V10 Ch 10
The Art of Stupidity
"Wait! Wait, Daiya, dammit," Goro said grabbing his arm in an instant. He forced him to land, his feet tottering a bit on the branch. Daiya turned around ready to punch him in the face. Goro quickly moved his head to the side to avoid the move.
"Get your hands off of me," Daiya shouting raising his voice as his hair spiked out on all ends.
Kiba touched Daiya's back with one finger. "There's death coming from all around us. The scent of it is strong in the air. Goro and I caught onto it, but you're so focused on proving yourself to us, that you're not paying attention." Kiba moved his hand swiftly knocking Daiya's hat forward. "We have a job to do, also. Stop disregarding us."
Daiya grit his teeth. Kiba was a Jounin compared to him. Sasuke would kill him if he took out his anger on the man. "I may have to listen to you, but not him," he said of Goro jerking a thumb in the hooded man's direction.
"Goro's the same rank I am, kid." Kiba caught onto Daiya's disgusted face. "Yeah, he's a Jounin. He earned his title a while back. At least show some respect."
"I don't need his respect," Goro said showing his fangs. "It's bad enough I'm being forced onto a team again," he said taking off ahead of them. He was already angry at Aoi finding out his business. Then there was the embarrassment of Teine trying to send him off like she was his wife.
Daiya fumed as he and Kiba tailed behind Goro. He had never seen this guy around the village before. What is this about he's being put on a team again? He can't be talking about Takeru's team. Eiyu did just die.
"Stop grilling your eyes into my back," Goro snapped. The hair on the back of his neck raised up.
"You two knock it off," Kiba said. They both act just like Naruto and Sasuke. Ugh. He rolled his eyes. If they keep this up, I'll beat some sense into them!
As the scents got stronger, Goro became slower until he was at the point of jogging. Something was off. Carefully, he walked towards the edge of the forest. What he saw confused him. It looked like a misshapen sulfur smelling statue towering into the sky. He looked around the area. There were burnt piles of carcasses everywhere. "What the hell happened here?"
Mabae sniffed the ground. He barked and growled at a nasty scent he didn't like. The dog walked forward tracing until he found a particular scent he recognized. Mabae took off running.
"Looks like he found Idai," Kiba said going after him.
Daiya didn't feel the need to have his guard up anymore. His mini argument with Goro was forgotten for the moment. Instead, his eyes lifted up to the massive form in front of him. "Exactly, what is that.."
"The forest village is up in that tree. It's covered in volcanic basalt." Goro walked pass Daiya starting to ignore him.
The Retrieval team ran up the side of the tree gluing their chakra to the soles of their feet. Kiba held Mabae over his shoulders as he ran upwards. Daiya couldn't believe how large the tree was. He took out a kunai forcing it into the bark as he hung with his legs dangling, breathing hard. He stared at Goro who was running on all fours shooting pass him. "You have got to be kidding."
"You have to lose some weight, " Kiba said to Mabae as he finally passed Daiya running at full force, his arms holding tight to the large dog over his shoulders. "Daiya, come on! We're only a fourth of the way to the top!" Kiba huffed putting Mabae down onto the first branch. "It's no wonder we can't use the normal entrances. They're sealed shut," he said rolling his shoulders trying to free up his muscles.
Goro landed onto the broken branch beside Kiba, on all fours, his back arched. He stood up slowly looking around to access the area. He sniffed the trunk of the tree, his eyes closing shut instantly. "The smell of this stuff is too strong." He shook his head snorting trying to clear his sinuses of the scent.
Daiya flopped himself on the branch, his chest heaving up and down. Sasuke had never made them run up a tree this large nor this fast during chakra practices. "Why...is..this area..not guarded.."
Kiba pointed up with a finger. "The levels are like a large tower house Each section normally has guards at every level to secure the people, but since something has happened here.."
"There's no need. Look how long it has taken us to even get to this point. No man can run straight up this massive tree in one attempt without a break. His energy would run out," Goro said matter-of-fact. He caught other scents on the wind. "We've got company."
