan. "Anyway, looks like he'll be discovered soon. Come on," he ran off with the metal scorpion moving behind him.
(Scene Change)
She walked in the darkness, the chains upon her arm dragging. They were heavy, cold, their weight causing her balance to shift. Dim lights on the cavern wall reminded her of the holiday lights put up at the end of the year.
Her eyes retained no recollection of why she was here, or what had caused her to be here. She just was. A girl with no name or identity that dwelled in the caverns. Her toes no longer wiggled at the coldness of the cavern floor. Each step was a robotic movement – not a planned one. Down the hall she kept drift, her ears faintly hearing the small trickle of water. Kneeling between the separated wall she found traces of where the water had eroded through the rock. Gently her fingers dipped into the puddle on the floor.
There was something about the substance she was supposed to remember. What was it exactly? Water. It was a simple enough substance. But what was so special about it to her? Was it something she had forgotten?
In the dim light she watched the drops of water trickle down her skin. She needed it to survive in this dark world. But she would not drink. What else was this used for? At the time she could not remember as she gazed at her hand. This was her hand wasn't it? It didn't look familiar to her. How did she get here again? For the life of her, she didn't know.
There was something she was running from. That's what it was. Yes, she remembered faintly she was trying to escape her memories. Somewhere. Some time ago, she had done something horrible. The water on her fingers flashed so brightly she could not look at it. Turning her head she heard an awful noise. Onari woke.
Her eyes lifted to see rain pouring down the window of the house she was in. Lightening flashed in the dark sky overhead. Where was she again? Onari rose slowly her eyes looking at the sheets of the bed she was on. It wasn't her room. She wasn't back in the Uchiha house, or much less, Konoha itself. Her heart fluttered. What exactly had become of her life?
Her eyes drifted to the door of the room, voices could be heard coming through it. The faint memory of meeting a man and his family when she had gotten lost pinged in her mind. Then again, Onari had no real direction to be going in. Why was she wandering around aimlessly?
"Kando, are you sure we should of allowed her into the house," Akiru asked pouring a coup of tea, her long pony tail hanging over her shoulder. She heard Daihyo stop near the door of the spare room where the girl was sleeping. "Dai, do not disturb her. She needs her rest."
Daihyo crouched low to where he peeked under the door. There was a yellow eye with black circles looking back at him. He yelped back caught off guard. The door opened a crack.
"You're as noisy as a rhino in a glass shop," Onari said. She opened the door further stepping out into the small hallway. Ignoring the boy, she quietly moved into the sitting area. It wasn't long till Akiru's eyes looked up to notice her. She only stared back not knowing what to say to the woman.
"Would you like some tea," Akiru asked her hand upon the ceramic tea pot. Onari only stared at her not moving to take a seat. Akiru eased her body. "Dai, you have chores," she said her eyes moving to her son who was creeping behind the girl.
Daihyo tensed as he was caught. He looked warily at the girl before turning around. He walked to his room glancing over his shoulder a few times.
"Now, now," Kando started as he brought the cup to his lips. He hesitated, his eyes staring straight ahead, ears listening for Onari's breathing pattern. "There's nothing to be alerted about." He felt her eyes making a hole into his spine. "No one's trying to take anything from you."
Onari tilted her head quickly turning her full focus on him. "And what would you assume for me to have on myself that would attract a thief?" Thunder crackled hard over the house in the valley. The rain poured so heavily onto the roof it sounded as if children at play were dancing above them.
Kando sipped his tea for a moment, his index finger on the top of the cup. He closed his eyes reading her body language without even looking at her. "Your heart is fluttering. And your breathing pattern is deep and quick. Stop expecting a fight. We are only simple farmers."
Onari narrowed her eyes. "Simple farmers don't pay attention to everything around them. They only notice their crops." Her voice held a defiant nature to it, as always. Onari recalled when she had arrived that they were the only farmers in this area. They weren't providing for anyone else to sell their crops. These people were thriving off the land to avoid others as much as she was.
"Oh, you two can just play stale mate," Akiru said putting her hands on the table with a smack. It didn't startle Kando, but he felt Onari jump just a hair. "No one is fighting anyone in my house." She lifted herself from the table taking the tray with the tea on it back to the kitchen.
Kando's eye twitched. "She still throws that at me at such improper times," he muttered. The house they lived in had been Akiru's father's home long before Kando had arrived. He had somehow managed to marry the woman despite having to prove himself over and over to her.
Onari raised a brow. "Someone has bad blood between them." She cautiously moved towards the table but did not sit down. She stood for the most part her arms crossed over her chest.
"I wouldn't call it 'bad blood'," Kando said correcting her. "More like I didn't build the place myself. I just-"
"Acquired it," Akiru said coming back with a tray of onigiri and sweets. The smell drifted through the air. Daihyo opened his door. "Not until you finish your room." He shut it back in anger.
Onari snorted. It reminded her of Takeru and Daiya in a sense. Daiya had been learning to cook from Izumi when she had left the village. Her eyes moved away lost in a memory of flinging cooking utensils and Takeru trying to snatch food when Daiya wasn't looking. She faintly smiled.
"At least eat something," Kando said bringing the girl back to reality. "Or do you suppose we've put poison in everything?" Onari didn't move. "Tell you what. You pick out something for each of us to eat and we'll prove there is nothing in them."
Onari didn't mind that idea. She plucked up a rice ball setting it in front of Kando. She jutted a sweet dumpling at Akiru. The ones she picked were neither on top, nor on bottom. They were randomly chosen. She sat down crossing her legs watching them carefully.
Kando sighed. "It would be the thing I hate the most," he retorted. Akiru stiffened a giggle. Kando shoved half of the rice ball into his mouth chewing. He swallowed with difficulty. "Bleh. They get worse every week." He saw Akiru looking at him with daggers in her eyes. "I mean they sure are wholesome and filling, Babe."
"Can it," Akiru said eating her dumpling slowly. "At least Daihyo likes them."
Onari licked the food curiously, not entirely trusting the two who had taken her into their home. She still had no idea why they were foolish enough to do that. But as soon as she realized there was no taste of poison in the meal, she ate greedily stuffing her cheeks like a hamster. Onari's hands grabbed not only the ones on the plate, but the one out of Kando's hands that he had half eaten. She swallowed the rice her throat tightening.
Kando raised an eyebrow at the girl. He slowly put a cup in front of her. Just as a small child would do when offered, Onari simply put her mouth on the cup, drinking as he held it. He watched her tilt her head back before stuffing her mouth once again.
"So it's been some time since she last ate," Akiru said noticing how Onari had forgotten they were in the same room with her. Out of her surprise, the girl fell backwards belching as loudly as possible. "Yes, it would seem so."
Onari stared at the ceiling. Two faces came into her view. Kando and Akiru were watching her wondering what the deal was. Onari simply blushed averting her eyes. She rolled over onto her side. "Stop looking at me," she said simply.
"For someone who is cautious of others, you sure lost that battle when starvation kicked into high gear," Kando said. He was being serious. Onari was an odd sort of girl. "I don't suppose you're going to tell us what you are running from?"
"Even if you knew, it wouldn't do you any good," Onari retorted back at the man. "There's nothing you could have done, or can do now. Leave it at that."
"Stubborn as ever," Kando said. He rose to his feet. "And where are you headed?"
Onari shook her head, her long hair moving as she did so. "There is nowhere I call 'home', if that's what you're insinuating."
"And why do you not have one," Akiru asked. "There has to be someone who is missing you at this moment." She saw Onari's fingers curl. She had struck a nerve.
"I have no parents," Onari answered. "They were murdered by Lightening-nin of the Lightening Country." She shot up to run out of the room, her feet padding along the floor. She slammed the door behind her as she went into the room where she had slept.
"Kando, I'm going to ask this again. Are you sure this is wise," Akiru asked. She had another sense for these kinds of things. "You told me when we started seeing each other that these sorts of events were over."
Kando pinched the space between his eyes. "I know. One cannot help fate, Akiru. That girl has something unworldly about her. You know she does. You've seen it." His eyes rose to look at his wife.