Kiba put his hand atop Mabae's head to ease the dog's alertness. A group of Forest-nin came into view from over head. They were coming down using ropes tied to their waists. Five of the men landed near Kiba and his group, their weapons drawn, clearly unsure of who they were. "Hey, I think you guys have my team from Konoha up there," Kiba said making them aware of who he was. "I'm Kiba Inuzuka. I'm the one responsible for Idai, Yanagi Lee, and Masaru Uzumaki."
A man with red eyes put his kunai away. He held up his hand signaling the others to do the same. "You're Idai's trainer? I'm Ateru Yotsuba. Your team was been performing their mission with mine. We're going to get you to the top immediately. One of the kids on your team has been injured in the battle with the Kasha. Come," he said moving his hand issuing Kiba forward.
Kiba watched as a man came up to him putting a belt around his waist that had rings all around it. The rope was tied securely around the rings and his legs. His head craned upward looking at the distance. "How safe is this?"
"Not to worry. We do this all the time when it's necessary. I'm going to jump off the branch, in order, to get you up there. Hold onto the rope with both hands and lean in." Ateru smiled a little at the expression on Kiba's face. "I'll give you a minute to get mentally prepared."
"What is there to be prepared for," Daiya asked.
Ateru grinned tilting his head. "He's going to shoot up the side of the tree like a rocket."
Kiba felt himself being lifted off the branch the moment Ateru leapt off the side. It didn't get too intense until the force of the pull hit him. Kiba yelled the remainder of the way, his knuckles turning white from grasping the rope.
Goro chuckled. "This one's going in the books." He could still faintly hear Kiba yelling to the top of his lungs.
Idai sat cross legged towards the back of the very top of the tree, his arms crossed, nerves on edge. Masaru had finally stabilized overnight. Heavy bags of insomnia hung below his eyes. Idai refused to rest regardless of how many times Yanagi had pulled his arm. He felt a huge responsibility for the both of them. It wasn't something he expected Yanagi to understand.
Kiba was caught up on the entire situation by the time he found Idai next to Masaru. A makeshift infirmary was made under the hanging corpses of the Forest village. Kiba found it eerie how they displayed their dead. The thing that bothered him more was that there were a few fresh ones above him.
Daiya walked straight into the back of Kiba startling the man for a second. His eyes were also focused above. Daiya didn't realize he was clutching to Kiba's clothes out of nervousness.
Goro stood behind the two with his hands in his pockets, eye brow raised. "You two are embarrassing. No one else is bothered by this." He was accustomed to death. Goro's past had caused a good deal of it when he lost his mind years ago. None of this phased him. Only his past did.
Kiba placed his hand on Idai's shoulder. The red headed boy with shoulder length hair turned slowly to look up at him. "What happened to Masaru, Idai?"
"We fell when the Kasha attacked. A house landed on us when we hit the ground roughly hard. Masaru had the-" Idai moved his hand making the motion of an object stuck in his shoulder, "lumber embedded in his muscle. He removed it. Yanagi had to administer him. Ateru sensei took him to the medics. He's stable now," he said very slowly in a monotone voice, his body about to give out. "How are you, Kiba?"
Kiba kneeled putting both of his hands on Idai's cheeks. "Idai, how long have you been awake," he asked concerned. Idai's face was pale, clothes stained with old traces of blood.
"I had a break when Ryukuzu was loose. That was a few days ago," Idai stated, his blank eyes seeing pass Kiba. He thought he saw Daiya, but lately he had been hallucinating from lack of sleep.
"Daiya, I need you to make Idai sleep. He's fixing to fall over," Kiba said holding the kid upright. Daiya lifted Idai with one hand. That freakin' kid is strong as an ox.
Daiya drug Idai with him until he found a secluded area behind one of the branches. He sat Idai down looking him over. "You're a mess. Idai, do you know I'm here?"
Idai laughed not really registering Daiya as a physical form. He just stared ahead, his brain sluggish. Then he was pulled forward laying on top of cloth.
"That's what I thought," Daiya said wrapping his arms around Idai's head. He began to stroke the back of his best friend's head to calm him. Daiya knew Idai was fighting sleep. He was more focused on keeping an eye on his team. "Masaru's being taken care of by Kiba sensei. You can rest."
Idai's head felt full of fuzzy sounds. "Daiya, if you're really here, sing me a song." He felt an electric shock. Idai smiled as he fell unconscious.