Akiru stared at the door to the room where Onari was. "The aura around that girl… I do not understand it." She squinted as if she was having trouble seeing exactly the true meaning behind it. "At first, when we saw her, the color surrounding her was a dark red. She was full of anger. Then it changed to black. But once she came out, it was an aura of rainbow. And in the time she forgot we were around, pure white."
"I thought you told me auras can only be two colors, at max."
"That's what I don't understand. Hers are several. It's like the aura around her is tied into her emotions and the occurrences around her. Normally, the only part of the body where the aura changes is around the head. That indicates thought process. Onari's is occurring all around her. Her aura is bright –when it is not black- and it tends to branch out as if it is searching for something. Try to get as close to her as you can."
"You're asking me to use skills I told you I wouldn't do around Daihyo. That part of my past is gone, Akiru. We agreed upon this."
"I know, but your skills might be able to help her. You said it yourself, she's not from around here. How she found the house across the lake is mindboggling. It's shielded with scrolls that cause it to appear as if nothing is there. You told me she walked along the bridge."
"She did. That's what worries me. I wasn't sure if those things were calling her, to use her, or if she really could see what was truly there."
"You have to find out about this girl," Akiru said her voice coming a bit agitated. "She's not a demon, or I would have sensed it stronger. I don't… I don't know what she is."
(Scene Change)
Sasuke bore down on Senko, his anger starting to show. "You're not even worth my time, General," he said as a towering figure appeared in the shadows. Manda was back, the large snake bearing its fangs. Manda wouldn't have returned unless he had managed to get rid of the Baku demon. Sasuke smirked. "Looks like your pet is out of commission," he said. That only caused Senko come at him faster –which is what Sasuke wanted.
Senko yelled in outrage at the Baku demon's missing form. And when he neared Sasuke, the man's physical form leaked all over into a bunch of snakes. "What the.." From behind, he felt a blade in his side, Sasuke's arm around his throat, tightening.
"Now that I have your attention, you will answer what I have to ask. Why are you and your men here," he said.
Senko didn't budge at the mere threat. "Perhaps you will be able to figure out the real meaning another time." Senko's form shifted into that of the Baku demon.
Sasuke swore. Senko had managed to use a doppelganger technique combined with misdirection and illusion all in one blow. "Manda!" The snake shot forward its large head crashing towards the Baku demon. Sasuke jumped into the air, his grass cutter coming down onto the back of the animal's neck. The Baku demon's form turned into vapor. "Great. He was never here in the first place." Sasuke stood up. Which meant General Senko was wiser than he appeared. Instead of going into battle himself, he operated on the outside, much like a safe guarded chess player who was controlling his pieces. He had chosen to send in certain players to distract or cause havoc while he played out the scene. And the Baku demon was just another trump card. He glanced at the spot where Kakumei Eimino had fallen. He, too, was gone. "One thing's for sure. That guy's in a lot of pain," Sasuke said putting his grass cutter into its sheath.
(Scene Change)
Kinari Narato ran out of the forest, his clothes soaking wet. Nuguru was nowhere to be found. He had to find the other members of his team. Ahead of him he could see the Forest Village starting to totter on its weak base, the Kasha now swarming over the tree like ants. Ateru was fighting the Kasha alone, his huge molten lava body swinging around hitting anything and everything in its path. Kinari did not see Tachiba or Kaiya. He also did not see the team from Konoha. "Alright, time to get rough," he said.
Kinari formed hand seals, his body crouching. The ground around him cracked, metallic forms of men lifted out of the ground. They began to move towards the Kasha, their heavy feet pounding into the ground. Kinari ran past them, the golems starting to spread out into a formation. "Take them out," he ordered. His eyes searched frantically for the double axes Ateru sensei used in his training. Soon he found them on the ground, their abilities useless when Ateru was shifted into the volcanic man that he was now.
The Kasha moved swiftly at the metal golems their anger seething. There was nothing going to stop them. Time was almost up for the Forest village. Kinari soon saw a form moving swiftly around the tree in a spiral. She was using her male puppet, Hax, to slash through the Kasha at a rapid rate. "Kaiya," he said.
Kaiya moved Hax around, the razor blades on the back of his leg opened. She sent him into a round house kick at the Kasha. "How do you like me now?!" Kaiya bore down on each of the Kasha, the goggles lowered onto her eyes. With them, she was able to see the heat signatures the Kasha gave off. They were unable to hide from her in the darkened spaces of the giant tree.
Up ahead on top of the tree, Tachiba was busy fighting his own hoard of the demons. He threw out the clustered balls in the pack on his hip. With each powerful throw, they exploded once they hit the Kasha directly or the tree itself. The Kasha hissed as the pellets hit their skin, acid erupting in all directions. Tachiba lowered his Kwanda sword lunging forward to pick off the Kasha that were foolish enough to get too close. He caught one in its lower jaw. Swinging it up and away he dislodged the now wounded demon letting its body fall away from the tree.
Meanwhile, Nuguru was frantically buzzing around over head at the very top of the tree where the dead lay. He flickered the blue color on his feathers issuing danger to the ninja that stood around waiting. No one was paying him any mind. What was he going to do? Team 11 were all handling the Kasha. It wasn't the Kasha they needed to be fighting, but the Morikage!
Idai's body fell into a state of darkness, his eyes not seeing the world around him. Instead, he was being over taken by the demon inside of him. Evil often begets evil when it is felt. The oppression in the air smelled sweet to it. His eyes changed color, a sinister smile curling his lip. "Now..this is delightful. So much carnage. One must often enjoy the feast set before it," he said his body trying to lift. The demon looked around to see that Idai's arms were pinned by debris. "Oh, don't tell me he's gone and got himself injured. This is like putting a hoard of trapped mice in front of a cat with broken legs."
Ryokuzu growled moving Idai's feet to an awkward position. He began to pull himself upwards bending Idai's muscles in directions they were not supposed to go. Ryokuzu freed both of Idai's arms, the long red hair hanging over his face. "Damn." The demon noticed that Idai's ankle was twisted. "Stupid boy." Ryokuzu lifted the bruised arm up pushing the debris aside with the strength of a demon. He stepped back out onto the fallen branch, his eyes focusing on the Kasha.
Yanagi Lee was pulling Masaru Uzumaki out of the debris from another area of the branch. She had torn her hoodie to pieces in order to bandage the wound. Masaru's shoulder was soaked with blood. Her eyes lifted to see Idai moving around awkwardly dragging one of his feet. Yanagi froze. The familiar presence of Idai's movements caught her attention. "Not now," she groaned. Yanagi signaled for one of the large butterfly scouts to come to her aid. She quickly hoisted Masaru onto the creature's back, strapping him securely. "Take him to the very top of the tree. There are people there who can help him," she said. "I have to deal with this."
Ryokuzu knelt to pick up the carcass of the Kasha Yanagi had slain. His eyes looked over the flesh, blood oozing out from the wounds. He knew she was there without turning around. "So it's the pink haired girl again." Ryokuzu dipped his finger into the torn flesh of the Kasha, sifting around. "Interesting."
"What are you doing here? Go back to where you came from," Yanagi said. She took out a kunai prepared to fight Ryokuzu.
"You don't get it, do you," he said his voice menacing in the smoky air. He turned around slowly dropping the dead Kasha back onto the branch. "Idai's not able to help you. He's going to be gone for a long time." Ryokuzu kept moving towards the girl.
Yanagi kept her ground her feet planted firmly. Ryokuzu is a demon. The Kasha are demons. Is he going to devour them, or tear down the rest of the Forest village?
Ryokuzu moved Idai's arm up to point at the tree that was constantly on fire. "We made a deal, Yanagi Lee of Konoha. Your contract is still valid."
Yanagi furrowed her eyebrows. "Are you insinuating that you'll get rid of the Kasha?" She didn't trust Ryokuzu. There was always a hidden motive.
"Mm. Maybe. Maybe not," Ryokuzu said laughing at the girl with his head tilted to regard her as a complete and infallible moron.
He knows something. Yanagi's eyes followed the pointed finger. He was pointing at the very top near the building of the Morikage. "What do you want in exchange," she said calling him out.