Yanagi dropped the two buckets of water she had as soon as she saw Kiba sitting with Masaru. Relief washed over her the instant her eyes laid upon her trainer. She ran over to him yelling, "Kiba sensei!"
"Whoa," Kiba said as Yanagi leapt for him. He grabbed her before he was sprawled out on top of Masaru. "Where is the fire, kid?"
"I didn't think you'd come get us," Yanagi said clinging to him.
"Well, you guys didn't return on time. I had to come get you three to make sure you were alright." Kiba regretted those last words the moment they slipped out. Masaru was injured. They weren't exactly in the best shape. At least these three weren't home when the lightening-nin struck. Things are already as bad as it seems.
"Kiba sensei, who is that," Yanagi asked as she looked behind him at the man in a green hoodie. She could see the goatee hanging from his chin. His face was hard to define. Yet, his eyes were visible.
"Oh. That's Goro. He and Daiya are with me," Kiba informed her. He saw how quickly Yanagi's eyes started to gleam over the mention of her boyfriend. "Yanagi, he's trying to get Idai to settle down. I can't have either of you falling out on me."
Goro moved his neck cracking it. He felt uneasy being in the Forest village when they needed to be back in Konoha. There also seemed to be some kind of uproar happening with the forest-nin in the background. He looked around. "What is going on? Are we able to carry that kid back," he said with urgency.
"I know you're worried about getting back, but it's not safe to move Masaru. Idai and Daiya both need rest. We can't have him continously scan for enemies. That skill of his is fairly new. He'll overdo it." Kiba was starting to worry about his family while he was gone.
"Sensei, why is Daiya scanning for enemies? Did your group run into someone bad?" Yanagi saw Kiba come closer to where only she could hear his voice.
"What I am going to say is for your ears only. I will tell Idai and Masaru when I can." He glanced around to make sure the coast was clear. "The village was destroyed."
Yanagi's eyes went large. Her heart leapt into her throat, thoughts overcoming her. For a moment, she could not speak. Panic took her. Her hands lifted shaking. "M-My mom? Dad? My friends?" Her eyes welled up with tears.
"Rock Lee and Sakura are fine. They are helping assist the others with the wounded and clean up of the village. However, Eiyu Hyuuga, did not survive the attack. He fought to protect Takeru Uchiha and Ryu Yuhi from our enemies."
It was a lot for her to process after so much had happened with the Forest village. "Everything is gone?" Water flowed down her cheeks. The places she had enjoyed with her friends - gone. Special areas where she had spent time with her parents - all of it - gone. "Who would attack us? Konoha is at peace with the other ninja villages."
"Rogue ninja from the lightening country," Kiba said not wanting to delve too much information out in the open. "I'll tell you everything when Masaru is better and we're away from here."
"Kiba sensei, we were told that the Forest-nin were attacked by a girl with a large fire bird. She killed several of their men," Yanagi said to Kiba's alarm. "W-Was it On-"
Kiba placed his fingers on her mouth. "Not here. I don't know, but we can't let that bit get out. We won't reveal anything until we need to." He was afraid Onari had gotten herself into something no one could get her out of.
(Scene Change)
Kaiya Raikatuji from Team 11 walked down the dark cavern with her team searching for evidence to clear her trainer. Her blue eyes squinted through her heat signature goggles. "There's footprints starting to appear, but they're faint. I don't know if these are the Morikage's, Kasha's, or our own."
Kinari felt the walls of the cavern. There was some kind of substance all over his fingers. "Kaiya." He turned to hold up his hand.
"It's showing up green." She latched onto his wrist to get a closer look. "I would advise not touching anything in here. However, I can analyze this at home." Kaiya scrapped the substance off of Kinari's fingers. She placed the strange goo into a small bag.
"How do you propose to do that when there is practically nothing left of our village," Tachiba Uetake said. Nuguru hopped around on top of his head. The blue bunting was uneasy in the dark.
Kaiya ignored Tachiba. She couldn't be bothered with that now. "We have to clear Ateru sensei. Those idiots are still demanding he had a hand in the Morikage's disappearance. He and the Leaf-nin broke into the tower when we were at war. There's no way to validate what we know to the others in the village without proof."