Ryokuzu grinned slyly at the girl. "A deal is a deal," he said bowing before her. Ryokuzu leapt upwards so fast Yanagi was not able to react. He landed high over head on another branch. Yanagi was panicking down below, her swift form moving to stop him. He cackled madly as he ran through the Forest village past the ninja fighting to keep the Kasha away.
Yanagi swore. "Ryokuzu, you bastard," she yelled at the top of her lungs. Yanagi signaled a butterfly scout. It came towards her. She grabbed its legs as it flew towards the direction Ryokuzu was headed. Yanagi had to stop him.
Ryokuzu moved around the Kasha avoiding them with ease. "Oh, say it again," he laughed at Yanagi who was trying to catch up to him. "It's music to my ears!"
Kinari noticed something was wrong. Yanagi was chasing Idai. Idai seemed to be heading farther up the tree. Then he saw it. The guards that were at each entrance to each level of the tree, were thrown aside violently. "What the hell?" He put his fingers to his lips blowing hard with a powerful whistle. "Kaiya!"
Kaiya threw kunai at several Kasha getting them right in the forehead. They spurted blood. She heard Kinari calling her. He was attempting to run up the tree amongst the Kasha swarming around him. "Idiot," she said. She ran forward with Hax jutting him forward into a spin. The path was becoming clear. "This way!" Kinari grabbed her under the arm issuing her to go back up the tree. "What is going on?"
"We have to get to the top. Something is up with that team from Konoha." He saw her glance behind to check on Ateru. Ateru was now spewing lava blasts at the Kasha in pin pointed areas. "He's fine. If Ateru sensei can't handle those things, no one can. We have to find out what is wrong with Idai!"
"Come and get me, I'll count to ten," Ryokuzu sang at Yanagi as she scouted for him. He hid behind a few buildings, lurking around to access how he was going to get into the Morikage's headquarters. "One…Two…Three… Yanagi can't catch me," he sang moving swiftly out of the corner of her eye. "Four..Five..Six…You're in a fix," he taunted.
Yanagi didn't like this. She signaled the butterfly scout to go faster. "Keep up with him! I don't know what he's planning!"
"Seven…Eight…Nine… You're running out of time," Ryokuzu sang as he took out both of Idai's swords. The Kasha were now focused on him. "Ten. I win!" Ryokuzu twirled the sword in the air, aiming the other at the Kasha. A wave of pure wind and sound went straight down it shattering the Kasha on contact.
Kaiya and Kinari were moving up the unknown paths used only by the ninja of the Forest Village. It had been taught to them by Ateru sensei if they had to get to the Morikage in case of an assassination attempt. The path was not known to outsiders. Kaiya landed at the very top. Kinari was right behind her. The normal entrance to the level was around the other side of the tree. She moved to cover it before Idai was able to reach it. Just as she neared it, the top of Idai's head started to show. She slid crouched with her hands forming seals. "Earth barrier!" Spikes jutted out of the tree at an angle.
Kinari took out his chrome sais. Idai raised a brow. "Good job, Kaiya," he praised.
"You're kidding right," Ryokuzu asked looking at them as if they were mere infants. The looks on their faces told him they now knew he wasn't Idai. Ryokuzu aimed the sword at the spikes. He began to rotate his wrist.
Yanagi saw Team 11 trying to subdue Idai. She jumped from the butterfly scout with her arms outstretched to get them out of the way. Hitting them hard, they were flung aside as the hurricane force wind broke the spikes.
Ryokuzu sheathed the two swords, their use now over. The three kids looked up at him in horror. His eyes went wide as his pupils dilated. Ryokuzu started to whistle as if he were calling a hound. "Come out to play," he sang his body moving towards the building of importance.
"What is he doing," Kaiya said pushing Yanagi off of her. She was now utterly annoyed with this whole situation. "What is wrong with your team leader? He's acting like he's lost his mind!" She started to go after Idai with Hax.
Yanagi grabbed her arm stopping the girl from Team 11. "No, don't! You won't be able to keep Ryokuzu in place. We can't hold him off!"
"Who, or what is Ryokuzu," Kaiya said. She had known the entire time Team 6 was there they were keeping secrets from them. "Tell me now!"
"It's the demon that resides in Idai's body," Yanagi said. "When Idai loses consciousness or he cannot defeat an opponent, it tends to come out. Besides, Ryokuzu knows something we don't."
Kinari looked at the girls. "He knows the Morikage is controlling the Kasha," he said. Kaiya looked at him with a vague expression. "I saw him in the tunnel. Nuguru followed him back to the village. No one is going to suspect the Morikage of destroying his own village."
"And no one is going to believe us, either," Kaiya said. "We have to get word to Ateru sensei and Tachiba. We need backup," she said looking at Yanagi.
Yanagi held out her hand the pheromones her body gave off attracting the butterfly scouts who were constantly fighting the Kasha; if not rescuing the villagers. They came to her aid their large wings beating against the wind. "I need you to alert Ateru sensei and Tachiba Uetake. The Morikage is the one controlling the Kasha. Go!"
The butterfly scouts took off in all directions to retrieve the two mentioned. "I'm not worried about Ryokuzu. In the state Idai is in, he's useless. However, the demon can overtake a human with sheer force if he needs to. We will wait for your team," she said.
Ateru sensei was the first to show up. He was back to normal, slightly out of breath from fighting the Kasha in his volcanic golem state. Tachiba soon showed up with a frantic Nuguru twittering around his head. "So what do we do now," Kinari asked looking at the group before him. "They'll think we're trying to overthrow the village."
"Not only that, but the Morikage is no fool," Ateru said. "He can hold his own well enough. I have an idea." He started to walk towards the Morikage's building, his eyes focused. "We're going to use Idai as a distraction. Let the demon inside of him enjoy himself a little by causing a bit of more chaos. I want you all to circle the compound as best as you can. Yanagi use your smaller scouts to find a way inside without alerting the guards. Kaiya, take Hax and pick off the Kasha so they aren't a threat to us. Tachiba, use Nuguru pinpoint the traps inside the building. I want Kinari to follow Idai to make sure he's not a danger to himself or others around him. Just let him toy with the Kasha. As for me, I'll work with Yanagi to disable the guards. It's not going to be easy fighting your friends," he said. "Do we all understand what our goals are?"
"Yes," the kids said ready to take on the task before them.
"If we don't take out the Morikage quickly, the village will have no chance of recovering. They'll devour everyone and anything else left," Ateru said. He brought up two of his fingers, rotated his wrist, and his team was dispersed. "Lets go," he said to Yanagi. She started to follow behind him.
(Scene Change)
Onari stood outside of the farmer's hut looking out over the mountains. They were breathtaking and sat to her all in the same. She had longed to fly over places like this with Takeru. In her imagination, Onari saw the phoenix gliding underneath the clouds, Takeru's hand outstretched to touch the white. Her eyes lowered to the ground. That can't be now, can it? It doesn't do any good to dream.
Kando shut the sliding paper door behind him, the hoe leaned against his shoulder. He donned his hat to keep the sun out of his eye. Onari was standing by herself away from the house, her back towards him. Now what is she up to?
It's stupid to think I can reach you. Onari closed her eyes, her head lowering in shame. She was not aware that the aura around her body was changing. The long black tresses on her back lifted as if they were being played with by the wind. Takeru's thumb going across her lips sent a shockwave of pain in her heart.
Kando saw Onari flinch as if remembering something terrible. Then right before his eyes, her hair lifted without the cause of a breeze. The black raven in her hair began to lighten in color. It went from brown to fiery orange, flames licking off the tips. Not knowing what was happening, Kando ran towards the small well. He tilted his body, hand swiping up the bucket of water. Before he got within six feet of the girl, he launched the water at Onari's head.
Onari opened her eyes calmly right before a wave of water was landed on her head. Her eyes widened. She whirled around in horror her mouth a gap. Then, she exploded. "What the hell is wrong with you?! Why did you just douse me with water?!" Onari went after him, her hatred for the cold liquid quite clear when she shattered the water bucket with her fist.