"There's water ahead," Kinari warned. He was drawn to water since it held natural magnetism. "Whoa," he said almost slipping off the edge of the path. He held his hand out to stop Kaiya, a chrome sai being forced into the wall for support. "This river flows out somewhere."
"How are we going to cross this?" Kaiya saw another part of a ledge a far distance away. "I have a feeling that what we're looking for is over there; in that dark hole coming out of the cavern."
"Why does everything have to be in dark places with creepy demons lurking about," Tachiba said. "Nuguru." The bird leapt off his head, flapping his wings. "Scout over there and report back." Nuguru took off across the great open area, his color shifting to florescent.
Kinari opened the pouch on his rear. "You're not going to like this, but I have an idea on how you two can get across the river." He took out a metal string that was connected to hexagon shaped magnets that were three inches across, seven centimeters thick; twenty total in all.
Kinari placed the magnets on the ground. Nuguru came back, his indigo color flashing on and off with urgency. The bird flitted around at Tachiba before he flew back across the divide. He flew back across the area. Kinari threw the magnets out above the rushing water in a line. Forming hand signals quickly, he said "Magnetic path!"
The magnets floated out instantly humming with their sound as Kinari focused on them. He kept his hands in the seal form of 'horse'. "One at a time," he said wanting his team mates to go ahead and start crossing over.
Kaiya swallowed. All she could see through the darkness was the faint flash of light emitting from Kinari's jutsu. She fidgeted with her hands, running them over each other constantly out of nervousness.
"Kaiya, you're going to have to have faith in Kinari. He's not going to let you fall. It'd probably be best to leave Hax behind," Tachiba said with a bit of forewarning.
Kaiya let Hax, her puppet, drop to the cavern floor. "I trust Kinari, not my balance or eyesight,' she corrected as she got closer. Her foot hovered out into the open with Tachiba holding onto her hand for extra support. She felt for the first hexagon. Her toes made contact after a breath. With her heart jumping in her throat strangling her, Kaiya touched down. It held.
"You're going to have to let go of it, in order, to move your foot over. You won't be able to hop to each one," Tachiba said further. "And you're going to pull me over!"
Kaiya pulled on Tachiba's shirt so far she stretched it out. She lurched outward with a yelp, her hands finally letting go of her teammate. Focusing her arms out to her sides, Kaiya tried to keep her balance. "Now what?"
"Did she just say 'Now what'," Kinari said baffled. "I can't hold this forever. You've got to get to the other side so Tachiba can follow!"
"Oh, I don't know about this," Kaiya said. She stuck her other leg out feeling for another hexagon. Pretty soon she was stretched out and moving slowly across. By the time she was all the way across, the magnets fell into the river.
"I got it," Tachiba said fishing the line out of the river. "Kaiya, Kinari has to rest before I can follow you. Take a break." He started to wipe the magnets off with his shirt. "Are you sure you can hold it for me to go across?"
Kinari breathed hard, his back against the wall. "Once I get some energy back, you'll be fine. If she hadn't of panicked, you'd already be over with her. What did Nuguru say anyway?"
"He said there's something at the end of the path. She can go check if she wants. There's no Kasha there."
Kaiya flopped over. "I know it's supposed to be easier to go back, but I'm still scared." She sat up finally taking a look at the distance. "I think I need to go to the bathroom now."
(Scene Change)
Masaru Uzumaki opened his eyes seeing shadows of leaves far into the trees. It was eerily quiet around him. Lifting his arm up, he looked at his hand moving it up and down. It was casting several doubles of itself. "Have I gotten better at doppelganger without trying?"
"Whoa, hey buddy," Kiba said setting the supplies down next to his student. "How are you feeling?"
"Kiba sensei, there are three of you," he said trying to focus on his trainer.
"That's the medicine running through your system. We almost lost you," Kiba said as he watched Masaru close his eyes for a moment. "Again, how are you feeling?"
"My head feels strange. What happened to the Kasha?" Masaru wanted to sit up, but wasn't sure he could sustain the motion without puking all over the place.
"The Kasha have been taken care of. Once you're clear, we'll be on the move to get back to Konoha," Kiba explained. "For now, rest to get your strength back."
Masaru closed his eyes thinking that was a good idea. He was hoping if he slept it off, the nausea would leave in time. His body eased succumbing to the darkness.
Idai sat up with one hand on his knee, other leg sprawled out. His orange eyes looking seriously at Kiba. "What is going on? I can handle a mission on my own. Or was that not proven on other missions that I've been responsible for?"
Daiya sat with his legs and arms crossed, eyes closing, feeling out the area around him. Despite the forest-nin being allies, he felt un-trustworthy of their company. Yanagi had gone with Goro to assist the village. She had been determined to stay away from Idai's anger over previous matters regarding their mission. He didn't know what those were.
Kiba was leaned against part of the tree. Mabae at his feet. "This has nothing to do with your leadership abilities, Idai. It's more serious than that."
Idai only stared at him with a hard gaze.
"The village has been attacked and destroyed," Kiba informed in a whisper. He knew all too well Idai could hear. "We were ambushed by lightening-nin looking for Onari. They are after the creature she controls," Kiba said lowly not wanting to emphasize exactly what it was Onari had at her fingertips.
"How much of the village is destroyed," Idai asked with a monotone voice.
"Most of it," Kiba said blandly.
"What is our objective," Idai asked wanting to go ahead and make a move. His energy had been replenished after sleeping fourteen hours. If he had to, he'd leave Masaru behind to seek out the ones who had attacked the village.
"Our only orders are to retrieve you guys and get you home. We are not to go after anyone," Kiba said as Idai stood. "It's too dangerous with the village in the condition it is in."
"I've had one home ripped away from me. I won't have another," Idai said raising his voice. Mabae growled, his hair raising as Idai took an angry step toward his trainer. Before he could be stopped by Kiba, Daiya swung his leg out with his hand planted on the tree to kick
Idai's legs out from under him. Idai went backwards hitting his head on the tree. Kiba held up his hands trying to stop Daiya from restraining his friend. "Daiya, he wasn't-"
Daiya clamped his legs around Idai's chest, locking his ankles together. He grabbed a hold of his best friend's legs pinning him forcefully in place. "You forget how he overpowered Gai," Daiya grunted. "He has a demon inside of him fueling his anger. Don't let your guard be overshadowed by concern!"
Idai gasped. He attempted to push Daiya's legs off of his chest, but they were clamped down hard. He moved his hips upward only to feel the extra weight on his legs.
"Settle," Daiya instructed, ready to send a shock of electricity Idai's way. His ears listened for Idai to stop struggling, the hold he had on him very real. Soon he was still, but
Daiya's hair remained spiked out. He wasn't going to allow such insubordination to occur. A unit will fall apart because of one person. This causes the whole unit to be in jeapordy.
Yanagi stopped dead short of herself. Goro was slightly beside her, hands in his pockets. Her heart tensed. "Idai, why are you trying to fight Daiya," she said not understanding. "You two are brothers!"
"Yanagi, right," Goro said placing his hand on her shoulder with a quick pat. "Perhaps, we should leave the boys to talk amongst themselves." He kept his eyes straight ahead as Daiya sent another electrical shock at Idai. "Hey," he said getting her attention again.
"Go ahead and take a break with Goro," Kiba said. "They'll be fine." He shoo-ed her off. Kiba turned his head back to the person on the ground. "You want to tell me what your heightened alarm is?"
Idai grit his teeth as he finally relaxed. Daiya had already shocked him three more times since Yanagi left. "Back off," he said angrily still having some fight left in him. He felt a hand upon his head, fingers moving against the hairs. Idai's angry eyes looked upward.
Ateru was crouched over sporting the Morikage's robe. "Hey, I don't know what's got you riled up, but if it's going to let that demon lose, I'd rather you didn't." He kept coaxing Idai. "Your team is wanting to help you. I think you're misunderstanding your friend. He's not challenging you."
Ateru stood back up with Idai's eyes following him. "Your team is your brotherhood. It's a bond that should never be broken," he jerked a thumb at the three kids standing behind him. "These kids brought back an idol that the previous Morikage was using to control the Kasha. They've cleared my name. I want to thank you, personally, Kiba for sending your team here to help with clearing the demons out." He bowed low. "You have our deepest gratitude."