Kando ducked several times in the attempt to avoid the girl's strikes. "You-" He curved his body around a direct punch to the face. "Ah! You were on fire!" Kando took to the ground, Onari's fist hitting the tree so hard the entire thing shook. Leaves pelted him. "It's the truth! Your hair was on fire!"
Onari looked at him as if he were crazy. "How could my hair be on fire?!" She grabbed her hair showing him there was nothing wrong with it. "You're an idiot!"
Kando watched the girl turn around huffing it back into the hut. She slammed the door. "It.. It's normal again?" Kando slumped to the ground. Once Onari had started swinging, he had been holding his breath. The farmer's hat tilted forward. "Find out about her, she said. Only you can do it, she said. My wife is going to be the death of me," he mumbled.
(Scene Change)
Taraeru sent a wind missile straight at the girl he was pursuing. The girl poofed on contract, her form appearing elsewhere off to his left. "Oh, so you want to play games, do you," he said. "Take her from the other side," he said.
Kegasu moved away from Taraeru, his one eye firmly fixed on the girl with the long dark hair. "You're not going to get away from us," he said his body becoming hardened like that of metal. He stopped long enough to lift a piece of the wall surrounding the village. Kegasu threw it high over head into an arch.
Izumi was about out of ideas. The two pursuing her were not letting up. She had tried every form of misdirection she could to throw them off. Soon I'm going to have to just use my own skills to overcome these two. This idea of the Hokage's to get them out of the village is not working.
Izumi heard the sound of something coming at her. Looking over her shoulder she saw a part of the wall boring down upon her. Izumi moved aside even faster. It landed where she had previously touched ground. I don't have Onari's strength to shatter that. And it looks like he's sending another!
Sasuke Uchiha wasn't about to let his wife lure the enemy by herself. Manda appeared in front of Izumi his large head waiting to strike. "Thought I taught you better," he said unsheathing his grass cutter sword. Sasuke flicked it to his right, the chakra charge branching out until it found its source. He struck Taraeru dead on. The man yelled. "Manda, catch," he said. The snake moved its body to not only block Izumi from getting hit, but also fetch the village wall with its mouth. It crushed it between its jaws.
Izumi breathed hard her back leaned onto the snake. Sasuke slid down the back of the snake landing behind her. "What I wouldn't give for having Onari's brash attitude right now." She poofed back into her original form. "Alright, they won't know where she is now. Want to fight them the old fashioned way?"
Sasuke looked at her with a hand on his hip, his long hair flowing in the small breeze. "Way ahead of you," he said. A noisy crack was heard outside the village of trees falling. His eyes lifted to take hold of a giant wooden puppet worm. "I thought she'd like the challenge."
"When did she make that," Izumi said of the enormous puppet now towering above the trees. On its back was Saori Nara controlling it with her chakra puppet strings. The girl looked determined and angry.
"We've been working on it for a while. Ryu broke his shoulder trying to get Takeru away from the Lightening-nin. Saori's not real happy," Sasuke said of his blond pony tailed student.
Kegasu went straight after the worm puppet his fists pounding its sides. "I'll tear you apart," he said his eye narrowed as Saori sent the puppet down. He was thrown back by the puppet's massive tail.
Saori held on as she opened the worm's mouse. The rows of circular teeth inside of it began to rotate digging through the ground. Saori Nara was making a tunnel to slip into. Kegasu and Taraeru were both coming at her. As the ground gave way, the worm began to slide into the hole its body arching. Saori held on as she went underground. If it's one thing I learned from Ryu, it's to use the ground as your own personal hotspot! Now to create a real problem for those two!
Sasuke lifted Izumi suddenly getting back onto Manda's head. "We have to follow her. That thing is still being worked on," he said. "I won't know what beatings it can take unless we put it out in the field."
Izumi just looked at her husband with that wife expression of 'I know you can't be serious'. "Sasuke, now is not the time to be training Saori on a new puppet! We have to get the enemy out of the village!"
He guided Manda to follow Saori through the vibrations in the ground. "What do you think I'm doing? If Saori can get those two away from the village, she can possibly cause injury to the entire Lightening-nin squad."