Kiba waved his hand dismissing it. "I didn't pick the mission for my team this time. Idai did. He's the one you should be thanking."
Daiya finally let Idai go after much deliberation from Kiba. He pushed Idai away angry at how his friend was behaving. It disgusted him to no avail. Daiya walked pass Kiba ignoring the man's questions about where he was going. He didn't want to be near Idai in this kind of state. Daiya was prepared to punch his lights out in front of everyone.
Idai sat on the ground his eyes sternly following Daiya. If he had to defend himself he would - even if it meant sending his best friend over the edge of the large tree. He heard his name called several times. Idai turned his head to see Kiba bending down towards him.
"Idai, Ateru is greatful for your help. The least you can do is acknowledge him," Kiba said with a growl in his voice. He expected Idai's feud with Daiya to be over and done with. When Idai turned away from him, Kiba hoisted him to his feet by his yutaka. "Your behavior is not fitting for a team leader. Either straighten up, or I'll put Yanagi in charge," he warned.
Idai's anger wasn't stopping. His lip curled showing one of his teeth, his eyes hardened. That was when Kiba put him in a choke hold. He kicked his feet, his arms coming up to pry the Jounin's grip away from his neck. The more he struggled, the worse it became. Stars and blackness soon filled his head.
Ateru crossed his arms. "That's one way to deal with him," he said not disapproving of Kiba's method of control over his squad. He watched Kiba pick Idai up, slinging him over his shoulder.
"Ridiculous how this is how I have to get him to obey," Kiba said annoyed with how immature his team leader was acting.
Daiya sat on the edge of the tree, his feet planted on the volcanic rock, elbows on his knees. The view from this height was breathtaking. Peacefulness of the wind wavering in the air caught his full attention. With the precedented events over the pass week, Daiya was relieved to not be entirely needed for the moment. Idai's current behavior was deplorable. He feared Idai allowing himself to be controlled by Ryukuzu was a red flag. The atmosphere around the others was shady. He felt they were all hiding something.
"It's beautiful, isn't it?" Kaiya from Team 11 said as she admired the sky in the distance. "I wouldn't trade this view for anything." She smiled her eyes caressing each tender point of the horizon. "You don't seem to be afraid of heights."
"A tree is the safest place for you to be around bears," Daiya contorted.
Kaiya unexpectedly laughed. "This tree is too big for bears to climb. I will agree, it is the safest place out here. So how come you three came to get Idai's team?"
"Precautions," Daiya said completely against telling this girl anything further. He went back to staring straight ahead at the view. He could feel Kaiya trying to figure him out. Too bad that wasn't something he was going to let her do.
(Scene Change)
Onari sat on the back porch of the small farm house, her eyes overlooking Kando as he tended to the cabbages. Her yellow eyes were constantly searching for a way out. Onari's hands tightened around the wood causing it to splinter in all directions. She wasn't the best at settling in a confined area. Captain Anamaraki had already succeeded in that until she was rescued by the Leaf-nin.
Her shoulders slumped. The man who had taken her in didn't want her anymore. Onari had ran from him. Sasuke still doesn't want me. Their last encounter was not the most memorable. I killed Takeru with my nonsense. And Eiyu turned his back on me. That Saori girl sure doesn't approve of me, deep down. They all pity me because I can't speak or understand like they do. They think I'm stupid. Her hand went up blocking an object aimed at her head. Onari narrowed her eyes looking off to the right.
"You know I can see you in that lame outfit," she said throwing the apple straight at the scarecrow. The scarecrow fell over with a thunk. The apple rolled around on the back porch. Her left hand went up as she sensed someone behind her. A kunai was an inch away from her throat. While another's sharp edge dug into her skin. Her eyes were only upon the ninja blade not advancing. Onari sent her chakra out the back of her hand in a quick burst. The kunai dislodged with such force the person wielding it was pushed to the side, his arm thrown backwards over his shoulder. She was on top of him in seconds, her fist landing beside his head.
The back porch cracked in all directions, her knees going straight onto the man's arms to pin him down. Her eyes showed pure annoyance at the fact he assumed he could get the drop on her. Ever since she had woken up that morning, her guard had been up. Onari's hand went to grab the man's shirt, lifting his head towards her.
Nikko's eyes widened. "W-Wait I had a good reason! I was testing you for your skills!" He tried to wave his hands apologetically, but her knees prevented him from fully raising his arms. "Who taught you to be so fast," he asked trying to lighten the mood.
"Lee," Onari answered before she grabbed Nikko's nose. She forcefully pulled him up off the porch. She threw him off onto the ground below. Nikko rolled backwards. "Go test the old man out in the cabbage field!" Onari turned around going inside slamming the back of the shouji.
Nikko sat upright holding his nose moving it slightly to the left and right. It wasn't broken, even though, the girl had had a strong grip on it. "Wow, she's something else." He got back up making his way to Kando out in the field. "Hey, Kando, who's the brat?"
Kando didn't even bother to stand to see the pink haired Nikko behind him. His hands were moving the cabbage around to see if they were ready to be picked. "What have I told you about coming unannounced?" He heard Nikko shuffle his feet on the dirt. "I suggest when you leave you put the traps back you disarmed."
Nikko smiled with his eyes closed. He decided to press his luck while looking off into the sky. "When can I move in?"
Kando stood halfway turning to look at Nikko's rather feminine appearance for a male. "You know, if you told the villagers you didn't like the way they regarded you, you wouldn't have to come out here so much." Nikko only looked at him dumbfounded. "That's a 'no'," he said in regards to the question. "As for the girl, that's Onari." He wiped his hands on his clothes. "She came wandering around a few days ago near the old mansion." That had Nikko's attention. "Yeah, I'm not too sure how she found the place, either. The seals in the area should have hidden it."
"Onari, huh? She saw through my disguise," Nikko said as an afterthought. "And she was able to defend herself rather quickly without injury." He made a defense pose with his body crouched, hands up to guard an invisible opponent.
"She kicked your tail did she," Kando said not believing Nikko still considered those disguises actual disguises.
"Well, you don't usually come across a kid of that age who knows some form of martial arts with no insignia," Nikko said tugging at the Valley-nin headband on his waist. He saw Kando walk away continuing to eyeball the cabbages. Nikko followed catching onto Kando's attitude with what he mentioned. "You're harboring that girl," he confided. "You know what will happen if she is found here."
Kando eyed Nikko with a threatening expression. "And you know what will happen if you breathe a word of it. Those traps won't be the only things you have to worry about," he admitted. He wasn't going to give Nikko the enjoyment of warning the village. There was nothing to even tell them at this point. All Kando knew was that Onari had incredible chakra flowing throughout her body. He just didn't know what was causing it.
Nikko tilted his head a huge grin on his face. "So serious, Kando," Nikko said toying with him, hands behind his back. He knew better than to mess with the man. Kando's reputation was well known in the village. He was kind hearted, but also weighed out options with his ninja skills. The man had chosen to be out here away from the village to monitor the area. So far, his traps were so well made, most couldn't locate them. However, Nikko was learning to spot them. Also, Kando kept a few in the same area due to Nikko having set them off in the past. It was more trouble for Kando to abandon the farm to find Nikko in a snare, or unconscious out in the woods.
"Geez, you're an idiot," Kando said throwing a bag of cabbages at the twenty-three year old ninja. "If you're going to avoid your post for a while, go inside and help Akiru wash these." He watched Nikko totter on his feet with the large bag. "I've got other things to attend to," he said walking away.
Nikko knew Kando was going to go check the traps. He did so every so often to make sure a poor animal had not been caught in one. Nikko stumbled with the bag. "Why did he pick so many," he complained.
Akiru tore apart the leaves of a cabbage as Nikko came inside with water from the well. "Go ahead and put the water in the pot for me," she instructed. Kando had been gone a while. She was trying to distract herself with cooking.
Nikko started to pour the water into the pot making sure it didn't spill. The fire underneath it had already been started. Steam came up almost hitting him in the face. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Onari watching him from the frame of the entrance. "You could be helping," he said. His eyes moved to see her narrow her eyes at him.
Daihyo was setting the table as his mother instructed. Akiru also looked at Onari. The girl was still wary of them, keeping to herself most of the day. "She's alright," Akiru said in a motherly tone. She figured Onari didn't trust others so easily. That was understandable. "Onari, Nikko is a friend of Kando's. He tends to come all of the way here from the village to visit," she said. It wasn't right for her to say how Nikko really looked up to Kando. That would lead into Kando's background too much. Onari might try to bail again.
"He's an idiot," Onari said blandly turning away from them. She sat near the low table, her legs and arms crossed. She could hear Akiru fighting with Nikko not to throw the cabbage at Onari. What ninja uses stupid disguises like that scarecrow to think someone is going to fall for that? It's not the art of Illusion or Misdirection. It's the art of Stupidity. She smirked at how Sasuke would have popped Nikko on the head. It seemed like an immature trick a grade schooler would pull off.
Nikko stood behind her his legs apart, arms out, anger all over his face. "You have no respect for your elders," he said. Onari only glanced at him. "The disgusting way you regard others as not being worthy pisses me off." It took a lot to make him angry. He was normally a happy sunny type of person, but the way Onari thought she was better than him at her age, fueled his fire.
The last sentence hit a nerve. It reminded her of Daiya. Her brother was always defensive with people, in general. A sad look came across her face. Thinking about her rough around the edges adopted brother hurt her soul. They had taken to looking out for each other not really knowing the other at first. Daiya had always defended her, stood up for her, and spent a lot of his free time checking on her adjustments to her ninja skills and socialization problems. Onari wondered how he was. "Sorry," she said softly.
"What," Nikko said thinking she was picking a fight with him.
"For someone your age, you sure have old man ears," Onari said not wanting to repeat herself. She was stubborn that way. Nikko only raised a brow, his aggression going away.
"I was beginning to think I was going to have to restrain the both of you," Kando said from another entrance. The traps he had checked were fine. Nothing was out of place. "What's going on in here?"
Daihyo was watching Onari with Akiru, his blue eyes following her hands as they piddled with her clothes. Kando made sure there was no more aggression coming from Nikko or Onari before he continued. "I won't have such behaviors in the house around Daihyo," Kando said his fatherly tone taking over. "If you two want to have a go at each other, you do so outside out of view. Understand?"
"Anybody home," Junka said coming in behind Kando. "Oh, so he is here," he said of his brother. "Nikko, stop avoiding us and get back to the village." Junka's short spiked blond hair was held back by a black headband, mild scar on his far left cheek. He didn't recognize the awkward silence growing through the air. "Hey, I know you hear me."
Nikko only looked at him with a loathing. "What is it now." If his brother was seeking him out it meant only one thing. Junka was either going to train or blow something up.
"We're going to go blow up a bridge," Junka said with his manly loud tone. "Exciting isn't it? It's old and needs to be replaced. Want to make a bet how far the debris goes?"
Daihyo seemed to like this guessing game. He came over to Junka bouncing. "A kilometer!"
"A kilometer," Junka repeated. "That's a good guess. Sometimes it can go as far as three kilometers," he said proudly of his explosive settings. He put his hands on his hips rotating his massive shoulders. "Come on, Nikko, or I'll hoist you up like the woman you are."
"I don't see how this has anything to do with me," Nikko tried to avoid.
"It doesn't. But it wouldn't hurt for you to learn how to do it. You never know when the time arises," Junka countered.
Onari seemed to be interested in the conversation. She got up to walk over to Junka ready to go until Kando grabbed her by the arm. Onari had forgotten she wasn't allowed off the property.
"Not you," Kando said. "I don't think I'd be comfortable with you learning how to blow things up." He shook his head.
Just now seeing the odd raven haired girl, Junka lowered his form to look her over. "Hello, little lady," he said showing his teeth. "Are you Kando's cousin or something?"
Kando nodded. "Yeah, she just came from another village to visit," he said as Daihyo's mouth was covered by Akiru. He didn't want Junka knowing too much either. Junka was harmless, but he boasted information without regarding the effects of it.
Nikko took his cue. He walked pass Onari not looking at her. "Fine, let's go," he said leading his older brother out of the Sawayaka household. As they walked away, Nikko's head turned to take one last look at the old farmhouse. He was starting to become overly curious of the girl.